1. The Bolt is Dropped
“Run!” Kazumi had shouted, her voice grating with panic. “Don’t look back!”
That horrific night would forever be a daunting memory for Hiroshi.
Life had been pleasant and peaceful, with reality seeming to be a gentle mist...
On the afternoon of the fatal day, the trees were humming subtle songs as Hiroshi Mikuni lay on his stomach upon the grass, daydreaming far-fetched fancies. The spring breeze stirred silently over him.
Hiroshi’s rust-red hair stood out against the green blades and he clutched a music sheet in his hand. He was an energetic boy who found the flow and rhythm of music appealing, therefore his life was built around the tinkle of notes and beats. As he dreamed, his feet moved restlessly in the air. He was oblivious of the current state of his bedroom. Such a song is born of the singing of birds, he thought.
A creak sounded as the neighbor girl in the next house opened her front door to look at the sky.
She was a little older than Hiroshi, black-haired, supple-limbed, with bright amber eyes that twinkled. Her name was Kazumi Asatori, and she was the daughter of the local weaver. She was locally known for her long, glossy hair, of which she was somewhat vain. Hiroshi was quite acquainted with her as they sometimes went fishing together.
As she caught sight of the boy stretching lazily on the damp meadow, she waved to him. He was too absorbed to notice; his eyes were flitting back and forth in thought. She giggled and returned inside.
Even though she was Hiroshi’s elder by only a year, she sometimes found him very childish indeed. He was one who was extensively on the quest of praise, whether it be applause for a song, or awe from the mere knowledge of a long word. Just yesterday she had seen him behind his house, sewing on a garment, in the hopes of attaining praise from his mother. Kazumi could not resist chuckling at the memory of his stitching. She went back to washing the dishes, singing as she scrubbed.
Meanwhile, Hiroshi’s reverie had been shattered by Sora, his elder sister by seven years.
“Hiroshi-i! Go and pick up all that paper on the floor of your room!” She kicked him with her toe, frowning down upon his lazy form. Hiroshi jumped up, muttering, and rushed into the house. This was a typical occurrence in his life, but it was mainly without jolts, and the trouble yet to come had not touched his awareness.
As twilight fell upon the houses and the moon came out, Hiroshi’s parents and sister bid him good-night and retired to their rooms. He crept into his own room and perched himself upon the mattress, happily preparing to practice on his biwa. Somewhere outside he heard frightened cries and bellows, but he carelessly dismissed it as a neighbor’s quarrel. Such an action was quite common to his nature. He was in the middle of pulling music sheets from under his bed when a harsh, breaking sound echoed throughout the house.
Hiroshi’s hands froze; he sensed that something terrible was about to happen, and a never-felt fear jerked at his heart.
A moment later, a loud exclamation from his parents’ room, followed by a long shriek, dashed through his ears as he sprang up, grasping his lute. He heard his name being screamed by his sister, but only once. His mouth opened, and he was about to cry out his mother’s name, when someone pulled at his clothes from behind.
“Hiroshi, come with me.” It was Kazumi. She had opened his window and was leaning over the sill. “I - I think we’re being attacked by demons. They got my parents. I never thought demons were actually true, but—"
“Ahhhh!” Hiroshi gave a frantic yell, which was instantly silenced by Kazumi’s hand. “Shh! Get out of the house. Hurry!”
Hiroshi, holding on to his instrument, tumbled out the window, dark thoughts clashing through his mind. He knew there was no saving his family - already they had ceased their screaming. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he and Kazumi ran free of the row of houses.
As they glanced back, they saw dark moving masses encircling the row of homes. Eerie noises that loomed over their heads gave a convincing air that all was lost. The ground seemed to shake beneath them as they stared.
Kazumi, smothering a cry, grabbed Hiroshi’s free hand, and dashed farther off.
“Why is this happening?” Hiroshi angrily yelled, as they ran. “I’ve done nothing to deserve this!”
“No, you didn’t,” said Kazumi, her voice shaking. “There are evil people in this world! I have read about demons, and now I have seen their iniquity! My parents - why couldn’t they have escaped? I wish I could have saved them and I can’t bear to think about it!”
“Vile things!” shrieked Hiroshi, blubbering. “Someday I’ll kill them all! We were just having a peaceful night, and this had to happen to us! I can’t live alone!”
“We’ll have to pull out of this together, Hiroshi,” said Kazumi in a trembling tone. “Both of us. We’ll find a way to fight them. For now, just run. We’re going to the nearest village.”
The two choked uncontrollably as they ran. They knew they would never see their parents again. Aside from each other, they did not know another soul on the earth.
Each faltering step took them towards an unfamiliar world.
