Death and Rebirth

“That bitch!” Yelled a voluptuously curved young woman, her mahogany brown hair

tumbling down around her face to obscure her hazel brown eyes. “How does she

keep surviving every attempt to kill her?”

“Vivian, please calm down baby girl.” Soothed an older woman with the same mahogany

brown hair, though her eyes were a golden hazel brown. “She can only be so lucky.

Sooner or later her luck is bound to run out and everything that your father

promised her will be yours.”

“Mom, I can’t wait!” Vivian whined as she flung herself into her mother’s arms. “Daddy

has secured Emily’s marriage to John. John is supposed to be mine! You

promised!”

Valorie ran her hand over her daughter’s head in a soothing gestor. “Vivian my love,

John is yours along with your father’s company and assets.” Valorie soothed, a smirk

forming on her lips. “I refuse to let that bitch’s daughter take away the

things we have been working towards.”

“Thank you, Mommy!” Vivian squealed, jumping up from her mother’s arm to race out of

the room.

“Dominick, you know what you have to do.” Valorie called out to the man waiting in the shadows

of the room.

On the other side of town, an extremely attractive aristocratic young woman in

blue hospital scrubs were stepping out of the ICU’s emergency surgery room. “Great

job today, Emily!” Yelled one of her coworkers as they stepped up to the sinks

to wash up after the surgery. “I didn’t think he was going to pull through the

surgery.” He continued when Emily didn’t remark. “You’ve got some god like surgical

skills!”

Sighing, Emily brushed her wine-red hair from her face, exhaustion weighing heavy on her

after four hours in the surgery room. Leaving the prep room with her coworker

still praising her, Emily let her mind drift to the arranged marriage her

father had set up for her with John, a womanizer who had no respect for a woman

who wished to work. It was an ill-fated match if there ever was one. She needed

to find a way to stop this marriage from happening.

As she stepped into the changing room, she gave a half-hearted wave to her

coworker before closing the door and turning towards her locker. Opening the

door, she caught sight of her pure jade green eyes; they were almond shaped

with the ends turning up at a slight angle, the only gift she had received from

her late mother. Her eyes and high cheek bones are what really set her off as

different when compared to her father. Her father, Eric, had the same high cheek

bones and aristocratic air to him, but he had a more average build with deep-set

eyes that downturned at the ends. He carried most of his weight in his midsection

and refused to listen to her when she suggested any type of diet that would

help improve and maintain his heath. As she changed, Emily wondered what her

stepmother and sister were up too. It was no secret that they hated her, the

four previous murder attempts proved that much. If it wasn’t for having no viable

evidence that they were behind it, Emily would have already taken it too the

police for help, but there was nothing she could do right now.

Done changing, Emily closed the door of her locker after grabbing her purse and left

the room; heading towards the stairs. She counted the steps it took to reach the

parking garage, recounting everything that had happened since her father had gotten

remarried to Valorie. As the door swung shut behind her, Emily was suddenly

slung forwards, towards the pavement. She turned, taking the hit to her

shoulder before rolling over to stare at the barrel of a gun. A laugh exploded

from her, amused. “Tell them that they will get theirs.” She stated as the man

standing over her pulled the trigger.

The pain never registered with her as the bullet entered her head, between her

eyes. The darkness closed in on her rapidly as a small light flickering off in

the distance.

“Not this time, My Child.” Called an ethereal male voice from the light. “I have

been waiting for a soul like yours to enter the worlds. I will be taking you

where you really need to be. Live well this time.”

Meanwhile in the Tachibana Dynasty, the Fujimoto family was being blessed with three new

members to their main clan. “Uwhaaa!” The shrill cooing cry resounded

around the room as a baby was passed from the midwife to a waiting maid.

“It’s another girl, My Lady.” The maid called as she whipped the blood from the

little girl’s face.

“You did well, My Love.” A man with caramel coffee brown hair soothed his lilac purple

eyes ablaze with happiness as he brushed the woman’s wine-red hair from her

face. “Three healthy babies at once, I can finally breathe easy now that you

are all safe.” He smiled as he leaned down to press a kiss on his wife’s head.

He had a very muscular, yet aristocratic build with long, lean arms and well-developed

legs. His hair was slightly long, brushing the bottom of his shoulder blades and

hung over one of his eyes, which were an attractive moon-shape that turned up

at the ends. He stared at his wife and newborn children with a captivated, smug

sense of accomplishment.

“Yuudai, I told you to not worry.” She remarked, taking the two girls from the waiting

maid. “I told you, I was visited by the Phoenix God who told me that all would

be well.” She laughed, an angelic and melodious sound that brought smiles to

those present in the room.

Her wine-red hair was slick with sweat, but it didn’t take away from her extremely attractive,

yet luscious body. She was slightly voluptuously built, with a slender waist

and smooth arm and legs. Her heart-shaped face drew the eyes of males as she

walked by, with her dreamy and enticing pure jade eyes. Shaped like almonds,

her eyes were slightly turned up at the ends and heavily lashed.

“Yuri, it is my job to worry about you and our children.” Yuudai remarked, taking his

newborn son, who also had caramel coffee brown hair. “Now, what should we call

them?”

“I want to name her,” Yuri stated as she brushed her hair from her face. “Akasuki

and this one,” Motioning to the other girl, who took after Yuri with wine-red hair.

“Yuki.”

“Beautiful,” Yuudai remarked, lifting his son closer. “Then we will name him, Daisuke.”

“Mommy!” Squealed a young child with a childish voice. “Are they finally here?”

Yuri and Yuudai turned towards the door, where their older three children stood. The

two boys took after Yuudai with caramel coffee brown hair, but that had pure jade-colored

eyes, while the girl had wine-red hair and lilac purple eyes; they were a

beautiful blend of both of them. “Yes, loves.” Yuri replied, motioning for them

to come forward. “This is you baby brother, Daisuke, and your baby sisters, Akasuki

and Yuki.”

A small bout of giggling broke out from the children as they watched their sibling’s

sleep.

Fifteen years later

“Yuki!” A female voice called from beyond the door. “Come on, get up!” The voice continued

as the door opened and a young woman of fifteen flowed into the room, seeming

to dance more then walk. Her caramel coffee brown hair flowing as she moved,

lightly brushing her gracefully curved body. As she pulled the covers back, her

almond-shape lilac purple eyes shined with mischief. She had a classic beauty

with high cheek bones and lightly tanned skin.

Yuki rolled over to stare at her, stifling a yawn and stretching her gracefully aristocratically

curved body as she did so. “Akasuki, the sun’s not up yet.” She groaned,

reaching for the covers. “Why are you waking me up now?”

Akasuki huffed as she planted her hands gently on her gently curved hips. “Yuki, have

you forgotten that today is the emperor’s birthday and we have been invited to

the palace?” She scolded as she grabbed the covers again, removing them from

the bed completely.

Yuki stiffened, closing her eyes as she silently cursed herself. “No…” She

responded, sounding less then convincing. “Who would forget something as

important as that?”

“Liar,” Akasuki sighed, waving her hand at the door. “Come on, the maids have gathered

to help us get ready.”

The soft sound of pattering footsteps resounded through the room as the maids began

to set up their clothing for the banquet. With no other recourse, Yuki sighed and

sat up, swinging her legs over the side of her bed. As she stretched again,

Yuki watched with interest as the maids and her sister transformed her bedroom

into a beauty salon of sorts. Amused by her thoughts, she allowed a maid to guide

her towards one of the tubes of water for her morning bath. The scent of lavender

and honey rose from the water as she sunk into it.

As the ripples settled down, Yuki caught sight of her reflection on the water’s

surface. The reflection in the water showed a beauty of fifteen with high cheek

bones, lightly tanned skin and eyes the color of pure jade. The reflection rippled

out of focus as water was dumped onto her head, causing her wine-red hair to cascade

around her in waves. Yuki sat in comfortable silence as she listened to her

sister carried on with the schedule for the day; the two of them being two-thirds

of a set of triplets born fifteen and a half years ago on a rare winter day

when the snow fell without end.

As the water cooled, Yuki glanced over and noticed that the maids had set out the kimonos

for Akasuki and herself. Akasuki’s was a beautiful sky-blue color with pink and

white wisteria flowers, whereas hers was a blazing fire red color with white

and black wisteria flowers. After the maids helped her step out, Yuki put on the tabi socks on first,

not wanting anything to slip out of place as it would be bound to do if she did

this last. After making sure the tabi socks were on right, the maids helped her

into the susoyoke before continuing with the hadajuban, making sure it was

centered on her torso before pulling it down to expose the back of her neck.

Putting on the nagajuban, Yuki waited patiently as the maids adjusted the

collar, tying the nagajuban under her bustline with a koshi-himo. Pulling the

excess material of the nagajuban towards the seams. Once the nagajuban was

settled the way she liked it; Yuki allowed the maids to place an erishin under

the collar to keep it stiff and wrinkle-free. Yuki glanced over at Akasuki’s

prosses as the maids took a date-jime and tied it over the koshi-himo before

pulling any excess material of the nagajuban to the side seams to hide it.

Next, the blazing red kimono with the black and white wisteria flowers was put on her,

centering it on her body by matching the lower seams of the collar to each

other in front of her body. After aligning it with the back of the nagajuban

collar, the maids grabbed the kimono ten cm from the bottom of the collar on

both sides and hoisted the bottom hem to just above the top of her feet. They

wrapped the left side of the kimono around her legs, pulling the left side

around to the right side of her body. Making sure the left side was about seven

cm higher than the starting point. After unwrapping and doing the same with the

right, making sure it ended up ten to fifteen cm’s higher; they held the right

side in place, re-wrapped the left side over the right and held it in place.

Grabbing the second koshi-himo, one of the maids tied the kimono in place over

her belly button before tucking the excess length into itself. Taking the

excess kimono material, another maid folded it down over the koshi-himo; making

sure, the kimono was flat and neat.

After adjusting the collars to be symmetrical, they placed the last koshi-himo in the

middle of her chest, drew it back with both hands and crossed it at the back

before returning it to the front and tying it in the center. Removing the

creases in the back to the side seams, they tied the second date-jime over the

koshi-himo in the same fashion, just below her bust line. Tucking in the ends

of the sash so it looked neat, a maid reached for the obi sash. After centering

the middle of the obi over the date-jime, she wrapped it around her back,

crossing it before pulling it back to the front and tying the ends of the obi,

tucking in the ends. After making sure that everything was perfect, they lead

her over to a chair and had her sit. Yuki sat patiently as her hair was

gathered to the back of her head, high up at the crown, and placed in a bun

with little ringlets framing her face. Once

her hair was secured, a maid stepped forward with a large, floral butterfly

kanzashi. The prongs were inserted first away from the curve of her head before

being twisted and slid against her head to secure it in place. A smaller red

floral kanzashi was placed on the other side of her head. After smoothing out any

bumps in her hair, they moved onto her makeup, painting her lips with a light cherry

blossom pink rouge.

“You are finished, My Lady.” The head maid stated as she stepped back with the

others. “Please be safe while visiting the palace.”

Smiling softly, Yuki stood and walked over to Akasuki, who was waiting for her. “This

is so exciting!” She squealed, gripping Yuki’s arm as they stepped into their getas

before stepping out of Yuki’s courthouse, the Cherry Blossom Courthouse.

“It will be interesting at least.” Yuki agreed, quickly hiding her smile behind her

fan as Akasuki turned towards her to scold her.

“Yuki!” Akasuki called. “How can you be so passive about this!?”

Laughing, Yuki grabbed her arm and continued on their way to the waiting palanquin that

would ferry them to the palace gates. Waiting next to it was a young man of

fifteen, his caramel coffee brown hair had been pulled up into a half topknot

secured with a golden ring at the crown of his head. His lilac purple eyes were

a shade darker than Akasuki’s and had a more intense light shining in their

depths. He had a muscular physique with strong legs and muscular arms. He possessed

classic, high cheek bones with an aristocratic nose and naturally pink lips.

“Daisuke!” Akasuki called out, waving a hand enthusiastically in the air. “Were you

waiting for us?”

Daisuke smiled at them as they approached. “You both look really beautiful today.” He

commented as he helped Akasuki into the palanquin. “Yes, Akasuki, I was

waiting. I have to make sure you two troublemakers don’t cause too big of a

scene at the palace today.” He continued as he helped Yuki up as well.

“Daisuke, it’s not our fault that Ren Himura has placed a target on us.” Yuki countered

as she settled down. “She’s a vicious brat who hates it when she doesn’t get

her way.”

“Yuki,” Daisuke cautioned as he swung up onto the waiting horse. “Please be the bigger

lady today.”

Huffing, Yuki smiled. “For you, of course.”

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