Fantasy the princess & the samurai (1x1 w/ hooligan)

[Gezellige]

swamp fairy < 3

Spoiler: 横山 結愛 (yokoyama yua)

was gonna use a rly pretty post template but it made my laptop lag SO BAD : (( so ur just gonna get an unFancy ver., big sad

Spoiler: image

name: 横山 結愛 (yokoyama yua, or yua yokoyama as written in western style)
name meaning: yua - binding love & affection, yokoyama - mountain to the side
age: twenty-two
gender: female
face claim: chou tzuyu
occupation: second child & first daughter of yokoyama haru; second heiress to the yokoyama clan
family: yokoyama haru (father), yokoyama sara (mother), yokoyama haruto (older brother), yokoyama sakura (younger sister)
personality: yua is a bit of a walking contradiction to most people, but if anyone would take the time to get to know her, they would find she is surprisingly simple to figure out. lacking in the usual social skills held by most her age, yua is essentially an open book; she will not hesitate to tell you personal details about herself & her life, finding it rather strange that many in her class prefer to hide behind stale greetings and topics like the weather. however, in the few instances she's been allowed outside her room, she's been chastised for addressing people so informally - despising being shamed, yua therefore is very quiet in public, unless spoken to. however, there is only a very thin wall that keeps back everything she wants to say. yua is naturally very curious (a trait that her family desperately tried to quell when she was young, but alas, they didn't succeed), and loves to experience and learn new things. in this way she can seem almost childish, but what could one really expect from a girl who has been hidden from the world?
brief history: as a child, yua was always very sickly, cursed with the blood disease hemophilia. she didn't get to see much of the world due to this. often as not, she would be locked away in her room, safe from anything that could cause her injury and therefore threaten her life; this put quite the strain on her familial bonds, and she found that as she got older, she hardly knew anyone in her family at all. this made her dreadfully sad for the longest time - until, miraculously, she was cured. simple as that. she woke up one day free of the chronic fatigue that had plagued her, and upon running several tests from the most advanced doctors of the time, it seemed that hemophilia proved to no longer be an issue, and yua was free to live as she desired from thereon in. under careful monitoring, of course, in the event her disease decided to somehow resurface just as spontaneously as it disappeared.
other: idk lel : D

It had been two months since the blood disease had fled her body, and still, Yua was not used to it.

She still found it strange to be able to leave her room on her own, without the protective swarm of palace guards that often accompanied her. She could simply open the door, look around, and step out. What a strange experience, she thought, as her bare toes glided against the slick marble beneath her. Everything seemed to jump out at her more, when she was alone - the beautiful round windows just ahead of her, lining the large hallway on the right side; the sensation of coolness beneath her feet; the soft morning light that filtered inside, caressing her hand and the white silk of her gown. It was bright enough that the torches had not been bothered to be lit, but not quite so bright as to be hard on one's eyes.

I like mornings, Yua decided after a moment, turning in circles to gain the full experience of being alone - well, more or less alone. Two palace guards were stationed just outside the door to her room, but unlike they usually did, they had not flocked to her sides or called for another pair to do the same. She didn't dare say it in their presence for fear of offending, but she was astoundingly pleased that she couldn't feel them breathing down her neck.

The young woman took a deep breath, and smiled. The world smelled like blossoms. She could see the cherry trees in the courtyard, dancing in the wind with their vibrant pinks, and though she had seen the same thing every year, she felt that they were far more beautiful this time around.

"I love mornings," the girl corrected herself aloud, hopping up onto the heels of her feet. Her fists bounced gently against her sides. "And, I love cherry trees."

"Your Highness?" One of the guards stationed at the door cleared his throat. "Did you say something?"

Yua turned. Ordinarily, guards could not speak unless spoken to, but the two of them had known Yua long enough to know that she didn't care. "No," she told the man after a moment's hesitation. "Just, talking to myself."

The guard nodded, and said no more.

Eventually, Yua decided it was time to get ready for the day. Tip-toeing back into her room (she didn't want to make more noise than necessary, as she appreciated the silence), she sent for her ladies in waiting, who soon arrived and helped their princess into a red kimono, decorated with scenes of the Yokoyama mountains, clouds, and cherry trees. Fitting, thought the young woman, as she watched the girls updo her hair in a mirror. She dared smile at her reflection, and was pleased to see that she didn't look nearly so tired as she used to.

Breakfast was soon thereafter. Yua half-walked, half-dashed to the dining room of her family's large minka, sliding open the shoji door to see that everyone had already gathered. Bowing in apology, Yua quietly sat on the floor in front of the table beside her younger sister, Sakura. The younger girl smiled upon seeing this choice of seating; Yua, not knowing exactly how to respond, remained blank-faced.

"Yua,"

The young woman's head snapped up, unconcealed surprise showing on her face when she saw that her father had addressed her. Immediately, she straightened her back. "Yes, Father?"

"How have you been faring?"

All eyes flicked to her, before trying to return to their own business. She could feel her cheeks began to burn, but she didn't dare break eye contact with the food in front of her. She stirred it idly with her chopsticks. "Well," she answered after a moment, unsure where this was going. Her father was a quiet man, and didn't often speak to her.

Yokoyama Haru, unsurprisingly, was quiet. Still, every second that passed felt Yua growing more and more unsettled.

"Good," the man said at last.

Haruto, who was sitting across from Yua, let out an audible breath as the tension dissolved.

That is, until they heard shouting, followed by a loud and long boom.

For a second, no one moved. In fact, they froze. Processing what they had just heard, Yua cast a quick glance to her brother sitting across from her, who's color had drained from his face. Everyone's eyes flicked to each other, as if checking to make sure that everyone was still there, when a palace guard suddenly slid open the doors, panting wildly but still retaining enough dignity to bow before his superiors.

"What is it?" Haru snapped, immediately gathering himself to his feet.

"It's - it's the Spirits. The Oni."

"What?" Sara, who had not yet said a word, looked up with obvious fear in her eyes. "That - that is impossible."

"But they are here." The guard looked as afraid as she did. "You need to come with me, now. We are under attack."

 

[swamp fairy]

Spoiler: Masayuki

FC: Jang Hyuk

Surname: 斎藤 (Saitō from the kanji "purification/worship" and "wisteria")
Given Name: 雅雪 Masayuki (from the kanji "elegant" and "snow")
Nicknames: Yuki
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Occupation: Warrior/Samurai
Notable Features: Has various scars on his body, but the most noticeable is the scar on his face, cutting across his forehead, left brow and cheek.
Family: Saitō Hiroshi (older brother, 30), Saitō Asahi (older brother, deceased), Saitō Takashi (father, deceased), Saitō Ayame (mother, deceased)
Personality: Masayuki has always been a quiet, contemplative man, preferring the company of nature, animals, or a rigorous training session to the company of other people. He is not much for words, but has always had an eye and appreciation for beauty in nature and music.
Brief History: From a young age, it was apparent Masayuki was the most gifted with a blade and possessed an intense drive to practice and perfect his skills. Many attributed his determination to the fact that he lived in the shadow of his two older brothers and wanted something to show for himself. But Masayuki never assumed he would take the role as Lord Saitō, nor did he ever desire it. He achieved some fame and recognition as a fearless warrior in battles with rival clans. He defeated every opponent in battle and practice, officially becoming Saitō's best swordsman. The middle Saitō brother, Hiroshi, however, had taken the helm of the Saitō clan after the death of their father and brother in a skirmish with a rival clan.
Skills & Abilities: Exceptional skill with a sword and bow. Possesses a "sixth sense" for detecting dark auras. Most of the Saitō blood possess this ability in some form or another, though some are more attuned to it than others.
Other: Practices and plays the Shakuhachi flute.
​

--- [ ☀ ] ---​

A cool spring breeze rustled the blooming wisteria, scattering pale purple flecks like confetti in the air. Warm sunlight carved down through the leaves like blades. It was a fine spring day. Masayuki found himself in the wisteria woods, soaking up the calming aura of nature. There was at least some semblance of solace in nature's beauty, and the sweetness of thoughtlessness as the swordsman danced through the motions of his practice, one move after the other. For unlike this pleasant weather, the climate inside his mind lately had twisted and turned in a tumultuous storm of swirling darkness, its shadowy tendrils creeping into every corner of his thoughts. Only the swing of the blade had helped resolve this feeling of foreboding.

"Young Lord?"

An old woman's voice broke his concentration. Masayuki paused and stood straight again. The katana slowly slipped back into is lacquered wooden sheath with a satisfying click, resting next to its sibling tanto on his best. He turned in one swift movement, regarding the old woman in silence. Hanako was her name. A trusted retainer of the Saitō. She had been like a mother to him and his brothers.

"Your brother is looking for you," she said, arching a brow as she regarded him. "Are you feeling well, my Lord?"

Masayuki nodded once, then slipped past her towards the estate, offering a, "Thank you, Hanako," as he did.

---

"The great Lord Yokoyama sent correspondence. Can you believe it?" Hiroshi Saitō announced, eagerly showing his younger brother a particularly well-pressed parchment with the bright symbol of Clan Yokoyama stamped to it. "He's increasingly worried about the Oni in his territory, so I'm sending you and your party to his estate posthaste."

"We barely have enough warriors to keep our own borders safe," Masayuki argued immediately. "Do the Yokoyama not have enough skilled swordsmen to protect their own lands?"

Hiroshi chuckled, shaking his head and waving his hand to dismiss his younger brother's apparent dissent with the notion. "You must understand, this is a rare opportunity for Saitō, Yuki. The clans need our help again. So as a gesture of fostering friendship and alliance, please, do this for me. Saitō needs to be in Yokoyama's favor. And..." he added, pausing for a moment as his voice trailed off. He glanced away before returning his gaze to Masayuki's, sighing. "He requested our best swordsman. You, specifically."

Upon hearing this, Masayuki crossed his arms over his chest with brows furrowed. "For what assignment?"

"To look after one of his daughters."

There was a heavy silence between the two brothers, so tense it could be cut with a knife.

Finally, Masayuki broke through the quietness to confirm, voice flat. "A bodyguard."

Hiroshi scratched at the back of his ear and looked up at the ceiling, as if there was anything interesting to be seen there. There wasn't. "Well, yes and no. More like a--"

"Don't, Hiroshi," Masayuki cut him off, exhaling a terse sigh. "You can't season burned rice."

--- [ 🌤 ] ---​

The hooves of a dozen horses thudded upon the road, kicking up a trail of dust behind them. Black armored warriors sat proudly upon their steeds as the crimson and black banner of clan Saitō snapped in the breeze. Ahead, the spires of the Yokoyama castle loomed upon the mountainside. It had been a quiet day of travel; so had been the last week the company rode the long distance from Saitō to Yokoyama. Traffic was light on the roads nowadays, even in such a prosperous territory. With rumors of demons and spirits lurking about, most people were afraid to leave their homes.

Masayuki did not blame them. Even now, the dark miasma swirling around in the back of his mind had grown darker, more violent, pressing itself into every crack and crevice of his thoughts. Something wasn't right --

The sight of a galloping horse charging towards the company was strange indeed, especially in these circumstances. Even stranger was that the horse's rider was slack in his saddle, arms dangling, head lolling side to side. One of the Saitō warriors jumped off of his own horse and corralled the frightened steed to a stop, grasping the reins of a clearly agitated and injured horse. It stamped and snorted, rearing, ready to bolt again at any moment. The rider of the horse, a Yokoyama samurai by the color and make of his armor, was dead. Three consecutive slashes carved through the armor on his chest, from collarbone to hip.

No words were exchanged as a dozen swords were drawn from Saitō sheaths. Mounts were stirred to a furious gallop, closing the distance to the Yokoyama castle.

 

[Gezellige]

The next several moments, for Yua, were spent fleeing for her life. She could see now the forms of the large spirits hovering within the courtyards, usually squared off with several palace guards; and even at the quick pace with which the royal family was escaping through the halls, Yua could see several bodies lying in dark pools. An overwhelming sickness enveloped the young woman, and she found her limbs beginning to tremble. Beside her, she caught a glimpse of her sister's eyes, which were wide and terrified. Their gazes locked, and Yua could tell that Sakura had seen the exact same thing.

This only made Yua feel worse. Swallowing, she forced herself to keep running after her family, and the guard who had warned them; as they moved, other guards began to form a protective barrier around them, swords drawn. Without even realizing it, Yua realized that she had grabbed tight to her sister's hand as they ran, and Sakura was gripping her hard. The younger girl, of course, was afraid. Being the youngest of the family and only a girl of sixteen, that was to be expected; however, Yua didn't think that she herself was any braver.

She tried not to think about whether or not she knew the bodies that were now being littered across the stones, just outside her window. The notion made her want to burst into tears, and she had to focus on running.

"Look out!" A man, beside her, pushed her forward - and right where she had stood, right where the man now sprawled on the floor, a spirit crashed through the walls. Behind her, the women screamed; and even Haruto and several the guards cried out. As for Yua, all she could do was stare; the beast was on top of the man, tearing him to shreds.

Yua was accustomed to seeing blood in copious amounts. In the few instances she had gotten anything over a paper cut in her life, the red liquid had come out of her at an alarming rate, and hadn't stopped for a long time. She'd almost died. She likely would have died, if her entire clan hadn't prayed fervently to the ancestors for mercy. This, however, was different. Even now as she watched Yua could see the life fading from the man's eyes, and the ground was suddenly bathed with red, making the already slick surface even slipperier.

"Run!" Yua felt like she could hear someone calling out to her, but she couldn't move. She could feel hyperventilating breaths rising up in her chest, tears starting to sting her eyes; as if her body had simply needed a moment to process what she was seeing, a piercing shriek finally escaped her lips. Shaking hands flying up to her face, she shrieked again into her fingers, still finding herself unable to move from the spot she was standing.

That is, until another man leapt forward. He pushed Yua behind him, facing the Oni, and was followed closely by two other warriors.

"Fly, Princess!" The initial man commanded. "Flee this place!"

Finally able to break out of her trance, Yua turned heel and bolted down the halls. Sobs threatened to well up into her throat and stop her escape short, but she dared not let them; swallowing down the panic, the young woman ran, ran, as hard and fast as she could. By this point, she had lost track of her family; she had no idea where they had went, but she figured they went into the belly of their ancestral home, for safety. Attempting to recall the way, Yua forced herself to breathe deep as she rounded a corner; so fast were her steps that her feet slipped on the ground. Hurriedly, Yua kicked off her geta. There were no Samurai with her to direct her; in fact, there was no one, only the sounds of fighting from every direction she seemed to turn. Praying she knew her castle well enough to know she was going the right way, Yua rounded another corner - and found herself face to face with the large doors facing the entrance of the castle.

She had gone the wrong way.

Yua uttered every curse she knew under her breath, turning on her heel. She should have known - she had only been freely exploring the castle for a few months! Of course, she would get lost! The sounds of conflict were almost deafening now - she could hear yells and cries, only for them to be cut silent seconds later. Feeling the panic creep into her again, Yua turned about wildly, trying to recall where the hell anything was in this godforsaken castle!

"Please!" She called out, beginning to lose her grip on the emotions raging within her. She was lost, and close to the heart of the battle - any moment now, she knew a spirit could come crashing in, as one had done moments earlier. "Someone, please! Please, help me!"

Had she been thinking clearly, she may have thought about the fact that yelling might not have been the smartest idea. By the time she heard something approaching her from behind, the thought had come too little, too late. A clicking sound engulfed her; it was horrifically ominous, and the young woman felt her breath catch in her throat the second it reached her ears.

"No," she whimpered. Trembling overtook her, and she dared not turn around. "Please, please no."

Shriiiiieeekkkk! was the response, and Yua's hands flung to her ears, feeling tears cascade down her face. A scream of her own escaped her, and she dashed forward, only to trip on her own two feet. Crying and blubbering wordlessly, the woman felt her back press against a wall; her dark brown hair was falling in her face as the updo had come out in all her running, but through the strands, she could see a massive dark shape crouching over her, its face contorted into something otherworldly.

This is it, thought Yua. This is going to be the last thing I see, before I die.

 

[swamp fairy]

The sounds of battle grew evermore apparent as the party of Saitō warriors closed in on Yokoyama castle. With swords and bows in hand, the dozen warriors stormed through the gates of the estate. The Yokoyama samurai were in disarray, apparently having not expected this brazen attack. The source of the dark miasma that had been plaguing Masayuki was now apparent. Yōkai, demons, spirits... the creatures wreaking havoc on Yokoyama went by many names across the land. They'd hide in the darkness of night, snatch unsuspecting victims, ambush lone travelers on roads, steal children, but this? An attack like this was nearly unprecedented.

The Saitō warriors charged through the demons, their armored steeds topping beasts to the ground, swords singing and arrows flying.

"Please!" a woman's voice cut through the sounds of chaos. Masayuki turned towards the sound, eyes darting towards the castle's courtyard. "Someone, please! Please help me!" The sound was somewhat muffled, meaning she was inside the castle. With a swift jump, he dismounted his horse and darted forward, following a radiating dark aura and the sound of pleas and cries for help.

As he entered the halls of the keep, the source of the cries for help was finally found. The hulking black form of a hellish oni loomed over the figure of a terrified young woman with tears streaking down her face. The fanged beast lifted the club grasped in its clawed hand, ready to crush the girl when Masayuki lunged forward, driving his blade through the creature's back. A bubble of black blood burst as the blade impaled the beast, parting the flesh of its stomach. The creature uttered a hitched growl, giving Masayuki just enough time to retract the blade before the creature apparently forgot about the girl and turned around to face him instead. It shrieked loudly, mouth agape with sharpened cone teeth.

Masayuki felt the resulting breeze as the spiked club swung above him, smashing into the wall with a heavy thud. It was a split-second's dodge that had just saved his head from being separated from his shoulders. The oni pulled its club out of the wall and swung again, bringing the club down hard. Another side-step, and the samurai avoided certain death once again, though just narrowly. The restricted hall didn't leave much room for maneuvering.

Clearly frustrated that it had not destroyed its target yet, the oni roared and pulled the club out of the crater in the floor, swinging wildly. Masayuki inched back through the hall towards the doors to the courtyard as he dodged its blows (though some instances were closer than he liked to admit.)

In the courtyard, Masayuki had the advantage. The oni's swings were wild and thoughtless. With no walls to catch its momentum, and the power of such attacks brought with it unsteady footing, pulling the beast's entire body with its swings just enough to allow the samurai to take advantage of the beast's momentary correction. With another swing of the club, Masayuki crouched below its threshold, then shot forward, slicing through the beast's side. A doleful cry of pain and aggression escaped the creature's mouth as it faltered for a moment and spun around to attack the samurai again.

Masayuki had not expected such a fast and furious response. It was only a hair's length of time of processing his direction that made the difference. He stepped to the side to avoid the attack but miscalculated by just that much. The next thing he knew, his back was on the ground, the left shoulder pauldron of his armor was crushed, and a searing hot pain radiated from his collarbone. But there was no time to dwell on the blow as the shape of the oni's club came crashing down towards him. He rolled out of the way a moment later, feeling the vibration of the impact on the ground.

Standing again, Masayuki found that not only was his collarbone probably broken, but the way his armor had crushed around his shoulder restricted movement in his left arm. One handed would have to do for now, though if he had the choice, he would have favored the left.

The two faced each other for a moment, breathing heavily. The oni was clearly was losing some of its stamina by the way it huffed and wheezed. The black blood flowed from its wounds, a steady stream soddening the ground. Masayuki did not attack, but watched his opponent carefully. He knew this battle would be over soon. The wounds he had given the creature were finally catching up. It was only a matter of time before the exhaustion caught the beast.

Impatient, the oni roared again and swung its club downwards again, this time slower, less accurate, less power. Masayuki side-stepped it easily, bringing his sword down upon the beast's wrist as it tried to yank the club out of the ground. The katana cut through the best's flesh and bone as if it was nothing, severing its hand from its arm. The oni screamed a feral cry of agony and slipped in its own blood, coming down to one knee for a moment.

That moment was just long enough for Masayuki to deliver the final blow. With another swing, the oni's head toppled off of its shoulders and rolled onto the ground in the courtyard, its expression frozen with mouth agape and eyes wide. The body slumped forward with a wet thud, spilling blood and forcing Masayuki to step back. He panted, sweat beading on his brow beneath his helmet.

The sounds of battle were dying now; the calls of warriors crying in victory resonated through the air. Masayuki wiped the oni's black blood on the sleeve beneath his armor and sheathed the blade before he reached to untie the crushed pauldron on his arm, which was now feeling the tingling effects of restricted blood flow. Once it was off, he picked it up and looked around the courtyard for the young woman, hoping she had found somewhere safe to hide during the battle.

 

[Gezellige]

The black burst coming from the gut of the spirit only, at first, added to Yua's terror. Another shriek tore through her throat and she flinched backwards, pressing herself even further against the wall in a wild panic. Her eyes squeezed shut and she flung her arms up over her head, praying to every god she knew in a desperate attempt to somehow, miraculously, get herself out of this. She had only just begun to live; she had only just begun to feel a sense of ownership over her own existence, after twenty years of isolation. She wasn't ready to die. Please, don't let me die!

Her entire body was tense, anticipating a blow from the Oni's massive weapon. How would it feel, she wondered, to have her soul crushed out of her by this monster? And then, the young princess wondered how she was still alive to be wondering. For a split second she thought, had her prayers been answered? Could she be safe? But then another thud reached her ears, and she knew she was still in mortal peril. Yua's throat was raw from screaming, but that didn't stop more from ripping through her; though, at this point, she felt deaf to it. Her own voice felt like a background noise. All of Yua's confusion over the monster's hesitation gone, she shook like a ragdoll, crying to herself as the world around her shook at every hit from the Oni's club. One strike in her direction, and it was over, she knew. Every sound that reached her ears invoked panic.

Were she in her right mind, she would have realized that something must have happened to distract the Oni, and that it's attention must have been averted elsewhere. Likely, this wouldn't have done much to calm her at the time, as blows from the creature's weapon still felt a very real threat - but, as the sounds of conflict began to fade away, Yua finally began to have room to think. It must be targeting something else, she thought. A bit of nausea was added to her turbulent emotions, and the direction of her prayers shifted on behalf of whomever must be now holding the spirit off. She herself certainty wouldn't be able to do anything - she knew no way of defending herself, much less someone else. Her real priority was to keep herself safe; and that alone, she wondered if she would be able to do.

As it was, the easiest thing felt like staying right there. Her body was still recovering from shock, and even as she tried to move, her limbs betrayed her with violent trembling. Tears also tumbled out of her eyes in rushes. Outside, the princess could hear shouts of victory, but this did little to comfort her addled mind. Despite no longer being faced with the immediate threat of the Oni, Yua was still petrified.

Maybe I'm safe now, she thought wearily. The young woman laid on her side, bringing her legs up to her chest in something akin to a fetal position, wrapping her arms around her knees and burying her face into the folds. Maybe this is the safest place to stay.

 

[swamp fairy]

Masayuki was alone in the courtyard, save for the already decaying body of the Oni and the buzzards perched upon the eaves of the castle, waiting for their chance to pick at the putrid flesh. As he pulled the helmet off of his head and tucked it beneath his right arm, he could hear the other warriors regrouping just outside the courtyard. His immediate concern, however, led him back through the castle's shattered doors to find his charge.

As the adrenaline in his veins began to subside, it was replaced by a worsening pain shooting through his arm and shoulder. It would be a nasty bruise later, if nothing else was fractured. Idly he wondered if the Yokoyama healers were as good as the ones back home. Observing the damage done to the halls made him realize he was lucky to walk out of that battle with his life. These demons had only just resurfaced across the land. There was still much to learn about them and their fighting techniques; more to know than scrolls in the Saitō archives could tell. And then there was the manner in which this attack occurred... all very troubling things, but the most troubling was that he still sensed something evil nearby. A faint pulse of shadow, though he could not pin it.

Stepping over a pile of broken planks and rubble, Masayuki finally spied the curled up form of a woman on the floor, her dark hair splayed across her face. With sudden haste, he approached her, kneeling by her side, at first glancing over her for blood or injuries. There was blood, yes, but it was the splattered black blood of the Oni, and she did not seem to bear any serious injuries, thankfully. Which of the princesses she was exactly was a mystery to him, though the color, intricacy, and fabric of the kimono she wore was telling of her status.

"Princess Yokoyama?" he inquired softly, setting his helmet down on the ground so that he could offer her his free hand. "Are you alright?"

 

[Gezellige]

At the sound of a voice, Yua started, squeezing herself farther back into the corner. When she realized that it was a human voice addressing her, however, she lifted her head off of the ground, finding herself face to face with a samurai. From what she could tell, he was not one of their own; his armor was black and red, primarily, and stylized somewhat differently than the samurai armor she was used to. This made Yua feel altogether suspicious; fearfully, she glanced from the man's hand up to his face, before a sudden realization came to her, and she knew who he was. Or, at least, she knew where he had come from.

This was a Saitō warrior. She remembered now, that her father had told her that he was enlisting the help of one of the Saitō's greatest swordsmen in an effort to keep her safe. This fact had drifted to the back of the princess' mind for some time now; partly due to the fact that she had hoped her father wouldn't go through with it. For the first time in her life, Yua had felt free; she had just been reveling in that fact this morning. This morning, the woman recalled, her mind reeling back to what had only happened an hour or so before hand. She had gotten up, gotten dressed, eaten breakfast - it had all seemed so normal. And now, men were dead, and her ancestral home had been attacked. By the Oni. Creatures who had only just begun to resurface in the land, and who didn't often make brazen attacks like this.

Again, Yua felt the cold hand of fear slide over her. The sensation brought her back to the present, and she realized she had been staring at the man's hand for far too long. Swallowing, she extended her own, and allowed herself to be helped to her feet. It was a strange sensation - part of her felt embarrassed to be seen so disheveled and weak before any person's eyes, much less a warrior belonging to another clan, while the rest of her was angry at herself for caring. Not to mention the worm of anxiety that churned through her chest. And what of her family? What had happened to them? There was no certainty that they had made it to their destination. Honestly, the entire experience was disorienting and overwhelming, and Yua felt tears spring to her eyes once more.

"N-no," she said, honestly, and because no other thought came to her mind. She was standing now, but both her hands gripped the man's arm; for physical, and emotional stability. "Please, my - m-my family. They - " A lump gathered in her throat, and she stopped herself. As hard as it was to keep everything raging through her reigned in, she was still a princess - and this man was still a stranger, from a different clan, no less. Forcing herself to calm down, she took a deep breath, and let go of the man's arm. She wasn't able to meet his eyes, though. "I don't know where they went. I lost them - I have no idea if they're alright - "

Again, she stopped herself, unable to go on.

 

[swamp fairy]

The young woman was nearly as light as a feather as he pulled her up from the ground. Her eyes were reddened, tears evident on the porcelain skin of her cheeks. Her voice was hoarse as she stuttered her words. The poor girl was absolutely horrified. And why wouldn't she be? This experience would likely live on in her mind for the rest of her life. Her concern for her family was at least noble, though Masayuki had his own thoughts about the Yotoyama family, specifically Haru Yotoyama. He did not care whether that man lived or died. In fact, if the Lord Yotoyama had died in the battle, it would make Masayuki's life that much easier. He wouldn't have to be here, so far from home, playing glorified guard dog to the daughter of the man who was responsible for the deaths of his own father and brother.

Suppressing his thoughts for the moment, Masayuki replied simply, "We will find them. Stay close." He picked up his helmet when she released his arm and turned to head back out towards the courtyard. The buzzards had already swarmed the Oni's body, paying barely any mind to Masayuki and the Princess as they shuffled past.

To his inward dismay, Masayuki found that Haru Yotoyama did indeed live, as he and the rest of his samurai as well as the Saitō warriors were already working on moving bodies and building a pyre to burn the defeated Oni. He approached the Lord Yotoyama, swallowing his own pride to give the man a courteous bow before addressing him. "Lord Yotoyama," he said, then stood straight, gesturing to the young woman at his side. "Your daughter is safe."

 

[Gezellige]

Yua nodded once in response to the man's words, small and timid though it was. Gathering her arms to her chest, she squeezed herself tight. Her heart still felt like it was collapsing in on itself, and she was glad when the Saitō took the lead, so that he couldn't see her eyes misting. There would be a second or so where she would feel capable of keeping her emotions in check, but the next second, she would be thinking about the Oni - or her family - or the corpses she couldn't seem to avoid staring at as they walked past.

The amount of destruction around her seemed to destroy what was inside her, as well. Covering her mouth with her hand when she spied a particularly grisly body, the woman swallowed back fast-rising bile, and made an effort to keep her eyes trained on the back of the escorting samurai's boots. It wasn't until she heard her father's voice that she looked up. He seemed to be calling out orders, true to his rank; they were moving the bodies of the fallen. All things considered, there wasn't an immense excess; but, then again, the ratio of human bodies in relation to the demon ones seemed to be about five to one, if not more. Again, Yua felt nausea sweep over her as her eyes took in all the damage, but she forced it down.

When the Saito warrior finally reached Haru and spoke to him, the man looked immediately to Yua. The look of relief in her father's eyes, coupled with her own, was enough to send a fresh bout of tears streaming from her. A small whimper escaped her, and when Haru extended his arms to her, Yua rushed into them.

Yua cried there for a long time - especially when she was informed that her mother, brother, and sister had all been confirmed dead. It was a strange feeling - in truth, Yua felt she hadn't even known them. Then again, she also didn't know well the man who held her, yet in that moment he was the only foundation she felt she had. Her family mattered to her. She had been thrilled to get to know them, to feel like a real family. Now, all she could remember was how she didn't return Sakura's smile that morning. How they must have felt just like she did when facing down an Oni, but there hadn't been anyone to save them.

So caught up was she in her despair, and guilt, that she almost forgot the man who had brought her to her father. Hurriedly, she stepped back from the embrace, wiping her eyes with the palms of her hands. "My apologies," she said hoarsely, offering a bow first to her father, and then to the Saitō samurai. "Thank you very much for saving me."

"I see you are already doing well on your task, Saitō-sama," Haru said. This prompted a small lift of her head from Yua - this was the man who had come to protect her? - but she said nothing, instead letting her father do the talking. "Thank you so much for saving my daughter, and I'm sorry you had to arrive under such circumstances."

 

[swamp fairy]

Masayuki stepped back as Yua rushed forward to embrace her father. Her sobs filled the air as the true gravity of the situation came down. The news of the deaths of the rest of the Yotoyama family settled more heavily on Masayuki's mind than he had expected. The memory of the day that he had lost a sibling and a parent came rushing forward, and the subsequent grief he had experienced was something he had wished upon Yotoyama Haru for a long time. Now that it was here, he was forced to reconsider his feelings. Did the innocents of the Yotoyama family really deserve to die like this to pay for the lost lives of Takashi and Asahi Saito?

No.

Masayuki offered another bow to the remaining two Yotoyamas as a sign of condolence. "No apology is necessary. I..." he paused for a moment, voice trailing off to a small sigh, "I am truly sorry about your family," he said finally, quietly. Standing up straight again, he nodded towards his party of warriors, who were assisting the Yotoyama samurai in moving bodies. "We should have arrived sooner, but we will do what we can now to ensure the threat is quelled. No one else needs to die today."

He turned and whistled a sudden shrill note in the air. His horse, a dapple gray dressed in Saito black armor, came trotting towards him with an excited snort. "Saito warriors, with me," he called as he pulled himself into the saddle. The black-armored samurai were nearly as fast to rally themselves and mount their own steeds once more. "Secure the perimeter," the command resounded throughout the air. "No demon will enter this castle again while the Saito are protecting it." He paused and gave a nod to Lord Yotoyama, then to Princess Yua. "You have my word."

--- [ 🌤 ] ---​

Barely a week had passed since the Saito party had arrived at Yotoyama Castle. The initial cleanup from the battle was finished, though repairs to the castle and other buildings were still ongoing. The funeral for the lost lives had been held with somber recognition.

Yua was now the sole heir of the Yotoyama clan, and it was Masayuki's job to follow her wherever she went, stand guard near her door, and remain ever vigilant of threats. At first, he had thought his skills would be wasted on such an assignment, but the Oni attack had convinced him otherwise. He wracked his mind about it nearly every spare moment (and there were a lot of spare moments.) The attack had been organized, not random. Someone, or something, had drawn the demons to this location, but what, and why? It was clear, at least in his mind, that the Yotoyama family had been targeted for death specifically. And there was the question of not if, but when, the demons would strike again. Even now, he could still sense the presence of something evil nearby. Faint, like the shadow of a tree in the light of the crescent moon, but it was there, blending in with the darkness, obscuring itself from him.

This night was no different, and even after he had been relieved from his post by two other Saito samurai so that he could rest, sleep did not find him. As the night drifted into dawn, Masayuki returned to his post outside Yua's bedroom, waiting for the princess to wake.

 

[Gezellige]

Yua woke herself up by the sound of her own screams.

Since the attack of the Oni, sleep had been sparse for her as well - understandably so. Every day, she would be certain she had no tears left, and yet, at the smallest provocation she would always find that there were more. It was the little things that were the worst - seeing the bags under her father's eyes, or the way he would try to smile at her, or noticing people glancing at her before quickly looking away. Most of the time, she could hold it in except for a faint glimmer of wetness in her eyes; however, in her own chambers, much of her repressed emotions would surface. She did her best to keep her cries quiet, knowing there was either Yokoyama samurais or Saitō-sama outside her door - she would hate to have either party see her in such a vulnerable state, and managed to stay uninterrupted for the most part. Even after her tears were spent, she would often just lie there, staring at a wall with an overwhelming emptiness churning in her soul. Not even the cherry blossoms outside her window gave her much comfort; though, at least watching them flutter gave her eyes something to do, when sleep wouldn't take her.

When she did sleep, nightmares were quick to pounce upon her subconscious. At this point, Yua was almost afraid to let her eyes close, for fear of being swept away into a darker world - still, inevitably, sleep would find her. The young woman would toss, turn, flail in the darkness - outside her door, she could often be heard whimpering or mumbling nonsense, but this was the first time she actively screamed.

It was disorienting, waking up to the sound. At first, she thought it was someone else, which only added to her mounting panic - but then, her right mind came to her, and she realized it was her own mouth that was open and propelling noise into the otherwise quiet world. Gripping her silken bed sheets, she looked around her room wildly, finding soft dawn light filtering into the room; a soft breeze floated in, hitting the slick surface of Yua's face, sweaty and pale.

 

[swamp fairy]

Masayuki waited, and all the while, his mind kept turning about the mysteries of Yotoyama castle and the dark aura contained somewhere within it. Yes, the aura was here somewhere, but it was impossible to pinpoint. He felt as if he was close, yet he had no way to verify it. He couldn't very well explore the castle on his own and go snooping around, nor risk being caught doing things so dishonorable, yet at the same time, he believed that finding the source of it might offer some clues to the origin of the Oni attack....

A shrill scream ripped Masayuki out of his inward thoughts. The steel of his katana flashed in the morning light as he pivoted on his toes and snapped the shoji door open. His eyes darted around the room, though no immediate threat to his charge's life was found. The room was empty, save for a very pale, wide-eyed princess gripping to the sheets of her futon as if she had seen a ghost. He said nothing at first, only breathed a small sigh. The girl had not made any improvements in her disposition over the last week. He often heard her sobbing quietly at night, and now she was plagued by nightmares... things he had no power to protect her from.

Warily, Masayuki's let his tensed muscles relax. Realizing now he was standing amidst the princess's room with no demon or assassin to fight, his sword slid back into its sheath and he bowed to her. "Apologies for my intrusion, Princess," he offered, voice remaining low, just above the whisper of the wind filtering through the window. "I thought you were in danger."

He backed out of the room, slowly closing the door again behind him to give her her privacy. It wasn't long before her handmaidens appeared on schedule, shuffling past him to prepare the princess for her day. Masayuki returned to his post just outside the door, now thinking of something, anything that could break up the monotony. An escape from the dreariness of this castle was needed; at least for the day. And a beautiful day it was shaping up to be, if the cool breeze and bright morning sun were any indicators.

When Princess Yua exited her room, he turned heel to follow an arm's length behind her shoulder. Normally, a guard would not be permitted to speak unless spoken to first, but Masayuki wanted to think of himself as more than just a guard. He was a Saito heir, the best Saito swordsman, and technically, something of a guest to Lord Yotoyama. He only hoped the Princess would not mind his suggestion. "If I may, Princess..." he started gently, "Nature has a way of healing pain of the heart and mind."

 

[Gezellige]

Yua shouldn't have been surprised when the Saito samurai burst into her room, but she couldn't help but jump when he did. As he looked about her room, she felt herself growing mildly uncomfortable; without realizing she was doing so, she shrank back a bit, especially when his gaze landed on her. In response to his apology, the Princess nodded only once, and was grateful when he left her to herself. It was a bit strange, having him be her bodyguard - especially when he was, in fact, something akin to an equal. It almost seemed disrespectful to have him watch out for her, like some commonplace warrior; but, Lord Saito and her own father had arranged it, and she daren't question their authority. Inhaling deeply, the princess ran her hands up her face and into her hair. Her heart was still pounding from the nightmare, but the longer she sat, the quieter it became. By the time her handmaidens made their way into her room, she was almost completely recovered - still, there was a soft but strange tug grinding away inside her chest, reminding her that there had been some truth to her night terror, and she probably wouldn't feel completely safe for a long time.

When she arrived outside her room, Saito-sama fell in line just behind her, and the princess was reminded of how she felt when the blood disease ran rampant through her body. She rarely had been able to leave her room without one - if not several - of the castle staff present, not to mention a couple of guards. Fortunately, her only required assistance now was this samurai, but that didn't help her feel much better. Again, the princess was remembered that this warrior was her equal, and shouldn't technically be following her around - but what could she do? More than that, he probably wasn't that happy about the position himself. Yua knew that, in his place, she wouldn't be particularly pleased. Subconsciously tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she walked with her gaze on the ground, holding her hands together and scratching her skin with a thumbnail.

They were almost to the dining room when the samurai spoke up. Surprised, Yua stopped short, turning to face him with wide eyes. It took her a second to process what he had said, which lead to several seconds of awkward silence; and still, even when she realized what he was saying, the implications of his statement left her uncomfortable. Clearly, he was trying to do some good for her - touching, in a way, but completely unnecessary. More than that, it reminded her that she had startled him that morning, and thinking back to it made color rise to her cheeks. Clearing her throat, the princess subconsciously took a step back, before realizing her error and stepping forward again. She didn't want to seem rude, after all.

"If you would like to go for a walk on the grounds, I would be honored to accompany you," she said at last, and - almost as an afterthought - offered a bow. The clumsy interaction felt strange - with a spark of realization, she discovered she had no idea how to act in this scenario. Saito-sama was a warrior, a man, and an heir to a very powerful rival clan - and yet, he had been put in a position where it almost felt like he was beneath her.

What on earth possessed Lord Saito to do this to his brother, the girl thought to herself. And then, quietly, "But... if it's all the same to you... I'd like to have breakfast first."

 

[swamp fairy]

Yua was just as insightful as she was beautiful. And while Masayuki hadn't intended his suggestion to sound completely selfish, the princess saw right through him, somehow. He did wish to walk the grounds around the castle for a few personal reasons, never mind knowing that it would do the princess some good, too. The Saito samurai found the corners of his lips turning upwards into the faintest hint of a grin as Yua called him out, though he quickly suppressed his own reaction, pressing his mouth back into its usual grim line on his face.

He nodded once to her in agreement, but said nothing, only continued to follow just behind her as they made their way to the dining hall. Rice, grilled fish, soup, pickled vegetables, and tea were of the traditional breakfast fare. So was the comfortable quietness of the hall.

After their meal, the princess and the Saito samurai exited the castle into the courtyard. Masayuki glanced down for a moment as they passed the broken stones where the Oni had nearly killed him, the vision of its spiked club coming down upon him clear in his head. The memory made him hyper aware of the bruising on his shoulder that resulted from the battle and the accompanying pain that radiated from it every time he took a step and his armor rubbed against it or if he turned his neck too far. He reached up towards it with his right hand, for a moment letting his hand hover over his collarbone, as if it would help. It didn't.

In an effort to continue ignoring said injury, he dropped his hand back to his side and returned his thoughts back to his charge: the very woman he had saved from that Oni. He still didn't know much about her except what his brother had told him before he left, and even that wasn't much. All he knew was that she had been afflicted by a blood disease since she was born, and had been kept inside the castle grounds most of her life. What things were new experiences for her?

As they passed through the courtyards and towards the gates of the castle, he had half expected and inwardly hoped that Yua would turn towards the stables. She did not. With a brow quirked, he asked, "Do you ride?" though it was less of a genuine question and more of a simple confirmation of his suspicion.

 

[Gezellige]

In all truth, Yua hadn't necessarily thought that the Saito soldier desired to go outside for his own benefit - her deference to his suggestion was more of a precaution. The princess was a sensitive soul at heart. Knowing that his position wasn't very enviable, she wanted to make his task as easy on him as possible; and if that meant going for a walk outside, then that was the least she could do. If he really had been suggesting it purely for her sake, then she wouldn't offend him by turning him down, despite the fact that she wasn't certain it would do any good. Leaves and vines, she figured, could do very little in the efforts of soothing loss.

She didn't say this out loud, however. In fact, she didn't say anything for a long time after that. Breakfast was spent in silence; it likely would have been very awkward, due to the Saito's presence, if Yua hadn't been more preoccupied with the absent spots where her family had sat. Despite having been in this room several times since their deaths, it still stung every time she thought about it, and completely killed her appetite. Still, she dutifully finished her meal; it took considerably longer for her to finish than it did for the samurai, though. As soon as she was done, she rose from her place and nodded to him, signalling she was ready to go; and, a moment later, the two of them were outside. Yua blinked several times, adjusting her eyes to the bright light. It really was a beautiful day. This, like many things, brought a mist of tears to her eyes. She blinked them away, once again grateful that the Saito was behind her, and couldn't see her face.

It had been her every intention to go for a simple stroll, and let her face soak up as much sun as it could. The beauty of the day might not have cured her sorrow, but it still imbued her with a sense of curiosity, and appreciation - perhaps that came from not experiencing it often, due to her previous illness. So, she was surprised when the Saito spoke up, asking her if she could ride.

"If I... ride?" she asked, turning toward him. For a second she chewed on the inside of her lip, casting her eyes to the side as she considered his inquiry. "No," she said at last, hesitantly. "Do you - do you want to?"

She couldn't tell if she was excited or terrified of idea of riding a horse - on the one hand, it was something she had never done, unlike walking. It might serve as an adequate distraction from her emotions. On the other hand, she had no idea if she would be capable - or even if her father would want her to. The man was still cautious with his daughter, she knew. However, she would technically still be with the Saito warrior. Stepping closer to him, she followed his eyes toward the stable, and began nervously fumbling with the sleeves of her kimono.

 

[swamp fairy]

Masayuki studied Yua as she turned to face him. It was clear that the girl was uncomfortable. Vaguely he wondered if it was his presence that was intimidating to her, or if it was that she had barely any experience out here, in the real world. Maybe it was both. "What I want is... irrelevant," he replied quietly, eyes flitting towards the stable again for a moment before he continued. "It is simply a good skill to have. I can show you, if you'd like. Or at least let you ride with me. Come." He stepped around her, taking the lead towards the entrance to the stable.

His horse was here, he knew, but which stall the Yotoyama stable hands had put the noble beast in, he did not. A sharp whistle resonated through the stable, immediately revealing an answer: the long whinny of a horse echoed in reply from the next row of stalls. The animal was apparently happy to see his master, snorting and throwing his huge head back in excitement. Masayuki reached in and patted the horse's neck a few times, a close-lipped grin plastered to his face, remembering the first time he had achieved a full gallop on a horse. It was one of the most exhilarating times in his life. He hadn't been more than six years old, yet he remembered it as if it was only yesterday. It had been a day much like this, in the apex of spring, with the wind at his face and thundering hooves in wet dirt were like the sound of true freedom.

"This is Hoshi," he introduced the horse to Yua once the steed was outside the stable and properly tacked up. He hoisted himself into the saddle, then extended his arm down towards the princess to help her up, situating her behind him. He stirred the horse to a lazy walk, and the two exited the gates of Yotoyama castle towards the mountainous forest paths.

Despite longing for that feeling of freedom, Masayuki kept the horse at a walk. He had no intentions of bringing Hoshi to a gallop or even a simple trot, if it could be helped. Yua had no experience on horseback, and so they had to start slow. A peaceful and relaxing ride, he thought, would be a good introduction. And peaceful it was, with the breeze rustling the leaves of the forest and the warm sunlight streaming down through the boughs upon their faces. Birds chimed in with their lilting songs.

For a while, Masayuki was somewhat relaxed, but the further they strayed from Yotoyama castle, the more perplexed he became once again. The dark presence he was sure was somewhere in the castle... it seemed to be following them, for it never became any fainter of a feeling. Warily, he glanced around through the woods, checked the road behind them, but there was nothing.

 

[Gezellige]

Yua followed somewhat dutifully behind her protector, slightly unsure on whether or not she felt comfortable riding with him. After all, they had essentially only just met; and, even after an entire week of being consistently in one another's presence, Yua found that she couldn't recall a single time they'd had a conversation beyond mere exchanges. At this realization, the princess found herself feeling somewhat perplexed. Yes, she was grieving - that had primarily been on the forefront of her mind, and surely that was understandable. At the very least, she hoped it was. Still... he deserved more than silence from her, she felt. Surely, this whole arrangement had come about so that the Yotoyama and Saito clans could form some sort of friendship, starting perhaps with the two of them and then branching outwards. That was the only explanation Yua could see for this strange scenario.

Tucking her hands into the sleeves of her kimono, the young woman pondered these things until they came to the stable, where curiosity overtook her. She leaned to the side slightly and peered around the Saito's shoulders as he walked inside. The sunlight was sharply cut off from them once they were underneath the wooden roof, and Yua found that she had to take a moment to adjust to the shadows; when she did, she was intrigued to see several horses standing dutifully in their stalls.

Yua had seen horses before, but never this close. Eyes wide as she took in her surroundings, she found herself venturing towards a friendly-looking horse just to her left. Admittedly, she was too scared to touch it - the beasts were huge, much larger than she had anticipated - but that didn't stop her from admiring. The only complaint she had so far was the smell. Maybe it was simply because there were so many of them together, but... her nose didn't find it flattering. Her face scrunched up slightly, and she sighed at the horse as if to try and communicate, Do you just get used to the smell, or is it as difficult for you as it is for me?

A second later, the samurai whistled, and Yua jumped twice - first at the sharp sound from her protector, and second at the responding whinny from the man's creature. Not only were the horses large, but apparently they were loud as well. Turning swiftly in the direction of the noises, Yua's hands found each other once again and she shuffled back behind the Saito, watching with interest as he readied his steed and lead it back into the sunshine.

The princess was delighted to be introduced, though she wasn't exactly sure what to do with the information. Hesitantly, she looked at the beast and said, softly, "Hello, Hoshi." It was a bit strange, talking to an animal - but not unpleasant. Even stranger, though, was being lifted into the air and onto the back of the horse, nestled just in the bend of the animal's spine. Unsure what to do with her hands for a moment, the princess eventually decided to slip them around the samurai's middle - while the gesture made her cheeks burn with uncertainty, she didn't want to fall.

For a moment, Yua was absolutely bedazzled. Part of her wanted to be scared, but it was overridden by the immense feeling of excitement and curiosity - were anyone to be looking close enough, they would see Yua's eyes sparkling. The back of the creature was a little bit uncomfortable, to be sure, but - all in all - in that moment, Yua was the happiest she'd been since the day of the Oni attack.

That is, until she caught the eyes of a passing maiden, whispering to another.

The princess wasn't even sure they were talking about her, or the Saito samurai, or even anything related to them. However, catching the eye of the woman made her shrink back slightly, and a dozen thoughts on what she might be saying flooded her mind. It must be strange, the princess figured - seeing an heir to what was once a rival clan riding with the princess of to Yotoyama, on the same horse no less. Was this normal? Did they think they were courting? With a sudden start of realization, Yua wondered if that was her father's plan all along. But that would be cruel, she reassured herself, shaking off the idea that her father would lie to her. Still, a slight uneasy churning remained in her chest, following her outside of the walls of her castle and into the beautiful forests beyond.

There was a long stretch of silence as the horse plodded forward, at a slow pace. Yua wished she could just stop thinking and enjoy the beautiful day, but her worries had brought back the heavy countenance that she'd been bearing since her family's deaths. It was a dark spell; suddenly everything lacked vibrancy, and the thoughts in her mind were unfriendly - towards herself, mostly, but a worm of doubt had also crept into how she viewed her father and, now, the samurai. And her relationship with both hadn't even been very solid to begin with.

Eventually, Yua's need for connection won over her fear of speaking. Perhaps it was the closeness in their proximity and the privacy of the forest that helped her to be so brave - regardless, Yua felt a strong impulse to try and connect to the samurai, if only so she could at least say that she trusted him.

"Saito-sama," she said somewhat haltingly, "can I ask you a question?" She had no intention of asking whether or not her father had arranged some sort of secret courting-arrangement between the two - even to one as prone to worry as Yua was, it still seemed a little far fetched. Even if she did believe it, though, she would hardly be able to ask such an offending question. Her hope, rather, was to simply try to get to know him a little bit more, and perhaps build up a relationship that wouldn't topple under the whims of her fear.

 

[swamp fairy]

A shadow plaguing Masayuki's mind pulled him like the tides of the ocean pull the beach into its murky depths. He could think of nothing else as he stood on the shore, its icy black waters slowly rising, in time threatening to engulf him. A chill ran down his spine and gooseflesh tickled his arms despite the warmth of the day. The tide was rising over him. Was the dark aura at Yotoyama castle getting closer, or was there something else lurking within these woods?

"Saito-sama," the princess's voice cut through his inward vision, eliciting a sudden gasp as if he was being jolted awake from a dream, hands tightening on the reins, "can I ask you a question?"

The Saito samurai took an extra moment to collect himself as his mind returned from the dark miasma of unseen perplexity back into the material world. He said nothing to Yua at first, but pulled Hoshi to a stop at the banks of a small stream. The overwhelming tide of darkness seemed to subside, pushed back into the corner of his mind, though the other aura was still there, dimly: that same aura that had plagued him every day at Yotoyama castle that he just couldn't pinpoint in any direction. It was exceedingly strange, clawing beneath the unseen surface of his mind like a bothersome itch just below the skin that couldn't be scratched. He had hoped leaving the castle grounds would free him from the clutches of this aura, at least long enough to be able to think properly again.

He sighed faintly, turning his head to peek at Yua over his shoulder, scarred brow slightly arched in anticipation of her question. "Yes, Princess?"

 

[Gezellige]

Yua waited patiently while the Saito warrior pulled his horse over to the side, next to a bubbling stream of water. While she did notice that he seemed to be startled by her voice, she otherwise had no indication of how troubled he was; she simply assumed that he either had been lost in thought, or was surprised at the directness of her inquiry.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to startle you," she said after he spoke - and, now that the horse was at a stand still, she took the opportunity to take her hands off of his sides and rest them literally anywhere else. Eventually, they found their way to a stray bit of hair near her neck, and she began wrapping and unwrapping her fingers around it. A small silence stretched as she tried to figure out how to phrase her question; for some reason, any time she felt she had something important to say, her mind would empty itself of any semblance of coherency. Nerves clawed their way up her chest, but the princess forced herself to take a breath.

"I wanted to ask," she finally began, but this was as far as she got, for a loud rustling was suddenly heard to their left, opposite the path they had just strayed from. The princess immediately tensed, thinking of the large beasts that had attacked her home; but, after a moment of threatening silence, Yua realized it likely wasn't more than a passing deer. Still, this didn't manage to calm her beating heart much. Taking a deep breath to try and still her frazzled nerves, the princess realized she had gripped the samurai in her fear, and hastily let go.

"Sorry," she murmured, before releasing a bit of a frustrated sigh. "Can - can we got off, please?"

After all, the odds of another Oni attack were very small, surely. The scare had also lessened Yua's resolve to connect with the Saito, and left her frustrated over her own anxiety and the missed opportunity to speak. Without waiting for the Saito's agreement - because, technically, he couldn't keep her on the beast even if he wanted to due to his position - the princess began to slide off the saddle. It was clumsy going, but eventually she made it to the ground, and hurried to the edge of the stream to try and escape the sudden rise of negative emotions inside her.

 

[swamp fairy]

When Yua was startled at the rustling sound creeping in the underbrush, Masayuki was put on full alert. Without thinking, his hand jumped to the hilt of his sword, his breath hitched, and his senses flared as he stared into the brush, hoping to catch a glimpse of movement, some clue. A few moments later, and to the samurai's apprehension, Yua suddenly slipped out of the saddle. The warrior followed suit, for a moment glancing at Hoshi's reaction to their surroundings. Animals were much more attuned to danger than humans were. The horse's head was held high, and his ears were perked sharply, swiveling around frantically to listen for any other sounds.

"We should not linger here, Princess," he breathed, the sound of his own voice seemingly too loud. All the other noises of the forest had dissipated, leaving a heavy silence save for the quiet murmur of the babbling stream as it snaked its way between the crevasses of smoothed rocks. Masayuki stepped towards Yua, his eyes scanning the forest -- brush, shadows, treetops -- for any movement or sound. He could not see it, nor hear it, but he could feel its presence nearby just as one could feel the warmth of a nearby fire or smell the salt in the air near the ocean. What was a simple afternoon ride had become a grave mistake on his part. "There's something in these woods."

 

[Gezellige]

Yua was annoyed at the samurai's approach. She wanted to be alone, and unwatched. Not that her father would have ever let her wander these woods on her own, even without the Saito samurai or even if she had been perfectly healthy her entire life. Really, had she ever been fully free? What had she even had before, that she would wish for now? Still, it was stupid. It was all so stupid! Emotions suddenly overwhelming her, Yua realized with a start that she was absolutely furious, to the point of tears - and she hated it. She hated everything. She was so sick of feeling like she constantly needed watching, or worse, that someone always needed to be watching out for something else on her behalf. She was tired of being so, so afraid, of feeling like her entire existence was suddenly and irrevocably haunted by shadows. All she wanted was to take a nice stroll in the woods! Was that too much to ask? Couldn't she go for at least a few minutes without the weight of tragedy falling back onto her shoulders?

And, of course, having the Saito samurai here made everything worse. If she had been unsure how to conduct herself before, she was even more unsure now. She did appreciate the sacrifice it must have been for the man to take this position, but it was really unnecessary. Well, to her father, it had been necessary. But she wished that it didn't have to be. And even knowing none of this was the samurai's fault, part of her hated him, too. There didn't seem to be anything she could think of that could stand in the wake of her burning fury. Reaching down, her hand grabbed at a small plant and snapped it in half.

"It's just a deer!" She exploded, her voice ringing out loud and long in the otherwise eerie quiet. Hearing the Samurai's concern, his voice laced with precaution and a pinprick of worry, had been enough to send the princess over the edge. Rapidly standing to her feet, she stepped back just about as much as the warrior had stepped forward, anger and shame and grief burning in her eyes and threatening to spill over her cheeks.

She knew that her outburst had been foolish at best, and atrocious at worst. Not even mentioning the blatant disrespect she had shown to what was supposed to be her superior - enough to warrant a good slap to the face, she was sure - there was always the possibility that it hadn't been a deer in the brush. Still, if there was an Oni lurking about, she almost dared it to come out. Let it end her now. The unrelenting grief was making her feel reckless.

However, most of these feelings disappeared when a large creature slipped from the undergrowth, a low growl emitting from its throat. All of Yua's passions were immediately subdued, and fell into the opposite extreme. She was petrified. One of her nightmares had come to life to haunt her.

 

[swamp fairy]

"It's just a deer!" the princess's shrill exclamation pierced the air, ringing throughout the forest like an alarm bell. Masayuki cringed at the sound, if not only for its volume, but also the apparent flare of frustrated emotion behind it. He saw Yua's expression, glanced through the pain and fury behind her eyes for just a flash of a moment as his eyes passed her form to settle on the demonic figure creeping out from the underbrush behind her. The samurai's heart seemed to stop, his breath stuck in his throat as the creature silently stepped forward. Perhaps if one only saw its face, they might think the oni a normal woman, pale with long dark hair and dark eyes, though behind the nondescript face, all eight of her spindly legs supported the grotesque body of an arachnid.

A cold darkness engulfed the samurai's senses, like a stormcloud passing over the sun. What felt like an hour was in reality only a moment as Masayuki, Yua, and the demon stared each other down, waiting for the other to make a move.

It was Masayuki's horse that broke through the moment, rearing with a terrified whinny, breaking the stalemate. The oni opened its mouth, jaws stretching like a snake to reveal rows of dagger teeth as it let out a shrill scream. In the same moment, Masayuki halfway drew the sword from its sheath, but the volume and frequency of the oni's otherworldly cry felt as if it was drilling holes through his head; the sudden intense pain caused him to falter, his hand slipping from the hilt of the sword.

The demon charged forward. It grabbed the princess, snapped one of its legs like a might whip into Masayuki's chest.

The world became void blackness for a moment as he careened into a nearby tree, and when he opened his eyes, the world had transformed into a blur of mixed colors and the constant shrill drone of ringing filled his ears. When his sight returned a few moments later, the clearing was empty. No sign of Yua, his horse, or the demon.

"Hoshi!" he called into the forest, though he could barely hear his own voice, only feel the vibration in his throat. He waited a moment, though his horse did not return. "Horse! Here!" Again, nothing. If the demon had hampered his own hearing, it had surely done the same to his horse. With an inward curse, Masayuki looked around again. He focused on his breathing, calming his heart, calming his mind so that he could think, so that he could feel, sense the auras around him.

The shadow that had been plaguing his mind all this time was further now, distant... and so was the black aura of the spider demon. Distant, but not out of reach. With a breath of resolve, Masayuki turned towards the fading auras, following the stream at a pace as fast as his legs could take him.