Kagome's long raven locks danced around her in the morning wind. She had snuck out of the house again as she often did. Her father as she knew would be furious if he ever found out, but she was convinced that would never happen.
This particular morning the daylight had not yet come over the mountain top. Instead it was positioned behind the mountain, a wide array or colors protruded into the heavens. It was a mixture of pinks, oranges and near to purple colors. Not a cloud lay in the stilled sky; the light breeze was pleasant in this warmer weather. Kagome had always thought this time of day was the loveliest, she engaged in watching the sky quite often. It fascinated her, as a creature of the wild would fascinate a young child.
She stared intently into the abyss of colors. Her eyes shone with delight. A smile broke across her features, bit-by-bit the sun rose higher. Once the fiery object hung high in the sky Kagome was forced to turn her eyes elsewhere. If she had not then the fierceness of the light would have surely left her blind.
She let out a broken sigh and began to make her journey back to the house in which her family inhabited. The house was humble; it would bore the average mind if you were to stare at it too long. And yet Kagome managed to find even her simple cottage interesting. People would often comment on how curious her wondering mind was. The details she managed to find in the tiniest of things frequently confused people.
She crept through the yard behind her house unnoticed and slipped into the tiny window that undoubtedly led into her bedroom. Before a soul in the house could know of her absence she snuck under the covers of her bed and lay still in wait. She had not done this a moment too soon, once under her covers she could hear the footsteps of her father wandering through the house. She could hear his voice as clear as day stirring the snoozing household.
She closed her eyes trying to appear asleep. It was then that her own bedroom door opened. The old hinges squeaked deafeningly.
"Kagome." His voice called, "Wake up now." And with that he left her to her lonesome.
Kagome knew better than anyone that failure to obey her father's wishes was foolish. She thought back to the time her cousin had come for a visit with her aunt. Her cousin was a dense fellow, he was twelve then. Kagome's father had told the dim-wit to stop his constant pestering on Kagome's infant brother Sota. When he had failed to obey her father gave him a lashing and put him in the pig-pen for an hour. It seemed like such a distant time ago to her now. She had been only four or five then, now she was a maturing young adult of thirteen.
She put the ill-minded thoughts aside and came around to getting up. As she descended from her room she could perceive her parents voices. They were arguing about some meaningless matter that Kagome found absolutely no interest in, until she heard the word youkai that is.
She had always had an unremitting curiosity when it came to the youkai. She knew next to nothing about them, but what she had heard made the wheels in her head spin at full capacity. She wanted to know more about the daunting creatures that supposedly wandered the woods.
Her childhood had been full of suspicious tales of the youkai. Many in which she did not believe. One in particular set her on edge though; it was about an inu youkai. The youkai apparently came in the night and it took on the form of a wounded dog. Children were tempted to help the creature but once they tried he would turn terrifying and snatch them away forever. It was said that he would take the children to a cave where he would devour them and there they would sit rotting in his belly.
Kagome doubted it was true but the thought still pondered in her mind. She waltzed through the kitchen; her parents were too deep in conversing to even notice her presence. She casually poured herself a cup of fresh cow's milk and sipped it while eavesdropping in on the conversation.
"If what you are saying is true then why have you not sent a party out to kill the wretched thing!?" Her mother demanded.
"If it were only that simple… This youkai can take on the appearance of a human being." Kagome's father drew the back of his hand across his forehead wiping the sweat from his brow.
Kagome's attention was caught immediately. It both exited and frightened her that there was a youkai on the loose, and even more so that it took on a humans form. She peered up from her mug to only see her parents eyes set on her. Her mother's eyebrows furrowed. She came forward and snatched the cup from Kagome's hands.
"Who said you could drink this?" She demanded shaking the cup with every word.
Kagome stayed reserved, she figured it was the clever thing to do.
Her mother sighed and set the cup down next to her child on the countertop. She turned back to her spouse.
"We shall continue talking later." She finished then began to scold Kagome.
After a good disciplining Kagome was released. Immediately she went outdoors, her father was already outside at the stables. He was packing a horse and getting ready for departure.
"Daddy why do you have to leave?" Kagome asked innocently hoping to get more answers about the youkai.
Her father let out a lengthy sigh, "I've got to go help some people, and it's my duty as the headsman." He explained, although he didn't say it Kagome could tell he was going to slaughter the youkai.
"Can I come with you?" She asked eagerly.
Her father only shook his head, "I'm sorry but it's too dangerous."
Kagome began to plead, "But I have been practicing my archery. I get the target every time!"
He extended his hand and put it on her petite head. "I know you're a good shot but I can't take you with me, besides you have your lessons. Remember what I told you about when you turn fifteen."
She nodded disappointedly. She knew all too well about her fifteenth birthday, it was when she would be married off to the headsman's son of the next village over. She had only met him once and thought him to be a fool. He was a shy and weak boy; Kagome could have easily made him cry with just a flick of her finger. She still did not understand fully why she needed to marry the imprudent prince, all she knew was it was an important honor. More of a burden in her mind though.
Alas she didn't argue further with her father. She watched him as he mounted the horse and ordered it into a gallop then he disappeared into the trees.
Kagome was one to get bored easily. She thought long and hard of something interesting to do but found no answer to her inconvenience. That is what caused her to conclude that a trip into the forest would liven the day. She knew it like she knew the back of her hand; she was forbidden to venture into the forest. That's where creatures lived that if they had the chance would devour a girl like her.
She walked casually to the edge of her household's estate. Her raven hair spread messily over her shoulders and her deep blue eyes searching the area for any persons. She pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and examined the property once more, nobody seemed around so she deemed herself safe.
She climbed over the fence quickly and somewhat effortlessly. Her feet touched the soft earth on the other side of the boundary. Without a second thought she began to walk deep into the brush. More than once had she came into the forest and she had never seen a creature that the tales depicted. She had never taken much thought to the situation if she really did run into one what she would do.
She continued on her stroll until she came to a creek, in order to cross it she would need to take her shoes off and she didn't quite feel like doing that right now. So she simply sat at the water's edge in a crouch position peering at the creek bed. She could see miniscule fish fighting their way against the feeble currant; a movement caught her eye to her right. She noticed a toad hopping without worry on its way. She watched it curiously taking in its exact moments and the color of its rutted brown skin.
She eventually got bored of the creak and finally gave in to the temptation of crossing it. She was careful not to step on any of the fish as she crossed. Her plain brown shoes in hand. She could feel the slimy rocks under her toes, she liked the feeling it wasn't a gross feeling like most girls her age would have thought.
Once she crossed the creak she continued to carry her shoes. She enjoyed the sensation of the ground below her feet. She continued into the forest all the while unaware that anything may be watching her. It had only been several minutes when she stopped in her tracks. She could have sworn that she had distinguished a shadow move… She tried to disregard the voice in her head notifying her it was a monster.
She was a modest amount on edge after the incident but still trudged forward. It seemed like ages before she emerged into the clearing. This clearing had been Kagome's favored place since the initial time she entered the forest. It was a majestic place, the sun always seemed to shine more brilliant here. It had the most comfortable and dazzling green grass that littered the area. Numerous types of flowers grew in patches coming in all sorts of intense colors. Kagome was most fond of the aweing pink lilies that grew next to the river. A large tree also grew in the center of the clearing; at this time of year stunning magenta blossoms occupied the branches. With what she knew about trees the immense size and stature of the tree deciphered the tree was ancient. She would often rest under the great tree. It was a unique and utterly peaceful place.
Today she seated herself beneath it like any other day. She leaned back on the trunk, her head positioned on the smooth yet rough surface of the bark. She closed her eyes letting herself gain the sense of purity and tranquility. Suddenly she got the impression something was debauched. The area seemed abruptly adverse. She got out of her comfortable position and stood on her bare feet. A light wind blew her hair back. She scanned the area for anything out of the norm.
In return she came up empty-handed. There was no sign of any dangers present, although the sky seemed to have eeriness about it. She took a step forward then another, when no disturbances materialized she turned around to cozy herself back against the tree. Before she had the chance the ground beneath her quaked. She let out a surprised yelp. She was about to attempt a get-away when a slithery body coiled around her.
Legs protruded from the sides of the slithery body, the physique reminded Kagome of an insect. She struggled against its tight grasp on her. Her raven hair flew around wildly as she thrashed her body in a feeble attempt of escape. Before her eyes Kagome saw a human-like form rise up, from the waist down its body was the slithery form restraining her. Its head tipped up to resemble that of a woman; she was in a state of undress and had lengthy black hair. Kagome's eyes also took not in the fact that this woman, this creature had six arms.
The creature unexpectedly spoke. "My, my what's a young girl doing so far into the forest?"
Kagome's eyes widened in horror, she had now realized just what this monster was. It was the thing that fascinated her most, it was a youkai! Kagome screamed in horror at the realization of the situation. It was just as the stories had depicted, she was going to be eaten alive and rot in this youkai's belly.
The youkai's mouth stretched inhumanly long, a pair of extended fangs flourished. Her eyes widened in a mad fashion. Kagome opened her mouth and screamed as loud as she had ever before. Tears made trails down her face as she sobbed. She came to realize she should have never ventured into the woods; she should have stayed home and engaged in childish games with her younger brother. If only she had heeded her parents warnings.
Through her teary eyes Kagome was flabbergasted to see a stone delivered from nowhere hit the youkai in the side of her pale face. She let out a pained hiss and her head turned franticly in all directions trying to find the source. A second stone whizzed through the air and smacked her yet again. The agitation was maturing in the youkai's terrifying features.
Her grip loosened on Kagome. She more or less crawled along the ground; her additional legs advanced her along. Kagome's sanity was returning, she began to deliberate a plan in her mind. The youkai was distracted, her slithery body continued to move and her taciturn eyes sought for the menace. Kagome wrestled against the grip on her, she succeeded in releasing one of her arms from the sinewy body.
She commenced to pull herself from the capturer. Using her hand to push her frame upwards. She did so and achieved to follow through with the plan. As she attempted to swing her legs out, the grip constricted and her legs were ensnared. She kicked her legs desperately.
"Trying to get away are we?" The youkai hissed turning her attention back to the belligerent girl.
Kagome's features turned apprehensive as she tried to further get away from the youkai. Rapidly Kagome seized a flash of red in her eye then to her amazement a boy was violently beating the youkai with a large stone. He had one arm wrapped around its lean neck while the other was crashing the stone against its cranium.
The youkai brutally flailed its head in all directions releasing animalistic cries of pain. The boy raised his hand for a final time delivering the deathly blow. The youkai's slither body suddenly fell flaccid. Kagome tumbled back from the weight of its long snake-like frame collapsing onto her. She shoved the substantial body from her but unsucceeded miserably. She turned her features to the sound of footsteps paddling along the grass. The boy came into view his face was smeared with the youkai's ghastly blood. Kagome blinked at him, he was an extraordinary looking character. His features could only be described as exotic; his hair was a glimmering silver. And his eyes were like liquid gold. His lips were slightly parted and he bore a scowl. He looked at her furiously the hate in his eyes evident.
Kagome gazed at him vexed. She questioned his actions deliberating exactly what he was going to do to her. His eyes became a tad softer. Then without warning he effortlessly lifted the snaky corpse off of her, Kagome scrambled out from below it. He released it and it plummeted back to the ground with a 'thud'.
Kagome clambered to her unsteady feet. The weather was still dim; the clouds concealed the sun's rays of light. The pair sat in an uncomfortable silence, the boy continued to stare at her heated. Suddenly a boom of thunder was perceived in the distance. Kagome's attention was turned to the grey sky. A single drop of water dropped and hit her on the cheek developing down it and dwindling off her chin.
She gazed back at the boy but he had seemingly disappeared. The rain began to fall delicately. Kagome covered herself as much as she could; the white dress she wore posed little protection from the elements. She started the treacherous journey back home but not before fetching her shoes.
It took her nearly a half an hour to make it back to the creek. By then the rain had begun to fall more heavily. The creek was much broader and a tad deeper than before. It took more effort to cross it; the water was a dirty brown from the stirred dirt which in turn stained the end of her dress. She continued on though and eventually made it back to the boundary between her home and the forest.
She carted herself over the fence. When she made it to the other side she bounded and didn't land so great. Her ankle was now aching from the landing; her dress was tattered and dirty. Her hair was a muddled pig-sty and she was outright exhausted!
She made her way towards the cottage. Her mother and brother had been happily lazing about when the muddy, sore and poor excuse for a teenage girl came inside. Her mother immediately scolded her for being gone so long and told her to stand in the rain for ten minutes until all the filth was washed away. She did as she was told, of course she did she knew better.
When she came back inside she was shivering, to her great relief her mother had prepared a bath for her. Kagome went into the diminutive room that housed the bath; she peeled her soaking clothes from her cold body. At first when she sunk into the steaming water it bit at her skin and burned. Eventually her icy temperature diminished and she soaked in the warm water, she let her head fall back and cleansed her raven hair of the grime that had previously plagued it.
As she soaked she couldn't help but recall the peculiar boy she had seen in the forest. The image of his unique silver hair and molten gold eyes ate away at her. She educed how for some strange reason she could have sworn she had seen two dog ears jutting from his skull. She chuckled to herself. That couldn't be true; it would have meant the boy was a youkai. And youkai didn't assist humans; no they devoured and wreaked havoc on them.
She became lost in thought. She wondered who the boy was; he couldn't have been more than a year older than her maybe he was younger? She didn't know. Her final thoughts of the boy concluded with her coming to the decision that she wanted to know more about this odd boy and that she would surly go back into the forest tomorrow. She would try to find him again and with luck know more about him. She made a silent promise she would do it tomorrow for sure…
Thank you for reading, new chapter coming very soon (tomorrow). Please leave me a review and tell me what you think.