WARRING STATES ERA
HIKARI VILLAGE, JAPAN
UNKNOWN DATE
AROUND NOON
"Ha!"
The high, clear laugh echoed off the walls as the girl-like humanoid burst forth from out of the village.
"Demon!"
The cry was repeated on all sides as the female Bakeneko sprang over the villagers' heads to sprint towards the woods and away.
"Nice try, folks! But you're never gonna catch ME!"
She laughed gleefully again, turning her head back for an instant so she could see the stunned looks on the villager's faces.
Her thick silver hair flew back as she continued to race towards the trees.
She was almost there...just out of their line of sight, but-
"NEKOKAMI!"
WHOOSH!
Many more loud thuds later, and the cat demon was trapped in a net which was made up of what looked like blazing arrows.
"Unh!" The arrows had her pinned to the tree.
Looking up, Nekokami gasped in shock.
She seemed surprised as she realized who the person who had trapped her was.
He was a young man with black hair pulled in a topknot, brown eyes that were narrowed in anger and was wearing a priest's clothing.
He had dark blue hakama trousers, a dark sash and a white kimono on top.
He was still holding the bow in the position from which he had shot the arrows.
Nekokami continued to look stunned.
"Ki...Kichiro?...What?...I thought...thought we-"
But whatever she was going to say died in her throat.
She let out a little sigh and closed her eyes as the spell took hold.
Kichiro closed his eyes.
He looked inexplicably sorrowful.
He turned from the cat girl and slowly made his way back to his village where the others were waiting.
"Well?" One of the villagers asked, holding his staff high.
"Have you slain the demon?"
"More or less," replied Kichiro. "The spell I have used will ensure her sleep for all eternity,"
A little boy about 9 or 10 years old in a pale blue kimono ran up to Kichiro. "Brother Kichiro! Brother Kichiro!"
He called out. "Is the spell definitely everlasting?"
"Yes, Hikari," Kichiro said, watching silently as the rest of the villagers went back to the village.
When they were all gone, however, he bent down low and whispered in his brother's ear.
"...Lest the Chosen One decides whether or not to free her."
"The Chosen One, brother Kichiro?"
Hikari repeated, his brown eyes wide with wonder and curiosity.
Kichiro straightened up and gazed into the sky, his eyes fixed on something that Hikari could not see.
"The Chosen One from the Other World. He who shall make the decision that will affect the land,"
He raised his voice slightly, letting it be carried along with the wind.
"And He who will save this world from the evil that threatens it!"
