Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I do not claim any rights to any of the characters or concepts created or owned by Viz Video or Rumiko Takahashi. This is just the work of one fan to the others. The only characters or concepts that i claim are the ones I created or introduced. That said, I bring you:
The Annals of the Heroine Akane, and the Dreaded Demon King. A Tale of the Mirrorverse.
Chapter 2: The Music we make, shapes the world that we live in.
Ranko sighed as she stretched at the fireside, her lute set aside for the moment as she watched the crowded taproom, full of people that just wanted to go about the evenings. Honestly, this is how it should be, she had thought to herself. People lived the lives they wanted, without the threat of war, poverty, famine or death looming over them.
She had watched the party of female adventures as they had departed, one by one to their rooms and noticed the sad, tired eyes of the one who looked the youngest, but had the oldest eyes of the three.
It was the sad truth of the world that they lived in that someone that young could have eyes that were so old. It was the world she wanted to see end after all. All the petty, stupid wars. In the end, what did they accomplish besides amusing the gods?
Ranko bowed as she ended her performance for the night, gathering her gear as she headed for her room and got ready to settle in for the night. She paused, as she stared at a particularly dark patch of shadows in the corner and sighed. "And what are you doing here, Xian Pu? I thought that I had told you two to remain in the castle."
A small black cat stepped out of the shadows and did the feline equivalent of a formal bow as it's tail swayed lazily behind it. "You did, but we thought it best to make sure that you were safe, my master. There have been reports of the Hero in the area, supposedly one of the raiding squads had been dispatched by the Hero and their party. Sadly, we still do not know anything of note about the latest hero, not one of the goblins they encountered had managed to escape."
"Tsk. I have never cared for goblins. They are too unpredictable, and unruly. They will not obey simple orders if it conflicts with their need to cause mayhem unless you assign a more powerful demon or denizen to shepherd them closely." The other voice in the room has become deeper, more masculine though just as melodic as before. "And what of your companion, Ryouga? Where did you leave that wandering disaster?"
The cat chuckled "I left him tied off in the woods. I will return to him soon. I wish you would let us accompany you, my master. It would make us feel much more at ease."
"I can't allow that right now, I need you two to keep the others in check, at least for now. Soon, things will descend into total war once the new Hero reaches the front lines. I want to try to make contact before that, if possible." The deep voice commented.
"So you can eliminate the threat?" The cat asked, as it tilted it's head to the side.
"Perhaps. One way or another, I do hope to neutralize the threat the hero and their party presents to us and our plans. I want to spite the gods, Xian Pu, and for that I might very well need to do something about the hero." The deep voice confided.
"All shall be as you wish, my master. We will keep an eye on events, and keep you informed." The cat said with another bow before it started to walk back into the shadows.
"I think that you just wish to cause a bit of mischief, Xian Pu." The deeper voice commented.
A flip of the tail before the cat vanished is all the commentary that is offered on that opinion.
Ranko sighed a deep sigh as she flopped onto her bed, as her hand rested on her forehead. It would be not much longer before she would have to return home, how things were shaping up. Soon, she wou;d be constrained by the whims of the gods, and unable to act as she wished. At that point, she was not sure that the conflict that was slowly coming to a boiling point could be prevented from becoming the raging fire of a total war that the Divine seemed to wish it to become.
Why could not the gods be reasonable, and not set the humans and demons on a path of destruction yet again? Why did they insist on making it so that young people, like that girl of troubled eyes, would be forced to fight and die?
Truly, the gods were capricious beings and needed to be taught a lesson.
The question, of course, was how does one teach a god a lesson?
Something to ponder over breakfast, perhaps.
These are the thoughts that chased the young bard into a troubled sleep.
Elsewhere, a small black cat approached the of a monstrous boar. The eyes of the boat locked onto the delicate feline as Xian Pu returned to her normal form, stretching all six limbs and her tail, for good measure.
"I'm glad to see you didn't manage lost.". Xian Pu said teasingly as she released the spell that helped directionally challenged demon in place.
"And I see the master must have not been overly angry with us." He commented before changing into his humanoid form and settling himself on the ground.
"And why would you say that?". She asked as she settled down as well.
"Because you returned alive." Ryouga said with a chuckle.
Xian Pu sniffed and lifted her nose "Of course! I'm the master's favorite!"
Ryouga guffawed as he shook his head "And so humble, to boot."
"Well, what do you expect? I am the prettiest, most perfect specimen of my species, that is why I serve the master directly. You, on the other hand… You're just too obtuse and stubborn to know when to die." Xian Pu said snidely in Infernal, as she usually only spoke their native language.
She hedged for a moment before she curled up and spoke again. "What do you think of the master's plan? Do you think it's possible to end this without wiping all of them out? Is peace even possible anymore? They are vicious, shortsighted monsters. They hate us because we look different than them, and let's face it. There are more than a few among our own ranks that feel the same.". She sighed deeply.
Ryouga shrugged his heavy shoulders "It's not my place to say whether it will work or not. Such worries are for the master. I will do what I can to support his plan, just like you. Leave such lofty thoughts one we serve, and instead focus on making it possible."
She sighed and nodded, swaying with her restless mood. "If I can find one human who understands how incredible I am, then maybe."
"It would take a far better person than any I know to not be put off by your conceit.". He said with a great, rumbling laugh.
She decided to not even deign to acknowledge him, much less rise to the bait.
After a bit, they settled down to wait out the night, in case their master had any need for them.
"Ryouga?" Xian Pu said from where she was curled up against the massive bulk of Ryouga in his boar form.
"What is it, you annoying little cat?" Ryouga grumbled sleepily.
"Thank you. For worrying about me." She said quietly before closing her eyes.
"The master would kill me if something happened to you, that is all." Ryouga commented before he let himself relax into rest.
Come the morning, Ranko is the first down into the common room, her traveling hat and cloak resting on the back of her chair as she tucked into her morning meal.
"Ho, Robin! Are ye leavin' us already?" The tavernkeep asked as he prepared the room for the morning business.
She nodded as she ate her bacon. "Yeah, I've got a ways to travel today. I'm hoping to get to the capitol before the end of the week, after all."
"Oh? And what would make our little songbird head there?" He asked as he wiped the counter.
"I want to see the new hero with my own two eyes, 'fore they head to the frontlines. I am sure that they will head to see the king and get his royal blessing before they enter combat." She said.
He nodded as he looked thoughtful. "Aye, tis likely. That is what they usually do, after all. Best to make sure ya don't upset the crown, after all."
She nodded in agreement as she finished her meal and gathered her gear. "Indeed. Well, take care and I will make sure I stop by on my way back through!"
He nodded and smiled. "May the Light bless you, and guide yer steps back to my stoop, little Robin!"
"May the Light grant you success, old man!" Ranko said with a mischievous glint in her eye as she walked out, unsurprised to see a small black cat waiting patiently for her outside. She shook her head as she leaned down and scooped up the annoying little furball, scratching Xian Pu behind the ears before placing her on her shoulder and settling her bag as she headed for the outskirts, already seeing the bulk of Ryouga waiting just outside in his human form.
"Decided to travel with me instead of lurking behind, have you?" Ranko asked the larger demon.
"We thought it was best." He said as he untied the rope that was wound around his waist from a tree.
"Just be careful, you both. I'm human, you two are not. And where we are going, it won't be safe for any of us." Ranko said as she squared her shoulders.
"Like that has ever stopped me before." Ryouga said while Xian Pu meowed in agreement.
"Very well, then we are off." Ranko said as the odd trio headed away from the front lines, and towards the capitol.
Inside the inn, the three sisters have made their way down to the common room, Kasumi looked fresh and awake, while Nabiki was yawning and stretching. Akane, for her part, still had the troubled look in her eyes that she had not really shed since her fate was laid out before her.
"Where are we heading today, little sis?" Nabiki said with a yawn, as she accepted a cup of the hot, steaming beverage that was offered her.
"Towards the frontlines. The sooner we start, the sooner all of this can end." The youngest Tendo said with a determined tone to her voice.
"Not to see the king?" Kasumi asked as she spread honey on her bread.
Akane shook her head. "Why waste our time bowing and scraping to the nobility while the common people bleed and die?"
"You're not going to be popular with them, you know that little sis?" Nabiki said.
"I plan on being less popular with the demons, so I guess it works." Akane said.
The three sisters ate in silence after that, as heavy thoughts lingered in their minds.
