A young girl was running through the dense forest. Not much could be heard or seen. Though, several pairs of footsteps were heard from a distance. All of them under the thick cover of night. The only light that was dimly shining through the multitude of trees was the light given by the moon. Stars dancing all around, but was slowly being covered by heavy, grey clouds. It was hard enough to see what was in front of any of them. Though, the girl knew she had to keep going. For stopping would mean her life. Her breathless pants being the only thing she was hearing as she held her hands out. Just to make sure she wasn't about to run into anything. That proved to be futile for her. Since she ended up with a branch hitting her forehead from above.

"Ow.." She muttered and touched her forehead, wincing a bit from it. Up until then, she heard nothing aside from a small noise. Like something running towards her. 'Damn it!'

She thought and acted quickly. Getting to her feet and gazing down. Feeling the mud get on her kimono as she shook her head. 'There's no time to worry about that...! Go!' Just as quickly, she gripped the branch and used all of her upper body strength to boost herself upward. Barely managing to climb onto the branch and stand up on it. Her legs being wobbly as she outstretched her arms to keep herself steady and balanced. Gazing down as the several people ran under the branch. Not even taking a glance at it.

"That was too close.." She muttered and let out a breath of relief. Going and sitting down on the branch to catch her breath and rest her aching feet. Her reaching up to take a pin and let loose her long, light brown hair. Her hair tipped with streaks of white running half way down her hair. Blinking a few times as she went and rubbed her forehead again. "I don't even understand what I did...." she mumbled and narrowed her eyes a bit. Looking down at the ground below as one hand balled up into a fist. "I was only trying to help...." Feeling tears start to come up in her eyes, she wiped them. Not wanting to feel anymore weaker than she already does. Looking up and allowing a cooled, Spring breeze to flow through her hair. The winds still being chilled from the crisp Winter that had just passed. Though, her gaze was on one thing, and one thing only. Looking past the amount of leaves from the many pine trees that's made their homes here and their branches. Simply staring off at the moon as a small, saddened smile crept up on her face. 'You were a fool.... so why did you do it....?'

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The nighttime truly helped with seeking out prey. It was simple due to everyone either being in one place or wandering aimlessly. Though, this also made things tough. Even with one's vision being accustomed to the endless darkness. The moon not helping once so ever with its dulling rays blaring down on everything it sees. Not as bad as the even more pesky sun, but still.

What the moon did do, was help find prey. Three men walking around through the forest, seeming to be in search of something or someone. It's not like that mattered to the one hiding deep within the cover of the trees. The only thing that mattered to him, was food.

A rustling noise being heard from above had clearly startled the three. Only one holding a hatchet, though from the looks of him, shouldn't be trying to wield one as a weapon. After a moment of silence, a malice-filled, hair raising chuckle was heard from behind them. Two of them straightening up as all of their faces paled. A fear stricken face on them as they slowly turned. All thinking they were almost alone in these parts.

Before them was a tall male. His features being covered from the night and his clothing. Though, one thing was for sure, he wasn't human. That could clearly be shown from his claw-like finger nails painted black a soot. Having a crooked smile across his face as fangs could be seen. The one holding the hatchet was about to get ready to attack this beast, but the male thought faster. Grabbing the older by his head and lifting him clear off the ground. Showing off his immense strength further by digging his nails into the older's skull. Making the other two terrified as the hatchet was dropped on the spot. The taller one carelessly tossing the corpse to the side and slowly licking off the blood from his fingers.

"Now then.... I suppose I shouldn't keep you two waiting...." He said as his voice was a bit deep, but held definite disdain and pride. Stepping forward as the moonlight shown down upon him. Showing his more slimmed body. His hair being kindly short and black. Having a patch of white hair acting as bangs. His eyes glimmering in the moonlight as he looked the two dead in the eyes with his own. The right being a purple sort of color while the left was a blood-red color. The iris being crimson as he had some cracks running along his face from that same eye.

The two terrified men, once frozen in place, suddenly tried to make a run for it. Not wanting to end up like their comrade. The demon rolled his eyes with an amused look on his face. "I see how it is... you two wanna play before your untimely demise.." He said and laughed out. "Then.. let's play....~."

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By the time the moon went down and the sun slowly rose from its slumber. Someone else did as well. The girl had found herself a cave after wandering around for a while. Her blue eyes barely opening as they were squinted. Her groaning as she covered them with her hand. The rays being too bright for her half-awake self to handle. The only reason she had actually gotten up, was because of a rumbling noise occurring close by. That noise being her stomach growling. Her cheeks glowing red even though nobody else was around to hear it. She was at least lucky for that. Sitting up and yawning out a bit loudly, finally opened her eyes fully. Rubbing them before shaking her head. A way to get the sleepiness out and make sure it stays away. Looking down at her outfit before her jaw dropped some. It looked worse than she originally thought. The once white and light pink kimono now being drenched in mud at the bottom and having some tears after getting caught on the brush. 'Great...! And this was new too..' She thought to herself as she let out a long breath.

The girl soon got out of the safety of the cave and started walking. Not knowing where she was going and that was evident on her face. Though, continued on since she needed to find a town or some source of food for her to try and catch and eat. She had no sort of weapon on her, which was going to make it a lot harder for her to get anything good. A noise made her stop in her tracks, holding a breath in as she slowly looked up towards the trees. From it emerged a bird with black feathers and obsidian eyes. A crow. 'That could work...' She thought and nodded to herself. 'Now one problem... how do I even catch it?' She thought and made a face. Scratching her head as she looked around before lightly grinning. Finding several small rocks near a much larger rock. The small ones could do nicely if she could get a clean shot. So, walking over to them, she picked up a small hand full of them. Eyeing the bird as it was kindly circling one area. Probably looking for food itself.

After a few not so close throws, a loud caw echoed through the forest. Alerting some other wildlife around that scattered from the noise. Seeing the small animal go down, she grinned even more with excitement. Rushing over as fast as her legs could carry her as she looked around. Seeing the bird on the ground as she was internally cheering. Starting to go over to it only to stop once again.

"Ginko!" A voice cried out as someone had rushed in. Looking down at the bird in worry.

They had long, black hair that faded into a mint green color. Their eyes being the same shade of green. Wearing a black, kindly teal uniform that also looked like a kimono in a way. "Oh, Ginko are you okay?" He asked and picked up the bird in his arms as if it were human. "She's fine, Tokito. Would you focus already!?" A harsh voice snapped as the male didn't even bother with it. Him huffing as he kept hold of the bird that barely had a scratch on her. "Why should I care? They're already dead..."

"I realize that. We need to figure out what did it." The voice said as it slowly sounded more annoyed. A pair of mismatched eyes soon staring at her as she had been listening in and staring off herself. Not even bothering to hide as she snapped out of it. Slowly looking at the pair of eyes as her own widened.

His left eye was yellow while his right was a turquoise shade. He wore just about the same uniform as the other. Having a black and white stripped haori over it. Her gulping as she could feel his eyes piercing into her soul at this rate.

"Who are you?" He asked simply and stood up from his crouched position. He had been examining two dead bodies that looked mutilated. Another being somewhere nearby with not so similar injuries.

She didn't speak a word as she only looked more scared at rate. With her not answering, it raised suspicion with both males. "Well? Can you not speak?" He asked and had came towards her. The female noting that his mouth and neck were covered in bandages. "Uhm... I'm.... I'm...." She stuttered before letting out a deep breath to calm herself. Never being good around new people, especially not ones as scary as this guy.

"I'm Irumi Johtensukii..." She said and bowed her head quickly as to not show the fear that had been in her eyes. "My apologizes for intruding on.... whatever you were doing...."

"Looking over dead corpses for evidence.. why are you here....?"

"I was.. going to find food..."

"So you're the brat who struck me!?"

"What!?" Irumi looked scared for life as she looked over at the boy and the bird. Her finally noting the birds long lashes as she seemed to be glaring at him. "How dare you! I outta gouge your eyes out!"

'Tell me that bird didn't talk... and just gave me a death threat...'

Irumi only looked absolutely terrified at this point. First random strangers looking at corpses and now a talking bird!? How much weirder can this morning get...

"Hush, Ginko." The shorter male said and ran a hand through her feathers. "Don't worry about her.. I'm sure you'll get the chance soon."

'Then there's this weirdo siding with a bird...'

"You'd better go home, Irumi. This is certainly no place for a child.."

"Huh!? I'm no child!" She said and looked at the taller male. "Besides, I don't even have a home.."

"You don't..? Humph.... then just leave then." He said and ran a hand through his shaggy, black hair.

"Shit, not like I've got any other choice." She grumbled and went to turn. That is, before something caught the Serpent Hashira's eyes.

"Wait.." he said sternly and went to approach once again. Grabbing her by her kimono and examining her shoulder. The sleeve of it being torn by something.

Revealing that of a mark on her shoulder. It looked like a blob with several, more bubble-like marks around it.

After a good bit of examining it, his grip had tightened.

"You're coming with us..."

"I'm sorry, what!?"