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Prolouge: 呪い [Majinai] (Curse)

The rain was still coming down hard, Hana noted. She was soaked, her miko robes sticking to her body and weighing her down. Her hair had fallen out of the ponytail long ago, long black strands sticking to any exposed parts of skin. She was breathing heavily, feeling as if she had run a long distance. Her body was aching from the abuse it had just been put through. She could feel the cut above her left eye stinging as the rain touched it, along with the burns on her hands. None of that matters, Hana thought, looking down at the black form at her feet. She had done what she had been trying to do. She had protected the shrine.

She had won.

It was that fact that made her body sag with relief. She had protected the shrine. She had kept everyone from harm. She did what she was supposed to. Hana sighed, looking down at the black form once more.

Demon. The world they were living in had them, of course, but they knew their place. Never once has one dared to step onto the sacred grounds of the Ise Shrine. Even more so, one has never dared stepped onto the sacred grounds for the purpose of killing.

Killing for fun.

It made Hana sick.

She sighed, and turned around, preparing to go inside. She was sure the High Priestess would take care of disposing the demon’s body in the appropriate way. She was exhausted, having been the only one who was willing to stand in the way of the demon. She shook her head, walking to go inside. Cowardice was not a trait to admire one for. What was happening to their values if such things were allowed to continue? She sighed. Perhaps she was just too exhausted to be thinking straight. Several of the others were younger than she was, more like children. They couldn’t be held accountable. The ones who were older…Hana was sure they had their reasons.

She had not made it more than four steps away from the demon when she felt something pierce her in the back and exit through her front. Hana’s eyes were wide, her mouth open in a case of classic shock. Time seemed to stay still, and things became silent. All Hana was aware of was the metallic taste of blood that bubbled up in her mouth and dripped out over her lips and the sound of her heart roaring in her ears.

The thing that had impaled her shifted, and everything came to her in a rush. The pain that had been strangely absent came in a rush, robbing her of breath. The sound of the rain dancing on the stone never seemed as loud before. However, the thing that had attacked her…it was behind her, snarling into her ear.

She knew what exactly had attacked her and strained to turn her head to look at it in the eye. “You are…n-not a demon.” She choked. “You…you are an Oni.”

The Oni growled lowly, pulling Hana closer to itself, causing Hana to yell in pain. “Little miko…” It panted, throat tight with agony and dripping with hatred, “You will not die from this…” it lowered it’s voice down to a whisper. “That is not enough for you to suffer…as I have…I will take the soul of a child you will carry by my will…”

Hana’s eyes widened, and she tried to struggle without causing more injury to herself. From the corner of her eye, she was able to see the outline of the Oni behind her when lightning flashed in the distance. She became horrified when she could see the shadow of the Oni become wispy, much like a thick plume of smoke and meld with her own body.

Then, everything went black.


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