The Oni Slayers: Chapter 8

A young girl of about 17 years old was sitting under a tree in the schoolyard reading her book. The slow spring breeze blew against her face messing up her long hair. She brushed the strands away and continued to read. “Why do you read?” said a voice from behind the tree. The girl turned around to see a young boy with spiky black hair approximately her age. She quickly stood up and held the book closed to her chest. “Who are you?” she demanded. “Hey, I just wanna know. Jeez, are all you humans like this?” said the boy in annoyance. “What are you doing here? You don’t look like you’re from around here. That’s not our uniform,” the girl said pointing at the boy’s clothes. “Oh this?” said the boy pointing at his own shirt. “So you’re suppose to wear uniforms here? Jeez, these useless rules.” “Where are you from? You sound like you come from overseas,” said the girl. “I do come from somewhere far away. I’m not too accustomed to the things around here,” said the boy. “Perhaps you can show me around? And you still haven’t answered my first question.” “First of all, I don’t make friends with strangers and secondly, I read because I like to. Now leave me alone,” shouted the girl and turned to leave. “Wait! Aw dammit,” said the boy.

The girl was walking back home and the boy appeared again in front of her. “Stalker!” she shouted in his face and ran. The boy ran as well and laughed. The girl ran around the corners, through the park, and into an alley. She had her back against the wall and tried to catch her breath. “Hi!” greeted the boy. The girl gave a yelp and burst out the alley. “What is wrong with you?! Stop following me!” the girl yelled. “I just wanted to learn more about this place,” said the boy. “Go bother someone else. Stop bothering me,” said the girl who was still catching her breath. Her heart was beating quickly and her head started feeling light. “I’m leaving,” said the girl and then collapsed to the ground.

When she woke up, she was on a park bench. She slowly got up and saw that the boy was sitting next to her. “You fainted a while ago. I’m sorry for making you faint. I didn’t realize that you have such a fragile body,” said the boy. “I’m not fragile,” countered the girl. “I’m just ... a little weak in health. Anyways, thanks. I guess for this you’re not such a bad person.” “So does this mean we’re friends?!” said the boy excitedly. “NO!!” shouted the girl. “We’re just acquaintances.” “That means we can still talk to each other right?” “I don’t get it. Why do you keep following me?” “Hmmm. I don’t know. You’re the first person I laid eyes upon.” “Eww. You really are a creepy stalker.” “So that’s creepy around here?” “You really aren’t from around here. Do you go talking to random strangers in your country?” “Not really. We don’t really talk like this.” “You really have a problem. Anyways since you’re not such a bad guy, I’ll show you around the city so that you can stop bothering me.” “True. I probably won’t need you anymore if I learned more.” “I’m glad we can agree on something. Alright, we’ll meet here at 10 tomorrow morning. Deal?” “Deal!” “Oh, I haven’t gotten your name yet. I’m Sayako.” “I’m ... Hideyoshi.” “Like Toyotomi Hideyoshi? How do you write it in kanji? Don’t tell me you don’t even know your mother language.”

The two set off for the city the next day. They spent time at the arcade, then took the bus ride to an amusement park, and ended the day with a hiking trail. “So that’s you people do to have fun,” said Hideyoshi. “But not everyday. I went a little overboard today,” laughed Sayako. “I never exactly went on a date before. Look at my wallet. It’s empty.” “That because you keep buying things in stores. I don’t understand. Do women in general like buying clothes and accessories? “ “Pretty much. Don’t the women in your country do that too?” “Well, we don’t have a lot of women.” “That explains why you’re so weird.” As they walked, the sun started dipping into the ground releasing the last of its orange rays. Hideyoshi stopped and looked. “It’s beautiful,” said Hideyoshi. “I agree,” said Sayako. “I wish I can see this all the time,” said Hideyoshi. “You’re such a nature lover aren’t you,” smiled Sayako. “But Nature is so beautiful. It can’t compare to anything else,” said Hideyoshi.

Some bushes rustled and the two turned in surprise. “Get back!” shouted Hideyoshi. A large centipede-like oni burst out from its hiding place. “Ha ha! Foolish humans that have wandered into my territory! You will become my prey tonight!” the oni spoke. The oni lunged its body towards Sayako, but Hideyoshi pushed her away. “Hideyoshi!” screamed Sayako. “Someone! Help!” When the dust cleared, Hideyoshi was holding against the giant monster. “What?! Who are you?! Wait ... “ said the oni. “There’s no waiting!” shouted Hideyoshi as he pushed the monster far away. The oni crashed into the side of a mountain and some huge boulders collapsed onto its body. “C’mon let’s go!” said Hideyoshi and grabbed Sayako’s hand.

They ran until they disappeared into a forest where they stopped to catch their breath. “Hideyoshi, what’s going on? How come you’re so strong?” asked Sayako. Hideyoshi was silent. “Hideyoshi! Answer me!” said Sayako. “Sayako. I hoped to become friends with you, but it looks like it’ll be impossible.” “What are you talking about? You’re worrying about this right now?” “Sayako, I am not human. I am not of this world. What you just saw was an oni and that’s what I am as well.” “But you look human to me.” “We can shape shift into human forms so that we can blend in. It is so that we can attack humans.”

Sayako took a step back. “I’m sorry Sayako. I lied.” “So you were just going to kill me afterwards ...” “No. I never meant to do that.” “You monster!” The centipede oni appeared again. “Ha ha! I’ve found you again!” Hideyoshi leaped in front of Sayako. “You touch her and you’re dead!” shouted Hideyoshi. “Well if it isn’t the human lover, Amon. What’s that? Your human name is Hideyoshi now? You humor me, you scum. Mingling with humans. That’s such disgraceful behavior,” said the oni. Hideyoshi grabbed Sayako by the waist and ran deeper into the forest. The oni pursued from behind ramming into trees and destroying everything in his way. Hideyoshi zipped through the forest and jumped onto the branches. “I’m sorry I lied, but at least let me save you,” said Hideyoshi as he ran. “I don’t understand! Your own kind are turning against you!,” shouted Sayako. “That’s because they don’t see things the way I do,” said Hideyoshi. “What is it that they don’t see!” Sayako shouted back. “That I don’t wanna kill humans,” said Hideyoshi.

At this point, the oni caught up and stomped on Hideyoshi and Sayako. He lifted up one of his feet and saw that Hideyoshi had shield Sayako with his own body. “You’re one tough bastard,” complained the oni. “But there’s no way you can sustain with that puny body of yours. Hideyoshi’s clothes had already been torn to shreds and his body was covered with injuries. “H-Hideyoshi,” said Sayako whose eyes were already brimming with tears. “It’s gonna be alright,” smiled Hideyoshi. “I promise.” Hideyoshi stood up back on his feet. “Okay you huge piece of shit. You’re gonna pay for hurting my future wife,” he called out. “Wife?!” Sayako yelped in surprise. “Are you out of your mind! Now’s not even the time ... oh!!” “Ha! You bastard of a demon. You disgrace our kind even more,” said the centipede oni. The oni slammed it body at Hideyoshi, but Hideyoshi held it with one hand. A fierce golden aura began illuminating his body and slowly transformed his features. He grew a pair of twisting horns out of his skull and a lion’s tail from behind. His hands and feet were reminiscent of reptilian claws, but, his face still retained human-like features. He grew at least three feet taller than Sayako who was five feet and a few inches. “Sayako, I’ve made my decision,” said Amon. Sayako slowly backed away. “I’m going to stay here by your side as Hideyoshi. But for now, I’ll protect you as Amon,” the demon said. Sayako only nodded. “You will regret the day you insult a Marquis of Hell!” Amon roared. The mighty ruler strode towards the oni and raised his claw to strike.

#onislayers