So, I've run into a bit of a rut with Ace the hedgehog so I'm focusing more on this fanfic, since I really have been busy this path month, I've finally found some time to write… even if it is at 10:30 at night.
Oh well, 10:30's not all that late, and I usually don't get cranky when I lose sleep. However I see this chapter being shorter, my attention span is kind of shot at the moment…
KEKKIASHI:
THE GODDESS BOUND GIRL
CHAPTER 3
I'm so bored! Talk to me Amaterasu! Nanalee screamed in her head.
I'm not sharing my spirit with you just to keep you amused. Amaterasu replied coldly. I have an entire world to watch over, I can't constantly be making you happy.
Nanalee sighed. Then there was a huge crash, "You foolish boy! Let down this Kekkai!" Yelled the old guy, Shige Yoshi said his name was.
"Can it you old man! I'm tired!" Yoshi yelled.
"It's already eight o'clock! You should be training right now!"
"I was going to train later! When I actually have the energy!"
"You fool, I know there wasn't any Ayakashi there last night! I was a legitimate heir too, you know!"
"Back off! Fine, how about I start training on you!" Several more crashes erupted from across the hall. Nanalee decided that everyone was up and breakfast was about ready… She reached into her magical sack of goodies and pulled out casual clothes, a black shirt with charcoal skinny jeans and some undergarments then realized she didn't know where the washroom was. She laid he clothes neatly folded on the floor next to the door. Yoshimuri had apparently forgotten that last night was Friday night, so they didn't have school today. Which means there was not going to be any teachers there that early in the morning.
She exited the room and explored the house a little until she found the kitchen she was in … two nights ago? She really didn't remember. There she found a buffet, how could she not have smelled this food? It looked delicious! Shuji was just bringing in some candied rice balls when he noticed her. "Hello Nanalee! Did you sleep well?" More explosions came from the house.
"Not a wink, maybe I can go to sleep after lunch. By the way, where can I take a shower if you don't mind?" She smiled, but she probably knew why she couldn't smell the food now. She hadn't been able to partake in the new craze of hygiene in the last few days. Staying under the radar has that effect.
"Oh, I'll show you, it's down the hall and to the right of the rooms…" He continued giving directions as he walked through the passages of the large house, more like an estate. The explosion grew louder and Nanalee had to stop Shuji before he ran face first into a Kekkai.
"Uh, guys?" The two kept fighting. Screw this she thought to herself and slashed her fingers over the Kekkai, splitting it in two with the brush strike technique. The two stopped, stepped outside and marveled.
"You know the sacred brush techniques!" Exclaimed Shige.
"You cut through my Kekkai?" Yoshimuri whined.
"You are a disciple of Amaterasu! It is such an honor to have you in our household." He bowed, she was much older than he was, but she didn't like being treated like an old woman. "Excuse me for asking this of our guest, but how old might you be?"
She stepped back and hoped that this cloud of obnoxious covered her BO, "I'm almost four hundred and thirty… I lost count…" Her lips curved downward she didn't even know how old she was, and she was that old!
"I'm sorry; you seem saddened by the question."
Nanalee was about to lose it, I need a shower! Let me have just one shower! Showers are so amazing! There's your hot water and the steam that opens the nostrils and then the heavenly aromas of the bath soaps and the shampoo! Oh the shampoo!
"I think she's lost to us now…" Yoshi remarked but it popped her out of her thoughts.
"If you really must know, you shouldn't bow to someone so unclean so please let me take a shower and then you can bow to me all you want…" I won't care as long as I can smell like girl I am, damn it!
"I'm sorry for the interruption, I take it Shuji is taking you to our washroom?"
"Yes father, I was on my way, but Nanalee stopped me before I walked into Yoshi Kekkai…"
"Please, continue." Shige hesitated in bowing.
"Right, let me just grab my clothes…" She opened the door, walked in shortly forgetting about the clothes, and only focused on getting out of the hallway. However, when she laid the clothes next to the door her undergarments had slid off and onto the floor in front of the door. She put her feet in one of the leg holes and tripped…
She fell face first into the floor, over her own panties. The force knocked the breath out of her and the fall carried her robe that Mrs. Shizue gave her upwards, since it didn't quite fit anymore. So it rose up to see the old panties she had been wearing, they were starting to fade…
Her mouth hung open as her face turned red at the sudden breeze on her but. She scrambled over, slid the door shut, with all her strength, and lay sat against it. She would have laughed if it hadn't happened to her, but it did and that made her face light up brighter than a stoplight.
"Yoshimuri! How dare you look up her skirt as she fell!" Shige yelled.
"WHAT! I had my eyes closed after the um…" Yoshimuri paused, "You were the one looking you pervert!"
"How do you know I was looking if you had your eyes closed!"
"Hush you two! You're embarrassing her!" Shuji said. "I'm sorry Nanalee, would you like me to take you to the shower room now?" Nanalee scowled, her face was red with anger now. She took her clothes and opened the door to see Toshi standing amongst the crowd, apparently unaware of what happened.
"Hey, are you guys fighting again?" Toshi said sleepily, he had a glass of water in his hand and a grin snaked across Nanalee's face.
"Hey Toshi!" She said, "You wanna see something really cool?" He nodded; apparently, he slept through the entire ordeal. She put down her clothes on the floor. "Can I see your water?" He obediently gave it to her and she looked to Shige and Yoshi with a scowl and drew a symbol. Trees grew behind them and she started drawing symbols quickly. The water sprang from the cup and started whipping the two on the crown of their heads multiple times.
"OW! Hey what did I do?" Yoshi yelled. Shige just yelped through the ordeal. She returned the water to the cup and the drawn trees exploded into autumn leaves and disappeared, allowing the two to escape.
"WOW! That was really cool!" She gave the cup back to him and he looked at it wondrously.
"I wouldn't drink that if I were you…" She then picked up her clothes then preceded with the giggling Shuji to the washroom, where she had the most splendid shower she thought she had in ages. The bath soaps and the shampoos were as good smelling and pleasant as she had hoped and the warm water never seemed to cease! She took a twenty-minute shower it was so relaxing!
After she got out, she tried to make her way back to her room to dispense the dirty clothes. She wasn't sure where she was so she jumped out the window and around to the front door. When Shuji answered, all she said was, "I got lost so I thought I'd just start over…" Shuji then gave a full tour of the house, so she wouldn't get lost again. However, he offered to guide her through the house if she ever got lost again.
She dispensed her dirty clothes in the hamper as Shuji instructed, and began eating the leftovers; however, Shuji offered to make more, she declined. This food would go to waste if he made more. After that, she decided to go outside to walk around the house and get a feel for the place; it seemed as if everyone had accepted her into the household. She then stopped and looked to her left as she entered the front yard. Shige and Shuji were talking about something and she saw the granny she saw two nights ago. She was clipping the branches from a tree atop the wall with some rather large hedge clippers.
"You old hag! What are you doing to the Sumimura trees?" His veins poked from his neck.
"Oh, me? I'm just cutting the branches that are dirtying my yard." She responded innocently, however she was clearly mocking him.
"You crossed the line! I'll show you what I'm made of today!" Shige yelled as he jumped atop the wall.
"Ooh, I guess I'll chop you down instead!" She snapped her hedge clippers anxiously.
That's weird. Do they really need to be up there fighting like that? Aren't they to old for this sort of thing? Nanalee thought to herself. She looked away, turned toward Madarao's doghouse, and smiled. You and Kouya use to fight like that all the time… A tear fell from her eye. She had not noticed until she reached up to scratch her face. She quickly wiped the tear away and continued.
She ventured inside the home and found Toshi finishing what looked like homework in his room. She turned to go into her room and found Shuji dusting and accidentally knocked over a picture.
"Oh, hey Shuji." Nanalee said quietly.
"Hello Nanalee, are you familiar with the house now?" He asked as he pickled up the picture. Nanalee noticed that Yoshi and Toshi were in the picture but a glare from the window blocked the face of a third figure. She assumed it was Shuji.
"Yes, your house is very nice. It's an honor to be allowed to stay." She bowed. Toshi walked in as she straightened.
"I finished my homework; may I have a snack now?" He asked. "Oh, miss. I'm sorry I didn't see you there."
"It's alright…" Nanalee responded.
"Sure, we can all have something to eat…" He smiled at the two.
They led her to the kitchen where that had a small meal of tea and rice. It felt so nice to be in a home again. She hadn't experienced living with a family for some time, fifty years if Nanalee remembered correctly.
Then Shige rushed through the home. Nanalee looked toward him questionable as he dashed past the opening. "Hey, Shuji?"
"Hmm." He looked up from his meal.
"How come Shige is so … athletic?"
"He never stopped training after mom took over as legitimate heir." Toshi responded. He had finished his snack and was reading a book, a manga by the look of it.
Before Nanalee could say anything, Shige yelled, "SHIGEMORI SMASH!" And a loud smacking sound came from the rooms. At least she thought it came from that direction.
"HEY! What's with the smacking! STOP!" Yoshimuri screeched.
"No dinner for you! Go train in the dojo!" Shige retorted.
"Is it always like this?" Nanalee blurted.
"Yes, I guess you could say we've gotten use to it." Shuji answered.
"So I take it Mrs. … uh"
"Oh her name is Tokiko Yukimura, she's Tokine's grandmother.
"So she's a Kekkiashi too" Shuji nodded, "And she never stopped after her daughter…?"
"Son."
"Son took over either right?"
"She would never let Shige outshine her or something like that."
"So Tokine's grandmother lives beside you guys?"
"Tokine lives next door actually."
"She does?" He nodded. Hmm… I wonder what kind of person Tokine is… we haven't talked much, neither have me and Yoshi for that matter. In fact I'm almost positive that me and Shuji have spent more time together than I have with Yoshi outside the school…
The rest of the day went by so slow, she had gotten about three hours of sleep but she knew she couldn't be lazy. At dinnertime, she was up and ate a dinner of rice and soy sauce with a very spicy but very tasty dipping sauce with tea and a salad. It was like eating gourmet! She couldn't help but complement Shuji all night.
"Really…" Shige began. "That ungrateful little…"
"I'm sure Yoshimuri didn't mean any harm father…"
"He was drooling all over the guide scrolls passed down through the family. And to top it off he was drooling on the book of secrets that only legitimate heirs are supposed to read!" He calmed down a little, Nanalee listened in, intrigued, she was still stuffing her face however. She sat beside Toshi on the opposite side of where Yoshi usually sits. "Why is he so sneaky? He doesn't have to be." He took a bite of rice without dipping it. "I would show him the scrolls if he just asked. They're going to be his someday anyway, if he wants to know something all he has to do is ask me. I don't have a problem explaining things to him." He slurped something, she wasn't sure what, but it might've been the dipping sauce.
"I guess I see your point." Shuji remarked.
"Thank you dad." Toshimuri suddenly said and stood to leave.
"Wait, you're done already? Did you get enough to eat?" Shuji pressed.
"It's okay, I'm already full."
Shuji waved his hand to come closer. "Hey can you do me a favor?"
Nanalee realized they were talking about getting food to Yoshimuri; they had to get it past gramps. This was a good time to bring up what she had to tell the head of the house. The head Kekkiashi.
"Excuse me father, but could you-" Nanalee interrupted him.
"I'm sorry, but could I borrow Shige for a few minutes? It's important." Her face grew serious. It automatically alerted Shige.
"Can it wait Shuji?" He nodded and walked away. It was silent for a moment. "So there's something that I've been waiting to ask you since you showed up at Karasumori. I don't know your story and to be blunt I would like to know before you continue to live in this house."
"I understand. However, my story affects Karasumori, so both heads of the families needs to be present. You don't mind holding an audience with Tokiko here." It wasn't a question.
He clenched his jaw and she wondered just how much he disliked her. "No I do not. But it had better be a swift explanation." He pulled a piece of paper with a Houin mark on it and threw toward the door that led to the hall. It turned into a bird and shot towards the door. "A Shikigami. It will alert Tokiko. And maybe she'll show up.
The two followed the Shikigami to the door and let it out. And soon Tokiko jumped atop the wall and called to them. "What sort of trick is this Shige; urgent news about Karasumori?"
The Shikigami flew from behind her and went back to Shige, turning into a piece of paper again and landing in his palm. "Ma'am, Tokiko, I need you to hear this too. There is trouble coming to Karasumori." She was silent. Tokiko and Shige exchanged glares and she went in, the three then guided themselves to the dinner table.
"Now what is it that is going to trouble Karasumori?" Tokiko asked.
"First I want to hear how she got here. Aren't you curious as to how she showed up?" Shige glared.
"They're related." The two quieted. "400 years ago, I knew Master Hazuma Tokimuri, Ginr- Madarao, Hakubi and Kouya. We were friends, at least, they were all my friends. To the point, I died by the hand of a boy named Udo…" She told the tale that she told Tokine, Yoshi, and the others. She told about the cave and the two Ayakashi and the walk on the way back. Then …
It was Stonehenge this time, of course, somewhere flashy. It turned out not to be a Draw Point like Udo had originally thought. It's just a bunch of rocks. Lightning rained down in this alternate time-space, as she was familiar with entering for it enveloped the entire area of wherever Udo decided to try resurrecting Yami. He came dangerously close to doing so as well. Udo was ranting his usually things to Nanalee and Itsumo. Kancan was there too, smiling her innocent smile, staring at Itsumo. And a newcomer, Nanalee didn't know his name; however he had an evil aura about him, as if he just belonged there, alongside Udo trying to resurrect the demon king.
Nothing happened. Udo cursed the heavens as Nanalee and Itsumo defeated Kancan and the new guy. "This is no Sephiroth… well, then I guess it's time to go home, isn't it Nanalee? Start-over." Udo said, his voice was so calm and deep, yet she had associated the voice with evil now, so it did not have the alluring charm it would have on other women.
"Start-over huh? Then we could stop this… We don't have to keep fighting this endless battle." Nanalee retorted, heaving as she examined her wounds. Itsumo kept a trained eye on every one of Udo's movements.
"We may not have known it, but your friend Tokimuri was at work when you turned up dead, or disappeared, rather." Udo went on.
"What are you talking about?"
"Karasumori. There we shall determine the outcome. I am indeed tired of this endless battle, and now is the perfect time." Nanalee looked confused. "Make your way to back to Japan, back to your old village and go to Karasumori. Amaterasu keeps her sight hidden because the future hurts you; however I still have that advantage."
"I trust Amaterasu, I don't trust you!"
"Don't you want a chance, to look for your friends?" Her face changed. "I thought so. Let's leave!" He turned to his left to find the new guy came into view, just a couple of seconds ago he was laying on the ground beside her, she knew it. Kancan got up and back flipped to the other two. "Another day, Amaterasu." The new member of their alliance held out his hand, a portal of black appeared, and the three walked into it, Kancan waving good-bye to the two.
The two took a minute to examine the story. "It's amazing, such convenience that you know Hakubi and Madarao." Shige admitted.
"So, this man who's trying to bring back the ancient king, he is going to take in the power of Karasumori. How can he? Karasumori doesn't just give out power; it has a will of its own." Tokiko stated, still wrapping her head around the possibility that Nanalee had … laid with an Ayakashi.
"I don't know, Kaldasha appeared at Karasumori yesterday, He's someone I have met on my travels, he said something had changed but he didn't stay long enough to explain. But he did stay long enough to give Tokine …!" She had a revelation. "Wait, he gave Tokine his phone number! We can call him and see if he really knows anything!"
"He gave my granddaughter his … phone number!" Tokiko exclaimed. "Should have known your friends would have that on their minds …"
"What did you say ma'am?" Nanalee honestly did not hear what she mumbled.
"Nothing important dear." She laughed awkwardly alone then she decided it was time to leave.
"May I can come to your house and get the number from Tokine?"
"Yes, follow me, we must be quick." The two headed out the door and into the front yard and jumped over the wall. Shige followed but wouldn't be let into the house.
"Girls only you old fool." She shut the door.
"YOU HAG!" he roared then hmphed.
"She should be in her room. Tokine!" She called as Nanalee waited at the front door, she saw three set of shoes, including Tokiko's, in the corner and nothing really different from the Sumimura household. The hallways even looked similar from there. Tokine came out and handed Nanalee the card, all crumbled and looked like it had been fished from a garbage can.
"Here, take it." Tokine said icily.
Geez, what's your problem? She thought to herself . She then thanked Tokine for the number and rushed back outside and jumped over the fence with Shigemori. They rushed to the phone and punched in the number."5-5-5. 3-4-5-3. There, it's ringing!" She spouted.
"Hit speaker!" Shige exclaimed.
The phone rang through the house and it picked-up. "Hello and thanks for calling." Came Kaldasha's voice.
"Kaldasha! I-"
"Sorry, but this number is fake and you're quite stupid for trying to call it." It was a recording and the line went dead.
"Damnit Kaldasha!" She slammed her finger down on the button. "Bastard…" She cursed. Yoshimuri then walked up behind her.
"Hey, are you coming or what?" He asked. She turned and he was already in his Kekkiashi uniform.
She grunted. "Go ahead, I'll catch up." She turned and ran to her room without hearing from Yoshi and quickly donned her gear. She took her katana and strapped it to her left hip before leaving this time. She quickly ran through the house and wound up lost again, so she jumped out a window and went around.
She quickly made her way to the school and heard Hakubi and Madarao yelping as she came closer to the school. "Are they in trouble!" She instantly grew worried and made her way faster.
When she got there the Kekkiashi looked annoyed and the dogs were on the ground holding their paws over their noses. "What's going on? Are they hurt?" Nanalee asked, concerned.
"You guys can handle tonight's Ayakashi by yourself can't you?" Madarao wined. "I can't take it! Oohh!"
"I can't do it honey, it's just so terrible!" Hakubi added. They were both complaining… Nanalee was not in the mood.
"Are you seriously telling me that your wailing in agony because something smells!" Nanalee yelled.
"Your noses can't pick it up, but it smells so bad! You can't believe it!" Madarao continued.
"That's right! I can't believe it!" Nanalee retorted.
"Get up and do your job!" Yoshi picked Madarao up by the collar, the stench was so bad apparently it was making their eyes water.
"You terrible, evil monsters!" Madarao continued.
"Shut the hell up and find it, then I'll take care of it when you do!" He threw Madarao and he floated away whimpering.
"Hey Hakubi, you have to look for it too…" Tokine said.
"It's too heavy for me, honey. I can't go out there." Hakubi was starting to get annoying. Nanalee could not sense Ayakashi if she was so close to the Kekkiashi so they were they're only hope, unless they had to play it on chance.
"Hakubi if we don't hurry Yoshimuri's gonna get the jump on us."
"Honey if I may, why not let them find the stinky Ayakashi. We're to cool to waste our time hunting around for that thing."
"I cannot believe you just said that. A Kekkiashi can't let an Ayakashi run loose."
"Oh honey, you're so hardworking you know?"
"I can't stand this anymore." Nanalee ran past Hakubi and scaled the building swiftly. She searched the forest for any Ayakashi that could be using this scent as a masking tool to throw off the dogs. It was working quite effectively too. Nanalee even caught a whiff of it, it must have been driving the demon inside crazy because her left arm burned. It's where the Ayakashi had entered her body at so if it was irritated by something, Nanalee's left arm burned.
She spotted something, running along the forest line. She jumped toward it with her sword drawn, but it was only Yoshimuri so, she crashed and rolled into the trees right in front of him. She got up and shot a glare at Yoshimuri, "What?" He asked.
"You shouldn't be running wildly through the woods Yoshi, I had mistaken you for the Ayakashi."
"Was that an insult?"
"Sorry if you took it that way."
"You two stop it!" Madarao called. Then he shivered. "Wait! Yoshimuri! Over there! THERE!" Yoshi ran to where Madarao was. "OH! Hurry! Hurry hurry hurry!" he whimpered.
"Don't worry I got it." It looked like a spider creature. It had six legs and two front blades it seemed. It just sat there. He held his fingers in the air. "Houi! Jouso! Ketsu! Metsu!" The barrier formed and exploded, but the spider creature did not explode with it.
"Okay …Well that didn't work!" Madarao exclaimed.
"I'll try again…" He did try again, only this time it fell from building instead of vanishing into dust.
"What the hell's up with that thing?" Nanalee questioned. They ran over to where it fell, it's body was still intact, but it didn't seem to move. And it really did smell. "UGH! It smells like it's already dead!" She winced but continued. Tokine and Hakubi had found them and followed.
"Man I gave this thing a double dose and it still doesn't have a scratch on it." Yoshi said.
Tokine walked over and poked it. It sent a dull sound through the area. "This thing's hallow!" Nanalee spoke.
'It's just a shell…" Tokine stepped away. The dogs behind them where whimpering softly.
"What do you mean? You saying that this Ayakashi can shed it's skin?"
Nanalee walked forward and attempted to stab it with her sword, but it didn't even pierce the top layer. "If this things the shell, then the real thing must be harder than anything I've ever cut through. If Intervention can't pierce it, we're gonna have a rough time." She looked at the two. "Then again I haven't seen a good Kekkai up close in so long, maybe you guys can do it."
"Let's see." Yoshi stepped back as well as everyone else. He started forming Kekkai around the skin. "It doesn't matter how hard." One Kekkai exploded, "I'll just cast Metsu on it…" Two Kekkai, "As many times…" Three… "As I have too!" two more exploded before it broke down. "Looks like five's the magic number." Yoshi finally said.
"It took five hits… that's a big problem…" Tokine mumbled to herself, then her voice got louder. "If it absorbs anymore of Karasumori's power the shell could get even harder."
"All right then." Nanalee saw him stand. "Madarao, get to work!" Madarao yelped. "It's your job remember!"
"You're so mean…" He floated away exaggerating.
"Wait! We need to think of a plan!" Tokine called. She sighed, at least we have Nanalee, she technically our elder right?"
"We can come up with a good plan I suppose, but how is Madarao and Hakubi gonna… Hakubi, are you even listening?" Nanalee raised an eyebrow, so did Tokine.
"Of course. I was … listening…"
Yoshi WAS right. Damnit…
"So how are we going to find that thing if you two can't smell it." Tokine asked.
"I don't know, and searching blindly for it will just be a waste of time…"
"Yeah but you're eyes and ears still work." Hakubi moaned. "Let's get somewhere with a better view…" Nanalee hesitated, disturbed by some … energy. A bad feeling she dismissed.
They walked and Nanalee tried to reach out with her senses, but the Kekkiashi's powers blocked her "psychic" ability. Hakubi flew up to the corner of the roof and looked.
"See anything?" Tokine called.
"It stinks, it stinks so bad!"
"She didn't ask if you smelled anything!" Nanalee taunted. "What do you see?"
"I don't see anything suspicious." Then a wave of energy, unseen and seemingly unnoticed by Hakubi expanded in the area. Nanalee felt it first, felt the energy wash over her like a wave of water, it reminded her of her childhood for some reason, when her father took her to the bay to play in the ocean.
What…? Nanalee thought.
It's not the Ayakashi, it's coming from another source. Amaterasu spoke in her mind.
Can you tell me where it is?
I cannot, but this isn't a normal Ayakashi if this wave is coming from it.
I'd say it isn't quite run of the mill due to the smell either.
There are stranger ones.
True.
She stopped being distracted, she knew Tokine somehow felt it as well. "What was that?"
"I don't know. It was like I was thrown into another world…" She shook her head. "Never mind that, let go, I think Hakubi might have spotted something."
They headed over to where Hakubi had showed them, quiet as possible. It was hiding in a corner. "Bingo." Hakubi whispered.
"Should you go, or should I?" Nanalee whispered. "It's your job, but I want to provide assistance if I can, rushing in without your permission would be … an annoyance."
"I think you should watch my back, in case that things another shell, a decoy." Tokine said.
Nanalee nodded, "Be careful then." Tokine jumped down and ran over to the side of the building, and as she did, the thing jumped silently and propelled off the building and into the trees. Tokine then rounded the corner.
Tokine! Nanalee screamed in her head and jumped straight from the tree to behind her as she puzzled where the Ayakashi was.
"Honey! Behind you!" Hakubi yelped as he flew out of the way, however Nanalee was there blocking a scythe with her sword. Tokine jumped to the side, instinctually.
"Are you the Kekkiashi that guards this land? You use a sword instead of Kekkai …" The demon asked in a strange voice.
"Sorry, you guessed wrong." Nanalee then shoved the scythe to the side and attempted to strike, but the sword glanced off the side of its hull. It came down with another scythe that she used the Brush Strike to deflect. She jumped quickly out of the way before it could retaliate.
"You may not be a Kekkiashi, but you're surely powerful." It said before sending another scythe toward Nanalee, which she dodged easily. The next attack was blocked by a blue Kekkai, then Yoshi appeared out of the trees.
"Hey, Stinky!" He called. "I've been looking for you!"
"Hmm, so you're the Kekkiashi, perhaps this shall be a better fight." He veered away from Nanalee and rushed to Yoshimuri.
"What? You're a fool for turning your back on me!" Nanalee assumed a different stance. If I'm gonna pierce his shell, I need to heat it up a little. Her sword then spewed forth flames and within no more than a second the sword was engulfed in an inferno. "Ready for this? Taiyō Furea!" She jumped into the air and spun, the flames seeming to make a circle around her, then she fell and slashed at the monster, the flames engulfing the entire mid-section. She jumped away as the flames grew and swallowed the Ayakashi. She then tried Brush Strike to sever the armored skin, however when the attack hit a dull clang radiated from the Ayakashi and the flames died a few seconds afterward.
"Hopefully the Kekkiashi will prove to be a much stronger opponent." He turned back to Yoshi. She couldn't even pierce it? Not even with Taiyō Furea, not her most powerful technique, but it had worked on most Ayakashi before. Karasumori must be working in his favor, that should have allowed me to cut through the shell, maybe he needs to be hotter. She thought then she stopped. It's the Kekkiashi's place, I can't always be on the front lines. She watched as Yoshi kept back-peddling away from the spider.
He cast Ketsu and formed a massive Kekkai but the spider just slashed through the front and the entire thing collapsed. Yoshi tried this once more, then kept jumping back, conserving his energy.
"Tokine! Yoshi's not gonna last long like this? Have any ideas?" Nanalee looked over.
"I don't know if any of my techniques will work, but I could try the one I've been training with, but …" She stopped for a moment. "I don't if I've mastered the technique yet though."
Nanalee frowned. "I guess we're about to find out…"
The two rushed after the Ayakashi. As Yoshi blocked an attack with a scythe with his weapon, the Ayakashi used it's second scythe to send it flying, then pinned Yoshi's hand to the wall. "Now what? Use you Kekkai on me. Try it and I'll cut your arm off." Yoshimuri stood there doing nothing. "What's the matter? Terrified beyond words?"
"No! You smell like a sewer!" Yoshimuri kicked the Ayakashi hard, right in the jaw, if it had one. He then grasped his foot and yelped. "Urgh! That felt like kicking a toilet!"
"You've got some fancy moves boy, I didn't know a Kekkiashi could fight like that." The Ayakashi stood firmly.
He was … impressed? Nanalee thought.
"Tch." Yoshimuri started. "You think we've got rules for fighting Ayakashi?"
"Cocky brat, I was taking it easy on you before. Now watch this!" The Ayakashi then roared and started glowing, then it expanded to at least three times it's original size.
"Damnit! What now?" Nanalee took her stance along side the Kekkiashi. "Don't suppose you have any more idea's Yoshimuri, or was you just making it up as you went along?"
Yoshi was silent. "Oh." He finally spoke. "Tokine, I think I've got an idea, I'll keep this thing busy so you two can get away." He took off and dropped his backpack, and ran off.
"Yoshimuri!" Tokine called.
"That's your plan!" Nanalee added. He ran and cast Metsu on one of the legs, leaving it unharmed but clearly angered the thing.
"Hey you get back here!" Yelled the Ayakashi, apparently it wasn't to bright. Yoshimuri cast Ketsu to make walls, however the Ayakashi broke through them and kept its pace.
"He's breaking through my Kekkai so easily! Am I not focusing hard enough?" Yoshi yelled. He turned a corner, Nanalee running as fast as she could then she saw Yoshi cast Metsu on it once more, then she heard a squelching sound.
"Yoshi!" She yelled, but as she round the corner, she saw that he had made and elastic Kekkai.
"Stay back!" He yelled.
"Moron!" Nanalee yelled as Tokine rounded the corner with the dogs.
She ran in front of him as the Ayakashi said, "Didn't you realize I have another scythe!"
A new voice then called out, "Yōsai!" An aura surrounded a body that appeared next to Nanalee and took the scythe to the neck. However, he didn't falter. She knew the voice. She looked over and the scythe struck the neck but it couldn't pierce through the aura.
"What is…?" The Ayakashi seemed confused.
"Try again if you will, but my aura is much stronger than your own iron hide." His voice was smooth and deep, laced with years of influence and discipline. He wore light armor with no helm and short brown hair hung loosely to the bottom of his neck. On his back a cloth was wrapped around something, its contents took the shape off an oblong diamond. "Nanalee, could you not defeat this thing on your own?" He said.
"No, only Amaterasu could. She didn't take over this time." Nanalee sounded annoyed.
"Enough!" The Ayakashi raised its scythe again, but this time Nenshi shot out and ensnared the scythe. "Newcomers!" he spat then sliced the rope with the other scythe as the man dropped to ground level, he was apparently on the roof of the school. He wore a black robe and a long slender something wrapped in cloth on his back as well. "I don't understand, there was only supposed to be two! Instead, five have shown themselves."
"Well that's too bad for you." He took off the package on his back and set it aside.
"Ha, the same thing can be said for you! If you had stayed hidden I might have let you survive, but now it ends!"
"Metsu!" A Kekkai appeared then shattered as its scythe rose. The smoke cleared and on the scythe was a small crack. The monster looked at his scythe then back at the Kekkiashi. "You're pretty sturdy aren't you?" He looked at the other one, still wrapped in his aura, "You want to take a shot at it?"
"And break my sword? Forget it." He replied.
"Fine, then I'll take a more effective approach." He held up his fingers like Yoshi and Tokine.
"You! You think you're so tough because you cracked my scythe-" The monster was interrupted.
"Ketsu Metsu!" The man called and a strange Kekkai surrounded the scythe, then it exploded taking the scythe with it.
"Whoa! Cool." Nanalee looked with marvel then laughed. "400 and who knows how many years and I still get surprised? What a divine prank."
The Ayakashi looked at his missing appendage and seeming as if he was about to weep. "Impossible! How could this happen? My scythe is the hardest part of my body! How could you destroy it so easily?"
"I think I just found the perfect attack to use on you…" The man held out his fingers.
"uh-oh!"
"I guess that's it for you… Ketsu!" A strange Kekkai again enveloped his entire being.
"No! How can you do this!" The Ayakashi called form it's blue prison.
"Whoa! That's what it was!" Nanalee counted in her head. "Five Kekkai?"
"Masamori? Really if this is what you're impressed by than you're really not that creative." The young man said.
"Ahh! How could this have happened! Why wasn't I warned about you!" The Ayakashi cried.
"Warned?" Masamori questioned. "Warned by who?"
"I won't tell you. You can't make me!"
"I'm not surprised, and you shouldn't be either. I hope you came prepared for what's about to happen."
"Wait! Stop! Don't!"
"It's too late for that." The Kekkai exploded and he then picked up his cloth and slid it off to reveal a weapon much like Yoshimuri's. "Tenketsu!" Then the dust of the explosion was sucked into the circle on his weapon.
The dogs' sighs could be heard from across the distance. "I can finally breathe again!" One of them said. Nanalee shook her head.
Tokine ran up behind Masamori. "Masamori! It's been a long time!"
"It has, hasn't it?" He replied. "How have you been Tokine?"
"When did you get back Masa?" Hakubi asked.
"Oh, just now." Yoshimuri didn't looked to thrilled to see him.
Nanalee turned towards Itsumo who still had yet to move. "So, did you run into Kaldasha before coming here?"
"No, I've been with the Night troops for a while. Two weeks actually."
"What? How where you even here that long?" Nanalee protested.
"You're the only one who's immune to the Time-space thing that Udo does, it sent me to the Night troops base."
"You mean because of my little immunity I had to hitchhike across a fourth of the world for two weeks while you've been here all along?"
"Yeah, if you put it that way…" He has still yet to move.
"Uh, Itsumo, re you okay? And by the way, what's up with that aura?"
"Oh, that's right." Masamori said then walked over to Itsumo. "Sekkai!" The aura around Itsumo faded and he stretched his limbs.
"Thank you Masamori, I haven't quite figured out how to release that yet."
"No problem, maybe you should try to learn Sekkai."
"Hey." Yoshi called. "Was that some sort of Kekkai?"
"Yes actually." He said.
"Itsumo? How?" Nanalee was confused.
"They had books at the headquarters Celes, books on my kingdom and the powers they discovered. They were planning to start…" Itsumo stopped.
"We can talk about it later, in private…"
"That…" He turned and looked at everyone staring at them. "…would be better."
"Eh, sorry." Yoshi scratched his head.
"By the way, it's easier for the dogs to call me Nanalee, so-"
"I understand, Celes just doesn't seem natural any- wait, THE dogs?"
"Oh! That's right, I found them Itsumo. Changed just like us, but they're ali-" Silence.
"Alive?" Itsumo finished.
"Yes, I suppose… Here I'll introduce you and hope to Amaterasu that an Ayakashi doesn't interrupt our little extended celebration."
"Nanalee, you're babbling." Madarao said.
"That's right, she always babbles when she's… I'll leave it alone." She looked down then shook her head.
"It doesn't matter. This is Madarao, you know him as Ginro."
"Ah, the poisoner, I hear that you helped her out of many a tight situation."
"Ha ha, I geuss you could say that without me she wouldn't be here." Madarao floated up a little higher.
She sighed, "I don't want to hear you being proud after tonight Madarao." He sunk. "And this is Hakubi, I don't think I mentioned him much, but I remember telling you about him."
"You never talked about me?" Hakubi seemed to sink lower.
"Ah, Hakubi. You were the trouble making one right?" Hakubi blushed. "I seem to remember you running beneath women's evening gowns just to taunt Nanalee."
He floated higher. "Ah, the good ole days…" Nanalee sighed heavier.
"I could get along with Hakubi." Itsumo gestured.
"No you can't." She said simply.
"You're right." He said absently. "So, what now; 'Masa.'" Itsumo teased.
"I suppose you could stay with us, if grandpa will permit." Masamori stated.
"I don't have a problem with that." Itsumo yawned.
Nanalee looked at the two dogs. "How soon do we have to go back Yoshi?" She asked.
"Well, we could still patrol for about an hour more, but I don't think anymore Ayakashi are gonna show up. Why?" Yoshimuri squinted.
"I don't suppose I could have a few minutes with Hakubi and Madarao?"
"I don't see why not." Tokine answered.
"What do you mean? Even if it's almost dawn it doesn't mean that Ayakashi won't attack." Yoshimuri crossed his arms.
"Think about it Yoshi." Masamori stated. "Hakubi and Madarao are her best friends and she hasn't seen them for at least three-hundred years. Wouldn't you want to see one of your friends if you hadn't seen one in so long?"
He scowled, "I geuss."
"Thanks Yoshi, it means a lot." Nanalee waited. "C'mon guys, lets go."
Hakubi looked over at Tokine, then at Madarao. "Sure."
"I guess I don't have any choice." Madarao sighed.
"What does that mean?" Yoshi asked.
"Well Yoshi, you may think you're my master, but, Nanalee is my friend, she ranks a bit higher than you do Yoshimuri." He laughed as he floated toward the two as Yoshi shouted threats to his Ayakashi companion.
Masamori laughed, "Okay, oh and Itsumo isn't the only one I brought, come here." A fish swam out of the ground and hovered behind Masamori's head. The two dogs looked at the fish and cocked their heads.
"Ah, she's cute." Tokine called glowering at the fish. Hakubi narrowed his eyes.
"C'mon you two, let's go for a walk." Hakubi hesitated then followed.
They walked for a little then Madarao spoke up. "So Nanalee, what did you want to talk about?"
"I haven't seen you guys in so long. I wanted to know how you dealt with me, when I died." Nanalee looked at them, Madarao sunk lower and Hakubi seemed to glare at Madarao. "Well? I want to know how much I let you down, I want to make up for it."
"You don't have to make up for it, it that Udo's fault, and beneath that, it's part my fault too." Madarao looked up. "We had it coming, we should have known that is wasn't going to last."
"Don't talk like that." Nanalee looked up. "You can say it all you want but we could have made a difference. It's my fault so don't blame yourself. If I had just- If I wasn't so naïve, if I thought to stop the fighting and ask those Ayakashi. If Udo wasn't there… I'm just making excuses, it was my fault solely. I told you guys you could back down but you followed me, a foolish leader."
Madarao was silent. "I…" He shook his head. "You were the only thing keeping Kouya from going off the edge. And I'm grateful to you that we had him for that much longer. And if you really want to know, when you said for us to run, I followed you without question, knowing that when we did you would die. But back then, I geuss you could call yourself my master…"
"I'm not your master, I'm your friend."
"Then I have no regrets." They smiled, then Hakubi started to float away.
"Wait, Hakubi, I'm sorry that I ignored you."
"It's alright, you guys seemed to be closer friends than you and I were." Hakubi continued.
"Wait." Nanalee thought. "Madarao you can go back, I'll talk to Hakubi privately."
Madarao was silent. "Alright, don't be long, Tokine is waiting."
"I know." Madarao floated off, following Hakubi's path and taunting him as he went by. "Children." Nanalee said under her breath. "Hakubi…"
He turned and floated back. "Nanalee…"
"Tell me, how did you feel when-"
"Nanalee." Hakubi interrupted her. "When you disappeared, Master Tokimuri thought that you were killed at the hand of some Ayakashi. So he went in search for you and I found your scent then…"
"You found my body." Nanalee looked down.
"Fresh too. I caught the smell of two other Ayakashi and a bunch of humans along with that divinity/demon smell though I didn't know what it could have been then. I couldn't believe it. We both knew that it was a sword wound, we knew. But I, I thought that Madarao and Kouya…"
"You thought that Madarao and Kouya killed me…"
Hakubi nodded. "When we finally caught up to them I still smelt you on Kouya and all that human blood…" Hakubi shook his head, trying to hide his tears.
"Hakubi, I'm so sorry." Nanalee looked down.
"But you, you were traveling with them and you-" Hakubi stopped himself. His voice was getting shaky. "When we caught them, If Master Tokimuri could understand me, he would have probably tied me to that tree to die. We let Kouya go, and kept Madarao as a companion! I was so furious, I couldn't-" He had to hold back something.
"Hakubi, I know you're using all your strength to hold something back, what is it?"
Hakubi ignored her. "But Madarao, he could understand me, and we would have killed each other if Master Tokimuri didn't keep us in Kekkai to separate us whenever we did. Madarao stopped fighting eventually, he didn't care and I never said your name to him no matter how mad I got. I wanted him to pay, I wanted him to-"
"Hakubi! Please!" Hakubi stopped and she embraced him. "I'm sorry. This is my fault, I shouldn't have been thinking about myself, I should have thought about everyone else, I should have thought about you and Madarao and Kouya, but I was selfish, I was blinded by glory and everyone else paid instead. I'm not a very good friend I understand, but that's why I wanted to make it up to you. It's too late for Master Tokimuri and Kouya, but I will make this right for you and Madarao. I promise."
You know that you may not be able to keep promise that Nanalee Amaterasu spoke in her head again.
I don't care what you do, nothing will stop me! I will keep this promise. I owe it to them as much as I owe you my contract. Amaterasu did not respond.
"I will make this right." She said. Hakubi held back his emotions still, but didn't resist the embrace. Being pressed against a woman's chest isn't something he usually dislikes.
Around the corner, listening intently to the conversation was Madarao; his eyes drooped in sadness as he whispered, "Hakubi you fool." He floated away, pondering the story. So that's what it's been about?