Hinamizawa Hell

"The Truth of Fate" Arc: 3

Ch. 14: A Past Revealed: Part 3

/

"...through flaw of Man and flaw of Evil, life is in perpetual imbalance until one or the other is expelled from existence. If Man falls, so shall all that is light and dark in the world; Evil will prosper in its wake. If Evil falls, so will light and dark remain in balance with one another, and continue the perpetual life of perfection once more. As life is now, Evil exists in our world; its powers unknown yet vast. Do not trust it, do not harbor it, and never give full control to it, for once you do you shall fall and allow Evil to rule…."

Alone in her dark room, illuminated only by the waning candle sticks around, Hanyuu sat amongst many stacks of books and materials on what seemed like a determined quest to find an answer to her fate. For years, she had labored and scrutinized every detail of these books in hopes of finding her answer. Alas, no matter how hard she worked or studied, all she found were encouragements to move on and accept her fate. As hard as that was to accept, Hanyuu knew deep down that some way was possible for her to escape her fate and fix her past; maybe, just fix her future…

When her eyes grew tired and dreary in the darkness of the room, Hanyuu pushed aside the book she had found some clues to her quest aside for now. She had been reading over certain passages from this book of almost unreadable ink for some time, though still couldn't understand why its author always spoke so cryptic. Riku had managed to uncover this book from his village's library below, though it held reasonably little information for her. In comparison to her other books with much greater information, this author wrote as if he were speaking of nothing in particular but at the same time trying to get at a general idea.

"…nothing matters when it comes to turning back time and fixing such a mistake. This is hopeless…no matter how much I try, I'll get nowhere in this search. Mother…was my mistake so wrong that I deserved all of this as punishment? Was losing the Orb of Fate such a disaster that people had to die for it? Had to suffer for it? Even had to become cursed for it? If it means anything at all…then I don't think it was right to begin with…all of this…is unfair…"

Sighing again, Hanyuu closed her books for the time being and left her dark room, reemerging back into the coziness of her keep once more. As the fire at the center of the room smoldered in a small amount of hot coals, Hanyuu soon stoked the fire and gave life to the flames again. The flames licked the underside of her cast iron pot; a tea brewing in the bubbling water. Pouring a cup for herself, Hanyuu went outside into the world and took time to enjoy the falling snow of the winter season. Summer and Fall had come and gone, and with that came the cold winds and freezing ice of the season. Thankfully, Hanyuu was able to stock up on enough supplies and whatever food storages she needed for that year. No matter whether she needed to eat or not as an immortal, Hanyuu held other reasons to keep food in storage.

Sitting on a stone seat in her personal hot spring, Hanyuu enjoyed the mixture of cold air with steam rising around her entire being. Wearing a heavier kimono, though this time black with a red sash, Hanyuuu enjoyed the solitude of the surrounding forest as the flurries of snow fell all around her. To her, this setting was pure bliss. No sound for miles, no scorching heat from the sun, and no one but herself to pass the time. That is, no one she didn't want near her. Her heart said otherwise for someone else; someone Hanyuu had found that she longed for with each passing week that year. For Hanyuu, she was missing Riku terribly over the past month.

On his last visit, Riku had seemed somewhat troubled upon his arrival, but when Hanyuu pursued the matter he either changed the subject entirely or passed it off as nothing. Though he kept bringing books to her, it seemed like Riku was slowly despising his home village and returning to it every time they had to part. Was the holy life back home so bad for him that the mountain had become his personal escape? Or was it that his family was producing more hardships from which he had to endure?

Whatever it was, every moment that felt lonely to her, Hanyuu had found the memory of Riku coming to mind every time. His smile, his jokes, and his somewhat laid back personality was something Hanyuu wanted badly. More so, Hanyuu had missed Riku patting her head when he was around her. She seemed to be unable to unwind on her mountain unless he was there with her keeping her company. Riku had become something more of a friend to Hanyuu,; someone she desired entirely.

As she lost time in her hot spring, Hanyuu was pulled from her daze and returned to the present at the sound of footsteps crunching in the light snow paths behind her. Turning her head to the spring's frozen dirt path, Hanyuu found a traveler wearing a traditional reed hat whilst carrying only a sack on his back and another at his side filled with some books. As he trudged forward to her, Hanyuu instantly got up and went out to meet him on the path.

"Riku-kun!" she yelled in joy. A small blush crept upon her cheeks as he came into full view. As she ran up to him, though, Hanyuu was taken aback when she gazed upon his face.

From what Hanyuu could tell, something back home had been burdened upon Riku's shoulders and appeared alongside him on this mountain; his worries and fears soon to manifest before her.

"Hello…Hanyuu-chan, how are you?" Riku laughed nervously, trying to hide the fact that he was stressed and troubled about something. He looked tired beyond all doubt, and so stressed that he may have even incurred a cold whilst traveling up the mountain. Hanyuu even witnessed him wobble a bit while standing in place.

"Riku-kun…are you…"

"I…got you some books again. I know how you love poems…and….and…" Riku wobbled again, but this time Hanyuu moved to put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. Riku raised his tired gaze up to her own, and when their eyes met he found warmth in Hanyuu's eyes that eased his mind for the moment.

"Riku-kun…what happened? Tell me…please? No more lies…" she frowned at him, sending guilt deep into Riku's thoughts. He seemed like he didn't have the strength to speak or react, but by this time his fever and cold had gotten the best of him. Riku's exhausted body along with all the stress he had upon his shoulders finally took its toll on him.

Slowly, Riku fell into Hanyuu's warm embrace and slunk his head into the nook of her neck, breathing hard as his mind became dark and fuzzy. Hanyuu held him gently but frantically as this happened. All Riku could do was whisper into her ear.

"RIKU-KUN!" Hanyuu yelled, holding his weight quickly as he fell forward into her. Suddenly, she felt his hot breath whisper into her ear, along with the heat of his body coming through his clothes. Riku wasn't just troubled, he was sick as well.

"Hanyuu-chan…my father…my family…they….want me to get married. I don't…want to. Not to the others…no one else…but…but to…."

And with that, Riku passed out into Hanyuu's arms suddenly. In all that she had heard, Hanyuu felt her heart pang at the mentioning of Riku marrying someone she didn't know. More so, she felt a pain in her heart unlike any she had felt up unto that point. She felt despair, she felt sadness, and she felt angry all at once; not at Riku but at all that was incurred upon him. What she also realized, while she helped him back to her keep and into the safety of her care, was that she was jealous…

/

*If…he…marries someone else…*

Hanyuu sat emotionless over a sleeping Riku, her gaze dull and filled with despair. Sitting in the warmth of her keep, Hanyuu felt sick to her stomach as well as disgusted with the mere thought of Riku marrying someone. If he left her, Hanyuu would have no one to be with again. She would be lonely, be without someone to make her smile, and continue to live on in the distant memory of her past mistakes. Most importantly, Hanyuu would be heartbroken…

Watching as he silently slept, Hanyuu made sure to administer some herbs for Riku to consume with each passing hour. Hoping that the herbs would speed his recovery, all Hanyuu could do was wait throughout the day and into the next morning for Riku to wake up. With his cold as bad as it was, traveling up the mountain with the stress in the back of his mind and a cold on top of it must have taken its toll on Riku's body. For all Hanyuu knew, Riku could have died traveling up the mountain in this weather. Winter was never an easy time on the mountain for Hanyuu, and given the mountain's height, the winds and snow were much more brutal than that of the much warmer earth and lands below. Looking outside for a few moments, Hanyuu could hear well into the night the growing winds and the proliferation of more snow outside. If a snowstorm were to happen now of all times, Hanyuu and Riku could easily be stuck indoors for at least a week.

As time passed, Hanyuu made sure that Riku's fever was kept in check along with stocking the nearby fire. She eventually became tired and decided to bring out her futon next to Riku's own; hoping that she would at least have the energy to take care of him once he was awake. Making sure the nearby fire was stocked for the rest of the night, Hanyuu lied down next to Riku and pulled the covers up over her body. For the next hour or so, Hanyuu found no need to sleep but an urge to just watch Riku whilst he slept. In time, her eyes grew heavy as well as her body. Giving up on staying awake, Hanyuu drifted off into peaceful sleep with the only thought of Riku in her mind.

When Riku awoke the next morning, he noticed that he still had a slight fever on top of every other minor cold symptom hitting his body. His body ached in pain, and he had no amount of energy to even get up and move around. Riku soon realized he had been in Hanyuu's keep the entire time; its warmth and safety much welcomed by him. Under the large covers over his body, Riku had been cleaned of any sweat and given a new set of dry clothing which provided much more warmth than his other clothes had. Removing the cold rag from his forehead, Riku slowly but surely edged his body up with the support of his arms and looked around his surroundings.

"Did…Hanyuu-chan take care of me last night?" he spoke to himself. He noticed his futon was much larger than the normal one he had usually slept on while on the mountain, however, he did not find any sign of Hanyuu anywhere. Looking around once more, he sighed to himself and looked back down at his covers.

In the next immediate moment, Riku found that his covers were suddenly rising up and down by themselves; his body not the cause of it. With wide eyes in wonder, Riku slowly lifted up the covers to find that the unusual weight on his chest to have been none other than the sleeping figure of Hanyuu resting upon his body. As she slept peacefully with a smile on her face, Hanyuu's head merely laid across Riku's chest while her hands were wrapped around his figure. Riku was astounded and in complete embarrassment to find that throughout the night that Hanyuu had slept in the same bed as he. Instantly, his nose bled in a metaphorical fashion while finding that one of his inner desires had finally happened to him.

"Ha…Ha…Hanyuu-chan!" Riku stuttered with shock over his face.

Upon Riku's mentioning of her name, Hanyuu slowly stirred from her sleep and rubbed he eyes. She opened them to her surroundings, letting out a small yawn like one a small cat would. Curling up closer to Riku, Hanyuu unknowingly went back to sleep while content with her surroundings. When Riku poked her till she fully woke up, this entire time Hanyuu had been oblivious to the fact that she was sleeping with Riku instead of next to him.

"AUAUAUUA!" Hanyuu went red as she realized what she had done. She suddenly pushed herself off of Riku with embarrassment strewn across her entire face. She blushed so red that she had to hide her face from Riku's gaze in fear of dying from embarrassment. Hanyuu took the covers from her side of the futon and wrapped herself in them; hoping that she could at least hide for a moment from Riku's awestruck eyes.

"Hanyuu-chan! Why were you…"

"I didn't mean to! I fell asleep last night after I took care of you…that was all! And then I woke up like this…so I must have curled up next to you last night and…and….AUAUAUAU!" Hanyuu comically shed some tears from her embarrassed state of mind. She shook her head of any naughty thoughts coming to mind and quickly tried to recover from the situation. Turning back to Riku she looked down to the floor again not daring to meet his eyes.

"Oh, well, I guess that's that then. I do that sometimes too with a pillow. It's alright, really! I don't…mind at all…" he said, brushing the back of his hair with one hand. He chuckled nervously and tried to ease Hanyuu from her nervous actions. When she nodded in return and calmed down, Riku tried to pursue what had exactly happened.

"So I must have really been sick, huh?" he asked, holding the cool cloth to his forehead again. Riku laid back down, finding that he still did not have the strength to get up. Not only that, but he still had quite the fever, though not as bad as before.

"You passed out when we met up yesterday. Since then, I've been taking care of you. You've been out for most of yesterday and all through the night till this morning…" Hanyuu calmed down finally and answered modestly to Riku. However, though Riku was up to talking for now, Hanyuu had something else weighing on her thoughts. That thought had involved Riku's family pushing for his marriage.

"Thank you Hanyuu-chan. If it wasn't for you, I'd be a goner…" Riku took his hand, outstretched it to Hanyuu, and mentioned to rub her hair. She looked eagerly at his hand, smiled, and bent forward enough for him to do it for her. She blushed deeply at this, and somehow during this moment, knew what she had wanted deep down inside. A wish, she thought, that could never happen for someone who was cursed.

"It was…nothing, really…" she murmured in pleasure. Having her hair ruffled by Riku was the equivalent to being able to eat a dessert. It was a treat to her either way.

After Hanyuu made something for Riku to eat, Hanyuu sat back down with him and tried to get to the heart of the matter on her mind. However, no matter what she did or tried to say, Hanyuu couldn't find the courage to bring it up. She stammered at times, and at others automatically changed the subject. For the most part of the day, though Riku slept on and off in his sickly state, and for Hanyuu, she couldn't bring herself to discuss Riku's proposed marriages.

Whilst Riku slept for most of that day and the next and while Hanyuu tended to him, at some point she sighed in defeat and decided that when Riku's health was back to normal she would bring up the marriage conflict for conversation. Around evening time on the third day, Hanyuu noticed how awfully quiet it had become in her keep and felt that it was somewhat colder all around the home. Getting up to look outside into the winter night, her thought was confirmed when she found that outside a blizzard had been going on for a good part of the day. The snow was already ankle high, and Hanyuu saw no end in sight into the forest since the snow was so thick in the air. With another push of the door, Hanyuu latched shut the entrance and made sure to stock the fire with more wood to ensure that her home and Riku would stay warm throughout the blizzard. On the mountain top, blizzards could be as short as a few hours or as long as a few days or even a week depending on its severity, and for that, Hanyuu wanted to be prepared.

When the cold air gushed into the home, Hanyuu realized that Riku had woken up and was already sitting up in his futon. Yawning with dreary eyes, he lied back down onto his side and looked over to Hanyuu in the distance. She smiled and came back to his side; sitting down next to him and checking his forehead for any fever. Thankfully, it was gone as was much of Riku's pains in his body. The herbs she gave him finally took their effect and in no time at all would Riku be back in good health.

"Your fever is gone, and you must be feeling much better I'm sure!" she said happily.

"Yeah…I guess getting sick on the mountain wasn't as bad as we thought it was. It must have been all that stress I had before…" Realizing what he had said, Riku instantly became quiet and looked off into the distance, remembering what his father and family below wanted of him. Hanyuu saw this immediately and, finding no better time than that moment, talked with Riku about what had been troubling him and her alike.

"Speaking of stress Riku-kun…before you passed out you said something about your family wanting you to marry. Was that…true? Are you really going to marry someone?" Hanyuu narrowed her eyes and looked hurt; her eyes casted sideways and her hands balling into fists tightly. All the while, she tried her best to remain solemn and respectful of any decision Riku would make. Riku remained quiet for a few more moments and decided it was better to tell Hanyuu what exactly was happening below.

"It's true. My family…my father especially, wants me to marry in order to sustain our blood lines. I'm of age, and already my father has set up prospective brides for me. He…wants me to marry for honor, wealth and for the family!" Riku, for the first time in Hanyuu ever knowing him, expressed anger in the form of him suddenly hitting the floor with his fist hard. Hanyuu was slowly taken aback by this, but could understand why he was so upset. "…I don't want to get married. Not to them…not to someone for power…not to anyone else! I only…want to marry the woman I'm in love with! That's the way it should work…" he panted after getting off his chest what had been troubling him these past months.

Hanyuu sat with wide eyes for a few moments, and then blushed slightly. In what was a bold action for her, Hanyuu did something Riku wasn't expecting. Reaching out for his hand, she lightly held it without saying any words. She entwined her fingers with his, and didn't dare meet his eyes in this unusual action of hers.

"Hanyuu-chan?" Riku's angry expression vanished and was replaced by one of curiosity.

"Riku-kun…whom do you wish to marry?" she asked innocently. Riku blushed deep red at this and stuttered, unable to find an answer at that moment. Sticking to his stance on the matter, Riku blurted out what he had mentioned before.

"I…I want to marry someone I love! A woman who can smile, and who can be childish at times but also serious and straightforward. A woman who can love and enjoy life, and a woman who is caring enough to put others before herself. A woman who I can lay next to in bed in a loving embrace before sleep and a woman whom I can wake up to in the morning with a kiss. A woman…that can make me smile and know that there would be no words to describe how I feel about her. A woman…I can have a child with one day, and a family and a happy ending with…"

After Riku declared whom he would love, Hanyuu couldn't help but think this over for a few minutes. Was she everything he wanted? Could Riku love someone like her? If that were possible, how would they be together? Could Hanyuu have her own happy ending? Before Hanyuu could gather and sort through all these feelings, she blurted out something to Riku in her haste that made her soon regret.

"So…how do you feel about me!"

Riku looked on at her to make sure he heard correctly what Hanyuu had asked. Riku sat there dumbstruck, but found that Hanyuu's grip on his hand became tighter; not from embarrassment but probably from fear of hearing a bad answer. Her grip trembled in his, and Riku could only grasp that Hanyuu was in no way shape or form joking with him. Hanyuu was being entirely serious to Riku, and with that, came possible feelings for him.

Could Riku have said that he saw this coming? No. At the same time, could Riku have guessed that Hanyuu and he had some strange relationship together; one that was in fact blossoming into love? Truthfully, yes, he would admit that. All in all, Riku could only absorb this fact and accept that mysterious thought in his head which said that he held Hanyuu dearly in his heart.

"I…I…I…um…"

Seeing Riku unable to form words, Hanyuu believed that he had found this idea obscene and was unable to gracefully give the bad news to her. Without warning, her grip became loose and Hanyuu attempted to get up to leave the room. Just as she rose, though, Riku hadn't let go, and instead gently pulled her back to sit back down with him. Confused to this action, Riku quickly gave her an answer which was more than what she expected.

"Hanyuu-chan…The woman I want to marry… is you…."

As if the words had made her stone, Hanyuu sat with wide eyes and an open mouth in disbelief. To think Riku really wanted someone like her; someone who was cursed and forgotten by God himself. When the reality of his words hit Hanyuu, she became numb to all that was around her and began to think that somehow this was all a dream…

"Riku-kun…are you saying…that…"

Unable to finish her sentence, Riku suddenly pushed himself onto Hanyuu and sent both of them toppling onto his futon in surprise. From another perspective, Riku was on top of Hanyuu and gently holding her arms at her side, making sure that she was realizing just what he was hoping to convey to her. Not struggling at all, but feeling somewhat awkward in this position, all Hanyuu could do was look up to him and blush deeply. Though it was a bold move on his part, for some reason Hanyuu felt like she wanted this.

"Hanyuu-chan…ever since I got to know you…the real you…I wanted to be by your side and stay with you on this mountain. Every time I come to this mountain top, I find that I'm dreading the moment I leave you. If I could be by your side, be able to live with you and see you smile every day, be able to be yours and no one else's, I would be content with my life. Hanyuu-chan, I don't want to marry anyone else! I want to marry you!" Riku, above Hanyuu's delicate form, looked deeply into Hanyuu's eyes to find confirmation for his feelings. He knew deep inside that Hanyuu felt the same way but in her own sense of things. Entwining his fingers with hers, he hoped that he would receive an answer that would make both of them happy, and hopefully, together.

"Riku-kun, I…I feel the same way! You…you changed my life, and you've been my only friend in my life! You think of me as a person, as a woman who can live out her life with joy, despite how I feel about my past mistakes. I want to…I want to be with you so much! I want…to be by your side every day…but…I'm scared…." Tears welled up in Hanyuu's eyes, her fears taking form right before Riku. She trembled in fright at the mere thought of causing Riku to fall into despair, to risk being happy at the cost of the safety of others. All Hanyuu wanted was to be happy, and for that to happen would mean going against God's curse inflicted upon her.

"Hanyuu-chan…why are you scared?"

"I'm immortal! Everyone who I love will eventually grow old and die, and I'll be left alone. Not only that…but I was warned…to stay away from others! If I…I become yours, then…then…"

"…Don't be afraid. Stop living in the past, and…live with me here in the present! I know you made mistakes, but don't seek forgiveness. Seek a life that you can make yourself proud of. Seek a life that you will remember long after I am gone. Seek…a life that you and I can build a family on, one that will not be cursed or filled with regret.

At these words, the memory and terrifying memory of her mother came back to mind, searing the warning into her thoughts once more.

"You are not human anymore…you are a demi-demon, forgotten by God and cursed to live out seeing other's suffer. If ever you meet another, do not. This is all I ask you…so that others may not know…"

However, when Hanyuu looked up into Riku's eyes, everything he had ever told her came to mind. His words, his caring heart, and his ability to sway her from her woes impacted her thoughts. From this, the words of her mother faded away to the past, and this time, was replaced with his words.

"Heheh…you are very easy to fluster, you know? And I told you, you're not cursed. You may have made a mistake, but you shouldn't have been cursed for a child's folly. Stop hanging that over your head and let it stay in the past…"

Taking her hands from Riku's, Hanyuu wrapped her arms around his form above her and gently held his cheek. They looked into each other's eyes, searching for something they already found. Slowly pulling him toward her, Hanyuu asked one more question to him; unable to care about anything else but Riku's loving embrace.

"Riku-kun…will you love me? Will you love me despite being a demon?" she asked.

"Hanyuu-chan…I love you more than anything else in my life. I love you for who you are, not what others say of you. And…I will love you…forever and a day…"

Shedding tears of joy, Hanyuu accepted what Riku was telling her for the first time in her life. Accepting that the past couldn't be changed, accepting that she had made a mistake, and accepting that she was not fated to live a complete life of hell and loneliness, Riku's words had broken the last chain binding Hanyuu to a world of despair. Accepting their feelings for one another, Hanyuu pulled Riku into her willingly and slowly but surely touched their lips together for a kiss which shared every feeling they could never express into words. After their first magical kiss, every one that followed became much sweeter and more intense. They didn't know what they were doing, but somehow a lust and a need overcame both of them which could not be satisfied simply by touch. They wanted, no, they desired the other in ways that could not be foretold.

From what became a confession of love, to a first kiss, soon became sweat, euphoria and lust. Clothes were taken off, sheets became messy bunches, and the nearby fire died off as time passed. Into the cold of the blizzard, either one did not mind what went on in the outside world. With the blizzard going on outside, both Hanyuu and Riku would spend their time with one another and expressing their love merely in each other's warm embrace.

On that night, after Hanyuu had become a woman reborn and Riku a man known, something had occurred which would affect both Riku and Hanyuu's, as well as Onigafuchi Village's futures; for better and for worse. On that night, unbeknownst to Hanyuu and Riku, life was given through their consummation of love, and from a seed sown into the womb of Hanyuu, a new future would be written which in effect would give Hanyuu her greatest desire and greatest love. From her womb, Hanyuu would rewrite the past…

/

9 Years Later…

"Mother…is this…"

"Yes, Ouka-chan, this is…our new home."

Over a large dirt path, a massive caravan of at least 100 people coming from a small outskirt village were gathering and parading towards the center of Onigafuchi Village. This caravan though composed of many poor villagers and farmers did not look like the usual sort to wander through Onigafuchi without notice. These villagers were said to have been descendants of demons; heretics who practiced weird customs which were said to involve the feasting of human flesh and organs in such rituals called "cotton drifting". These villagers, feared by many others for their harsh and outcast like features, were nothing of the sort on this day of days. Sporting happy expressions and much more friendlier moods, these people seemed like they were being returned to a land once thought to be lost to them; a home which up until now was denied to them. They were the people who descended from those of a great massacre and fire in a past long forgotten; finally returning to society as humans and not outcasts.

Ahead of this caravan, a woman wearing a white and red kimono with long, silky purple hair bearing a beauty matched by none other sat on a cushioned pillow carriage with curtains shrouding her from the outside world. Beside her sat another, a child with much darker bluish hair bearing the age of 8 years and as well ceremonial shrine clothing. Together, they were the talk of the entire village; the leading family of these exiled people who were returning them back to grace. Hailed to be holy beings, they were protected and at the same time regarded as saviors to these people. Not only that, but the older woman in the carriage was to be wed to another; a head priest in the village said to have borne a child with a woman without marrying her. As truth would have it, this man, Riku Furude, did in fact father a daughter, and with that was to marry that woman after 9 years of waiting and planning. That woman, the love of Riku's life, was Hanyuu, now sitting with their daughter Ouka in the carriage.

After their first night of lovemaking, what Riku and Hanyuu did not realize for some time was that Riku had impregnated Hanyuu with their first child. When the blizzard ended later that week, Riku returned to his family with his head held high with intentions to say that he had fallen in love with a woman and intended on marrying her. His father had been so furious with this sudden revelation that he had even threatened to disown Riku from the family. However, with his newfound courage and love of Hanyuu, for the first time in his life Riku stood up to his father and told him otherwise. Though words could not be recorded of what was said between the two, when the argument was over Riku's father had admitted both guilt and defeat in the pains he had caused his son. All that could be mentioned was that Riku's father wanted the best for his son, and that if he was truly in love with this mysterious woman, that he would give him his blessing. Somehow, what was really gained here was that Riku and his father forged a stronger bond between themselves from this point onward.

When it came to the matter of whom Hanyuu exactly was, that story involved coming together with the village chief and his father for a long, drawn out meeting at the village meetinghouse. After Riku revealed the existence of Hanyuu to their leader, the chief admitted to Riku's father that this woman was a caring person; having himself met her on the mountain many years before. However, the village chief had some concerns over Hanyuu's digression from being anti-social to falling in love with Riku. Riku could only tell them that they were in love and had intentions of making a family together. Not only that, but when it was revealed that the people on the outskirts of the village were in fact Hanyuu's descendants, such as it was that a plan unfolded to the three men. If Hanyuu were to come down from the mountain, return to her people and proclaim her heritage to them, then maybe she would be able to reconnect them to the village of Onigafuchi and thus strengthen the unity of their people as a whole. Though many years would be taken to ensure this would happen, all in all the entire plan was looking to be a success.

This plan, though, became drawn out longer than expected when it was revealed that Hanyuu was with child. Weeks later when Riku returned to Hanyuu on the mountain top, he came to find out that she was ill in the mornings and vomiting whatever she had eaten. However, after the sickness had passed, Hanyuu found intense urges to eat. She had even put on a little weight when Riku had returned. Not only that, but in some sense Hanyuu was glowing.

Happily embracing her in his loving arms, Riku couldn't believe his eyes when Hanyuu had guessed at her pregnancy. Revealing his plans to Hanyuu about marrying her and reuniting the village below, Hanyuu became ecstatic and somewhat excited at the prospect of returning home after 300 years time. For the most part, it seemed that Hanyuu had found her happiness at last; the words of her mother long forgotten.

In 9 months time, Riku ensured that Hanyuu would reintegrate back into their world. At first, they left the keep to go into the village below; meeting with the outcasts of the village and proclaiming her heritage to them as their long forgotten ancestor. At first, many were hesitant about Hanyuu's birthright, but given time and learning about many of the villagers, Hanyuu was able to recall many of their families and long forgotten histories (a good portion of Hanyuu's keep having held recordings of these families in her library). Once Hanyuu was able to bring down the books and provide evidence to this fact, soon one by one many of the outcasts accepted that in some sense Hanyuu was their long forgotten ancestor who was apparently infused with magic. In the end of things, they hailed her as a being above mankind; a deity of some sort that was closer to God than any other in the land. Attesting to the last fact as true, Hanyuu and Riku left out much of the history regarding Hanyuu's past mistake so as to ensure that such a hell was never known to them. For Hanyuu, though, this unsettled her in a greater way; a lie she had to accept and show to everyone else, but at the same time utterly deny in her heart and mind.

Even though Hanyuu had left the mountain and mingled with the outcasts of the villages, with each passing month of the pregnancy, travel became harder and harder to handle. Eventually, Hanyuu was to remain bedridden on the mountaintop for the remainder of the months; a action which was to make sure that the child would be born without any problems. For this, Hanyuu began to experience every wonder and hell of the process in becoming a mother. Morning after morning, Hanyuu experienced the worst vomiting she had ever had in her entire life. Not only that, she would have to deal with insatiable urges to eat food, on top of gaining weight and even having mood swings. At one point Hanyuu nearly killed Riku when she was in an angry mood and blamed him for knocking her up. At the same time, she became very sad, cried, apologized for her behavior, and then in a split second became frisky and tried to take advantage of a fearful and very confused Riku. Such were the ways to womanhood and motherhood wrapped altogether in a basket.

When the time finally came, Riku and Hanyuu were well prepared. Several nurse mothers from the village came to meet with Hanyuu and live up at the keep in a small camp outside from her home. For at least a week, Hanyuu nervously expected to go into labor, but it wasn't until the latter of the week that Hanyuu suddenly dropped whatever she was holding, felt her water break and soil her legs, and with that stared up to Riku and keeled over in pain.

"IT'S COMING! OH GOD, IT'S COMING!" she screamed in pain.

Thankfully, the nurse mothers were nearby and instantly went to work. Through at least 8 hours of labor, Hanyuu, attended by these women, pushed with all her might and eventually gave birth to a healthy baby girl. The memory of giving birth to Ouka was both a painful and magical one; something Hanyuu would never forget or regret. When Riku and Hanyuu were finally together in the room, holding their baby girl, they wished that moment would never end for them.

For the years after that, Hanyuu had said goodbye to her keep and decided to move closer down to the village of Onigafuchi, but with her outcast band of villagers. In 9 years time, she would be their leader and reorganize their people into a more respectable society. Their farming community, as well as their economy with outside villages and social bonds, would prosper thanks to her leadership. With this new role, though, Hanyuu had to attain a much more serious stance on matters and even be cold hearted at times, especially to her own lover and daughter. As they knew it, though, Hanyuu only did so to remain as a figurehead for her people.

Through the transition of living in the new village, Hanyuu was given her own home that was much smaller compared to her keep up on top of the mountain. At this home, one that was positioned right near the outskirts of the woods, her daughter Ouka would prosper with a strong livelihood as a child. Initially, Ouka was born without any abnormalities or even horns like her mother was; a fact that Hanyuu found to be a sign that she was not cursed to such an extent anymore. Not only that, but the outcast villagers seemed to sense a peaceful atmosphere around her daughter; one that would calm any dispute or cease any chaos from happening. At one point, Hanyuu was with her daughter and found several villagers engaging in an argument. Once Ouka appeared beside her mother, attempting to stop the quarrel, Ouka said something to the others in her childlike innocence and immediately all tension went away. The villagers were practically smiling at one another and offering apologies in return. For some reason, Ouka could manipulate the anxiety or emotional realities of others and make peace with ease.

Hanyuu, though living amongst her people in the village, had thanked every day of her life that she wasn't chastised or even found out that she had horns on her head. The mere fact that if someone were to see them, then chaos would ensue immediately. Hanyuu's horns attested to her demon-hood, and from that would spark a massive protest from the villagers of Onigafuchi. To counter-act any chance of them seeing her horns, Hanyuu would always where a shroud over her head and hair. The excuse given was that it was her heritage to always wear one in her family lines. In response, no one ever questioned her; not even the outcast villagers who saw her as a deity and immortal.

As for who had fathered Ouka, Riku had accepted a fault in his village for engaging in sexual relations with a woman, giving her a child, and not having married her yet. Riku announced what he had done and revealed that as part of uniting the two villages together that Riku would marry the woman without question. To seal the deal, they had a child together which could neither be denied nor refuted through Ouka's birth. With this unification becoming a reality, on this week Hanyuu and Riku would meet together in the village, marry one another at last, and from this become a real family. Not only that, but the village itself would join together with the outcast village, pushing the borders of its entirety to inspire a large enough village for several thousand residents.

When the caravan ended its long journey, before the steps of the great Furude shrine, Riku stood with his father, sister and mother eagerly awaiting Hanyuu's arrival. When the caravan came to a halt, several villagers eased down the carriage and lifted the shrouds to reveal Hanyuu and Ouka comfortably sitting on cushions. Slowly rising up, they stepped out onto the dirt path and ascended the steps to the shrine. With cheers from both village participants around, the three individuals eventually met up top and waved to those in attendance. Ouka instantly ran up to her father and embraced him in a hug, whilst Hanyuu patiently waited by his side.

"Papa!" Ouka laughed, hugging her father tightly.

"Ouka-chan! Have you been behaving for your mother?" Riku smiled, but joked with his younger daughter. At times, Ouka had displayed the same kind of curiosity and impulsive nature her mother had at the same age. However, no one was more caring or thoughtful than Ouka in the entire village.

"She's been well, Riku-kun. Come, let us go inside…" Hanyuu closed her eyes and bowed to her future husband in a sign of formality. Without a smile on her face, Hanyuu had displayed yet again a cold attitude before those in the village; a display of power and a display of strength. Beckoning for Riku and the others to follow, she led the way inside the shrine to make preparations for the wedding. That, and to settle down into her new home for the first time in her life as a family with both Riku and Ouka.

With the cheers of the crowds outside dying off, the soon to be wed couple moved inside with the other family members, followed by the servants of the household. After formalities were given to one another inside the inner dwelling of the shrine, Ouka, Hanyuu and Riku decided to relax and settle into their rooms until the midday meal was served. As expansive as the shrine was, Ouka never found a lack of curiosity or playfulness for herself. Deciding to explore the shrine by herself, Ouka left her parents alone for the meantime in hopes of finding some of the shrine children and playing with them for awhile.

All alone in their room at last, Riku slowly closed the door and turned to his somewhat cold shouldered wife. Seeing her display that attitude for the sake of maintaining a stance with her people, Riku had hoped to expect less in the near future when the unification of the village was cemented in stone through their family bonds.

"My, Ouka-chan is so much like her mother. Never for a lack of adventure, that one…" Riku smiled to the back side of his wife, wondering what she was thinking or feeling. He could have guessed as much that this whole experience and new surroundings was overwhelming for her, but most of the time what went on in Hanyuu's head said otherwise.

Suddenly, without any warning, Hanyuu turned quickly around and lunged herself into Riku's arms. Embracing him in a kiss, she wrapped her arms around her lover and held him dearly to her being. Her grip was tight enough to surprise even Riku; almost seeming like if she had let go, she would lose him forever.

"H…Hanyuu-chan!" Riku squeaked out between breaths.

"Riku-kun! I couldn't take it anymore!" Hanyuu looked up at Riku lovingly and embraced him in another kiss, which he happily returned. Rubbing her head in his usual fashion, Riku managed to calm her worries for the time being.

"My, you're feisty today," chuckled Riku. Hanyuu puffed her cheeks at him and blushed, frowning at him at the same time.

"Hmph! I've been so busy helping the outcasts of Onigafuchi reintegrate back into society and there's no time to see you! Besides that…I've missed you terribly…" she pouted. Riku just laughed and rubbed her head again, making Hanyuu blush an even deeper red.

"Well, when you marry me at the end of the week, you and I will unite the village and never have to worry about being separated ever again. We can manage them together and keep this village in line, right?"

"If everything goes according to this plan. But still, I'm worried…"

Hanyuu, in all the time she had wondered about the day she would marry Riku and the life that would come after that, still held onto one fear. Touching her covered head slightly, she felt the hard, smooth shapes of two horns protrude from the shawl. Drawing her fingers back in fear, Hanyuu looked deeply into Riku's eyes searching for the confidence she lacked. She wondered if everyone would judge her for what they saw and not what they knew of her.

"You're worrying about your horns again, aren't you? You managed to hide them so well this long, so I don't think you have to worry about it like that. And even if they see them, we can attest it to your immortality as a demi-god. The descendants of your old village seem to think so well enough…" Riku smiled and for the moment managed to alleviate Hanyuu's worries. She nodded her head slightly and sighed in response. Looking around the room now and taking in everything that the Furude family offered in luxury or their standing in society, Hanyuu seemed thoroughly impressed.

"So…this will be our new home?" she asked, almost unable to believe that her life was taking a turn for the better at last. With Riku and Ouka at her side, Hanyuu could regain a life never lived before. As she peered outside watching Ouka play in the garden with some other children, Riku wrapped his arms around her from Hanyuu's backside and kissed her neck gently, sending chills of pleasure up her body.

"Yes, Hanyuu-chan, this is our home…"

/

Was it ever possible that the most talked about family in the village could gain a moment of peace during this week? For Hanyuu and Riku, it would be a rare occasion. The soon to be wed couple was hounded day in and day out by many guests and relatives of the Furude family; accompanying them during their long walks around the village and even as they broke their fast in the morning and supper at night. Exhausting as it was, the couple managed to attend to the duties of the Furude shrine along with all the preparations for the wedding that Sunday. Just days away, the ceremony would mark a feasting to remember that night for every villager and guest in Onigafuchi village.

Still, no matter how much work was being put into the wedding, Hanyuu still had her doubts about achieving a perfect happiness with Riku and her daughter. It wasn't as if she was happy even now; Hanyuu had a loving daughter and a good father to her child all the while. She wouldn't have minded living up on the quiet mountain with her family, but for Ouka's sake and the sake of Riku's family such a wish was not possible. Ouka needed friends and family members to live amongst, and Riku needed to stay true to his family's duties in the shrine. For Hanyuu, though, what did that leave her with?

Spending what little time she had alone to herself amongst all the planning and preparations, Hanyuu spent her free time in the garden with her eyes closed and the summer sun shining upon her body. In any light, one could see her elegance yet a certain worry around her being. She was happy, or so she thought, but wasn't sure if that happiness could be obtained at long last.

*If I could ask God for one wish…just one spec of happiness, it would be to have Riku and Ouka with me. I just want to be happy…I want to be at peace…I want nothing to do with curses! But…would God really let me? Do I even deserve it?*

Hanyuu's thoughts were plagued more and more with the coming wedding day. Most of the time, she shook off any thoughts of her past and her curse; wanting to be as cheerful as possible for her family. However, much more so Hanyuu quaked with fear at the mere thought of something going wrong. It happened on that fateful night, it happened to her family, and it happened to everyone she ever cared for and loved up until meeting Riku.

At the same time, however, Hanyuu had lived amongst her people for some time. Likewise, she spent more than a week in Onigafuchi village and nothing seemed to effect anyone around her. Everyone acted as if they were normal. Though her people and those of Onigafuchi village would not be completely merged until after the wedding date, the unity in the village was cheerful and happy. There was nothing seemingly wrong with anyone at the present time. For that, Hanyuu found some consolation in her worries. Perhaps her mother did not know of such an outcome ever happening. Maybe this was the only extent to which her curse would act.

As Hanyuu dozed off in her thoughts, suddenly her daughter had jumped onto her backside and hugged her tightly. Hanyuu smiled and turned to meet her daughter's face; finding Ouka's usually cheerful attitude to greet her.

"Mother! What are you doing out here by yourself?" asked Ouka with an innocent attitude.

"Mmm…nothing dear. I just wanted to sit alone for awhile and think. Our big day is coming on Sunday, remember?" Hanyuu smiled to her daughter and rubbed her head lightly much like Riku would do to her at times. This made Ouka giggle even more.

"Yeah, but still, you should be happy!"

To Ouka, her mother seemed out of sorts lately. Perhaps it was from all the guests taking up her and Riku's time or anxiety from the approaching wedding day, but still, something didn't seem right to her. Her mother, a woman so loving but unusual in her own sense, was hiding something from her daughter. That something, Hanyuu's past, was never told to Ouka in her entire life. For this reason, Hanyuu wanted to protect her own daughter.

Even Ouka could be effected by Hanyuu's curse, but that fate was yet unknown to anyone. For Hanyuu's sake, she saw proof through Ouka's birth without horns or any deformities as a blessing and possibly a sign that her life was to be normal again. For this, Hanyuu decided that she would stop dwelling on the past and try to be a good mother to her daughter.

"You're right Ouka-chan! Come on, let's go for a walk, shall we?" Ouka instantly grew with joy when her mother suddenly cheered up and took her by the hand. Leading her daughter away from the garden and to the paths outside the shrine, Hanyuu decided it was time to take a look around the village with her daughter and enjoy their peace of mind for the time being.

As time passed, Hanyuu and Ouka went everywhere they could as both mother and daughter. They went shopping at a few places located in the business district of the village, gathered flowers in some nearby meadows, and even ate a mid morning snack together at a well known pastry shop. Hanyuu was even surprised that she found a similar dessert that her mother had made for her so long ago. Eating the dessert with Ouka, though, made Hanyuu reminisce about her own mother. Before Ouka noticed her mother crying, Hanyuu hastily left the shop with their food in hand and decided to head to an old area that Hanyuu once knew from her childhood.

After traversing through the peaceful, summer weathered forest that day, Hanyuu and Ouka descended down a long, stone stairway until it came to a dirt clearing. Nostalgically, Hanyuu stopped every so often along the steps and looked around the area, trying to figure out if this was a dream or reality. As Ouka playfully went ahead of her mother and began looking around at the bountiful patches of flowers, Hanyuu came down to the last step and sat in shock. Before she had even realized it, Hanyuu had been in the very clearing where she had loved hiding around when she was a child. The same clearing, even after all these years, where Hanyuu had lost the Orb of Fate.

"Can it…really be?" Hanyuu whispered to herself with wide eyes. She thought this place was long forgotten, but somehow the only thing that had changed after all these years was the stone stairway becoming decrepit. Tracing her fingers along the bottom stairway's stone statues, their magnificence erased away long ago from age, Hanyuu was almost certain this area was from her past.

"Mother! Look at all the flowers! They're so pretty!" Ouka shouted from afar. Snapping out of her daze, Hanyuu slowly but surely went to her daughter's side to look. As they both gazed upon all the wonderful colors and shapes of the flower's petals, Hanyuu had found a long forgotten flower amongst all the others, but this time, in proliferation with many more alike around it.

"The flower….there…." Hanyuu pointed at the deep red flower. Ouka found her gaze upon it and suddenly found the same flower but one which had not yet bloomed. All the others like it were the same.

"What is that?" asked Ouka, but somehow looking at the flower in worry. Ouka didn't seem to like that particular one; she much rather preferred the blue and purple ones.

"…a flower…that is as deadly as it looks beautiful…" was all that Hanyuu had said. Ouka looked up to her frowning mother in fear, not sure of what she was saying.

"So it's a dangerous flower? Is it poisonous?" she asked innocently. Hanyuu looked down to her daughter and thought for a moment, putting a finger to her lips.

"It's not just that Ouka-chan, but of what history has told. When I was your age, I found this similar flower and was lost in its beauty for many hours. But…what I didn't know at the time was that this flower, this crimson lotus, actually had a dark history behind it. In my own mother's books, this particular flower is called the "Flower from Hell". They bloom every several hundred years, but when they do, they are a sight to behold. However…their past is very dreadful I must say…"

"Why is that? How can a flower be so bad?"

"Legend has it that this was a flower which was not of our land. It was once a beautiful flower, but in the course of events in existence, Evil had tainted this flower to become crimson red; the color of blood. Its origin is not really known, but what is known is that this flower brings both fortune and misfortune to whoever makes use of its power. To eat of this flower, one will gain unimaginable knowledge, but soon after die a horrible death. To touch this flower, one's ailments would be healed, but blood will be upon their hands soon after. And…to kill a direct relative...a family member on the night of this flower's blooming, one will be made as a sacrifice in return for one wish to be granted. But…Ouka-chan, this is merely a story. I'm sure that the flower is dangerous to consume in herbal remedies, and some old man long ago created this story to keep others away from it. Come now, child, and let us return home…"

Hanyuu sighed and rose up from where she knelt, thinking no more on the flower. Deep in her heart, though, Hanyuu had known well enough that the flower did in some way bring misfortune to her. If she had not been lost in its utter beauty, she would have never lost the Orb of Fate. However, had she not done so then Hanyuu would have never lived to become Riku's lover or the mother to Ouka.

Ouka quickly obeyed her mother and went back with her to the stairway. As they strode along, though, something out of the corner of Ouka's eye was caught. Peering into the grassy reeds, Ouka found something sticking out of the dirt; a majestic blue shard of some crystal substance.

"Mother, look what I found!" Ouka left Hanyuu's side for a moment and went over to the reeds. After a little effort, Ouka was able to recover the pretty shard and hand it to her mother. For a moment, Hanyuu was curious as to what it was.

"Do you know what this is, Mother?"

"Very odd indeed, but it's pretty I must say. I don't know what this is, Ouka-chan. But, I do know what we can do with it back home. Let's put it in the cover of your new poem book, hmm? It would fit in it once we place a suitable holder in it. Come now, it's getting late." Hanyuu smiled and took her daughter's hand as they ascended the steps back to their home. Leaving behind the crimson lotuses and other various flowers, Hanyuu had felt somewhat relieved to have left that place. It harbored many good memories, but one bad memory was enough to make her abhor that place.

/

"I'll make your favorite for tonight, Ouka-chan. It will be…huh?"

As both Hanyuu and Ouka walked up a narrow dirt path just before getting back to Onigafuchi village, three large men nearby had sat idly on a collection of large boulders in the pathway. All three of them seemed to be outsiders from the village, but no one that the two women had known in particular. They were dressed in a thuggish-like manner, and one of them even held a bamboo spear; swinging it around playfully in the air as if in boredom. Hanyuu made sure her daughter was behind her, as her senses warned her of the danger approaching.

When they made eye contact with one another, Hanyuu tried to walk past them without causing any trouble. Things never went that easy, though, not even for Hanyuu…

"Hey, you there, woman! Where do you think you're going?" one of the thugs announced. Just as he said that, his much larger friend blocked the pathway for Hanyuu towards the village. Noticing that there was another pathway, Hanyuu gritted her teeth and quickly pulled Ouka to the other path, only to find that the other thug had prevented her from doing so.

"What are you doing? We just want to go home!" Hanyuu shouted at the thugs. They laughed at her with agitation, and started to move closer to the two of them. Feeling threatened, Hanyuu protected Ouka with her own body as a shield in the event that the one with the spear decided to hurt them. The rage in Hanyuu ever so boiled to a point, a sight Ouka had never seen happen before.

"Oh? What is this? These two think they're better than us, huh? We just want to play with you for a bit. It's so boring in this village, so why not make things interesting, huh?" The leader thug pulled a small blade from the folds of his clothing, while his two friends grabbed both women with their massive arms and held them against their wills. The leader moved forward into Hanyuu, who attempted to fight back and get Ouka to safety.

"LEAVE US ALONE! DON'T YOU DARE HARM HER! I'LL….I'LL…" screamed Hanyuu. Her fierce eyes, only seen by the thugs, suddenly started to glow a crimson red color. Offset by this, the two lesser thugs eased their grips on Hanyuu, but none the less still held her from escaping. Not trying to lose face with the woman, the leader merely swallowed his fears and went forward with his knife at Hanyuu's throat. Smiling evilly, he then set his sights on the shroud covering Hanyuu's darkest secret.

"My, you are feisty! I like that in a woman I'm about to take for my own. Let's see your beautiful hair under this…shroud…"

Without warning, Hanyuu looked on with astonished eyes as the thug removed her protective cloth, looked on at her in utter fear, and cringed back onto the dirt path. The other thugs let go and realized just what they were holding on to.

To them, they were holding onto a crimson eyed, pissed off, horned demon. They knew the stories, and they even knew of what demons did to humans. Fearing for their lives, the three thugs scampered back away from the two women and screamed for their lives.

"D…D…DEMON! SHE'S A DEMON! SHE'LL EAT US! RUN!" the leader thug screamed. Running down towards Onigafuchi village for what seemed like help, the other two thugs followed in pursuit to warn the other villagers.

Left alone and falling onto the ground in shock, Hanyuu felt numb to the world. Unable to even feel Ouka's caring touch, Hanyuu felt a despair she thought was long forgotten.

Even now, after all these years, the fear was there and the terror which awaited them had been lying in wait. The revelation of Hanyuu being a demi-demon would come to fruition in the village of Onigafuchi, and with that bloodshed and fear unlike any other.

/

They ran quicker than they ever had in their entire lives. Trying their best to find sanctuary in the Furude shrine, Hanyuu had locked the doors to their room and even grabbed a weapon in her haste. The servants of the shrine looked on in shock, seeing Hanyuu run into the shrine in terror while at the same time showing a horrifying set of black horns upon her head. Whispers and rumors began to spread, and in no time at all the whole village of Onigafuchi had heard about Hanyuu being some sort of demon. Fear, panic and all the chaos spread from the thugs explanations of what they saw had caused a mob to appear in front of the Furude shrine by nightfall. The servants of the shrine had all but taken up defensive positions at the doors and gates, whereas Hanyuu's people had surrounded the shrine as a defensive barrier. Even if she were a demi-demon, she was a diety to them for all the wonders they knew of her. For that, they would protect her even if it meant their life.

Riku had been informed of what had happened and even instructed Ouka to be kept in her room with a guardian in the event of something going horribly wrong. This servant, a trusted family friend who wore a shroud over his head most of the time to shield his face from others, waited in the darkness of the room with Ouka and instructed her from time to time of what may happen in the event that her safety came to harm. Not only that, but if he were to die defending her, she was told to run into the forest and head back up the mountain to her mother's keep to await further orders. Accepting her fate, Ouka hid in the room and remained with the masked man until her mother and father came back; that time, though, undetermined.

When Riku came home, Hanyuu had come forth to him without her shroud on; tears welling up in her eyes. Both knowing full well of how the situation of the thugs had led to this, they took each other by the hand and went outside to meet their fate. Under the glow of torches lit with fire in the darkness of the night, Hanyuu and Riku confronted the opposing sides of what was a once peaceful village. This display of animosity, anger and fear was an echo of Hanyuu's past; only this time, would the fate be the same?

With Riku's father at their side armed with a shrine sword that held various blades branching out from it, he ordered the cries and shouts of the angry villagers to cease so that the truth could be told. Hanyuu's people armed themselves as well, trying their best to keep back the nearly 1,500 villagers of Onigafuchi in attendance. If something wasn't done soon, then blood would be spilt needlessly on that night.

"SILENCE! ALL OF YOU! Have you all gone mad!" screamed Riku's father.

"How can you harbor a demon! She's cursed! She will undo the peace of this village!" yelled another villager in response.

"Hanyuu-sama is not cursed, fool! She is a god among men and a being higher than you! Have respect!" responded one of Hanyuu's villagers going by the name of Sonozaki. Of the many villagers in attendance, the Sonozaki family was the largest of any other family in the village and of Hanyuu's people combined. Their family line was the oldest next to the Kimiyoshi and Furude families, but even with such allies on Hanyuu's side the majority of villagers still sided against the thought demon.

"Psh! She is the spawn of evil! History even warns us about fornicating with demons! Her offspring…the FURUDE OFFSPRING is an abomination to the gods! We must undo this curse in our village and drive out the demons in our wake! Only then will we be safe again!" yelled what seemed like a leader of the angry villagers. He was no one in particular to them, but his voice carried a strength and fear that persuaded the villagers in attendance.

Suddenly, as the villagers shouted curses and threats, Riku bellowed over the others with anger unlike any other.

"HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE ANY OF YOU SUGGEST SUCH A THING! HANYUU-CHAN IS TO BE MY WIFE, AND PART OF THIS VILLAGE REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANY OF YOU SAY! SHE IS NOT A DEMON, SHE IS A CARING WOMAN WHO MOTHERS MY OWN FLESH AND BLOOD! YOU WHO SAYS OTHERWISE SHAMES THIS GREAT VILLAGE AND ALL OF THE INNOCENT PEOPLE IN IT!" Riku's eyes grew in such a fierce way that even Hanyuu cringed back. The people against Hanyuu gritted their teeth and stepped back in fear for a moment, but resounded with a roar and terror that Hanyuu had only remembered back when her father fought for her against the village chiefs that fateful night.

"You fornicate with a demon, and you are cursed for it! FURUDE RIKU IS CURSED! HIS FAMILY AND THESE DEMONS OF THE CURSED WOMAN WILL RUE US ALL! THEY MUST BE PUNISHED UNDER THE EYES OF THE GODS!" screams of similar intentions came forward, and fists of defiance went into the air. Tensions were running high, and by this point Hanyuu decided to stand up for herself and defy the anger in the crowd.

"ENOUGH, ALL OF YOU! I wanted peace and joy in this village, but you all have come to fear me for what? WHAT, I ASK YOU? HORNS? IS THAT ALL? It may be true…it may be that I am cursed…but…why…WHY IS IT THAT YOU HATE ME SO? I WANTED ONLY HAPPINESS…TO LIVE WITH MY FAMILY HERE IN THE VILLAGE? AND WHAT? YOU SCORN ME FOR BEING A DEMI-DEMON? I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE LIKE THIS….so please…PLEASE STOP THIS MADNESS AND…AND…"

As Hanyuu closed her eyes in anguish, tears and pain, she shot them open at the sound of utter pain unlike any she had heard before.

"UGH!"

What Hanyuu had seen before her was a spear impaling Riku straight through the chest. He was standing in front of her when someone from the crowd had thrown the deadly weapon at her in an attempt to end the madness and kill the demon. However, Riku had become the blind spear's target as it flew into the air at Hanyuu. Unable to comprehend what had happened, Riku stood there with a look of bewilderment upon his face, looking down and finding himself coughing up blood in the spear's wake. Falling to his knees as the crowds grew silent in utter surprise, Riku coughed up more blood and looked at Hanyuu with tears in his eyes. Smiling one last time and reaching out for her head, probably to rub it at a moment of all times, his hand faltered and he collapsed backwards into her arms. Hanyuu held Riku as he breathed one more breath of life, lipped something to her which she could not really understand but knew deep down in her heart what it was, and closed his eyes. Riku had been taken from Hanyuu that moment, and there was nothing she could do about it. Tears in her eyes flowed uncontrollably, and Hanyuu could only grip Riku's lifeless body in her arms, murmuring something incomprehensible.

Riku's family, more so his mother and father, screamed in utter despair and torment at what had happened. Unbeknownst to them, the angry villagers smirked at what had happened, and followed in pursuit of what the first villager with the spear had done. It was unanimous and the action to be taken would follow in similarity to Riku's death: the annihilation of the thought of demon Hanyuu and all those who had associated with her…

"Kill them…KILL THEM ALL! EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!" screamed the villagers suddenly as they rushed into Hanyuu's people. The Sonozaki members instantly felt such a threat was coming, and in order to protect Hanyuu and the others, counter-assaulted with Hanyuu's people at their side and drew arms against their enemies. Amidst all the fighting and screams of pain as blood was spilt, Riku's father's sword fell to Hanyuu's side as she mourned over Riku's body.

This whole event, the farthest reach of Hanyuu's curse, had become a reality. It was the warning her mother gave her so long ago, and the warning which both Hanyuu and Riku chose to ignore for the sake of Ouka and for the sake of finding happiness together. Those words, even now, echoed strongly in Hanyuu's mind…

"You are not human anymore…you are a demi-demon, forgotten by God and cursed to live out seeing other's suffer. If ever you meet another, do not. This is all I ask you…so that others may not know…"

And so they knew, and so Hanyuu had come to know, of true pain. With such emotions of pain, suffering and utter agony running through her existence, Hanyuu also remembered everything she and Riku had done to try and break her punishment, to break her fate. All the happiest of memories, all of Riku's head rubs and smiles and moments of passion they had in bed, everything rushed into Hanyuu's mind without warning. At the same time, an anger and power mixed into one boiled uncontrollably in her being. Grabbing onto the sword without knowing of it, uncontrollably Hanyuu rose from Riku's body and looked up at her enemies with a perspective filled with blood and revenge.

At this same moment, the moon and the sky of the dark night filled with crimson red; shadowing all over the village of Onigafuchi. As the villagers below ceased their fighting to look up at Hanyuu in this crimson light, her enemies backed away in fear and saw on in terror at Hanyuu's current form. On this fateful night of nights, Hanyuu's blood soaked path would emerge on the night of the Crimson Lotus' blooming.

Hanyuu's eyes glowed a deep crimson red, her horns elongated more so than before, and her teeth bearing sharper fangs. Not only that, but her body glowed with an evil aura, her strength becoming known by the tight grip on the shrine sword. The most terrifying thing about her, though, was that Hanyuu's tears of sadness had become rivers of blood from her crimson eyes. Descending the steps towards her enemies, Hanyuu went to the first villager who had killed her beloved Riku and screamed at him in an inhuman fashion.

"!" came the horrifying roar of Hanyuu as her shrine sword impaled the unsuspecting villager in multiple fashions. His body was impaled into the air as the branched blades of the weapon pierced his chest, neck, and stomach; a rain of blood falling onto the ground. The earth was soaked with the dark red liquid; pooling with the blood of others that had come before it. When Hanyuu bathed in the man's blood, a twisted smile on her face, she threw the man to the ground and looked on at the others. She still cried rivers of blood; the liquid falling down her cheeks. This whole phenomenon terrified the villagers against her to their cores.

"A demon! SHE REALLY IS ONE!" screamed an enemy villager. His voice sent Hanyuu into another rage, and in seconds she was upon him like a beast with a hunger for flesh. She cut the man's head off and continued to move onto each and every other enemy villager who cursed her for what she was.

As her allies looked on, the Sonozaki family led a similar assault and charged alongside their deity into battle. It didn't take long, but within 10 minutes most of the enemy villagers had already fled for their lives, leaving in their wake tens of dead bodies of their comrades. Not only that, though, but in their fear for their lives they began setting fires around the shrine in hopes of burning the demon and her people to death. Houses and blazes of patches went up all around them, and in the chaos of it all the Sonozaki members and Hanyuu's people rushed to protect the shrine and their own homes. In such madness, the village of Onigafuchi burned like never before.

But Hanyuu's thirst for blood was not satisfied. She charged on at her enemies and kept her sword with an endless supply of blood to drink from. Despite the other villagers trying to prevent her from going on, she could not be stopped in her hate and anger over losing Riku. Just as she was about to kill another victim, Hanyuu raised her sword into the air to strike down upon her unsuspecting victim.

Just before Hanyuu could strike her opponent, in the last shred of her humanity Hanyuu realized just who she was about to kill. As the sword stopped inches from the opponent's face, Hanyuu found a mere child crying in fear at her attacker.

"P…Please! Don't hurt me! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" the child screamed.

Panting from her assaults, Hanyuu's tight grip from her weapon soon eased and later lowered the weapon to the earth floor. Hanyuu looked on with normal eyes again at the child; unable to realize what she had just done to the other villagers and what she had almost done to the poor defenseless child. Hearing the screams of pain and the frantic cries of fear from the fires, Hanyuu turned around to look on at the now consumed Furude shrine. The same place where her daughter was now.

"Ou..ka-chan? OUKA-CHAN!" Hanyuu ran towards the fire of her once thought new home, rushing past her people and up the stone steps to the main entrance. Running through the hallways towards where Ouka was, she threw open the door and found the room slowly beginning to fill with smoke. Hanyuu rushed into the room despite the flames licking up the walls of the other hallways and the sparks flying all around her.

"OUKA-CHAN! OUKA-CHAN! WHERE ARE YOU!" she screamed. The thought of losing Ouka would devastate Hanyuu to no end, even suicide. She couldn't live without her no matter what. She was her own daughter, her own flesh and blood, and her only reason to live on.

Suddenly from behind, a smaller figure came into the hallway behind Hanyuu. Ouka came into view, but this time holding onto another shrine sword inlaid with pure gold. Hanyuu smiled for a second at finding her daughter safe, but became fearful when her own daughter raised the sword at her very mother.

"O…Ouka-chan…what are you…"

"What have you done? WHY DID YOU KILL FATHER?" screamed Ouka. Hanyuu couldn't believe what she had said, and tried to reason with her daughter.

"I DIDN'T! ANOTHER VILLAGER….KILLED…."

"LIAR! I SAW YOU OVER HIS BODY COVERED IN HIS BLOOD!" she screamed. Ouka pointed to Hanyuu's clothing, leading her mother to find herself covered in not only Riku's blood but other villager's as well. Her kimono's original color could not be discerned; the blood too dark to tell the other colors from it.

"I didn't kill him…I would never kill someone I love so dearly!" Hanyuu fell to the floor as more smoke and fire encircled the shrine. Soon, they would be engulfed as well with the roof collapsing if they didn't get out in time.

Ouka looked into her mother's eyes and found truth in them, not fear. Lowering her weapon, Ouka cried in despair at the loss of her happiness and her father. Still a child, all Ouka wanted was to escape this hell with her mother and never return to it.

"…why did it come to this? What have we done to deserve this?" Ouka murmured. She dropped the sword to the ground and moved to embrace her mother. Suddenly, though, before she could do so Hanyuu looked into Ouka's eyes and displayed something which sent chills of terror down her spine. Hanyuu's next words were something Ouka was never expecting.

"Ouka-chan…you must…kill me…" Hanyuu stated. Ouka looked on in disbelief and then cascaded tears down her cheeks. She shook her head and looked at her mother as if she had gone crazy.

"What are you saying Mother? I can't…"

"Kill me and end this madness…I'm so tired of it…" Hanyuu repeated, this time, with more yearning behind it. The thought of death was most welcome to Hanyuu's tormented soul.

"Die?...you can't…I WON'T DO IT! I WON'T KILL MY OWN MOTHER!" Ouka screamed. This time, she met Hanyuu's forcefulness in her voice.

"YOU MUST! IT IS THE ONLY WAY! KILL ME AND END THE BLOODSHED AND FEAR IN THIS VILLAGE! LIVE A LIFE I COULD NEVER HAVE AND END THE EXISTENCE OF DEMONS IN THIS REALITY!" Hanyuu cried normally this time in her agony, and urged her child to do such a thing.

"NEVER! I CAN'T DO THIS TO MY OWN MOTHER!" Ouka retorted, running up to her mother and beating her chest in anger. Hanyuu merely frowned and embraced her sobbing daughter in her arms, trying to comfort her.

"It is a child's duty to be at their parent's death. If you kill me, then all will be well again for you and everyone else…" Hanyuu murmured to her daughter amidst all the fire around them.

"But why Mother! Why do I have to kill you? There must be another way!" cried Ouka, hugging her mother tightly.

"Don't cry, my child. I am not human. This horn proves that I am a demon. And it is a demon's duty to shoulder all the evil of this world. Henceforth, it is my duty to accept the chaos and turmoil that exists in this world and re-purify the minds and souls of the people in this village with my own death. I realize that now. This is my fate…" Hanyuu spoke with such acceptance of the thought of sacrificing her life for the sake of others that it gave her happiness in some odd sense.

"Why is it that you have to take the blame for everything? The sins of the people who have hurt us are their own sins. These sins are not Mother's!" screamed again Ouka.

"Listen, Ouka-chan. People live their lives in sin. And they can only live by blaming their faults on others. And none of them want to be the only one taking the blame for everything, so they shove their sins against each other. That whole thing is the demon itself. Those...are the real demons that cause turmoil in this world. And I will accept all the blame. If all the blame is shifted onto me, people will feel relieved and they will finally be freed from this demonic nature of doubting everyone. They will be free of ever having to suffer my curse and my pains…now come my child and bring all the sins, hate, curses, and evil onto my body. Strike me a fatal blow in my body with that sword, purify this village, and let my blood flow into this village as the last soul to die a horrible death. Discard my intestines into the river, and dump my body into the marsh pit where no one will ever find me again. That way, others will know for sure I am dead and forgotten…"

"Mother, please…I…I can't…"

"This can only be carried out by someone who is not of human blood. This cannot be done by anyone else. If a normal human does this, this will not free the people from doubt and suspicion of this chaotic nature. My child, kill me by thy own hand and prove to the people that the demon does not exist in you!"

"I don't understand Mother, I don't! Yes, it is true that Mother has a horn on her head which cannot be hidden. But why must Mother be treated as like a monster and a demon just because of a horn? Are they the ones who are the monsters for treating you like this! Horn or no horn, you are my mother! Don't make me…"

"My lovely child...you are the only one who says that. No matter what they all call me with such insults like demoness or monster, you are the only one who accepts me for who I really am..." Hanyuu put the sword into her crying daughter's hands, embraced her one last time with tears in her own eyes, and positioned the blade against her body. Hanyuu smiled one last time, looking deep into Ouka's eyes to find that her daughter finally understood her duty, and waited for the cold grasp of death to welcome her, hopefully, to Riku in the afterlife. With one last wish, Hanyuu asked for the impossible from her daughter.

"Now my child, kill me…and know that I will always love you."

With those last words, Ouka looked away from her mother, knowing what she had to do. Her mother was right; the village would never find peace unless the demon was killed. Gripping the sword tightly, she panted in fear of what she was about to commit: matricide. Taking a deep breath as her mother stroked her hair one last time, the sickening plunge of the sword into her mother's stomach was heard and felt. Smiling one last time, Hanyuu fell into Ouka as the willowing blade pieced her several times over and became her end. Blood dripped down the golden blade and to the floor, soon mixing with the blood falling from Hanyuu's stomach. As her mother died in her arms, Ouka cried and then whispered to her mother before the darkness came over her.

"I will…always love you too Mother…"

At the moment Hanyuu had died at the hands of her daughter, a wish Ouka held deep down was granted in innocence, and with that, the darkness came over Hanyuu. That memory became another part of her past and a long forgotten memory only to be brought to the surface of her mind once more. When she would reawaken, Hanyuu would find Onigafuchi tranquil once more, but this time, as a deity whom no one could see and no one could hear. For some reason, this was a welcomed fate instead of finding herself in a hell without Riku for her mistakes. If this was her fate, then she would accept it…that is, until forced to otherwise. With this becoming her being, Hanyuu's mind fell into the darkness and next reawakened out of this dream world and back into the present.

When she came to, Hanyuu's human arms squirmed through dirt and debris to the outside world; one filled with dead possessed villagers and her clothing torn up from head to toe. The smell of death was in the air and an utter sadness consumed her from reliving her past once more. Hanyuu scampered to regain her stance, but had a hard time of it when her ears were filled with nothing but the sound of ringing and those around her injured beyond repair. Once her senses returned to her, Hanyuu discovered that time had passed by in her world, nearly an hour since Satoko had hit her with the C4 explosion. In that time, Hanyuu had lost sight of her goal and her need to kill Rika Furude.

As Hanyuu gripped the ground, the dirt squeezing between her fingers, she looked up with anger in her eyes like never before.

"Rika…" was all she whispered in anger to no one but herself.

Meanwhile, the others, who had long escaped Hanyuu and her possessed villagers, had already acquired the shard in the leather bound journal residing at Satoko and Rika's home. Successful in this task without any worry, they immediately made their way by car to Mion and Keiichi's home to acquire the next shard; the one on Mion's necklace locked safely away in the family safe. But what awaited them there, though, was something the others were not ready for… /

When we dream at night,

We relive memories,

Of our past, present and even the future.

But did you know, that when we dream,

We live the memories of our other selves,

Of people we choose to be,

Of a being we will eventually become?

But when we live in a world of Evil,

When we dream,

We relive all that Evil had created in our lives?

So what are we really dreaming?

Are we dreaming the truth or a lie?

Mother,

You woke from the dream,

Only to come back into a nightmare,

That, this time, you had created.

Why can't you see this?

Do you know, I'm waiting for you?

Come back to me Mother…

Please…

For your Ouka-chan…

Next time on Hinamizawa Hell, "The Truth of Fate" Arc 3, Chapter 15: Running Scared.

What are you most afraid of?