Chapter 1

Fast info, this how I marked things

Zenitsu: "..." - statements

'...' - thoughts

*... * - sounds

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Somewhere in the Japan, there is a village near the mountains. It's not a big village, altogether it's around twelve houses. Because it is spring, men are working on the rice fields from dawn to dusk. Women do housekeeping, look after children, make food and go to the well in the center of village. They started to chat with each others, completely forgot about buckets with water, hah it's definitely look like they gathered there only to gossip, not to gather some water. Children, just like children, they were everywhere they can.

On twelve houses there are nine children. The eldest is twelve this summer and the youngest just turn three last month. All children, except the youngest one, left the village to play they favorite game, 'Monster Hunting'!

Currently in the forest near the village

???: "Zeni-oniichan!! Wait for me!! Mother will hang me if something happens to you again!!"

Zenitsu: "Faster Haruko-neesan! I don't wanna be a 'Monster' again just because you have to peek at Hayate-San again!!"

Haruko: "You!! Be-better pray that we will be in the same team because if not I'm gonna beat you up!!! - Haruko blushed in shame and shouted angrily at her brother.

Zenitsu:"I-I-I'm s-sorry!!" - he paled a little and started running even faster.

These two are Zenitsu and Haruko Agatsuma, they are siblings. Haruko is beautiful young girl, with long dark hairs tied in ponytail, smooth skin and beautiful green eyes, she is also twelve this year in winter. And Zenitsu is a young boy with black hairs, fair skin and downward-sloped, scared-looking eyes that fade from soft brown to gold. He just turn ten in this week.

They are currently running to meet with they friends. They're probably the last to join the game and according to Zenitsu it's because Haruko had to peep on Hayate. He is nineteen years old, handsome man and also Haruko crush.

They pass next to small river and when they came to huge stone they turn left and after of few seconds they arrive at the meadow. There are currently five children, one girl and four boys. Boys are trying to climb at big tree in the center of meadow. It has smooth brown colored stems and and beautiful purple flowers arranged in long, drooping clusters. Zenitsu's mother said it's called wisteria.

When they approached their friends, the oldest boy greeted siblings with little blush on his face.

Takeshi: "Hi Haruko! Y-you look re-really nice today! - Well, actually, he just greeted Haruko.

Haruko: Hi Takeshi and thank you. - she replied with normal smile and pass next to him to greet her best friend Rinko. He just stand there with downcast expression.

Zenitsu: "Hi Takeshi. I'm good, thanks for asking Takeshi." - said sarcastically Zenitsu to his best friend when he saw he didn't even bother to say "hi" to him.

Takeshi: "What I'm doing wrong, Zenitsu? I'm trying to be nice to her and complement her anytime I can, but she didn't even bother to have some small talk with me on her own! How, Zenitsu?? How conquer your sister's heart?!" - he said in depression and with anime waterfalls of tears on his face and started to shake Zenitsu back and forward.

Zenitsu: "Well, as long as there is obstacle on your path in form of man called Hayate-san, then there is only one solution..." - he said first part with thinking expression and finger on his chin, and latter part with visible seriousness in his eyes.

Takeshi: "Tell me!!"- he said impatiently.

Zenitsu: "Start looking for another girl, you have absolutely no chance compared to that man, she will never ever consider you as a possible boyfriend" - he said truthfully.

Takeshu: "UGH!!" - Invisible arrow pierce through his heart and he fall to his knees.

Zenitsu just shrugged his shoulders and walk past him to greet others. He greeted other casually except for his sister's best friend, Rinko. She is cute girl, with shoulder-length brown hairs, deep purple eyes and the most angelic smile he ever saw. She's one year older than him.

Zenitsu: "Hi, R-Rinko. It's n-nice to see you." - he stutter a little and blushed.

Rinko: "Hi, Zeni-chan. It's nice to see you too." - she replied with her gentle voice and she smiled sweetly at him. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her smile and blushed even more. When she saw this she giggle a little and smile at him again. Yep, this little fella is in love with this adorable girl.

Haruko: "Heey, don't flirt with my little brother, Rin-chan. You have to talk with my parents first if you want to marry him~" - Haruko smiled teasingly and poke her friend with elbow.

Rinko opened her eyes wide in shock and blushed furiously. She sent a glare to Haruko and turn her head to the side with "Hmph" . Zenitsu heart almost popped-out from his chest when he imagined him marrying Rinko in the future. Suddenly he felt heavy arm on his right shoulder. He turned his head to look behind him only to meet scary looking face of Takeshi.

Takeshi: "You bastard... You traitor... You actually have a bride and you didn't want to tell me how to pick up your sister... Burn in hell, traitor..." - he said in a emotionless voice.

Zenitsu yelped and run away from him. Everyone laughed at them and when Zenitsu calm down, they returned to the game. And how Zenitsu thought, he again became 'monster' and to his fear, his sister became one of 'hunters'. Haruko flashed him a big grin, Takeshi was mesmerized by it but for Zenitsu, he saw evil beast showing his sharp teeth at him. He paled and started to shivering. He send hateful glare at Takeshi because it's him who chose her for 'Hunter' team.

Rinko: "It's okay, Zeni-chan. I'll try to eliminate you first before your sister can catch you."- she smiled at him and for poor Zenitsu, it was like angel descent from heaven to protect him. He broke into tears and hug her legs.

Zenitsu: "Tenshi-sama!!"

She smiled sweetly and pat his head. Takeshi had envious look when he saw them and started to imagine him and Haruko in their place and he couldn't stop goofy smile on his face. Haruko just rolled her eyes and separate them.

Takeshi: "Okay, okay, lets begin. Like we plan earlier because there are only three 'monsters' and four 'hunters', we give you three minutes to hide in the forest, then we start to search for you. One hit with a stick and you're out, you have to back under this three and wait until another 'monster' free you or we cath all 'monsters' and if we couldn't cath all 'monsters' in hour, then 'monsters' wins, okey? Oh, and border is to the river at south, another wisteria and cave at west, huge boulder at north and to the our village at east, any questions?"

Boy1: "why Ayato isn't playing with us?"

Takeshi: "She has to look after her younger sister because Old Baba went missing. I overheard my parents that he propably fell of a cliff in mountains where he used to walk in free time. After last storm there is a lot of unstable ground and it is easy to fell, that is what my father said. Okay let's start already!! You have 3 minutes!! One! Two! Three! ... " - when he started to counting, all 'monster' run in different directions with Zenitsu running west.

Before he left meadow and enter forest he looked behind and saw Rinko waving at him, he smiled but immediately paled when he saw his sister with closed eyes and chilling smile in his direction. He remembered his sister's word about beating him, and he accelerate leaving dust behind him while screaming

Zenitsu: "NOOOOOO!!! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!"

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(POV Zenitsu)

I was running about whole minute and half without a break! I started to slow down and now I'm walking in the forest. To be honest I don't know why I run to the west. I really don't like this forest, especially after last storm. This place give me bad feelings and it's only become worse when Old Baba disappeared.

I'm walking for about two minutes now. Haruko-neesan is already looking for me, I'm sure she disregard other 'monsters' and head straight for me. It's also likely Rinko-chan is with her. Thats leave Takeshi on his own. Hehehe Rinko-chan is coming to save me, my beautiful angel!

I didn't even realize that I started to smile to myself. Well there is no help! My Rinko-chan is ultimate beauty!

I walked deeper into the forest and I realized something that make me feel even more uncomfortable. Whole place was quiet, too quiet. Normally when you are in the forest there is a lot of different noises. Birds are tweeting, some smaller animals are wandering in the woods and in the distance you can hear noises from bigger animals etc. Well, maybe you can't but I can. I was born with superior hearing sense, I could hear a whisper from thirty meters and even from further if I focus enough. But even with my superior hearing I can't hear anything in the woods. The only present noise is cracking from branches on which I sometimes step and it's all. Total silence.

It's not normal, it's totally NOT NORAMAL! I grabbed a dry branch from ground to defend myself from whatever hide in this forest. I started to shiver a little and looking around me cautiously. Ok Zenitsu, calm down. Breathe, inhale and exhale. It's okey, nothing bad can happen. You are all alone in the dead silent-creepy forest, with branch in hand and far away from village... Yeah... Nothing bad could happen. I started to shiver even more and tears gathered in my eyes.

I was in my thoughts when suddenly

*CRACK!! *

I heard loud crack near me and that was the final push to break my mind!

"YAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

I screamed, scared shitless and started to running as fast as I can!

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(POV with girls)

"YAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

They were talking with each other until they heard loud scream somewhere in front of them and both of them knew who was that.

Rinko: "I'm sure it's Zeni-chan. Hurry up and let's check this, I'm little worried. " - she said little worried about him. She didn't like the thought that something happened to him.

Haruko: "Yeah.. Let's speed up a little bit, I know that Zeni-oniichan isn't the bravest person but if something happened to him mum will hang me or worst... She'll embarrass me in front of Hayate-San!! " - she is also worried about her brother. She knew he isn't the bravest person but she feels somehow uncomfortable about this situation. She hoped that everything is okey.

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(POV Zenitsu)

*haah... Haah*

I tried to catch my breathe after my sudden sprint. I swear, this is last time when I played this damn game in this damn Forest!

I don't know what was that right there but there is no way I would back there! Haaaah.... I need to rest a bit.. I sat down on some small Boulder and started to look around to find something not normal.

I don't know why, but this place looks somehow... darker? dimmer? than the rest of the forest. Nooooo..... Don't tell me I just ran into much worse place... I feel tears at the corner of my eyes so I wiped them with my sleeve. But why this forest is so strange? It was never like this before. I also don't know why I'm panicking so much but I can't get rid of this bad feeling. Like I'm shouldn't suppose to be here.

Haruko: "I think he run this way. Hurry up Rinko, I have to get him!"

I heard very familiar voice and I know I'm screwed! NOO!! Last time when she beat me my legs trembled for three days!! She beat so hard and it's only because I made fun of them when she saw her Hayate-san while dragging big bucket of water from well and she tripped over stone splashing whole water at mother who just gather dry laundry. Haha looks on Haruko face was priceless but that's where funny part end... Later it's only about suffering from that 'Demon's' hands... I shivered just thinking about it.

They should be not so close yet. As I mention, I have really sensitive hearing and I learn a little how to measure how far is from sound source to me. It's really useful when you have to hide or run from that certain 'demon'. But it's not important now! She's coming in my direction I have to move fast!

And again I run but not sprint, I'm to tired already. I have to traveled quite a distance because I'm already at the west border. And please someone check if I'm alive because I don't think so. This place is terrible! The trees all around the cave are dead or dry I don't know how to say it, there's just no leaves on them and they look darker than normal. There was beautiful wisteria literally one meter next to cave with clusters covered entrance to the cave. But now wisteria is broken in half and all flowers are dry, propably the storm few days age broken it but that actually is not important. What is, is that cave... It's like frome nightmare!! I wouldn't have been surprised if some monster would live there!!

Haruko: "I know he's somewhere nearby. Let's keep going Rinko"

Rinko: "why are you wanting beat him so bad? You know I didn't like when Zeni-chan is upset"

Haruko: "Fufufufu, then you have to find him first, my future sister-in-law~. And he will suffer just a little bit... Propably hehe he"

Oh God.. She is here!! I was to deep in thoughts again and I didn't notice!! My 'angel' is with that 'demoness' but there is no way she can help me, Haruko is faster than her. On one side I have terrifying cave which give dreadful feelings and on the other side is my angry sister. Come on, I'm not stupid, I don't want to die so the choice is easy..

Zenitsu: "I'm comiiiing~ Caaave-kuuun~!"

I hide quickly in cave. The tunnel behind entrance is wide so I can walk with three more people next to me. Sunrays are lighting to six meters from entrance. . Deeper there is a lot of boulders and corridors, my parents always told me to not play in this cave because it's really complex and go down reeeally deep, so it's easy to lost. It's really cold here and I don't overreacting. It's so cold here that, when I breath I'm making clearly visible steam. As I was saying earlier IT'S NOT NORMAL!! We are in the middle of summer! And my bad feelings are just increased to their's maximum!

But it's not important now.. Why? Because I have a 'demon' hunting me!! Haruko is brave girl so I have to go little deeper, then Rinko surely will want to go outside, I know she's afraid of darkness.

Haruko: "Hmmm, it's already border here. Zeni-oniichan surely didn't cross it, he is to afraid of punishment for breaking rules. He has to be somewhere here, let's look around Rin-chan!" - she said after a little thought.

Rinko: "Okay, but please let's hurry up. I'm little scared of this place.. ."- Rinko said.

Haruko: "Yeees, yes"

Ohh shit! They are here!! She's here!! I have to go little deeper. On my left I saw another tunnel so I quickly walked there and started to peek at the entrance. It's so freaking cold here!! I started shivering and rubbing my arms to keep a little warm.

Haruko: "He's nowhere around. Let's peek into cave"- she said while dragging Rinko with her.

Rinko: "W-wait! Let's look around once more, little more carefully this time!" - her voice started to shake and she tried to resist but to no vail.

Haruko: "Come on! You are eleven! Eleven! In 3 more years you will be an adult, you have to overcome this stupid fear! Who will protect your Zeni-chan if you're scared of some dark?"- she hit right in the spot. Rinko stopped suddenly, looked resolutely at her then she nodded at Haruko and walked near the entrance. Haruko quickly catch up with her.

YEEEEES!! Wait...NOOOOO!! I screamed internally. Yes, because Rinko-chan seems to care about me and she is coming for me, I'm sooo happy!! But no, because she's coming with that 'demon'! I love you Rinko-chan but dead man love no one!!

I go further in the tunnel and end up in some sort of cavern. It's too dark to see something further than two step from me. I heard some rustling somewhere and tensed up. I said myself that that have to be snakes or rats and don't pay attention to that sound. I crouched behind Boulder and focus on their's footsteps. They are right in front the tunnel to the cavern where I'm. I hold my breath unconsciously.

Rinko: "See? He's not here. I know Zeni-chan wouldn't dare to go further. Let's go back and look for him"

Okay, that hurt a bit...

Haruko: "Hmmm... you're right. It's also to cold here, let's go back"- she said after thinking a little.

I relaxed when I heard they left. I sighed in relief and sat down. Then I touched something with my hand. I grabbed it and hold it closer to my eyes to see it better.

My mind went blank.. I shivered so much, no because of cold but because of fear... I opened my mouth in silent scream and tears in my eyes. What I keep in my hand was a human hand!! What was worse is that I knew who's this hand is. I will recognize this ring even when I go blind! There is a silver ring with green stone on the index finger. It's Old Baba's ring!! IT'S OLD BABA'S HAND!!!

I throw the hand away but it's hit something. Something grunted and when I looked in that place I almost pissed myself... There in the darkness, two yellow eyes are starring at me!! I couldn't take it anymore!!

Zenitsu: "KYYAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

I screamed propably the loudest in my life!! I grabbed stone in my hand and throw it in the eyes direction without looking and run as fast as possible from there. I must hit it in the eye because it groaned loudly.

That monster almost caught me, it is incredibly fast!! But it suddenly stopped before sunrays in the cave. I continued to running and because of tears I couldn't see clearly. I bumped in something soft. I was lying on something warm and soft but I didn't care about that. I turned my head and looked at cave only to again saw furious yellow eyes glaring at me. Okey, that's my limit for today. I paled and fainted on the spot.

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(POV Girls)

When they left the cave, they suddenly heard loud scream. It was so loud that even Haruko jumped in place. Girls were scared and slowly looked behind at the cave without turning their backs. When they looked at the entrance to cave, immediately the black blur crashed at them making them all hit the ground.

Rinko groaned lightly and felt something heavy on her chest. She rise her chest and to her surprise it was Zeni-chan!

Rinko: "Huh? Zeni-chan? Fufufu, it's look like I caught you~. Am I comfortable~?.... Zeni-chan?.. Zenitsu?!- she was dumbfounded at first but after she realized that it was Zenitsu she tried to tease him a bit. But he didn't respond and was really cold. She started to get worry and she shouted his name.

Haruko quickly checked on her little brother and found out that he was really cold and unnaturally pale. She tough he's dead but he was breathing. She sighed in relief and get him up from the ground. She put him on her shoulder under his left side and gestured to Rinko to do the same on the other side.

Haruko: "we need to get him to the village fast! He's totally not okay. Goods, mum will skin me alive. Hurry up!" - she was worried about him and little about herself. She totally forgot about beating she prepared for him.

Rinko: "Unn. I hope it's nothing serious..." - she said really worried. She knew Zenitsu is really fearful boy but he never was in state like this. Even Haruko, his biggest fear, couldn't scare him to that extent. At most he will cried all thay but that's all.

At their way, they met rest of the kids. Takeshi quickly took Zenitsu from girls and put him on his shoulder. When they arrived at the village their mother was scarred when she saw Zenitsu's condition. She was worried that he may ate something poisonous or something bite him. She almost cried when she felt how cold he is and shallow and quick his breath is.

She took him to the house, lied down him on the bed and boiled some water. She sent Haruko and Rinko for Rinko's grandmother, without forgetting to sent a glare at Haruko which clearly means that the will have a little chat later. Rinko's grandmother is very kind and knowledgeable women. She is someone similar to the doctor for the village. Her name was Saya and children called her Saya-obachan.

Saya hurriedly arrived at Agatsuma's house. She knew her granddaughter is fond of little Zenitsu, and she also had a good opinion about him. He maybe a little fearful but he's really good boy.

She checked him and reassured others that it's nothing serious. Although it's strange that he's that cold but she said to cover him with another blanket or put him closer to the fire to warm him up.

Hikari, Zenitsu's mother, thanked her and when everyone left, except Rinko, she glared at Haruko who is currently in seiza position.

Hikari: "Something to say, young lady? Hmmm?" - she said with smile but her eyes weren't so happy...

Haruko: "Hehe.... You're beautiful today mommy?" - she said with wry smile and hand on the back of her head.

*SMACK*

Hikari smacked her head with fan. 'From where did she get that fan?!' thought Haruko while massaging her head.

Hikari: "haaaah.... When Zeni-chan wake up you will tell me what happened."- she sighed and looked Zenitsu and Rinko on the side of the bed who's looking at him worriedly.

Haruko nodded, happy that it's end only at one smack. She stood up ready to leave and go for a water, she totally wasn't counting to meet Hayate-San.

Hikari: "ooh, and maybe I should tell Hayate-San that I know who was that that peeked at him when he was at the bath? Hmm what will he said?"- she said pretending that she said that to herself but Haruko knew it was directed to her.

Her face loose all colors when she imagine his reactions. She fall on her knees and stayed at home, helping her mother at chores.

Later that day, around dusk, Zenitsu finally wake up and eat some rice his mother served. He was really hungry after sleeping for few hours. His parents asked him what happend to him and why he was so cold. He told them everything from the beginning and when he narrated what happened in the cave his parents didn't take his story seriously.

Although they scold him for entering the cave when he knew he wasn't allowed to play there they thought that he was to scared and overreacting everything. He was just a child and sometimes child's imagination goes wild, especially when they are scarred.

Zenitsu, after he apologized to his parents and promise that he would never go to cave again, was sent on the rice fields to extract weeds as a punishment for the rest of the day. He groaned but still go outside to do his job.

During his work he was still thinking about what happened in the cave. About that bad feeling which he had in the forest, about Old Baba's body and about that "Monster". He shivered when he remembered that furious yellow eyes. But still he started to questioning himself.

'Why would Old Baba be there, he didn't like to go to the forest at all and that monster? He would surely chased me till the end back there if he was real, but he stopped in the entrance and never leave the darkness. Haaaah, I must just imagine this all because I was too scarred. Yeah, there are no such thing as a "Monsters".'

Later the night fall, and he begin to walk back to home. When he was dozen meters from village something struck him like lightning... Why he didn't hear anything... Why he didn't hear the conversations between villagers in their houses? The sun goes down around half hour ago, no one should sleep yet! Something was wrong. He again started to get that bad feeling like then in the forest.

He hasten his steps to his house and he heard something... It was like the sound of chewing something... And it was coming from his house! He started to shivering and slowly opened door to his house. He never expect what he saw even in his the worst nightmares...