Disclaimer. I do not own Yashahime. All rights belong to the creators.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Reasui kept running, turning her head in surprise as Moroha bounded up to her and fell into pace. "I thought you were going to stay behind with Takechiyo."

Moroha didn't look at her as she replied. "It's my fault just as much as it is yours. I'll pay respects with you."

Reasui smiled, and looked forwards again.

"The demon smell is getting stronger, and the smell of blood. We must be getting close."

They ran a few more miles, and stopped at the edge of a sharp drop-off.

Below them, was a ruined village. Huts were smashed, fields were trampled on, even the air seemed dead.

Reasui kneeled at the edge, anger running through her being.

She stood up, and leaped off the cliff, much to Moroha's surprise. "Hey! Be careful!"

The smaller girl wasn't as confident and started slowly climbing down.

Reasui landed on top of a hut, but the wood was so fragile she ended up crashing through. She landed hard on the ground, wincing.

'Ouch.'

Stretching out her ankles, the kitsune made her way out of the debris, out into the village.

The air was thick with death and blood.

Bodies lay haphazardly everywhere, some injured beyond recognition.

Reasui coughed, feeling overwhelmed. Her memories came rushing back. This was how her village looked after the demon assault.

'So…much death. I…I can't stay here.'

She started hyperventilating, eyes wide and unseeing.

Something touched her shoulder, and Reasui scrambled backwards, startled.

Moroha was there, hands up in a unthreatening way. "Woah. Easy. It's just me. Are you okay?" She went to sit beside Reasui, and started stroking her back.

"It'll be alright. Just breathe. Remember, these people need to be buried. Think of how happy their souls will be. It'll be like relief. If we leave them here, they might turn into vengeful spirits."

Reasui laid her ears backwards, uncomfortable. "Okay, but why are you petting my back?"

Moroha flinched, and removed her hand. "Oh, I thought it was calming you down. My mother would do this for me, whenever I was upset."

Reasui stared blankly at her. "Mother…" She whispered.

Standing up, Reasui walked over to a ruined field, and started pulling out the smushed herbs and produce. Tossing them over her shoulder, Reasui tilled the dirt with her claws until it was soft.

"Alright, Moroha. Let's start burying them."

Moroha nodded and went over to a body, slinging a pale arm over her shoulder and dragging the body over to Reasui's makeshift burial mound.

Together, they dug a hole, and lowered the body in, patting dirt over top. They repeated the process for every single slain villager, until they were all respectfully laid to rest.

Reasui walked to the front of the field, turned and kneeled. She clasped her hands together in prayer, and closed her eyes. Moroha did the same.

A few solemn moments passed by, until Reasui lifted her head. "May they find peace in the next life."

Moroha mumbled in agreement.

They both stood up, and without looking back, walked out of the village.

Moroha was the first to break the silence. "So what happened to you back there?"

Reasui didn't answer right away, wanting to walk in silence. But then she spoke. "I was reminded of my clan people. They, looked just as mutilated as those poor villagers."

Reasui stopped, and covered her mouth. Her stomach churned, and she thought she would throw up.

Moroha patted her shoulder. "Easy, easy. Take it slow." Her eyes betrayed her calm voice. They were panicked.

Reasui opened an eye halfway and peeked at Moroha. "How are you so calm about this?"

Moroha removed her hand, staring at the ground. "In my line of work, you deal with stuff like this all the time. I, kind of grew a backbone after a while."

Reasui closed her eyes tightly, and breathed in and out until the roiling nausea passed. "I think I'm good now."

She stood up, and wiped her forehead. "Let's just keep going. I want that bento thing."

Moroha smiled lopsidedly. "Assuming Takechiyo hasn't eaten it yet."

Reasui went stiff. "What."

That was all the incentive she needed. The fiery haired kitsune dashed off, with Moroha struggling to keep up.

"Hey! Wait for meeeeeee!"

END OF CHAPTER EIGHT