Chapter 4

Crystal watched in the mirror as Mrs. Yashuda pinned up her hair into a bun. Bandages on the floor next to them.

"You should really look after yourself better when out in the forest, dear." The woman said softly.

"I'm sorry, I'll try to do better next time." The woman grimaced a little, looking at Crystal through the mirror.

"It's nothing to apologize for, I'm just concerned that one day you'll get really hurt and none of us will know." Crystal could sense the woman's emotions, as she combed her hair up, and pinned her hair up, "Would you like me to pin your bangs also?"

"Yes please." The woman softly pulled the silver locks back, wrapping them around the bun, and pinned the ends underneath.

"There we go, I set a yukata out for you that the women you rescued made for you, I hope it fits." Mrs. Yashuda walked out humming softly, before shutting the door behind her.

Crystal glanced back at the hung piece of clothing she failed to notice earlier. It was mostly white, but the sleeves faded to blue and had a hexagon pattern in two spots. The Obi around where her abdomen would be was dark blue, the bottom faded from white to blue. The same hexagon pattern appeared but more frequently in the fade.

"I'll have to thank those girls. They've improved in their skills while being here." Crystal stood up, the water dripping down her bare skin, as she turned she looked back at the mirror. Her back was covered in small various scars from previous battles, but other than that was very soft. She proceeded to grab the Yukata, unwrapping the Obi, and putting it on the wooden barrel in the room with her. After putting on the wraps for her undergarments to keep her warm when it gets dark, she slipped her sword in its sheath into a loop of the wraps and slipped her arms into the Yukata.

"The inside is soft..." She said quietly, pulling the right side towards her left hip, slightly tucking it into her undergarment. Pulling her left side to her right hip, she grabbed the Obi. Wrapping it around until it was tight, she tied it into a bow on her right hip but tried to get it more towards her back. She looked back at the mirror and looked at the outfit, "It's beautiful..."

"Crystal! We're ready!" Mrs. Yashuda's voice called out, and Crystal took one last glance before walking out.

"Coming!" Crystal walked down the steps to the front door, where Mr. and Mrs. Yashuda turned to look at her.

"Oh don't you look just lovely?" Mr. Yashuda said with a grin, he himself in his own Yukata. Although Crystal wondered just how much cotton was used to make his.

"Oh she does, I knew the Yukata would look absolutely stunning on her." Mrs. Yashuda smiled, looking at Crystal, "Let's go then." Crystal watched as they walked out and followed after.

The village had been at work, putting strings of Flower Lanterns around the village as the evening set in. The other villagers were happily out and about, all wearing their colorful Yukatas. Some matching with their kids and Crystal's eyes quickly spotted the Slayers.

"It is odd the slayers have decided to stay the night," Mr. Yashuda pointed out, "The rumor spread that they got what they needed. Why do they linger?"

"Maybe they want to observe how the villagers interact with Crystal?" Mrs. Yashuda said, trying to ease her husband's internal worry.

Crystal looked on, unsure why they found it weird. The Slayers knew about the feast, they probably just wanted to join in. As they approached the village square, Crystal was left to do as she pleased. She passed by the villagers, some saying their hellos and some just smiling at her.

Why has she stayed here for so long? Was there a reason why she remained in the village? The only reason she could think of was because of the Heart Sapphire.

"Crystal! Would you like a Dango?" A woman called out softly, and Crystal turned to look at the woman. It was Mrs. Eudith and Lilith at the large boiling pot full of dumplings. Crystal stared at them and nodded softly. Walking up, she watched as Mrs. Eudith took out 9 dumplings of different colors, and placed them on a plate in front of Lilith. Who proceeded to stick skewers into the dumplings, and Mrs. Eudith poured the sweet soy glaze over the set. Lifting the cardboard holder, she handed it to Crystal.

"Thank you." Crystal said, forcing the corners of her lips up to mimic the woman in front of her, "How much?"

"Free of charge, dear!" Mrs. Eudith said with a grin, as Crystal took the plate and started to walk off.

Picking up one of the sticks and went to bite the first dumpling, she hissed as it burnt her tongue.

"Careful, her Dumplings are apparently still hot even with the sauce on them." The voice spoke out of nowhere, taking Crystal off guard as she flipped her head to look in the direction it came from.

"Oh, it's you. Hello, Lord Rayth." Crystal bowed slightly, before raising her head back up to look at him.

"How are you, Crystal?"

"I feel fine, despite my burning tongue." Crystal said flatly, although what she said made Rayth chuckle.

"That's good. Would you care to walk with me?"

"Sure." Crystal watched as he started walking, and started to eye his apparel. As expected he didn't change into any Yukata. His pants were baggy around his ankles, fading from a yellow to a red. A ribbon wrapped around his waist, fading from yellow to blue. His shirt was a pale yellow, and despite being at just his shoulders was quite baggy. His Polearm had its sheath that wrapped around his shoulder.

"Lina for your thoughts?" Rayth said softly, looking back at her. She noticed how green his eyes were and wondered why she didn't hold any fear.

"Just noticing how you're not wearing a Yukata, that's all."

"Oh, yeah. I didn't want to wear one, they typically aren't the best for a sudden demon attack, so I don't wear them even around the palace." Rayth grinned slightly.

"I can fight in just about anything. I require no external assistance." Crystal said in a huff, and Rayth chuckled in response to her cockiness.

"You sound so sure," Rayth said as they started to walk further into the village, not another soul to be seen around them. Crystal looked around as she just noticed how far they walked, "Although with saying that,"

"Hm?" Crystal turned to him, looking up at him as he turned towards her. The lights from the lanterns glowed off his face as she waited for him to say what he wanted to.

"I'm curious," Rayth's expression changed to serious melancholy, as he looked deep into her eyes, "Would you die for this village, Crystal?" Crystal looked at him, unsure of what her answer would be. As the wind blew through the two of them, she lifted her hand and pushed her silver bangs bag out of her face before looking back up at him.

"There would be no reason for me to die. A threat to the village, no matter how complex, will be handled with accordingly and quickly." Crystal looked at him, her eyes glazing over, "Any more questions?"

Rayth stared at her, and sighed, "No."

"Then I'll be on my way then." Crystal turned and walked back towards the festival when a young girl with curly brown hair ran up to her.

"Crystal! Crystal! There's music starting! Come with me!" She shouted, her hand grabbing onto Crystal's, her green yukata waving back and forth as she jumped from foot to foot.

"Alright, Alright, I'm coming." Crystal sighed, looking back briefly to see if Rayth had followed, but he was nowhere to be seen. She let the young child pull her in towards the festival, the chatter and light music filled the air. As the aura around the villagers seemed to absorb Crystal, she played with the children as the music began to get more lively.

The music, the dancing, the laughter, the cheer. Crystal was listening to all of it, but it was as if it was all silent like the wind.

"Would I be willing to die for this village? For the people here? I don't know if I would be, I know I'd be willing to protect them but to go as far as to say I'd die for them. They're all strangers, after all. Even if they've allowed me to stay here, I don't have a connection with any of them. I'm simply someone passing through..." Crystal's thoughts were disturbed when a scream erupted from the forest, and she looked towards the noise.

A young man ran out of the trees, "A demon!! A large Demon is attacking!!" Crystal panicked slightly. She couldn't really smell a demon through all the cooked food, and that made her on edge. Running towards the man she shoved him behind her into the safety of some of the other villagers.

"Lady Crystal! Please kill the demon!!" The man shouted, Crystal huffed as she used her claws to tear off her Obi. Removing her Yukata and she pulled out her sword. It would be finally time to really use the sword with the entirety of its power.

The silence was overbearing, as the wind stirred and the villagers sat in silence, awaiting the demon. Whispers erupted but Crystal could hear the breathing of the demon, but still couldn't pinpoint the scent.

"Show yourself, Demon! I can sense you out there, reveal yourself!" Crystal shouted, and the silence fell again. But the trees started to shake, and a giant hand began to leave the cover of the darkness of the trees.

"Are you so sure you want to meet me, half-breed?" The crooked voice taunted, as a demon's head came out of the trees, uprooting a bunch of them and tossing them off it's back as it stood up.

Crystal was taken back by its size, it was bigger than any demon she'd ever faced before, and was wondering how she'd actually take him down.

"I've got more strength than you'll ever long for," Crystal shouted, but that's when her sword pulsed in her hand, almost as if the demonic energy that the fang had was trying to escape in response, "And your death will be by my sword."

"I'd like to see you try!" The demon began to swing for Crystal, but due to its large size, its movements were slower. Crystal leaped, letting the claws dig into the ground, and began to run up its arm. Using her sword she attempted to slice at his neck, but it only cut so deep before it got shot back out by steam, causing her to backflip and land on the ground behind the demon.

"The flesh on the inside of his body must be tougher. Meaning I have only a few options to kill him. I could attempt to stab his eyes out-" Crystal's thoughts were interrupted when 2 sets of 4 Polearm-like boomerangs sliced off the arms to the demon, and she looked to see the four slayers

along with Rayth.

"Now Brya! Shoot into his eyes!" Rayth shouted, and the man named Brya pulled two arrows out of his quiver. Shooting one it landed in the demon's left eye, and shot the second one not too long after, taking out its right eye, "Crystal! Join me in stabbing the center of his forehead!"

Crystal was confused but jumped up using the demon's back, seeing Rayth at the top with her, and they both shoved the tips of their weapons into the center of the demon's forehead. It let out a loud cry as it crumbled down to its death before bursting. A large pile of items left in its place as Crystal and Rayth landed.

"The village has been saved!" Cheers erupted from the village as Crystal looked at Rayth, who returned the look with a smile.

"Thought you'd like some help," Rayth said breathlessly, "I hope I didn't step on your toes too much."

"Not at all. I appreciate the help. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with a lot of the demons in this area." Crystal admitted as she put her sword back where it belonged, "Although I wonder what drew such a large demon to the village.

"Well, luckily we are. I'm not too sure about the large demon though, it may be because you're in the area. The smell of a half-demon seems to always stirrup the local ones."

Crystal thought about it and realized the one item she forgot, "I think I might know why that demon showed up." Crystal started to walk off towards the village in a hurry, and Rayth followed out of curiosity. As the other 4 slayers picked through the loot, Crystal rushed to Mr. Yashuda's home.

Running up the stairs and into the room she had been given, she rushed to her satchel. Pulling out the small leather pouch, she opened it and poured out the fragment she had.

"This. I believe it may have attracted him, and I believe it may have attracted those bear demons as well." Crystal said quickly, and Rayth looked at the fragment.

"I am not familiar with what jewel it belongs to, but I do sense a powerful aura coming from it."

"I do too. It's supposed to be called the Heart Sapphire. It was created to make the truest desire of its host come true. But it's been shattered." Crystal said as she picked up the piece and examined it closer.

"It's aura..." Rayth said in a breathe, "You purified it."

"I... what?" Crystal said, looking at him with a confused look.

"You must be who it is claiming as the host. As soon as you touched it the aura was diminished." Rayth spoke softly, and Crystal looked back at the fragment.

It was settled then, she'd hasten her journey into looking for the other fragments. Although she wasn't quite sure of how to, she just knew she didn't want to put the villagers in harm's way any longer than she had.

"Lord Rayth," Crystal said, breaking the silence that settled in the room, "Would you mind joining me?"

"Joining you?" Rayth asked curiously.

"Join me in the search for the rest of the Heart Sapphire. I wish to seize the dangerous implications I'm putting upon the village as soon as tomorrow." Crystal asked, looking directly into his eyes.

A smile came upon Rayth's lips, "As if you give me a choice, Crystal. You have intrigued me since the moment we met. I still have yet satisfied my desire to know more, so I will accompany you until further notice. My Lordship will be passed on to my younger brother, Brya." Crystal was unsure of what he said, but she took it as he said it, a yes.

"So, tomorrow before sunrise. Before the young ones awake."

"Tomorrow before sunrise, Lady Crystal." Rayth bowed slightly, before leaving the room. Leaving Crystal to her thoughts and to pack up for the journey.

"How is she doing, Papa?" A young boy walked into the room, his hair dark blue and short. His Kosode was a pale yellow.

"She's recovering but I can't get her fever to go down." The man with long blue hair spoke, his brown eyes encased by black circles. His arm dabbed a wet cloth onto a toddler's head. Her silver bangs pushed out of the way and her blue locks in disarray. Her breathing erratic and her pale face stained red from her fever.

"Mama said that if she doesn't pull through by tomorrow that she'll kill her. Is that true?" The young boy asked, his father tensing before putting the rag back into the pot of cold water.

"Your mother only says that because she holds no love for your sister." The man spoke, his voice deep and raspy, "Your sister was unfortunate to be born to a mother who ultimately got her cursed and who doesn't love her because of it. Now, run along. I must continue to care for your sister's health until she feels well."

"Alright, Papa." The young boy went to leave before walking back to where his sister's head rested, "Get well soon, Sis. Then we can play Kemari ball all you want." He leaned down on his knee and kissed her forehead. Before standing and leaving as his father told him to.

Leaving the young girl to start crying, thinking of how much fun it would be to play Kemari ball with her brother. Her sobs brought a small smile to her father's face because even though she was acting off of pure desire and not emotion, it was one of the rare times he witnessed something close enough come from his beloved daughter.