Disclaimer: There's none
It was on an evening, hidden deep inside the foliage of a vast forest on the outskirts of Japan, that she had first met him—a figure whose presence seemed more an annoyance than anything. Another dim dying flame like the rest of his kind who were not bestowed one of God's graces.
The sun hung low, casting a golden glow through the trees, while the air was rich with the scent of wine and sloth. She reveled in her indulgence, convinced she could live this way forever. After all, what else was there in life but gluttony, wine, and death?
Clank
The sound of yet another bottle dropping added to the sinister collection of bones and glass that littered the cold forest ground, a grotesque amalgamation of those who fell before her and spirits trapped. The bones, pale and brittle, lay entwined with jagged shards, each piece glinting ominously in the dim light.
She had sought solitude, away from the annoyance of her duties and had feigned nature driven insanity to keep it away. It had worked for many years until it didn't.
Gulp gulp gulp
As the strong liquid was swallowed, the small pale white throat visibly expanded and contracted, creating a slight bulge as the saki traveled to intoxicate her. The smooth skin stretched briefly, then relaxed with the swallow completed, showcasing the sinewy structure beneath, the movement was graceful, almost hypnotic in quality, capturing an otherworldly image not meant for human eyes.
Pop
She slowly detached from the sake cup licking her small lips of the remnants savoring it. Great ivory fangs barely visible from their sheath, her giggle resounding through the now silent forest as her eyes trailed the thick golden barrier that shimmered amidst the inky skyscape. A barrier talisman…a strong one.
"The darkness does not forgive the foolish…stop and heed my warning." She mused softly and tilted her cup around admiring her longtime companion as she gave but a single warning to preemptively stop any tomfoolery.
Yet the silent crunch of fallen leaves still echoed inside her ears as she frowned, her ire growing at the insistent stance. So she was to be ignored then? Without much thought she gently picked up her white gourd.
"I see, you still approach. Then I sip this spirit, as a reminder of those who ventured too close to the sun, drawn in by curiosity, only to be consumed. In which you will find yourself another lost soul among the whispers."
Yes she was using this as an excuse to drink more. You could never have enough~
She shifted on the flat rock she had stationed herself on to send her guest a curious glance. It would be a waste to not even behold the figure wouldn't?
'As I expected…a Yokai…no a human? A halfbreed?' She tilted her head downwards in thought, smelling said person before she saw them as the crunching became more insistent, more present as their presence was revealed.
Still her brows raised at the peculiarity that made itself known.
"A blonde human child and his…mutated pet fox? Not but ill tidings brought before me today. It seems tales of myself have dwindled to nothing but mere fairy tales."
She chuckled with measured breaths, laying down on her side to enjoy her buzz, watching as he drew closer without a sound. She did fancy good looking men... especially those with blond hair, and blue eyes but he was far too young for her.
She cared not to estimate his age as humans were funny with such things but she did recognize that he wore the uniform that their young did often.
His gaze was intense, she recognized. Filled with such feverish desire and hope that she was curious as to what elicited it. What could a child desire so much except the bosom of his mother?
She watched bemused as he came to stop not far away from her, digging in his school pants for something before pulling out a book.
'Hoooh~? A bounty book at such a young age? Does he intend to take my head? It would not be the first time.' Her eyes twinkled recognizing the worn gray book, as he coughed before finally speaking.
"Hey lady! Are you Shuten Dōji? Ex head of the Oni Clan and the Yasaka no Tsurugi (Sword of Yasaka)?!" The shout was filled with such joy and childishness that she couldn't help but shake her head reluctantly amused as he pointed it to her.
So he was aware yet still approached? Bold and foolish.
"In the flesh, was I everything you had hoped?" She observed wondering how he would react to her voice. Would he become one of the many enchanted by a single word or otherwise?
He answered that immediately as he did quite the expressive little dance, holding his fox rabbit companion as they cheered. Filled with personality her latest victim was wasn't he? Placing himself on her platter…a juicy little morsel.
"Even better! Ah man lady you don't know how hard it was to track you down, you're miles away from where I live!"
"Ara? You must be so tired~" A jester he aspired to be no doubt she thought.
"Like you wouldn't believe and I still got to go to school dammit! I'm already flunking!" He held his head as if dizzy at the very thought and she couldn't help it.
She placed a hand over her mouth and laughed at the absurdity of it all. It had been very long since she had been so amused. Yes she had taken quite a liking to this child of gold.
Would he be bitter or sweet, she wondered? How would he fare against all the others? He still had a bit too many bones however…
"You have a weird voice lady? It's like…really soft and stuff. " She calmed down but her smile was still fixed in place watching as he came forward hesitantly stepping over the errant bones.
"Is that so? Why won't you regale me over your thoughts with a cup of sake? It's only polite." She pointed out as he brushed the bottles and bones away before sitting.
"Ah sorry I'm too young to drink and you may kill me too. You're scary. I mean we are kinda surrounded by bones!" She cracked a smirk at the accurate description looking at him in a new light.
"So you are aware? Delightful, you were not as naive as you appeared. No matter however, I would never choose such a method to kill you." She contemplated the reason for those words as she continued.
"I can assure you of that. Now, a sip wouldn't hurt no? I haven't had another to partake in such delicacies in quite some time." She offered her very own cup, wiggling it enticingly as he looked down at it with hesitation as it pushed closer to his lips.
"But I don't really-"
"Neh neh~ Don't be shy. One sip is all it takes and we can discuss everything else later~ Hurry." She urged him on gently like an addiction to an addict pushing it insistently at his lips but he only clamped closing his eyes and mouth both.
She frowned though it came out a bit more playful as she beheld how stalwart he became.
"I see. You are hesitant due to your human sensibilities. Then allow me to guide you into the pleasures of booze filled debauchery."
With a teasing smile, she raised her sake cup high, her eyes sparkling. "To our firsts!" she exclaimed, tilting the cup back. The warm liquid flowed into her mouth, and as she savored it, some spilling over, glistening as it trickled down her lips and chin.
Yet interestingly enough she did not swallow it all. No, instead a wicked gleam entered her eyes as she made eye contact with the blonde who looked dazed at the turn of events.
Watching his eyes following her as she moved closer she couldn't help but think.
'And I shall be taking yours."
(Break)
The leaves had withered and fallen twice over, winter's chill had settled in and she had long forgotten the blonde haired child and his unfortunate meeting with her.
The breeze of the season didn't bother her as she rested in her new home, another rock in the middle of nowhere inside a forest of course, indulging herself once more. As usual she lived her life the exact same. By her whims and them alone. For there was nothing else for an Oni to do except to live for the chaos of life.
Though perhaps not the best decision considering the state of herself and her clan, she was here for a good time, not a long one.
'Not that it stopped me from living so long.' She jested, yawning, feeling like she needed a nice long nap. Perhaps a week or two this time?
However that was put on hold when she felt a poignant amount of emotion in the air.
She tilted her head trying to sense its origin but couldn't make head or tails of whether it was negative or positive so she simply directed her gaze to the heavy footsteps coming closer towards her.
Her eyes widened.
"To think you would seek me out once more. I know not whether to deem you brave or insane." With these words, Shuten greeted her visitor, a blend of curiosity and admiration flickering in her eyes, as she regarded the figure before her in a quizzical manner. Like he simply should not be here and he shouldn't.
He had grown.
She still did not know his age but he was nearly eye level now, with his hair on his neck. His face had some nicks and scars clearly from his escapades in hunting criminals.
His uniform had changed as well and he was wearing a bag but it was his eyes however that told her of his growth. She could not gleam much but they had a certain hardness to them. He had experienced loss huh?
"I'd rather call it determination, you know? It sounds better for my resume!" Then that illusion of a mature composure shattered to nothingness the minute he opened his mouth.
Still he was amusing as ever she thought.
"It certainly does, does it not? Though you have me in a bind I must say." She glanced down at his bandaged left hand, no doubt of her own making.
"What do you mean?"
"I had given you a warning once before yet you dare to approach me again?"
His face finally showed some anger and it surprised her just a bit.
"Yeah I dare! Where the hell do you get off munching on people's fingers you crazy lady!? I mean you snapped it clean off! You didn't even leave a tiny bit!" He unfurled the bandages showing the pinky that was indeed completely gone.
She laughed.
"It is certainly not my doing that you could not hold your liquor. In fact you whine about losing a pinky when it could have been your life? You're lucky I even had the restraint…" She muttered the last bit remembering how euphoria that nibble had given her He should have been lucky he was still a child otherwise…
His face took on a disgusted green hue.
"Gee thanks for not eating me lady. I guess I should bow in thanks for your grace?!"
She tapped her chin.
"I would certainly not be opposed to it…I have been looking for another subordinate to fetch me my booze and you do share similarities…"
"No way!"
"Your loss." She shrugged simply.
"No, I don't think it is!" He responded back and she shook her head silently.
"Then what have you returned for? Do you wish to partake in spirits?"
"And lose another pinky? I can't even remember what happened! No thanks. Actually I came for business!" He declared and her eyes moved quickly to the shifting inside his bag watching as 8 very strange beings made their way out to glare at her.
Her eyes glinted seeing the cat made entirely of flames. What was this she was witnessing?
"You came for business hmm? But what if I have no wish to discuss such?" She took one more sip of her sake watching as he clenched his fist.
"Sorry lady but we need to talk." His face gained an apologetic tint but it mattered little to her.
"Ufufu. You so audaciously step into my home once more, disrupt my tranquility, and presume to issue commands? It is quite clear, child, that you did not come to engage in conversation. Your intent reveals itself plainly to my senses."
He was silent for a moment looking down and the displeased Yokai gave him time to say his prayers. There were only 2 outcomes in trying to restrain an Oni.
Death or death.
"I guess you're right. It's just I was so surprised when you actually talked instead of attacking me…I thought we could solve this without…"
"You wish to kill me and you thought we could use our words?"
"What? No, I just wanted to bring you in!"
"A fate worse than death then." She grew bored with the conversation and boy the more the interaction carried on.
She looked at him blandly. Or well as blandly as someone drunk could.
"Has your resolve solidified? You seem hesitant to make the first move despite coming so far once more." She watched as he looked away.
"...it's hard to attack someone who isn't attacking me."
"I see. A foolish hesitation considering what you came to do but I shall make it easier for you."
Like a falling leaf, she made no noise when she moved. Her sword struck the ground where he once stood, and a sudden shockwave erupted, tearing through the earth and uprooting the oak that had stood for centuries.
"You are light on your feet. Your arrogance was not entirely unfounded. I give you that, child." She tutted, lifting her double-edged sword from the crater that could fit a giant.
With a heaving swing of her blade, the dust settled, revealing the devastation she had wrought.
Closing her eyes she sensed for his presence, he hid well, as if one with surroundings but unfortunately for him he had many fatal flaws.
She glided her finger down her blade and the glassy blue weapon gleamed beightly despite the night.
Her body gained a faint layer of purple before tightly wrapping her from head to toe and she simply brought her blade up in a reverse grip to block the heavy spiraling ball of azure flames that descended from the sky.
The impact sent ripples through the air, as the blue weapon shimmered, warding against the incessant spinning and pressure with sheer might.
With an effortless motion, she pivoted on her heel, diverting the attack downward before her knee came up and sent the tiny body flying deep into the forest.
"Is that all you've have perchance? Perhaps we should go back to drinking. You certainly have more talent there." she teased, hearing his grunt of pain as his flight was stopped by the 10th tree he broke, walking closer towards him to finish the little game.
The child said nothing to her but her eyes widened in surprise feeling a quick build up of chakra before she moved, dropping her sword seeing his muscles tense.
Her feet seemed to fuse with the earth, rooted in place as the demon contorted her body in an unnatural arc. With her hands gripping the ground behind her, her chest surged upward just in time-
Right after his form flashed bright gold for just one second and a ball of unstable, dense blue chakra whizzed by her head, barely missing its target. As he sailed over her, she felt the ground shake violently behind her, a massive explosion echoing in the air.
'I will savor your taste when we are through!' She thought grinning, enjoying the unexpected brief brush of death. The sight of his sorry state had almost lulled her into a false sense of security.
Quickly righting herself, she grabbed her sword, then spun around, channeling her energy as she unleashed a colossal cleaving strike of senjutsu. The air crackled with power as a concentrated 50-foot purple arc of power sliced through the space toward him, uncaring of everything that was destroyed in its rampage.
But she wasn't finished. As her sword cut through the air, she opened her mouth, and torrents of venomous Youjutsu poured forth, swirling in a dense mist of poison that sought to engulf everything in its path. The ground beneath her started to sizzle and corrode, a toxic haze rising and expanding as she focused on her prey with the arena set.
She watched as the colossal arc of energy met her target, illuminating the battlefield in a blinding flash of yellow and purple briefly obscuring her view.
However right after she grinned seeing him no worse for wear, glaring at her with orange eyes filled with helplessness.
This would prove to be most fun!
(Break)
"Pahhh! Human wine is always the best." She burped having had her fill with numerous bottles surrounding her. Laying on her back getting comfortable she sent complicated eyes to her new companion who was still sipping with his eyes closed in pleasure.
He had passed her height now, where they were once equals she now had to look up to him and she knew he reveled in it as childish as he was.
His uniform hadn't changed again, but now he seemed to enter the human stage called "rebellion." The buttons, once neatly fastened and aligned, were completely undone showing his bright orange shirt underneath.
His hair hadn't changed still at his neck but his voice had deepened as of recently and he seemed a bit more somber than usual.
"You're staring at me pretty intently Shuten. Have you finally decided to leave this crappy mountain?! There's a nice jail cell waiting for you." He sent excited blue eyes towards her.
She rolled her eyes.
"The only thing you'd carry of mine would be my corpse. I refuse to be sweetened or softened no matter how good the sake you bring is!"
He gave her a look and she coughed looking away.
"Uhuh? Would you like another bottle?" He placed his cup down with a smirk bringing out another from the bag he carried as she paused. He may use this against her later but…
"I suppose another would not cause a issue…" She quickly swiped from him mumbling a thanks as she popped the cap.
As she took another sip of spirit she sent him a another glance seeing him writing down something with his left hand. Homework presumably.
She didn't know what was going on with his life for he never said anything but she didn't really care. It never affected his ability to be a great drinking partner with her anyway and his tolerance had increased massively.
The fact that she hadn't been ambushed yet was also a plus though in his own words he was just observing her until he had the confidence to win.
Speaking of fights…
She glanced down at his sleeve quickly. The fabric hung limp empty and she turned away smacking her lips feeling like the taste had become bitter all of a sudden.
The taste had been divine back then more than she had ever thought it could be but she couldn't help but wonder if she had been a bit too hasty…
'Ah well…' She was a Oni afterall. The only thing that mattered was her pleasure right?
No sure on if her personality was the same so any thoughts on that would be nice. Do your worst. Also didn't use the Fate verse because it's far too complicated...
Anyway Evil Oni ftw. I can change her swear!