Disclaimer: not mine

Summary: Loosely based on the Kiyohime myth. On the outskirts of a village lives a lonely cursed girl who turns into an uncontrollable serpent monster. The villagers, who fear the cursed girl, hire a nomadic priestess to get rid of her. Will the priestess slay the lonely cursed girl? Oocness AU

This probably isn't historically correct in anyway. I'm basing this after two animes time periods I've seen so if something seems amiss that is probably why. (Three internet cookies of your choice for whoever can guess both of them. I put hints in.)

Her Cursed Heart

"My Lady, your father has summoned you to his study."

"Alright, I'm coming. Thank you, Tomoe." Shizuru laid the pen down and slide a piece of paper into her desk draw. She stood from her desk and smoothed out any wrinkles in her attire. "Tomoe, how do I look? Presentable for father?"

"You look as beautiful as always, My Lady."

"Thank you, you are dismissed."

"Yes, My Lady." The maid bowed respectfully and left to attend to another job.

One the way to her father's study she politely greeted the other maids. Taking a deep breath she cleared her mind and knocked on the door. "Father, you wished to see me?"

"Yes, come in Shizuru." The brunette entered immediately noticing her mother standing by his side. This talk was going to be very important. "Please sit."

Obeying the suggestion the daughter sat in front of his desk placing her hand in her lap. "I am sure you know the reason I have called for you."

"I am of marring age and require a husband."

"Yes, your husband is the Emperor's youngest son, Yuuichi."

"Yes father, as you wish. I will do what is best for the family." Shizuru offered her parents a small smile. It didn't matter if it was fake. "Is that all?" She was prefect; taught never to disobey or fight. She was always the polite and perfect lady.

"Yes Shizuru, you may go."

"Father, may I go into town today?" Her father looked up at her with a confused expression. The maids or the guards are the ones to shop. Never once had they ever had to leave their comfy home for such a thing. But her father knew these little outing made her happy and he never said no.

"If it will make you happy just take a guard with you."

"Thank you." Bowing ever so slightly for her parents Shizuru trotted out the door.

"She really does us proud." The male said looking over at his wife.

"I agree, husband." She leaned down and gave him a kiss.

"Lady Shizuru, are we shopping for something? Or just looking around?" The guard asked walking only a step behind.

"Don't worry Kazuya I just wanted to see a friend in town that's all." The protector smiled he was the only one to ever escort the noblewoman out of the mansion. They had a special friendship that the female didn't have with anyone else. She trusted him with a secret or two. Such as, Shizuru's father would be upset if he knew his kin was actually socializing with peasants.

The female was also aware of his attraction towards a certain seamstress. The woman didn't mind going with him to visit his secret love while they were out.

The couple stopped at a small eating facility. "Mai, are you here?"

"Lady Shizuru it's been a while!" The two females shared a friendly hug. The tawny haired woman sat down across from the short haired woman. Kazuya sat next to the royal woman. "Two of the usual?"

"Of course."

"Shiho come help." A younger girl walked over to the stove. She was Mai cooking apprentice against her will. "So how have you been?"

"Can't really complain." Shizuru replied.

"You always say that. Has nothing new happened?"

"Well actually today, father announced my fiancé the emperor's youngest son, Yuuichi." Scolding hot water splashed out of the pan Shiho was watching. Mai winced as the water burned at one of her hands.

"Ow! Be careful Shiho." The marmalade haired woman wiped her hand on her apron. The pain didn't go away once the water was off. She dipped her hand in a bucket of room temperature water.

"Sorry." The girl glared at the chestnut haired woman it went unnoticed by everyone.

"How exciting. Are you happy?"

"Happy? I will do as father wishes."

"What a good daughter you are." Mai retorted sarcastically. "Here you are, two of the usual." Bowls of soup were placed in front of them. Licking her lips she pulled the bowl closer taking a deep breath of the lovely aroma.

Lunch was eaten quickly with small conversation. Once done the friends shared a goodbye and left. It's was getting late, her father would want her back now, before it gets dark. Kazuya helped her into the carriage and told the driver to move. The horses trotted all the way back without a single problem.

The guard helped her out of the carriage and bowed. After telling her father she was safe back home the red eyed woman would retire to her room. The maid was always outside awaiting for her master to return. "Tomoe, is my father still in his study?"

"Yes, My Lady."

"Thank you." Gracefully she walked down the corridors towards her father's study. She raised her hand to knock but froze at her mother's out of character shout.

"Please don't she's our only child!"

Who was in there? Well it doesn't matter whoever it is because it wouldn't be a good idea to enter. Bending down she looked through the keyhole. All she could see was her father's angry face and part o her mother. Her mother was holding onto her husband's attire like her life depended on it. Shizuru could imagine that her mother's face wasn't much different from her fathers.

"Well speak of the devil." An unknown female voice said. The study door slammed opened making the child jump back in shock.

"Shizuru!" This was the first time she had ever seen such fear in her parent's faces. The tawny haired woman soon found herself dragged into the study by a magical force. Ruby eyes widened in fear as well. Staring over at the intruder she realized something very important about the strange female.

There was no way she was human. Her eyes a golden amber resembling a cats and two long horns on her head. Not to mention her long flowing violet hair that flew around her head despite the fact there wasn't a breeze in the room. "My name is Mashiro I'm a deity of revenge."

The deity saw the confused look on the girl's face and explained further. "Someone who wishes revenge has summoned me." The chestnut haired woman frowned. She was one of the nicest women in the village. She treated servants and peasants with respect. Who would want to hurt her?

Everyone knew how to summon a revenge deity. A simple summoning contained a specific animal sacrifice, specific kitchen spices, something iron or steel, a specific gem stone and a few plants. Calling the deity is one thing but making the deal is another.

The child was close to tears thinking she was going to die really soon. Her father sensed this and came to her defense. "I won't let you hurt my daughter!"

"There is nothing you can do, I will place a curse on the girl for it was the deal I made with the human who wanted revenge. Don't interfere." Shizuru tensed up as Mashiro slowly stepped closer to her.

"Then I shall make a deal with you right now!" He screamed, Mashiro paused to look at him. "What do you want? Riches? My life? Or my soul? If so take what you want then!"

"Husband you can't do that it's too dangerous!" Her mother voiced. Well, it was true since you were making a deal with the revenge deity it was bound to a corrupted bargain.

"I must first fulfill the contract I have made with the other human then I'll contract one with you." She turned back to the young Fujino and pointed at her. Shizuru looked down at her body when she started to glow. Her eye lids started to get heavy till they closed down over her crimson orbs. Shizuru's body sunk to the ground completely out cold and defenseless.

"What did you do to her?"

"She is only cursed, and this curse can be undone because you are willing to sacrifice your life for hers plus the revenge on the person who first summoned me. Come now, we need to depart." She commanded. With a sad sigh he pried his wife's hand off his clothes and stood. Wearing an emotionless expression he walked over to the devil's side. Taking one last look at his crying wife and sleeping daughter he asked.

"What kind of curse does she have?"

"You will find out soon enough."

Horse hooves tapped against the soft dirt road without any sound. It was tranquil and nice out the perfect day for traveling. Natsuki sat on the back of her trust partner; a black stallion by the name of Duran. Since her parents death it was just the two of them for as long as she could remember. They traveled together stopping in villages only for supplies such as food.

The smell of animal manure passed over them. If there was a farm nearby then a village was around here as well. From the path she was traveling she saw a few of the fenced in horses. Natsuki smiled and rubbed Duran's head; no animal was better them him.

"Look ahead Duran, a village. We need to stock up." The animal neighed indicating he heard his master speak. Excited the long haired woman shook the reins making Duran pick up speed in a trot. As the small village got into view Natsuki frowned.

This was the worse town she has ever seen so far. The priestess dismounted off her partner's back. She held onto the reins and walked through the town. The village was practically empty, with a lot of destroyed shops. The people she passed gazed at her with interest; needless to say she was uncomfortable.

"Hey are you a priestess? Do you get rid of demons and other monsters?"

The green eyed woman stopped moving to look over at the male who addressed her. It was an old bearded male probably in his forties who walked over to her. "Yes, I do." She replied as more people seemed to paid attention to her.

"Good, because there is a young monstrous girl giving the village a lot of problems." Natsuki looked among the people they all nodded in agreement with this old man. "It doesn't matter if you kill her, seal her or just banish her. We can pay very little since out village doesn't get much people now but would be extremely grateful for you help."

"If you don't mind I would like to eat and rest before talking about taking a job I am quite wary from my travels."

"Yes, of course. You can stay at my place free of charge while you are here. I'll feed and shelter your horse for you." The group of people left while the cobalt haired woman followed the old male to his residents. Sometimes there were nice people in a town she would visit. They would give her a free place to sleep and eat at. Other times she wasn't as lucky. Natsuki always made sure to carry at least a little bit of money.

Duran was locked up safely in the stable and given a nice stack of hey to eat. He was very happy looking. Smiling to herself she stroked his face affectionately. He came back and handed her the key to her room and the key to Duran's stable stall. "Do you know where I can get something good to eat?"

"Yes, you want Mai's shop. I'll take you there myself since I have something to deliver to her." The dark haired woman watched with unasked curiosity as he picked up a sack and motioned for her to follow.

"So Miss Priestess, where do you come from?"

"Call me Natsuki and I don't come from anywhere I'm just traveling around with no real destination."

"Alright Lady Natsuki call me Wataru. Here we are; Mai's place." The busty woman looked up as two people entered her shop.

"Hello, Wataru." She greeted nicely. The old male placed the sack on the counter.

"Hi Mai, here's the bag of potatoes I promised you."

"Thank you." Happily she took the sack from him and turned her attention to the lady next to home. "And who is this?"

"This is Lady Natsuki, she's a priestess who is willing to help us with our demon problem." The blunette noticed how Mai's smile quickly shifted into a frown. "Treat her real well." Giving a respectful goodbye he left leaving the two females alone.

"What would you like?"

"Whatever you recommend is fine with me." There wasn't much of a conversation while the busty woman was shuffling around her place looking for ingredients.

"So did I hear right when Wataru said you were taking care of Shizuru?"

"Shizuru? This demon has a name?"

"Shizuru isn't a demon!" Mai snapped immediately regretting shouting at the other human after the surprised look in her emerald eyes. "Sorry I didn't mean to yell."

"It's alright. I'm assuming that the villager left something important out then?"

"Yes." Natsuki licked her lips as the cook slide small bowl of melted cheese covered potatoes in front of her.

"It's not her fault. Shizuru is a kind wonderful woman."

"Then what happened?"

"Five months ago someone cursed her."

"Cursed?"

"I don't know that details- since she hasn't spoken to me since- but she turns into a large uncontrollable serpent. Her rampage lasts the whole night."

"Does she only change during the night?"

"The village once sent monk to get rid of her thinking it was safe during the day. However, she transformed in the day time and has killed every monk that was sent."

"I see well, I don't know much about curses or ceremony that could prevent this."

"Just do your best to save her, she's a sweet girl who doesn't deserve this."

"I'll do my best." Natsuki finished eating and gave a polite goodbye. She walked back to the hotel first stopping to see Duran. He was lying down in a peaceful probably dozing off. The woman smiled and headed up to her room. She had a decent size room' one bed one desk and one window.

Pulling the covers back she got into bed then recovered herself. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day as she was going to meet Shizuru. With that in mind she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

A/N: "A religious ceremony should be like a ladies' skirt. Short enough to arouse interest and long enough to cover the subject." Good enough to continue? Then review.

Quick question is it just me or has anyone else notice the stories have been deleted of this fandom? Stop deleting you stories please! All of a sudden the URL don't work