Midoriko's Shadow and the Wolf Prince's Princess.
Chapter One: That faithful fall
The Shikon no Tama was said to have emerged out of the body of the priestess Midoriko. Many demons sought out her power and had her cornered in a cave and their battle waged for 7 days and nights. Midoriko was finally caught in a dragon-like demon's jaw and then sacrificed herself in order to freeze their bodies in stalagmite and seal away their souls and her own in the Shikon no Tama. I've been telling and retelling this story to the younger generations of our village just as my older sister did, and when my niece or future daughter comes of age she will tell it. My name is Amanohara Suzume and for the longest time there was a secret lying inside of me that no one knew. Not even myself. The day I learned of this secret was also the day I met someone very special to me now. Without further ado I'll begin telling my story.
I took diligent steps while walking through the mountain forest path to the nearest river. I had a basket on my back for gathering any important herbs that I might find on my way there and a bucket in my left hand. My staff was in my right hand at all times, used as my walking stick for now but to ward off any demons to come my way. I am a priestess and was just merely that in my village. Or so I think. Some tell me otherwise but I pay no mind. I really have no major attachment to many there except my family. My sister was everything to me. Tsubame was not only my sister. She was my teacher, when I was sick she was my caretaker, when I was hurt she was the shoulder or crutch I could lean on without fail. She filled the void my mother couldn't, since she was unable to. She had died while giving birth to me. I pay my respects to her for her sacrifice, and still believe it's my fault she is dead.
Finally the river rapids splashing and sloshing against the rocks and earth was audible. I sighed in relief knowing I could rest for a while before getting to my original task. I was sent up here on a routine basis to retrieve herbs and water for the medicines. I took my perch on a boulder and leaned back, watching the river. I always found water calming. The sounds and the feel of it on my skin. Even watching it seemed relaxing. But I always remind myself even the most beautiful things of nature have violet sides. And as much as I remind myself I seem to forget.
After a few moments passed I began walking towards the herbs growing on the river bank. Plucking them out of the ground with ease and it eventually got so systematic I was lost in thought. So lost in thought that I didn't realize that I had gone so far past where I originally started and where the rapids became deep. The bank broke apart underneath my feet and the swift current took my foot with it. I slipped with a sudden scream and yelping sound. A splash echoed into the nearby forest and with those few seconds I was underneath raging water.
I couldn't open my eyes and all I had comprehended was that I was probably going to die underneath the raging, and powerful rapids. Got what I meant by I forget how violent nature can be? My body was twisting and turning in ways that felt more than uncomfortable. I felt something crack and snap, couldn't grasp where and almost didn't care. I knew I was going to die, making it out of these rapids was impossible. I let out a scream because of that injury anyways. Blacked out after that.
What really surprised me is I actually woke up on the banks down stream. My vision was blurry and I saw a figure looming over me and heard what I assume was a scoff. I tried to sit up and all of the sudden fell back onto my back, turned over on my side and heaved water. Through my squinted eyes I saw the figures clothed foot back up. I didn't care again. All I could concentrate on was the surging pain in my throat and leg. I moaned and groaned loudly in pain and agony. I sat myself up to face the figure. I looked up and winced my eyes because of the sunlight. It was a man around my age garbed in a kilt of fur and armor. Suddenly I felt this odd presence about him. Something like extra power. A surge of spiritual and demonic energy. I took a glance down and saw glowing in his shins.
Shards of the Shikon No Tama. I could hardly believe my eyes. The pieces of the very object I was sworn to tell and retell its birth. I could actually see and sense them right there in his skin. In his body he had those shards like tools.
"What are you looking at?" I heard him asked in an annoyed or confused tone. I couldn't tell with the water in my ears. I opened my mouth to respond and ended up coughing again. I assumed this demon was going to just kill me to put me out of my misery but the next thing that surprised me was that he kneeled by my side and asked if I was okay.
Well it was pretty obvious I wasn't…
I shook my head and then I felt him reaching around my back and behind my legs. I yelped in pain and flinched. He backed his hands away from there and then pushed me on back side.
"Okay so I think you broke your leg…" he stated sounding very unsure. Very reassuring on my end having a confused demon taking care of me. I had two choices on hand. First one, let him kill me and finish nature's job early. Second one, I let him take me home to see if my leg is repairable. I opened my mouth and tried to squeeze out a few words but a whimper came out. I have never felt so pathetic. I was about to beg a demon to save my life.
"I can take you back to your village if you direct me." I heard him say. Then he whistled and a few moments later two more men garbed in similar clothing crashed out of the brush. "I'm gonna go take this girl back to her village, I'd have a guilty conscience if I left her here." He said again.
"Ok Koga we'll catch you later." One of them said. I soon felt him gently picking me up again and I held back the burning screech in my throat and let a groan leak out. He began walking.
"What way did you come from?" He asked. I opened my eyes and looked around away from his chest. I wrapped one arm around his neck to hold myself up and pointed down the river. I rested my head on his shoulder and relaxed, somewhat, as he walked in the direction of where I fell. While we were walking I saw my staff, miraculously, stuck horizontally on two rocks in the water.
"Hey…" I peeped. He turned his attention to me immediately. "That's my staff…." I groaned. I was exhausted still. He put me down and made sure I was in a comfortable position to be picked back up again. He retrieved my staff and then swept me back up. I directed him to go through the path I had come through. I leaned on his chest clutching my staff and latched myself around his neck. Knowing that he was my only chance making it home. I looked up at his face and finally got a good look at him. I actually found him quite attractive for a demon. Long midnight black hair in a high placed ponytail, and cerulean blue eyes. Mentally I slapped myself for thinking he was in the least bit like a person. Only in appearance he was a man.
"So, do I get to know my savior's name?" I asked, throat scratchy and sore.
"My name's Koga." He answered. I nodded and he acknowledged it from me rubbing his chest while I did it.
"Thank you very much…" I coughed out also. It was an awkward thing to picture for me. It still is no matter what, a priestess thanking a demon.
"You're welcome. I couldn't after all leave you there to suffer, my conscious wouldn't allow it." He chuckled. His warm laughter made me feel a lot better about this situation I was stuck in. I cracked a smile.
Around sunset he arrived in the village, obvious enough, with a scene. Several suitors of mine were giving glares and threatening him with death by even laying a hand on me let alone carrying me in bridal style. He gave the male egotistical scoff to them and I directed him to the temple. My sister was waiting in anxiety at the foot of the steps into the temple. I will always remember the face and reaction she had to Koga carrying me in.
"You put my baby sister down you wretched demon!" Tsubame yelled at the top of her lungs. As loud as she could have possibly mustered with her small diaphragm.
"Tsubame its fine…He rescued me." I shushed her from his arms. She shot him the dirtiest look I had ever seen on her face.
"Suzume I trust you on this." She stated sternly. She stepped aside as Koga carried me the rest of the way into the temple. Tsubame instructed him to the infirmary and to lay me down gently on the pallet. He did as he was told and then sat across the room waiting for Tsubame to return. I winced as I turned a little to look at him. He was leaning on the wall with his legs crisscross and his arms folded. He smiled at me and I smiled back. Tsubame coughed in the backdrop to get his attention off of me and mine on hers. She knelt down, still shooting him nasty looks.
"Really Tsubame he's been nothing but good to me." I whispered as she got medicine and bandages ready. Tsubame sighed and lifted my leg up slightly.
"Tell me where it hurts." Tsubame commanded. She felt up my leg from my ankle and behind my knee I identified as the broken part. She placed a splint underneath that area and then wrapped it tightly around it. I gripped the sheets of the pallet underneath me as I winced and gritted against the movement of my broken bone. After she was done with that she started mixing herbs together. "So mind telling me how this happened?" She glanced at Koga and back to her mixing.
"I was too close to the river bank and it broke apart underneath me. I got swept away and broke my leg in the rapids. Koga found me washed up down river." I turned to face him, watching his reaction. He still was in the same position earlier except his eyes were closed.
"All I know is I found her injured down river and my conscious wouldn't allow me to leave her." He got up as he said his side. "I can tell my presence isn't welcome here so I'll just be heading on my way."
"No, wait a moment." Tsubame spoke up. Koga abruptly turned his head towards her in surprise. I know I did. She sighed. "I'm indebted to you for saving my little sister. You are welcome here Wolf Demon." She said pouring the liquid into a tea cup.
"Thanks but no thanks. I have to meet a couple friends anyways." He took another step and then I spoke up.
"Please Koga stay…" I whimpered looking up to him. He looked down at me. Those cerulean eyes of his finally showed some emotion. "I owe you my life." I added. He looked away and nodded.
"I guess I can stay just a bit longer." He grinned and then walked towards me. He knelt on the opposite side of me and I could still sense and see the shards imbedded in his shins. This was a completely new thing to me. Seeing them while inside him and sensing them from the distance was never really present before. I starred at his legs and it wasn't as if I was trying to be secretive about it. He looked down at me quizzically. I shook my head.
"Suzume drink this." Tsubame helped me sit up and handed me the tea cup. "It will relieve some of the pain."
"Thank you Tsubame." I said before downing the medicine. She lied me back down and left the room. While she was in the doorway she took a glance back, sending Koga a signal and warning. He looked back down at me. I returned the stare.
"What were you looking at earlier?" He asked confused.
"Err…nothing…really." I lied. He raised an eyebrow for a moment but dropped it and let me rest.