Episode 4: Osuhi's Startling Discovery

ONE

Night fell slowly over a quiet and lonesome land, blanketing the world in darkness and sending all but a few of the creatures of daylight scurrying for shelter. To most, such a time would be well suited for seeking shelter in the rocky foothills surrounding Mount Fuji and plotting their course for the next day's journey.

Two such travelers continued without pause: a tall, slender beast with smooth, muscle-toned flesh and his petite, willowy, pale-skinned prisoner.

As he walked behind her, Osuhi gazed at the rump of his latest prize, gently swaying with each step. She was different from other fox demons he had seen in the past. In fact, she was the first female fox demon he had ever laid eyes on.

Other than the fact that she was a half demon, of course.

He was relatively certain that like all other fox demons, vixens were born with big bushy tails, but this particular specimen had no such thing. Her legs and ass, shapely as they were, concealed the truth of her demon heritage. In fact, the only proof that he could see that she was a half demon were the pointy ears poking through her straight, ebony hair.

She was in fact more like him: almost human. He too had ebony hair, though cropped into short spikes. His ears were similarly pointed, though longer than hers. There was no further proof that he was a demon. At least, none that was visual.

She had been quite the morsel. Though she had fought mentally, she had been unable to fend him. And so, he had taken her as his prize… and what a prize she proved to be. More so than being merely a half demon, he had come to realize within her inner struggle as he lay claim to her what use she truly was.

It was for this reason that she possessed the demon sword known as Yosue. The sheath of the weapon was strapped across her back so that the hilt itself rested just over her right shoulder.

He still bore the scar from the time he had first tried to unsheathe Yosue, to claim it as his own. The half demon wench, however, had been able to wield the weapon on her first attempt. It was with this realization that he came to understand the true importance of adding the young fox demon to his collection. She could quench his thirst for power in more ways than one.

When he had tired of merely watching the girl walk in front of him, Osuhi moved over to her side. He took a handful of her long, silky hair and let it slide effortlessly from his fingers.

"Hmm. Very nice."

She cringed at his touch but continued forward. The Collector smiled slyly to himself. He held her in the bare minimum of control at present, merely guiding her direction. She went without protest … though she refused to meet his gaze when he spoke to her.

Which was disappointing. He liked the pathetic, frightened look in her eyes when she met his gaze. He liked seeing the moisture well up in her eyes when she looked at him.

The occasional tear that left a trail of despair on her cheek.

A small smirk formed on his lips as he walked beside her. He nibbled at the tip of his tongue with in incisor and let his hand wander. At first he was very careful not to touch her as his fingers followed the shape of her back from her neck to her rump. Then he slipped his fingers between her legs from behind and let them glide up her inner thigh in a deliciously inappropriate manner. She trembled at his touch and jumped away from him, putting one hand to her rump and the other against her crotch in defense. He watched the entire display with a devilish grin.

"Now that was a nice reaction," he mocked. "But I wasn't finished."

"You are now…" she whispered.

He curled his finger up in a gesture that she would understand as a demand. He didn't bother to raise his voice. "Come back here, or you will finish the day's march without the privilege of your kimono."

She gasped slightly, and for a moment her trembling legs refused to work.

"Don't make me ask twice."

With a nod, she slowly returned to his side. He then gestured on back down the path. She nodded pathetically and began to walk again. He followed along at her side.

"If I want to touch you," he murmured in his ear as she walked, "I touch you."

He slipped a hand into the front of her kimono.

"If I want you to touch me, you will not hesitate to please me in any manner of my choosing." His face was very near hers. She didn't dare close her eyes as he stared into them. "You belong to me now. Your body is mine. You fight, you suffer. But, as I said before… it does not have to be entirely unpleasant." Her face was red with shame as his hand worked inside her kimono, roughly kneading one of her soft breasts.

Without warning Osuhi slapped her ass with his other hand. Hard. She yelped loudly, nearly leaping out of her skin. He grinned.

"Unfortunately we have more important things to deal with for the time being. No time for pleasantries. We will have to explore our feelings later."

He squeezed her breast until he saw tears trickling down her cheeks. His other hand still cupped to her rump, he pulled her so close there was no space between them.

"That could change any time. So could your importance to me. Just you remember that, you little bitch." He snarled, spittle flying in her face. She trembled in fear. It was the perfect reaction, one he seriously enjoyed. He didn't show her any appreciation. "You live for one purpose now. To make me happy. If I'm not happy, you lose your purpose. And then what good are you to me?"

Despite her trembling stupor, but she managed a nod. "Yes… yes Master."

He blinked, caught off guard by the title. He had to admit, he liked it. A smirk slowly adorned his features. Then he grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and forced her to her knees.

They didn't have a lot of time, but there was time enough for this.

TWO

Shippo sank deep into the steaming water and stayed beneath the surface for what seemed an eternity as Maika watched on, sitting on her heels on the shore with her slender arms wrapped around her knees. When he broke the surface he threw his lean but muscular arms over the side of the rocky shore and settled back to peer up into the starry night sky. He heaved a sigh of ecstasy. "Oh yeah… Now this is what I'm talking about."

"We made good time today," a familiar disembodied voice announced. Tsume, sheathed in his leather scabbard on the shore, sat atop Shippo's neatly folded clothing, apparently content only when he could hear the sound of his own voice. "But we're going to have to make even better time if we are ever going to catch the Collector."

"Tsume?"

"Yes, Master Shippo?"

"Shut up."

"Um… certainly. Of course, Master Shippo."

Maika actually giggled softly at the exchange. She was beginning to loosen up around Shippo. Part of it was because of her discussion with Tsume on the morning after she'd met the unusual pair, but she had also begun to recognize his gentle soul. He was carefree and playful and lighthearted. She genuinely liked him.

With that decided she stood tall and began to disrobe.

Shippo blinked as he realized she was there. "Um, Maika…" he started. His cheeks flushed crimson and he sank just a bit deeper into the water. "What exactly are you doing?"

"The water l-l-looks nice. I'm g-g-going to take a b-b-bath, too."

"Oh. Okay…" Shippo swallowed hard and stared off at nothingness. "That's… kinda what I thought you were doing."

The dragoness grinned as she gazed at the fox demon. "You know, sh-sh-Shippo… you d-d-don't have to be emb-b-barrassed. We're not exactly c-c-compatible." As she spoke she let the leather armor she wore beneath her cloak fall to the ground. "There's nothing I can d-d-do to you, and there's n-n-nothing you can do to me. See?"

She placed her hands against her flat chest and lightly rolled her fingers along her flesh. "Nothing to g-g-grab onto. Our b-b-biological make-ups are so d-d-different, I doubt we c‑c‑could even make love, let alone b-b-bear offspring."

"I think you completely missed the point," Shippo muttered, almost to himself.

"You're c-c-cute," she cooed softly as she sank into the steaming hot spring. "T-t-take notes, Tsume. That's how you fluster a fox d-d-demon."

"Nicely played, Maika."

Shippo heaved a sigh but he had nothing more to say.

"Why, thank you, Tsume."

Shifting her legs so that they were comfortably beneath her and one cheek pressed firmly to the smooth rock bottom of the hot spring, Maika folded her arms over a standing stone that rose just above the water's surface. She laid her head in the nook of her arms and gazed almost admiringly at her newfound friend. Though they were sitting steaming water, Maika knew that his flushed face was not entirely due to the heat.

Starlight danced in her golden eyes as she gazed into the midnight sky.

"Shippo?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you. For everything."

She thought he would say there was no need to thank him, that he was only doing what he felt was the right thing to do. That was probably even true.

Instead, he smiled thoughtfully and finally relaxed. "You're welcome."

Her surprise was evident when she gazed at him, not at all certain how to respond. Shippo simply chuckled softly and stared up into the darkening sky.

For a moment tears welled up in Maika's eyes, but unwilling to share those tears she instead let her body dip fully beneath the water's steaming surface. When she finally reemerged, satisfaction shown brilliantly in her eyes and in the small, content smile on her face. She let her slender, willowy figure melt lazily against the standing stone and closed her golden eyes.

She sighed happily as she soaked. The water was perfect.

THREE

He had planned to continue the journey through the night and on into the next day, but hours after sunset the half demon collapsed. Exhaustion had won out. His prize simply couldn't continue, so Osuhi finally relinquished his desire to continue and decided to set up camp for her. He found a cave in the side of a steep cliff overlooking a dense patch of forest where he allowed her to settle in for a few hours rest.

Osuhi had no need for rest. He could go without sleep for days, weeks if need be. So while the half demon slept he sat just inside the entrance of the cave and gazed calmly out over the forest. He searched for any sign that someone might be out there, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. If he was still being pursued, the forest gave no indication.

He narrowed his eyes and then pursed his lips and blew a stream of air into the night. A long, low whistle slid easily from his lips, soft at first and intensifying as it slipped off into the trees. Even as he closed his lips several moments later he could still hear the sound as it carried on for miles in all directions.

He closed his eyes then and leaned back against the side of the rock face at the entrance of the cave. Soon, if all went well, the answer to his most pressing question would come to him. Then he would know exactly what he had to do.

In the meantime, he resigned himself to wait.

FOUR

Somewhere in the depths of her dreams, there was darkness, as if the solid ground beneath her had opened up in order to swallow her whole. The darkness rushed madly toward her, almost as if she were falling into nothingness. Intense emotion consumed her. Distant memories pleaded desperately in her ear. All the while, a familiar pain coursed like electricity through her entire being. Try as she might to scream, silence consumed her. So dense was the air around her she could hardly, let alone move a single muscle.

Remember… Remember!

But, remember what? She barely remembered her own name, and she felt fortunate to remember that much. Beyond the shadowy crevasse of the mind was only darkness, a uncompromising, all-compassing cold that pulled her further into the depths of despair.

Remember. Remember who you are. You are Kuu…

Slowly, her eyes slid open to stare into the darkness.

It was as if she rose to the surface of a deep, dark pool, and now floated on the back and stared off into space.

Somewhere in her chest she could feel her heart pounding.

Somewhere in the depths of her soul, a fire burned.

The fire of anger.

Her arm outstretched, she called for her salvation. The liquid blue flames of her foxfire licked at the hilt of the sword sheathed on the far side of the cavern.

You belong to no man.

Fight!

FIVE

Shou moved quickly and quietly through the forest. Though it was very late, he was concerned only with the path ahead of him. The taunting demonic tone reached his ears from somewhere beyond. He knew that if he could somehow find the origin of that sound, he would likely find his target. And when he found the target, he would slay the demon and take his rightful place among his ancestors as a proper demon slayer.

At least, that was his hope, but after what had happened during his first true battle, Shou was beginning to have doubts. The big demon with the flaming red hair was a formidable foe to say the least. Shou realized all too easily he was no match. If one that appeared to possess some semblance of honor and nobility could take him down with such ease, what of a demon that chose to hide in the shadows and annihilate the innocent as they slept? The very thought made Shou's blood boil and, at the same time, cause goosebumps to prickle his flesh.

He drew a mental breath as he moved, pushing aside his doubts for the sake of the task at hand. In one hand he held the handle of the sickle of his kusarigama. In the other, the chain just above the iron weight attached at the end. He had no choice. He refused to be caught off his guard. No time to rest. There was only the mission.

Those who had been left behind depended on him and Yataro-sensei's teachings.

Shou drew a breath in order to steel himself to the inevitable fight to come.

And the possibility of death just around the corner.

SIX

Unexpectedly, the figure in the darkness rose, her brilliant black mane flowing over her shoulders as blue flame flickered in her eyes. She balled her small hands to tight fists and stared off at nothingness. The voice in her head screamed the word once again.

Fight!

It was not the voice of an outside force stirring her to action, as Osuhi had done when he had taken her. No, the origins of this voice was all too familiar, wrapping her it a warm embrace and stirring within her confidence she had never known she had. There was no gender to the voice, no true depth or volume. It was as if a thought suddenly shifted unexpectedly through her mind. Clear as a bell, it shook her to the very core. So liberating! So profound yet so simple at the same time.

Her conqueror deserved no worse a fate than death.

Her breathing grew deeper. Her lip curled into a snarl. Something within her began to change. Something that cut deep to the center of her being. Her finger curled dangerously as her nails morphed into deadly, razor-sharp claws. Her flesh began to darken and her entire body grew taut with inner power. Her jaw swelled as fangs protruded. Spittle dribbled down her chin as a raspy growl rumbled from deep in her chest.

The figure at the mouth of the cave did not seem to be paying attention. He lounged calmly in place as he stared out over the forest. Fury danced in her eyes as she took a step toward him.

FIGHT! FIGHT!

Anger pushed her forward as she snapped her jaws and raked her claws against the stone wall of the cave. Tiny shards of rock littered the ground at her feet.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

KILL!

The voice screamed dangerously in her head as she rushed forward with a death cry that echoed through the night. In that moment, a very stunned and helpless conjurer spun to see the deadly beast looming over him.

And then, for the first time in days, perhaps even weeks, Osuhi snapped out of deep stupor that held him, as if waking from a dream. He didn't have time to fight back. He barely even had time to scream. Claws raked his cheek even as he fell back, splaying open the soft flesh. He dropped out of the mouth of the cave, over the side of the cliff, and into empty space.

She glared with blue fire in her eyes as he fell.

But she didn't give chase. There was no need. She possessed the power now. He was meaningless, and without the Collector that enhanced his abilities, he was powerless as well. She turned back in toward the cave, and as she did she felt her body receding. The swell of her jaws, her tense muscles, her razor-sharp claws, even the fire burning in her eyes… Everything that had been a mere moment ago returned to normal.

Except she was no longer normal by any stretch of the imagination. She knew that, had always known that. Her father had forbidden her from revealing the truth of her heritage. She still didn't know why, but now she knew that her heritage gave her more than she had ever imagined.

That power still lingered, bubbling violently, just below the surface. Eager to be called upon at a moment's notice

She slipped deeper in the darkness of the cave, and knelt in that place where she had left Yosue. She lifted the sword by the scabbard and gazed upon it. Then she took the hilt and drew it out several inches.

Her eyes sparked blue flame. The first time she had drawn the blade it had once only glowed so brilliant that she could not see the surface, if there was a surface to be seen. Now the blade was clearly visible, holding in the blue light as if it glowed from within.

She knew it was her fox magic, fully awakened.

She had been told her magic would never fully awaken, yet somehow…

A small smile spread across her lips.

She fully sheathed the sword, slipped it into her obi. Then, as she was about to leave, she turned to stare at the bundle of items Osuhi had dropped into the far corner of the cavern when they arrived. Something within the bundle beckoned her.

She moved toward it to collect her prize.

SEVEN

He cowered, broken and alone, curled into a fetal position. He was a bloody mess, lying in the ruined foliage that had broken his fall. His breathing was ragged, and mournful whimpers spilled pitifully from his lips. His eyes were full of tears.

Just what had happened? The past weeks were nothing but a series of terrible, jumbled images in the back of his mind. He had lost control, and that was all that he knew. He knew now that something terrible had happened. Something inside him had somehow stirred to life, pushing his abilities to their heightened limits, and it had been wondrous and grand and intoxicating.

Now, he recalled only what a woefully tragic road it had been, even if the memories were but a blur.

"You there! In the bushes! Reveal yourself!"

Osuhi stiffened. The unexpected voice cut into him as easily as a samurai's most cherished blade. But how? How was it possible that he'd been snuck up upon? It didn't make any sense!

Osuhi put his hands on the ground, groaning softly as he at last pushed himself to his feet. He was shaky at best, but he managed to gain his footing and stare at the human who'd approached.

Human? How was it possible that a mere human had snuck up on him?

Perhaps…

And then he realized that the voice in his head had, at last, fled. The voice that seemed so much like his own had at last departed, and it was then that he realized, with sudden clarity, that he was in terrible danger. The boy before him carried a weapon. A long chain, with a sickle on one end and an iron weight on the other.

"Are you a demon?" the boy demanded.

"Here to kill me, are you, slayer?" The words came slowly. He struggled to take a step forward, out of the crushed bushes.

The demon slayer struck a dangerous pose, bending his knees ever so slightly and holding his kusarigama out before him, preparing to strike.

"We might as well get this over with, then," Osuhi muttered.

"You will pay for your transgressions…"

Osuhi tilted his head slightly. "And what transgressions are you referring to?"

"You know full well! The murder of an innocent swordsmith and his daughter!"

"Innocent swordsmith? A swordsmith is little more than a warmonger. They are guilty by definition." Osuhi snort and took another step forward, only to stumble. He put his hand out and caught himself on the narrow truck of a nearby sapling. "Damn…"

The boy seemed to reconsider his position when Osuhi took his hand from the trunk, leaving a slick, glossy print. Bright red. Blood.

More of the crimson life dripped onto the ground at the demon's feet.

"What's happened to you? Who did this?"

"Not sure. Played for a fool, I suspect. I scarcely remember, actually."

That seemed to catch the boy off guard. Osuhi gave a shrug of his shoulder and stumbled slowly forward. The demon slayer stiffened, but he didn't give a damn. Right now there was only one thing he cared to do. And that was move on.

"Whatever it is," he mumbled as he shuffled past the boy, "it has her. Just as it had me. It used me the same way. Made me stronger than I ever imagined. But drained me as well." He paused before moving on. "If you continue on this path, I suspect you will find what you are looking for." He didn't glance the boy's way. He cradled his ribs and instead stared up into the sky. It was impossible to see the moon or stars through the thick canopy of foliage. "You will also find what you are not. It will kill you, boy."

The demon slayer gripped his weapon. "I'm not afraid."

"Courage. It will be the death of you, human."

Osuhi stumbled forward, moving. As the boy watched, he suddenly collapsed to the ground, writhing there in the path, barely in control of his own motor skills.

"This is what must be," the boy muttered. "It is my path."

When he turned and ran into the shadows, Osuhi grumbled to himself, but no words came out. He found himself respecting the bravery of the young demon slayer. It didn't change anything. Soon the boy would be dead. Osuhi might even join him on that trail into the underworld. Didn't really matter anymore. He knew that the fall wouldn't normally had caused him much damage, but the leech that had held him in his stupor for the past few weeks had sucked away much of his strength. He wasn't healing at his normal pace.

He wasn't a great demon, by any stretch. It was somewhat miraculous that he had survived the fall, considering his recent ordeal. Without the bush to somewhat cushion his fall, Osuhi had little doubt that he would have succumbed to his wounds before the demon slayers arrival.

A rest, he decided. Maybe after he closed his eyes for a bit he could regroup and determine the next course of action. The decision made, Osuhi breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Then he closed his eyes and was still.

EIGHT

"Here you g-g-go," Maika said happily as she handed over a roasted lizard on a stick. Shippo observed it for a moment before smiling his thanks and taking his meal.

"Are you sure that's not a distant relative?" Tsume asked as Shippo sniffed the meat.

The young dragoness giggled softly. "So what if it were? Not r-r-really the p-p-point, I think. It's just food."

Shippo glanced up, and smirked. "That's harsh."

Maika shrugged. "Yep. But then, the w-w-world's harsh."

"Well, I suppose there's no arguing that," Tsume said.

As Shippo ate, Maika took her own lizard and sat across from him, watching him over the small fire. He didn't watch back. With a sigh she dug in. For a time, no one spoke, but then Maika couldn't contain herself. She giggled softly.

Shippo looked over. "What?"

"Uncle," she said through a fit of giggles.

Shippo lowered his stick, the half-eaten lizard hanging dangerously close to the earth. "Uncle?"

Maiki giggled again, shook her head, and took another bite.

"Dragons," Tsume muttered.

Shippo grinned and returned to his meal. When he was finished he tossed the bones into a fire and took a second lizard from above the fire.

Once upon a time, he used to eat meals like this, around a campfire with his friends. Of course he had Tsume's company now, but that was different. Tsume wasn't much to look at, strapped in a sheath at his hip. He rather enjoyed a friendly face to look upon, and Maika fit the bill marvelously.

He chuckled softly and sank his teeth into the roasted lizard.

Maika glanced up. "And what are you l-l-laughing at?"

"Just thinking. It's been a long time since… It's nothing."

"Ah… I do enjoy st-st-stories, you know. Haven't heard a st-st-story since my family fled the f-f-forest."

Shippo lowered his meal slowly. It suddenly didn't seem as important.

Everyone she had known, her only friends, had abandoned their homeland. Something about her story wasn't adding up. Why was it that Maika stayed behind? How long had she been alone? He had a dark feeling in the pit of his stomach: she must have faced the so-called Collector on her own.

He sighed and started to return to his meal.

It was at that moment that he froze.

The sickening, metallic stench reached him abruptly.

Blood.

He whipped his head around and stared off at the mountain behind him. Fuji. The unmistakable stench came from that direction.

He was on his feet in a rush.

"Put out the fire," he said.

"Master Shippo?" He ripped Tsume, still in his sheath, from his side and tossed the weapon into Maika's lap.

She stared up at him. "Wh… what is it?"

"I'll be back," he promised, and then he vanished into the night.

Next Episode: Upon A Broken Path