When I awoke I was on a shoreline. The only thing odd was that the river felt like it was pushing me to go along with it. I check my surroundings to see a dock and on it. A woman...a very curvaceous woman. With red horns holding a fishing pole.
What the hell is that? That's definitely not real. Right?
I check myself in the reflection and...WHOA!? That's a demon if I ever saw one. I was already dark skin in life. But here it's more if a olive ash color and my eyes...blazing green. Hair if you wanna call it that was white or platinum blonde and was really long.
Ok! Definitely not in my original body. That woman though.
"HEY! YA LOST PAL!?" I look towards the dock and the woman was calling to me. Yellow crop top, yellow short shorts, and the hoari jacket with the cow print on it. Urumi?...Can't be. That would mean...
"Aw shit. So this place does exist." I'm mainly speaking to myself. I took a clear pace torwards her so she doesn't have to yell. I got up to the dock and yeah the curly black hair on the right and the left had white hair. Her stone baby in one hand, and a bucket of fish in the other.
"You don't look so good friend." I think you look really fine river cow oni. Oh she's expecting an answer.
"Oh, Oh. Yeah, yeah. I just found myself ashore right over there in the Sanzu river. Is that common for beings like us?" She shook her head.
"Not that know of. What's your name stranger?"...I know my original name and everything about this place...But not my adulthood,childhood,and just about everything that makes a person. A voidless vertigo of a person. Guess that makes me.
"Call me Vector." She nods and shoves her bucket of fish at me.
"Come along then, We'll talk along the way." Anything to following that swishing tail to victory...I don't know if being like this makes me extremely turn on all the time or it comes with the fact that this chick runs around in the least amount clothes of any of the girls that I know from here.
"Stop staring. You'll live longer." She tilts her head at me to look at me with slight disdain. You're fucking hot lady! If I wasn't creep before... I'm probably am now...Fuck it. I doubt they actually care about one dude scoping their assets.
"All you demons are the same. You think with your penis and not with your head." Double phrasing chica.
"It's a two way street lady. Can you really blame me for looking at you?" She huffs as she slows down to walk beside me. Arms crossed over her busts.
"Nope. But you're the first that hasn't tried to grope me to talk ta me, or try get in my pants." Well I accomplished...something. Decency I guess?
"So I have the higher moral compass than most demons?" She chuckles at that.
"In a way. Yes you do, and no you dont. You're decent enough to help me with this. But after this, you're gonna have to find your own path." Right, find myself in the fantasy land of pretty women a plenty. Who should I go to first...I have to be in New hell. Or the Underground.
"So are we at the Sanzu river of the underground or the New hell version? Urumi look at me in surprise.
"You're quite knowledgeable for a demon. This is the New Hell Sanzu River and I'm a fisherwoman of said river."...I ended up this far down from Gensokyo? Ironically I probably do deserve to go to hell for the things I've done.
"We went past by stalls and shacks lighten by...18th century Light bulbs? Guess all that useless science history is being put to use finally. I chuckle at my fortune.
"You're different from the rest that find out they're in hell you now?" Why freak out? You're alive aren't you?
"No point in crying and all that stuff. I'm alive and that's all that matters." Yeah, keep pushing to be alive. That's what really matters. Urumi smile softly at me. Though her red eyes had a bit of worry in them.
"Very optimistic there demon. Though that might be misguided. I've never seen one like you before. You're very...human." Am I suppose to be a monster?
"Here we are. My home." It's a shack outside of the village we where just in..
"What's the deal with all of this?" She looks at me confused.
"While I might be attractive that won't put food on the table." Right, hard work and all that.
"You should head on your own way." Where would even go?
"Which way Urumi?" She looks alarm at that question...what I do? I was quickly being pull inside.
"I didn't tell you my name." She held a skinning knife to my throat. I would be scare if I didn't die already. Whats a second time gonna do?
"Guess I let that slip out huh?" She pressed harder into me. Kinda hard for her as I'm the taller one.
"Talk. Now!"
"You can put down the knife and I'll talk. After that I'll leave." Her eyes are frantic before focusing on my own. I can guess she isn't used to people knowing her name. She lets me go of the rags I'm in.
"Talk."
"I just have alot of knowledge on certain people here. I can also assume I'm in Gensokyo?" Urumi nods.
"I can't let you go if that's true you know?" I spread my arms and display I had no intention to fight against her. If she wanted to gut me with the fish knife she can. Instead, she goes about her business of skinning the fish she caught.
"You're staying here. Until I'm certain you're not a danger to us." Us?...Chica I might be looking at your ass, but I'm not no murderer.
"A danger to what? You? Look I just came from the river. What part of that, is a danger?" She only barely seem to listen to me with her back turn.
"It is as I said. A demon who is that intelligent and self aware is dangerous." That is discrimination Urumi.
"So, what do you want me do? Obviously you can't watch my every move." She laughs as she turns around. Urumi ligh tosses her stone baby with her free hand.
"Come on, I'm not going hurt anyone important. Besides, whose gonna know about my pitiful existence."
"You're right. A demon is a pitiful creature. So mindless, and yet this was most peaceful talk I've had with anyone in a long time that wasn't just after my body." Not much to do as she went back to her skinning and cleaning. I check what I had on and it was like I fought a rapid animal. The only thing not destroy was the lower half was black jeans and shoes that fit way too tightly.
"Don't suppose you got an extra hoari or something." She tosses me a snakeskin jacket from the far side of the room.
"Let me guess feet as well?"
"Definitely would be nice." She had steel toed dress shoes as well. Putting them on I realize...
Maybe I'll turn into a certain dog later on.
"Something funny to you over there demon?" Couldn't hid my manic smile at my own mental joke.
Damn you for being such a nerd. Also something smells good.
Oh Urumi is roasting some of her fish while other were being smoke and salted. She's basically drying out her meat for a later time.
"So, what month is this?"
"You mean season."
"What?"
"We know what months are however, we go by seasons cause time is different in each place by just a little." A little being?
"So the season is?"
" Mid spring." So the early months of the year. I guess they don't care for years. Well that makes this easy. With us being in quite cramped space. Urumi is quite jittery though.
"Is something wrong or should I leave?" She eyed the door.
"I'll go if there's something wrong." She held up a smoked fish to me...might as well.
"It's best to take it slow right now or he'll come by."...How vague.
"He being?" She huffs in defeat.
"Just a stuck up half pint of a youkai. Has a group of younger oni's following him. The Chanto alliance group."...C...A..G...Cag? Anyways, sounds like she is getting harass by these youkai.
"Are there reason to not get involved?" Urumi gave me a look as if I was crazy.
"They're back by some pretty rich demons that most don't go after them."...Guess that's my way. Got nothing to lose, but my dignity. I took a bite of...it taste like pink salmon. The meat is soft the skin is crunchy. The bones are...not there? So it's mostly meat. After finishing my dinner I got up and wipe my hands and headed for the door.
"Wait! Didn't you hear what I just said?" She quickly gets up, with her eyes a wonderful red like fresh blood. I just smirk.
"Yeah. But there is no fun in cowering away here when something needs to be done to fix things." She quickly wrenches my arm, I didn't really budge from her tug.
"You're funeral pal."
"I count on it. Nothing else to live for except that rush Urumi." She look at me confused.
"You're an idiot demon." Maybe, but I've embrace what I am.
World wants a demon, I'll show them an even deeper darker demon to be afraid of.
"Can't help it. Something about this screams my opportunity to help not just you, but anyone else that just want to be left alone.
The worst type of demon is one that hunts other demons.
"You can call me a hypocrite Urumi. Doesn't change that this group is causing problems."
"You don't even have anyway to fight." I'll figure it out as I go. I'm quite good at that.
"I can fight just fine chica." I'm mixing my dialect at this point. Not that I care really as she seem confused by my wording.
"That means." Hot woman.
"Attractive lady." Urumi didn't blush, however she stammer a bit.
"Thank you? I think?"
"Don't mentioned it. Now then, I'm burning daylight or moonlight. Where does this group go to." She sighs.
"If you wanna die so be it. There's a bar that way can't miss it." She points to the right of her...Urumi that's past your shack. Very well, adventure awaits for no man. I went outside and this place is a barren grey out area with slight hints of pinks and reds for the ground. Probably clay or something mix with brimstone. The air is humid and the sky is a crimson red with the walls getting a wavy ethereal pattern over it.
"Hell huh? Guess I should be lucky that I'm like her now. Funny how a spider oni couldn't really move me despite everything else. Maybe we'll meet again. I took off running down the pathway past her shack.
"Oi!"...I ran past a small girl who was...making rocks into a pillar.
Pinks and whites and a tiny little thing.
"Mister, be careful where you run. I just made these." I look around the landscape and see tons of assorted rock pillars the size of the girl. Her white pink polkadotted dress and her hair.
"I'm...Ebisu and you?"
"It's Vector."...Ebisu?...With her color scheme she reminds me of a...well that's dark.
"Did you have childhood Ebisu?" She looks lost and confused at what I said...I was right.
"Don't know what that is Mister Vector." She's a stillborn. I sigh as I knelt down to her height.
"I doubt it means anything kid. You deserved a better hand dealt is all." While she looks at me confused the solemn smile she had made it clear.
"Thank you Mister." Don't know what she does usually down here. However, stillborns go to hell cause they have no life to judge unfortunately...a nobody.
"Well take care Ebisu."
"You too Mister Vector."
"Just call me Vector." She nods as I ran off to get my ass kick by my own first stage boss fight. Still not sure I would like to live as her. No past to recall just poof; you're now here making rock pillars for eternity.
Sometimes life deals you the bad hand.
I think I see the bar that Urumi was talking about. It reeks of alcohol and youkai around it where a special brand sin. The winged women were definitely succubi and the bigger ones with the horns were Oni. They turn their attention to me. Unfortunately, I don't exactly care if I'm scrawny in comparison.
"Hey small fry don't you know where you are? Head on back thattaway why don't cha?" I'm certainly in the right spot as I ignore the Oni. He goes for my shoulder, but I move out of the way of the grab. We finally make eye contact. Such purple eyes a
on a red oni...weird combo.
"Do ya have a death wish?"
"Yes." They all seem surprise by my quick answer. I walk by them as I really don't care. It's hell, might as well suffer a bit before I slow down.
The bar inside was as rowdy as one expects. The only thing off was a group in the corner who seem to be watching me. Not weird at all whoever they are. The assorted bottles and fights nearby weren't all that interesting to see. I walk up to a counter. A brunette with feather wings came up to me.
"Aren't you a little young to be here?" Speak for yourself lady.
"Chanto Alliance. Know anything about that?" She looks appalled at how calm I mentioned it.
"You best leave now." I scoff however, before I could retort a Demon with pot belly came up to me. He had a disheveled look to him even with that sleazy smile he could give.
"Koi you got a few waiting why not take their orders?" I doubt you're the boss. The feathered bartender called Koi left into the back and the sounds around me quiet down. I gazed at all the bottles around me and the still standing stools. This will be interesting.
"Looking for the Chanto group? We don't need some scrawny ass runt like-!
*CRACK*
It was a swift motion to grab a bottle and crack it over his bulbous head. Watching him tumble down didn't give me much pleasure.
"FUCKER!"
"You're right. Sadly, I'm here to hunt demons like you off the face of the earth...something...calls to me to get rid of scum like you. Know a woman called Urumi Ushizaki?" The gears turning in his head, but that corner group was keeping to themselves as they watch this spectacle unfold.
Good. No interference.
"YOU'RE DEAD!"
"I look forward to-"
*shhhrrrnnnk*
"Well. That happen." I eyed the tachi in my nonexistent heart would be and whole blade went through me...yet I don't feel pain. I pull it out with relative ease. Everyone else seem to take a few cautious steps forward.
"Hehehe." Something about seeing this surreal moment made me chuckle. I turn the blade to inspect myself and...I hate long hair.
*SNICK*
In one motion I cut off the annoyance. I only now notice that my blood was converging unto the blade like it was attracted to it. Pretty soon the tachi was absorb into my arm. With a bit of focus it reappear with zero issues. Whatever the hell I am. I know what type of magic I have.
Sanguinemancy. Blood magic.
"Ready for my 2nd magic trick?" I wonder.
HUNTER'S CUTTER
*FWUUUSH*
In a flash the room was cut down except for that specific corner. It was a swift murder of uselessness. I now wanted to see who they were so I walk over.
"You must be Saki right?" The winged masked woman who was always staring at me from the very beginning.
"You're different from ta usual riff raff. Never seen such a skill before." Considering you're the yakuza of the youkai world.
"Something about eliminating demons keeps me sane. I couldn't ignore this need to feed on the truly sinful for some reason." I feel...full from what I done. My first day of a 10 year tenure of Gensokyo started out with one tachi and an encounter with prince Shotoku's flying horse. She is one of my earliest customers. I'm Vector the Revenant of New Hell. A soul hunter basically.
"Was that how that went?" Shut it Ebisu.
"I remember you crawling back to my shack that day." Noooo.
"IT WAS HOW IT WENT URUMI!"
Author Notes: These will be shorter than the main story. Some of it will be exaggerated considering Vector is...insane. So bare with it.