***

Chiyoe no Kurushime, "Tormented Thousand Generations", held her red parasol above her head, the sun filtering through it fiercely, as if a leering old man who wished to caress her pale skin. How she dislike the sun. It was too fierce, too bright and far too persistent for her tastes. It made love to the earth with such unyielding passion that it could burn and scorch it's lover. How unseemly, to say the very least.

The Hakumei caravan traveled along slowly and it was very interesting to watch the scenery go by, but quite uncomfortable for her small and delicate frame. In the master's manor (her mother's master that is, for no one would ever be her master) everything had been kept shaded, pleasant, sweet-smelling, and comfortable. A wonderful tactic on their part to try and soften her past the point of ever wanting to leave such a gilded cage.

A tactic that hadn't ever a chance of working, however. She was far too strong willed for a woman, as men always said. But perhaps that was in her nature. She very well didn't like being dictated too. Or perhaps this was all just the restless energies of youth. She was only forty-seven after all, a mere youngling to other oni and yokai kind. But traveling with a warrior party full of strangers she had only glanced to dangers unknown was hardly the folly of youth. At least for a woman, anyway.

The pig farm in the central lands of Raiden had been the most interesting thing she had seen yet, to be sure. It had smelt awful and looked even worse. Chiyoe had quite enjoyed it. The complete opposite of manor life. A sign that she was heading down the right path for sure. Kotori Raiden, co-leader of the Hakumei squad, had been everything Chiyoe had been taught not to be: tomboyish, direct, awkward, and informal. Simply wonderful. There was yet another great sign of fortune in her choice.

The 8-foot horned oni however had been curious. She hadn't much opportunity to view other oni who displayed their birthrights so physically. Her grandmother had often told her of their Iso Onna cousins, who had only the faces of women with bodies of serpents. Hari Onago, cousins as well, were not dissimilar to her fellow Nure Onago kin. With the appearance of beautiful young women, their hair was often left down and rather disheveled. Upon closer look, however, the tip of each of their hairs fitted with a needle-like barbed hook, that moved about at her will.

However, with only tales and paintings to go on, Chiyoe never could imagine the colorful appearances of her traveling companions. Or their intriguing customs, as so shown to example with war song of Gaignun that left a ringing in her ears even after they set out on their long hard journey. But she did so admire his reptilian steed. A warrior such as that might just gain her undying loyalty. It was good that both leaders of their little band had enough admirable qualities to gain respect in such a short time.

But after all the wondrous fun of the morning, the ride had grown rather tiresome upon her hind-end. But at least she was on the supplies chart. Riding sideways on a horse would have been far more uncomfortable.

The doll of an oni sat up high, where she could see all on top of the supplies chart roof, looking about with an entertained smile. Though her rouged red lips were often in a small smile. And her large eyes were always looking about, their dark depths devouring everything could. With her silk black hair pinned and styled just so, adorned with floral pins and combs, she really was the image of a doll. Even her layered kimono, though mostly black, and red obi were made of fine quality cloth. And her little feet were primly pressed together, her back straight no matter how tired and sore she became.

But it was all borrowed wealth. Well, perhaps not 'borrowed' but close to it. Her mother's master wouldn't miss what she took after all. For the most part it should have been her family's anyway, after all the awful treatment they had been subjected to. So Chiyoe simply took her small share. And it was enough for an extra, less elegant dress, parcel for her pins and sentimental trinkets, her tea set, a biwa, and just a bit more money for any emergencies. To be prepared when going out into the unknown was important after all.

Beside the two leaders, there were others of interest, of course. The Pale One,@Astronaut Jones a woman who smelt like elder oni, perhaps around her mother's age, though who could really tell among oni kind? And there was also a fire-haired swordsman oni,@ReaptheMusic who was all but covered head to toe in ill-fitting armor. And a human male.@Leodiensian Chiyoe wrinkled her nose. She was not overly fond of human males. Sweet smoke drifted up from the supply caravan. And then he started to sing a most crude and vulgar song. No, she was not overly fond of human men. Especially this one.

"If you would, please," her voice was youthful and sweeter than spring sake drunk under a sakura tree, "I would be most appreciative if you did not smoke by our supplies." She pulled her legs beneath her, wooden geta clacking on roof of the supply cart. Chiyoe lifted up a delicate and nimble hand, her slender fingers pressed together in elegance, much like a fine dancer about to begin their show. "A fire inside with our valuables would be upsetting," she overturned her hand, the boiling pipe's water leaving out through the resin in the form of mist. Hopefully it took the awful resin with it. "Do you not agree?" She flickered her fingers, the lock of mist coiling through the air like a snake to dance at her leisure. It was hardly what she wished to say, but it seemed the best course of action at the moment.

"And you are most ill-skilled in singing," Chiyoe added drily, her red lips in a pressed flower smile of wry amusement.

Chiyoe let the water from his pipe from mist to its liquid form, enjoying how it would snake about her fingers in a long thread. The little child-like looking oni made her painted lips turn down slightly, but other than that she didn’t react very much. Perhaps an untrained ear thought his human voice wasn’t so bad, but for some reason Chiyoe found everything about him…grating. And the oni that could pass for a child: even more annoying. Insinuating that she were nothing better than a courtesan or brothel worker! She would never end up like that! She’d rather break the treaty than end up like her shell of a mother, a mockery of everything it was to be Nure-Onna!

Her grandmother always said that she had more of a temper than was fashionable, but that it would dull with time. And she was young, as far as oni aging went. But that was a reasonable root of her power. When she was aged, her power would stem from knowledge and experience. But for now, she was all raw energy and sparking tempered-inexperience. With a raised head, an almost haughty smirk, she contemplated giving the tiny irritating oni a good whip with the water that coiled about her fingers. Now that would be amusing.

The very definite impression of being watched crossed over her skin. Someone was watching her. The corner of her mouth tilted slightly. Why did it seem that everyone had such a low opinion of her? That she was just some weakling dressed in finery, with no comprehension of battle, and merely there for their amusement? Her? An entertainer? Quite wrong, indeed.

Looking over at the elven-oni female and the flaming warrior who rode by her, she stared intently at both of them, wondering why they were discussing her when she was in plain sight. But it was just shallow advice given on assumptions to the fire-warrior. And if they would not ask her of her own opinion about her opinion on his being near the supplies, then she would not reply. But her deep gaze did stay on him with some curiosity for a moment longer than proper, before turning her attentions back to the crude and vulgar human male.

Her entertainment for them? Hardly. This was her entertainment. The amount of rage she had inside her was destructive. And this caravan voyage was to be her outlet for decades of anger. Well, they’d see her true self soon enough. And who cared what they thought of her anyway? Odds being what they were, many of them would hardly cross paths in the future. She looked at the human female examining each oni with alerted caution from her horse. And some of their party would be dead in a few decades anyway.

Standing on the roof of the supply cart, she fixed narrow eyes on the human male. Thinly veiled disgust formed on her doll-like features. He thought her a geisha for his amusement! Arrogant mortal. And what’s more he thought that the oni who appeared in a child-like way was her offspring! Revolting, insulting, insufferable low-life! Why she should send his pipe’s water up his nose, down into his body and squeeze his stuttering heart till it burst! Her eyes glowed red, but her face didn’t betray her anger at the moment, except for narrowing eyes. “Revolting,” she murmured softly, the water spearing into the wood by his leg, like an arrow, before turning back into lifeless liquid. She turned her head and began to ignore him.

A booming voice shot through the air like thunder, making Chiyoe turn her head in the giant of an Oni, dropping down on bent knees, her free hand pressed to the roof. The supply cart shuddered with the force of that voice. The Nure Onago was perfectly still, red parasol on her shoulder, eyes scanning for any sign of danger. Everything was still for those few moments, the giant aka oni glaring at the caravan party. But Chiyoe heard it.

A young voice or perhaps a woman's voice crying out for help. She looked up in alert, like a cat who's attention had been drawn. Footsteps were racing towards them. And then the rumble of the ground. Narrowing her eyes, they glowed a deep violent red. They waited. A boy stumbled out onto the road, shirtless and young, wearing a rather wonderful helmet. A helmet far too above his social standing. And there the crest of Ameratsu lay. Just what was going on?

The Nure Onago didn't wait for the mortal child's response, her head snapping over to the rumbling crash through the forest line where the boy had emerged. From 100 feet away, the tree line toppled over and very large demon came stampeding toward the caravan. Ten feet tall and enraged. Her eyes darted down to the helmet the boy wore, the mortal now seated on Gaignun's reptilian steed. It was Gaignun charged first. It was a fearsome display on the aka oni's part. Very impressive. Chiyoe's respect for him grew.

The beast was felled and one of it's legs slammed into the supply chart. Chiyoe's grimaced and jumped into the air. Everyone else could deal with the beast. But humans needed to eat and stay warm at night, and all of them needed the weapons, so she took it upon herself to protect the supplies. Thrusting a hand out, she took water from the felled trees and put them to use in securing the chart before any real damage could be done to it's innards. Pushing it safely off to the side, her feet settling gracefully onto the earth, her glowing red eyes went to the boy. Leave it to her to take the side of the oni beast and lay suspicion on a human child but...

How did he know the beastly oni's weaknesses?

@Arthanus@CGinger@LovelyAnastasia@Leodiensian

Chiyoe no Kurushime pushed her hand through the air, like a kabuki dancer mimicking the slicing blade of a sword. Her delicate pale fingers were so gracefully place, so careful in their design, that the water under her control moved with fluid ease through the air. Ah good, the caravan was safe. Nothing worse than losing all you own, or so she believed was true, since this is often when complaining farmers said to great warlords when asking them for defense or revenge.

But other than save their supplies, the dollish oni did nothing more against the beastly creature. Why should she? Her red eyes fixed on the suspicious boy. Every story had two sides, did it not? And she didn't believe that just any beast would wish to chase after such small, meaningless prey. It didn't make much sense, after all. Why waste so much time and energy trying to capture a mouse, when you could spend your time hunting a deer? Unless, of course, said mouse happen to lead you to a herd of deer...

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at the boy in the strange helmet. A loud voice echoed in the most irritatingly condescending manner possible. She glared at the one-eyed oni who had been silent for most of the ride. @CGinger And she ignored his words. The human female @Arthanus seemed to be doing just fine, attacking blindly and whatnot. All of them seemed intent on just killing the oni beast, instead of really thinking on just why the creature had attacked a small and rather defenseless boy to begin with, what with the treaty in place.

It did not sit well with her, this entire situation. Perhaps she was no courtesan trained in war tactics, but she knew enough from listening to the adults growing up to know that it was not always wise to rush into battle without fully knowing your enemy. She glared fiercely at the boy. Or whatever tricks your enemy might pull to catch you off guard.

As the rather vulgar human @Leodiensian fought with the beast, he yelled back at her is the most shamelessly casual way. Calling her 'luv'! Well, of all the insufferable-! No, she'd not think on him. Why, she did care if the beast crush his weak little human bones! Chiyoe gave a haughty huff and upturned her nose at the human pirate.

It was Firebrand @ReaptheMusic that ended up making the most decisive blows. He blinded the creature, but rolled away in the direction of the Caravan. Her red eyes widened and before she could shout 'you fool!' the beast lunged at her! With gritted teeth, Chiyoe dropped her parasol and thrust her hands towards the supply cart, sending a thick flexible shield of water around it. It left her vulnerable, but Firebrand slammed into the creature before it could hit her.

And over the steep side they went. Assuming both were probably gravely injured, Chiyoe dropped her water shield from around the supply cart and ticked her head to the side when she heard a groan. A groan from over the edge. Firebrand was still alive then? Impressive... And she owed him now.

With a growl, she tugged her fine pins out from her hair, letting the long inky locks fall wildly over her shoulders. Her eyes glowed red. Pushing down one side of her kimono, she wore it much like human yakuza women did, though modestly and with far more grace. Taking off her shoes, she set her feet in the grass.

Then it started.

Water from the grass her feet touched was sucked away from the plants, her contact like a magnet that pulsed out about three feet from her body in a perfect circle. A circle of dry death about her as water hovered in orbs above her head. It grew as she moved to stand at the edge of the cliff, staring down at the beast clinging to Firebrand.

And her beautiful dollish qualities suddenly became far less enchanting. Instead they become violently enrapturing, like the haunting sight of a horror you couldn't look away from. Her beauty sharpened and intensified. The paleness of her skin was cold and hard, like that of a stone casket. The red of her eyes began glowing like that of apocalyptic magma, swallowing all human whites and becoming as glowing red as a monster from a child's nightmare. The color of her lips become vibrant too, like freshly shed blood, curving in a sharpened slash of horrific amusement. And the tendril of silken black hair, flowed much like shadows behind her, almost as if they could move of their own free will.

Raising her hands, those lovely round nails sharpened into translucent claws. The water about her head trembled and in a sudden jarring motion combined itself into one large globe of shivering liquid. Just the size of beast. "May you meet you end well," her musical voice sounded too animated, too light, too beautiful. It sounded like the voice of Death.

And all at once the wounded creature was swallowed by her massive orb of water.

It was an end more found horrifying. Water forced all air in the lungs away. The frantic struggle to swim, then the jerking motion of the body as it twitched with the last energy for its fight to survive. The way the lungs slowly filled with water, flowing in forcefully through the nose and mouth. Lungs contracted, begging for air. Eyes rolled back in pain from the starvation of relief. Immense pain, contracting around a body that was resisting its own demise. And then...

Nothing.

No life. Just a mass of still warm flesh and bone and blood sinking lifelessly to the bottom.

Chiyoe released the pathetic creature, drawing the bloody water back to swarm around her in red orbs. The female oni lowered her hands and looked down at the corpse of the creature at the bottom of the cliff. A single mournful tear escaped down her cheek, before she hastily brushed it aside.

The her gaze went to Firebrand. With a soft sigh, she raised a shaking hand to have the bloodied water lift him back to safety. And in a final sweeping circular motion, Chiyoe returned the water to its home within the plants around her. Blood turned the flora a sickly and unnatural red. Her memorial to the great beast who lost its life in the fight.

The horrific, unholy and unnatural state of her beauty softened once more. Her long black hair fluttered down to fall over her back and shoulders in a far more natural way. Her pale claws receded into crescent moon nails as she fit her kimono back on the proper way. Her skin flushed with the soft human-like rose tint of life and her lips too returned to a more gentle and sensual color.

Her eyes, which stayed on Firebrand, were the last to return to their normal, almost human-like state. They faded back into that deep dark shade of unyielding intelligence and cynicism. Her dark lashes brushed over her cheeks as she looked down and away from the man who was stuck in between two worlds, one of human life and one of oni immortality.

"Someone should bandage your wound," she offered, if a bit quietly. A long pause noted her hesitation. Then a slow bloom of pink colored her cheeks and she looked up and away from the halfling, obviously irritated with her own embarrassment. "And thank you for protecting me! Thoughyoureallydidnothavetodosuchathing!" It was forcefully said, as though she couldn't bare the humiliation of a 'thank you'. And in such embarrassment, she turned on her heels and marched right back over to her shoes and hairpin, hoping the mortification would ebb if she replaced her frivolous adornments. Chiyoe felt far safer protected behind the glare of finery, where it seemed people only saw silks and crystals, but never her.