Master of Okami

Master of Okami

Chapter Eight

The Demon that Fell from Heaven:

Part 1: Mibu Town

Crap I got a headache, not sure if it's a migraine but dang it's bad. It went away for a few minutes but it keeps coming and going. There was some drama before I started this chap but that wasn't the reason for my headache. It started while I was coming home around 4 and it's like 8'o clock now. Anyways enough about my aching, chapter eight is up.

A gasp escaped from Kasei as her eyes snapped open. She had that same dream but this time the shadow that took somewhat of a recognizable shape. But Kasei still could not make out what it was. Pain in her right hand had awoken her when yet again the figure caught her. It turned out she was clenching her right hand too hard causing her nails to dig into her wound. And she realized that she had also rolled over onto her hand and that is when she quickly pulled it from under her. Loosening her grip she was surprised that she was able to go to sleep without the help of a faint. It was the pain that more than likely helped…her…to…wait a minute. She closed her fist again and slowly opened her hand again which stung like hell. She winced from the pain. They were stiff but she could still move her hand. Just yesterday they were as stiff as wood and twitching every second or so. She tried a circular motion with each finger which hurt even more. Blood had soaked into the white cloth and was spreading allowing her to feel the wetness.

At first Kasei panicked shooting up and looking around wondering what she should do. Then she remembered that Kanna would definitely help her since it was Kanna who said that she would. "Guess I'll have to find Kanna…somehow." She climbed out of the bed holding her injured hand up like a sterile doctor and wiped the sleep from her eyes, at first she had to catch herself from using her dominate hand. It seemed she would have to get used to using her left hand the most for her needs. After sleeping pretty much fully through the night her eyes were half masked as she opened the door and her feet took her left.

Her vision was a bit hazy but she suddenly stopped a bit woozily as something caught her slender eye. It took her a minute for her vision had to adjust and the blurriness slowly melted away. Her slender eyes grew wider as she realized just what she was looking at. To the left of her there was a huge, toothy skeleton grinning up at her spookily as it leaned again the wall. It sat with its skeletal body which was adorned with a simple brown haori and blue hakama. There was another one to the right just a little farther away sitting there with the back of its head to its back smiling up at the ceiling. Kasei's breath began to quicken as her body began to quiver.

In a panic she began to move backwards, her legs shakily stumbling behind the other. The back of her heel connected with something and she toppled over and landed on her ass finding her tripper sitting there smiling beside her. Her mind did not register to stand as she continued on crawling backwards. The pressure was becoming too much as she saw even more to her left and to her right with their spooky smiles she threw back her head and opened her mouth wide and screamed…again.

Something in which she had not said in a while shot out of her mouth as she stuttered. "Oh kami, oh kami, oh kami!" She pushed herself forward onto her hands and knees starting back the way she was coming. "Kami-sama!" She crawled like a speeding baby, the gray-black wooden dungeon looking floor rolling past her like scenery. Her breath was coming in pants. Soon her head bumped and became a little smothered in soft material. She backed up an inch and looked up slowly. "Naraku!" She immediately hopped up and saw Kanna on his left so she took the right running behind him clutching his kimono sleeve with her left. With an outstretched arm she pointed her injured hand, which was shaking frantically, at the new discovery…well on her part. A thin index finger pointed out the skinless skeletons as she tried with her words. "I don't-I don't-I don't-and-and-I don't know what happened-and-and-they-they weren't here yesterday-and-and-I came out-and-saw them-and-and-that-one smiled at me-and-they-I-I-don't know-"

Naraku grabbed her wrist. "Quiet." He said sternly and Kasei quickly shut her mouth. Without warning, he pulled her wrist over to Kanna causing Kasei to have to move around in front of him. She still held onto his kimono sleeve in wonder. "Kanna." He referred to her hand and Kanna came forth to take a look.

"I did not expect it to bleed." Kanna said and looked up to Kasei for an explanation.

Kasei was a bit startled when Kanna suddenly looked up at her with her bland eyes. Though they showed no emotion Kasei had an idea of what she wanted. "W-well you see, I've been having these dreams." She said a bit nervously. "And in the dream it's really dark and then out of nowhere a bright light forms on me. My hand isn't injured either and beyond the light a dark entity form and lunges to pierce my hand and I wake up." Kasei explained though she felt a bit stupid. She did not really want to share it with them but Naraku might get on her case and so she just got on with it. At one point she had glanced up to Naraku but quickly looked to Kanna. He was listening and he was watching her every move his gaze pierced her so she had to turn away but even now it still did. Kasei had figured, over the past few days, that his eyes were always cold and desolate and she had gotten used to it, somewhat. But right now if felt more sharp and magnified; his usual gaze was usually pointed at everyone and everything, so Kasei thought. But this magnitude was surely direct at her, she could feel it. It was not because he was looking at her, she just knew, somehow she just did, and so she kept her eyes trained on Kanna, nervous under his gaze. "It would turn out that I would either feel a natural sharp pain simply from my hand being injured or I would actually inflict it upon myself. Like this morning my nails, or claws, more like, were digging into it. During the dream I was uh…kinda…scared."

"How many times have you experience these dreams?" Kanna asked. She could feel how nervous this girl was. It was almost pathetic. Of course she knew the girl was nervous of her master. His gaze was sharp as always but it became sharper with her presence. He probably wanted to bind Kasei tight and throw her into a river but he did no such thing. Kanna still wondered what purpose the girl served for he seemed to have it set in his mind that she would be sticking around. Even now Kasei had taken a step over the boundary that was small but still she did. If Kanna had anything to say on it, it was that this girl was sure lucky that her master needed her for whatever reason.

"So far only twice." Kasei said. Her heart pounded and she was sure that both Naraku and Kanna could hear it, maybe even Kagura who was probably unconscious at this moment.

"Yes, I understand." Kanna walked away to Kasei's room.

As soon as the door to the room slid shut Kasei's heart sped up a few miles. She continued to stare at the door but her eyes started to jolt between it and her arm which was conveniently captured by Naraku. The way he had pulled her over she had not really registered the action and now she was kind of leaning across him. She could she felt his hard body underneath his loose clothes but maybe it was just her imagination. But she was so nervous she was about to gulp audibly but quickly stopped herself. A horrible silence waned on and oh was it a long silence.

Finally he spoke. "Come." He said shortly in his cold tone letting go of her wrist and forcing her to let go of him when he turned and walked away. Kasei shyly caught up to him fidgeting with her hands, which hurt, as she strolled behind him eyes on the ground.

Naraku's jaki and yoki had always, well on Kasei's part, been cold and bitter which would make others apprehensive. That was why Kasei was always so nervous around him. It was so cold like Ice Ring Isle off of The Legend of Zelda the Windwaker: if that ice was blowing and someone took one step on the isles surface they would freeze to death. Was it possible for his demonic jaki and yoki to be any colder? Perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration but that was how it felt. Of course Kasei knew that jaki and yoki were things that a demon possessed and what was more than likely made a demon, a demon. At times she would sense abnormal things from Naraku that made her spine tingle and her senses rise in fear. Was Kasei going to get one or did she already have one? Wait scratch that because she was so not a demon and never would be.

Even though Kasei could not see auras she perhaps thought that somehow she could and perhaps other demons and maybe humans could sense it. From what she could sense it was dark with a cloud of mystery, it was darker than ebony and jet itself. And yet here she was walking right behind him. Yes, she was nervous now and sometimes would be but there were times to where she was as much at ease as she could be with him. Perhaps if that event had not occurred yesterday night she would be in a somewhat at ease manner. Of course, she had to open her mouth but then again she had promised Kagura, and herself, that she would somehow get her down from there. And here she was fidgeting around behind the only person that could set Kagura free.

Everything about Naraku was so cold, his jaki, his yoki his demeanor, his eyes. Was his heart the same?

--

He had stayed up all night to make sure that little Yuan did not run off. So of course he was tired but the rabbit slept beside him during a good nights sleep. Dawn broke out and Yuan began to graze again and he stocked up on fresh leaves as the girl would do. There was yet again another shrill scream that came from the castle, kami does that girl quit? It had not been as long or as loud as the other which perhaps meant she was not in pain, just spooked it sounded like. What else could someone expect it was Naraku's castle after all? Guess could not blame her.

After a while he realized that Naraku was not yet done with the training of the girl. From what he had seen they had stopped pretty shortly and he was sure they may continue. He stood up and turned around looked frantically for his weapon and spotted it a foot or two away. Running over to grab it he spotted something on the dirt stricken ground. There was a patch of dirt that was darker that the rest, he cocked his head to the side wondering what it was. Short of time he made one last wave to the rabbit and smiled after turning around and ran to the right of the castle.

Out of curiosity he peeked around the corner and waited for a while. After a considerable amount of time he was about to turn away when Naraku stepped out and behind him was the girl. In the blink of an eye Naraku's pupil had turned to him spotting him. "Eep!" He squeaked and twisted back around the corner and ran for it. The front door looked clear as he slid one of the large double doors open and headed back into the castle.

--

"Is there something wrong Naraku?" Kasei asked but did not receive a response as she walked up to his side. He was looking the other way out the corner of his eyes if he had spotted something. She peeked around him but saw nothing though she did hear a low whisper of words she could not make out. "Yuan!" She said excitedly after turning away and recognized her friend. She ran over and picked her up stretching her up to the sky and back to her chest with a hug. "I thought I lost you!" She had almost forgotten about her injury but the pain quickly returned. "It's weird that your still here. Did you want to stay with me? I'm flattered." Kasei laughed a bit and turned around to find Naraku and Kanna staring at her. Her excitement seemed to vanish in a flash.

Kanna came forth with a fresh batch of bandaging for Kasei. Kasei help up her hand and Kanna sat down her mirror and started to remove the wrap. She used the cleanness part to wipe up around the wound on both sides of Kasei's hand. Kasei was looking down upon the little rabbit and saw there was a bit of blood on its side but it was Kasei's. Kanna turned her hand back to the palm. To know how her healing was faring Kasei took a glance and her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"Careful." Kanna said as she stopped Kasei from falling back, and started to bandage it.

Up in the upper left corner there was a small arching cordlike structure that seemed to be growing from out of the inner flesh. Almost in the center there was a small, clear, almost hand looking piece of flesh from which three cordlike structures grew from and went up into the inner rim of the wound up toward the fingers. With a shake of her index finger the whitish structure twitched fast and the same went with her middle and ring finger and her thumb. With her pinky the little bitty cord that grew from the flesh twitched in the blink of an eye. They moved so fast Kasei could hardly keep up with the movement. She wiggled her fingers and the cords twitched like crazy and after a bit of thought and experimentation Kasei figured they were the nerves. Kasei was almost ready to puke.

Soon Kanna was finished with the new bandaging. She had wrapped it the same way she had done yesterday: each finger individually bandaged into a webbed hand. Picking up her mirror she turned and walked away around the castle with the bloody mess.

Kasei held on to her wrist of her injured hand flexing her clawed fingers lightly so as not to cause more bleeding. "Take up your bow." Came Naraku's voice only a foot in front of her.

'How does he do that?' Kasei thought startled at how close he had become without her noticing. But then she actually computed what he had said to her. "Wh-What? Even though my…" She held forth her hand again.

"Take up your bow." Naraku repeated.

"But-but my hand!" Kasei said stressing the fact but she began to feel more nervous. Naraku was naturally intimidating but right now he was just plain scary. It was not like he was making angry faces or anything he was just standing there telling her to 'take up your bow'…it was just scary the way it went. Those cold eyes were staring at her, those doubly cold eyes staring at her and only her. Holding back a sigh Kasei sat Yuan down and retrieved the bow from behind her which had been dropped out of anger. "I'm ready Naraku." Kasei held back another sigh.

Training was not too intense. Kasei mostly practiced drawing and firing. Her primary method was the underhand snake tongue draw which made use of the index and middle finger. Compliments to herself for she had named it. Her shots were good but a bit sloppy from the nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach and chest. Naraku was watching her intently giving cold points. Though she tried her best she just could not concentrate with the tension which came from herself and lingered in the air. Soon Kanna came back after about five minutes or so. Even though Kanna was here taking the tension as well it just was not helping. The pain in her hand was too precise a definite contrast to her shots. It almost felt as though the pain went up and down. At first Kasei had tried to use her left arm to hold her bow but it was a lost cause, she lost an arrow to the forest.

Ok, ok she had had enough, enough of all this, she would have to do something. Even if it meant having to face Naraku himself, this awkwardness was killing her! She was nearly brought to tears simply because of the tension but she held them back. Dropping her stance and placing the arrow back inside the deformed quiver Kasei struggled with her mind. A fist clenched and the other flexing she turned sharply around. Naraku was waiting patiently for her to say what she had to say.

The girl was just standing there stiffly seemingly wanting to say something. She did seem kind of scared. Was that because of himself? Why of course, what else would she be afraid of? So Naraku waited while she struggled. What will she say? Complain about the pain in her hand perhaps? Say she wants to quit? If she did then that would be a mistake.

Finally letting out a sigh and calming herself Kasei spoke. "Please Naraku!" She started off unaware of the fact that in these pleading moments she would usually start off with a plead and his name. "I'm sorry for what I said, or-or asked! So please don't be mad at me anymore! I promise I won't ask you again!" Her voice was so pleading and so sincere her eyes were side cast. "I promise." And she finally looked up. No reaction was made he said nothing.

Well that was a bit unexpected though it was Kasei. He studied her for a while tension rising from her body and fanning through the air. She was trying her best to keep a firm eye on him. He had to admit she had a few things that he admired from her: her willingness to try for one and her sincerity towards him, which she would always have, always. The only time she seemed to really have acted up a bit since she was set free was when she complained of the pain in her hand when he told her to take up her bow. And even when she was doing that she was sincere so maybe that did not count.

Kasei was going to go downright crazy from his lack of response. She looked to Kanna who ignored her like last time and continued to stare at him. It was the afternoon for she had trained all morning but right now it was like a staring contest in which he was winning. His stare was so intense she could hardly take it.

"Come." He said turning away to the castle.

Kasei was surely surprised and for a moment she did not know what to do. But she threw down her bow yet again figuring that training was left for the back yard. Taking Yuan in her arms she followed on the right side behind Naraku, Kanna on the left. They went down the dim hall of salute, as Kasei called it, and into the first floor main hall. He led them to the right and past the staircase to another door Kasei had never been in.

The room was fairly large more horizontally long than it was vertically wide but large. Weapons hung in variety on the four walls. Katana were hung horizontally both long and short with simple designs. Spears were vertical with long blades. Spiked wooden balls that looked quite effective sat on tables. A few sickle bladed weapons that were attached to thin wooden poles. A few pedestals sat in the middle displaying thin needles and what looked like kunai knife and throwing stars and other weird things. But there was only one that truly caught Kasei's eyes; it would probably catch anyone's even when walking through the door. It was a bow, a really huge bow that was bigger than the rest. The bow itself was hanging up on a wall vertically sideways on its side up closely to the high ceiling. The frame consisted of two wings that fanned out like a bird taking flight which gave it the long length. At the tip of the two wings the bowstring connected. From where Kasei stood the texture of the frame looked soft and gentle it even looked like she could pluck a few feathers. But the strange thing was that the entire bow was encased in shining light darker than the chains that had bound Kasei. No matter how dark the light was someone would still be able to tell that the bow itself was pure white.

They moved forward, Kasei was a little slow too mesmerized, a little closer but Kanna stayed back. Kasei figured she had her reasons besides she did not have to stay be Naraku all the time. Kasei continued to stare at the new discovery with curiosity and anticipation. Kasei moved to Naraku's side when they seemed to be close enough. Now, from where they stood, the bow seemed easily reachable, it was just so long.

"This bow has an unusual history that makes it quite unique." Naraku told her.

"Unusual? How?" Kasei asked looking at him for answers. It was clear, simply by how it looked, that it was unique but what more could have contributed to its uniqueness?

"It was the thirteenth century, year twelve ninety six." He started off.

"Wow! That was a really long time ago!" Kasei breathed excitedly. Then she shut her trap.

"It was the rise of the Japanese states-"

--

…as countries aimed to obtain sound government. Shotoku Taishi, a prince of the Yamato clan, tried to unify the many Japanese clans. Resistance would be more effective if there were an invasion by the Chinese. A centralized government was Taishi's goal, which was based largely on the structure of the Chinese government. Soon after Prince Shotoku's Taishi's death in six hundred twenty two the power fell upon the Fujiwara clan. Though Yamato was still emperor he was strongly influenced by the Fujiwara family. A new capital was established at Nara, and the emperor began to use the title 'Son of Heaven.' The central government steadily fell from power and was influenced by the power of the aristocrats.

By the eighth century, year seven hundred ninety four, the emperor moved the capital from Nara to Heian on the site of Kyoto. The power still remained in the Fujiwara clan. The government was then returning to the decentralized system that had existed during the time of Shotoku Taishi. Powerful families based their ownership of tax exempt and farmland dominated the rural areas with their wealth. Local aristocrats decided to take justice into their own hands with the decline in central power. Aristocrats turned to military force to ensure the protection of themselves and their interests. A new class of military servants emerged and their main purpose was to protect the security and property of their employers. These servants were known as samurai, wielding a sword and a bow and arrow. Bushido was a strict code they were meant to live by based on the loyalty to his lord, the way of the warrior.

Rivalries among Japanese aristocratic families had led to almost constant civil war. Finally, a powerful noble by the name of Minamoto Yoritomo defeated several rivals. He set up his power near the modern city of Tokyo. Under a powerful military leader known as the Shogun, he created a more centralized government. With this new system, called the Shogunate, the emperor remained ruler in name only and the Shogun exercised the actual power. Shogun Minamoto ruled over the Kamakura Shogunate, in which he established, at the castle of Kamakura. It was the thirteenth century, year twelve hundred five. The Kamakura Empire was found in year eleven hundred ninety four.

It was the town of Kamakura all seemed peaceful but the centralized government was unstable yet somewhat effective bordering on feudalism. Many samurai resided at the town close to their lord but the most worrisome thing was that the castle of their lord resides on a close island. There were samurai stationed there to ensure protection. Dojos were set up throughout for those who wished to train.

"The rebels are becoming more aggressive. We must find and destroy them!" A man yelled banging his fist on the floor. Four of the five men that sat with him nodded.

"How will we accomplish that?" The man who did not nod said sounding a bit arrogant about it.

A silence came after as everyone thought about that. They sat in an eight by eleven room which was not too big not too small that had a brown wooden floor and white walls. "Well, we must address Shogun Minamoto Yoritomo with the solution." Said another man.

"We have none!" Another man said.

"Legions are gathering! We must thing of something!" And another man said.

"Yes, they will attack soon." A quieter voice put in his two cents.

"We are samurai. We must find a way."

"The counselors are planning something; they will perhaps send word sooner or later." One of them tried to calm everyone down with some sort of solution.

"Later?! We must hurry before they attack again!"

"There is nothing that we can do. We have searched thoroughly and have found nothing." The quiet man said.

"The army is mobilizing and while we fight perhaps we should send over someone to find the rebel leaders. They are usually not on the battlefield." One man suggested. He found it quite odd that the leaders never were there by their men.

"Who shall we send?"

"I do not know yet but we shall see." The first man who spoke said.

"Send word to the Shogun." One of the men shouted for a person to come over. A man came into the room and a message was written:

Shogun Minamoto Yoritomo,

The harassment by the rebel leaders has been tireless and has been growing in precision. They have become more relentless which creates more problems for the Kamakura Shogunate. A solution is needed and we ask if the lord of the land may have that solution which is so desperately needed.

Your Loyal Subjects,

The samurai of the Elite Dojo Headquarters

The person who was called over was ordered to take it to the Shogun as an emergency. "The messenger will be of use."

After a bit of glances and eyes meeting the men rose for the day and left the Shogunate headquarters. It was going on night time.

The next morning they met once again and soon, and no one was surprised because it was quite important, they received another message that was actually from the emperor's counsel.

"It reads as follows:"

The samurai of the Elite Dojo Headquarters,

We do understand the matter at hand. It is likely that there is at least one samurai that is capable of dispatching the rebel leaders. From further analysis it is known that there is a young warrior among your ranks. The presence of a child will be of scarce attention. Armies are mobilizing and during that time protection may be short for the leaders. By order of Shogun Minamoto Yoritomo send the child to annihilate the demon rebels.

The Emperors Counsel

After the note was read there was a silence as all the contents of the letter melted into everyone. Yet one chose to speak up. "Does…does he mean young Tsukitateru?" A man asked quietly and unbelievingly. The other men only sighed knowing the answer simply by the note and the members of the dojos. "But he is only a child!" The man said frantically in the obviously small boy's defense.

"It seems to be the only way. Besides Shogun Minamoto Yoritomo commanded it." A man said though he sounded as worried and as doubtful as the man he was responding to. Hell, every man in the room was skeptical but it was ordered by the shogun himself and so there was no choice.

"Bring him." A man said. He sounded as though he was trying to keep everyone's hopes up. The messenger left at the command.

The messenger came back rather quickly with a young boy who looked quite nervous at being summoned. Not to mention the fact that all the men looked stern as hell. He had joined out of loyalty to his lord and country. The boy had felt a need to join and help as best he could. His parents were worried yet they supported him and were very proud. And here he was his first mission that could end his life at the age of only twelve.

"You have been summoned to receive the directions of your mission." A stern bearded man said with closed eyes.

"A…a mission?" The boy said.

"You have been order to dispatch the rebel leaders." The stern man said.

The boy's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "To-to-to dispatch the rebel leaders?" The boys began to feel a bit afraid.

"You will go to the outskirts and beyond where the town of Mibu resides." Another one of the men spoke. "Weapons have been placed in a special spot in the town. You will receive more directions on how to find them later. You will take down those who are of the rebels. But do not be fooled boy be careful of innocents. Do not slip up. Think over your actions before you take them." The man commanded sternly yet there was a hint of 'go get'um tiger.' "You will leave tonight.

"Y-yes sir." The boy bowed.

Tsukitateru was somewhat the person for the job. He was more mature than most children and levelheaded. At seven years of age he had joined and trained diligently to perfect his skills of the sword. He had been dropped off at the edge of the town of Mibu. It was a bit deeper in the woods simply for safety precautions.

"Now if you wish to know why it was you that were chosen just know that it was by the order of the Shogun himself. One day you may understand why it was you as a child but for now you and I must part." His keeper said. "Good luck on finding the rebels and executing your mission."

"Right…" Tsukitateru said quietly not really thinking about the first part of the man's words. This is what he had joined for so why was he so afraid? The man nodded once firmly to Tsukitateru, who had been staring off worried in the direction of the town, when he looked to him. The man turned on his horse and trotted away.

The rebels were a band of demons and humans who tirelessly harassed the Shogunate. It is known that the humans rebel because of the unstable government. They must pay unreasonable taxes set by the aristocrats. Land had also been taken by the aristocrats and used for their purposes while townsmen worked for low pay on them. The Shogunate has yet to stop them on their wealth and power, the aristocrats keep getting stronger. But it is not known why the demons fight. For thousands of years they were quiet and somewhat peaceful; mainly acting as predator for survival matters only. This is, well at least to Tsukitateru, the first time they have really truly become hostile.

If it was up to him then he would not fail, no matter what. Either he would die so as not to face the Elite samurai in shame or he would succeed no matter how frightened he was.

An idea suddenly popped up in his mind. Grabbing a random spot on his kimono he ripped a nice size hole in it. Then another, forming gashes that ran long as if a creature had scarred him good. Scooping some dirt within his hands he patted it all over himself and his clothing face and hair, rubbing it all in. kicking off his shoes he buried them and stumped his feet in the dirt.

"Perfect." He said. Tsukitateru was small but not for his age. He had a very slim figure which included his legs and arms but was a bit slightly muscular with his training. He had wild brick red hair that was a bit crazy and spike like but mostly hung down all the way around his head. His eyes were a dark brown that resembled the color of brick red as well. It really was a perfect disguise. He purposefully narrowed his brown red eyes to give off the appearance that he was totally exhausted from irregular sleeping patterns and bad nights of sleep.

He walked from the woods in which he traveled and into town. Tsukitateru had never been to Mibu before and on his first time he to kill someone, two someone's, and anyone he knew was in the wrong! For the night he found an alleyway and snuggled behind a small square extension of a building which hid him from view. He was asleep in no time.

Sunlight was not a factor that woke him but a loud bang from his right. Tsukitateru jerked at the offensive sound, panicked. "W-Wha…?" He yawned. He looked to his right and spotted a small tattered tabby cat. "Oh, hey there fella…" He said groggily reaching out but the little guy ran off. "I'm sure we'll meet again!" Rubbing his eyes he looked around sound. Tsukitateru pulled out a small slip of paper from the innards of his kimono. They had instructions on it. One of the men had given it to him before he had left for Mibu.

There were thirteen letters that made no sense when read: T, S, K, U, O, H, O, there was another set underneath, S, I, T, A, I, H. It also said something about some other equipment. A hint was given which was 'in the most likeliest place.'

"It must be coded or something." Though he knew that was the case it looked as if it were quite simple. After a moment he just gave up not really having the mood for figuring out anything. His stomach was hungry and so he tucked the paper back inside his kimono. Walking from the dark alley he looked around at the busy place. There were two lines of small houses that made the wide dirt road. A wide street filled with small businesses that sold their wares. He stayed near the building as to not draw much to attention to himself but there were those who saw him, disgusted. He coughed a few times for effect. Nearby there was a fruit stand and he walked over to it. "P-please sir may I," he coughed into his dirty hands, "have some of you cough I mean, your fruit?"

"You filthy urchin away with you!" The keeper yelled. A few heads turned.

"cough I'm sorry!" Tsukitateru ran deeper into the town. He came to two wide roads that went both left and right lined with buildings. Coughing every so often he felt as though he were being watched. He looked around and spotted a woman a few feet away, there was a moment, slow as they stared at one another while still walking. Her look was not of disgust but of pity and concern. He looked away conveying a sort of shameful look. The woman was going down the left road and so he went down the right. People were shooting in and out of a business looking somewhat disgruntled, well some of them.

Inside, people were sitting around at low tables drinking what he figured was sake. An angry looking man came up to him. "Hey, boy, are you of age to drink?"

Tsukitateru had to lean his upper body back just to look up at the angry man. The man had a look of murder in his eyes which made the small boy gulp audibly. "No."

"Do you even have any money?" The man growled bending down into Tsukitateru's face.

"N-no." The small boy stuttered.

"Well then get your dumb dirty ass outta here!" The man kicked him all the way out the door.

"Augh!" Tsukitateru yelled landing on his ass. He coughed violently turning on his hands and knees coughing as if he were having a fit. He hopped up and ran for it. 'I've got to find a way to do this.'

After about half the day of getting kicked around by crazy store owners he resorted to just wandering. Mibu was surprisingly a big town so it took him a while to find the big gate that stood before him. Walking up to it there was a loud commotion.

"You lousy flee bags! Don't show your disgusting faces around here again!" A man yelled. Some men with swords at their hips fought off another group of men out of the gate. One of them saw Tsukitateru who had run to the side of the gate and out of the way. The man's looked was that of wild insanity which made the small boy gulp. The man turned to his buddies who were laughing and giggling drunkenly. He whispered to his pals and they quieted while looking at him and smiling crazily. They walked away whispering and giggling.

Tsukitateru shook his head to rid himself of bothersome thoughts. Slowly peeking into the gate, the swordsmen were gone. The whole area was in a wide square made up of three tall buildings. Odd thing was there was a barred window on the left building. Quietly he walked over to investigate and found that many women were sitting behind the bars. At first he was a bit skeptical about speaking to them wondering if it was safe to do so but he made up his mind really wanting to get somewhere in all this.

"What are you all doing here? Are you prisoners?" Tsukitateru asked looking at the many faces that stared at him.

"Hmm…hey there little boy, where are your parents? Did you wander over here accidently or are here to quench a need?" A woman asked seductively.

"What?" Tsukitateru asked thoroughly confused, coughing a little.

"He's only a little kid, he cannot be a customer!" A woman piped up accusingly.

"No little one, we are not prisoners. You should leave quickly before a guard comes." Another woman said calmly and kindly.

"A guard? But…?" Without another word he ran from the barred window and into the main door farthest from the gate. He snuck his way pass some people and some stairs. 'This place is so big perhaps it has some significance.' Finding himself in a wide hall with three doors on each side he walked up to one. But he hesitated to open it as he heard strange noises coming from within that sounded like a woman.

Summoning courage he slowly opened the door but quickly regretted it. Suspicion confirmed that yes, it was a woman and a man. The man was between her legs banging up and down and yeah, yeah. Tsukitateru eyes were too big to be true as the two naked figures continued their movements.

"Oh, I…didn't know, oh yeah, know they, yes baby, hired kids." The man grunted. "Here." He threw something at the stiff boy who had snapped out of it to catch the objects which he identified as two golden oval coins. "Give me a few, we, baby more, haven't even reached climax!" Tsukitateru turned and ran for it the door shutting wildly behind him.

Each and every door was the same, he had searched all six, but the most troubling thing was that it was all different. No one room portrayed the same position: rutting, sucking, moaning, and blah! By time he was finished investigating Tsukitateru was stiff and stared blankly ahead of him at whatever it was he was staring at with a kimono full of coins.

"Hey kid what are you doing here?" Two guards had run up to him. "Kami, this kids traumatized."

"We had better take him outside." The other guard said worriedly.

They gently walked him outside and he heard a voice not too far away. "I told them to find you so you would not have to see anything you should not have. But it seems they were too late. I'm sorry." The woman that had warned him about the guards said to him.

When they were outside the gate there was only one guard. "This place is for adults, perhaps when you're a little older."

"What is this place?" Tsukitateru asked quietly still wide eyed.

"Oh, so you really don't know, do you? Why, it's the Red Light District!" The guard said loudly.

"What?! The Red Light District?!" Tsukitateru yelled, snapping out of it.

"Be careful next time kid." The guard walked away

He gathered himself and went along deciding he would get himself something to eat. He sat at the small table of a restaurant that held onigiri and miso soup. Twirling one of the coins in his hand he sat and ate slowly. Now that he thought about it, it must be two coins every time a customer wanted a longer…no, no do not want to think about things such as that. He had seen enough already. Back into his kimono the coin went. Now what was he going to do? For now he went back to his alley and slept.

There were rumors going around that some 'townsfolk' were preparing to 'departure' to the Kamakura Shogunate for some 'business.' And of course what Tsukitateru got from that was that some 'rebels' were actually preparing to 'mobilize' to the Kamakura Shogunate for some hardcore 'bloody harassment.'

He had to figure out where the rebels resided to state their business. Perhaps he would be lucky enough to see the army and try to pinpoint where they were coming from. Maybe he could talk to that woman who tried to help him yesterday even though…well, yeah. Rising from the cold earth Tsukitateru ventured from the alley and back to the Red Light District. There were no guards to hinder his quest and so he went over to the barred window on the left.

"Hello?" Tsukitateru whispered to the women.

"Where's the other lady from yesterday who tried to help me? Remember, she had warned me about the guards." The boy asked.

"Oh…well she's…busy…right now…so…" The woman said a bit uncomfortably.

After a bit of thought his eyes widened as he realized just what she was saying. "Oh…well…I'll come back…I guess…" He turned and left a bit stiffly. For the rest of the day he tried his best to find out some more information. Turned out no on really knew where the armies were or at least that is what they let on. At one point he had stopped to get something to eat with his few coins. And in the end he went back to his alley for the night.

He had eight coins left and still had not gotten any closer to his goal. The woman at the Red Light District was still 'busy.' Kami how could she stand doing that all the time? Strange men rutting into her all the time and most likely every time. Never once or hardly, ever getting a break from the everlasting emotionally disconnected connection. Juices spilling into her every night or day, wait how did he know this? Six doors, six freakin' doors, he was sure he had saw something coming from that nasty throbbing pole. Tsukitateru's was not a pole or stiff at that but the men's were as he could see. Though that had never happened to him before and he never wanted it to either.

Enough about him, he would make a promise that no matter what he would set that woman free. Wait, was she free? Did she do this of her own free will? Surely not, even though he did not know much on women Tsukitateru was sure a woman would not want to do that for life. Looked kind of painful, well the way the women were looking and sounding and all, they were shown no mercy. Though they cried in pain Tsukitateru still reaped a sort of reward which made him feel guilty. But he was still so very glad that he was not a girl. Now that he thought about it, those women had to be imprisoned they were sitting behind barred windows.

"Kami, I am so thankful I am not a woman!" Tsukitateru said as he walked around the town. After being here for three days he had still not searched the whole town. The place was huge. Even during his searches he had found nothing, he was starting to think this was a waste of time and energy.

Yet again a fruitless search, Tsukitateru sat in his dark alley behind the small square extension of the building. Night had come for the third time. He sat stroking the cat he had met the other day. Not too long ago the cat had approached him. It was quiet and darkness consumed the alley as it always did. The noises of the people on the streets were dying out stalking away to get ready for a new day of being busy. He could not see the moon overhead but merely the edging of the under roofs. The cat would usually stay with him until he fell asleep. But it was strange the cast was stiff as if were afraid of something. Its fur was a bit on edge but did not take away from it natural softness. Its eyes seemed to glow in the darkness as it peered cautiously around, the slits of its eyes clearly visible. Suddenly it hopped up and with a little cat roar ran off like the first time they had met.

"Wh-wait!" He stood up as his friend ran out the alley. He was going to run after it but violently against the wall and his kimono was rummaged.

"Ooo, shinies!" A man's voice came. Tsukitateru's were covered as well. "Have anything else?"

"Mm…Mm!" Tsukitateru mumbled.

"Let'em speak." Another man said and his mouth was immediately free.

"No…no I-I…no!" Tsukitateru said not answering the question but actually wanting them to get the hell off of him.

"Thar no needence to lie boy! Search'em!" The man spoke again.

"No, you jerk offs!" Tsukitateru yelled earning himself a punch in the face. He tried to move but all of his limps had been taken captive as well.

"What the hell is this junk?" Someone had found his paper given to him by the Shogunate. "Well, what is it?"

Thinking quickly, "I…I use it to kindle fires…so I can warm up!" He said a bit lamely. And for some reason they just proceeded to beat the crap out of him. After it was all done he fell to the cold ground floor and they ran off cackling madly.

"Let's go buy us some eats!" They yelled joyfully, laughing and clapping hands and feet.

Three days had passed since then and so far there was no trouble. For some reason he stayed in he alley for those three days. Though he knew it was perhaps safer out in the open he felt like he would be spotted easier by who knows what if he left. He did not want that. So he stayed in the cold dark alley. The only company was that of the tabby cat that visited quite frequently. It was night time on the third day and the people of Mibu had gone to sleep for the night. For some reason he felt that awkwardness from three days ago. He was about to walk out of the alley but yet again something or someone's hand was slapped over his mouth stopping him in his tracks. And yes, the cat had run off…again.

With swiftness he grabbed the hand over his mouth and peeled it from his face and without hesitation he made a break for it. But he was not quick enough for with a spur from the men behind him most of them grabbed at him. One caught his arm and he used his other to punch it off and that is when another caught that arm. He was ready to knock that one away when another man grabbed his other. Now with only his legs left he turned and jumped up onto the right wall with great agility, the commotion rising. He jumped over the man's and his own arm forcing the man to let go and swinging the man who held his other into the wall he had previously jumped on. He was turned toward the innards of the alley his fists bared but before he could turn and make a break a fist connected to his left jaw forcing him to smash into the left wall. Another man tripped him and he fell to his stomach. Now with him in a more vulnerable position the men cackled, slowly advancing on him. Before he could stand his ankles were captured. Tsukitateru reached toward freedom, where the moon shined, his arms outstretched as if someone was going to reach out and take hold of them both. He was slowly dragged back into the darkness of the alleyway.

Once he was dragged into the alley far enough the few men surrounded him. One man was holding the ankles of his outstretched legs and another held the wrists of his outstretched arms. He looked around from his vantage point on the ground and saw that there were at least five of them; three of them towered over his vulnerable form. Without question a barrage of blows were beaten onto his small body. The ones who towered him kicked him hard and the other two punched without mercy. By time they were through Tsukitateru's body was bruised and aching but he made sure as not to whimper.

"I've seen him go to the Red Light District countless times!" A man said breathing a bit heavily.

"So you told us!" Another man agreed sounding a bit tired as well.

"We're not allowed to go in anymore so here's to a nice fuck!" Another man said enthusiastically.

"Yeah!!" The small crowd of men cheered.

'What does that mean?' Tsukitateru thought. But when they started to remove his clothes he began to get a pretty good idea. "Mm!" He bit the hand that held him.

"Ah, damn brat!"

"No! No you bastards!" Tsukitateru yelled frantically trying to flail around to no avail. There was a sharp pain as a fist connected on the small of his back. "Ah!" At that moment they sealed his mouth closed once again. There was a rip as they tore his clothes from his body and they cackled afterward. He was panicked at his now laying pretty much naked under a bunch of crazy men. This situation so did not look good. At that moment he was thinking of how he could get out this mess. But the way they held him he knew he was going nowhere.

"Ok, I'll go first." Said one of the men who stood.

Tsukitateru close his eyes tight ready for whatever was going to happen next. He just hoped that they would hurry and get it over with and be done. And he wished it would not be painful. Kami he hated being in vulnerable positions like this unable to do a thing.

"Stop it right there you sick twisted bastards!" A woman's voice came from the opening where freedom lie in the moonlight. The boy opened his eyes, which widened a bit, from where he could see from between one of the men's legs he saw the woman that he had seen many times. The only one that would look at him or take pity on him.

The men tensed and their heads swirled to the source of the voice. They cackled when they saw who had confronted them. "And what are you going to do you little bitch?" One of the men asked with a smiled plastered on his face, no one had to see it to know it was there, one could simply hear it in his words. At his words four men appeared behind her wielding swords. They stepped in front of her defensively and threatened to attack. Armed with nothing the deceitful men pushed passed them and ran off down the street giggling evilly.

"Weird sicko's." The woman said in disgust looking as the men disappeared into the darkness their laughs echoing in the night. She turned back walking up between the men.

"Do you want us to go after them?" One of the men said as the men sheathed their swords.

"You can if you wish for it is known that they cause a lot of trouble around here. Though I am sure they won't do or be doing that again." She knelt down covering the boy with his tattered kimono. "It is alright now, come little one." Even in the moonlight he could make out her shoulder length brown hair and black eyes; fashioned in a light pink kimono. From his knee bound position Tsukitateru stared up innocently and a bit curiously.

It was his chance, after all this time, it was finally his chance.

--

And so we venture over into an alternate story, that is, I must admit, quite long. I never finished the whole written version so at one point I'm going to be on my own without the help of my binder, in which the written version is in. Around the area where Tsukitateru is in danger of being violated that sort of reminded me of a part on Enzai where the main character is…well…violated. Yes, I watched that and I must say it was quite disturbing and frankly I didn't even know what I was getting myself into when I typed it in the search bar of veoh…ah horrible. Must get bad thoughts out of head! Anyway, R&R!

Till the next!