Beautiful Attraction

Chapter 01

I've updated Blood Bathed Thrones and She is a He today, so I decided to keep the surprises coming and decided to post chapter one of Beautiful Attraction! *throws streamers*. This may be kind of short, but it's only the beginning. I hope you all like it! <3

Also, I would appreciate it if you all can go back to the prologue, I added more to the ending of it which is extremely important to the rest of the story :) (the summary/blurb of this story has also changed)

Miyabi winced as the wooden katana slapped her wrist, causing her whole arm to fall limp and her own weapon to fall out of her hands. It didn’t take long for the sharp sting to turn into a blazing pain that made its way up her arm, making it feel as if it were on fire. She grit her teeth to avoid crying out in pain, Hajime wouldn’t like that. He never liked it when she voiced her emotions: happiness, pain, sadness, anger, he’d call her weak and walk away, leaving her to pick herself back up.

The funeral was the last time he’d touched her, had shown her that he’s there as a brother. As soon as the day had ended, he gradually became more and more distant. The little things he’d do would slowly disappear; no longer did he share conspiratorial looks with her when they were up to some sort of mischief, no longer would he sneak her a ripe plum or a few pieces of candy. It was as if he had decided to let a part of him die along with their parents, the part that loved her unconditionally.

She had gotten angry, thrown fits and refused to eat. She had thought he would finally crack and comfort her, assuring her that it was all ok and that she had him to rely on, him to take care of her. Oh, what a foolish, naïve girl she had been. He hadn’t come back to her, did not even turn once. His eyes were disapproving and cold whenever she would do something unwarranted. The words he’d say were the same: What’s wrong with you, stop acting like a child. What would our parents say? Don’t act like a spoiled brat.

Did he even know why she’d acted like that? Probably not, he didn’t care. That was the message he was sending. It didn’t take too long for her to figure out that her old, loving brother was gone, replaced by a cold shell of a human in his stead. In retaliation, she’d started to ignore him, his very existence. She forced herself not to care about him, just like what he did with her.

Strangely enough, after a few years of pretending she didn’t exist, Hajime suddenly turned around and started talking to her again. She was taken aback by his sudden change, but was still weary around him. He spoke as much as he needed to, never adding unnecessary details nor excuses. He was curt, straight to the point. He had started to teach her things without the knowledge of their legal guardians, things no proper young lady should ever learn. She had been taught how to tame beasts, ride horses, steal, and lie. At one point, large, intimidating men had surrounded her when she was alone but he stood within earshot. She called out to him, but he merely turned away at her voice, acting as if he didn’t know her.

It was right then and there she decided that she loathed him, the brother who left her to the wolves.

She was lucky she knew self defense, as she left the men crippled in pain soon after they had approached her. From then on she decided that no one was there for her; she was alone in the world.

She didn’t want to end up like her brother, however. Through perseverance and effort, she created the perfect mask, hidden feeling lying underneath. She let herself feel emotions, allowing them to come to light away from the prying eyes of humanity. She couldn’t close herself off completely, couldn’t become a monster.

“Your grip was too stiff,” Hajime said flatly. “You have to loosen it and make it so that it’s a part of your body.”

Miyabi nodded, picking up her katana and getting into the starting position, despite the searing pain in her wrist. He really went all out, didn’t he? Hajime looked at her for a second, something flashing in his eyes, gone as quick as it had come. She’d noticed that before, how at times there would be something in his eyes but she’d never been able to quite grasp what it was. He returned to his own stance and without warning, sprinted towards her.