Prologue

Bankotsu stared at the glimmering shards the man named Naraku gave him. 'The power to rise from the dead. Strength beyond compare'. He gently touches the one embedded in his throat. Counting it, there were only seven…one short. He looks around the vast nothingness seeing the bones and armor of his soon to be alive again comrades, and notices that one was not in the count.

He stands, his legs shaky from little use and his loose hair falls in front of his shoulder. He needed to find her. His eyes strain to catch any glimpse or hint of where she might be. Her screams echo in his mind as he remembers those traitorous bastards dragging her away from the rest of them in to the bushes.

She called for him. She screamed for him. She fought as hard as she could.

But against five men.

His muscles tense at the memory. How he struggled to get free. To get to her.

Eventually her screams stopped, and the silence was more deafening. More horrifying.

He stops in front of the broken arrow. A piece of dark fabric hanging loosely from it.

A smile begins to spread across his lips. Not at the idea of finally finding her, but at the idea of resurrecting her.

Hell will truly have no fury.

++++++Chapter 1+++++++

"I think it's cute and romantic."

I roll my eyes at Kiku's naivety and sigh, "Then you marry him."

"I would if Shinjou would ask me, but he only has eyes for you."

I adjust the fire wood into a more comfortable position under my arm as we continue towards the village. I hear the sound of footsteps behind us, and I shift to let the other travelers by. "I have no interest in marriage."

"And that's why you're going to end up an old spinster."

I purposefully run Kiku off the road, and she laughs.

I look over to see the other travelers pass by. They are two men. One in a yellow Kimono with one side hiked up exposing his leg. He wears a red belt and has his jet black hair in an up do. I narrow my eyes a bit unsure if it was the light or if he actually has on red lipstick. My eyes shift to the sword on his back, but I could not make out the type of blade it was. I make a mental note to ask father before turning my gaze to his companion.

He is shorter, but not by much, and he looks around my age, if not a year older. He wears white himakas with a matching top. His grey with blue print armor covers his torso and waist and a red sash holds it all together. Traditional ninja shoes cover his feet, and his jet black hair travels down in back in a large braid. My eyes, gazing upon the large halberd resting on his shoulder, widened in astonishment at how one man manages to carry it with such ease.

My violet eyes lock with his cobalt blues for a moment as he passes by, and a quick smirk flashes on his lips. Kiku's smile fades as she moves further off the road to make room for them. I clutch my bow tighter as I calculate how quickly I can strike one with an arrow before the other reacts if anything were to happen, but a 'Hello ladies' is all the shorter one said as he and his companion pass by.

It was when they were out of earshot that we released our held breaths.

"Father told us to be careful on these roads. I knew Toshi should have come with us."

"Calm down, Kiku. We're fine. Plus, if they were to have done anything, I would have shot the taller one first since it would have taken the shorter one longer to ready that large halberd."

Kiku nods,"Still…..they were scary looking. Do you think they are samurai?"

"I don't think any samurai would be caught dead dressed the way that tall one was."

Kiku giggles, "I swear I thought he was a woman at first."

We both laugh in a meager attempt to ease our apprehensions, but deep in the pit of my stomach, I could not shake the uneasy feeling. I shook my head slightly.

Nothing good could possible come from those two.

Kiku and I part ways upon entering the village and a small groan escapes me as I see Shinjou and my father talking outside of his shop. I approach silently catching the tail end of the conversation.

"Well, I don't see why not." My father lifts a blade to examine it, "You seem to have a good head on your shoulders, but the real questions is can you handle Yaruki? She's got her mother's…..well…everything."

"I come home to find my own father speaking ill of me behind my back." I let out a fake sob as I throw my arm against my face dramatically. "Is there truly no one in this world I can trust?"

He chuckles softly, "No ill will was meant behind this conversation, dear. Shinjou and I were simply discussing important matters."

I raise an eyebrow, "Oh? And what matters would those be?"

My father finishes polishing the sword and heads back in to the house, leaving me with my question.

"Um…Yaruki?"

I turn and smile at Shinjou . He wasn't a bad looking guy. In fact, he was quiet handsome. Tall, Dark brown eyes, black hair that stopped at his shoulder when down. Lean bodied, intelligent, polite, hard-working, honorable; practically everything a girl could ask for in a husband. I don't doubt I would be happy with him. We would have handsome babies, a solid house, extra money for frivolous buys. Overall, I'd be set…..if I said yes.

"I just got your father's permission for your hand."

Damn! Father was literally my last line of defense. My smile falters slightly, but luckily Shinjou was not looking in my direction.

"Well, that certainly is something to celebrate. My father is not an easy man to impress."

Shinjou kindly takes the firewood from me was we walk though my father's shop and in to the kitchen. I set my bow and quiver on the table and begin to stoke the fire for dinner.

Shinjou chuckles as he hands me some wood, "Yes, but it wasn't your father's answer I am nervous about."

"Oh." I mutter softly as I nurse the tiny ember with my breath.

Shinjou squats down next to me, and I keep my attention on the flame.

"Yaruki….I want you to be my wife."

My face stays blank out of fear that a forced smile may mislead him. The warmth of the large fire spreads cross my face and through my body as I chew on my lower lip. "Shinjou …I…..we…It's sweet….sweet of you to offer…but…." I look to the wall directly behind him. "I just don't think I'm ready to marry yet. There's still so much that I want to do."

To my disappointment, he smiles. "You can still do those things. We'll just do them together. We don't have to stay here. We can go anywhere, do anything. I don't care, as long as I am with you."

This last statement churns my stomach and I stand with my back to him. I was never one to fall for those sappy declarations of love, and the idea of having Shinjou following me everywhere I go felt like a noose slowly tightening around my neck. The room suddenly felt stuffy and it was becoming very difficult to breathe.

"Here, why don't I give some time to think it over; there's no rush."

I close my eyes trying to steady my racing heart and I nod. "Thank you. I would really appreciate that." I feel him place a small kiss on the back of my head and leave. The crackling fire fills the ghost-quiet room as I remain standing rattling through one lame excuse after another in a hopeless attempt to save my freedom.

"Traitor." I grumble as I bite down on the small fish between my chop sticks. Father sighs as he leans back letting the meal settle.

"I'm not a traitor. I just see no harm in you marrying Shinjou . He's a good man, which are rare now a days, and with him around I'll have someone who can run my shop when I'm dead."

"I can run your shop! Probably better than most of the apprentices here and in the next village over."

"I'm not saying you're not good enough, Yaruki, but think about it. What warrior would want a woman working on his sword? They'll come in and ask if your husband is home because they'll think he left you to man the kelm. When you tell them you're the Smith, they'll take their business elsewhere."

"Then I'll tell them he'll be back soon."

"And what would you do if they decide to wait?"

I fall silent, defeated and Father leans forward, "Exactly."

I place my chopsticks down, slowly losing my appetite. "Then I'll become a hired hand like you were."

"I taught you enough to protect yourself, not someone else."

"What's the difference?"

"There is a great difference. You can trust yourself. You can't always trust your employer. They may set you up to die just so they have time to get away. They may tell you that you are facing three men, and you get there only to discover it is an army. Besides, your skill lies more with a bow and arrow rather than a sword, and that will not benefit you greatly in battle."

"So then what do you want me to do?!"

"I want you to marry Shinjou."

I roll my eyes, and he gives off a low growl.

"Is it really that bad?! Can you honestly look me in the eyes and tell me you'd be truly miserable as his wife?"

I cross my arms.

"Well?"

I glare at my food.

"Answer Me!"

"NO!" I snap unleashing my glare at him. "I won't be miserable."

"Then it's settled."

He goes back to eating, and I prop my elbows on the table hiding the lower portion of my face behind my hands.

Fucking old man and his stupid fucking logic.

"YO! Blacksmith, you home? Got a job for you."

I glance over at the window. "It's pitch black outside. Can't this idiot tell we're closed?"

Father stands and walks through the curtain and into his shop.

"How can I help you, Sir?"

I slip out of my chair and peek through the curtain. I freeze seeing the man that passed Kiku and I on the road standing in front of my father. His large halberd still resting on his shoulder.

"I was wondering if you can sharpen my companion up for me. It's getting a bit dull."

"I'll be more than happy to do it tomorrow. First thing even."

"Naw, I need it done tonight. I've got a job to get to."

I push the curtain back and step in to the shop. "Than you should have come earlier," I snapped. "We're closed now."

The man looks over at me, and his eyes widen slightly. "Heeeyyy! You're that cute girl we passed by on the road."

I take a defensive step back as he approaches me and examines my face.

"So she's your daughter, huh?"

"Aye, she is. Now about your order?"

I glare at him as he continues to look me over as if trying to decide something.

"You're really not that bad looking. How old are you?"

"None of your damn business."

"Feisty too, I like that."

"Get out," I threaten.

"I can't, not until I get my companion sharpened."

"I won't be able to do it now, Sir," My father says flatly as he steps between us. "Tomorrow is the only option."

The tanned man sighs as he crosses his arms over his chest, "Geez that really sucks. Guess I'll have to find some other way to sharpen it, huh?"

"Damn right."

My father snaps his fingers as a warning, and I shut my mouth, but the man looks at me, and I could tell something about his demeanor changed.

A thunderous crash comes from outside and the shrill screams of the villagers pierce the cold night air. I run in to the kitchen towards the window and see the village on fire. I step back stunned before I hear the sharp clang of metal against metal. I snatch up my quiver and bow and run back to the shop.

The two swords screech and scrap against each other as each man applied more of his weight behind it. I ready my bow and aim it directly at the tanned man's eye.

"Yaruki, run!"

"I can hit him."

The tanned man glances over at me before smiling at my father, "Don't worry, blacksmith. I'll take good care of your daughter."

My arrow flies free. The tanned man jumps back pushing my father in the process, and the arrow embeds itself our wall. Father uses this opportunity to run towards me and shoves me through the curtain.

I fall hard on my bottom, my bow sliding out of my hand and towards the back door. I look up in time to see the tanned man's halberd slice clean through my father, starting at his right shoulder and ending at his left hip.

"R….r-run….y-yar…"

Blood splatters across my face as he collapses in two pieces before me.

"It's not wise to turn you back on your opponent in a fight."

My body trembles as I watch the tanned man step over the two halves of my father. His face held a bored expression as his cold eyes lock with mine. I glance to where my bow lay, and he follows my gaze. A sadistic grin finds its way to his lips as he squats down in front of me.

"Do you think you're fast enough to get to it before my blade rips you in two?"

I glare at him, and my foot rockets into his face knocking him off balance. I scramble to my feet and stumble through the back door snatching my bow up in the process. The air escapes my lungs as I look at the sheer destruction of my village. Someone grabs hold of my arm, and I scream snatching an arrow from my quiver and slamming it down into the person's temple.

Kiku screams, and I fall back stunned.

Blood coated her face and body and one of her legs was missing.

"No….no…no..Kiku! NO!" I stare at my friend sprawled on the ground with my arrow embedded in her skull. I quickly walk up to her and pull the arrow out. "I'm sorry," I whimper. "I'm sorry."

"You know that wasn't very nice." I step back seeing the tanned man approach me. A look of irritation on his face as he rubs his nose, "That really hurt."

I load Kiku's arrow in my bow, but I couldn't keep my hands steady. "I'll shoot you." I whisper as he takes a step forward.

"Then do it."

I release the arrow, and he tilts his head to the side narrowly missing it. He chuckles, "Even scared, your aim is still pretty impressive."

I ready another arrow as I being moving backwards. "Leave me alone."

"But you hit me. You don't really think I'll just let that slide do you?" he swings his halberd around before spinning it over his head and bringing it down towards me. I scream moving out of the way as the blade strikes the ground.

I make a bee line for the forest. If I could get some distance between us….if I could find a high hiding spot…. Then I'd have the upper hand.

I jump over roots and slap back branches from my face finally stopping at a clearing. I scan the trees before finding one that looks solid, but not noticeable, and climb up. I hide myself in the leaves and try to catch my breath. Including the one in my hands, I have three arrows left, but there were only two of them. As long as I didn't miss, I would be fine. My stomach churns as the fresh memory of my father makes its way to the front of my mind. I push it back along with the vomit. Now is not the time.

I suck in some air sharply as the tanned man and his companion appeared in the clearing.

"Are you sure she's here, Big Brother?" The tanned man nods as he examines each tree.

"Her trail ends here. She's probably in the trees, but be careful. She's surprisingly good with that bow."

The taller man nods before lifting his sword. Fear tightens its grip on my throat as I watch his blade slither and twist around the trees slicing through them with ease. I push back the fear rising within me as I try to drown out the cracking, popping, and thudding wood. I ready my first arrow. My trembling hands try to follow the tall one's erratic movements, and I let out a deep breath to calm my nerves before releasing.

The tall one screams as his sword drops from his hand. He grips his shoulder were the arrow planted itself, and a string of profanities escape him as he snatches the arrow out.

Damn it, Yaruki! Focus! I ready my second arrow, and I falter as I see the tanned man take a few steps closer to where I am.

"Use those next two arrows wisely, Yaruki."

My finger slips, but I manage to catch the arrow before it dropped.

How did he know my name?

The sound of trees falling snaps my eyes away from him and to his partner who was attacking the trees with renew vigor. I steady my hands and aim the arrow at the tan man's face.

I could not afford to miss this time. I release, and he dodges it with ease.

"Found you." He lifts his mighty halberd and cuts through my tree.

I jump out and land on my feet, stumbling backwards a bit until I feel my back slam against another tree. I snatch my final arrow out of the quiver and load it on to my bow. The two men stood a few feet away from me, and I carefully moved the arrow head from one to the other.

The tanned man steps forwards. I lock my arrow on to him.

"You know, I was going to keep you alive for a couple of days, or until I got bored with you, but I just can't help but be impressed. You've got quite the aim for a girl. Being able to hit moving target from a tree in the dark in not an easy thing to do, so I'm going to make a deal with you."

He pierces the earth with his halberd and takes another step forward. "I want you to join my group. I mean it's only us right now, but there will be more, and we could use a sharp shooter like you."

"And if I say go fuck yourself?"

"Then my friend here will slice you in to pieces with his sword." He casually remarks.

My eyes flick over to the taller man whose eyes narrowed in to slits and was gripping the hilt of his sword so tight that his knuckles were white. I look back at the tanned man whose arms crossed over his chest.

"Your choice, Yaruki. Join us or be reunited with your father in the afterlife.

I line the arrow up with his eye. "Don't ever speak about my father," I hiss.

"I don't have all night." His blasé manner made my rage falter.

How many lives had this man taken to be so…numb.

I looked between the two of them, but kept my arrow trained on the tanned one. Who was I kidding? He had dodge my previous arrows, and he would surly dodge this one, and the tall one's sword was so erratic that as soon as I shot at the tanned one, I would be cut in half before it hit its mark, assuming that it ever would.

I couldn't kill them with my arrows, at least not with one of them anyway, but could I even kill them at all? He took out my father with one strike. But my father's back was turned; it was a coward's kill.

I glare that the tanned man, "You're a coward."

"WATCH YOUR TOUNGE YOU FILTHY WRETCH!"

The tanned one smiles, "How so?"

"You killed my father when his back was turned."

"That was your father's stupidity."

"It was a coward's move, and you know it. He would have killed you easily if you'd fought him honorably."

"Tch, your father was probably a worthless old man."

"SHUT UP!" I scream firing my arrow at the tall one's chest. The tanned one catches it, but holds it in the air inches away from the tall one's heart. If he had just let it fly; if he had just been a second slower, the tall one would be dead.

"You almost shot me AGAIN, you little-"

The tanned one takes a step forward cutting off his friend's lunge, "Your father trained you didn't he?"

I grip my bow with both hands cursing myself for losing my only line of defense. "Just kill me and get it over with already." I snarl glaring at the ground.

"Really? Before we even test your theory out?"

I look up at him confused, "Theory?"

"You said your father was stronger than me. I want to test that out."

I clench my teeth from annoyance and rage, "You already kill him, you asshole! How the hell can you test that theory?"

"Well you are his daughter aren't you? Fight me in place of your dad."

I stare at him dumbfounded, "I….mhh," I look away. "…I'm not my father."

"You mean you're not as strong as your father? I can fix that."

I look back at him.

"Hell, I'll even train ya if you want me to."

I glance over to his friend to see if this was some sort of a joke, but his face was just as stunned as mine, "Y-you…..you would….train….what?!"

"Sure, I'd help you get strong and then we can fight, just to prove to you that your dad wasn't as great and powerful as you think. He already taught you how to shoot. All you need is a little hand to hand training, and you'll be ready."

I look between the two men working every possible scenario in my head. If I said yes, then I would be a traitor to my village and, more importantly, to my father. But if I said no...

An image of the great halberd slicing my father in half plays before my eyes and my grip relaxes on my bow. "…..Fine."

The adrenaline bleeds out of my body through that one little word, and I fall to my knees; exhaustion and depression finally having the chance to settle in to my soul. The tall man walks up to me and lifts my chin.

His punch connects hard with my jaw, and I feel my teeth rattle in my mouth as I collapse to the ground. "How dare you strike me with that arrow, you wench!"

A series of quick hard kicks to my abdomen follow before he ends it all off with a hard stomp on my head. My body quivered as I remained where I was no longer having the energy to fight. I hear footsteps approach me, and my body tenses waiting for another assault.

Instead, I feel to hand gently lift me up by my arm. I stare in to the blank cobalt eyes of the tanned man as he waits for me to steady myself on my own two feet before letting me go.

He points to the tall man, "That's Jakotsu. And I am Bankotsu. We are mercenaries hired by the Lord of this land to wipe your village out." He looked as if he were suddenly uncomfortable as he scratched the back of his head and crossed his arms. "Don't bother asking why 'cause I don't know. I'm just doing what I am paid to do." He falls silent as if waiting for something, but seeing no reaction from me he grabs his halberd. "Alright, let's go."

They begin their walk back to the village, but Bankotsu stops seeing that I was not following. I glare hard at the bow clutched in my hand, and despite myself warm tears begin spilling down my cheeks. I quickly wipe the tears away with the edge of my sleeve as Bankotsu approaches.

"Hey, look, if it makes you feel any better, I'll allow you to kill the Lord if you want. I mean, that's after we get paid of course."

I glare at Bankostu through my tears,"I do not need your permission to do something I've already planned on doing."

A smile plays on Bankotsu' lips as I wipe the remaining tears off my face.

"And just because you were simply doing a job, does not excuse you from my wrath."

"Ooooh, ho ho!? Your wrath, huh?"

I push past him ignoring his mocking tone and limp my way through the forest.

They would all pay…one way or another.