Hello readers and welcome to My True Identity. Today's chapter continues where chapter six left off. What sort of dangers will come to our heroine and is she even alive for that matter? Guess we'll find out in today chapter while introducing a second character into the mix.
Friend or Foe!? The mysterious Isaac
The wind howls in fury as the mysterious tall demon stand before Hitomi's motionless form. Blood drips from the tip of his lance as he looks at the dead girl satisfied with his work. Slowly the demon makes his way back to the shrine's main hall, where his shorter companion is looking at a shimmering pink jewel in his hand. A sly grin appears on the taller demon's face as he walks over to see the jewel in his companion's hand.
"So is the jewel finally complete?" asked the demon as he waits for his friend's response to his question.
"Unfortunately no, the old man's spiritual power wasn't enough to balance out the malicious energy in the jewel. His power will probably last for at least five days." answered the shorter one as he pockets the jewel in his cloak.
"So our journey here was all for nothing huh." sighed the taller demon closing his eyes in frustration.
"Our lord will be mad with our failure, but I don't thinks there's any pure soul in this world that can balance out the evil energy within the jewel." explained the shorter demon while looking into the night sky.
"So what do we do now Kuroisou? The master will be displeased with our current failure." said the tall demon while concealing his lance within its cloths.
"Hmm we'll continue to scout out this region for pure souls. We cannot afford to fail our master, and without the jewel we can't continue on with the plan" replied Kuroisou while heading for the entrance of the temple.
"Oh Lancer you stay here. I have a hutch that the girl you exterminated might still be alive. If that the case finish her off understood?" said Kuroisou with Lancer looking at him in disbelieve.
"There no way that girl can be alive. I made sure that I pierced her heart with Mayari, and even if she did survive the initial attack she'll bleed to death through the wound it left." explained Lancer convinced that his lance had done its job.
"Do not misunderstand Lancer. I do not doubt your ability or Mayari's power, but it could become a problem if the girl is still alive There is was something quite unusual about that Hanyo, but I can't tell what it is." clarified Kuroisou while looking at Lancer's annoyed face.
"Fine I'll stay here and keep watch. I don't know what make you think that girl can be alive, but if she somehow is I'll make sure to end her breathing." stated Lancer with Kuroisou leaving into the shadowy night.
Pain is all that Hitomi's mind could register as she sat against the wall unconscious and bleeding profusely. Within the girl's mind memories flashed through her head. Memories of being insolated by the villagers, the day she had assaulted Daichi for killing her feathery companion, and the training that she had been doing with her Ojii-san since the incident with the monk. All these memories made her reflect on her life as her unconscious body continued to bleed with haste. Many thoughts ran through her head as she was fading between the borderline of life and death. More pain invaded her subconscious as she thinks about all the things she should have done, and all the things that she still wanted to do.
"I want to live I'm not ready to die yet," thought the girl as her eyes slowly opened to register the room around her.
Looking around she confirmed that she was in the sleeping quarters where her and her Ojii-san slept for the nights. Suddenly her eyes become filled with fright as she smells the scent of human blood from the main hall. To make matters worse she could tell that it was her Ojii-san's blood and there was a lot of it. Feeling another pitch of sharp pain Hitomi clutches her hand to her chest, and looks down to see her hand being soaked with her own blood. With pain penetrating her mind every second the poor girl wanted to scream out loud, but fear prevented her from doing so as she could pick of the scent of a demon in the main hall. Trying her very best to ignore the pain in her chest Hitomi get up on her feet with only one thing going through her head escape. Before leaving the room she notices the sheath that her guardian had given her. Wasting no time the girl picks it up with her right hand while clutching her wound with her left. Quietly Hitomi steps in the dark corridor of her home which now seemed unfamiliar to her. Silently making her way through the hall tears leak from Hitomi's eyes as she realize that her Ojii-san was no longer among the living. Now she would truly understand what it meant to be all alone in the world.
"Why did this all have to happen…? Why did those demons have to kill Ojii-san!? I don't want to be all alone!" thought Hitomi as she peered into the main hall.
More tears start to flow as she looks at the body of her caretaker; Making sure that there were no enemies around Hitomi fall on her knee near her Ojii-san, with tears staining her remorseful face. The poor girl is encompassed in grieve letting her head rest on his shoulder as she cries her eyes out. However her emotional outburst is cut short as she hears light breathing coming from within the room. Hitomi warily looks around the room desperately trying to pinpoint the location of the breathing. Hitomi quickly roll to her left as a spear head crashes into the ground where she was sitting. Standing not too far from her stood Lancer who pulled his lance from the ground. Looking at the girl with a mysterious look Lancer lets out a sigh; while putting his free hand to his forehead and shaking it from left to right. Hitomi face cringe with fright as she stared at the menacing demon before her. Even though Hitomi was scared of the demon in front of her. She was also quite angry with him since he was responsible for killing her Ojii-san. Another wave of pain overtakes Hitomi as she cough up a glob of blood. The girl quickly put her hand to her wound as Lancer eyes her with curiosity.
"So you managed to live through my attack. I got to admit that an impressive feet little girl. However unfortunately for you it all ends here," commented Lancer who was approaching her with haste.
Hitomi eyes widen as Lancer vanished from sight, but using her impressive hearing she was able to dodge Lancer next blow which came from behind. Cursing his bad luck Lancer tries to strike again but misses do to Hitomi's evasive actions. Trying no more sneak attacks Lancer begins to bombard Hitomi with countless lunge and swipes from his lance. Hitomi quickly starts to dodge each attack which puts more stress on her injured body. However the girl is soon caught and quickly stabbed in the shoulder. Hitomi lets out a pained scream as Lancer pulls his weapon from her shoulder. Falling to her knees Hitomi looks up at Lancer who raises his lance for the final strike. Stabbing downward Lancer had hoped to pierce the girl through the skull, but his attack is denied as the spear head is blocked by the scabbard that Hitomi had been carrying. Eyes' blazing with anger Lancer pushes harder as he tries to crack through the sheath. Hitomi eyes widen with fear as cracks start spread from the area where the spear head was being held, but soon a faint yellow glows start to engulf the sheath's outline. A blinding flash soon occurs and Lancer is tossed back by a powerful force which emanates from the scabbard. Hitomi looks with amazement as the scabbard's glows dies down. Wasting no time Hitomi soon bolts out the door with up most haste, but Lancer soon follows behind her with no intention of letting her escape. Hitomi quickly makes her way into the woods with the hopes of losing her pursuer in it walls. Hearing nothing but her own footsteps Hitomi continues to run for her life.
"What do I do now!? Without Ojii-san I have no place to go. The villager won't accept me and they'll probably try to blame me for Ojii-san's death," thought Hitomi while racing through the darkness of the woods.
"Why did they have to kill you Ojii-san? Why did all this have to happen!" thought Hitomi with tears staining her face as she continued to run.
Hitomi soon stopped running as she reached her secret spot near the river. Looking around to make sure that Lancer wasn't following her Hitomi let out a sigh as she sat against a tree trunk. Hitomi clutches the wound at her shoulder with pain not only resonating from it, but from the injury from her chest as well. Her vision started to become blurry as the pain from her wounds was starting to overtake her body. Her ears however were on high alert incase Lancer was somewhere nearby. With each breath becoming even more labored Hitomi was at an utter lost of what to do. Clutching where the wound at her chest was Hitomi lets out a sigh and with her free hand holds the mysterious scabbard up to her face. Wondering what the yellow glow was Hitomi looks at the scabbard hoping for its magic to return. Looking at the cracks on the sheath Hitomi wonders if she could get it repaired. However the problem was she didn't know anyone that knew anything about forgery. Cringing in pain once again Hitomi looks up at the night sky, and the countless stars twinkling in the sky. Thinking about what to do next Hitomi's eyes slowly start to give out, but she bravely combats the forces of unconsciousness for fear that she would be killed by Lancer.
"I mustn't lose consciousness… If I do I'll surely be killed by that demon," thought Hitomi but her body protested against her will to stay awake.
"Well well what do we have here?" entered a voice causing Hitomi body to shake with fear. Using her eyes Hitomi searches the area for the voice but see no one around.
"Seem like you're injured. Wonder what happened to you kid?" said the voice putting Hitomi's mind into overdrive.
"Who there?" uttered Hitomi while still searching for the origin of the voice. Standing up on her feet once more she slowly stumbles towards the river as she looks on the other side of it to locate the voice.
"So tell me little girl how come you're injured?" asked the voice again as Hitomi feels a pair of arms wrap around her shoulders.
Going wide eyes Hitomi tries to break away from the hold. However the pair of arms around her was too strong for her to break out of. Slowly one of the hands gently cups her chin causing her to turn a slight shade of red. Standing behind her the person's eyes light with glee as he strokes Hitomi's cheeks causing her do go even redder.
"You have such soft skin. That very good since you must be a nice healthy girl," whispered the voice sending icy shivers down Hitomi's spine.
The arms of Hitomi's assailant slowly unravel from the girls shoulder, and wasting no time she backs away with haste. Looking forwards Hitomi see a boy in front of her. His hair was jet black as the night sky, his skin was snowy white, and eyes an emerald green. He wore a black kosode which turn red toward the bottom. To go along with the kosode were red Hakama, but what was mysterious was the black garment the stretched from his shoulders all the way to his feet. (A.N he wearing a cape but I don't know if capes were around during the Sengoku period.) Looking at the mysterious boy before her Hitomi was in traced by his unearthly appearance. Trying to flee Hitomi found that her body wouldn't respond to her wish causing the girl to panic. The boy simply let a smile appear on his face as he approaches her with unknown intentions. Hovering in front of her the boy simply touches the area where Hitomi was wounded, and doing nothing hostile the boy pulls his hand away his fingers smeared with Hitomi's blood.
"Your blood has an exquisite smell to it," muttered the boy as he licks some of it from his fingers causing Hitomi to cringe in disgust.
"Allow me to drink more from your neck young lass," uttered the boy as he flash his two unusual size canine fangs.
Seeing the two long teeth caused Hitomi to tremble in fear, but no matter how much she wanted to move her body wouldn't listen to her. Slowly the boy move in front of her wrapping her paralyzed body within his arms. Hitomi could feel his chilling breath on her face. As well as his tongue gliding across the line of her neck, but there was nothing she could do as her body stood there not obeying a single command. The boy's mystical eyes stare into Hitomi's mismatched eyes, and soon the emerald irises turn from emerald green into blood stained red. The pair of red eyes slowly glares at her with hunger the hunger of an untamed beast. Trying with all her will to get her body to move Hitomi mind raced with fear. Fear of being eaten or the threat of the lanced demon finding her.
"Don't worry young one your pain will soon end here. Before this is over you'll no longer be apart of the living world. So relax your weary mind," spoke the boy with the tips of his fangs at Hitomi's neck.
"What are you?" Hitomi managed to ask as the boy retracted his head from her neck to look at her.
"My name is Isaac young lass. You can take that name with you to the afterlife my dear," answered Isaac as he returns to the artery at her neck.
"So this is it…? I'm going to die… I'm sorry Ojii-san I've failed you… I wonder if I'll be able to join you wherever your spirit is at," thought Hitomi as her mind slowly drifted into complete despair.
Looking at the unconscious girl resting in his arms a devilish smile appears on Isaac face. Preparing to sink his teeth into his prize Isaac soon retreats into the air with Hitomi in toe. A spear head is resting in the ground where Isaac once stood as he looks over to his attacker. Lancer lets out a sigh as he retracts his lance from the ground, but he soon looks up at Isaac who has Hitomi safely in his arms. Isaac slowly jumps down from the tree branch that he was on and land a few feet away from where Lancer is. Setting Hitomi down on the soft grass he soon looks over at Lancer with discontent. A red aura soon encases Isaac causing an amusing look to appear on Lancer face.
"Pardon me sir, but I don't take a fancy to people who interrupt me while I'm eating," uttered Isaac in a quiet voice.
"Sorry for disturbing you but unfortunately that girl you plan to eat is my target. So if you don't want to get hurt step away from the girl." explained Lancer as he held his lance in a battle ready position.
"Heh so you think that you can stand up against me! Hah I'll make sure to carve it on your grave when this is over!" yelled Isaac as his aura exploded with fury causing Lancer to back up in surprise.
"What is with this huge yokai aura? This isn't possible for a normal yokai, and the texture of it… You're a Vampire aren't you!" shouted Lancer with Isaac red eyes glaring at him.
"So you've heard of my race have you? How odd considering that we are a race of secrecy. Tell me how you know of my people?" asked Isaac curiosity seeped in every one of his words
"Well not that it will help much, but one of my acquaintances is a vampire. It quite a coincidence that I would stumble upon another vampire in this region," replied Lancer readying himself for a possible attack.
"Well I might not kill you just yet. Considering that you have some information that might be quite valuable to me," muttered Isaac with dust kicking up from the huge amount yokai that he was releasing.
"Prepare yourself because you might die if you hold back," warned Isaac as he vanished from Lancer field of vision.
Thinking quickly Lancer soon blocked an oncoming fist that crashed against his weapon. The recoil of the attack sends Lancer skidding across the ground as he used his lance to stop himself. Isaac let out a breath of disappointment as Lancer steadied himself for any other attack that the he might try. Looking at his opponent Isaac could tell that this wasn't a low level demon, and judging from the weapon he was carrying he could tell that his opponent had years of combat experience. Lancer soon attacks from above as he swings his lance down upon Isaac. However Isaac surprisingly blocks the spear head with nothing but his shoulder. Alarmed by this display of power Lancer backs away a few feet; the amusing smile still plaster on his face. Isaac soon rushes Lancer and unleashes a barrage of attack upon him. Lancer is completely on the defense as he blocks the rapid punches with his lance, but he soon duck under one of the punches, and soon after stabs his lance forward in hopes of impaling Isaac on it. However the attack fails as Isaac jumps high into the sky causing Lancer to hit nothing but air. Soon enough though Isaac is bombard by multiple attacks from Lancer's lance, but not worrying much he proceeds to dodge the attacks with up most ease. Seeing that he was getting nowhere with his attacks Lancer backs away from his opponent. Isaac just stands there in his position waiting for his enemy to make the next move. However a faint aura soon encases itself around Lancer's lance causing Isaac to look at it in fright.
"Well this has been quite an interesting battle, but it time I put this fight to an end," uttered Lancer the aura around is lance getting even stronger.
"An ace in the hole huh. I was wondering why you weren't using any special ability with that lance," replied Isaac as the lance was glowing bright red.
"I've heard that vampires are strong demons, but I also heard that they can easily be defeated. The way to defeat a vampire is with spiritual powers, or by piercing it in the heart," said Lancer causing quite some panic from Isaac.
"Well it been fun but I now bit you farewell!" shouted Lancer as Isaac charged him with the intent of stopping his attack.
Suddenly there a flash of light as Lancer thrust his spear forward. Isaac reacts as fast as he could but he is soon impaled in the chest by Lancer's lance. The light dies down and Isaac is on his knees holding the wound at his chest. Lancer looks at Isaac in amazement, but he soon lets out a sigh as he host his lance on his shoulder. Isaac now back on his feet prepares for anything that Lancer might try next, but Lancer soon turns around with no intents on fighting.
"I got to admit that the second time someone been able to dodge my Gae Bulg technique," uttered Lancer as he proceeds to conceal his weapon within its cloth.
"Wait this battle isn't over yet!" shouted Isaac but he soon stumble due to the pain in his chest from the wound.
"Sorry but my Gae Bulg technique was one to the best skills that I had. Now that I've used it up I can't use it again for a while," replied Lancer as he starts to leave the battlefield.
"Here a warning, if you don't want to get caught up in our affairs then I suggest you let that girl die. She lost a lot of blood and I give her another hour before she's gone. So if you want to live don't try and save her. If you do you'll know the wrath of the Shadow Lords remember that," explained Lancer as he disappears into the woods.
Looking at the girl behind him Isaac could tell that she had lost a lot of blood due to the wound at her heart. Contemplating on what to do next he walks over to Hitomi who is breathing heavily. Slowly Isaac tilts his head towards Hitomi neck with his tongue gliding across the artery of her neck. Wasting no time the vampire sinks his teeth into Hitomi neck with blood trickling from the area of the bite.
Well that it for Chapter Seven. Sorry that it took so long to write it just I'm have trouble concentrating on this particular chapter. However who is Isaac it? Is he and enemy or ally? Plus what will happen to Hitomi now? All these question will be answered in the next chapter so sit tight and happy reading.