Her journaling had been a success. She'd learned many new kanji and felt her confidence building with how well she understood. Maybe I'll be a scholar, she thought to herself, snickering.

She used her journals to write new kanji she learned, and she hoped one day it would be full to the brim, like a dictionary. She let out a grateful sigh, walking throughout her small town's busy paths. She made her way to the fruit market, and bowed to the worker. "Hi," she began. "May I have a bowl of raspberries?"

The worker nodded enthusiastically, gathering a wooden bowl and running to fill it. He came back smiling, setting the bowl in front of her, wrapped with leaves to keep it from spilling. "That'll be 250 traisen, please."

Hiyori nodded, and pulled out a small, pocket sized cloth bag filled with coins. She counted out 250, and handed it to him. "Thank you for business, Hiyori-San!"

She bowed once again, taking the raspberries and carrying them securely under her arm. She stopped by the jewelry shop, and marveled at the beauty of the accessories. She took the edge of a necklace dangling from a complex hanger used to suit all jewelry types. It was a shiny metal necklace with a blue diamond-like gem, one that almost looked as if it glowed.

She stared at it for a while, and looked beneath it to see the price. She hiccuped from shock. Wow, 2,500 traisen*...

She sighed, disappointed at the expensive piece of jewelry she couldn't have. But once the thought hit her, she swatted own hand. Don't think like that, Hiyori! You have many great things!

She released the necklace, beginning to walk away from the market when something out of the corner of her eye stopped her in her tracks. It wasn't really what she saw that stopped her, it was what she felt.

It was familiar. Strikingly so, to the feeling she had that night. Only this time it was less aggressive, less soul fracturing. She was still uneasy, yet not terrified.

She spun around, looking here and there to see if someone would pop up. She didn't know exactly what she was looking for, but she searched anyway.

What is this feeling? I feel like I know someone here, yet there are only strangers surrounding me.

She continued scanning the town, searching for an unknown answer. And that's when her gaze fell upon him.

A young man, looking to be barely twenty, wearing a blue yukata walking in the crowd. He carried fruits and vegetables, and wore his hair up. The man looked over at a booth, and swiftly picked up wood presumably for a fire.

Did he just...steal that?

She continued staring at the man, observing his delinquent behavior. She realized then, no one else had noticed him.

She stood confused for a moment, but her confusion didn't last long as it was quickly replaced with fear.

The man looked up at her, careless at first, but then his eyes became wide from shock.

She looked away, trembling. She began to walk hastily away, trying to get on the path home as quickly as possible. She didn't really know how, but she felt the boys presence get closer to her, and it only made her increasingly fearful.

She quickened her pace, tightening her grip on the bowl of raspberries out of fear. Kami-sama, please spare me.

She felt a hand on her wrist, and it forcibly pulled to make her twist around, facing the man she'd been avoiding.

"You." He said, venom dripping from his voice. Hiyori gulped out of fear, but then took a closer look at his eyes. His eyes were azure blue, cold, and murderous. But when she took a closer look, she saw beyond that layer. Soft.

"I am Iki Hiyori." She said, managing to keep her voice fairly steady. "Do I know you?"

The male stared at her for a moment, clearly not expecting her response. He was silent, his eyes traveling her expression and body as if looking for something. He thought of her name, Iki Hiyori. He shook his head. "No...I suppose not. Sorry for bothering you." He muttered, and began to walk away.

How is she still alive? He questioned to himself.

"Wait!" The girl called out, closing the distance between the two. He turned to face her again, the close proximity intimidating him. "What?"

"What's your name?"

Yato stumbled, almost tripping over himself. He had not been expecting that one. He quickly regained his posture and put on an emotionless expression. "I am Yatogami," he began.

"A god of war."

/

Traisen was the currency used during late heian era in japan. i don't know it's exact value so i equated it to modern day japanese yen.