The trees' boughs slightly moved about as a cool breeze swept across the dirt road, kicking up loose soil into the air. The heat of the sun could be seen rising above the road in the horizon.

A perfect day to catch unaware criminals.

Noriko walked along, watching the grass sway as the wind caressed the blades. Their soothing movements were the perfect distraction before a hunt. She had been following a man for hours after he had left the previous town. It was only by chance that she had spotted him leaving the same inn, stumbling around like an idiot. Though he had a larger sword than most killers and a yin-yang symbol on his back, she was certain she had found the jackpot.

Demon Eyes Kyo. The thousand man killer with a one million ryo reward.

She was pulled from her fantasy by the man's sudden movement. He had spread his body across the grass, taking a break from his trek.

It was time to act.

Gaining a running start, Noriko ran towards the nearby trees, kicking off the trunk to propel herself up into its limbs. She could feel the slapping of leaves against her skin but she didn't stop moving. If there was any hesitation at all, the demon would sense it.

And she would be dead.

Jumping from limb to limb, tree to tree, Noriko made her way to her target's resting place. He hadn't budged an inch.

Was he mocking her? Was she not even worth the effort?

She would not be made to look like a fool. As soon as she was directly above him, she kicked off the bottom limb, reaching behind her kimono for her blade. The man opened his eyes to see what the noise could be.

Noriko felt her heart skip. Not because the man before her was handsome, not in the least. But the fact was this man had black eyes. Black. Not red. This was not Demon Eyes Kyo. She only had enough time to tilt her blade a fraction, avoiding stabbing the man, and shut her eyes before the impact. The hilt shook as the blade pierced something, sliding through the material, sending vibrations throughout her arm. Her body shook in response.

Praying she did not impale the man, Noriko opened her eyes to see the man's dumbfounded face before her own, with her blade merely inches from his face. Breathing a sigh of relief, Noriko fell backward, resting her back on the tree she had jumped from. The man straightened up, only staring at the knife poking out of the ground and the girl who had suddenly appeared with it.

"Umm," he stuttered. "Are you . . .that was so cool!"

Huh?

"That was amazing! I wish I could do that! Are you a shinobi? I'm actually meeting a ninja!"

"I'm not a ninja," Noriko said coldly. "And you shouldn't where that outfit or that sword. You can get into some serious trouble with those."

"Why? Will I get robbed?"

It took all of her willpower not to scream at this man, to tell him that she had almost ended his life thinking he was the legendary demon. Not only would it have been pointless, but also embarrassing. How could she confuse a killer with a timid man?

"Are you alright, miss?" he asked. She could only stare at him. She had no energy to respond. "My name's Mibu Kyoshiro, a chemist. I have medicine if you want some?" Noriko only shook her head. The last thing she wanted to do was receive treatment by the man she was going to kill. "Well, if you say so. What's your name? It isn't Shinobi, is it?"

She glared at him. "Noriko."

Now that she got a better look at him, the humbleness of his character was completely shown on his face, almost soft like a child's. Though his hair was ruffled like that of a vagabond, his arms, poking out of his torn, sleeveless kimono, had a slight trace of muscle. His white clothes were completely covered in dirt.

"Noriko? That's a pretty name. So, Noriko, what are you doing here?"

"Hunting."

"Hunting? For what? Do you chase them in trees?"

"I hunt people with bounties on their heads."

Both became silent. "So you're a bounty hunter?" he started.

"Yeah, pretty much. Don't act so surprised."

"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean for it too sound insulting! I just couldn't believe a kid could become a hunter!" Kid? Noriko grabbed the collar of his kimono and threw him to the ground, grabbing the hilt of her blade as he dropped.

"Kid?," she growled, placing her dagger on his neck. "Do you think a child could do this?"

Noriko was furious. Kyoshiro, a man who couldn't fight to save his life, had called her a child! Her! If only he knew what she actually was. She could see the shock registering on his face as she exposed her origin, her inhumanity. A slight smile appeared on her face. What would the human do if he found out she was a god?

"Noriko?" Kyoshiro whispered. She was pulled back from her thoughts, blinking at the shock. "Are you-"

"Just shut up," Noriko snapped. He froze, but inched away from her blade. "Don't call me a child again."

"Sorry."

Noriko sighed before finally releasing him. She couldn't be rash. If she was exposed on Earth, there would be punishment back home. And Heaven's punishment for sinner's wasn't all that kind. Yet, for some reason, she wanted to tell him.

She had to leave, to get away from this man.

As Noriko rose, Kyoshiro jumped up. "Are you leaving?"

"Well, yeah. Your not my target, so there's no need for me to stay."

"I see. Well then, take care!" He quickly grabbed his belongings, a wooden box that she failed to notice, and ran. She watched him sprint down the road, not turning to look behind him.

It was a good thing he left. She could go back to hunting Demon Eyes Kyo without any hindrances. As she turned to head in the opposite direction, Noriko noticed a man putting up a new notice on a sign.

New bounties.

"Good morning, sir," she greeted as she approached him. "Any new bounties today?"

"Actually, we've got a few, but the newest one happened not too long ago. Couple days, I reckon." He rubbed his chin after he finished nailing the list. "It's a small bounty, though. Guy ran out of an inn without paying for his meal. Think his name was Mibu Kyoshiro?"

Noriko froze. Kyoshiro had a bounty on his head and slipped out of her grasp. Even if it wasn't high, he was still a wanted man. And he had feigned innocence right to her face! If word of this got back to Heaven, she would be a laughing stock!

She thanked the man before running in the direction Kyoshiro left. When she found him, she would hang him on the spot before turning him in. He would pay for tricking her!