Neko: Hunter Of Flesh

By Kawaii Kitty

Chapter One

Setsuna

A cat fur, with large ears and equally large eyes looked around as servants of her father’s home were moving about quickly, almost nervously. Her stormy gray eyes looked a bit worried and confused. The handmaids had been running about all day, making her curious. The skirt of her kimonos draped over her orange paws, covering them almost completely, save when she walked. Her top Kimono was of the color lilac, with silken flowers embroidered into it. Her skirt was a light gold color, as were the sash of her Kimono and the linings of her long, heavy sleeves. Her headfur was the color of the sweetest honey, with her bangs draping over her large, innocent eyes, split down the middle of her forehead. The girl was about the age of eleven.

She smiled as she recognized the doors to her father’s chambers. She giggled and ran to them, sliding them to the side happily. She stopped her giggling as she noticed her father meditating, as the scent of chrysanthemum incent smoke filled her nostrils. She closed the doors quietly behind her and crept to the ground in front of her father and sat, watching him meditate. He opened his gray eyes and smiled at her gently.

His fur was the same color as his daughter. His headfur was graying, as was a nice thin beard that had grown around his mouth and whiskers, falling off his chin a bit. His gaze was soft and gentle, filling the girl in front of him with happiness and pride. “Well good afternoon, Setsuna.” He addressed her softly.

She smiled and blinked. “Good afternoon, Father! I hope I didn’t disturb you…”

He shook his head. “Not at all, I was just finishing.” He picked up the incense and broke off the burning part in the small dish it was hanging over. “I know you didn’t just come in here to greet me. What’s on your mind?”

She smiled a bit and looked up at him. “What are all the ladies running around for? They seem awful excited today.”

The elder man chuckled a bit and sat down, folding his legs. “They are merely preparing.”

She blinked. “Preparing? For what?”

He smiled again. “I thought I told you. A respected prince from the mainland is coming to meet you.”

Setsuna giggled softly and took a lock of her headfur into her fingers and twisted it. She always loved meeting potential suitors that her father had picked out for her. They always brought such interesting gifts, always trying to win the respect of her father, who really had more say in the matter than Setsuna did. She thought for a moment, trying to imagine what this man would be like. She first pictured a squat little fellow, a squirrel fur with a large bushy tail and sandals that made him appear taller than he was. She then pictured a tall dark panther fur with the finest of kimono wrapped tightly around his body. She smiled and blushed softly at this thought.

“Now Setsuna.” Her father said to break her from her train of thoughts. “I don’t want you terrorizing this one like you did the others.”

The young fur giggled happily. "But why not? It is always so much fun to see how they react." She stopped giggling as she noticed her father staring at her sternly. She cleared her throat and looked down at the smooth wooden floor, carefully noting a knothole from which a small ant crawled from it. Setsuna watched it with her kitten curiosity heightened.

Her father sighed heavily and looked at his daughter intently. "Setsuna... you're growing up, possibly even faster than you imagine... It is absolutely necessarry for us to find you a mate before you get too old."

The young girl looked up at her father, then brushed her honey colored bangs from her eyes. "Why do I have to be so young to get married?"

"Because, daughter," he said in a calm, soft tone. "The men of the city like pretty young women who are capable of women's work." Setusna looked a bit saddened at this. Her father smiled at her kindly. "No need for worries. You will live with his family on the mainland." upon saying this, he turned his head away softly, obviously both saddened and disgusted by saying such words. "I know you will be much happier there."

She looked at her father sadly. "But I thought you hated mainlanders, daddy!"

He nodded. "That is very true. Ever since they exiled my family a four generations ago, I cannot say that I have completely forgiven them, but I have come to reason with them and have seen that they are not all bad, but merely run by a mediocre government, and that is something the subjects cannot help, or change." he smiled again. "That is why I have carefully chosen your suitor and I believe that you too will approve of him."

She sat up on her knees and smiled happily. "Who is he, father?"

The elder man chuckled softly. "I am afraid you will have to wait and see for yourself. He is expected to be here within the next few days."

Setsuna pulled her ears back and sat back down properly, her tail wrapped alongside the skirt of her kimono. "That is not fair... I want to know..."

The ruler chuckled again and pat her head softly. "In time, my daughter. All things are achieved with time. However, one must be patient and prepare themselves for the oncoming gifts of the future and embrace the joy and regret of their pasts as well."

She nodded. "I know, father. But you know me... I am impatient..."

"A young bud who has yet to blossom and shine is what I see." Her father consoled her in his soft voice. Setsuna smiled up at him and felt her face grow a bit warmer at her father's words.

There was a loud creak as the door to the room opened once more. A pretty young wolf fur with her black hair tied back in a tight bun stepped into the room and bowed formally. "Forgive my interruption, my Lord and Lady, but I have come to inform the young princess that we have a carriage ready to take her into town for today."

Setsuna's eyes lit up as she smiled excitedly at the young lady. She then turned to her father, her eyes practially pleading with him to let her go. He smiled and nodded. Setsuna giggled happily and hopped up, bowing to her father happily, her paws folded down her front. She then laughed again and ran to the servant fur.

She smiled down at the young princess and led her from the room and then down the steps of the tall castle. "I take it that you are quite excited."

Setsuna nodded vigorously. "Of course I am! I love seeing the townspeople in their daily activities! It is so much fun to see what they do when they do not expect to see us." she giggled happily. "And then when they finally do notice. I love this city and each one of its inhabitants..."

The servant smiled happily at her words. "You are quite special, Lady Setsuna. Very special indeed. You seem to... sparkle with a sort of aura. What that aura is, I cannot seem to put my claw on it." Setsuna's face flushed a shade of red. "Everyone loves you as you love them. You and your father are very good for this city. Very good indeed. I only hope that you plan to remain the same for the rest of your days."

Setsuna giggled and nodded. "I hope so, too."

The pair reached the bottom of the stairs and a pair of strong-looking Samurai greeted them with bows. "Thank you for bringing her, Kotone." the smaller, leopard guard said to the servant.

She blushed a small bit and bowed back. "It was my pleasure, Miroku." she smiled and then went back to her business about the castle.

The taller of the two, a well-groomed lion turned his gaze on Setsuna. "We shall be your escorts for this afternoon while you browse the marketplace. I am Kazuki, and this here is Miroku." he said as he gestured to the leopard beside him, who bowed deeply to the young woman in front of him. Kazuki smiled and opened the door of the castle, bringing a large splash of natural light into the room. "Now, if you would just follow us to your carriage..."

Setsuna looked at the floor and scuffed her sandal against it gently. "Um... If it is alright with you two... I would much like to walk today..."

The Samurai looked at one another and then back at Setsuna, Miroku speaking. "Are you sure that is what you want, princess? I mean, your shoes are not exactly for walking for long periods of time at once."

She smiled innocently, then looked down at her shoes. "Then I will simply take them off." The two furs looked astounded at this. "I like the feel of the marketplace on my paws. Gives me a sense of... pride, I suppose you could say." She giggled.

Kazuki looked a tad uneasy, then sighed. "Alright, then." He gave a small smile and stepped aside for the young girl to pass. "Shall we head out then, Lady Setsuna?"

Setsuna nodded her head of thick golden hair and giggled happily, running out of the castle, making sure her escorts were close behind her. She smiled as she spotted some of the members of her court, then ran out into the street, the looser parts of her kimono trailing behind her along with her long hair and tail. She kicked the dirt street a bit, giggling at the cloud of dust that came up with it, then looked out among the crowd, ready to embrace the day and the events that tagged along with it.

Author's Notes: well, well, well, well. Here we have the first look into the past. sorry that this is so short, but I promise, this story is going to be very long, so I guess this is worth it. Hope you people out there are liking this. It WILL get better. I promise.