Because She Glows by Kkchan

Prologue

Just an idea I came up with at work..I thought it might be interesting.

This prologue is set quite a bit in the past before the time that the actual story will take place in :]

Enjoy~

She always knew she was different. In every sense of the word, she was different from her whole village. Why else would everyone hate her? She had blue eyes, she got along with all living beings, not excluding youkai. Her miko powers were stronger then the fully-trained-with-years-of-experience elderly miko of the village. And she glowed in the moonlight. As it were, she was different. And nobody wanted her. Even the miko was short with her, but at least offered her a home and meals. Out of the kindness of her heart, the child hoped. It wasn't until much later that she would learn that not even the "kind" elderly miko cared.

Her parents had just died. But she didn't attend the wake. She was too busy trying to find something to eat, trying to salvage some of her clothing from the wreck that used to be her home. She'd heard that the youkai lord that governed over the western sector of Japan would be making a visit in a couple of months. She would be turning sixteen summers then. Not that it really mattered to anyone but herself. It was a surprise that she managed to survive so long. She ran slim, bony fingers through greasy, stringy midnight hair and cringed. She'd learned not to bathe very often. Rocks left scars and bruises.

She gasped in pain and nearly fell over. Her hunger pains were turning for the worst. The elderly miko had stopped caring for her meals two years ago. The woman-child hardly had the skills to fend for herself. She hadn't eaten in weeks. The only thing that kept her sane was water, and the rice that the senile old man would shove into her hands every now and then out of pity. She was about done, she figured. She couldn't live like this. And no one cared enough, no one would miss her if she did leave. If she died, would they even hold a wake?

She had grown thin, sickly so. She was nearly skeletal by the time she turned sixteen and it was time for the youkai lords visit. She prepared herself on the side of the road, to welcome him. Her yukata obviously too light in the spring weather, and falling apart, and barely attached to her frame. When she saw him coming from the village square carting an armful of silks and furs and jewels and food. She became jealous, but would never show this to anyone. She was pure at heart and tried to stay pure of mind as well. Though it proved difficult when faced with the better off people.

Disliking the respect that everyone else showed as they bowed down to the ground, their faces in the mud. She only bent at her middle. Her almost-freshly washed hair falling around her face. He stopped for a moment in front of her. She could see his shoes, and she could also tell he was not looking at her. Daring to take a chance, she lifted herself, looking up at him through her bangs. Her ocean colored eyes glittering in the dim light from the setting sun. And all of a sudden his burnished golden eyes were on her. Taking in her frame from head to toe. And instead of lifting his beautiful lip in a disgusted snarl, his eyes widened fractionally and he grabbed her wrist. The young demon lord towed her away and the surprised gasps and grateful cheers followed them.

He pulled her frail figure close to him, encasing his goods in a protective barrier he set them on the ground next to their feet. He didn't know what he was doing, and he didn't understand why she wasn't fighting him for her freedom. So he vocalized his thoughts, a rare occurrence. "Why do you not fight?" His rich baritone voice made her shiver as it caressed her skin.

"No one will miss me. No one wants me. Do what you will to me, there is no saviour for me." Her bitter words caused him to hold her tighter.

"Why?"

"Because I am different."

"How?"

"I am stronger then a trained miko. I have blue eyes. I have survived this long with nothing in my name. I can befriend youkai/ I...I glow in the moonlight."

He raised a brow. His golden eyes catching the dim light and glowing. He held her to him for all she was worth and formed his youki cloud beneath their feet and his purchases.

"Now you have reason."

As they took to the sky, she became lost in his eyes. Too dazed even to notice that they were thousands of feet into the air. Unaware of the fact that this mighty being was indeed a mighty being. She briefly wondered if reason was a good thing. And then she realized, that all the good things he had, surely she would have now too. She smiled softly, and the youkai's breath caught in his throat. Despite her gaunt and simplified appearance. She was breathtaking when she smiled.

They soon touched down within the gates of his estate and he called for his most trusted servant.

"My lord."

"This is..." He realized then that he didn't have her name. Mentally shrugging that fact off he looked to the yellow clad ebony skinned demoness. "...my new "assistant"."

He looked down at the girl standing next to him. "This will be your personal servant."

The servant and the lord watched as she bowed down as low as she could go, without protrating herself. And her ears were met with laughter. The Taiyoukai's quiet breathy chuckles and the dark skinned youkai's tinkling laughter. She blushed.

"Take her to bathe and change her clothing and then bring her to the dining hall. Her room is to be the one directly next to mine." And the lord left them, walking down the brightly lit hallway.

The servant smiled softly and took the girls hand. She was led to a small indoor hot spring and was told to disrobe. As the long ebony fingers worked through her dark hair, the serving youkai posed a question. "Why did my lord choose you?"

She held a thoughtful expression for a moment before he answered: "Because I glow in the moonlight."

Tell me what you think~ :]

~Kiku