Hello readers and welcome to Chapter three of "My True Identity" I'm your host Angelic Swordsman. Today's Chapter takes place two years after Chapter two. This chapter deals with Hitomi's encounter with another monk, and her unique characteristic of being a Hanyo with Spiritual energy. So sit back and enjoy chapter three of the story.
Spiritual Encounter
It was a peaceful summer day for the village that Hitomi lived in. The adults were busy doing there daily chores, and the children were either playing games or causing mischief around the village. However at a nearby river not little ways away from the village we see Hitomi there splashing her feet in the river. The girl was just sitting there thinking about nothing in particular as she let her feet dangle in the river. Admiring the nature all around her Hitomi take in a deep breath of fresh air while taking in the scent of the river also. Ever since two years ago Hitomi senses have increased considerably from her younger age. For one she could pick up the scent of things from very far away, and everyone in the village had a unique scent to her, but when she factored out everyone uniqueness they all had the same scent. Her eye sight had also gotten better since she could see real well in the dark as if it was day. Finally her sense of hearing had increased the most as she could pick up things from very far away. Even if people were whispering she could hear them as if they were talking normally.
Sitting at the river was very relaxing for Hitomi. She had found this place two weeks ago by following the scent of fresh water. To top it off the river had a good amount of fish in it. So it was also a private fishing spot for her. Finally there were also good amount medicinal herbs around this place. She had brought her Ojii-san here once and he had shown her the different type of herbs in the area.
However the peace for Hitomi didn't last long as Hitomi heard something wiz in the area. Acting quickly Hitomi rolled to the right with an arrow hitting the area where she was a few seconds ago. Her ears soon picked up the sound of another arrow, but instead of dodging it she uses the sound she hears to catch the arrow out of thin area. This did however come with a price as the arrow head had cut her palm. Hitomi soon stood up and dashed in the direction the arrows were coming from. Taking a leap into the air to dodge another one Hitomi soon enough raked her hand in front her. She then heard the snapping of wood and the stumbling of someone as she landed. There in front of her on his butt was Daichi the headman's son. Daichi looks at Hitomi with a sense of anger in his eyes which the girl didn't find foreign to her.
"Trying to kill me once again Daichi?" asked Hitomi in a dull voice as she found his attempt on her life annoying.
"Of course I'm trying to kill you! I'll never forget that day when you strangled me! You made a complete fool out of me!" yelled Daichi with hatred in every one of his word.
"I just suggest you quit with your silly fantasy since it won't happen. You may be older than me, but I'm the stronger one so please just give up." spoke Hitomi who really didn't want to hurt Daichi but then again she might have to get her point across.
"Never I will never give up. One day you'll screw up and I'll be there to take your life!" spat Daichi as he tried to punch Hitomi but she simply just caught the feeble attack.
"Must I really demonstrate the difference in power between you and I?" said Hitomi as she started to crush Daichi's hand in her own.
"Curse you Hitomi…" replied Daichi as he felt the pain building up within his wrist. He could fill his bones about to crack under Hitomi's powerful strength which was another trait of her demon heritage.
"I suggest you leave me alone Daichi. Next time I really will break your wrist." says Hitomi as she let go of Daichi's wrist.
Taking an arrow from his quiver Daichi charges Hitomi with the intent of stabbing her with the arrow head. However the girl quickly jumps up causing him to miss her completely. Trying to see where Hitomi ran off to Daichi looks up and see Hitomi standing on a tree branch. Looking angrily at Hitomi Daichi storms off away from the river leaving Hitomi by herself. Truth was Hitomi didn't like being tough, but it was the only way she could talk to Daichi. Ever since the incident two years ago the village boys had stopped picking on her. This was do to their fear as they were scared that she might kill them out of anger. Even Eiji Daichi's younger brother had stopped picking on her. She would always hear him call her monster every time they crossed paths. Although she acts tough the truth is those words hurt quite a bit since she didn't want to be consider a monster. That only left Daichi who was bent on trying to kill her. He wanted to kill her to restore his lost pride, and prove to the village boys that he wasn't a weakling. The boys in truth didn't think Daichi was weak, but they simply say that Hitomi is stronger and shouldn't be messed with. Letting out a sigh Hitomi jumped down from the tree branch that she was on and headed home. But little did she know there was a man watching the whole scene between Daichi and her.
It about sundown when Hitomi made it back to the village. The villager were everywhere conversation with each other after a hard days work. When the villagers saw Hitomi come back their words began to flow on the air stabbing her like daggers. Hey look Hitomi's back. I wonder why Hoshi-sama looks after such a creature. Remember the incident two years ago heard that she almost killed lord Daichi. Yeah I'm surprise the headman didn't execute her himself. Shush! You really should be quite she could be listening!? Hitomi just continued to walk forward despite the gossip that was going on about her. It was just the plain truth that she was an outcast. She was nothing more than a fearful beast to the humans around her. After walking a little more Hitomi came to the temp that she and her guardian stayed in. Walking quietly inside the shrine she could she that her Ojii-san was meditating next to the Buddha statue. Still being very quite the girl sat next to him and she too started to meditate. Opening one eye the kind priest looked over to his daughter who had come in. He was sad that this child didn't have a place in the world. He tried to change that by trying to get the villagers to except her, but in the end it was in vain plus he was in low favor with the villagers.
"Welcome back Hitomi. Did you have fun outside today?" asked Ojii-san as Hitomi stopped meditating to look at her caretaker.
"I spend most of the day by the river until Daichi show up." replied Hitomi stretching her legs out a little bit.
"What did Daichi do this time?" asked Ojii-san once again with a good guess about Hitomi's answers.
"He tried to kill me with his bow as usual, but I snapped it in two today to get him to stop. I guess he really wants to see me dead after that incident two years ago." answered Hitomi letting out a sigh of frustration.
"Well don't hold any ill will towards him. Eventually he'll give up and won't come after you anymore. So just give it a little more time ok." said Ojii-san looking in Hitomi's eyes for an answer.
"Yes Ojii-san." says Hitomi as she disappears into the back room.
"Merciful Buddha please have mercy on this forsaken child." prayed the priest as he went back to his meditation.
Meanwhile at the headman's house we see the headman chatting with a monk about a person in particular. The monk had hazel colored eyes with black her, and wore the same cloth as the priest that took care of Hitomi. Looking at the monk the head proceeded to asks him about Hitomi. The monk answered each one of his questions based on what he had observed by watching her.
"So do you believe the child is a threat to this village?" asks the headman as the priest looks at him with an honest face.
"To be honest the child looks completely harmless, but I believe that she could be a real danger if left alone." answered the priest with the headman nodding his head.
"Can I leave it to you to take care of it Hoshi-san?" asked the headman once more getting a nod from the monk.
The sun comes too early as we see Hitomi outside the shrine sweeping the dust away from the place. Ojii-san had left the village to go exorcise a demon in another village far from their home. Before he left he had made a list of chore for Hitomi to complete as he didn't want her causing mischief. After sweeping in front of the shrine Hitomi went to the river bed to pick medicinal herbs. Looking carefully at each plant Hitomi pick only the plants that she needed, and after completing that she was about to head home when a monk step out from the forest.
"Oh hello Hoshi-sama." said Hitomi as she bow before the monk in respect. Her Ojii-san had always taught to bow before holy men, and important figure heads.
"Good day young lady. What is one so young doing always out here by her self?" asked the monk while looking at Hitomi.
"I'm doing the chores on the list that my Ojii-san left for me." answered Hitomi as she looked at her list to see what she had to do next.
"Why what a sweet little girl you are helping out your Ojii-san like that." replied the monk when he stumbled and dropped a scroll which rolled in front of Hitomi.
"I'm sorry young one but could you please pick up that O-fuda in front of you. It a powerful spell that reveals the true nature of a demon if they should they touch it." explain the monk with Hitomi looking at the scroll with unsettled expression.
Hitomi nervously inches her hand towards the scroll with the monk watching in earnest. Touching the scroll with nothing happening Hitomi picks it up completely with the monk staring in shock. Hitomi simply hold the scroll in front of her for the monk to take, but when the monk touches the scroll something abnormal happens. Soon a flood of image flood into his head all at once, and soon after a powerful shock the likes he had ever felt before. Stumbling a little while still holding the scroll Hitomi looks at him in confusion as she didn't quite understand what had just happen. She had seen a faint yellow light come from her hand when she had touched the scroll, but she didn't know what it meant.
"I'll be on my way now good day Hoshi-sama." said Hitomi as she picks up her basket and leaves for home.
Hoshi-sama are you ok!?" ask one of the headman's guards with two more coming from the forest.
"What upset you Hoshi-san!?" uttered another with them all gathering around the startled monk.
"Look at the O-fuda on the ground…" stuttered the monk as the guards looked at the blank scroll on the ground.
"The spell on the O-fuda is completely gone!" shouted one of the guards after figuring out that a spell was suppose to be there.
That child… Just what in the world is she and what was that force that passed through my body? Was that the spiritual energy that I've been sensing from her? Did she reflect the power of the O-fuda away from her? That must have been the force that passed through my body… This child is truly a sinister being. Something that shouldn't exist at all, but still a demon that has spiritual and Yoki is completely unheard of. Thought the monk as he contemplated on what to do next.
The sun's track across the sky finally comes to an end as it disappears below the horizon. Hitomi sat alone in the shrine as she tried to figure out what that light was that came from her hand today. It was a mystery to her since she had never done anything like that before. Was it one her demon traits or was it the spiritual power that Ojii-san had mention. Either way the event was far to puzzling for Hitomi to figure out. Sitting in front of the Buddha statue Hitomi begins to meditate on the event hoping to get an answer for her problem. However she was soon interrupted by a voice at the front entrance. Getting up from her spot the girl quickly goes to the front entrance to see the monk from earlier standing outside.
"Oh hello again Hoshi-sama how may I be of assistant." asked Hitomi politely with the monk looking at her with a warm smile.
"I was just coming here to ask if I could stay here for the night. All the other places in the village have no rooms for guest. So I came here as a last resort." explained the monk with Hitomi beckoning him to come in.
I thank you for your kind hospitality." said the monk as he enters the shrine main hall. Looking at the Buddha statue sitting in the hall the monk gives a small prayer.
Hitomi soon comes back from another room in the shrine with a bowl in her hand. Handing it to the monk he simply sees that it's soup with various vegetable in it. Hitomi simply bows her head and head back into the back of the shrine. Setting the soup aside the monk takes out a ring with a five pointed star in the middle. Setting it in front of the Buddha statue the monk soon take out a silver prong with Buddhist scripture in craved into it.
Please merciful Buddha lend me your strength so that I may vanquish my enemy before me. Thought the monk as Hitomi came back out to check on her guest, but when she looked at the monk face she saw a serious look. Feeling that something was very wrong the girl simply stepped back a little with the fear showing in her eyes.
"I'm sorry to trouble you again young lass but could you stand near the ring in front of the statue." asked the monk with Hitomi nodding her head nervously.
That's it for chapter three of the story. Stay tune for chapter four which will finish the plot for this part of Hitomi's life. Will Hitomi survive whatever the monk planning or will she be killed right her. Guess you'll just have to what for the next chapter. I apologies for this chapter being late just been busy with school so I can't update too often. Anyways thanks for reading and have a good day.