The Hunter and the Hunted

//tw: graphic violence, death

Putting the now deserted small room behind them, the group continued on to Sendo’s target. The red dot on the map pointed them in a familiar area. But this target was in motion, moving every now and then.

Kiyashi glanced at Sendo’s face as they traveled in the direction of his target. His expression was set in stone, tension written all over his face. Kiyashi felt the hollow feeling inside of her and looked away, turning her eyes forward.

When Mifu suddenly tugged at her sleeve and whispered sharply.

“Two dots, ahead. Stationary.”

Sendo threw up his hand and the trio stopped and hid in the shadow of the nearest building, in silence.

“Are they reacting to us stopping?,” he asked quietly.

Kiyashi looked to Mifu, fearing the worst.

Mifu closed her eyes and her raven spread its wings then folded them again.

“They’re coming closer.”

Kiyashi looked to Sendo, worry etched in her eyes. “Are they-“

Sendo nodded. “They’re hunting us.”

“What- what do we do?”

“We survive, of course.” Sendo’s voice sounded heavy, like an anvil dropping. Kiyashi felt the hollow feeling inside of her expand and she gripped her katana. She let it expand until it filled her whole body completely, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Taking a deep breath, she stood up. And clenched her jaw.

“We survive,” she repeated. Then, turning to Mifu, she said, “Stay close.” Mifu wordlessly nodded, her violet eyes reflecting Kiyashi’s dark brown.

Exchanging a glance and a nod with Sendo, Kiyashi drew her katana, Sendo drew his hunting knife, and they jumped from the shadows and into the midst of their hunters.

There were only two of them, both wearing hooded cloaks. They shouted in surprise as their targets jumped out before them and instead of an exchange of words, there was only the sound of metal meeting metal. One was armed with a shortsword and the other with a battle axe, similar to the one they had seen earlier.

Kiyashi’s katana met the shortsword with a flash of metal and Sendo deftly parried the swing of the axe.

This was the first time Kiyashi had done weapon combat with another Hunter. And it strangely felt no different from when she was fighting one of the beings on her daily list. And that realization made her blood run cold. As she parried a blow from her opponent, Kiyashi’s mind raced yet she was focused. It was like her physical body and her mind were separate at this very moment.

It was clear that Hunters were not quite human anymore, as they had shed much blood and they basically killed for a living. To live was to kill and to kill was to live. Was there no shred of humanity left in her own self? Kiyashi’s mind balked at the prospect but Kiyashi’s body seemed to agree wholeheartedly.

Hunters were no longer human.

Kiyashi sidestepped as the shortsword came too close for comfort and she returned the favor with a swing from the side. Her katana glanced off the shortsword but drew blood. Her opponent staggered, gripping their side, breathing rasping as they shakily held their weapon before them. Kiyashi swung her katana and the blood that clung to her blade sprayed onto the stone surface of the path.

As her opponent raised their weapon, their hand quaking all the while, Kiyashi regripped her katana and leapt straight into her opponent’s inner space. And swung diagonally upwards, drawing a deep line of crimson.

“I’m sorry,” Kiyashi murmured, as she backed away.

With a clatter, the shortsword fell from a fatally loosened grip and the Hunter coughed up a glob of blood. As they coughed again, the Hunter’s hood fell back to reveal a face of a young woman. Kiyashi’s eyes widened in shock.

In that moment, a familiar voice sounded in Kiyashi’s mind. The whisper from her first norma killing.

Hunter, why do you hunt?

There was a thud as the Hunter pitched forward onto the stone, blood pooling around them. Kiyashi stood there, her katana gripped firmly in her hands, the question echoing in her head. But she had no response this time. She could feel her opponent’s blood sticky on her hands.

As the body of the young woman began to fade to dust, Kiyashi heard a cry of pain behind her and circled to find Sendo’s opponent raising their axe above her head. Their hood had fallen back, revealing the tear-streaked face of a young man. She glimpsed Sendo behind him, letting his hunting knife fly.

The other Hunter froze mid-swing as the knife found its mark. His body fell like a ragdoll, the axe falling at Kiyashi’s feet.

As the young man’s body also melted into the ash, Sendo came over to retrieve his hunting knife. Tucking it into its sheath, he sighed.

“Never turn your back on your opponent.”

Eyes fixed on the fading axe at her feet, Kiyashi spoke.

“Sendo, why do we hunt?”

Surprised, Sendo stopped and looked quizzically at Kiyashi.

“What do you mean? We have to survive. Kill or be killed. That’s the Hollow.”

“Why do I hunt. I’ve been asked that now twice.”

“Asked? By whom?”

“A voice.”

“A voice?,” said Sendo incredulously.

“It’s whispered to me. I-“ Kiyashi was cut off by the impact of Mifu’s hug. She looked down and then looked at her hands. She was still gripping her katana.

“Sorry, Mifu, my hands are bloody.”

Mifu shook her head and looked up at Kiyashi. “No, your hands are clean.”

“Mifu…?” Confused, Kiyashi could only say the young girl’s name. Equally confused, Sendo just stood a moment and looked back at Kiyashi.

- - -

With the strange start of their previous conversation left suspended, Kiyashi and Sendo wordlessly pressed on to their destination: Sendo’s target. According to Mifu, there had been no other Hunters in their vicinity as they fought, so it was safe to say that they would not be hunted anymore.

Stopping to glance at his map, Sendo turned to Mifu.

“Are there any Hunters with them?,” he asked, pointing to his target. There was a shake of a head from Mifu and Sendo nodded, gripping his bow. “I’m going to aim from the top of this building, so as to make sure they don’t escape, Kiyashi, could you wait here?”

Kiyashi nodded and Sendo returned a small smile, then disappeared into the building above their heads.

From the shadow of the next corner, Kiyashi peered out and saw a young girl walking. She was dressed in an outfit reminiscent of a school uniform, a pleated skirt and a white blouse, with a cloak around her shoulders. It was a strange sight indeed, as Kiyashi had not seen someone dressed in such clothes that strongly resembled those of the Overworld. A sheathed sword hung from her hip, and shoulder length midnight hair lightly swayed in time to her steps.

Then there was a whistle as Sendo’s arrow sung through the air. But, there was a flash, and with a snap, Sendo’s arrow fell to the ground, cleanly cut in two.

The girl looked up in the direction it came and quickly ran into the opposite building. Kiyashi turned and raced up the stairs, Mifu close behind her. She had to alert Sendo.

When she got to the top floor, Kiyashi saw Sendo clutching his arm, red blood dripping from between his fingers.

“Sendo! What happened?” Rushing over, Kiyashi pulled a roll of bandage from her bag and tore off a piece to dress Sendo’s wound.

“She- She has long range capabilities in addition to short range.” He winced and pointed at the wall behind him. Kiyashi turned and saw a small dagger buried in the crumbling brick.

And when she turned around, the girl was there, standing in the room with them. Gritting his teeth, Sendo grabbed his hunting knife and stood up. Kiyashi backed up slowly, hand on her katana.

But instead of drawing her weapon at lightning speed like she had earlier, the young girl stood frozen, staring at Sendo’s face. And said a single word.

“Onii-chan?”