#ghikij

It was difficult to see Acacia in such a state of damage.

To Hoshimi Junna, Acacia was a city of beauty where tradition and spirituality met seamlessly with iron and the unknown wonders of foreign places she could only dream of seeing. Its people were a warm and hardy breed that excelled in fishing the mighty river that gave Acacia its life’s blood as well as farming its fertile soil. There were artists and artisans as well who produced crafts sought and craved by the faraway lands of Albion; silk, songs, poetry, and script.

It was her home and she was proud of being part of her precious city.

That was why whenever it was ravaged by youkai, she felt sorrow.

Acacia was cursed by the Fog. Every so often, a thick mist would blanket the town and carry with it creatures of misfortune. Most frequently, the Fog would bring shadowy creatures, evil spirits, and monsters that struck terror in the hearts of the masses, but there were also times it would infect the surrounding wildlife or spirits with darkness that caused mad hunger for human flesh. Because of this, Acacia was endlessly gripped in a cycle of fear, tragedy and despair.

For years, Junna studied the phenomenon of the Fog Night to bring salvation to her precious city, but both history and folklore gave only one solution: Kill the Kyuubi no Kitsune. The Fog only appeared whenever the Kyuubi was at large and subsided whenever the demon fox was slayed. This was objectively observed after Saijou Elaine, the preceding generation’s Tenkai, slayed the great youkai three decades ago. Her victory won Acacia over ten years of fogless peace, a time now celebrated by the annual Hoshitsumi Festival. However, as predicted, the Fog eventually returned and the Kirin once again demanded young women to fill the esteemed positions of the Hachi, the Eight Guardians.

Junna would never forget the selection process. No regular girl would do. She would have to have the right amount of latent ki in order to begin training, and because of this requirement, the current generation of the Hachi took longer than usual to gather candidates. As expected, the Tendou and Hanayagi Clans were the first ones to offer their daughters for the cause. They were ancient families with ki running through their veins, and with Acacia’s peace and the honor of producing a potential Tenkai on the line, they were the first ones to elect representatives. Tendou Maya and Hanayagi Kaoruko were heiresses to their respective clans’ seats, both talented and magically powerful. They were interred as Hachi candidates at the tender ages of five.

Just at their heels were their fierce rivals, the Saijou and the Isurugi Clans. These two families boasted many warriors in their line, from honorable samurai to generals that had once made Acacia wealthy. More recently, the Saijou Clan could even brag that they had Gallian Knights in their bloodline due to Saijou Elaine--then Elaine Alsace-- marrying into the family. Saijou Claudine and Isurugi Futaba hail from these families and were also selected as candidates when they were very young. Futaba was a childhood companion to Kaoruko and had the latent potential and a warrior’s heart, while Claudine was practically bred to be one of the Hachi being the daughter of the most recent Slayer.

Junna did not have the privilege of being a member of such illustrious clans but her family have served in the Hachi for generations as well. Descended from exorcists, the Hoshimi Clan were rooted from the same stock as the Hanayagi Clan many eras ago. Known for their archery and purification spells, they have proved vital in the Acacia’s defense. The main branch members of the clan still displayed potent powers in their bloodline, but since they had no daughters to elect for the position of a Hachi member, the matriarch sent the next best thing.

Her.

Junna did not possess Kaoruko’s mind-blowing magical talents or the precise ki control that made Maya so fast and deadly. She was not as physically powerful as Claudine or Futaba either. All she had going for was that her ki had the Hoshimi line’s purifying properties. Everything else she had to study, practice, and labor hard to achieve. Even her own biology proved to be against her as well for her eyesight prevented her from completely mastering the bow and arrow that the Hoshimi Clan was known for. Looking back, nothing came easy for her.

At least she had plenty of help along the way.

There were two members in the Hachi who did not come from any of the noble clans at all. Aijou Karen and Tsuyuzaki Mahiru were the daughters of common families that were simply gifted with ki. Karen’s family were servants of the Kagura Clan, a wealthy family that periodically had representatives in the Hachi, while Mahiru’s were simple farmers from the outskirts of town. Due to their unconventional situations, the three of them often worked together as trainees and formed a bond of camaraderie that they enjoyed even now.

At the thought of Karen, Junna’s mind wandered towards the missing daughter of the Kagura Clan. Karen would sometimes tell her and Mahiru of a girl named Hikari, who was the only daughter of the Kagura family. They were childhood friends, the brunette had explained, but Hikari was moved to Albion by her father for additional training just before Karen had been discovered as a potential candidate. Hikari was supposed to be the eighth member of the Hachi until she disappeared several years ago.

Due to a lack of promising young women to take Hikari’s place and also because of Karen’s stubborn insistence, the eighth seat of the Hachi remained vacant to this day.

Maybe if we actually had a full roster, Acacia would not be damaged so much.

Junna huffed as she watched the fishermen repair roofs and rafters destroyed to splinters the night before. With a notebook in hand, she had been overseeing the reconstruction of Acacia’s dockside buildings and making sure that the process went as smoothly as possible. Many of the townsfolk were still rattled by the mizuchi’s attack last night, even more so because the youkai rampaged so close to residences. The most she could do was be present as they rebuilt their homes and businesses, and lend her managerial skills to make the experience less difficult than it already was. But it seemed like fatigue made her lose focus, her attention wavering too frequently.

“Junna… oi, Jun-na~ are you still awake or are you sleeping with your eyes open?”

She blinked her eyes rapidly to fight off sleepiness that had been creeping up on her for the past hour, and when she regained her focus, she found Futaba waving a hand in front of her face. The redhead was still in near complete regalia, minus her heavy armor, and was mounted on her trusty pinto steed. Her clan’s distinctive byakko tattoo was prominently displayed in red ink on her left arm, reflecting Futaba’s proud heritage. Her unique halberd was nowhere to be seen, however, and the horse was also lightly geared.

“No, I’m fine,” she responded a little too quickly now that she was caught zoning off, “I just have a lot in my mind.”

“No, you’re not fine,” Futaba clucked her tongue and nudged her mount to circle Junna in scrutiny. “You’re tired, Junna. What are you even doing here? Didn’t you use a purification spell last night? You should be at Seishouya passed out like Kaoruko.”

The thought was tempting for sure, but Junna could not afford to rest just yet. She could sleep as much as she wanted once the work was done. “I’ll be fine, really. I was able to sleep for a couple of hours earlier,” She reassured her comrade. “I still need to calculate how much we can get Seishouya and the clans to subsidize the townsfolk. After all, it was my fault that--”

“Oi, oi… none of that!” Futaba poked Junna’s forehead when the latter began scribbling on her notebook. “It was a rampaging monster. What happened here is no one’s fault, you hear?”

Wincing and stepping away from the mounted woman to avoid another strike, Junna rubbed her sore forehead. Though miffed at the grinning redhead, Junna could not help but appreciate how quickly Futaba tried to cheer her up after the fiasco last night. She gave her a small, tired smile, “...thanks.”

“Don’t worry about the finances. I’ll help you out as much as I can with my clan. I’ll also make sure Kaoruko does too, so why don’t you take it easy, alright? I heard you had quite the rodeo last night.”

At the memory of the mizuchi, Junna flinched and uncomfortably re-adjusted her glasses, which reminded her that she was now wearing her last spare after her other pair got damaged. “It’s not a ride I want to get on again. It caused Acacia so much. We ought to be preparing for the festival, but here we are stuck in a quagmire of repairs.”

Futaba patted her on the shoulder, “It’ll work out. The only way we’ll fail to commemorate Kyuubi’s last defeat is if you let yourself get sick. Who else is gonna organize everything, yeah? You shouldn’t push yourself too hard, Junna.”

Junna shook her head and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll hold out. Besides, Karen has been doing most of the manual labor for me.”

Futaba laughed boisterously at that remark. “I saw her on my way here, hammering away and patching up walls. I’m surprised she’s even awake.”

“Well, you know Karen. The annual festival is the highlight of her year and would stop at nothing to make sure it proceeds as planned. And I do think that she’s truly remorseful of scaring the fishmonger’s daughter after getting thrown through their shop’s wall.”

Futaba’s laughter took on a tone of disbelief, “It always amazes me how...uh… sturdy she is.” She then cleared her throat, “Well, I just wanted to check up on you girls before I return to the outskirts to oversee the progress there. Kaoruko is out of commission and Kuroko is… well…” Rubbing her nape, Futaba sighed raggedly and shrugged, “It is what it is.”

Junna did not have the heart to inquire about Claudine’s mental state given the circumstances. The blonde was grieving and angry, and that would not go away so easily. All she could do was ease the load on everyone’s shoulders. “Go on ahead then. Don’t worry about us here. As soon as everything settles down, we’ll return to Seishouya.”

“Alright… hehe, I really shouldn’t worry huh? After all Mahiru is here too and she has a way with people. Well, I’ll see y’all back home later then.”

“See you there,” Junna nodded and gave Futaba a small smirk of her own, “and follow your own advice and don’t overdo it.”

With a good-natured chuckle and a charming wink, Futaba nudged her horse and rode down the street, skillfully dodging carpenters who carried lumber for repairs. Junna watched on until her friend could no longer be seen, and inhaled deeply to recenter her attention to the task at hand. On her notebook were detailed lists of damaged buildings, the resources needed for those properties, and the names of the workers who labored there. Junna kept careful records for she intended to try and compensate them for some of the reparations, believing that the people of Acacia should not shoulder such expenses on their own.

Satisfied that she had most of the ones on this street accounted for, Junna pocketed her notebook and began her trek towards the river bank. She spotted Karen laughing along with some men by the shop she had been repairing. The brunette was exchanging stories over tea and snacks while on break it seemed, and her bright demeanor mellowed out the expressions of fear and anxiety from the townsfolk. With a fond smile, Junna left her friend with her acquaintances and proceeded with her task.

“How are things here? Do you still need more materials?” She inquired a carpenter a block away.

“Ah, Hoshimi-san!” The man stood up a little straighter and seemed embarrassed to be interacting with a Hachi member in his state of grime and disarray. “We’ll need some more lumber here, I think, oh and some whetstones to sharpen our chisels and planes. Other than that, I think we’ll manage.”

Junna nodded mechanically and jot that down on her notes. “I will get those for you as soon as I’m able. Would later in the afternoon be workable?”

The man suddenly bowed respectfully, “Of course!”

“Um… there is no need to be so formal--”

“Everyone, I’ve brought some food! I’m sorry to keep you waiting but here are your lunches.”

“Ah, Mahiru-chan! You really are a blessing. You didn’t have to bring this all to us.”

Junna blinked not only because of the change in atmosphere but also at how fond and familiarly the townsfolk spoke with her soft-spoken comrade. The people typically referred to Junna like she was superior even though she was nothing special. After all, she was merely a branch clan member and she was not one of the top ranking members of Hachi either. So even though she expected respect, she also secretly longed for warm recognition as well. Perhaps she was too austere? But then, Mahiru was a sweetheart with an angelic voice and a disposition to match.

Not to mention her warm maternal aura and her cooking skills.

“Junna-chan?” Mahiru looked surprised, “I thought you returned home already. You don’t have to worry, I’ll make sure Karen-chan--”

“...doesn’t cause any more trouble, I know.” Junna chuckled as she approached her long-time friend. Truly, without Mahiru around, who knew how she and Karen would have turned out. The three of them were the ones who worked the hardest to be in the Hachi because of their circumstances. And when things became tough to the point of despair, Mahiru was always there with a kind smile and a steaming roasted sweet potato to cheer them up.

“You brought so much food.” The other woman had a heavy basket of cooked produce on each arm. Amazingly enough, she did not look troubled carrying them around.

“It’s the most my family’s farm can spare for the time being.”

“Are they alright?”

Mahiru smiled and nodded as she folded the cloth that covered a steaming basket of tubers and vegetables so that the workers could serve themselves. “Thankfully, our farm was spared from the attacks but a couple of others were not as lucky. Obaa-san spared no time in having my siblings harvest what they could so we can at least help feed those in need and she insisted that I take some here.”

“Your grandmother is amazing.”

“Isn’t she?” Mahiru giggled as she filled bowls with vegetables sauteed with onions and a few cubes of potatoes smothered in a simple sauce. Simply watching her serve their people energized Junna and made her momentarily forget about her fatigue. “Would you like some Junna-chan? It seems like there’s plenty for everyone.”

“Ah, thank you but it would be put to better use if the laborers eat it,” she responded with a small smile. “You made sure I ate before we left Seishouya, remember?”

“But that was hours ago and you’re still recovering ki. You must eat!”

“I will, I promise. That would be the first thing I’ll do once I return to the dormitory.”

“You better!” Though her voice was firm, Mahiru’s gaze and smile were anything but. She was sincerely concerned for her, and Junna felt the warmth of her care. Once again, she felt so grateful to have earned herself a family in the Hachi.

“Well then, I should get going, Mahiru-san. I need to make sure everyone receives all the materials they need so the repairs would be finished by the time the festival rolls in.”

“Alright, but also make sure you take breaks, Junna-chan.”

With a respectful nod, Junna bid her farewell to Mahiru and the workers, and continued on. Nearing the end of her responsibilities on this side of town, she took a moment to appreciate the cathartic flow of the water in the river. It was truly hard to imagine that such a peacefully flowing river could house a fearsome creatures. Looking off to her left, Junna spotted the tree onto which she had jumped in order to escape death. Its scars were still green where her weight had torn off some twigs and ripped away some branches. Nearby, a couple of women were repairing the railing where Karen had leapt from after the mizuchi had bulldozed the metal pipes into grotesque shapes, while further down, some men were patching up a stretch of stone walls by the water that helped prevent erosion.

Indeed, it was difficult to see Acacia so damaged but seeing the collaborative efforts of its citizen also renewed Junna’s hope.

It made her even more driven into helping the Hachi slay the Kyuubi no Kitsune.

Junna leaned over a stretch of railing that was luckily undamaged by the mizuchi and closed her eyes, renewing her resolve and tempering it carefully. She must persevere. Soon, the Kirin would decide if Maya would remain the Tenkai or if a new one must be chosen. If the latter was to be decided, then Junna was determined to get the Kirin’s Blessing and pick up where her esteemed comrade have left off.

The Fog must be stopped.

The Kyuubi must be slayed.

Junna’s reverie only went undisturbed for a few moments because a rambunctious clamor encroached on her peace. Children fretted and hollered nearby, accompanied by a woman with a gentle, tinkling voice steeped in fondness.

The woman’s voice was laughing as she herded rowdy kids, “Ah! Settle down, everyone. Everyone gets a piece, okay? But after this you should all go home to eat a proper meal so you’ll grow as big and tall as a banana tree like me!”

A banana tree…?

“Banana! Banana!” Children’s voices were saturated with glee and giggles as they chanted and encircled their chaperone.

“Hai, hai~ here you go. Your reward for being so brave last night.”

That voice…

“That was very brave of you…”

Junna blinked her eyes open as a long cherished memory of a miracle came rushing back into the forefront of her thoughts.

==============

The deep forest loomed ominously only several yards away. It was so dense that light scarcely penetrated its canopy, leaving it looking like gargantuan shadows slowly creeping up towards the town of Acacia. At fifteen years old and training to become a warrior that braved the Kiri no Yoru, Junna was no stranger to its intimidating presence but it never failed to make her shudder in trepidation. That was especially true tonight, for tonight was when she would prove to the Kirin that she was strong enough to be one of the Eight.

Clutching her hankyu bow in a tight grip, Junna steeled her resolve.

The Kirin’s Trial was a ritualistic test for any aspirant for a position among the Hachi. A candidate must survive a Fog Night with nothing but her drive, skills, and her chosen weapon. She was tasked with a small stretch of land around Acacia to defend against any youkai that might come and if she was successful in exterminating them, they would rise with the sun as one of the esteemed Eight Guardians.

Junna had dreamed of accepting her own ki gem from the Kirin’s priests for years. She wanted to be one of the stars that protected the people of Acacia, one of those legendary warriors after which stars were named. Her excitement escalated when Maya, Claudine, Kaoruko and Futaba passed their trials the year before with great heroics and displays of competence. She would be one of them. She would stand beside them as they fought for the well-being of their hometown and of its people. And if fate was kind and the Tenkai defeated the Kyuubi no Kitsune, she would be honored to be the namesake of a star within the constellation the priests would reward the new Slayer.

Immortalized in the heavens.

Her name forever carried by a celestial body.

Indeed, glory awaited her. And if that was the one thing that Junna could claim as hers and hers alone--not some debt from her parents or her clan’s matriarch--then she would strive for it with her own efforts. She would shoot up towards the sky again and again to find her path to the stars.

For her trial, Junna was assigned to an unexpected part of town. While Karen and Mahiru were given posts near the city for their own tests, Junna was tasked with a wide swath of land by the border of the deep forest. She had scouted the place beforehand, like a good strategist. She even looked into the history of the place and what kinds of youkai tended to show. What she found was a tragic story of a necessary evil. These vast acres of land used to belong to the Norinaga family, a small clan of brewers who used to farm rice here for their renowned sake.

The rice paddies were gone now though, because the Norinagas have all been executed.

Junna glanced at the sizeable yet traditional house behind her, where a different family now lived. After Saijou Elaine defeated the last Kyuubi and peace reigned, everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before the great youkai would resurface again. The demon fox always returned, no matter how many times it was slayed, reincarnated every time. Its new manifestation was born in the Norinaga family. Records were vague, but it all concluded that the family was bewitched by the youkai’s powerful magic and went mad. Seishouya was forced to put them down for Acacia’s safety but even its pre-emptive strike failed to capture the revived demon fox.

And now that very same escaped Kyuubi no Kitsune thrived within those dense forests summoning the deadly fog.

Darkness came and with it the Kiri no Yoru. The Norinaga’s old farm was so close to the forest that it was choked by the Fog almost immediately, limiting Junna’s vision. Calmly recalling her training, she immediately switched using her ki senses instead. She saw the new family residing in the old Norinaga house huddling fearfully in their bedroom, their ki signatures stuttering like candle flame against a stiff breeze. She must not let them down.

She must not let herself down.

Junna jumped up on a tree’s branch for a better vantage point and rested her hand over the feathered fletching that protruded from her quiver. Even before she was chosen as a candidate, she had already learned to make the bow an extension of herself and even though she had poor eyesight, she had practiced kyuudo enough that muscle memory was usually enough for her to let loose an accurate arrow.

She was confident that she could take on whatever the Fog throws at her.

It did not take long before the first youkai screeched it presence. Junna momentarily froze at how loud it was, that deafening shriek of a giant black bird swooping down from above. With a wingspan longer than her bow’s length, it was the most massive crow she had ever seen. It also had five toes that ended in dagger-like talons and its beak was lined with fangs. She ducked and leapt onto another branch before the bird demon could snatch her away, trembling as the youkai ripped away a tree limb that was as wide around as her thigh.

Junna, focus!

She pressed her glasses snug on the bridge of her nose and notched an arrow. She aimed as the karasu beat its massive wings to gain altitude and let loose once she was confident with her shot. The arrow flew true and struck the bird in the breast, its silver tip multiplying the damage as it burned through the demon’s flesh. Junna was thankful she took time and wrapped blessed talismans on her ammunition.

The crow’s cries alerted the rest of its flock, so moments later, a whole murder of them was aloft. Junna’s green eyes widened in shock and trepidation. Three, four, no… seven! Seven pairs of wings were in the sky. Seven pairs of eyes trained at their flockmate’s killer.

All of the sudden, the only thing Junna could comprehend was fear.

Two birds dove at her and she narrowly escaped by jumping down from the tree. With adrenaline spiking and heightening her reaction time, Junna notched arrows, muttered long-memorized incantations and shot at the birds. She missed one by the feather but the second arrow found its mark and the karasu fell in a heap of black feathers on the ground.

Junna wasted no time in running away from there. She sprinted down the dirt pathways that used to border rice paddies, pouring ki into her legs so that she could run faster. It was a futile effort, she knew, for wings would always be faster than feet. Soon, the crows were right on her heels with talons at the ready.

She dove into the ground and lied there as low as she could. The crows clumsily collided with each other and crashed into the ground, rolling and squawking fearsomely as they snapped and clawed at one another. This gave Junna a chance to shoot them when they were grounded and easier to hit. However, she was only able to let one arrow fly before another crow dove behind her and nearly caught her by the braided locks of her hair.

Panting, Junna rolled over. Three… she was only able to get three and already fatigue was gripping her tightly. She pushed herself off the ground, grabbed her bow and ran. Ahead, she watched with dread as the rest of the murder perched on the house in the middle of the farm. They used their huge bills to peck at the wooden roof, eventually puncturing it. Inside, the farmer’s family cried in terror.

“No!” Junna screamed and angrily shot at the birds. One after another, she sent arrows their way, more concerned for the civilian’s safety than actually killing the youkai. The crows shrieked at the projectiles and a few flew away but one stayed behind and stuck its head inside the hole it had made on the roof. The ear-piercing scream of a child froze Junna in place. She stood there in the middle of the field, helplessly watching a demon crow fly off with a lifeless body of a little boy dangling between its toothed beak.

No… it can’t be…

Junna fell on her knees. This was her first test and already she had lost a life. In her grief, however, fury took root. She screamed as she stood and loaded an arrow, aiming at the karasu that had taken an innocent life. She doused the projectile with her ki, enough so that the crow would burn in holy energy, and let it fly. The arrow glowed as it left the bow and pierced the youkai’s eye. It fell down to the earth in ashes.

With it, the broken body of a child.

However, her anger dulled her senses and left her vulnerable to the rest of the murder. She was barely able to evade a set of talons that could have ripped her apart, but she was not so lucky when a second pair swooped and knocked her down a shallow ditch that used to be an irrigation canal. The fall bruised her shoulder and side, making her cry out in pain, while her bowstring snapped off the hankyu when its upper nock got caught in a piece of debris.

Blurs! Everything was a blur! Her glasses, where were they?

She froze when she realized that she had no means of fighting anymore.

It was over.

She failed.

I can’t fail… I must not fail!

Tears streamed down her face as she sightlessly stared up into the black sky. She could feel the stars twinkle beyond the thick mist, mocking her, telling her that she would never be one of them. Her other senses showed dark blotches flying in the night. In circles the crows flew, perhaps thinking of a way to dig her up from the ditch in order to consume her. Maybe it was better this way, Junna thought.

What good was a guardian who could not defend people unable to defend themselves?

The karasu squawked and then suddenly flew away from the trench Junna was trapped in. She sat up, puzzled, but unable to make out what was happening. She could not sense anything but nearby a youkai screamed and disintegrated, the darkness it carried dissolving into ether. Another followed suit, killed with such efficiency its vocalization was cut mid-screech.

Bewildered, Junna pulled herself up from the ditch, and once she had partially emerged, she perceived a shadow much larger than the crows she had been fighting with.

“The Oya…?” She whispered to herself in panic. How in the world would she be able to fight such a powerful being in her state? She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed that her comrades could find her and the farmers in time.

“Ne… you’re the one fighting them, right?” A gentle voice startled Junna for she had not sensed another presence around her aside from the youkai.

“W-what… who are you?” She turned her head this way and that, looking for the source of that voice but her ki senses found nothing. Instead, her blurry eyesight spotted a white figure standing not too far away. All she could make out in the dark was a woman of tall stature holding two blades.

“That was very brave of you,” the stranger said as she approached Junna with a steady, unconcerned gait as if there were no youkai around that could harm them. The stranger kneeled down and handed her a short shaft that she immediately recognized as a tanto sheathed in varnished bamboo. “It’s okay…” the woman spoke in soft, kind tones like she was speaking to a child, and patted her head. Junna could not clearly see her features but she could make out the mellow green of her eyes. “Everything will be okay now.”

Junna opened her mouth to question the stranger one more time, to warn her that it was dangerous and that the farmer’s family was in danger, but she was utterly silenced by a fierce golden light that burned away the Fog. It shrouded the white-cloaked woman like a flaming veil as she stood afterwards.

She was like a tower of white and gold, an awesome beacon in the middle of a black sea.

Junna tried to reach out to her but the force of the stranger’s ki was so overwhelming that nausea set in. Compounded with her fatigue and injuries, she found it difficult not to succumb. All she could utter was, “Save them…” before her consciousness surrendered to the warmth of the golden light and the calming scent of pine needles.

===============

“Can it be…?” Junna straightened and marched towards the group of children encircling a blonde-haired woman with a bunch of bananas in her arms. The said woman did not have the same silhouette from her memories due to her peculiar pigtails but she was wearing a white cloak and her voice was uncannily familiar. Logically, there was no way this could be the same woman. Junna was not even sure if she had been hallucinating back then. In fact, she was uncertain if she was not seeing things in the present as well.

“That was five years ago… there’s no way…” She told herself but her feet would not stop. If there was even a fraction of a possibility that it could be the same person who had saved her during her trial, then she must meet her. She kept her life and the rest of the farmer’s family survived because of that stranger’s intervention. She owed her a great deal.

Still, doubt filled her mind. This woman in front of her had a normal human ki. It was a muted shade of yellow, pretty but nowhere near the magnificence the stranger back then had.

“Ah, it’s Hoshimi-san!” One of the children exclaimed, then suddenly most of the kids took refuge under the woman’s cloak as if Junna was some sort of disciplinarian they all wished to avoid.

“Uh, um…” Junna stammered, unsure how to start a conversation which was odd since she was used to dealing with people all the time. “I apologize but… have we met before?”

The tall woman blinked and a glint of recognition flashed through those expressive jade irises. She smiled genially, as if she was only meeting an old friend, “I can’t say but here…”

Junna blinked in bemusement when the blonde offered her a banana.

“Don’t you want one, Hoshimi-san?”

Taken aback by the sudden gift, she just automatically took the fruit. “I… err… thank you, I guess.”

“I’ve heard a few things about you,” the woman chuckled, “It’s hard not to! You’re one of the Hachi, right? A hero!”

Junna found herself blushing at the earnest praise. “I-I’m nothing of the sort but um… I feel like I know you.”

The blonde’s smile took on a more mysterious air. “Maybe we have met somewhere before.”

Tongue-tied, Junna felt awkward at being unable to find anything to say to this friendly woman. “Right, uh…”

“My name is Daiba Nana.”

=======================================================

Already, warning bells are going off at the back of Nana’s mind, particularly in Hikari’s cold voice. It wasn’t the first time that her housemate had berated her about getting too friendly with the townsfolk of Acacia and their arguments had never ended well. Nana understood Hikari’s concerns and a part of her agreed that it was better to keep her distance for self-preservation.

But this girl… no, this young woman in front of her was the same brave warrior she had saved all those years ago. Her features had a sharper and more mature feel now, but Nana could recognize those same pair of green eyes even after the flow of time.

Full of conviction and hope.

Much like her own, before despair shattered her.

Before she knew it, she had already introduced her full name to the pretty stranger.

Ah, she could practically feel Hikari’s stiletto against her jugular now if the latter were to find out about her blunder.

“A-Ah! I’m Junna, Hoshimi Junna,” the shorter woman seemed anxious and couldn’t quite meet her gaze. Even then, she still politely held out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Daiba-san.”

The simple gesture filled Nana’s heart with warmth as she readily grasped Junna’s hand. “The pleasure is mine, and please, call me Nana, Junna-chan.”

As expected, Junna appeared taken aback from being referred to so familiarly but Nana persisted by giving her an encouraging smile. Though proud of the surname she had chosen for herself, she rarely heard it and whenever she did, it tended to bring up unpleasant memories.

“Uhm, c-certainly, uh, Nana-sa… Nana-?”

The questioning tone at the end, combined with the slight reddening of her ears, was quite adorable really. Judging from the awed expressions of the children around them, it seemed to be a huge deal for the Hachi to refer to someone so directly.

“Good! Now that we know each other’s names, we’re no longer strangers, ne?” Nana gave her hand one light squeeze before letting go. She then gestured at the children, some of whom were looking at them with inquisitive eyes while some were happily munching on the bananas. “We’d love for you to join us and take a yummy snack break, don’t we?”

She was hoping the innocent chorus of the children’s cheers would help Junna loosen up, but the latter seemed as tense as ever even after she hesitantly stood closer to the little girl who waved at her.

As the children chatters around them, Nana couldn’t help but find herself comparing the bespectacled woman to the faint memory from years ago. The image of the teary, despairing new leaf was now replaced by this calm and seemingly assertive Hachi. Donned in a light blue vest and an elegant top complete with a star crest clipped to the frilly collars, Junna does appear to be the kind of supervisor or instructor that civilians would instinctively obey. There was something else, however, that attracted Nana’s attention. Junna’s very presence or ki felt serene like the gentle wash of moonlight.

It was a pleasant sensation.

Her hair has gotten longer too… the braid looks nice on her.

Nana smiled as Junna reprimanded a young boy for playing with food while gently cleaning his face with a handkerchief. Perhaps it was the spark of pride for being the one to save Junna back then and now witnessing the fruition. And since she still carried the tanto, Nana assumed that the archer had learned to wield it adequately at least.

She barely managed to not wince when she was caught staring and hastily commented. “You’re good with children, Junna-chan.”

“Fueh-?” The shorter woman let out an odd but endearing noise before averting her eyes, her voice lowering to a bashful whisper. “I-I think you’re better with children. If it weren’t for you and those snacks, they would have avoided me.”

Nana playfully quirks an eyebrow at that, to which several of the children responded with cheeky grins.

“Hoshimi-san is scary!”

“Very scary! But strong!”

“Super awesome!”

“Scary strong!”

“I heard one time she stared at a demon and it fled!”

“That’s so cool!”

Junna’s face turned several shades of red, either from annoyance or embarrassment. Even then, she didn’t get angry at the children and merely adjusted her glasses.

“See? They adore you.”

“D-Don’t make fun of me please.”

“I’m not,” Nana chuckled at her exasperated expression. “You’re one of Acacia’s guardians after all. I really respect that.”

“You do?” Junna relaxed slightly, the curiosity in her gaze more prominent now as she peered up at the taller woman. “Uh, not to be rude but, you’re not from around here are you, Nana? I-I mean, I haven’t seen you around town… not that I know the name of everyone who lives here but I would’ve recognized you otherwise…”

“Hmm~ You’re correct. I don’t live here. Do you know the land across the sea, Gallia? I’m from a place further than that. Have you heard of Vertalis?” Nana gestured at the direction of the port with practiced ease. It was a well-rehearsed cover story that she and Hikari had drafted over the years. While it invited a lot of questions about the distant land, people tended to be more curious than wary due to how rare it was to meet someone from that far away. No one would be digging at their tale for lies and it gave them the leeway to present themselves as simple travellers.

“I’ve… heard about Vertalis. I believe some of the vendors sell produce, such as carrots, from there but those aren’t direct imports,” Junna says slowly, as if digesting the information. “In fact, they had to go through several intermediaries to get here. You’ve come a very long way…”

Junna trailed off and took out a notepad, scribbling comments and sketching a map much to Nana’s amusement and the children’s fascination.

“Yup! I’ve been around. You know what people say - go out there and expand your horizons~ I’m on my way to Albion actually but I decided to stop by Acacia to get some supplies and,” she patted her knapsack, where only one hand of bananas remained after sharing her purchase to the children. “I’m glad I did! These are some of the most delicious bananas I had for a while.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying your stay here so far.” Junna straightened up, her eyes gleaming with pride. Her gaze then trailed over to the twin katanas by her hip, which prompted Nana to add.

“For self-defense, though I haven’t had the need to use them much lately.”

Junna nodded slowly, seemingly deep in thought. While it was not uncommon for travellers to carry weapons, Nana realized that she probably stood out in this part of Acacia where there were mostly farmers and other more down to earth civilians. Youkai were known to prey upon other human settlements around the world too, such as Gallia and Albion, but those incidences were not as frequent as the Fog that plagued Acacia.

“Which is why I’m so amazed, great Hachi,” Nana tried to pull Junna’s mind away from her katanas, “I’ve been hearing about this Kiri no Yoru and how the guardians have to fight against packs of youkais to protect Acacia! It must have been quite the terrible fight last night.”

“It was…”

Nana’s shoulders drooped, for her remark only made Junna even more troubled instead of lifting her spirits. There was guilt in her visage as she surveyed the destruction around them.

“Oh oh! I saw one of the boss monsters! It was a huuuuge serpent-thing with antlers! But Hoshimi-san shot it down!”

“Yeah yeah! Hoshimi-san is so cool with her bow!”

Once again, Junna appeared at a loss at being the center of such positive attention. “I was just fulfilling my duties, it’s not that big of a deal-”

“But it is!” One of the smaller boys suddenly exclaimed. He cringed at the resulting silence and shrank behind Nana when Junna blinked at him. He was probably worried for interrupting the Hachi, but at Nana’s encouraging pat, he shuffled forward and gestured animatedly with his tiny arms. “You’re a heroine, Hoshimi-san! My dad’s a fisherman so I’m always scared that he’d get attacked by demons but you got rid of them! For us! I-I’m really grateful!”

Junna’s austere expression softened as she crouched down to the little boy’s eye level. “No, thank you, for believing in me, in us.”

Perhaps it was the circumstances, the way that the Hachi spoke, or even just that small gesture of kindness, for Nana felt a pang in her chest with a myriad of emotions. Relief that such an innocent young soul had such a dependable, sincere protector; envy that she was denied and robbed of a chance for a positive childhood; admiration for the woman with a noble heart.

“Well then, I should be getting back to work,” Junna straightened herself and motioned at the direction of the town. “You should all be getting back to your parents too. These areas aren’t repaired yet so it would make me feel better if you don’t linger for too long.”

A chorus of complaints was expected, though Junna patiently and firmly stood her ground until the children gave in. Still, it took more persuading for several to stop clinging to Nana. As she fondly watched the kids leave while waving back every few paces, she wondered if she would behave freely like them too, in another lifetime.

“So um, there are still a couple of errands I need to run,” Junna smiled up at her. “Thank you for the snack, Nana.”

“You’re welcome…” It’s been relaxing to converse with the Hachi and she didn’t want them to part yet. As she struggled to think of a reason to prolong their time together, Junna cleared her throat and averted her eyes.

“And since you’re new here, would you like me to s-show you around?”

Nana perked up, unable to contain her grin, though the timid and awkward part of her still compelled her to ask. “Are you sure? I mean, I’d love for you to accompany me but you have a busy schedule and I don’t want to be a bother… not to mention, you had a rough night, you should get proper rest as soon as you can.” She had noticed the bandaid on Junna’s cheek earlier and that her pale visage hadn’t improved over their snack break.

“You’re not a bother. Quite the opposite in fact,” Junna adjusted her glasses as she glanced over her notepad. “I just need to check in with some of the workers but I’ve done what I can for now. Talking to you and the children had re-energized me.”

“Really? That’s great to hear.” Chuckling in relief, Nana playfully curtsied. “Then please lead the way, Miss Hachi~”

Junna blinked at her antics but she unexpectedly took her arm in a light grip and began to lead her towards one of the arterial roads. It took a while for Nana to get used to following another person, for she had always been so independent and had to decide for herself which way she needed to go.

But this was refreshing, especially when her guide was so enthusiastic and obviously proud of her hometown.

While this wasn’t her first time in Acacia, it was certainly new to hear about brief backgrounds and highlights about specific areas of this culturally diverse place. For one, she didn’t know what the grand statue in the town square was supposed to be, and its significance to the residents. The abstract stone carving was a collage of the five mythical guardians that had protected the world in time immemorial: the vermillion phoenix of the Tendou Clan, the obsidian tortoise of the Saijou Clan, the white tiger of the Isurugi Clan, the azure dragon of the Hanayagi Clan, and lastly the center, the golden unicorn that was represented by the enigmatic Kirin and figurehead of the Hachi. She also learned about fun trivia such as the apothecary hidden from plain sight in one of the alleys and how it sold rare items like dried scorpions and apparently nekomata claws too.

Eventually, Junna led her to a boulevard teeming with people and carts carrying wooden planks and other materials. The hardworking Hachi excused herself briefly to speak with some of the workers about requests from the quartermaster as well as to confirm the allocation of manpower for the repairs. In work mode, Junna no longer stumbled over her words and spoke with the smooth confidence of someone used to managing people. It was inspiring really, just watching her.

If Nana remembered correctly, the market district should only be a few blocks down, where all sorts of vendors gathered in the form of actual shops, temporary stalls, or even just wares laid out on tarps on the side of the street. Her original plan was to go there to purchase food for her pantry and perhaps shop around for other necessities, and leave Acacia before noon. Alas, she had gotten sidetracked by the first grocery store that sold bananas and had soon found herself surrounded by children.

Now here she was, in the company of this well-adored Hachi.

Indeed, the workers and other passersby seemed humbled by having an esteemed member of the Eight amongst them. There was nothing but respect in the way they greeted Junna, from hearty words of gratitudes to sincere smiles. Apparently, she was the one who had established a program in which Kiri no Yoru victims can be treated cheaply at the town infirmary. Truth be told, Nana felt rather awkward standing off to the side, watching all these people vying for Junna’s attention.

Just as she was on the verge of simply slipping away into the crowds, Junna managed to extract herself and took hold of her arm once more. Though visibly tired, she also looked relieved now that she had completed her task.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, especially when I was the one who offered to show you around.”  

“It’s okay, you have many things to do after all.”

“It’s all taken care of for now! Um, you had some supplies you wish to purchase, right? Let’s head over to the marketplace then. I need to get some spare glasses as well.”

Fleetingly, Nana recalled how the young girl she had saved fumbled in the darkness, yet the children had claimed her to be a great archer. Perhaps she could pinpoint ki better than mere sight could do?

How do you see me then, human… or youkai? Nana was distracted from that depressing line of thoughts when Junna hastily greeted yet another enthusiastic person thanking her for protecting Acacia.

“Hehe, Junna-chan is like a celebrity~”

“How so?”  

“You have so many fans. Based on what I’ve heard earlier, you’re the reason why the injured folks were able to afford treatment. I think that’s really amazing.”

“Oh, that’s only possible because of the shared contributions from the four main families,” Junna shook her head and adjusted her glasses uncomfortably. “I didn’t do much.”

“Still, you started the program, didn’t you? Taking that first step is always something. Besides, everyone seems to… hmm, flock to you like bees to honey?”

“What kind of analogy is that?” Junna chuckled, her posture relaxing. “And I suppose it’s because the Hachi is usually not seen in public, especially not around this time. Because of our training schedule and nightly patrols, we don’t get to interact with the locals that often. They’re entitled to know more about the Fog, so naturally they would be coming to me to ask questions about what happened last night.”

“Hnn~ So modest,” Nana teased, leaning down so that she was peering up at Junna instead. “Maybe they want to talk to you just because?”

“T-That’s unlikely. I’m not Tendou-san or Saijou-san,” Junna frowned, her voice lowering rather wistfully, “I’m not like Karen or Mahiru-san either… people are more relaxed around them, while they always tense up around me. I wish they don’t have to be so reserved.”

“Is that so? I don’t get why though. I certainly don’t feel nervous talking to you.”

“Maybe it’s because you’re a traveler so you don’t have the preconception of the Hachi?”

“You should give yourself more credit. I think you’re a people person.”

“You’re better at it though, especially with the children earlier.”

“Like I said before, it’s only because of the bananas! Food helps along the process of making friends,” Nana twittered and patted her signature banana pigtails. “I suppose my special hairstyle helps too~”

“I don’t know how you got your hair to look like that. Karen wears her hair in pigtails too but… ah Karen is my friend, one of the Hachi that I usually team up with,” Junna shook her head, chuckling. She seemed rather fond of this Karen with the way her eyes softened even as she grumbled. “She is always so energetic and has a bounce in her steps so those pigtails sort of… flap like puppy ears.”

“Hmm, I can be a puppy too.” Nana pouted and pushed her pigtails upwards once more, smiling when Junna laughed at that.

“You really like bananas don’t you?”

“Yup! Not only they’re easier to find in the wild, they’re also quite nutritious. What’s your favorite fruit then?”

Junna fell silent for a moment, eyes furrowed as if taking this casual question as a serious inquiry. Nana patiently waited, even slowing down her pace for her companion.

“I don’t really have a preference but, if I have to pick something, it would be strawberries,” Junna says hesitantly, averting her eyes like a sheepish child. “I don’t really indulge myself often, since they’re rather expensive especially around this time of the year…”

“True, I like all kinds of food too but I rarely have funds to spare for the more pricey kind- urk!“ Nana was too immersed in learning more about her new friend that she inadvertently bumped into someone, right against her injured shoulder.

“Sorry about that!” The large worker struggled to regain balance with the various tools he carried, but he still managed to greet them amiably before continuing his way in a hurry.

Nana could only clutch at her shoulder and breathe deeply to suppress the burning pain.

“You’re hurt!” Junna quickly but gingerly ushered her away from the center of the road. “We must go to the clinic to get it checked out-”

“No, it’s okay, it’s not that bad,” Nana fought not to grimace and inwardly prayed that her scab did not tear.

“If you’re worried about the issue of being a foreigner, then it’s okay because I know the head physician. There’s nothing more important than making sure you get proper treatment.”

No one, especially not a medical professional, could see her wound. There would be too many questions about her accelerated healing and she certainly didn’t want Junna to think any different of her. Although, Junna’s sincere concern did make it difficult for her to lie.

“It was just a cut. It’s healing just fine - I had an encounter with… bandits back in Gallia. It’s been weeks. My shoulder is just a little sore, that’s all.”

“Oh… I thought maybe you fought against some youkais, ones that we Hachi failed to eliminate…”

“Youkai aren’t the only monsters out there,” Nana said quietly. “I just wasn’t expecting the pain. See? I’m fine.”

She carefully moved her arm, ignoring any stabs of pain, and mustered a small smile. Junna appeared unconvinced, though she seemed to be pondering over her words too.

“To my knowledge, there aren’t any bandits around these parts. Youkais have always been the main problem for us. I’ve never been out of Acacia so I don’t know what things are like out there…”

“Travelling is great, that I won’t deny. The adventures are fun and you learn so much about so many different things but still,” Nana’s smile dropped as she surveyed the busy street where people went about their daily lives with the certainty that they have a place to return to. “I’d rather have a… home, a place of belonging, y’know? Somewhere that would compel me to go back to if the trips become too much.”

“I suppose I’ve never really thought about such matters before,” Junna looked more troubled now but at least her attention wasn’t focused on the injured shoulder anymore. “I live at Seishouya, the Hachi’s headquarters, with my comrades, and my parents still kept my old room back at the Hoshimi compound. I guess I’ve taken things for granted, huh? Is that why you’re going to Albion?”

Nana had to take a moment to remind herself of her cover story. “Yes, sort of. I’ve never been there before, so maybe I’ll like it.”

“How about Acacia then? This is your first time here too.”

“Well, it’s only my first day so it’s hard to say,” Nana chuckled at Junna’s faint blush. The latter must have realized how brusque her question sounded, though Nana found such straightforwardness to be one of her charm points. It was true in a way that this was her first time here at Acacia, the Acacia that Junna was showing her. “Like I said earlier though, I’m glad I came here first. I got to meet you after all.”

“Aren’t you a flatterer,” Junna gave her glasses a habitual adjustment, her cheeks darkening.

“I’m just being honest. If I hadn’t met you, I would have left already without having enjoyed your company.”

“... I enjoy your company too.” Though a quiet mumble, Junna sounded like she meant her words and that truly warmed Nana’s heart.

Reassured that she really made a new friend, she allowed herself to relax more and chat about personal things, such as preference in clothing style and colors. She couldn’t remember the last time she talked this much about herself, about Daiba Nana, to someone who seemed just as curious to learn too.

As Junna led her around the marketplace and talked a little bit about each shop, she was making mental notes about the helpful archer instead of the surroundings. The basic layout hadn’t changed since her last visit, with commodities like rice, wheat and spice displayed on one side while handicrafts and tools were sold in more crowded formations on the other side. Junna’s love of literature and constellations were more fascinating than the stores.

She almost made a beeline for the book stall but sheepishly stopped in time to gesture at one of the cheaper bakeries. Under her recommendation, Nana managed to get a good deal on bread, cheese, a bag of flour and even some mushrooms. This was probably the best use of funds that she’s done in years. With her selling deep forest herbs and berries and Hikari selling the game she’s hunted, the two of them only managed to scrape by every day. They only invested in practical items like whetstones for their blades, rolls of fabric to mend torn clothes or to be used as blankets when it got too cold, and of course kitchenware.

Humming, Nana slung her knapsack over her good shoulder, pleased with all stuff she bought with more than enough funds to spare. Maybe she could buy one of the books that Junna spoke of. Fiction was a decent alternate reality to escape into whenever the real world got too stressful, and it was always fun to immerse herself in a good story. She knew that Hikari was an avid reader as well, from the rare times that she talked about her Albion days. Therefore, such extra purchase should be welcomed.

“What was that novel you mentioned earlier, Junna-chan? It was written by an Albion author, about a romance between two feuding families…” Nana trailed off at Junna’s silence, finally noticing just how pale the latter looked. “Let’s find a place for you to rest.”

“I’m okay…” Her wispy voice was the only warning Nana got before she swayed and toppled forward.

Nana instinctively caught Junna before she fell, though the impact jostled her injured shoulder and caused a groan to slip through her gritted teeth. Hearing that, Junna tried to pull away but she could only clutch at the taller woman’s cloak to remain standing.

“I’m sorry… I just n-need a minute…”

The sheer fatigue in her voice made Nana’s stomach churn. How could she not have noticed earlier? She should have insisted on making Junna go home to rest after her errands were completed. From the way she treated the people, it was obvious that she put them before herself and thus didn’t say anything during their shopping.

“Pardon me,” she lowered her voice firmly and wrapped one arm around Junna’s waist before the latter could react. While she wasn’t able to carry the shorter woman due to her injury and the full knapsack, she could at least support her weight as much as possible.

Awkwardly and slowly, the pair made their way towards an open area that had some benches and tables, most likely for customers of a nearby teashop. A few elderly men, upon noticing their approach, hastily vacated their spot for them.

“Thank you kindly.” Nana smiled as they fussed over the mortified Hachi, saying that they were about to leave anyway and she needed the seat more than they did, after everything she had done for Acacia.

“I can’t believe this… that elders would put me before them…” Junna sighed shakily, taking off her glasses to briefly rub her eyes. “Again, I’m sorry about-”

“That’s not what I want to hear, Junna-chan, and I should be the one to apologize. I didn’t realize just how tired you are.”

“No, that’s only because I purified the mizuchi…”

Ki depletion. That makes sense. So, she can purify youkais-? “We will take a break here, and then I’ll escort you back home, okay? You’ve done enough today,” Nana peered at the visibly dizzy woman, uncertain what she could do to help. After a moment’s hesitation, she unclasped her cloak and took off her coat to drape it around Junna’s slouched form. “I’ll be right back.”

“H-huh-? Where are you-”

Without giving her a chance to protest, Nana went to order a pot of hot tea. A nearby vendor caught her attention too, and she impulsively purchased the box of strawberries after a brief inner apology to Hikari about splurging their funds. Already, she could picture Junna’s visage lighting up with delight and that was enough of a reason. Truth be told, she felt self-conscious about this impromptu gift, considering they just became friends, but she couldn’t think of a better way to treat the hardworking Hachi.

Her money pouch was practically weightless by the time she was ready to return to the table. Junna looked rather small, covered by her large coat, and she was resting her chin on her interlaced fingers, valiantly trying not to doze off.

Before Nana could call out to her though, two women approached Junna and were greeted with a sheepish smile. The pigtailed brunette was gesturing animatedly while the dark-haired one was speaking in a quiet tone, both of them clearly concerned.

“We went all over the place looking for you, Junjun! Futaba-chan said she hasn’t seen you since this morning!”

“You should have gone back to Seishouya long ago. You must be terribly tired.”

“I can still-”

“Non non da yo, Junjun! You always tell us to take care of ourselves, so it’s Mahiru-chan and my turn to fuss over you now!”

“Karen-chan is right, Junna-chan. Come on, you can lean on us.”

Junna’s eyes were previously clouded in exhaustion but now there was a spark in them that could only be caused by the presence of her two friends. Even though Nana was only several paces away, Junna seemed so far out of reach then.

The pang of solitude reminded her that the Hachi had her own world and she was just a mere acquaintance. Therefore, she should act like one instead of overthinking things. She cleared her throat awkwardly, almost reluctant to intrude but still she would like Junna to enjoy the snacks she bought even if she wouldn’t be around to witness it.

“Here you go, something to give you a bit of energy!”

“Nana-?” The bespectacled woman blinked at the box of strawberries and pot of tea that she carefully placed on the table.

“Seems like your friends have found you, Junna-chan. Now that you’re in good hands, I shall take my leave.” She politely nodded at the two women, who looked surprised at their exchange. “Thanks for showing me around. I really appreciate it.”

“W-wait!” Junna struggled to stand up and might have stumbled if it weren’t for the pigtailed brunette’s reflex. “Your coat, thanks, um, for all of this… I-I’d like to repay you somehow. Oh, how about tomorrow? I’ll be functioning better by then, I hope, and besides there’s the upcoming festival that I’d like to tell you more about so, uh, if you’re fine with staying around Acacia a while longer?”

Nana was too taken aback by the invitation that she barely noticed Junna rambling and her friends exchanging significant looks.

“Of course. I’d love to spend more time here, with you,” she tried to keep her voice steady, accepting her coat back. “Please rest well, Junna-chan. I’ll… see you tomorrow then?”

“Yes, at noon… I’ll be here.”

Not trusting herself to speak properly, Nana could only nod at that and hurried away before her composure cracked. That fleeting bout of loneliness was washed away by the anticipation of seeing her new friend again tomorrow. Though emotional, the overall positive sensation was euphoric to the point that she felt as if she was skipping on clouds.

She considered her ability to mask her true feelings quite honed over the years but Junna easily pierced through her walls, like arrows even. That wasn’t a bad thing though, for a weight was lifted off her chest and this was definitely one of the most interesting days she’s had for a long time.

Nevermind having to hide her true identity. Nevermind that deadly duel against the strongest of the Hachi. Nevermind the countless problems that lurked in the future.

Instead of trudging through each day and simply surviving to maintain the facade of a peaceful life, she had something to look forward to at last.

I’ll be more observant tomorrow, Junna-chan. I’ll make sure you have a good time accompanying me!

A spike of angry ki caused her to tense for a moment but she dropped her guard slightly upon recognizing who was waiting for her by the edge of the town. She gulped nervously at Hikari’s icy glare and wondered if it was too late to beg for forgiveness. She did promise to would return before she woke up, with freshly baked treats too.

Not to mention I barely have any funds left… yikes.

“It is late afternoon.”

Nana tried to smile to diffuse the tension. “I’m sorry, I got caught up but uh, I promise I’ll whip up a delicious meal as soon as we get home… you must be really hungry.”

“I was.”

It was then that Nana noticed her companion wasn’t as upset as expected. In fact, having known the emotionless woman for years, she would even dare say Hikari looked… pleased? And what was the small white item clipped to her belt? Some sort of bear plushie?

“What is that-”

“Don’t ask.” Hikari hastily covered it with her cloak and stormed away. “Hurry up. Just because I got some stew earlier doesn’t mean I’m not hungry.”

“But really, where did you get-”

“Quiet. I do not want to hear another word from you.”

Grinning, Nana easily caught up to the fuming woman with a few strides but wisely remained silent as told. It was so rare that Hikari was in a good mood and she’d like to relish that for as long as she could. Their familiar bickering allowed her to calm down and regain control over her emotions at least.

It seemed like she wasn’t the only one who had a great time in town today. Once they had settled down and Hikari was more complacent with a filled stomach, Nana vowed to get the details.

There were no stars tonight.

Acacia’s streets were lit only by dim kerosene lamps that glowed rather pathetically in the thick mist. The Kiri no Yoru, or Fog Night, blanketed the earthen streets like a wraith, cold and foreboding, hiding the dangers that lurked in the shadows. It was rarely this dark, Hoshimi Junna observed. Usually the stars were there, casting a soft light that helped her see, while in some fortunate situations even the moon would be there like a bright white mirror in the sky. Neither were present tonight and the darkness filled Junna with dread.

“Where were they last seen?” Aijou Karen asked as she flicked her sword. Though whether this was due to apprehension or excitement, Junna could not tell.

“They should be within the vicinity so please keep your guard up.”

“It’s awfully dark, don’t you think?” Tsuyuzaki Mahiru gripped her mace so tightly the angles of her knuckle bones were prominent enough to be seen.

Karen’s twin tails swung as she turned her head this way and that in order to survey their surroundings. “It’s okay, Mahiru-chan. I can see perfectly! I definitely won’t let those youkais get a jump at us. Besides, Junjun is also here and nothing will get past both of us.”

Junna frowned slightly, feeling that Karen’s faith was a little ill-placed given the situation. While she had no doubt in her ability to sense her surroundings, Junna was still worried that in this dense fog anything could happen. Moreover, their skill had more to do in seeing ki and less seeing youkai. After all, humans emitted a distinct wavelength of energy, while their foes absorbed ki. Youkai would simply look like dark voids in an already black backdrop.

Nevertheless, it was comforting to have Karen and Mahiru with her during this Fog Night. More often than not, they were deployed on their own or in pairs, but Junna supposed that after what had happened to Maya, it would be wise to be cautious. It was one thing to have one of the Hachi, the eight guardians of Acacia, out of commission, but to have the Tenkai unavailable during a Fog Night was especially worrisome. They were effectively without their top ranking warrior and leader.

Junna nearly jumped out of her skin when a resident’s child exclaimed from an open window, “Look, it’s them! The Hachi! Okaa-san, look!”

“Shh! Don’t bother them and close the windows. It’s dangerous!”

The three young women paused in their patrol, gripping their weapons even tighter than before.

“Hachi…” Mahiru spoke softly with worry thick in her voice.

Ever proud of their prestigious group, Karen stood akimbo and cracked a courageous grin, “They’re all depending on us! We shouldn’t let them down, Mahiru-chan, Junjun!”

Junna agreed. Of course, she did. Failure was not an option. Acacia only had them, the Seishouya, to fight against the youkai that plagued the town nearly every night. And among the ranks of these trained warriors, the Hachi stood at the pinnacle with enchanted weapons bestowed upon them by the mighty Kirin that allowed them to slay youkai efficiently.

Now if only there were actually eight of them. As it stood, they were only seven.

Six, now that Tendou-san is unable to fight.

Junna noticed a shadow moving at the edge of her vision as they rounded the corner. Karen and Mahiru seemed to have sensed it too as they both drew their weapons in a defensive stance. Junna immediately notched an arrow and instructed the other two to proceed with extreme caution. Youkai hunted in packs of nine, and it could prove fatal if they were not careful.

“I’ll drive them out and you can shoot down whichever I miss!” Karen exclaimed, her sword’s mirror-like sheen catching even the faintest lamp lights. “Mahiru-chan, keep Junjun safe!”

“Karen-chan, wait!”

“Karen!”

Junna groaned, frustrated that once again Karen ran off and dove headfirst into a fight. It was a dangerous habit, one that they have tried to convince the brunette to outgrow, but when Karen got excited, there was no stopping her. Junna would just have to make sure that her friend would not be vulnerable. With coattails billowing in the fog, she and Mahiru ran after Karen down a dirt road in between wooden houses. Even in near pitch darkness, Junna could tell that they were near the fishing ports of Acacia. She knew her hometown like the back of her hand and the scent of fish and algae were vivid signs.

Near the water by the docks, they saw Karen fighting three youkai.

Junna immediately silenced Mahiru before she could call out to their friend and warned her that there would be at least six more prowling about. Focusing on her energy and dropping to one knee to remain hidden behind a stack of dilapidated fishing boats, she attempted to locate the others and in doing so she gained vital information about what they were fighting. The youkai were water spirits that were driven mad by the Fog. The three that Karen was fighting had long, scaly arms that reached all the way down to the ground, and skin that shone wetly under whatever light managed to find them. On their terrible visages were wide, leathery bills that took up most of the monster’s faces. In coming son, their beady eyes were almost invisible especially while shadowed by the tough, coriaceous cap-like appendage that covered the top of their heads.

“They’re slippery!” Karen warned as she hopped away from her enemies to gain breathing room. Junna was thankful for the warning but more so because it looked like the swordswoman had finally learned a bit about subtlety, at least in regards to their hiding spots. There have been many instances when Karen had unwittingly given them away due to her inability to keep her voice down and shouting towards their direction.

When one of the youkais lunged at her, the brunette then ducked and side-stepped to evade its long swings and pivoted last moment to land a decisive thrust into the monster’s gut. An undulating cry pierced Junna’s ears as viscous black blood dripped from where Karen had disemboweled the beast. “Kappas?” She muttered under her breath in disbelief. Kappas were usually not a threat to humans. They were not typically this big either. As far as Junna had researched, kappas only grew as big as a small child and only tormented those who had transgressed them first. But then, it was not like they were free of malice. They were known to drown humans at times and with the Fog so thick, they must hunger for human innards and blood.

The Fog must also be responsible for their abnormal sizes.

“Junna-chan?” Mahiru voice was small next to her, she must have heard her observations.

“I know what we’re fighting but I don’t know where the others are. Mahiru-san, help me locate the youkai that’s leading these Kappas while I assist Karen from the roof.”

Without another word, Junna quickly moved from where they hid in order to find a better place to shoot down the enemy. Karen was still fighting out in the open, her movements exaggerated and unpredictable. She certainly lacked the finesse of the other sword users of the Hachi, but she was resourceful and her swings were powerful. Claudine once commented that Karen’s swordplay was akin to that of a brute, but Junna had observed how much the brunette’s technique had improved over the years. Besides, during a Fog Night, artistry was rarely a deciding factor.

Instead, what mattered most was a warrior’s effectiveness in taking down foes.

And Karen was effective. She must have realized what they were dealing with at this point, and she had switched from targeting the massive, 8-feet tall youkai’s extremities and focused more on the kappa’s weak spots, their head. Unfortunately, the woman’s stature was not as stupendous as their other comrades’ and that made reaching the giant kappas’ caps a feat.

But that was where Junna came in. She returned her arrow into the quiver clasped on the small of her back and hung Hisuiya, her bow, around her torso. With feline-like agility, she took hold of a fishing shack’s rafters and pulled herself up on the roof where she would be able to fire her arrows freely. Steadying her stance on one knee, Junna notched an arrow and pour ki into the bow, making Hisuiya’s augmented emerald glow serenely in the mist. Aiming using her energy senses rather than her poor physical eyesight, the archer steadied her shoulders and let the arrow fly. It zipped through the thick Fog and found its target with an audible thud which resulted in a subsequent screech.

With one of the kappas motionless on the ground, Karen charged at the second one with great bravado. Known for her energy and stamina, she crouched and then jumped as high as she could in order to land a decisive blow to another kappa’s head with her sword, splitting the youkai’s cranium in half and spilling thick green liquid onto the dirt road.

“Hehe~ Nice one, Junjun!” Karen chirped as their foes fell lifeless on the ground.

“Focus, please!” Junna instructed rigidly as she notched another arrow.

Sure enough, another youkai burst forth from the river’s green waters. It roared and swiped its massive, scaly hand with so much force at Karen that she was thrown into a fishmonger’s store, where she ended up in a pile of wood and splinters after the impact destroyed the front furnishings and cracked the wall.

“Karen!”

Cursing under her breath, Junna shot at the offending youkai and hit it squarely on the chest. Though not its primary weakness, the holy ki imbued in the arrow burned through the monster’s flesh and it dropped on all fours. She shot at the others as well and felled yet another by a well-aimed arrow to the throat, making it double over gurgling blood.

“Mahiru-san, please check on--”

Junna did not even get to finish her command when she saw a trail of blue light cutting through the thick Fog. Enraged by Karen’s fall, Mahiru had stepped up with a vengeance, twirling her heavy mace as if it weighed nothing more than a feather. She swung the weapon and bludgeoned the downed kappa so hard its skull gave off a sickening squelch, the innards wetly splattering on the ground. With a battlecry, the mace wielder then used the momentum of the weapon’s heavy head to wallop the nearest youkai’s jaw, making it fly clear off the earth and back into the water. Junna was sure that was one was dead too as she saw how its lower jaw was disjointed from its head with a crunch.

Without missing a beat, Junna set her attention to locating the other youkai that must be part of this pack. Youkai always attacked in sets of nines, mirroring the Kyuubi no Kitsune’s many tails. The demon fox was their master, the harbinger of the Fog and the demon of illusions. It was said that the Kyuubi ruled over the deep forest beyond Acacia, where the Fog was thickest.

As members of Hachi, Junna and her comrades trained night and day to fight this menace, to eventually earn the title of Tenkai so that they would be worthy of the Kirin’s blessing to challenge and defeat the Kyuubi. Tendou Maya was their current Tenkai, their leader, but ever since she had been defeated by the beast and rendered indisposed, their situation had worsened. Junna shook her head and resolved to put aside thoughts about Maya’s status now that she was unable to fight, for tonight there was Fog and when there was Fog, the Hachi fought.

And there were three of these monsters left.

She resumed her search, only to be alarmed by the black blotch directly underneath her. The tiniest of cracks was her only warning before the rafters she stood upon exploded in splinters as a huge clawed and scaly hand punctured it from beneath. Junna jumped away in time, landing on an adjacent house’s roof before the kappa could grab her. Without hesitation, she notched an arrow and fired at near point-blank range. The force of her projectile punched through the youkai’s eye socket and penetrated through to the opposite side of its head. For good measure, Junna pulled yet another arrow from her quiver and stabbed it through the kappa’s fleshy crest as well. She let out a brief sigh of relief when the monster lifelessly fell down from the hole it had made.

“Ow…” Junna heard Karen groan from where she had been flung like a toy earlier. The brunette shakily stood up, in pain but still whole, and used her sword, Chance, as support. “Don’t you really hate the sneaky ones, Junjun?”

Junna readjusted her glasses and responded, “A lot. Are you okay, Karen?”

“Karen-chan!” Mahiru was already by her best friend’s side with worry etched on her face. She lowered her fearsome mace and held Karen by the shoulders.

“Mahiru-chan, are you hurt?”

“M-me? You’re the one who was-- I should be the one asking that!”

Junna knelt on the roof closest to them, “We still have youkai unaccounted for. Do not let your guard down.”

“What about you Junjun? Are you hurt?”

The archer blinked, unused to the lower register of Karen’s usually energetic voice. “Yes, I’m fine.”

The brunette smiled up at her, though it might as well have been a grimace. “I’m glad.”

Junna could not help but return a small smile of her own before she sensed the rest of their query. Pushing up her glasses, the archer turned her attention to the swelling water of the river, where the kappas had crawled out from. The green waters rumbled and gurgled, bubbling and squelching until two youkai crawled onto the banks, their skin covered with a slippery sheen. They were also kappas, but Junna knew the final youkai to reveal itself would prove to be more of a challenge.

“Prepare yourselves,” said the archer as she stood, bracing herself for what was to come.

The remaining kappas ululated and their eerie calls sent a shiver down Junna’s spine. The water swelled as their howls intensified and a serpent burst out of the waves like a roaring geyser. With a long body lined with opalescent green and blue scales and a broad head sporting antlers, the kappa’s Oya revealed itself to the members of Hachi.

Junna clenched her jaw. This was not going to be an easy fight.

Even Karen was albeit taken aback despite her experience. “What is that?” The brunette shielded herself from the water being sprayed by the bellowing beast’s coiling body writhing above the surface.

“That’s a mizuchi,” Junna paused to take a deep breath in order to stabilize her nerves, “A river spirit.”

“But, Junjun, that’s a dragon!” Karen wailed as the mizuchi rose even higher and coiled around in mid-air before charging like a projectile towards the two Hachi on the ground.

“It is! Now, duck!”

Karen followed her command by instinct and narrowly dodged the 40-feet long serpent swooping down at her. Thankfully, Mahiru’s reflexes were sharp enough to save her grievous injuries as well, even though she landed on a heap of fishing nets on the the other side of the street. Junna jumped onto another shack’s roof and watched in horror as the dragon-like youkai plowed through wooden columns that held up the neighborhood’s many overhanging rafters.

“We have to bring it away from the townsfolk!” Hollered Karen, who had just regained her composure.

Junna agreed wholeheartedly. She notched and drew an arrow, expertly following the mizuchi’s swift and erratic flight. She let loose but only managed the graze the beast’s long watery mane. It was enough though. The serpent bellowed and circled back, baring its teeth.

To her comrades, Junna shouted, “I’ll lead it away!” But then she noticed that Mahiru and Karen were both preoccupied with the remaining kappas by the river. Hardening her resolve, Junna hopped from one rooftop to another, finally landing on the walkway by the riverbank where the mizuchi would do less damage. Expertly, she pivoted and shot two arrows at the monster, one after another. One of the projectiles embedded into the serpent’s neck. However, without a quick moment to pour ki into the bow as she fired, Junna knew that the arrow barely hurt her foe. She turned and ran once again, carefully thinking of her next move.

The river serpent was catching up to her lead, diving into the water where it moved even faster. To Junna, that was a blessing in disguise. She used the moment to skid into a halt and jump up an overhanging tree branch while the youkai was unaware. With arrow notched and drawn, the archer poured ki into the Hisuiya and its emerald began to glow once more just in time for when the mizuchi sprang out of the water. Junna fired and the energy infused projectile flew true but the agile serpent twisted its body just enough that her ki only managed to rasp off several scales from its hide.

The mizuchi roared and spat a powerful stream of water from its mouth, forcing Junna to jump from her perch. To her horror, the youkai caught her leg by its talons and dragged her higher and higher into the air. It made her lose her grip on Hisuiya and the bow fell towards the ground below.

The archer screamed in fright now that she was within her foe’s grasp. She must think fast! If the serpent dropped her from this height, she would not survive. The mizuchi continued to spiral upwards, its long coils looking frighteningly beautiful in the bleak darkness, its scales like green and blue jewels.

It reawakened a closely treasured memory.

Blurs! Everything was a blur! Her glasses, where were they?

An image flashed in front of her eyes. A picture of fog, of fear and uncertainty, but also of a brilliant figure cloaked in white and gold. The towering silhouette spoke in kindness but Junna could not see its face clearly. Its eyes though, she would never forget. Jade green they were and as gentle as a breeze on a meadow.

“That was very brave of you,” the bright tower told her, “It’s okay. Everything will be okay.”

That memory from her younger days allowed Junna to recenter herself. At 21, she was older now, more experienced. Though she would forever be thankful of that miracle, she had vowed that she would better herself and become a Hachi of worth. She quickly secured her glasses, which had been dangling precariously from her forehead, and reached down to her waist where she kept the memento of that fateful day.

The tanto sang as it left its sheathe, the blade shining like the mizuchi’s scales. Though gravity worked against her, Junna swung wildly from the dragon-serpent’s clutches until she was able to pull herself upright and, with a desperate cry, bury the blade into the beast’s shoulder. The youkai screamed in pain, coiling so fiercely that Junna was forced to cling onto its mane as it made a mad dive back down towards the river.

Junna could not even spare a moment to feel triumphant that her tanto managed to pierce the serpent’s hide for she was screeching at the sensation of freefall and the fast approach of the water’s surface. Instinctively, she knew that colliding with the water’s surface tension would knock her out if not kill her, so in a mad decision at self-preservation, Junna yanked the tanto from the beast’s flesh and jumped from the plummeting youkai towards a thickly leafed tree at the water’s edge. Twigs snapped and leaves were torn from branches but the tree broke Junna’s fall well enough, although that did not make her landing very graceful or painless. She was lucky to get away from her stunt with mere scratches.

“Junjun!” Though dizzy, it was difficult to ignore Karen’s loud voice. Junna groaned and sat up from where she landed and fixed her glasses that were now cracked by the fall. She was infinitely thankful that it was still usable.

“Are you okay?”

She could only answer with another groan.

“Junna-chan!” Mahiru soon joined them. “You scared me!”

Taking Karen’s offered arm, Junna shakily stood up and refocused her vision. Once she realized what she was holding, her face immediately contorted in disgust. “Why are you so slimy?”

“The kappas were slimy!” Karen retorted indignantly, feigning insult. She was covered nearly head to toe with kappa blood and goo. With a pout, she fired back, “You’re not looking too pristine either!”

Junna had no doubt she looked as disheveled as she felt and the scratch on her cheek stung a bit but there was no time to dally. She sheathed her tanto and said, “It’s not over yet. I need to fetch my--”

Karen grinned and held up Hisuiya with her other hand, “Already fetched, Junjun. Mahiru-chan and I already defeated the kappas. It’s just the Oya left!”

“I-I was only able to salvage a few of your arrows though, Junna-chan.”

That was right, when the mizuchi grabbed her by the leg, her store of arrows were scattered leaving her quiver empty. Junna gingerly took the handful of projectiles from Mahiru’s hand as trepidation crept up her arm as goosebumps.

This night was getting better and better.

The serpent erupted from the water a moment later, bellowing in fury. It immediately launched itself at the three Hachi with its fangs bared and ready to devour them once and for all. Karen looked as unfazed as ever, Junna noticed. The brunette feared no youkai, and it was that courage and tenacity that made her an icon of the Hachi. In comparison, Mahiru shrank back even though she showed a brave front and held her mace defensively.

Junna could hardly blame her.

“How dare you take Junjun like that?” Karen shouted her challenge and swung her sword in defiance of the youkai’s terrifying roar. Chance’s augmented ruby flared in the darkness of the night as the brunette poured a significant amount of ki into the blade. “I’ll never forgive you!”

With a formidable cry, the swordswoman attacked. Karen used the railing by the river to launch herself into the air with her sword drawn back. She then rotated her shoulders until the blade was overhead, as the foe drew closer and was mere feet away. She slashed diagonally, intent on slicing the youkai in half through its mouth but instead of biting into flesh, the sword was deflected by the beast’s armor-like scales that protected its head. Karen’s unmitigated force still sent it crashing down onto the ground, however, allowing Mahiru to swing her mace and break one of the youkai’s antlers.

But that was not enough and only served to anger the dragon even more.

“It’s so tough!” Karen barked after she tried to stab the serpent’s flank with her sword. With ki, the sword wounded the demon, but the mizuchi’s flesh healed nearly as fast as it was punctured.

“This is a river guardian, Karen-chan!” Mahiru hopped away to a safe distance. “I don’t think we can defeat it like we did the kappa.”

“So what do we do?”

Junna had been wondering about the youkai’s insusceptibility since even her ki infused arrow could not completely penetrate its hide. The Hachi’s weapons were created solely for the purpose of slaying youkai, and thus they were highly effective against the demons. However, it must be possible that if their foe was a benevolent spirit driven insane by the Fog, their weapons were rendered inefficient.

This was an observation that must be studied later. First, they must finish their business.

“Stand back,” she instructed her comrades, “If killing it won’t work, I’ll attempt to purify it.”

Mahiru paused and took several steps away from the growling but stunned serpent on the river bank, “Purify? But Junna-chan that’s--”

“We don’t have much of a choice.”

Junna disliked using her family’s gift for it drained her of so much energy. The Hoshimi and Hanayagi Clans of Acacia came from a long line of holy men and priestesses, and were taught various rituals. Junna was not an exception to this tradition, especially after she had been chosen to represent her clan in the Hachi. She was not very good at it though, as she was not from the main branch of her clan, but she was nothing but determined.

Junna held Hisuiya close, her lips nearly touching the emerald on its tip. She whispered the incantations she had memorized long ago and began to feel the gem syphon energy in such an accelerated rate that she felt weak in the knees. Yet, she persisted. She would not allow this mizuchi to continue its rampage, and if it was indeed once benevolent, she would end its suffering. So Junna chanted, her mutterings fueled the stone, making it glow brighter and brighter until it illuminated like a green star. The wind picked up despite being bogged down by the Fog and encircled her, teasing her disarrayed fringe.

The mizuchi sensed her power and rose, whipping its talons and mighty tail. But Junna’s comrades have struck it hard so it remained disoriented.

It gave her just enough time to perform an acceptable purifying chant.

Junna parted from Hisuiya’s gem and notched three of her remaining arrows at the same time. As she drew back the projectiles, their silver tips glowed with magic. Carefully, she aimed at the mizuchi’s crest, heart and belly, and let the feathers fly. The arrows turned into beams of green light and they travelled at a beautiful arching trajectory before finding their marks. They pierced through the serpent, leaving only light in their wake.

The youkai howled in pain so loud it was deafening. The wounds it suffered from the arrows slowly began to disintegrate its body, burning it away with holy energy.

Junna could only stand and watch with her friends as the mizuchi disappeared with one final bellow into the Fog.

“Wow!” Karen exclaimed, mesmerized by the spectacle. “No matter how many times you or Kaoruko-chan perform that, it’s always amazing!”

Junna let out a sigh of relief, though she wondered where Karen stored all her energy. Frankly, she was exhausted. In fact, image be damned. She allowed herself to fall on the grass, utterly drained. This was certainly one of her more involved youkai extermination missions to date.

“I’m improving at least…” she rested Hisuiya on her lap and readjusted her glasses. She thought about Kaoruko and how fast the other woman could deploy a similar spell. After all, Kaoruko could seamlessly fight while chanting. Hers took way too long. Was it because she was not a member of the main branch of her clan like Kaoruko was to hers? Was her blood so diluted?

She could already hear the Hoshimi matriarch’s sneer.

“You are weak. If there was another choice, you would not be standing amongst the Eight.”

Junna took a deep breath, pushing those toxic thoughts at the back of her mind. Those were nothing more than ghosts from her past. She was now a full-fledged member of the Hachi. Though her journey to her current station had been fraught with danger and challenges, she conquered them all. This was just another obstacle in her path to greatness like everything else.

She needed to work even harder.

Karen knelt in front of her with an encouraging smile, “Improving? Junjun! You’re definitely one of the best!”

Junna smiled softly, grateful of Karen’s honesty, and glanced at Mahiru, who also looked as exhausted as she was but happy all the same. “Thanks...but that’s that.”

“Mission accomplished?” The brunette teased.

She nodded, “Mission accomplished.”

Karen hopped back onto her feet, squelching due to all the kappa goo that covered her, and offered a hand. “Come on, Junjun. Let’s join up with the others. The sun’s almost up!”

Indeed the Fog was gradually lifting. This meant that the others have also defeated their foes on the other side of town near the forest. Junna was sure that with a team that included Saijou Claudine, Isurugi Futaba and Hayanagi Kaoruko, a youkai pack or even more would not have lasted for very long. In fact, the three women must be heading their way now as Junna’s group took far too long to dispose of their own targets. A quick ki scan certainly revealed as much. The others were only a few blocks away from them and approaching fast.

“Oi, Karen!” Futaba’s unmistakably boyish voice soon caught their attention. She and Kaoruko were crossing a bridge that spanned a nearby canal with their halberd and naginata resting on their respective shoulders.

“Futaba-chan!” Karen waved back with both arms after she sheathed her sword. Truly, Junna envied her stamina sometimes. Compared to the brunette, she was ready to just collapse on her bed.

Futaba and Kaoruko eventually joined them, looking none the worse for wear. Clearly, they did not have as much trouble as Junna’s team. The shorter woman surveyed the place and whistled, “This is one hell of a wreckage.”

Junna winced. As the sun rose and gradually lit up the townscape, the damage to the shops and homes by the river became more obvious. The residents were also emerging from their homes and appeared unhappy with the destruction. However, Karen the Optimist did not balk. She was already proposing a plan for a reconstruction to her fellow Hachi as if they did not spent the majority of the night fighting a powerful youkai.

“We’ll definitely try to make that work, Karen-chan,” Mahiru rested a hand on her best friend’s shoulder, “But for now I think everyone deserves to rest.”

“I agree,” Junna seconded but then noticed that Claudine was missing. “Where is Saijou-san?”

“A-ah…” Futaba scratched her cheek and looked worried, “She kind of took it too far last night. To be honest, the other side of town also suffered collateral damage.”

Kaoruko’s usually smiling mouth also turned downwards, “More from her than the youkai. Kuro-han is still very angry.”

“Yeah, she screamed challenges to the Kyuubi the whole time. The Kyuubi didn’t show, of course, but that only frustrated her even more.” Silence swelled for a brief moment before Futaba continued her tale. “Kuroko… she hasn’t--couldn’t-- accept what happened to Tendou-san. She slaughtered the youkai, ripped them apart with more cruelty than necessary.”

The victorious mood suddenly fell at the reality of the Hachi’s situation. Junna saw firsthand how Claudine took in the sight of Maya being brought in by Futaba after her fateful encounter with the Kyuubi. The blonde was inconsolable and violently demanded that she be given the chance to slay the creature who had rendered Maya half-dead with wounds and burns. As Maya’s partner, Claudine went as far as presenting her appeal to the Kirin itself. But the Kirin’s blessing never came.

Junna could only imagine her rage. She had never had the privilege of having a partner, for the Hachi currently had an open slot and was missing a member. She would work with the others often, but those temporary arrangements could not compare to the bond between actual pairs. Claudine and Maya have been partners for as long as Junna could remember. From training to taking their oaths as members of the Hachi to Maya becoming the Tenkai, they were both fierce rivals and loyal friends to each other and that made them a force of nature.

“Is Saijou-san safe though?” Junna asked out of concern.

“Well, given her disappointment, she’s probably off to vent somewhere.” Futaba sighed raggedly and rubbed the back of her neck. “Don’t worry, I’ll go find her. You lot can all go back to Seishouya.”

Junna nodded her assent for if there was anyone who could convince Claudine to lay down her sword for the day, it would be Futaba. She could place her faith on the reliable halberdier and carry on. After all, fighting youkai was not their only responsibility. Hachi was also the symbol of hope for the people of Acacia no matter how much of the town was ravaged by monsters.

Later, they must help mend their hometown but for now they would put aside their weapons and rest.

As the Hachi turned to go, Junna lingered for just a few seconds more to watch the sunrise. It always heralded salvation and hope after a night of Fog and evil. To her, it was the brightest star and she basked in its nurturing warmth.

Seeing it made her job worthwhile, made her feel triumphant.

Even more so than any glittering objects in the night sky.

=============================================

The blade pierced through the air, so fast and so vicious that she almost faltered.

Almost.

The dual swords crossed just in time to block the rapier’s fang, though the sheer power behind the assault propelled her a fair distance away. She dug the heels of her boots into the ground, managing to keep her stance to parry yet another relentless onslaught.

Tendou Maya.

That was the name that the Tenkai announced before charging at her with the terrifying calmness of a seasoned warrior. The ponytailed woman moved fluidly, each and every single step precise and deliberate for a consequent purpose. The soft hue of her lavender eyes belied the ruthless intent in her fatalistic stabs as they locked upon her form.

A quiet growl left her throat even as she tried to keep her expression aloof. She acknowledged that the Tenkai was the toughest opponent she had ever crossed blades with, and irrefutably the most persistent one to date. How she wanted to sneer at their foolish attempts on her life, when she could have easily destroyed them all.

The lust for carnage churned rather painfully within her chest at the prospect of ripping this woman apart with the true power she wielded. Growling again to clear her mind, she deflected yet another jab with her katana and swerved her wakizashi towards Maya’s shoulder to disable her.

For the first time since their duel began, Maya’s brows furrowed ever so slightly as displeasure flickered in her sharp gaze. The rapier glided along the edge of the katana in a cacophonous metallic screech while the thick hilt clashed against the tip of the blade just as she leaned back at a near impossible angle to avoid the shorter sword’s slash.

She stumbled forward, unprepared for such change in momentum for her blade did not sink into flesh as expected. Pain erupted as Maya’s steel-reinforced boots drove into her sternum and flung her back. Coughing, she stuck her katana into the ground to steady herself and instinctively swung her wakizashi to parry the next stab.

The rapier barely missed her jugular while her shorter blade grazed and locked at the complex hilt. Instead of disengaging, Maya shifted with the intention of ramming her pauldron at her chin. With her katana still embedded in the ground, she was forced to raise her arm diagonally to brace herself against the charge.

The tackle knocked her one step backwards but she persisted and quickly grasped at the Tenkai’s cape. However, Maya saw through her plan and twisted her rapier, shearing off a few strands of her hair as it licked against her cheek. If it weren’t for the wakizashi gouging into the hilt and adamantly keeping it at bay, she would have at the very least lost an eye.

Now, within the stalemate of their perilous embrace, she finally saw what she tried to ignore since the beginning of their encounter.

Her opponent wore a phantom of a smile, possibly amused at her consternated expression or simply thrilled at participating in this deadly dance.

But no, she knew that it was more than that. This wasn’t the first and it will not be the last she witnessed this unadulterated emotion.

The Tenkai could already taste her victory over the horrible creature known as Kyuubi no Kitsune.

She could feel her facial muscles tighten in cold fury. Who does this woman think she was? The most powerful of the Hachi was still just that, a human to kneel before the might of the Great Youkai. And to challenge her on her own turf? This woman was either arrogant and mad, or utterly certain of her skills as the path of her rapier.

Based on their violent exchanges so far, she decided that Maya was both.

As if understanding her inward assessment, the ponytailed woman narrowed her eyes while her lips curved in a pretty but warning manner.

“Tonight, I will free Acacia of your foul existence.”

Anger roared to life then and there. She was vaguely aware of the shallow cut on her cheek mending, for she could only taste the coppery tang of blood trickling into her mouth and arousing her fury. The air grew heavy, stifling even, yet she only smirked airily at the bout of euphoric lightheadedness.

“You shouldn’t play with fire, human.”

Alarmed, Maya reeled back just as smoke began to sizzle on her cape. She tore it off with a flick of her rapier but she quickly noticed that it wasn’t the only thing consumed by fire.

The world around them was washed anew in flames of hell.

The Tenkai readied her rapier to whisper undecipherable incantations, her desperate cling to composure admirable even as waves of cackling flames toppled trees like a monstrous hand squashing meager ants. The blue gem flashed rather innocently as the warrior poured her ki into her only chance in ending this inferno.

“The Kirin’s blessing… hmm? How laughable, to depend on such dubious source of power when the Hachi is meant to be the tails of the Kyuubi itself.”

She relished rather cruelly in Maya’s bewilderment even as the wretched sense of solitude suffocated her more than ever. With her body swathed in demonic fire, she picked up her katana and pointed it at her adversary.

“Show me, Tendou Maya, show me what makes your conviction burn so brilliantly!”

=================

Daiba Nana couldn’t help but blink when flashes of light entered her vision and snapped her out of her reverie.

“Your pin, it’s reflecting the light from outside into my eyes.”

“And?”

“Like I said, it’s getting into my eyes…” Seeing that her companion wasn’t about to take off the star-shaped hairpin, she tried to shift on the bed to escape the reflected beam. An undignified yelp escaped her lips when she was tugged back to her previous position.

“Do not move.”

“But-”

Her protest died at the pair of emotionless eyes trained on her person. Sighing, Nana decided that she was too tired to put up a fight about something so trivial and so she angled her head away from the offending brightness the best she could.

Kagura Hikari did not comment further and simply resumed her task of unwrapping the bandages around her shoulder. If anything, the black-haired woman was efficient in everything she did and Nana was glad to have an ally like her.

Well, they were living under the same roof so it would be beneficial for both parties to get along at least. That was probably the only reason Hikari was somewhat civil to her at all. They helped each other out, no more and no less. Truth be told, Nana would like to know her mysterious companion a bit more if only to ease the pang of loneliness that reared its ugly head from time to time.

Alas, Hikari remained just as closed off as the day Nana first found her.

“Any inch lower and you could have died.”

Nana only smiled at Hikari’s remark. Indeed, the Kirin-blessed rapier had scored a terrible wound from her shoulder all the way down to her chest. Even with her accelerated healing, a hideous scab remained behind and had to be bandaged properly as a normal person’s injury should be treated. On the other hand, Tendou Maya was…

“You did what you had to do.”

Closing her eyes, Nana let out a shaky chuckle. “Still. I am every inch of the monster people depict me to be.”

Hikari’s voice lowered to a cold octave. “Stop it. None of that self-pity. You’re being a nuisance.”

“You really know just the right words to say huh, Hikari-chan?”

Another deadpan was enough for her to swallow any more comments and simply let her companion wrap the new swathe of bandage over the horrid scab. Hikari had extreme aversion to be called so familiarly by her first name but sometimes Nana just couldn’t help it. She would like to think that they’ve known each other long enough, or at least lived together long enough to leave behind the last-name basis.

She surveyed their modest cabin with a tinge of pride. She built the place by herself long ago and the building still stood sturdy against all odds after all these years. While she understood her calling and true belonging to be elsewhere, this humble two-room abode was decent enough to be considered her ‘home’. The bedroom had a cot just wide enough for them to share, except Hikari always slept on the futon in the living room due to her “terrible nonexistent sleeping manners”, quoting the black-haired woman.

Various clothes and weapons were clustered around the shelves, all over the floor and stacked in a dangerously tilting pile by the window. Nana didn’t mind the clutter, while Hikari was also prone to discarding random items around the two rooms, perhaps even more so than she does. Their messy style was still organized in a way that only they understood and was one of the few things they agreed on, so Nana took that with a sense of appreciation.

The only tidy place is the small kitchenette and the hearth. For one, it was dangerous to keep anything close to the fire, but it was mostly due to their mutual respect for the sanctity of food. Ah, that was probably the other reason Hikari stayed with her. Cooking was a handy skill that Nana took great pride in.

She did tame the wandering stiletto-wielder through food after all.

“Hmm, it’s been three years since I first lured you home with my banana muffins, right?”

“The way you worded that is utterly infuriating.” Hikari has just finished removing the stitches from her wound and was giving her that unnerving trademark stare while holding up the very sharp scalpel.

Nana swallowed hard and tried to chuckle. “It’s true though. You wouldn’t have listened to me if I hadn’t had any food on me.”

“I had been on the run for three days without rest,” Hikari sighed and washed the tools in the basin of water on the nightstand before wiping them dry. “I wasn’t thinking clearly. Otherwise I would’ve tried to kill you.”

“Um, you did try to kill me, remember?”

“That’s because I didn’t know any better.” Hikari’s eyes darkened in cold disdain. “Like the rest of them.”

“They’re just doing their job. They mean good. The Hachi are good people.” Nana says quietly, her fists clenched in a myriad of emotions. “You felt it too, last night. The Kiri no Yoru was worse than usual yet they still defeated the demons in order to protect Acacia. That energy clash must meant they defeated quite the Oya, perhaps even a benevolent spirit that was corrupted.”

“You sound impressed.”

“Of course I am. They risked their lives to save innocent people.”

“The same people who wish for your death.”

Nana ignored the twinge at that callous yet truthful comment. She recalled the odd sensation she had experienced during that explosion of ki, when she felt as if she was airborne and filled with adrenaline. She glanced at the cloak that was draped over a stool, where the markings at the seam had briefly glowed red with the Kyuubi’s power at that moment then.

Could it be that girl?

That same pair of determined, fearless green eyes had softened in awe that one night years ago when she gave the defenseless archer her tanto. That very tanto bore the same markings as the cloak but there was no way that the young warrior could have tapped into the weapon’s true potential.

Had she become a worthy Hachi now? Was she unharmed after the terrible Fog last night?

Either way, Nana was pleased that her tanto had helped the bespectacled girl somehow. It almost felt as if she had contributed to the worthy cause of protecting Acacia too.

“You’re going to get yourself killed one of these days,” Hikari hissed softly, snapping her out of her musing. “You almost did, against the Tenkai, because you couldn’t decide on what you want.”

Nana laughed quietly, ignoring the prickle of despair she felt during the duel that night. “I didn’t know you cared - ngh! That hurts!”

Hikari tightened the bandages yet again, earning another choked squeak. “Maybe this will kill you.”

“Why are you being so mean to me?”

“You’re being insufferable.”

“I was just saying the truth,” Nana glanced at the black-haired woman’s travelling cloak crumpled on the futon where it had been used like a blanket, and smiled sadly. “There won’t be a day that goes by that I don’t find myself admiring the Hachi, to imagine what things would’ve been like if I were a part of them too. Isn’t that why you still kept your uniform?”

The moment those words left her mouth, she regretted them. Hikari tensed and her gaze became a fraction colder. For a moment there, it almost seemed as if she wanted to reach for the stiletto by the foot of the bed to slit her throat.

“I’m sorry,” the apology came out easily. “I… I was just hoping you would see where I was coming from.”

Hikari exhaled deeply and allowed the taller woman to place a comforting hand over hers. “No. I reacted too much. You’re correct. Even now, I cannot forget Albion.”

Nana frowned at how cold Hikari’s hand felt but wisely chose not to comment. She stared at the dark blue outfit that hung on the coat rack, one of the few things that remained pristinely-kept in their messy home. The distant city of Albion had trained Hikari everything she needed to know to become the most efficient fighter there was, a Tenkai worthy enough to accept the Kirin’s full blessing.

But Hikari had known too much.

And now, here they were, two outcasts who huddled together to lick their wounds and chased after the moon in a fanatical dream to end their suffering. Hikari wished for justice while Nana simply wanted to live in peace.

Their end goals may differ, but they were both survivors and that was perhaps what cemented their bond.

Hikari shook off her hand as she stood up, but paused for a moment to flick Nana’s forehead.

“Just don’t be so careless again. Are we clear?”

“I wasn’t careless…” Though in spite of her grumbling, Nana couldn’t help but smile, knowing that her awkward companion is just trying to show her concern. Mindful of the newly wrapped bandage, she pulled her shirt over her frame and buttoned it up before shrugging on her vest as well. “Thank you though.”

There was no response as Hikari flopped down on her futon and half-heartedly waved her hand in acknowledgement. Grinning, Nana stood up from her bed and tried to stretch without aggravating her wound, feeling that satisfying crack in her uninjured shoulder. Wanting to show her gratitude as well as to revitalize herself, she headed for the kitchenette only to discover that they barely had anything in the pantry.

Always eager to jump at any opportunity to go into Acacia, she hastily grabbed her katanas and reached for her coat.

“Where do you think you’re going? You should be resting.”

Expecting such reprimand, Nana kneeled by the futon and easily pushed Hikari back down. “Nope, you should be the one resting instead. You’ve been out all night, haven’t you? Just take a nap and by the time you open your eyes, you’ll be greeted with a plateful of freshly baked banana pastries~”

Hikari struggled to sit up but the taller woman was adamant. After a while, she exhaled in mild annoyance and fully slumped back against the pillow, wrapping her arms around her cloak. “You’re always so eager to play around in that town. Sometimes I wonder if you even remember that place harbors our nemesis. What if something goes wrong and the folks there discover what you are?”

Nana has definitely thought about such possibility every time she went there, yet her very soul was drawn to the people and the very land, as if she lived off of their existence.