Previously on Hidden Secrets

Misaki stared at the two adults, she stood up and threw herself into Saki's arms, tears falling from her blue eyes, "I don't care about who my real mother was, you're my mom! I promise I will never hurt anyone ever again mama! I'll never turn into a full demon I promise!"

Saki could only start down at the girl in shock, causing Shiro to chuckle.

"She really is amazing."

Saki let a tear roll down her cheek, "You're such a sweet child." She whispered.

One obstacle was now gone, Saki knew that Misaki will now live her life to her fullest despite knowing the truth. But the woman had a feeling that something would happen. For now, she pushed that feeling down while staring at her daughter

'Everything is going to be okay now....'

Now

(3 years later)

Misaki's Current Age: 8

A young girl sat at the table, books, and papers littered in front of her, her face resting in her small palm as drool fell from her lips. Across from her, Saki let out a heavy sigh, 'God help me, this child has the shortest attention span that I've ever seen' with that thought the woman swiftly slapped the child's hand from under her, causing her small face to smack onto the table. Misaki's eyes shot open while she cradled her small chin.

"Ow! Why'd you do that mama?!"

Saki chuckled lightly, "you fell asleep again, Misaki. I may have pulled you out from school, but that does not mean your studies will cease, I will aid in teaching you, so I need you to be paying attention so you don't fall behind once you join high school."

"The same one as Mamoru and Hiro?"

"Yes" Misaki started to straighten up the papers, "one day, you'll join True Cross Academy and train to become an exorcist, you'll become as strong as your brother" she reached her hand over and wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, "as strong as your aunts" she then fixed her lose pigtails, "and as strong as me" to this her small teal eyes lite up with joy.

"Will I really be strong as you, mama?!"

Saki chuckled once more, "of course!"

The sound of shrine doors opened as two boys walked in and entered the kitchen, A tall slender boy with messy unkempt black hair rubbed his slanted purple eyes while letting out a yawn. The other boy followed, he was considered to be shorter than his elder brother by a mere ince and his hair was longer than his older brother's as well, so oftentimes he would tie half of it up, his green eyes drooped down in fatigue while he let down the portion of his hair that was tied up.

(At the moment Mamoru is 16 while Hiro is 15, meaning Hiro has just started his first year at the academy while Mamoru just started his second year, meaning they were introduced to Misaki at the ages of 8 and 7, I just wanted to make the age of the boys clear)

Upon seeing the two boys Misaki lit up and dashed forward, trapping them between her small thin arms.

"Brothers!" She cheered.

"Sup, squirt." Mamoru rustled her white hair while smiling.

"Come here!" Hiro cheered while swooping her up and lightly tickling her cheeks, causing the young girl to laugh in joy. Seeing this caused a smile to grace Saki's face as she stood up.

"How was school?"

"Boring/Tiring" The two answered simultaneously.

Saki walked over to the fridge and pulled out leftover tonkatsu, being too tired to cook anything else the woman decided to warm up the fried pork for her kids. Once she did, she placed the plates in front of the three.

"Thank you for the food." The three stated before digging in.

"Mama shad that wen I get owder chat I'm gonna be shtrong wike you gwuys one day." The young girl still had food in her mouth, making her words come out weird.

"Is that so?" Mamoru quirked an eyebrow.

"Misaki. Don't talk with your mouth full." Saki sternly said.

The young girl swallowed the rest of her food before nodding excitedly, "Yeah! She even said that I would be stronger than her too!"

"Stronger than, mom?" Hiro rubbed his chin in thought, "well, she's getting older and slower so I can see you surpassing her in no time!" He gave his sister a thumbs up while smiling brightly while Mamoru held a blank look.

"Dumbass." He muttered while scooting away from his mother's wrath.

Saki smashed her fist onto her son's head, "The hell you say you ungrateful brat?!"

Hiro rolled on the floor while crying dramatically, "OW!!!"

Saki rolled up the sleeve of her kimono before an evil look crossed her features, "You wanna call me old again?"

Hiro whined softly while rubbing the bump protruding from his head, "no ma'am."

This was really the everyday antics in the Sayoko household, and Misaki couldn't get enough of it.

(2 years later)

Misaki's Current Age: 10

Shura's Current Age: 21

Mamoru's Current Age: 18

Hiro's Current Age: 17

Misaki stare at the woman in front of her, and it was hard to look at her when her breast was spilling from her bikini-like top that held them up, Misaki didn't understand how such a small piece of cloth could hold up something so big. In turn, the young woman just stared at her looking nothing but bored out of her mind, she sighed before turning her head to Saki.

"Are you kidding me? You call me here and ask me to train a runt, much less the kid of Satan?"

Saki understood how the young woman felt, but she wanted her to get passed her way of thinking and see Misaki as a normal child rather than Satan's child.

"Ya know, when Shiro told me that you also took on the responsibility of raising a demon kid I thought he was just pulling my leg" she then crossed her arms over her chest, "the two of you are crazy as hell! Why would I help you?! I don't see the point!" she threw her hand out to gesture to the child, "Did you honestly think I would waste my time on her?!" She scoffed before turning away, "whatever, I don't have to deal with this right now" being prepared to walk off Saki grasped onto her wrist.

"Wait, please. Just one session, that's all I ask, if you still decide that you don't want to help then you can leave."

Her hot pink hair with yellow tips swayed softly in the wind, with a huff she quickly turned around, "fine, just once, and then that's it I'm gone"

"Okay," Saki sighed and brought Misaki to her side, "This is Shura Kirikagure, an excellent exorcist as well as a swordswoman."

Misaki looked at the woman known as Shura and noticed the purple-like seal that started between the chest and ended at her stomach. She then glanced at her right hand where the pink-like flower seal lay, "she has a mark like me..." she whispered.

"Shura here has a demon seal mark like you, she uses the Kirigakure snake fang sword technique" she then grasped the hand with the seal, "I gave you this seal because I believe that you can harness the true power of our families demon sword that has been passed down by generations" Saki nodded her head towards Shura, "She will help you harness this power as well as teaching you proper techniques."

Shura placed her hand in front of her chest, while it glowed a bright purple, she then pulled out a purple sword and swung it forward lightly.

Her plump lips formed a smirk, "bring it on runt, at least make this worth my while."

"Don't be too harsh, Shura." Saki sighed

"Oh don't worry, I won't be too rough."

Misaki gulped down her saliva while her small hands trembled softly, she raised her hand left hand atop her right hand while it glowed a soft pink, a blue sword exited the seal and the small girl struggled to hold it correctly within her small hands. To this, Shura scoffed before biting down on her thumb and running it along her blade, "Kirigakure Sword Technique: Snake Fang!"

Misaki let out a shriek as she dived for the ground to avoid the attack that would have surely torn her apart. Saki sat down and watched the woman relentlessly attack the 10-year-old, she didn't care and most definitely was growing irritated at the fact that the young girl wasn't even using any attacks like she was.

"What the hell?! At least throw some attacks my way, don't let me be the one doing all the hard work!"

Misaki dodged another incoming attack, "I'm sorry Ms. Kirigakure!" She rolled on the floor with her sword in front of her, blocking another attack, "but I don't know how!"

"Are you kidding me?!" Shura gritted her teeth in frustration, 'she can't even use techniques?! Saki really wants me to start from scratch with this kid?!' she threw another attack towards the child, 'despite that she's still going, dodging or at least blocking my attacks, it's sloppy work but it works nonetheless....but this is so goddamn annoying!'

"If you can't even do the bare minimum why even bother trying at all, huh?! It doesn't make any sense, here I am throwing attacks left and right and all you can do is dodge and block!" She bite her thumb again and ran it over her blade, "It's annoying as hell! Kirikagure Sword Technique: Snake Belly!"

Misaki had let her guard down, letting Shura's attack throw her backward and rolled onto the floor roughly.

"Just give up! You'll die if you keep trying!"

Saki started to get up to stop Shura, only to be stopped by Mamoru and Hiro, who placed their hands on her shoulder.

"Calm down mom, let Shura see how determined Misaki can be."

"Yeah! Then she'll definitely teach her!" Hiro added while smiling.

"Okay." Saki breathed out.

Shura placed her sword onto her shoulder and stalked over to Misaki, who was struggling to stand back up, blood running down her head.

"You don't have it in you to be an exorcist, doesn't help that you're the daughter of Satan. Give up and live your life as a shrine maiden or some housemaid."

Misaki briefly looked up, her sharp gaze meeting Shura's, "You're....wrong..."

"Huh?"

Misaki made direct eye contact with the woman, Shura was shocked to see the look of determination on the young girl's face, "I'm not weak, and being related to Satan means nothing, it's not my fault for being born, I didn't get to chose my parents." She began to slowly stand up, "so I'm not gonna let that stop me from becoming an exorcist, and I'm not gonna let you tell me otherwise!" Misaki held her sword in front of her, her bangs covered her tired eyes, "I'm still standing which means we can still go at it! You may be stronger than me, but's only because you have more experience! I haven't given up yet Ms. Kirigakure, so come at me with all you got, I'm ready!"

'This brat...' Shura stared at her with a look of bewilderment, but then she quickly covered her mouth to stop the giggles from escaping. And then she began to laugh her ass off, clutching her stomach while she bent over.

Misaki paled and let out a small 'huh' wondering what she did wrong.

Meanwhile, Mamoru and Hiro were chuckling and Saki covered her mouth to hide her own set of giggles.

"Di-did I say something wrong...?" Misaki was beyond confused at the moment, one minute the woman was insulting her, and the next she was dying of pure laughter.

"Oh man, kid! You're definitely something else that's for sure!" Shura whipped away the tears that formed, "I'll tell ya, I definitely wasn't expecting you to break out into a full-on speech, damn you must've been desperate!"

Misaki became quickly flustered and burned bright red with embarrassment, "I-I only wanted you to see me as a worthy opponent!"

"Worthy opponent she says! Hahaha!" Shura burst out into more laughter before walking over to Misaki, her laughter died down while she placed a hand atop her head and rustled her hair softly, "You got me, kid, honestly, you're little speech hit me right through the heart!"

"Seriously?" Misaki tilted her head slightly, 'I still have no clue what's going on...' 

Shura turned her attention back to Saki, "Yo, I'll train her if you make me lunch."

Saki stood up and walked towards them, "I can do that."

"Sweet." She brought the girl into a small side hug and roughly rubbed her head, "looks like you'll be seeing me more often then, kid, so get used to it and be grateful!"

A blush spread across her pale cheeks while her eyes lit up with excitement, "Okay!"

To be continued