Chapter one: The mystic moon
Hitomi stared up at the big blue moon in the sky. The peaceful image of the rising heavenly body always seemed to fill her with awe and calm. She sat back against the opening of the barn loft letting the cool summer breeze refresh her. Effortlessly the brunette rubbed the small red apple in her hand against her lightly dirtied sleeve and took a bite. The summer apples were crisp and sweet and she let the sensation of the flavor linger in her mouth as she chewed. She loved nights like this; summer brought with it a fragrance and warmth that the other seasons did not. If she could she would slip out every night until autumn and sit in the loft opening just staring at the mystic moon.
"Hitomi!" A whinny girl voice called. The brunette's emerald eyes slid down to a string bean cat girl covered in yellow and black stripes. In the summer heat the cat girl wore a coral colored sun dress and simple work shoes. Hitomi looked over at her bare feet and wiggled her dirt covered toes. She smiled inward. She looked back and the cat girl had grabbed hold of the rope hanging from the loft and was nearly half way up. Hitomi took another bite of her apple. She waited as the cat girl reached the top and swung herself into the opening near Hitomi. The cat landed gracefully on the yellow straw that padded the floor. She turned toward Hitomi hands on hips. "Hitomi, Yukari's been looking everywhere for you." She rolled her eyes and snatched Hitomi's apple right out of her hand and took a large bite. "It's your turn in the bath, and if you don't hurry the water will get cold." She stated her teeth chomping while she talked. Hitomi frowned.
"I know Merle." Hitomi acknowledged. Merle finished the apple and tossed it out toward the pig yard. Merle stared at her until she finally caved and reluctantly made her way down the rope and on the path toward the small farm house. As she kicked the dirt along the path Hitomi shoved her hands in her pockets. She wore what she always wore, calf length brown britches, a dingy white chemise that served additionally as a nightgown and a brown vest over to hold her small breasts in place. Sure she had the option of dressing like Yukari; a dress and apron but what could she do wearing that. She wrinkled her nose and gave on last glance at the sparkling blue moon before entering the house.
Hitomi knew what was coming. She entered the house and was immediately in the kitchen where the bath was kept. The bath was a wooden tub and they would boil the water in the large kitchen hearth before the first washing. If Hitomi was last or late the water would be luke-warm at best. She was suddenly bombarded by a red head in an apron and a dress.
"Hitomi! I've been waiting for you, Merle had her bath almost an hour ago and I really need to get the tub put away before bed!" She scolded. Hitomi wondered how someone barely two moons older than her could be so bossy. Hitomi sighed and set her fingers to work unlacing her vest. She was naked and in the tub shivering in minutes. Yukari was quick with a pitcher to come and pour water over her head and down her back while she soaped up. She felt cold run through each time. She always bathed fast; their was no point not to. She hopped out of the bath and tried not to kill herself on the wood with her wet feet. She was grateful as Yukari tossed her a small rag to dry with and gathering her clothes made her way up stairs as fast as she could. She closed the door behind her as she heard the red head begin to yell after her. She used the small cloth to wipe away excess amounts of water and pulled her chemise over her head for the night. She pulled her vest on too just until later, she still had a little more work to do. Rubbing her short hair dry she headed back to the kitchen to help with the tub.
Hitomi and Yukari pushed the tub across the floor to the back door and tipped it over. The murky liquid flowed out of the wooden bin and out to the dry summer dirt. Closer to the house Hitomi noticed there was a little more greenery, small weeds had popped up from the tub water but she never bothered to pull them. She helped put the tub under the stairs for another nights and set to work mopping up any remaining moisture. Yukari produced a number of threadbare rugs from a cupboard and threw them on the floor. For the rest of the night this was how it would remain. Eventually Merle came in from the dying sunlight and they made there way to there bedroom.
The bedroom was a long room with two windows, a wood floor, three beds and a wardrobe for them to share. Hitomi slept at the far end of the room, Merle in the middle and Yukari at the the other end. It had been like this for a long time. As a child Hitomi had been brought to live in this small house with the two girls by Poppy and Auntie; although the pair had been missing for close to a year or more now. Since their disappearance the three girls had been left to mind the farm and care for one another with out a second thought. Sometimes Hitomi wondered about her first home, but she had few memories and at this point they were more like faded dreams; so surreal and alien.
As the sunlight faded Yukari lit their three candles and they talked a bit about the next day and even the events of the season. Summer meant the nearing harvest of their small garden and the wild orchard of fruit. Additionally their would be a need to fix the fences and pens before winter and start the storing and drying of herbs. Hitomi listened superficially and climbed into her blankets. She rolled onto her sighed propping her head up with one arm while the red head talked. Eventually their was nothing left to talk about and the candles went out.
It was near; he could smell it and feel it. Each beat of the creature's heart was his own and he could sense the mixture of adrenaline and fear as it colored the Dragon's vision. He heard its tyrannical cry as it raced through the trees. Up until now Van had gone without days of sleep and a number of meals tracking the beast, but he couldn't give up now; he was too close. He charged after it, his thin muscular body light as he moved along side it. He was moving fast enough as he jumped for a tree and swung himself onto the creature's back. In a lighting like movement he drew his sword and rent the Dragon's back descending it as the acidic green blood pooled in large streams around him. He could hear the sound of his britches singing as the liquid came in contact with the fabric. The Dragon gave another cry and bucked backward throwing him from it. Van flew through the trees and landed among the branches. He moved to pursue again, his steel blade still lodged in the Dragon's back but he felt pain color his vision. He fought a scream of rage and defeat rolling out of the tree. He landed with a thud onto the earth below and forced himself to his feet. Fighting back the blackness that wanted to over come him he cradled his side with one arm and trotted after the wounded Dragon. At least it would be slower now, even if he couldn't move as efficiently he was would be able to track it with ease.
After what seemed a fruitless goose chase Van stumbles across the Dragon lying in the midst of a grove. The beast breathed heavily, it's hot breath forcing dirt into the air around it like a cloud. Van moved forward relentless. His head hung as his eyes met the Dragon's. The beast's eyes burned with the same determination that echoed in his heart.
"My blade is buried in your hide, you can go down now and we can do this the easy way or you can fight and we can do this the hard way." He felt perspiration slide down his head to his cheek and he licked it away. The Dragon blinked and rose to its full height with a shriek of fury. "I knew you'd pick the hard way." He jumped out of the way as he dodged the furious muzzle of the creature. It was an obvious stalemate; neither had enough energy to kill the other; but both refused to yield. "You will give me your heart!" He dodged again and again. Van huffed his ribs aching, wounds reopening and bleeding. The scent of both bloods filled the air as they fought. "I guess we just wait and see who can outlast the other." The Dragon flicked his tail viciously. Van grinned he would have to watch out for that.
The day moved onward and the rising sun was overhead. The fight lingered neither gaining the upper hand. Silence fell between the battle locked foes; man and beast. Every creature in the wood had fallen silent. No sound, just the staring and the waiting. Some how Van would regain his blade and steal the Dragon's heart; it was his destiny and it was the only way this battle could end.
The silence was finally broken, birds flew out of the trees as a female laugh split the air. It was almost unwelcome and eerie. Both Van and the Dragon shifted their gaze. Van looked back as the Dragon rose and moved with speed and agility he thought it no longer had. What was it's plan? He followed it swinging out of the trees and running after it; his wounds forgotten. Then it was clear two figures came into view as the trees parted; one girl? A girl and a boy? No the one with short hair had breasts he could make out. They were completely unaware of the danger plunging toward them. He had to get ahead of the Dragon...he had to warn them. He bit his lip and moved into the open waving his hands despite the pain it took to do so. "HEY! HEY OVER their!" He saw two sets of eyes turn in his direction growing wider. The shorter one screamed. The brunette began to act. She ushered the little one back across the clearing. He ran beside the dragon now he moved away from it in a side jump as its head reeled back toward him.
The Dragon stopped sharply and Van crashed into its massive body. He regained his bearings trying to clear his vision as the Dragon's breath erupted in flame. The field was going up in flame, the trees were a light with orange and red. Van stumbled around. He moved back and felt the heat; he was locked into final combat...no more running. The circle had been formed, but something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Then the object drew closer; no it was running at him now.
"LOOK OUT!" The girl, the one with short hair she collided with him. Her arms wrapped around him and they tumbled to the ground as the Dragon's tail came crashing down toward him.