I got REVIEWS! DUDE! Thanks so much for those who read it. This chapter's gonna be a little longer then the last one cause I'm setting up the story. I'm also introducing some characters a main one and some minor ones. I also would like to say that I may not get all the chapters out in a timely manner. Due to writers block or some other major catastrohpie. Well without further ado I give you chapter 2! Wait..this is chapter one...oh who cares just read and review!
Warm sunshine filtered down through the newly budded trees at the end of an enormous forest. The Highland air cool and crisp, carried the fragrance of fresh rain and young wild flowers all around. Small forest creatures flitted back and forth across a well-worn path leading out of the thriving ecosystem. A faint whistle can be heard above the shrill voices of the birds singing songs in the canopy.
Up amidst the foliage a hunter lies in wait of its unsuspecting prey. So well hidden was she that the animals were unaware of her presence. The 'prey' traveled over the last stretch of the woodland path as his blue eyes scanned the serene settings. The mighty huntress readied herself to strike as the prey walked right into her trap. The young man sauntered on whistling his nameless tune for all to hear oblivious to the danger that waited for him.
"This is gonna be so SWEET!" thought the hunter as she savored the moment. Her brown eyes, filled with anticipation, watched as the 'prey' came into the danger zone. With a mighty battle cry she leapt with all her might and let gravity take up the slack.
The prey, which noticed all too late that he was being watched, could do nothing but gawk and make incoherent noises as 120 pounds of female demon made contact with his body.
A loud thud and a grunt could be heard. Nearby animals scurried away from the riotous pair
"SCORE!" cried the girl in triumph, as she raised her hands in victory while straddling her 'prey'. "You didn't even see it coming!"
The young man looking ticked didn't say a word.
"Aww come on Jin" she smiled her most innocent smile. "You knew you had it coming. I mean after that stunt you pulled last week. Did you really think I'd let you get away?"
Jin just stared on paying no heed to the girl who was practically mocking him.
"Dude....duuuuuude....Focus dude" Waving her hands in front of his face she taunted him. Her already wide grin seeming to get bigger. She got up releasing Jinn to see what he would do.
Jin sighed heavily and stood up, dusting himself off shot the girl an evil glare. "What are you doin'out here any way Ashley" he asked in his thick Irish-like accent. "Aren't you supposed to be at the 'ceremony'" he questioned, putting an emphasis on the word ceremony.
Making a face at what Jin said she turned and started walking out of the forest. "The town leaders can drop dead. I'm not putting myself up for sale. Besides..." she glanced over at him with a skeptical look. "I believe you were invited as well.
Jin coughed slightly and followed her out of the forest. "Bein' a self-sufficient male keeps me out o' the Grand Courtship" emphasizing the word grand with his hands he grinned broadly at her knowing he'd won the argument.
"Whatever" she said making a displeased face. "I'm not going and you can't make me!" Yelling defiantly she stomped her foot as an added statment.
Jin put his hands up in defeat and smiled knowingly. "Ok you'll not be goin' as far as I'm concerned. A pickle is what Koto will be havin' with ya when she finds out though." He then went into a fit of laughter at his newfound joke. "A pickle with ya Ahhahahhaha!"
Sighing in annoyance the girl continued walking. "That is not funny in the least Jinn". She watched him giggle and snort as he repeated the line a few more times. "JIN!" She screamed.
Jin stopped laughing and looked at her. He was about to reply when a loud gurgling sound beat him to it. A goofy grin slowly crept on to his elf-like face as he realized what the sound was. The girl herself started to grin and in the end the two broke out into another round of sidesplitting laughs and randomly placed snorts.
"Ok so your hungry" she said looking at Jinn. "Hey I know! I'll race you back to the village!"
"You're on!" Jin jumped up, his hunger completely forgoten for the moment, and got into position.
"No wind powers either Wind Generator!" she exclaimed. "It's no fair, so run on your physical powers.
Jin mumbled something under his breath and changed his stance.
"What was that?" she asked raising an eyebrow knowing exactly what he said.
"Nothin" He implied in a monotone voice.
"Good. Lets GO!" They took of running to their village shoving each other and constantly trying to stop the other from getting their first.
The two tired racers walked into the village, which was buzzing with activity as always. People of all sorts of shapes and sizes were buying, selling or just enjoying the atmosphere. Little children played around in an area that had been fenced in. Older kids were helping their parents and grandparents with the shopping or working themselves.
A familiar figure appeared in the middle of a group of people. Fury was written all over her face and it was directed toward Ashley. She stalked over to where her and Jin had stopped.
"Just what do you think you're doing young lady! You were supposed to be here TWO hours ago!" She yelled and ranted all while dragging the girl by her hair into a nearby hut.
"Oww! Koto that hurts! Do you have to drag me around like that?" Nursing her throbbing head she glared defiantly at her.
"Yes, I do" Koto glared back and whistled.
A large group of women came out of nowhere and attacked her. In a matter of seconds they had her in a bath tub scrubbing layers of her dark skin off her body. "HEY! I need that arm you stupid old Ahh" Her sentence was cut short by one of the women forcing her head under the water.
Coming back up for air she breathed heavily and attempted to fight off the clean-crazed females. The demon women would have none of it and just continued to clean her as she flailed in disagreement. Water and soap was being splashed all over the room. In desperation she bit one of them and seconds later began spitting in disgust.
"Let me go!" Twisting this way and that she continued trying to free herself from the tub torture. Long strands of her short black hair plastered her face. Her fight was cut short when she was whacked on the head with a thick wooden stick. The other women stared in silence at the one who had done it.
"Well she wouldn't hold still for you so I..." Koto suddenly looking guilty smiled nervously and left the room.
An hour later Ashley woke up in a bed with her head hurting and unable to move. "Wha...." Looking around she tried to figure out where she was and what had happened. The sound of approaching footsteps caused her to look over in the direction they were coming from and fall off of the bed in the process.
"Ahh" she cried upon impact. The sound brought the footsteps to where she lay on the floor.
"Where am I...huh KOTO!" Screaming at Koto she tried to stand only to find that her hands bound and shackled. "What the heck is all this about? You had to tie me up to....." Looking down she found herself dressed in a fine red and yellow kimono. "You dressed me up!" Outraged she started to scream and yell at Koto.
Koto sighed and whistled once more.
The 'cleaning ladies' appeared and hauled Ashley out the door. The sun that had been high when she'd went in was now hovering over the horizon.
"I don't wanna go" She whined. "Come on have a heart ladies. I mean you don't want me to end up like you."
The women, after untieing her, just placed her outside with a bunch of other well-dressed young women. The girls were talking animatedly amongst themselves about their hair and all the men that were coming. When Ashley arrived they looked at her and turned up their noses.
Smirking to herself she turned to the girls and gave them a piece of her mind. "Heh, go ahead stick those big noses of yours in the air your over-bred snots. I personnaly am not ready for a mating ceremony."
One of the girls smiled at her in a way that wasn't friendly at all. "You only say that cause no 'real' man would want an ugly ruffian like you. You may be able to sell yourself to some desperate men occasionally but a long term commitment is something no man could go through with." After ending her sentecne the young woman laughed at her in a high whiny pitch and was joined by the other ladies.
Ashley growled in irritation at the women and silently wished that her head would fall off. A loud gong was hit causing silence to take over the noise. The silence was broken when the women seen the men. Most of the people in the village didn't care for her, being a hanyou could do that. She had a few friends and children seemed to like her.
Her thoughts were interupted by the men who had now reached their destination. Most of them were young and about the right age and all but a few were from another village.
Ashley stayed to the back of the group not wanting to make any contact with them. The women started to flirt and warm up to them as they were led to a decorated part of the village.
Banners of all sorts of colors were strung up from tree to tree. Pieces of wood and large stones were set around a large blazing bonfire. The sun on it's way to bed graced the area with a last few moments of light. Stars doting the early evening sky shimmered as the familiar constellations began to form.
Ashley after tearing away from the group of people went directly to the back of the field. Finding a rock she made herself comfortable and watched as the sun set on the western horizon. "I don't need a man" she said quietly to herself.
She mentaly tuned out the laughing and chatter that was going on behind her. Staring up that stars she found herself enving them. Her moment of scilence was broken by the soft steps of someone approaching.
She sighed and made a face at the stars as the person approached her.
"You, young maiden tell me your name" a cold voice called to her.
Ashley looked back to the unfamiliar man who had called her with a look that could kill in her eyes. "What do you want?"
He smirked causing his deep blue eyes to shine. A few of the women who had followed him fainted in the background. "Now now my pet that's no way to treat the legendary Nomino."
He stood tall and proud before her his well-tanned skin highlighted by the fire behind him. Dressed in fine silks of green and black he appeared to be of nobility. His long brown hair placed in a high ponytail showed off his strong slender neck and perfectly proportioned face. His body the perfect image of some great warrior looked even more desireable in the soft glow of the fire.
Unaffected by his looks she glared at him. "I'll treat you however I want! If you want to have your ego petted go back to where you came from!"
Nomino reacted to the outburst by sitting down next to her. "Such a beautiful soul you have maiden, it's a wonder that the other men in the village aren't over here." He smiled at her, showing off his perfect teeth, sending very uncomfortable chills through her body.
What was left of his admirers glared at Ashley from behind. Death threats and other cruel images ran through their small minds.
Ashley scooted over away from the male intruder sending him an obvious sign, she wanted him to leave. "Maybe the village men stay away because I'm a Hanyou. Now that you know I'm sure you'd rather return to your fan club" She pointed behind her at the group of women who had followed him over there.
Ignoring her subtle signs and harsh words he scooted closer. "Hanyou or not your soul is what I desire." He traced a line from her dark shoulder down to her hand with one of his long cold fingers.
Ashley visibly shuddered under the contact.
"What might I call you maiden, you know mine so I would like to know yours."He pushed some of her short hair away from her face and smiled as he watched her reaction to his touch.
She was frozen in place. She couldn't move. "My name is Osina, but people call me Ashley." Her fear was present in her voice as she spoke but her eyes retained there usual fire.
Nomino smiled curtly and inched closer to her. "Why would you choose to have others call you Ashley? I belive Osina suits you better, dear maiden."
He was so close she could smell his natural scent, garbage. She coughed violently as the smell over powered the sweet scent of burning wood. The cough freed her from the strange spell that Nomino had cast upon her. "I need to get some water" she stated, leaving him without a reply.
She ran away from the party and to the hut she shared with Jin. Slamming the door shut she locked it and went to sit on the couch. She froze in place when she seen who was sitting there. "You!"
Nomino now sat quite comfortably on her couch. Smiling he stood and walked over to her. "Osina", he said testing the word on her. "Osina", He decided he liked the way it rolled off of his tounge and used it again. "Why did you leave me, I enjoy your company greatly"
Ashley, still shocked by his appearence in her home, made a move for the door. Unfortunatly he was in front of that as soon as she got there. Her eyes widened at the speed he had used to beat her to it.
Nomino smirked at her as he advanced towards her small form. "My dear Osina, what are you doing running away again? Did you really think I'd let my future mate get away so easily?
Ashley cringed at the mention of being his mate. "I didn't agree to that, and I don't think I ever will."
Nomino stopped directly infront of her and smiled again this time a primal glare shined through his blue eyes.
Ashley knowing full well what that meant did the only thing she could do, hit him where it hurt.
Nomino grunted a little too loud as he doubled over in pain. He was seeing spots as the pain continued to shoot through his body.
Ashley, smiling in glee, jumped over his hunched form and escaped. Waiting out side were men dressed like Nomino was wearing. "Who are you" she questioned the men.
One of them stepped forward. "We've come to take you with us Maiden. Our master wishes for you to go home with him."
Ashley knew she couldn't deal with this many men by herself. Everyone else had went off to have a party in a neighboring village and Jin had gone with them. She was stuck and she knew it.
Nomino emerged from the house pain still etched onto his handsome face. "Don't stand there grab her", he screamed at the men, "and burn the village after you do so"
Ashley's eyes went from a small spark to an al out fire as Nomino's men came at her. She slipped under one of them and headed towards the other village.
The men grabbed her before she got out of the village square. She fussed and kisked and did anything she could to make her capture hard on them. A few of the men had black eyes and busted lips after they finally tied her up.
"Untie me you bunch of cowards! You had to have seven guys to tie me up! Some hench men you are! I'd hate to see you do some real work! You probably can't even start a fire!" She continued to rant and rave as the the men prepared to detroy the village.
Nomino walked up to her and bent down to be at eye level. " Shh my Osina, they may not be able to handle you but I plan on doing everything else myself." He smiled suggestively and chuckled as her expression turned from anger to pure hatred. "Oh yes, you do have a lovely soul."
Nomino was hit by a large gust of wind that knocked him back several feet. The culprit stood infron of Ashley's falling form with his red hair flying about wildly in the small tornado he had created.
"Jin!" Ashley cried in excitement. He was always there for her no matter what. He'd get rid of those guys and then she'd be safe.
Nomino rose from the ground clearly irritated by the presence of Jin. He sent his men out to attack him.
Jin easily knocked out his minions with a few well placed punches and wind powered kicks. "Alright now your turn it be" he said motioning for Nomino to come.
Nomino smiled evily and ran at him knocking him out of the air with enough force to take out a very big tree.
"Jin!" Ashley ran over to his fallen form to find him holding his arm and wincing in pain. "Gotta be runnin' Ash! Get out of here with ya!"
"No, never" she said glareing at hm. "I'm not leaving you!"
Jin stood up and readied himself to attack again. "There's more to this bloke then be meetin' the eye Ash. He be wantin' you for more then one reason. You need to be runnin!
Nomino pulled out two small blades from his belt. He too was preparing for another attack.
"Jin if I leave he'll kill you" she said looking at Jin with sorrow filled eyes. "Please don't make me go."
Jin's indigo eyes registered the size of the weapons and cursed inwardly. "If ya don't go right now I'll be forced to throw you. I want you to go into Seriyu's Forest and run until ya come upon a house. Be stayin' in the direction of the north and you'll get there."
Ashley seeing that Jin was serious about her leaving took an unsure step backwards. "What? You've always told me to stay way from Seriyu's forest! Why go in there now?"
Jin shoved her aisde as Nomino attacked him. He won that bought sending Nomino into a nearby shed. Knowing he'd not get another chance to explain he turned to Ashley. "Osina, how often be I usin' that name? You have to go. There be a lot of things that should have been told to ya that weren't." He sighed and looked at her his eyes full of affection for the girl he had called sister for so many years.
Ashley stopped all complaints at the sound of her true name. Using that left no room for arguments. She took one last look at him before running into the forest. She heard the sounds of him fighting with Nomino until she was out of earshot.
Her life that had been so normal and carefree was now tacking a drastic turn. Wether it was good or bad was unknown to her. As she ran through the forest trusting Jin's words she cried a single tear and prayed that she'd see Jin soon.
Well that's the end of this chapter. What did ya think? Hope you enjoyed it expect chapter 2 somtime next week! Kead and Review!