Chapter II. Adventures of an Unbound Soul
"So, what's this?"
Yuusuke startled, stumbling into empty air "Whoa! Are you crazy, onna?" he protested loudly "I could have dropped it!"
"But you didn't so no harm was done!" Tsukiko pointed out, lazily stretching while walking "You should be grateful I'm taking time out of my busy schedule to come and see you!"
"Bah! As if some rich kid needed to work!"
"Wow. You really are ignorant." she laughed "You said yourself I was a Taishou, it's rather well-known that all of us are expected to excel in at least one martial art, not to mention be knowledgeable in a whole slew of tradition, successfully study and graduate from an elite school, and of course take over part of the family affair afterward."
"That sucks! What's the point of being rich if you're still working so much?" he groaned, as he had ever since she'd talked about studying "Anyway, what the fuck are you doing here if you're so busy?"
"I'm going to see Atsuko-san of course."
"I was only gone for a night, how the fuck did you became so cozy with my mother?"
"Well, I like her." Tsukiko shrugged "She's not too stupid, and thinks on her feet."
"Have you met the drunkard?"
"Just because she's at a bad point in life doesn't mean she's hopeless."
"Feh! I know that! She would be better off without me!"
An echo.
How could the harsh slap echo so loudly when he didn't even have a body, Yuusuke wondered, still a bit shocked – not only at the unexpected attack, but at the fact the girl had even managed to touch him.
He was the baddest bad-ass of the area, could take on other fighters twenty on one, no one could just hit him like that without him seeing it coming! He even saw Keiko's attacks coming every time she slapped him – as to why his body didn't deign move out of the way, that was a whole other problem...
But he hadn't even sensed her move before she'd already ducked him.
Just like he hadn't even heard her approach a moment before.
"Don't you dare say something like that." the girl seethed quietly "No mother deserve to see her child die, no matter how stupid the kid." well, at least she didn't hide her opinion of him "As for your mother's problem, that has nothing to do with you. The world doesn't revolve around you, whether you realize it or not."
"How would you know?"
"I happen to have some knowledge about the situation." a shrug "We talked about it a bit yesterday, so I did a bit of digging around..." she admitted, before going on "And you still haven't answered me... What's with the egg?"
"That's my test apparently." the teenager answered, puzzled "I'm supposed to keep care of it until it hatches, and do good deeds." a frown "Not that I really get how I'm supposed to do good deeds when most people can't see me, and I can't interact with the normal world."
"That's why you've got that Grimm Reaper girl for!" Tsukiko smiled
"Well, she'd not around right now, she was called by her boss..." a mumble "I still can't believe it's just a brat..."
Tsukiko laughed, amused, before informing him of something she knew KoEnma had already told him the evening before "Just because he looks young doesn't mean he is young, different species age differently."
"Yeah, yeah, I was told that." a shrug "Anyway, I still got to tell someone I'm not dead, or my body will get cremated this evening, and the test will be useless..." a frown "Botan told me I could use appear in people's dream, but since it's day time..."
"I'll take care of this." Tsukiko promised, before knocking on the door she'd arrived in front of while they were talking
"Tsukiko-san!" Atsuko greeted, surprised at the visitor
Yuusuke sighed "I can't believe she's already drunk!"
Tsukiko ignored the complain, while she was soon invited inside – the spirit spluttering as the girl casually accepted a beer from his mother.
"Are you even old enough to drink?" he protested – not receiving any answer and totally ignoring how hypocritical it was for him to ask this
Meanwhile the two woman were making idle chat – but before Tsukiko came to the reason why she'd come, they were interrupted by another visitor. Soon, the two were looking at the back of Keiko, the girl having dropped by to give an offering to the small altar where a picture of a grinning Yuusuke was on display.
"That girl... she's taking it hard." Atsuko sighed, disregarding her own grief when looking at the small silhouette disappearing "To think that idiot made her cry again."
"She loves him." Tsukiko stated rather than ask – it was rather evident given own stricken the girl seemed
"Seems so." Atsuko nodded, not knowing she was drowning her son's protests "I don't know when it started really..." a soft smile "It seems its always been like this, my idiot of a son playing truant and Keiko-chan going around trying to keep him in line..."
Above them, Yuusuke wasn't protesting anymore, Tsukiko noted, instead looking embarrassed, yet somewhat wistful. The ookami smiled, amused at the reaction, then finally broached the topic she had come for.
"I have a proposition for you."
Atsuko raised an eyebrow "I didn't think the Taishou had much to do with the underworld?" she wondered "But then again, given that you're Active..."
Yuusuke listened, wondering what she was talking about – but whatever it was, clearly the heiress understood, contrarily to him.
"Let's say that there's another world hidden from daylight, just like the one you used to live in." Tsukiko put "A world living side by side with normal people, even if they don't realize it. The larger Families tend to know about us..." she trailed
Atsuko's eyes had widened in understanding, intriguing her son "The Taishou traditionally attend Mahoutokoro." she whispered "How the fuck didn't I realize it earlier, it's even in the name!" she groaned
Tsukiko laughed – Kagome had had the same reaction, years ago, she remembered...
"I'm rather surprised you even know about us." she admitted – like she'd said, the big fish of the underworld usually knew about them, but it was far less usual for the small group like the one Atsuko had been a part of; but then again it wasn't usual for such a small group to be Flame aware, and Atsuko was clearly Active and trained
"Our specialty was information brokering," Atsuko explained "but then, we were stupid enough to refuse to sell information to someone, without having the means to defend ourselves."
Tsukiko nodded her understanding – Fuuta had had the same problem, she remembered, the boy being hunted for his ability to rank anything until he came under the Vongola's protection.
"So... What kind of proposition are you talking about?" Atsuko wondered, picking back at the start of their talk
"In about a decade, the tenth generation of Vongola is going to become heavily involved in Japan." the information made his mother's eyes widen, Yuusuke nodded – and even if he didn't understand all they'd been talking about, it was becoming clearer now
The delinquent had always known his mother must have some link with the less savory element of society, but never had he known how deeply she was involved – but clearly, both woman were talking about knowledge only the underworld had, and with how this name sounded, he could even go one step ahead: they were talking about the Mafia.
The teenager wondered if he'd been sent to a parallel universe when he'd died, because things had never been so strange as since he'd died...
The simple fact that he was referring to his own death so casually the best proof of it!
"While up until then, Mafia and Magical World tended to keep out of each others way, this will change with that generation."
Tsukiko expertly ignored Yuusuke's stunned reaction, attention focused on his mother.
"I'm tempted to ask how you could possibly know that," Atsuko admitted "but I do know that seers and other fortune-tellers do exist."
Tsukiko didn't bother to tell the woman that while she was right, this wasn't how she knew this particular bit of information
"With more contact between worlds, some of our young are of course anxious to test themselves against new powers. And they've heard about the Underworld Arena..."
Yuusuke perked at the term, somehow getting interested too.
"And you want someone to train them enough not to stand out when out there." Atsuko understood, before frowning "But if it's in a decade..." her eyes widened and she eyed Tsukiko "Of course! You aren't talking about wizards, are you?"
An amused nod – answered by curious eyes "So... I don't know much about the youkai society... Is it rude if I ask..."
Tsukiko smiled, amused, and checking that they weren't near any windows, let her glamour fade, dark hair fading to white, ears pointed, eyes a striking golden, nine tails neatly arranged around her feet – and more importantly alpha marks and the blue moon marking her as heir of her House on her brow.
"Wow..."
It was rather amusing – that both mother and son managed to sound so synchronized when one couldn't even see the second...
"I'm an ookami." Tsukiko explained, seeing that the woman wanted to ask "Our people have recently gained a boon in the form of a number of young of all kind joining our ranks, and they are coming to the age where they'll want to test their skills."
Atsuko smiled, amused "I guess children are the same whatever the species."
"Indeed." Tsukiko nodded, amused, before letting her glamour fall in place again
"Aw..." Atsuko protested "I liked the tails!"
"You'll see them, and more in the magical district." Tsukiko promised, amused "That is if you're interested?"
"I am!" the woman confirmed enthusiastically, slamming her beer on the table "I've tried what this so call normal world has for us and it's dull, and I don't fit..." a sigh "I just wanted to give my boy a chance at legality, but that was maybe selfish of me." she mused "After all I could see that he was no better at fitting in than me."
"Yuusuke does seem to be already on his way to finding his path to the underworld on his own, doesn't he?"
Atsuko may be drunk – and a school drop-out, and from a number of people's opinions, not too bright given her inability to keep a stable work. But truth was, she was like her son – quick-witted in a fight, not very keen on school-learning but able to adapt and think on her feet...
She didn't miss the fact Tsukiko was speaking about her son using the present tense.
"Go see."
¤.¤.¤
The woman nearly sent the table flying, so quick was she to get up and push the cover of the coffin where the body of Yuusuke was resting - and breathing.
"What the... How?" she turned toward Tsukiko, at loss for words
[Bonus Goal Complete!
You've saved Yuusuke's body
Bonus Goal Reward: +10 000XP, +200XP for Yuusuke, Underworld Aficionado (+7Charisma, +5Luck, +10% mind power ) Specialty unlocked]
[Level up! You are now level 308!
+1SP]
[Level up! Yuusuke is now level 36!
+9SP, +4CP, +1PP]
"I guess normal doctors will call it a miracle, or something like that and tell you he is currently in a coma..." Tsukiko speculated
"But?"
"Right now, this body is empty." Tsukiko answered seriously "Your son isn't dead yet, but the link between his body and soul was broken, and repairing that isn't easy." she explained, just as much for the teenager than his mother "It is also possible only because he awakened a spark of spiritual ability when he got into that accident..." she added – otherwise, people would be coming back to life far more often after all "And being a wandering spirit like he is currently is dangerous."
"But he is trying to come home, right?"
"He is."
Atsuko nodded with a soft smile Yuusuke had never seen on his mother's face "Good." she affirmed "Tell him I'll be waiting then, as will Keiko as soon as she'll knows." she asked – the ookami didn't bother asking how the woman had realized she was in contact with the boy, it was the logical conclusion to her knowing most of this after all
"Keh. As if this stubborn girl would believe in things like that."
"Well, if she doesn't believe, you'll just have to make her, right?" Tsukiko teased, acknowledging his presence for the first time since she'd been with his mother
The woman's eyes widened, easily realizing what this meant, as the hime confirmed "He heard." gently, she added "But it's the last time he'll be able to see you before coming back."
"Eh!"
The protest was coming from both, once more synchronized "Botan didn't tell you?" Tsukiko wondered, a bit surprised – sharing her memories with the prince of Reikai meant that she knew the standard rules around the Test of Revival, even if it wasn't used often "No contact is allowed with friends and family during the test."
"What about you?"
"Well, I'm hardly a friend, am I?" she laughed "Just the annoying rich girl with time to waste who just happens to be able to see you!" she waved his concern away "You're not getting rid of me like that, and I've got no rule forbidding me from talking to your mother."
Both smiled the same fox-smile, clearly showing that just like her they saw the appeal in going around the rules.
Then, Tsukiko felt the air brim with familiar reiki, and Botan appeared on her oar "Sorry for the delay!" she greeted the dead boy enthusiastically "Oh, you've already managed to save your body, well done!"
"Not like I did a lot for it..."
"Well, you got your medium acquaintance to do it for you." the blue-haired grimm reaper shrugged "That's good enough for me." she turned toward Tsukiko "Sorry for not greeting you before, I wasn't aware you were able to see me!" a bow "I'm Botan, yoroshiku."
"Taishou Tsukiko. Pleasure to meet you."
"KoEnma-sama brought me up to date, I didn't realize there was a Reikai free-lance hanging around." a smile "Since this is Yuusuke's test, he's the one who must make all choices, but there's no problem with you hanging around since you never met him before his accident."
"Of course." Tsukiko nodded – she wasn't too surprised the prince had already arranged a pretext for her to hang around Yuusuke, since it gave them a reason to communicate and he was her newest Hero
"Well, now that your body is safe," the grimm reaper added, turning toward Yuusuke "you'll have to say your goodbyes and be on your way."she checked in her notebook "A friend of yours with a good spiritual awareness has been chosen as prime candidate for possession!"
"And why not the medium just here?"
"I can't be possessed." Tsukiko contradicted "Sorry."
With that she stood up "Atsuko, I'll see you soon." a smile "I'll send my son pick you up and give you a tour of the district since he's part of the children that have to be educated."
The triple shout of surprise was music to her ears.
"He's adopted." she eventually deigned acknowledge after Yuusuke protested that she couldn't be old enough to have a child old enough to move around alone – not pointing out that she was older than she looked, given that Botan didn't know about the magical world
Soon, she'd taken her leave from Yuusuke's mother, and they were heading toward a nearby mall, soon finding the one who'd been selected to be possessed.
"No way!"
"Well, it's alright if you don't, but then you won't be able to say goodbye." Botan shrugged as the delinquent pulled a face at the nearby group of dangerous looking adolescents
"Not a friend, eh?" Tsukiko teased, having recognized the bleached-haired boy
"Bah, shouldn't you be shutting up? People are going to think you're crazy talking alone like that!"
"Nope." Tsukiko contradicted, amused at the lack of answer to her comment "I've put up a sutra that makes people not pay attention to me unless I want them to." she explained, pointing at the piece of paper slapped on the inside of the light haori she was wearing like a vest
Having nothing to add to this, he frowned and turned his attention back to the other, living, delinquent, who was now shuddering...
"Don't worry, I've probably only caught the attention of some low-level kitsune." he waved away the concern of his friends, who where clearly used to him casually speaking of the supernatural
"Youko, not kitsune." Tsukiko corrected absently not to far, gaining an intrigued look from the boy "Kitsune are powerful enough that they don't need humans to spread mischief."
"Oh. I didn't know that, thanks lady!"
She wasn't given the time to answer – as Yuusuke, mind finally made, had just possessed his body.
"Remember," Botan warned "the time-limit is thirty minutes, afterward his body will fall out of sync with your soul."
Taking the warning to heart, Yuusuke was already rushing out of the mall, leaving behind Kuwabara's friends, and heading toward the small restaurant owned by Keiko's parents "She's usually helping them at this time!" he explained to the girl easily keeping up by his side – no longer surprised now that he knew her not to be human
Within minutes, the boy was barging in loudly asking "Oji-san, I'm in a hurry, where's Keiko?"
The couple that visibly were Keiko's parents shared a look, her mother explaining "She's out shopping, why do you ask? Are you a classmate?"
"Yeah, I'm Yuusuke Urameshi, which store is she at?"
It took quite some willpower for Tsukiko not to face-palm at the bold affirmation – didn't the child had any filter between his brain and his mouth? Instead, she put her elbow in his ribs firmly, preventing him from putting his foot in his mouth anymore and corrected "He means he's Yuusuke's friend, obaa-san I'm sorry for the wording, Kuwabara-san tends not to think before speaking."
The couple, that had been gearing up for an angry rant calmed down, the chief commenting rather fondly "Well I guess he is like Yuusuke-kun on that point. But don't you know that the poor boy is dead?"
"Well, not exactly, apparently there was an error at the hospital. Right now he's in a coma, not dead."
The affirmation stunned the couple, and the mother commented "Well, I guess that's why you're looking for Keiko then." with a smile, she told them where their daughter had gone shopping, and both were on their way – Tsukiko dragging the spirit trough a dark alleyway and the shadows as soon as she could
"I really hate this sensation." shuddered Yuusuke as they came out in a corner of the shopping mall already looking around for his childhood friend
They'd soon spotted the girl, who was looking around with a forlorn sigh, clearly searching for the friends she'd came with
"Well, now to get her to recognize me..."
Tsukiko stayed back to let the boy this reunion with the girl he claimed so loud not to like.
She was more resigned than surprised when the deliquent loudly asked "Guess who!" while grabbing the girl's chest
Then rather impressed with the resounding slap and automatic answer of "Baka yuusuke!"
Clearly, those two knew each others quite well, that much was evident in the way the girl was eyeing the boy, looking further than the exterior to recognize the familiar body language and gestures...
"Is it... really you Yuusuke?"
"You bet it's me! Listen here, Keiko, I've possessed this ugly body and gone through the shadows of death to talk to you so you better believe it!"
"Yes, it's you alright. Nobody else is that rude!"
"Yeah, yeah! Listen closely! I'm not dead yet, you can go check that at home! But right now my soul can't come back until I've passed some kind of test, and I won't be able to talk to you until then! But I'll come back, so wait for me, alright?"
Despite the tears in her eyes, the girl was smiling "I'll wait." she promised
And just like that, Kuwabara's body was free, and Yuusuke floating by Tsukiko's side. While a bewildered Kuwabara was looking around, wondering how he'd arrived at the other side of town so fast, Botan appeared, rather surprised "You're out already?"
"I said what I had to say." the boy shrugged with the first honest smile she'd seen on his face "So it's alright."
[Bonus Goal Complete!
Yuusuke conveyed his feelings to Keiko
Bonus Goal Reward: +10 000XP, +200XP for Yuusuke, +1 beginner skill tome to be chosen]
[Level up! You are now level 309!
+1SP]
[Level up! Yuusuke is now level 42!
+6SP, +2CP, +1PP]
Botan noticed the smile just like Tsukiko had, and answered by one of her own, before shrugging "Well, then let's get on our way then!"
With that, the girl on her oar was turning around, ghost and ookami in tow.
"Normally, you'd just be following me around," she explain "but since Tsukiko-san here is accredited by the Reikai, I'll be able to leave you with her from time to time, so you'll have more opportunities to do good deeds; Otherwise you'd have to wait around while I'm doing my job!" she turned toward Tsukiko "Here, before I forget, KoEnma-sama told me to give you this."
Tsukiko took the letter the grimm reaper girl was giving her, intrigued...
[Goal complete! +5000XP
You are now officially recognized by the Reikai
Goal update: find out who can be trusted in Reikai]
[Item gained:
- Reikai ID (your presence in Reikai won't be questioned)
- Reikai communicator (a direct line to KoEnma)]
Tsukiko pocketed the items, impressed with how fast the young Holy Servant had been able to come up with a reason for her to be in contact with the Spiritual realms – the letter with the ID and communicator explaining he'd set her background as her having attracted all sorts of lesser youkai because of her reiki before KoEnma stumbled upon her during one of his trips to the human world – the godling had explained the existence of the three realms, and taught her how to better hide herself, and asked her personally to do some exorcism and other odd jobs from time to time, which explained why she wasn't well-known in Reikai yet.
¤.¤.¤
Tsukiko had left Yuusuke and Botan, promising to meet them another day – she still had a job as a huntress after all – and headed back to the House of Moon, to work on the arithmancy calculation that would help her reduce the influence of the cursed pacifier around KoEnma's neck.
Meanwhile, Yuusuke, still following Botan, had found his attention caught by a young boy and his dog...
The grimm reaper and wandering soul having witnessed the boy's bond to his dying pet, had followed him around during the day – to his school, where it soon became apparent he was being bullied, some of the kids even teasing him about the imminent death of his beloved dog.
"Why doesn't he defend himself?" Yuusuke couldn't help but protest, the violent adolescent wanting nothing more than to punch the annoying bullies
"Not everyone is as violent as you."
"Still if he's like that now, I don't want to know in what state he'll be once his dog dies..."
"Truth is, Jirou was already on borrowed side, and alive only by shear stubbornness, because he wanted to stay with Shouta." Botan sighed
Indeed, by the time, they'd followed the boy home, his dog was already gone and the child heartbroken. But there was one more thing the wandering soul could see – a soul, circling around the house where the child had cried himself to sleep...
""Is it..."
"Jirou's soul." the grimm reaper nodded "Because he's still worried for Shouta he can't move on..."
"And the kid, what going to happen to him?"
Botan shrugged "Well, a human's life isn't that clearly predicted. There is a most common path, but some people deviate from the norm, just like you did..." she shrugged helplessly, before becoming more solemn "Still in his case the most probable path is..."
She trailed, leaving her sentence incomplete – but the look on her face was enough for Yuusuke to understand.
"Well then," he decided "let's change that path!"
With that, her turned toward the grimm reaper, explaining his plan.
Within the boy's dreams, he was awakened by a familiar sound – the dog barking, in a voice he'd recognize anywhere...
"Jirou!"
Playing the role a demon, Yuusuke had soon convinced Shouta that as long as he was crying for his dog, and not walking forward in life once more, the dog would forever worry about his master, and become condemned to hell for it.
If the boy wasn't one to defend himself, to protect his dog, he would do it.
And so he left his dreams having promised not to cry, knowing in his heart that doing so would protect Jirou.
"Oh, I've been gone only for a day and you've already done some good, eh?" an newly arriving Tsukiko noted as she watched with them the smiling boy, eyes still sad but full of determination, finally defending himself from the bullies when they made the mistake of mocking his dog once more.
"Yuusuke played a great villain." Botan explained to the daiyoukai, still amazed that the delinquent came up with such a plan "He may just has saved this boy, I think." a wink "You're not as bad as you want people to think, eh?"
"Bah!"
Both girl shared an amused glance at the embarrassed teenager.
"Still, Shouta will nor let himself be depressed over his dog's death..." he eyed the soul, that wasn't circling anymore but had come closer to them with his master's new resolve "But what will happen to the dog?"
"Well, what we told Shouta in his dreams wasn't a lie," Botan explained "he really would have become a bound-spirit if we'd let the situation as it is." a sigh "And bound-spirits can't be forced to go to the spiritual realm, but aren't meant to stay on Earth..."
"With time, Jirou would have lost himself, eventually becoming a poltergeist." Tsukiko nodded "That's the fate of souls that don't leave this realm."
"Oh." he eyed the dog, that was happily letting himself petted by the young heiress "But not now?"
"No. You were right in that it was only his worries for Shouta that kept him here. By saving Shouta, you really saved Jirou too." her aura pulsed around her, and the happy dog simply disappeared, under Botan's widened eyes
"I... Hadn't realized you were that powerful an exorcist." she whispered "It's no wonder KoEnma-sama doesn't talk about you too much! You would have all of Makai after you if it was known someone with such powerful reiki still existed!"
"I know how to protect myself." Tsukiko reassured the grimm reaper, before adding "Anyway I was coming to ask if you wanted to leave Yuusuke with me for the week-end?"
"You're talking about me like divorced parents deciding who's going to take care of the kids!"
"Well, it couldn't hurt," Botan mused, the two girls completely ignoring him "you are going to do something special?"
"I'm helping around at a shrine."
"Yeah, spending sometime in a holy place can only do him some good." the grimm reaper agreed with a smile "Well then, see you Monday!"
With that, the girl was gone, and Tsukiko was dragging Yuusuke toward the Higurashi family shrine.
No sooner had she climbed the long steps, she was assaulted with a black shadow – it took Yuusuke a few moments to realize that it was a shaggy, wild looking big black dog that was enthusiastically assaulting her.
"Calm down Padfoot you mutt, I wasn't gone for that long!"
A protesting huff.
"Well it's not like I could let you parade before Botan without doing something about your aura, right?"
A whine – from the beast that could in no way be a normal dog.
"Yeah, well there's no way that little Holy Servant won't realize what your are with your current limiter." Tsukiko answered, in what seemed to be a real conversation "That's why I'm making a new one." an amused smile "Beside you've got to take care of Blanche for me, don't you?"
The dog answered by a despondent look, and as if she had been waiting for her name to be called, another beast barged in, much smaller and younger looking than the first one.
"This," Tsukiko explained to Yuusuke "Are Padfoot and Blanche, my familiars." seeing that the boy didn't understand the word, something that wasn't too surprising given his lack of previous knowledge about the supernatural, she explained "They are gifted animals whose life are linked to mine."
"Oh. And you don't want Botan to know that?"
"Not right now." she admitted easily "She would realize I'm even more powerful than she thinks, and now isn't the time for that."
"Is that why you took back your human form in front of her?"
A nod, as Tsukiko explained "I'm afraid you've found yourself in the middle of quite a situation. You see the magical world I come from has been forgotten by the Reikai, they think that most of the youkai are in what they call Makai, and don't realize how much of the preternatural is left here."
"How is that possible?" Yuusuke wondered "I mean, doesn't KoEnma at least realize something? Isn't he supposed to be a god?"
"Well, KoEnma is far more powerful that you, or any human really, but he is not all-powerful." Tsukiko explained in a misleading but truthful way "And you've got to remember that his powers are only over the dead."
"There's quite a bit going on that I don't know a thing about, eh?"
"There is." a shrug "But you won't be involved in it more than absolutely necessary because of your status as someone with reiki on the magical side of thing if you don't want to, I promise you."
The delinquent nodded, but didn't answer – deep in thoughts.
He may appear stupid, he wasn't as much of an idiot as people though, even if he did tend to speak before thinking...
And so for now, he decided, he'd simple observe. After all, he couldn't do a lot more as spirit, so he might as well take advantage of it.
The life of the shrine was far different from what he expected, he soon realized – sure enough, there were normal passerby coming by for prayer or blessings, but when the priest and main miko weren't doing those rather mundane duties, any semblance of normalcy quickly went down the drain.
"Those omamori are glowing."
"Because we are actually imbuing them with reiki." Saiyuri, the main miko explained – and what a shock it had been to realize all the inhabitants of the shrine save for one could see him "They won't have a big effect, or it would be too noticeable, but it'll help along the task they're designed for."
"So the stack that's glowing brighter is more powerful?"
"Yes. Those are reserved for people actually in the known." she went on explaining, pointing out the different rank of beads she and the other wore and explaining how different bangle stood for different people aware of the preternatural
But the more important duty of the shrine was to power up the wards, the barrier protecting the magical districts from the mundane world, and apparently, hiding them from Reikai and their jurisdiction.
"We've only recently become aware of Reikai and Makai," Tsukiko was the one to explain "And while KoEnma, whom you've met, is alright, his father isn't as... tolerant..."
The ookami didn't need to explain further why she kept her true self hidden from Botan anymore, even if the grimm reaper girl seemed alright enough – as looked-down upon by 'decent' people as he was for his status as a bad-boy, he knew about protecting himself from others.
It only made him gain that much respect for the world that had been unexpectedly dropped on him the day before for being smart enough to observe before revealing themselves.
"Still...It would have been easier for you not to say anything to me." he stated a bit later, as the girl was resting against the large sacred tree giving shade to the courtyard "Yet you told me I'd be only involved if I wanted?"
The youkai smiled, easily taking the true question he was asking from the curious affirmation.
"I knew you'd knew eventually about us," she admitted with a shrug "but hadn't planned on telling you so fast. That, I didn't do for you but your mother..."
"The bambina has a habit of collecting stray." a new, amused voice interrupted them
By this point Yuusuke wasn't even surprised anymore about people seeing him
He was rather surprised by the enthusiastic greeting the girl gave the newcomer – but that was quickly explained by his introduction "This is Ryoichi, Heir of the House of Leaf," a smile "and my mate-to-be. In human terms, my fiance."
The kitsune nodded a greetings, and settled by Tsukiko's side, the wolf hime automatically letting herself melt by his side while their tails negligently mingled – young as they seemed, they gave off the same kind of feeling as old couple did, knowing each other so well that no words were needed, each able to finish the thoughts of the other...
"Your fate is tied to the Reikai right now, so you being mingled in their side of the supernatural is inevitable." Tsukiko explained "Even once back to life, you won't be able to just forget about it." an amused smile, and she interrupted his protest "For one it isn't in your nature, is it?"
She knew at his frown that he really wanted to say that yes, it was exactly in his nature, and he could ignore it easily – but he was honest enough with himself that he knew it to be false.
He'd still have lied to anyone else – except he remembered how she'd simply looked at him, and described him honestly, in a way none had before.
So he stayed silent, and she nodded with a small smile, taking it for the answer it was...
"And the second reason is that the Reikai itself wouldn't' let you be." he eyed her, mentally admitting that this didn't surprised him that much "Because you've awakened reiki, otherwise you wouldn't have seen half the thing you've seen around here..."
He puzzled the affirmation a moment, the half-asked, half-stated "The glow?"
She nodded, confirming it as Ryoichi naturally took over the explanation "Normal humans have grown too accustomed to look at the world without seeing beyond appearances... But in the hidden societies around the world, there are still people using holy powers, like your reiki, youki, like us youkai do, but also magic, ki or soul-fire..."
"So in the end Reikai and Makai are just a small part of a larger world."
"That they are. But most of them don't realize it..."
"But since they already know about me, I won't be able to ignore them." he concluded, accepting it – as much as he disliked being thrown into things by others, he knew that sometimes, you just had to play with the cards your were dealt
At least until you learned the rules, and how to go around them.
"So why my mum?" his mind went back to what he'd heard of their talk earlier "Obviously she'd already part of one those hidden world..."
"She's a soul-fire user." Tsukiko explained "But she tried to leave it behind..."
For him, he realized.
That was typically the kind of thing she'd do, he knew, as much as he didn't like it – she shouldn't have to sacrifice so much for him.
"She's about as adapted to the normal world as I am." he mumbled, annoyed at the woman who'd gave birth to him, yet thankful at the same time
"Which is why I gave her a way back." Tsukiko smiled "I remember after all, how it felt.. to know you didn't fit in, yet not knowing where you were supposed to fit..." she whispered to herself, remembering the kind half-giant who'd told her of her true place in the world, so long ago
The wandering spirit felt the affirmation strange – how could a youkai not know what it was? - but her eyes were far away enough that he could easily read the feeling in them.
She was honest about that affirmation, that much was clear.
So here was now, trying to earn back his life from one hidden world, his mother and himself about to enter another one – and for now all he'd been asked was to hid one world from the other.
His mind went back to his mother, drinking beer with the young looking ookami before noon.
For all appearances just the same old drunkard as usual.
But the fire in her eyes...
He hadn't realized how much his mother only seemed to survive without any aim in life, until he saw her alive for the first time.
He nodded resolutely, decision made.
He'd see how things would go with the Reikai – but no matter what, he was earning his return to life, and and learning about the hidden world his mother was entering. A smile fire lit into his own eyes, even if he couldn't see it – remembering the mention of an underworld arena...
Suddenly, he couldn't wait to get back to life!
Tsukiko smiled at the oblivious spirit, who didn't even realized the egg tucked against his chest was warming, as if answering to his resolve.
¤.¤.¤
The week-end had gone far too fast, and by the time Yuusuke met with Botan again, he was all but pouting about the fact that while he was off again trying to do some good deeds to get back to life, his mother going to discover the magical district with Tsukiko's son...
The following weeks had gone by swiftly, the week spent following Botan while gathered the spirits of newly departed while the week-end he spent with Tsukiko, learning more and more about the magical district without even realizing it.
Soon enough, he had met Souta, learning it was thanks to the boy he'd been spotted by the ookami, the old priest had become Daisuke and even the Higurashi family mother's, who couldn't see him, became Natsumi in his mind – it was difficult after all not to become familiar with the whole family when he spent so much time at the Sunset Shrine.
It was because he spent so much there too that he realized – that there was someone missing.
Tsukiko's childhood friend, and the eldest child of the family, Kagome Higurashi.
Still, Yuusuke didn't ask, because Souta, with whom he'd become fast friend, looked far happier when talking about his memories of his sister than about her disappearance.
He had eventually gone to the magical district, a week-end when Tsukiko knew that his mother wouldn't be around, and that had been quite a shock. In that place, nearly everyone could see him, humans, youkai and spirits of all sorts lived side by side, and his passion for fighting didn't make people look down on him...
The moment he'd realize just how important Tsukiko really was in the magical world, thanks to to Souta, had been hilarious for the ookami – but what really impressed the hime was how fast the spirit was progressing.
Because reiki was a purely spiritual ability, he was able to use it even without a body, something Botan hadn't realized, unused as she was to encounter gifted humans – something all in the magical District had realized, and with Souta getting on so well with the delinquent, he'd been fast to take advantage of it, helping him learn things he'd never been able to while alive.
But as spirit, Yuusuke didn't have a lot of interaction with the rest of the world when in the normal world, and so the small lessons and advice the priest in training gave in during the weekend, he had all week to work on while following the grimm reaper around.
Botan had been rather surprised the first time he'd managed to access his reiki, but easily accepted it as a result of spending so much time with the Taishou heiress, since she didn't know about the magical district.
And while this wasn't strictly why those powers existed, she hadn't protested when he'd used his reki to 'haunt' a guy who'd broken the heart of one of the spirits he'd helped move on around Christmas – making Yuusuke of the opinion that even there were some assholes in Reikai, he didn't think she was one of them...
Soon after that, he'd realized that even if the preternatural was seldomly seen outside of the magical district, it wasn't completely gone, as proved by a young tanuki who'd helped an old man pass on peacefully.
Tsukiko had been rather surprised, but happy and had quickly tracked the very young youkai to introduce him to the magical district.
"Still, I don't really get how a normal racoon could end up being a tanuki?" he'd asked that weekend after they'd left the youkai in the magical district
"Just like a normal human like you were can awaken powers as a priest." she explained "Most powers are born of our need for them, and willingness to use them... Someone who'd needed power to save that young boy like you did, but had no belief in himself, would never have managed what you did." she explained "Because not believing in your own powers, even those you don't know are there, make you unable to use them. Animals don't have the problem of belief, but most of them never need that power..."
"So he became a tanuki because he wanted to help the old man?"
A smile "That he did."
"Still, he's very different from all the youkai I've seen," he pointed out "how will he cope with that?"
"That's because he is still a youkai beast," Tsukiko explained "Some of those never feel the need to grow more than that, but just like some beasts become youkai, some of those eventually grow powerful enough to become daiyoukai..."
"Wait... does that mean..."
"I wasn't born as a simple wolf," she contradicted, already seeing what he was wondering about "just like you became a priest while Souta was born as one, some become daiyoukai and other are born as such."
"Yea. I had trouble seeing you as just a normal wolf running around in the woods." he admitted, the weird image still stuck in his mind
Tsukiko laughed at that – he still had a way to go before she let him see her true form, she reflected, amused, or he really would freak out...
With the beginning of the new term, Botan and him had drifted back to his own part of the city.
It was rather strange for Yuusuke to look at the familiar faces going about their normal life while he could just watch for afar – but it had also made him witness an interesting turn of events...
The delinquent would absolutely deny it if asked, but he was rather impressed by his – acquaintance, he still didn't think they were friends, whatever Botan and Tsukiko said – struggle to stay out of fight and study just to help one of his friends.
As for Botan, what had impressed her more was how Yuusuke had projected his own killing intent to keep people from attacking the struggling boy, and eventually preventing him from attacking the biased teacher who'd started the whole struggle.
Both had also been rather surprised by Kuwabara's thanks at the end – they had know Yuusuke's fellow delinquent was rather strong spiritually for a normal human, but hadn't realized just how strong he really was...
"He is way more spiritually aware than you," Tsukiko had commented about it later, amused "even if you have stronger reiki. Everyone have different talent after all."
If Yuusuke, with how new he was both to Reikai and the magical district, couldn't realize how fast he was progressing, those around him weren't oblivious – after all while the first spirits he'd helped had been rather thanks to luck, it was now thanks to his own skill that he could enter their dreams, or project his will well enough to convey what he wanted; and even if his method was a bit brash in Botan's mind, she couldn't deny the fact that behind the loud, annoying and violent personality, laid someone who did care enough about people to push them in the right direction.
Even if she doubted any psychologist would approve of his rather violent way of doing things.
As such, while Yuusuke was sent back to his body for a day to preserve the connection between his body and soul, KoEnma and Tsukiko were meeting up near one of the entrances to the magical District...
"Even after seeing it in your memories, it's good to see it in true." the young ruler admitted as they took in the view, regretting that he couldn't be gone for too long
Tsukiko smiled, and if they took a bit longer than needed to get to their destination – well neither was going to mention it.
"That egg will soon hatch, won't it?"
"That it will." KoEnma admitted "Far faster than I'd though, and somehow I'm nowhere near worried now about what will come out of it that I was when I gave it to him..."
Tsukiko smiled - she hadn't informed the wandering spirit either, that should he nurture the egg with bad rather than good intents, the thing coming out of it would be a monster able to tear him in pieces even in his body-less form.
If KoEnma hadn't shared the information with the boy out to try to avoid encouraging that fate, she didn't tell him simply because with her Soul Sense - she knew a true familiar was what would be getting hatched.
"I really wonder what kind of beast will be his match..." she mused
KoEnma made a face, wondering the same - with how impredictible Yuusuke was, he could imagine nearly anything coming out of that egg...
While talking, they'd made their way across the magical district, and were now entering the grounds of Mahoutokoro.
After her meeting with the young prince, and their ensuing mind-melding, she had had numerous meeting with her pack and family, all ensuing that the knowledge they had about Reikai and Makai was spread to the rest of the magical District.
They had after all no intention of revealing themselves as long as Enma senior was in power, that much was clear, and as such measure to ensure they stayed hidden had been updated – after all luck had been on their side, but the agents of Reikai and Makai were spiritually aware contrarily to the world they hid themselves for, and as such the risk of being discovered was higher.
New measures had been enforced for those going about their business out of the District, people reminded not to go in the mundane world without their identifying beads and aura-suppressing charms up, the hunters reminded to be particularly careful about their job, and so on...
As for Tsukiko herself, she'd immersed herself into runes and arithmancy, pouring on her old Grimoire entry about the talismans she'd made with her famiglia to help the Arcobaleno cope with their curse.
It had taken her weeks, even with the help of the headmaster of the wizarding part of Mahoutokoro, an old mage well versed in rituals, to adapt the old ritual into a new form, more appropriate for a Holy Servant than a Flame user, but she was finally ready – and that was precisely why KoEnma was taking the risk of leaving Reikai for an incursion in the the magical district.
Since this ritual, just like the one before, used Ley lines to power up the ritual circle, the complicated diagram had already been prepared on an appropriate emplacement, where the Ley lines were accessible enough – in the underground of Mahoutokoro's main building, in a large cave where it's founders had anchored the old school's wards.
Three people were necessary to power up the diagram already humming with power on the ground, so Miyamoto Manabu, the very same mage who'd helped her to craft the ritual, and Saiyuri, the miko always ready to help her adopted sister, had volunteered themselves.
"We've used praying beads like the one we use to recognize members of the District," Tsukiko explained as Saiyuri and Miyamoto went through the last minute preparations "as they are already holy items, they'll attune easily to your reiki." a smile "And you'll be recognized as one of us, of course."
"And under the protection of your own House," he realized, eyes widening as they hit the silver pendant shaped in the form of a crescent moon dangling from the rank of beads she was showing him "you honor me."
Around them, unnoticed by both, Saiyuri and the old mage shared a look of approval – both knew the Moon hime well enough to realize she wouldn't point it out on her own, despite the huge advantaged being claimed by a House as powerful as her was in their world. As such it was good to see the young outsider – and for them, he was young, as even if KoEnma had decades of life on them, he clearly didn't have their worldly experience – realized all the help he was being given.
"Like Ryoichi said last time," Tsukiko reminded the prince "you are one of us."
Neither Saiyuri nor Miyamoto were surprised by the affirmation, both working with youkai often enough that analyzing the way people's aura mingled was second nature to them – and the young Holy Servant aura was mingling amicably with the hime, proof enough of her affirmation.
Saiyuri snickered – her childhood friend always had a tendency to gather strays around her, which may explained how odd her pack was. Now that she thought about it - Daisuke and her had probably been the first of those strays, the odd priest obsessed with History, and the very young miko prodigy becoming friends with the daiyoukai princess had taken everyone by surprise back then, even themselves...
Soon, KoEnma was kneeling in the center of the circle, power huming around him, the three ritualists arranged around him and the praying beads around his left hand, said hand firmly touching the ground.
The hum became louder, the darkness of the cave illuminated by the now active circle, and the young prince had to bite back a scream as the power swirling around homed on his hand on the ground, or rather the beads around his wrist, anchoring their effect into the runes already engraved on them, coursing through his own body, flowing around the curse around his neck.
And just as fast as the pain came it was gone, and beyond the ritual induced weariness, he could already feel the curse hold slackening around him, most of the power usually stolen by the pacifier now his own, hidden under the praying beads...
Around him, the three ritualists were on the ground too, all spent by the grueling bit of magic but sporting satisfied smiles – having worked so long on the ritual, even Saiyuri and Miyamoto could see the curse now, and as such they knew that their hard work had paid.
[Bonus Goal Complete! +10 000XP
the curse burden had been lessened without alerting Enma
Bonus goal update: find KoEnma's stolen power]
[Level up! You are now level 310!
+1PP, +1 SP, +2CP]
[Perks
available
- Assassin's Precision (2/4): adds 10% to your critic score (unlocks Assassin's Precision (3/4) )
- Rogue Swiftness (2/4): adds 10% to your speed score (unlocks Rogue Swiftness (3/4) )
- Child of Three Worlds (1/3): your knowledge of Ningenkai grants you +10 in all Communication skills (unlocks Child of Three Worlds (1/3) )
Available: 1]
As the power died down around them, the cave were suddenly occupied by several more people – knowing how testing rituals could be, Ryoichi had arranged for him to be nearby with his pack to help them.
Tsukiko accepted gratefully her mate-to-be helping hand, while a silent Shinobu was helping the headmaster up and Akane, his cousin and pack-mate helping KoEnma, who was looking a bit perturbed by the animatedly babbling kitsune despite having already seen her in numerous memories of Tsukiko...
The prince of Reikai hadn't lingered after that, not wanting his absence to be noted in Reikai, while Tsukiko had slept the fatigue away in the House of Moon's den, curled into her father's side, a content smile on her face.
Even if she wasn't yet headed to Makai, doing so without any preparation way too dangerous with Enma's harsh control of the traffic between the three worlds, she knew that the pack members out there would have approved of her helping the young prince - Ryoichi would protest that she had infected her whole pack with her habit of helping anyone that hit her fancy, but the truth was her pack-mate had seen enough of the world's horrors to be compassionate, each in their own way.
That night, she dreamed of Miroku and Sango's wedding, the last day her pack had been whole, and for the first time in years, the dream didn't made her cry, but smile.
Tsukiko (Age 121/Level 310)
Stat/with specialty/with restriction
Strength 177/177/59
Agility 252/259/86
Endurance 188/193/64
Intelligence 148/160/53
Wisdom 186/191/64
Charisma 145/152/51
Luck 188/200/67
Yuusuke (Age 14/Level 42)
Stat/with specialty
Strength 70/77
Agility 36/41
Endurance 40/40
Intelligence 34/34
Wisdom 53/53
Charisma 19/19
Luck 21/21