Chapter 2
A Mysterious Swordswoman
Kiyohime's eyes flutter open, a soft moan coming from her as she wakes up. She finds herself in a large cabin inside a living room on a couch. Looking around, the dragon girl sees a katana hanging on the wall, a quiver with arrows beside the fireplace and sculptures and other accessories.
"Where…am I…?" Kiyohime clutches her head as she slowly sits up.
She also finds she is not in her kimono anymore. Yet there are bandages on her stomach and arms as it was cut a few times during the battle. She is in white underwear for now.
She cautiously looks around…to see who might it be that brought her here. It was a woman, she recalled but…who was she? Was she one of the villagers that worshipped Anchin? Due to seeing a katana and arrows she might be, but…it might be somebody else.
"Oh, you're finally awake?" A motherly like voice startles Kiyohime.
She jumps and turns toward the beautiful violet haired woman. She is no longer in her bodysuit, but rather casual clothes. Long sleeved purple sweater with jeans and ankle socks on her feet.
"Y-you…" The dragon girl says.
"Fufu! I'm sorry to have frightened you," The woman says. "Hey, I cooked you food if you're hungry. Also, you shouldn't have wandered in that island over there. You saw that sign, didn't you?"
"Umm…no?" Kiyohime doesn't recall any sign when she passed by there.
"The one that said "the land of the oni", Raikou says. "Do not go there again."
The woman goes to the kitchen for a bit as Kiyohime tries to process what's going on. This woman…why is she caring for her? Why did she treat her wounds?
The woman returns with a tray of food and a drink and a napkin and places it in front of Kiyohime.
"Enjoy," the woman says.
The dragon girls examines the food carefully. It's just a bowl of soup and water with a crust of bread and butter. She takes a whiff. It smells fine.
She takes the spoon and gives the soup a taste. "Mmm…." She hums softly and goes for another. And then another.
"Fufu! You must be hungry, miss~" The woman says. "There's more in the kitchen if you'd like a second helping."
Kiyohime continues to eat until her bowl is empty. She drinks some water to wash everything down and exhales. The woman offers to take the tray.
"Why…are you doing this….?" Kiyohime asks quietly.
The woman blinks twice and then just smiles. "I'm doing this because I want to help you. If you are living somewhere, just tell me where to go and I'll take you there."
Kiyohime hands her the tray. "I'd….rather go on my own…"
"But you were attacked earlier," The woman says. "Maybe you should stay here for a few nights. I don't mind taking care of you."
"Which means…?" Kiyohime asks.
"Ummm….like treating you fairly kind of taking care?" The woman says with a head tilt. "By the way, my name is Minamoto no Raikou. But please, call me Raikou. What's yours~?"
Kiyohime clenches the sheets below her. This woman…she's showing no threat whatsoever. She is being nothing but nice to her this entire time. Maybe…just maybe Kiyohime should at least give her a chance.
"My name is…Kiyohime…" The dragon girl says quietly.
Raikou nods and smiles. "That's a lovely name…Kiyo-chan~"
Kiyohime gasps at the nickname she is given. Raikou heads toward the kitchen to grab another helping for her guest to eat. The dragon girl can feel her heart beating a little bit. This kind woman. Raikou.
Raikou comes back with another helping of soup and sets the tray in front of Kiyohime. The dragon girl immediately digs in.
Just then, the door opens and two girls step inside. One has long dark hair tied in a long pony-tail and wearing a revealing samurai like outfit. Another has pink hair tied in a ponytail and wearing a blue short kimono with black thigh high stockings and elbow gloves.
"Good afternoon!" The pink haired kimono wearing girl says
Raikou turns around and approaches the two girls that just walked in.
"Hello there, Ushiwakamaru, Musashi-sama~" Raikou says. "Please say hello to a new friend who will be staying here. This is Kiyohime. I saved her from a dangerous oni that attacked her."
"Oh no!" The dark haired girl, Ushiwakamaru says as she cautiously approaches the dragon girl. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."
"Neither will I!" Musashi says, offering a hand. "My name is Miyamoto Musashi. Here to slay oni like Raikou here!"
"I'm also here to slay oni by my master Raikou's side," Ushiwakamaru says. "My name is Ushiwakamaru. A pleasure to meet you miss…"
"Kiyohime….." the dragon girl says quietly m, eyeing the two girls cautiously
Raikou giggles. "Ufufu. Thanks for the introductions but I think Kiyo-chan needs a rest."
"No worries," Ushiwakamaru says. "Come Musashi. Let's bathe together."
"Kiyo-chan? That is the most adorable nickname you have given her!" Musashi squeals. "Can I call her that~?"
"No…" Kiyohime deadpans.
"Awwwwww…!" Musashi whines and gets gently dragged away by Ushiwakamaru.
"Come along, Musashi," the dark haired samurai says with a sigh.
After the two girls leave, Raikou turns to the dragon girl. "It's been a long day. Why don't you rest up, okay?"
"I think I will," Kiyohime agrees.
"Call me if you need anything," Raikou starts to head back to the kitchen when Kiyohime speaks up.
"Raikou-san…thank you…" she says quietly.
The violet haired woman nods and smiles. "I'm just there to help anyone in need. And that includes you, Kiyo-chan~"
Kiyohime blushes and looks down at her sheets, clenching it. She doesn't know why but…she is somehow starting to open up to Raikou. Maybe just a little bit.
That Night*
Kiyohime can hear giggling from outside. Familiar giggling. She wakes up and gets out of bed to see where it is coming from. The clear night sky and the full moon shines. She hears some clashing and slashing about. She throws on her white kimono and heads outside to where the noise is.
Looking around, it's too dark to see. However, once she walks a bit further, she sees a figure zipping past a few trees here and there, further down to the forest. Kiyohime decides to follow
The dragon girl runs and runs to chase after that figure until they arrive in the middle of the open forest. There is another figure that hops in front of the shadowy one. This one has flames for hair, horns on her head, red markings on her hands and lines under her eyes. She is wearing a short yellow kimono with long sleeves.
As for the shadowy figure, the moonlight reveals the one and only Minamoto no Raikou. But….something is different about her.
"We the onis shall take over this village!" The fire oni declares, her voice being a bit high, but raspy at the same time. "You won't stand a chance, especially against me, Ibaraki Douji!"
Raikou opens her eyes and grins evilly. There is a purple twinkle in her eye. "I beg to differ. It is your kind that will become nothing but dust. Fufufufu…~"
Kiyohime hides behind a tree. Just who is this Raikou?
