Hanako woke up in a daze, as if yesterday had been nothing but a horrible, yet strange dream. She was still in the village. She wasn't going to be sent away to become some human lord's bride. She never met a handsome demon, his servant, or a sweet little girl. Everything would go back to the way it used to be. She and Shuya would work the fields, laugh and joke, and when they were done, they would go and hunt in the forest, carefree and happy.
But just as she relaxed with this thought, a scent filled her nose, and she bolted upright, her eyes flying wide as she gasped. She whipped around, training her gaze on the man sitting next to her. She let out a startled yelp and fell back, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she tried to collect her thoughts. "Y-you! What are you doing?"
Sesshomaru simply stared at her with his usual stony expression, his eyes cold as he answered, "Waiting for you to wake up. There is a procession outside, and they are waiting for you." He glanced pointedly at the door, and Hanako pricked her ears at the sound of many voices on the other side.
She leaped up and gasped, "Oh no! I need to get ready! Where's the girl?" she panicked, scrambling around as she collected her shawl and put it on her head. She was about to rush out when she felt a strong, iron-like grip on her arm, and suddenly she was yanked back and pressed against the wall. She looked up as Sesshomaru leaned closer, his words but a whisper yet she could hear every word as if he had been screaming them at her.
"I had Jaken take her to the forest. Do you not remember the plan? Or do I have to change it for something a little more...in the moment?" his voice suddenly changed, and her pulse quickened by his tone. It had grown...deeper, and his eyes glimmered with a strange light.
"What do you mean?" she squeaked and tried to free herself, "What other plan do you have?" she began to grow a niggling suspicion, but just as she asked, she regretted her words.
Sesshomaru began to undress, his armor falling and his robes slipping down. Hanako wanted to scream and run, but she was transfixed by him, her eyes greedily taking in his exposed flesh. Her speech returned, but her voice was cracked and strained, "Wh-what are you doing?" she blushed deeper, her cheeks hot from embarrassment, "I thought you said you would never consider mating with a half-breed like me!"
"I'm not going to mate you. I am only looking the part. Now undress and lay down. Someone will enter, see you, and then they will believe you to no longer be a maiden, thus, making you unable to be sent away." Sesshomaru finished undressing, and Hanako averted her gaze from his naked body. Her cheeks burned brighter, and she sighed in defeat.
"Fine...but...if you...even think about touching me in any way," she tried to sound threatening, but her voice was little more than a squeak as she took off her clothes and laid them aside, "I will destroy you." She choked out and shivered, feeling awkward and exposed in front of him.
The threat seemed to have fallen on deaf ears as he forced her back, "Fear not. I shall not take your maidenhood. I have no interest in that." he smirked, and then suddenly she felt a heavy, warm weight on her, and her skin touched his. She felt her breath catch as she began to feel light-headed. Her heart sped up to dangerous speeds, and she could only squeeze her eyes shut as the demon man embraced her, in a way she had seen many times before.
He embraced her like a lover. The way that a man would embrace his wife or lover after they had made love, and she dared not look up at him. Yet as she closed her eyes, she began to take in more. She could feel him against her, his breath on her neck. She felt the subtle movements of his muscles, and the slight tremor running through them. She could hear his heartbeat, and to her surprise, it was faster than she had thought. As she became more aware of him, she realized where he was positioned, and she bit her lip. He was in between her legs, and she could feel something pressing against her thigh. Something hard. This man may claim to be uninterested, but his body, his own body, revealed the truth.
It was just an excuse! He had been planning this all along! He wanted to get me alone so he could try and be sneaky about it! the sick pervert! She remained silent, yet deep down she was fuming, her ears pinned back to her skull in anger. How could I have been so stupid?
Voices could be heard outside, and she panicked, the weight of Sesshomaru keeping her where she was. Light filled the hut as her door opened, and she heard a collection of gasps as they took in the sight before them. Hanako and the strange man, lying together naked, their bodies entwined together in such intimacy that it couldn't speak of anything else.
"Hanako Yamanari has lain with another man!" a villager declared, rushing out to spread the news. "she is no longer a maiden! We cannot send her to the Lord Shinji's home as a potential bride!"
Another figure stepped in, and Hanako whimpered as she took in the pain and betrayal upon his face. Shuya, her friend, stood before her, his eyes wide in disbelief. "H-Hanako...how could you? I thought...I thought that maybe..." his voice trailed off as he stared at her, oblivious to Sesshomaru's presence,
"Sh-Shuya! Please let me explain!" she pushed Sesshomaru off and sat up, grabbing her robes, and covering her body, "The village master was going to send me away! I-I had to do something!"
"And something was to sleep with another man? Why? Hanako, I would have done anything for you!" Shuya cried angrily, "I would have done anything to keep you with me! Hanako I love you! How can you not see that! Half-demon or not, I wanted to marry you! Spend the rest of my life making you happy!" Shuya choked and fought back his tears, "I wanted to give you the one place that you could belong..."
"This human...he desires you. He craves you. Yet you do not share the same feelings. I wonder why that is?" Sesshomaru pondered, sitting close to Hanako. She felt him draw her closer as if staking a claim upon her.
"Because I am not interested in being anyone's wife!" Hanako stood and faced Shuya, "I'm sorry Shuya. I can't love you. I knew I would have to tell you one day, but I can't love you. I can't hurt you that way...I would never forgive myself."
"Hmph...such petty softness coming from you." Sesshomaru rose and put his clothes back on, "But my work here is finished I believe." He pushed past Shuya, walking out of the hut. Hanako heard gasps and a few screams, but her attention was focused on Shuya.
"Shuya, I'm sorry! There is nothing going on! I don't even like him!" But even as she said those words, her cheeks grew warm, contradicting her denial.
"Hanako..." Shuya knelt before her, his eyes downcast, "Hanako I...I was going to..." she grabbed her hand, "Hanako...I love you. I want to marry you. When I heard that you had been elected, I knew I had to ask you as soon as I could..." his voice trailed off, and he looked up at her.
"Ask me..what?" Hanako asked, her cheek red as he held her hand. He was gentle, not like Sesshomaru's rough and slightly forceful handling.
"To marry me. I was going to ask you to be my wife..." He let go and embraced her, his skin warm against her, "I wanted to make you happy..."
Hanako squeaked and stiffened, his embrace taking her off guard, "Shuya what are you doing?" She pushed him away and stared at him, covering herself more with her clothes. "I'm sorry, but I don't want a husband. Besides I-" Her words were cut off as she saw the door open and several men burst in, including the village master.
"What is this? Master Toriyama! Why are you hugging this demon?" The village master ranted, his face beet red from rage.
Shuya stood in front of Hanako, shielding her with his body, "She is not a demon! She is a woman unlike any other! I will not let you harm her!"
"The lad is obviously under some spell! She is a witch!"
"No! Look at her ears and tail! She is most definitely a succubus! She has him under her control! Kill them both!"
Hanako gasped as she backed away in fear, her eyes wide and her heart pounding. "Shuya RUN!" she shrieked.
"No! You run! Hanako get out of here!" Shuya grabbed her and with a mighty yell that set Hanako's hair on end, he charged through the villagers. Hanako grasped her robes, looking back as she watched her home go up in flames. Her eyes widened, and with a cry of alarm she ducked her head just as an arrow whizzed past her head, barely nicking her ear.
"Shuya! The forest! We have to get to the forest!" Hanako yelled, taking the lead and grabbing his hand. With a massive lunge, she ran as fast as she could, but just as she reached the forest's edge, Shuya cried in pain, and his grip became slack. His hand slipped out of hers and she skidded to a halt.
Hanako turned and gasped, "Shuya no!" she looked at her friend, stumbling after her, his movements jerky, and a hand was placed over his chest. Blood seeped from a wound where his heart was and Hanako knew what that meant. "Shuya!" she cried and ran back to him, catching just as she fell into her arms. "Shuya..." she whispered, her heart tearing as she saw the arrow jutting out of his back.
"H-Hanako...I love you...please...don't let my death...be in vain..." He looked up at her, his brown eyes memorizing her face one last time. She watched as the light faded from his eyes, and he went limp, his breathing ceased, and his heart stopped.
Hanako held her dear friend, tears streaming down her cheeks as she mourned his untimely death. "Oh Shuya...I am so sorry...this is all my fault..." she didn't bother looking up as she heard footsteps approach. She knew it was the villagers, and something inside of her changed. She felt her body grow cold, and she looked up, her eyes glowing as she ripped the arrows out of her friend's back.
"There's the wench! Kill her!" The village master ordered.
Hanako looked down at her hands, the small silver crescent moons on her palms glowing brighter. Suddenly, a bright light burst her hands, and two circular weapons formed, their weight resting in her palms. She gripped the chakrams, her personal weapon of choice, and she readied herself to attack.
"Get her! Get her now before she slaughters us all!" the village master snarled, but he was backing away, his eyes wide with fear. The men lowered their spears and charged her.
"You will pay for taking Shuya's life!" she hissed and swung her blades, slicing the spears' shafts with one blade, while the other decapitated the first wave of men. She turned her gaze to Nobu Fujiwara, and she snarled, "He was a good man! He didn't deserve to die!"
"Get her! Kill her!" The man's voice had become a high-pitched shriek, and it was the last sound he made as his head rolled on the ground, her right arm above his right shoulder, her blades slick with blood. The body crumpled to the ground, and Hanako turned back to the villagers, her eyes glowing red as she snarled. Her tail lashed and she stepped closer, raising her blades once more.
"Run! Run away!" The men screamed and dropped their weapons, fleeing before the rage of Hanako Yamanari.
"That's right you filthy humans! Run away! You're cowards! Shuya was the bravest out of all of you! So go and run! Hide! You killed my friend! I will kill you in return!" she snarled, foam dribbling out of her mouth and down her chin.
But she let them run, let them flee. Her blades evaporated, and the crescent moons reappeared on her palms. She clenched her fists and stumbled over to Shuya's lifeless body, and she sobbed, clutching him to her.
"Oh Shuya...Sweet, smart, gentle Shuya...why did it have to be you?" she whispered, closing his eyes and stroking his cheek lightly with her fingers. The skin was growing cold, and her tears fell on his face. "I am so sorry. Please forgive me..." she stood and grabbed her clothes, putting them on before picking up Shuya's body. With a sigh, she carried the body away, to the spring where they had met.
We will depart at the place in which we first met. Our secret spring. Our haven. Our sanctuary. Now his burial place.
Hanako knelt at the fresh grave, lined with small stones and petals of her favorite flower, the nightshade. Around her the wind blew softly, and the woods were quiet as they too mourned the loss of Shuya Toriyama, a man of courage, and who had once been full of life.
"This is where we say good bye Shuya...at least for now. We will meet again someday, but you would want me to keep living for now." She stood and looked down at the grace, "Good bye Shuya...I will never forget you my friend." she kissed the nightshade flower in her hand and laid it upon the grave, before turning and walking away.
That chapter is over now. I must move on. If not for me, then for Shuya. But first...I have business I need to deal with...