The Story Of Hyakkimaru And Mio

Rain and Blood

(Hyakkimaru point of view)

Sounds of feet hitting wet gravel and the crunch of rocks between toes had become dull background noise to Hyakkimaru. Rain poured and filled every crack and crevice in the earth making the terrain slick and the rocks slicker leaving the young man to flounder along the path.
Behind him, a little white soul, Dororo, told Hyakkimaru now and again where to turn, what to dodge, and when to slow down.
Even Dororo's tone had become lackluster and sad the longer they ran.

"Ugh..."

The weak voice of Mio near his ear caused the young man to tremble. After slaughtering those evil souls Hyakkimaru had become a wild animal with his only tether to this earth being these two girls.

The sweet flower song was slung across his back making light noises here and there if Hyakkimaru made a jerky move or slammed to a stop. It pained him to hear the hurt in Mio's shy pretty voice.

The rain was falling fast and no doubt would fall faster if he didn't hurry. How long had he been running? Days, months, or maybe even years?

Hyakkimaru could barely breathe correctly under the stress and heartache of it all.

Those little white souls all extinguished with a slice of a blade, but for what? They were not demons so why did they die?

Hyakkimaru let out a strangled cry of anguish when his real foot sliced open on a sharp rock causing him to almost face plant into the wet gravel.

Dororo with her calming white light quickly assessed him and helped him steadily.

"C-come on aniki. Mio needs us."

Before Hyakkimaru could respond he was already off running through the rain, struggling to calm himself down and breathe. The air going through his lungs and out again had him seeing black. He was so tired...

But the feel of Mio's warm blood leaking onto his back and down his legs had him running faster.

He killed those men who had done this to her family. Just knowing Hyakkimaru let one go was burning him with rage, unlike anything he has ever felt. After Mio was safe... He would go take vengeance once more.

"Aniki! Left! Left! There's a village up ahead!"

The sudden squeaky voice of Dororo has Hyakkimaru doubling out of his thoughts with his focus turned towards taking a left. Past a few linings of green tree souls, the three travelers were now in the village.

Hyakkimaru could sense the souls of humans right away making him want to run like the spooked beast he was. Now even white souls of innocence disgusted him.

Hyakkimaru had killed multiple demons before but having killed humans, the young man was quickly losing his humanity. It's hard to come out clean with human blood drenching your soul.

"Help! We need help! We... We need help now! Is there a healer?!"

Dororo yelled as she came over to Hyakkimaru tugging his arm to lead him.

It wasn't long until someone had taken the three in and began to help Mio as her breathing had gone shallow and her soul weak.

Hyakkimaru watched quietly as Mio was taken by a large white soul than a smaller one came over to take the girl into its dwelling.

Hyakkimaru stood there for a long time just letting the rain wash away the blood that soaked him. Dororo had long since taken to sleeping on the porch after failing to make Hyakkimaru get out of the rain.

Even with the rain Hyakkimaru was still covered in the blood of the soldiers and the blood of Mio. Rain and blood were all he knew and all he could think when he waited to see her.
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A day after arriving Dororo and Hyakkimaru were beckoned inside by a sweet elderly woman's voice. The young drenched man took no time at all to walk in. Mio's familiar white soul was shrouded in red.

Hyakkimaru eminently settled beside Mio holding her hand with the rain and blood coating his senses.

(To be continued)