Chapter 3: Saki's Secret
"Thank you Jinenji!" Called the hyena demon, who waved a bit in farewell before starting the trek back to where he left Hakeiu. Meanwhile, Hakeiu had barely been roused from his unconscious state and was trying to figure out where he was. He realized that he was in someone's house, but beyond that he was clueless. He wasn't to wonder for very long, as shortly after he regained consciousness the one who brought him in came back. It was a woman, a woman who seemed mortal enough. To Hakeiu's trained eyes however, there was something about her, something that clearly told him she was not human. The woman smiled at Hakeiu and asked him in a voice soft enough that no one outside the house would hear her, "You're a demon, right? Have you noticed yet?"
Hakeiu hesitantly nodded, and the woman relaxed herself. In that relaxed state, something seemed to shimmer. Suddenly her ears looked like merely the effect of heat on the air, and there was a similar effect right above her head, behind her right above her hips, at her fingertips, and between her upper set and lower set of teeth. There was clearly a demonic aura emanating off of her, and Hakeiu, with his weakened voice, said, "So that's what it was. I see though, that you're only half. Your aura doesn't say full." The woman shook her head and said, "You're right. That's why I've disguised myself. I've decided to live amongst the humans, and I used to live in the demon slayer village. I trained myself hard, to learn to fight as humans do, and I think I-" She was then interrupted by Hakeiu, who said "If you don't mind me asking, why would you choose to live as a human? Isn't it better to use the power you've been given? I realize I don't know what the life of a half-demon could possibly be like, but-" "That's right, you don't. End of story." Said the woman, rather upset that a complete stranger would bring up such matters.
Hakeiu didn't know if it was some kind of guilt trip, but if it was it was working pretty well. Hesitating for but a moment the demon said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't speak of things that I've no idea about. Anyway, is it something you don't care to talk about? Because I'd rather like to hear it, Ms...." "Saki. That's my name, and while I don't really mind talking, there's only so much about it I feel comfortable thinking about. Personal experiences for example, I'd really rather not bring up." Explained Saki. Hakeiu of course, understood completely, but before they could get any further than Hakeiu telling Saki his name as well, they both sensed a demonic presence that Hakeiu knew wasn't his hyena friend. Saki said to Hakeiu, "Stay here, you still need treatment!" Hakeiu reluctantly nodded, since he knew he wouldn't be much help. Saki ran outside of her house to find the village peaceful. "The demon hasn't reached the village yet, that's good." Said Saki. She then ran in the direction of the demonic aura, getting ready to dispel the aura-lacking demonic force that protected her identity.
As she reached the demon, the force around her was completely dispelled. Her reason for doing this was in case her human abilities were not enough sometime in the future. She wanted to be ready with her half-demon powers, but she didn't want anyone she didn't trust to know she was doing it. With her wolf ears, wolf tail, fangs and claws revealed, she smirked at the demon and said, "So you're going to that village? What's your business there?" The demon looked at Saki and proudly said, "The great Kagemaru has nothing to say to a half-demon like yourself!" This statement clearly angered Saki, who yelled, "I was tryin' to be nice!" She then ran forward and used her demonic strength to launch Kagemaru into the air. She then jumped high to meet the demon airborne, and knocked him back toward the ground. As he fell, Saki assumed a more aerodynamic position in order to fall faster, and she raised one clawed hand which surged with demonic lightning. She pulled her hand back and as she landed on Kagemaru she pressed the claws of her surging hand into the demon's throat and tore to the right, taking out a chunk of his neck.
Standing up she brushed herself off and started to head back to the village when she saw a pair of villagers glaring at her. Hesitantly she said, "Ichiro, Jiro, wait." They started running back to the village and Saki tried to stop them. When she couldn't she muttered, "Just great." She started trudging back to the village to get her stuff but then remembered Hakeiu. She couldn't leave him! As she continued to trudge her way back to the village she saw a hyena demon dash past her. The hyena, Hakeiu's friend, stopped and returned to Saki's side and asked, "Pardon me miss, do you know where a demon named Hakeiu is?" Saki nodded and motioned for him to follow her. When they got to the village the villagers glared at the hyena but scowled at Saki. The hyena didn't understand, but Saki's exasperated sigh was all the indication he needed to realize she knew what was going on. They got to Saki's house and entered, and the hyena was extremely relieved that Hakeiu was still able to be saved. He gave Hakeiu a Sennenso and explained that it should be able to cure him. Hakeiu shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well, it's worth a shot I suppose." He then quickly consumed the flower, and was surprised at how quickly it worked. He was up and moving around just in time for the villagers to barge in and demand that they leave. Saki huffed and yelled, "Fine, you ungrateful cowards! But see how long this village lasts without be to protect you!"
One of the villagers stepped forward and held a spear to her neck, saying, "Watch it half-breed. And there's no way we would ever be found housing a half-demon. So buzz off wench!" There was a gleam of rage in Saki's eye and something snapped. She yelled at that villager, "That's IT!" And lunged at him, knocking the spear out of his hand and bringing him down. instantly she had a set of claws at the now whimpering man's throat, and the other two, Ichiro and Jiro from before, started kicking her and bludgeoning her with sticks trying to get her off. Hakeiu dragged her off of the downed man, and ran out of the house. Ichiro ran out of the house and yelled, "And don't come back half-breed!" Later, Saki was crying as a result of what happened. In a clearly upset voice she asked, "What am I going to do now? I've got absolutely no connections. There's no way I could live anywhere except in solitude. I don't want that." Hakeiu stroked her back as she cried into his shoulder. Without thinking he blurted out, "I can think of one thing." Saki looked up slowly, with tear-stained cheeks and asked, "Oh, what's that?"
Hakeiu smiled and wiped away the tears before saying, "We could always seek out that half-demon I've heard of. What was his name...? Oh yeah, Inuyasha! I hear he has a survivor from the Demon Slayer village in a little gang he's put together." Saki stared at Hakeiu for a moment then said, "If you're trying to cheer me up it's not working." Hakeiu shook his head before continuing, "No, I'm serious! A Demon Slayer named Sango has been seen with him!" Saki gasped and was speechless for a few moments, then whispered, "Sango..." After being silent for a few more moments, she said, "Alright, it might be worth it to at least look into it. If Sango really is with him, then maybe I can be too." Hakeiu smiled and said, "Well that settles that. I think I heard that he was staying in the very same village where the priestess Kikyo died many years ago. Anyway, if you think you're ready, I know the way." "Alright, let's go Hakeiu." Hakeiu nodded and looked to the hyena, saying, "Come on Take." The hyena stood up from his sitting position and said, "Coming!" The small group set off with their destination decided.
