Chapter One: Demons and Blood

The demon laid on the lush meadow, grasping his bleeding shoulder. "You are a poor excuse for a Majin" the man named Ennosuke sneered. He rose back to his feet, holding out one of his blood-covered hands. "Now hand over those children and I will spare you're meaningless life…" he demanded, smirking devilishly at the silver haired man before him.

Otsuke smirked at the demon's demands, and looked up at him- rising to his feet as well. "I don't take orders from third rate mamonos like you" he said quietly, smiling weakly at the demon.

The mamono grinned yet again, "Oh please... you have lost too much blood… there is no way in hell that you have the strength to protect those boys…" Ennosuke taunted, cracking his knuckles as he prepared to attack.

"I'll send you back to the demon plane… where you belong…" Otsuke murmured, grinning triumphantly. He raised his hands in the air, taking in a breath before he yelled, "MONONOKE SHOUMETSU!!!" The demon met the blow head-on, unable to defend himself from it t all.

Surprisingly… he was still standing….. "Was that the best you could do?" Ennosuke hissed, smirking at the man.

"How the hell are you still standing?!!"

"Jubaku Suru…" Ennosuke muttered, with a devilish grin. Otsuke froze in his place, his eyes widened.

"I… I can't move…" the silver haired man whispered in shock.

The demon's laughter filled the area, looking down at the majin before him. "Some warrior of darkness!! I thought you were supposed to be the strongest!!" he laughed, now walking towards the children.

"ELIAS!! KOUICHI!! RUN!!!" Otsuke screamed, looking back at the boys. But it was all in vain… the two little boys were frozen in fear.

Kouichi hide behind the slightly older boy, clutching the back of his shirt tightly. "Elias… do something… I'm scared…" Kouichi whispered under his breath, shutting his eyes tightly. Elias looked back at the raven haired boy, then at the demon. He could feel the other male shivering behind him- feeling horrible that he couldn't do anything to protect him.

I need to protect him… for master… Elias thought, clenching his fists in frustration. "Leave Kouichi alone!! Go away!!" he finally spoke. He knew the demon wouldn't go away as simply as that… but it was the only thing he could do! He was only a small child!!

"LEAVE THEM ALONE!! I'LL KILL YOU IF YOU DARE LAY A HAND ON THEM!!!" Otsuke roared, trying to move his body so he could go save the boys.

"You're annoying" he demon commented, striking the man with his black blade. He smirked, glaring at him happily. "Maybe now you'll stay quiet…" he mocked.

Otsuke made no sound… so scream… no yell… nothing… His body fell limply on the field, his crimson blood splattered on the ground. He remained quiet for a short period of time, until he finally whispered about five minutes later "I'll kill you... I told you to leave them alone…" Otsuke started to slowly rise to his feet, his silver hair covering more than half his face. "And I meant it!!" he added, revealing his white bladed sword. "Blade of the new moon!!!" the man exclaimed, dashing towards the demon.

-Slash!-

He sliced the demon in two, right before he was able to harm the children. "Fool… never underestimate me…" he panted, collapsing onto the field once more. The two young boys rushed to his side, confused by the sight they had just saw.

"Master! Master!! What's going on!!? What's all this red stuff?!!" both boys asked in unison, as Elias touched the red fluid curiously.

"It's blood"

"Why did that guy hurt you?!" Elias questioned, looking at the fresh blood on his fingertips.

Otsuke closed his eyes slowly, panting quietly before he answered the blue haired boy's question. "You're too young to understand this world Elias… all that matters is that you and Kouichi are safe…" he whispered, exhausted from using to much of his spirit energy.

"Eli?" Kouichi's small voice called out to his friend.

"Wha?" the blue haired boy smiled at the sound of his nickname.

"What's that?" the raven haired boy asked, pointing to a creature in the sky, heading towards them.

"Oh no!! Master! Wake up! Another mamono is coming!!" Elias yelled, shaking his master's shoulder- but the man still stayed asleep…

"Eli!! He's been fighting mamonos all day; he's used up too much of his reiki!!" Kouichi growled, glaring at the demon that was coming towards them "Stay with master! I'm going in!!" he shouted, running towards the demon to meet it dead on.

Elias gasped, reaching out to try to grab Kouichi's hand. He wanted to stop him, he could get killed! "Kou! You can conjure any spells!! You can't beat 'em!! Don't go!! You'll be killed!!" the blue haired child shouted, staying next to his master. Even if he had the strength to beat that demon… he was too afraid… "KOUICHI!!!" he shouted, reaching out to him yet again.

The other male ignored his friend's please, and then tried to summon all his reiki to try to cast a spell. "DARK VORTEX!!!" he shouted, as a ray of dark energy came out from the hand he held out- but it was only strong enough to make it retreat.

Elias stared at his friend in amazement, blinking a few times. "Kou!!! How's you do that?!" he asked in awe.

Kouichi stared into the setting sun, amazed at what he had just done as well. "I have… no idea!" Kouichi muttered, with a small gentle smile. "Hey… what's that noise? An earthquake?! A demon?!" Kouichi asked, scanning the area in fright.

"No! Master's snoring again!!" Elias laughed, pointing at the sleeping man.

"I heard that" Otsuke growled, sitting up with a small sigh escaping his lips. Lavender eyes scanned the area, seeing that he was in the same spot where he collapsed a few moments ago. "I must've dozed off…" he murmured, mostly to himself as he rubbed his brow slowly.

"Yup! You did! Kouichi made a demon go bye-bye!!" Elias giggled, clinging on his master's arm tightly.

"What?! That isn't possible!!" Otsuke responded in shock.

"Well maybe you would have noticed if you weren't busy guiding ships in the fog!!" Elias chuckled.

"I don't guide ships!!" he argued. "When did it come to this? I'm arguing with a five-year old…"

"Five and three quarters!!!" Elias defended.

"Oh my god… We should head back home now…" Otsuke sighed, and rose to his feet.

Kouichi tugged on Otsuke's silver hair to get his attention, smiling innocently at him. 'Are you alright Master?" he asked kindly.

"Yes…" he answered with a gentle smile. 'If what Elias said was true, then Kouichi may obtain greater powers of darkness than myself. Powers I may not be able to control….'

(-)-(-)(-)(-)-(-)-(-)

The boy rolled over in his bed, opening his eyes to glance out the window. The gentle, warm, new light of day shined on his angelic face. Each day that passed by, he found himself getting more and more depressed… It was approaching his fourteenth birthday, but what he was saddened about was that the anniversary of his mother's death was nearing as well. 'Why am I plagued with sadness for a woman I didn't even know? I don't love her… so why do I think about her? Why…." He thought to himself, rolling over in his bed once again. 'Why do I feel such emotion for her? I do not even know what she looks like… I shouldn't even care for her at all…." He sat up in his bed, looking out at the tree that was outside of his window. The blue birds were chirping… singing a song of some sort. 'These are meaningless feelings… they are nothing but a burden to me… it doesn't matter whether I laugh… or cry… I don't care…" the blue eyed boy sighed quietly, blinking a few times as he saw something come close to his window.

A small red phoenix… yes that is what is was… It had come by to see Kouichi many times in the past… he had grown quite fond of it. "Hi again, little guy" he said with his gentle smile. "I think it's about time I name you, eh? How about Kurayami?? It means 'darkness' something I'm very fond of" he said with another smile, as the phoenix chirped happily at the name. "Now Kura-chan, it's time for you to eat. Here you go" he said, handing a piece of bread to the bird of flame. His lips curved into a small smile as he stepped off the bed to go get ready for today. He walked over to a small basin filled with water that he used each morning, to try and clean himself. He attempted to clean off some of the caked on dirt from his face and sighed. "Well that was a pointless ten minutes…" he murmured, "right?" he asked, and giggled when the bird chirped in response. "You don't look so good yourself…" he laughed quietly, walking out of his secluded room.

A figured ran up behind the boy, wrapping their arms around his frame. "Hey there Kou! You're late yet again!!" Elias said with a grin, kissing his friend's cheek.

Kouichi blushed a light shade of pink, nudging his friend so that he would get off of him. "I know, Eli..." he sighed quietly.

Elias, got off of Kouichi, and then put his hands on his hips. "Oh… I don't know why you even care about a woman you hardly know Kouichi… she didn't even name you!!" he groaned, rolling his beautiful sapphire eyes.

The raven haired boy glared at Elias, clenching his fists. "Just because you don't give a damn about your parents doesn't mean I can't even wonder about mine!!" Kouichi snapped, crossing his arms- a bit irritated now.

"You're cute when you're angry Kou" Elias giggled, "Master wanted to see you about something… I think it's something important…" he said with a grin, kissing Kouichi's cheek again. "See you later!" he added, starting to walk down the hall.

"Where are you going?!" Kouichi asked turning too looked at Elias before he left.

"To start collecting the talismans of Akmenra… to carry out master's plan…" Elias stated simply, winking at Kouichi. "Later!"

What…what are those? Kouichi thought to himself, blinking a few times. He sighed quietly, not liking that he was left in the dark… he was confused… He approached the library, and glanced over to one of the seats where his master sat at.

"Kouichi… you're late again…" Otsuke muttered, shaking his eyes slowly.

"Sorry master… but you should know by now…" the servant started, looking down at his feet.

"I know I know... you don't see me grieving for my mother, do you?" he asked with a grin.

"You danced on her grave…"

"The bitch had it commin!!!" he yelled, smiling afterwards. "Come on… sit. I don't bite Kouichi" he said with a kind smile. "No need to be shivering…" Otsuke added, patting a seat.

"Yes master…" Kouichi muttered, sitting down as he was told to.

Otsuke shut the novel he was reading, setting it down on the small table that was next to his seat. "I want to you about something important… I'm sure Elias has informed you that I did…" he muttered.

"Yes sir…" Kouichi whispered in response.

"It's nearing the fourteenth anniversary of your mother's death-"

"Please don't mention her…" the slave interrupted.

Otsuke ignored the boy's plea, looking out the window. "On that night… one week from now… I need you to kill the prince of the moonlit kingdom… With this" Otsuke said, tossing him a white bladed sword. It was the very sword he used himself, his favorite.

Kouichi caught the sword, unsure to what he had just heard. K-kill someone?! He would never do that!! "W-WHAT?!" he almost shouted, looking at his master confusingly.

"You heard me boy, kill the prince. You will be given a week to kill him. I will give you to the royal family as a gift for the precious prince, and you are going to prove yourself a loyal servant. When everyone has put there trust in you to protect the prince, you shall kill him. Then use the Henka Suru spell I taught you and take his form. I'll tell you what to do from there" Otsuke explained to him, shrugging a bit.

"I c-can't do that…I can't take another human life…" Kouichi whispered, looking down at the sword in shock.

Otsuke smirked, looking at his servant. "You care for him?" he asked, "you care for someone you do not even know?" he added, tilting his head slightly to the side.

"No… I don't care for him… but I cannot take another human life…" Kouichi whispered sadly, closing his eyes slowly.

Otsuke casted a wicked glared on the teenaged boy, "You are like me…" he started, taking the other's hand gently. "You can do this Kouichi… It's simple… "

Kouichi blinked, staring at his master for the choice of words he used. "Simple? Have you ever killed?" he asked curiously, looking at the hand that was holding his own.

"Yes… to protect this I care for… and to avenge wrong doings…" he answered with a small smile.

"So why do I have to kill him? What did he do?"

Otsuke stayed quiet, avoiding the question. He knew that Kouichi would hate his answer… he shall know later. "You, Elias and I are going to bring down this kingdom… why have mercy on the villagers? No one even tried to help your mother when they heard her cries for help…her death could have been prevented…" he said, his eyes seeming to have tears in them.

"Master… are you crying?" Kouichi asked, in his quiet voice.

"N-no…" Otsuke whispered, displaying a fake smile to keep Kouichi from worrying about him. His lavender eyes were welling up with tears, just thinking about Akina…

"Why do you care so much about her…? She's my mother…." He asked out of curiosity.

"She was my closest friend… I was in love with her as well… but she loved your father. Go figure…" he muttered, rolling his eyes

"Do you hate him…? Do you hate my father?" Kouichi gulped, not knowing a thing about his father. If Otsuke hated him… he wanted to know why.

"Yes"

"Why is that, master?"

"You will find out… it is not mine to tell"

Kouichi nodded, clutching the sword tightly in his hand. "I will find out… and I shall do it… for you… and for my mother… I will do it… I will kill him…" the raven haired teenager grinned devilishly.

"Good boy"