She ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
Angry shouts could be heard from behind.
"Filthy half-breed you can't outrun us forever!"
The girl scoped a sizeable rock into her hand and she chuckled it over her shoulder, hearing a yell of pain follow afterwards.
Wanting to do more harm, she tried to pick up another rock. But in the process of doing so, the young black-haired girl stumbled and went crashing to the ground. Trying to scramble to her to feet run again she was roughed pinned to the stone floor. She could hear the snickering and crude words ring in her ears.
This unfortunate girl was Akeno Himejima, daughter of the late Shuri Himejima and Fallen Angel Baraqiel... and cast out by her own clan who was currently preventing her from escaping.
Why were they doing this? Some would ask. For what reason would they wish to see the death of a little girl? Because what she was - the only child to a Fallen Angel, to Baraqiel of all people! When this got out the clan elders were disgusted with Shuri Himejima Akeno's mother, for saving and above all, marrying the crow!
She knew they hated her but this… this was madness! Kicking her out of the clan was bad. But now they had gone too far! Her mother would be disgusted with them for such a hideous act! Where was her father, she didn't know or care. It was his fault for her mother's death! His fault for being in the position she was in now! Alone and running for her life from relatives who wanted her dead!
Akeno felt herself being force to her knees. She glared at the man who stepped forward, her despicable great uncle, Suou Himejima.
"At last we can clean our clan of this filth," he said proudly, drawing a knife from his robe. "You'll be joining your mother in hell brat!" Grabbed her by the throat, he prepared to plug the knife into the girl's heart when-
"Stop!"
Hearing these words, he stopped his action. He looked back to see his fellow clansman frozen in fear, sweat formed on the brows of some. Everyone, especially Akeno, knew that voice. They all knew who shouted those words, who had intervened into their plan.
"Let me through!" the voice demanded.
Akeno saw the crowd part, allowing her to see a man she had never expected to see again, causing her eyes to fill with hope.
"Oji-sama!"
Yes, the man who stood before them was another of Akeno's relatives - Iwamatsu Hayashi - Shuri's older brother, Akeno's uncle... and clan head of the Hayashi. He wore the same attire as the Himejima's, but on his side was a Katana, readying to be drawn if battle happened.
Iwamatsu was the elder brother to Shuri and loved her deeply. While his uncle Suou became clan head to the Himejima's Iwamatsu left the clan and two months later became the head of the Hayashi clan. He always told Shuri if she had a daughter he'd spoil her, and he did so every time he came to visit her.
He also respected Baraqiel but wished he had been there more for his daughter. She was his flesh and blood and needed his love. One night he formed a blood pack with Baraqiel saying, should anything happen to him or Shuri he'd take Akeno in and raise her, which the Fallen Angel agreed to, knowing his duties to Grigori kept him away most of the time. Now was the moment to make that pact come true.
His brown eyes flickered to each of the Himejima's before falling on Suou who glare at his gaze. "You have gone too far. You murdered my sister just because she married a Fallen Angel, and now you're out to kill her daughter. You have no right to be a Himejima, let alone a clan head. You have brought great dishonor to our family! Release Akeno at once," the forty-year-old man ordered calmly, waiting for his shameful uncle to do so.
A week ago, Baraqiel came to him with information about his sister's death. Iwamatsu was devastated but became angry when hearing her killers were of her own clan. And at Baraqiel for not taking Akeno to him. Iwamatsu made haste to the Himejima. But was too late to get Akeno and told the clan exiled her and was now hunting her down. Hearing this horrible news, the Hayashi clan head began his search for his niece.
And now at last he had discovered her being chased by the Himejima's.
Seeing Suou not comply, anger flashed across the younger clan leaders face, his hand falling to the hilt of his Katana. "I promise you, if you hurt my sister's daughter, not one of you will leave this place alive. I am warning you just one more time. Let! Her! go!"
Suou watched his clansman stepped back in fright. None daring to challenge Iwamatsu. Suou knew he was no match for his nephew. Like his sister, Iwamatsu was a prodigy in Shinto magic and could kill them all. At last he released Akeno who rushed to her uncle´s side clutching to him tightly. "So, you've come to save her."
"That's correct. I care not what Akeno-chan is. She, like Baraqiel, is family. And family comes before honor." Iwamatsu said as he picked up Akeno. "Now if you'll excuses me I have a niece to take care of. As for you, Suou, you may be family, but I will not allow you to come near my niece or clan. So if I hear that you or anyone from Himejima try to harm my niece, your actions will not go unpunished." With his threat given, Iwamatsu turned away refusing to look back.