Gintama is owned by the one and only Sorachi Hideaki-sensei, and Nurarihyon no Mago by Hiroshi Shibashii-sensei.
Chapter II: Encounter
It was then that the woman laid her eyes on the man's chest.
The man blew his pipe once again. "It sure is lively tonight."
The woman could still hear the roars and the laughter. Indeed, the atmosphere was a haven of the lively noise of the drunk men and the courtesans. Such earthly beings indeed.
"Too lively, I could feel them celebrating themselves."
Them.
"Demons."
The woman's eyes shifted to his face. He stood sideways, and all she could see from his face was the white bandage that covered his eye. Must he be blind? Well then, that would be better. It would be a lot easier.
The woman felt her throat tighten.
Thirst. She was feeling thirst.
The woman licked her lips, her tongue lightly colliding against one fang.
She wanted him.
That soul.
It was then that the man met her eyes. That was when she saw the other eye. It was uncovered. An eye that could see. The moon sure knew how to entertain her. It cast its gentle light to the seeing eye.
All the woman could see was the eye of the beast.
"Oni Matsuri."
The woman took a step forward.
"The Festival of the Demons."
The man blew his pipe once again.
"It happens tonight."
"I see. No wonder one of them is freely roaming around."
"And it is a mystery, that you did not become of one of our kind."
He looked at her once again, as if waiting for an explanation.
"Your eyes. You have the eyes of a beast."
The man smirked. "Ah sou."
"And your soul. Your soul is of an exquisite flavor."
The woman walked towards the man, facing him. She then lightly placed the tip of her finger over her chest. The man did not even flinch, and casually blew his pipe.
"Your soul. It tastes of vengeance."
The woman then smiled, revealing a pair of fangs.
She then whispered softly, with her cold voice.
"Your soul. I want it."
The man looked at the moon once again. "It sure is beautiful tonight."
Fast as a lightning, the man withdrew his sword and waved it across, determined to slice the belly of the woman. The woman could not help but laugh as she playfully landed over the man's sword, bending over, so that she looked down on him.
"Omoshiroii-"
The next thing she knew, a slice had etched itself on the left sleeve of her kimono. Alert, the woman let herself slide backwards. She then brushed her hand against the torn part, and that was when that she saw red spots cling to her fingers. "Yare yare."
Scarcely had she finished those words when she saw the tip of the blade advancing towards her neck.
The muscular hands shook as it gripped the sword with all its might. The woman's finger calmly collided itself against the blade, not a drip of blood slicing her pale skin.
He grinned. The woman only had a blink of an eye to realize the coming attack from her opponent. Avoiding the kick, the woman jumped to the nearest branch she could see. It was a poor rock that received the impact. The kick made the rock be thrown against a bench, breaking into pieces, and almost breaking the bench's leg.
The message was clear. He was here to prove that he was no human.
He was a beast.
The woman burst into laughter. "That's it...that's it..."
The man placed his sword back to its hilt.
"Are? Is playtime over?"
The man did not speak as he turned his back towards the woman, who had gone sitting over the branch.
"We shall meet again."
"Shitteru. I know"
"The moon is waning."
"Sou. You sure know that it is time for me to go. It is courteous of you."
"Demons are bound to be creatures of the night. But we humans. We can become demons, day and night."
"Oh..."
"When we meet again, I shall destroy you, demon."
"I shall wait for that. And that will be the time that I eat you soul, beast."
"Bakemono* ja nai."
"Takasugi da."
And with that, the man left.
The woman whispered to herself.
"Oni ja nai. Reiya desu."
Notes 101:
*Bakemono=Monster
*Oni=Demon