Hey guys! Whazzup? This is a story I had to do for language arts class and well, I was looking through my old files and found it and I was like, 'Why not? Mr. Wright(My english teacher) asked if I ever thought of publishing my stories. He also asked me if I would ever think of making a longer version (Since I could only type a story that was 8 pages long XD) and turning it into a full-fledged book with chapters and everything. He liked all the research I did on Japanese culture and mythology that I did for this, he said it made it a lot more eye opening and a better read. He said to me, "Is it okay if I keep a copy of this to show to future students when they do this assignment?" Or course I had gotten super embarrassed and had said "Uhm... Sure? If you want." (I'm not used to teachers wanting to keep my assignments as examples for the projects XD) I really haven't thought about making it longer though. But I'm gonna post it here, and tell me what you guys want. Remember though, this was a school project so it's not as mature or graphic as my usual writing and honestly, I think this is one of the most boring things I've ever written. But whatever, I got a 97% on the first finished version (Usually he makes students go back and revise 2 or three times after grading. But those papers also are usually given scores that are 85% or below and my teacher doesn't expect less than best and he pushes people so hard XD). But yeah, so here you go, tell me what you think, should I turn it into an actual story or not? If I turn it into an actual story, it'll follow this plot, (Basically this would be like a super long summary of the full-fledged book I would write) so you'd probably already know most of what to expect, but I'll probably add new things(Actually I'll most likely add new things), make the battles longer and more descriptive and change a whole bunch of things around.

ALSO!!! At the very end, after the story, there's a term key for all of the Japanese terms I used, so if you don't know a word, look at the superscript number and scroll down to the key and check out what it is there. There's translations, breif histories and explanations on what they are in ancient Japanese mythology and/or culture. It also shows locations so you'll know the locations of the story and stuff.

Also, If I missed a term in my key and you don't know what it means, comment or private message me the term you want to know and what you want to know about it and I'll be happy to tell you! Or, if you want to know more about one of the things in the key, comment or private message me about it, and I'll tell you what I know and direct you to some reliable sources on the thing you want to know about and also subjects related to what you want to know!

Alright, I've talked too much, go ahead and read! Happy reading!!!

~Juria Kurosaki

*  *  *  *  * 

Oh, Benten! Goddess of legends and fables! Aid me in telling the story of Anami Kimiko. Warrior under the Heian Period[1], and defeater of the horrifying monster, Karasu Tengu[2]. Strong, fast, and cunning she journeyed for many weeks, seeing both beautiful and terrible things alike. She was honored for her service to Japan and her loyalty to her daimyo.[3]

Suffering bitter hardships and cruel villains, she continued on courageously, leading her legion to battle, fighting to the death to save her country. One by one her comrades were lost until only she was left.

Oh, tell us, Benten! Tell us this wonderful tale of the woman who saved us all!

Long ago, before years were even counted, lived a young woman who went by the name of Anami Kimiko. Kimiko was strong enough that the Teitoku[4] Akiyama Akito appointed her to his legion. Her battle skills and fast thinking quickly brought her up to the rank of a major general. But nothing, nothing she had ever experienced would be quite like this adventure.

"Aki!" Teitoku Akito called out to a servant, "Send in Rikugun-Shouso[5] Anami!" Aki nodded and left the room, quickly returning with the young woman.

"You called, my lord?" she asked, bending down on one knee before him, bowing her head in respect. Akito looked down at her and spoke.

"Off to the east, our neighboring lords are calling for help. A demon, which they are calling, Karasu Tengu has been terrorizing their villages. They ask that I send my best warriors. I have chosen you to be the leader of the legion I am sending."

"It would be an honour, my lord," she said respectfully, "I will do my best to lead our troops to victory against this, Karasu Tengu," She then stood, bowed formally and left without another word. She slid open the paper-screen door to her room, then quietly shut it. She had only just gotten back from her latest mission and had been hoping for at least a few days of rest. But she must always stay loyal to her daimyo and carry out his wishes. She had sworn to do so after all. She changed from the pale blue yukata she had been wearing, into her newly polished steel armor, which had saved her quite a few times in vicious battle. She tied back her long, black hair into a slick and neat bun. She kneeled down before the small shrine in her room, giving a silent prayer to her ancestors for good luck and protection on her journey. 

Quietly, she also then sent up a prayer to Hachiman[5], the god of war and battle, asking for his sacred good fortune on her journey and victory in her eventual battle against Karasu Tengu. Then, as she stood back up, she set her face in the bravest expression she could dredge up and headed toward the armory to collect her legion and weapons.

* * * * *

Upon arriving at the armory, Kimiko was greeted by her son, and also her most reliable Chusa[6], Anami Soto. He had served under her since he was only fourteen. He was twenty-three now.

"Rikugun-Shouso," he bowed respectfully, "we have been waiting for you Sa[7]," it had taken a while to get her son to address her as he would to any other of his superiors when he had first started his training. But now it was only second nature to him. She was always Rikugun-Shouso Anami, or Sa before she was Kaa-san[8] now. And even then, Kaa-san was still, only used in the rarest of moments.

"Of course," she says in a tone that she would use with any other on her team. Just because Soto was her son didn't mean he got special privileges.

It was no surprise that Soto would be accompanying her on this journey. He was one of her best fighters after all. And that was only the result of her being his sensei[9] as he learned to fight. The young man walked alongside her silently, respectfully, as she entered the armory and battle plan room, approaching a moderately medium sized group of men, all ranking from Taisa[10] through or San-i[11], and all under her direct command, discussing the journey and how they should prepare for it. When they had noticed she was there, they went silent and bowed in respect.

"Rikugun-Shouso," the one called Taisa Takashi Akihiro, addressed her soberly. Kimiko had never liked the man. She suspected that he might be trying to remove her from her position as his superior. It was degrading for a man to be below a woman in their society, as she knew very well.

Her case privilege as a Rikugun-Shouso was very rare and she had put her blood and sweat into earning it, "We've been waiting for you, Sa."

Kimiko acknowledged him with a single, curt nod then addressed the rest of the group, "Choose the weapons that you wish to bring along with you by tomorrow morning," She scanned the cluster of men, "We will be leaving no later than half an hour after dawn. If you are late, you will be left behind. No exceptions," She stood regally after she had given the order. Then she began to explain her plan. How they will travel what roads they will take, who they are meeting and what kind of battle they should expect.

"This is a creature we have never fought before," She explained.

"It'll be much more dangerous than an rival clan we have ever fought. Make sure you will be ready for anything that is thrown our way. I cannot promise that you all will come back to your wives unhurt... Or that you will come back at all."

As she finished explaining her plans on how the journey ought to go, she stood from the table they had been sitting at.

"Get a good night's rest tonight everyone, and have your horses and weapons ready by tomorrow at sunrise. Dismissed." With that, she and the rest headed back to their respective rooms for the night. This would be the last night of calm sleep for a while now.

* * * * *

At sunrise the next morning, the group began their journey, heading east along the Nakasendo Kaido[12] Road. As they continued down the road, going farther and farther from Kyoto[13], their home, they quickly approached the mountains. As they did, Kimiko's men became more and more anxious, for they had heard stories of the beasts that lived in these mountains. They had gone along the road, nothing daring to attack them until suddenly, an entire clan of Yokai Tsuchigumo[14], attacked them. Kimiko had been aware that these flesh-eating creatures lived in the mountains, but what she had not expected was that they would be living so close to the bottom of the mountain.

"Yokai Tsuchigumo!" One of her lieutenants, one of her Rikugun-Chūi[15], by the name Himura Isamu called out, loud enough for everyone in Kimiko's myriad of soldiers to hear.

"Draw your weapons!" The major general shouted to her men, "We're going to have to fight our way through these monsters!" She herself, then pulled the battleaxe that had been held in a sheath strapped to her back from its place and swung it at the first quickly approaching Yokai Tsuchigumo. Following her lead, the rest drew their weapons; swords, bow and arrows, daggers and other battleaxes like hers and rushed to join her in the fight.

There must've been hundreds of the grotesque creatures for every one of them that Kimiko killed, two would take its place after! Kimiko swung her weapon, slicing two of the offensive creatures' heads off in one blow. As she turned though, before she could react, one had jumped to pin her to the ground. It's disfigured face and stinking breath filled her eyes and nostrils, she could barely hold it's sharp teeth away from her face. Suddenly though, the thing let out a pained scream, she the pushed it off then delivered the killing blow. She saw the arrow buried in it's back and looked up to see one of her archers, Shōsa[16] Okami Sasuke. She sent a nod his way to show her thanks and her approval at his brave actions.

After long fighting and an undesirable amount of casualties, the Yokai Tsuchigumo had been defeated. Kimiko counted her men and found that, even though she started with a hundred, she was now left with only about thirty of them. Nonetheless, she and her soldiers continued on. They made it through the mountains with little more attacks. Usually just some weak Yokai Heikegani[17] and such. Even so, Kimiko and her men had trouble sleeping at night, fearful of the terrors living in the forested mountains.

After a journey through the mountains that lasted almost eight days, they emerged in a small village called, Yamayuki[18]. There, the residents welcomed them with food and warm beds. They were also able to tell them news of the Tengu and what he'd been doing to the people.

"He's huge!" one village woman by the name of Yukine described him for Kimiko, "He sets enormous fires to even more powerful villages! I've never seen anything like it!"

another villager, named Risuka continued on to say, "People are calling him Karasu Tengu because he looks very much like a crow," suddenly, a child pushed and shoved her way through the thick crowd that circled around her and her men, and made a beeline right up to Kimiko.

"Will you really kill Karasu Tengu?" She asked with bright, hopeful eyes. Kimiko smiled down at her.

"Of course," She answered, "I couldn't live with myself if I didn't," the little girl cheered and look up at her with a grateful expression.

"Thank you! Oh, Kami! Thank you!" The little girl laughed and smiled reaching her arms out to pull Kimiko into a warm embrace. The woman wrapped her arms around the child in an embrace just as warm. As she held the girl, she made a silent promise that she would most definitely kill Karasu Tengu if it was the last thing she ever did.

* * * * *

The next morning, Kimiko and her men said their goodbyes to the people in Yamayuki and continued on their way eastward. Their destination was the Daimyo, Sosui[19] Togame Yuichiro's manor. Quickly, they reached the Daimyo's manor and saw Yuichiro's samurai[20] fighting with Karasu Tengu. The tengu was magnificent albeit also horrific.

it had jet black feathered wings that allowed it to soar through the air in a dangerously graceful manner. its face was that of a raven's, as the villagers of Yamayuki had told her.

The name Karasu Tengu really did fit the monstrous creature. Kimiko set loose her men on the terrible beast, she herself following along right with them. Archers shot poison-tipped arrows through the air toward the Tengu.

They shot through the air at unbelievable speeds, but even with that remarkable velocity, it was all in vain, Karasu Tengu dodged them deftly, flying around and weaving between the airborne arrows, rising higher and higher to a place in the sky where even the farthest traveling arrows that were shot couldn't reach him.

Finally, though, an archer, Gocho[21] Okami Sasuke, the one who had saved Kimiko from the Yokai Tsuchigumo on their journey to this battlefield, shot him down with an arrow to his left wing. It had pierced him right through it and he plummeted toward the earth.

Once again the Rikugun-Shouso was in this man's debt. She'd have to repay him with a valuable gift. Most definitely a promotion no matter what. Possibly she could also grant a special wish he might. She had more than enough power in her position to grant a simple wish. As Karasu Tengu fell, Kimiko rushed forward, her battleaxe in hand, ready to bury it into his flesh and end him once and for all. The rest of the soldiers on the open ground where the fight was taking place, stepped back, not wanting to be in her way as she wielded her newly sharpened weapon as she charged using the energy of the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

As she reached the demon, Karasu Tengu let out a terribly grating scream, harsh on her ears and causing her to falter in her rush towards him. As she was distracted by the ringing in her ears, he lunged at her with a loud roar. She lurched away from the creature's attack just in time, its claws only grazing the top of her arm, causing a shallow cut, and turned to the ugly demon again, swinging her battleaxe up then bringing it back down on one of his wings, not chopping it off as she wished she might, but still creating a deep and gruesomely bloody wound. It was now absolute that it wouldn't be able to escape her now in any way.

She faltered in her charge toward him though when the Tengu turned, shifting its form. It formed its figure into something he was not. The beast's wings shrunk and its face flattened from the figure of a raven's and into that of a man. A certain man to be exact. A certain man that no longer walked on this earth. A man that Kimiko had loved deeply, and still loved even though he was gone now. Her husband.

His arms and legs shortened and the ends of the limbs changed from sharpened talons and into human hands and feet, nails cut short to they wouldn't get caught on fabric and pull out the threads. It had only taken one scolding from Kimiko to scare him into cutting them short so that it wouldn't happen again.

Dust swirled around the man that had taken Karasu Tengu's place in a briefly concealing cloud and constructed itself into a haori himo[22]. A certain haori himo. The man's favourite one which he used to always wear and the one that he would always put up a fight when Kimiko decided that it was so dirty that it needed to be washed. Desperately. And every time she would want to wash it, he would always have the same arguments:

"It's not that dirty," or, "Just one more day! Then we can wash it!" And her responses would always be:

"Have you looked at it?! It's disgusting!" Or, "Have you smelled it?! Even after you bathe if you put that thing back on it smells like you live with the pigs!" or sometimes even, "I'm not letting you anywhere near your son until I clean it! I don't want him getting sick from Kami knows what's on there!"

He wore it when he was at home when he was safe from the dangers of the battles he fought for his daimyo. Kimiko still kept it in her mother-in-law's old sakura[23] wood chest. Sometimes she would pull it out and wash it. She would say that she would because there was a lot of dust in the fabric but the real reason was that she missed when she would do it while the man was still alive, she missed the unheated arguments they had over Kimiko washing it when it got too dirty.

This was the man that she had made herself for so that no other soldier in their manor ever had to experience the same gruesome death that he had had to, either as a witness as she had been or as the one who was dying.

She told herself, 'It's manipulating you. Don't believe it, it's not real.' She knew it, she knew it because Shou was dead. This could never even have the possibility of being him. He was in Yomi[24] now, living peacefully among the other dead, probably chatting with his Kaa-san and arguing over petty things with his To-san[25] as he used to. This wasn't him, this was Karasu Tengu. But he was not wearing the face of a raven any longer. No, the face he was wearing now was the face of Kimiko's long dead husband, Anami Shou. His dark, chocolate coloured, almond shaped eyes which held the exact same gentle look they had whenever Shou used to look at Kimiko. His mouth was slightly upturned in a slight smile. The dark hair that he never tied up unless he was fighting, fell down in waves, never cooperating with Shou when he tried to care for it. His high cheekbones and defined collarbones, which showed slightly from behind his robes were always something that defined Shou. His muscles, created from years of fighting and training gave him the rugged look that Kimiko had instantly fallen in love with.

The Tengu had changed his form entirely into Shou's body. Right down to the gray and black haori himo he wore when he wasn't away on a mission.

"Why are you doing this Kimi-chan[26]?" He asked with a sad face, looking up at Kimiko who had frozen in horror. This wasn't real. 'This wasn't real,' It became a mantra, but it was an unconvincing chant and she couldn't shake her horror away from her, she couldn't muster enough strength to cast aside the fear that came with that horror.

"Y-You're not Shou," She said in a shaky, uncertain voice.

"What are you talking about? Of course, I am Kimi-chan. Why would you think otherwise?"

"Shou is dead!" She declared, "Shou is dead, I watched him die with my own eyes! I held him as he bled out on the ground! He is in Yomi now, arguing with his To-san about petty things like the unreasonable price of leeks or Daikon[27]! You aren't Shou! You don't fool me!" As she said it Shou's features twisted into an ugly snarl. It didn't fit him, he had never had any expression on his face other than pleasant ones.

"Then if I'm not Shou, kill me!" The false man growled, "Kill me and show me you know I'm not Shou! Show me that you are not a koshinuke[28]!"

Kimiko's hands shook and in turn made her axe shake with them. She knew this wasn't Shou. She knew that!

But she couldn't, she couldn't kill the Tengu if it was wearing Shou's face as it was. It would be too painful for her, she would live the rest of her life harbouring the guilt of killing her beloved husband, even if it wasn't actually Shou.

She dropped her weapon and fell to her knees, staring up at the imitation of the man she used to and still love unconditionally.

Karasu Tengu's mask of Shou's face adopted a vile grin. It was sickening on Shou's face, it didn't fit his features at all.

"I knew it!" He exclaimed, cackling as he did, "You're weak! You are a koshinuke! You Aho[29]! You could have killed me, but you did not!" He was in Kimiko's face now, she could smell the Tengu's rancid breath. Sour smelling from eating the flesh of the children he stole from their beds as they slept soundly during the night.

"And it's all because you love the one who's face I'm wearing at this very moment. It's all becau-" He suddenly his words were cut short, and Kimiko wondered for a brief second why. She wondered, that is, until the false form of the man coughed up blood, and the thick, crimson liquid began to spill from his slightly open mouth in a waterfall. He choked on it, twitching for only a moment before going deathly still. It was obvious why. He was dead. Now that he was dead, it wasn't Shou anymore but Karasu Tengu, his wings, and raven head once again the visible form he took.

The monster fell forward about to fall straight into Kimiko's knees which had been pinned under her as she was fallen in her shock at seeing her deceased husband. But when Kimiko realized where the dead creature's body would fall, she acted quickly, almost on instinct as she wasn't fully aware of what she was doing, to push it off and away from her. She stared at the Tengu which now had multiple arrows embedded in it's back, all most likely sporting poison dipped tips and buried right where his heart and lungs would be.

Still not comprehending what had just occurred. She only vaguely felt herself being lifted and the perspicacity of being carried back Daimyo Togame's manor in a medical wagon.

She hardly remembered being checked over by a doctor and her memory of being put to bed was hazy. She didn't remember being moved in any way at all.

When she woke up though, she remembered everything. From the call of Daimyo Togame to the death of Karasu Tengu. Her son shifted and leaned over her when he noticed that she was finally awake.

"Finally you're awake Kaa-san." He whispered excitedly. It was the first time he had used "Kaa-san" since he was fifteen and a half. Since Kimiko had trained him not to and to only call her Rikugun-Shoso Anami.

He was careful to stay quiet for the doctor might come scold him for being too loud. And also for sneaking in to see his mother.

Kimiko took notice to the fact that Soto had called her Kaa-san.

"Soto," She called weakly, "What did I say about calling me that?" The young man looked down embarrassedly.

"I apologize, Rikugun-Shouso. I lost control of my voice for a minute." Kimiko laughed softly, her voice raspy from not being used for many days.

"It's alright," She relented in giving him a punishment. Just this once though, "It's understandable in this situation. Just don't do it again. Do you understand Chusa?"

"Yes, Sa!" He responded with the utmost respect and discipline. The Rikugun-Shouso sighed and closed her eyes. She laid quietly for a few moments, just lying and taking comfort in the presence of her son.

"Soto?" She suddenly called out and her son looked back over to her.

"Yes, Rikugun-Shoso?" He responded immediately.

"Are we home?"

"Yes," He murmured softly, smiling slightly at her inquiry, "We are home."

*  *  *  *  *

Term Key:

[1]: Heian Period- Period of rule of Japan by the Heian clan. The period lasted from c.794 to 1185 BC. (This story is taking place c. 860 BC. Near the middle period of this clan's rule over Japan.)

[2]: Karasu Tengu- Most accurate translation is a "Crow (or raven) Tengu. A Tengu is a type of demon or goblin that start appearing in Japanese mythology c.500 BC during the later years of the Kofun Period (250 to 538 BC)

[3]: Daimyo- The name of a Japanese lord that owns a manor, the european equivalent is a manor lord which used manorialism to take care of their land/manor.

[4]: Teitoku- Japanese equivalent of the American/British military rank of a General.

[5]: Rikugun-Shouho- Japanese equivalent or the American/British military rank of a Major General.

[6]: Hachiman- The ancient Japanese god of war and battle. Usually called upon before a great battle takes place in request that the battle is won and with as few injuries and/or casualties as possible.

[7]: Chusa- Japanese equivalent or the American/British military rank of a Lieutenant Colonel.

[8]: Sensei- Japanese name for a teacher or other type of mentor in training a student how to do a certain craft. (Teachers at Japanese schools are called sensei, but a person who has a pupil that they are teaching how to do a certain craft to, like metalworking or carpentry, would also be called sensei.)

[9]: Taisa- Japanese equivalent or the American/British military rank of a Colonel.

[10]: San-i- Japanese equivalent or the American/British military rank of a Second Lieutenant.

[11]: Taisa- Japanese equivalent or the American/British military rank of a Colonel.

[12]: Nakasendo Kaido- An ancient Japanese "highway" that traveled throughout the Chubu Region (approximately the middle of Japan's main island) of Japan from the cities Kyoto towards Edo. It passed through the Kōshin'etsu mountain range.

[13]: Kyoto- A Japanese city, created c.794 and is still a city, (also now one of the biggest cities) in Japan.

[14]: Yokai Tsuchigumo- Translates most accurately into "earth(or dirt) spider demons." First started appearing in Japanese mythology between 660c.-c.585 BC when it is said that the Emperor Jimmu defeated the first Yokai Tsuchigumo ever discovered.

[15]: Rikugun-Chuii- Japanese equivalent or the American/British military rank of a First Lieutenant.

[16]: Shōsa- Japanese equivalent or the American/British military rank of a Major.

[17]: Yokai Heikegani- Translates most accurately into "Crab demon." First started appearing in Japanese mythology c. 1824 during the rule of the Ashanti Confederacy.

[18]: Yamayuki- Not a real ancient Japanese city or village (Or at least it has not ever been discovered or recorded as existing. The name translates to "Snowy mountains." I named it this because it is located so close to the mountains in the story.

[19]: Socho- Japanese equivalent or the American/British military rank of a Sergeant Major.

[20]: Samurai- Japanese warriors that existed in feudal Japan. They swore an oath similar to feudal Europe's code of Chivalry, only it was called Bushido. If a Samurai failed in his duty to serve his Daimyo he would commit a ritual suicide called Seppuku.

[21]: Gocho- Japanese equivalent or the American/British military rank of a Corporal.

[22]: Haori Himo-  A traditional Japanese sort of hip- or thigh-length  jacket sometimes worn over a Kimono, (If a woman/girl wears it), but if a man/boy is wearing it, it is usually worn by itself, usually accompanied by Hakama (skirt-like pants. They were commonly worn by samuarai like the Haori Himo was), and Tabi socks and Setta sandals. This entourage was usually worn by samurai in feudal Japan. They first started to be worn c.794 AD, during the Heian period.

[23]: Sakura- Japanese name for cherry blossom trees, which are very common in Japan and it is a common spring custom or tradition to go see them when they first start blooming.

[24]: Yomi- Name of the ancient Japanese afterlife. The belief in Yomi first started circulating China and Japan c.700 BC.

[25]: To-san- Translates into "Father." San is usually added to the end of the name of someone who has more authourity than someone else. Just like you would call your teacher, Mr. or Mrs./Ms., in Japan, say your teacher's last name was Takahashi you would call him/her Takahashi-san instead of Mr./Mrs./Ms. Takahashi.

[26]: Kimi-chan- Kimi is short for Kimiko's name, like a nickname, then putting chan at the end (Making Kimi-chan) would be showing endearment, usually used among childhood or extremely close friends, spouses, or boyfriend/girlfriends.

[27]: Daikon- A type of radish, commonly used in Japanese cuisine.

[28]: Koshinuke- Translates into "coward."

[29]: Aho- Translates into "Fool."