"This child is different. She isn't supposed to master her powers for another hundred years at the least. She is just like any other beast."
Who is a beast?
"Soarana, you will inherit your mother's position as the highest Wind. Zephyr will be proud of you when you take over her duties."
Mother? She will be happy?
"You must master every elemental's abilities, Soarana. Zephyr can no longer produce more children, so you are the only one that can inherit your father's position. You must train to be the highest Wind and become Kamiko."
Inherit the Kamiko? Become Kamiko?
"My Lord Kamiko! The demons have breached our territory! The impurities of Hell are already spreading throughout our world! We must hold them back!"
"High Wind, we need your help! Our own forces are not enough to hold them back!"
Mother is going to fight? No! Don't go! Don't fight!
"Soarana, come back! You cannot fight! You must take over high Wind if your mother doesn't return!"
But she won't! She'll die! I have to help her! I'm strong!
"Kamiko! We just received word that Zephyr was lost in battle! Kamiko! We need help here!"
No, father! Don't die! Mother! Come back! Please!
"No! Soarana, come back! You are now Kamiko! You cannot go to the fight! Soarana!"
I will kill them! Demons! They must pay!
"Kamiko, you may have inherited the highest position, but your foolish actions call for the highest punishment."
But I destroyed the last of the demons! I killed them for you! For you!
"You are to live in the world of humans, forever living and dying as a human. Until someone has beaten you for the Kamiko position, as is our law, you will be the Kamiko amongst the humans. You are now outcast from Heaven!"
No! Why? I saved you all! Why are you getting rid of me?
"The Kamiko is now impure. She is unfit to become Kamiko!"
"Miss!" Noriko jolted up, grabbing the arms of the woman who was shaking her. "Thank the gods you're awake! Miss, did you have a nightmare? You were screaming in your sleep."
The woman released her grip to grab the cup of tea that sat on the tray next to her. Noriko took it, drinking from it as she tried to recall what had happened. She remembered the mound of dead bodies she had discovered, Kyoshiro's frightening outburst when a group of men attacked them, and the leader of the village. But everything after was blank.
"Can you remember anything?" The voice came from the door. The villager stood in the doorway carrying another tray with a bowl of rice. "As soon as you had reached the building, you collapsed. One of my men almost missed catching you. A nasty blow to the head that would have been."
"Kyoshiro?" Noriko whispered. Her throat was sore and she didn't feel like exerting any energy. "Where is Kyoshiro?"
"The man you were with? He's a few rooms down. Unfortunately, we couldn't put you two in closer rooms. The others were taken, I'm afraid."
"No, it's alright. I just don't want him running off again. Anyway, headman-"
"You can call me Sou, little miss. Headman sounds too formal."
"Well then, Sou. Can you tell me why there was a pile of dead bodies in that alley? And why your men attacked us? If you can, that is." Sou sat next to her and the woman, setting the bowl of rice down near her. The old man's face seemed to drop as he collected his thoughts.
Was the situation so grave that even a man with such a cheerful air about him could look so gloomy?
"Personally, I don't think I should get you involved," Sou started, "even though I hear the men saying that you're a bounty hunter, but I do owe you and your friend an explanation and a sincere apology." He closed his eyes. "But where do I start? I guess you could say this all begins with the Battle of Sekigahara."
Noriko grabbed the bowl of rice. She didn't want to be rude by eating during his explanation, but she was starving. Catching Kyoshiro required small rice balls that could be eaten on the move. There were no long breaks.
Suddenly a high pitched scream was heard down the hall. The woman stood up and looked out into the hall.
"What's going on?" Sou asked. His face immediately lost its color as he watched the woman. "Is it an attack?"
"No," she answered. "Miss, it would appear that your friend is awake now. It's coming from his room."
"Is it?" Noriko sighed. "That idiot." She stood, striding down the hall until she reached the open doorway to Kyoshiro's room. Inside she found the medicine man fighting to free himself from three men, each holding an appendage to the floor. "So, Kyoshiro, what exactly are you doing?"
Kyoshiro looked up with teary eyes. "Noriko? You're alive! I thought they killed you already and were moving on to me! Help me, Noriko!" He began to struggle again. "Let me go already!"
"Not a chance, moron." Noriko approached him, kneeling to level her face with his. "I don't need you running off while I talk with Sou. Besides, I might need some help later."
Sou appeared in the doorway, his expression more hopeful than before. "Miss, does that mean you intend to help us?"
Noriko began to laugh. "I wasn't at first, but this is starting to get a little interesting. Besides, I need a little stress relief after that nightmare." She hadn't dreamt of her time in Heaven in so long. Why did it happen now, the same time things began to happen around Kyoshiro? One thing was sure to her at this point, however.
She needed to get away from Kyoshiro. Turn him in and never see him again.
"Sou," Noriko exhaled, "could you kindly start from the beginning? I think both my friend here and I should hear this. After all, it's an apology to both of us, correct?"
"Of course." After the men released Kyoshiro, Sou began. "Six years ago, when the Battle of Sekigahara ended, our village was left with a small portion of manpower and labor force. The war had taken so many lives from our village, renewal seemed impossible. However, with good weather, we were able to thrive once again.
"We survived off the crops we grew. But things changed when two men appeared. They are brothers, I believe, and are cruel to the very core. The 'Wind' and the 'Iron Stick'. Demons, they are! Demons!" Noriko busted out laughing, falling to floor. Everyone was quiet, even Kyoshiro. Their faces were of shock. "Miss?"
"Noriko?" Kyoshiro asked. "Why are you-"
"Demons, you said?" Noriko questioned between giggles. "Did you call them demons, Sou?"
"Well, yes," Sou stuttered. "They're invincible. You can never tell which direction the 'Wind' will attack from and the 'Iron Stick' can crush rocks with his hands! We tried to resist them, but they just slaughtered us, as you saw in the alley! Then they asked for a huge sum of money! We will die!"
"Sou," Noriko wheezed, now finished with her laugh, "these brothers cannot possibly be demons. Not even Demon eyes Kyo can compare to a demon, so these men aren't even remotely near otherworldly. They only seem strong because you have a weak fighting force. They are child's play."
"Noriko!" Kyoshiro said. "What are you saying? These people-"
"Kyoshiro, I suggest you be quiet right now." Kyoshiro stopped, shocked at her sternness. Only moments ago she was laughing on the floor. "Sou, these men are the Bantouji brothers, am I correct?"
"Yes, miss. But, you aren't going to face them alone, are you?"
"Why wouldn't I? I said they were child's play, did I not? When are they supposed to strike the village? Tomorrow?" Sou nodded. "So that's why you were stationed in the village. Well then, I'll lend my services for tomorrow, so don't worry about anything."
"Thank you, miss!" Sou yelled. "We owe you a great deal for this! Ah! Let us prepare a feast for this good news! Shattori! Come with me!" Sou, the woman, and the men left, leaving Kyoshiro and Noriko in the room.
Noriko stayed silent. Sou's talk of the Bantouji brothers as demons had almost made her snap. How could two measly humans even compare to demons? She sighed. Her dream was not a good sign.
"So you're going to fight those brothers?" Kyoshiro asked. "But you'll be killed! Noriko, they're going to slaughter you!"
"No they won't. Want to know why, Kyoshiro?" Noriko smirked. He shook his head. "Well, I'll tell you anyway. Your going to help me catch them by providing a . . . distraction. I'm sure you could fool them with no problems at all. After all, you did get by me."
Kyoshiro began to back up against the wall. She would make use of this human before she turned him in. The current bounty on his head wasn't worth the trouble he caused for her, but if she kept him out of jail for a while, Noriko was sure the price on his head would rise.
At least, she would stay with him until it became a reasonable amount. After that, she would hand him over and hope she never saw him again.