Rade's Demon Elimination Service

Chapter 26: Viewing of the Pink Blossoms

"They say that if you write your wish on a paper lattern it would come true," Lyu said while his eyes browsed through the stalls that were selling paper lanterns— face glowing from glee.

"Bull," London contradicted, but he was already holding a very pretty pink lantern on his hand, ready to write on it.

"That's nice," Rade only said, looking at the pretty pink lantern by London's hands.

Being punished by compensating the damages she did, Rade has to tighten her belt even more than before though she knew that there was no expenses that she could cut off for this month. She has started working for on hunting demons but her rate per demon would only suffice for her meals for a day. Including her electric and water bills and even the rent on her small low-rise apartment, it would definitely not be enough.

Far from it, she thought with grimness.

She didn't like lanterns anyway. They were just pretty things meant to parted with, what was the use of anyway? But Rade's throat swallowed a lump forming, her eyes were lingering on the pretty lights.

Her heart and mind were telling her two different things— one was for logic while the other was to appease her caprice.

"Would you like one, Rade?" Kalleid asked her. He was walking beside her, pushing New York's wheelchair gently as to not bustle him. The person on the wheelchair looked at Rade languidly, waiting for his answer. "New York's paying for it," Kalleid added.

"Yeah, because I understand that you all are flat broke," New York teased and chuckled, making a gesture on the pretty lanterns. "Just choose what you like."

Rade has started shaking her head shyly, wanting to refuse even such a small gift to her, when Lyu threw his hands up and celebrated with an exclaim. The boy's plump cheeks bounced and he hurriedly picked up another pink lantern with drawings of flowers all over it. It was as pretty as London's and suited the delicate looks of the boy.

"Thank you, New York," he said to the boy in wheelchair and held up his lantern, careful not to rip apart the delicate walls of it. Since the lantern has not yet been lit, Lyu kept it close to his body. "Rade, you too!" he urged at her.

"Ehh," New York said, a judging expression in his face, "is it you that Kalleid asked?" he asked.

"You already bought, you can't just bring it back," Lyu protested, a smile on his bouncy cheeks. From behind him came his older sister who patted his head gently.

"How shameless," Megumi remarked and smiled. She turned to New York and asked, "Won't the Lady Aldeia be coming to the lantern parade? This is, after all, your family's prerogative."

Rade looked at the people, attempting to ask about the implication on Megumi's words, but it was Nina who answered her even without voicing out loud her question. All of them were busy talking to each other. Megumi to London about official matters, Lyu to both Kalleid and New York about the lanterns that grant wishes of people. It was Nina, who just met up with them by chance, that answered Rade's questioning glance.

"The lantern parade has been held for the Aldeia clan for a long time now," Nina said, a slight nostalgia and reminiscence on her voice. "This has been held for generations and hopely more generations to come, but the Aldeia clan's never been the one for parties so only representatives join the parade."

After meeting up with London, New York, and Lyu, Lovenya Kov or most commonly called as Nina also joined the company. There was a very faint flush on the older woman's ears and cheeks and a distinct scent of alcohol on her breath when she spoke indicating that she has drank.

"It's a tribute for the Aldeia clan that thanked them for protecting the city," Nina continued. "Of course, no one really knows about the meaning behind the celebration, but who doesn't like good ole festival?"

Her head was looking at the little lanterns hanging on up and lighting the whole festivities. The sun has already settled out of sight and the moon nestled on the very center of the sky, high and remote amidst the blue darkness of the night. The ground was littered with pink petals of the cherry blossoms, and when the wind blew there would be marks of the pink traces. People around are all smiling and the grilled foods being sold in the stalls were fragrant, staining the wind with their smoke.

Rade understood, marvelling at the greatness of the clan.

"You're really pretty today," Nina said, smiling as she did so. "The kimono suits you very fine. Anyway...." Nina's voice trailed away, her eyes were still on the trees shedding their flowers.

Rade heard a sad sigh and when she stared closely at the older woman, there were tears that Nina refused to let go of. She looked very alone, Rade noted and inexplicably felt forlorn at the sight of the older woman.

Her eyes went to her friends' direction. There was someone that was alone and it wasn't her. Somehow, it made her happy that she wasn't as blue as she used to be. She might have lost of the sense of home on the way here, not knowing if there was deaty or life, but she still felt happy with the warmth that she has been provided with by these people.

"I think I should go," Nina told Rade. "Would you tell them that I went to see my husband?"

Rade nodded before asking curiously, "You're having a date with your husband? Or would he only fetch you from here?"

"A date, I think," Nina answered, a smile despite her glass eyes. "See 'ya, Aldam!" she said and waved with the same smile before blending in with the crowd of people.

How could a smile be so hard to look at and be so sad at the same time, Rade have no idea but she still nodded at Nina. She also waved her hand at her then turned to the other people.

"Raaade!" Lyu called out to her and gave her a refreshing green paper lantern, the pink one stubbornly glued to his hand. "This one is for you."

"Thank you," Rade said, picking the paper lantern on Lyu's hands. "Nina already left," she told Lyu, "said she's meeting her husband. I didn't know she has a husband. She... she looks so young to be married, I think."

Half of Lyu's smile fell. He drew Rade closer to himself, telling Rade of the details but his eyes were on the lanterns between them. Lyu was holding a lantern on one hand while holding on to Rade's free hand on the other, they were both looking at the lanterns in between them.

"She had a husband," he corrected Rade. "Most of the hunters would marry young because most often hunters would also die young. Descendants are everything for them since it's very seldom that they see the same potential with mortals."

That was very true, Rade thought. That was the exact reason she never think of the future that was ahead of her. She never thought she would make it past her twenties, much less so on her thirties.

Rade never expected anything of life to begin with.

"Shall we light the lanterns?" Megumi interrupted.

Without noticing of it in between them, Rade unconsciously ignored the silence that grew between her and Lyu while the latter was looking at her, watching her expression changed in between the lanterns.

"Yes!" Lyu answered positively, if he was ever affected by what he told Rade, he didn't let it get into his mind and occupied it, banishing any darkness or sadness that lingered on his mind. "Come on, Rade!" he called to Rade who was left on her spot, staring blankly at the green lantern New York bought for her.

"Okay," she said and walked behind them, her wooden sandals were a little noisy which continously clop against the pavement.

A lot of people were also wearing kimono and yukata while admiring the falling cherry blossoms. Some people have gathered by the little lagoon in the park, lighting their own lanterns. The skies have already been alighted with dotted glowing silhouettes of the flying colorful lanterns.

Kalleid, New York, and London were all starting to light their own lanterns. Before Rade attempted to light her own, Lyu intervened her. He handed a marker over to her.

"What is it for?" Rade asked him, but she still reached out for the marker being handed over to her.

"I told you, didn't I?" Lyu responded. He turned his pink lantern on one side, seemingly hiding something, but since the paper that the lantern has been made of was truly thin and the lantern has already been lit, Rade could faintly see what was on the other side of the lantern that wasn't facing her. "If you write a wish on the paper lantern, it would come true."

She looked at the boy yet again.

She used to think nothing of life and now she expected herself to wake up and meet these people everyday. What was her wish? She was not alone any longer. Even when life was a little or maybe really difficult, she somehow get by and survive.

What was her wish?

She started writing her wish and also lighted her lantern with the lighter that Megumi passed over to her. Rade looked at Lyu, closing her eyes and uttering a prayer though she was never a believer herself.

When she opened her eyes, she got caught on the gaze of Kalleid. Kalleid has still white strands on his hair, but not as bad as before. He was still holding his own lantern while he helped New York light his. The same gentle expression was on the boy's face, making him more of an angel rathern than a real demon.

Thank you, Rade mouthed at him.

He believed she could still live in this world when she didn't even think she deserves to walk on this earth.

Summoning a gentle wind, Megumi let their lanterns and some other lanterns from the mortals who were also participating floated through the air, away from the reach of people and up to the moon. Rade thought that the lanters were now so far away, they could be as remote as the moon hanging on the sky.

"What's your wish?" Rade asked Lyu, but he shook his head at her. "Why?"

"It won't come true if you tell other person about your wish," Lyu told her, "you'll jinx it!"

"Then I won't be able to tell you mine too," Rade concluded and the person in front of her nodded his head indignantly.

"That's how it works," Lyu said.

There was a delicate laughter behind them and Megumi appeared behind them. The orange lights from the lanterns' fire lighted her features and made her more beautiful. Her peach blossom eyes were bright and curved around the edges.

"Don't believe everything this child would say to you, Rade," Megumi said, chuckling with Lyu's foolishness and goofy smile. She patted her younger brother's curling hair affectionately. "The float parade will start soon, we should go."

"Yah!" Lyu exclaimed, he beamed at Rade cheerfully with his dimples out. "Let's go while the streets were still not too full. We wouldn't see the floats if we are too late!"

Lyu then dragged both his older sister and Rade towards some direction. Behind them were London, and Kalleid that was still pushing New York's wheelchair. Rade couldn't help but notice the vigilant people flanking both sides of the pathwalk. It was noticeable and apparent, or at least to Rade's well-trained and skilled eyes, that they were here for the injured and still recuperating Aldeia scion.

The hunters' eyes, four of them to be exact, were looking and throwing daggers through their eyes at the half demon siblings happily walking just in front of their masters.

"Don't mind them," London told Rade when he noticed the younger girl being uneasy by the presence of strangers. "Geneva is still wary about New York's condition. Tsk!" London clicked his tongue noisily. "I know those goons would ruin this day!"

"Not really, London," Rade disagreed, waving her hands in front of her in denial. "I only noticed them for a fraction just now and wondered."

"Come on then, my junior," London said, linking one of his arms with Rade. "And we'll see the floats in the parade."

The onlookers and viewers were all at the each side of the road, waiting in anticipation for the parade to start. When the drums started playing, the onlookers and viewers all cheered happily. The sound of the music was festive, fitting of the occassion, and the cherry blossoms' petals were falling, raining the parade with beautiful pink traces.

The floats came in an organized succession, dancers were going and snaking around each of the floats. There was the big lantern float, shining brightly and warming the night. A very massive flower float also caught Rade's attention. There was at least a half a dozen floats that were paraded, all were either prepared with grandiosity or a little sloppy at the sides.

All in all, it was very enjoyable for Rade and she found herself laughing at the interactions between the performers and the audience. When Kalleid, London, or Lyu would point at something to her or tell a joke about some particular, Rade found herself being submerged into sweetness.

Was it okay to be this happy and carefree?

That was what she thought.

Was it this easy to be so happy?

The parade ended with another exhibition from the performers and showing off a very familiar symbol. The symbol of the Aldeia clan of which this festivity and occasion was all done for.

There was still a mini concert by the erected platform near the center of the park, but there was a noticeable somber ambiance among the company and Rade realized that this must be where the day would come to its end. They went to get some refreshments on the stalls and ate little since they have already finished what London and Lyu prepared earlier when they sat down and admired the falling cherry blossoms.

Megumi had her art materials out and painted a simple yet beautiful portrait of a particular cherry blossom tree. Rade tried to do the same, borrowing some paper and paintbrush but she only butchered and made the paper wet to the point it broke apart and became a mush.

Rade guessed she didn't do as badly as New York who was convinced he created the next Mona Lisa though his delusions were quickly shattered by Kalleid who stood by his side and butchered the painting himself for the safety of everyone's eyes.

"It's too deep into the night for us to be out like this, Lyu," Megumi said worriedly, her forehead was knotted and her eyes were glancing around them anxiously. She turned to Rade and tried to smile gently though there was still the same concern on her peach blossom eyes. "Do you mind if we go ahead first, Rade?" Megumi asked Rade.

"No, I don't," Rade responded. "Do you want to be escorted back to the Attic? I wouldn't mind it," Rade offered which was very politely turned down by Megumi.

"Nonsense, you should enjoy yourself here, Rade," she said, patting her hands. "This only happens once every year so you should have fun with some of the other hunters. I'm afraid Lyu wouldn't last too long outside with this lot of people. I should probably get Kalleid too and remind him not to be out too late or he'll get colds."

"Yes," Lyu agreed, nodding his head. "Or he'll be sick again. You know he can't withstand the cold."

"Then I will see you tomorrow," Rade said, waving her hand, "and thank you for dressing me up."

Megumi walked first and, before going and following his older sister, Lyu gently grasp Rade by her hand. His grip was so weak that Rade thought she would break him by just being held by him. When she looked back to Lyu to ask what was wrong, she could see that there was the faint flush on his cheeks.

"You look really pretty in kimono," he said with a warm smile at the edge of his lips. "And earlier when I told you about Sis Nina, I hope you don't take it to the heart. What happened was sad and Sis Nina loved her husband dearly, or so I've been told, but we are all here for you. I wish we could all stay happy and together like this, Rade."

With a suprise, Lyu pulled Rade in for a supposedly bear hug that wasn't so tight. Before she could react, Lyu was already going through the throngs of the multitude of the people, his weak and very delicate frame was drowned by the countless of bodies walking and browsing around.

"Aiyoh," London complained loudly while eating crackers. He walked beside Rade, who was still staring at the lights that were fading through the darkness of the night. "They went and left us two behind, Rade."

London was wearing a long casual modern robe that was being blown by the wind, fluttering elegantly. He looked over at Rade.

"Shall we part ways here, London?" Rade asked London. "I'm rather tired to walk around actually."

"Oh well, I'll still go around," London told Rade. "Do you want my driver to get you home? Sorry we have to separate like this, my junior. Kalleid cannot handle the cold nights like this, and New York's still recovering from his injuries, and Miss Megumi is scared that some random hunter would spot the two of them and attempt anything."

"I had fun, London," Rade reasoned. "I think this day is very memorable still."

London laughed energetically as if the activities he did earlier such as joining to a food fight, playing around the different games and insisting on winning although most of the times he would lose, and even making himself busy with shopping clothes and apparels.

He was one busy lady on this day, being the happiest among of all of the company.

"Aiyahh!" Londone exclaimed loudly, hitting Rade on the back which forced her to take a few steps foward because of the impact. "You're very simple to make happy, my junior!"

"Then I'll bid my farewell here," Rade said formally to the young man. "Thank you for this day."

Rade was the on who turned her back and walked away. Her wooden sandals were clip clopping on the pavement. The darkness has fallen deeply but it wasn't too late for kids to be around and Rade has been seeing them everywhere. There were all sorts of people around.

Meanwhile, Lovenya Kov was still wandering around the festivity. She could feel the feeling of being pressed down by the world around her, not being cared how the cut that has been made ten years ago was still hurting and probably bleeding still.

Through the haze of her blurry eyes, she saw Rade and the shadow that lurked behind her, tailing her wherever she goes. Shaking her head, Nina looked more closely before making a drastic move. It could only be her imagination or it could be really nothing.

Or someone that was actually following Rade.

A glint of metal alarmed Nina and as soon as she saw a boy took out a familiar bow from a massive black drawing tube behind his back, she ran towards Rade and shouted.

"Rade, behind you!" she shouted, drawing her whip that was curled on her arm like an elegant but deadly bracelet.

It was only in the nick of time that Rade looked back, already drawing her scimitar from the marks on her skin that has the scent of ominous death and blood and deflected the bullet speeding to her.

Nina stood, frozen still.

Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she looked at the young girl that unbelievably deflected the hours per mile bullet towards her. What was more unbelievable was the person. Fair hair rustle through the wind, elegant and with grace.

A year ago, the face of the Haeven children were all over the hunters' society. Cloaked in secrecy and mystery, their corpses were never found and empty caskets were paraded and tears and flowers flooded the streets. Nina could remember sympathizing to the young children. So young and not even the roundness of their youth has fled from their fair faces, but still, there was no body that was supposedly lying dead on a casket. People cursing over and over again the cursed bloodline of Aldam and its last descendant, Elora Isolde.

The girl whose face was plastered on tarpaulins was pretty and have the eyes of darkness based on the pictures on her wake. The only hunter heir of one of the most powerful clans in the hunters' society. No one paid attention to the other kid since he was practically nothing compared to his sister, or at least that was what other hunters think.

"Laurinette Haeven?" she whispered.