Fiends: Chapter Three
Part One…
I've never lost anyone before, because I was alone from the beginning. I'm an orphan taken in by the FCA when I was just a baby. I remember wondering around Head Quarters, hearing stories about monsters that were very possibly underneath my bed. No one was there to check for me, so I had to suck it up and peek underneath my bed every night until I finally decided if something wanted to eat me, I couldn't do anything about it. Let it come. I'd give it a good fight. Yeah, that was the mentality of a little kid raised in a world where the boogey man was as real as the closet it hid in. I had two rules to live by: One, don't talk to strangers and two, don't look too hard. Because if you looked hard enough, you would find a monster. They were everywhere.
I only stopped being afraid when I was taught I could fight back.
And I only stopped feeling like I had to fight alone when I met my teammates for the first time.
I was ten years old when I entered the academy. I failed the entrance exam horribly and shouldn't have been allowed into the school, but the supervisors pushed my application through anyway. What else would they do with me?
"Naruto," Kakashi Sensei said, his hand resting on my head as I clung behind his leg. Ok, so I was shy before bursting out of my shell. "This is Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha. They'll be your teammates from now on." I glanced at the girl and boy standing before me, but averted my eyes quickly. It was the first time I met anyone my age.
"Nice to meet you, Naruto," the girl's voice sounded so friendly. I looked up to find her right in my face. Our noses were almost touching. I gasped and stumbled back, cheeks flushing red hot. I'd never seen eyes so green, so bright. Kakashi laughed as I scrambled back to hide behind him.
"He's so skittish. Is he scared of me?" Sakura murmured. I frowned deeply at the thought. I wasn't afraid of monsters, so why was I so freaked out by a girl?
She's pretty, I thought suddenly. I shook my head, freeing myself of the unfamiliar thought. With a deep inhale, I stood up tall and slipped out from behind Kakashi. I'm a big boy, I cheered inwardly. I'm not afraid of some pink-haired little girl.
I opened my mouth to say some form of crude greeting, but my tongue suddenly felt as dry as the mid-day sun. I couldn't get any words out. I just sort of stood there, staring like an idiot with my jaw hanging.
"Freak," the boy named Sasuke sneered. "I'm going back to homeroom." That was the first thing Sasuke Uchiha said to me. He was cold and dark with even darker eyes. We didn't like each other the moment we met. After he called me a 'freak,' I lunged at him and tried to punch him in the face. Hey, I was shy, not a push over.
Nine years later, Team Seven was a well-oiled, if not dysfunctional, monster-stopping machine. Sasuke and I still hate each other and my immature fear of Sakura turned into something very, very different. I realized only a few weeks after meeting her that I had a crush on her. My crush grew and grew, until one day, without even realizing it, I had fallen in love.
I never had to feel the pain of losing someone, because I was alone most of my life. It was a four year old me looking under my bed and in my closet for the monsters that went bump in the night. There was no one to comfort me when I was too afraid to sleep in the dark, yet too proud to leave the light on. No one to read me bed time stories. No one to tuck me in.
Boo hoo, who cares, right?
I grew up tough because I was alone. I'm strong. I can handle myself by myself. And wasn't that better? I think so.
Because I imagine losing someone is much more painful than never having anyone at all.
"A griffon?" Sakura said with a heavy dose of skepticism.
It's been two months since we tangled with the Tengu. While Sakura's broken foot healed, Sasuke and I were sent on over a dozen missions. Most of them were wild goose chases brought on by less than creditable sources. Those cases were put in the Who-Gives-a-Crap filing cabinet, until Sasuke and I were ordered to clean the cobwebs out. At least until our team was whole again, we wouldn't be assigned any real missions.
Finally, Sakura was healed and rearing to go. Team 7 was ready and more than eager to get back onto the field. Now, here we are, sitting in Iruka Sensei's office being briefed on our next mission. Sakura, thankfully, was included.
"Yes, a griffon," Iruka Sensei repeated as he slid a folder towards Sakura. I was excited to finally see Iruka again. He was a tan, robust man in his late forties with dark black eyes and a deep scar running across his nose, cheek to cheek. I was excited because he was my first teacher and no matter how much of a mess I made in his class, he never once gave up on me. He was a good teacher and an even better role model.
"Um…what's a griffon?" I asked sheepishly as I leaned forward in a thick leather chair. Sakura and Sasuke shot me the most uninspired glares.
"Really?" Sakura groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "You never paid attention during the Foreign Creature lectures."
"I didn't see the point," I defended myself. "All those monsters live in different countries. Why should I worry about them if I'll never see them?"
"You're an idiot," Sasuke said dryly. "You should be prepared for anything."
"Sasuke's right, Naruto," Iruka began sternly. "At least about the second part," he amended. Iruka gave Sakura a nod and asked her to enlighten me.
"A griffon is an extremely powerful creature with the body of a lion and the head, wings and front talons of an eagle. They're said to be one of the purest, most noble beings alive. Griffons dedicate their extremely long lives to guarding evil and protecting the weak."
"So, wait, griffons are good guys?" I asked.
Iruka nodded before adding, "Yes, griffons are creatures of high intelligence and nobility. They're one of the few supernatural species that the FCA does not have to worry about."
"Then why are you asking us to hunt one down?" Sasuke questioned.
"We're not." Iruka corrected, "The griffon, Ambriel, has been guarding the grave of an Itsumaden for the past twenty years along with its mate. Sadly, Ambriel's mate died three days ago. He is overcome with grief and has been shirking from his duties. This particular Itsumaden is an extremely dangerous spirit. If the grave is not taken care of properly, it will rise and once again terrorize the land."
"Itsumaden are created when a person of purity is purposefully allowed to starve. The neglected spirit comes back as an enormous bird with the tail of a snake, capable of breathing fire. But, Itsumaden only terrorize the one that neglected them in their life. Why is this one so dangerous that it needs a griffon to guard its grave?" Sakura asked. Iruka leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. His eyes filled with heavy consideration before he began to explain what happened almost twenty years ago.
"There was a terrible drought in the far north, plaguing nearly half the country. Thousands of people starved to death because the government refused to help the public by properly distributing resources. The spirits of the starvation victims melded as one to create the Itsumaden, which then burned countless cities to the ground. Since it was the government that allowed the victims to die, the Itsumaden terrorizes the whole country. If it wasn't for the agent that shot the Itsumaden down, there would be nothing left." Iruka stood up slowly and leaned over his desk to stare determinedly into our eyes. "If the Itsumaden is allowed to resurrect itself, it will not hesitate to burn this country to the ground."
Sasuke spoke up, his voice cold as ice, "Why send an inexperienced team like us on such a serious mission then? If the country is at stake, shouldn't a more qualified team be sent?" I could tell Sasuke hated the words coming out of his mouth. He has his pride, but he's not stupid enough to think Team 7 was the best choice for the job. Knowing that was the truth didn't make him feel any less pissed or any less inadequate.
"You only need to care for the grave. Perform the daily purification rituals and give Ambriel a much needed break. Ambriel will not abandon his post. He's grieving the death of his mate, which for griffons is like losing a part of their soul. Griffons mate for life. Even after one dies, the other will live the rest of their existence alone. It's this aspect of griffons that make them Christianity's ancient symbol of a holy marriage. If you can imagine, Ambriel is having a hard time focusing on the daily task of purifying the grave."
"So, we go out there, comfort the eagle-lion thing and purify the grave till Ambriel feels better?" I said, slightly annoyed, "How long will that take?" A monkey could purify a grave, so why even send FCA agents? Send a damn monk or Shinto priest.
"What does it matter?" Iruka began, voice low with annoyance. "Team 7 will stay as long as it's necessary. The FCA owes Ambriel a great deal for his service. He left his home country to guard the grave when no one else would. Now, get going. Here's your train tickets." Iruka passed us a small enveloped and sighed, slipping back into his chair. "Once you reach your destination, you'll need to hike through Tadasu no Mori forest. There's a map inside the envelope with your tickets. We've also downloaded a GPS into each of your phones. The location of the grave is remote and difficult to find. If you get lost, refer to the map and GPS."
Sakura, Sasuke and I rose from our seats. "Dimissed," Iruka announced as he waved us to leave. You'd think we'd have some form of salute. That'd make the FCA seem more official to me. And slightly less lame.
Before Team 7 slipped out of the office, I paused to address my sensei. "Come visit me when you're done work, ok, old man?" I grinned widely.
Iruka Sensei narrowed his eyes and replied, "Shut it, Brat. I'll be over when I can. Now, dismissed."
My grin widened with excitement as I followed my team home. It was late afternoon when we finally left HQ. Iruka Sensei was recently away on a very important mission on the other side of the country. I hadn't seen him in over three months. I wouldn't say I missed him or anything mushy like that. I just really wanted to hear about his adventure hunting down a pack of Kitsune. Kitsune are a species of Yokai or fox demons that create madness or mischief wherever they go. They can transform into anything using their extremely powerful magic. They're not only dangerous, but intelligent and organized. They live in hierarchal packs where the Kitsune with the most tails and the purest coat is chief. There's never been a case where a Kitsune is not rogue. The FCA put out an extermination protocol on each and every one nineteen years ago, considering all the demons want is to destroy or terrorize man-kind. Kitsune are at the top of the FCA hit list. Only seasoned agents get to tangle with them. I couldn't wait to hear what Iruka Sensei had to say about his mission. I could only imagine the fight between his team and an entire pack of fox demons.
Sakura, Sasuke and I arrived at our house and started packing. None of us seemed pretty eager to get going. Well, except Sakura. She was humming and fluttering around the house with a big smile on her face.
"What's got you in such a good mood?" I asked as we dropped our luggage by the front door.
She smiled and replied happily. "Naruto, we get to meet a griffon. They're so rare and mysterious; no one even knows how they're born or how they die. This is an opportunity for us to not only interact with one, but we could get some answers as well. Imagine what we could learn from Ambriel?" Sakura's bright green eyes glistened with enthusiasm and wonder. I couldn't help but smile and get excited as well. I'd never seen Sakura so eager.
Every day was bliss if I could see her smiling at me. Sakura had no idea I cared about her so much. I'm sure she figured out by now that I have feelings for her, but she doesn't know its love. I don't blame her. She's never had eyes for anyone. Well, except Sasuke. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. For the longest time Sakura had a crush on Sasuke. It was only recently that she stopped swooning over him. I suppose she gave up after Sasuke giving her and every other girl the cold shoulder. But I could see her sometimes, staring at him. The faded longing in her eyes burns me in ways I can't really explain.
But right now, she was smiling at me. No one else. Not him. Not that damn Sasuke. This moment was for me and, hey, that made today bliss.
"The taxi's here," Sasuke said, breaking me out of my day dream. Sakura grabbed her luggage before I could and sauntered out of the house. I picked up my bags and followed behind her, my heart a little bit lighter than before. Even Sasuke's interruption couldn't ruin my good mood.
The twelve hour train ride was bearable. Only because Sakura filled our time with griffon 101. I never knew people had favorite monsters. By the time our train stopped at our destination right outside of Tadasu no Mori forest, I knew everything she knew about griffons. Which was hardly much at all. There were hundreds of theories on the griffon, but there were few facts to rely on. No one knew where they came from, how they're born or how they die. Even their diet is a mystery. The FCA doesn't consider their species a threat simply because griffons have never done anything besides guard evil, so that the good may be protected.
After we hopped off the train, Sakura wasted no time. She turned on her phone and downloaded the grave's location into her GPS. A few seconds later, Sasuke and I were following Sakura who was eagerly bulldozing her way into Tadasu no Mori forest.
"We have to cross a stream in about half a mile," Sakura began muttering to herself. She may have been addressing Sasuke and me, but she wasn't really talking to us. She was too busy trying to find short cuts in the route. "Then we follow the stream down river for thirty minutes and then head north south for another mile. We'll come across a grove of fig trees. In the middle of the grove is an open patch where a three hundred year old fig tree is located. The grave is buried underneath." Sakura smiled widely. "We can cut across the forest and our hiking time will be down by half."
"Should we really be taking short cuts?" Sasuke asked dryly.
"Yeah, Sakura, maybe it's best we stick to the route," I added nervously.
Sakura shot us a glare that had us shutting our traps. Even Sasuke knew when to pick his fights. Sakura was hell in a hand basket when she wanted to be.
As the day inched on, we found ourselves surrounded by fig trees.
"We're close," Sakura squealed excitedly.
The grove thinned out as we pushed towards the middle of the forest, where a large clearing of healthy grass glistened in the sun like a shimmering sea of green. A gentle, sweet breeze danced over the field, whispering as the leaves of a massive fig tree shivered in the wind. Rays of warm afternoon sun light kissed the earth, brightening everything around us to crystal clear hues. Resting in the cool shade of the fig tree was an enormous figure. A long, feline tail flicked back and forth as Team 7 slowly approached the Itsumaden's grave.
I'd never seen a creature like this before. The griffon rested his large, eagle-like head upon two talons as he stretched out the rest of his feline body. His wings of chestnut, shimmering with the undertones of gray and gold lifted high into the air, paused a moment to let the breeze cut through his feathers and then rested back down unto his sides. He turned slightly to open one somber, yellow eye to gaze at us. There was no interest behind his stare. He simply acknowledged us and then went back to sleep.
"Ambriel?" Sakura addressed the griffon nervously as she stood before him. His eye reopened to simply close again. Sakura bit her bottom lip and continued, "We are the FCA agents sent to help you take care of the grave. Please relax. We'll handle everything from here."
"I wish to sleep," Ambriel's deep voice seemingly made of velvet came from every direction. His voice was echoing throughout the entire forest, yet it didn't sound loud. It was but a whisper, but I bet I could have heard him from a mile away.
"The grave has yet to be purified today or yesterday or the day before," he continued. "Or the day before….Ever since she faded." Suddenly Ambriel's fur stood on end as each, singular feather flared. Both yellow eyes were open now. I could see a battle behind the amber orbs. He was trying not to lose it, but there were pieces of him crumbling behind the shadows.
Iruka Sensei was right. Ambriel wasn't taking his mate's death well. Not at all. Just as I was ready to see a griffon completely lose his mind, Sakura's arms were wrapping around Ambriel's thick neck, her face burying into his mane. Sasuke and I were shocked as Sakura crooned in Ambriel's tapered ear.
"You're not alone. We're here for you, Ambriel. My name is Sakura Haruno," she began gently. Ambriel's eyes were wide and filled with confusion, shook, pain, and lost. "I've lost someone before too. I'm sure we all have. You don't need to face this suffering alone." Sakura leaned away to look into Ambriel's gaze. "Please, get some sleep. We'll handle everything from here. If you need anything at all, just ask."
Ambriel's eyes softened as she pulled away and stood up to introduce Sasuke and I.
"This is Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki." Sakura smiled.
"Hello," I managed. I was still trying to get over Sakura hugging Ambriel so suddenly. He was an enormous bird-lion-monster thing and she just hugged him. I knew Sakura was brave, but damn. Even I wouldn't get too close to one of these guys.
"Let's start the purification ritual," Sasuke said sternly. He wasn't wasting anytime. I didn't blame him. The air around the grave felt heavy and thick. Whether or not it was Ambriel's grief making the atmosphere bleak was a good question, but no one wanted to risk the Itsumaden's resurrection.
I dropped my luggage on the ground in front of my feet and bent over to pull out a large bottle of peach O-sake consecrated by a Shinto priest. Itsumaden graves needed to be purified with fruit wine and a prayer of prosperity or peace, so that the neglected spirit of the Itsumaden may no longer fear starvation. Most Itsumaden graves needed to be purified maybe once every few years, but this one, considering its strength, needed to be taken care of daily. Sakura produced a small slip of paper from her pocket and motioned for me to cleanse the headstone standing in front of the fig tree near Ambriel's talons. I felt uneasy as I walked towards the beast. The stone was as tall as my waist and was nearly half a foot thick. It was polished and gleaming with the words, "Itsumade, Itsumade?," which translate as "How much longer? How much longer?" When an Itsumaden flies it constantly shrieks these words in a voice so loud and piercing it is said to make people of great sin go deaf.
Just as I started to pour the alcohol over the headstone, Sakura began to chant a prayer in a gentle, soothing voice.
Upon this shattered ground, let there be healing
Let there be peace
Upon this hungry soul, let there be fulfillment
Let there be peace
Upon this sorrowful day, let there be joy
Let there be peace
Upon this grieving heart, let there be closure
Let there be peace
…
For every verse Sakura spoke, I poured more and more O-sake upon the grave. The air surrounding the clearing began to soften, as if we were wiping the atmosphere clean. Sasuke burned incense after the purification was over. It only took five minutes, but it somehow felt like I had run a marathon.
I looked over at Sakura. She was breathing a bit heavier than before, sweat dripping from her forehead.
"Purifying the grave makes you weak," Ambriel murmured, his voice still blooming around us. "Rest."
Sakura and I gazed at each other and decided to sit down as Sasuke lit one more stick of incense before joining us.
"So, this is why the FCA wanted us to do the job and not some priest or monk," Sakura said quietly, "Purifying the grave takes a lot of physical strength as well."
"I suppose," Ambriel replied soberly. "Where shall you three stay when night comes?"
Crap. I hadn't thought of that.
"Where are we going to stay?" I asked.
"I brought two tents," Sasuke answered. "We'll be staying here until we finish the job."
I smiled widely at the thought. "I've never been camping," I said enthusiastically.
"This isn't a vacation."
"So? Let's enjoy ourselves a bit," I replied to Sasuke's comment happily. "I bet Ambriel's never been camping properly either. We should make a big fire and roast hot dogs or something. Huh, I wonder what roasted figs taste like!" I glanced over and smiled at the beast. His slanted, intelligent eyes seemed less than intrigued.
"Idiot," Sasuke sneered.
Jeez, everyone was such a downer today. Oh, well, Sakura was in a good mood. Maybe together we could lighten things up. Despite my less than inspiring attempts, the mood was staying in the mud no matter what I did. Sakura was exhausted from the purification and frankly, so was I. Everyone decided to set up for bed early.
All I remember was lying down. The moment my head touched the pillow, I was out. I never slept so hard. It felt strange, like I was falling into the darkness. Deeper, deeper. As if I would never reach the bottom.
...
...
...
...
Screaming. Who was screaming? No, the better question was, who wasn't? Everywhere was filled with the cries of suffering. Darkness illuminated only by the dying embers of coals greeted me as I stumbled through the village now decayed and broken. This place was once my home. At least, I think it was. Humble shacks with sturdy thatched roofs loomed on each side of the muddy, sloppy path that cut through the village square. My chest heaved as if I was breathing tar instead of air. Legs too thin carried my withered body forward.
"How much longer?" I whispered through dry, cracked lips. "How much longer?"
My empty, weary eyes looked ahead to find the village square infested with walking skeletons much like me. No, they were people. My people. My friends and family. They were shuffling about, crawling, pulling and tearing at the ground and sky, crying. Crying. Crying.
How much longer? How much longer?
How much longer will I be neglected?
Suddenly, I was awake, arms reaching out before me with fingers splayed towards the night sky sprinkled with stars and a single crescent moon. I was breathing air again instead of tar. My body didn't feel so heavy, so weak. I was strong again. I was me again. My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I have no family. I'm not from some broken village. I'm here, lying in a field inside of a warm sleeping bag. Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha, my teammates, slept inside their tents just a few feet away. I didn't want to sleep in the same tent as Sasuke, so I decided to sleep under the stars. I'm ok. I'm not starving. I'm not surrounded by screams. I'm safe.
I sat up and rested my head in my hands with my elbows on my lap. Cold sweat dripped off my face and back. I was soaked in fear and adrenaline, my hair matted to my skull. My dream of screams and darkness felt so real. Yet, I didn't feel like me. I was someone else. I was in a village, surrounded by starvation and pain.
I wasn't me. I wasn't—
"Are you ok," Ambriel suddenly appeared before me, his yellow eyes glowing in the dim light of night.
"You'll wake up Sakura and Sasuke with that megaphone voice of yours," I said quickly.
"Don't worry," he began as he rested on his back legs beside me, "Only you can hear my voice right now."
I raise my eyebrows in surprise. "You speak using telepathy? I guess that explains why you sound like your everywhere. It gives me a bit of headache if you want me to be honest." I smiled sheepishly and sighed. "What are you doing up?"
"Sleeping at night seems like a waste when the sky is clear," Ambriel replied as he raised his massive beak to the heavens. His eyes reflected the stars like a mirror as he gazed into space. I could only imagine what he could see with those yellow orbs. "Sophia always loved nights like this."
"Sophia?" I asked. "Is that your mate?"
He simply nodded and continued to stare into the night. He seemed cold. No, he seemed abandoned.
"You had a nightmare, yes?" Ambriel questioned, his eyes suddenly boring into mine.
I was surprised. "Yes, I did, I think. It felt more like a memory really. But I was in a village I've never seen before. It felt wrong."
"You were possessed by the spirit of the Itsumaden. It took over your dreams to let you see its suffering," Ambriel began. My eyes widened in shock as I doubled over.
"What?" I gasped, still trying to stay quiet as Sakura and Sasuke slept soundly in their tents.
"The Itsumaden's spirit can still connect to the living if you let your guard down. It is a powerful entity. Tell me, what did it show you?" He asked.
I bit my lip and stared down at my hands resting in my lap. "It—it showed me a village, starving, broken. I could hear people screaming. I was screaming. It was more horrible than words. I don't know why, but everything was so dark. So—"
Ambriel slowly raised his wings above his head and wrapped one around me tightly, pulling me towards his side. I was paralyzed with shock as he pressed my body into his fur.
"Uh," I began shakily, "What are you doing?" His feathers were soft as I was enveloped in the warmth of his fur. His muscular side rose and fell like gentle waves as he breathed quietly.
"It is a hug," Ambriel replied as a matter of fact. "That pink female gave me one when I was upset. Such a strange gesture made me feel better. You are upset, so I shall hug you until you feel well again."
Ok, I can see now why the FCA doesn't consider griffons a threat.
"Um, Ambriel," I laughed nervously as I politely pushed myself off his side. "I'm good, thanks."
He replied with a triumphant nod, believing he had done right by me. Which, I guess he did. Griffons. Damn, they're weird monsters. No. Now that I think about it, they're not monsters at all.
"You'll stay, right?" I began, "You're not going to return to your home country?" It was an important question. Sakura and I only purified the grave once and it felt like we were put through a meat grinder. I couldn't imagine we'd be able to keep this up for much longer.
Ambriel's beak opened to release a deep, mournful sigh. "Yes," his voice echoed in my ears, "I will stay here. I must always stay here. Sophia would want that."
A thick silence filled the night air as I patted Ambriel's flank hard. "You miss her a lot, don't you?"
"Much more than I can endure," he whispered, stood up on four massive limbs and returned to lay under the fig tree in front the Itsumaden gravestone. Even though he was farther away I still could hear his voice loud and clear inside my head. "Rest well, Naruto."
I smiled lightly. It was a sort of sad smile. One I wasn't use to. I decided I didn't feel like sleeping that night. I stayed up and watched the stars creep across the dark sky. I was scared to close my eyes, for fear I'd see more of the Itsumaden's nightmares.
I sighed and leaned back onto my palms. Being born into the world with no parents, no family, no friends; It almost made me feel good to know I started out alone. Ambriel lost his mate. The neglected spirits combined to form the Itsumaden lost whole villages, filled with their loved ones. Maybe I was better off not having anyone at all. Could I handle losing someone I loved?
"How much longer?" A familiar voice whispered. I shot to my feet, eyes wide as I stared at Sakura who appeared silently behind me. "How much longer?" She repeated in a tone so weak and shattered, it sent chills down my spine. Her once bright green eyes were now dull and faded as she reached towards me with crooked hands.
"S-Sakura?" I muttered, throat suddenly dry as the air around us turned to dust.
"Move!" Ambriel's voice bellowed inside my skull so loud I feared it would burst. Sakura suddenly lunged forward, her hands wrapping tightly around my throat.
"How much longer!" She cried as her grasp tightened. I gasped for air as we rolled across the grass. I tried desperately to untangle her hands from my throat, but she wouldn't budge. My face felt fiery hot and then bled cold as all my blood fought for oxygen to find that none was coming.
"Sak—kura," I choked on her name as her empty eyes stared into mine. Those weren't her eyes anymore. They were the eyes of someone long forgotten. Someone broken. Someone starved.
Ambriel was above us, his enormous shadow blotting out the night sky as he flapped his wings hard, sending Sakura and I tumbling over each other and onto Sasuke's tent, yet her vice grip stayed strong, leaving me half unconscious as Sasuke erupted from the shambled tent with his gun held to level of his eye.
"N-no," I rasped. Don't, Sasuke. Don't.
Don't!
"How much longer? How much-"
He pulled the trigger. The night echoed with the blast of a gun shot just as my mind faded to black.
Sakura, I inwardly screamed her name before I fell into unconsciousness. I can't endure losing the one I love. Not now. Not ever. In that split second of clear horror, I realized I did have someone. I didn't have family. I didn't have parents. But I have her. I have Sakura.
And now, someone may have taken her away.
Author Notes:
Chapter Three is broken into two parts. Someone suggested I do a chapter on griffons. This one is for you, whoever you may be. To answer someone else's question (you know who you are), I will be using mostly Japanese folkloric monster and spirits, such as Yokai or yamabushi. I'll add a foreign monster every now and then to spice things up. Well, thanks for reading everyone! Please review and tell me what you think.