In the time of Feudal Japan, when the lands were covered with forests and mountains reach the skies, humans and demons lived among each other in the same world. Although some humans and demons could live together in peace and equality, there were some that found the idea repulsing and many demons could not imagine the concept of humans not being inferior to themselves.
This was the period of time when many wars were fought and much bloodshed was sprawled upon Japan. Not only were mortal humans fighting, but even powerful demons battled for the land for honor. Wars among demons could go on for decades, and neither foe would be close to death because of their immense and terrible strength.
Many demons scoured the land in search of power and conquest, some were fortunate to taste this reality, but others would fall to the hands of more powerful demons and never realize the feeling of supreme victory. There were also many who did not wish for domination and control over any being, whether a human or a demon, but instead favored peace between the two very different orders. In some instances, a human and a demon would find love in one another, and despite the common opposing ideals, they would choose to be together regardless of acceptance.
The love between a human and a demon could not have been more prominent then that of the Great Dragon Lord of the Skies and a simple farmer from a quiet village. The Dragon Lord was a beautiful and strong woman, whose strength and skill was unlike any other demon of Feudal Japan, and despite being a demon, she did not despise humans and their ways.
Lady Mizuyume was a master of the katana blade, especially Ryu-tsume, the blade forged from her own dragon claw, which she carried with her at all times. She used the sword to protect herself and the people of her lands, which were both human and demon, yet she cared not who they, but only considered that all living creatures existed as one living spirit.
Lady Mizuyume was a dragon demon who could transform from her human-looking state to her beast form whenever she pleased, and had done so for the hundreds of years that she had lived. She was barely seven hundred years old, although she appeared to be a young woman, when she met a simple farmer living in a tranquil bright village. They had fallen in love almost at first sight and they cared for each other very much, even though they were from two opposing walks of life. However, they did not care, and when Lady Mizuyume discovered that she was carrying a child, she and her lover were even more elated, but who were against them were not so joyous.
When she gave birth, Lady Mizuyume named the little child Akane, and she and her husband loved the tiny girl with all their heart. For a few years, Lady Mizuyume taught Akane the ways of the sword and helped her understand her demon powers. It was difficult for her, and even her mother, because Akane was a hanyou and found it upsetting at times when she could not understand why other children feared her and misunderstood what she was.
Akane was almost sixty in demon years, but looked around the age of ten years old, when she began to realize that her father was becoming very old. Since Akane's father was merely a human, he did not age as differently as his daughter or wife. Lady Mizuyume had known this from start, and was prepared for whatever the future would hold, but Akane did not. When her father had died, Akane was then raised by her powerful mother. Lady Mizuyume taught the young hanyou how to use Ryu-tsume with strength and accuracy, and showed the child the ways of hand to hand combat.
Almost a hundred years had passed, and Akane was now what appeared to be a young woman, and she traveled beside her mother for guidance and wisdom. Akane herself had become quite strong, which her mother had noticed and praised considerably, and Akane, like her mother, was still kindhearted and responsible.
One day, while exploring through the lands of Feudal Japan, Lady Mizuyume and her daughter were approached by a man with a deadly and sinister scent. This evil man was named Naraku, and after stating his wish to kill the Dragon Demon Mother, he captured Akane and put her under a short freezing seal, and disguised himself as the hanyou girl.
He discovered Lady Mizuyume once again and started a battle with the powerful yokai and fought for hours on end. However, Lady Mizuyume could not stand attacking her child any longer, so she let her guard down. Naraku sent one final blow to the Dragon Lord of the Skies and was only able to absorb a little of her demonic power. Naraku left and removed the seal from Akane, setting her free and allowing the daughter to find her mother. Before leaving, Naraku told the hanyou that if she wished to battle with him one day that he would be waiting and ready to destroy her and consume her power too. Naraku vanished moments later.
Akane feared the worst, and when she had caught her mother's scent her fear began to intensify even more. She followed it to an opening in the forest where she could see her mother lying on the dirt ground, badly injured and on the brink of death. Akane went to her mother's side and wept upon her body. With the last of her strength, Lady Mizuyume knew that it was not her daughter who had fought with her, but the vicious demon Naraku.
The Dragon Lord calmed her grieving daughter and told her to take Ryu-tsume and use the sword for good, and to protect those that she loved, and to remember who she was and where she had come from, regardless if she was a hanyou or a full blooded yokai.
Fifty years had gone by quickly, like waves crashing upon the sand, and the sorrow from Akane's past had subsided, but still held a prominent place in her mind. She had wanted so much to find Naraku and avenge her mother, but after her death Naraku's whereabouts had diminished and Akane's hope of finding him had almost disappeared.
Until recently, news of Naraku had begun to reemerge and she had set out on her own to discover his location and take him down by herself. Feudal Japan was a dangerous and unexpected place to travel alone, but Akane's strength was great, and she was able to defend herself with ease.
Like her mother had instructed, Akane wielded Ryu-tsume and used the sword for good upon her mother's wishes. Ryu-tsume allowed Akane to use its strength whenever she pleased, and both owner and sword grew a powerful bond.
Her mother's blade had given her great comfort, since it was the only belonging she had left of her mother. Akane had also inherited the dragon demon's beauty and strength. Her hair was a crisp color of white, and her eyes were the color of the sea on a bright and cloudless day. Although she was petite in size, she could unleash a great deal of power when she wished, which was a surprise to many of her opponents and enemies.
She had grown to be very much like her mother; however, Akane frequently felt resentment to demons and humans alike. Although her mother had told her to accept herself, even though she was a hanyou, she began to realize that as her skills improved over the years many of her foes could not tell that she was both human and demon. Going against her mother's guidance, she kept the secret of her mixed blood to herself after Lady Mizuyume's death.
Now, after hearing of Naraku's new surfacing to the world again, she had decided to travel the lands for as long as she could possible do so, and she had hundreds of years to use to find him. Akane had only been traveling for a few weeks with very little clues and hints of the malevolent demon that she hoped to find.
After a few days of continuous walking, she was now in a small hut in a tiny village near a flower field, sitting on a straw mat in front of a short table. Across from her sat an old monk, probably nearing the age of sixty, staring back at her while they sipped at cups of tea. He was a bit stern looking, he carried a long staff with purple beads, and he wore a simple red robe.
The monk was capable of great spiritual power and was not afraid to use his skill. However, he did not fear Akane at the slightest, because he knew that her intentions were not evil ones, and that she merely wished to speak with him.
The tea that Akane sipped from the clay cup soothed her throat and body, and began to ease her weary mind. She was tired of course from days of no sleep, and she tried carefully not to spill the tea on her white and silver kimono, which was already a bit dirty from her endless traveling.
She let out a great sigh and placed the cup down on the table gently, taking her hands away from the warmth of the hot tea. The monk knew that she was tired and did not mind the short silence that existed between them at the table. None the less, he knew why she was here, and did not want to make her wait even though she would have probably not minded a few more minutes of silence.
"I purified the water and blessed the tea so that is may ease your mind. You must have been traveling without sleep and with much worry on your mind," he said calmly.
Akane closed her eyes and sighed a bit more. The monk was definitely on point. She opened her eyes and focused her gaze on the clay cup in front of her, beginning to understand the tranquility that slowly began to ease her thoughts.
"Yes, I do feel much better than I have in a while. Thank you for allowing me to sit with you." She bowed her head as the monk looked upon her. He was also quite calm, but still seemed serious and straight faced, none the less.
"There is no need to thank me. I see that you carry a demon sword and that you have a demon aura. You have much power, yet you seem to be quite debilitated," the monk stated
"I have been in pursuit of a terrible demon for many nights now, and I haven't been very lucky in my search," she explained, lowering her head a bit.
"This demon that you have been tracking is Naraku, is it not?"
"Yes, but how did you-." The monk interrupted her before she could finish.
"Demons aren't the only ones that are aware of Naraku's existence. Even humans are trying to find him, even though it is foolish of them to do so." The monk looked upon Akane's bewildered face, and new that he had guessed right.
"Please, tell me all that you know. Do you have any news of where he could be? It would be a of great help to me." Akane was a bit impatient and hoped that the monk could aid her in her journey.
"It has been said that Naraku seeks the shards of the Shikon Jewel, and that his whereabouts would be best related to whoever may possess one of the shards."
"Was it not destroyed by the Priestess Kikyo fifty years ago? What has caused the Jewel to be fragmented?" Akane asked even more impatiently, not wanting to waste any more time.
"I was a young boy when the Priestess died, and I do not know of the cause for the Jewel to be in existence now. I am sorry that I could not be of more help to you." The monk rose from his seat on the floor, and Akane did the same.
The two of them walked out of the hut and into the outside air where the wind gently pulled the trees, swaying them back and forth like an old dance. Akane and the monk looked upon the dancing trees and felt the air whistle passed them, while it slid through the strands of her hip length hair and around her body. Before leaving the monk, Akane turned to him and gave him a tiny smile.
"I appreciate your kindness, and that you shared your knowledge with me. It has helped me greatly," her voice said softly, thanks to his tea.
"The wind tells me that many things are ahead, and that there are many dangers awaiting both humans and demons. I wish you a safe journey...Akane no Mizuyume."
Although the monk's last words startled her a bit, she dared not show it, but instead kept a calm face. She bowed to him once more and left his home, while asking herself how he had known who she was and of her journey.
Could it be that he knew of my mother? She questioned herself.
He had seemed to be very wise and thoughtful, so she did not question his knowledge of her any longer. Instead, Akane focused on what was really important: Naraku.
