Pinkshuchan: LALIHO! Hey everyone! Pinkshuchan here! I have brought you the next chapter of Feudal Journey and this is one of the most important chapters in the entire story so it's a good idea to pay attention. But enough talk. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 28
The Truth
Shuichi began to regain consciousness and opened his eyes slightly. He found himself waking up with his head leaning on something. He didn't know what it was but whatever it was, it was warm, so warm he wanted to snuggle his head against it.
"I see you're awake." Eiri's voice brought him to his senses. Shuichi looked up to see said monk looking down at him, stroking the younger's head. Although his voice hid any emotion, Shuichi could still see worry in his eyes. Did something happen?
"Yuki, what's wrong?" he asked. But for some reason the moment he asked, Eiri's eyes widened in shock. Shuichi didn't know what was wrong. "What is it? Is it something I said? Please! You can tell me."
"Shuichi," Eiri spoke up, "You're speaking? While you're in..."
Shuichi didn't know what Eiri was talking about. "What do you mean?" he asked, "Is it wrong for me to speak?"
"I-It's not that," Eiri tried to defend himself, "It's just... sigh... I guess today is the day you find out the truth. Sit up!"
Shuichi didn't know why Eiri wanted him to sit up but complied, only to see that he was taller than the monk and he was just sitting. He began asking so many questions that Eiri couldn't even put in a word. Instead, he guided Shuichi to a river and made the younger look in. But the face he saw wasn't the face he was familiar with. It was not the face of an 18 year old boy with shoulder length pink hair and a very feminine face. Instead, it was the face of a silver kitsune. If it wasn't for the violet eyes, Shuichi wouldn't believe that he was looking at himself. But he knew that he was looking at himself. It was no lie.
Suddenly, his head began to hurt. He lowered his head onto the ground and placed his paws onto it. So many thoughts began rushing through his head. Somehow they felt nostalgic. He realized that they were memories. His memories. The memories that were trapped within him in kitsune form. Lots of memories were there. Some were happy, some were sad. But he began to remember everything. The next thing he knew, he was crying. He knew why he was crying; because he learned the truth. Remembering everything was just too painful for him. He felt a hand carress his back and looked up to see Eiri worried about him. He got up and faced him.
"Yuki?" he asked, "You knew this entire time about what I am right? What am I?"
Eiri lowered his head. "I thought you might've been another ordinary kitsune at first," he spoke honestly, "But after hearing some things, I found out that you are indeed no ordinary kitsune. You are a kitsune hanyou, a half being. Half human, half kitsune. Kitsune hanyou are usually born having two separate memories, each representing one half of the hanyou. But when they reach a certain age, the memories merge together, making the kitsune hanyou's memories one and show the hanyou as both a human and a kitsune."
Shuichi just sat there, letting his tears fall. It wasn't the fact that he was a kitsune hanyou that made him this upset. He knew that had to be the explaination as to why he felt like he was human yet a yokai at the same time. The reason why he was crying was because of a memory that he finally remembered. He looked over at Eiri.
"Yuki?" he sobbed, "I remember. I remember everything. I remember that my mother always told me to take those walks because of my kitsune form and that my Hoshi No Tama was to protect me. I remember the night when we first met. I got separated from my mother and got my foot caught in that rope trap. That's when we first met. I was scared of you at first but when you came towards me and freed me I realized that you were good. It was at that moment that I wanted to be with you forever. But I always had to leave because my mother always told me to stay away from any humans or yokai when the sun begins to rise. I now realize that it's because of my transformation as a human.
"But then that day came; the day we had been separated from each other for ten years. It was the day I received my Hoshi No Tama. As a kitsune, I was told that for my first eight years my mother was my life. If she died when I still didn't have my Hoshi No Tama then I would die as well. But it was that day when she gave me my Hoshi No Tama. I think it might be because she knew what was going to happen.
"Remember those nightmares I told you about? They weren't something my subconscious made; they were the things that happened to me that night. When I went to see you, you held me close and I never wanted this moment to end. But then the monks came and took you away. I cried for you until the monks came back with dogs. I ran as fast as I could to get away from them. I tried calling for help but no one could hear me. As I ran, one of the dogs scratched my back. I was so scared. But then I began to fly. This was the first time I've ever flew my entire life. But I was flying. It was then that I felt that scorching pain on my back and it was a paper scroll. No doubt this paper scroll was the cause of why my scars from that night are still there. But I began to fall to where the monks and dogs were waiting for me. I fell and fell and fell until I felt something grab me and take me away from the monks.
"It was my mother. She came to save me. I was so happy that she heard my calls. But the monks and the dogs were still after us. My mother told me to run away and go to a place where I would be safe. I didn't want her to go but she went anyway. I couldn't run away as I saw what my mother was doing. She fought the monks and the dogs but they were all too strong for her," Tears began to fall heavily down Shuichi's furry cheeks. "I watched as the monks paralyzed her and killed her. I watched as the dogs began to tear at her flesh and chew on her bones. It was at that moment that I knew she was gone. There were so many times as a kitsune that I wanted to blame you for what happened to her. But I couldn't. I knew you weren't a part of it. You aren't like all those other monks. You're different. And I love you for that."
Granny's words were true. Eiri was different from the other monks, in a good way. And because of it, he now had someone like Shuichi to stand by his side. He walked over to the kitsune and held his in his arms, comforting him. What else could he do? Shuichi's memories had returned and they led to painful memories about his mother. The only thing he could do is just hold him and help relieve him of this pain.
"She only did what a mother should do."
Eiri and Shuichi looked over to see Granny walking towards them. "It is a mother's job to protect her young from things that would harm them," she continued, "This is said by a fellow mother myself. I'm sure that you would do the same if you followed her footsteps."
"Granny?" Shuichi began to question, "Who are you exactly? I may not have had control of my body but I remember what happened to me when the Dark Venom had a hold of me in my kitsune form. Your powers and your scent tell me that you are not human. You are a yokai aren't you?"
Granny chuckled. "It is true young kitsune," she replied, "Indeed I am a yokai. But there was a reason why I never told you this nor my name. I was not sure you would trust me if I told you my name. My name is well known all over Japan. I've been living on this earth for as long as Japan had been created. I am Yama-uba."
Both Eiri's and Shuichi's eyes widened at her name. "Yama-uba?" asked Eiri, "As in Yama-uba the nature woman? The same Yama-uba that was rumoured to be the mother of the famous hero Sakata Kintoki, also known as Kintaro?"
"The very same young monk," said Yama-uba, "I've been keeping my eye on you both for quite a while now. I have faith that together you may save all of Japan and possibly the entire world from the Dark Venom. I believe that the Dark Venom may be planning to create an enormous army with all the yokai it possesses. Though I believe it is focusing on the Four Great Yokai. They have not found Genbu and Seiryu and Suzaku have already been released from their possession. The only one left to help is Byakko."
"I'm sure we'll be able to succeed." said Eiri.
"Maybe but maybe not. While Genbu is well known for his intelligence, Seiryu is well known for his bravery, and Suzaku is well known for his beauty, Byakko is well known for her speed. She might not be as easy as her brothers."
"She?" asked Shuichi, "You mean Byakko's a girl?"
"Did you really expect that they would all be male? But yes, Byakko is a girl. I remember when I raised them. They all started off as ordinary animals but after dealing with so much, they reincarnated into powerful invincible yokai, protecting Japan from anything bad that could happen. I just never expected something like the Dark Venom to cause all this trouble. It's a good thing the venom can only possess you once."
"So if we cleanse Byakko, then the Dark Venom is unable to possess her again?" asked Eiri, "Still, it will take us a while to reach her."
"Not with your kitsune friend beside you," Yama-uba pointed out, "He has regained all his memories as both a human and a kitsune. Does it not occur to you that he can switch between both forms?"
"So I can be human or kitsune anytime I want?" Shuichi cried in joy.
"Well, there are limits. Your kitsune powers strengthen and weaken depending on the lunar cycle. They become their strongest when the moon is full and they are at their weakest when the moon is not. In other words, you are full kitsune when it's a full moon and you're a full human during the new moon. Daytime does not count in this cycle."
"So you're saying that even if it's the morning or afternoon before the full moon or new moon I can still transform between human and kitsune but when it becomes night and a full moon or a new moon is shown I'm stuck as one or the other right?" Shuichi tried to understand.
"Precisely young kitsune," said Yama-uba, "But remember that during the new moon, none of your kitsune abilities work. You won't have your strength, your speed, nor your regeneration. So be careful when you get into battle."
"I promise Yama-uba."
"Good," The old woman turned around and began walking away, "We must part ways for now, but I'm sure we'll see each other again after you save Byakko." And then she disappeared, leaving the monk and the kitsune to absorb all she told them.
Pinkshuchan: Well I'm glad I got this chapter out of the way. Until the next. Read and Review!
