A/N: Hey, guys! This is a story I've been working on for a while now. It's a prequel to Devil Among Devils that details Suzuki's life before becoming a devil and joining Issei on his never-ending journey.

Now, to avoid any confusion, Issei and Ashiya will be going by the same names as they usually do.

Due to the nature of this story, it will probably be significantly more angst-y than DAD, but rest assured. I fully intend to maintain a humorous aspect to this story.

I'm actually thinking of making a separate story for each heroine, but that will take FOREVER to do. Don't worry; I'm still working on DAD. This is just a side project I've been wanting to do for a while.

Same warnings apply to this story as DAD! An extremely OOC, grossly overpowered and Gary Stu Issei will be featured. Characters from other series shamelessly inserted in an awkwardly random manner.

Harem, of course.

Now, without further ado,

A Shinobi's Tale

It was a perfectly normal day in Kyoto, Japan; or at least, as normal as it could be nowadays. The year was 1868 and the proud nation was currently in the midst of political upheaval. A restoration, they called it. But that was merely an attempt to disguise what it truly was: a war.

And what a war it was. It was a time of terror; where the people were too afraid to venture even a few feet outside their own homes at night for fear of the maniacs that would openly roam the streets – seeking to profit from the chaos of war.

Then, when dawn came, the people would venture out of their secure little homes and act as though nothing were wrong, even when the evidence was all around them.

War is never a kind thing; especially to the average man, with thousands losing their homes and livelihoods to the violence. Hundreds of families were torn apart in the chaos.

With many of their husbands fighting in the war, women were forced to work alone to provide for their families. Many turned to prostitution in their desperation.

But perhaps the biggest victims were the children. They could be seen roaming the streets at any given time – doing anything in their power to survive in this harsh world they lived in. Many worked full-time jobs and received far below standard pay for their efforts.

Many more became thieves and were punished harshly by the authorities if caught – regardless of their age. One such child was currently attempting to locate her next victim.

In many ways, she was no different from any other street child. No older than ten years old, she was short, dirty and skinny. But in just as many ways, she was unique. Her skinniness made her high cheekbones very prominent. And when properly bathed, the contrast between her raven-colored hair and her milky white skin was almost ethereal – especially beneath the moonlight.

But perhaps her most distinguishing feature was her eyes. Even though many children lived on the streets – they all still held a semblance of childish innocence within their eyes. But his girl's eyes were cold and jaded. They spoke of a harsh, unforgiving life.

It was this same pair of eyes that glared out into the crowded square before her. 'Ugh, pigs, the lot of them,' she thought as she silently waded passed a group of rowdy men who had just come tumbling out a bar – completely smashed. She hated these types of people. They all had to work hard to make a living and they spend all their money on alcohol?

'They won't miss this,' the girl thought smugly, patting the newly acquired bag of coins. She smirked as she spotted two men arguing on the small wooden bridge up ahead. She could easily spot the coin purse hanging out of the brown-haired idiot's pocket.

Carefully, making sure to keep a look of complete nonchalance on her face, she walked passed them, snatching the purse as she did so. Their shouting never wavered in the slightest.

'Too easy,' the girl chuckled as she continued walking.

That is, until she felt someone grab her by the collar of her shirt. The black-haired girl yelped as she fell to the ground, landing squarely on her backside.

She felt a surge of panic as the coin purse was wrested from her hands. She hadn't been caught in years. How did they notice?!

"My Lord, I have apprehended the pickpocket," the white-haired man said, handing the purse to his younger companion.

"There was no need to manhandle her," the brown-haired boy replied. He glanced down at the girl curiously and reached towards her.

The black-haired girl reacted instinctively, throwing a punch aimed at his face in an attempt to daze him long enough for her to escape.

Only to watch in horror as he easily caught her punch. She struggle in his grasp as he pulled the girl to her feet. He gently unraveled her fist and placed the coin purse within the palm of hand.

"Next time, don't get caught," the boy winked. He turned to his companion and nodded. "Let's get going, eh?"

"My Lord, are you certain?" the white-haired man questioned. The brunet shrugged at him, a small smile on his face before continuing down the road, the older man at his heels.

The girl stared at the small bag of coins for several moments before narrowing her eyes.

Suddenly, she spun around and hurled the bag at the man's head, causing both men to turn to her in mild shock. The black-haired girl glared at them coldly.

"I don't need your pity." She spat at them. The white-haired man glared at her ungratefulness while the younger boy merely stared at her.

After several moments in which it looked like the older man was about to tell her off, the brunet spoke. "I see," he said softly. "I can see it now. You're not like the other children, are you? You're jaded. You've been scarred…"

"Shut up," she growled. "You don't know anything about me. Take your stupid money and go!"

"Impudent whelp…!" the white-haired man hissed as she ran off. The younger man placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Let it go, Ashiya," he said, staring at the girl's retreating back. The older man glared one last time before letting out a sigh.

"As you wish, Issei-sama."

The girl could feel the blood pounding in her ears as she finally began to slow down to a walk. 'Who does he think he is?' she fumed to herself. 'Rich bastards like him have no clue what it's like on the streets. Scarred? He doesn't know what I've been through…'

"Suzu-nee, you're back!" an excited voice broke her out of her inner rant. Slowly, a smile found its way onto the newly named Suzuki's face. This was the only person that she felt could understand her; her only friend.

"Hey, Misao," she greeted the other girl.

Like Suzuki, Misao's hair was a deep black but unlike the stoic girl, who kept her hair in a loose ponytail with bangs shadowing her face, Misao kept her hair in a long braid, with curtains of hair framing either side of her face. She had bright blue eyes that - unlike Suzuki's onyx eyes - shone with the innocence of childhood.

Misao's mother had died of pneumonia when the girl had been only four years old. Her father had already left them long before this, leaving Misao orphaned with no known relatives coming forth. She would have died on the streets if she had not been found by Suzuki. By this time, the older girl had been living on the streets for a year already. She showed the younger girl how to survive on the streets, how to move without being seen, how to steal without being detected.

This brought her thoughts back to the strange pair on the bridge. How was it they had caught her so easily? No one had been able to do so for years. She was certain she had not made a single mistake in her execution. Who were they?

She shook her head, ridding herself of those troublesome thoughts. It didn't matter who they were. She would never meet them again.

Suzuki smiled as she stepped through the threshold to her home. Well, 'home' was a subjective term. It was little more than a dilapidated old building that had been abandoned some years ago. There were many such buildings in the slums of Kyoto, but this one theirs; the one place where they could be safe from the outside world and all its cruelties.

Then, as though mocking her, all semblances of safety and security came crashing down as she spotted the stranger invading their home; their sanctuary.

He was admittedly a very handsome man, with a long, youthful face and black hair, tied into a loose ponytail. His eyes, however, were an ice-cold blue. His attire was very out-of-place, as well. He wore dark-blue clothing that hugged his lean form tightly, as well as a lavender scarf. In fact, he looked like the stereotypical image of-

"A shinobi?" Suzuki demanded, glaring at the man. The man stared back coldly, his gaze piercing through her and sending a chill up her spine.

"Ah, Suzu-nee!" Misao beamed at her with her radiant smile. "This is Aoshi-sama!"

"I don't care what his name is," Suzuki said lowly. "What is he doing here?"

"My business here is none of your concern, girl," Aoshi said coldly. "My business is with the Makimachi heiress and her alone."

"Makimachi… heiress…?" Suzuki repeated numbly.

"Suzu-nee, I-I have a family," the other girl exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. "And they're looking for me! They want me to go meet them! Isn't that great?"

"…great…?" Suzuki muttered. "Misao, how can you trust anything this guy says?"

"I came here bearing a message, written in the lord's own hand," the shinobi said coolly. He gestured towards a scroll on the nearby table, which Suzuki promptly snatched and began reading.

As she read, Suzuki could feel an icy pit forming in her stomach. The message was extremely formal and even carried an official seal. There was really no doubt…

"So… you're leaving…?" she whispered, not looking at the other girl.

Misao suddenly looked unsure, glancing at the man. "I… Y-You can come with me…!" she stuttered. "I'm sure my… grandfather won't mind!"

"Absolutely not," Aoshi snapped. "My top priority is returning you to my lord safely. I cannot afford to have any distractions – especially during such tumultuous times." He looked down his nose at the girl. "Not that I would ever have my lord suffer the presence of this urchin in the first place."

She couldn't help it. She should be happy that Misao found her family. But then why couldn't she swallow these feelings of resentment and betrayal? These feelings of jealousy that Misao had a family that wanted her, while she had nothing. No one wanted her. Not even her own mother wanted her…!

Slowly, the scroll in Suzuki's hands crumbled, as her entire body began to shake. Misao looked at her, wide-eyed. "S-Suzu-nee…!"

"…Go…!" she whispered, flinching as her voice cracked. "Just… go…!"

"Suzu-nee, please!" Misao pleaded.

"Go!" Suzuki shouted as tears began to form in her eyes. "Just get out of here!" She pulled away violently as Misao attempted to reach for her. "I don't need you…" she whispered as she began backing away. "I don't need anyone!"

"Suzu-nee!"

She ran, ignoring Misao's pleading cries in her haste to get away. She ran, ignoring the indignant cries of those she bumped into. She didn't know where she was going, only that she needed to get away from there.

Eventually, she found herself back in the square from earlier that day. It was dusk now; the sun having just set over the horizon. A burst of laughter drew her attention and she turned to see a group of men stepping out of the same bar.

Suzuki felt her resentment grow tenfold. These pigs were all the same…! Her eyes narrowed.

'I don't need anyone…' was the mantra ringing through her mind as she approached the group. One man was laughing about how he would be visiting the local brothel later this evening to an uninterested black-haired man.

Quickly and silently, Suzuki struck, reaching for the laughing man's pocket…

"Well, well, well!" the black-haired man smirked, catching the girl's hand before it could reach its target. "Looks like we've got ourselves a pickpocket."

Suzuki looked up in shock as the man's words caught the other men's attention. 'T-Twice in one day?!' she thought furiously.

"You know what happens to thieves?" one of the men cracked. It was easy to see he was piss drunk. "They get their hand cut off!"

It was then that she finally noticed the swords hanging from each of their waists. In her emotional state, she had completely overlooked it. These weren't ordinary men. They were samurai.

"Do you know who we are, girl?" the same man questioned, a smirk on his face as he fingered his katana. "You should have recognized us from our uniform alone."

Truly, a cursory glance was all that was needed and she cursed herself for her stupidity. There was no one in Kyoto that did not recognize that uniform. It was the Shinsengumi; the special police and the most elite fighting force in all of Japan.

There was no escape from this, so she did the only thing she could.

"Bite me," Suzuki spat in their faces. The man's face grew enraged, while the black-haired man became intrigued.

"Oh, you've done it now, girl," the angry man growled, drawing his sword.

"Now, now," a voice called out, drawing everyone's attention. Suzuki's eyes widened. It was the brown-haired boy from earlier, though his companion was nowhere to be seen. "Why don't we all just calm down?"

"This is none of your business, boy," the man snapped.

"When you're threatening to harm a child, it becomes my business," the boy retorted. Suzuki could feel her brow twitch in annoyance.

"This child is a thief and a criminal," the black-haired man said with a cool smile on his face. He watched the boy intently. His posture suggested the boy was a fighter and he was eager to find out. He fingered his katana.

"Saito," another man said warningly.

"And if you're defending her," the black-haired man continued, ignoring his comrade. "You must be her accomplice."

"Outstanding logic there… Saito, was it?" the boy drawled. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're just looking for an excuse to fight."

Saito merely smiled coyly but to his surprise, the black-haired girl in his grip suddenly decided to pipe up.

"Can we stop with this inane conversation?" the girl snapped. She glared at the angry man who had drawn his sword earlier. "If you're going to kill me, do it already, you coward!"

"That's it, time to die, kid!" the man roared, fury evident in his voice. He raised his sword high over his head before swinging down. The girl couldn't help but flinch and close her eyes.

But instead of pain, she felt rather than heard the clash of steel just inches from her face. Eyes snapping open, she gazed up in awe to see that the brown-haired boy had drawn his own katana out of nowhere; crossing several yards within a split second and blocked the man's slash.

Gazing around, she saw similar looks of shock on everyone's faces. Immediately, she felt Saito release her as he leapt back and drew his own sword. His comrades did likewise, gazing at the boy warily.

"How is that even possible…?"

"He's not human…"

"Do you think that's him?"

"I know what you're thinking," the boy said, easing himself in front of Suzuki protectively. "But no. I am not Hitokiri Battousai."

"He's right," Saito said, eyeing the boy. "The Battousai has blood-red hair."

The boy smiled before leaning back and glancing at the girl behind him. "On three, you're going to run," he said quietly.

"…why are you helping me…?" she muttered back.

"Do I need a reason to help someone?" he questioned; a small smile on his face as she looked up at him in surprise.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he deftly deflected a stab from Saito, only for the attack to be redirected into a horizontal slash. The boy was forced to dodge, grabbing the black-haired girl around the waist and leaping backwards.

Suzuki was dazed as she suddenly found herself back on her feet. "Three!" the boy shouted, shoving her down the road. "Start running!" She didn't need to be told twice.

Pumping her legs as fast as they could go, she could hear the men's voices shouting as they attempted to give chase, only to be stopped in their tracks by the brown-haired boy. Suzuki didn't dare look back, for fear they would catch her. It was only when the men's voices began to shout in confusion and fear did she chance a look.

The sight had her staring in open shock. Out of nowhere, a thick fog had descended upon the street, obscuring the samurai's vision and forcing them to stumbling about aimlessly.

"W-What…?" Suzuki stuttered in confusion. "How…?"

"In here!" a voice hissed at her. Startled, the girl turned towards the owner of the voice to see it was the white-haired man who was with the boy earlier today, standing at the entrance of a small inn.

Glancing towards the strange fog once last time, Suzuki ran towards him and ducked inside. The man grasped her shoulder and began leading her towards the stairs. On the second floor, he led her to a door on the right side of the hallway.

Once inside, she found herself in a large, spacious room. Several futons were spread out across the floor and a kotatsu was propped up against the far wall next to the window.

Standing in front of the window, gazing down upon the street below, his arms outstretched, was a young man with orange-colored hair tied into a ponytail. The man wore a blue kimono top with a tan vest over it. His legs were covered by a pair of loose blue pants tucked into a pair of black high-top sandals.

His most distinctive feature, however, was the long, bushy tail sprouting from his lower back.

"W-What the hell?!" Suzuki demanded, her eyes transfixed on the man's tail.

"What's the situation, Shippo?" the white-haired man questioned, ignoring the girl's shock.

"They're giving up, oji-san," the younger man replied, lowering his arms. Outside, the dense fog was beginning to lift. The white-haired man nodded.

"Good," he said. "Issei-sama should be rejoining us shortly."

As though waiting for his cue, the door opened and the brown-haired boy stepped in looking no worse for wear. Suzuki opened her mouth to speak, but he silenced her with a gesture. He then pointed towards the window.

Hesitantly, the black-haired girl looked outside to see the Shinsengumi arguing amongst themselves.

"Just let it go," one of them said to the man who had attempted to execute her.

The man snarled and glared at the surrounding buildings. Immediately, Suzuki ducked out of sight.

"I'll find you, girl!" he shouted. "I know your face! Mark my words; you'll never be safe in Kyoto!"

They were silent as the men outside slowly began walking off, the angry man spewing curses all the way. Slowly, Suzuki took another glance outside, only to freeze.

Saito was staring straight at her, an amused smirk on his face. The black-haired man placed a finger over his lips and shook his head before following after his comrades; not giving her a second glance.

"Well," the brown-haired boy sighed after several moments of terse silence. "That was close."

"Who are you people?" Suzuki demanded, turning to face them. "How did you move so fast? What was that freaky fog? And this freaky fox-boy?"

Said freaky fox-boy twitched. The brown-haired boy chuckled however. "I see," he said as his mirth died down. "I suppose there's no harm in telling you now that you've already noticed." He gestured towards all three of them. "As you've probably surmised, we are not human."

"No shit," she said, rolling her eyes. The white-haired man looked like he wanted to say something, but was silenced by the brown-haired boy, whom Suzuki supposed was their leader.

"My name is Issei," the brown-haired boy gestured towards himself. "Hyoudou Issei. And this," he gestured towards the white-haired man. "Is Shirou Ashiya, my retainer."

Ashiya reluctantly bowed to her and scowled as he saw the smirk on her face.

"Ashiya and myself are both beings known as devils," Issei swiftly moved on.

"Devils?" Suzuki repeated, furrowing her brow. "Those things foreigners are afraid of?"

"I suppose you could put it like that," the brown-haired boy chuckled. He gestured towards the orange-haired man. "This is Shippo, he is a kitsune youkai. That should be more familiar to you, no?"

"Alright, this is all getting a little too ridiculous," Suzuki said as she made to stand up. "Thanks for the save and all, but I think I'll be leaving now."

"Are you sure about that?" Issei questioned. "The Shinsengumi are still likely to be roaming the streets. That Saito character seemed particularly dangerous. Do you have someplace to stay?"

"I-" she paused here, as feelings of bitterness rose up in her chest. "I did." She scowled. "I don't think I can stay there. Not anymore."

"I'm afraid it would be a bad idea to venture out onto the streets tonight," Shippo piped in. "That man… He said he would hunt you down. It would be wise to leave town as soon as possible."

"Leave…?" the girl chuckled darkly. "And just where the hell am I supposed to go? I don't have a family. Soon enough, I won't even have friends…"

Issei was silent for a while. "You can come with us," he offered after a while. "Ashiya and I were planning on leaving for Edo tomorrow. You're welcome to hitch a ride."

Suzuki merely stared at him for several moments. "Why are you helping me?" she asked him. He smiled at her.

"Do I need a reason to help someone?" he asked once again. "Think it over for the night. You're free to hide here with us until we leave."

The black-haired girl stared at them, fidgeting awkwardly. "Have a seat," Issei offered. "Dinner will be soon."

Just then, Suzuki's stomach let out a loud growl, bringing a flush to the girl's cheeks. "…Alright," she muttered.

"But first!" Ashiya suddenly stood, his eyes gleaming at her strangely. Suzuki looked at him in alarm. Had she been tricked…?! "You need a bath! You're filthy!"

Issei and Shippo both sighed, simultaneously bringing a palm to their foreheads. Suzuki's eyes dilated in fear.

"A-Actually," she began backing away from him. "I just remembered, I have somewhere to be…!"

She spun around and lunged for the door, only to feel an ironclad grip on her shoulder.

"I said…" a terrifying voice whispered into her ear. "You. Need. A. Bath."

Issei sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he stood guard outside the door to the bathhouse. No matter how much time passed, Ashiya could never quite get over his absolute hatred of dirty things.

"N-No! Stop, I hate baths!" Suzuki cried over the sounds of Ashiya vigorously scrubbing her scalp.

"Stop struggling, you'll get soap in your eyes!" the white-haired man snapped. "I'm going to rinse your hair now, close your eyes!"

"Nooooo…!"

Eventually, Suzuki's cries dimmed down to sniffles as Ashiya finished scrubbing the dirt and grime off.

"Issei-sama?" Ashiya called out. Issei took that as his cue to come in. As he entered, he gazed down at the pitiful sight before him.

The tiny black-haired girl was huddled atop a small bathing stool, shivering from the cold. With an apologetic smile, he wrapped a white towel around her small frame.

"I am going to check up on our meal," the white-haired man announced. "Would you please take her to the baths?"

"W-What?" the girl gasped, still shivering. "I-I just took a bath!"

"But this is the best part," Issei winked at her. "We're going for a soak."

"Soak…?" she demanded. "S-So we're just g-going to go sit in c-cold water?"

"Cold?" he asked in confusion. "You've never been to an onsen before?"

"Onsen?" Suzuki blinked, just as confused. Issei grinned at her.

"Oh, you're in for a treat, then!" He nodded at Ashiya, who took his leave before taking the girl by the hand and leading her towards the springs.

As they entered the bathing area, the scowl on her face morphed into open-mouthed shock. Timidly, she placed her toe into the steaming hot water. Immediately afterwards, she leapt in, creating a large splash.

Issei chuckled as she re-surfaced, a giddy smile on her face.

"What is this?" she asked in amazement.

"It's a hot spring," he explained as he slowly entered the water as well. "You've never been to one?"

"I've always had to bathe at the river," Suzuki explained, still relishing the sensation of warm water on her skin. "I've never bathed in hot water before."

"Well that explains why you hate baths," Issei chuckled.

"I've passed by this place hundreds of times in the past," the black-haired girl said as she finally began to settle down. "But I never knew something like this was back here. Had I known, I would have snuck in a long time ago."

"Not surprising," Issei shrugged. "This place used to be an inn a long time ago but it's privately owned now. I happen to know the owner, so they're letting us stay here for the night."

"Must be nice," the girl muttered, lowering her head into the water and muffling her speech. "Being rich and all…"

The brown-haired boy stared at her for a while. "Suzuki, how old are you?"

"Eight. What's it to ya?"

Issei almost choked. She was eight years old? The girl was so tiny she looked even younger than that.

"I… see…"

"Don't," the girl said.

"Excuse me?"

"I know you're about to apologize," Suzuki said wearily. "Don't. It's not your fault I live on the street. If anyone's to blame, it's my mom. She left me here without a word…" She shook her head, obviously wanting to change the subject.

Issei obliged. "So, enjoying your first real bath?" he questioned with a smile. "We'll be visiting places like this more often while we're on the road."

The girl smiled at that. "It feels amazing," she said, stretching her limbs. "If only Misao-"

"Hmm?" Issei glanced at her as she suddenly grew silent. "Misao?"

"She is… was… my friend," Suzuki said quietly.

"And she's not anymore?"

"No, she… still is…" the black-haired girl muttered. "It's just… complicated right now."

Issei nodded silently. If she didn't want to talk, he wasn't going to pry.

"Issei-sama!" Ashiya's voiced called out to them. "Dinner is ready!"

The brown-haired boy sighed, rising up from the water. "Come on, let's go." He chuckled as Suzuki suddenly looked very reluctant to leave to hot spring. "This isn't the last time you go to an onsen, I promise." He held his hand out to her.

She was hesitant for several moments before finally taking his hand.

Issei entered the dining hall with Suzuki shuffling behind him awkwardly. The boy glanced at her. "What's wrong?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"I've never worn a yukata before," the girl said, tugging at the collar of her navy-blue and crimson outfit.

The brown-haired boy chuckled. "Well, today is full of firsts, isn't it?" he said, taking a seat at the table. Suzuki was surprised there were so few people here; five in total, including herself. Issei was currently sitting next to Ashiya, while Shippo sat across from them next to someone she had never seen before.

And Suzuki was fairly certain she would remember someone like this woman. She had a truly gorgeous figure that any woman would kill to have and long, golden-colored hair with a matching pair of eyes.

Like Shippo, this woman also had a long, bushy tail sprouting from her lower back. But unlike her male counterpart, who sported fairly normal ears, albeit pointed; this woman had a pair of golden fox ears sprouting from the top of her head.

Dressed in a light lavender yukata, she looked like the epitome of beauty in Suzuki's eyes.

"Ah, yes," Issei said, noticing the girl's stare. "This is Yasaka-san; she is the owner of this building and our gracious host this evening."

"Ara, ara, there's no need to be so formal, otou-san" the blonde-haired woman said, cradling a delicate hand to her cheek. Suzuki noticed Shippo flushing red as Yasaka placed her other hand on his leg.

Issei chuckled, noticing as well. "She is also Shippo's fiancée and my daughter-in-law."

"Daughter-in-law?" the girl questioned. "But… that would mean…?"

"Issei-sama is my surrogate father," Shippo explained. "He and my surrogate mother found me after my father passed away back when I was still a kit. They took me in and raised me."

"I... see…" Suzuki muttered, glancing at the brown-haired boy out of the corner of her eye.

"Well, don't just stand there, have a seat," Issei urged her. She quickly sat next to him and gazed upon the spread before her. She had never seen so much food before in her life.

"Is this…?"

"Dig in," the brown-haired boy smiled. "Itadakimasu."

"Itadakimasu." The others were quick to follow suit. Suzuki hesitantly reached for a platter of succulent-looking beef and when no one told her otherwise, quickly snatched several pieces.

The older members of the table watched in mild amusement as the girl began piling food onto her plate.

"Calm down," Issei chuckled. "It's not going anywhere." He could only shake his head in amusement as she ignored him and continued her hoarding.

With a smile, he too began to gather food onto his plate.

Suzuki gazed up at the ceiling as she lay upon her futon. In the next room, she could hear the others talking about their plans. Apparently, while she, Issei and Ashiya would be making their way to Edo, Shippo and Yasaka still had business in Kyoto and would not be joining them for some time.

She quickly shook her head of these thoughts. The girl hadn't even decided whether or not to take them up on their offer to accompany them.

Despite their seeming kindness, these… people... weren't human. If she remembered the stories correctly, the foreigners considered devils to be evil. Kitsune were a mixed bag. Some considered them to be benevolent spirits, while others thought them to be malevolent pranksters.

But the fact remained that she could not remain here in Kyoto. Not with the Shinsengumi gunning after her. It may have been that drunken idiot that swore to find her… but it was Saito that terrified her the most. Saito Hajime, she believed his name was. One of the strongest swordsmen of the Shinsengumi along with Okita Souji and Nagakura Shinpachi; Saito Hajime was known to be a cold and ruthless man.

So why did he let her escape?

Even with the supernatural fog that had enveloped the city during her escape, that man had known exactly where she had been the entire time. But he didn't pursue her. Why?

However, it didn't matter at this point. The only thing that mattered was that she did escape and she was still alive. But that even that wouldn't last long if she did not leave Kyoto.

Suzuki had never been outside the city limits before and the girl had no idea what was out there. She had nowhere else to go, which meant her only hope was to follow these… devils… wherever they planned on taking her.

The black-haired girl grit her teeth, despising the feeling of helplessness building up inside her. She had no choice but to trust him; the brown-haired boy that saved her.

'Hyoudou Issei,' was the last thing on her mind as she fell into an uneasy sleep.

"Suzuki-chan…" a voice called out to her, rousing the girl from her slumber. "Suzuki-chan, it's time to wake up."

The black-haired girl groaned before slowly opened her eyes. Yasaka's pretty face slowly came into focus as she sat up.

"Issei-sama is waiting for you downstairs," the blonde woman said. She handed the girl a small bundle of clothes. "Here, these are your traveling clothes if you decide to go. You may keep the yukata as well. I think blue and red really suits you." She winked at her.

Suzuki nodded at her. "Thanks," she said quietly. The older woman rubbed her head affectionately.

"Think nothing of it, kit," she said before standing and making her way outside. "Like I said, Issei-sama is waiting in the dining hall. He's awaiting your decision."

And with that the blonde woman left her to her own devices. Slowly, Suzuki began getting dressed. When she was fully clothed, she looked herself over to see that her new outfit consisted of drab, earthy colors. Perfect for blending into a crowd.

She sighed slightly. This was it. With a steady resolve, she made her way downstairs and into the dining hall. It seemed that Issei was the only person there today. The others must have been off running last minute errands before their departure.

"Ah, you're awake," Issei nodded as she entered. He gestured at the table before him which, while having nowhere near as much food as last night, was still filled with food. "Help yourself. Everyone else has eaten already."

She sat across from him this time. "Itadakimasu." They said in unison and began to eat.

They were silent for a long while. It wasn't until they'd both finished that either of them spoke.

"Have you made a decision?" he asked simply. Suzuki nodded.

"I don't have anywhere else to go," she told him. "I'll go with you to Edo."

Issei nodded solemnly. "I'm sorry you have to go through this," he said as he stood. "But Edo is a nice place. It's much safer than Kyoto at the moment and the journey there is quite enjoyable."

"I've never been outside of Kyoto before," Suzuki said quietly as she followed him. He led her to the entrance hall, where several rice hats hung from the wall. He took two of them and handed her one.

"I think you'll enjoy the trip," Issei said as he adjusted the strap of his hat. He chuckled as he saw her struggling with her own and crouched down to help. He ignored the way she scowled at him.

"Keep your head down while we're on the street," he told her, his expression serious. "Try not to draw too much attention to yourself."

She nodded at him. "Where is everyone else?"

"Shippo is making sure our transportation is ready," Issei explained quietly as they stepped out onto the bustling street. "Ashiya is gathering supplies and Yasaka is busy cleaning up."

"And where are we going now?"

"Well," he said. "This will be the last time you see Kyoto for the foreseeable future. I figured there might be something you wanted to do before we leave."

Suzuki paused. "Well…There's only one more thing I need to do."

"So this is your home?" Issei questioned as they approached an old dilapidated building deep within the slums.

Suzuki nodded silently as they stepped through the threshold. She could feel her heart ache as she realized that Misao wasn't here and that all of her belongings were gone as well.

"S-She really left," the black-haired girl said quietly. "I didn't even get to say goodbye... Or that I'm sorry..."

Issei was silent as he watched her silently grieve. He only placed a hand on her shoulder, rubbing circles in an attempt to comfort her.

"Your friend Misao?" he asked quietly. She merely nodded, wiping her eyes before any tears could fall. She took a deep breath before turning to face him.

"I'm ready to go," she said.

"You sure?" The girl nodded. "Alright. Let's go, then."

"Thank you again for letting us accompany you, Takahara-san," Ashiya nodded at the elderly man.

The old man glanced back at them as they sat in the back of his ox-drawn wagon. "Pleasure's all mine, sonny." He said jovially. "To be honest, it makes me feel a tad bit safer with you young fellas keepin' me company. Never know what'll happen out on the road these days."

"Rest assured, Takahara-san," Issei called out from his seat atop a large crate. "Should anything happen, we will do our best to ensure your safety."

Issei smiled as the old man laughed, urging his oxen to go faster. He turned to the girl sitting beside him. "No second thoughts?" he asked.

The girl took one last glance backward as Kyoto began to disappear over the horizon.

"None." She told him before looking forward once again.

A/N: Hey, guys. Thanks for reading. This is going to be a bit of a side project. I'll add a new tab under Navigation on my website titled 'A Shinobi's Tale'. Characters will be listed there.

A picture of a younger Suzuki is up as well. You can find it in her image gallery.

On an unrelated note, I created a new poll on my profile. Should Saber be in the harem in Devil Among Devils? Submit your votes!

Current Ages:

Suzuki - 8

Misao 7

Issei - Apparently 16

Ashiya - Apparently 22

Shippo - Apparently 20

Yasaka - Apparently 20

Aoshi - 15

Makimachi Misao – (Rurouni Kenshin) - Misao was born without knowing her family. Her grandparents were members of the noble Makimachi clan, a family of shinobi. While her grandparents had been prominent ninjas, her mother had been a mere civilian. Unable to bear her parents' disappointment, Misao's mother left the village and eventually settled in Kyoto, where she fell in love.

Unfortunately, she fell in love with the wrong kind of man. When he discovered that she was pregnant, he left without a word. Too ashamed to return to the village and face her parents, the young woman was forced to raise Misao on her own. The woman worked herself to the bone to care for her child and the two were happy for a time.

Then, tragedy struck, as Misao's mother became infected with pneumonia. She passed away, leaving 4-year-old Misao alone. As she wandered through the streets, she came across another girl, only a year older than herself, named Suzuki.

Not knowing what else to do, she began to follow the older girl, much to Suzuki's chagrin. Eventually, in an effort to rid herself of the younger girl, Suzuki decided to teach her how to fend for herself. She taught Misao how to steal without being noticed and hide in plain sight.

Over time, a bond formed between the two girls and from there on, the two would support each other for years to come.

Shippo – (InuYasha) - When Shippo was a child, his father was murdered by a pair of youkai called the Thunder Brothers. Distraught, he swore revenge against them. However, he was too weak to challenge the powerful Thunder Brothers. Frustrated by his own weakness, he sought out a way to defeat the two who had murdered his father.

Eventually, he heard rumors of a band of travelers who possessed a powerful artifact that would dramatically increase one's strength. He sought out the travelers, whom was none other than Issei party. Shippo stole the artifact and attempted raced off to defeat the Thunder Brothers.

When he finally confronted the duo, he was horrified to find that they had skinned his father's body and were using his fur as a sash. Shippo went into a state of shock, leaving himself at the mercy of his opponents. The Thunder Brothers were about to kill him, when Issei and his party interfered.

The two youkai retreated, allowing Issei the chance to confront the young kitsune, wishing to know why he had stolen the artifact. Shippo told them his story and that he wanted revenge. Tamamo felt an immediate connection to the boy and offered to help him. Issei agreed, but warned Shippo that revenge would not change anything and may in fact only blacken the boy's heart.

The party went forth to confront the Thunder Brothers, and after a bout of combat, the duo lay defeated. Shippo stood over the broken bodies of his father's murderers, intending to finish them, when he remembered Issei's words. In the end, he allowed the two to live, believing himself to be better than that.

The Thunder Brothers were enraged by this, however, and attempted to kill the kitsune while his back was turned. Issei intercepted their assault, however and rebounded it back at them, killing them with their own attack.

Now, Shippo, while free of his desire for revenge, had nowhere to go. Tamamo, unwilling to leave the boy, offered to take care of him. Issei agreed and Shippo began traveling with them, eventually coming to view the two as his surrogate parents.