14thShrineMaiden:

Millefiori

Chapter 7

"Good morning Yumi." He set down a tray near her head. "Are you feeling better?"

"You know, I used to be a morning person," she mumbled out, shifting under the covers sleepily. "So go away."

He sat down with a small oof, in a chair next to the foot of her bed. "You also used to not go to sleep by means of being knocked unconscious."

"Wasn't my fault."

"You did bring your injuries upon yourself."

"I didn't say anything too offensive to him."

"Too?"

"Well, maybe a little," she grudgingly admitted. "But it's his fault for responding so violently."

"Then maybe you can point out the true reason for his attacking you."

"Small fact that I'm a human girl in the middle of a demon town?"

"A reason enough to rape it, but not to beat it."

"Such eloquent wording flows from your mouth."

"I try, of course." He mussed her hair up before rising. "Next time, if you must be a troublemaker, do it when I'm there."

"I was handling it fine."

"You're lucky I finished my job early. And by fine, I'm sure you referring to it as splitting your skull open."

"Sure- who wouldn't want to have blood and brains spilling out of their cracked head?" She sat up. "Is that chicken I smell?"

"Right by your head? Yes- Tasuta Age."

"Aw, you're the best Takeo." She split the chopsticks in two and began to eat hastily. "My gloomy weekend morning just brightened from your tender loving care."

"And I'm glad you're back to your slightly sarcastic nature. I was beginning to think Ryoto's blow had gone a little too far to your head." He sat down on a chair near the foot of her bed. "The cost of reputation these days. I remember when the whole town used to hide from me."

"Ah, poor old man. Remembering his glory days, scores ago."

"Cynical youngling."

She looked up from her meal. "But do you have anything else to do here Takeo? I mean, I definitely enjoy being pounded into the ground and all, but the Ningenkai seems like a very preferable place now." She waved her chopsticks around for emphasis.

"Just a little bit longer. I just have one more place to go, and that's tonight."

"So what am I supposed to do until then?"

"It's not my fault you walked into a bar."

"I thought it was a restaurant! Or something else…"

"I can always put you to training sessions."

"NO."

"Alright, alright." He held up his hands in innocence, one of them holding a black covered object. "I brought your digital camera."

"Sweetness is mine." She snatched it. "Did you get me a new memory card?"

"Yes, it's in the case." He tossed her some clothes. "Dress, then do what you want, but I advise staying out of the town. Stick to the forest."

"I know the drill old man." She bounced out of bed. "Big hug you lovable guy!"

Takeo brushed her off as if she was nothing. "You're getting a bit too attached, quite literally." She grinned. "Don't get lost." He left.

He had left her a pair of flared dark green Capri's and a white tee-shirt with abstract patterns on it. Slipping on her sneakers, she made her way to the nearby forest (successfully avoiding all in the inn).

'I'm such a scenic junkie.' She had a knack for this, photography; art in general.

She zoomed the camera out. 'Did I just see something red?' Stopping, she zoomed back in, searching for what she had thought she'd seen. 'Red blob… where are you…?' A bird flew right in front of her face in response, making her curse and jump backwards.

SMASH

A blinding flash of light lit up on the ground, eating away at the earth. Yumiko stared at the large indent in the ground. 'That could have been me. I owe that bird one.' She glanced up at her attacker.

"Hello there." A demon saluted her with his hand. "How nice to meet you."

She just stared. 'So that's the thing I saw…' The demon had red hair, pale skin, and blue marks tattooed (or was it natural?) on his face. He was strong- she could tell from the muscles and from his previous attack on her.

"The name's Rando. I've heard about you- and your family. It just sparked my curiosity. I've been wondering what two humans are doing out here, especially when one of them is Takeo Sato. What relation does he have with you?"

"Do all demons think that humans are that stupid?" She snorted rudely. "As if I'd go blurting all that personal information out to you- that'd be just plain idiotic."

He chuckled. "You humans are quite intriguing. Much more funny than we give you credit for."

"Yeah well, you're racist cannibalistic morons who can't tell an ass from another."

"Such compliments, but I've been called worse before."

"So what are you going to do about it, bite me?"

"Perhaps." He took a step closer, smirking when she hurriedly stepped back two. "But I don't eat humans often. I kill them." His eyes flashed, the complacent expression growing on his face. He took several more steps forward.

Yumiko scrambled backwards, turning and breaking out in a run.

"You can't outrun me," he called, appearing alongside her in a blur. "And you obviously can't hide because I can sense you."

"Well then stop playing with me, d--- it!"

"Do you really want that?" Right after his words, a thick rope shot out from behind her and bound her arms and legs. Instead of the rough hairs creating a burn from friction, she felt some sort of rubbery substance. It began to shift, drawing her arms and legs together to be parallel to her body.

"It's an aura web. I'm probably the only demon who can spin one." She struggled in response to the other's words. "And did I mention that it's unbreakable?"

"This is exactly the thing I hate from demons! They're so cocky and arrogant- all you assholes assume that humans are lower than you! That is what irks me the most about you people!"

"Yet if we're so cocky, why don't you teach me a lesson?"

"Because I'm unqualified, and I might actually want to live?"

"Too true." He attached her to a horizontal tree branch so that she was hanging upside down. "And since you have decided for us that you don't want to play, where is your brother?"

"Takeo is not-!"

"I wasn't talking about Takeo, although I'll eventually get to that. I meant your real brother."

"You know that he's dead! He died in the accident!"

"Of course he didn't. He remains one of the most powerful spiritual masters, an excellent assassin. And I want to find out where he is." Rando calmly examined her from opposite.

Yumiko stared at Rando blankly- perhaps it was the spot above his head she was looking at. "He's dead. He never came home after the crash. If he was alive, he would have. He wouldn't leave me here…"

"Hate to break it to you, but he's alive. And I want to know where he is."

She glared, regaining the potency of her anger. "I didn't even know he was alive! How the hell would I know where he is!"

"Now, you could use your powers-"

"I don't have any!"

"So that's why your family ostracized you? Because they thought you weren't worthy of being in their clan?" He smirked.

"SHUT UP YOU BAST---!" Her face, red from all the blood going to her head got even redder. Anger and embarrassment swelled within her as her face showed rage.

"Are you getting irritated because I'm correct?"

"JUST SHUT UP!"

"Rando."

Two heads turned to the figures now standing several feet away.

"Just let her go."

Rando grinned. "You think you two can stop me?" Rando let multiple balls of spirit energy shoot out at the two other demons. They easily dodged them, weaving in and out with perfect mobility.

"Humph." Rando summoned another, but the strike was blown away in several sudden gusts of wind. The forest got chillier, and sharp particles of ice were summoned and added into a newly created tornado which was launched at Rando.

Rando blew it away with another spirit energy attack. "You're going to have to bring your power level up if you want her," he said smirking. He threw another aura web at the demon with blue hair, who ducked and rolled out of the way. Rando created more multiple spirit energy blasts, directed towards the one who-

'Gah!' She closed her eyes tightly as he swept past, leaving scant inches between her and him.

He could fly!

The flying demon flashed a grin at her before once again circling, while dodging the blasts. He passed her; a ball of energy hit and snapped her bonds. She fell and landed on her tailbone on the hard forest ground.

"Ow! Ow Ow Ow!" She pulled herself up, by means of using the same trunk of the tree she had been tied to. The world spun with dizzying speed, nausea causing her to close her eyes again and cover her mouth.

The instant her spell was over, she was grabbed again. Swooped up by the flying red-head, she nearly screamed in surprise, not nearly so much fear. The other demon had grabbed the flying with by the forearm, and a strong wind supported them and lifted them higher. Shots went past as Rando tried to prevent them from leaving him behind.

"I'll find him," he called; Yumiko turned her head away, trying to ignore him.

"Jin, a little longer."

"But me' arms are getting tired," whined the other slightly. "You both ain't light."

"If you weren't a complete stranger who just helped save me, I would slap you over the head," Yumiko shot back. "You aren't exactly distributing compliments, by the by."

The blue haired demon sighed, cutting off Jin. "Over there, near the clearing." Indicated demon nodded and obeyed, landed, and then gently setting them on the ground.

"So, are ya alright?" They both inspected her a little, trying to see if she was wounded badly.

"I'm fine." She stared back defiantly. Who wants to stare at the ground?

"The name's Jin." The redhead cheerfully stuck out his hand, half grabbing her own after she extended it somewhat and pumped it up and down enthusiastically. She sweat-dropped, trying to release herself from his hold.

"I'm Touya." He calmly grasped his partner's shoulder; the grip loosened, and Jin's hands dropped to his hips. He clasped her hand lightly, perhaps to make up from the other's strength, and let it go. "What are you doing here in Makai without someone accompanying you?"

She snorted slightly, indignant. "I can take care of myself."

"Good job you were doing."

"Quit it!"

"Where are you staying? It would be safest if we escort you there." Both were surprised at Touya's proposal.

"You will?"

"We will?"

She growled. "Do you have any tact?"

"Well-"

"Would you really rather prefer walking in Makai?"

She hesitated, thinking it over for several seconds. "If it isn't too much trouble then."

"Good." He turned, beginning to walk to the right. "Follow, and keep up the pace. Dark comes quickly."

Jin grinned, clapping his hand on her back. "We're probably going your way anyway."

"Thanks." She jogged over to catch up, they catching a small smile sent their way.

: End Chapter

14thShrineMaiden: 7th Chapter! wOOt.