{Sengoku Era}
The sun was shining on a new day, and the gang was getting ready for the day. "Big Sis, I'm going to see if there's any word about monsters that need to be slain." Dororo said before he started to run off into the forest. Koharu sitting on a rock cooking eggs that she found in a nest nearby. She was cooking the eggs on a stone that she heated for this purpose. Koharu was about to tell Dororo to wait, but it was too late for he was long gone. She only stared at the forest with a blank look until she turned to Nota who was happy munching on dry beef Koharu gave him earlier. "Go make sure that he doesn't get into any trouble Nota." Koharu ordered as Nota gave the girl a happy bark before he ran after the little boy. Koharu giggled at the puppy's cuteness before she went back to the task at hand. Koharu finished cooking the eggs and placed them on large leaves to use as makeshift plates.
She turned around to see Hyakkimaru standing behind her with his usually impassive face. However, Koharu notices something different about Hyakkimaru's appearance. His long hair that was pulled into a ponytail was even more disheveled than normal. Koharu snickered at this while the boy only stared in confusion at the girl's glowing soul. 'He's got some bedhead going on there.' Koharu thought to herself as she went back into the tent. Hyakkimaru was standing there in confusion until Koharu came out of the tent with a hairbrush in her hand. "Come here Hyakkimaru." Koharu grabbed his prosthetic arm and guides him towards the rock she was sitting on earlier. She made the boy sit down on the rock as she undid his hair tie and started to gently brush his locks of hair. Hyakkimaru was startled at the feeling at first but then relaxed at the girl's soft touch. Koharu couldn't help but smile at Hyakkimaru's relaxed form as she remembers all the times her Grandmother brushed her hair when she was a little girl. Then Koharu closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she started to sing a tone both her Grandmother and Grandfather would always sing to her when she was a little.
Take off, at the speed of sound
Bright lights, colors all around
I'm running wild, living fast, and free
Got no regrets inside of me
Not looking back
Not giving up
Not letting go
I'll keep on running!
I'm gonna reach for the stars
Although they look pretty far
I'm gonna find my own way
And take a chance on today
The sky with stars so bright
The colors feel so right
I never felt like this
I'll keep on running!
The sky with stars so bright
The colors feel so right
Just take my hand
We're gonna reach for the stars
Tonight...
Even though Hyakkimaru couldn't hear he somehow felt like he could. He leaned against Koharu's body in the hope to feel her soul's warm glow.
Tonight...
Wake up, living day by day.
Do what I want, and I'll do it my way
The world is flying right below my feet
Got no regrets inside of me.
Not looking back
Not giving up
Not letting go
I'll keep on running!
I'm gonna reach for the stars
Although they look pretty far
I'm gonna find my own way
And take a chance on today
The sky with stars so bright
The colors feel so right
I never felt like this
I'll keep on running!
The sky with stars so bright
The colors feel so right
Just take my hand
We're gonna reach for the stars
Tonight...
Tonight...
What the duo didn't know was that Dororo and Nota got back from their little 'scouting mission' to find the two teens together, and having a moment. Yet that didn't bother them, but instead, they just sat down and listen to the girl's song. The two started to slowly nod off and fell asleep to the sweet melody that filled the forest.
I've got it in my sight.
The colors feel so right.
Got my feet off the ground I'll keep on running!
Oh, I can feel it now.
The colors all around
Just take my hand we're gonna reach for the stars...
Just take a chance
We'll do it right again
I'm gonna reach for the stars
Just take my hand
We'll take a chance tonight...
Reach for the stars...
Tonight!"
Tonight...
Once the girl finished singing she tied Hyakkimaru's hair up in its typical ponytail. Hyakkimaru looked up at the girl in a daze he didn't know why, but he felt something in his chest, something that he never felt in life. However, he knew this he didn't want this feeling to go away. Hyakkimaru got up and towered over the girl as he gave her a warm gaze through his fake, dull eyes. Koharu cheeks started to blush profoundly and her heartbeat started to race. 'I never noticed before but Hyakkimaru is really cute...' Koharu was paying too much in her thoughts to realize that Hyakkimaru was leaning in towards her. Just as Hyakkimaru's breath hit her face Koharu snapped out of her trance and realize how close the two were to each other. "WAHHHH!!!!" Koharu screamed out in embarrassment as she randomly kicks Hyakkimaru and sends him flying into the creek. 'That was too close.' Koharu thought to herself as she was breathing heavily and her face was covered by her hands to conceal the blush.
"Hey, listen up!" Dororo screamed as he and Nota ran out of the bushes now fully awake. The two made it to the camp to see Koharu crouched down, covering her face with both hands. Moreover, Hyakkimaru was sitting in the creek looking up with a pout on his face. "What happened here?" Dororo asked while Nota sat down and tilts his little head in confusion. "Nothing! Nothing Happened!" Koharu squealed scaring the poor boy before she clears her throat, and prayed to God that she stopped blushing like a tomato. "What is it Dororo?" Koharu said in a calm matter. "I just heard about something that we could make money with. We got to go now!" The little boy said with excitement. "Okay, we'll go, but after breakfast and cleaning up your camp okay?" Koharu said with a smile which the boy happily agreed to. "Are you going to sit in there all day Hyakkimaru? You're going to get a cold." Koharu called out to the pouting boy. Hyakkimaru slowly got out of the water and walked over to the fire to dry off.
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"So this village is being troubled by some monster?" Koharu asked Dororo as their little group continued walking along the bank of the creek. Koharu was in the beautiful red kimono that she bought from Dororo yesterday. Sure she had trouble putting on the clothing, but still, it looked elegant on her. She was carrying her backpack with both straps on her shoulders and her sword was neatly strapped on her hip. "Yeah, it seems like there's a monster haunting a village. Villagers and travelers who stop by disappear now and then." Dororo said as Nota barked in agreement with the boy. Dororo was dragging the two teens by their hands ever since they finished packing up their campsite.
"That is strange, maybe its a ghoul attacking anyone that's near its territory. Or there's a demon within the village disguised itself like a human in order to close to the villagers." Koharu said recalling back to the time where she encountered a demon in a village. Demons are very tricky, but they're not clever enough to fool every without having their little lap dog clean up the mess. "Well, anyway you and Hyakkimaru are going to beat it like you did before and get a reward. We save people and get money doing it. Great, huh?" Dororo asked the two teens, but they weren't paying attention to the little boy. The two teens sensed something in the woods. Koharu turned her head a little to the left to see a hideous, deformed looking creature hiding behind the trees smiling at the group, and holding something in his right hand. Koharu quickly took notice that Hyakkimaru wasn't going to attack the monster. 'No way...Is that?'
"Big Sis!" Dororo's shouts interrupted Koharu's train of thoughts. "What?" Koharu asked as she remembered she forgot all about the boy. "Did you hear what I was saying?" Dororo asked with a pout. "No, sorry Dororo. Looks like I spaced out a bit." Koharu said to the little boy, but Dororo didn't believe in her little lie. "More like you were staring at your lover." Dororo said crossing his arms with a smirk. "What do you mean Lover?! Hyakkimaru is not my Lover!" Koharu yelled as her cheeks started to flush. "Yeah right! You love Hyakkimaru don't you?" Dororo and Nota gave the flustered girl a taunting grin. She didn't think her cheeks could get even redder, but she was wrong when she remembered the little moment the two had before Dororo and Nota came back to camp. "Arrrgggghhh!" Koharu screamed as she chased the two trouble makers who only laughed at the girl's red face.
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The group finally made it to the so-called 'Tormented Village' yet it looked anything but tormented. The village looked very abundant considering the houses looked like they were brand new. They even had a water mill for a stream. This only raised Koharu's suspicions about the village "Seems like a pretty rich village. There's really a monster here?" Dororo asked as he carried Nota in his arms. "There might be, but the question is when the monster comes out." Koharu muttered as she looked at the village suspiciously. "Did someone say monster?" The group stopped in their tracks when they heard a man's voice calling out to them. Koharu and Dororo turned around to see a middle-aged old man wearing noble's clothing that looked very clean. The man had a goatee beard and a very thin mustache. The man walked towards the group while the rest of the villagers stayed behind. "What about a monster?" The man asked with a smile. Koharu suddenly felt like this man was nothing, but trouble so she walked in front of the group in a protective manner. "Well, sir we received word that there were recent attacks of a monster somewhere in this village. A lot of people went missing around this area." Koharu said in a professional manner. "That sword...Are you perhaps the notorious Iron Maiden?" The man asked once he saw the blade on her hip. "Is that what people are calling me?" Koharu asked. "She sure is and this guy right here is the Iron Maiden's Lover. They're the best at slaying monsters. How about it?" Dororo presented the two teens while Nota gave a little yap.
"Amazing, I heard the rumors of the Iron Maiden traveling with a lover, but I never heard of them having a child together.." The man muttered before Koharu cleared her throat grabbing everyone's attention. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked like she was using all of her will power trying to restrain her temper. "Well, Sir I hate to disappoint you, but my companion and I are not lovers. And this child is not mine he's is more like my little brother." Koharu said giving Dororo a sharp glare, but Dororo just looked away and whistle like nothing is happening. "Oh, Forgive me, Iron Maiden, it's just that there are so many rumors about you traveling with a man we thought he was your lover." The man bowed and apologized to the girl. "It's fine, but we would like to help with the monster problem. If you will let us." Koharu said with a smile. "It is an honor to have the Iron Maiden and her companions help us. If you'll slay it for us, the village will do much to repay you. Right everyone?" The man turned to the other villagers who nodded in agreement. "I like the way you talk, Cheif." Dororo said as he pats the man's back after he put Nota on the ground. "I'm just filling in for the Cheif. My name is Denkichi. Our Cheif's name is Bandai." Denkichi said to the boy. "She has injured her legs and can't move." Denkichi explained to the group. "If she's injured then take me to her. I know plenty of medical knowledge to be able to help her." Koharu said to the man who flinched at the offer.
"No, please you're already helping more than enough by getting rid of the monster that plagues our village." Denkichi pressed, but Koharu could see that he was hiding something from them. "Anyways please, feel free to stay at my home. I don't have much to offer, but would you like some supper?" Denkichi offered which lead to Dororo squealing like a girl at the man's offer. "I really like the way you talk." Dororo shouted with a grin. "Dororo don't be rude." Koharu said as she pulled on Dororo's ear like how her Grandmother used to do when she was a child. "We would love to, thank you for the offer." Koharu said respectfully to the man. "Come this way." Denkichi leads the group to his house, but Koharu knew that something was going on in the village and she intends to find out.
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"This is like paradise. I haven't eaten so much in ages." Dororo exclaimed as he laid on a pile of hay and Nota curled up into a ball on Koharu's lap and then the puppy fell into a blissful sleep. Denkichi let the group stay in the stable of his house for the night. Koharu couldn't help, but giggle at the boy's behavior, it was sort of true. Ever since the girl time traveled to the Sengoku Era she and Hyakkimaru try to ration the food she has because everywhere else had very little food to offer. "But they're pretty flashy for a village troubled by a monster. They don't have a lot of rice paddies, either. How do they make so much money?" Dororo asked. "I don't know Dororo, but I might have an idea on how these people have so much money and how this might be connected with the monster. However, without enough evidence it's still just a theory." Koharu said in a serious tone. "Whats a theory? And what do you think it is?" Dororo asked as he tilts his head at the new word Koharu said. "A Theory is a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something. And my theory is that..." Before Koharu could explain the two heard a soft bell chime.
The two turned their heads at the sound and then the light from the oil lamp quickly went out. The sound started getting louder, and louder until the door to the stables suddenly flew open to reveal the monster Koharu saw in the forest. The deformed monster lowered its huge head to see the who was inside. "AHHHH! Monster!" Dororo screamed at the top of his lungs and clung on to the sleeve of Koharu's kimono. Koharu looked at the monster in pure shock the monster almost looked human despite its giant deformed head. Then she turned her gaze to Hyakkimaru who was still just sitting there like nothing is happening. 'Then that means...'Koharu finally pieced it together this wasn't the monster that made people disappear, but just a wandering spirit! "Dororo stop!" Koharu urged the little boy who was currently trying to remove Hyakkimaru's prosthetic arm. "But Big Sis, the monster wants to pick a fight with us!" Dororo yelled as he continued to fiddle with the arm. "Dororo stop, that's not a monster." Koharu shouted as Dororo finally stopped struggling and looked at the girl in pure confusion. The spirit turned around and started to leave the stable, once the spirit was out of the stable the door suddenly closed itself. "What do you mean that wasn't the monster Big Sis?" Dororo asked in disbelief. "Is something the matter? Did you see the monster?" Denkichi asked as he came into the stable with a little oil lamp in his hand. "YE-" Dororo was suddenly cut off by a hand over his mouth to keep him from telling the truth. "No, sorry Mr.Denkichi my little brother here had a really bad nightmare and screamed in his sleep. Don't worry about it." Koharu said as she pulled Dororo closer to her. "Is that so?" Denkichi asked as his gaze turned to Hyakkimaru who was still sitting next to her. "Well, I'll just let you be then." Denkichi said as he leaves the stable.
Once Denkichi was gone Dororo pulled Koharu's hand off of his mouth and gave her a glare. "Why did you tell him that Big Sis?!" The little boy asked as if she went crazy. Why would she lie about the monster? And Hyakkimaru let the monster go?! "Dororo think about it if that really was the monster. Wouldn't Hyakkimaru attack it right on the spot?" Koharu asked which made Dororo finally started using his head. She was right if that really was the monster, then Hyakkimaru would've killed it right on the spot. "But why did you lie to Denkichi Big Sis?" Dororo asked the girl. "Remember, earlier I was going to tell you my theory. Well, I believe that there's an alliance is at work here." Koharu said in a serious tone. "An alliance?" Dororo asked in confusion. " And not just any alliance Dororo. A pact between a Human and a Demon." Koharu explained which made Dororo look at her with a mixture of shock and fear in his eyes. "Human and Demon?" Dororo asked still not believing in such a thing. "Yes, you see I notice that this village doesn't have anything they can use to either sell or trade, but they have plenty of food and money. Not only that, but people going missing after they pass through this village. I think Denkichi sacrifices anyone who travels through here to a demon and then take that person's valuables. And if that's the case then everyone is in on it, so I don't trust anyone of them. Understand why I lied to him Dororo?" Koharu asked the little boy who was still trying to process on what the teen told him. Koharu can see the horror and uncertainty in his eyes. Koharu set Nota on a pile of hay, but carefully not to wake the puppy. Then she pulled Dororo into a hug and hummed a sweet lullaby to put the boy to sleep.
Gradually the song calmed him down and the little boy was fast asleep, but her thoughts were still racing.'I still can't be sure until I meet her, but if I'm right then the Cheif is the real monster of the village.' Koharu kept on thinking how to get the truth out, but a wooden hand on her shoulder made her stop. Koharu turned her head to see Hyakkimaru staring at her with solicitous eyes. "I'm sorry, I guess I'm worrying you too huh?" Koharu said with embarrassment. "Well, I'm going to sleep. Goo-" Koharu was cut off by Hyakkimaru when he pulled her close to his chest. Koharu's cheeks started to burn at the contact, but she didn't pull away. Koharu can hear Hyakkimaru's beating heart and for some reason, the thumping sound was very relaxing. 'This feels nice...' Koharu's thoughts drifted off as she slowly fell asleep. Hyakkimaru kept a firm hold on the sleeping girl as if to keep her from slipping away. Hyakkimaru never felt this way in his life, but after meeting Koharu that day in the forest he couldn't even imagine what would happen if she were to leave. Even though he can't feel the warmth of another person he could still feel something in his chest. Furthermore, that feeling keeps on growing with each passing day and he didn't want that feeling to go away any time soon. Hyakkimaru silently vowed to protect Koharu and her beautiful soul.
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In a dark room, Denkichi was kneeling down in front of a bed that concealed by a white vale. "Are you certain that it is her Denkichi?" a feminine voice was heard behind the curtain. "Yes, Lady Bandai." Denkichi said as he kept his head down. The woman behind the curtain had a diabolical grin on her face. "Bring the Iron Maiden and her companions to me at dawn." The woman said to Denkichi before he left the chambers. Then her eyes started to glow an ominous color as she let out a sinister laugh showing her fangs.