First, I want to give a big THANK YOU for your patience with me and this unannounce/unplanned hiatus. It was not my intention to go this long with out an update and I am deeply sorry for it.

Secondly and as always, I am not 100% happy with this update and I wanted to make it longer, but I also didn't want you all to wait any longer than what you have already. Helpful and constructive criticisms are always and eternally welcomed, appreciated, and taken to heart, but please refrain from needless nasty comments because I've been reading people for the filth they are in real life these past few months, so adding virtual people to the list will not be a problem for me.

With that said, please enjoy and again I apologize for the wait.

~Stay Caffeinated

Rumors

Fascinating things that spread faster than sickness. For some, it maybe just that. A sickness. The inability to ignore idle gossip and spread it further.

It all starts with the truth….or some version of the truth. Person 1 tells person 2 what happened as they saw it. Person 2 tells person 3, then person 3 tells person 4, but something is slightly off. Instead of five deaths, now there were seven. 4 tells 5 that only children died thinking the seven was an age and not a total. 5 tells 6 that it was a demon who eats children's souls, 6 tells 7 that the demon was massive and very few survived.

And so it goes. Each person unknowingly…or knowingly adding or changing the story to make it more interesting to tell to others. Some going as far as to place themselves in the tale to get some sort of reaction or sympathy.

My favorite part about all this though….was that someone…in this ever changing chain of tales, put the Jinje village killings and the Yarboro brothel burning together. Breathing new life in to this sordid tale and giving the demon a name.

~Mahime~

I manage to lift myself up just enough to grasp the clay vessel by the neck. Sliding it towards me, I steady myself as I lift the vessel over my cup and tilt it, allowing the clear liquid to fill the clay cup.

I slam the vessel down a bit harder than intended and stare down at the swirling sake.

Waiting

Eventually, she appears. The nameless mother. Stuck down in cold blood. Leaving an orphan behind.

She burns my throat as she goes down. But this pain, this pain I can handle. This pain is bearable.

The cup refills and the homeless boy appears. My eyes sting as I stare at his dirty face. He goes down smooth. As if grateful that someone on this side of the world was mourning him. Grateful that someone finally cared…albeit a bit too late.

I run my hands over my face. My head swimming. The world around me spinning.

The cup refills

"No more…." I mutter softly, but the younger sister appears. Her hair in tiny pigtails. A bright smile on her face.

She burns me.

I rest my forehead on the table waiting for the pain to subside. A little boy….a little girl…

If I could choose, I would want a boy. They can grow up strong. They can survive this world. Little girls…..little girls will grow up only to be torn to pieces…physically….mentally...then thrown aside used and worthless….or...if they are lucky….they become property…whether through marriage or by force.

I turn my head so my cheek rests on the table. I watch as my arm refills the cup without my permission.

The elderly couple. I throw back two cups. One for each of them. They make me feel warm. As if I were receiving a hug from the inside. I giggle resting my cheek back on the table. Closing my eyes, I allow the warmth to spread through me. Wondering if this is what a hug from a grandparent would feel like.

My mother's died from illness when she was still young. My father's were casualties when a group of bandits raided his village.

The world truly is a dark place.

I grasp the vessel's neck and slide it towards me. The last one. He didn't need a cup. I knew exactly how he would go down.

Hard. Mercilessly.

I bring the vessel to my lips and chug him down.

The Father.

He chokes me. Burns my throat…my eyes…my nose…

I cough on the irony. For it was no longer sake I was drinking….but hypocrisy.

He was reminding me….that I was no better….no better than HIM

I slam the vessel down cracking its base. My forehead finds its place back on the table as I let that realization pull me further down, leaving me to drown in my guilt and disgust.

"M-miss…e-excuse me."

I feel a hand gently rock my shoulder.

"Miss, please…"

I shift my head towards the voice to see the only waitress of little tea house. A young girl, perhaps a year younger than myself…maybe two.

She crouches down to my level allowing me to get a better look at her round youthful face. Her brown eyes are large…holding something that wasn't quite innocence….no….they've seen things…things that make it impossible for innocence to survive….but….it was something….something that existed between innocence and bitterness. My head began to throb as I tried to figure out what it was.

She pushes her dark brown braid from her shoulder to her back as she gives me a warm smile and slides a little plate cradling two rice balls towards me.

"Please…eat something."

Her voice is soft and gentle…but also forced as if she were trying to keep herself calm.

"Please…..eat…"

I watch as her eyes flicker from my face to a spot off to the side of me. Lazily, I shift my body in the direction her eyes accidently signaled to. She grabs hold of my arm to stop me, but I shrug her off.

One of the men makes a kissing motion towards me as the others just stare at me like a pack of wolves whole stumbled across a fat lame deer.

"They've been watching you since your second order of sake….they even paid for your third."

I peer down the rim of the vessel…"Y-you mean this isn't a magic….magic cup?!" I say hiccupping before slamming my head against the table, "WHY IS EVERTHING IN THIS WORLD A FUCKING LIE!"

The waitress pushes the rice balls closer to me, "Please eat these."

I suddenly sit up and glare at the men across the room before turning to the waitress and resting my hand on her shoulder.

"I love you, magical sake lady. You're….you're my only friend….and you bring me food….that makes you a friend….a good friend." I throw my other hand on her and lean in close, "HIDE UNDER THE TABLE!" I whisper ,"I'M GONNA KILL THESE FUCKERS!"

"What did you say you little bitch!"

I pull the sake lady closer to me, "OH SHIT! THEY HEARD US!"

"B-because you're yelling!" she cries no longer able to hold in her panic.

"Table the under, now!"

I shove her down and stumble out of my seat to the floor. "This is your final warning," I say sitting on my knees and pointing a menacing finger at the three men, "Leave this village and never return! For I-" I slap my palm against my chest, "I am the biter of faces! The slasher of throats!"

I slap my palms on the ground and begin to rise only to fall back and land on my butt.

"A TRAINED MERCENARY!"

I throw my fist in the air, "I AM THE ONLY AND ONLY TERRIBLE MAHIME!"

I collapse to my back, "Fear *hic* me peasants *hic* fear and tremble"

"Oh….no…." the sake lady breathes quietly behind me.

The three men erupt in laughter as one approaches me.

"You?! A demon!" He laughs as he pulls me to my feet by the collar of my yukata, "Don't think I ever fucked a demon before. Sounds like fun!"

"Y-you…you shouldn't touch me." I keep pressing my palm against his face, "he….gets real….real mad when people touch me…"

"Is that so?!" the guy smirks as his punch rattles my jaw and I land on my face groaning spitting out a wad of blood.

He grabs hold of my hair and yanks me upwards.

"You drunk my sake. The way I see it," he leans in close, "you. owe. Me"

"Let her go!" Clay shattering sounds and the guy yelps releasing me.

I collapse back to the ground as I hear the other two spring to action.

"Fucking whore! Stay out of this!"

The sake lady screams and I stumble to my feet before charging at the man who was yanking on her hair.

"Don't hurt my sake lady!"

I slam in to him causing the two of us to fall to the floor. I bite down on his hand as he tried to push me away before fishing out the blade hidden in the sleeve of my yukata. I run it hard in to eye and he screams.

I bring it down again in to the other and finish by jamming it down in to his throat pressing against all that resisted till I felt the hardwood floor beneath him.

I wait for his last throws to settle before sitting up and yanking my blade out of him. I examine my handy work in mild fascination before rising. I exhale before turning towards the remaining two and smile.

"I don't feel bad about that one." I say pointing the tip of my blade to their dead comrade. I feel myself sway slightly as I point my blade to them, "Who's next?"

The one who punched me before clenches his fist, "You think your something special just because you got lucking, you little bitch." He steps forwards, "I'd like to see you pull that shit on m-" My blade lands in the center of his stomach and he clutches it before falling to his knees.

"N-normally….that….that would have been your eye….b-but" I stumble to the side, but catch myself from falling, "You…you wouldn't stop moving so I just aimed for a larger area."

I stagger up to him as he stares down at the knife embedded in his stomach. I fall to my knees in front of him and rest my hand on his shoulder pulling him closer to me, "I warned you." I say into his ear as I twist the blade and drag it upwards. I shove him away from me.

"Fuck this shit!" the last one cries before bolting for the entrance. A sickening wet sound followed by a "Huwack!' causes all attention to go towards the door.

The larger portion of a curved blade can be seen emerging from the center of the man's back.

"Well, well. Looks I caught myself quite a cutie."

The owner of the blade forced the man back in to the tea house as he comes inside himself.

"What a shame. You would have had a far more beautiful death had we met earlier."

The owner twists the blade so the curve was now upwards and pulls it out through the man's shoulder.

I hear the sake lady retch somewhere behind me as the few remaining patrons scramble out of the tea house from the back.

I steady myself as I glare at the newcomer, "What the fuck do you want, Jakotsu?"

Jakotsu points his blade at me, "Don't start with me, you cow! I've been looking everywhere for you and-" he stops as he watches me catch myself for the third time, "…..O…..!?...Oh…..! Oh my God! Are you drunk!?"

I stumble forward, "Your face is drunk!"

His face deadpans for a split seconds before bursting in to hysterics, "Oh shit! You're absolutely gone!"

I look down at my hands and scoff, "No, you idiot." I raise my palms out to him, "I'm still here!"

He laughs harder, "Please….just….just stop talking till I can get you to big brother!"

I step back as he approaches me, "I'm not going anywhere with you." I stumble over to the pale sake lady and pull her in to my chest, "I….i-i-I'm staying here with the pretty sake lady. So go fuckselves."

"Sake….lady…." Jakotsu pinches the bridge of his nose struggling to keep himself together, "Please….IM ACTUALLY BEGGING YOU to stop talking until Big brother sees this.

"The pretty sake lady is my friend."

"I can't breathe" she muffles and I hold on to her tighter, "She's a better friend than you."

"Well, obviously because we're not friends."

I pull the sake lady away from he and she inhales deeply, "He's so mean…" I whine and she blinks.

"H-he?!"

I laugh.

"Um,…s-sir….maybe…..maybe….it would be best if she rests with me for the night."

"Aht! Aht! Not my call. We have a job, and we've got to head out. Big Brother is already pissed she's been gone for the better half of the day. He's going to be livid when he sees her now. You have to ask him. I just have to bring her back, so pick her up and lets go."

"Me!?"

I slide down her and on to the floor suddenly feeling very sleepy.

"Of course you! If I get her and she throws up on me, I'll cut her fucking head off."

I chuckle as I lay down on my back, "I'd do it….too…"

"I know….you….classless cow…"

I feel the alcohol pull me further down to sleep, "Your….mother…" Their voices begin to fade as adrenaline from the fight begins to fade away. I feel the sake lady struggle to lift me up.

"d-d-don't…don't leave me with them." I manage to say before finally giving in to sleep.

I wake just in time to lean over and vomit. I rest my hands on either side of the oozing pool of liquid trying to recover before running the back of my wrist across my mouth. I cough as I flop back to my back waiting for the throbbing to ease on either side of my head. I hear gentle footsteps approach.

"Here." They say as the help me up and bring a cup to my lips. I guzzle the cool liquid down before coughing again.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like shit." I mutter running a hand over my face, and the person laughs. I look over to see a young girl with large brown eyes. A pang of familiarity hits me as I study her face, but the throbbing of my head keeps me from trying to remember.

"I've seen you before."

She nods, "I should hope so. Do you remember anything from last night?"

I rest my forehead in the palm of my hand, "Should I?"

I look over to her when I didn't receive an answer. Her face had a look of disbelief.

"Umm…" she finally begins, "Well….you….sort of….killed a man….two actually."

"….did they deserve it?"

"…I suppose….yes….and you friends….they…..um…well….I mean your boyfriend….he-"

I lift my hand up to stop her, "boyfriend?"

She nods fiercely before cupping her cheeks and blushing at the memory, "Oh yes! I hope I'd find a love like that someday."

I swallow trying to make sense of her words through the throbbing, "What….what are you talking about. I don't….I…..have a boyfriend?"

She smiles, "Oh yes, and I congratulate you too. It's so rare to find someone like him!" She begins to rock and giggle, "OH he was sooooo handsome…and polite….he even thanked me for bring you to him." She giggles harder, "Oh! And his eyes! So blue! Not like a bright blue…but like….night sky blue!"

I gently shake my head, "i-I don't….don't…" I groan through the throbbing as I rest my forehead in the palm of my hand, "I…don't know….a blue…eyed…." The sudden sharp clench of realization in my stomach causes me to vomit again. I hear the young girl gasp as she rubs my back.

No…

I steady myself as I struggle to process her words.

Dear god no!

I fan her hand away from me as a sign that I'm ok.

"That man…" I begin once my stomach settled, "Tanned skin?"

"…y-yes"

I pinch the bridge of my nose, "long black hair braided down his back?"

She nods again in the affirmative

"Did he possess an unwavering sense of entitlement and arrogance?"

"Well….I mean….he did have an air of confidence to him."

I snort, "Confidence…sure…..let's call it that."

I rub my face and sigh, "That man…is ABSOLUTLY POSITIVILY NOT. MY. BOYFRIEND. I mean…" a chuckle escapes me, "I mean…..hehe….heheheha….the idea…" My mouth begins to quiver as I struggle to keep it all in, "It's…haha….ahahaha…..it's…*snorts*…it's…..hahahah….ahhahaha…..HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!" I double over as my stomach begins to cramp, "AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" I feel the tears slide down my face as I struggle to regain composure, and finally, after a few more minutes, my laughter begins to die down, "Hahaha…haha…ha….ugh…..ugghhh…..oooh my god….ugh…..my side hurts." I rest my throbbing head on my knee and I wait for my face to cool off.

"…I….I just….thought….."

The sound of her voice pulls me back to the room, look up at her.

"I just thought you two were together."

I snort, "Did he say that? Did he tell you I was his wife or some shit like that?"

A look of uncertainty crosses her face, "Well….um…no…but…"

"But what?" I smile at her waiting to hear what level of bullshit Bankotsu fed this poor girl, "What on earth made you think we were together?"

The girl studies me for a moment, "You really don't remember anything from last night…."

I feel my smile falter, "heh….ehhh….w-what does that mean? W…what happened?"

"….."

I clear my throat and sit up a little straighter, "Just tell me."

She exhales, "Ok, but just so I have a better understanding….you DON'T like him, right?"

"Yes, I hate him."

"Right…but….are you sure?!"

"Am I….AM I SURE!?" I laugh and blink not really believing what she is saying, "W-what's your name?"

"Okimi."

"Ok, Okimi? Okimi, I've have dedicated my ENTIRE life, my whole existence, EVERY LAST OUNCE OF MY BEING to the absolute destruction of this one particular man. I want to tie him up, skin him alive, boil him in oils, rip every last tooth and nail from his body and then proceed to break every bone I can. I want to carve every name of every single one of my loved ones he took from me in to his body and burn the flesh so that it will stay there permanently. I want to rip open his guts, pull out his organs and hang him with the longest piece I can find. And then….THEN! When he finally dies, when that beautiful scream of his finally weakens in to pathetic whimper only to die out like the last ember of a flame, THEN! I will hunt down some witch or demon, make a deal with them, GIVE THEM MY VERY SOUL IF I HAVE TO, JUST! So they can bring this man BACK TO LIFE…

SO THAT I CAN DO IT ALL AGAIN!"

I exhale slowly as I wait for my body to stop trembling and then inhale deeply, "Yes….yes I am most certain that I hate him." I finish giving her a warm smile.

Okimi blinks, "Ah…..ok…well….when you put it like that….I…uh….Are you ok?"

"Nope"

"Do you need hug?"

"!?...uh…yeah….actually I do…"

My eyes sting a bit as we embrace, and the tears fall as the realization that this was the first hug I've gotten in a long time hits me.

"Hugs are good." She says softly rubbing my back, "They can't fix the problem….but…..they make it easier to keep going. They remind people that despite being in this world of violence…there can be moments of rest, of genuine kindness, of humanity."

I chuckle softly, "You're weird."

She laughs, "So I've been told."

She hugs me tighter for a moment longer before pulling away.

"So…" I being after collecting myself, "I take it I said something along the lines of not hating him last night?"

"Uuuuh, yeah…..something along the lines of …..…..you loved him."

"w-w-w-w-w-WHAT!?"

"I mean….to be honest….you told A LOT of things that you loved them last night, so I wouldn't read too much into it."

"WHAT!?"

"Yeah…you….you uh...you said you loved me…you loved the tall one who sort of resembles a girl….you loved the man who…..I think was mostly metal…you told a crow that you loved it…..and cried when it flew away…oh but you did tell this bald guy to eat a dick and burn in hell….your words, mine.

I stare at her in disbelief, "W-what else did I do."

"Well, let's see. You then proceeded to chase the crow who rejected your love, but we caught you before you got too far. You're really fast by the way. Then you….um….cried on the tanned man's shoulder saying the crow hurt your feelings and all you wanted to do was love it. Then you got angry at the tan man blaming him for taking away everything you loved- which now makes a lot of sense- and then you started to kick and punch him all while screaming that everything not loving you was his fault. This cause him to sort of throw you over his shoulder."

"Did I at least throw up on him?"

"You did, actually. Right down his back, if I'm not mistaken"

"Yes!"

"Which pissed him off naturally, and he threw you to the ground causing you to hit your head pretty hard, but I think you already passed out by that point."

I nod, not happy with the report, but satisfied with how it ended.

"He had me take you here and told me to keep an eye on you till they got back."

"And when will that be?"

"He said in about three days. He also said that you were not allowed to drink again, unless it was with him."

I roll my eyes, "I'll drink whenever I damn well please."

"Well," Okimi stands, "I was planning to head over to the market to get something to make dinner with. You're more than welcome to join if you feel up to it."

"Dinner?"

She nods, "Yeah, you were out for most of the day today. I was on my way out when I heard you wake."

I rub my hands over my face for a moment before deciding that the steady pulse of my headache wasn't completely unbearable, "Sure, let me clean up a bit."

"Sooo, Jakotsu….doesn't like women…..at all?"

I laugh nodding, "Both in general and in a way that a man should like a woman."

Okimi readjusts her bag of groceries lost momentarily in thought, "….I feel sorry for him." She finally says after a moment of silent waking. I scoff.

"Don't. He most definitely won't show any sympathy towards you."

"I know…but…it's just…that's a dangerous way to live….especially as open as he is with it. If a man were to ever find out that he was a man as well….dressed the way he is….they may hurt him…or worse. I've seen what villagers do to strange men like Jakotsu." Okimi shudders a bit, "It's terrible."

I shake my head chuckling at the absurdity of such a situation for Jakotsu and the genuine concern she has for him. A level of concern that I am certain Jakotsu would be incapable of showing to anyone who isn't Bankotsu.

"It's different for us women."

I look over at her confused.

"The same men that would beat and torture a man for….well…..for being like Jakotsu…they don't get as angry with me."

"Well, why would they? As a woman you're supposed to like men."

She chuckles, "I like both, Yaruki."

"Both?"

"Ugh!" her face suddenly flushes a deep red, "I-I...I mean…..I…I know men…who like…l-like both….and….they….um….I….just…thought….maybe Jakotsu…was….."

Her voice trails off as she fanatically fiddles with her grocery bag. Tired of seeing her struggle, I grab the bag from her and fling it casually on my back.

Without her bag, she begins fiddling with her fingers avoiding direct eye contact with me, "I-I'm just….saying….I…I'm worried about people like Jakotsu."

"hn," I say as I continue our walk, "Don't be. I assure you, if ever a situation like that were to happen….even with twenty villagers against him…You're concerns, your prayers, and your sympathy should still fall to the villagers."

"Is he that strong?"

"He's that violent."

"…"

We remain silent as Okimi finishes the last of her shopping, and we make our way back to her home.

"Hey! Okimi."

She stops and bows to the man who approaches, "Good evening, Matsuda. How are you today?"

"Better now that I've seen your pretty face."

Okimi giggles, and I step back trying to give the two some privacy.

"You're too kind."

"Perhaps I can come by later for tea?"

Okimi gives an apologetic bow, "Unfortunately, I have some company staying with me, but perhaps another time."

"Oh, don't mind me, Okimi. Just pretend I'm not even there." I say with a nervous laugh, "Don't let me ruin any plans of yours."

The man named Matsuda begins to laugh heartily as Okimi's face flushes pink.

"See, Okimi, your company doesn't mind at all. In fact, she's more than welcome to watch if she wants."

I try to keep a blank face as I struggle to figure out how what I said was funny, "I don't think it would be much fun just watching people drink tea." I say after a moment, "I'd much rather have a cup myself, if Okimi doesn't mind."

Okimi squeaks as Matsuda begins laughing again, "SEE! It's settled then, Okimi-"

"NOPE!" Okimi says in a high shrill voice, "No, no, no, no, no! I will see you later on Matsuda. Please go home to your wife tonight." Okimi grabs hold of my collar and begins to pull me away.

I look back at the red face Matsuda still trying to catch his breath.

"I don't see how anything I said was so funny." I muttered as I look back at Okimi. Her face a terrible deep shade of red, "And what's the matter with you? I just wanted some tea."

"Please….Yaruki….stop talking…."

For the rest of that night and the following day, Okimi and I spent much time talking about a variety of things, from how the village runs, to idle gossip that she picked up here and there and even bits and pieces of our lives: our struggles, our ups and downs. It is odd how close people can become in such a short amount of time. So close in fact, that when she asked how I even came to be in the presence of a group of mercenaries my second night with her…..I ended up telling her everything. From the moment I saw Bankotsu on the road home to now. It all just came flooding out, as if I'd been waiting for the first sympathetic ear to listen. And now, with it all out in the open….I felt….

Pathetic.

As if all these months…almost a year of silence made it seem like I was ok with it all, but now….it just sounds like I'm whining…and the noise irritates me.

"I'm sorry." I mutter as I bring the tea cup to my lips.

"For what?"

"I must sound so….so…."

"Hurt. You sound hurt, Yaruki, and that's ok." She gives me a warm smile, "You deserve to be hurt, and angry, and bitter…" she lets out a weak chuckle, "You're far braver than I could ever be…I think I would have ran away a long time ago. Assuming I survived as long as you did."

I huff as I take another sip of my tea, "There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity, and I have a horrible tendency to ignore it. Don't admire me."

"Still, you're truly amazing you know that."

"HA! Really, Okimi, don't encourage this." I motion towards my entire being, and we laugh.

"I'm serious, Yaruki. I think the bravest thing I ever did was-" She suddenly stops her face going bright red, "Uh…n-nevermind"

I choke on the tea as I laugh realizing her comment was related to her other occupation, "Nope." I say with a teasing smirk, "Now you got to tell me."

Okimi melts into her clothing frantically waving at the air as if that would erase her comment. "Ahhhh….n-n-n-n-no….."

A powerful clap of thunder overhead startles us both in to silence, but before we even had time to recover a blinding light appears followed by an ear splitting crack. The very earth shakes beneath us as we quickly run out of the house. I snatch Okimi back before the herd of villagers knock her over screaming in panic.

"FLEE, RODENTS!"

Another powerful blast sounds. I immediately grab Okimi's hand and begin to run in the opposite direction of the group. "This way!"

"Shouldn't we be going with everyone else?!"

I ignore her question as I pull her through the back alleyways of the village. After a few more moments of running, I stop so she can catch her breath and so that I can assess what to do next.

"It was too large of a group." I say softly as I try to ignore the distant blasts and screams of the villagers.

"W-wh-what?"

"You asked why we ran in the opposite direction. It was too large of a target. If you herd that many people together….it makes it easier to kill them all at once."

I frown to myself wondering if this was somehow Bankotsu's doing, and if it was…

Okimi grunts in realization, "R-right…but….won't we….we run in to whatever is attacking us?"

I take her hand and begin to move again, "Not if we're fast, quiet, and we listen."

We eventually reach the main road, and I step back a ways in to the alley pressing Okimi against the building and out of anyone's sight. Peering out myself, I scan the empty smoking roads with corpses quietly smoldering here and there.

The smell makes me gag.

Within the short time since this attack started, whoever the bastards were reduced the village to nothing more the empty burning shells of homes and scorched earth. Had I not seen and heard the thunder and lightning myself, I could have easily mistaken this for some of Renkotsu's work.

I quickly scan the street and the sky, but see no sigh of who is behind the attack. I sigh, "Where is the closest exit from here?"

"I would be the west entrance, down this road."

"How far?"

"….I..I don't know for certain."

"Could we reach it in less than three minutes if we ran?"

"Possibly, assuming the road is still intact up a head."

I nod also remembering the massive holes in the road from the lighting attacks back where we started.

"Ok," I says nodding and turning towards her, "On the count of three, we run. Don't stop. Don't look back. Make a bee line for the forest."

Okimi nods and we line ourselves up to the edge where the alley met the main road.

"1.." I start.

"2.." she replies.

A heavy hand lands on each of our shoulders as a large pale reptilian head emerges between us, "3!" it says.

We scream bolting out in to the street.

"Wait! Ladies, Come back! I didn't mean to startle you."

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!?" Okimi screams glancing quickly back behind her as we continue to sprint down the road.

"I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T CARE! JUST RUN!" I say grabbing her hand and pushing my legs faster.

"I SAID TO COME BACK!"

I break my one rule of looking back to see a bright golden light emanating from the creatures mouth.

He releases the blast, and I yank Okimi and myself down slamming our bodies on the ground, but allowing the blast to fly over us. It hits a building close by and the aftershock knocks us back some. I quickly try to recover as I hear the sound of footsteps approaching.

"O-okimi!" I mutter trying to rouse the unconscious girl. The large creature stops a few feet away from me and I glare at him.

"My, My, you two are just as lovely as I thought! With the two of you in my potion," the creature begins to rub his giant bald head, "I'LL HAVE A FULL HEAD OF HAIR IN NO TIME. HAHAHAHAHA"

"Who are you!? Why have you destroyed this village?!" I spit as I shakily rise to my feet.

"Who am I?" the creature laughs, "Why I am Maten of the Great Thunder Brothers!"

I scoff as I pull one of the few arrows that managed to stay in my quiver out, "You can't be all that great since I've never heard of you."

Maten face becomes flustered, "Grrr, HOW DARE YOU!" He huffs as he crosses his arms over his large chest, "Just as an ant knows not of the world of humans, a human would know nothing of the world of demons."

"Heh, sounds like a lot of bullshit to cover up the fact that you suck."

He stomps one foot forwards waving his fist in my direction, "Insolent wench!"

I release my arrow at his feet and he stumbles backwards, "Take another step and I'll run this arrow right through your fat skull. "

Maten growls as his mouth begins to glow and crackle, "The recipe never called for the maidens to be in one piece to use."

I brace myself and align another arrow right at his eye, "Try it mother fucker."

"What's the matter Maten? This mere woman giving you trouble?"

A startled grunt escapes me as I stare up at the owner of the voice.

They were damn near identical.

A chill runs through me as I try to take a step back, but stop when my heel nudges the still unconscious Okimi.

"Not at all brother Hiten. I was just about to teach this insolent brat some manners."

I wanted to retort….but I couldn't keep my eyes off the one named Hiten. His face…his hair….even down to that infuriatingly arrogant smile….

HOW!? HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE THAT TWO OF THEM EXISTED AT THE SAME FUCKING TIME! WHO THE HELL IS BIRTHING THEM?!

"Hehehe, it seems she's awestruck by your dashing good looks brother."

"It seems so, but, it is to be expected I suppose." Hiten lowers himself closer to the ground as he runs a hand through his bangs, "It's always the humans who seem to fall in a trance whenever they see me."

I rip my eyes away from the Bankotsu-copy and growl, "That is NOT it at all!" I snap glaring at the both of them, "I was merely trying to see which one of you was uglier. Although both of your faces look like the back end of a dirty old troll."

"WHY YOU-" Maten snarls as he charges his attack once more, but Hiten begins to laugh. And hard.

"Quite the sharp tongue you have, huh."

My bow and arrow clatter to the ground as I try to pry his hand off my chin. His grip tightens, "How about I cut it out?"

I glare at him as I continue to pry his hands off me, "Let go!" I snarl.

He chuckles, "A feisty one aren't you? I like that."

A sickening wave of familiarity hits me at his words, and I work harder to free myself.

"I'm keeping this one, Maten. You can have the other."

"R-really brother?! Are you sure? Out of the both of them, the other seems more comely."

"Better for your potion, right?"

"Oh! YES! Thank you, big brother!"

I see Maten rush over to us.

"DON'T FUCKING TOUCH HER!" I kick Hiten hard in the shin startling him enough to release me.

Maten screams in pain as he falls to his butt, staring at the blade of my knife that was protruding though the palm of his hand.

Before I am able to reach down to protect Okimi, Hiten grabs a hand full of my hair, snatching me back towards him which cause me to lose my balance. I end up having to lean against him for support. His fingers dig deeper in to my hair, latching on to what feels like my very roots and he pulls me back further, preventing any possibility of getting my footing back.

I stifle a grunt of pain as he forces me to look up in to his large gleaming red eyes. A dark smirk playing on his lips as he studies me for a moment.

"Now, give me one reason why I shouldn't break you in half for what you've done to my brother."

My feet begin to slip out from under me and I grab hold of his wrist, trying to keep myself from falling. He chuckles in amusement and I glare at him.

"I'm waiting." He says simply tugging at my hair and I flinch. "You were filled with such clever little remarks earlier. What's the matter now? Forgotten how to speak?"

I continue to silently glare at him, teeth bared, when suddenly an idea came to me.

Perhaps….their appearances aren't the only thing they share.

"B-because…" I begin fighting through the throbbing pain, "If you kill me now…you'll miss the opportunity to fight an opponent far stronger than you'd ever hope to be."

Hiten laughs, "And who might that be? Certainly you can't be referring to yourself."

"N-no, stupid."

His eye twitches in anger and he yanks on my head once more, "My patience with you is running thin, wench. Speak now!"

"Let go!"

"Do you really think you're in a position to order me around?"

"You want a worthy opponent right!? I'm not telling you shit until you let me go!"

I scream as he shakes me violently before bringing me so close to his face that our noses touch. "I've devoured humans for doing and saying far less than what you've done this entire interaction. This warrior of yours better be worth my time or so help me, I'll make you regret ever leaving your mother womb."

He throws me to the ground, and I lay there for a moment, trying to stop my trembling.

But I can't.

I stare down at my shaking hands as they struggle to keep my upper body propped up. I close my eyes, exhaling slowing, "H-h-his name is Bankotsu." I begin, struggling to keep my voice steady, "He's a mercenary-"

"He's human!? You expect me to believe some HUMAN is stronger than me!?"

I frantically try to crawl away from him before his footsteps got any closer, but he grabs my ankle and flips me over to face him.

"BUT HE IS!" I spit.

I feel my body begin convert my fear in to pure rage as the line I mentioned to Okimi before begins to disappear.

"He carries and wields a halberd that's larger than you and weighs more than three of old baldy over there combined." I climb to my feet and approach him with hard even steps, "And when I tell him that you had the nerve to put your fucking hands on me," I press my chest against him as I look up at him defiantly, "he'll use that blade to rip you in to the tiny pieces of shit that you're made up of."

I didn't want to end it here, but the all mighty coin flip decided that this is where I would end it. It shouldn't be too long for the second part *fingers crossed*, and I think its funny to ended it on the age old "My boyfriend is gonna whoop your ass" threat XD

Have a great day 3 3 3