Misinterpretations, Chapter 1
The moon shone brilliantly through the density of the still forest. Only soft rustles of leaves and brush were heard in the midst of the tranquility, but somewhere in this peace something was stirring. The rustling became erratic, followed by thunderous thumps on the forest floor. Footsteps of a rampaging demon, as it hectically pounded its way out of the density broke the silence. Immediately, a soft rustle followed the demon�s movement... something was tracking him. The demon�s pursuers were swift and quick, barely making any sound as they chased their target through the forest. Their movements were precise and premeditated, they had planned this assault and were extensively trained in the hunting of demons. The two that Koenma had entrusted, Kurama and Hiei, silently jumped from branch to branch following after the two slayers and their prey. They had been ordered to keep a watchful eye on the dangerous Matsukata clan. The members of this family had come from an extensive line of demon slayers, and had kept the tradition throughout the centuries. Now, the most renowned and infamous of the clan�s ancestors has been reborn as the young and pretty, Matsukata Kimiko.
Her red-golden hair appeared to set the forest ablaze as it wildly followed the movements of its master. Her hair was not the only aspect which danced like wildfire. Her actions were just as graceful and much like a blaze she aimed to chase her target out, with fear and panic at its core. The demon�s only objective was to run as fast as possible to escape his doom, but his blindness would soon contribute to his certain end. Though he could not see his cunning attackers, Kimiko�s deep, ocean blue eyes caught everything. Noticing a demonic aura within the body of the demon, her eyes quickly pierced the belly of the beast. The ugly, green monster with it�s massiveness was a toad demon of Makai. Nasty beings that swallowed anything that would give them nourishment. Tonight he had snatched an unsuspecting demon as his meal. Kimiko continued her pursuit, leading the demon to a large clearing... her objective, to slay the beast and save its victim.
The demon found he could run a bit more easily. The dense bush had become lighter, clearing his path and his vision. He had entered a large glade. The demon looked back in high hopes that he could catch a glimpse of his pursuers or that they would disband from the run. To his amazement, he saw no one. The forest was as empty and quiet as the solitudes of space. The satisfaction and joy that quickly filled his heart, just as quick, vanished when he returned his gaze to the path in front of him. There stood Kimiko, a burning entity of anger echoing his death with her drawn katana. She wore a black kimono with a blue sash that drifted in the wind along with her shoulder-length hair. Her skin was like the moon and her sharp katana reflected the moonlight as she prepared to strike.
Kurama and Hiei stopped their own pursuit when they discovered the slayers� ploy. Atop the trees near the demon�s soon to be grave, they waited for their target to finally show them what she is truly capable of. They had been following Kimiko for over three days; watching her as she interacted with family and friends. She appeared to be like any normal human, but her strength and skill went far beyond. The power that she could contain was of great dread to the Spirit World. To them, slayers were uncontrollable agents that worked for their own interpretation of justice and their own personal vendettas. The most horrific of these demon slayers was Matsukata Kane, a homicidal fiend who sought to rid the world of all demons and thus created a bloody and magnanimous war among demons and humans. Now they were about to witness how horrific this new threat could be.