Gekko no Senshi (Moonlight Warrior)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: In this chapter (just like with the last part of C. 15) we will be going back in time. I don't really like using italic on flashbacks simply because I get confused when I write the characters' thoughts. Thanks for your understanding. On with the chapter…
Chapter 16
After her first meeting with the 'masked' lady, Tomoe felt on edge. She guarded her footsteps, looked around wondering if somebody was watching; she became paranoid. This isn't normal for a 13 year old and Tomoe knew it. She knew it was wrong but she could almost grasp the power emanating from the masked lady and she wanted it. She craved it. She dreamt about it.
"You seem a bit distracted, Tomoe-chan," Tora, her best friend, said.
"I am? Oh, it's ok I'm just a little tired of all the training…"
"You? Tired of training? Now that's something new!" Tora grabbed his belly as he laughed. She just pouted and hit him playfully in the arm. He flinched.
"I'll have you know that I have a lot on my plate," Tomoe looked away.
"What is it?" Tora stopped laughing at his friend and looked at her. She kept her gaze away from him. He was really good at reading people and she didn't want him to know what was she up to.
"Nothing, just that I'm barely even hitting the mark with archery and now otou-san wants me to start doing it mounting a horse. I'm barely keeping myself together, now I have to worry about keeping my balance and shooting an arrow…"
"That's a lot to worry about but you'll get there, I know you can," he smiled. She looked back at him and smiled. Honestly, that was the least of her worries. She knew she'd be able to get it eventually. What worried her the most was when would the 'masked' lady come again. She hasn't even told me her name, why should I even trust her…
"There's something else, I can sense it," said Tora. Tomoe turned away and looked up.
"No, it's nothing."
"Hmm."
Later that night, after dinner was served and Tomoe was getting ready for bed, the air suddenly grew still. She sensed great power. She heard that same voice calling her name. Tomoe climbed out the window and started walking to the forest behind her backyard.
"I will not concede on our agreement if you don't tell me your name," she called as she stopped at a small clearing.
"How demanding of you, Tomoe-chan," she heard the woman snicker. She could also hear other voices, unintelligible but she felt their presence; a massive youkai aura… she gulped but stood her ground.
"All right then," the 'masked' lady appeared before her eyes. She was tall, with magnificent long dark hair and wearing an imperial kimono. "I am called Hagoromo-Kitsune."
For some reason, Tomoe's blood ran cold. She immediately knew something wrong was about to happen.
"You said you'd do anything for power," continued Hagoromo-Kitsune.
"I never said that, don't twist my words," sneered Tomoe.
"Ooh, I like your attitude, little girl," then addressing the crowd of shadows surrounding them, "she's funny and she has guts. Exactly what I need…"
"What are you going to do?" a scared Tomoe hollered.
"Nothing, sweetheart, it won't hurt… trust m-," her words were cut by Tomoe's dagger as she lacerated the youkai skin.
"Don't touch me!"
"Ah, I like the look in your eyes, Tomoe-chan. That hateful stare fills me with joy!" Hagoromo-Kitsune chirped.
"You know what? I'm done with you! I don't want to deal with none of you!" Tomoe turned around as to walk away, to be stopped by a manlike youkai with a wood plank covering half of his face. He grabbed Tomoe by the hair and placed his sword in her throat. She didn't even flinch.
"You will have to deal with me then," he hissed.
"Ibaraki Doji dear, put the girl down," commanded Hagoromo-Kitsune in a sweet voice. He growled and put Tomoe down.
"Don't mess with us, human," he hissed. She scoffed.
"Ok, fine. As long as you don't hurt my family, we're good." Tomoe said confidently. Inside she wasn't confident at all. What am I doing? But I don't have any other choice or else, if I don't comply they'll kill me and my family…
"Great!" chirped the masked woman. "Come Tomoe-chan, let me give you a hug and a kiss, just to seal our deal."
Tomoe apprehensively walked over to her. Hagaromo-Kitsune grabbed her by the shoulders just to get one last glance at her. "You surely will turn out into a fine young woman." With that she kissed her in the lips.
Tomoe felt like her insides burst into a million pieces. She felt as if her soul was fighting for her. What have I done? Am I selling myself to the devil? I thought she was going to give me powers, not use me like this! In her last attempt of survival, she grabbed her dagger and shoved it into Hagoromo's abdomen. The latter released her with a scream.
"Stupid child! You will pay for that!" and just like that the demon took over her body.
"Tomoe!"
"Tomoe!"
"Tomoe!"
Tomoe opened her eyes. The morning light stabbed her in the eyes as she tried to cover them. What happened? What am I doing on the floor? She scanned the area as she lifted herself into a sitting position. Her head throbbed and her heart pounded on her chest. She heard her name being called from a distance.
As she got up, she felt a sudden urge to vomit. After she threw up, she thought: what the hell happened yesterday? What am I doing outside? Just then the images of what happened the night before came rushing in like a tidal wave. She became dizzy and felt the urge to puke again.
Her name was being called again, she could hear perfectly well the rustling of the feet colliding on the grass, she could even tell how far they where. She could also feel her parents' presence, along with that of Tora and his father. She could smell the animals at a distance… she felt everything different.
She looked at her hands; they were as pale as a white sac cloth. She used to be more tanned, being that she was in the sun all day whenever she wasn't in school. Did I turn into her?
"Tomoe!"
The girl turned around to see a pair of arms throw themselves at her. She was stunned at the gesture.
"Mom?"
"Oh, Tomoe dear, I was so worried. Why are you here? What happened?"
Tomoe was lost for words. "I don't know, I don't remember…" she lied.
After she got up, her father addressed her: "You look different, child. What did you see?"
Tomoe mumbled something. It was unintelligible. Inside of her, she was fighting with herself:
You filthy youkai! This was not part of the plan! You never said anything about possessing me!
Her face contorted into something ugly. You pesky human! You think you could beat me with that tiny dagger? Ha! You're not as intelligent as I thought! And by the way, I don't owe you a thing…
Her father immediately knew what was going on. "Aren-san, go look for the priestess of the shrine and bring her here! My daughter is being possessed by a demon."
Tomoe's mother cried in astonishment and let go of her. Tomoe sought the opportunity to run away.
Don't run away little bastard! Kill them!
Tomoe fell to the floor as her body disobeyed the orders of Hagoromo-Kitsune. No! I'm not killing my parents! I'll do whatever you want me to do but not my parents!
Just then she could hear people coming for her. She forcefully got up and continued running. All this time, Hagoromo was yelling her to kill them, while Tomoe yelled and screamed inside of her that she will not do it. Her willpower was so strong, Hagoromo had to tighten her grip on Tomoe's heart. It was so powerful; Tomoe fell losing consciousness for a few seconds. I'm your boss now little girl, you do as I say…
I'm not letting you do this to me, Tomoe said to Hagoromo-Kitsune.
Oh, you will….
Before she could even react, she took out an iron fan and chanted, "Nibi no tessen," murdering half of the group of men that where after her. Seeing this, members of her father's army ran back to him, telling him what happened.
Hagoromo-Kitsune was able to silence the pleading voice of Tomoe. 'Re-uniting' with her henchmen, Hagoromo-Kitsune (in the body of Tomoe) took over that land, driving the humans away and killing everyone that got in their way, be it ningen or youkai. After all the macabre dealings Hagoromo-Kitsune committed using Tomoe's body, Tomoe was later dubbed as Tomoe Gozen.
While Tomoe Gozen and her henchmen continued with their acts of deceit and murder throughout the land, her family was planning on confronting her with an onmyoji. Hidemoto 27th was ready to seal her, just as his predecessor did 400 years ago…. Her family pleaded with the onmyoji not to kill the girl for they still believe there was some of her still inside. The onmyoji gave them no guarantees but he assured them he would detach her from that demon.
One night, as Tomoe Gozen gathered with her clan plotting to assault the next town, when Shokera spurs out of the blue,
"Mother… I sense a spiritual presence…"
This got the attention of Tomoe Gozen. She approached him and spoke to him dearly, "What can you sense, Shokera dear?"
"Probably some sacrifice he'll offer to his god," joked a very irritated Ibaraki-Doji.
The silver haired youkai shushed him saying, "You're just jealous 'cause you can't give your life for god…" At this Ibaraki-Doji just grunts and rolls his eyes.
"Ibaraki-Doji, be nice to your brother," the kitsune youkai muttered.
"He's not my brother," he grumbled.
"You are both under me, I'm your mother and you're all my children," she clapped her hands. Ibaraki-Doji and Kidomaru just rolled their eyes and looked away.
"We're being surrounded," said Kidomaru, standing up.
"Eh? But isn't it the onmyoji Hidemoto?" her voice chanted. That's when a group of robed men appeared, holding torches and swords. Some had also guns and rifles. One was even holding a bazooka.
"Give up, Hagoromo-Kitsune and leave the body of the girl," said Hidemoto as he took out an ofuda.
"Oh Hidemoto, you're looking so old," she said. "Where's that other onmyoji, the young one? He was so cute and good looking!" she sang. Everyone, even her henchmen, sweatdropped…
Kidomaru cleared his throat and said, "This is Hidemoto 27th, the one you're referring to is Hidemoto 13th and he's been dead for more than 300 years."
"Oh my, so sad. It would've being nice to see a familiar face before I annihilate all of you…"
Suddenly the air grew thick. Tomoe Gozen took out all her tails and slaughtered half of Hidemoto's group and part of Yatogami-sama's army. Some men after seeing this ran away. Others stood their ground. Just then Tomoe Gozen noticed a small and frail body that didn't go with the crowd. As she was about to attack her, suddenly her body disobeyed and stopped in mid-air.
No! You are not touching my mother!
Oh?
You have kept me dormant for so long, you will NOT touch her!
Tomoe Gozen was contorting in anger as Tomoe was fighting inside of her. Hidemoto 27th took this opportunity to summon Hagun. Even though we don't have Nenekirimaru, we still have a spirit sword Akifusa created, he thought.
"Oh Hidemoto, put that away," Hagoromo-Kitsune signaled to the Hagun. "This trick of yours won't work on me anymore…"
Tomoe still fighting inside prayed: "God, if you are still there, please don't let her use me anymore!"
"No, no, noooooooo!" Tomoe Gozen or say, Hagoromo-Kitsune's true form screamed as she was being expelled from Tomoe Gozen's body by Tomoe's spirit.
Hidemoto 27th and the rest of the still living onmyoji wondered in awe for this had never happened before. Never in my life have I ever read or seeing something like this! Her spirit was so powerful as to expel the evil spirit from her body! Who is this girl?
Tomoe's body fell slamming to the ground. Her mother ran to her side as she held her and called her name, crying. Tomoe opened her eyes and hugged her mother like never before. Just then Tomoe heard the most blood-curling scream she ever heard, at the same time she felt a white, hot pain piercing her abdomen. Tomoko's body slumped over Tomoe. That's when she realized that Hagoromo-Kitsune had used one of her tails to pierce both Tomoe and Tomoko.
"YOU LITTLE BITCH! How could you!" yelled Hagoromo-Kitsune, losing power by the minute since she didn't have a body.
Tomoe looking up and then back at her mother, seeing her bleeding to her death, felt the most dark, blood-boiling hatred and vowed by all living beings that she will avenge her mother. Still holding her mother's body, she yelled:
"I, Tomoe Gozen, CURSE you Hagoromo-Kitsune! I will HUNT you till the end of my days and ERASE your spirit from this world, for you'll NEVER torment another soul again!"
The temperature dropped several marks as her voice grew darker and her eyes became bluer. Some of Hagoromo's men ran away. Hagoromo herself stared at Tomoe before disappearing.
Soon after everyone walked away, only leaving Tomoe's father and commander Aren with his son Torakiba. Tomoe shook in pain as the adrenaline seeped away from her bloodstream.
"Mother!" she cried.
"T-tomoe…"
"Mama, mama… please… I'm so sorry," tears started to fall down Tomoe's face as she rocked her mother's body.
"Shh, no… it's not your fault… I lo-," Tomoko's eyes went blank as she exhaled her last breath.
"Mama?"
Her body heaved as she shook in agony for she'll never hear those words again. Tomoe's father kneeled down to say a last goodbye to his wife and closes her eyes. He said a short prayer and kissed her. He tried to take her body away from Tomoe but she refused to let her go.
"Mama I'm so sorry, mama…" Tomoe cried as she felt her heart crumble down in tiny pieces and her insides melt away with her tears.
After she finally let go of her body, Tomoe stood up. Her abdomen was bleeding but it was less. Somehow she didn't feel the pain anymore. In a matter of seconds, her wound was gone. Tora noticed this.
"Hey! Where's your wound?"
Tomoe looked down, only to see a blood stain on her kimono but no wound. She touched herself and didn't feel anything. She just realized what happened: the ability to heal myself…
What am I?
She looked up to her friend, then to her father and then down. Without a word, she ran away.
A/N: What type of youkai is she? hmmm, you'll have to continue reading to find out! Please review! Thanks again to all reviewers!