A/N: If you don't want the history lesson, you can actually just skip to the divider in the middle of the prologue. The intro was very experimental to see how well I could somewhat keep to a timeline, also to lead up to certain events. Though it's not essential, the "history" lesson is just a build-up (as well as it a bit of a writing exercise).

WARNING: This is a darkfic, as such, it may contain nudity, racism, sexism, torture, gore, rape, and all that good stuff. If you aren't mature enough to handle it, please, do not read this. It's going to have some pretty dark things in it (at least, I'm attempting to write them out).

Enjoy.


Prologue.

A full millennium before the Muromachi Era - during the Kofun and Asuka periods - youkai, hanyou, and ningen lived (not necessarily harmoniously) but amongst each other. It was during this time that religion was gradually being introduced to the people of Japan, mostly amongst ningen. Lord and Lady Anko (the reigning family during this time) welcomed the idea of religion and, for a time, the lands knew peace.

It was during this time period that one of the world's most powerful Miko came to be known. Lady Midoriko was a leader amongst her people, spreading the Word and bringing with her the wisdom of the past. Her knowledge and courageous actions led to the first stirrings of racial balance, tipping scales in ningen favor. This period was also the time where Miko were becoming famous for their diverse abilities.

Likewise, during the late Asuka period, Lord Inu no Taisho reigned over all of the West, with youkai, hanyou, and ningen within his borders. He in his prime came to know of Midoriko, and eventually, befriended her. They fought together on many an occasion, crossing paths and journeying together more often than not. It soon became known that Miko could live close to that of the lifespan of a youkai. During the start of the Nara period, racism became apparent, and their nations began to literally rip itself apart from the inside out.

Buddhism was rapidly expanding, and with it came the ancient monks' intent of teaching the citizens of Japan the Truth. Many a Miko was subjected to this radically different concept and practice, corrupting their ways of the native traditional Shinto. Money became a prevalent factor right at the heart of Japan. Government authority became constantly challenged by provincial officials, which inevitably led to both social and political unrest during the last few decades of the Nara period.

During the early Heian period. in the year 809 A.D., Lord Inu no Taisho's first heir was birthed. Japan experienced a relatively long period of peace and the political strength was holding. It wasn't until the late Heian Era that everything began to decline. The Fujiwara family - who had been the reigning family for many centuries after Lord and Lady Anko - met their demise by the joining hands of the ever-growing military forces. The lands were beginning to split apart and both Midoriko and Inu no Taisho were facing the start of the Kamakura period.

Military forces joined together to conquer the lands, each attempting to gain both land and power. Many youkai and Miko became sacrificial as a means to cut losses. Soon enough, Miko became scarce and very apparent that one born with a Miko's abilities is usually not seen for many a century. Many Daiyoukai lost their lives during the wars in the Kamakura period. Lady Midoriko perished in an attempt to save her people from an onslaught of youkai.

Sometime later, Lord Inu no Taisho lost his own life to the reigning leader of the dragon youkai, Ryuukotsusei, and at the same time, welcomed his second child to this dangerous Era. By now, it was common knowledge that Miko and Daiyoukai were few and far between, so rare were they, that ningen sought to collect them for their own personal use, though with much difficulty. It was quite a feat to even get close to capturing one of either. Those that did, however, had in their arsenal, a weapon powerful enough to make all of Japan bow down in fear.


Her prone figure was bent in one of the most uncomfortable positions known to man. She knelt, not by choice, in the center of a crate, chained awkwardly in an attempt to keep her movements as minimal as possible. On her knees, her body was bent forward to where her chin very nearly touched the floor, locked in place by a collar meant to subdue her Miko abilities. Her arms were chained harshly behind her back, forcing her chest forward, her shoulders pointing back because of the angle. Her wrists were red from the constant tugging of the shackles that were placed there. Her knees were bent harshly beneath her, making her wonder if she could even still stand, blood circulation having been cut off long ago. Her legs were spread with her knees and ankles locked in place by braces made specifically for her.

She had long ago lost feeling in her arms and legs. She was fairly certain that should she be released, she'd be nothing but a sack of potatoes laying across the floor. She hadn't slept comfortably in such a long time, and everything fed to her was simple beans and rice... with no flavor. She knew she was lucky to even be alive, and she knew she fought long and hard. She just... hadn't taken into account that betrayal could be a possible factor that had led to this ultimatum.

She supposed it didn't matter now; it didn't matter how she ended up here. The fact was, she was captured and now she would do her captor's bidding, whatever it may be. Being like this for the last forty years... she was used to it. It was sad that you could 'get used to' something like this, but really, it couldn't be helped. Her will was hardly broken, however, her mind still as sharp as ever. The defiance very clearly still prevailed across her features, even in such a position.

At the moment, they had a harness on her head, locking her jaw so she couldn't speak and give away their position to enemies nearby. She was being transported, to where, she wasn't sure, but she knew that wherever she may be going, it would be worse than the last. She leaned a little to her left, the chains rustling ever so slightly. Had it not been for the chains, she probably wouldn't have been upright at all.

The wagon finally stopped. Voices were heard, speaking in a language foreign to her. She could hear the shake of a bag of coins. Then, there was sudden light flooding the crate. They had moved the tarp from above her and thrown it to the side. They lifted her crate from the wagon and carried her over to another wagon before sliding her in next to another crate. They were transporting slaves. She was placed next to another who was in a similar position as she. The only difference being that his long hair was pulled tight and tied to a side of the crate to force his neck to crane and his face to remain up and forward.

The two of them were practically face-to-face. Her brown eyes clashed with his golden ones, and they held for some time. The men threw the tarp overhead, breaking and averting her gaze to their actions, and from there, she could see no more, save for the remarkable glowing eyes of the prisoner directly in front of her. Even with her power subdued, she knew what the individual across from her was. She didn't need her reiki to tell her that the person across from her was mighty powerful; you could see the power in his eyes. And just from looks alone, it would be a problem for all involved should he ever be able to escape.

She leaned to her right, a minuscule adjustment, even if comfort was a far stretch. She was beyond the point of restlessness, itching to leave this nightmarish hell hole she had inadvertently placed herself in. She swore, if the emperor were to ever show his face in front of her... she'd make him pay. Dearly.

Little did she know that the demon across from her had similar thoughts of vengeance coursing through his own mind. He studied her face, heart-shaped, a little rounder than most women her age. Her midnight-black hair disappearing behind her and blending into the darker shadows of the crate. She wore the traditional garbs of a Miko, high in status, but of seemingly no importance any longer. Her eyes were hard, narrowed in defiance. Stubbornness practically rolled off of her in waves.

Idly, he wondered if she had been imprisoned for as long as he.


"I don't know where this is going, but won't you join me and see how it goes anyway?"