The Story Of Hyakkimaru And Mio

The Story of Sorrows

(Mio point of view)

The sounds of birds outside had Mio slightly stirring. She didn't open her eyes but held them closed. Mio felt a deep feeling of nothing but it was a wrong kind of feeling. Like, her world was upside down and she was just drifting along. Stagnant.

Where was she? It was the first thing that came to Mio's mind. Numbly she fiddled with a blanket that held little holes and with admonishment realized that there was a pillow underneath her head.

Such comforts where not her own and she did not recognize the silence that greeted her.

Why didn't she hear the children playing?

Tiredly Mio's eyes fluttered open to meet the buttery sun shining down on her face. The sheer and sudden light hurt her head sending her dark orbs closing quickly.

"Ughh..."

Mio groaned as she rubbed her fingertips into her eyes until she finally willed herself to open them fully.

The first thing she noticed was the sight of a small fire licking the underside of a pot. What cooked inside smelled of rice and cabbage but even that couldn't mask the dense smell of herb, root, and earth that overwhelmed ber senses. The smell was different from the dry wood smell of the temple but not overall repulsing.

Looking around more she noticed a low coffee table littered with little bundles of dried plants neatly stacked and near the windows, all sorts of weeds grew thick and plentiful. Scatters of tools and crushed jams of paste laid out handsomely on shelves making Mio feel nervous about being treated by a real medicine worker.

She had heard of medicine people when she would... work, but never had she met or seen any except midwives of course. A tired sigh came from her mouth at the thought of her work making her even more tired then she felt.

A lock of Mio's hair shifts into her eyes as her head moved sluggishly to inspect the stuffy room.

When she moved the piece of hair she slipped her arm too hard against her side irritated the slice mark across her chest. This drew a strangled moan of hurt from her lips. The pain of it was unexpected but quickly became an overwhelming sense of heartbreak.
Lethargic fear and realization came over her like a downpour of water.

The children where dead.

She trembled slightly and closed her eyes shut. The last thing Mio remembered was the Samurai who had marched into her home demanding she come out.

The fire burned their home to the ground and forced them to flee what little shelter they had. She was the last to be hurt and was forced to watch each child be ripped away from her.

Her tears fell harder as the realization sunk in that the Samurai had taken everything. The kids were the last piece of her soul, her joy, and only hope she had to make it out of the war-torn life they were left in.

She jerks in a spasm of crying that causes her to reel in pain as the slice became ever so deep and consuming.

"Mio."

Her name was said on a very gentle male voice that grabbed her attention quickly.

Mio's looked to a boy with missing parts standing on two real feet.
It was Hyakkimaru who was in front of the doorway staring at her soul.  Mio's eyes never paid attention to the
little Dororo peeking behind but were soul focused on Hyakkimaru.

"They are gone...."

Breath hitching Mio whispered the words quietly as tears began streaming down her cheeks.

"Mio?"

Hyakkimaru's voice sang her name like a question making her tears fall faster as she began to feel the ache in her chest again. The pain of her shame, guilt, and heartache all weighed down on her all at once.

Hyakkimaru hesitated for a moment as if he were analyzing Mio but walked over quickly and dropped in a crouch near her side. He gently took her hand in his and laid it against his face. The gesture made her squint her eyes closed as a sob shook her making her wound stung.

"I w-ill p-protect."

Mio shivered at the sound of his voice and what he said. Was he really talking to her like this? Her of all people. Did he not know her job? Was he not repulsed by it?

"I will protect Mio."

Hyakkimaru spoke again this time with the addition of Mio's name.

"They're gone..."

Mio repeated with a whispery rasp as her tongue became unglued from the roof of her mouth. She grabbed his fake hand and began to cry into his palm.

Mio didn't pull back when he laid down next to her and gently pulled her in to be held.

So they stayed like that for a while. Mio silently crying while Hyakkimaru held her hand to his cheek gently talking to her.

Over and over saying her name and that he would protect.

This was the first time Hyakkimaru had begun using his voice after defeating the demon.

(To be continued)