I don't own Mononoke-hime.
Another part... And still just 1 review, R&R please!
Chapter 8: Demon Mark
I told Okkoto the whole story. I needed to tell somebody. I was only 14 years old. As I went through everything I remembered, from birth to fighting with that boar. He narrowed his eyes when I had mentioned how my mother died. When I got to the part about the demon tendrils he nodded his head in understanding. ((That explains it. Kitaro was shot by arrows. Humans did this to him,)) I cocked my head, confused. Arrows? Humans? Okkoto noticed my puzzled expression and laughed, a deep grunting sound. ((How old are you?)) he asked. ((14 years, nearing fifteen.)) I said proudly. ((I am over 200 years. I am a god.)) he answered. ((Heed my advice young one. You are made out to be a god someday. But gods must make sacrifices. There are two problems you have. Two trials. One is the humans. They are disgusting little skinny creatures. They have no fur, so they kill us for our skin to warm themselves. They shoot wooden sticks called arrows to wound us. Kitaro had taken three arrows to the heart before he died.)) I was puzzled. ((But how did he fight me like that?)) Okkoto sighed. ((It is a dark world Moro. Things are only growing worse. His hatred against the humans turned him into a demon. And now you are cursed.)) ((What?!)) I barked out in disbelief. ((Look at your reflection.)) he said. I gazed at my mirror image and notice patches of fur that had burned all the way to my flesh. They were marked raggedly with purple splotches. ((You can choose two fates.)) Okkoto said. ((The curse will always be there. Your fur will still grow, but it will always be there. You can use it to defeat enemy and save lives. But this will turn you into a demon. Kitaro did not want to be a demon. But he tried to stop the humans by himself.)) Okkoto sighed. ((It won't be long until the humans tear down our forest. Kill any human you see. Another fate you can choose to fight as hard as you can without giving into blind rage. Keep this in mind.)) I nodded my head. ((You said I have two problems. One is the humans. What is the other?)) I asked. He shook his head. ((I don't know much child. Something evil arrived the night you did. But I can read it in your eyes. You are afraid. Something has been following you, no?)) I looked down. ((Yes.))
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Naku started to cough. I immediately ran over to him. His chest wound was beginning to close at an astounding rate. I could see the bones in Saria's leg reforming. Before either of my siblings could reach shore, Okkoto was gone. They pelted me with questions, and I gave them some answers. I told them about humans. And Demons. The very name stood my fur on end. As we again headed back to our den, I noticed the Shishigami. As soon as I saw it, intense pain shot through my entire body, radiating from my burns. I needed to kill something. Worried that I might kill Naku or Saria in a blind rage, I jumped into the Shishigami's pool. I immediately felt better. As I broke the surface and started swimming ashore, I noticed that I was trailing a stream of blood. Upon checking myself, I realized that this was the blood of the boars I had killed. There was a lot. When I managed to work my way up to my den, I found Saria and Naku fast asleep. Feeling a sense of regret, I left the warm promise of two sleepy and warm bodies and resumed my cold vigil, guarding my den. My marks burned. Although I did not know it, I would face my first trial very soon.