Minikui Ahiru No Ko

(Ugly Duckling)

Look at the idiot; he can't even pull that cart. Yuya stopped and stared a struggling Benitora. " Lets just ditch the cart and go!"

"Yuya we can't leave all this sake behind, it cost me half of my savings." Benitora lowered his head and kicked the dusty rocks below his feet.

"I would understand if the sake wasn't that cheap domesticated crap, dump it and lets go!"

"Hey but don't you think that we'll need it to survive up here?"

"Benitora….NO, you wanna know why?" Yuya pulled out her gun and pointed it at him, straight for the arm. "Because I don't plan on staying up here in the wilderness more than a day AND that crap is nasty, you really have bad taste in sake." Sticking out her tongue and keeping her gun pointed towards Benitora she signaled him to leave the cart.

Pulling out three bottles Benitora left the cart behind, he turned and silently hummed over and over in his head: It's never a right time to say goodbye…

It had gotten to the point of darkness that Yuya could barely see her hands in front of her own face. Its too dark, we gotta set up camp. Plus its silent….hmmm. "Hey drunkard hand me a bottle of that crap."

Benitora held his sake close. Yuya fired a warning shot in the air. "Hand me a bottle!" receiving one in lighting speed, she poured it over some wood; using her flint she started a toasty fire. I want a bath but that has to wait until we catch Kyoshiro. Yuya yawned. Why is it so dark? Oh well we'll wait until tomorrow to get going. "Benitora its time for bed!!"

"But what about dinner??"

'Well you didn't make any so that's your fault isn't it?" Yuya smiled as she pulled an apple from the inside of her kimono. She glared at Benitora seductively, oh how his eyes drooped and his mouth flopped open with hunger. "Mmm delicious."

Slowly as their eyes closed, the shadows shifted for tomorrow, they promised no light, no escape.

Yuya opened her eyes and to her surprise it was completely dark. Shouldn't it be morning by now? She rubbed her eyes. Crawling over to Benitora she shook him violently. "Wake up." Very sluggishly she slapped him.

"Huh…go back to bed Yuya its still nighty night." Benitora's head plopped to the dirt below.

"WAKE UP!!!" Yuya pulled all of her strength together and yelled aloud. This stirred Benitora awake. "We gotta go." Yuya looked into the distance. She squinted her eyes; she had sworn she saw something shift, like the shadows themselves. Bending down she lifted Benitora up.

"Hey now Yuya its still night!"

"Well if it is oh well, we gotta get going. This forest reeks of danger."

Swiping the dirt off his shirt Benitora quickly followed a nervous wrecked Yuya. Gee man what's wrong with her?

Yes Benitora what's wrong with her?

Coming to an abrupt Benitora shuddered with sudden fear. "Yuya was that you?"

"What are you talking about? Yuya asked placing her hand on her hip.

"Did you say that??!" Benitora grabbed her shoulders. "Please tell me that was you!"

"No, whats wrong with you. Are you running a temp?" She touched his forehead. "Nope nothing wrong with you you big oaf" She tugged at his chubby cheeks.

Little girl you should believe him.

Yuya froze and looked Benitroa in the eye. Please tell me you said that Benitora.

What if he didn't? Will you run? Scream?

That was it. Yuya pulled out her three-chambered revolver and pointed it to the sky. "Who's there?"

From the sky it fell, dark shadows, blood lusting demons.

YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE!!

"AHH!!" Yuya fired blankly into the shadows above.


Kyo stopped abruptly. He could hear the echoing of a gun in the distance. Looking into the sky towards Tokai Hills, above the woods was a dark shadow, it was spreading rapidly, as if it were swallowing the hills whole. Its her…… Without a second thought, he ran towards the hills in lightening speed. Trees zooming past, cites flying past, only one thing on his mind stood. Yuya.


"Ooof!" Yuya squealed as she was thrown into a tree. Raising her gun she fired off three shots into the viscous shadows afar. They went unaffected. What are these things? Quickly she reloaded her gun. As she continued to fire off Benitora was struggling himself, for he had no weapon besides his own hands.

Grabbing a stick from the forest floor Benitora tore into the shadows causing them to growl with frustration.

Boy you are really getting annoying….I know we'll eat you for dinner!!

Yuya turned around just to see Benitora being picked up right before her very eyes.

"BENITORA!!" Yuya jumped into the air as she tried to hold on to his hands. "No ….I won't lose anyone else!"

Let go you wench!!

Suddenly out of nowhere a stretch of the shadows hit Yuya in the stomach sending her to the floor. "Ahhh!" she yelped as she fell 20 feet.

As her back slammed against the ground, blood spewed from her side. She had landed on a pointed rock. Wincing in pain she quickly pulled it out her side, and in doing so her vision blurred. With what ever she had left she watched as Benitora was completely swallowed, never to return. "Beni…..tora!" She raised her hand to the sky. Warm, liquid fire, she pulled her hand back down, blood, Benitora's blood to be exact.

She wanted to cry but there were no tears, she wanted to scream but nothing came out.

Little girl…………….

"What do you want from me!" Yuya scrambled for her gun. It was bad enough that the forest was pitch black but she could barely maintain what little vision she had left.

Grabbing her gun she said "Answer me or I'…I'll shoot!"

My majesty….

"Huh?"

Your king awaits you, we need you.

"Never!" Yuya fired a shot into the sky. She opened her eyes, a painstaking scream soon followed. "Beni….no please?" She shook her head in disbelief. I killed him!!! No please.

Yes you did…..we can ease your pain….for Benitora…Nozumo.

"Nozumo?"

Yes, come with us and you will see.

Lowering her head in pain Yuya clasped her wound. Nozumo, can I ease my pain for you? Benitora I'ma fool, I killed my own friend. Will they ease my pain? No, I can't go with them.. never. "No I won't go with you!"

Yes you will!!

"No!"

Fine if we can't take you the nice way we'll take you the hard way.

Scooting against the tree Yuya pointed her gun towards the shadows hoping it'll hold them back.

Bubbling, screeching, the shadows slowly crept down from above. Yuya watched as they got closer and closer to her. Her grip softened as she felt her body go numb. My hand. She watched as her hand shivered. I'm going to die. Yuya started to see stars and tons of money. My head. I…ca..can barely see anything. I'm so stupid to come up to Tokai Hills for this Kyoshiro guy. He obviously has his own group of protectors.

Circling Yuya the shadows laughed and poked at her. Twitching at the pain Yuya fell on her side and watched as the shadows rolled up her legs slowly. No I can't die.

This feels good little girl huh?

"No this'll feel much better!"

Becoming more alert Yuya shot back up and watched as a man stood in front of her. Who is that? I'm not taking any chances! Forcing a grip on her gun she kept it close to her chest.

The man swiped at the shadows not only sending them back but killing them. It looked as if he was barely trying at all. "Oi woman don't you move a muscle!"

Is he insane?? I'm leaving! Yuya struggled to stand. A failed attempt it was, she fell back down.

It's you! We took your master Nozumo but I guess we missed you.

Becoming more aggressive the shadows doubled up and charged full speed ahead.

The man just laughed. "You think becoming fatter will make you stronger? Ha! It'll just slow you down." He closed his eyes and stood still, he was coaxing them on.

That aura! Yuya dropped her gun as a sudden blast of intense burning aura struck her hard.

You devil you!

"ENOUGH!!" The man tore into the shadows one last time.

Ahh!

The shadows disintegrated before they had a chance to escape.

Feeling the pressure leave from her chest Yuya picked her gun up once more and slowly stood. "Don't you come any closer!!" She slumped against the tree. Ehh my wound.

The man before came her closer and closer until he stood a foot away from her. He pointed up to the sky. Yuya looked. The shadow above was clearing out and the sun shone through.

Covering her eyes she winced in pain. The sun. That's a good sign. But this man. Opening slowly she gazed upon him. He was so handsome. Well tanned skin, broad shoulders easily seen beneath his thin blood clotted armor, rather tall and lean, and a nice bone structure in the face. "Who are you?"

He just stared blankly and came closer. "You're wounded. Come here." He went for her wound but Yuya smacked his hand down. "Look here woman. I own you now so listen!" He grabbed her arm and lifted it up. He took a glance at her wound. "It's not serious enough to kill ya." Damn she looks like a dog. I'm married to a dog faced, flat chested girl. "Come on." Trying to pull her along he received a slap to the face. No she did not just….

"Who are you?" She lifted her gun and held her side. He's so handsome. Wait he kinda looks like Kyoshiro. But his eyes were blue, his are red. "Do you know a guy named Kyoshiro Mibu?" She watched as his eyes flashed and his grip on his sword tightened. "He was supposed to be here, are you him?" She placed her finger on her trigger.

That bastard is mine when I see him. "I could never look so ugly in my life if I tried."

"He was supposed to be in these hills, I must find him for me, Nozumo and Benitora."

This ugly thing can't be my wife. Swatting the gun from her hand he turned her around to see if she had the cross on her neck. Shit! It is her. "Kyoshiro isn't here I would know if he was. The bastard probably ran when I escaped from…never mind. Nozumo is gone and so is your friend lets get going we ain't got the time!" Grabbing her arm in a death-defying grip he tugged her along.

Struggling she screamed and bit his hand. " I don't even know what your name is or who you are!" She started to kick him.

She's getting on my nerves. "Woman!" He grabbed the front of her kimono pulling her close. "Kyo's my name fuckins my game, and dog face we're…..we're married."

Yuya's eyes widened. "I'm married? With such shock and sudden pain Yuya fainted into Kyo's arms.

"Oi wake up! I'm not carrying you ugly." Kyo shook her and realized she was out cold. "Damn." Throwing her over his shoulder he carried her away. The married life sucks. I'll get rid of her later on; maybe I'll sell her to a brothel.


Preview for next chapter:

"I can't wait to sell you woman." Kyo gulped down some sake.

"What? You're can't sell me! I'm your wife you baka!" Yuya closed the door.

"Do the monks here have proof that we're married? If not technically we aren't."

He has a point there. "When can we divorce?!!!" Yuya sat down and glared at Kyo. "I can't wait to leave you either you…you bastard! Who ever married us when you were three and I was just born is crazy!" She combed her tangled hair and placed it in a bun.

Kyo shot up from the wall and pushed Yuya down on her futon. "Wanna get divorced now?" He placed tenrou on her neck.

Ciao! (oi my hands hurt)