Five years later, in the land of O-Rasen, Zayuki’s Manor

It is well known in the demon world, and somewhat known in the human world, that the lands of O-Maki, O-Gen, and O-Rasen are no places for the weak, be they human or demon, to tread. These three are known as the Three Lands of Demon Hierarchy, for the obvious reason that demon hierarchy resided there. O-Maki is the third in rank, O-Gen the second, and O-Rasen the first.

To say the least, Hari found it a little difficult to fit in the first ten years, but he’d gotten used to it. Zayuki had seen to that.

“O-Rasen will tolerate no weakness and neither shall I!” She used to say every single day. Whether Aunt Zayuki was very patriotic, or just very proud of herself for being strong and important enough to belong to O-Rasen… Well, that was anyone’s guess.

“Pack some things, Hari. We’re going to O-Seishi.” She’d said that morning, causing Hari to choke slightly on his breakfast(Aunt Zayuki had been very disappointed that he couldn’t hold his raw meat).

“O-Seishi? Not again!” He groaned, no longer hungry.

“Of course, again.” She huffed, “It’s been four whole years, and now it’s time to go again.”

“Tell me again,” Hari inquired, banging his head on the table and looking for all the world like the moody teen he was, “Why we attend these festivals if we hate humans so?”

“There is no ‘if’. We do hate humans. But this is tradition, Hari. Your ancestors have been attending these festivals for generations, and so will you.” She said with finality, tugging on the rather long ponytail on the nape of his neck.

Hari groaned again, rubbing his forehead, “…They’re disgusting…” He said, referring to the festivals themselves. Zayuki took it a different way.

“I know. Humans make me sick, too, but this is tradition. Even our superiors, how few of them there may be,” Hari snorted internally at this. They were middle class, at best, “Attend this festival. So we simply cannot not go. That would be disrespectful.”

Well, Hari agreed with her on that subject. One thing that no one wanted to do, no matter who they were, was disrespect hierarchy in O-Rasen.

“So,” Zayuki continued, “On that note – Go pack! It’ll take at least three months to get there, probably more…”

Hari sighed in resignation, knowing full well there was no getting out of it, and started trudging reluctantly back to his room.

The land of O-Hiai; the city of Darik

Hecate raised her eyebrow and stared. In the past five years she’d seen some good disguises, some that had even managed to fool her at first. Then again, she’d also seen some really bad disguises. But this… This was just sad.

The body was stiff and the face was contorted in fear, and, worst of all, there were two antennae sticking out of his open mouth.

“Say, Mr. Bartender…” She inquired, getting his attention, “There aren’t many people here today…” This was an understatement; Hecate was the only one there, “Think it’s because of the heat? You’re awfully sweaty.”

“Hot flashes.” He explained.

Hecate rubbed her lips together, making a ‘pop’ sound with her mouth, and nodded slowly, “I see.” She said, internally shaking her head. The poor bastard; He didn’t know what was coming.

“You buy drink or no buy drink?” He asked, his accent thick.

“Mr. Bartender… This may seem odd, but I think you’re a demon.” Hecate informed him apologetically, her hands under her chin and her eyebrow still raised.

The demon shook his head; well, tried to, at least. All he managed was to move it a little to the left, and not without a rather disgusting cracking noise. Dead bodies tend to be rather stiff, you know.

“No, no. No demon here. You go now, crazy lady.” He said, and, with some effort, lifted his arm and waved his hand. On the third wave, the hand fell off and landed in the bowl of nuts. Hecate looked at the hand, then looked back up at the demon, not saying anything.

The demon shrugged, “Arthritis.” He explained, his bony insect leg still waving.

Outside of the bar, a crowd had gathered. It had been quiet for the past five minutes; most of them wondered if the girl had been eaten already.

Suddenly, the roof was blown right off the top of the structure by a gust of wind from the inside of the bar, then an explosion broke the windows and the door right off it’s hinges. Finally, the water from the nearby well flowed right out of it and put out the flames, then receded back into the well, making quite a large splash as it hit the bottom.

Hecate walked calmly out of the bar, wiping the soot off her tunic and tucking her hair behind her ears.

“Done.” She announced simply, taking the small pouch of gold from the mayor, whose mouth was still wide open in disbelief.

“So,” She said, “Whose house am I staying at tonight?”

At least a dozen hands went up and waved frantically, more than two dozen voices shouting out their offers.

Ah, Hecate smiled, I love this job.

O-Soro, three miles from the border to O-Nyuuki

Atsushi often wondered what happened to the boy he used to be. God, he’d been stupid… Stupid, but significantly happier.

He hadn’t gone back to his old village, not even once, since he had left five years ago. Hell, it was the first time he’d even been back to O-Nyuuki in almost two years. He’d been traveling for the past five years, going wherever his feet took him. He was quite quick on his feet, to say the least, so his feet managed to cover quite a bit of ground in an insignificant amount of time.

O-Chu was so nice this time around… He mused lazily, Maybe I’ll go again--!

“Oof!”

“Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry!” The pretty girl who’d crashed into him apologized, bowing, “But…” She hugged him suddenly and tightly, catching Atsushi a bit off-guard, “Please help me!”

Behind her, three very gruff looking men were running in their directions, all of them carrying swords. Atsushi obviously didn’t need an explanation.

He scooped the girl into his arms and began to run. Less than a minute later, he set the girl down. She looked positively bewildered.

“What… What happened…?” She asked weakly, her hair a complete, windblown mess.

“I assumed you were on your way to O-Nyuuki, since that was the direction you were headed…” He explained, “You’re less than a mile from there now, and I’m sure you can make it there by yourself, so—”

“Atsushi?”

Atsushi blinked. He had not given the girl his name…?

She remained silent for a moment, then gasped in delight, “Oh, Atsushi! It is you! Don’t you remember me? It is I, Ebiru!”

Atsushi blinked a few more times before the name registered in his mind.

Ebiru. Shit. Atsushi had had the biggest crush on the girl, taking every possible chance to get her attention. Of course she’d remember him.

“Oh, Atsushi, we all thought you were dead! Just wait until I tell the others; they’ll be so surprised, they--!” Atsushi covered the girl’s mouth with his hand, smiling apologetically.

“You’re mistaken.” He said simply, removing his hand with a little bit of embarrassment.

“…I see…” She replied, “…Yes, you’re right. You’re nothing like Atsushi, you couldn’t be him…” She cleared her throat embarrassedly, “I’ll just be going home now, then.”

“That would be best.” He replied, nodding, “Goodbye.” He ran off before she could even thank him.

It… O-Nyuuki is still too cold. I’ll return in the summer. Atsushi told himself, knowing full well how dull the excuse was. O-Nyuuki was snowy all year round; returning in the summer would be no different, if he even returned at all. Perhaps I’ll go to O-Kiei… Yes, O-Kiei sounds best…

A bar in O-Dan, close to the border of O-Dan and O-Kiei

“These are the coordinates.” The bearded man explained, handing the red haired boy a map, “And this…” He continued, placing a good sized sack on the table, “…Is half the amount. You’ll get the other half when the job is done. Understand?” He nodded.

“You might wanna hurry and get your ass outta here, too.” His companion added, “A lot of very powerful ninjas wanted this job, and a few of them might be still aiming to get it; if you know what I mean.”

“I understand.” Suneshi replied quietly, placing the sack in his traveling bag.

“Now remember: Don’t kill her until after the wedding, else it’ll all be for naught. Alright?”

“I said I understand.” Suneshi growled slightly, getting up to leave.

“Yeah, yeah.” The man grumbled, then, under his breath, he added, “Damn red vulture…”

Bad move.

Suneshi whipped around, shoving the table to the side and grabbing the man by his throat, lifting him several inches off the ground.

“Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. What did you call me?” Suneshi growled, not caring that the man couldn’t answer him with his throat enclosed. His partner was horror stricken.

“Hey…! Hey, let him go!” Suneshi ignored him, his grip tightening. The man started to turn a purplish blue, “L-Let him go or the deal is off!” His partner yelled, and Suneshi’s grip lessened somewhat. After a few seconds had passed, Suneshi let him go altogether.

Wordlessly, Suneshi grabbed his traveling bag and left the bar.

The next day, in an O-Rasen forest

Hari really, really hated these festivals. But there was always a ray of light within the dark…

Mai was that light.

Hari had first encountered Mai two festivals ago. She’d been one of the new girls then, along with four others; Uta, Taiko, Fue, and Sami. Of course, that’s just what they were called. Hari didn’t know their actual names…

It was one of the many things that made the festival in question so disgusting, in Hari’s opinion.

You see, O-Seishi was well known for being the self-proclaimed ‘holy land’. Few others besides priests, priestesses and the famous Ashikobi resided there. The Ashikobi were girls that were chosen from nearby countries, usually anywhere from as young as the age of two to the age of six, and trained harshly to dance, sing, play various instruments, and do all of the above blindfolded. On festivals such as the ones Hari was attending, the most beautiful and well trained Ashikobi were chosen to dance, sing and play instruments for whatever crowd that was attending.

They were trained to do what they did blindfolded, because that was exactly how they performed. Ashikobi were among the holiest beings there were. It was said that an Ashikobi’s virginity would be compromised if she even saw a man. Because of that, Ashikobi’s teachers were always priestesses, and they were forced to wear blindfolds during their performances.

Of course, this led to screw ups. How is one supposed to dance or play an instrument properly when one couldn’t see their hands or feet? Screw ups weren’t taken well. Screams could often be heard from the back of the stage when an Ashikobi hit the wrong note or tripped over her feet.

Mai had become a wonderful dancer if her last performance was any indication. But the previous festival…

Eight years previous, at the Demon’s Festival in O-Seishi

The black haired girl twirled enthusiastically. She was, in fact, the only girl on that stage who looked enthusiastic at all. The others were pale and tense, trying their best not to shake too badly. Though it wasn’t noticeable, some had tears on their blindfolds. But this girl, four years of age at the time, had a disposition brighter than the sun, which had chosen not to show up that day. In fact, it was raining.

Which explains how it happened. The stage was located outside, much to the dismay of many fire demons or anyone sitting too closely to an electric demon. She was doing just fine until she got too close to the edge of the stage and slipped on the wet, polished wood, falling forwards and…

Right into Hari’s lap.

Hari couldn’t help himself. Surely, no other person Hari’s age could’ve helped themselves, not with such an opportunity placed, literally, right in their laps.

Hari lifted her blindfold.

Hari had seen some impressive eyes in his life, no doubt. He liked to think his eyes were rather impressive, himself. But that girl’s eyes… They were the most stunning eyes Hari had ever seen in his entire life. He hadn’t thought that humans could even have such eyes…

They were burgundy and gold, and had a cat’s sheen even though there was no light. The gold zigzagged through the burgundy like lightning, finally settling at the pupil. Like burgundy wine in a glass embellished with gold. There were many ways to describe her eyes, but none did them justice.

She stared at him, confused, awed, and…Well, Hari couldn’t really place the other emotion her features portrayed. No one had ever stared at him like that before…Her heartbeat quickened, as did Hari’s. He leaned down a bit, getting closer to the girl’s face. It was almost as if he were being drawn in to those amazing eyes…

The priestesses flipped. As fast as they could, they snatched the poor, disoriented girl right out of Hari’s lap and, covering her eyes with their hands, dragged her backstage.

Zayuki, not to mention many other demons, had laughed when they heard the clap of leather on the child’s backside, and the resounding screams and cries that followed. Hari just felt sick. He felt his heart sink to the bottom of his stomach and a lump rise to his throat. He’d never felt that way before, and couldn’t place exactly what it was that he was feeling in the first place. It still confused him why that feeling returned, though never as strong as the first time he’d felt it, every time he remembered those screams…

Back to the present

Hari shook his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts. That wasn’t even the sick part. The sick part came after all the Ashikobi had performed.

After the last performance, certain Ashikobi were taken to the front of the stage. Other Ashikobi, almost always younger ones, followed after them, carrying swords…

Ashikobi were not allowed to live past their first menstrual cycle. Their best friends were the ones ordered to kill them. The Ashikobi that replaced them were renamed after their renames, dating all the way back to the very first Ashikobi.

Hari often closed his eyes at that part, much to Zayuki’s annoyance. He couldn’t stand it…

They were denied their individuality. They were denied a full life. They were denied choice. Hard hearted as Hari had become in the company of his demon kin, he could not help but feel pity towards the beautiful Ashikobi.

Mai… He mused, barely paying attention to his surroundings, I wonder what her real name is… It must be beautiful…

A dirt road in O-Hiai leading to the border of O-Nin

Hecate hummed softly to herself, swinging her arm, which held the bag of produce she’d been given by the kind farmers of Darik, back and forth, and took a bite out of a carrot from said bag.

But Darik was miles away by now, and now Hecate was in a completely different area. And as was expected, the people around her, mostly farmers, were staring at her as if she had two heads. This was, of course, because she was wearing the clothes she normally wore; A man’s tunic.

They didn’t always mind their business, either. She’d been taunted, yelled at; even had religious charms thrown at her. She knew it was ridiculous, tried not to let it bother her; but it still hurt. Every time.

“Miss?”

Hecate blinked, then looked down. Tugging on her tunic was a small girl child with dark gold curls.

“Miss, why are you wearing that?”

Hecate blinked again, “Um…” She started, still processing the question, “I… They’re comfortable.” She said at last. The girl’s face expressed how lame the explanation was. Ah, children. The epitome of honesty.

“But Daddy says it’s not right. He says that you’re a bad woman.”

A bad woman.

Hecate had been called that many times, but not so… Directly. Hecate found she didn’t quite know how to reply.

The girl noticed her silence, “…But I don’t think so.”

Hecate stared at the little girl, “…You… You don’t?”

The little blonde shook her head, her curls swaying, “You’re different. That doesn’t make you bad.” She explained, smiling.

Hecate smiled, her heart warming, “Yeah… I know that… Now.”

“You must be really strong…” The girl remarked, noticing Hecate’s well toned, well earned muscles, “Can I be strong, too?”

Hecate got down to her knees so that she could be at the girl’s level, “You sure can.” She replied, nodding, “You can be as strong as you like, if you let yourself.”

The girl grinned, “My name is Atalanta!” She said, holding out her hand for Hecate to shake.

She did, “I’m Hecate.”

Suddenly, a very angry voice yelled from a nearby field, “HEY! GET AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER, YOU UNHOLY WOMAN!! YOU… HARLOT!”

Hecate started at this, her eyes narrowing. She was gripped tightly by a rare surge of defiance. She turned to the girl, taking her hand.

“Make me a promise, little sister. Promise me to do what you feel is right, and never listen to people who say you can’t do something, for whatever reason. Promise to become strong, just like you want to.”

Atalanta blinked, then grinned. She grinned mischievously and with a ferocity and spark of life that Hecate had not seen on many girls. She hoped that fire would never die.

“Okay, I promise!” She said, with all the vigor and enthusiasm that Hecate hadn’t had when she had made the same promise. Hecate felt a surge of pride in the girl.

“Atalanta, get away from her!” The girl’s father demanded, grabbing the girl and dragging her away from Hecate, “Stay away from our daughter!” He yelled, glaring heavily at Hecate.

In her annoyance, Hecate nodded, “I shall. She doesn’t need me, after all.” Standing up, she continued on her way.

She looked back only once, only to see Atalanta looking back at her. Her father had her arm twisted in his grasp, growling. However, through the pain, that same mischievous, rebellious, fiery grin was still plastered on her face.

Yes, Hecate decided, turning her head back towards her own path, She’ll do just fine without me.

The border from O-Soro to O-Kiei

He was only doing what his mother told him to…

Run away… Don’t try to be a hero…

…Maybe he was taking it a bit too seriously. Atsushi had been running ever since that day; finding that, somehow, a human limit had been broken that night… He’d broken it, and now he was too scared to try and break any more.

He told himself he was a coward every single day. He’d told it to himself numerous times on the run from O-Nyuuki. He could have easily checked in with his old family and friends… Just let them know he was alright…

But then they’d ask so many questions. So many questions he couldn’t answer… Answers he just couldn’t… Admit. Not to anyone else.

Where have you been all this time?

Oh, everywhere, really. I just couldn’t stand to come back here.

What have you been doing all this time?

Running, like a bloody coward.

Why didn’t you come back sooner?

Because I knew you’d ask these damn questions…

Atsushi shook his head and continued along the dirt path, the dirt behind him unsettling due to his speed.

The city of Meb isn’t too far from here… Yes, I think I’ll go to Meb…

In a hotel in O-Kiei, in the city of Nas

Suneshi sighed and took a swig of wine, then put the bottle on the table and sat down on the bed.

“MURDERER!! HOW COULD YOU?!”

Well, after the first three kills, it was surprisingly easy, actually. He just tuned out when his targets screamed. They didn’t scream for long, Suneshi made sure of that.

The first year without his people had been hell. He’d killed then for his own protection, and had found that he was pretty damn good at it, too. Then he’d realized how much better hired killing paid and decided there really was no other choice for him. What honest work could a devil rat find, anyways? None that paid nearly as good as this; that was for damn sure.

Your mother would die all over again if she saw you like this. A part of him spat bitterly.

“Yeah… She probably would.” Suneshi replied, getting up and taking another, long swig from the wine bottle. A bit dribbled down his chin. He licked what was near, wiped away the rest with his hand, then licked his hand clean. It’d be a shame to let good wine go to waste, after all.

Suneshi didn’t like people. He’d liked the Tsukishita’s. He’d liked his friends and family. But now they were dead. Suneshi wished that he were too, sometimes. But he didn’t try to kill himself. What would be the point?

He’d die sooner or later. Why kill himself, when so many others had their hearts set on the task?

Suneshi laughed and took another long drink, finishing off the bottle.

Yeah… He thought amusedly, I’ll die sooner or later…Might as well live it up ‘til then…