The Unknown Kirigakure Past

Written by Kaori Ookami

Chapter 1: Arrival

"Umm, excuse me…What is that, Fujimoto…?" Mephisto Pheles asked as Shiro entered his friend's office. He was carrying a small unconscious child bound firmly by Shiro's priest stole. She appeared to be around the age of six. The child had shoulder length wild red hair with yellow tips that stuck out in all directions. She was also covered head to toe in scratches, bruises, burns, and several other wounds. Her feet were black from a buildup of soot and dirt, which was also present in spots of her face.

"Mephisto," Shiro Fujimoto looked up from the young girl and up to his friend. "This is the terror that I was sent to destroy in the Arabian Desert. Just a child… I wasn't able to bring myself to do it. I wrapped her in my stole which I drenched in holy water and it is able to contain her."

"And what is it keeping you from simply exorcising the demon within her? Or do you suppose this is a demon's child?" Mephisto questioned.

"Well," Shiro looked back down briefly at the little girl he held in his arms. "It doesn't seem to be as simple as I originally assumed when I planned on her exorcism."

Mephisto raised an eyebrow curiously.

"You see," Father Fugimoto continued. "Nothing works, it only angers her and brings out what seems to be her true nature… Fierce and ruthless."

Mephisto Pheles, now with both eyebrows raised in curiosity, grinned widely.

"So, just how terrifying is this child?" Mephisto cocked his head in wonder.

"Well," Shiro smirked. "She managed to break, I think, about three of my ribs. Lord help me if they'll ever be able to heal properly again."

"Oh how excellent!" Mephisto spoke in a bubbly tone accompanied by a flamboyant hand gesture. Shiro gave Mephisto an odd glance at the comment. "Such strength, and at such a young age! Why, I do believe that she'll prove quite useful!"

"Oh really now…?" Shiro glanced back down at the child, who had begun to stir as she began to regain consciousness ever so slowly. "Well, Mephisto, I'm prepared to offer you something."

"Oooohhh?" His head tilted forward at an angle.

"Parenthood… alongside me, of course."

Mephisto sat back down looking slightly discouraged but not about to turn down a deal.

"Well," he responded. "Carry on…"

"Look Pheles…" Shiro sighed. "I have absolutely no clue what to do. I'm no father."

Mephisto chuckled at his colleague's statement.

"Oh but of course you are!" he snickered and, with a tip of his hat, winked. "You're a priest for Assiah's sake, 'Father' Fugimoto!"

Shiro groaned and looked blankly up at Mephisto.

"But," Mephisto spoke again; a more serious tone was taken by his voice. "In all seriousness… What is in this for me?"

"Oh right…" Shiro acted as if he was in deep thought for a few moments, then responded. "Hmmm, well… you get a kid!"

The demon chuckled halfheartedly.

"Yes, and….?" He added after a brief thought.

The child's eyes began to open slowly as she regained her senses. They then shot open when she realized that she was in an entirely new location. Her calm and peaceful demeanor was very quickly overrode by a fury as wild as her flame-like hair. She began screaming and thrusting around violently. The child then attempted to bite at Shiro, but only ended up ramming her head into his ribs. He dropped to his knees and lets the girl's body roll off his arms onto the floor of Mephisto's office.

"My goodness!" Mephisto stood up from his desk and strode over to the panicked child with the upmost eloquence. "You are INSPIRING!"

He helped her up into a sitting position and meets her emerald green eyes, smiling at her. In that moment, the girl began to calm down drastically. She looked up into the light green eyes of the purple haired man in the white hat that stood before her. Mephisto felt a new feeling in his heart. However, he disregarded it and continued to admire the feral child. She then smiled in excitement.

"You have fangs too!" She pulled back her cheek to reveal her own pointed fangs. "Were you raised by the snake spirits too?" she asks in wondering curiosity.

"Ah ha!" Mephisto laughed joyously. "Oh no no, my dear!"

"Oh." She replied shortly.

"Do you like them?" he grins, revealing his own fangs to the intriguing little girl.

"Hah! Hell yes I do!" she beams.

Shiro's eyes widen at the bold statement the child made, and he tried hard not to laugh. However, he could not restrain himself. Mephisto grinned at the kid, fondly.

Over the course of the next few hours, Shiro began to explain what was going on and where the girl was now. For the majority of Shiro's explanation, she clung to Mephisto. She felt more comfortable around him due to the similarities the two shared. Eventually, she began to warm up to Shiro too. The kindness that she saw him exhibit was nothing like she had ever seen before. He was gentle, humorous, and compassionate, while at the same time she could sense his superiority over her. She had never before been exposed to such kindness. She had never even made contact with people before (unless it was attacking or some other negative action).

After a few days, Shiro had made the child feel as if she finally had a home. He tried to make her breakfast, that which she ate happily whether it had been burned or not. Shiro had given her the name Shura.

"It means carnage and bloodshed." Shiro explained.

"Really?!" she beamed. "WOW! That is too cool!"

"You're my strong little girl! You need a name that advertises that and says, 'hey! I don't take crap from anyone!" Shiro smirked.

Shura beamed at her new father figure. She had never been happier than she was at that moment in her life. However, the a dark and fearful thought filled her mind. If her mother were to find out about her new found home….