Scroll One:
There was a time when humans and demons co-existed, where the balance of power tipped in favor of demons. Vicious creatures that they were, some were gentle and caring, while others were cruel and malicious. But what would life been without the contrast of good and evil? Yet, there was common ground between the two creatures, a sort of unspoken understanding that was upheld since the birth of time. Demons owned their lands in certain corners of the world, demon lords roamed and ruled. In the same way, humans lorded over their servants and even employed demons as protection. It was a common thing, even if sometimes considered disgraceful, for humans and demons to help each other, work with each other and sometimes fall in love with each other. But the winds of change have blown in a different direction. The balance of power has been disturbed and the ways of old are being dissolved even to its very foundation.
The sky seemed to shake as the thunder echoed through the night, flashes of lighting casting shadows across the trees. Every roll of thunder went almost in sync with the pulsing in my chest. I slid my left foot back just a bit and dug deep into the soup of mud and tree leaves below me. Tenaciously, the rain fell, drowning the earth with me included. I steadied myself by touching the giant evergreen next to me. Still, I buckled down more, being sure that my face was hidden behind the shrubs and tornado of free flying leaves. The wind blew again, and if my body had not been skilled to withstand this, I my have actually shivered. I reached then behind me, slowly grabbing an arrow from its quiver. My footing now steady, I secured the finely crafted woodwork into the center of the horse hair on my bow, which was pointed downwards. There was only one thing important to me at the moment; the enemy in front of me.
My knees ached and my calf muscles shook from being overworked. I had run what seemed like weeks now, I wasn't sure anymore. I squared my shoulders and inhaled the night rain. There was no time to be exhausted, to feel pain. There was only time for survival and I must survive. I pulled the bow up, straightening my left arm, my right arm pulled back as it created enormous tension and stress on the fine horse hair. My elbow cracked and I felt the stiffness of health neglect in my shoulders. The thunder rolled again and the rain came down in torrents, sounding as if someone was continuously pouring out a bag of pebbles. Still, I tuned it all out and squinted my eyes. He was so close and I'm sure if not for the rain he would have seen me. I curled my lips over my teeth and a mixture of rainwater and dirty dripped into my mouth. I pulled the arrow back more and blinked way the water which was suspended on my eyelashes.
Lightening flashed and my target, a middle-aged ronin, brighten before me. He held his sword in a fighting styled I'd never encountered before. No matter, he was about to die regardless. Mentally I started counting to ten, a habit I'd formed in my training with Oba-san. One. The man shifted and turned in my direction. Two. His eyes searched the woods in an obvious panic, unsure of what lurked in the trees. Three. He gripped the hilt tighter and frowned. Four. The ronin turned his head left then to the right before turning opposite of me. Five. He paused momentarily and took one last glance in my direction. Six. He sheathed his sword and proceeded onward. Seven. Lightening flashed again and I could still make out the white lotus flower on the back of his black kimono. Eight. I closed one eye so that he was perfectly in my sight, and tightened my trigger fingers around the hair. Nine. I said a slight prayer to Kami to guide my arrow into his heart. Ten. The whooshing sound of the arrow flying from the bow zoomed pass my ears. I waited a few seconds before I could make out the distinct sound of human suffrage amongst the many sounds in the woods.
Without hesitation I jumped up, hopping over fallen branches of trees until I came upon the man. His blood was now one with the earth and paused to pay my respects before running away. Stopping wasn't an option at this point, I was too close to home. I willed my limbs to move even though my feet begged for rest. Bandaged as they were in black clothe, I could still feel shards of rocks cutting at my heels. And the faster I moved, the more debris I kicked up that hit and cut my bare legs. A noise caught my attention and I instantly pressed myself against a tree. My chest heaved and I spit out the water that fell in my mouth. I peeked around the corner and found a rodent trying to escape the rain. Once it was clear, I started running again. My bow in my left had, ready to attack, my hair despite being in a ponytail clung to my neck and face, my vision was blurred yet my sheer drive to live drove my legs in the right direction. If my Lord could see me now, he'd highly disapprove of my attire and filth.
A clearing was become present, and I knew that a small hill lay just beyond that clearing and beneath the clearing was a valley, and within that valley was the village were I lived. I pushed harder, tucking my bow behind me so I could move faster. The trees started to disappear and rocks and branches were being replaced by wet grass. Without thinking I ran all the way to the end of the clearing, towards the hill. In my absence I had forgotten how steep the fall was, my foot slipped on loose dirt and I fell, or rolled rather towards the bottom into the rice fields. They'd become flooded with the continuous rain for the last two days. I lifted my face from the ground and could make out the outskirts of the village. Quickly, I rose, splashing through the flood-waters until I came to the gate. I looked up, shielding my eyes from the rain.
"Hey!" I yelled to the lookout booth where the guard was supposed to be. No answer, and I couldn't see much with the darkness of rain clouds overhead.
"Hey!" I yelled again, dragging the words this time and banging on the wooden entrance. A man, not too much older than me leaned out of the booth. He looked down at me almost in scrutiny and nearly had to lean out of the booth to see me.
"What the hell took you so long, huh?" he yelled back to me. I spread my arms wide, gesturing to rain that hadn't let up in hours. He shrugged, I think, and pulled the rope to open the gates. The village looked desolate, as all of the people were inside. in front of me, far ahead to my left I could make out the small garden that Kagome-oba-san had planted, just in front of our house. Now that I wasn't running, I felt the weight of my weakness in my legs, my thighs throbbed with every step. There was no need to rush, but the house seemed so far from me still. I felt heavy and every step seemed to take more energy than the last. I could move quicker, if only the rain would pause to rest for a minute. My vision started to blur again, but I could still see that I was getting closer. The garden was widening up, and I could make out the front walkway to the humble abode. I staggered a bit, and my head became oddly blank, the sounds of water in my ears was getting louder. The door to the house cracked open and through half closed eyes I could make out the silhouette of a person. It opened fully and out rushed Osamu-chan, his honey brown hair becoming instantly flattened by the rain as he rushed to me with arms wide open. I felt myself smile at his toothy grin, but the house started to tilt forward and Osamu-chan's smile slowly fade just as Miroku-san came to the doorway.
"Osamu-chan, come back inside!" Miroku-san yelled just before my eyes met his and suddenly there were two of him. The ground became increasing close to me and over the throbbing in my ears I heard both Osamu-chan and Miroku-san call to me.
"Rin-chan!" they yelled but it was too late, my knees hit the wet earth and not longer after did my face follow and the obscure scene of the two kneeling next to me was the last thing my eyes caught.