2: Monster, Indeed

Metal-covered feet clink past her head, the sound of crunching gravel shrinking with the distance. The slow patter of raindrops kiss her feet before making their way up her entire backside.

Shivering under refreshing, cold drops, she turns her head to see the ground around the mountain creature remaining dry.

Watching him casually close the distance between the tauntingly eager villains, he looks like an ordinary human from the back, aside from unusual hair and larger body.

With a powerful build, standing taller than the tallest man, intimidatingly valuable armor, and long, ice blue hair in a loose ponytail, she marvels with curious speculation the longer she takes him in.

~ That don't look like grandma's version of a yokai ((you-kai)apparition/demon). Maybe royalty? Doubt it... He's -alone-. Said this mountain is -his-. And, called me -human-... (o.o') Could it really…does that mean…? Are demons really real?! ~

Absorbing a layered, midnight blue, robe-like top and trousers with twinkling star formations, she is further entranced by supernatural armor and metallic shoes.

Overlapping sheets of pure white metal round broad shoulders and connect to a matching cuirass that molds to a muscular back.

Shimmering effortlessly in the moonlight with an alluring glow, gold piping outlines every edge of folded metal.

Flowing sleeves dance on the breeze, revealing cuffs that end higher on one side to reveal perfect, pearlescent hands.

Scrolls, flowers, and vines embossed with gold tapers down the sides of his molded, metal back connecting to layered tassets that shield his hips, outer thighs, and butt to just above his knees in three sections.

Four sashes of light and dark blue, glittering fabric wraps around his metal waist and trails on the wind with his hair.

"It must be my lucky day, boys!"

The barbarians' leader points his sword at the disheveled, disconnected female, "We found the girl," then directs the flashing tip to the bipedal creature with a chuckle, "And this poor bastard's covered in valuables all by his lonesome."

Swinging his blade to rest its dull edge on his shoulder, he cockily turns to his comrades.

"Mm," stroking his scraggly, bearded chin in admiration, "I believe that armor was made for me," his tone seethes greed as his lackeys snicker and raise their weapons for a fight.

~ They don't -seem- scared... ~

Dismissing the urge to crawl closer at the sound of the odd man's elegant, apathetic voice, "You are stained by unjust blood."

Maintaining her position by the shrine, every logical thought in her mind screams for her to take this chance to run; however, as her eyes remain under the power of this confident stranger, she cannot tear her sight away.

~ If he's just some maniac calling this 'his' mountain, we're both carp on a cutting board! Then again, if he kills them everyone'll be avenged. I hate to say it but…I could always run while they rob him? ~

Her face scrunches when the murderers' expressions suddenly change, all arrogance gone when the blue-haired man's ivory hand raises into the air then transforms into a scaled, three digit claw with spiked talons.

~ (o_o') ...Yep…yokai… ~

Limbs sprawled out, her head falls to the side with misting rain diluting her sweat and tears.

Observing in angst and awe, a tiny smile finds its way to her dry, cracked lips when the leader drops his sword with a silent scream.

~ If I'm next…I can die happy…knowing they got what they deserved. ~

Before they can manage a focused stride in retreat, the specter reaps through them in a muted, meteoric strike that cuts into the landscape beyond where they stand.

~ (O_O') He did it! *gulps* ~

The creature crouches by obliterated, bloody corpses as the scent of blood and bowels reach her downwind.

Everything happened so fast that the spilling, sanguine life spurting and bubbling from their ribboned flesh into the earth is the only sound of their just demise.

Turning his attention to her with a growling exhale hot enough to present steam in summer air, the shadow of his hair-hidden face and bowed head under cloudy skies reveal glowing, fire opal eyes.

Shaken, she nearly jumps from her skin at the eerie haze burning into her soul beyond the distance between them.

~ (O.O') I'm not ready! ~

Her lungs stiffen when their eyes meet, a lizard caught in her throat when she fails to muster even a tremble upon sight of vicious, carnivorous teeth and a treacherous snarl.

She flinches at the wind's caress when a breeze sweeps by, ruffling the cerulean strands framing his face and allowing moonlight to glaze porcelain skin as he rises to his feet.

Standing as an otherworldly vision shrouded in mystery and sparkling vapor, the creature's claw and fangs revert to gentle features that mesmerize with the icing of platinum blue eyes.

Languidly approaching the girl, a perfectly round, luminescent white jewel surrounded by gold filigree sits in the top center of his pure silver breastplate adorned with metal flowers, scrolls, and vines.

Gold brushing outlines every curve of embossed, luminary metal silhouetting his sinewy body.

Cautiously scooting her butt up the boulder in a defensive stance the closer he gets, she receives his less threatening appearance with a strange comfort.

Bewitched by the glory of flawless beauty and a probing stare, she reassures her heart that it is safe to slow down when he stops right outside of arm's reach.

Peering down at the destitute girl like dispassionate stone, the pacifying, cool waters of his voice further exalts him in her mind.

"Your tears have gone. The end of one has brought the end of another," he unnerves her, filling internal empty spaces with something other than loneliness and dread.

Blinking slowly and rethinking his words, she stares at her disproportionate reflection and notices her natural line of sight meets the bottom crest of his armored peck.

~ …he's a giant… ~

Following the movement of his hand with her brown eyes, he takes a green cloth from behind his cuirass then wipes remaining evidence of his deed from unscathed, alabaster skin.

Clenching her jaw with distressed eyebrows, she stares up at her savior's face, "Why'd you kill them?"

Taking a deep breath, she prepares her body to run if need be.

Fighting the weakness in fatigued knees, digging her toes into the road for stability, she prays to a god of her mother's land, Brahma (Hindu god of creation), that this being's answer is not for the faint of heart because she knows she cannot make it far.

A strained lurch drives her back against the boulder in amazed trepidation when the bloody cloth bursts into red flames above his hand then ceases to exist.

"Death graces those who disgrace me."

Nodding uneasy at his logic and immensible power, she looks at the moon and catches the last raincloud returning its lulling light to the world and illuminating every emotion, melting away reason.

~ Okay, he -may- be a yokai... But, does that -really- make him 'evil'?... I mean, I asked for help and got it from him…so far… *sighs* Please keep me from 'disgracing' him. ~

Bowing her head, "I-I'm sorry... For bringing tears," her tone sounds like a question as she tries to speak with a sandpaper tongue, "I didn't mean to disturb you."

She rolls her tongue around arid skin and bone in search of a drop of salving spit.

"Leave."

~ (o_o) I don't know why I thought I could go with him…just because he killed bad guys doesn't make him a good guy... ~

Keeping her eyes on the ground, rocks shaking and blurring before her eyes, she mentally runs through her options.

Questioning if she's missing the rock, hard place, or boiling water, she confirms her reality by staring at the men whose bodies lay slain a few paces away and how they took everything from her in the time it took for the world to go dark.

Raising her head to object to his intimidating demand, she is stuck on the edge of a sob.

~ ...nothing… How do I have nothing? No one?! It's all gone. They're gone! I'm stuck here by myself! ~

Cringing, she balls scratched, dirty fists into the rough fabric at her sides and tears leap from swollen eyelids in a graceful dance down the front of her.

"Speak, human. Time is wasted on silent tears," his tone remains empty to life as icy streams cut down her optimism.

With nothing left to lose, her eyes land upon the face of a living statue, "Everything's…gone..."

Frowning at the hoarseness of her scratchy voice, "I'm alone," she chews her bottom lip.

Embarrassment increases the longer he surveils her in silence, the girl losing the strength to keep her head up.

Burying her face in grimy, calloused hands, she shields his observatory gaze. Her heart skips a beat when the warmth of his large hand on the top of her head radiates into her spirit.

"Cry because you survived. Pain only ventures those left behind."

Turning away, he begins his trek along the mountain path with metal covered feet clinking away.

When the order in her mind vanishes with the weight of his hand, she calls out to him.

"Wait!"

~ Why does it -hurt- to watch him leave?... I can't...I don't...I don't want to be alone! Please–! ~

He stops, listening as she clears her throat and weakly limps her way closer to him.

"Please... L-lord of the Mountain, let me s-serve you… F-for…stopping them," drying her face with the backs of her hands, a trickle of snot rolls down her upper lip.

~ I don't wanna marry for a safe bed... I don't wanna end up a slave... I don't wanna be a thief or a bandit or a murderer like them! They're monsters. I hate humans! ~

Hanging her head, she wipes her nose with her sleeve and stands in an increasingly uncomfortable silence after convincing herself she is making the right choice.

"A human serves this Tsukiyomi (T-su-key-yoh-mee) no purpose," dismissing her pledge and continuing forward, she repeats his name silently on her lips.

Clasping her hands against her sternum when the thought of being separated makes it difficult to breathe, "You don't know all the purposes this human can serve!"

The creature's steps pause, his face hidden from view as she stares at glossy strands twirling down his back; taking his contemplation as a good sign, a tiny smile tugs at the corner of her mouth.

Watching helplessly when he starts to walk away again, her feet hesitantly stumble to follow along.

"Th-then, allow me to f-follow you, until you find use…for me," she stammers, panting, "Please?... I'll stay out of your way. I promise!"

The unmoved silence building around them drives her to stand on the balls of her feet and shout in frustration, "Please?!"

Losing the shakiness in her voice and hobbling to catch up, she forgets the discomfort swarming every inch of her body while defending her case and awaiting her fate.

"Mortal," with the slightest turn of his head and an iris filling the corner of his eye, "You will die before that day comes," he faces forward and continues.

~ That may be true but— doesn't something like him understand?! ~

Pouring her heart out onto her sleeve, "Why fear the one thing that'll give me back everyone I've ever known?!"

She shouts at the back of his head, the creature standing still and her fists relaxing into weak digits at her sides, "…And lost..."

The honesty of her rash conclusion frees her from the bondage called life as she accepts whatever comes next with a bittersweet serenity.

~ Not the kind of destiny I imagined... But, here we are... ~

Befuddled, the unsuspecting human finds that she is suddenly on her back with the blank, powerful Tsukiyomi kneeling over her.

~ When the-- what the-- HOW?! ~

Dramatically raising a hand into the air, pale flesh transforms into blue opal scales capturing moonlight in an ethereal illumination.

Bones crack and pop beneath stretching, hardening skin as the shape elongates and realigns into a massive claw with three talons only to approach her face perilously slowly.

~ Right now?! (o.o') Just like that!? *gulp* ~

With an unsettling growl deep in his chest, gentle eyes burn to life with fires forged from the bowels of the underworld above monstrous teeth lining an expanding jaw.

Drool escapes the nightmarish bite when he snarls, spit oozing onto her cheek and syncing with a bone-chilling tone that endangers her eardrums of rupturing while he inches his horrifying face closer to hers.

"Then you shall be reunited."