When I was a girl, my emotions always got the better of me. I haven't changed much.
As a child I was forced to bow down. But now I refuse.
I am a fugitive. I am Hakurei.
My story starts when I was a child. Every morning my family and I were told to go to the great hall for prayer. We were to do so without question. I always questioned it. Every day we would have to wear the same thing, for girls and women we would wear kimonos. For boys and men, they would wear capes. Personally, it wasn't this that bothered me, but the fact that everyone in the village had to bow down to the great elders in the great hall did. This place was not so great if you asked me. The walls were always grimy, and I was paying more attention to the spiders that hung from the ceiling than the elders. The ceiling was a large dome and the room we sat in had nothing but cushions on the floor. Old Japanese style I suppose. my younger sister, Kyu, was usually asleep by the sound of the gong. She found it relaxing, I hated the damn thing. They hit it so hard that you hear it on the other side of the world. But enough of the past, nowadays I'm known as the-one-that-got-away, but it was to protect my family. I was 14 when we had the great hall, now I'm 27. My sister was taken. Mama and papa are long gone, and now it's up to me to save my sister from the horrible fate that is, death.
When Papa died, he wasn't killed; he died from an illness we called, "stonehearted". The illness starts in your heart and stops blood flow. When your circulation is cut off, your limbs turn a ghastly color of purple and they fall off. Papa's head was all we had left to bury. As for Mama, she refused to die the way papa did. So she threw herself off the end of a cliff, committed suicide and left me to fend for myself. After most of my family died or disappeared I took it upon myself to avenge them. I brought together a small group of people who hated the elders as much as I did. We have the skilled swordsmen, Silas, the torturer, Vital, the executioner, Nuka, and my personal favorite, the maniac, Leagend. With this group we can destroy the elders once and for all.
They have their own backstories that I will gladly share. Silas left home with his pet wolf in search of his mother. At the time, his family was taken to the dungeon until his mother returned. The head of the council, Goyo, threatened to kill his sister if he didn't find his mother. Silas left to search and that's when he found me. Of course, at the time I was peeing, but that's just my luck.
Nuka was the head decapitator (no pun intended). He was almost forced to execute his own father, Oden, if it wasn't for his skills with an axe. Instead he killed all the guards around him with one swing. He saved his father, but Oden was killed anyway by the elders themselves. Later that night I was passing through with Silas when we spotted him. He almost killed me but I ducked out of pure instinct.
Vital and Legend are brother and sister. After their mother was slaughtered, Legend went insane and destroyed the man who killed her. She slowly lost her mind afterwards and went on a killing spree for three months. At the time, Vital was facing his own demons. Their father was also killed, but instead by Legend on accident. Vital had enough of his sister and had bound her hands in twine and proceeded to drag her with him far away so the council wouldn't find them. If it wasn't for me showing Legend some kindness we wouldn't be such great friends. She would probably kill me.
Together we are unstoppable. Together we fight for our loved ones. Forever we will stand.
At least that what I thought, but I was wrong. It was a late night; we were all coming back through the woods after the longest of battles. That's when we were ambushed. First to go was Nuka, then Legend, and then Vital. Silas and I were all that was left. I took it upon myself to fight them off. I had a secret within me. I could transform. My grotesque form was able to destroy everything in my path. I warned Silas before changing, and then it happened. My skinny arms grew into powerful, clawed paws, as my whole body was enveloped in a thick coat of immense fur. My eyes turned a sickening shade of yellow with diamond pupils. I charged at my opponent with the speed of a thousand horses. They flew in scattered directions. I then proceeded to tear the head off the group leader. His organs and blood splattered all over the trees as the sun set from straight ahead. The light causing his blood to glow. I stood in the mixture of organs and blood as a human once more. Silas appeared from behind a tree, and in a hurry I covered my nudeness with my hands blushing. He stared intensely at me with his beautiful grey eyes. He took off his cape and draped it around my shoulders.
"You never told me you had such power, Haku." He put an arm around my back, "Let's get the fuck out of here."
I turned to him and then signaled to the corpses of our friends who were once living knights. I thought it would be easier if I carried them on my back as a monster. Silas didn't think that was wise; he said if our friends saw me like that they would not only be confused but would kill me. I decided to craft a makeshift wheelbarrow to carry the corpses. At that moment, I suddenly remembered an old friend who was known for his gifts of raising the dead. Silas facepalmed and looked at me with a wide grin, "If you knew about this the whole time we wouldn't need to go on this fucking journey!" he laughed hoarsely and shook his head.
I shrugged, "Well, I have other reasons ya know." He chuckled.
After a while I didn't feel like pushing the wheelbarrow, so we called Attack, Silas's pet, and tied the ribbon from my kimono around both Attack and the wheel barrow. It was getting late and I had no idea where I was in the fading light. I pulled out the lighter from my kimono pocket. Silas grabbed a tree branch from the ground, and lit it. It was a bit clearer but only by a little.
It was late when we finally spot the small cottage.
"This is it, Silas. Tsukasa-kun's house." My voice trailed off as I thought of the last time I saw him.
We've been friends since we were kids, but my parents thought we would make a good couple. Tsukasa and I didn't like that idea, nor did his mother. When I was younger, I was a runt, a tomboy, a loser. His mother looked down at me with a frown. She always judged me. Tsukasa tried to change his mother's thoughts but failed. Because of me Tsukasa had to move away. I wasn't allowed to talk about him.
Hesitantly, I walked up to the cottage and knocked thrice upon the door. To my surprise, I young man answered the door. At first I didn't know who it was, but then I looked into his eyes. Sure enough it was Tsukasa-kun. I smiled and blushed slightly.
"Do I know you?" Tsukasa-kun's voice was filled with testosterone, gruff and manly.
"Yeah, I think you do." I looked up into his eyes, dark blue and kind.
".....!?" Tsukasa-kun's expression changed from clueless to shock to tears. He wrapped his arms around me, "Hakurei! I thought I'd never see you again." His grip tightened around me. The smell of pine and smoke rubbed off into my kimono. I felt I tear stream down my face. At first I thought it was his, but it was mine. He held me in an embrace for what seemed like forever.
"Um...I hate to break up the reunion, Haku, but we have a problem." Silas nudged my side and motioned to the wheel barrow.
"Oh...I uhhh." I pushed off from Tsukasa gently and stepped aside, showing him the corpses.
Tsukasa kneeled down to examine the faces, "Who are these people? Friends or family?" I told him of the battle. He nodded and welcomed us inside.
"I wasn't expecting company so excuse the mess. So Hakurei, how did you find me anyway?" he showed us around before leading us into the small room where he practiced his black magic.
"I used to explore a lot, as you know. On accident I found this cottage. Your mother wasn't happy to see me." I was a little embarrassed.
Then I had a sudden flashback to when I was a little kid. Tsukasa and I were the best of friends when we were younger. But after his mom forced him to move, I wasn't allowed to see him anymore. After that, I took it upon myself to explore the area in search for him. There was a slim chance that I would actually find him, but I did. His mother scolded me for it before whipping me.
"Oh, so she did whip you." Tsukasa was placing the bodies on the long table.
"Yeah.....the pain was excruciating. I still have the scars on my back." I frowned.
"What!? Why didn't you tell me before? Come here, I'll heal them for you." He scooped me into his arms once more, and carried me outside.
"Wait! What are you doing?" I panicked. Tsukasa never did this before. He pulled off my kimono and quickly turned me around. The scars on my back were long and deep.
"Oh Hakurei, your skin...it's...so...so soft..." I felt Tsukasa rub his face on my skin.
He turned me around so he could see my face, I covered my nudity and blushed, "It's alright; I'm not going to hurt you. Only bring you pleasure."
He slowly removed my hands and arms from my breasts. My heart fluttered with excitement. I looked deeply into his eyes, and he looked back.
"I know you're afraid. So am I. but I want you to be mine." He brought his mouth to my breast and started to suck on them. I whimpered, "Tsuka, please. Don't do this." Just when he was about to touch me, Silas walked outside.
"...!? Haku?!" he ran up to me and took off his cape again. He draped it around me and hugged me tightly, "Don't you ever touch her again! YOU HEAR ME!"
Tsukasa stood up and looked down at Silas, "Listen you cunt, she belongs to me."
Between the two of them, I stood huddled. My thoughts were all over the place. I fell to my knees and cried. There was nothing else I could do.
"Haku..." Silas's voice sounded distant from me. I put two fingers up and pushed my hand to my chest. With my other hand I drew a circle around myself and chanted.
I repeated the words over and over until a barrier formed around me. The blue shield slowly climbed up into a dome around the top of my head. With my fingers still up and against my chest, I opened my eyes and smiled. Silas looked down at me. The ends of his mouth curled wickedly. He pulled out his sword from his back and held it skyward. The sword filled with a red light. As he swung the sword, a red beam was flung from the sword and it hit Tsuka in the chest.
My eyes widened and I threw myself at Tsuka, "Stop! Don't hurt him! He doesn't mean it! Please, Silas, stop!" I fell to my knees and sobbed.
Tsuka looked down at me with concerned eyes, "Haku, I'm so sorry." He wrapped his arms around me and gently stroked my hair. I had a sudden vision, I was standing by the tree where we used to play as children, but I was crying. The trees were bare and a single flower lay in front of what looked like a tombstone. The swing that hung from an old sturdy branch was broken. When I came back to my senses, my eyes were filled with heavy tears and they fell onto Tsuka's kimono. Sensing the wetness of his shoulder, and my tighter grip, he pulled away from me.
"Vision?" Tsuka's words echoed and bounced around in my head.
I nodded solemnly and cried harder. The grave, the tree, the swing, I knew that place once.
"Oukasa...." I whispered into Tsuka's chest, holding him even closer than before.
"Haku....rei....chan..." I heard the whisper of a young girl but I didn't know from where it came.
I instinctively turned around and to my surprise, found a mini me. This girl... I thought to myself. I..I know her...don't I? She was wearing a pink kimono that was ripped in some places and her hair was long like mine.
"K-Kyukara?!" Tsuka looked up with a surprised look, "How..How did you get here?"
"Onee-chan...? ONEE-CHAN!!" the girl whose name apparently was Kyukara leaped at me and instantly started crying tears of joy. But something didn't feel right, why can't I remember who this girl is? Wait Kyukara....it sounds a lot like..
"Kyu...?" I looked down at the child now wrapped in my arms.
"Hakurei-chan, don't you remember? Here," Kyu covered my eyes and all the memories from when Oukasa died to running away from home came back. I smiled, "Well, at least you'll be able to help instead of being a nuance." I nudged her, jokingly.
Ballad changed again at that moment and rubbed up against me. His fur was warm, like a fuzzy blanket on a cold winter night. I climbed onto his back and snuggled his fur, allowing my body to be completely warm. His heat provided I thin layer of protection. I glanced over at Tsuka, whose eyes were clearly filled with jealousy. I mouthed to him, What? He turned away with a flushed face. I quickly got off Ballad and ran towards Tsuka.
"What's the matter?" he turned to me with rosy cheeks.
"Don't....don't get too close to him." He blushed and pouted. I've never seen him look so childish.
"Oh, I see, you're jealous!" I smirked and punched his shoulder jokingly. He smirked while denying it.
"Even if you aren't, nothing can deny the look on your face. Besides Ballad is just an old friend, Tsuka, so don't be so rash about it." I reassured him.
I motioned for Ballad to come over, and he sat down beside me. I gently stroked his muzzle, "See? Nothing to be jelly over." As if to give him affection, I hugged Tsuka tightly. I heard Kyu giggling while I held on to him..
"Hakurei-sama you shouldn't be so childish." Lullaby's high-pitched voice cut through the air like a katana through bamboo. She smiled while clinging on to my leg.
"I think that's enough foolishness for now, Haku" Hero smirked as he glanced above his glasses. Fixing them up on the bridge of his nose, he chuckled.
"Yes, Hero." I moped and started toward the mountain.
"Haku," Hero put his hand on my shoulder.
"Hero?" I looked up at him, worried about the words that were to be said.
Hero sighed, "There is something I must tell you." He looked down off the side of the island. I could tell he was hiding something from me, but it gave him much regret.
"Remember when I taught you the ways of the sword? The blossoms looked beautiful that day. I told you that-" I cut him off
"That Oukasa was watching over me through the flowers."
"Yes. That day was the same day I learned you had, well, a twin." He looked up into the clouds as he said this.
"A...Twin?" I paused.
"You see, Haku, your mother had a sister named Izayoi. She fell in love with a demon, a very famous demon we know as the Great Dog Demon. Before the Demon passed, Izayoi gave birth to a half demon boy. As you and I know, Inu No Taisho was the demon's name. He fought against a foe too strong for him on the night of a lunar eclipse. Using the dragon twister, he destroyed the building he was in as well as the foe. Meanwhile, Izayoi ran wearing the robe of the fire rat, carrying her son whom Taisho named Inu Yasha." His words had me dumbfounded.
"You're telling me that a member of my family still lives?" With my jaw agape I fell to my knees.
"Yes, Inu Yasha lives down below, in a village called Tyjchi. Your mother also fell in love with a demon, Ichika, making you a half demon as well." Before Hero could finish, I was off.
I soar through the air cutting corners and piercing clouds. I have to find him! I have to find Inu Yasha! I thought to myself as I whisked through the air. At last, I came across the village.
"A demon! A demon!" People screamed at the sight of my wings.
"HIRAIKOTSU!" A woman dressed in slayer garb threw a huge boomerang towards my right wing. The pain was horrible. Looking down I saw my wing bloodied and twitching. I screamed in agony, falling to one knee.
"ADAMANT BARRAGE!" Over a thousand shards of diamond sliced through the air. I gasped, placing my hands together and chanting.
"How is she not dead yet?" asked a tall man cloaked in purple robes.
"She will be soon!" Another man, shorter, with white hair and pointed ears lunged at me.
"STOP!" I made an "X" with my arms, blocking his attack, "Please....I only wanted to know where Inu Yasha resides..." weakly, I stood on my feet.
"?" the woman and tall man were bewildered by my statement.
"You're lookin' at 'em." The white haired man stood up and crossed his arms, "Who are you and what do you want?" Inu Yasha glared at me with his big yellow eyes.
"My name is Hakurei, daughter of Oukasa, Princess of Celesti." I clutched my right shoulder and limped toward the woman, "I believe this is your doing?" pointing to my wing, I growled at her.
"...I...I'm so sorry. My name is Sango, this man here is Miroku." She gestured to the man in purple, " Is there anyway of healing?" She was embarrassed.
"No need to worry. I'll attach it later. Please, Inu Yasha. I must tell you something important." I motioned to a nearby hut.
"What do you mean something important?" He looked unhappy. I reassured him and lead him to a nearby hut. I sat down across from him and began to tell him how his mother was my mother's sister. I showed him my horns and explained that I was a half demon like him.
"H-how is that possible?" he asked me holding my hand. Inu Yasha looked deeply into my eyes, "Where have you been?"
"I came from many different places. it's complicated." I pointed up.
"You came from heaven?" Tilting his head to the side, he raised an eyebrow.
"No, well in a way. I originally came from a place called Celesti. Its that strange island in the sky. Then I moved down here to Kokiro and then back up there." I sighed and gave up on trying. I only cared about meeting Inu Yasha, nothing else. If there was a way I could bring them to Celesti I would've.
"Would you be willing to see it someday?" I tried to convince him.
"Kilala can fly. So we could go right now." Sango stood up in excitement. Her eyes flickered as she whistled for Kilala. A high pitched squeal was heard as a small beige colored creature ran to Sango. With a fierce flame the tiny thing grew into a large, ridable, two-tailed, demon cat. I stood in awe, slowly approaching Kilala.
"Incredible." Sango, Miroku, and inuyasha saddled Kilala. I stepped outside and searched for my wing. Thankfully, it was still where I had left it. I bent down and lifted the large wing to my shoulder. I took off my necklace and swung it over my shoulder. The power from the charm healed my wing. I spread them wide while returning the charm to its rightful place, around my neck. I lunged into the sky, leading Inu Yasha and his friends to Celesti.
"Be careful! The ledge is slanted!" I shouted back at them.
Landing on my two feet, I signaled Kilala to land further in. With a loud stomp, they stepped off.
"Hero! Hero!" I called, "I brought him back!"
To my surprise, Ballad came instead, " Haku, who are they?" He questioned.
"Nothing to worry about. They're family." I turned to Ballad. He had already unsheathed his sword. I walked up to him gently and placed my hand on the guard of the sword. Pushing it down as a looked into his eyes.
"There is no need to fight, Ballad. These are our friends now, brother."
"Yes there is, for all we know they could be the ones who took Kyu!" My eyes widened. I threw myself from the cliffside. I had to find her.
