Episode 2: Maika's Somber Pledge

ONE

She had to admit it: Shippo fascinated her. Maybe that's why she decided to stick around.

He was tall and lean and handsome, with fair skin and intense eyes as bright as a clear blue sky. He wore a deep blue kimono with a dark brown hakama. He draped his long, tawny fox's tail over his right shoulder, and possessed a regal air despite his vagabond nature. Most striking, however, was his long, flowing mane, a brilliant burning red. The color of fire, of life.

There was also his easy-going, gentle nature. It was unexpected but pleasant nonetheless. He spoke to her as if she mattered to him, as if he truly cared. She didn't know if he could be trusted, but in her heart of hearts she longed to believe it was so.

She also believed he could protect her, given the growing danger. This was home, the forest that had been a safe haven when her kin had been forced from the mountains generations ago by the powerful Ryukotsusei. She alone knew what had befallen the lonely forest. Though she did not have the strength to put things right, perhaps Shippo could. Maybe that was why she remained. Or maybe, it was just the prospect of a hot, fresh meal.

Perhaps it was for all of these reasons that Maika reached her decision, after contemplating for several long hours, deep into the night. In the end she realized there really was no choice in the matter. She saw promise, true hope for the first time since she had been abandoned. Deep inside she felt Shippo was someone who gave her hope.

Even so, she was unable to answer the questions he asked her, though not because she didn't know the answers. The simple truth was that deep down in her heart of hearts she knew there could be no trusting anyone who entered the forest, for that is what she had always been taught. She remained tightlipped throughout the brief interrogation, refusing to answer anything about her departed clan. She would only admit she was alone, and frightened beyond compare.

As the hour drew late, she was the last to fall asleep that night.

TWO

She was also the first to stir. Only a few hours had passed; the sun had not yet risen.

Slowly she pried her eyes open and let the haze of the dreamworld fade away until the night was clear once again. Swiveling both large, golden orbs about in their sockets, she could very nearly see the entire campsite without moving her head. Her eyesight was near perfect even in the black of night.

Soon she confirmed what she had expected. Shippo still leaned against the tree where he had settled down for the night. He seemed comfortable, peaceful. His large, bushy tail shrouded him like a blanket.

With a big yawn, Maika stretched her long neck and tail. Every muscle ached with weariness. Her joints creaked noisily from a lack of use through the night.

It was a rather pleasant experience, a sense of normalcy.

"Morning, Maika. I must admit, I half expected you to flee before Master Shippo woke."

She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath.

"You've been wah-wah-watching me all night?"

Tsume grunted softly. "Well, as it is I don't sleep."

Maika sighed. "Nothing b-b-better to do?"

"Precisely."

"He's still asleep. I c-c-could still run."

Tsume chuckled softly.

It was strange talking to a disembodied voice. She couldn't even see the dagger to which it belonged. She suspected it was still strapped to Shippo's hip as he slept, ever at the ready. He could draw it in a heartbeat if danger closed in.

Maika lowered herself to the ground and snaked her long neck around, nestling her snout beneath an arm and shielding her eyes. Then she folded her wings in close. Though still in plain sight, somehow not being able to see helped calm her nerves.

"Can I ask you a question?"

She sighed. "If you w-w-wish. I c-c-can't promise you I'll answer it."

"You spoke of a power that chased the dragons from this place."

"I did. Though you and Shippo d-d-didn't seem too surprised about th-th-that."

"Powerful demons still exist in the world. Though their numbers are significantly less than before Naraku's death."

"You knew nuh-nuh-Naraku? Did you fight him?"

"No. Not I. He was long gone before I came to this land. The Master, however… oh yes, he knew who Naraku was. He was one who helped to defeat him."

Maika lifted her wing slowly as she drew her head back out into the night air. The questions Shippo had asked her earlier returned to the forefront of her thoughts. "He d-d-defeated Naraku?" she mumbled.

"Well, I don't know all the gory details. He didn't exactly strike the deathblow, if that's what you're asking. He was still very young at the time. Just a kid really."

"The other power," Maika breathed softly. "Shippo isn't hunting dragons…" Maika lowered her head slowly. She stared off into the darkness.

"No. He isn't," Tsume replied. "Someone else is."

"Not human."

"No. Humans do not concern Master Shippo. We're hunting a demon of some fashion. To be honest, we've been on his tail for days now, but we never seem to gain any ground."

"Dragonstone," Maika said slowly.

"Dragonstone?"

"Yes. He st-st-stole it from us. It is a p-p-powerful jewel that m-m-masks our presence in th-th-the forest." The young dragoness lowered her head once again and stared off into the trees, a look of dejection in her golden eyes. "It is the only w-w-way we've b-b-been able to survive for so long in the b-b-backdrop of a human kingdom."

"This is all starting to make sense. This other power that Master Shippo sensed. He was here after all."

Maika closed her eyes and grumbled to herself.

"This demon who stole your dragonstone. Did he have a name?"

Maika gasped and slunk as close to the ground as physically possible. She had not heard Shippo stir. There was no telling just how long he had been listening to her conversation with Tsume. For one who prided herself on her keen senses, Shippo had certainly gotten the best of her more than once since she'd first laid eyes on him.

"Please, Maika," the fox demon said gently. He had approached, and had lowered to a knee before her. "I believe this demon I pursue and the fiend who took your dragonstone are one and the same. I can help you, if you'd only let me."

"Well…" She swallowed the lump in he throat. "He c-c-called himself the c-c-Collector."

"The Collector, eh?" Tsume replied quickly. "What do you think, Master Shippo?"

Shippo didn't reply, but if the small smile on his lips was any indication, Maika suspected he was pleased to have finally made some semblance of progress with her. Their "talk" the previous night had been a bit one-sided. Now she didn't know why she had held back. When she gazed at him she didn't see another demon seeking to harm her or her forest home. She saw only a gentle soul with a desire to do good. That hadn't changed since last night.

"I w-w-wish to help," she said softly. "If I c-c-can."

Shippo nodded. His smile was warm. "I'd like that."

"Welcome to our small company, little lady," Tsume said.

Maika smiled shyly. "Uh, s-s-sure. Thanks."

THREE

Yosue lay unsheathed on the forest floor. A scowling Osuhi stood over the mysterious weapon, glaring. Fury danced in his dark eyes. The girl struggled in his grip, her feet dangling a foot above the ground. He held her at arm's length, uninterested in her for the time being.

"Wasted effort," he grumbled to himself. "What good is a useless sword?"

His hand still ached fiercely. He wasn't as fast healing as most demons. It was possible that the scar of the burn would remain forever. The smell of burnt flesh was nauseating, more so knowing it was his own flesh that had touched the fire.

The sword held no value for him. However, the prize, he realized, was not in the sword, as he had expected. It was in the half demon that had retrieved it for him. Slowly he narrowed his eyes as a thought occurred to him. He dumped the girl to the ground.

Turning with a gleam in his eyes, he glowered down at the huddled mass on the forest floor. He revealed to her a twisted grin.

The sword was useless, but at least he could still have some fun. He reached down, but she cowered away from him. He took a step closer, scowling, and reached again. This time when she tried to move away he stretched out beyond his physical being and seized her chi.

"Enough!" Osuhi growled, and flattened her to the ground without even touching her.

He waited a long moment before crouching over her and, with slender, clawed fingers, he slowly began to peel away her kimono. Tears swam in the girl's eyes, but he did not watch her face. He watched her chest shaking as she sobbed helplessly against his inner power. He worked methodically, shifting the fabric here and there as need be, until he at last peeled away the final layer and exposed her soft, pale flesh.

"Be it everlasting or temporal, such beauty touches only the surface. This beauty is but skin deep."

"No…" the half demon murmured, but he ignored her.

She twitched when he placed a hand to her soft flesh. Then he lowered his face close and trailed a layer of moisture from belly to chin with the tip of his tongue as she squirmed beneath him. From here he crushed a hand over one of her soft but firm breasts and covered her mouth with his own. She tried to scream but her voice was severely muffled. Even if someone could hear her, he doubted anyone would risk his life for her.

If they did, Osuhi would cut them down as effectively as a fire scorches dry grass.

He forced his tongue through her soft lips, tasting the inside of her mouth, wrapping it around her own. With one hand busy fondling her breast he let the other travel further south, seeking her deeper mysteries. Though mentally she battled him every step of the way, she had no true strength to fight him off. This was his greatest power, to bend his subjects to his will. She could fight for an eternity and never lift so much as a finger in defiance against him.

Soon he found her most secret place.

He released her mouth after a time. A moan of sorrow and shame fled her in that moment. He offered her a smile, thinking that perhaps somewhere deep down she may find consolation in such an action.

"You may as well surrender, girl," he said in a tone that was almost gentle. "I am all that you have left." His fingers continued their delicate work between her legs. Tears streamed from her cheeks. He made a show of deliberately lapping them up. By the way her entire body tensed beneath him, he knew she had chosen to fight.

A sinister smirk spread over his thin lips. "Of course, your cooperation isn't mandatory."

With that, he plunged his tongue into her mouth once more.

FOUR

Hana's arrow sliced effortlessly into her target.

An instant later, Shou loosed his kusarigama with deadly accuracy.

Two halves of a melon dropped from the post upon which it sat. A long slender arm reached out and snagged shaft of the arrow jutting from Hana's chosen piece of fruit. The owner of the arm was bent at a rather awkward angle, but he had managed to get his hand beneath Shou's half as well, just before it hit the ground.

"Very nice work, both of you," Yataro-sensei said with a nod as passed each sibling their prize. "Your accuracy is much improved, Hana, as is your timing, Shou."

"Thank you, Yataro-sensei!" Shou said, bowing low. His younger sister echoed her gratitude as she mimicked his bow.

The aging teacher smiled thoughtfully as he shifted his gaze between the pair. "Very well done indeed."

Neither of the young warriors saw the man in the shadows behind Yataro-sensei, watching them quietly. That was the point, of course.

"Now go on and eat your melon," the old man said, waving them away.

They bowed again, calling out "Thank you!" in unison before darting off.

"They are the last of their people?"

"Not the last, my lord. The first," Yataro replied whimsically.

As the son of Lord Hanabishi stepped out from Yataro's hut and into the sun, he appraised the siblings as they raced away side by side. "They look young for demon slayers."

"That they are, but Shou is no younger than I when I slew my first demon."

"A boy that young, slaying demons." The samurai shook his head, still watching the children. "I still find it difficult to slay my enemy on a battlefield, and my enemies are human."

"Make no mistake… to slay a demon is no easy chore. But to a demon slayer, one who understands just how precious life is, to slay a man is harder."

"I'm not sure I could agree with you on that."

"All life is precious," Yataro said with a twinkle in his eye. The young samurai watched him with a frown. "That is the first lesson a demon slayer must learn. It is so simple, yet it is profoundly important. Until they can grasp that fact, the weapons they carry are meaningless."

The samurai drew a slow breath and glanced to Yataro. "They must have learned that lesson well, then. From what I saw, they are masters of their craft."

Yataro laughed. "A melon is but a melon. Not a demon. But you speak true. I haven't seen the like of Shou's kusarigama in a long while, and Hana is destined to be the finest archer I have ever trained."

"But she is not ready."

"Not yet, but soon."

"What of the boy?"

"If what you say is true, you must take him with you," Yataro replied.

The samurai considered the old man's words. "He has not yet slayed a demon."

"He has not. At least, not in the physical world."

"What do you mean by that?"

Yataro smiled. "You must take him," he repeated.

"I cannot guarantee his safety, old man."

"I would not expect you to, my lord. He goes with you to slay a demon. Safety is not a prerequisite for the post."

"I would feel better if you were the one."

"I am an old man, my lord," he said with certainty. "It has been a very long time since I've slain a demon. The boy however… His training is at an end, His technique sound. However, for one to be a true demon slayer… he must first slay a demon. To this end, he must join you on your quest."

The samurai narrowed his eyes. "You're sending him on this mission as a test," he said accusingly. "Yataro-sama, this is a mission of the utmost importance. My father will not stand for this to be taken lightly."

"And it will not be. You must trust me on that."

The samurai clenched his teeth, fighting back an argument.

"I'm afraid I cannot give him to you, my lord," Yataro said. He gestured on down the path. A smile split his grim features. "If you wish him to join your company, you must ask him for yourself."

The samurai drew a breath. "This is a mistake," he grumbled, but started off on the path toward the children anyway.

FIVE

His world had crumbled to dust as he slept. Heartsick, he could only sit on his knees at the threshold and watch as men from the village sifted through the ashes, searching for something, anything that might tell the tale of the destructive force that had sent his family to hell.

But the fire had been so hot. Even without searching the rubble for himself, he knew nothing could have survived the inferno. The men would not approach him. They afforded him the space he would need to grieve on his own as they continued to work.

He did not need to be told that the blaze had been… unnatural. This was not the work of a candle being knocked over, or some stray ember from the stove. Something dangerous, something wicked, had set this fire, and extinguished the lives of all those trapped inside. He could see the truth by simply observing the rubble.

As he sat with his katana set before him, just within reach, he closed his eyes allowed himself to reflect on the darkness within.

The soldiers worked tirelessly while the prince was away.

The son of the swordsmith breathed in deeply. Each breath ached fiercely. His family was gone. Everything that had once been in his life had been taken from him.

He knew without having to see the evidence that a demon had been responsible.

But why? What interest would a demon have in a maker of human weapons and his daughter? Why destroy only the hut as well as the swordsmith's shop, and leave the rest of the village intact? It made no sense at all.

"You're sure the stone was here?" a voice said from a short distance away. It was not a voice belonging to one of his men. The young samurai opened his eyes and peered off to the left, toward the forest.

He saw two figures standing there, just outside the treeline, facing the village.

"Yes, Shippo-san. I c-c-can feel its eh-eh-energy. It's g-g-gone now… but it wuh-was here."

In a rush the samurai went to his feet. His sword's blade cleared its sheath in a heartbeat. He turned to the newcomers with eyes narrowed.

"You there! State your business!"

He first thought that he was being ignored. The taller figure said something to the one next to him, and then started toward the rubble of his father's hut. He walked with confidence, his head held high. He wore a heavy fur draped over his shoulders, regal and haughty attire, in the samurai's eye.

The self-important traveler walked straight up to the rubble, swept his eyes over the remains, and then, just when the samurai was about to demand an answer, he turned and set his deep blue eyes upon him.

"What happened here?"

The samurai blinked, taken aback.

"Demons," he said in a rough voice.

The stranger lifted a clawed hand and hooked some of his fiery red hair over an ear. The samurai's eyes widened slightly when he saw the pointed ear.

"It was you?!" he scowled, raising his sword.

"You think to take your vengeance on me? As you wish, but be warned… I will not go easy on you." The demon looked back to the rubble. "But I would hope to avoid such conflict. I am not responsible for this. Nor is my companion."

"Then why come here, demon?" The samurai did not drop his guard. Nor did he attack. "This is a human village and no concern of yours!"

"I am after the demon who did this." He turned from the samurai and crossed the threshold. And, in the moment his foot landed on the carpet of ash, he froze.

The samurai could see the demon's eyes go wide.

The demon had discovered something he did not expect.

With a grunt the samurai turned and looked to his men. Some had paused in their work and were watching the demon with wide eyes. Others seemed not to notice that something out of the ordinary was happening. It was not every day one of their own conversed with a demon.

"You seek the demon that did this?" the samurai said softly.

He drew a slow breath and let his foot set firmly upon the ground. The moment of shock had passed. He turned and gave a curt nod. "I will find him."

"I am not exactly skilled in the art of demon tracking."

The other smiled. "I've got a little experience." There was a touch of bravado in his seemingly humble statement.

"You seem familiar," the samurai said then.

It was in the eyes and the easy smile.

"I will find the demon who did this," the other said softly, ignoring his comment.

The samurai nodded. He turned to his men. "You, men! Come here out of the rubble. Give him space!"

They complied without protest. The demon was allowed a while to search the rubble in silence. No one spoke to him. Nor did anyone take their eyes from him.

The samurai felt an odd sensation in simply observing the stranger. Somewhere deep down he heard a voice in his heart, a murmur asking only that he trust the demon with the long red hair and the great bushy tail draped over his shoulders.

It was as if he had known the stranger for years, but he knew that he had not.

Even so…

SIX

"What did you find, Master Shippo?"

"Hush, Tsume."

He swept away the layer of ash and scooped up the small object that had caught his eye. He stared at it for the longest time before he slipped it into the pouch at his waist. Then he rose to his full height and stared somberly about for one last time before turning to the forest.

His path took him close to the small company of soldiers, who stood in the small road between the two scorched buildings. The samurai he had spoken to initially rushed up to him. Shippo shot him a glare of warning, but the samurai ignored it. It had been a very long time since he had been approached by a human. He checked the warrior's sword, but it was sheathed at his hip. With a sigh, the demon turned to face the samurai before departing.

"What is it you've found? Do you know where the other has gone?"

"No. I'm afraid I can't help you."

"You took something from the rubble."

Shippo considered. "It belongs to a demon. It wasn't meant for human hands."

The samurai blinked. "The killer?"

"Perhaps."

He took it from his pocket and revealed it to the samurai.

"But that belongs to Kuu…"

"Someone you know?"

He swallowed. "My sister. She was here last night… caught in the blaze. Along with my father."

Shippo cringed sympathetically. "I'm sorry."

"That trinket. Return it to me. It belonged to my sister."

"I don't know how she got it," Shippo said calmly. "But it most certainly did not belong to her. This is a relic of my people."

"It is a child's toy!"

Shippo shrugged. "There may be some truth to that. We fox demons are a mischievous rabble." He slipped his hand back into the pouch and produced a second tiny wooden top. "This one is mine. As you can see the designs are identical, save for the markings. I'm not sure how your sister happened upon it, but it belongs to my people."

Shippo turned then. "My condolences for your loss." He slipped both tops into his pouch and started calmly for the forest.

The samurai glared after him.

"Demon!"

Shippo paused and turned so that he could peer back with one crystalline blue eye.

"I entrust this business to you. Find the bastard who killed my family."

"I will find him," Shippo said. "And I will kill him."

The promise need not be made. Shippo didn't intend vengeance for what the fiend had done to a human family. He had other reasons to track the Collector.

He returned to the young girl standing at the brink of the forest.

Maika's transformation had been startling. She now had a very human figure. Slender and willowy with pale green skin, a color nearly unnoticeable unless you observed her up close. Her scales had faded into a smooth, unblemished flesh. She was also very short, barely half his own height. Her tail was gone. She wore a tattered grey cloak she had stashed in the forest long ago, in the event that she had to do exactly as she was doing now: approach a human village where there was a considerable risk of being exposed.

She gazed up at him as he approached. Her golden eyes were unchanged by the transformation. Her pupils were narrowed into black slivers in the bright sunlight. "Shippo?"

"Fox fire. And this." He produced the top he had discovered in the ashes.

"What?" Maika asked suddenly. "But…"

"No fox demon would do this, Shippo," Tsume announced. "You should know that better than anyone."

"One did," he replied simply.

He stormed off into the forest.

"I don't understand," Maika said, her short legs churning with effort just to keep up with him. "Fox demons d-d-don't have any interest in human v-v-villages. They are m-m-mischief makers, not murderers. They d-d-don't kill people without s-s-strong cause."

"This was done by a fox demon," Shippo replied.

"How can that be?" Tsume asked.

"I don't know. The wreckage was caused by fox magic. I promise you that. The essence of it cuts deep. There's no doubt about it."

All was silent for a long while as his companions considered his discovery. "Well, if anyone would know, it would be you, Master."

Shippo nodded. "Yeah. I'm afraid so."

He paused then, his eyes flicking off to the darkness to his left.

He planted a foot squarely on Maika's back and gave her a shove, just a moment before the blade would have cut her to ribbons. She let out a yelp as she tumbled off of the path into the brush. Shippo watched the sickle pass through empty space, saw the length of black chain attached to it grew taut before the sickle passed again, returning to the shadows from whence it had come.

"Kusarigama," Shippo mused. "They hired a demon slayer."

"What will you do, Master Shippo?"

Shippo flexed his claws. "It's been awhile since I've been tested. Let's see what our friend can do."

The sickle rushed at him again, this time from another angle. Shippo was perfectly ready. He swiped out with clawed hand as he dodged to the left, knocking the weapon off to the right as it passed by. "Impressive. Apparently the little guy is quick on his feet."

"Little guy?" Tsume questioned.

"Just a kid," Shippo replied. His voice showed no real change from his normal, pleasant drawl. It spoke volumes of his confidence. This was no challenge. Tsume doubted the demon slayer posed much of a threat at all. Still, there seemed to be a hint of excitement in his master's tone. "Or perhaps a pixy."

"Joking are we, Master Shippo?"

The fox demon smirked. He watched the sickle of the kusarigama vanish once again into the shadows. With his perfect vision Shippo could see the silhouette of the boy as he snared the weapon's hilt. The moment the weapon was secure he moved yet again. This time Shippo kept his eyes on his attacker. The boy seemed to know he had lost the element of surprise, and this time, instead of trying to vanish, he simply stepped out of the shadows.

Shippo had been right. He was just a child, ten at most. He had long, straight brown hair that fell to his jawline, kept from his face by a bandanna. He was slender and tall for his age with skin bronzed by the sun. Unlike the familiar armor worn by a dear friend and her younger brother, this demon slayer was dressed more like a vagabond than a warrior. However, he seemed every bit as confident in his abilities.

He swung the chain of his kusarigama in a tight circle over his head, stepping carefully to his strong side. No, that wasn't right. He wanted Shippo to think it was his strong side. The fox demon smirked to himself. Smart kid, he thought. He had a good teacher. Either way, weak side or strong, he wouldn't be near quick enough. Shippo was nearly as fast as a certain wolf demon had been in his prime.

"Prepare yourself, demon!" the boy growled.

Shippo offered a half smile and bowed his head in response. "As you wish."

The boy struck, and the demon responded in kind.

NEXT EPISODE: The Unrelenting Demon Slayer