Leiko,

Is it you who makes the clouds cry today? All day I've been hearing the rain going pit-pat against my window. And all day I've been thinking of you.

Everyone tells me that it's not my fault; that no one is to blame. But that's a lie. A good friend is supposed to be there, and I wasn't. I never realized how much pain you were in, even though the signs were there all along. The red cuts on your wrist, your sad blue eyes, the strange e-mails. I ignored them all, afraid of what it could all mean. But when you finally ran into that speeding car, I couldn't ignore you anymore.

Your presence haunts me now. Everywhere I go I am reminded of you. Even in my dreams, I can't escape you. You've come to me every night, always holding a bright golden flower. You toss it to me, and I can only watch as it falls softly to the ground, to be instantly crushed by a booted foot.

These dreams mean something, I know it. But what are you trying to tell me Leiko?

Your dear friend,

Josephine

This letter is the only thing I have from my old life. That and the clothes I wear now, muddied and shredded after so many days in this strange realm of monsters.

I'm not exactly sure how I got here. I was rambling around the forest, and then I saw a flower, just as golden as the one in my dreams. I wanted to take it to Leiko's grave. But as I bent over it, something strange happened. I didn't even notice it until the flower slipped past my fingers, disappearing into the black hole that wasn't there a second ago. The grass sunk lower and lower into the unfathomable abyss and though I tried to run, I slid into the hole as well. I fell screaming and found myself here.

Here is a place full of strange, hideous creatures and an endless sea of black trees. At night the moon is blood-red, like a glaring eye. During the day the sun is unbearably hot, magnifying the smell of rotting flesh. I can't count how many corpses I've seen. They're everywhere, attracting buzzing flies. Sometimes a monster seeks them out, eager to gnaw on the dead meat. These creatures are disgusting and bloodthirsty. I've managed to escape them so far, hovering on the towering trees of this thick black forest. I watch them go by, eying their horned heads and sharp weapons warily – what if they find me and want to eat me too?

I can't let my thoughts drift there though. I'll go mad with fear.

The blazing sun is setting behind the distant mountains. Before, I would have drunk in the glorious sight. But now, it fills me with dread. I can't see anything in the darkness, but I can hear their strange growls and mutterings, and the screams of their victims. I fold the letter to Leiko and tuck it inside my bra, stuffing it into the space between my breasts, since my skirt has no pockets. Now is not the time to think of the past. I have to find a place to spend the night.

I stand up and leap for the dangling branch of the adjacent tree, landing on my belly. With a groan I get up and reach for the nearest branch. This way I move clumsily through the treetops, wincing whenever I make a sound. Sometimes I wonder how I even survived this long.

Eventually I stop at a giant old tree with drooping branches. I can barely see my own hands in the complete darkness, but I manage to find a branch to sit on.

I'm wide awake after my daily nap. My whole body is tense. I can hear strange calls in the distant, and occasionally I hear a scream. The inhuman sounds still make me shudder, even after all this time. I vaguely wonder how long I've been here – three days? A week? Maybe more?

And then there's an even stranger sound, closer to me. In fact, it's directly behind me. It sounds like a deep, breathy sigh.

I jump, startled, but I don't see anything.

For a long moment there's only an unbearable silence. And then I hear it again, along with an echoing groan.

The branch beneath me sways suddenly, and I dig my nails into its skin desperately. A short scream escapes my mouth.

"Ahh...what's this?" the branch bends horizontally like an arm so that the end of it grazes the tree trunk. I stare at it, shocked to see what looks like a large eye, double the size of my head, blinking at me.

"A human...?" it breathes, its eye widening. I suddenly know where the voice is coming from – further down the trunk is gaping hole, bent to form a misshapen mouth. From here I can see the tips of sharp, teeth, almost glowing in the shadows.

I tear my eyes away from the sight and instantly regret it. My eyes stray to the giant eye before me. There's only a pinprick dot for a pupil, and the rest is all white, almost glowing in the darkness.

"The last human..." it murmurs. The branch beneath me keeps moving, as if breathing. "Scrawny little thing...aren't you?"

I frown, suddenly angry. My first though slips from my mouth. "Next to you, yeah!" I snap, my voice hoarse from so little use. Then I gasp and clasp my hands over my mouth, realizing what I've said could cost me my life.

He chuckles, much to my surprise. The branches shake with the sound. "How rare...to find a human...so full of life." he eventually breathes out.

The branch underneath me is somewhat still, but my fingers are still digging into the bark. Glancing down I'm surprised to see my hands are shaking violently.

"What's your name...?" he asks after taking in a deep breath.

"Josephine." I say, a bit warily. Is this demon going to eat me, or what?

"Josephine..." he repeats airily. "It's too pretty a name for you..."

"Hey!" I cry out indignantly. "I'm not at my best okay? I've been out here for...god knows how long and...I haven't eaten...anything really..." I look away, my eyes watering.

"Do you want to...go home child?" he says after a long silence.

I turn back to the tree, quickly blinking back tears. "Can you do that?" I can barely restrain the growing excitement in my voice.

His mouth twists into a smile, made creepy by the fact that its a tree smiling at me.

"Perhaps..." he sighs. "But first...you must get me...something."

"What do you want me to do?" I ask warily.

"There's a demon round here...he wears a valuable stone necklace...a frozen tear...it's very rare...if you get that stone for me...I'll aid you...in return..." he coughs.

It only takes me two seconds to consider it. "All right. I'll do it."

He chuckles, at my enthusiasm I guess. "Good...good...but be forewarned...he is a formidable foe...a master of blades and fire... and he is bloodthirsty..."

"He's a demon. Of course he's bloodthirsty." I say deadpan.

The tree grins. "I am a demon as well...but never have I lusted for the blood and pain of others...like he does..."

"I guess I can't fight him then..." I murmur to myself.

"Not..." he chuckles, making his branches quiver. "...in your current state...no..."

I look down at myself, noticing that my legs are thinner than they used to be, and my shirt is so ripped that my scarred midsection is bare. Just then, my stomach growls, and I'm reminded of how hungry I am.

"Eat some of my fruit...if you're hungry..." the tree sighs, shaking one of his branches near my face. In the darkness I hadn't even noticed it, but the tree bears plenty of fruit, vaguely shaped like pears. I grab one, study it for a moment, and then sink my teeth into it. I immediately spit it out – it has a bitter taste, and oozes slime that coats my hand.

"This is disgusting!" I cry out, wiping my hand on my skirt.

"To a human...perhaps..." he breathes.

"It's not poisonous, is it?" I ask slowly, the thought just hitting me.

"No..." he sighs. "What's the use...of poisoning you...?"

In the end, I eat the fruit with a grimace on my face. When I'm done, I immediately feel better though a bit sleepy.

"Can you tell me more about him?" I ask after awhile. "The fire demon?"

"I know very little about him...he is very secretive..."

I nod thoughtfully. "Where is he exactly?"

"That...I'm afraid...is unknown to me..."

I fold my arms. "What – no clue?"

He shakes his branches as if shaking his head. "You must...find him...yourself..."

"I can't wander around here! I'll be dead in a second!"

"Perhaps...there is something...that will give you strength..." he coughs again. "There is...a drink...that gives those who drink it a boost in power...but only one knows the recipe around here..." he pauses and lets out a breathy sigh, as if exhausted. "His name...is Yoko Kurama..."

"Yoko Kurama," I repeat the name. "And the fire demon? What's his name?"

"Hiei..." he answers, and then switches back to the current topic. "Yoko Kurama...resides in the place known...as the Bloody Garden...it's not far from here...I will...show...you the...way...after I...rest..." he gives a little cough and the eye finally droops shut. In seconds he's snoring, the sound echoing round me. I feel like I'm in the belly of a great monster.

Soon all I can hear is the tree's steady breathing. I can't sleep. I wonder about this fire demon, and about this necklace. If I can get that necklace - I'll probably have to steal it, I think - then I can go home. The thought brings a smile to my face. Home isn't much, just a simple, empty apartment outside a Japanese city. If I hurry, I'll be back before classes at the university start again. I stretch myself over the branch, my head cradled in the crook of my arm. Eventually my eyes close as a single tear slides over my nose.

Author's Note:

Thanks for reading the first chapter - I hope you enjoyed it. Constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated; I'm worried about a few things in this fanfic, so I can't wait to hear what you guys have to say!

Want a preview for the next chapter? Here ya go!

I can't help but stroke one particular flower, as red as blood and bigger than my entire head. It's petals are soft like velvet.

Then I feel something slithering against my bare ankle. I jump and glance down. It's a vine wrapping itself around my ankle. I scream and try to get it off, but it only grabs on tighter in response. My other ankle is caught by another vine and suddenly I'm hoisted up in the air, my hair flowing onto the ground.