Jashin's Child

Part 1: Cave

Chapter 1: Mission

Warnings for this chapter: violence; gore; blood; character death

Dedication: This chapter is for my reviewers 911negotiation, Thanks for the coffee, HeartsNaruto and Itachis-Only! I love you guys!

Author: Hello, hello! Good day everyone! This is the latest installment of Jashin's Child and as promised it's longer than that short excuse for a prologue :) I'm sorry that it took me so long, but as stated in the author's note of the prologue, I barely have time for writing. And I also read through a chapter like 3 to 5 times before uploading it which also takes some time ^^; I hope you'll like it even though I'm not too happy with what I produced for you XD

*throws disclaimer at you*

Translations:

Kami no ko – Child of god

Ko-sama –Child-sama (you all know what sama means, don't you XD)

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Kakuzu's POV:

A blood freezing war cry could be heard resonating throughout the whole wood, followed by the noise of wood splintering and steel clashing against steel. Sharp fangs caught the moonlight, glimmering eerily in the weak light. A furry creature, the body's shape half human half wolf. Beautifully patterned metal plates covered the fore arms, torso and shins.

The werewolf's vicious claws cut the air as the creature tried to inflict deadly wounds upon its adversary. I jumped back not to be hit and in turn attacked with the katana held tightly in my right hand. The long blade barely missed the man wolf.

A silent curse left my lips as one of my enemy's claws cut open my arm, tearing the expensive coat in the process.

With a scowl, hidden by the dark blue cloth that covered the lower half of my face, I performed a high cut, at the same time bringing up my leg to throw a kick at the creature fighting me. While the steel merely cut through air, the foot connected with the body, sending my opponent flying back onto the ground. With a jump I was above him, the katana raised for the final blow.

Before the blade pierced the werewolf's heart, I saw something akin to fear flicker in his inhuman eyes. A brief glimmer of the humanity the creature once held. And then it was over. Blood splattered onto my face and coat. No scream, no tone at all, left the wolf man's mouth. A simple surprised opening of the jaws. Empty eyes stared at the bright blue sky above, not able to watch the fluffy clouds wander across the world.

I got up, glad once again that my coat was black, else I'd have to buy a new one seeing as blood stains were hard to get out of cloth. Staring down at the corpse I pondered the best way to transport it. I had often had werewolves to kill, but this one was exceptionally big, even by a few inches taller than me. And that armor he wore looked expensive as well. I could make good money with it. Sighing I got to work.

I raised my katana and in one swift movement cut off the creature's head. Then I put it in one of the many large sacks I always carried with me for cases like this. After that was done I took off the wolf's armor and put the metal plates in another sack.

Quickly some stones were laid out in a circle around the beheaded corpse and the body set aflame. Burning was always the best way to get rid of a corpse.

I made my way back to the small village which's head hired me to rid them of the pest that had been killing the inhabitants. A bunch of tiny huts thrown together in a random fashion were all it was, the largest of the houses being the one I was about to get my money from.

When I approached the village head's home, I was greeted by two men carrying makeshift spears. They led me into the hut, which basically was one big room with a fire pit in the middle. The floor and walls were made out of light wood, a hole in the roof so the smoke emanating from the fire in the pit could escape.

On what in the villager's opinion was a throne, but in my eyes merely a big comfy chair sat an old man. His muddy brown eyes were surprisingly sharp for his, in the eyes of a human, high age. A huge beard hid the lower half of his wrinkled face, left over's of his last meal hanging in the rough hair.

When he saw me he held out his right hand and I gave him the sack with the werewolf's head, in the process slipping off the diamond encrusted gold ring he wore. Of course he didn't realize that last act, seeing as I was already a skilled thief.

After inspecting the wolf man's head the village's head motioned for his men to bring me the promised money and after counting it and a few farewells I left, leaving the place to not come back until nobody there would remember me. That's how I always did, always have done since I had started hunting monsters seventy years ago.

Why I hunted creatures even though I myself was one? Well, one is their own best friend. I had had to learn that the hard way. And now I used other beings for the only thing they're worth, as means to make money. The only constant in life. The only thing that would never leave or betray me. The only thing that would never hurt me.

The path I followed was deserted. The dry earth crunched under the soles of my black leather boots and the sun mercilessly beat down on my veiled head. It was a hot day and I felt the need to remove my coat, but not wanting to show my disfigured body I stayed stubborn and left it on. That werewolf armor wasn't helping either…

Where I went I didn't know. My home was anywhere and everywhere, the only ones waiting for me the scarce bars that were happy about any paying customer. I needed to find one soon, seeing as the sun would set in a few hours and the night was too dangerous to stay out at, even for a skilled fighter like me.

Eventually I reached a place that looked cheap enough for me to spend my money on. My tired feat carried me to the wooden door and I opened it, efficiently silencing everyone as I stepped into the run down bar.

Curious eyes ogled me, trying to decipher my reasons and strengths, but as I merely walked over to the bar and didn't attack, everyone went back to what they had been doing moments ago. Monster hunters like me weren't uncommon in places like these. We were all greedy bastards after all. And in such bars gaining information on eventual targets was easy as well.

A measly bar keeper walked over to me, grunting a question as to what was what I wished for.

"Some rum please. And a room if one is available." I said, sitting down on a stool.

The skinny man nodded and went to get me the desired drink and some keys.

The drink didn't really taste of anything and surely wasn't strong enough to be called rum, but I didn't expect anything else. And I needed to stay as sober as possible anyways. Who knows what would happen if I ever let my guard down. Especially in a place like this.

Sipping on my drink I eavesdropped on the other guests' conversations. Maybe I would find something that interested me? I was about to give up when something caught my ear.

"… and then he was never seen again. I tell you, that monster is worse than anything else you have ever seen!"

I got up, drink in hand, and walked over to the guy saying those words. His greasy brown hair hung in curly bangs into his dirty face. A grin showed the black stumps that were left of his teeth, the shaggy beard taking the dangerous edge with how ridiculous it looked.

"Hey", I grunted, "What monster are you talking about?"

The man motioned for me to sit by the table he and his friends, companions, whatever were gathered around and, used to all kinds of strange people coming up to him and asking questions, began to tell his tale.

"In a little village, not far from here, there once lived strongly religious people. They sacrificed for their god daily, praying at least three times a day. The temples they built for Jashin-sama, their god, were made out of the finest and most expensive stones, the insides almost entirely covered in gold. Golden diamond encrusted statues of dying men showing their faith in their god.

"But one day a traveler came. At first they tried to sacrifice him like they did with every other unfortunate soul that entered their village, but other than the former visitors he knew how to fight. The villagers were awed by his skills and invited him to stay for some time and he never left again.

"He was a very convincing man you know. He made them give him a house and food. He even became their leader! And as a leader he forbade, Jashinism, their former religion. Of course Jashin-sama wasn't happy about that. He had put his faith into that village and then they backstabbed him by just accepting that new law and not even secretly sacrificing for him.

"In his anger he sent a demon, one of his children, to punish them. They all disappeared and when the next person came to the village the only things they found were a bunch of empty huts and the head of the foreigner turned leader of village on a spear.

"The village was populated again and everything seemed alright, but what they didn't know was that Jashin's child still lived in that area. Once in a while villagers disappeared, killed by that monster they assumed. They sent people to hunt it, but none came back. Only once did a man survive the vicious beast, telling them about its hideout in a cave near the village.

"Nobody knows why, but it never leaves the cave. The survivor told about its vicious claws and eerily red eyes that could turn a lesser man to stone. The monster's laughter is said to burst your eardrums like a banshee's scream and the mere presence frightens you to the bone like an avenger ghost.

"If you're still interested hunter, follow the road to the north for about a day and then, at the beginning of the wood, turn left. You'll find that cursed village there."

I didn't really believe that tale. Gods and their children. What a bunch of crap! But still, if there was a story, there was something that caused the story. And that usually was a monster out of which I could earn good money, so I decided to head to that village first thing tomorrow.

I thanked the man, paid him a drink as a 'thank you' and then went to the room I rented for that night. It was small and didn't smell too good, but I wasn't picky. It was a roof over the head and a cheap one at that.

The next day I awoke to the chirps of the early morning birds and the first gentle rays of the sun peeking out from the horizon. A yawn left my mouth, arms stretching high and joints popping. I put on my headgear, mask and coat and then, shouldering my sacks, left the room. Paying and giving back the key I left the inn and began to follow the road north.

When the sun began to set again I finally reached the forest the man had been talking about. It appeared to be normal and not one bit threatening. Usually I could sense monsters, but there were none. It seemed like the story had been just that. A story. But I needed a place to stay the night anyways so I turned left and followed the small path that lead to a small village, not that much different to the last one I stayed at.

As soon as I passed the first few huts a woman walked up to me, a sad smile spread across her face.

"Are you a monster hunter?" she asked and as I nodded she exhaled, partly sad, partly glad, "Oh then you must be here for kami no ko! I'll bring you to old Hayabuza, the village's head. He'll tell you everything there is to know."

So there was a monster after all. And it seemed like the inhabitants of this place were quite desperate to be rid of it, which meant there was a lot of money to earn. Nodding I followed her as she led me to the, only by a bit, tallest hut and found myself in a cozy little room, a fire happily dancing in a fireplace on the right side, an old man sitting in a chair on the right, the table in front of him filled with food.

The man's feathery white hair swayed as he greeted me with a friendly nod, grey eyes glinting with hidden mischief. A smile curved his thin chapped lips upwards and he motioned for me to sit on the chair opposite to his.

"Good evening hunter. You are a hunter aren't you? You must be otherwise Mei wouldn't have brought you here."

I commented with a nod, eyes fixed onto his wrinkly face, not once breaking eye contact, but Hayabuza didn't seem affected by my cold stare. Like he was used to a monster's eyes staring right into his soul. At least that's what I was told that my gaze was like.

"Good good! Then I will tell you everything I know about ko-sama who has been killing my people. I don't know what it looks like, for I have never seen it. But because of what I've heard it seems to have blood red eyes and claws that can scratch stone. And it is said to always hum that strange song…"

He showed me by humming it himself. It was an eerie song, dark and foreboding, but at the same time happy; a mad kind of happy. I wondered what it would sound like coming from the monster's lips. More threatening? Probably.

"It doesn't matter how long it takes you. Nor do I care about its body. I just want it gone. Kill it, make it stop killing, whatever. I don't care. I want my people safe and that is all that's important. If you need any further information, Raiden, the only one who has ever seen the plague and survived it lives in the second hut to the right. As for accommodation, there is a room free in my home. Mei will show you after dinner. If you finish the mission and rid us of kami no ko you'll receive 30 000 000* yen. Will you take my offer?"

I immediately agreed, taking the offered hand. The smile on the old man's face stretched even wider and he called for Mei to bring me a plate so I could have some of his food as well. Seeing as all I had eaten that day was dried meat and a few pieces of bread, I gladly accepted, unaware that this mission would change my entire life.

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Word count: 2.460

*30 000 000 yen are 349 170 U.S. dollars :)

I hope you liked this chapter! *hands out crisps and cokes (or something else if you don't like that)*

See you in the next installment of this story (which will take some time again, because my A levels are still not over… :()

~Todesan