𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧 ── yoriichi tsugikuni

𝗢. atonement

CHAPTER ZERO ──── 𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

❝ how will you atone
for your wretched sins? ❞

IT WAS A COLD, RAINY day filled with misfortune and solitude. The air becoming thick with gloom, wind howling ominously through the small village. It was a rainy day, bringing nothing but tragedy and despair.

There she kneeled on the ground, the earth turning to clumps of mud by the precipitation, clad in a plain haori with the rain weighing down her long locks. There laid her father, life gone from his eyes. Slit pupils, fanged teeth, clawed hands. A demon. Her eyes held the same lifeless look — more corpse than living breathing human.

Hikari's father had been turned into a demon, and it only brought a cloak of darkness to her shoulders, threatening to crush the soul out of her. She could only gaze at him in sorrow, her mind screaming in a turmoil of misery and anger. The world is a cruel, cold place that held no mercy for wretched souls like hers.

Rest in peace, Father. He was all she had, yet she was used to misfortunes. She accepted yet another cruel punishment from the world, her heart clouded with its harsh resentment. She could only stand to face the faces filled with hatred that stared back at her, yelling curses at her.

"Your father killed people in this village!"

"You should die just like he did, you have brought nothing but death and evil to our humble village." Someone spat, and Hikari watched blankly, her arms like bricks at her side.

These were the people she came to grow fond of, they were apart of her home. Now friends have become foes, their eyes glittering with violence and contempt, wishing for her to suffer the same fate her father did. She could only stand in the rain as the curses rained down on her, begging for her atonement.

She's become a sinner in their eyes, yet her heart bled at their cruelty.

"Your father has tainted the cleanliness of our village by becoming a demon and now we're in ruin because of you," another villager murmured coldly. "Now the demons will infest our home. How will you atone for your wretched sins?"

She felt the rocks that began to pellet her skin, yet she made no sound. Her flesh began to break apart, blood began to run, the ground turning crimson. Their clamors were irate, ringing in her ears, loud screaming filling her senses making her clench her teeth. Hikari did the only thing she could do in this moment — leaving everything behind, she ran. Away from the accusatory fingers, the hateful eyes, the screams demanding she suffer in the clutches of death.

They chased after her, yet she continued to run. Her mind screamed at her to look forward, never look back. The blood roared in her ears, eyes stinging from the rainwater falling into her eyes. She couldn't tell the difference between the rain and the bitter tears she had not noticed were flowing from her eyes. She had nothing except the feet carrying her away from the place she once called home — now she was alone in this cruel world.

Hikari could feel the pain sinking its claws into her now yet she paid it no mind. She ran and ran. Why on Earth was she trying to survive? She has no idea what purpose she has now, for the world has shown her enough signs to know that she has no place in it. What did I do to deserve this punishment? Yet she said nothing despite the burning in her chest — she wanted to scream until her throat could no longer produce sound. She only embraced the quiet, not daring to defy the world. She'd atone for her sins by suffering silently.

The sky looked down upon her at that moment, taking pity on her. And so the rain cleared, the twilight sky becoming illuminated by the silvery glow of the moon, casting a thin transparent blanket over her that lit up her soul. That's when Hikari could see a rundown home in the distance. Shelter, her mind screamed at her and she stumbled over her feet as she ran harder than before. Her muscles screamed at her stop, you've over exerted yourself.

Her spirit wanted to go on yet her body could not take the pain any longer, her knees buckling beneath her. Her body made contact with the earth. She stretched her hand out towards the house, unable to contain the pain that had taken her heart captive. That's when she heard it — the sound of blade meeting flesh, the sounds of a wretched being being sent away to the afterlife.

Someone was already here — Hikari thought, almost weeping tears of joy.

Her head dropped down to the ground, her vision blurry. She wanted to go on, but she had spent all her strength and her body could not move itself. She could only see small glimpses of the soul that had made itself present. Maroon — the color was vivid, long, tied up wavy hair moving ever so elegantly with the gentle breeze. A man, his face barely visible to the woman. She parted her lips, her breath just barely visible against the night air, yet no words came out. She had no strength to speak.

Hikari could hear a voice calling out to her but her body gave up on her, her exhaustion getting the better of her. Just as she slipped into unconsciousness she felt warm fingers gingerly grazing her torn haori, meeting a crimson gaze. Her breath hitched at the warmth they held — to her, they were dazzling. It was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

"You are safe now. Do not fear."

That voice spoke to her, honey like and angelic. Hikari could only drown in it, reveling in the warmth; combatting the cold detrimental voices that cut into her heart, it embedded in her mind until she could no longer hold onto her consciousness. The man looked at the woman who had lost her consciousness, seeing her body littered with wounds and torn clothing. His face showed no emotion, yet his heart ached for her.

He couldn't bear to leave behind the woman and so he brought her into his arms, bringing her close to his chest. He looked down at her, his eyes brimming with kindness. He wondered what had led her here. What had she suffered through? He decided he'd bring her back to his home to seek help for the improvement of her health. This woman is a stranger yet it left an ache in his heart to see her so hurt, so lost.

'You will be safe now. You will live — I'll make sure of it'.

𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥'𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘.
yoriichi is love, yoriichi is life. i love him so much and im super excited for this book to take off <3 let me know your thoughts in the comments :) also what do you guys think of the little banners i made? first chapter will be up soon! i was too excited and chose to publish this now lmao ( word count :: 1144 )