Wow! More reviews! I feel so loved!
Thanks o Tajeri Lynn, who keeps coming back for more! and Newcomer, Annie. Hi all!
Well, here's chapter 5, it gives a little exposition for Aku-sama, as she only really appeared in the first chapter. I decided to have her show up again, she seemed so evil and fun, wait till you see what she does in this chapter ~_*
Dissclaimer:Aku and Kodomo are mine! JCA is not, I'm just playing with it.

Chapter 5: The Talons of Aku-sama



Acrid fumes of smoke twisted up the mountainside. A cloud of cinders and ash slowly ascended

to the sky, disfiguring a picturesque sunset. Screams of sheer terror and panic ushered from a

small village from which the fire originated.

Standing on a slight overlook of the smoldering village was young woman. Or rather, what

appeared to be a young woman. Upon a scrutinizing inspection, it would become evident that she

was anything but human. Her beauty was ethereal, but also chilling. Her ears came to sharp

points, as did her inscisors, her hands and feet had shapely talons that were perfectly manicured

and her eyes had a reddish illumination withinn their depths. Her long, light violet hair was held up

in a long ponytail, but fell past her waist, her flesh, though leathery to the touch, was a

pearlescent white, which shone in the encroaching moonlight. Standing above the ruined village

was none other than the merciless and cruel Aku-Sama.

Aku-sama nibbled her pinky talon, which oozed venom upon her tongue's caress. Her crimson

eyes narrowed and her twisted smile played across her face as she spoke aloud to herself,


"Poor little fools. I suppose that I should have told them that my venom isn't only poison, its

flammable. They deserved their fate. No one ever says no to me. I can't wait until after they're

asleep, then the true fun will begin. This was just a warm up!"

She cackled at her own cleverness and ran her claws through her hair, shuddering in ecstasy at

her perfection. she nibbled her lower lip momenterily before whistling shrilly to the wind. Far off

in the distance, deep snarls were heard. She clapped her hands in anticipation as two enormous

creatures came bounding to their mistress. They were quadropedal beasts with thick, spiky

brown fur, glowing eyes and fanged mouths. Aku-sama knelt down and nuzzled the vicious

animals. They rubbed against her roughly and held their talons inward as they pawed her, so as

not to injure her.

"Good boys, I knew you were up for some fun! Why don't you go down to that little charcoal pit

down there and stir things up a little, I trust you're interested?"

She gestured towards the village, which had stopped burning, but was damaged beyond repair.

The two brown beast howled with delight and pawed the ground with anticipation.

"Well, go on," Aku-sama said in a sing song voice.

The two beasts raced away, but before they could get far, Aku-sama called to the larger of the

two.

"Chupe! Come back here. I have a special job for you, my darling,"

The monster skidded to a stop and returned as if it were a loyal dog. It panted heavily and

rubbed its head against her thigh.

"Listen, Chupe. I'm going to take the cover off your talons for this job, understand? There's a

priest down there who denied and denounced me. This is intolerable. He must be made an

example of. I trust you know what to do,"

Aku-sama slid the clear protective covering off of one of Chupe's talons. Its snarl now seemed

to resemble a morbid laughter.

"Now go!" Aku-sama shouted with a strange sense of zeal.

"Good boys! Why did I not aquire some chupcabras sooner? they're ever so much fun! and they

can curse for me! For once I get to sit back and watch my own handiwork! My how delicious!"

She laughed insanely, so hard that she fell ont the ground. Even then, she began to roll around,

grasping her sides, her frail form wracked with laughter. Shining tears slid from her eyes. After

sniffing and chuckling to herself, she calmly got up and began to stroll casually after her two

beloved chupacabras.



.......................


Father Samuel David sat by the fireplace in the sitting room of the orphanage that he ran. He

sipped a glass of wine calmly as he read a hardcover book. A noise from outside caused him to

raise his eyes. His cow was bellowing loudly inside of the barn, what on earth could be wrong? she

was normally an even tempered beast.

He got up and went to the window. Casting a glance outside, he noted the bright new moon,

countless stars and his tethered goat pulling as hard as it could at its own rope. A look of

confusion and concern broke out across his middle aged features. Why would both animals be

acting up in the evening? He sighed as he went to put on an overcoat and his work boots. He'd

simply go outside and see what was going on with them himself. He'd simply go outside, look

around and put the goat in the barn in case there were any coyotes or something of the sort.

That had to be it, there had to be a pack of coyotes loose and his animals could smell them. He

shook his head, he had been worried about nothing.

"Father Samuel,"

A small voice caused him to jump. He turned to face it without hesitation. There, staring at

him was a little girl of about eight years in age. Her long brown hair was braided and she wore a

long, pink nightgown.

"What is it, Isabel?"

"There are two monsters outside. I saw them back by the woods. I'm afraid they'll get the

animals,"

"Isabel, they aren't monsters, they're coyotes. You can come help me check on the animals if

that would make you feel better. You could see that the animals are fine, then you can get a

cookie and go back to bed,"

He smiled, as did Isabel at this last comment. Isabel nodded vigorously, but then displayed a look

of fear.

"But what if those monsters are out there?"

"I told you, they're coyotes,"

"That lady scared me today,"

"Lady?"

"The one you yelled at and told her that she couldn't have any of the children from the orphanage.

She got real mad and green stuff came out of her fingers. She was really scary. The only thing I

remember after that was that some houses were burning. I'm worried Father Samuel,"

"Shhhhhhhhhh. You don't have to worry about her, and the fires have all been put out, there's no

need to feel frightened,"

"Okay,"


"Now, let's go check on our friends,"

"Alright,"

Moments later, the two were outside and heading towards the barn. Isabel went to the stake

where the small goat was tethered. It bleated piteously and struggled to escape her grasp after

she had untied it.

"What's the matter, girl?" Isabel aked as the tiny animal wrenched itself in desparation to escape

from her arms. Suddenly, a shadow fell over the girl and her goat. Isabel gasped and looked

behind her. Standing over her with a devilish grin on her face was Aku-sama.

"Hello little one," Her smooth voice flowed from her perfect lips like a river.

Isabel tried to scramble away, but she was knocked off her feet by a sideswipe from a brown

taloned hand.

"Thank You, Lu. You are ever so helpful," Aku-sama said to her loyal pet. In response, the

chupacabra lowered itself to the ground and growled contentedly.

Aku-sama seized Isabel by the collar of her nightshirt and lifted her off the ground.

"You'll do nicely. Lu, why don't you have a snack?"

Before her eyes, Isabel saw the great beast rip into the goat whch had moments before been in

her arms. She let out a cry of horror as its blood ran the monsters neck and collected in puddles

on the ground. The chupacabra grabbed the goat mercilessly by the neck and shook it with al its

might. There was a sickening snap and then the goats body fell limp and the beast resumed its

savage assault.

"Come along, little girl. Let's leave Lu to his late night snack. We've got to see how my other

darling is doing,"

Aku-sama headed towards the barn, still carrying Isabel by the collar.



Father Samuel David had just entered the barn when he heard Isabel's scream. He turned

immediately around, only to find himself staring into a pair of luminiscent red eyes. His ears

detected a deep growl and a clawed talon struck his shoulder. His clothing had ripped, but no

blood had been drawn. He sighed, small favors were better than none.

The brown furred creature that had struck him was unlike anything that he had ever seen. It

stalked him slowly and ever so often, it would either snap at him or attempt to strike him, but

that was all. Suddenly, Father Samuel realized what it was doing. It was playing with him, keeping

him busy. He scrambled to his feet and ran for the door.

"Isabel!" he screamed.

But just as he reached the door, it opened and there stood Aku-sama, holding Isabel off the

ground by her nightgown.

"There's no need to shout, Padre. Isabel is right here," Aku-sama said softly

"You bitch! You let her go this instant!"

"No, I don't think I will,"

Aku-sama slowly dragged a talon down Isabel's cheek drawing blood. Isabel whimpered and a few

tears ran down her cheeks.

"Put her down or I'll.."

"You'll what?" Aku-sama had him exactly where she wanted.


"Padre, are you familiar with the legend of the chupacabra?"

"Relatively,"

"Ahhh, then you would know that they feed on small livestock and are nocturnal,"

"Yes, so that's what your beasts are,"

"But there's one thing that the legend left out, chupe, would you be so kind as to demonstrate,"

The large beast snarled is horrible laughter and hissed at Father Samuel. It sprung at him and

pinned him to the groung, letting its saliva drip onto his face. The chupacabra then slashed him

repeatedly with its uncovered talon.

"Stop it!" screamed Isabel,"You'll kill him!"

"No I won't. I am not as merciful as that. Now be silent less I decide to finish you off as well,"

Aku-sama stated as her fingers began to ooze green foam.

"That's enough Chupe, we have to go now. I don't want you to get a suntan,"

The monster gave up its prey unwillingly, but returned to its mistress' side. Aku-sama promptly

dropped Isabel and strode to the side of Father Samuel. She knelt beside him with a triumphant

look on her face.

"Remember, you brought this upon your self. All who deny me are they themselves denied.

Denied a normal life hence thereafter. I'll be back tomorow to observe my handiwork. Until

then.."

She got up and clicked her tongue. Lu came racing to her side, blood stained his fur, but he had

consumed the goat, bones and all. The demon and her pets moved away, leaving the two humans

to themselves.

"Father Samuel, what did she mean?" asked Isabel.

"I do believe tha she just cursed me," he answered dumbly.

"No! You don't look any different. Are you okay? I thought.."

"I'm alright for now, look...."

As if by magic, the wounds had healed, replaced instead by green, claw shaped markings.

"What does that mean?" asked Isabel.

"I don't know," answered a dismayed Father Samuel.


Unbeknownst to the humans, a small form sat in a tall pine tree above them.

"Damn It! I was too late again! Now I'll have to go to Mexico to gather some more mystic herbs to

cure that poor bastard,"

"Tsk tsk, such language, M'lady Kodomo," The griffin seated beside her commented.

"Sorry, Yuir. But, She's been out of control for years, after this, I'm going home,"

"We're going home?"

"Yes, you can come too. We'll go home to my temple,"

"Haven't been there in centuries, I hope its alright,"

"I'm sure it is. Now let's go so we can make it back here in two days or less,"

"Yes, m'lady,"

With that, Kodomo-Yasha leapt onto Yuir's back and the two flew off into the sunrise, without

anyone ever knowing they were there.

End Chapter 5
Next Chapter-Backn to Seymour and Jade in the temple sanctum!