An evil darkness has spread over the land of Fuedal Japan; the tainted, mindless creatures who’s only goal is to leave death and destruction in their wake, run rampant, feasting on the hatred and pain of the human race. There are three Planes: the Upper Plane, the Middle Plane, and the Lower Plane. All good beings of light descend from the Upper Plane, the humans and like species dwell on the Middle Plane called Earth; and the Lower Plane is infested by the most vile and sinister monsters one has ever heard of. In the Legend of the Tainted, a young man, Rei, has been given a mission to come down from the Upper Plane and seek out the evil who has escaped the bowels of the Lower Plane in search of becoming much more powerful and taking over the Middle Plane. Firstly, however, while stumbling about the road, naked and blind from the dimness the Middle Plane has to the Upper; he meets Yumi. Despite this youthful girls, shall we say, emotionless demeanor, he was able to earn her trust and companionship, as well as that of many others. One of whom was an enchanted sword with the soul of a rather perverted man. This blade’s name was Karite. Unfortunately for Yumi, she was chosen to be Karite’s bearer, forced to keep him with her always or be faced with a uncontrollable pain in her right hand from his absence. As time passed on, Rei and Yumi grew more closely together, as did she and Karite. There was a bit of a conflict within her as to who she cared for more but, as the story goes, Rei gave up his life to save that of his friends; but eventually he returned to be with Yumi. Karite, on the other hand, regained his lost memory and name, Yamashi, the human form he took once a month during a full moon. Later on, he was able to lift his curse and be with his resurrected wife, Noriko, again.

However I decided to take a different route in this fan fiction. It takes place on a single night if certain things in the story had not originally occurred; such as, Rei’s second arrival, and Karite’s lifted curse.

~ ~ ~

" This is boring! Big brother Gitou, can’t we go on, just a little more before dark?!" the young voice of Hikome called out to him, her petite form settled beside him, large brown eyes pleading for any kind of entertainment.

" I don’t think it would be in the best interest of Miss Yumi of we kept going like this. She has been having a hard time staying with the group… since he left." the samurai glanced to another female, silently huddled against the trunk of a tree. Her eyes were closed, seemingly enough to be resting from the long walk of the day. " Let her sleep… she will be bothered soon enough anyway..."

" Hoi! Yumi, polish me now!" came a muffled yell everyone knew all to well. The being emitting such an annoying request was none other than Karite; a living sword, doomed to stay within the confines of his sheath. He had no movement of his own, but even if he had, it would have made no difference to his bearer.

" Err... I polished you this morning. You don’t need it again so soon, Karite." she said simply, a brow twitching in frustration.

" Yeah I do! Besides, can you blame me for wanting hands like yours on my blade?" and if he could grin, he most certainly would have. He had a lecherous way about him that would make any woman cringe. Yumi, however, was sadly used to his behavior by now. Even knowing enough to place his sheath at her side instead of back; just to keep him from coming into contact with her rear so very often.

" I am not going to polish you again today so just shut up..." she mumbled with a heavy sigh afterward.

And to her surprise, not to mention everyone else’s, he did indeed cease to speak. Night drew near; the sun slowly sinking behind the mountain range in the distance, sky blanketed with countless sparkling jewels, mingled among their golden and indigo canvas. Outstanding in the mist of these twinkling stars, shone the moon; round and full in form, casting a soft aura of light onto the world below it.

" Make me..." the same tone from within the sheath smirked, now sounding as though it has shifted places and was now to her front.

Yumi shook her head, a single hand reaching to her side, finding nothing but the grass between her fingers. " Odd..." she thought to herself, finally opening her deep sapphire eyes; a handsome face mere inches away from her own. " Erm..." was all she could muster; it was the full moon again already, and Karite was in his human form, Yamashi. This would not end well...

"Hey…" equipped with a smug grin on his lips, he stood his ground, not about to pull back now.

Blood rushed right to her cheeks, flooding them with a crimson hue " K-Karite!" was blurted out, followed by a hard THUD as the back of her head collided with the tree trunk in an attempt to gain a greater distance between them " Ouch.." Yumi muttered as she began to massage the new bump " Move!" her free hand quickly stretched forth and pushed on his chest, causing him to fall back, giving her just enough space to escape. And that she did, rising to her feet and sidestepping him, going about dusting off the fabric of her azure Chinese style dress she had sat upon.

He only smiled, watching her go " Yamashi, Yumi." Standing as well.

" What?!" She gave him an almost terrifying glare.

" You called me Karite. I’m Yamashi for tonight, remember. Human - Yamashi; sword - Karite?" He hesitantly brought forth his expertly crafted sheath, letting her take it for now since he had no use for it in the state he was.

" Yeah, right. I know that..." Frowning she grabbed the edge of the sheath, strapping it across her bokken’s holding place.

" Okay then! Let us go find the nearest village so we can have a little fun before sunrise." Yamashi greedily rubbed his hands together, appearing extremely eager to interact with the fairer sex.

" Us? We? I don’t think so. I am not going to stand by and wait on you to get your manly urges fulfilled. Go alone, I won’t mind."

He shook his head, taking up her hands into his. " You can’t send me out alone! What if I lose all track of time and cannot get to you and the safety of your loving embrace before the sun comes up, huh? What then?!"

The others observed this spectacle, all of them keeping their opinions to themselves. Nearly three months passed since that fateful day Rei had given everything for his friends. Yumi took this harder than anyone. She cared for him deeply, as he did for her; and she never really got over it. Perhaps with Yamashi here in human form, better suited to comfort her now that he had more than just a voice; she could begin to completely heal.

".... Fine." She gave into his begging, jerking her hands away. " But so help me, if you embarrass me in any way; I’ll snap your blade in half in the morning." with that threat understood, she turned.

" Great!" he grinned from ear to ear, waving farewell to the rest of the group. " See ya in the A.M., people!" happily scampering into the forest, a very reluctant kunoichi behind him.

" Oh! Oh! Ooooooh! Let me go too!!" Little Hikome rushed out, only to have the collar of her shirt caught by Gitou’s hand.

" Stay put."

" Awww! Why?!" Putting on her extra pouty face to try and convince him she really needed to go with the pair.

" Er.. Well..." Gitou wasn’t exactly the best at explaining these kinds of things to his younger sister.

"It would be best to leave them alone for just a little while, Hikome" the Priestess Namaruki butted in, not so rudely. " You see, they need to.. speak together without interruption, on the way to the village." She nodded to this, thinking it a good enough excuse for the child to buy.

" Okay then!" Hikome smiled and went about her business of pestering the sleeping Suterusu.

" Thanks, Nama." The samurai said sweetly, poking at the fire before him.

~ ~ ~

The way was dark, canopy of leaves overhead blocking out the lunar glow they so desired to guide them. The path was empty all but for the two figures heading along to the village. Yamashi seemed content in this situation; humming an easy tune, paying no mind to what dangers may lay around the next bend of the road. This, on the other hand, was all Yumi could think of. Tainted were most active during the shadowed hours of the night and being isolated to such an environment as these woods; hundreds could attack at the blink of an eye. And he was no good to her in his current form as far as fighting goes. His humming grew to a faded into silence, a cool breeze moved by them, leaves lightly rustling about.

" You know, Yumi, you are too tense. Just enjoy the moment." Cheerfully he smiled, only having a second of this before the female’s hand crossed his face, leaving a rather angry mark of its stay there.

" Then get your hand off of my ass you pervert!" Huffing, she stomped away, wanting nothing more than to return to the camp and sleep off this wretched night.

With the hand that was so harshly removed from patting her behind, Yamashi rubbed his struck cheek. Not the right time, he must admit, but damn those urges he had when he was around her. " H-Hey! Wait up!"

" You can catch up..."

" Eesh.. So cold with me tonight." he softly smirked, dually giving her bottom a squeeze.

"YAMASHI!?!" She went for the slap, but this time he expected it, stopping her hand before it hit. The expression on his face grave and serious.

" I’m.. sorry, Yumi."

She could easily tell he wasn’t joking. There was a hint of admiration in his eyes; what could he possibly be thinking about in a time like this? To her, that look meant something far more unwanted than his groping lechery. He couldn’t possibly care for her that way. No, of course not, but then again, why was he staring into her eyes the way he was? Yumi opened her mouth to protest, when a crack of thunder halted everything. Her eyes reluctantly shifted from his, ascending skyward. The once placid night sky had changed into a violent storm ready to erupt on the sleepy woodland area. And with a flash of lightning came the rain.

"Come on. We better find some shelter" He calmly laced his fingers with hers, making her join him as he continued on the trail.

Starting with two or three solitary droplets, the drizzle rapidly turned to a torrential downpour; not permitting enough time for them to seek proper sanctuary.

~ ~ ~

" Up ahead! I see something!" Yamashi called back to her, practically dragging her through the puddles and mire that made the road.

" I-Is it a village?!" was her answer returned; stumbling here and there behind him, doing what she could to keep up.

" Close enough, I think."

" What do you mean ‘close enough’, Yamashi?"

Grinning, he reduced speed, coming upon what appeared to be an occupied shack of some sort. " Heh, convenient wouldn’t you say?" There was no hint of life from inside the shady wall of this establishment, but, being the man he is, one who would be concerned with a skilled kunoichi’s safety, he peeked inside a window.

" Anything?"

" Nope."

" Good..."

A sigh of relief was heaved, and the two went indoors, escaping the raging storm after being caught in it at least an hour ago. Indeed, nothing to fear within this enclosure; except for a lecherous sword-man now.

" At least it’s dry." He told her smugly, feeling proud of himself for locating shelter.

" Yes, it is dry, but we are not." she snapped back at him, unhooking the straps which held her weapons in place. A loud clamoring echoing through the one room hut; sheaths and staff being tossed into a corner. She then removed her violet gloves, wringing them out, and her sandals off her feet.

" Not exactly cold in here, is it?" He questioned, giving a puzzled look ad, he too, discarded his shoes and outer shirt to let dry elsewhere.

"No, not really..." Yumi replied halfheartedly, brushing her limp hair from her eyes; stray droplets cascade about the floor as she did so. " But, then again, it is summertime."

" True..." Smiling, he eased himself over to her.

" ...What?" she stepped back.

" You know, if you stay in those wet clothes too long, you’re going to get sick." Yamashi did his best to not grin at the thought.

" What?! Ugh, you’re a bloody pervert! Get away from me!" She barked at him, walking to the other side of the shack, folding her arms in a disgusted manner.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he smiled cheerfully at her. " I was only looking out for your health, Yumi. But I must admit, the Karite in me wouldn’t mind helping with that task."

" I’m sure..."

" Fine, fine. Then don’t take your clothes off. Get sick. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you." He shrugged, getting rid of his last shirt.

Yumi glanced back at him, raising a brow in curiosity. He looked good, better than such a lecherous man doomed to spend the rest of his life as a sword should, especially since she was stuck in this dump with him for, who knows how long. She turned away once more, thinking herself in the wrong for even allowing her eyes to linger at all. " Must you do that?"

" Do what?"

" Take more clothes off?" She stared at the wall blankly, anything to not let him see the streak of red on her face.

" Yeah, actually. Unlike you I don’t want to get sick. I wouldn’t be able to fight as well as Karite if I was. Besides, a coughing and sneezing sword ain’t fun." He nodded.

" I think you are just being dirty and perverted, Yamashi."

There was a slight pause, then the padding of bare feet coming up behind her. " You... really think that, don’t you?"

Inching herself to the wall, she nodded her head once slowly. " You have never gave me a reason not to think that."

A sigh was emitting from his lips. What was he to do? He knew she was right; all he had ever done was rub and feel and fondle. Karite was a pervert, but Karite was not Yamashi’s true self. No, when Yamashi lived his life as an adventurer before he was cursed, he was one of the shyest and sweetest men who ever walked the Middle Plane. It took him five years to simply talk to Noriko, the woman who was once his wife. But to be branded as a pervert and a lecher by the one person he felt close to, cared for; no, he wouldn’t take that.

He casually brought his hands to her shoulders, twirling her about to face him. " Yumi, I’m sorry. But being locked away inside of that wretched blade Karite for so many years had.. Made me forget myself." The expression he held earlier that night, the expression that drove her to believe he could never lie or deceive her, played on his face once more. " Please forgive me."

Yumi was speechless for a goodly amount of time. He appeared to be in wanting of something; a painful wanting that eats away at your very soul. She swallowed hard, seeking out the words that would make him feel better, but nothing came to mind.

" Yamashi, I know it has been hard for you, it hasn’t exactly been easy on any of us lately." She forced a smile for his sake, bringing her hand to his cheek. " But if we stick together, we all will be okay. We, can take care of each other, ya know?"

He cracked a smile, and then a grin. " Thanks, Yumi." Yamashi leaned forward, leaving a light kiss on her lips. He had done that one time before, kissed her, but she was different now, she had regained her emotions and feelings. Drawing back only slightly, he took in her reaction.

Sapphire eyes were in a widened state, that definitely surprised her, but not in a bad way, however. She blinked up at him, cheeks flushed in a ruby hue, seeming to want to speak and possibly tell him off or perhaps strike him with her hand. And yet, nothing was done; nothing was spoken. So he kissed her again, and again; each time more loving than the last, slipping his hands down and around her waist. Embracing her tightly, his lips crept across her cheek and to her neck, but damned if the collar of that Chinese dress wasn’t in the way. He wasted no time in working at those few tricky buttons that blocked his lips from certain other things he wouldn’t mind getting at.

"Y-Yamashi..." she squeaked out softly.

" Erm, yeah? Oh.. Sorry!" he pulled his hand away, rather ashamed he didn’t even ask her to do so.

" I-it isn’t that, It’s just.. I didn’t think you, you know, this.. is what you want?"

Yamashi nodded after a moment of thought; scooping up her hands into his own. " Tell me to stop. I would never push you to do anything." And he truly meant that. He loved her more than he knew he could.

Looking away from him, she whispered, " I.. don’t want to.. tell you to stop, Yamashi."

The widest grin yet came to his face, and he readily picked her up, lips pressed against hers, moving her to another side of the shack. He set her down in a place that could have passed for a bed at one time; nothing more than a tattered and torn cloth bunched up in the corner. Yamashi kissed her briefly and spread it out for her, folding his still damp shirt for her to use a pillow, and laid her back, climbing over her.

" You’re sure?" he asked, gazing down into her eyes, wanting nothing more than to do her bidding.

Nodding her head, Yumi took a deep breath, this was definitely something she did not plan on doing tonight, or any time soon for that matter, especially with him; and yet, it did not make her feel in the wrong for desiring such a thing.

Within minutes, buttons were finally undone and both dress and pants stripped away. Yamashi rested above her, weight all on himself rather than her; his face showing a goofy smirk while lips delighted in the feel of her pale skin along the neck and shoulders. Hands were another matter, however, stroking and rubbing certain areas that would have killed him for in just about any other situation. She giggled shyly, his hand trailing down her side, offering a tickle or two, getting her to relax and enjoy the moment. The night was quickly fading, and in a few hours more, he would be back to his old self as Karite, not being able to do anything on his own, much less touch her like this. Oh, once a month of being human would kill him if he had to wait to be with her again. He shook his head slightly, breaking his train of thought, fingers slipping down into parts of her untouched by anyone. Yumi bucked a bit, lifted her head with eyes double their original size, giving him an odd look from the sudden feeling. Fingers began to move, loosening up and prepping her body for things to come.

" Yam-Yamashi..." she moaned out, her head falling back onto the makeshift pillow. Her eyes closed in defeat and a bit of frustration that he was toying her so.

" Heh, Okay, okay. I think you’re ready anyways." he smirked gently, moving himself between her legs, his manhood positioned just before her opening, " This.. um, is going to hurt for a like a minute. But it will get better, I promise." and with that said, he entered her, sliding slowly until he tapped the fleshy layer blocking his way. Without letting her feel too much pain, he broke her seal, hearing her noises of objection to the hurting sensation.

Being on the other end of this, the girl groaned, never before experiencing both a twinge of pain and deep pleasure. " Yamashi..."

" Yumi..."

~ ~ ~

The rain did eventually slack off to a stop, the clouds rolled away to another part of Japan, and all was well. The subtle light of the early morning hours casting pale grayish-blue throughout the heavens. It was obvious the sun would rise soon, and things would go back to the same old ways they were. Karite would return, Yumi would tuck him away within his sheath and go back to the others before they woke up. But for now, he was still human.

An exhaled of utter contented was heaved by Yamashi, head resting on her chest. " Ya know, there isn’t much time left before sunrise.."

" Mmhmm, I know. We should get dressed and stuff." Yumi commented, opening her eyes as her fingers trailed through his raven hair.

" Meh, who needs clothes when you’re a sword, huh?" he grinned, getting up from his comfy spot, outstretching a hand for her to take.

They both adorned their own attire, and began to head out of the hut. Yamashi whipped his arms around her waist from behind, tugging her against him, hugging her tightly; same cheerful smile playing on his lips.

"H-Hey!" she yelped, getting drawn back to him.

" Sorry, just had to one more time." He eased his grip, lifting his arms up, stretching.

" Right... no harm done." Smiling she turned to him, only to receive a last kiss of the night.

" Come on. Let’s go back to camp, kiddo." Yamashi grinned and in a flash of a warming ray of the sun, his human form had vanished.

" Kiddo, you bastard! I should just leave you here." Her eyes drifted downward, a sword laying in a nice big muddy puddle. Yumi smiled and took hold of the hilt, shaking it clean.

" Hoi! Hoi! Polish meeeee!!" Karite called out, sounding as demanding as ever.

" I think you’ve had enough... polishing for a day or two, Yamashi." Smirking, she sheathed him and took off in the direction they came, heading for the camp.

" Karite, Yumi. It’s morning."

" Whatever..."

~ ~ ~