SYNOPSIS - she wandered tirelessly; searching for answers to her mysterious past long-gone amidst the flames of betrayal. but the tempting lure of a piece of jewelry will change her life in ways she never imagined.
■ ` ♡ characters / fandom ; f!OC x Naraku from Inuyasha
■ ` ♡ tw ; MINORS DNI
■ ` ♡ A/N → its been a little minute since I've updated crimson on my Tumblr. if you want all chapters everything is up to date on my a03! without further Ado.. enjoy!
"Have you seen Keiji?" Reiko asks Mei. She's sitting at the dinner table, silently shaking her head.
"No, he hasn't been to the house in a while."
Reiko cycled back in her mind to the last time she actually saw Keiji. Has it really been that long? "
"Mmh.. Maybe he's wrapped in his studies." Reiko looked over at Mei, watching her expression carefully. She turned her head back to her pottery before doubt fully seeped into her face.
"Possibly..." Reiko's voice trailed off. "Oh, I know! Why don't you go see him? Hasn't he invited you to his house before and you've Declined him? Maybe its time you pay him a visit?"
"I don't know, Mom.." Mei's frown deepened. She knew what she was doing. She had a feeling deep down that there was more to Keiji just not showing up. But.. She didn't want to stop seeing Naraku. He felt familiar to her. This life here in the village felt like a haze. Like something she was dropped in and fell into over the past year... She loved Keiji but...
She loved Naraku, too.
"Mei, I know you've been through a lot these past few months. But you can't avoid Keiji forever. I-" Reiko hesitated for a moment before continuing on. When she saw the sadness in Mei's eyes, she reached for her arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"I know you love him. And I know he loves you. No matter what you do or who you choose," she dropped her voice down to a whisper. "I will still be your mother, no matter what. Just... don't prolong your mind off your heart's desires. It only leads to suffering in the end." she let go of her arm and resumed cleaning her pottery.
"..." Mei tucked a hair behind her ear. Its almost like she knows something Without directly saying it to her. Without another word, she grabbed a few things— her comb, her charm bracelet, and a small bottle of oil she used on her hair. Without another word, she grabbed a small satchel of food and made her way to the door.
"I'm off. I'll be back tomorrow." her father's silence bore a hole through her stomach. She could feel something was off, but her body continued to tell her to go. So she left up the hill to Keiji's home.
Reiko looked at the entryway of their home first, then at Kenji. His hardened face looked back at her. Without a word, he stood to his feet and left for the garden, leaving Reiko to stand alone in their dining area.
Weeks have came and gone. Routines began to resurface and life began to normalize. Except for one thing: Mei herself has been engaging in extracurricular activities. She snuck out of her house every other night to meet with Naraku till the early morning. Coming up with lie after lie, stating she would be staying with Keiji for the evening and she would return in the morning.
They weren't saying anything to me, so everything must be fine. She would assume every time. And every time, she would grab a small satchel of clothes to sell the image and disappear into the night.
She could see the apprehension on Reiko's face and at times she would catch her father just looking off into the distance— his jaw clenched and knuckles taut to the point the white of his bones would pierce through the surface.
She bathed in the river a few miles away from the village to remove any scent of Naraku off of her. Using a special soap made from Jasmine and the fat of a deer, it did its best to mask the thick, warm, spicy aroma that Naraku permeated onto her. But she couldn't risk her cover being blown. So she paused on seeing Naraku for weeks. But with a lack of Keiji and a lack of an alibi, everyone was growing tense.
Where Was Keiji?
It wasn't like him. Ever since that day she ran into the Forest, he hasn't been around. And knowing that he went after her made her all the more troubled. She just had to see it for herself what was truly going on...
Keiji's grandfather was once a well-respected samurai. The Lord in the adjacent land granted him a Samurai house just outside of the demon village Mei resided. With its intricate walkways, large koi ponds and delicately maintained gardens someone would think it was a hidden home to royalty.
All of Keiji's siblings moved out of the home but Keiji stayed behind to care for his grandfather and to be promoted into being a samurai scholar. He had a knack for economics and finances and with his grandfathers word of mouth the Lord was more than eager to take him in to serve him.
This house would either be his or his would move into the city closer to the Lord.
Mei climbed up the steps, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She felt the distance growing between them for a while but to stand at his house like a stranger made it all fully set in.
She looked left and right looking for any signs of life; his house always felt so calm but today it felt.. eerie. She could feel the hairs on her neck stand up. Like an ominous presence followed behind her and up the steps.
She raised her hand to the door just for it to quickly slide open. She gasped to see Keiji standing shirtless in front of her. His face looked gaunt with red circles under his eyes. His dark eyes looked endless, like a dark pool luring you in.
Usually he was more upbeat, nervous even, but today he was... rather cold.
"Oh, you're here." he stood in the doorway, still not letting her in. Mei looked away, her face in a flush. Keiji's frame was still muscular, and his pants wore loose around his waist which forced her to resist wandering. But..was he sleeping? She hated if he wo-
"Mei?" Keiji's voice snapped her back out of reality. She looked back at him with a blink.
"Did something happen? What's brought you here?" why was he asking such questions? She was under the impression she was always welcome..
"I- brought you dinner." Mei held the satchel in front of her. "Re- mom wants to make sure you're eating enough. She's been worried you know."
Keiji eyes the food, then Mei. Without taking the food, he turns on is heel, leaving the doorway clear for her to walk in.
"I've been busy studying. You know my exams are approaching."
Mei looked into the house before stepping inside. Her heart still pounding in her ears. "But you usually come down for dinner. Why haven't you been down?" Keiji looks at her from the side of his eye before sitting down at his desk in the corner of the room. multiple scrolls, documents, and brushes were scattered about. next to his desk was a cold, pale cup of tea and a barely eaten bowl of mackerel and rice.
He wasn't eating.
"Why don't I go into the kitchen and make you something? you can't study all day and not eat, Keiji, its not good for you." Mei sat the food down next to Keiji before sitting on her knees next to him. He continued on with his notes as if she weren't there but she could see his jaw clench and his brows furrow.
"Keiji.. What's the matter? You're barely speaking to me and-" she reached for his hand only for him to pull it away. She looked up at him and... there was a sadness in his eyes.
"Keiji? What's wrong? Is it something going on? Why don't you-"
"Do we have to talk about this now?" Keiji averted his eyes, his hands trembling. "I've just been caught up in my studies." he stood to his feet, grabbing the food to set on the table. He lingered around the same table, grabbing a brush that Mei gifted him. It wasn't the best of quality but he still made use of it for his note-taking. His heart pulled and his throat felt heavy.
He couldn't stop seeing that image of Mei and Naraku kissing in the Forest.
"But Keiji," Mei turned to face him "I think its important we be honest about our feelings."
"Honest... that's interesting." he mumbles. He twirled the brush around in his hands a few times as he turned to face a window. He could see the outside floral garden and the connecting bridge into the sand garden from where he stood. He saw it in front of him like it was a live re-enactment.
mei and him strolled across the garden and he picked a wild hydrangea for her. he didn't even realize his finger nicked a thorn and he bled all over the hydrangea. Mei nearly fainted from the sight of blood but she helped bandage his hand and afterwards she went to the pond in the garden, gently washed off the flower with the water, and brought the flower back to Keiji so he could see her attempt to put the flower in her hair.
it was simpler then. Before... this happened.
"What is?" Mei quizzed.
"..." Keiji held the brush in front of his face, stroking his thumb across the bristles. He closed his eyes, trying hard to keep his composure.
"Keiji!" startled by her outburst, Keiji snapped the brush in half, causing Mei to gasp.
"Keiji whatever it is tell me! I wouldn't keep anything from you." she scrambled to her feet, pulling on his arm. He was different with her. more distant than ever. the looming feeling in her stomach grew and grew but she swallowed her fears, hoping that he didn't know. Hoping that she could prolong the truth just a little longer.
He looks at her with downhearted eyes. "You wouldn't?" he looked into her misty crimson eyes, trying to find the illusion between her previous actions.
"No," she grabbed his arm, "I wouldn-"
"Don't lie to me, Mei!" His eyes flashed purple in an instant. Mei, in a shock, stepped back. it took everything for her to stop her bottom lip from quivering.
He knows. He has to know. Keiji I'm so sorry...
Keiji's face softened. He pulled her in for a hug, resting his chin on the top of her head. He never kissed it, he just rested his chin there with his eyes closed. "I'm sorry. I've just... been really tired. I promise I will come down before the next full moon."
She doesn't believe him, but she leans into his chest with her eyes closed.. "Would you like me to stay the night? mom doesn't mind if-" Keiji shakes his head.
"No. I think its best if you go home."
Keiji why won't you tell me what's wrong?
There was a long pause between them. Without adding to the conversation, Keiji released Mei to return to his desk. He dipped his brush in the jet black liquid, strained the excess and proceeded to write with sharp focus.
Mei motions her way to the door. As she lingers in the doorway, she looks to Keiji who never broke focus from the paper in front of him.
"Keiji?"
After a drawn out silence, Keiji responded."Yes, Mei?""
"I- I love you." the words felt pulled out of her throat only to violently hit the floor. Her body felt heavy. She shouldn't leave but she didn't want to overstep his boundaries either. Especially after..
Another long silence. After what felt like an eternity he stops writing to respond.
"I love you too, Mei."
He never looked up at her. She took it as her cue to leave. The path ahead of her blurred from the threatened tears that pooled in her eyes. She tried to blink them away but the continued to flow. She hurried down the steps, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her kimono.
He knows.
He knows.
Keiji I'm so sorry.
With the doorway still cracked, Keiji remained seated at his desk. In one moment, all of his supplies were neatly sprawled across his desk, and in the next, with a pained scream, Keiji shoved all of his supplies off his desk. He buried his face in his hands as the ink poured across his notes and a love letter written by Mei from months ago...
If you made it this far pls reblog or reply! — it makes my day more than you kno!
