Chapter Text
Gifted Branch Family Member
It was a nice spring day in Kyoto Japan. A rare one at that. Neither too hot nor too cold. The branch family of the Asakura household was allowing the newest member of the family to play outside like normal. A little girl no older than five was playing in the grass with the ball.
Her parents were disappointed though. The Asakura Branch family was a direct descendant of Asakura Hao, the greatest shaman to live and this child lacked the gifts that the family was proud of. At this point in her life she wasn’t even able to see ghosts. It was quite disappointing. But that all changed that night.
Late in the night the little girl walked over to her parents room in the dark. Her face tear stained her eyes puffy for she had been crying. Annoyed her mother looked over at the door that slid open letting in the hallway light. “Mommy” the girl cried walking over to the futon. “What is it now?” her mother asked exhausted. “They won’t stop screaming at me” she whimpered out. Her father raised an eyebrow at that. “What are you talking about?” he asked sitting up. As far as they knew their daughter was a disappointment since she couldn’t even see spirits or ghosts. Again the child repeated herself. “They won’t stop talking and screaming at me.” she whimpered out again.
Curious her father got up picking up his child along the way and made their way back to her room. He slid open the door only to see her room empty. He closed his eyes to see if he could hear what his daughter was talking about but there was nothing but silence. Placing her down on her futon he looked at her. “This needs to stop. You will be six next year and yet you still lack the Shaman powers our family is known for. There is nothing here now, be silent and go back to sleep” he ordered her. The child whimpered as she reached for her father, but he simply pulled his kinigashi away from her and headed back to his room. The little girl did not sleep that night nor the night after.
In fact it wasn't until after three days that the little girl finally got fed up. “Shut up and let me sleep” she screamed. Furyoku spread all around her and finally she could see several little sprite-like spirits staring at her. Her eyes widened. “You’re spirits like what mommy and daddy see” she commented going over to one. You can hear us, they said. And see us, another said. The little girl instantly felt proud and ran to tell her parents that she could see ghosts and spirits like them.
She ran all the way inside forgetting to switch out her shoes as she ran into her dad who was getting ready to go to work. “What are you doing now?” he asked annoyed. “I can see them daddy. I can see the spirits” she said excitedly. He raised an eyebrow at her. “Your mother has taught you not to lie” he reminded her, rolling his eyes as he continued to get ready to work. This angered the child. “I can see them,” she said confidently. Her father ignored her. “I. CAN. SEE. THEM.” she screamed out this time. Once again the Fuyuoku came off her body and all around her were little spirits and spirits staring at the man wondering why he didn’t believe her. With her furyoku materializing the spirits, her father was finally able to see them and his eyes widened.
His child was gifted. She was gifted in the best way possible. His daughter was a Shaman of Nature. Much like Hao, she would be able to tap into some of the oldest and strongest spirits of the world and make them her spirit guardians and use their powers. But he was wrong. Nature spirits are old and wise yes but they also have issues with shamans and humans alike. Killing the Earth for their own gain and Shamans doing nothing about it. But that’s what made this child good. She could only see them if she used her own powers but could always hear them. That means they could allow her to use their power if she asked and if they desired it.
Her father looked proud. “That’s it Kiyoku we will use you to enter the Shaman Fights and you will bring pride to our family and join Hao-sama” he said, his eyes wild with desire and corruption. Don’t listen to him, a spirit whispered to her. “Daddy you're scaring me” she whimpered out. “I can use you to bring our family back to the top” he pulled away from his daughter thinking it over. Planning it all out. Kiyoku got scared and backed away. “You will be our key,” he said, turning to look at her. He went to touch her again but the child flinched away. The spirits felt her fear and it angered them. Wind surrounded her in a shield and when his hand got too close it tore the skin forcing him to retreat his hand. His eyes widened. He looked around her to see the spirits' anger at him.
How dare he want to use such an innocent child for his own gain. Instantly the spirits felt connected to this child Kiyoku. They would protect her and lend her their power. This angered her father but with the spirits protecting her she was untouchable. He walked past her to tell his wife of the news.
Kiyoku fell to the floor, the lack of sleep and lack of control of her furyoku was too much for her little body and mind. Sleep child. The wind spirit whispered to her. We shall protect you. The earth spirits whispered to her. You are the shaman of nature. They told her as her body gave up and fell asleep finally.
In the winter Kiyoku was able to see snow spirits. They were playful and liked causing mischief. When it rained, water spirits would tease and play with the child but also lure her to sleep with their soft pattering. When it was extra windy the wind spirits would dance and play with the child letting her float on their breezes. And when it was extremely hot the fire spirits would show her what power and fear looked like and taught her how to not to be afraid of them. All of the spirits watched over her, keeping her free of her father and mother’s control.
It all changed though when a guest from the main Asakura household showed up. Asakura Yohmei showed up to check on the branch family. To make sure they weren’t planning anything or trying to topple over the main family like they had tried and failed so many times before. As he walked into the household gate he was surprised to see a child playing and floating in the air. Interested he went over to her.
“And who are you little one?” he asked kindly to her. The spirits lowered her onto the ground but Kiyoku stayed quiet. He smiled at her and put his hands together. “Shikigami Kooni” he said. One of his little leaf oversouls appeared in front of her. It booped her on the nose and she giggled. “Can I play with you too?” he asked her. She nodded her head at that fansicated by his Oversoul.
He watched this child play with his Shikigami and the natural nature spirits around her. She was gifted. More gifted than she should be as a branch family member. He was already thinking and foreseeing how this child could hinder his own grandson and possibly assist Hao in the upcoming Shaman Fights. Although only a year younger than Yoh, Yohmei thought this child would be a good friend and training partner to his lazy grandson. “What is your name?” he asked her after a while. “Asakura Kiyoku. The Shaman of Nature is what the spirits call me though” she said going over to him. “Who are you?” she asked him in return. “I am your great Uncle. You can address me as Yohmei-sama” he told her. She nodded her head. “Good she’s obedient” he thought to himself as she went to play a little longer.
After some time Yohemi left the child to play with his Shikigami. He turned his attention to her parents where an argument ensued about the child outside playing with nature itself. There was screaming, fighting, then silence. Finally it was decided, Asakura Kiyoku would go to the main house to train with and for the sake of the main house and for Asakura Yoh to use against Asakura Hao in the upcoming shaman fights.
Yohmei took Kiyoku with him who willingly wanted to go as her parents were terrible people to begin with but also because the spirits told her it would be better to live as a servant to the main household than become a slave to her own family and blood.