The screen flickers for a bit before the author appears.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 and well come to another chapter of Hanyo of Snow.*
*And for the first time in a while it is out on the day I promised.*
*So anyway nothing else to say, but let's get started shall we.*
*First off I do not own Inuyasha, it is owned by the amazing Rumiko Takahashi...which is getting a sequel soon .*
*And finally just sit back, relax, maybe put some music on, and enjoy. I will see you all at the end of the chapter.*
The author snaps his fingers as the screen fades to static as the chapter begins.
Of Toad and Truths
(Touma POV)
That night while everyone was asleep in the surrounding village, we marched our way up to the backside of the hillside castle.
To think there was once at least 5,000 of these gorgeous castles in the past. Now with little over 100 in mine and Kagome's era. It was still a sight to be hold, but it was ruined a bit by the fact a ruthless toad yokai now rules it.
I had Yura tell use some of the tricks that the this Tsukumo no Gama would pull along with what my father notes would say.
From what I could gather this particular yokai was weaker then most of it's species and had to resort to use a Shikon Jewel shard in order to close the gap and surpass it along with no small amount of cunning. Something me and Kagome could deal with.
However what I found out just made my blood run colder then usual.
Toad yokai have the ability to contain beings in sacs similar to a frog or toad egg. Then they store them for later to use as food or their souls in order heal themselves.
Must prefer insects or small animals, but this one was ruthless and large enough to target humans. So all the women that he ordered into the castle was so he would have a supply fresh humans to indulge himself with or stockpile incase he ever gets hurt.
The Tsukumo no Gama needed to die, that we all agreed on and Amari volunteered to do so after hearing about this. After we exorcised him from the daiymo of course.
So the plan is simple. Me, Kagome, and Amari will confront the Tsukumo no Gama and confront him while Inuko and Yura will hang back and intervene if necessary.
Though Yura was a lot more focal about staying close to me, Inuko and I managed to convince her otherwise.
So here we are at the bottom of the castle with Inuko allowing Kagome and a reluctant Amari onto her back while Yura would carry me up with her hairs.
Although I had to sigh at her blatantly pressed herself against me and wrapped her arms around me.
She was really open with her latest attempt to seduce me, although I can tell that it was a mixture of that and something more.
She was worried about me and considering the last conflict we faced, I don't blame her.
All of us had nearly died to Sesshōmaru, especially Kagome. So it would make sense that she would be this clingy...her desire for me aside.
But Inuko was right, we need to be able to do this ourselves. Me and Kagome can't rely on Inuko and Yura all the time. There has to be somethings that we have to do ourselves.
We reached the castle just as Kagome and a shaky Amari clambered off Inuko's back. And Yura still refused to let go of me.
The reaction was instantaneous.
"Inuko help me get this harlot of Touma!" Kagome shouted as she tried pry Yura off me. She was clinging onto me pretty tightly and had may arms pinned to my side in order for me to not get her comb out.
Inuko took the simple approach and grabbed to comb from me.
"Let him go you hairy bitch or I will say the word and you will suffer the consequences. I suggest that you do so before my patience runs out. I am really tempted for you to be humiliated once again. So go ahead make your choice." Inuko said and Yura immediately released herself off me.
Inuko just tossed the comb back to me while Kagome just glared at Yura.
"If you are all done, we have bigger problems to deal with." Amari said with a frown, and he was right.
All around us were the castle's guards all passed out. The Tsukumo no Gama was definitely behind this.
Except the pair of guards that Amari was glaring at. With their red faces and the empty sake bowls around them they were clearly passed out drunk.
Minus that it was obvious that the Tsukumo no Gama wanted no one to see what he was up to tonight. Meaning we have to move fast in order to prevent whatever he was planning to do.
"Kagome do you have everything ready?" I asked.
"I do." She said with a grin, procuring the items needed for our plan in her hands.
"Good, Amari are you ready?" I asked him.
"Believe me I will more ready for this then anything else in my life." Amari said while drawing his katana and Hiyoshimaru squawk in agreement. "Let us save Princess Tsuyu, liberate the daiymo, and put an end to this villainous toad!"
"Couldn't agree with you more." I said, smiling a little at his enthusiasm and turning to Inuko and a sulking Yura. "Yura why don't you take the hair off the guards, only those that are passed out from the sake though."
They needed to learn a lesson about drinking on the job especially with the Tsukumo no Gama causing mayhem.
"Happily master!" A cheered up Yura said while brandishing Benigasumi and immediately went to work.
"Inuko-" "If you are asking me to make sure that Yura doesn't accidentally scalp someone again then I'll take care of it. Just try not to get the girl killed alright, I don't want a repeat of last time Touma." Inuko said getting me to nod.
"Don't worry I'll make sure of that." I said, getting a small smile from her.
"Then good luck, I'll catch up to you all in a few then." Inuko said before she walked off to make sure Yura didn't go to far once again.
I shared a nod with Kagome and Amari and the three of us entered into the castle.
"Princess Tsuyu, where are you!" Amari shouted as he looked through another room only to find unconscious guards.
"Touma are you sure it is a good idea for him to be yelling like that?" Kagome questioned as we searched the adjacent room.
"I believe it is a good idea. It will lure Tsukumo no Gama to use and it will that much easier to catch him." I said getting her to nod.
We have been doing this for the past 20 minutes now and Amari has been calling for Tsuyu all the way.
I doubt she would respond if she was asleep just like everyone else here...but I didn't have the heart to tell him no and neither did Kagome.
All we have been finding was empty rooms or unconscious guards. That and three more passed out drunk guards.
I froze a few of the hairs that Yura had not so subtly slipped onto me on them and if the joyous and if borderline creepy laughter a few minutes ago was of any indication she was happy with her gift.
So we continued on our way and once again nothing more then empty rooms and more empty rooms.
"Princess Tsuyu are you all right!" Amari cried out.
Looks like he found her.
Me and Kagome entered into the room we heard his voice from, and deadpenned at what we saw.
"Princess what has become of you!" Amari wailed out while Hiyoshimaru cried on his shoulder and cradled the body of an old woman.
Totally missing the sleeping form of a young woman next to him.
Yura was right, he is a fool.
"Amari, that isn't Tsuyu." Kagome said, snapping Amari and Hiyoshimaru out of their funk. He looked between the old woman and the sleeping form of Tsuyu a few times before dropping the old woman onto the ground.
Well that was rude.
"Princess Tsuyu!" Amari cried out as he cradled her body.
She was only unconscious thankfully, now how to wake her though.
I felt something tug on me and I looked around to find nothing, but I felt the tug coming from one thing and one thing only.
The pouch containing our other shard of the Shikon Jewel. I felt the same pulse from my chest along with a small burning pain.
Whatever was happening Kagome must've felt it too as she pulled out the shard and looked at me. All I got give her was a shrug. I had no clue what was going on, but something was telling me to trust it.
It must've been one of the presences within the shard. Normally I wouldn't trust something like this given the history of the Shikon Jewel. But the feeling of the Jewel was something I recognized.
It was reiryoku, pure reiryoku like the kind Kagome could use.
So I'm willing to trust the shard just this once.
"Go ahead Kagome." I said, to which she nodded and placed the shard next to Tsuyu.
It gave off a soft glow and Tsuyu began to stir in her sleep. Kagome quickly pocketed the shard as Tsuyu woke up.
"Nobunaga? Why are you here?" Tsuyu questioned groggily as she rubbed her eyes.
"It is, I'm glade that you remember a lowly vassal like me princess." Amari said while blushing.
Looks like Amari loves Tsuyu, shame she was already wed. That would have been a cute couple and the way Kagome was not so secretly cooing over them must mean she agreed as well.
"Of course you were a childhood friend who was ever so kind to me." Tsuyu said honestly causing him to blush even.
"You bless me with your kind words princess." Amari said while twiddling his thumbs and Hiyoshimaru scratching his back in order to mimic his owner's embarrassment.
"You would always fall into the castle pond or slip on horse dung and you would always make me laugh." Tsuyu said honestly, without the slightest hint of mockery.
Amari's blush turned into embarrassment at that and Hiyoshimaru rolled off of Amari's back at that.
Shot through the heart...I think that is what the Americans would say in a situation like this.
"I wish to go back to this simple days!" Tsuyu cried out before she began to weep with Amari comforting her. "I don't know what to do anymore! My husband slipped into the castle pond a few days ago and began to run a high fever. When he recovered he was like a whole other person! While he was kind and honorable before now he is nothing but contempt and cruel! Please Nobunaga, what am I to do!?"
"Stay behind me and my companions and we will protect you!" Amari declared while grabbing Tsuyu's hands, shocking her. "Word of your husband's depravity had spread far even to the Land of Kai and your father. In fact your father ordered me to come and bring you back home himself!"
"My father?" Tsuyu said, still in shock.
Hiyoshimaru tried to climb on his back with a chop stick and a bowl. But Kagome grabbed him and sent him a look that only spelt one thing.
Do not ruin this moment or else!
Needless to say the macaque was absolutely terrified by her glare.
"Even if he didn't order it I would have come and get you myself!" Amari said while blushing a bit.
"Nobunaga..." Tsuyu trailed off.
"But I know the truth now! Your husband is possessed by a yokai and me and my companions vow to free him and vanquish the yokai possessing him! That I promise!" Amari said.
This man while a fool was willing to save the man of the woman she loves without a second thought as he was concerned about her happiness over his. Many others in his position would have done the opposite...Amari was definitely a noble man, a rarity among our day and age.
"Nobunaga thank you!" Tsuyu cried out as she embraced Amari and started to cry into his shoulder. Amari was stunned for a moment before he embraced her back.
"Awww." Kagome said and I couldn't help but agree.
"Well isn't that touching." A voice called out. All of us turned to face the bandaged face of Tsukumo no Gama. "An intruder being so close to my beloved Tsuyu, well looks like-"
He was cut off when I sent an icicle to cut clean through his bandages to reveal his true appearance and sent him sprawling down onto the floor.
"It's over Tsukumo no Gama, we know what you are and we are going to free the daiymo from your possession." Amari declared while drawing his katana and Tsuyu stepping right behind us.
"I highly doubt that, for I am going to kill you all!" Tsukumo declared as a spot on his right shoulder started to glow violet.
Looks like that is where his Shikon shard is.
I draw Shūsui and Kagome stepped behind me.
We just needed to ware him down and trap him so we could execute our plan.
It wouldn't be easy as me and Amari barley dodged Tsukumo's tongue and it impales the floor behind us.
He quickly retreated back as Amari went to slash him.
Tsukumo breathed out a miasma, but all of us blocked out mouths in order not to breath it in. Still he lunged towards Tsuyu, but Hiyoshimaru throw his bowl into one of his eyes, causing him to scream out in pain.
Using that distraction I created a mist to dispel the miasma. It was slow going, but it did have the affect of pushing Tsukumo back in fright, finally realizing what he was up against.
However the toad had some confidence left in him as he shot his tongue straight at me, intending to impales me with it.
Until Amari pushed me down, getting him to scream out in pain as the tongue impaled his shoulder.
He cried out in pain only as Tsukumo ran past us in an attempt to go after Tsuyu. I froze the floor underneath him, causing the toad to jump back in fright.
"You alright Amari?" I asked while freezing his wound shut.
"I'm fine, though you healing me hurts more then wound itself." Amari groaned out. I just nodded and saw something approaching us.
I stepped out of the way as Tsukumo tried to rush at us, only to slam into the wall and tear a hole into it. He collapsed onto the roof of the castle and only to get back up.
"That does it I'm going to kill you all!" Tsukumo declared with a fierce glare.
"I highly doubt it." A voice said behind him, causing him to pale and myself and Kagome to smile.
Behind him on the other side of the roof was Yura with her hairs drawn out and Inuko with Tessaiga drawn out.
"If I remember correctly there is a saying from the continent, 'The frog in the well only believes that the sky is as big as the top of his well. If he where to surface, he would have an entirely different point of view.' or something like that. Although you are a toad, the saying still applies. You have been terrorizing the people of these lands for around 300 years always falling back on the same strategy in order to survive incase you were injured. That was how you survived for this long considering how pathetic you really are. Then a shard of the Shikon Jewel falls into your pond and you get the idea to try the same schtick on a much grander scale, stepping outside of the well so to speak. But there is one thing you did not consider, anyone coming after you like we did or anyone after the jewel shards. Now you have nowhere to go and me and Yura have freed all of the girls you had preserved. There is nothing you can do. You stepped out of your well toad and you still believe that the sky was still only at the top of it. You are nothing more then a pathetic fool who should have stayed in his well. In the end in the grand picture of things you were nothing more the a pathetic toad who simply bit off more then he could chew." Inuko scoffed before facing me. "Touma, Kagome, Amari please finish this toad up. I've had enough of this eyesore."
Inuko certainly had a way with words when she wanted to.
"Gladly." I said with a smirk and placing my hands onto the roof.
"Eyesore! Now see here-!" Tsukumo bristled, but a column of ice surrounded him, blocking off all routes of escape except directly towards us.
"Kagome if you would?" I asked getting her to nod.
"Certainly Touma." Kagome said while walking up to the trapped toad.
"You think a pathetic girl like that is capable of finishing me off then forget it. She is not even worth a morsel to me!" Tsukumo declared, pissing off Kagome.
That fool had sealed his fate, and with such a pathetic choice of last words as well too.
"Then I hope you choke on this you slimeball!" Kagome said before brining out her pocket light and bug spray.
And proceeded to go Solid Snake on him.
The toad could only scream out in pain as he was being burnt alive. He screamed out for about a minute before leaving behind the smoking form of the daiymo.
He then appeared as an overgrown green toad and tried to rush at Kagome, but she sent another torrent of flames his way and the toad fled away.
But Amari drew his katana despite his injured shoulder and with one mighty slash, cleaved the toad in half.
The toad led out one final croak as it's halves rolled off the roof and the Shikon Jewel shard in his possession clattered onto the roof. The Tsukumo no Gama was no more.
I didn't have any time to celebrate when the shard rocketed in my chest.
I screamed out in pain as I felt my body began to absorb some of it's powers and the presences once again, before Inuko ripped the shard away from me and clutched it her fist.
I swayed for a bit before Inuko caught me in her arms.
"Thanks Inuko." I groaned out.
"No problem Touma." She said before a worried Kagome and Yura crowded me.
"Touma are you alright?!" Kagome shouted as she and Yura looked all over me.
"I'm tired and sore, but other then that alright." I groaned out. "But I don't think I will be getting used to this anytime soon."
"I can see that." Inuko said as the other two stopped looking over me.
"Master it looks like some more of your hair has turned white, other then that you are all right." Yura sighed out, causing Kagome to frown. I don't blame her.
With every shard I get stronger, in fact I'd say I'm four times as strong then before I dove into the well after Kagome. All of us were worried about it, especially me.
What if we get all of the shards and this continues will I still be myself, or will I become a yuki-onna?
I'd prefer not to find out, but I must keep persevering.
If a single one of those seeking or possessing any of the Shikon Jewel shards with impure intentions managed to hear about the well, the Kagome's family would be ground zero of any kind of attack.
Protecting them was well worth the risk of becoming a yuki-onna. I just hope that we find a way to prevent the change along our journey.
I was interrupted from my thoughts when I heard Inuko wincing in pain. Looking over I saw that frost was staring to travel along her robe's selves.
Not again, and this time it was on both hands.
"Inuko-" I tried to explain, but Inuko cut me off. "Don't you say another word Touma, this isn't your fault. Your body is still adjusting to your new power so I do not blame you for this. I know that you are currently fighting it to stay awake, but let it go and get some rest. You did well by yourself Touma and I know that you have some explaining to do, but just rest for now." She finished with a small smile.
I just nodded and did as she commanded.
Only for darkness to overcome my vision a few seconds later.
The sounds of thunder shook me awake.
I found myself in a room of the castle, with a massive thunderstorm in the background.
I tried to get up, only to notice my legs had frozen onto the tatami mat I was place on.
With a simple sigh, I dispelled the ice.
It seems like I have my powers under control once again.
So I tried to get up nice again.
"Touma/Master!"
Only to be tackled into the ground by Kagome and Yura.
"Nice to see you two are worried about me, but can you please get off of me. I'm still kind of in pain." I groaned out, getting Kagome to back off. "You too Yura."
"Fine, as you say master." She sighed out reluctantly.
"Glad to see that you are awake Touma." Inuko said from the side of the room, her hands wrapped in bandages. No doubt from the frost that covered them earlier.
"So am I, anyway how are you feeling Inuko?" I asked her.
"I'm fine, nothing some sleep and my ability to heal won't be able to fix. I should be able to be rid of these bandages by tomorrow morning." Inuko said, getting me to smile and nod at her.
Well that was good to hear.
"So anything happen while I was out?" I asked them as I laidback onto the mat. I was still tired after all.
"Other then you being knocked out for a few hours nothing much concerning me and the bitch master. If you really wish to know then ask the girl. The fool and frog face talked to her the most." Yura said while gesturing to Kagome.
"Frog face?" I asked her. I knew that fool was her nickname for Amari, but frog face?
"She is refering to the daiymo, without that toad possessing him he returned to normal. But it turned out that he always had a face similar to that a a frog's." Kagome said a little bashfully and getting me to nod.
I suppose that would make some sense on why the Tsukumo no Gama chose to posses him besides his status as a daiymo. No one really question it if he claimed to have been sick and wrapped up in bandages even with the swollen head.
Though that ruse could have been broken if one of his servents had called a priest, monk, or miko to check on him though.
"Anyway the daiymo wished to talked to you as it was your plan to free him after all, but as you were unconscious he talked to me. Although he is grateful for us all he is still apprehensive of Inuko due to his recent encounter with a yokai and Yura due to turning 5 of his men bald." Kagome explained.
"Like I care about that." Yura said, getting Inuko to nod.
"Anyway the daiymo tried to offer us and Amari land and wealth, but all of us turned it down." Kagome said, getting me to nod.
None of us had to use any of that.
Kagome and I had all that we needed and us and Inuko were only seeking the shards of the Shikon Jewel shard. Myōga only went wherever Inuko went...whenever he didn't run away that is. As for Yura she only seemed to care for two things, myself and hair.
Amari only cared if Tsuyu was safe.
"So in the end we convinced him to allow us to stay the night and to keep the shard. That and something that he has for you tomorrow." Kagome said with a sly smirk.
"And that is?" I asked.
"Sorry can't say, it is a surprise for both you and Amari." Kagome said with a smirk, causing me to sigh.
Figures she would say that.
"Still we do have some questions for you Toumq." Kagome said with a serious expression. "Like what was that I felt back on the roof?"
I figured she would ask that.
"I have been wondering that myself. I sensed two presences when you used the shard back you thought my overgrown bitch of a sister killed Kagome." Inuko said, causing me and Kagome to flinch.
We were still plenty sore about that.
"I did too, but given the time we thought that it would be for the best not to mention it at the moment. But it is time for you to come clean master." Yura said, with all three of them staring intently at me.
Might as well.
"I might as well tell you guys." I sighed out. "I was planning on coming clean anyway before the week was up. I would have told you guys sooner, but Kaede asked me not to tell you guys." I said, getting Inuko and Kagome to glare.
"And why did she say that?" Kagome asked angrily.
"It's because we don't know what these presences are and she asked that until we get a good idea on what is inside of the shards. What Kaede could remember was what Kikyo told her and it wasn't much. That the two presences are in fact to living beings within the Shikon Jewel." I said, shocking them.
"So you say that they're actually two things living within the Shikon Jewel!" Kagome exclaimed.
"How is that possible!" Yura said.
"Honestly Kaede doesn't remember, but what she does know is that the answer lies with a sacred cave hidden within a village of yokai taijiya." I said, causing Yura to pale and Inuko to wince.
"That would do it." Inuko said before turning to Kagome. "Yokai Taijiya are tribes of humans who hunt yokai and rouge hanyo for a living often under the employe of those who pay them or going after any ones that prove to be a threat to nearby humans. So yokai tend to stay away from their settlements. So anyone of us besides you would be welcome in one of their villages. There are some that just kill any yokai on sight no matter how good their intentions are." She said, getting Kagome to nod grimly.
"So the only way to find out what is lying inside the shard is to find a village of basically yokai hunters which might try to kill all of you?" Kagome asked, getting us to nod. "Well then let's save that as a last resort incase Kaede can't remember anything is to basically find out ourselves."
"That is correct, but we did discover one thing tonight though." I said, getting Kagome to nod.
"That's right, one of them seems to be able to use reiryoku and is seemingly benign if what happened with Tsuyu as of any indication." Kagome said.
"Yet the other is a complete unknown. Besides that the only thing we know is that you seem to be able absorb parts of these presences are from the jewel shards. Well that is just great" Inuko sighed out.
"There is nothing we can do about it for now." I sighed out as well. "All we can do I believe for now is find out what we are dealing with and a way to remove this shard."
"And I'll keep all search for anything that can help master." Yura said confidently, getting all of us to nod.
It's not the best of plans, but it was the best that we have right now.
Hopefully we can find someway to get rid of this shard, because I do not feel like sharing my body with anyone else. Especially with this other presence, the one we know nothing about.
"Well I believe that is enough doom and gloom tonight." Kagome said, after a few minutes of silence. "So Touma I believe you owe us the explanation of your which clan your from." Kagome said with a small smile, getting Yura and Inuko to nod. The former much more excitedly then later.
I just chuckled at Yura's expression.
"Very well then." I said with a smile. "As you guys wanted to know on my father's side my great-great-great grandfather was a member of the Ashiya clan." I said, getting a confused look from Kagome, an indifferent one from Inuko, and a shocked look from Yura.
"That name does sound familiar, but I can't quite place it." Kagome said while thinking about it.
"Of course it should, the Ashiya Clan is a onmyōji clan that has been around for over 500 years and is one of the best around!" Yura said excitedly. "I knew that you had to come from a prodigious clan, but that wasn't anything I was expecting! So do you have anything from the clan master?"
"Not that much I'm afraid. My ancestor Mutsuki left the clan long ago and left only a few notes. After him though no one else in my family has been able to use reiryoku at all. At least that is what I was able to gleam from my father's notes" I said, getting her to nod.
"Wait till Gramps hear about that, that you are descended from an onmyōji clan. He will be over the moon to know about that. So much so that he might try and teach you how to be priest." Kagome teased, causing me to laugh.
"I can see that, but I doubt that it would really work. Most yokai and reiryoku don't tend to mix." I said getting her to nod.
"Well I never expected that." Inuko said with a slight laugh in her tone. "A hanyo descended from a onmyōji clan. I bet your ancestors are rolling around your graves for that." She finished with a smirk.
"True, but that also raises a question." I said while looking at her. "You did mention that you were also from a clan, but with everything concerning Sesshōmaru I guess you never really had a chance to bring it up.
"Indeed I did and let me tell you according to mom she was disowned from her clan due to giving birth to me. Yet she still retained enough influence to raise me in a small house fit for a noble, minus the servants of course." Inuko said wistfully.
If she had that much power then Izayoi must have been from one of the more important clans like the Fujiwara or the...their was no way that was possible.
"It seems you figured it out master, believe me it's real." Yura groaned out.
"You knew?" I asked, getting her to nod.
"She told me shortly after meeting the fool and believe me I was probably more shocked then you were master. In fact I fainted." Yura said, looking away a little at the end.
"And why is that?" Kagome asked.
"It's simple." Inuko said with a grin while pulling something out of here robe. "My mother's clan is without a name, but I doubt that you would fail to recognize this."
Showing her hand Kagome and I were shocked.
Well I be damned, I was right.
For in her hand was the seal of the Imperial House.
Izayoi was member of the Imperial Household of Japan.
Meaning Inuko was in line for the throne of Japan...or at least was if her mother didn't get disowned.
Kagome just stood there for a minute, laughed, and then collapsed onto the mat below. I don't blame her.
I was about to do so myself.
"I got the exact same reaction from her as Kikyo." Inuko said with a smirk before putting the seal away. "Honestly I could care less about the throne of my mother's clan. They kicked her out when they couldn't get the marriage they were after."
"Well that does make sense I suppose." I said before feeling drowsy. I nearly fell over, but Yura caught me and laid me down.
"Get some rest master." Yura said.
"Once again I find myself agreeing with her. After everything we've done what is bound to come, you'll need it." Inuko said.
And with that I was once again greeted by darkness.
(Inuko POV -Next Mourning)
I was expecting many things while waking up.
Seeing Yura trying to cuddle Kagome in her sleep was not one of them.
The girl never did wake up for the rest of the night so me and Yura just left here where she was. As for Yura she must've tried to sleep with Touma, which surprisingly was a first.
Judging by the looks of things she tried to cuddle Touma, but he must've gotten up to do something. Resulting in the girl ending up in this situation.
Though I would love to see the fall out from this, I'm more concerned with how Touma is.
So I quickly picked up his scent and followed it out of the room.
After last night there was no way I would be leaving him alone for long.
I meant there where two presences living inside the Shikon Jewel and now reside inside of his shard. Add onto the fact he loses a little of his humanity with each shard we find and things only look rough him.
Does that make me wish to stop my goal for the Shikon Jewel, nope.
But it does give me an idea, something I'm not to keen on sharing.
But if what Kikyo said about the jewel is true and not another of her lies, it does give me an idea.
After I wish myself to become a full blown yokai, I will wish for Y/N to be restored back to being a regular hanyo.
After everything he would be through to restore the Shikon Jewel he more than deserves it.
In the end everyone gets what they want. I become a full blooded yokai, Y/N gets his humanity back, the Shikon Jewel should be gone if what Kikyo said is true and no more dealing with whatever lies inside it, and they won't have to worry about anyone else crossing into their era.
In the end it was a win for everyone and I get to protect one of the only two people I can truly give a damn about.
Anyway I followed his scent for a few more minutes into an empty room, only to stop and stare at what he was doing.
In his hands were a brush and some kind of mirror like object, a phone I believed they called it. He was using it to place the finishing touches on the object in front of him.
A painting of Amari and Tsuyu, with Hiyoshimaru on his owner's shoulders.
So this was the surprise Kagome was talking about, got to say I am impressed.
Kagome did mention he liked to draw and work on art, but this blew my expeditions away.
By Yomi I swear that this painting alone managed to surpass the likes of the best artists in the capital! Something like this could be worth a fortune, but the sentimental value to the like of Tsuyu, Amari, and the daiymo will prevent that from happening.
"And done." Touma said as he placed the brush and phone down.
"Got to say I am impressed Touma." I said, getting his attention. "I have heard of some spectacular feats of artists, but this one blows them away. Still how did you make it so like like."
"I just used a few western techniques just to enhance the picture of Amari and Tsuyu. Other then that everything else are from Nippon." He said, getting me to nod.
"I bet they all are going to be surprised when they see this." I said, getting him to nod.
"Defiantly, you should have seen their faces once I took a picture of them and said I'd have a painting done by morning. Though I could see the doubt they had in their eyes, they at least gave me a chance. So it will all be worth it once they see this." Touma said, getting me to nod.
He painted this in an entire morning when it would take even longer for most artists at least a single day in this era.
There was something else I noticed too, he was more relaxed then last night. I suppose that making art was like a catharsis for him then.
Maybe...
"Touma do you have any else like this you could show me?" I asked, honestly curious to see what else he has. Besides it would probably takes his mind off of whatever worries he might have. Considering what I found out last night, anyone in his position would worry about their well being.
"Certainly." He said with a nod, a small spark in his eye. "Though what I do have is in my bag back in the room and I would like to wake everyone up first to show them the painting."
"Fine." I sighed out, a little disappointed as I want to see some more of his art. But I could wait a bit.
A scream and a loud slap interrupted my thoughts and echoed throughout the castle, causing me to wince as it stung my ears.
Damn, that girl has a set of lungs on her.
"Was that what I think it was?" Touma asked, getting me to nod.
"Yup, do you still have the comb?" I asked him, getting him to nod. "Good, now let us try to stop Kagome from unsuccessfully killing Yura no matter how much I wish to join her in that."
Touma just nodded as he took the lead, while I hung back. Not really caring about anything concerning the other two at the moment.
No for now, I just want to make sure that Touma is alright for now.
After all he's had my back since day one...despite me trying to kill him at the time that is.
Well now it is my turn, and nothing will stop me from anyone that dares to harm him.
The screen flickers for a bit before the author reappears.*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 here and I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter.**As you can see that overgrown toad stood just about no chance and there was a few revelations. Minor in comparison now, but later on...who knows.**Anyway now that this arc is over, the next one is the Raijū Kyōdai arc...the longest one I have made so far. Over a third of this story and I had only gotten it done recently.**The next chapter will be out June 28 and I hope you all enjoyed the chapter when it comes out.**Anyway I have to get back to work on my newest chapter of From No One to Someone, so if you have any questions leave a review or PM me and I will get back to you when I can.**So until next time, ciao!*The author waves goodbye as the screen fades to black.