Chihiro made her way back to the place she had been told to call home. On the way, she wondered if Lord Sesshomaru had been right. -Was it truly a good thing for Inuyasha to be on his own?-
Nearly there Chihiro decided to take the long way and followed along a stream. It was nearly dark. The night air cool against her face. For once she felt peaceful. She wanted this peace to last forever. To be ridden of her guilt...and of her lost. She never did go back to see what had become of her family's remains. She had always wanted to go back and give them a proper burial. But, she was too ashamed. Afraid their spirits would come to haunt her. So she never went back. She never even said goodbye.
-This world is certainly a cruel one. I wonder what else it has waiting for me.- Realizing she had been in a daze, Chihiro had quickened her pace. Skipping across the stones placed along the path. The first thing in her view was a light. Obviously made from a fire. Some of the men were sitting around it, casually speaking to one another. As she grew closer, one of them had finally been made aware of her presence.
"Chihiro! Where have you been? Out frolicking with other demons?" -Such an odd question. Do they know of my meeting with Lord Sesshomaru? Even so, it wasn't exactly frolicking.-
"Your question confuses me. What frolicking do you speak of?" The men laughed and shared glances among one another, sharing a secret message of some sorts.
"So you have then? Been consorting with other demons?" -These men have had far too much to drink. Can't even hold their tounges to show more respect. I am a lady. Yes, my betrothal had been broken when I left, but I do not go around "consorting" with demons. And at my tender age! Onigumo will hear of this!-
"I think i will take my leave now. You men should do the same, such fragile creatures would could catch cold on a night like this. Excuse me." Just as Chihiro turned to leave, one of the men caught hold of her arm.
"Now, now. Lets not be too hasty. We get it. Your a growing monster. Who knows what you really need to help the process? Why can't it be a little merriment with other demons...or men for that matter." The man laughed, a twisted sinister laugh. It was at this moment Chihiro finally understood what he had meant. With shock in her eyes the man smile grew big.
"Oh? Catching on are we? Now you might look like a child but we know as well as others that your body is made for this kind of stuff isn't it?" The men began to circle around her at his assumption. Chihiro, although an experienced killer, was still only a child. she became frozen with fear.
"Please.." She voiced softly. Her eyes beginning to water.
"Now don't be like that. We're just giving you what you want. We figured since your a demon you'd need more then one human to get the job done, eh?" Chihiro couldn't think, but she felt. She felt their lingering hands exploring her undeveloped body. Her stomach retch in disgust.
"Onigumo will not tolerate this! He is a man of honor, unlike you uncultured pigs. Defiling a child, even a demon child is low, even for you humans!" There was a pause in their movements. For a second Chihiro had believed the men to be scared. But she was wrong. The man who took the lead simply grinned at her.
"Who do you think ordered us to do this. As if I would ever find myself wanting to lay with a demon, a child no less." In her disbelief the men continued their handy work on her.
-This isn't true?! Onigumo was a man of honor. A thief yes, but to do a child wrong I never would've thought he'd do such a thing.-
Chihiro blinked back her tears. Onigumo had betrayed her. Rage replaced her fear, AS she lashed out at the men. Slicing her way through them. Cutting off their arms and legs. Ripping their throats open. The hurt she felt fueled her anger. So she kept going. Just as before she continued her killing spree with everyone she came in contact with, til every last bandit and villager was dead. It wasn't until she was standing over her bed, that she realized she was home.
-Iv'e been a fool! To think I could Trust these bandits. I let my guard down and for that I have suffered...again. Is there no where I can be just me. Not a bandit, nor a thief or killer. Certainly not a monster. Somewhere where the humans wont try to kill me or use me as their weapon. Does such a place even exist? A place such as that is far beyond this time.-
There was a crash in the other room. Anger began to fill her up once more. There was still one person left to be dealt with, Onigumo. Chihiro entered the room to find the older man picking up fruit that had fallen to the floor.
"Oh Chihi- Chihiro whats happened?! Look at you. You look just as bloody and lost the day I found you. Have we been attacked? Where are the men? Are they fighting we must go to them immediately!" Chihiro simply glared at him while he prepared his armor and gathered his weapons. It was a long moment before he realized what had happened, taking notice of her clothes, which she wasn't bothered to fix.
"Chihiro, who has done this to you?" Onigumo stared at her with worry. How could he? show such affection and concern, he himself set his men out for her. His treachery knew no bounds.
"It was your men who did this...under your orders." Onigumo face held confusion.
"I have ordered no such-"
"Lies. I have been a fool too many times. It will not happen again. Iv'e seen what you've done to women and children alike, so why not me? Because I, a demon, would be such an unlikely target? You make me sick. It fills me with so much anger to think I let myself fall so deep under the assumption that I could trust you. But no more of that now. Your life ends here tonight." Chihiro lunged towards him with one of his swords, impaling him against the wall.
"Please, Chihiro...I gave no order against you. My men...they were..always jealous of you." Onigumo's breathing was harsh. His words coming out slowly.
"They told me...that I had..grown a soft spot...for you. And I...have. I was going to teach you...so much." Chihiro scoffed.
"You did teach me. Taught me what it was like to be on the receiving end of harm. Taught me men like you can never be trusted. That I will never truly have a home, ever again." With those last spoken words, Chihiro decided to let him die in agony and set the building on fire.
"Chihiro!" Onigumo cried out.
"This will not end me! I will live! And I shall make you suffer for your wrong doings! Do you hear me?! I won't stop a just you, no! Your children will fear me! And everyone you'll love! Aaaaaarrgh!" Onigumo's declares of war had stopped with a terrible scream of agony.
-If you do survive, then so be it. Just as I served justice onto you tonight, you shall one day do the same onto me.-
Chihiro walked away from the massacre, heading towards the stream to wash off all the blood. The air had thickened around her. She thought nothing of it at first, but she couldn't ignore it any longer. Searching the skies, Chihiro had sensed a terrible yokai. Her sister's yokai. It appears Margret had sensed Chihiro's yokai in the heat of her rage and followed it to her. Chihiro tried to distance herself from her sister, but she was already close, close enough to hear her.
"Dearest sister i have finally found you! wasn't hard, You've left a mess everywhere you went. Made it easier to find you!" Chihiro looked up to her sister. She was Floating above her, surrounded in orange flames. She was using her magic to fly. And now she was aiming it at her. Margret threw balls of orange magic disintegrating everything it touched.
Chihiro not wanting to kill anymore. She had grew tired of ending lives and vowed to herself never to kill another human or loved one ever again. She ran higher and higher, her sister cornering her towards the cliff.
"Your wasting your time little sister. I have come to avenge our father who you have wrongfully murdered in cold blood!" Chihiro was now gasping for air her exhaustion catching up with her. She wouldn't be able to run much further.
-What do i do? Where can i go? She'll find me no matter where i go. I hate this world! It's time it changed. But I can't do it alone. I'll need someone to help. Someone strong and courageous, with a will of fire in their hearts. Someone who wants all tha pain and suffering from meaningless deaths to end just as much as I do. We could show everyone what it is to be united. To change the way this world works. And finally be at peace.-
"End of the line Chihiro!" Margret yelled with hidden joy. She was more than happy to end her sister's life. Chihiro saw the edge of the cliff nearing. without hesitation, she jumped. Falling down the cliff side she could see Margret trying to reach for her.
-Where can i find such a person? How long would she have to wait for them to be born? If only she could find a safe place to stay until she found them. If only she could...-
Chihiro felt a surge of power burst within her. As she opened her eyes she could see some sort of portal above her. Margret on the other side trying to get in, but couldnt. She turned her head from side to side to see where she had gone. The cliff she had just jumped off of was no longer there, only trees and land. The stream, was now a grand river beneath her. As she came closer to the ground, Chihiro braced herself for a hard landing.
-Where am I? This doesn't look like the land of the west. What was that strange power? Was that her power?-
At a loss for answers, Chihiro decided to leave it alone for now and to go find shelter. Walking up the river seemed like a good call. The scenery took on to a deep forest and the river went on endlessly. Seeing as it was deep into night Chihiro thought taking shelter in the trees would be best for now. Even though she was a demon, she had just used an extraordinary amount of yokai and was to tired to come up with a good strategy.
-This should be a good spot as any. Not much longer til day time. I'll have time to figure this out in the morning.-
Just as Chihiro closed her eyes to rest, she heard something. Growling. She hadn't sensed any demons. But what if she couldn't? Her power had been depleted. What if it was Margret? Had she found a way to get to her? Feeling scared and overwhelmed, Chihiro decided not to take any chances and run for it. After some time Chihiro noticed it was only a pack of wolves hunting her down. Seeing as they probably weren't much of a threat she settled into a hollowed trunk of a big tree. Completely exhausted Chihiro instantly fell asleep, completely ignoring her growing hunger.
"Are you sure we should be camping out in the middle of this forest? I mean with the ongoing war and all, were practically setting ourselves up for trouble. Hey! Are you even listening, Minato?!" Minato turned away from his now unrolled sleeping bag. His yellow hair sweeping around his adolescent face.
"Yes. I heard you very well. And I bet someone else could to, so why not be a little quieter?" Chihiro stirred at the sudden voices. She looked out to see two humans had set there camp beside her. And they were cooking up something good.
"You made too much Minato. It'll all go to waste now." The two humans were dressed it some uniform. Blue pants and shirt with a green vest on top. They wore headbands with a symbol of what looked to be a leaf place in the middle.
"No, it won't. The rest if for the girl I told you I saw. She's awake and I bet she's hungry. She's out here by herself, probably orphaned because of this war. Children shouldn't have to suffer from the faults of our fathers. So I'm going to help her, I'm also going to take her to the village. Surely the hokage will allow a child to live peacefully behind safe walls." Minato then grabbed a bowl of food, a blanket and made his way over to the trunk Chihiro was hiding in.
"That is if you want to come with us of course. You'll be safe there I promise." Chihiro looked into his eyes. They were the bluest eyes she had ever seen. She found herself lost in those blue eyes. They were kind and honest. Chihiro knew she shouldn't be so trusting, but she made up her mind. She was going to go with this man to their village and make herself a new home.
Morning had finally come and the three set off for their village. She was still a ways from recovery so she let the man known as Minato carry her on his back. She couldn't wait to see what the village was like.
"Would you look at that we're almost there. To your new home." Chihiro bubbled with excitement as she could see a large gateway ahead.
"Welcome to your new home, Konoha, the village Hidden in the Leaves." Minato smiled brightly at Chihiro as a look of wonder grew on her face.
