If you've read this far, thanks! I'm so happy you like my story so far! I just wanted to apologize in advance for screwing up any mythology. Japanese shrines and mythology is unfamiliar territory for me, so I apologize if I got something wrong! Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Yukio suddenly tensed, sensing something in the darkness just beyond them. He stopped and raised his gun, sweeping his field of vision.
"What is it, Okumura-san?"
"There's something ahead," he answered quietly, slowly reaching towards his belt.
"Again?" Shima whispered, hands shaking as he gripped his staff with white knuckles. They had been wandering through the forest for at least an hour, and at every turn they seemed to bump into a new kind of demon - all trying to kill them. There was no way the forest was ever this full of demon activity - just another sign that something ominous was brewing.
"Nii-chan! What is it?" Shiemi cupped her hands before her, holding the baby greenman so everyone could see. Nii was hunched over and trembling, as if he were in pain. Suddenly, he jumped into the air and spread his arms, green vines sprouting out of him in great abundance. Shiemi cried out and back away as the vines turned to tree limbs and continued to grow. Pink blossoms sprouted from the branches and in a few seconds a small, sickly cherry blossom tree was standing in front of them. Nii squeaked and broke himself off of one of the branches, scurrying back to Shiemi.
"Why did Nii just grow a sakura tree?" Shima asked.
"Nii? What are you trying to tell us?" Shiemi asked, but the greenman merely chirped and shrugged.
"It is I who am trying to tell you something," a soft voice suddenly answered, causing everyone to jump.
"Did...did the tree just talk?" Konekomaru stuttered.
"What are you? A demon? How did you take control of Nii-chan like that?" Yukio demanded, aiming his guns towards the tree, which was swaying slightly side to side. Wilted cherry blossoms scattered on the forest floor, turning brown as soon as they touched the dirt.
"I am...the goddess...Konohanasakuya-hime," the tree whispered, and Yukio's weapon drooped a little.
"Konohanasakuya-hime?" Shima asked, tilting his head.
"I am the goddess...of this mountain..."
"Konohanasakuya is the goddess of Mt. Fujisan. She is also the goddess of life, and sakura trees," Konekomaru explained.
"Are you the one taking people, and sending demons into the forest?" Yukio asked.
"I...am not...my sister has taken the mountain...Iha-naga..."
"Oh! I remember this story! The god Ninigi was supposed to marry Iha-naga, but he married Kono-hana instead. Iha-naga was angry, and she is the one who brought death to the human race," Shiemi said.
"That is...correct...my sister...was jealous...and angry...but I have been able to hold her off...until now."
"So she's the one who is responsible for all this," Yukio stated, finally glad for at least a small understanding of what was happening, "How can we stop her?"
"Iha-naga is as long living as stone...she cannot die..."
"Then how do we rescue everyone? What has she done with all the townspeople?"
"Iha-naga...is not strong...she needs...sacrifices..."
Shima paled, "All those people are human sacrifices?"
"What about Bon?" Konekomaru shouted, panic strangling his voice.
"My sister...has not yet eaten...she is waiting..."
"What is she waiting for?" Yukio demanded.
"Yukio."
Yukio stepped back in surprise, "What?"
"Yukio is the last...of the true bloodline...of the first priestess...of the Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha...without her...the ceremony can't take place...I called on her...for aide...but now I am afraid...my sister may use her..."
"Where is this Yukio now?"
"In the forest...I must go now...I grow weak..."
"Wait! We need more information!"
"My sister...resides within the mountain..." the goddess' voice was growing fainter by the second. The tree's bark began peeling, the flowers wilted and turned black, dropping like flies. With a disturbing creak that sounded like a quiet scream, the tree split in half and fell to the forest floor, where it could be mistaken for a common piece of rotting wood.
Frustrated, Yukio kicked the dead tree and sent a branch skittering into the forest.
"Well, at least we know what's going on now," Izumo observed in her usual stoic manner.
"Yeah, just an evil goddess intent on eating an entire town, no big deal," Shima groaned, sinking to his knees, "I knew I should have stayed home today."
"Is Kono-hana-san...dead?" Shiemi approached Yukio, tugging on his sleeve. The exorcist pushed his glasses up and sighed.
"I don't think so, she's just weakened. If we can get rid of Iha-naga, the goddess and the mountain should return to its former state."
"What happened to just rescuing our friends and getting out of here?"
"We have to stop Iha-naga from getting her hands on that priestess descendent Yukio. If she could do this much damage in her weakened state, imagine what she will do once she devours all those human sacrifices. Not to mention - Bon and the others were probably taken by the goddess already. Unless we stop her, it'll be too late to rescue them."
"Shouldn't we go for help?" Konekomaru asked, glancing at the path behind them.
"There's no time. We have to find Yukio before Iha-naga."
"How are we supposed to do that?" Izumo asked, "We can barely get through the forest without getting killed - how are we supposed to find one girl in this giant place?"
"Nii! Nii! Nii!" The little greenman was jumping up and down in Shiemi's hands.
"I think Nii has an idea," Shiemi laughed, tilting her head towards the little demon, "What is it?"
"Whoa! What is this?" Shima suddenly cried, leaping away from the ground.
"They're all greenmen!" Izumo exclaimed. The small plantlike demons were flocking around the group, squeaking and climbing on their shoes. Shima shivered.
"Ugh, the look like bugs."
"Are they safe?" Konekomaru asked warily.
"I think they want to help us," Shiemi said cheerfully as Nii floated up to sit on her head.
"I trust Shiemi-chan's instinct. Other greenmen have helped her before," Yukio said, lowering his gun to his side, although he still didn't holster it. Izumo harrumphed, annoyed that the group was once again relying on Shiemi.
"Can you lead us to Yukio?" Shiemi asked, clasping her hands and smiling. The greenmen chirped in response and began waddling away into the forest.
Yukio followed up the back of the group, fingers still resting on the cool metal of his firearm. They may have stumbled across some friendly demons, but he could still sense the evil forces hovering just out of sight. His entire body was humming with a terrible sense of urgency and dread, but all he could do was slowly follow the greenman deeper into the darkness of the forest.