Voiceless

3- Encounters and Confusion

"Oh, we were looking for her as well!" Ami exclaimed. "That girl, where has she got to?" Sumiko wondered out loud.

"Well, well, what are you young girls doing out here do early in the morning?" Asked Yuuto as he passed by carrying some sake for the feast. "Yuuto, I suggest that you should visit the doctor about your eyes after the ceremony. I'm hardly young." Sumiko deadpanned. Yuuto laughed heartily. "Ever the optimist aren't you lady Sumiko?" He asked.

"Oh Yuuto, do you happen to know where Sora is? We've been searching everywhere for her." Ami said. "Why just a little while ago I sent her to the forest to get some fruits for the feast." Yuuto explained. "She'll be back soon."

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but did you say that Sora is in the forest?" Asked the village headman, an old man with a long white beard that went down to his elbows. "Yes I did. Why?" Asked Yuuto confused. "Oh no, that is worrisome indeed." Said the old headman scratching his beard. "I've just received word that the demon king is in the area."

The gathering was shocked to hear this news. Ami gasped and nearly fainted. "But- but S-Sora..." She stammered. Sumiko was too shocked even to speak. "Is something bad going to happen to Sora?" Asked Runa. She was genuinely concerned about her friend's safety. "Demons are... Bad right?" She asked hoping that she was mistaken.

"No nothings going to happen to her. I sent her to the woods, so I'll just bring her back." Yuuto said bravely. He laid a hand on Ami's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll bring your sister back." He said and ran towards the forest.

"I'll organize a search party just incase." Added the village head. "Stay positive. I'm sure she will be fine. Sora wont leave us that easily." Sumiko and Ami nodded while Runa began crying and saying, "Sora, please be safe." "She will Ru-ru. Don't worry. Yuuto will bring her back safe and sound." Said Ami doubting her own words. 'I hope.' She added in thought.

* * *

"Who are you?" The man demanded more harshly than before. Sora welled up her courage and turned around. "I asked you who you were human! How dare you come near the demon king!" The man shouted. He had golden hair which had a slight orangeish tint, blood red eyes and pale skin. He tightened his grip on his katana and pressed it against Sora's neck.

Sora tried to back away but to no avail. "Don't try to move you useless human. Learn to answer the questions asked from you, you scum!" The self proclaimed demon king lifted his sword to strike when a cry came from the undergrowth. "Master Yoshihito! I finally found you!" Shouted Pochi as he ran into the clearing. "Eh?!" Was all he could say after seeing the scene unfolding before him.

"No! Lord Yoshihito you mustn't!" Pochi shouted trying to stop his stop his master. "You've killed enough demons and humans on our journey to lady any other a lifetime! This one was obviously only here for fruit. Leave her!"

"Then at least she should have enough courtesy to answer my questions." Yoshihito said lowering his sword reluctantly. "Is she that ill mannered? Well, what do I expect, she's a human after all." This made Sora forget her shock and fear, but it also made her very angry. 'What's wrong with being a human?' She thought. She then started to shake her head furiously.

"Now what?" Asked the demon lord, annoyed that the human was finally making some form of communication. 'They probably don't know sign language.' She figured. So she put her thumb and index finger together and dragged them across her mouth trying to signal that she couldn't speak.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Asked the demon lord. Now this girl was really starting to annoy him. 'Why can't she just say what she wants to say clearly? I let her go already. Do why doesn't she run away?' He wondered.

'Okay, so my first attempt went to waste. No big deal I'll try again.' Sora thought. This time she pointed to her mouth and shook her head. "Huh?" Was the only answer she got from the demon before her. But the tiny frog like creature behind to him seemed to have got her message. "Are you mute? Is that it?" The creature said.

She nodded sadly. "So that's why you did answer my lord's questions. I knew there must have been some sort of reason." The imp, which she figured the little green creature was, said. Sora nodded.

"So then can you tell us your name now human?" Asked the demon king showing no concern for her muteness at all. Sora thought for a moment. Then she pointed towards the sky. Which is what her name meant, Sora meant sky.

"What are you pointing at?" Asked the demon king. Frustrated, Sora pointed at the sky once again. "I still don't understand." The demon deadpanned. "Do you know sign language?" Asked the imp creature. Sora nodded. "Speak in sign then. I'll translate." He said and she did.

"Oh, so your name is Sora!" Said the imp. Sora nodded happy that they finally understood. "I'm Shinpachi, but everyone around me seems to call me Pochi so you can too. This is lord Yoshihito the king of demons." The imp introduced themselves. 'Sora, so that's why she was pointing at the sky...' Yoshihito thought. Meanwhile Pochi and Sora were having a very lengthy conversation using sign language.

"How long have you been mute?? Pochi asked. "Since birth." Sora mimed. "Really?! That so sad." Pochi admitted. Sora thought that even though he looked weird the imp was actually very nice. "How old are you?" He asked. "Fifteen." She replied. "You're so young!" Pochi exclaimed. Sora smiled. 'This imp is really kind.' She thought. 'And they haven't killed me yet!'

The demon lord had been staring at the two and decided to step in. "This conversation seems very one sided." He observed. "Sadly I do not understand sign language. So Pochi... Translation please?"

"Oh, yes Of course my lord." Pochi said and relayed everything the girl had said to the demon lord. 'I wonder how it feels...' Yoshihito thought. 'To be mute that is."

Author's Note:-

Hi guys! So here's chapter three. Thanks for reading. Vote and comment! I get reads but not many votes or comments, so I'd really appreciate it if you press that button or take the time to give me some idea about how you feel about my story. It would mean a lot. Thanks.