Chapter Twenty-Five
The Eclipse Youkai and The Rat
Nii nodded his head in approval as he inspected the room after Traylaymaru led him to it. It was in a smaller area of the main house that was used by the princess' maids and private cooks. According to Traylaymaru, it was so overlooked that Rendromaru had either forgotten about that section of the house or if he did remember, he had no interest in it. The halls were not brightly lit, but not as dark as the rest of the house, but dim enough to allow Nii the ability to hide if it became necessary.
His chambers were almost the same as the halls. Not overly bright to bring suspicion, but not so dark as to send Nii into a panic attack. There were many candles in the room to give Nii that extra light should he need it, and a stone fire pit in the center with an opening in the roof to allow smoke to escape.
In the center of his room was a large already set up futon and many furs folded on the edge. A few small tables sat against the walls and as Nii approached one, he saw about a dozen daggers sitting on the surface. With a smile, he lifted one of the blades and inspected the surface, much the same way he had the pugio he had been gifted.
Traylaymaru leaned on his staff as he watched but almost jumped out of his skin when a small black kitten popped out of thin air and rubbed against his leg, purring.
Nii turned and chuckled, hissing softly. "Miyako." He bent down and the kitten sprinted over to him and jumped into his arms. Her face rubbed against his chin, happily.
Traylaymaru breathed a soft sigh. "I had forgotten about that one."
Nii chuckled. "You forgot about the others too." He grinned and pointed to a darker spot by the fire pit.
Traylaymaru lifted a brow and turned to stare. His mouth fell open at the large shadow dog he remembered Nii having. "Right." Gold eyes widened slightly as they frantically scanned the room for the other pet he remembered suddenly. "Your void pet?"
Nii smirked. "Not here. According to him, it isn't as spunky." He tapped his head.
Traylaymaru shook his head. "Did Inutaishomaru say when he was leaving?"
Nii frowned but nodded. "Tomorrow. He wanted to see Sesshomaru first."
"I wish he would spend more time here and get things under control again. He spends so much time out there making sure his territories are safe that he has ignored the dangers that lurk in his house."
"That is why I am here." Nii gave the dark-haired youkai a grin that sent goosebumps over Traylaymaru's skin.
Traylaymaru gave the shorter youkai a look that said he had not forgotten Nii's set of skills and then a slow smile crossed his face. "I have no sympathies for those who cross paths with you then."
Nii chuckled and placed Miyako onto the futon where she immediately started padding the fur under her paws. "So what areas of the house do I need to avoid?" Because he was not familiar with the sankin kotai's set up, he had no idea where any of the halls started or led to.
"If Inutaishomaru appointed you his eyes and ears, you have more control here than Rendromaru does. You have no place you can't go. If you so choose, you could even slip into the princess's chambers at any time if you choose to do so."
Nii shook his head. "I was given the role again, but that is not my current task at hand. I am to listen and observe, not take command of the house. Seihomaru wants to know exactly what has been happening while he is away. He also wants me watching over Sesshomaru."
"Ah. The silent and deadly watcher, not the assassin." Traylaymaru nodded in understanding.
"I will only take out those who pose an immediate threat to the small pup or the princess. Only if they decide to strike, not before." Nii muttered and turned to stare at the dark-haired youkai. As he did so, Traylaymaru's eyes watched one of the daggers in Nii's hand suddenly vanish and his mouth fell open. The eclipse youkai grinned and then grabbed another dagger off the table and it too disappeared.
Traylaymaru shook his head. "I don't even want to know." He muttered and turned to leave the shorter youkai alone. "If you need anything, there is a small zashiki warashi who resides in these halls. You can call on her for any messages to be sent out."
"Is it the same one who had befriended Ahmya all those years ago?"
Traylaymaru flinched but nodded his head. "I wouldn't mention any of those names, even within the seal's protective barriers. At least do so carefully. Oh, and watch out for Myoga. That blasted flea loves to indulge on our blood. He says inuyoukai blood tastes so much better than any he has had before."
Nii nodded his head in understanding. Once Traylaymaru had left, Nii turned to the shadow dog and crouched down waving it over. If he couldn't lurk in the shadows for long periods without breaking into a cold sweat, Shuzo had granted permission to use his spirits hound.
"Yoruhakanai, I need your eyes," Nii whispered and received a deep guttural growl in response. "Let us find where this little rat is hiding." He smiled and watched as the shadow hound slipped from the current plane of existence to the shadow realm.
Shuzo came from the shadows and leaned against the wall silently. 'What are you going to do now?'
Nii pushed to his feet and lifted a brow. 'I need to find those scrolls that Seihomaru mentioned and go over what he has written. That, however, will be a problem.' He sighed.
'They are not located here.'
'Exactly.'
'I will bring them when I return.' Seihomaru's voice filled his head and he blinked.
Shuzo chuckled. 'All the barriers are gone.' He stated.
"Ah." Nii nodded his head. 'How long will that be?'
'Maybe half a year.' Seihomaru said.
'Is it safe to bring them back here?'
'Probably not.' Came the frustrated answer.
'Then allow me to go to it.' Nii snarled.
'You would need to know how to drop the seal, I do not have time to show you.' Seihomaru said.
'When you return then, we will go. For now, I will keep an eye on things here.' Nii nodded his head and turned when the kitten started hissing and playfully pouncing on the fur. Rolling his eyes to the ceiling, Nii shared an amused glance with Shuzo.
Inutaishomaru walked down the halls towards his son's chambers in silence. He could feel many eyes on him as he went and was somewhat surprised to find Rendromaru already with his pup chastising him as though he were the father and not Inutaishomaru. Clenching his jaw, Inutaishomaru released a warning growl which caused Rendromaru to jump startled and Sesshomaru to turn to him with a wide grin.
"Father!" Sesshomaru sprinted towards him but stopped when Rendromaru let out a soft hiss that did not pass by Inutaishomaru as he had hoped.
Lifting his eyes to the rat's black beady ones, Inutaishomaru lifted a brow in question. Rendromaru lifted his hands in apology. "Forgive me, my lord. I only wish the young ones not to run in the halls."
"Begone." Inutaishomaru snarled. Once the rat youkai vanished behind the corner, Inutaishomaru lowered to one knee and waved Sesshomaru over. "How is the injury?"
Sesshomaru pulled up his haori and showed the clean blemish-free skin. "All healed." He stated proudly.
Inutaishomaru nodded, satisfied. "I will be leaving in the morning." He started which caused Sesshomaru to pout.
"Can I come with you?" Sesshomaru whispered moving closer to his father.
"No, Sesshomaru. You must stay here. Do you remember the leatherworker outside the main house?"
Sesshomaru furrowed his brow and then a smile broke across his face. "Yes."
"I have asked him to make a kemari ball for you. I have also arranged for you to spend the early evenings with Dezuri and Daiju so you can have some time to play." Inutaishomaru said quietly.
Sesshomaru lowered his head. "Rendromaru will not allow it." He whispered.
"You leave that to me." He growled. "It will be allowed, and he will not stop you. I will return before you know it." Inutaishomaru smiled.
"Is your friend still here?" Sesshomaru asked curiously.
"Tsukuyomaru and Marioshi left this afternoon, you know that." Inutaishomaru winked at his son. He knew Sesshomaru meant Nii, but with Rendromaru having ears so close, he couldn't even let his son be made aware that the shadow youkai was still in residence. With how much of a hold he had over his son, any information would be gathered from the small pup.
"I meant the other one."
"No, Sesshomaru. He left on his journey. Traylaymaru is still here, however."
Sesshomaru sighed and slumped his shoulders. "Can I see mother?" He asked lifting his gaze to his.
Inutaishomaru nodded. "She has missed you." He smiled. "Go now."
Sesshomaru threw his arms around his neck quickly before sprinting off down the hall towards the princess's chambers in excitement.
Once his son was gone, Inutaishomaru stood and glared at the end of the hall. "Rendromaru," He warned.
The rat came skittering around the corner maintaining all innocence.
"You heard the conversation and I mean what I said. Sesshomaru is to be allowed an hour with his friends in the evening. If you do not abide by it, word will reach me and you will find yourself in a world of hurt." Inutaishomaru narrowed his eyes.
"Of course, my lord." Rendromaru bowed. "So the other inuyoukai has left?"
"After being treated so incompetently and thrown into a cell he had no desire to remain at the sankin kotai." Inutaishomaru snarled. "You have managed to run off yet another friend which annoys me to no end."
"I beg forgiveness, my lord." The rat bowed, but he didn't manage to hide the sly grin that spread across his face.
Inutaishomaru saw the triumphant grin and his temper snapped. Snarling and darting forward, he gripped Rendromaru's throat in his hand and lifted him off the ground. "I know what you are planning, rat, and your attempts stop now. If you even comprehend how little trust I hold in you, you will refrain from your little plot. Your position is on a very thin thread and I have eyes of my own watching your every move."
Rendromaru's eyes widened and his face paled at his current situation. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and he tried to suck air into his lungs at the vice-grip hold.
"You are lucky that your station is important, for now. I will not kill you-" Inutaishomaru grinned. "Yet." He finished. "However, if you do not stop your little game, I will be forced to take certain measures that will result in your immediate removal from my graces."
Rendromaru clenched his eyes shut and then he dropped to the ground coughing and sputtering in protests. "Lies, they are all lies." He whimpered pathetically.
"Hmph." Inutaishomaru snorted and walked away. Shaking his head now irritated, he hoped that any signs that he had woken his youki had remained hidden. If his plan worked, Rendromaru would face a far more dangerous opponent than himself if he continued on his little expedition to take over his clan. But if the rat continued his little game, despite his shadow walkers watchful eye and skilled abilities, then Rendromaru would face him and his youki at their full capabilities and more than likely run in terror as far away as possible.
Taizo chuckled softly in his head at his train of thought. Quite impressed with how sly and skilled Seihomaru had gotten during his sleep, he realized he had little to worry about in regards to his host's safety. He was excited, to say the least, he knew he was in for a whole adventure of exploration and new experiences he had never had before in all his twelve-thousand years and he could barely contain that delight.
As morning broke the horizon, Inutaishomaru slipped from the grounds with his head lowered, and lost in thought. Once he was out of the mountain home, he would be able to speak freely and allow his overly excited and exuberant youki his freedom. Without the barriers in place, he could keep in contact with Nii for a good portion of his journey but without knowing the limitations on their link, he had to wait and find out.
Nii shifted on the futon and glanced over at the candle burning on the small table. It had burned all night and he sighed at his weakness. Sitting up, he leaned over and blew out the stump that remained. Pushing to his feet, he walked over to the window and looked out at the rising sun and his eyes caught the shadowy form of Seihomaru as it slipped into the trees near the base of the mountain.
Shaking his head, he glanced down at his bare torso and snorted at all the black zig-zag markings that intermixed with the usual silver-grey ones that signified his heritage. Never having been in the shadow realm for such a long period of time before, he wasn't sure how long those would remain on his skin. In the past, the black marks would fade over the course of two or three weeks, all dependant on how long he had stayed in the shadows.
Loud purring filled the room and Nii turned his head to stare at the tiny black kitten who had been by his side for many years. Allowing a smile to cross his features, he bent down and caught the feline as it launched herself into his arms, and he winced as her claws started to use his bare arm as a kneading tool. "Oie, that hurts." He whispered.
He earned himself a tiny meow in response and exuberant face rubbing as she excitedly greeted him. A shadow near the wall almost caught his breath in his throat but he grunted when he realized that it was the shadow hound he had sent out before night had hit. "Yoruhakanai." He snorted. "Are you trying to scare me?"
A slow growl was his response. To his utter surprise, another much larger hound sauntered into the light and he gasped. "Who are you?"
Shuzo chuckled softly from his spot beside the fire pit. 'That is my pet.'
"She's huge." Nii glanced over at his spirit.
'Ohomi.' Shuzo grinned when the large black beast sauntered over to his spirit and flopped down at his feet a delighted growl filling the room over Miyako's purring. Miyako, looking quite aggravated, started purring even louder. Nii lifted a brow at Shuzo with a knowing smile. 'She assisted in finding Hana when she got turned around in the forest when she was chased by those humans.'
"Ah." Nii nodded his head, remembering the day. "So what have we discovered?" He asked, turning to his youki.
'That rat is still seeking news on who you are. He has also sent out a group to find you and eliminate you.' Shuzo snorted and crossed his arms over his chest.
'Shrewd little bastard, isn't he?' Nii rolled his eyes as he pulled a new haori from the chest by the wall. Seihomaru had filled it with new hakama and haori, rather than his old clothing that were stretched and tearing from age.
Shuzo watched silently as his host dressed and his thoughts drifted to his brother who was off on one of his own adventures with his host. His eyes drifted to the window and stared at the space between the mountains he had seen Seihomaru disappear. Shaking his head, he released a heavy sigh. 'We need to work on getting you over that fear.'
Nii stopped with his hakama half tied and blinked at Shuzo. 'Shuzo-'
'It is who you are.' Shuzo snarled. 'You can't hide from it.'
Nii frowned and finished tying his hakama around his waist. 'You can't force me to go in.'
'No.' Shuzo agreed. 'But let me help you.'
Nii clenched his jaw. 'You can help me by continuing to let me use your hounds. I will not go back into the shadow realm.'
Shuzo sighed. 'That fear will eat away at you until you decide to face it head-on.'
Nii spun on his youki and glared. 'I said no, and I mean it. Using the shadows and facing my fear that way is what we will work on, but you can't force me to go back to the shadow realm.' He shivered as the memory of it resurfaced. It was still too close and too soon.
Shaking his head, Shuzo reluctantly agreed. 'And if they discover you are still residing in the sankin kotai? What then?'
'You know better than anyone that I can manipulate the shadows better than any other shadow guard. If you had trust in me, you would know that they would not have discovered me in that room. All you had to do was move me further into the shadows.'
'If that is what you believe.' Shuzo grunted. If Nii refused to listen to reason, he would wait before he attempted to pull him into the shadow realm. For now, he would bide his time. 'Ohomi said she saw the rat moving into the great halls. I suggest we go there and start.'
'Why would he go there? He has no reason to be in the halls unless he feels secure enough to appoint himself as ruler in Seiho's absence.' Nii frowned and opened the door quietly, glancing out for signs of anyone watching. Satisfied that he was alone, Nii slipped from his chambers and made his way towards the main room Seihomaru used for his politics.
Seihomaru's aggravated snarl filled his mind as he moved silently through the house. 'He is not a ruler, nor should he be acting like one. Hells, I wish I could just kill him and be done with it.'
Nii snorted. 'So why don't you?'
'He would see it coming-'
'No, he wouldn't.' Nii smirked as he slipped past the two guards posted at the large doors leading into Seihomaru's main halls. They did not notice his passage or even flinch at the proximity.
'Taking him by surprise would only be achieved if you ambush him from the shadow realm.' Seihomaru growled.
'How little faith you have in me.' Nii said, pausing briefly to find the best approach to the dais where the rat youkai sat on. He sat comfortably on Seihomaru's chair and was glaring at a few lesser youkai pleading with him on the floor.
'He still has a few things to accomplish before he dies.' Seihomaru muttered.
'Oh?'
'Remember our conversation? Some events must take place so that everything falls into its allotted time. If we kill him now, it could mess with the flow of things. Quite possibly the Yata no Kagami is not being made or given to its rightful owner. Or interfere with the birth of my second pup.' Seihomaru stated.
'You mean your third pup.' Nii frowned.
Silence was his only answer and Nii sighed softly. Quietly he moved closer to the dais but paused when a youkai turned his head, looking in his direction. Stalling all thoughts and movement, Nii crouched low to the ground and narrowed his eyes as the green snake-like gaze roamed over the shadows around his current location, as though searching. Slowing his breathing to almost minimal, his mouth dropped open when the snake youkai inched in his direction a deep intense look on his face.
For several long minutes, the youkai searched but found no traces but he did turn to Rendromaru and held up his hand. The rat youkai frowned and waited for an explanation.
"We are being watched." The snake hissed. It was one of the voices he had heard in the halls two days prior and Nii bared his teeth.
Rendromaru waved for the guards to usher the lesser youkai out.
'You have to move.' Shuzo snarled.
Nii nodded his head and pushed back further into the shadows. Using what skills he had, he called on the shadows to deepen and swirl around him, engulfing him in even more darkness. He felt that sudden tingle of fear crawl up his spine as the shadows darkened around him and he gulped.
Rendromaru stood up from the chair when the doors banged shut. "Are you sure?"
The snake youkai nodded his head and turned once again to scanning the area he swore he had seen someone.
'Nii.' Shuzo whispered.
Nii gulped and glanced around him but clenched his jaw when he saw a few guards arrive with candles and torches lit. 'Shit.'
'You can't stay here. Let me help you.' Shuzo hissed.
Nii clenched his eyes shut tightly and felt his skin grow clammy with the thought of being given no choice but to go to the shadow realm.
'If they catch you, they will kill you.'
Almost immediately, Nii could feel the sudden fear filling him from Seihomaru who was probably miles away and was unable to help him. 'I-I-' The words froze on his mind in his immense terror and he broke out in a cold sweat. His breathing hitched and his heart began beating heavily in his chest which made it worse as he felt as though the entire room could hear it.
'Slow your breathing.' Shuzo hissed that fear flooding into his pools and his utter helplessness to help Nii. Casting a frantic glance at his host's tree and fighting with the possibility that they could both die right there if he didn't do something spurred him into action. Without another thought, Shuzo rushed from the pools and immediately entered the shadow realm.
Time suddenly stood still for Nii as he watched the lights of the torches get closer to his current location and he shuddered. Suddenly, strong hands gripped him and he was pulled backward, him giving only a slight gasp of surprise. He whirled around and his whole body froze in horror. Nii spun around, searching for any source of light and he released a long mournful moan.
'Shh.' Shuzo soothed, gathering his broken host into his arms. 'It will be over soon.'
Nii trembled in Shuzo's arms, the tears flowing down his face. He shook so much he couldn't form words in his mouth and even his brain had frozen up, stalling all thoughts from forming any comprehensible focus.
Shuzo glanced through the shadow realm to the physical plane, watching as the guards moved through the area Nii had been only a moment ago, holding torches in all sections, and finding nothing. He could hear everything, but Nii's terror overrode any ability for the eclipse youkai to hear or even see anything that was happening outside their current location. Shaking his head, Shuzo pulled Nii closer, soothingly stroking his hair.
'Shuzo?' Seihomaru's frantic voice hissed.
'We are here. Give me a few minutes.' Shuzo growled frustrated. His having to pull his host into the shadow realm would create friction between them and whatever trust that had lingered may have been severed. That had been too close for comfort. The fear his host had for the shadow realm was concerning enough, but the shadows were even causing issues for survival. With as much speculation and weighing the choices, Shuzo finally decided to take Nii to his chambers. Carefully gathering his unconscious host in his arms, Shuzo gently carried him through the shadow realm. Once he stepped through the doors, Shuzo walked through the tear he made and entered his host's chambers. Placing Nii gently on the futon, Shuzo closed his eyes and shook his head.
'We may have an issue.' Shuzo muttered through the link he shared with Taizo and Seihomaru.
'Tell me.' Seihomaru asked absently.
'I do not feel comfortable with Nii working as your eyes and ears right now. He was almost discovered because he was overwhelmed by fear. He refuses to use his abilities that allow him access to the shadow realm, and when I dragged him in, he lost consciousness because of that terror.' Shuzo explained.
'Is he alright?' Seihomaru asked, the tremor of worry rushing to Shuzo.
'He will be. But I don't know how long this fear of his will last. He won't let me help him.' Shuzo sighed. 'Nii has always had a fear of the darkness. Not only that, now that I went against his wishes, his trust in me will have suffered.'
'How did you get him over that when he was younger?' Taizo asked.
'By doing what I did only moments ago. However, he was never lost in the darkness before. He always trusted me, but now that trust is limited because I couldn't find him for five hundred years.' Shuzo sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
'Fantastic.' Seihomaru sighed.
'Can you rebuild that trust?' Taizo questioned.
'I don't know. After today, it will be difficult.'
'Our lives are never easy.' Taizo said. 'Keep him hidden, for now, send out your hounds to gather information.'
'Way ahead of you on that one.' Shuzo rolled his eyes and sat down on the edge of the futon. Ohomi had sensed the urgency as soon as he had arrived and had vanished almost immediately.
'I will return as soon as I can and speak with him.' Seihomaru said. 'Keep him safe, please.'
'I will. You two stay safe.' Shuzo grunted as he ran his spiritual fingers through his host's hair.
Seihomaru groaned heavily once Taizo had closed the link. "This will complicate matters."
Taizo snorted beside him as they walked down the mountain paths to the valley below. Seihomaru's eyes scanned the ravine on his left and he could make out the faint lights of the city that the human from Nurie's old village had mentioned. From the maps he had taken from Traylaymaru, Kyoto was directly below.
Turning to the left, Seihomaru walked down the narrow dirt path that led towards the bustling city of Kyoto and he stopped for a moment trying to think of a way to enter without being seen by the humans that flooded the streets. 'Hmm. I didn't think this out fully.'
'Make yourself appear as human-like as possible. I will do the rest.' Taizo muttered softly.
Seihomaru frowned, but nodded his head and continued. Once he passed through the main gates of the city, he winced a couple of times at the loud clangs and voices that erupted around him. Walking with as much purpose as he could so that he wasn't stopped, Seihomaru walked down street after street, quite stunned at the vastness of the human's city. He had only ever seen one spectacle that made this place seem rather dull and that had been the palace in China where a small child he saved became emperor because he had been saved by a demon, himself.
Taizo turned and blinked at him as the memory washed over him and he rolled his eyes. 'Still out saving humans?'
Seihomaru clenched his jaw and glared at Taizo. 'You shush.'
He moved through the large crowds with ease, getting several curious glances and he frowned, keeping his eyes lowered hoping to not gain any more attention than he already was. The streets were lined with many stalls much like the hanyou village had, some wafting smoke from cooked meat, others with humans hovering close or inspecting goods and wares that the humans were trying to sell. Other humans tried bartering with prices, and he wrinkled his nose in distaste at a few women who were trying to gain his attention by flirting or flaunting their bodies in front of him.
A few men watched his progress as he wandered down the street, but he did his best to ignore them. His eyes had seen from the path on the mountain a section of the city covered with a purple haze and he suspected that to be the red light district the old human had told him about. True to her words, the closer he got to the area, the more pleasant the smells got.
It got a lot quieter but to his annoyance, several women were leaning against the stone walls dressed in quite literally nothing and painted as though trying to sell themselves for a cheap tryst. Standing not far from them were a few human samurai, also leaning against the walls and they appeared as though they were waiting for orders or some wrongdoing from other humans. Growling his irritation, Seihomaru slipped by them, but stopped and frowned when a female intervened and blocked his path.
"My handsome traveler. Would you like to take a drink with me?" She said in this sickly sweet voice that grated on his nerves. "There is nothing down this street besides graveyards and old men and women."
"You are in the way, move." He ground out slowly, emphasizing his words clearly.
The woman gasped but moved out of the way quickly, immediately recognizing authority. Without another glance at the women, he moved through the purple haze that apparently the men or women didn't notice, and he sighed in relief as soon as the stench from the heavily perfumed and sweat smells of humans faded.
Many eyes turned towards him and he realized that some were human, but the majority were youkai, who the humans did not seem to pay attention to. Furrowing his brow in curiosity, Seihomaru walked down the streets searching for a sign that would indicate a youkai healer or shaman who might be able to assist him.
He wandered the halls for many hours before he grunted and slipped into a youkai establishment that prepared food. Once through the door, he was instantly greeted by a few well-dressed youkai women and a couple of men who were seated comfortably in chairs.
"Welcome." A raccoon youkai smiled warmly. "Come take a seat." She waved to an empty table and he nodded and sat down.
"A moment." He said.
The raccoon waited patiently.
"Is there a shaman or healer close by? I have wandered the streets but have found no indication that this city has one." Seihomaru said pointedly.
"There is one on the border of the district. He is an old man who is half human and half youkai." She waved her hand in the direction she spoke of. "If you would like, I could have someone show you after you have taken some drink and food."
Seihomaru inclined his head, his eyes scanning the room casually. No one paid attention to him or even seemed to recognize him and he relaxed his stance slightly. His eyes widened slightly, however, when his eyes landed on a very familiar face he had not seen in several hundred years.
The youkai casually glanced his way and then smiled brilliantly, pushing to his feet in the same motion. As the youkai approached, Seihomaru narrowed his eyes. "It has been a few years." He said without adding his name.
"It has. How are things, Nurarihyon?" He said smoothly.
"As well as can be expected. I trust you are here on official business?" Nurarihyon flopped down into a chair and rested his arm against the slightly lower back wall.
"Indeed."
"Always one of formality. If you wish to keep your identity a secret, you might want to loosen up a little." Nurarihyon glanced to his right and nudged his nose at a table in the back. "Have you adopted a name for your visit?"
Seihomaru furrowed his brow but shook his head.
Nurarihyon's hand went to his chin and he rubbed it for a moment, then he snapped his fingers. "Koizumi."
Seihomaru's mouth turned downward, but he shrugged his shoulders as though not minding yet another name he had been given.
"So what brings you to Kyoto?" Nurarihyon frowned, glancing his way again as the raccoon youkai brought a plate and a large tankard of water.
"I am looking for a shaman or a healer. This youkai informed me of a hanyou near the border." Seihomaru said as he sniffed at the plate of raw meat he had been presented with, indicating the raccoon youkai who served him.
"Ah, old Fumi. Half of him deals with the humans, the other half deals with youkai. I know of him." Nurarihyon nodded.
"I also search for Shishinki's whereabouts."
Nurarihyon gave him a startled look. Leaning forward and hissing in a low voice he said. "Why on earth are you searching for that shit?"
Seihomaru grunted and placed a piece of the meat in his mouth casually.
"Last I heard, Shishinki was in the eastern territories. Near Edo."
Seihomaru frowned. Had japan inherited another name for their rivaling territories? "Edo?"
Nurarihyon nodded. "Near the ocean. It is a new, young town, with many smaller villages surrounding it."
"Interesting."
"I'd leave him alone though. Since his father's death, he has grown angry and wild." Nurarihyon leaned back and placed his hands behind his head.
"You know why I can't," Seihomaru growled low. "It is precisely that he has grown wild that I must intervene."
Nurarihyon nodded. "Otherwise he will cause more destruction with that meido he is so proud of."
"Indeed." Seihomaru finished off his mug of water and his food before he sat back in the chair. "How long have youkai been residing in human cities?"
Nurarihyon chuckled. "I suppose for a while. I think the lesser youkai feel more secure in large numbers."
Seihomaru snorted. "So they abandon their clans to what?"
Nurarihyon shrugged. "Either that or those who never got accepted into clans move to the next best option. I haven't even established my place yet."
Seihomaru chuckled. "I heard rumors that you wish to gain a clan of your own."
Nurarihyon smirked. "I have a long way to go before that happens. Still, it would be nice to rise higher than my father."
Seihomaru lifted a brow but remained silent. "Still a lone wolf?"
Nurarihyon smirked. "For now. I have been moving through life quietly, hoping to stay out of anyone's focus."
Seihomaru furrowed his brow. "It is a difficult task." He muttered absently.
Nurarihyon glanced at him with a raised brow. "I heard what happened to your clan. Did you at least kill those little shits who were causing a ruckus in your life?"
"They are dead," Seihomaru said absently. "Not without consequences, however." Quickly changing the subject, Seihomaru sat forward making ready to depart. "How is your father?"
Nurarihyon shrugged. "Meh, he is doing alright. Off on his own adventures and happy that I have left the nest." He chuckled. "Did you need a guide to where Fumi is?"
Seihomaru grunted and adjusted his sword at his waist. The one over his shoulder was bound heavily in many layers of cloth to keep the whispers at bay, and once he was finished in Kyoto, he was off to the lava mountain home of Toutousai to get the blasted thing fixed.
Nurarihyon got to his feet and stretched before leading the way out the back entrance of the small establishment, both youkai remaining silent as they made their way through the crowds of human and youkai. Nurarihyon crouched beside a small human hut and pointed to the old run-down wooden structure that was unmarked.
Seihomaru narrowed his eyes and glanced to his left and right to ensure that no one was around. "You have my thanks, Nurarihyon." With a sudden thought, he turned his eyes to the gourd youkai. "Have you heard any rumors of an eclipse youkai roaming the lands?"
Nurarihyon frowned but shook his head. "Not since your clansman who I met in the old hanyou village."
With a nod of thanks, Seihomaru got to his feet and made his way over to the half-fallen structure and quietly entered, his eyes adjusting to the dim interior and a slight bent shadow moved slowly. He waited patiently for the old hanyou to move through his hut. Brows lifted when he saw the old being struggling over the broken floorboards. "There is no need for you to move, old one." He said quietly. Seihomaru walked forward and pulled an old broken chair from the wall and placed it beside the crinkled man. "No need for ceremony. Sit."
The old hanyou grinned a toothless smile and extremely slowly and painfully, the man sat down and Seihomaru winced as the sounds of cracking bones and joints indicated the hanyou's tormented life as a half breed. It was the same with Toutousai who had grown old with age and Seihomaru shook his head.
The old hanyou coughed a very liquid sound and in a cracked low warbled voice, he said. "What brings you to this run-down neighborhood?"
Seihomaru crouched down so he was at eye level to the old man in fear that his head would topple off his spine and roll onto the ground at any second. "I heard you have knowledge of certain curses."
The old man chuckled but then started coughing heavily. As soon as he got himself under control he wheezed. "It depends on the curse. Who cast the curse, and how long it has been set for."
"The duration of the curse is unknown. It was cast five hundred years ago by Seiya and Seizou." Seihomaru frowned.
The hanyou's brows vanished under the long bangs. "Oh." The old man attempted to get to his feet, his bones cracking as he moved.
"Sit old one. Tell me what you need." Seihomaru rolled his eyes and pushed to his feet.
"There is an old chest in the back of the hut. Blackwood and brass." Fumi wheezed.
Seihomaru walked to the dark part of the hut and scanned the corners until he found the chest. Picking it up he grunted at the sheer weight. 'This old one would have broken a bone trying to lift this.'
Taizo snorted in his head.
Seihomaru placed the chest down in front of Fumi and watched as the old man rifled through the papers and pulled out several items that were contained inside. Fumi handed Seihomaru a few of the scrolls to hold onto as the hanyou searched. Several long strenuous minutes went by and Seihomaru almost lost his patience when the old hanyou croaked. "Ah, here it is."
Seihomaru took the crumpled papers and lifted a brow in question.
"The curse is a strong one that would need a massive burst of power to eliminate it," Fumi said in a scratchy tone. "Have you acquired the items needed to enhance that power?"
"Most of them. The mirror is the only thing I need." Seihomaru scanned over the cursive script. "There is no way to break this curse without these items?"
Fumi looked up at him with his milky eyes. It was then that Seihomaru realized that the hanyou was blind. "The items you obtain have their own powers. Using the wrong one could result in the items being destroyed."
Seihomaru groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can an item be used if it has been altered?"
Fumi wheezed. "Highly unlikely because the item would lose its potency. It also depends on the item itself."
This was not the news Seihomaru wanted to hear. "There is no other way for this curse to break?"
Old Fumi sighed heavily. "I wish there was, young one. The twins were powerful and their curses and spells even more so." The old hanyou flexed his fingers which caused every one of the joints to crack. "What item needs altering?"
"The red gem of fire." Seihomaru placed his forehead on his arms feeling defeated.
"The very essence of the twins?" Fumi gasped out. "I would not risk it. If you still have it whole, use it that way, otherwise, you may lose its strength and it could result in it being useless."
Seihomaru lifted his head and shook his head slowly. "A youkai told me I have all the items required to break the curse already in hand. How is that possible if I have yet to obtain the yata no Kagami?"
Fumi frowned. "The mirror will be used to ricochet the curse elsewhere. You have the items to break it already, but if you release the curse, then many more will suffer. Having the mirror will either place the curse into it or place the focus on a specific area."
"So how do I know what happens to the curse once it is broken?"
"You don't." Fumi shook his old head, his neck cracking from the movement.
"So it will need to be cast on another person?" Seihomaru narrowed his eyes.
"If it isn't absorbed by the mirror, yes." Fumi chuckled heavily.
Seihomaru closed his eyes. "I have to alter the red gem if I don't intend to change the future course of events that are supposed to happen."
"You have a difficult choice to make, then." Fumi shook his head again. "You were cursed the minute you took that other youki into your pools. The twins wanted you to suffer a life of solitude and torment. I think they succeeded."
Seihomaru clenched his jaw and his fists. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"
"Besides what you already know? You have more knowledge in you than I do, young one. You were cursed and graced at the same time. The world will mourn your death for a very long time when it happens." Fumi said sadly.
"I fear you will be dead before me, old one." Seihomaru snorted.
Fumi grinned his toothless smile. "How right you are." The hanyou pulled a leather satchel off the table beside him and started filling it with a bunch of scrolls and random trinkets from the chest. "Here."
Seihomaru took the satchel. "What am I to do with this?"
"You might find the contents interesting. I cannot read any longer, but that information will be useful to you." Fumi waved his hand at the now thick leather bag in Seihomaru's hand.
"You see more than you let on, old one." Seihomaru rolled his eyes and turned to leave the old run-down hut.
"And you see far more than you let on, yourself, Lord Seihomaru." Old Fumi muttered softly. The words reached Seihomaru's ears and he allowed a small smile to cross his lips as the curtain fell over the door.
