My name is Natsuko, when I was a child, a demon killed my parents. I escaped only because my father had sent me away to a nearby village, as if he sensed evil was coming. I was raised by my adopted family and at the age of 17 was wed. After a few years though, the same demon that murdered my parents descended upon the village destroying everyone in it, my friends, husband and adopted parents. I thought he had killed me too, but somehow I survived.
Since that day I have devoted my life to becoming stronger. It is my goal in life to somehow defeat that demon that has wrought so much destruction to the ones I am close too. Now 3 years later I have indeed grown stronger. I travel the land slaying demons wherever I go, but still I have not found the one I am looking for.
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A woman, appearing to be in her early twenties walks softly through the forest. Her raven hair is braided, her pale blue kimono covered by black scaled armor. One can see soft pink designs crossing the span of her sleeves. Her Hakama is a slightly darker shade of blue, tucked into black boots. There are two swords hanging at her side and a brown pack strapped to her back. This woman, once known to many as Natsuko, is now better known as wanderer, cursed and demon slayer. Where a tender young woman had once been there was now a hardened warrior. Natsuko pauses at the edge of a clearing, seeing it is not empty.
I am surprised to see a human child and an imp in the glade. The girl is picking flowers while the imp is lying back against a rock. I approach them; calling out to the girl, getting in between her and the imp who appears to be a lesser demon. "Child, do you know there is a demon near you?" The child looks up startled; the imp also jumps, yelling, "How dare you sneak up on us!"
Drawing my blade, I prepare to sunder the demon in two when a small pair of hands grabs my legs. "Please lady, Jaken is my friend, I am not in danger!" I pause, looking at the child. "Where are your parents?" "I have none; Lord Sesshomaru looks after me." The imp is now jumping up and down screeching threats. "Is this your lord's pet?" I ask, gesturing to the fuming green demon. "That is lord Jaken, and I am Rin." I contemplate that for a moment, humans and demons co-existing are rare but not completely unheard of. "Well Rin, it's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Natsuko but please, call me Natsu."
The girl smiles at me and proffers a bundle of weedy looking plants. "Do you think these would be edible if I cook them?" I frown, "I suppose, but they don't look very tasty. If you are hungry should you not run home?" Rin looks up saying, "oh no, I don't have a house, I travel with Lord Sesshomaru, and find food when I'm hungry, it's just there doesn't seem to be much food here." Then Jaken buts in, "Say here mortal woman! Go away and mind your own business! We are awaiting our lord's return! We have important business to do!" I raise an eyebrow at him, "like what, hunting for weeds?" He screeches at me again "Ooh! When Lord Sesshomaru returns you'll be sorry if you're still here!" I sigh muttering "well, it seems to me he shouldn't leave his little ward hungry and alone."
I open my pack and pull out some bread and cheese offering it to Rin. She gasps in delight and plops onto the ground munching happily. "Thank you so much!" She garbles between bites. I smile at her, pulling out some food for myself as well, studiously ignoring the green demon pacing nervously halfway across the clearing.
It turns out, little Rin is a talking and she is busy regaling me with tale after tale. Noticing a flock of birds settle in the trees nearby I turn to Rin, "Since I don't want you having to contemplate eating weeds again, why don't I teach you how to use this?" I ask, pulling a slingshot out of my bag. Her eyes go wide and she jumps up waving her arms in delight. "That would be amazing! Please teach me!"
I enjoyed teaching the girl, she took the lesson very seriously, though as expected her first shot at the birds hit a branch startling the whole flock away. She was not to be deterred though and continued shooting pebbles at a target I had marked for her. By the time the light was beginning to fade from the sky she was hitting the target more than she was not.
I frown at the waning light and look down at the girl. "Rin, where do you sleep?" She looks at me as if I am silly, "wherever I choose." Skipping over to a large tree she throws herself by its roots. "Like here!" She exclaims jumping back up then dashing off to a patch of moss, "or here!" she giggles as her feet sink into the soft forest floor. 'Well', I think to myself, 'I suppose that strange imp is here protecting her, but still.' "Would you mind if I make camp with you tonight?" This earns me more leaping and excited chatter from the girl.
She talks constantly as I make a small fire, placing my blanket beside it. As it gets completely dark she snuggles against me suppressing a yawn. I learn she has traveled a long time with this strange lord. Apparently she had been kidnapped a number of times but she didn't think it would happen anymore because their enemy Naraku, had been killed some time ago.
Soon sleep overtakes her and I notice the imp grumpily edging closer to the warm fire. Soon, I too fall into a sleep, but only a light one, because I could never relax with a demon around. Halfway through the night, I startle awake, quickly looking around. Nothing seems unusual, Rin and the green demon are lightly snoring and the fire is only a few red coals. I try to peer into the darkness, reaching out with all of my senses, trying to ascertain if there is danger lurking in the woods nearby. I feel like I am being watched, though I see nothing
A tall white figure is striding silently though the dark forest, it is a man with long white hair, and he is clad in fierce armor. He stops before a clearing, his nose flaring, telling him of an unfamiliar scent even before his eyes can see the figures sleeping by a dying fire. 'There is a human with Rin', he ponders, frowning. He watches the camp, moving to the shadows at the edge of the forest. He sees the human woman sit up, silently looking around. Sesshomaru steps back further into the shadows, having no desire to have a confrontation with this woman. 'Hopefully she'll be on her way in the morning.' He travels a small distance away and retires for the night as well.
Natsu rises at dawn, walking to a nearby creek and washes her face. Soon Rin is awake as well, joining her by the waters. "Lord Jaken says we must go looking for Lord Sesshomaru so we have to go." "I smile regretfully at her, "I'm afraid I have to be off as well." I walk back to camp gathering my bedroll then pulling out a bit more bread and cheese for Rin. "Have a safe journey little ones." "Oh! Here is your slingshot back." Rin tries handing it back to me, "No, I want you to keep it, and practice with it every day." She gives me a toothy grin and hugs my legs. "Thank you so much! I can't wait to show Lord Sesshomaru!" She skips off after the green imp, turning to say goodbye a few more times.
'I wonder who her lord is.' I think as I head off in a slightly different direction than them. 'Perhaps a monk of some sort?' I smile to myself; the child's constant joy was almost contagious. I wish I could follow her to be sure she stays safe, but I remind myself of my mission.
I still have a long journey ahead. In all my travels none of the villages I've encountered had heard of the demon I was seeking. Though I was sure if I kept looking I would eventually find him. In the meantime I continued my training, slaying the demons in my path. By now all of the villagers I knew thought I was some sort of lone demon slayer. Though, I guess they weren't that far off. I had tried living a normal human life, but it was not to be so. Anyone who knew me had their lives cut short. It would be cruel of me to let my fate become entangled with anyone else.
Rin and Jaken had not made it very far at all when Lord Sesshomaru appeared before them. Rin greeted him happily, she and Jaken clamoring for his attention. "What did that woman want?" Sesshomaru asked, looking first at Jaken then at Rin. "My lord, that was just a pesky mortal! I shooed her away though!" Jaken said proudly. "Rin gave him an indigent look. "You did not! She left all on her own!" Sesshomaru sighed and started walking as they got into a heated argument about whether Jaken scared the woman away or not.
Rin quickly caught up with him, smiling sheepishly. "She was a really nice lady! Look at what she gave me!" She said, proffering the slingshot. Sesshomaru glanced at the thing, sure enough, it was a sling shot. "Is that supposed to be a weapon, Rin?" Rin told him it was for hunting and that she was going to become the best 'sling shot-er' in the land. "I hope you thanked her for the gift." Sesshomaru remarked. Rin nodded solemnly, "I did thank her, she was kind to me." 'I'm just glad she's gone.' Sesshomaru thought.
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"But why Lord Sesshomaru?!" little Rin cried. "You've just returned and now you want me to stay behind yet again?" They had traveled on A-un and stopped a distance away from a village. "Don't make a fuss Rin, now, there is a village down this road. I will be gone for a few days more. They will have food for you here." "I won't stay in a village!" Rin nearly shouted, interrupting him. "You will at least remain nearby until I come back for you, don't wander off; Jaken is staying with you." With that he turned and walked away, pretending not to hear her sad whimpers as she stood watching them go.
Days had passed since Natsu had met Rin. She thought she was nearly to the village of Kiso. Traveling on foot was such slow progress, but she balked at the idea of purchasing another horse. Her last one had been killed while she battled multiple demons. Even a poor creature like that had met its end by being at her side.
Three days had passed since Lord Sesshomaru had left Rin and Jaken on the outskirts of the village. Rin was happy she had plenty to eat but both she and Jaken were bored.
Midway through the third day the skies darkened and it started raining lightly. Rin was playing near the road when Jaken hissed, "Rin quickly, hide yourself! I sense trouble coming!" The girl had barely gotten behind a tree when five ogres came lumbering up the road toward the village. "This will be an easy hunt my sons," the biggest ogre grated roughly. "We will kill all of the humans in the village and have a great feast," another rumbled.
"Oh no!" Rin whispered at Jaken, "We have to warn the villagers!" "Stay hidden as Lord Sesshomaru commanded!" Jaken whispered back. "The fates of those mortals are none of our concern." Rin had already started running off through the woods toward the village. "Whaa? No Rin come back!" Jaken yelped, scurrying after her.
Rin knew she couldn't reach the village before the ogres unless she took a shortcut. It required her to cross the road at a bend up ahead. She was sure she could cross it and get back out of sight before the ogres saw her. There! She saw the corner and ran; she had just crossed it when the ogres rounded the corner. Diving down she crawled beneath a rotting log by the side of the road. Jaken watched from the other side, terrified she would be discovered.
The largest ogre, known to his brethren as Pokju, stopped at the spot where Rin had crossed, taking a deep whiff of the air. "A human was just here." He rumbled. The smaller ogres looked around in excitement. "I'm up for an appetizer."
Natsu had her cloak pulled tightly to protect against the weather. She hurried her steps along the road to the village. She saw signs of the passing of great beasts and sensed a foreboding presence. She broke into a run when she heard the scream of a child.
Pokju had discovered Rin and grabbed her in his massive hand. Jaken though thoroughly petrified, jumped out, wielding his fire staff and demanded that they unhand the girl. When the ogre glared at him he unleashed the staff, burning the ogre who in turn sent Rin flying. The little girl hit a tree nearby and was knocked unconscious. "Oh we will both surely die if no one comes to our aide!" Lamented Jaken as all of the ogres closed in on him angrily.
Without warning one of the beasts made a strange gurgling sound right before his head slid off of his shoulders. By the time they had rounded on the new opponent another had a dagger in its throat. Jaken, rejoicing, turned his flame upon them once more. He saw his savior was the woman they had met earlier in the week and wasn't the least bit annoyed to see her again. Natsu was shocked to see it was the girl and the imp from before. She couldn't tell if the girl was dead or alive but had no time to check right now.
The three remaining ogres proved difficult to fight once their initial shock was over. The one with the dagger in its throat rose again, catching Jaken by surprise and swatted the poor imp a good 20 feet away. Jaken weakly turned his fire on his attacker watching in horror as the wounded beast still advanced upon him.
Natsu had managed to behead another ogre but had suffered a blow that broke her breastplate armor and knocked the wind out of her. She barely managed to roll out of the way as fists crushed the ground where she had fallen. By the time they raised their hands for another attack she was on her feet slashing at them with her katana.
The ogre that had advanced on Jaken fell mere feet away from the imp, its body crumbling to ashes. Jaken promptly fainted.
Pokju gave a mighty roar and full on charged Natsu while the other broke away and headed toward the unconscious body of Rin. "No!" screamed Natsu, slashing at her attacker then running past him. She leapt upon the back of the ogre going after Rin and buried her sword deeply in the side of its throat, effectively killing it. Before she had time to remove her sword a great force slammed into her back. Claws rent the flesh; she felt ribs crack and tasted blood.
Pokju, burned and bloodied was now crazed. He hit her again with his fist, sending her flying. "You! You killed all my family! You will die for what you've done!" Seeing him charge her again, Natsuko knew she couldn't last much longer or even dodge him effectively, so instead she laid her hand on her wakizashi sword. She pulled it out at the last moment before the ogre barreled into her, effectively burying it in his gut, angling it upward to pierce his heart. Pokju grabbed her by her legs, smashing her face into a nearby tree. Before he could repeat his action his grip loosened and he fell upon his face, dead at last. Natsu's vision was flashing from bright to dim.
Dumbly she crawled over to Rin's unconscious body. Laying her head on the girl's chest she could hear a heartbeat. "Good, she's… still alive." Darkness took over and she slipped into unconsciousness, her body slumping over the girls.
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From the author: Hello everyone, I am excited to get this story in writing! I will be depending on your reviews to keep me going strong! Thanks so much for reading! -Ame-Uta