Fan Fiction ❯ Silver Tear ❯ Kitasato's Origin and the Spirit Cave ( Chapter 3 )

"Come on!" Hoku wined. "Just hurry up."

"Geeze…" Kitasato frowned. He stood up from the tree stump he was sitting on. "You're telling me to hurry… You were the one who slept in this morning. I was just waiting for you, way up there sleeping I might add, and then you dive from that tree and tell me to move. I was getting comfortable too."

"Well, you're not now." Hoku hissed. "It shouldn't have taken us a day to get there. Her scent is starting to fade."

"Calm down." Kit yawned as he stretched. "If she was there for this long, then I'm sure she's in no hurry to leave. Anyway, you hungry?"

Hoku scoffed and looked away from him. All was silent for a moment until a low grumble came from the deep depths of her stomach.

"What did you have in mind?"

Kit smiled.

"I thought so…" he then paused for a moment. "Hey, Hoku…" he pointed at her head. "You have a stick in your hair."

Hoku's ears lowered as she reached behind her head and pulled out a long stick with a few leaves on it.

"Okay," Hoku said as she tossed it aside. "Now that we have nothing to distract us… answer my question."

"Fish." Kit smiled.

"Fish?" Hoku nearly drooled. Hoku loved fish. She was a cat after all. "Where?"

"There." Kit said as he pointed at a stream over his shoulder. Hoku didn't even notice it was there before.

Hoku cringed.

"Uh… okay. Go get it." she said.

Kit cocked his head to the side.

"What's the matter?" he asked. "Don't cats like to catch fish?"

"Well…" Hoku muttered. "Of course we do. I just don't feel like catching it."

"Don't feel like it?" Kit asked with a raised eyebrow. "You're afraid of water… aren't you?"

Hoku gasped.

"Um… No." she said as she turned and crossed her arms. "I just don't like getting wet."

"You didn't seem to mind a bath." Kit said.

"That's because it was nice, warm, and clean water." Hoku huffed. "Anyway, I like being clean." She turned to him again. "Why don't you just catch it?"

"I can't swim…"

"WHAT!!!?"

Somewhere, a wind stirred. It was an empty grassy field. There was nothing in sight amongst the horizon except the cloudy sky. A girl emerged and walked out on the plain from the sheltered forest She lived in the village nearby. This place had once been a rice patty, but harsh warm weather caused the water to dry up, and all that remained was an empty field. The people in her village say it was the cause of demons and most were forbidden to come here.

Curiously, the child walked out into the field. She wondered what was so bad about such a place. It was beautiful to her. Not only that, the cool wind felt good as well as the light brush of the grass on her bare legs. She walked on, not knowing where she'd end up or where she was going. She looked around marvelously. Then, she stopped. Someone stood on a small hill off in the distance. She wondered how she didn't notice that person before.

It was a boy. A boy about her age and height. He shuddered in fear when he caught sight of her. He ran down the hill toward her.

"No!" he exclaimed. "Go back. It isn't safe here!"

The girl was confused. She didn't know who this boy was. He certainly wasn't from her village. She heeded him and turned without a second glance. The fear of being caught was in her mind. If the villagers heard this boy's cries and find her in a forbidden place, surely they'd beat her. She ran for the forest, but before she could even grab a tree to regain her balance, she was on the ground.

The boy held back. He felt grieved and sad for the girl's life.

"Mother…" he murmured. "Why?"

"Okay." Kitasato said for the fourth time. "Like I said before, I'm sorry. How was I supposed to know that the branch wouldn't hold?"

"You're the smart one." Hoku gruffed. She was still wringing the water out of her hair. "You figure it out."

"Well…" Kit sighed. "At least we got our fish."

"We didn't get the fish." Hoku hissed. "They jumped onto the bank when I fell in because they're brainless."

"Thus, we got them." Kitasato shrugged. "Come on… can't you see the humor in it?"

"I'll be humored once I see you fall off a cliff." Hoku growled. She then stopped. "We're here."

She walked up to a clump of bushes and peered out. She heard Kitasato kneel beside her.

There was a small farming village there. It there was nobody outside. The whole place looked deserted.

"There here." Kit said as he stood up. "I can smell them. They must be hiding."

"Cowards…" Hoku said as she stood up too. "Well… let's pay them a visit."

She and Kit strode to the center of the village. Everything was quiet.

"Okay!" Hoku shouted to the pagodas. "If someone doesn't come out here then I'll go in!"

"Don't be so harsh on them." Kit whispered. "Something has them frightened."

"Yeah?" Hoku grinned. "Damn right there is."

"Just don't" Kit said. "Since Marrowind's scent led us here, they must have seen her."

Hoku sighed. Kit was right.

"Fine." she said. "Then if I can't go in there, then I'll lure them out."

She leaned down and picked up a small stone.

"What are you going to do with that?" Kit asked. He looked apprehensive.

"Don't worry." Hoku said. "I won't hurt them. What's with you? It's just a village of peasants anyway."

Kit gave her a stern look.

Hoku sighed and ignored it. She then turned to the closest pagoda and gave the rock a slight toss, sending it through the wall.

A man stepped out. He looked poor indeed with his dirty tattered clothes and his unshaven face. He was shaking all over. There was a rake held in his quaking hands. He held it out in front of him like a sword.

"Don't come any closer…" he shivered. He tried to sound brave, but the dull clicking of his knees gave it away. "We've had enough of you demons! We'll fight you!"

"Pathetic…" Hoku scoffed.

"Please…" Kit said as he took a step toward the man. "We won't hurt you. We're here to help you."

"We are?" Hoku hissed.

"We won't take lies from you monster!!" The man shouted.

"Idiot!!"

A short and rather plump woman came up behind him. She looked angry as she turned and faced him.

"This boy is no more of a monster than you or I!" she shouted in the man's face. "How dare you!!"

"Kana?" Kit marveled.

"You know this hag?" Hoku asked.

Kit ignored her.

The woman turned to kit and trust herself forward. She tightly wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Dear Kitasato Shibasaburo…" the woman called Kana wept. "I thought you were dead! After the fire, I was so dreadfully sure you were killed with your parents…"

"I was out when it happened." Kit said comfortingly. "I'm all right."

"It's so great to see you again." Kana smiled as she backed up and looked at him from head to toe. "You've grown so…"

"Well…" Kit chuckled. He blushed and scratched his head. "I'm older if that's what you mean."

"Okay," Hoku stepped in. "We're not here for conversation. We're here to find a demon."

"Who's your charming friend?" Kana asked Kit.

"Charming?" Hoku gulped.

"This is Hoku." Kitasato said. "Hoku, show some respect."

"Who are you?" Hoku asked the smiling woman.

"I'm Kana." she replied. "I was Kitasato's maid."

"A human!!?" Hoku gasped.

Kana folded her arms sternly.

"Forgive her impudence…" Kit said. ("Impudence!!!!") "The travel and lack of sleep has made her mouth move without notification of her brain."

Hoku was about to punch him.

"I see." Kana said. "Well… in that case, you're welcome to stay at my inn."

Hoku lowered her fist and stared at her.

"An inn??" she asked. "This dinky village has an inn?"

"Indeed." Kana said as she pointed to a large building.

"We don't wish to impose." Kit said. "My friend and I are on a quest. Tell me, where there any demons here before us?"

Kana nodded.

"Yes lad." she exclaimed. "A short while ago in fact. That's why the townsfolk has hidden. There was an attack in the old abandoned rice fields. A young child she was."

"Did you see this demon?" Hoku asked.

"A tall woman with long golden hair." Kana nodded. "She strode through here like she owned the place. We didn't know she was a demon at first until she began attacking."

"Marrowind…" Hoku hissed. "Hag! Where was she headed!?"

"She and a small child where headed north." Kana frowned. She didn't like being called a hag.

Hoku turned her heel.

"She's mine. I can smell her stink!" she roared as she took off at top speed. "And the stink of a traitor!"

Hoku could run so fast that she was almost in flight. Most cats had the ability of speed. The world blurred past her in a mixture of color. She followed the scent of her foe. She had a craving for the blood of a dog. Hoku halted. She could go no further.

"What is this?" she wondered.

A cliff stood in front of her. There was a large cave that went deep into it. An eerie howl came from within when the wind picked up. The scent of dog came back into her nose.

"I have her trapped." Hoku grinned. She walked toward the cave. "Now I can have my revenge."

It was dark inside, but it was nothing to Hoku. The little light there was gave her enough to see every detail from rock to stalagmite. The cave looked larger inside of it than it did from the outside.

Another howl ruptured from the deep bowels of the cave. It sent a chill up Hoku's spine. She was far from afraid though.

"Marrowind!!" she called out. Her voice echoed. "Come out you cowardly mutt! I'm here to fight you!!!"

All was quiet. Hoku took a few more steps, and that's when she heard the soft sounds of a foot fall. She went into a fighting position.

The footsteps came closer and closer. They grew loud. Then, they stopped.

Hoku was confused for a moment. Her right ear twitched. She turned her head and saw a shadow on the wall. It had no real shape of a person or demon.

"Who's there!?" she stepped back. Something wasn't right to her.

A screech signaled an attack. A flood of white fog erupted from the back of the cave.

"What is this?!" Hoku exclaimed. She couldn't move once the fog reached her. It was like freezing water.

A white hand reached out at her followed by a red pair of eyes.

Hoku panicked and swung her claws, slicing through the creature like butter. Her hand went right through its body.

The hand reached around her neck and squeezed.

Hoku gasped. It was freezing cold. Her whole body went numb. Just then, more hands reached out and tore at her clothes. Hoku shrieked as she transformed into her true animal form. Her body was still numb and she could hardly move to defend herself. She just stood there as the hands and eyes pierced her with stabbing coldness.

"Hoku!!" A voice called from the darkness.

Hoku let out a growl of pain as one of the creatures passed through her chest. She could feel her body weakening.

A staff swung out of nowhere. It hit one of the creatures and sent it backward.

Hoku could hardly see. The thickness of the fog and the freezing cold made it hard for her to focus on anything. She could hear shrieking and growling all around her. Then, a tall figure appeared in front of her. It looked solid. She felt something grab her paw and pull. She moved her legs and started forward. The pulling made it easy for her to walk.

"You're almost out." the voice said. "Hang in there."

Hoku shut her eyes when a blinding light burst from the fog. She continued forward until she felt grass under her feet. When the person let go of her paw, she allowed herself to fall.

"Where… am I?"

Hoku's eyes fluttered then opened. There was a ceiling above her head and two figures standing over her.

"Than goodness." Kana said.

"Are you okay?" Kitasato asked as he kneeled down.

Hoku sat up.

"Yeah." she groaned. She was happy to feel her legs again. "What the hell happened?"

"You entered the forbidden cave of the ghosts." Kana said. "Nobody comes out alive. You're lucky Kitasato was around to save you."

"You… saved me?" Hoku looked at Kitasato.

Kit nodded.

"I don't want to boast." he said.

Hoku looked away from him and out a window.

"Ghosts?" Hoku asked as she looked up at Kana. "What of?"

"The restless ghosts of demons." Kana said. "They say that the evilest of spirits are sent there as a punishment. When the living enter, they try to take their soul. Most don't last a second in there. You're very strong indeed."

Hoku let out a sigh.

"If I was strong I wouldn't require saving." she said. She looked up at Kit. "How did you fight them off like that?"

"That's something I keep to myself." Kit winked. "Anyway, I've arranged for us to stay here for the night. Marrowind's scent has disappeared so she must be far away by now. You should get some rest."

"That sounds nice." Hoku sighed.

"We'll leave you to rest then." Kana said as she turned and exited through the sliding paper door.

"Kit…" Hoku said before Kitasato closed the door behind him. "Thank you…" she muttered. Hoku never thanked anyone before. She felt strange.

"Don't mention it." Kit smiled. He then closed the door.

Hoku continued to look out the window. The sky was evening red. The trees along the skyline were black. They reminded Hoku of ashes. The ashes of her burning home. The sky being the fire.

Hoku laid back down and fell asleep. She dreamed of revenge.

The next morning, Hoku and Kitasato left the village to continue their search. Kitasato carried a pouch over his shoulder. The scent coming from it was enough to make Hoku drool.

"So…" Hoku said as they sat up on a ridge overlooking the land. "That woman was your maid?"

"Yup." Kit nodded as he pulled out a rice cake.

"We're, you really rich?" Hoku asked as she took one too.

"I guess so." Kitasato replied. "I don't like to brag."

"It's not bragging." Hoku said as she took a bite. "Don't be so modest."

"I'm not modest." Kit grinned.

"Then what are you?" Hoku asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm virtuous."

"Same thing!" Hoku hissed. "So, how come you had a human slave?"

"She wasn't a slave." Kit said. "We paid her for her duties. My parents were kind to humans. They were widely known for their generosity."

"Why?" Hoku asked. "Why would they be kind to the humans. They're an inferior race. Why should we give for what they'd taken away from us? We demons were here first after all."

"We were indeed." Kitasato said. "But think about it… the homes we live in, the clothes on our backs, those were all ideas from the human race. They're living beings like us. We should treat them like guests to our land."

"Well…" Hoku said as she looked out into the blue sky. "My idea of treating guests does not include hospitality."