Chapter 1

The Hikage

I was guided by an over-energetic young girl as she pulled on my hand as if we have known each other for years. I suppose to others we would seem like sisters having a stroll in the lush forest. Yet, I had only met this girl a few nights before while I was on the run, trying to find any semblance of a normal existence in this strange place. All that I found was an orphan named Rin who I had begun to be rather fond of the last few days. It reminded me of simpler times back when I was a child. When everything had been normal. My life had taken a strange turn. I had jumped into the unknown, a world that I was still attempting to figure out. I was still trying to figure out what it is that had brought me here, why, and how to go back home. I guess I could blame it all on the thing everyone seemed to want to kill me for.

I was snapped out of my wandering thoughts as I suddenly felt a presence that hadn't been there only moments ago. Rin was pulling me towards it. She had brought us to the smallest of clearings and we were hissed at by a humanoid youkai. I had crossed paths with many of them in the last few months. I was not the greatest of fans. Yet, there was something strange about this youkai.

Rin pulled back, hiding behind a tree. I watched her as she gulped unsure what to make of the 'man' laying before us. My eyes wandered to his bloodied body. It was apparent that he had been in some kind of battle by the number of injuries on his person. His eyes had been red as he bared his teeth towards us in a silent warning. If he had wanted us dead, he did not go about it the right way. Which could only mean that he was not here to kill us. Or at the very least, kill me. Someone would not simply warn you if their intent was to kill you. My fascination for this youkai grew. After some time, his red eyes turned to a beautiful shade of gold. His face seemed to be devoid of emotion but there was something hidden deep within his eyes. What could it be?

"Hm," I hummed out, letting my eyes fall from the male's face to look at the small girl still hidden behind the tree. I did not know why but I felt that this could be a teachable moment for the girl. My mother always told me to never judge a book by its cover. I did not sense any ill intent coming from this male, regardless of the amount of demonic power that flowed around him and his outward appearance would suggest. I kneeled beside her to be at her level as I asked her, "What do you think, Rin? Shall we show this stranger kindness or leave him here?" Her frightened eyes turned to me. Her eyes were no longer fearful as I smiled at her as a show of reassurance to give her confidence.

"I do not require any kindness from the likes of you, woman," the male spoke to me.

I turned my gaze to him, sighing, "Well, unfortunately, you do not get to decide who we choose to show kindness to. We do." I smiled at him before standing up and looking at the small girl. She was still looking at me as if trying to make up her mind. "Do you want to show him kindness?" She nodded her head, having made up her mind. I smiled warmly down at her. "I am proud of you." She did not let his outward appearance scare her into not helping him when he is in need or because of his obvious rejection to it. And judging by the amount of power I sensed from him, I doubted he needed any assistance. But this would be good for her.

She turned to me with a serious expression. Her small fingers pointed towards him. I frowned at her, Don't tell me she wants me to stay here with him. Not that I hadn't been staying in the forest myself but this was an entirely different matter. What had I gotten myself into? I guess I would have to lead by example anyway.

"You wish for me to stay here with him?" She nodded. Oh, yes. I had gone and done it now. "Very well," I told her, exaggerating a salute in an attempt to elicit some dramatics to please her, "You can count on me to ensure no more harm befalls him." I was not met with disappointment as she giggled at me. I smiled at her as I relaxed, her little feet scurrying away back to the small village she called her home.

"I have told you," the male spoke once more, causing me to send him my full attention, "I do not require any assistance from you, mor-"

I cut him off, "And I thought I have told you. I do not need nor want your permission to do something I intend to do. Also, do not make me out to be a liar." I could tell he was not amused by the look he was sending me. I clicked my tongue, "I see. I do not amuse you in the least. How unfortunate for you." I took a few steps closer, before leaning down with my hands crossed over my thighs, "Make no mistake. I am not being kind to you because I deem you weak by the injuries you bare. However," I looked off to the side, "My mother taught me never to turn away from someone that is injured, no matter who they are."

"Foolish," he was his simple reply.

I turned my gaze to meet his cold one. My lips twitched up in an amused smile, "You do too, huh? I used to feel the same way. I thought my mother must have lost her mind if she believed that everyone was worth saving. But she was never the kind of woman to give up."

And she fought with everything she had to stay alive when she had gotten ill. Oh, how I missed her and her smile that would light up the night sky. How long has it been? Eight years? It felt like an eternity to be without her. My world only consisted of the moon because the sun had been taken from me. Or at least, that was how I had felt until I had realized that my mother wanted me to be happy and not mourn her all my life.

I shifted in order to sit side by side with the humanoid youkai. I gazed up at the darkened sky as night had come. I hadn't wanted to play babysitter with someone who could try to kill me but that was now out of my control. I had to trust that he wouldn't attempt to take my life.

"Why show kindness to my kind? Are you unafraid? I could easily kill you," he questioned me.

"I am not showing kindness to your kind. I am showing kindness to you. There is a difference," I replied, continuing "I may have been afraid a few months back when my life had been threatened for the first time. But I managed to survive. Escaping death seems to be something I have gotten quite good at."

"Hn."

We stayed in silence until I heard the sound of footsteps coming towards us. It was Rin carrying water in a bamboo container and a leave with some food on it. She laid them on the grass where it was easy for him to reach.

I smiled at her, "What a kind young girl you are, Rin." She grinned at me.

"You're efforts are meaningless. I do not eat human food," I turned to see the male look at the small child. Her grin faltering.

I shook my head, talking to her, "What he means is that he isn't hungry. You should be off to your home, Rin. It is late." She stared at me for a few seconds, expectantly. I sighed, "Yes, yes. I promise to remain by his side." Her grin was back as she jumped in my arms to embrace me. I smiled fondly at her, rubbing her back, "Goodnight, Rin." She nodded her adorable head before running off back to her home.

"Why do you not go with her?"

I laughed, teasing, "That eager to be rid of me, are you?" I turned and smiled at him, "I do not like liars." I turned back to look at the beautiful starry sky, "Besides, her home is not my home." I have no way to go back to my home. The sky is not as beautiful there. Yet, there were things that I missed. Somethings were far more convenient there. Like a simple hot shower, for instance. Oh, how I yearned for those again.

"I see." There was a silence that fell between us. He wasn't much of a talker. I felt him stiffen the very moment I felt a presence coming in our direction.

I sighed, standing up, "Once again. I cannot have one night without being threatened. Tch." It had been months since have had any form of peaceful sleep. My life was always threatened. I always had to remain alert for any attempt on my life. It had begun the very first day I had come to this unfamiliar place. The presence was now in front of us in the form of an oni youkai, skin as red as blood, "What is it that you want?"

He grinned at me, licking his lips, "There is a rumor that a human came across something ancient and the only way to take it is by devouring her whole."

"Is that so?" I asked but was uninterested. I had heard this story quite a few times. Youkais would come seeking me out in order for them to take the ancient entity that now lived within my being. It was because of this thing that I was hunted on a daily and nightly basis.

It chuckled darkly, "To think a human would have the Hikage. What nonsense. You do not deserve its power!"

"Did you say the Hikage, disgusting creature?" my eyes shifted to look at the male still laying down beside me.

"W-wait. Are you…?" I turned my gaze back to the Oni that now looked terrified at the other male, "I-I am sorry. I did not realize who I was in the presence of. I was not aware that you would also be seeking its power." The Oni stepped back in fear.

"Does it look like I would need its power? Do you take me for a weakling?" I could feel his overwhelming demonic aura as it gathered around us. The Oni looked as though he would relieve his bowels right then and there.

"N-no, my lord," the Oni stuttered out in fear of his life, "If you are not interested in her…" The Oni looked at me with the same eyes as before. As if silently telling me that he was going to kill me.

I sighed, "Ugh. I'm already bored with this." I felt the Hikage wrap around me as dark armor formed over my body. The armor covered every inch of my body with the exception of my eyes, but they were shielded from view by the hood covering my face.

"So, you do have it," he said, looking as if it were Christmas.

"Not by choice," I said, raising my hand as a sword formed in my hand, "I invite you to try to take it. It is not like I wanted it in the first place."

"You impudent like- How dare you! The Hikage is the most ancient and most powerful of demonic powers to ever exist! It was said to have disappeared over a thousand years ago after a great Inu Daiyōkai slew the last youkai who had come to be in possession of its power. And you say you do not want its power?"

"Hey, do you think I like being hunted down every day and every night? It's not exactly all that pleasant, you know. I would prefer to not be put in this position but here we are."

"You ungrateful wench!" the Oni lunged at me. My body shifted into a shadow figure as he went right through me before my body became solid once more. I shoved my hand back as my sword plunged itself in the Oni's back, dealing him a fatal blow. "H-How?" It was easy when they all misjudged my power because I was a human woman. Their arrogance was their downfall.

I took the sword out as blood dripped down to the ground. Without so much as I glance back at the youkai, I said, "The more I get hunted, the more I learn about it and its power. You all are only causing me to grow stronger." Though, I did long for the day where I could finally get some peaceful sleep.

"Ha. I guess this is it then," he let out as his body began to dematerialize, "No matter how strong you become, you will always be a human woman. And one day, you will die."

"Today, it is your day. Not mine," I replied as he disappeared. I felt his demonic power being sucked into the Hikage armor before it disappeared off of my body, leaving me in the kimono I wore. I let out a sigh as I stretched out my limbs. It always felt like my bones were about to break whenever the Hikage would lend me its power.

"You are the one who has come in the possession of the Hikage," I turned my gaze to look at the male that must have been watching this whole ordeal taking place before him. He looked at me with mild interest, "My father used to tell me stories of such a power long ago when I was but a small pup. A tale of one of his many victories against a formidable foe. It was believed that the Hikage was vanquished." His eyes darkened, "How did you come to be in possession of it?"

I blinked at him for a few seconds, "You really believe that I would know?" I turned, letting out an exasperated sigh, "I don't know anything about this thing inside of me. Where it came from. Or how I got it. All I know is that I somehow woke up one day with it and was far away from home. Then youkai started trying to kill me for it."

That was my life now. My simple life as a teenage high school senior was long over. I had been so close to graduation too! And now all of it was replaced by this chaotic life of youkai and bloodshed. You would think I would have come to grip with it all after being here for months but no. It still irked me that I couldn't be back home, safe from all of this. Where I could lay in my bed and have a decent night's sleep. It all seemed like a distant dream now. I had even begun to speak and think more formally now. But I had to admit…

This sucks ass.

I plopped down on my butt not as gracefully as I would have liked. But I was in a sour mood. "Just once, I'd really like it if I could just sleep in peace." As if on cue, I let out a yawn as my eyes watered with sleep. My hand covered my mouth. I lifted it over in front of me as the Hikage wrapped a shadow around it. It was almost like a black flame dancing around my hand. I frowned, "Why can't you just leave me alone? I don't want your power. Go find someone else. I'm done. I quit." I just want to go home. But of course, it did not leave my being.

"I see."

I turned my head to look at the male beside me. He had closed his eyes closed and I could have sworn he wore the tiniest of amused smirks on his lips. I was annoyed that my state was bringing him pleasure.

"What? What's so amusing to you?"

"I have never met someone, much less a mortal, that did not thirst for power. I find it rather curious."

"Well, 'with great power, comes great responsibility'," I quoted from my favorite superhero story, "And I'm just not ready for that kind of responsibility."

But I was sure none of the heroes that suddenly got their abilities were really ready for it to begin with. I grimaced at the thought. Wasn't it everyone's dream to be a superhero fighting off villains? I remembered wanting that as a child. But my mother always told me that my power came from the strength in my heart. They were words to live by. It was the very reason why I did my best at everything I had done. From school to extracurricular activities to the relationships in my life. I gave my all to every single thing. At first, it was to make my deceased mother proud of the woman she had raised me to be. But it had become the very core of who I am. I was just unprepared to accept that another existence was living in my body. I vaguely wondered what it is that my mother would say to me in this situation.

Something like, "Everything happens the way it should happen. It is better to flow with the current than to fight against it. Or so people would have you believe. Always achieve things that bring you joy. Even if it means you need to fight for it. Happiness is not always easily achieved. But it is far better when you've struggled for it. It has greater value and won't be taken for granted." But did that really go with what I was going through at this moment? Then I remembered her saying once, "Sometimes we believe that misfortune is something bad and something to fear but it can be a blessing in disguise. Don't be too quick to judge."

Could this 'Hikage' really be a blessing rather than a curse? I had judged it from the very first day after it had taken me away from my home. However, it had done nothing but protect me since. Maybe there was something I was missing. I missed my mother and her wise words. I wished I could ask her what I should do. Or at the very least have music to calm my mind. I let my hand drop to my side as I stared up at the clear night sky. It was funny. I felt a sudden wave of peace and security. My eyes started to feel heavy as I felt my body sink back to lay on the cool grace. Maybe I could just close my eyes for just a second...