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The air was filled with music. The melancholy notes floated above trees and filled the clouds. It was the music from a flute, and it originated on a flat hill that overlooked a pleasant valley of tall grass that swayed in the gentle wind. On and on the musician serenaded the natural splendour. But it was an odd sort of view, hollow, and empty, as there were no birds in the sky or animals in the forests. Only the whistling wind, which was barely audible and the moving grass, which moved in back and forth in an eerie unnatural rhythm. The playing was real though. It was filled with thought and emotion. The sound was all too human. But in short order it wasn't the only sound heard on that hilltop. Soon there came the sound of feet tramping through the grass, and the clash of metal. A shadow fell over the area in the form of an army and they slowly approached the player from behind. They bristled with every sort of weapon and were clad in blood soaked armour from tip to tail. And tails they had, as they were not human or had been once aeons ago. They were something else now. And though their numbers were legion they all had the same thought. Silence the flute player. One member of the grotesque band held up his arm and the remainder came to halt. Then he took one step forward.
"My, my, such a gentle scene. I am filled with wonder over it," His sarcasm wasn't lost on his comrades, who laughed along with him, "My heart is about to burst."
Suddenly the musician stopped, but did not lower the instrument, "What heart is that, Oni?" Just the sound of the gentle feminine voice was enough for several of the soldiers to retreat slightly, "Did you steal it, as you stole that armour you wear?" She scoffed, "Pish, I have no patience for thieves."
Bristling, "Enough, Akako," The Oni captain drew his sword, as did the others, "Your end has come at last."
The woman turned over her shoulder and smiled. It was Akako, but it wasn't. She was the girl no longer. She wore the shape of a full-grown woman, but still in the bloom of youth. Her hair was long and luxuriant, and was splayed out on the ground behind her. She wore a bright red kimono, but it was plain and the obi was solid black. Wedged in the front of it was a resplendent fan. Akako still hadn't lowered her flute from her face, as she stared with disdain and contempt at her adversaries. Then without another word she began to play again. The Oni moved quickly to surround her, but her playing only intensified. Once the circle was complete the Oni captain raised his hand in the air. Just as he had, Akako looked over her flute through her playing and glared at the creature. He remained in that awkward pose for several seconds; so long that the other Oni cast a glance or two to each other in confusion. And still the playing continued. The arm came down. The Oni closed the circle, screaming and brandishing their weapons. Just as they were arm's lengths from the goddess, her playing stopped and a blinding light drove them back.
Akako was on her feet. She slipped the flute in her obi behind her back. Then drew her fan. With a flick it was open and glowed with an eerie green light. The Oni were startled but quickly recovered and reformed their lines. Akako remained surrounded, but that hardly mattered. The girl smiled, which made several Oni retreat.
