Chapter 7
Dean wandered around the compound looking for anything familiar and that wasn't much but they went by the names Sam and Angela. It wasn't that he was nervous about being alone with a bunch of Oni demons; he just didn't want to even though they were friendly and didn't have that same feeling when dealing with the regular demons. He would rather 'hide' behind Angela and let her do all the talking which sounded pathetic to his mind since he was capable of charging into the unknown.
There was no use in crying about the fact that neither his brother or the nag who became like a mom was around so he decided on a little bit of exploration. He managed to avoid most of the servants by ducking into corners. It would probably have caused his brother and Angela a great deal of amusement to see him like that but they could just…
From the outside, the house didn't look big but now that he was exploring, Dean could see how the structures were arranged to make the most of their space. His stomach began to rumble and he realized that he was starving. He started to make his way through to try and find something that resembled a kitchen. A lot of the buildings and the things in them looked like they belonged in a different time and place.
The nice thing was that there was running water as Angela had promised and Dean had indulged in a nice hot shower. He did find it strange that he couldn't find his dirty clothes anywhere. He had a system and he remembered doing it the night before. So he also had to hunt for stolen clothes. He wandered around until he stumbled into what looked like something worthy of a museum.
There were pictures mounted on the walls along with displays of weaponry and the like. There were also a few books which would make Sam happy. Dean took to studying the pictures. Some were paintings that had been framed and he lost interest in those. He looked at the black and white pictures and was able to recognize the various players that Angela had identified when Sam went through her collection.
Dean studied one that had Onigen standing with a bunch of other men. He saw something in the background and peering closer. It was then he recognized that it was Angela. She was hidden discreetly in the background but he recognized her and her sword. "Damn Angie, you do get around," he muttered. He continued to study the images. Some had people fighting or some were like landscape pictures but people were working at their various jobs.
The next one appeared to be a ceremony. Onigen was in it and that was no surprise there. Yet standing with him in the center was Angela. He was holding her hand and handing her what looked like a cup of something. Dean thought it was blood judging from the look that had been captured on Angela's face. He peered closer and studied it some more. In the end he concluded that it was a look of shock as well as… fear?
"Father thought he was doing the right thing when he named Hoshiko his heir."
Dean nearly jumped and grabbed the nearest thing to act as a weapon. He turned towards the intruder to find it was that girl he met the night before. He couldn't remember her name though. He replied, "And I'm guessing she couldn't say anything about it?"
Kumiko studied Dean from the doorway. He was different from his brother the Champion but the reflexes and the tendencies were similar. Different styles but similar… goals seemed to fit. It was the mark of being brothers. The Champion was fiercely protective of Hoshiko and for reasons he had no idea except for what he convinced himself of but his brother was just as protective but in the same manner as he was to his brother. It was interesting.
Seeing that she was being addressed with a question, she replied, "Not unless she wanted to disgrace Father."
Dean made a slight noise as he gazed at the girl. His training said that he shouldn't trust her since she was technically a demon. Yet his experience having Angela around was slowly making amendments to the point that it almost sounded like double standards. "So their relationship was more like good friends then."
"Probably how Hoshiko sees it. Father treated her like he treated his children," Kumiko replied. She wasn't completely sure but given the way how she had observed Lord Onigen last night and his reaction to Hoshiko's presence, she was sure she was making the correct assumption.
"So Angie would have done it anyway?"
"Who?"
Dean realized that the girl didn't know Angela by her real name. Then again he realized that maybe she had more than one name and that wouldn't be too much of a surprise since she was five centuries old. The more he thought about it though, he knew that one of Angela's strong points was her ability to maintain consistency in a lot of things and he supposed that went for her name as well. However since he was dealing with someone who didn't know her real name, he would have to play along. He replied to clarify, "Hoshiko."
"Oh. To answer your question Dean-san, yes she would though I suspect you knew that already," Kumiko replied.
"What do you mean by that?" It was defense mechanism and Dean knew it.
Kumiko was unperturbed by the change in Dean's demeanor. To be honest she thought he would take offense to her use of the honorific she used. She replied, "Only that you know Hoshiko as well as you do your brother the Champion."
"I see Sammy is a popular guy here," Dean muttered as he shifted his position.
"As well as you. A slayer of demons is rare… at least the ones that weren't trained by an older version of Hoshiko," Kumiko replied.
Dean had been ready to protest at being called a demon slayer since he had that description firmly etched in his mind from that time in Tennessee. When the girl explained, he stopped and thought about it. How would they know about Yellow Eyes? "How do you know about that?"
"Word gets around Dean-san. We here in Father's settlement may not care for the demons that torment humans but sometimes… best to keep the enemy closest. Right?"
"I guess that makes sense whoever you are."
Kumiko smiled and chuckled. She could hardly blame them for not remembering. She supplied, "Kumiko."
"Right. So are you going to tell me I shouldn't be in here?" Dean motioned around the room. It covered up his awkwardness at not remembering the girl's name. He had been more concerned by the fact that Angela looked like she was ready to cry when she saw Onigen. Maybe cry wasn't the right description but he could tell that she had been bothered.
Kumiko shook her head, "Not at all. In fact I was looking for you. I thought that maybe you would need an escort to the dining hall." As if to add reassurance, she added, "It is easy to get lost in here. Sometimes I do."
Dean felt his stomach rumble and had the distinct impression that Kumiko heard it. He knew Angela would have and she would have teased him mercilessly about it. In the end hunger won out and he replied, "Alright."
Kumiko motioned for him to follow. She led the way out of the library that Dean had stumbled into. She waited until he was side by side and then started walking. She was glad that she had put on Western clothing otherwise he probably would have burst with impatience if she had worn a kimono. "I must admit that I am surprised that you haven't said anything about the way I refer to you Dean-san."
Dean shrugged his shoulders. To him it wasn't that big of a deal since he dealt with aliases all the time unlike Sam who would only allow two people to call him Sammy. He replied, "No big deal. Figured that it was something your people did."
"Well honorifics are used as a measure of respect," Kumiko supplied.
"Fine by me," Dean responded. He carefully noted which ways they turned since he would probably need to navigate on his own later.
"You don't have to be so jumpy. I thought you were able to tell the difference between a full blood and a Halfling," Kumiko said, amused at Dean's alertness. He was a hunter, through and through.
That caused Dean to pause. Did he just hear right? "You're half human?"
"Yes. It shouldn't surprise you."
"Maybe not but I never heard of a half human and half demon," Dean admitted.
"I guess it is unusual. Only a few people know the truth about Mother. It is no matter since I can't change that and yet Hoshiko seems to think that she can."
Dean had no answer for that and quite frankly he was glad they made it to the kitchen or dining hall. He was starving. It also had him thinking about Angela. He knew she was reluctant to do things like use her powers and she had a thing about drinking blood. What Kumiko was suggesting was that Angela was trying to change who she was by denying herself. It didn't make sense to Dean because he figured it was something deeper than that.
Sitting down at the lowered table, Dean asked, "Why do you say that?" It was awkward since it felt like he was at a picnic. At least the food being served was recognizable.
Kumiko kneeled at her place and accepted the cup of tea that one of the servants gave her. She hadn't meant to cast doubt and judging by the way Dean was looking, he must have been astute in his observations regarding Hoshiko. She replied, "I have read much on Hoshiko's exploits and have noticed that she is well known for using her hands and feet… much like an Oni warrior. I have also read up on her kind so I know about the talents her people have."
"An—Hoshiko does know how to fight. She just doesn't like using her abilities." Dean speared an egg with the fork he had been given. He then pointed his fork at Kumiko who was eating rice calmly and said, "And don't go trying that getting into the head thing about that. She is who she is and that's fine by me and Sam. If she wants to tell us anything then that's her business."
Kumiko couldn't help but smile as she watched Dean go back to eating. He was very defensive about Hoshiko. He was just like Saku should someone decide to do anything he didn't like to her. She would leave it alone for now. She took another taste of rice and watched as Dean kept his eye on her while he scarfed down the eggs and bacon and hash browns. She got the feeling that he was used to the play on words and the like from Hoshiko. "I will respect that Dean-san."
Dean swallowed the bite he had taken. He eyed Kumiko with a slight look. He wasn't suspicious that she would try anything physical. He was more on the lookout for that play on words like Angela liked to do. "Good."
Nothing more was said as they continued to eat in silence. They were joined by Keiko and Saku who merely nodded. Kumiko continued to eat and watched as Dean eyed everyone. She was vastly amused at this human who hunted those that killed his kind without prejudice and lived and ate with someone like Hoshiko. It was normal and yet unusual. Then again from her understanding, that was the magic of Hoshiko.
Lord Onigen had woken up tired. His illness was catching up to him. Yet none of that mattered since Hoshiko was here. He had almost given up hope of actually seeing her again. Even though he technically saw her at the tournament, he couldn't bring himself to make himself known to her. After all it was his fault that she left and the truth be told, she wouldn't have been able to stay indefinitely.
He knew who she was. He knew who she was the moment his men fished her out of the river half drowned and looking like she had wrestled a bear. Granted he hadn't seen a bear before, the saying sounded about right and she did look a sight when he first laid eyes upon her in her soaking wet clothes and bruised face.
He could have ordered her to be kept in the prisons but he didn't and it wasn't out of respect for who she was. There was something about her that made her different from others he had encountered. He knew that she was with the order since she had their insignia on her coat lapel. It was an older one but he recognized it all the same and he hadn't had too many good experiences with them. So there was a reason why he was tempted to throw her in prison.
Instead he took her into the main house and told Natsu to take care of her. He watched from the sidelines as his little Hoshiko refused the quickest way to recovery and retreated into a self-imposed silence. She ate her meals but never said a word to anyone and just watched who came and who went. From his view, she looked like a cornered animal as she huddled on the futon.
It had been a surprise when he went in. It had been a mistake to go in with his sword. She took it to mean an attack on her life and she defended herself. She ended up giving a nice bite on the shoulder near the collarbone. Of course his guards beat her back and they could have done worse if he hadn't told them to stop. He apologized for everything and tried to bring her out but she refused to say a word.
It took nearly two weeks of her being allowed to wander around and observing before she dared to speak to anyone. The first thing she asked for was rather surprising. She asked for something sweet and loaded with sugar. The looks on the staff's faces actually made him laugh and he told them to do what she asked.
That started her observing and opening up a little more. Lord Onigen noticed that she had taken an interest in the training of his warriors. Aato challenged her to fight him by taunting her and every time she refused until she finally gave in. That was when he saw that she was very skilled in fighting and didn't have any qualms about using what was available. What interested him the most was the fact that when Aato used his powers, she didn't respond in kind.
Lord Onigen was no fool. After spending the weeks observing her and figuring out what she was, he researched her kind. He knew that she had the potential to be Aato's equal in the realm of the supernatural abilities that most humans feared. He was surprised that she was able to defeat his son without using those abilities and still gave Aato a sense of honor. It was after that his eldest came to him and asked if he could make an exception and teach the Onigen Dragon style to her. He had it in his mind to do so anyway. Aato's sense of timing allowed that.
She proved to be an apt pupil and learned quickly. It was also then she started asking him questions about the people and the villages. Slowly she began developing her opinion about a few things and she wasn't afraid to let him know if it was wrong or not. After taking her advice into consideration and the effect it had on a decision, he began to include her more and more. She was still wary but was agreeable to giving advice.
Lord Onigen knew it was a mistake to surprise her like he did. Yet he felt that she would be better at keeping an eye on things because he thought that Aato wasn't ready. His eldest did have the aptitude and some experience but he needed to improve on a few things. Of course she insisted that he was capable and made a point to point out his accomplishments. Instead he called her to the study where the other lords were and declared her to be his successor.
It was unheard of since she wasn't an Oni and that was a case for objection. However it was approved and he made it official. She whispered that it wasn't a good idea but he hadn't listened. Aato had been furious and demanded by what right she had when she wasn't Oni, wasn't family. In the end the decision stood and as a result Aato felt disgraced. He thought that Hoshiko sullied his honor beyond repair and challenged her to a fight.
The next day she was gone with his blessing after a particularly violent display by Aato. To this day Lord Onigen regretted that. He thought he was doing right by his son in giving him the chance to get even more prepared. He had seriously misjudged and he figured that she would never come back. He kept an eye on her though through the years. The tournament had him bursting with pride at her accomplishment of averting disaster as well as creating a Champion.
"You seem to be doing better, my lord."
Lord Onigen looked up from where he was staring towards his wife and smiled, "It is a relief that Hoshiko is here. I can finally set her free."
Sayuri looked at her husband. The laws had changed since Hoshiko left and she got the feeling that he was going to try a solution. However she felt the need to point out, "That won't change much for what Aato feels. He will insist that they settle affairs." She looked down at the ground from where she had kneeled.
Lord Onigen knew that was true and nodded. "Honor. It is the one thing that can make or break people. It is the one thing besides her care for others that Hoshiko lives for. She will give in to his demands. I don't want that to happen."
"Perhaps a discussion with Hoshiko before you make the decision. Ask her what she thinks and feels."
Lord Onigen paused to consider. Sayuri was right. He did need to ask Hoshiko what she thought. By forgetting to do that landed them in this mess. He didn't need to repeat that mistake again. "Can you send for her?"
"As you wish my lord."
Angela disliked fighting if it involved something she believed to be petty. She understood that this 'feud' between her and Aato wasn't petty to him but she believed that some of the reasoning was borderline ridiculous. At least the charges he brought against her and she suspected covered for the real reason for his being an assphat.
It had seemed like a good idea to visit Osaka since it was near the river. She had lots of memories of this place and Osaka was where she had been fished out. She didn't quite remember since she had been passed out but she had visited numerous times during her stay. There was something about the river and it had been soothing to train by.
Now she wasn't so sure considering that she and Sam were nearly surrounded by Toshiro and his friends. She pitied the boy really. He had grown up with his uncle's hatred of her and now he carried the same feelings and he probably didn't even know why. That was one of the things she disliked about the blood feuds of humans; the ones regarding supernatural things were more worrisome except when they were petty.
As much as she didn't want the responsibility, she could understand Onigen's reasoning. It was her own fault for revealing her head for diplomacy and politics. That was a sore spot in her memory during her stay here. The more bright spots were the conversations she had with the gruff warlord. Thinking about it, they were similar to the conversations she had with Bobby but she was more attached to the grizzled hunter than she cared to admit to anyone.
Angela glanced at Sam who looked put out that they were going to get into trouble, almost that 'not again' attitude. She didn't blame him at all. They had been having a pleasant walk through the village and things she never bothered to talk about before came out. He always made her do that and more often she wanted to and she could say the same for Dean. Another revealed that he was slowly getting pissed.
Toshiro was laughing at the pair of them. He was saying a bunch of things that she was glad Sam couldn't understand. Some were directed at her and they were not favorable. She replied in a slight sarcastic drawl, "It was such a pleasant morning."
"Even more if you would do what is right," Toshiro countered. "Coward."
Sam didn't understand what was being said but he knew jeering when he heard it. Some of it was directed at Angela since a couple of them pointed at her. She finally said something in that annoyed sarcastic tone of hers and the reply had him want to punch the Toshiro guy. He also felt the need to say something out loud but he was prevented when he felt her hand grip his wrist.
Sam was well aware that he could easily shrug her off if he wanted to. Her grip was firm but not bone crunching. It was light and gentle but he could feel the power and had felt it on occasion. It was pretty effective in keeping him from doing something if she was trying to avoid a fight. He stayed but his body tensed. He wasn't that anxious to get into a fight either since he and Dean were still recovering even though they were better off than they were what a week or so ago.
Angela held onto Sam and stood firm. She replied, "Such is a matter between your uncle and me. Go home boy."
Toshiro narrowed his eyes at Angela. "It is a matter concerning my uncle's family. It is about honor."
Angela finally released Sam, trusting him to keep his head and crossed her arms over her chest as she replied, "And do you even understand what it means to have honor?"
"I know that you have none."
Angela made a slight 'oh well' look with her eyebrows. "Not the first time someone accused me of that and it certainly won't be the last." She looked down to see that amidst all the excitement, Setna hadn't run away. In fact the kitten was sitting there and watching the scene like it was an interesting TV program. She knew there was a reason she loved that fur ball. Sam did have the right idea in suggesting the name.
Toshiro was not amused at the attitude Angela was taking. He expected something more from the great Hoshiko that was the subject of praise from here to the other villages. The other warlords that lived in Japan even heard of her and were impressed. He replied, "Because you are nothing but a coward."
"Shut up," Sam intervened much to Angela's displeasure.
"So the Champion decides to step in. You would defend a coward? You disgrace the title of champion," Toshiro replied with a slight smirk on his face.
Sam was tempted to wipe that smirk off the guy's face. The fact that Angela let go of him signified her trust in keeping his cool. He just didn't like hearing her be insulted like that; not after all the good he had seen her do.
"And you are not well versed in what it takes to be a champion," Angela countered. Her arms were still crossed over her chest. "So all I see is a lost little boy who is a follower."
Toshiro gritted his teeth and pulled out the knife he had and started to lunge. He was stopped when a blur of scarlet and gold landed with a hard thump between him and the two he was going to attack. The intruder said, "You should know better than to attack someone who is doing nothing but enjoying the morning air."
Toshiro looked at the elder man and then at Angela. Saying nothing more, he motioned for his men to follow. When he was gone, the man stood up from his crouched form and placed his staff in a casual position and turned towards Angela and Sam. He said, "The last time we met, you agreed to be more careful. You obviously weren't listening."
A/N: Dean gets to know Onigen's children and Onigen decides to do right by Hoshiko. Looks like someone familiar comes back to help Angie out. Stay tuned for next time on Honor unto Death...
