Sisters
By; The Fanfiction Nymph
"HELP! HELP ME." The scream came from further up the mountain. Piccolo growled. It had been so long ago that he would have ignored such a call, he reminded himself. Yet there he was flying off to hurry and help some stranger.
Taka Mitsu held her ground against the attackers, they had caught her off guard and now she would pay for it. Her arrows flew from her bow striking a dark shadowy demon in the chest – it fell down and turned to ash, disappearing.
Taking the time she had between kills Mitsu quickly ripped off a piece of her sleeves to tie around her bleeding leg. She was not quick enough as two more demons were upon her now, teeth gnashing wickedly in their distorted faces.
Determined she let three arrows fly at them. Two of the arrows hit the demon on the left while the other missed. She backed up several steps to try and give herself time to fire another volley at them. However she backed up in the leader of the group, a large snake like creature that now held her in its coils.
"HELP!" She screamed as she struggled against the demon. The snake thing seemed to laugh at her efforts as it tightened its grip around her.
"Fool girl, there is no one on this mountain to hear your screams." It hissed as its head circled around to her. "Now DIE." The snakes fangs pierced her arm, sinking in to her flesh with ease. Mitsu could feel the poison being pumped into her system. The loss of blood from earlier in the fight would make it easy for the poison to over whelm her body quickly. She blacked out as the roof of the shrine came caving down upon them.
xxxx
Slowly she stirred, crying out for something that had been lost. Struggling she tried to stand, but her legs collapsed beneath her, again she cried out. A wave of nausea hit her as she ran a hand over her knee to find the bone piercing out of the skin in a mess of tattered flesh. And again she blacked out.
She came round a while later to hear a voice talking soothingly to her. She vomited blood and collapsed.
Shapes blurred and swirled in front of her and she thought for a moment that she would be sick again, but as her eyes focused and the nausea left. Slowly looking around her Mitsu found a small fire that was still burning fierily – it was night, perhaps the same night as the battle? Aneko! She prayed that Aneko would be alright, somehow…
Her wounds had all been wrapped up and bandaged with now blood socked material that seemed to have been hastily ripped from something. Mitsu tried to move her arm and legs, but they would not move. Frustrated with her limited move ability she twisted to look the other way and ended up falling over.
She coughed up some blood and tried to roll over but ended up just laying there. Her skull throbbed, yet she was surprised she did not feel more of the pain.
Mitsu heard someone come up behind her; she tried to move her head to see who it was, but found that she could not. Instead she tried to speak to this stranger, but her mouth was swollen and trying to talk only made her throat fill with blood.
Piccolo scowled from across the fire at the girl. Though most of her wounds would heal fine, the poison still lingered in her system – despite his attempts to cure her of it. The most irritating part was that her head wound was his fault – he had been careless and blew up the small building filled with demons. When the roof fell in – it must have fallen on her.
Also finding so many demons fighting this girl worried him. What would they want with some small mountain shrine? He looked at the girl again; when her hallucinations stopped she may not trust him. He was after all, Piccolo reminded himself, a demon.
The girl suddenly cried out from the pain, stirring in her sleep.
"Save Aneko…please"
Piccolo stirred, he swore as he flew back to the now burning shrine. Flying above it he searched for the girl that he only suspected was there.
Towards the back of the shrine a small portion of the floor suddenly folded up. He saw a figure stand there for a moment and then fell down.
Grabbing her as he dodged the fire, Piccolo hurried back to the camp he had made.
Aneko was already wrapped up in several blankets and seemed to be in no need of immediate help. He watched her fall asleep next to the other girl.
xxxx
It was several days before Taka Mitsu awoke. Her head still hurt, but not nearly as much as it had. The sun light and sent of cooking food caused her to smile – she was alive.
Aneko smiled weakly at her sister as she saw her sit up.
"Aneko!" Mitsu cried happily as she saw her sister cooking them food. "However did you manage to save us? – Are you alright?"
"I didn't, you know the shape I am in…Our savior will return tonight. He is busy now." She said quietly, she knew how her sister would respond when she discovered their hero to be a demon…
Mitsu slowly made her way over to sit next to her sister. The pain is not so bad now, she thought, besides I am sure that Aneko has been in more pain.
"What's for breakfast?" Mitsu asked as she sniffed the air around the fire.
"Our hero brought me fish to cook for us this morning. Here –" She said as she pulled a stick with a blackened fish speared on the end of it. Aneko blew out the fire on the stick and handed it to her younger sister. "Go on, it's done."
Mitsu happily ate the fish, finding that she was starving. Aneko ate the other fish slowly, watching her sister. Should she prepare her for their host's arrival? She looked up at the sun trying to determine the time of day.
"That was great fish Aneko, thanks you. You always were a great cook." She could tell her sister was distracted, undoubtedly thinking about something important. Mitsu curled up next to her and fell back asleep.
Aneko looked down at her sister, gently snoozing and ran her hand over her long black hair. A tear fell from her eyes as she glanced down at her bulging stomach, her hands now ran over it.
"You know I loved him Mitsu…"she whispered.
xxxx
Piccolo arrived back at the camp just after dusk. He had brought some fruit with him for the two women. He placed the fruit next to the one called Aneko, she stirred and sat up.
"Thank you for your kindness." She whispered. He said nothing and sat down next to the fire, across from her. "You must forgive my sister when she wakes, she does not know demons like I do. I fear she may be very rude to you. I'm sorry."
Piccolo said nothing; he did not expect the younger woman to like him after trying to defend themselves against the horde of demons.
"Why were the demons after you two?"
"We are priestesses for that mountain shrine…I – I am no longer a priestesses, though because I allowed myself to fall in love – with a demon." Her hand fell to her stomach, as her smiled disappeared. "My sister was enraged by this, because I will have to leave the shrine now…I fear she did something very foolish..."
"You think she killed him." He said picking up on her story. She nodded a tragic look in her eyes.
"I don't know what to think anymore. If he is not dead, then he has as she predicted, deserted me…I don't know which is worse." Suddenly she realized she was placing her burdens upon a stranger. "I am very sorry, I – I shall not be a burden on you long." Piccolo nodded, expressionless.
"You should eat some of that fruit."
xxxx
Mitsu stretched and began unwrapping her bandages. She could feel that her wounds were healed, though small scabs and bruises lingered. She peaked over at her sister and found her fast asleep. Not wanting to wake her, she carefully crept over to where she swore she heard the sound of rushing water.
A river, fed by a waterfall was what she discovered. The water was cool and clean – beautifully glistening in the afternoon sun.
She stripped of her sweat and blood stained clothes eagerly and slipped into the cool currents. The water felt reviving after sleeping in her old clothes. Mitsu dreaded putting them back on. Instead she swam in the river for a long time until finally the sun had begun to set and the water began to be less than pleasantly cool.
Going to retrieve her clothes, Mitsu found them gone! However in their place were a fresh set of white and red garments. After a small pray of thanks, she quickly dived into the clean linens.
Further upstream Piccolo was almost amused at the girl's gratitude for the clean linens. Though it had really been for his benefit, he could not stand the stench of dried blood and vomit any longer.
He did not approach the girl because he was scared, no, he could tell he was much stronger than the girl. It was out of respect for the one named Aneko that he did not. Although he was never truly far away from their little camp.
xxxx
"So when do I get to meet this hero of ours?" Mitsu asked her sister as she sank her teeth into a large apple.
"I don't think you will get the chance too, you are always asleep when he comes to check up on us."
"Oh…well Aneko – what is he like?" Aneko was slow in responding.
"He is very strong and brave – he went back to the shrine to search for me after hearing you sob my name. He spends nearly all of his time training to better hone his skills. I think he is a much disciplined man. I am glad to have met him." Aneko said truthfully, she would never lie to her sister.
"Wow…what does he look like?"
"You know I do not pay attention to such things Taka. And you should know by now to not let looks deceive you." She scowled her.
"I do not care for looks!" Mitsu tried to argue.
"No but care for your own a great deal, do you not?" She accused. Mitsu blushed a deep shade of red. "Isn't that why you cover your face when you fight? So you do not mar your pretty face?"
"Is it wrong of me to not want to be covered in scares?!" she raised her voice.
"It is only selfish of you. You must learn to be selfless if you are to remain at the shrine when I leave."
"Oh Aneko you are not still going to leave are you?"
"I can not raise this child there, you know that. Once it is born I will be able to travel again…I will go to the village at the base of the mountain and live there for a time…"
"They wont want you there Aneko…I am sorry. I should never have-"
"Be quite Mitsu, you don't know what you are talking about. I know I will not be able to stay in the village long but the child will grow quickly look at me – it's only been three months! When the child is able to travel then we shall leave the village. Do not worry about me Taka Mitsu, I have chosen this path. You should choose yours." The sisters were silent for a time…
xxxx
Bathing in the river helped her sore limbs, so she took to the river more and more. She knew that her sister would be having her baby very soon but somehow could not bring herself to rejoice.
Being a priestess of the moon she understood the different cycles in a woman's life. However Mitsu was forbidden to take part in them – she would never have a lover or a child of her own. Besides, what man would put up her?
Mitsu had been untrusting of the strange man that came to their shrine seeking shelter. She had known his injuries must have been received in battle, but her sister was trusting and said that they could not send him away. It did not take long to discover that he was a really a wolf…perhaps that is why he chose their moon shrine?
Aneko loved him form the moment she saw him though. There was no helping that, but Mitsu was horrified at her sister's lack of self restraint. Even after learning of his demon nature…
Hearing something Mitsu submerged herself under the water, and edged towards the river bank where her clothes lay.
Piccolo was not quick enough, she saw him watching her before he moved to disappear into the forest.
Hurrying she putting her clothes on and darted off after the strange looking man she had seen – he was obviously a demon of some kind.
Piccolo stopped at the camp to see if Mitsu was following him.
"Damn" he muttered as she entered the clearing. Rage filling her eyes.
"Damn right demon." She replied as she pulled out a roughly made staff she had created a few days ago. Mitsu rushed at him, but he easily dodged the attack. Turning around to face him she fell into her defensive position.
"I am not here to fight you." He warned. Aneko's eyes fluttered open at his words. She sat up.
"Mitsu NO! Put that thing down!" Aneko ordered of her sister. Mitsu was unmoved however, refusing to put her weapon down. "Taka Mitsu! – he is the only reason you and I are alive right now!"
"Sister I'll never understand your fondness for demons." Mitsu watched Piccolo for a moment, looking him over. He was obviously a warrior…she would not stand a chance against him – not without her special arrows. She dropped her staff and now ignoring him sat down next to her sister. "But what was he doing watching me bath?" she argued angrily.
Piccolo blushed slightly but was able to give an angry response "I was NOT watching you! I was trying to stay out of your way – You interrupted my meditations." He growled revealing his fangs.
"Quite both of you." Aneko said in a tone barley not a whisper. "I will be leaving here shortly and don't want to think that you will kill each other once I am. Promise me Mitsu? Piccolo? I think you may even be able to help each other, though that may be asking too much. Now promise."
"I promise." Piccolo growled, scowling.
"…I promise. But only because you should not worry about me when you will be taking care of your baby."
"Good. Now…who's hungry?" she said smiling again as she held up a pair of fruits.
xxxx
Not even a month later Aneko delivered her child. Mitsu worked with her well into the morning hours during the birth. It had been difficult to not intervene for Piccolo, as the elder sister's energy was so weak. Human females were not designed to mother demon children. He scowled; though he did not know anything of human births it seemed to him that it ought not to be so difficult as to nearly claim the mother's life.
But Aneko was strong, after a day or two she was fine and had announced her departure to be at the end of the week. Mitsu had argued with her, trying to get her to stay but nothing would convince her to.
Aneko smiled at Piccolo as she held her new baby in her arms. His tail twitched as she held him, bright yellow eyes watching her intently.
"Sush little wolf ling…" she cooed to her son "Piccolo, thank you for taking care of us. Please look out for my sister; she doesn't understand what being a priestess is yet…"
"You should be careful, the village you are planning to go to does not receive demons well."
"We will be fine. Good bye." She said at last, bowing her head slightly before beginning the long journey down the mountain.
xxxx
Mitsu cried that night, after her sister had left. She did not even have the heart to tell her about the father of her child…
She waited up late the night but she could not find the moon anywhere in the dark nights sky. Mitsu sat at the fire and burnt a fish she had caught in the river earlier. It did not taste bad, juts not as good as her sisters. She bit into the fish angrily; she could never do anything as well as her sister.
xxxx End Prologue xxxx