A/N: I know yadda yadda I have no business creating a completely new story but hey, life decides to give me inspiration whenever it wants to.
Warning! This story will contain slight Grimmhime, Ulquihime, but will end up Starrhime. If any of these pairings don't sit well with you then *shrug. This fic will also contain harem-like situations, but otherwise has an end goal in sight.
Cover art doesn't belong to me, only the plot.
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Brown eyes stared listlessly into the sky as a soft breeze carried white clouds on to their destination—really he should say cloud, seeing as there's only one in the vast expanse of open atmosphere. He could honestly compare the huge puff of white to himself. Grand, powerful, overwhelming, yet completely alone as it drifted on across the sky without purpose or calling.
He laid underneath a tall oak tree. A place, no matter how far he ventured from, always seemed to make it back to no matter how far he traveled. During the last war, when he was part of a now dead group of samurai, he was forced to slay one of his good friends. He could remember the pleasant smile on his face, the ease of his passing, and the utter relinquished defeat resting in the man's eyes. Starrk would never forget him, and so he buried him underneath this oak tree that was older than the both of them put together. His only regret other than killing him was not being able to sip sake with him like they used to, in that sort of comfortable silence that had no need to be filled with words.
Starrk heaved a sigh and sat up. He didn't have the luxury to lay around re-thinking of his past when he vowed to forget everything after leaving that bloodied life behind. Besides, he was hungry, and he didn't have a dime to his name. The last couple of coins he made yesterday went to cheap booze and other petty things he really had no business purchasing other than for the sheer purpose of having such items. Speaking of said possessions, with a quick sweep of his eyes over the surrounding area, he realized they were gone. All of them. He cursed aloud. There was no telling if he had misplaced them during one of his multiple drunken stupors, or if he was robbed in plain sight during the day while he was slesping off his hangover from the night before. There was no one else to blame for that, so he let it go as quickly as his still slightly hungover self would allow. There would be plenty of time for anger later once he started up his daily training some time later on today.
His sword rested on his hip untouched, still in its sheath, decidedly the most expensive thing on his person. Designs of koi and dragon scales etched onto the hard marble-like material of the sheath, and pure iron carved and ironed out, shaped into a thin and deceptively heavy sword rested inside. He had taken great care of it over the years, doing everything within his power to ensure that not a nick or scratch adorned it. Of course every now and again he would have to get it repaired and visit his swordsman for repairs, but that was rare, and the last time he had seen the man had been over five years ago when he was still a samurai. Seeing as his most prized possession was still lying on his hip only told him that he lost those little trinkets somewhere on his own during one of his drunken nights, or who knows, maybe he just imagined it all and thought he owned small things and really didn't. If he wasn't so deeply invested in alcohol than he would call himself crazy.
His headache only increased once he stood and stretched, bones popping back into place after finally being freed from their uncomfortable positions on the ground. Sometimes he really wished he could afford a night in an inn, but the nearest one wouldn't keep someone with a background as dark as his. The legends and tales going on about him making some wary, some foolish, some enticed, and some disgusted. Once he gathered his bearings he kept telling himself he would leave this place once and for all and venture out once more to yet another town that didn't know his name nor affiliation and try to start a life there, but this place also happened to be where he grew up and partially enjoyed most of his childhood, and still held a special position in his heart. Despite the cruelty it occassionally showed him more than he would've liked, there wasn't a bone in his body that would openly admit that he would never return, because he always did.
His open-toed, metal geta, clacked on the smooth and paved walkway towards the main road that ran through the middle of the village, along this little side road rested smaller houses bordering near the outskirts of the village. These people were just along the borderlines of being poor, but despite that, were great gossips, and one could find out all of the village's secrets from them.
Starrk hated them.
They were nosy people, and always had an opinion about everyone else but themselves, and took offense to such things. As usual he paid them no mind as he walked past, his metal geta hitting the ground alerting them of his presence, and his mediocre and plain dark green yukata lightly fluttering behind him.
They were wary of the sword that seemed to be glued to his side, and they were more aware of his past triumphs than he would've liked, but that didn't stop their mouths from flapping as if they knew what they were talking about.
"Ah, it's always a pleasure to see hōkai no otoko during spring time," Starrk's footsteps slowed a little, a bit of agitation washing over his shoulders, "he's gracing us once more with his divine presence."
Oh. So it was a title thing.
"Divine no more," a younger male hissed, "those glory days of his are no more..."
Their words began to fade out then as he hastened his pace. It was more jealousy than it was hate, he realized, and it was because of this that Starrk couldn't find it in himself to be angry with them. They had no idea what they were asking for, this kind of infamousy was not good, living his present life forever shadowed by the dark one of his past, and grabbing whatever sliver of normalcy he could obtain, for that he pitied them. They continued to haggle him even as he got further away, and once he could no longer hear their words of judgment he sighed once more with a tinge of relief knowing that he would only have to deal with wary stares the more he went into the heart of the village.
He observed the children running about, chasing each other this way and that while silently relenting the days of his youth when life was as simple as a game of tag with other village children his age, but then, with a frown, he realized that not even that was something he had. Growing up as the heir to a prestigious, samurai family had its perks back then, but enjoying his youth was not one of those perks. His youth composed of studying and learning the ways of the sword, the best way to kill someone and how to render them completely defenseless should his sword somehow be broken during battle or taken away from him. Coming to such a conclusion put a sour taste upon his tongue and with disdain he cast such thoughts deep inside of himself only for them to resurface later should he get shit-faced drunk.
A hefty breeze ruffled the light layers of his yukata and a considerable amount of leaves and branches blew into his path. The road began to crest into a rolling hill and he paused at the very top to gaze down. Well...here it was. The inner city as the folk around his birthplace called it and a notable size too compared to the other smaller villages. It wasn't as lively as the places closest to the real city, nor as prosperous, but it was home all the same. He walked through these same roads for as long as he could remember and whether the older generations liked it or not, he would always return.
A wagon led by an ox passed him by, the beast snorting and grunting from the exertion while the man that drove them seemed miserable and tired with all the timber he had to escort...somewhere. Starrk stopped and looked at the man thoughtfully, considering the large amount of his load and the amount of energy he would use up dealing with such weight. He shrugged, thinking it was worth a shot, and on the upside it didn't seem like the guy was from around there.
"Excuse me," he started, waiting to gain the man's attention and continuing once he did, "do you need any help?"
The elder man reigned in the ox and stopped, eyeing him and giving him an obvious once over probably to see if he looked physically capable of even helping him. Starrk almost wanted to shift under such an uncomfortable and pensive stare, and to add even more to his discomfort was the fact that the gaze of said man lingered in certain areas of his body that were a bit on display for the warm weather. He wanted to cringe. This guy was old enough to be his uncle.
"Yeah. I could use the help," the man smiled a bit, "it's not everyday that young men your age offer their services so freely."
Starrk crossed his arms, ignoring the gleam in the man's eyes, "For a price."
"Yes yes. I suppose that's how it always is these days. I'll tell you what, I'm taking this lumber into the next town over from this one. I'll split my earnings with you as soon as collect the funds."
Starrk looked at the pile of lumber, to the man, and then back again. It wasn't like he exactly had a choice anyway, so he nodded, to which the man grinned. The man slid a little forward on the seat of the ox and patted the spot behind him, to which Starrk merely raised his eyebrow at, making no indication that he would move from his spot.
"The way there is long! And although I have no doubt in your young, fresh capabilities, I wouldn't want to tire you out so soon when we haven't even begun." The man said with a chuckle.
His double implication made Starrk's fingers twitch. This guy was seriously coming on to him. Could he not tell that he was at least in his thirties already and that he was trying to flirt with someone most likely half his age? Starrk released a slow breath, the urge to punch someone had never been so strong.
Instead, he opted to turn on his heal and began his decent down the hill, albeit at a pace that clearly stated he had no intention of leaving the man behind, "There's no need. I'm accustomed to these lands and thoroughly experienced walking them."
By this point the man had already smacked his reins against the ox's hide, prompting the miserable beast to move once more. Soon enough they were side by side.
"Thoroughly experienced," the man tried the phrase on his tongue before smirking to himself, "the wonders of youth. What I wouldn't give to experience those years again."
Starrk scowled. This day was already starting out horrendously long.
Taikan-yo Hogyoku - Crown/ed Jewel