Breath Of The Flower

He looked weak. Laying there, helplessly in bed, gasping for air, body ridiculed with hideous scars, like thousands of bugs crawling under his skin. Watching his father struggling to live, Enmei realised for the first time what it means to be an Ubuyashiki. Hands trembling, tears threatening to fall, all he could do was watch his father die. His brother gently patted his back, he looked tired and weak.

"Kagaya..." their father called out.

"Yes, father", Kagaya replied instantly.

"Remember what I have taught you, lead our family well, and Enmei, remember to support your brother. Don't worry, I have prepared everything for this day but it is up to your abilities to uphold our family name... you children will do grea..t.." his eyes dulled, lifeless and unfocused. His body stiffened, the last of his breath left his body and his body began to lose it's warmth.

Enmei began to cry, he didn't understand what death meant. It was a foreign concept, he couldn't remember the death of his mother so this was his first time seeing someone 'die'. He hated this feeling, the sense of lost, he knew he won't be able to see his father again, he knew that he won't be able to see his father's smile, hear his stern tone, feel his gentle pats.

Watching his brother cry, Kagaya felt a lump in his throat. He bottled up his feelings and forced a smile.

"Don't cry Enmei..", he gently whispered, "when you cry, father will be sad".

"But... he's not here. He won't know I'm crying"

"...then don't cry for me. It hurts when I see you cry", Enmei stared at his brother, eyes widening.

Kagaya smiled at this, he cleared his voice and exclaimed loudly," there's no time to cry! Use this time to train, to get ready and stop the demons before more of our family is also lost. It's ok to cry but it's not ok to be overwhelmed by lost. Remember them in your heart, don't forget about them. Strengthen your resolution, get stronger! That would be something that father would say right now..." Both their hearts winced and an empty feeling stirred within them.

"I won't cry... I'll grow stronger and stop the demons", Enmei declared to his brother while wiping his tears from the back of his hands, "and maybe.. just maybe... I'll be able to find a cure for demons, the ones that were forced to become like this", he whispered softly.

"I'm sure you will..." Kagaya whispered.

The two brothers shared a short moment after their father's death together.

—-

"Im getting married", Kagaya dropped a bomb on Enmei.

"The wedding will be held next week, I already met her, her name is Amane and is 17".

"But brother, you are only 13, isn't it too early? It's has only been a year since father died".

"No, ever since father was alive, the temple has already chosen someone, plus our family required a heir since a certain someone has stepped down from that position", Kagaya replied with bitterness.

"Ok..." that was all Enmei could say.

—-

"Hello Enmei-sama", a beautiful lady greeted Enmei.

"Please call me Enmei, elder sister, and congratulations sister, brother", he replied.

"Thank you", she said while holding onto a baby.

"Thank you Enmei", Kagaya said while holding onto the other baby.

"Would you like to name them?", Amane asked, Kagaya nodded in agreement.

"Hinaki for the older one and Nichika for the second one", Enmei muttered, his face slightly red.

"Thank you, they are wonderful names..." Kagaya praised him.

~~~

The next year Amane gave birth to their first son, Kiriya.

Then a year after that, another pair of twin girls were born.

Enmei, at the age of 10, became an uncle to 4 children.