"Damn it! My demonic energy… What was that demon?!" Yumeko fumed. "Why would a demon save a human… I should've taken the Shikoku job."
Regret was pointless now. Her demons were gone, the ogre dead. If she didn't deliver the maiden, the general would crush her.
She had nothing left, not even her hard-earned demonic energy. The shedding trick had drained her dry.
Her only shot was returning with the maiden; maybe the general would spare her.
"Anyway, judging from that look in that demon's eye, he wanted the girl. To be on the safer side, better hide our scent." She grabbed nearby herbs, crushed them, and rubbed the juice on herself and the maiden.
The herbs wouldn't completely erase their scent but would muddle it, especially with their sharp stench.
Gritting her teeth against the odor, she smeared the yellow-brown paste over them both. The bitter smell repelled, masking their true scents.
After dressing the maiden, Yumeko bared her fangs and bit her wrist, sending a black liquid into her veins.
"Good, now she'll sleep for another day… Should I feed her? Can't let her starve."
She stared at Shion, drooling unconsciously.
Pure girls were a treat for demons, especially shrine maidens with spiritual power. If she could eat Shion's heart, she could heal her wound and boost her power.
"No, no I need to take her back to report." She shook it off, picked up Shion, and looked for a way back.
"This is… Mount Mobi? How'd I end up here?" Her face fell.
The demons' base was in Kyoto, and this was the wrong way; almost the opposite direction.
But this mountain has special meaning to her, so maybe she'd come back subconsciously.
"I never thought back then, when I left so arrogantly, that I would return in this state. How will my sister laugh at me now?"
With a grim smile, she decided to slip away quietly, avoiding her family.
But luck wasn't with her; it seemed even the skies were against her.
At a peak, she looked for a path to leave unseen. Instead, she spotted two familiar figures below.
"How did they catch up?" She froze. "They're human; how are they so fast?"
It was Haru and Tsuda, led by the orb.
She'd flown off with her demons, out of reach. But Sesshomaru's attack forced her back here, erasing her lead.
Haru and Tsuda had chased a full day and caught up.
From above, she saw them clearly, though they hadn't noticed her.
"Filthy humans, how dare you chase me? I'll kill you!" Being hunted by humans stung her pride.
But with her strength gone, facing Haru might not go her way. She had no backup now; shedding again wasn't an option.
Fleeing felt wrong, though, and not knowing how they tracked her gnawed at her.
"I have to get rid of them, or I'll never sleep easy." She bit her finger, thinking, then sighed.
"Looks like I need her help… that wench. I never wanted to see her again!"
She meant her sister. They'd been close as kids, but as they grew up Yumeko became jealous of her sister's pure beauty. Although she herself didn't notice, her attitude towards her sister did change.
Yumeko was a snake, while her sister was a mountain spirit, born from legends and nature, human-like by default.
(They are not blood related sisters.)
Her sister's charm won over animals and villagers, earning her the title "Princess" while Yumeko was hated because of her true form. When she transformed into human form, she deliberately made her appearance similar to her sister.
Later she became more and more jealous , turning harsh towards her sister, but her kind sister never saw it.
Yumeko had been struggling with guilt and envy…
Finally, she couldn't take it, vowing to become a "real princess" and left.
She thought she'd sealed those memories, but fleeing brought her back.
Even snakes miss home, it seemed.
Imagining their meeting, she wondered how to dodge the awkwardness. Before she knew it, she stood at a small, rundown temple. This old place was their childhood home.
Before she knocked, quick steps came from inside. The door flew open, and a small, lovely girl threw herself into Yumeko's arms like a waiting pup.
"Sister, dear sister… bwah! aha, I knew you'd come back. I've missed you so much…"
The tiny, sweet girl shook with tears. Yumeko's tangled thoughts faded, leaving just a sigh. "Alright, stop crying…"
"I'm back, Kiyohime."
…..
"Sister, who's this girl?" Kiyohime asked, eyeing the sleeping Shion. "And this smell…"
"Don't worry about it… Kiyohime, I'm here because I need your help." Yumeko knew her sister was simple, so she cut to the chase.
Kiyohime led them to a side room, brewing tea calmly before speaking. "Why say 'need'? If I can help, I'll do all I can."
Yumeko nodded. "Truth is, I'm being hunted. I ran here, and the herbs are to throw off my enemies."
"Hunted!" Kiyohime gasped. "By whom? Are you okay?"
Yumeko gave a weak smile. "Okay? I almost died! I escaped one killer, then ran into another… I had no choice but to come to you, Kiyohime… My sweet sister, you have to help me!"
Kiyohime nodded fast. "Of course, stay here. The temple's hidden, and with some tricks, no one will find you. Wait, I'll get healing herbs…"
"Kiyohime!" Yumeko raised her voice. "I am not asking you to hide me….I want you to help me kill my enemies!"
"Kill them?" Kiyohime's breath caught. "I… I can't. I've never… never killed anyone."
Yumeko frowned at her sister's timidness, then softened her tone. "Fine, I won't make you kill… How about this: Lure them here, and I'll make tea. You just get them to drink it… It'll only put them to sleep, not hurt them."
Kiyohime hesitated. "But how do I… lure them?" Her face reddened at "lure."
Yumeko smiled slyly, lifting Kiyohime's chin, brushing her soft cheek.
"With this face, which man could resist?"
Kiyohime had never dealt with men, let alone lured them. Shy and torn, she stammered, "I… I don't think I can…"
Yumeko hugged her, crying, "Sister, would you let me die? Please, just this once! Help me, and I'll never leave you again, okay?"
After a long pause, Kiyohime's love for her sister won, and she nodded slowly.
Yumeko hid her glee, a dark smirk forming: 'Once they fall into my hands, they'll wish for death!'
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haru and Tsuda trekked a mountain path, the silver orb's faint light guiding them deeper into the woods.
"Don't you have a real name?" Haru asked. "I'm Haru, a ronin." He flashed the Muramasa as proof.
(Ronin: Samurai without a master)
Tsuda answered shortly, "No."
"What do people call you? Tsuda?"
After a moment, he said coldly, "Atsu."
Haru grinned. "A nickname, huh?. I'll call you Atsu too."
Atsu stayed quiet. He wasn't the one to talk much to begin with, and recent losses made him colder to Haru.
Haru didn't mind. He found the boy interesting, sensing something unique about him.
Atsu carried little; just food and his rusty sword. He looked poor, but Haru knew the sword wasn't junk.
It was Inuyasha's blade "Tessaiga". It looked worn, but that was its sealed state. When unleashed, it was mighty, able to cut demonic energy, steal skills, and break barriers.
It even had powerful moves.
A swordsman like Haru should've wanted it, but he felt calm, with no urge to take it.
Why? Because he was noble, handsome, selfless…
No, really, he couldn't use it.
Tessaiga picked its owner. Its first master was Inuyasha's father, the demon lord "Toga."
Ruler of the west, he nearly united Japan's demons at his peak.
His strength showed in the swords from his fangs: Tessaiga and Tenseiga, both elite demon blades.
By Inuyasha's end, only Sesshomaru outdid Toga. Naraku, the big villain, relied on the Shikon Jewel and tricks, never matching Toga or Sesshomaru's raw power.
Tessaiga went to Inuyasha, usable only by those who'd protect humans.
In the story, only Inuyasha wielded it; others who tried suffered.
So, Haru eyed the famed sword with curiosity, not greed.
"Where'd you get that sword? Can you tell me?" Haru asked lightly.
Atsu, thinking it was trash, said, "It's been at the shrine forever. Probably rusted from neglect."
No, it always looked like that…
Haru rubbed his chin. 'So, Inuyasha and Kagome's heirs might not know what it is… How many generations passed? Was the Sengoku era that long?'
As he thought, his hair twitched, alerting him.
'Trouble? Doesn't feel like it.'
Atsu shouted, "Look, someone's ahead… they look hurt!"
Haru squinted. A woman in a plain kimono sat on the path, her ankle twisted. Too far to see her face, she still gave off a gentle grace that stirred the pulse.
Haru smirked inwardly. 'A pretty and injured woman out here… Do they think I'm a monk from some old story?'
....
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