Chapter 1
My mother cried as she took the bag of coin from the head of the bandits. The head bandit walked away and another man took his place. My mother knelt down to my level. I didn't know why my mother had tears streaming down her face.
"Kohana, you must be good. Listen to the bandits and be your best. When I have enough money to pay him back I will return for you. I wish I didn't have to do this but…I…I just cannot afford to feed you."
I hugged my mother, still confused. I didn't understand. She pulled a red piece of cloth from her hair and pulled my hair back in turn. I reached up and brushed the soft piece of cloth with my small fingers.
"I promise we will see each other in no more than one year," she seemed to hesitate before continuing, "if something does happen, find..." She shook her head as if to shake the words she just uttered away. "I love you. You are the brightness in my life."
She kissed my forehead and slowly walked backwards tears continuing to stream down her pale cheeks. I stood there, tears streaming down my face. I understood. She was leaving me. I felt rough fingers snake around my upper arm and yank me backwards. I looked once more at my mother before I was dragged into the nearby forest. I looked up at the man who was to take care of me for the next year. He wasn't very big for demon standards with pale yellow hair that reached his shoulders, pale yellow eyes, and green lips. I could see his clenched jaw as he dragged me to a clearing. Few tents scattered the clearing in varying sizes and colors.
"You want to stay with us; you need to learn two things. First lesson, you will refer to me by Master. Second, you will do as you are told, no matter what."
I nodded as I looked down; arms wrapped around my body as I slightly shook. I needed to be good and do as told by these demons, as Mommy had said.
"Boy! Get over here!"
I saw a little boy about my age stick his head out of the smallest tent in the clearing and glance to Master. When he saw who was calling to him he walked calmly up to Master. I studied him as Master gave him instructions to show me around the current camp. He was a bit taller than me with black hair, which was so shiny it seemed to have blue at the tips and a small splattering of white in the middle that almost looked like a mini starburst. His eyes were a deep red color. The boy nodded and turned to me as Master walked away. I straightened my back and stared hoping the boy wouldn't take me for some worthless little demoness.
The boy crinkled his nose and curled his lip as he grunted, "Come on," and without even a second thought if I was following, started to walk away.
I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about my Mommy. I had been told I would be staying with the group's healer who had traveled to a nearby town for supplies. I decided to wander into the forest and explore a little. I wouldn't run away because my Mommy promised to come get me in no more than a year. I could wait that long. As I wondered I came across a pond and realized how thirsty I was. I knelt down and stared at myself as I sipped the water. Mommy had noticed when I was nervous I obsessed over the things I was certain of. In that moment it showed as I stared into my reflection. Small nose, with a spattering of freckles. Check. Medium sized deep red lips. Check. Curly blood red hair tied back with the red cloth my mother gave me? Check. Piercing black eyes? I jolted away from my reflection. I must be tired. At this age I should've been long since asleep. I slowly crawled back to the edge of the pond and looked over. My golden eyes stared back at me. I fell back on my butt. Just as I thought, a trick of my mind. I decided now was a good time to return to camp. Obviously I was tired enough to sleep if my mind was playing games with me. I stood up and started brushing the dirt off my pants as I started walking back towards, what I hoped, was the clearing. Something caught my eye and I turned around. My vision started going black and I couldn't quite remember what I saw, but thoughts, not my own, nor in my voice, came to me.
Because you are just three, your soul is still innocent enough for me.
The next day I woke up to my head pounding and my 'name' being called.
"Where the fuck are you, you little vermin?!"
I clutched my head as I stood and ran to where I heard the voices. I skidded to a halt in front of Master.
"Where have you been?!"
"I-I don't know. I couldn't sleep so I started to look around the forest and found a pond and…and I don't remember anything after that. Um Master."
My tiny voice lisped at the uncommon word. Master glared at me. His pale yellow eyes narrowed as if to size me up and see if I was lying.
"Go to the weapons chest and get two weapons, you are going to train."
I tilted my head to the side in confusion. I didn't know how to fight, let alone use a weapon. Mommy always protected me. Another backhand to the face told me Master didn't care.
"Yes, Master." I hurriedly ran to the weapons chest that Master had pointed out to me and looked for the practice weapons but could only see the sharp, blood stained, fully functional and very real weapons. I grabbed two swords. I didn't know their proper names but dragged them back to Master. The boy who showed me around was standing next to him. Master reached down and grabbed one of the swords and thrust it into the boy's arms.
"What you're holding is a double-edged sword. The boy here is holding a katana. Learn the terms and use them. Now fight."
I looked to the boy, terrified as I couldn't hold the sword up in front of me, as it was larger than me, let alone use it. It didn't seem to matter to him. I noticed a small red string on his pinky finger before he disappeared.
Dodge to the right
I looked around in confusion as I heard a voice that sounded extremely familiar but I couldn't place the face.
I grunted a little as a pain shot through my head and spots fluttered in front of my eyes. I stumbled to the side, dropping the sword I held.
"Fight back you good for nothing bitch! We let you use the real weapons so we can see blood not bruising!"
It was then I notice there was a crowd forming around us. I noticed the head bandit standing in the background seeming to look for our strengths.
Roll to the side
I felt the boy's energy behind me as I rolled onto my back and to the side. I didn't hesitate to listen to the voice this time.
Swing the sword to the left
I scrambled to grab the sword, but felt a large cut spread across my stomach before I got it a foot off the ground. I screamed in pain as I pressed my palm to the open wound.
"Enough!"
I looked over to see Master smirking, "We wanted to see blood, not have her killed. We are expecting a nice payout when her mother returns. Valentina!"
A demon that looked no older than 20 walked up to me and gave me a small smile of kindness, which I could tell she was trying to hide from Master. This must be the woman I would be staying with.
"Come along, Kohana was it? I'll get you healed up in no time."
I followed after her to a small table that had bottles of liquids and bandages covering it.
"I'm Valentina. I'm the healer of the group. Before you ask, I am here willingly."
I just stared at her. I was going to ask her that.
"What typ-"
"Type of demon am I?" She heartily laughed as she pushed back her lilac colored hair, "I'm a psychic apparition. Specializing in healing and mind reading."
I smiled up at the woman.
Trust no one.
I again looked around for the voice while Valentina busied herself with getting some bandages prepared for me.
"Did you say something?"
Valentina looked back at me with a worried look on her face.
"No, I thought you had. Strange"
I stood still as Valentina wrapped the bandages around my torso, her hands glowed a lilac color that matched her hair. As she finished I heard a small cry of "Mother!" before I felt the air around me move. A girl that had had to be at least twice my age if not three times my age was hugging Valentina. She laughed a little as she hugged the strange girl. Valentina kept her arm around the girl's waist as she gestured to me.
"Ruka, sweetie, this is the new member of our Troupe. Her name is Kohana. Say hi."
I waved at her a little. Her warm brown eyes seemed to sparkle a little before she waved back. "Did you get that wound from training?"
I nodded cautiously, pulling my, now, damaged shirt back down over the bandages.
"Vermin!" I turned around and ran back to Master. I was told to fetch a bucket of water from the pond so lunch could be served.
I grabbed the bucket and walked towards the pond from last night, wondering if I was going crazy by hearing voices. I thought maybe I was hitting Shishunki early.
"They say before Shishunki ends, some demons can go a bit crazy. Maybe. But I really don't wanna be stuck in this sized body for the rest of my life."
I thought back to what I knew about it. Mommy told me about it just a few days ago.
"Mommy, what's Shishunki?"
My mother stared down at me with a sad look. We hadn't eaten in a few days. Maybe that's why she was sad.
"Well, you know how you are growing now to be a big strong demon?"
I nodded in agreement.
"Well. When you reach a certain age, you will stop growing, and no matter how long you live, whether it is five more years, or five thousand more years, you will look exactly the same after Shishunki. Only when you are reaching the end of life will you ever grow the appearance of an elder."
"When will I hit Shishunki?"
She sighed and a small tear left her eye. I didn't want her to cry, I just wanted to know.
"Well, because demons mature so fast, it usually happens sometime between 16-36 years of age."
"But mommy! I thought you said demons are still children until AT LEAST 75?!" My voice had started to crack and whine. I was so tired.
"It's just the way things are Kohana. Now, into bed."
I whined some more, but crawled in anyways.
"Now what story do you want me to read this time?"
I giggled because I loved when my mommy read me fantasy stories.
"I want the one about the Humans!"
My mommy smiled softly as she grabbed the book from the shelf and started to read.
A small tear fell down my cheek. I missed my mommy. I dipped the bucket into the pond and wiped my eyes. I grunted slightly as I pulled the now full bucket out of the water. I was worried how long it would take me to get back to camp. I looked down at the bucket in frustration and saw my reflection, but instead of my golden eyes, they were again black.
Author's note: Please tell me what you think, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestion, preferably by commenting! I actually had posted a version of this story awhile back and was really unhappy with the way it was going (time lines and what not). As such I took it down and have reworked it. I have a plan for the story, and I have about...6 chapters already typed up and ready to be posted. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!
p.s. Shishunki is what I am calling demon puberty.