First Meeting

A snowy winter is what I remember when I first met him. It was a quiet winter as I watched Ojii-san finish up the last of the morning chores. I was quite excited since it would be the first time I got to leave the shrine and enter the village. Ever since before I could remember I was always forbidden to leave the shrine, but today Ojii-san had some business to take care of at the headman's house and he was taking me with him to the village for the first time. This is an exciting day for me because I never seen anything beyond the shrine that I called home. Ojii-san soon came from the back of the temple carry his Shakujou and wearing his takuhatsugasa on his head. Giving me a warm smile the two of us leave the shrine and head for the village which is down the forest path. Our shrine was located on the outskirts of the village so you had to use the forest path to get to it. It isn't a long walk only taking about ten minutes at most to walk down or at least that what Ojii-san has told me.

"So are you excited about being out of the shrine for the first time?" asked Ojii-san while I admired the winter site before us.

"Yeah I've always wonder what's it like in the village," I replied as I begin to skip down the path with Ojii-san following closely behind.

We soon arrive in town as I look at all the different people walking around doing various activities. Kid about my age are also running around playing in the snow, and making strange snowy spheres to toss at each other. I reluctantly ask Ojii-san if I could go play with the other kids, but he answers no saying that I must be near him at all times while in the village. As we continued onward I began to notice that some of the villagers had stopped what they were doing to look at Ojii-san and I. However, I could feel that most of their gazes were on me as we walked pass making me feel a bit nervous for some reason. Soon enough the two of us reach a gate that is guarded by two men. Approaching it slowly the two man glance at me, and before I knew what was going on they had drawn blades from their sides pointing them directly at me. Instantaneously I hid behind Ojii-san as the two guards approached us with scary intentions of hurting me.

"Step aside you two the headman is inspecting me and my surrogate daughter," said Ojii-san as the guards gave him a dubious looks causing me to quiver even more.

"Are you saying that this demon child is yours Hoshi-sama?" asked a guard while still holding his huge blade out at us.

"Yes this child is with me and the headman is expecting both of us so please let us through," replied Ojii-san as the two men put their blades away and opened the gate for us to pass through.

Walking through the open gate the two men give me a grudging look as we passed them by. We soon are in a big yard with a huge manor just a few yards away. The snow on top of the roof shimmers brightly while icicle hang off from the side of the roof. We then reach the front of the door which is guarded by two more guards, and just like with the other two they glance at me once before beginning to reach for their swords. The two however, soon put away their blades as a man came from within the manor. The two guards bow in front of the strange man as he makes a hand gesture which sends the two of them from our presence. Approaching us slowly Ojii-san bows politely in front of the man while I looked on confused at why he was doing this. He soon give me a look which I don't quite understand, and soon enough put his hand on top of my head thus making me stare at the ground.

"Ah Hoshi-sama it's truly a pleasure that you come grace us with your presence," said the man as Ojii-san lifted his head and shook hands with him.

"No the pleasure is mine and my daughter. It truly an honor that you invite us to your house Headman," answered Ojii-san as I looked at the two of them with a puzzled look.

"Thank you Hoshi-sama please come this way," concluded the Headman as Ojii-san and I followed him inside the large estate.

The inside was finely decorated with all sorts of object that fascinated me at every turn. Hanging scrolls, paintings, suits of armor, and blades were everywhere as we continued to follow the Headman around the manor. We soon come to a door with a guard standing in front of it, and upon seeing us he slides the door open beckoning us to go in. I was about to go forward when Ojii-san puts a hand on top of my head; instructing me to wait here outside the door while him and the Headman discuss some important matters. Not really understanding what this business was I obediently nod my head, and with that the Headman and Ojii-san enter the room leaving me outside to wait. With nothing to do now I quietly take a seat next to the door as I patiently await for Ojii-san to finish his business with Headman. I turn my eyes towards the man guarding the door and give him a innocent smile. However, he in response give me a disgusted look as he continues to watch me with the eyes of a hawk.

"Hey you what in the world are you?" demanded a voice as I turn around to see a boy standing a few feet away from me.

"My Lord please don't concern yourself with such a filthy creature!" shouted the guard as he gets up to takes a defensive stand in front of the boy with his hand on the hilt of his blade.

"Hey you I asked you a question. What in the world are you?" repeated the boy stepping from behind the guard and standing directly in front of me.

"I'm Hitomi! It a pleasure to meet you," I stuttered as the boy looked me over with prying eyes. His hand soon enough find their way to my ears as he starts to fiddle with them. I could feel a warm heat rising to my cheeks for some odd reason.

"Hey girl why do you have dog ears?" questioned the boy continuing to play with my ears.

"I don't know. Don't people normally have dog ears," I replied innocently while also making me wonder why I was the only one with dog ears.

"That enough my lord please stay away from her!" yelled the guard as he grabbed the boy by the wrist while also shoving me on my butt.

"Whatever I'm bored anyway later dog girl," said the boy disappearing down the hallway while the guard stood in front of me with a grudging look.

Still stun about what had happened I quickly get up and take my position in front of the door once more. It soon became dark outside when Ojii-san and the Headman came out of the room they were in. Saying words of farewell Ojii-san and I leave the manor to begin are walk back home. However, I couldn't help but think why I was different from Ojii-san if I was his daughter. Why was I born with dog ears and not Ojii-san and exactly where was my mother? My answers would soon be answered however, when we got home and I would understand why I was so different from Ojii-san and the others.