moving forward
Harri Kusakabe sat still with a look of concentration on her face as her mom began to brush her hair. She had wanted to talk to her mom about something but wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Instead, she pulled her little brother back to lean against her as she read him a story about a hungry caterpillar. He was chewing on a frozen teething ring to help with his new teeth coming in.
Tetsuya was the cutest thing in her world. All chubby cheeks and gummy smile. His black hair coming in laying flat on his head in a way that Harri’s never would. He had just started walking the other day following Harri around and she loved it. She always made sure to hold his hands and walk slowly so he could follow.
“What are you thinking?” Haya asked her daughter with a small smile. Harri’s little nose scrunched as she was deep in thought. A similar trait that her father did. While Harri may look like her she had some of her dad’s traits. Even Haya could tell that Harri was not as into the story as she normally is. She took reading to Tetsu every morning while Haya did her hair for the day.
Haya twisted the thick curly black hair into small ponytails, each high on her head. It was barely shoulder length but it was such a delight to work with, and the little tails bounced so cutely. Harri was three years old already and yet she was way older. She was just a miniature adult trapped in a child's body. She was potty trained, walking and talking in complete sentences by the time she was 14 months. She was such an easy baby and Haya knew she was lucky, but Harri was just growing so fast. Her control over her flames was impressive, no matter her age.
“Mom,” Harri finally answered, watching her mom in the mirror pull her hair up. “I know I’m not normal.
“Huh” Haya could admit she was taken aback. Anything Harri could have brought up this wasn’t it.
“I know I’m not normal. '' Harri caught her mom's grey eyes in the mirror. “I know I’m also not what you expected, but I will say you are the best mother ever. I don’t think I could have better parents than the two of you. I know it’s hard to raise someone like me. I know I’m still growing and I’ll always need you guys, but mom you shouldn’t be scared for me. I’m not, because I know that no matter what I have you and dad.”
“You are perfect, Harri” Haya hugged her daughter tightly before pulling her back. Haya’s eyes narrowed in thought ‘if anyone said otherwise, SHE would deal with them’. She didn’t know what to do so she began straightening Harri’s the shoulders of her little green dress. The dress was a cute green and matched her eyes that she had gotten from her uncle. While Haya did in a way miss all the fun stuff with Harri she was just so proud of her daughter. “I would never trade you for anything. I don’t care that you are growing too fast and know too much, you are MY daughter Harri, and you are perfect.”
“Anything you think I missed with you I still get to experience with Tetsu, Harri. I don’t want you to be anything then you already are. You who so full of life and loving. You who reads to her brother and walks with him everywhere. Harri none of us are normal. I’m a genius and your father are no slouch either. Your uncle is a stuntman, and your grandfather runs the prison for the mafia. Harri none of us are normal and I wouldn’t change this little family for anything. So Harri you be you and be happy and that’s all a mother could ask for.”
“I’m going to be the last mom” Harri looked down at the little body resting against hers. She wrapped her arms around him in a hug breathing in that baby scent with a hint of storm.
“This curse is going to end with me. I will be the last holder of the Flames of the Night and I don’t know if I’m going to survive it. So while I know I can technically go to school early because of my intelligence, mom I want to stay home until I’m five for kindergarten. I want to be with you guys for as long as I can.”
Big teary eyes filled but refused to fall “Every holder of the Flames has never had a sibling and I got the best one ever.” While Harri hoped she wasn’t fated to die before she lived, she was thankful she had gotten to be an older sister. She wasn’t going to grow up alone in her intelligence. While Tetsu might not be as smart as her, she has someone to grow with. Someone more than friends. Someone no one else a holder to have. She had hope.
“I’ll talk to your father, about you staying home longer instead of going to school yet.” Haya hugged her daughter again. She didn’t want to think of her precious daughter dying and knew she would do anything to protect her. Still if anyone said anything bad about her, Haya would kill them herself before giving them to her husband. She hadn’t realized that Harri worried about this, but if she wants to stay home Haya will plant herself in front of any obstacle and protect her children.
“Thanks Mom” Harri kissed the top of Tetsu head and gave him a small cuddle. She was tired of the conversation, but she needed to say it. Today was a day of celebration, it was Tetsu first birthday. It should be a happy occasion not something sad.
Haya wiped the tear marks from under her eyes pulling herself together. A quick look in the mirror showed she still looked good; her makeup wasn’t smudged. A quick shake and her green dress, as similar to her daughters as she could find, were back to being unwrinkled.
“Let’s go Harri” carefully she pulled Tetsu from his sister’s lap and onto her hip. His little green bow tie matched their outfits. Haya reached her hand out to hold her daughter's hand giving her a smile. “It’s Tetsu’s First Birthday party and it should be starting soon. I don’t trust your dad with the cake.”
“Dad” Harri smiled showing her dimples, tears disappearing in her eyes “I'm more worried about grandfather and Uncle. It’s going to be a war.”
“Then let's go into the breach” Haya smiled as they headed towards the family room, where they were celebrating the party.
-0-0-0-0-0-0
“Oh you guys are so cute” Skull came over, lifting his niece up before giving her a hug. He was only a little bit taller than her in his cursed body but that didn’t stop him from trying. He wasn’t wearing his motorcycle helmet or face paint, but his purple hair and eyes were shown in glee. He reached out and held a smiling, drooling Tetsu to his chest not caring of the wet mark he was leaving behind.
Harri had once seen pictures of her uncle before the curse hit and he looked like a younger version of her father. A mischievous grin on his face as he hung on his brother during the wedding. Not long after that he was hit by the Arcobaleno Curse, by which by then he had dyed his hair and wore colored contacts.
Still all Harri saw when she looked at her uncle was his normal uncursed self. He was a decent 5’10’ and slim to boot. With his cloud flames burning through his body so much he just couldn’t gain weight and you can believe that the family has tried over the years.
“Uncle Skull” Harri cheered, she loved her uncle the best out of all her uncles and aunts. The only other one even close was Hikaru but he mostly worked at the shrine. He wasn’t here today but his mother Grandma Miaka and Grandpa Taka were. He sent his gift with them, a lovely book Harri was itching to read and Tetsu got a stuff phoenix that he was dragging around by the tail feather. That was the great thing about her grandparents. It wasn’t her birthday, but they still brought her something to not feel left out.
“You're getting prettier everyday” Skull reached pocket lines with runes. The pocket was a family secret and a dimensional space, bigger on the inside. He could fit a tank in there if he wanted.
“I got you a gift” Skull finally found what he was looking for before pulling out a stuffed purple octopus with a black ribbon around its neck.
“Thanks Uncle Skull.” The stuffed octopus looked just like Ookami, Skull’s familiar. Harri could feel her eyes widening in delight. She already knew he would have a place of honor on her bed.
“Anything for my favorite niece” Skull usually talked in the third person around others, but here the family knew him simply as Sasuke Kusakabe, the younger Kusakabe brother.
“I’m your only niece,” Harri smiled, cuddling into her stuffed octopus. He smelt like family, and the hit of cloud her uncle always wore.
“Doesn’t make it any less true” Skull grinned in happiness. He smiled down at the grinning toddler who patted him on the cheeks and smiled. “Just like Tetsu is by far my favorite nephew.”
Tetsu babbled as if in agreement before struggling to be put down. While he liked people he liked being able to walk more. Skull gently put him on his feet and watched him walk away to where he knew the cake was. His phoenix dragging behind him securely in his grip.
Harri smiled at her small uncle when the pacifier caught her attention. It was hidden under his shirt, but it was showing now. It was a darker purple and it was a beautiful color. One of Harri’s favorite if she was honest with herself.
She had seen Grandfathers, but it was clear, this was the first time she had seen one active.
The purple pacifier was odd and Harri could feel the sheer magic pulsing from it.
Magic from a time bygone.
Magic that she had inherited.
Magic she was learning.
The pacifiers looked like they were turning flames into magic and back into flames. Harri could only speculate but there were different runes then the ones she saw on Grandfathers. In fact, the two looked very interesting and were ones she hadn’t seen before.
Pulling her magic covered by flames from where it was sleeping in her body Harri reached out and touched the pacifier.
She heard her name being yelled as her eyes rolled up into her head. Darkness was claiming her, but she was caught by her adult sized Uncle.
-0-0-0-0-0-
“I swear all you Peverell’s are going to give me grey hair” Death sat down next to where Harri groaned on the grass. She felt drained as if something had pulled on her magic and flames.
“You’re Death you don’t have hair” Harri pulled herself into a sitting position. She had woken in a field with flowers. It would have been pretty and in a way it was. Even if everything was in different shades of black.
Death’s Realm didn’t have color, only black.
“Rude” Death pulled an arm around her, pulling her next to him. “I did have hair before you know.”
It was something Death did sometimes. Talk about life before he became Death.
“I know” Harri leaned against the body she could feel under the cloak. While most people would be disturbed, she just felt safe. He felt like her Flames and magic. “So, what happened?”
“You messed with something, you’re too young to deal with” Death had the front of his cloak facing forward and Harri thought he was seeing something she couldn’t.
It was Death’s Realm, maybe he could.
She only hoped one day she could also.
“Is Uncle Skull ok?” Harri leaned forward before grabbing some of the flowers. She wanted to make a flower crown and knew she had time. Time itself had no meaning in Death's Realm.
“He’s fine” Death turned to watch Harri make the crown. He could remember another person making them when they were younger. “He will be normal size for roughly a week, but he will be back to his baby size.”
Harri finished the crowns and with a cheeky smile placed one on Death's head and one on her own. While she couldn’t see it, she could feel the smile he was giving.
“What are you thinking?” Death watched the small girl bite her lips in thought.
“The pacifier curse drains their flames and vitality.” Harri huffed. “Uncle Skull will live longer than the others because of our bloodline and it’s a corrupt system. Those two runes that were on Uncle Skulls pacifier but not Grandfathers or the rest of the Vindice. They are runes I’ve never seen before.”
“What are you going to do about it?” Death reached up, touching the flowers over his cloak. It had been a long time since someone wasn’t scared of him. It was longer since he wore a flower crown.
“I don’t know, yet. I have a few ideas” Harri answered. “I need to learn more runes and flame amplifiers. I need to learn what was different between them. What that rune was.”
“Then we will learn more runes” Death was amused. “But it’s time for you to wake up.” He touched a finger to Harri’s head, shoving her back into her body.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
“Ugh” Harri groaned as she sat up. “What an ass.” Harri’s body felt sore as she always did when visiting Death.
“Language” Harri heard as she moved. She recognized that voice and smiled. She hasn't seen her in a while.
“How are you feeling?” Grandma Miaka asked after checking over the little girl. She had been a healer for the Kusakabe family for years, but she could admit to having a soft spot for the little girl.
“Grandma” Harri watched the older woman “I need you to teach me sealing.”
“What kind of sealing?” Miaka gave Harri a glass of water making sure the girl drank all of it.
“I’m thinking powerful, almost celestial.” Harri knew it was an odd request and probably one she shouldn’t know about, but she had hope.
Miaka tapped her chin in thought. You could see her debating between herself on what to answer before coming to an answer.
“You will have to work for it” Miaka answered, her voice sounding almost musical. “Lord Suzaku will let me train you and teach you all but in return you will have to be a Miko at the shrine, until the age of 16.”
“Why 16?” Harri tilted her head as she asked. Her pigtails moving with her.
“At that point you will be considered an adult,” Miaka told her. “16 is when you can get married, go to High School, drop out and that’s also when you will reach full power.”
“Alright” Harri agreed. “If needed, can I still help Grandfather on the side?”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.” Miaka gave Harri a hug. “You had us worried, child.”
“Sorry Grandma” Harri did her best attempt to give her a hug back.
“Now let’s go back out and join the family.” Maika smiled as Harri got off the couch she was laying on. She could hear her family in the other room talking and couldn’t wait to join them.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
“Harri” Haya walked into the room as Harri began to get ready for bed, her octopus still having a place of honor on her bed. She pulled on her purple nightgown with a picture of a bunny on it that fell to her ankles.
Seeing Uncle Skull as an adult was great and they had helped to establish his adult records, and made sure people saw him in town. He made a production of visiting his brother and family before he was forced back into toddler form.
When the curse was cured, Skull had his identity already and safe from the Arcobaleno. For the World's Greatest they really weren’t. Skull was the best actor.
“Mom” Harri crawled into bed before Haya came and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Your father and I have talked about it, and we’ve decided we’re going to allow you to wait until school until normal age.” Haya grabbed the green blanket from the foot of the bed, before tucking her daughter in. It was a small toddler bed having decided on a western style bed, perfect as Harri grew into it. It had been a gift from Bermuda after she was born. It was only recently that she was able to sleep in it.
“Thank you” Harri smiled as she nestled into bed. She had already said goodnight to Tetsu, but he was sleeping peacefully in his crib. He was worn out.
“Your welcome” Haya reached down kissing Harri on the forehead before making sure the nightlight was on. While Harri wasn’t afraid of the dark, the light helped her to be able to see if she got up to go to the bathroom at night.
For as mature as she was, she was still in the body of a toddler and had to go to the bathroom frequently. She also refused to wear a goodnight diaper just in case.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
“The thing about runes Harri is that they aren’t in just any one language” Death told the girl. Every night Harri went to sleep she was getting the knowledge from her flames and the first in a long time, from Death himself.
It was how she knew that she was going to be the last. Death doesn’t come to teach personally, usually it’s through the flames with the memories and learnings from past flame holders.
This time she was sitting at a student’s desk in a room Death considered the classroom. Personally, Harri just thought Death liked walking in the front of the room to an audience playing teacher. Harri had to wonder if this was how Death was taught.
“There’s three isn’t there?” Harri thought out loud. “Elder Futhark,Younger Futhark, and Angelo-Saxton Futhorc?”
“For most yes that would be it, but Harri there’s so much more” Death told her with excitement in his voice. For the first time he had a pupil that wasn’t scared of him and was eager to learn. Most people see him and leave right away. “We don’t just have the normal runes, we also have the Divinity, Celestial and my personal favorite Death runes.”
“Divinity as in Kami or God, Celestial for where they live and Death because of you?” Harri scrunched up her nose as she thought, and Death wanted to coo. She was just so adorable.
“And why are Divinity and Death considered separate?” Death had to ask. He wondered if Harri would get it, but it shouldn’t be a problem if not.
More teaching. Death was excited about it.
“Because Death comes to everyone. Even Kami’s and God?” Harri had wondered about that. Only Death could reap a God, for what was a God without followers? While Life could always make more, they still wouldn’t be the same ones as the ones Death had reaped.
“Very true” Death nodded to the blackboard he brought into existence with a wave of his hand. Grabbing a piece of chalk in a lighter shade of black Death began to write a series of runes on the board. “Now grab your notebook Harri, it’s time to learn Runes.”
With an excited bounce in her seat Harri grabbed her notebook and her pencil and prepared to write her notes. Learning from Death was fun.