Chapter Four: Spilling Bato Blood

The days Chiyo spent with Kinzo and his family were some of the most fun she's had in a long time since her grandmother got sick. Each day spent made her see how fun it must be to have such a big family. Even though everyone at the Myōō Dharani Sect weren't related by blood, they treated each other like family. She envied them in a way. For as long as she could remember it was just her father, grandmother and herself. Chiyo has no idea where her mother went after she was born, and deep down she always had a feeling that there was something missing in her life. Not Kinzo, since they only just met, but someone else who was once in her life but then suddenly disappeared.

It was an unbearable feeling to feel when you don't know the reason why you're feeling that way. The short few days that Chiyo was spending in Kyoto with Kinzo turned into a week. She ended up having this feeling almost like the Dharani Sect was becoming a home. Hitting its second week of her stay, Chiyo felt like if it was up to Kinzo, she would never go back to True Cross Academy Town. She had to talk to Kinzo.

She pulled up her long, eggplant purple hair into a long ponytail as she was getting ready for another at the Dharani Sect. She gave herself one last look over before going to look for Kinzo to have a talk. As she went to open the door to her room when she heard voices coming her way.

"I can't believe she's still here! I thought that stupid monkey Shima said she was only going to be here for a few days. It's going on two weeks now!" One of the Hojo sister complained to the other two. Chiyo knew who she was talking about. She was the only guest who was living amongst them who wasn't part of the Myōō Dharani Sect family.

"And what did Ossama mean about it being an honor to meet someone of the Bato name? I've never even heard of the Bato family!!"

"I know sister. She just needs to go home."

Chiyo listened as the three Hojo sisters continued on their way. A sudden rush of sadness took her over. She thought that everyone was so welcoming to her when there were a few who didn't like her at all. They saw her as an outsider and she didn't blame them.

"So, the Hojo sisters don't really like me. From what I've seen they don't get along with the Shima's that well either. Since I'm now close with Kinzo and an outsider, it would only be natural for them to dislike me in some ways. I need to get some fresh air. I'll talk to Kinzo later. But, I'll leave a note, so he knows where I went."

Chiyo quickly wrote down a few words as a note to Kinzo before leaving her room. She slowly made her way to the front part of the Toraya Inn to go take a walk around Kyoto. She needed to get some fresh air as soon as possible to give herself some time to think.

"Miss Bato, are you going somewhere? Is there something you need that I can get you?" One of the workers of the inn noticed that Chiyo was making her way out of the Toraya Inn.

"Oh, no, I'm just going to go out for a walk to get a bit of fresh air and to do some thinking. I'll be back before lunch. Please don't worry about me and please, don't tell Kinzo that I've gone out." Chiyo flashed a smile at the inn worker. The inn worker then bowed and returned to her work.

Chiyo stepped out of the Toraya Inn and into the streets of Kyoto. True Cross Academy Town was a big and busy place but not as big and busy as Kyoto. It was like walking through Wonderland for Chiyo.

"Wow! This place is so amazing. So much to do in just one day. I bet Kinzo would have lots of fun if he was here. In a way, I wish he was here right here with me. It would be a little romantic to be here at night." Chiyo looked around at the crowds and all the stores that were open. She thought it would be fun to go inside and maybe do some shopping, but she wanted to have Kinzo with her. She wanted to hold Kinzo's hand and walked down the busy streets of Kyoto.

"I'm starting to think of such embarrassing, lovey-dovey things. Wouldn't have thought of such things before I was with Kinzo."

A sudden red blush washed over her face as she continued to think about it. As she continued to slowly make her way through the busy crowds Chiyo looked up at the giant hillside that looked down over Kyoto. She noticed that it looked like there was a compound built into the side of the hill.

"I wonder what that is?" Chiyo found an old man with a street stand that he was selling little trinkets.

"Excuse me sir, but what is that compound up there on the hillside?"

"You must not be from around here young lady. That place up there is the old Bato Shrine. Such a lovely place it once was." The old man took a big puff from his pipe that was striking out from between his teeth.

"The... Bato Shrine?" Chiyo tried not to sound so surprised that there was a shrine with the same surname as her.

"Yes. The Bato family and those who followed them once lived here in Kyoto. They were a powerful group of Exorcists that looked after the people of Kyoto. It's sad that the shrine now sits empty. They say that the shrine is now haunted, and it will remain haunted until the head of the Bato family returns and clams the family's greatest treasure."

"Greatest treasure? What would that be?" This time Chiyo couldn't help but sound a little more excited this time.

"No one knows my dear, but it has said that the next head of the Bato family will know once he or she sees it. You sound quite interested young lady. Why is that?" The old man eyed Chiyo carefully.

"Oh, I... I just like learning about new things. This is my first time in Kyoto, so everything here is still new for me. I'm sorry for taking up your time but thank you for sharing that wonderful story." Chiyo politely bowed to thank the old man for his time before getting ready to walk away and head to the Bato shrine.

"Hold on young lady!" The old man stood from his seat, showing just how short the man really was. "take this young lady. As a welcoming gift to Kyoto." The old man handed Chiyo a necklace that had the word Kyoto written in a fancy gold script.

"Th-thank you sir. Are you sure it's alright if you just give this to me?" Chiyo took the necklace from the old man, looking at it in awe.

"Yes, like I said, it's a welcoming gift to you. Have a nice day young lady and be careful if you're going up to the Bato Shrine."

"Thank you, and I will." Chiyo thanked the old man once again before making her way back into the crowed to head to the Bato Shrine. she wanted to know more about the family name she carried with her.

As the old man watched Chiyo disappeared into the crowed he couldn't help but smile. He knew something that Chiyo did not.

"Looks like the Bato promise is about to be kept. May God protect you young Lady Bato as you take on the responsibilities of being the next Bato heir.

As Chiyo made her way closer to the hill side the crowds started to become smaller and smaller until she was finally able to walk around and breath properly.

"Few, finally, I'm able to breath some real fresh air." Chiyo stretched her arms above her head. Her long, white sundress just past her ankles lifted as she stretched her arms. When she finished stretching she looked down at the necklace that the old man had given her.

"I wonder why he gave this to me. He kept saying that it's a welcoming gift for it being my first time in Kyoto, but there are millions of people who visit Kyoto every day. There's no way he just gives these to people when it's their first time visiting."

As Chiyo thought about how odd the old man was she clipped the necklace around her neck. the gold script that said Kyoto laid gently on her chest. It sparkled when the sun just slightly touched it. A slight blush came over her as the sparkling gold glow reminded her of Kinzo's golden hair.

"I think of Kinzo way too much lately. I need to give it a rest before I drive him away with my obsession and think of something else. I wonder how dad is doing and grandmother. I haven't talked to them in a while, I think the last time I talked to father was when I first arrived here."

Chiyo continued to make her way to the edge of the hillside, still in thought about her family in True Cross Academy Town until she came to a set of stairs. She had no idea that she was being followed by something or someone from the greenery on the sides of the stair that headed up towards the temple. Two sets of red eyes followed her all the way to the top where the two set of eyes met with a third. It was only then when she noticed something wasn't right.

"Hello!? Is there someone there!? I don't mean to intrude but, is there someone here? I have a few questions about this temple! My name is Chiyo Bato, and I was wondering if I have any connections to this temple?! Hello?!"

Chiyo listened carefully to see if she could hear anything. She has a feeling that someone or something was still there, watching her from afar. Their eyes keeping a watchful eye on her. With no response and no signs of anyone coming out from hiding she continued her way into the temple to look around. Inside the temple was dark, but it looked like it was being cared for quite well. But according to the old man the temple wasn't in use anymore. Was someone living there now without anyone knowing about it?

"That's odd. By how that old man was talking it sounded like this place wasn't in use anymore. But it looks like someone has been talking good care of this place. I don't understand what's going on?"

Chiyo started to look around the main room of the temple. A giant gold statue stood in the middle of the room, not a single speck of dust could be found on it. Suddenly a gust of strong wind swirled inside the temple. Something she knew wasn't normal in a place like this.

"What's going on?! This isn't normal!"

As Chiyo continued to look around the temple at the strange whirl winds that was staring to surround her a sudden cut appeared on her arm. A small stream of blood started to trail down her arm. She looked down at her now bleeding arm just as a second and then a third cut showed up on her body. She had no idea what was going on.

"Stop!! Stop cutting me whatever you are!!" Chiyo covered her face with her arms as she collapsed to the ground. Her long white sun dress was starting to be stained in her own thick, sticky, red blood.

"Kinzo...help me... please!!"

Back at the Toraya Inn, Kinzo had just gotten back from his morning of temple duties and went to see how Chiyo was doing. He searched everywhere before heading to her room to see that it was also empty.

"I wonder where Chiyo is. Hey Ju, do you know where Chiyo is?" Kinzo asked his older brother as he was passing by.

"Did you lose your girlfriend already? I haven't seen her. Maybe she went out to walk around outside. She did seem to have something on her mind for the last couple of days. She didn't say anything to you?"

"No. she most likely doesn't want to worry me. She worried about others then worrying about herself when it comes to things like this." Kinzo started to think about the days before, and now that he thought about it, Chiyo did seem to be distracted.

"Ex-excuse me Mr. Shima sir, are you looking for Miss Bato?" The worker from earlier just happened to be passing by when she heard to two Shima brother's conversation.

"Do you know where she is?" Kinzo questioned.

"Well... not exactly. She said she wanted to get some fresh air to clear her head, so she went out to walk around Kyoto. She said she would be back before lunch. she asked me not to tell you where she went so not to worry you, but I can see that you're already worried about her."

"Thank you for telling me. Please return to your work." Kinzo thanked the worker and sent her on her way. Now that he knew where Chiyo had gone off to a little bit of him seemed to be at ease but there was also this feeling that he had to go look for her before something happened to her.

"Kinzo," Juzo snapped his brother out of his deep thoughts and worries.

"What is it Ju?"

"Go on and look for her. Kyoto is a big place. Someone like her who doesn't know the area, she could end up getting into a lot of trouble if she ends up in the wrong place."

Kinzo nodded and quickly took off to look for Chiyo, not knowing that she was already in a world of trouble.

When Chiyo woke up it felt like her entire body was in pain. Her body was covered in cuts and blood, never had she felt this much pain or covered in this much blood. She tried to make her hand reach over to get her phone, but her hand wouldn't do what her brain was telling it to do.

"Shirt! I can't call Kinzo or anyone in the matter. I- I don't think I can do anything to help myself. I'm so useless. I don't understand why Kinzo would want to be with someone like me. Someone who can't even protect herself. I should just die."

"That's right, you should just die."

"She should die."

"Just die already!!"

Chiyo heard three high pitched voices yelling at her. Each telling her to die. She moved her eyes, since that was all she could move, but she couldn't see anything.

"Is she dead yet? Do you think she's dead?!"

"Of course, she's not dead yet you idiot. She's obviously still breathing."

"Don't call me an idiot! I just want her to die already!"

Chiyo continued to listen to two of the three voices argue with each other. Over and over wishing for her to be dead. But Chiyo wasn't going to have it, she wasn't going to die like this.

"I'm not going to die." Chiyo forced herself to her feet. Her legs felt like they were going to give out from underneath her, but she wasn't going to let the voices she was hearing tell her to die.

The three voices were surprised at Chiyo's sudden strength to fight back.

"Look at the! The weak human still has some fight left in her. Our attacks weren't enough to take her down! What do we do know?" The more annoying voice complained about Chiyo not dying quickly enough.

"You're too loud, and annoying. I'm not going to die because I still have something to live for. I still haven't given Kinzo anything in return for his kindness. So, go ahead! Cut my body into pieces and drain out all my blood until there's nothing left. I don't care, but I won't die for your entertainment!"

Chiyo could feel this burning power coming from inside her. Like the temple that shared her family name was giving her inner strength.

"What's up with this human?! Her inner power is increasing at a rapped rate."

"Let's just slice her up into pieces !!"

Once again whips of wind started to cut up Chiyo's body/ Each cut landing deeper than the first. the pain got to the point to where she couldn't feel it anymore. She couldn't feel any pain at all.

"I don't feel any of it. I don't feel any pain. This isn't good."

"Bato Princess, come this way!"

Chiyo suddenly heard a voice call out to her. She looked to where the voce was coming from. Shinning on the far wall behind the Buda Statue that sat in the middle of the room was a light purple glow. Quickly, with what strength she had left in her legs, she ran towards the Buda statue, but the amount of blood that was running down her legs made her slip on the floor and fall. She couldn't get up, she had no strength left.

"No, she's really done for! Let's kill her now!!"

The three demons raced towards her but suddenly stopped. Chiyo had reached where the voice was calling to her and where the purplish glow was coming from. She touched a slab that was behind the Buda statue and inside she found a naginata wrapped up in a purple cloth.

"I-I don't know what this is but it seems you won't come near me as long as I have this." Chiyo held tightly onto the long handle of a weapon she never held before.

"How is she able to hold that naginata?"

"No one from this temple is around anymore! A mere human shouldn't be able to hold the Bato Naginata!"

Two of the demons yelled in both anger and shock. They turned and looked at the third who just stood in silence.

"We've made a grand mistake today. This human... no, this girl, she's of Bato blood. I can see the bright purple flam illuminating from her and from the naginata. The Bato blood that was spilled all those years ago now run though her vain. The Bato Princess.