Chapter 3: Scars

"Onii-sama!" A tall male with raven hair and gentle purple eyes turned to the young girl running to his side. "Onii-sama, are you heading out for training again?" The girl asked him. The male softly smiled and patted her head.

"Yeah, I'm heading out with Karasu-tengu and Kubi-nashi." He told her, "I'll be back in a week."

"Are you going to going far?"

"A bit." The male got on one knee to match the girls height, "During that time, protect everyone here, okay?" He told the girl. The girl's smile widened and she nodded strongly.

"Hai, Onii-sama!"

"O…nii-sama…" Izanami let out a small raspy voice in her sleep as a single tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. Sitting on the bedside table, Hitsune let out a small sigh.

"I fear for what's to come, Izacchi."


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On the early morning of Sunday, Izanami was up and changing in to a simple mid sleeve blazer and black knee length skirt. Pulling on her shirt, Izanami suddenly flinched in pain. Hitsune immediately noticed her pained expression and turned to her.

"Are you okay?" Hitsune asked.

"Yeah…" She replied with no emotion.

"You know, forcing yourself is just going to get in your way. If it's too much to deal with, you need to go back." Hitsune reminded.

"I know." She just responded putting on her jacket.

Grabbing her portal keys, she headed to the door. Quietly opening the door, she stepped out. Glancing around, she felt no other presence around her. Walking downstairs, she walked out headed outside towards the woods. After walking for a few minutes, she let out a sigh and stopped.

"You can come out, Okumura." She glanced back as Rin stepped out of the bushes, "What do you want?"

"What are you doing out this early? On a Sunday?"

"Just for a walk," She told him putting her hands on her hips, "What are you doing following me?"

"I-I wasn't following you!" He spatted all flustered, "I was- you know- sleeping on the roof and I saw you so I decided to go after you!" Izanami raised an eye and sighed again.

"If you're just going to be a nuisance, go away-!"

"Wait!"

"What?!" She growled with aggravation.

"Eh- well…" He looked to the side, "About yesterday's homework…"

"Ha?"

"Did you finish it?"

"What?"

"Yesterday's homework from the cram school did you finish it?!" he yelled.

"Of course."

"Eh?! Seriously?"

"I finished it when I got it."

"Eh?!" Izanami sighed.

"Is that all? I'm-" Izanami was cut off when she was pushed to the ground by Rin. With her quick senses, she caught the large figure swooping above the two at an unbelievable speed. Izanami sat up and looked up at a dark figure staring at her with one eye. Her eyes widened, "Ochigami?" She turned to Rin, "Okumura, run-" Rin grabbed her wrist and began pulling her towards the dorms, "Ah-! Oi!"

"Just shut up and run!" Izanami became stunned at Rin. The two continued running down the road, without looking back to see the creature. But no matter how long they ran, they never reached the dorms.

"Okumura! Stop!" Rin stopped and turned to her.

"What?!"

"It's too late. The second we saw that thing, it trapped us." She told him.

"Ha?! What do you mean?" Izanami glanced around their surroundings.

"If you've noticed, we've been running for a while now. The dorm wasn't too far away." She explained, "The Ochigami trapped us in a small dimension."

"Ochigami? You know what that thing is?"

"Aa,"

"Wait? How did it get in then? Isn't the school protected by Mephisto's barrier?" He asked.

"Youkai are different from demons." Izanami put her hand together and took a deep breath, "Onikiri, kurogane." She pulled out the sleek, katana in its black scabbard. "Stay back, It's coming." Removing the blade out of its scabbard, she gripped the handle of the blade. "If it's just an Ochigami," She turned quickly, slicing a deep gash in to the Ochigami. "It's easy." But suddenly, there was a deep pain rushing down her spine causing her to wince.

"Izanami?" Rin ran to her, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Their surrounding began to blur as familiar surroundings of the school were shown. Izanami took her sword and drew it back into her hand. She headed down the road leaving Rin.

"Ah- oi!" Rin ran after her, "What the hell was that?!"

"What?"

"You know what! That thing; with you pulling out a sword out of your hand. What was all that?"

"That was an yōkai and what I pulled out of my hand was an yōtō." She responded bluntly. "Now go away. You're annoying-" Rin grabbed her wrist.

"What are you here for, Izanami? First, you come home with your uniform bloodstained, now this? What are you and Yukio hiding?" Izanami glared and puller her arm out of Rin's tight grasp.

"It's none of your business." She muttered before walking away.


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Yukio lead the group of the cram class to the dorms. Izanami sat on the roof looking down at the group.

"Oh~ It seems we're having some guest."

"It's an extra class for the cram class." Izanami told Hitsune, "They're going to be here for a few days."

"Ho… then let's take this class with an positive attitude! Orai!" Hitsune turned and say Izanami gone from her seat. "Ara? Izacchi? Where'd you go?"

Izanami walked down the hall and sighed. "Ochigami was around, that's a bad omen."

"Nya~!" She stopped and turned to Kuro, "What's wrong?"

Getting down, Izanami petted Kuro's fur. "What would you do in these times, Nii-sama?"

"Hm? What's up with you? You're weird."

"Sorry for being weird."

Kuro froze up, "You understand what I'm saying?!"

"Of course, it's not like I can talk only to Youkai. Ahaha," Izanami told him as she continued patting his head with a smile.

"You're really weird." Izanami looked down at him.

"Yeah, I guess I am-" Suddenly, she winced and clutched her shoulder in pain.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

Izanami looked to see the red stain seeping through her shirt, "Che, seriously?" Izanami got up and headed to her room.

"Where are you going?"

Izanami made quick strides down the hall accidently bumping into Shiemi on the way.

"Ah- Izanami-san, it's time for a bath-" Izanami ignored her and ran off. Shiemi stared at her and her eyes widened at the sight of blood on her shoulder blade. "She's hurt?" Shiemi followed her and turned the corner, but Izanami was gone. Immediately, she ran down the hall to find Rin. Rin was in the kitchen with Ukobach preparing dinner. "Rin!" She called.

"Shiemi? What's wrong?"

"I think Izanami-san is inured!"

"Eh?"

"She quickly ran past me, and I saw her holding her shoulder."


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Walking around the woods, Izanami listened to the winds flowing around her. Stopping in place, she put her hands together.

"What is it, Izacchi?"

"Shh-" Izanami kept her hands together with her guard up, "What is this uneasy feeling?" There was a rustling in the bushes, and Izanami turned, ready to pull out her blades.

"Oi! Izanami!" Rin popped out with his hands out, "It's me!"

"Okumura…"

"Finally found you!" he sighed, "What are you doing out here?" Izanami had a cold stare.

"None of your business-"

"Rin!" Hitsune yelled, "Good timing! We just got lost and were worried we weren't going to make it for dinner!"

"Eh- Hitsu-"

"And Izacchi just wouldn't listen and twisted her ankle!"

"What are you say- uwa!" Izanami shrieked as she was picked up bridal style, "What are you-!"

"Come on, we're going back for dinner. Go take a bath!" Rin started heading towards the dorm, ignoring Izanami's words.

When they got back, Rin pushed Izanami in to the bathroom.

"Everyone else took a bath already! Hurry up and take one." He closed the door and his footsteps were heard going down the hall.

Giving in, Izanami went in to the bath, soaking in the warmth. Sinking down to her shoulder, she hissed at the pain in her back. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her head under the water and bared the pain. After a good moment, she pulled her head out of the water and gasped. Water dripping down her chin, she pulled back her bangs.

"What were you thinking, Hitsune?" She looked up to the shikigami charm sitting at the edge of the bath across from her.

"We need to talk," Hitsune spoke with a serious tone. Izanami's eyes narrowed and she sat up, "The curse is growing," Hitsune stared at the black mark spreading to her shoulder, "You're rushing things, you'll digging your grave now faster at this rate."

"I know-"

"I'm saying this because you don't." Hitsune hissed, "I'm helping you here so you don't end up going back in a coffin! Hirota and Yukine needs you." Izanami looked down at the water, "if you're looking for that youkai and kyuubi, I highly doubt they're around here," Izanami let out a heavy sigh and got up, "Oi-!"

"Calm down, I'm just going to wash my hair,"

Hitsune watched the black and red gash on Izanami's back that spread from the lower left hip to her right shoulder. An deadly aura was given off by the colors.


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"Oi~ Izanami!" Rin knocked on the door. "Oi~" There was no response from her. Getting frustrated, Rin began to mumble, "Geez, what's taking her so long…? Dinner's going to get cold." Rin knocked again, but after a few seconds he began pounding at the door. Finally, he shot open the door, "Oi! Dinner is going to get cold-" his eyes widened to see Izanami's back to him. The deep gash showing, his mouth dropped. Izanami looked back at him in shock.

"Oh~ a peeping tom?" Hitsune snickered.

Izanami looked away and took the roll of bandages and began wrapping it around her body to cover her back and shoulder. Pulling a shirt over her head, she turned to Rin.

"Suman, I'll head over right now." She tried to walk past him, but Rin grabbed her arm.

"What was that? You should have Yukio look-"

"It won't help."

"Why-"

"It's a curse. Curses can't be cured."

She pulled her arm out of his grasp and headed down to the diner hall. But Rin grabbed her arm and pulled her outside. He shut the door and turned to her.

"What is it now?"

"When did you get that? From this morning?"

"No," She put her hand on her shoulder.

Rin clench his teeth and shook his head in frustrated, "Then where did you get that?"

Izanami's eyes narrowed and she looked down to the ground, "The Red ash Massacre." She muttered.

"Eh?"

"Eight and a half years ago, am I correct?" Izanami's eyes widened and she turned the cloaked figure standing in the shadows. "Long time no see, Kaminaga Kotone."

She gasped, "Why do you know that name?"

The man smirked, "You don't remember me? Even though we decorated your home in your scarlet red color." Izanami glared and her eyes began glowing red.

"He's-!" Hitsune gasped.

"Who is he?"

"Minagoroshi Jizou…"

"Who?"

Izanami chanted her verses and pulled out Onikiri, kuragane and Kamikiri Yasutsuna from her palms. Her hair dyed in to the deep scarlet red color. Her eyes sharp as daggers.

"I'll kill you." Her voice dripped with venom.

Rin's eyes widened.

"Izanami?"

"To avenge my family, I'll kill you!"

Then, Izanami lunged towards the man.

"Wait- Izanami!"

The man stood with a smirk plastered on his face as he waited for the young slayer's attack.