This was the part that Kaoori hated. She whimpered in her sleep, and twitched.. almost as if she were trying to wake herself up from the dream. It proved futile. The dream carried on. It would play again in her mind, as it had been, and more recently every night.

Kaoori froze in fear, eyes staring down the steps on the hill to the village down below. The screams continued, multiplied, getting louder, stronger.. what was happening? The sounds of horses' hooves and clanging metal began to fill the air, joining the screaming.

Her eyes widened, and she dropped the broom, running to the shrine. The young miko nearly forgot to breathe when she saw the head priestess.
"Sensei! You've got to come, hurry!"
"Kaoori, what is it no-"
"The village!"
When the elder female saw the panic in the other's eyes, she stood, hurrying after the girl. As they made it to the steps leading down the hill, they saw a figure coming their way. As it came closer, they saw it was a non-threatening one. And wounded.
The man stumbled up the last step, blood dripping down his brow from a head injury and from a wound in his side. As he fell forward, the elder priestess caught him.
"Ah, priestess, I don't want to dirty your kimono.. "
"Nevermind that! What's happening!?"
Kaoori swallowed, ready for the worst.

The man took a deep breath, wincing.
"You both have to get out of here, gather who is left in this shrine and run for your lives. They.. they're killing whoever gets in their way, even the women and children.."
He coughed, and slumped. Kaoori gasped, then choked in a sob.
"Sensei! Is he.."
"No, Kaoori. He is still alive, but barely. I should be able to bandage him. "
The screams down below got louder, and closer,. Kaoori could smell a burning, acrid smell-- the ronin must have started to burn some buildings.
She ran and grabbed a bow and arrow, the only weapon she knew how to use.
" I have to help somehow, sensei!"
"Kaoori, you're only a child! You'll be killed!"
"But sitting up here is worse! And what of the wounded down there? Do we leave them there to die? "
Sensei stared at Kaoori for a moment. The girl was still a child, but not a small one anymore. Her soul was innocent, and she had a big heart..
"Go then. But wear that archery armor about your chest!"
Once again Kaoori ran back in, finding the armor in the room where she prayed. Fastening it on herself quickly, she stopped in front of the altar, closing her eyes.

"Kami-sama.. please watch over me...!"

And with that, she was off, darting down the steps toward the village.
-----------------------------
(I really hope this is readable and easy to understand. Everything is just a garble in my head. Like I posted after the last excerpt, it's really easy to see in my head, but really hard to get out on here. Any advice/suggestions would be welcome and helpful. Or even tell me if you like it )