Prologue
Light.
It was something that I hadn't seen in a very long time. Ever since those priests had trapped me, I had forgotten what it's like to feel the sun on my skin and to see the bright colors of the world.
I've been surrounded in darkness for who knows how long. Until that day.
It was like someone had used a hatchet, as the first stream of light poured into my dark world.
Two. Three. Four. Five.
And that was when I saw him, seeming to be in a rush as he carried a large bag and held onto the front of his kimono as if to keep himself from tripping.
I couldn't help but to giggle at the sight. Humans were always so cute.
I managed to stand on one of the sturdy branches of one of the many pink trees, stumbling a little as it had been awhile since I had used my physical form. Inhaling the sweet scent of the Sakura blossoms, I leaped off of the branch, drifting like the petals that surrounded the area.
~*~
"Kaii~!" Clinging onto the neck of the brunette boy, I rubbed my cheek against his own as he carried me piggy-back style up the steps to the Shrine. "I'm hungry!" I exclaimed in a whiny tone.
"Well you could've stayed with the others and eaten breakfast. You know that I don't eat till my chores are done."
. He's a young human who works for the Shrine that was built near my territory. At the moment, he's just an assistant, and was actually running errands the day that we had met. To say that he's my favorite would be an understatement, as he was the one I had attached myself to in order to physically stay on the Middle Ground.
~*~
"Umph!"
After I had jumped, I had accidentally miscalculated where I would land. I blinked owlishly at the sudden disappearance of the human male, only to squeak as I heard a groan underneath me and I jumped off of the human.
"Sorry~ That would be my fault!" I exclaimed, tilting my head to the side as I smiled and rubbed the back of my head.
"W-what?"
"I see that you are confused. You see, I am a devil that had been trapped in this tree for a long time. Because you stepped foot in my territory, you had broken the seal and I am free. In payment for my gratitude, I will make you my host!" I explained to the human. "So! What shall I call you, Master~?" I purred with a teasing wink.
"Uh...I'm flattered and all, but no thank you." The human said, picking himself up from the ground and looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here.
Rude! I fumed. "You can't decline me! If you do, then I might die!"
"Well, that's certainly unfortunate. But I really have to get going. It was nice meeting you, I guess-Umph!" I cut off the human as I grabbed his hand and pulled him against me. Or, as much as I could.
Unfortunately, I'm still weak after being contained for so long. I'll get stronger quicker if I have a host!
I then seemed to surprise the human as I pressed my lips against his own, pulling away when he seemed to need air.
"There! Now you're my host. That wasn't too bad, now was it? Huh? Why is your face so red?"
~*~
Kaii is certainly an interesting human being, not being like any of my past hosts. While they treated me like the superior being that I am, Kaii treats me like an annoying tiny human!
"As if I'd stay with the likes of those wolves! I'd rather starve then have to see any of their idiotic faces!" I exclaimed in response to what Kaii had said.
"Well, then you'll just have to wait till I finish my chores."
"But I'm so hungry, Kaii!" I blubbered, burying my face into the back of his head.
"Miss Y/N, I do wish you'd let Kaii finish his chores before you start playing with him." When we got to the top of the steep steps, where the Shrine was built, I perked up when hearing the name that had been given to me was called out.
~*~
"Alright, so I told you my name, what's yours?" Because I was still too weak, I kindly asked of my new host to carry me to wherever he was originally going. While riding his back, he walked out of the forest and I closed my eyes to embrace the sunlight as he crossed a small wooden bridge.
Blinking my eyes open, I peered at the human in question. "Well, originally I was called Puer de Chao. It was too difficult for my first host to pronounce, so I just allowed him to name me. Every host after that has named me as well, so, I'll let you name me, Master Kaii!"
"Please drop the 'Master', and I guess if it's like a tradition I'll have to do it, huh? Very well then..." Kaii glanced over his shoulder to stare at me, in response I simply smiled towards him. "How about Y/N? It means 'bright smile'."
"Y/N..." I repeated the name. Well, it wasn't the worst one I've been given. "Alright then! From now on, I am Y/N!"
~*~
"I'm not playing with him! I'm helping him out, see!" I held up the bucket of water in my right hand, which I had worked up enough of my strength within the past three weeks to be able to carry it without difficulty.
"She's actually been good today, Eien-san. She did the laundry with me as well, without chasing the ducks." Kaii told the older male.
. He's a vicious man who works Kaii to the bone, and expects only perfection and order. He's also Kaii's mentor.
I couldn't help but to grin boastfully and stick my tongue out at the older human, in which earned a scowl that told me I had won this round.
"Very well, then. If Miss Y/N wants to be so helpful this morning, then she can help Junji with the garden." Eien stated. I swear I could see a twitch at the corner of his lip, and I growled lowly. He was purposefully separating Kaii and I as my punishment.
"I don't think that-"
"Fine!" I unwrapped myself from Kaii's back after cutting him off, placing the bucket near Eien's feet and stomping in search for the other human that I was supposed to help. As if I'd make myself seem like a coward in front of that man!
"Yo, Y/N, good morning!" Hearing the loud voice, my steps faltered as a shadow suddenly covered my form. "I missed you at breakfast, again. It's not good for your health if you don't eat properly. Even if you aren't human." The ginger haired male told me in a scolding tone as he looked down at me with his arms crossed.
"I refuse to eat until Kaii eats. I am faithful to my host, and-"
"I saved you a rice omelet."
"Bless you, Tadamasa!" I exclaimed while eagerly taking the food from the tall human, eagerly chomping at the food while crying tears of joy.
In response, the man laughed and patted my head. "I don't know if I should think it very funny to be blessed by a demon or be offended."
"You should think it an honor, Tadamasa." I told him half-way through the fried omelet.
. He has a big personality that matches his big build perfectly. He's the oldest of all the humans at the Shrine, though not the one in charge despite acting like a doting father. Of course, with my sixth sense, I could tell that there was a twist somewhere inside of him that battled his ever-going cheerfulness.
"Thank you for the food. Now I've got to go help Jun with some gardening!" I exclaimed once finishing the food.
"Oh? Is that so? Well, good luck then." With a final pat on my head, Tadamasa walked away and I continued towards the gardennear the back of the Shrine.
When I got there, I couldn't help but to smile.
Living as long as I have, I had learned to enjoy nature. One reason I despised humans was because they destroyed the beauty in it.
Though, there were a few who attempted to keep things right.
"Jun~! Eien told me to come and help you!" I declared, finding the male as he seemed to be replanting some flowers that a group of wild hogs had dug up the night before.
The male's golden eyes locked on me for a second, before he sighed and nodded his head.
. He's as weird as his name, in all honesty. He's a puzzle even to someone like me. But, I do know that he has a pure heart, and though he talks in little amounts, he's a pretty trustworthy guy.
"Very well. You can hand me the watering can, then. I set it down near the bridge." He told me in a monotonous tone.
I saluted, before marching towards the small red bridge. I hummed as I walked to the center and picked up the watering can, before leaning over the railing to look at the Koi fish that had made a loud splashing sound. I smiled at the sight of the colorful creatures, each one different from the other, just like the males I am slowly growing to know.
At that thought, my eyes narrowed, before I saw a glimmer in the water and I stepped to the side the instant the shining blade of a katana came down. Causing it to slice into the wood of the railing rather than myself. I growled and chopped at the male's arms with my hand, causing him to immediately let go of the weapon, before I kicked him in the gut and sent the human fly into the water.
"Honestly, can't you guys come up with anything more original?! First I'm almost pushed off a cliff, then poisoned, shot at, and now a sneak attack? Come on, what kind of priests are you?!" I seethed at the occurrences of the day that happened all before lunch.
"Nothing gets passed you, Miss Y/N." Eien huffed as he came out of his hiding place with the others, Tadamasa helping up the blond haired I had kicked into the pond.
"She even broke my arrows." I heard Junji mutter as he held up the splinters of the arrows that I had caught when he tried shooting at me when I was walking towards the bridge.
"I might be weak at the moment, but I'm not stupid." I scoffed, folding my arms across my chest and beginning to stomp away, before pausing. "And don't forget about our promise."
~*~
Once at the top of the hill, I looked at the large gate in confusion, especially when seeing a group of males waiting.
"Kaii-kun, you're back! We were getting worried!" A blond haired male cooed, calling out to Kaii as we got closer.
"Kaii, who is this?" A different male with harsh brown eyes questioned, glaring at me as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"This is Y/N." Kaii introduced, putting me back onto my feet after I began to struggle to get down myself. "Y/N, these are the priests of the Sakura Shrine." He informed me.
"Priests, huh?" An iron taste filled my mouth at the word, before I brushed it off and smiled. "It's nice to meet you. I am a devil. I'm weak at the moment, but soon enough I'll be strong again and be able to bring chaos and destruction to your world. You can try and kill me, but I doubt you'll be able to."
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