Hello again! I honestly don't know if I'm going to continue this; I'm debating if this should be it or be a one shot. But the ghost of long arms always fascinated me. He had a daughter who was apparently a rope shrine maiden and he tried to get her back, but no one knows more than that and a few details,. I haven't seen many fanfics for him, if there are any, so I decided to write a story and such. I was going to leave it up to you guys whether or not I should continue writing this.
I couldn't...
They couldn't…
"No, no! Where is she?!"
I scream and slash at the priests, the other children that had been returned cringing into their parent's side to avoid my arms. All children except two. I saw her there, my daughter, staring gravely at the man before her, the headmaster talking with her of what her fate was to be. Her concerned gaze caught mine and I saw something register, probably the fact that this game was more than just that. I didn't tell her. I didn't expect her to be chosen, to be picked for such a horrible fate. I didn't want to tell her.
Her eyes swept over the headmaster and she quickly fell back, then her eyes pierced mine one more, understanding dawning in those beautiful orbs of hers. I expected anger from her small form at not telling her the truth but she looked too horrified to be angry. I couldn't' blame her. It was a cruel tradition.
I wasn't exactly favored to begin with because I disapproved to their traditions. It was cruel to the child and the family. I didn't care what anyone said otherwise. She ran straight for me before anyone could stop her.
I ran for her as well. I wouldn't let her be subjected to such a cruel thing so long as I could help it.
"Father!"
She latched onto me and wrapped her arms around my neck, clinging desperately to me. I did to her as well. She was all I had left. Her mother was gone and I had no relations to any relatives. She was literally everything. If she was taken from me then I may as well be dead. I wanted to see her grow into a lovely woman, get married to a man and have beautiful children; see her live happy and free and not under these strict conditions. If I had it my way we'd be somewhere else living with a fresh start. There was so much more than this for her. But this is all we know.
"Don't touch me!" She batted the hands that tried to take her away but it was no use. There were too many hands, too many arms pulling her out of my grasp. I inwardly wished my arms were longer so that they could cage her in a protective embrace. They pulled her away, her formal attire now disheveled and her black hair a mess from the struggle she put up. Her brown eyes leaked tears and met mine. I didn't know when the priests had grabbed onto me and held me back, yanking me to somewhere unknown, as my daughter was pulled away by two others in another direction.
"Let go of me!"
I hissed and struggled. I didn't want this for her. I didn't want this for her at all. It was considered such an honor to be chosen but I strongly disagreed. It was a cruel passage, a burden pushed on to a young child who was still innocent to the world. They dragged me down to places unknown. Deep within the mansion I could still hear her screaming for me. I knew her fate. There were too many people for me to be able to reach her. The head of the mansion stood before me, his angered gaze finding me even from behind the cloth that cloaked his face.
"She is the next Rope Shrine Maiden. Consider this an honor and accept it for what it is. Do not let me warn you again." He motioned for the priests to release me and when they did I fell to the ground. They took me down so many halls that I couldn't remember where it was we had gathered. Half the mansion was kept in secret and away from the people within the village. Only those who worked here and were chosen knew the many passages it contained. Or I assumed.
I didn't care about it. I felt as if nothing were left for me without my child. They wouldn't take her. I wouldn't allow it. Even if it killed me I would get her back, one way or another. The priests stayed with me, ordered to keep me here until they had the new Shrine Maiden at home in this new place. My daughter. I'd find a way to her, and together we would escape this terrible place. Even if it meant Hell being unleashed. These people deserved it anyway, for doing these cruel traditions.
