DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own any of the YYH gang or plot (aside from the integrated one of my own), all rights belong to Yoshihiro Togashi.

a/n: This would be my first YYH fanfic that's ever been published. However, I'll be honest and say that this has been eating my brain ever since I was a kid (obviously not as thought out) and first saw YYH. I only had the courage enough to actually publish it this time around for who knows what reason, but I am.

Please bear in mind that I'm no professional. Any mistakes I make shall be apologized beforehand and do point it out so I can edit it later. . .

ALSO, the main character for this story shall NOT be the only OC present here. Please note that MAJOR RECONSTRUCTION from the ORIGINAL plot has to be made in order to squeeze in my OC, otherwise she wouldn't be as rich as all the other characters are. In addition, so that no further complaints/comments/questions that would be asked, the main character is inspired by a LOT of female characters I've seen, whether it be in anime or in books that I've read. However, the biggest inspiration that I gathered from would be C.C (Code Geass) and Shampoo (Ranma 1/2). I did NOT steal or anything, just simply borrowed some concepts that—throughout the time—have also become repetitive in modern media as well.

WARNINGS:

Take heed of the rating, please. PTSD will be one of the reoccurring themes in this story, so don't be surprised when similar scenarios will pop up from time to time; all ranging from mild to strong reactions. In addition, strong language is applied along with mild sexual implication/reference (but that won't come out until somewhere late within the story). If you're uncomfortable with the latter, I assure you that I won't tend too much on it.

This is a slowburn fic. Therefore things will progress SLOWLY. If you're looking for a quick spark of romance, then this is not it.

Other than that, THANK YOU so much in advance if you're willing to give this a chance. A superdooper, late fanfic for the anime that drove close to my heart :)

PROLOGUE

Part I

I was hurting.

Yet, pain seems like a swift graze from my fingertips. Mocking and laughing, gazing at me with a sneer. He held a distance—an arm's reach away, enough to hover over me with its gangly, choking hands. Enough to curl his fingers all over my skin, dipping its nails into the flesh, but lax enough to enable a soothing numbness.

Pain was there as I was sprawled haphazardly on the ground. I was at his mercy as a measly lamb was: vulnerable, weak, pathetic, and laid unmoving on the moist soil. There was a steady ringing in my ears, pronounced as it pushed any other interrupting noises into the background. I believed that ringing was the voice of pain and I was listening to its endless mantra. And that the murky, bloody sky was its color.

The sky was always red. But it was duller now, not a wisp of a purple cloud. It was scarlet and raw, only without the vibrancy. Perhaps it was the hazy fog glazing my vision, but spots of black started peppering every direction. I was just lying there—waiting for the death of a demon who would never bleed.

Who could never bleed.

I was always educated about our kind—generally reserved by nature and quiet, never one to stick their nose into other's business. Sentimental, yet prided for our independence. A headstrong demon with skin as impenetrable as our horns.

And that was a curse.

I pride nothing about my horns. Nothing for my skin. Not as a lone lamb. Just a lamb. A dying one at that.

Rams run in herds. Mine is dead.

"What a wonderful world." For I haven't seen it yet.

The sky was red. But now all I see is black. Pain was there as my eyes finally fluttered closed, allowing the red of the sky to be my last vision. Pain was there when I heard a scrunch disturb the tranquil soil, digging hard onto the ground in a steady rhythm. Pain was there when it got close, and I realized the rhythm were footsteps.

Pain was there when I felt a finger tipped my round chin to the side. How warm.

"She's alive, but she's just a lamb. Barely able to think for herself."

"She's perfect."

Pain was a menace. Weakness was a menace. They were distracting, for fear holds you down. Prevents you. Stops you.

Feeling was uncalled for.

Then it was taken away.

Among all other emotions.

A pawn feels no conscience. A soldier feels no pain from the tips of their fingers to the soles of their feet. A warrior shows no weakness, feels no weakness, has no weakness.

A weapon has nothing. It is but an object to wield, to defend, to protect, to destroy. Mostly the latter.

I was a weapon.

Among other demons.

My name is Lan, and I am amongst the Six Ring Demons of Ji Dianji.

:)

Chapter soundtrack: "It's A Wonderful World" by HAMO (Composer) & Hatsune Miku

! This story has also been published in Archive of our Own in MY account, under the same username.