An Inuyasha Fanfiction: Scattered Cherry Blossom, Bruised Irish Rose

by CroftButler21

Basically a retelling of the feudal fairytale we all know, but with Kagome Higurashi moved into the background to make space for my OC, Coraline Croft. How will she change the story? See profile for Full Plot and OC Description(s). Now 'Under Construction' so to speak; starting an early editing project (Up to ch. 73 complete!). New chapters will come, but expect slow updates.

44. Chapter 43

Alrighty, here we are!

The moment you all have been waiting for: The third and final part in this latest turn!

What will happen?

Will Coraline reclaim the fabled ShatterSoul Sword that's been used and protected by her ancestors for centuries, or will Bishop stop her before she even reaches the tomb?

And will Coraline and the others finally return to Edo/Tokyo?

Read on and find out!

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Update (February 2021): Chapter edited and lengthened, with new/modified content! Also, this is where I'll really start blending in some LOZ: MM elements, a splash of OOT and a sprinkle of LA - a basic disclaimer has already been established in previous chapters - which'll become important later on in the story.

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Chapter 43 (Special): Croft versus Bishop -
The Five Year Endgame, & a Heroine's True Beginning

Continuing where we left off, we zoom in deep within the forest of Majora as Coraline walks over the remnants of old tree trunks and roots, following the trail of Will O' Wisps to her destined location: the Tomb of the Croft Family where the fabled ShatterSoul Sword lays. Accompanying her is Lumos, a single Will O' Wisp that had been Sonya's companion for several years...

"Hmm..."

She peers over her surroundings, noting the old growth, moss, beds of clover and the peaceful silence that clouds the atmosphere.

Wow...it feels like I've gone back in time; back to when I found happiness in th' beauty and mystery of the forest when I was a child...

Not much seems to have changed.

(...Rustle...)

"Mm?"

The girl turns attention to a pile of leaves near the base of a pine...just as a creature suddenly pops out! They're at least three feet high, have a round nut-like head with a small bushel of leaves on top, matching the foliage skirting around the rest of its body like a cloak, glowing orange eyes and a tube-like mouth.

Oh my. A Deku!

(Pi-tou)

"Ah!"

Coraline quickly shifts to one side to avoid being hit by...a crab apple...

"I, see th' main Deku are still wary of strang'rs enterin' the forest glen..."

"Who are you? Pi!"

"Coraline. Coraline Croft."

"Coraline? Pi!...Oh that Coraline! Pi! It's been an age since we Deku last saw you! Pi!"

The redhead in the khaki jacket smiles and replies,

"I imagine i' has...I wish I had the time to cha', but I'm currently on'a mission to reclaim the ShatterSoul Sword."

"Is that right? Pi! About time another Croft claims that metal. Pi!...I'll le' the other Deku know you've come back so you don't get surprised. Pi! Guess this explains why Skull Kid was playing a storm with his flute last night. Pi!"

So that was him I heard las' night...

I hope I ge' the chance to see Skull Kid soon.

"I appreciate the courtesy. Thank yeu."

Nodding, the little Deku takes their leave in a burst of foliage...

"Good t' see the tribe is doin' well. (Turn) Where to next, Lumos?"

The Will O' Wisp floats on ahead to the northeast as indicated by their bretheren, prompting the girl to follow...The pair soon stops at the edge of a clearing where a few elderberry trees rest between alder, beech and ash. Sitting in the middle of the woodland grounds and past a small stream supposingly connected to the inlet, is a stone pedestal with a small, translucent smoky quartz orb sitting atop...And stalking back and forth in front of the display, is a spindly quadruped entity made from thick black mist, with long limbs and large claws for feet...

"A Shadow Being...Manifestations of dark energy born from sleeven souls or th' remains of black magic."

Its aura alone feels very unfriendly. I rememb'r sensing th'm a quare distance in the shadows when I played in these woods...

Coraline glances to her right at Lumos, he currently blinking a red likening to a ripened crab apple.

Luckily, the presence of the Wisps kept me safe...

Bu' perhaps I won' be so lucky to skitter away this time.

The girl tiptoes down the low incline and ducks behind a large rock, getting a closer look at the symbol on the pedestal.

Hmm...A Phoenix, and the letter C...

Uh! That's m' family Crest!

...Does that mean I need to ge' that orb to find the tomb?

She looks at her companion, who bops up and down in a nod to confirm her thoughts.
Nodding back, the girl unsheathes her weapon at the ready along with the charm.

Okay...If I remember correctly, Sonya said I only have to press this charm on'a dark spiri', and it will immediately fall back to i's origin spo'...

Bu', if all goes to hell, I'll use my knife to d'fend and swipe the orb before makin' a break f'r it.

"Here we go..."

Coraline silently comes out from behind the protruding stone to creep up behind the Shadow Being...

Just a little closer...

The creature suddenly rumbles out a low growl, forcing her to freeze.

Crap, crap, crap!

Lumos comes to the rescue by floating in front of the Shadow Being's face, and bobs around to act as a distraction.

Uh, Lumos?!

(...Smirk) Nice one. Okay, just keep i's attention a little longer...

Once she was in position...Coraline lunges forward and slaps the gifted charm against the larger creature's back!...A poison purple light emits from the central amber, and the Shadow Being lets out a pained howl before shrinking down into a shape likening to a cat-sized tadpole, slithering through the air for parts unknown...

"Wow. Tha' worked better than I thought. (Turn, smile) Thank you for the distraction, Lumos; you were a big help."

The Will O' Wisp circles around Coraline in happiness for their assistance, before moving to slowly whirl around the displayed orb a couple times...

"Alright, I gotchya. I'll ge' the orb."

She moves to lift the sphere...and as soon as it's removed, the top of the pedestal glows shines in a similar manner to that of her eyes when using her Aura powers.

"Uh!"

She then feels a warmth coming from the orb, and looks down into the smoky quartz as an image fades in...

"Hm, tha' locale...I think that's, the thick't of giant nettle, blackthorn and elm...But isn' it suppose to be impossible to pass through?...Unless..."

Maybe this orb is the key...

The girl and Will O' Wisp set off again...and come forty or so minutes later, they reach their next stop. Just as the Croft described, the new area of the valley is comprised of a large thicket stretching several acres, made from oversized nettle mixed with blackthorn, and the towering roots of several elm trees. We notice that some of the nettle leaves are coloured similarly to the thorns surrounding the cursed circle where Coraline had fought Bridget...

According to the legend, this is th' last location Majora's Mask w's seen before i' was sealed away...

Hm...doesn' look passable, but then again, things aren't always wha' they seem.

Coraline looks down at the quartz in her hand.

"This has to be'a key of sorts...But how'do I use it?"

Maybe a change in sigh' will help...

(Sheen) Still don't see anything...

Wait, there: tha' elm thonder down righ'!

Jogging over to the tree, the girl notices an indent within the trunk.

A hole th' same size as the orb, with a phoenix carved overtop...

Could i' be tha' the thicket will thin when I place it inside?

Coraline smiles in excitement:

"Alright...There's a bit of nettle in the way, bu' I should be able to maneuver inside."

She slowly stalks between the stinging plants, her jeans and jacket providing some protection for her skin...Once she was in front of the elm atop some roots, Coraline gently fits the smoky quartz into the indent.

"Got i'."

...The gem shines an ethereal crystalline bone white, and the ground begins to rumble.

"Wh-Whah!"

As Coraline tries to steady herself...the thicket around the elm begins to retract and reform its shape, creating a tunnel leading to a stone structure far ahead...

"Tha' looks like, a dolmen. (Turn) Is tha' truly the entrance to the tomb, Lumos? Seems a little small..."

The Will O' Wisp 'nods', and Coraline turns back to the canopy path.

Then again...maybe it's suppose to look like tha' on the ou'side.

"Hah, guess the only way t' know is by lookin'."

...But just as she begins to enter the tunnel...

(Bang)

"Uh!"

A bullet embeds the ground three inches from Coraline's left foot!

"Wh-What th' hell?!"

"Not so fast, Croft."

"Huh?"

She turns around...and meets the eyes of a certain Trinity commander higher up the hill.

"Uh! You?! Bu' how?!"

"You didn't actually think I wouldn't find you just because you and your friends used the lottery on our transport system, did you? I was able to narrow down your location using the GPS function."

"Shi'..."

"I know what you're after, Croft: you seek the blade your ancestors have been using for centuries."

"(Glare) And how do you know of it?"

"My family has worked for Trinity for generations, back when they were a knighthood of the early middle ages...It was my own ancestor who released the energies of the fabled Majora's Mask to lure your ancestor into using the blade...Unfortunately, he and his fellows did not anticipate how strong the mask's darkness would be, and perished shortly after...but not before recording his witness of the sword being carried off by the creatures that sided with your family..."

"...If what you say is true, why continue to chase me? Yeu may very well be followin' your ancestor's doom'd path."

"I cannot allow you to obtain a blade that will pose a threat to Trinity, and slander the memory of my ancestor...You've been given chances to surrender and join us, but you chose to defy."

Coraline nearly scoffs in exasperation,

"Because Trinity's on'a conquest that will destroy us all! Humans aren't meant to rule the globe with an iron fist; there's countless examples of such an authority tha' all ended in bloodshed and agony for the ruler and its people! Surely y' cop-on enough to see that, Bishop."

"The only sense I see now, is that the Crofts must be destroyed...It's a shame to have to eliminate someone as young as you, but it cannot be helped."

The blond with cold gray eyes raises his handgun.

"If you choose to turn away from reclaiming the sword now, I may consider making your demise less painful."

The younger redhead grits her teeth and moves into a defensive position.

Damn i'. Now what?

"(Ghostly moan...)"

"Hm?"

She glances behind her to watch Lumos circling the area where the orb sits...

Wha' is he...Oh! Now I get i'!

Smirking to herself, Coraline slowly backs up to the tree...before yanking the quartz out of the hole and running into the green tunnel!

"C'mon, Lumos!"

The Will O' Wisp hurries to fly after her, both ignoring Bishop's call to stop...

(Bang, bang)

He tries to fire at his main target, but the bullets miss, leaving the girl to continue sprinting down the revealed path as the thicket slowly closes in on itself...

"Hah, hah, hah...!"

If I don' reach the end, I'll ge' skewered by th' roots!

Come on, come on...

(Leap)

"Aaaah!"

Coraline jumps through the rest of the short distance, rolling forward just seconds before the tunnel vanishes!

"...Damn...Wait, did I-?!"

Darting to her feet, she looks around to see she made it to the smaller clearing where the dolmen sat...

"Ha! Yes!"

Take tha', Bishop!...Oh, bu' wait. Could he 'ave followed?

She wanders to the spot where she came from to peer through the blackthorn and giant nettle.

"Hm...I don't see any signs of the bastard. Must'a chose no' to follow."

Still...if I know him, he'll find a way t' get here...Either tha'...

"Or he could try goin' after Inuyasha and the others...which means I better step on it."

She turns around and wanders over to the stone structure...

"Aah, now I see! The entrance is built like a dolmen...bu' there's a set of stairs goin' deep down..."

Catacombs, maybe?...Well, no turnin' back now.

"Look ou', ShatterSoul Sword, 'cause here I come."

With that, Coraline begins her descent into her ancestral ruins, with Lumos as her guiding light...

Meanwhile, Back at Sonya's cottage, everyone else was keeping their minds busy to avoid worrying too much about their missing redhead.

We see Sango practicing some swings with her Hiraikotsu, while Miroku and Besa were sitting by the large fallen log leafing through some old texts from Sonya's shelf. They used a Gaelic-English dictionary for the parts they couldn't read, and the young man with cornrowed hair would translate the English for the monk.

Shippō and Kilala were playing with a small group of Will O' Wisps while Freeman watched...and Inuyasha is seen lounging on the high branch of an elm tree, he having the hardest time not thinking about the danger Coraline could end up facing in her journey.

...Coraline...

"...Hm?"

He suddenly feels eyes on his form from higher up the tree.
Looking up...he meets the stare of another being that calls these lands home.

They're about as tall as an average ten year old, their body thin with a more bark-like skin and dressed in a simple, short-sleeved stone bramble red tunic matching in colour to their conical-style straw hat, wood avens green underclothes made from linen matching their footwraps and leafy wrist guards. Under the shadow of the hat, one could see a head as round as a walnut, hiding behind a mask made from the skull of a roe deer, their eyes aglow orange with white pupils from within the sockets. In its hand is a fife flute made from wood.

What the-?!

One blink later, and the creature was gone...

Who or, what was that...?

Emerging from her home now, Sonya found her eyes locking onto the upward dog demon.

Hm, how peculiar...He is half-dog demon, and likes to lounge on high tree branches...

Perhaps this is how the gasúr feels safest, bein' able to spot danger from the tall wood.

"Hey, Miss Sonya?"

"Mm?"

She turns to see Shippō jog up to her, and the latter asks in an innocent tone,

"How long do you think Coraline will be gone for?"

The woman glances at Freeman, who translates the Japanese and allows her to reply,

"It's hard to say, garsún. Dependin' on how well one's intuition and memory of the forest is, a journey such as this could take hours or even a full day."

"Oh..."

She then smiles and adds,

"But Coraline is a smart girl born from a long line of wise humans. I doubt she'll have too much to worry abou' as long as she keeps her wits abound."

The fox demon forms a hopeful smile.

"Really?"

"Aye. As long as ye stay positive, I'm sure she'll return before you know it, I am."

"(Nod) Mhm, okay. Thank you."

"Yer welcome."

Shippō dashes back to the twin-tail and Will O' Wisps, and Sonya shakes her head lightly with an amused smile.

"Such curiousity, that one. Almost reminds me of Coraline when she was little..."

I do pray tha' ye will be alright, blade.

Remain focused, stay strong, and all shall come to you without fail.

(Fwoo-EEE)

"Gaaah!"

Attention turns back Inuyasha's way come his yelp, and witnesses watch the dog demon fall to the ground after being spooked by a sharp whistle from a flute...

"Inuyasha?"

"Are ye alrigh', gasúr?"

"What happened, man?"

Growling, the silver-haired young man bounces back to his feet and points a clawed finger up while shouting,

"Alright, you-whoever you are, what the hell was that for?!"

Panning upwards, we see the same child-sized entity from a short moment earlier, currently doubling over in semi-high pitch laughter over their trick...Sonya recognizes them in an instant, shaking her head with an exasperated smile.

Hoh dear. I wondered when tha' mischief-maker would show 'imself...

"That'll be enough of tha', Skull Kid. The stócach's mind is already ablaze with worry."

The creature with the fife flute stops giggling at the gentle but stern direction of the middle-age woman.

"Aww alrigh', but he had such a gloomy look on his face, I had'ta do somethin' to shake 'im loose!"

Skull Kid then hops down the branches to the ground below, just as the other visitors to Majora Village begin to cluster and wander this way...

"You know this creature, Lady Sonya?"

She nods at Miroku,

"Oh auy. Hardly anyone in Majora doesn' know 'im. He's part of a unique branch of th' Deku Tribe, ones tha' may be gifted with a humanoid form. His name is Skull Kid...and 'e is Coraline's childhood friend."

Inuyasha's eyebrows furrow in slight disbelief while turning his eyes back on the apparent Deku.

"This pain in the neck? Seriously?"

Skull Kid isn't insulted in the least, merely laughing out while removing his mask to reveal his round eyes and beak mouth,

"That's right, dog guy!"

"Dog gu-...Wait a minute...I actually understood that!"

"Well of course you can understand me. The vocal tones of my tribe are universal; anyone can talk to us!"

The expressions on the others confirmed such a fact.

"That's amazing...!"

"What an odd ability..."

"But convenient too."

Shippō scampers closer to Skull Kid to ask,

"So are you a tree spirit?"

"Eh, tree spirit, faerie; it's all the same to us. Either way, we're beings who protect nature and love music. We also occasionally play tricks on humans, but that's mostly me and a few other Deku children, and nothin' harmful. Just funny."

"Ooh, so you're a fellow trickster~. Neat!"

The fox demon and 'tree faerie' high-five eachother, causing Inuyasha to bemoan to himself,

Oh great. As if the pipsqueak wasn't annoying enough...

"You can Deku all over the country. We like to stay in valleys and woods, but we'll visit other areas too. I like going to the lochs m'self...We camouflage in leaves, grass, shrubs, and don't like having too many humans skulking about in our territory, so we usually shoo them away."

"And how do you do that?"

Skull Kid looks up at Miroku and shrugs,

"Depends on how stubborn the human is. Sometimes we play eerie tunes to let 'em know we're nearby, or a patrol guy will use their tube mouth to shoot crab apples and nuts. If neither works, well-ah-heheh, there's scarier creatures a human could run into, so it's their funeral if they choose to be eejits."

"I, see..."

"But we're not totally against the human race. Deku children like me for instance love makin' lots of friends! Human kids used to play with us all the time in the days of old...And Coraline...she became my bestest friend when she used to live in Majora."

"So you're the dryad she spoke of before we came to the village..."

The humanoid Deku nods at Sango and comments with smiling eyes,

"Good to know she hasn' forgotten me...I heard from a few sources she had finally come home, and I was so happy that I played my flute all night!...But now I hear she's gone to get the ShatterSoul Sword. Haah, guess I'll have to wait to see her."

Coraline's POV

I've entered the catacombs of my family's tomb, or, I suppose I should say ruins, and I have to say, the architecture is spectacular! The walls were made of beautifully polished granite that stood at least twice the height of me, and the floor a cobble-style stone. The further down the passages I went, the more low relief-sculpted scenes I saw of my ancestors engaged in various activities like religious worship and offering, playing instruments and dancing with some Deku people, and even a few scenes of Celtic warriors practicing their skills...

I also saw a carving depicting a clootie well and a sacred tree, which nearly sent me into a fit of laughter.

Ooh the irony...

Painted near some of these raised images are messages, phrases relating to a story behind what's captured in the stone, using Ogham, an old dialect of Gaelic that's as old as the fourth century...!

"Incredible..."

I turn a new corner, following Lumos as my eyes wander this history that was previously lost to me.

To think, my kin had hidden th's from the eyes of many, and I never knew...

"...Hm?"

Finally, I reach a door of sorts with a sunken relief image of a rather generic human silhouette surrounded by some more Ogham text...

"Hmm...I can't read in full...but i' seems I need to give an offerin' of some kind in order to pass..."

I look around the area of the door to try and find a clue...before spotting a tiny phoenix in the left hand...Curious, I reach out my own hand and place it on the impression.

"...Nothing. Damn, wha'm I doin' wrong?"

Lumos moves to float over my hand, then makes his body flicker like a light-bulb.

"Huh?"

What is he tryin' to tell me?

...Hang on...Maybe I'm suppose to press my hand here, while using my Aura Sigh'.

"Worth a sho'."

(...Sheen)

As soon as my eyes began to glow, the spot around my hand did the same, and a great magentic-like force began sapping my strength!

"Aa-hh! Nh!"

N-Now i' makes sense...!

Lumos settles himself on my shoulder, sending his ghostly chirps into my ear in a softer tone than earlier.

Oh...he must sense my discomfort...

"T-Thank yeu, friend...You know I'll be okay, don't you?"

It can' possibly wanna drain me dry...

The process stops after another minute or two...and my willingness to give away part of my spiritual strength is rewarded with the door sliding open.

"Hah, hah...tha' wasn' too bad. At least now I can go in..."

Though as I straighten up, I could feel a new grogginess trying to set in.

"Rgh...I'll be fine. I just need to shake i' off and keep goin'."

Reassured, I walk inside the new section of the grand ruins...and what I saw, left me in awe.

"Hh! Oh, wow...!"

This main chamber is even bigger than the catacombs, the ceiling reaching the heights of giants rounded out with sparkling quartz and other minerals. In one far corner, I could see a small pool of water, seawater based on the smell, so I wonder if it could be an underground tunnel connecting here to a nearby inlet...

The floor meanwhile has been made into a large mosaic depicting an image of...my ancestors. They're all redheads with various long hairstyles, wearing ancient Celtic attire, and some of their eyes were painted to glow like mine. A few adults carried books and staffs, while others had spears or an herb basket, and they were all standing outside a few roundhouses...

I step down the small stone staircase, my eyes wide with wonder.

"This is amazing...It's like somethin' out of a dream..."

I look up ahead and spot a stone pedestal...where the object of my quest sat.

Hh!...The ShatterSoul Sword.

Despite it being centuries since it was last wielded, the sword looks like it was just made yesterday. Hard to say how long it is exactly, but based on the image in Sonya's book and now, I'd say the blade itself is a little over two feet long. The hilt is made from what looks to be animal bone, carved in an anthropomorphic style with Celtic knot designs on the feet, and the Croft Family Crest on the 'chest' outlined with amber. The blade is double-edged with a thin blood groove going down the left side, and the guard made with iron...

I walk up to the pedestal, my face alight with amazement.

"So beautiful...so well-crafted...How it's still lookin' pristine after so long is a mystery..."

I watch as Lumos floats around the blade, and smile before adding to myself,

But, perhaps ou' allies have something to do with it...

I look down and see an impression that looked similar to the hole for that elm back at the thicket.

"Hm...I guess th' orb must go in there like before...Oh, there's another indent next to i'."

...Wait. The charm Sonya gave me. Does i' work here too?

I reach into my jacket pockets to grab out the quartz and charm.

"Well, the only way ta be sure is trial and error."

So one by one, I place each item in their respected spots before stepping back to wait for what comes...

(Gleam)

The items glow a crab apple yellow, and the area where the sword's blade sits began to shine with a similar ethereal light!

"Aaah..."

Lumos floats swiftly down to me and circles around my body, before flying back to the sword making the same gesture...

"Righ'. I'm on it!"

I quickly wander around to walk up a very short set of steps, and grab the hilt of ShatterSoul.

"(Yank) Hrr-iiiih!"

Mo, dhia, this is really stuck...!

I put all my strength into my upper muscles and continue the pressure...
A few minutes later, I could feel the blade begin to loosen!

"Ha! Okay, here we go."

I shift my hold so I'm gripping the hilt with both hands, and give everything I got in my next yank.

"Hrrrrrrrhhhh...!"

Almos', g-got it!

(...TING)

"Uh!"

And come another two painstaking minutes, the blade comes out!
I stumble back from the force of my pull, falling on my behind after tripping on the steps.

"Gah! Drh!...Hah, hah, hah..."

I...I did i'.

I take a moment to examine the craft work of this weapon.

"Amazing...This is Celtic Swordsmithing at i's finest. It hasta be a' least several centuries old; perhaps, sometime after the Rom'n Occupation of England...Forth, fifth century?"

If my guess is correct, tha' means me family's history goes back more vastly than I though'.

...The previous masters and mistresses have taken good care of the blade for i' ta look as well as it does now.

I snap out of my thoughts when my ears pick on some frantic moans from Lumos, and look up to see him floating around in a fast-paced circle to match the feeling.

"Hm? What is i', Lumos? What's wrong?"

I watch him fly towards the way we came in...then blink that danger warning red!

Uh! Hm...

"(Sheen) Someone's coming...A human. But who?"

Unless...Oh, cra-

(BOOM)

The door - which had closed as soon as I entered this section - is suddenly blown apart, leaving a gaping hole in place!

"Agh...!"

...When the dust clears...I see Bishop, giving me one of the coldest glares I've ever seen appear in his eyes...But I wasn't afraid. I stood my ground and sent a defiant glare back.

"Bishop! I should'a known...How'd you get through the thicket?"

...He says nothing and descends the steps, a dark energy emanating from his body.

"...Bishop?"

Something's not righ'...He seems, different...

He looks up at me again...and that's when I saw it: his eyes flashing a deep, poisonous purple like the eyes of,

A Shadow Being!?

Oh no...Is i' possible th' same cretin I defeated earlier, found Bishop?

"(Frown) You allowed a Shadow Being to poison yur mind for increased strength, didn't you?"

"Yes. I was hesitant at first...but after the beast transferred its power into me, I felt an incredible power flow through my veins, like I could crush anything in my way."

He then rips his right sleeve off...before-

(SHING)

"UH!"

A blade as black as coal and curved like a cutlass came shooting out of his skin from his wrist!

"Using this new power, I thrashed my way through that thicket and made my way down here. The same goes for that blatant door. Nothing can withstand my strength; not even stone!"

He then lets out a dark booming laugh, sending shivers down my spine as it echoes through the room.

Mo dhia...He's really made a hames of his senses.

Even his soul seems darker than before...!

Once he was through, he focuses back on me with a straight face.

"But now's not the time for boasting. My mission is clearer than before: you must be destroyed, along with that sword in your hand."

I call back,

"Bishop, wait; you're no' thinking ration'lly! Yor new power will only lead you to self-destruction!"

"Silence! My eyes have opened to the truth: the only way to rid the world of heretics like you is to join with creatures who carry immense power...I shall demonstrate in full, by ridding you first!"

Next thing I knew, he came charging at me with the blade in his skin outstretched to attack!

"Auh!"

I barely duck away from the swipe, somersaulting a few feet away before he came at me again.

"Hrrah!"

(Swipe, CLANG)

Out of reflex, I swung the sword at the incoming shadow blade, and successfully meet Bishop in a deadlock.

"G-Gh!"

Alright...you can do this, Cora. Just push, back!

I shove him backwards a couple steps, and I even see him stumble as the blade in his arm suddenly shivers out an electric current to run over his body.

"Rrrrgh...!"

Looks like he's havin' trouble controlling his new power. Figures: the eejit has no idea what he's go' himself into...

He's become the one thing he's been fightin' against for years...

A freak.

I didn't have much time to think on the subject before I'm engaging in combat once again, dodging and clashing my weapon against Bishop's...

Ten minutes later, I dodge another swipe, but leave myself open to a hard boot to my abdomen.

(KICK)

"Aaaagh!"

I'm sent flying all the way to the other side of the mosaic...

"Uurh, tha' hurt..."

I hear Bishop chuckle, and as I look up, I see that ominous energy border his body again.

"What's wrong, Croft? Having trouble?"

Dammi'. There's no way I can pass h'm with his new speed...

If only the others were-Hh! No! This is my fight, and I have to do this on...Oh what'm I saying?

I sound like Inuyasha when Kikyō was taken by Naraku...

"I do need th'm...Bishop, and Trinity, have become just as much an enemy f'r my friends, like Naraku is enemy to me...And we all agreed to suppor' eachother in our endeavors no matter wha'."

I rise to my feet and scramble away as Bishop comes barreling at me again.

The only problom is tha' I brought nothin' I can use to send'a message to them.

...Unless...

"Lumos!"

I meet the Will O' Wisp by the water pool, and smile slightly at his ghostly chirps of concern.

"I'm alright...bu' I need you to fly back to Sonya's, and warn everyone wha's going on!"

Lumos freezes his shakes, indicating shock...I shake my head and urge,

"I'll be fine. I can take this sleeven bastard on!...I just need to believe in ShatterSoul, and in myself...But, my friends; they deserve to be here as witnesses. So please, go back and bring them here!"

...The Will O' Wisp 'nods', and starts his journey out of the tomb...

"Good luck, Lumos! Fly as fast as yeu can!"

Besides, I'd rather have you out'a the line of fire...

"Sending your ally away, are you?"

I focus on Bishop as he stalks my direction, and I walk back to the center of the room, my heart pounding.

"The only one you should be focused on, is me...I can see there's no sense reasoning with yeu now tha' the Shadow Poison has entered yor mind...There's no other choice: only one of us will walk out of here alive."

He grinds his teeth at me, but nods in agreement all the same.

"For once, you and I are on equal terms...Now. (Dash) Die, Croft!"

"(Dash) You're goin' down, Bishop!"

(Swash, swash, CLANG)

"Hrrrrrr...!"

"Grrrrrr...!"

Only one.

No POV

At the same time Coraline and Bishop begin what could very well be their final battle, everyone else was inside the blackhouse cottage preparing to have lunch, their thoughts clouded by their anxiety for the girl gone for a couple hours now, wondering if she was alright...

As Sonya stirs some soup within a large metal pot over the central hearth, Freeman yawns and wonders aloud from his laying position atop a rug,

"Wonder if sis has reached the tomb yet?...Is it suppose to be hard to find, Sonya?"

"Not f'r a Croft, it shouldn't."

"...I hope she hasn't ran into any trouble."

Shippō plops down beside him:

"Me neither."

Both let out a worried sigh, and Besa flashes a reassuring smile down at them from the small table he was sitting at with Sango and Miroku.

"Hey, cheer up, you guys; this is Coraline we're talking about. She'll be fine as long as she's careful. Plus she's got her knife, she can detect any unpleasant auras that might try to stalk her, and Lumos is guiding her. I doubt she'll be caught unawares."

"Y' think so?"

"I know so, bro...Don't get me wrong, I'm worried for her too. We all are...but we can't let our worries consume us, otherwise we might accidentally send bad vibes in her direction."

The fox demon gasps,

"Gah! I don't wanna send bad vibes to Coraline! I'll start sending good thoughts right now! Freeman, will you help me?"

"Sure, kiddo."

Besa shakes his head at the two, before turning to look at the doorway where Inuyasha was leaning, gazing into the distance with an unreadable expression...

Inuyasha's the most worried out of all of us, and I can't blame him.

Based on the stories that Cora's told Freeman and I, it sounds like he's been acting as her main shield from danger...

"Poor guy. He must be fighting hard not to go leaping after her as we speak."

Miroku and Sango nod in agreement:

"Yes..."

"Yeah..."

"...Hey, Inuyasha: come sit with us. Your legs have gotta be stiff by now."

The silver-haired youth turns his head in Besa's direction, before looking back outside and replying softly,

"In a minute..."

"Alright...but remember that staring aimlessly isn't gonna make her come back faster. Just have faith."

Inuyasha stiffens...but nods without facing the other boy...His ears then twitch when he picks up on the melody of a familiar fife flute, and he glances up at the right corner of the thatch roof where Skull Kid is sitting, kicking his little legs as he plays a song.

"Kh...What's that you're playin'?"

The deku child stops and glances down at the dog demon.

"Hm?"

"I've heard Coraline hum that tune a few times back in Edo, or something like it...Guess she learned it from you?"

"Heehee, oh yeah. I've taught her all sorts of songs, and how to play an instrument called the Ocarina, a vessel flute...But you might be more familiar with the name, tsuchibue?"

An earthen flute...

"Yeah, I've heard of those...but how do you know that term?"

"Heheh, sorry, that's a secret. Elders will have my head if I go blabbing everything to strangers."

"Tch...Fair enough..."

"But I can tell you the name of the song I was playing. It's called 'The Lost Woods'...Cora and I used to play that one the most."

A half-sad smile traces onto the humanoid Deku's face as he muses,

"Very few human kids were willing to play with her when she was little, you know? Poor girl was so lonely...and in turn, not very many human children come runnin' into the woods to play like they used to...Anyway, whenever she was upset, I always played my flute to bring her smile back. She soon asked me to teach her how to play, and she got so good at the fife, that I knew she'd be perfect for the ocarina."

"Hm..."

"...I hope you and those others in the cottage have been taking care of my friend."

Inuyasha inquires,

"What's that mean?"

"Coraline's a great girl and deserves people who actually care about her...After losing her mother, then her father, she had next to no one who could understand her. And then...she had to go before those creepy Trinity guys figured out she wasn't dead."

"So you know about Trinity..."

"Hardly anyone in the glen doesn't know about those humans by now...I was so sad when she left without properly saying goodbye...but, I knew she couldn't afford to stay too much longer...I'm glad that she's alive after all this time, and it looks like she's found some decent people to connect with. I don't know what you did, but...thanks."

...The Edo-born dog demon could only stare at Skull Kid as the latter went back to playing their flute.

This kid's a strange one...but maybe not as irritating as I initially thought...

"...Hm?!"

Suddenly, both entities turn their eyes to the trees yonder, sensing something off...The people inside would sense their disquiet.

"Huh? Inuyasha?"

"What is it?"

"Something wrong?"

"...I think, I hear a Will O' Wisp coming. I'm no expert...but they sound panicky."

Skull Kid hops down and rushes to join Inuyasha in the doorway.

"Oh it's definitely a Wisp. I know their moany chirps anywhere...Uh! (Turns, points) There!"

Following the tree faerie's sight...we spot Lumos burst through the branches of a pine, not once slowing his pace until he was inside the blackhouse.

"Lumos!"

The little orb of light proceeds to fly around the room in dizzying circles, prompting Sonya to ask,

"Lumos, what is the matter? What's wro-...Wait. He has returned, bu' Coraline has not."

Everyone gasps, and as the Will O' Wisp finally screeches to a halt, Inuyasha takes a turn in getting some answers.

"Lumos, what's going on? Where's Coraline; is she in danger?"

Obviously, the small entity couldn't use words to express his message, so he decides to use actions. The Will O' Wisp first flies over to a ripped shirt that belongs to Coraline, circling it a couple times...Freeman gets the meaning quick:

"Alright, Cora; something about Cora. What else?"

Lumos then flies over to the top of the bookshelf, where the open text showcasing the image and ballad of Coraline's ancestor rests...The Will O' Wisp looks at it intently for a moment...before floating up and down over the symbol traced in the ground, glowing on and off red!

Sonya gasps,

"I know tha' glow. Red means danger."

She walks over to see what Lumos is indicating.

"...He's floating over...the symbol for Trinity!"

Another collective breath is expelled, and Freeman forms a glare as he wonders aloud,

"Hang on...We may have escaped Bishop through that portal, but...what if he somehow found a way to track down where we came out?"

Miroku reasons,

"If that's true...then he must've gone after Coraline."

Shippō asks with a scared stutter,

"B-But why her? Why not come after us?"

Besa answers,

"Because there's no point in going after the larger body when it's just the one person he's after."

Inuyasha heard all he needed to:

"Grh, then we have no time to waste. We gotta find Coraline and fast!"

Lumos floats from the book and over to the doorway, bobbing up and down frantically over Skull Kid's head...

"It looks like Lumos is ready to act as our guide. (Glance) But is it alright for us to enter the tomb?"

Sonya nods to Sango,

"It will be fine, blade. Ye are allies of the Crofts; I'm sure the other Will O' Wisps will know that by now. Now hurry!"

Everyone nods firmly before dashing out the door, with Kilala transforming into her full form to take Sango and the twins, while Miroku and Inuyasha ran on foot, Shippō riding the monk's shoulders...

"Wait a sec!"

Eyes turn to Skull Kid, who reasons,

"It'll take too much time following Lumos's route...but I know a shortcut to the thicket where the tomb's hiding."

He then runs to the edge of the woods, and began to play the same song Inuyasha heard him play earlier, but louder and in a faster pace than before.

What's he doin'?

(...Rustle...)

"Huh?!"

Just then, the trees and bushes began to part and bend over, forming into a tunnel similar to the one Coraline traveled through an hour earlier!

"Incredible!"

"I've never seen such an enchantment...!"

Watching from the doorway of her home, the middle-aged redhead thinks to herself,

So you're usin' the song magic, Skull Kid...

Putting an end to his tune, he calls to the others with a wave,

"Hurry! This won't last forever!"

The humans, demons and half-demon don't hesitate in bounding after the deku child, the Will O' Wisp lighting the way...

Coraline...hang in there. We're coming!

Thanks to the enchanted path, it hardly took five to ten minutes of fast-paced travel before the group of nine reaches the great thicket that camouflages the Croft Tomb...However, true to Bishop's word, the Trinity soldier had left his mark with his new-found power...

"What the heck happened here...?"

They all walk over to the path cut through the thick elm roots and blackthorn while a few surviving oversized nettle stand singed...Poking one of the damaged tree roots, Freeman notes,

"Looks like an overkill weed wacker job," and Skull Kid frets,

"Oooh, the elders aren't gonna like this...!"

Lumos floats on ahead, knowing that they couldn't afford to pause, and the others quickly follow after him...

"Huh. I've never seen a tomb like this before..."

Besa explains to the monk,

"Cora told me about these once. It's called a dolmen, a type of megalithic tomb that dates back thousands of years and can be found in many parts of the world. It's like a smaller, early form of a graveyard...but, I have a feeling this monument's only disguising the entrance."

Wandering closer, they spot the set of stairs leading underground.

"Yep. Just as I thought."

...Inuyasha suddenly picks up a familiar scent, and growls a bit before remarking,

"I can smell that Bishop bastard. He's definitely inside there somewhere."

Sango replies,

"In that case, we better double our pace and get to Coraline."

...The large group is soon wandering through the catacombs, with Lumos illuminating the artwork.

"Huh..."

"Wow..."

"Are those...?"

"These people must be Coraline's ancestors."

They soon reach to the doorway, and survey the damage done by Bishop...

"It looks like it was blown open...But here. A slash mark?"

Miroku wonders aloud after Besa's observation,

"Could Bishop have done this?"

(...Clang, clang)

"Aah!"

"Hrah!

Everyone darts their heads up to the sound of metal clashing and the voices of the people battling inside the grand chamber.

"Coraline!"

Inuyasha is the first to rush inside...and what he saw, left him and the others speechless.

The young Croft by this point had taken some damage to her body and clothes, sporting a few cuts in her flesh after a few near-misses from Bishop's Shadow Blade. She's since removed her khaki jacket, and her tank top and jeans had new tears while the rest of her unmarred skin beaded with sweat. The Trinity soldier had been dealt similar damage on his limbs, his uniform ripped in the upper sleeves and legs...

"C-Coraline...!"

The girl shoves Bishop backwards again, and turns her head to the doorway to see who called for her.

"Hh! Inuyasha!...Everyone!"

She didn't have time to be fully relieved to see her companions, when her enemy came charging at her again.

"Haaaah!"

Coraline ducks and rolls away from the swipe of the blade, then sprints over to the steps where the other nine souls were waiting.

"Hah, hah, I'm glad'yur all here. Did you run into any trouble?"

Freeman asks back,

"Never mind us! Are you okay?!"

"I'm hangin' in there...but Bishop; he's gone berserk. A Shadow Bein' has poisoned his body, giving h'm strength and power he barely has control over."

A dark chuckle from the commander catches everyone's attention, and focus is cast on Bishop as he straightens again and turns their way, his body glowing a more shadowy purple matching the sinister tone in his smile.

"So your allies have come, have they, Croft? Well then, they can bear witness to your destruction, before I destroy them as well."

As he lets out another laugh as his eyes flash purple again, before returning to their natural grey, causing a shiver to pass through Shippō.

"Wh-What's with him? He's acting creepier than before!"

Freeman nods while holding the fox demon close to him.

"I'm with you, kiddo; his screw's gone real loose. He almost sounds like one of those sleeper agents in the military when they're triggered."

His twin with the contrasting hairstyle narrows his eyes in thought.

"Hang on. Shadow Being poisoning...I remember reading about this earlier in one of Sonya's books. The poison gives you enhanced abilities, but it comes with a heavy price."

Miroku nods, having also read the passage.

"Yes, I remember as well...The darkness of the victim's soul becomes more potent, and takes over one's reasoning, replacing it with only the innermost dark desires. It's possible that Bishop's great desire to bring suffering to Coraline, has been turned into a desire to kill."

Inuyasha finishes,

"Then that means he's likely not gonna stop attacking until Coraline's dead."

Said girl grits her teeth, and raises the ShatterSoul Sword at ready.

"All the more reason for me to take 'im out. Even if the Shadow Being didn't poison him, I know he's not gonna stop chasing me until 'e gets what he desires...I could see it in his eyes before I reached this sacred place. His mind was made up...just as mine is now: only one of us will come ou' of here alive."

Everyone looks at Coraline in shock...and Sango's gaze then fixates on the weapon in the redhead's hand.

"Uh! Coraline...is that...?"

"Auy, it is...The ShatterSoul Sword is now in my hands."

She glances behind her and adds in her most serious tone,

"Everyone, I need you to stay here where you won' ge' caught in the crossfire...But, I realize in full now tha' Trinity is as much an enemy of yous as they are mine, which is why I sent Lumos to find yae...Can I count on you all to cheer me on, as I end my family's burden once and fo' all?"

The others were hesitant at first...before reluctantly nodding, not wanting to argue with Coraline.

"Good. (Small smile) Thank yeu for coming...and, I do mean all."

She meets eyes with the deku child:

"It's been far too long, Skull Kid."

"Yeah, it has...but we can talk abou' it later. Righ' now, yeu go get that Bishop creep!"

Coraline nods, then focuses back up front, twirling the blade once in her hand before calling out,

"Bishop...let's end this! (Dash) Raaaaaaahhhhh!"

She and the man with the military-cropped blond hair charge at one another once again, sparking the next round of blade against blade...As they stand on the sidelines, everyone else watches in amazement as Coraline fought to block the Shadow Blade while also attempt a few hits of her own, either by sword or by a simple sweep of her leg.

"Whoa..."

"She's not doin' half-bad."

Freeman and Shippō call out at the same time,

"You can do it, Coraline! Take that crazy bastard down!"

Inuyasha was in awe:

Holy-She's doin' pretty good for a human girl...

It's like she's had the skill in her the whole time.

"This almost reminds me of when you go into battle, Inuyasha."

He turns to look at Miroku in confusion, who smiles and explains his comment.

"You obtained Tessaiga from your father's tomb and took to learning how to wield it like a professional...and it seems Coraline is doing similarly. She's had no prior experience in wielding a sword, at least as far as we know...but here we are watching her skillfully wield ShatterSoul like it was made for her, just as Tessaiga was made for you."

"Hm..."

The silver-haired youth turns his focus back on the fight, and thinks to himself while watching Coraline somersault under another side-swipe,

Miroku's right. I haven't really wielded a sword before I obtained Tessaiga, and yet I'm able to take on my enemies with it like I had it in me the whole time.

...And it looks like the same's happening for Coraline...

Maybe it's a family trait, though: from what I understand, her ancestors have been wieldin' that sword for a very long time.

...Could the skill be in her blood, then?

Unbeknownst to Inuyasha, the girl herself was pondering similarly.

"Hg-gah!"

(Clang, shove)

This is strange...I've never held ShatterSoul until now, but I'm sword-fightin' almost as good as Inuyasha.

...I wonder...Could what father, and grandfath'r Higurashi have said back when be true?

(Flash)

Turning back the clock, we zoom in on the outside of the Croft family home when it once stood as a quaintly narrow three-story home - red brick and cedar in the Georgian style - nestled by the forest of Majora Village, during a fairly average day for the two previous occupants.

Outside, we see a seven year-old Coraline - dressed in a red tee shirt, denim overalls and light purple sneakers - running around in the grass, giggling as she chased a few Will O' Wisps around in a few winding circles and figure eights. Sitting on the front steps was her father Mathias, dressed in a simple white button-up shirt, brown khaki pants and outdoor boots and reading a textbook while watching his daughter play with a smile.

"Having fun, Coraline?"

"Lotsa fun, father, hehaha!"

...The girl soon comes across a large branch shaped somewhat like a sword sitting near the edge of the forest glen.

"Hm?"

She picks it up, and swings it down once in a curious manner.

"...Heheh, nea'! It's like a sword!"

She moves back closer to her home, before proceeding to swash and thrust the branch around, pretending she was a swordswoman.

"Ha!...Ha! Hiya!"

The little redhead suddenly does a side-swing, then somersaults and thrusts upon rolling upright.

"Ha! Ehehehe, father, look! I'm a warrior!"

He looks up from his book...and widens his eyes in amazement at his daughter's show of skill.

"Coraline..."

An impressed smile forms on his face, and he gets up to walk over to his child.

"Well~, aren't we the little cop-on expert...Do you like wha' you're doing?"

Coraline stops and looks up at her single parent with a small grin.

"Uh-huh. I feel like I can take on an army!"

Mathias laughs and lifts his daughter into his arms.

"My little warrior...You definitely carry the family talen' for swordsmanship."

"Huh? Really; our family has swords-people?"

"Auy. It goes back quite a ways, but Crofts used to be well-known in Majora for wielding swords...one sword in particular."

"What's i' called?"

He ruffles Coraline's hair and replies,

"I'm afraid that's one tale you'll have to wait on...but I promise, young one, I shall reveal our family history to you in time."

"Okay."

(Flash)

Six years later pass, and our next destination is the Higurashi Shrine to watch the antics of a thirteen year-old Coraline and a six year-old Sōta in the courtyard...

"Haha, can't catch me, Cora!"

"Oh yes I can!"

They let out a laugh and continue the chase, and we see Hayato and Akari watching them play from by the sliding glass door to the kitchen...

"Hah, it looks like Coraline's adjusted well to living here with us...but I worry sometimes. It's been three years since her father passed, and she hasn't spoken about the incident much, nor about how she even came here."

"There's no use in forcing the issue, Akari. As long as she's content, she'll be fine...I am disheartened that Mathias is gone, though. He was a good colleague who understood things that couldn't be explained with just the physical truth...But, he wouldn't want me to grieve forever. He would want me to move forward in life, just as Coraline is. I'm just glad she made it here safe, and can start a life with people who will look after her."

Akari nods, a solemn smile on her face...Meanwhile, Coraline and Sōta come across some broken branches that got knocked off a tree.

"Hey, look a' these."

"Yeah. Must'a fallen from the wind and rain last night..."

...They pick one up big stick each, and smile mischievously at one another.

"Wanna play 'Samurais'?"

"Yeah!"

The young teen and child were soon going at one another with the branches, laughing and pretending they were samurai warriors engaged in battle.

"Take that, Sōta of the Plain!"

"No, you, Cora of the...um...oh, Cora of the Scroll!"

"Scroll? Hahaha, what kind'a warrior name is that?"

"Well you read all the time!"

They keep at it as Akari and Hayato focus back on the younger pair, widening their eyes a bit at what they were doing.

"Children, be careful!"

"We'll be careful, Mama!"

"Yeah, no worries, Akari-sama!"

The young woman lets out a sigh with a mildly-worried smile, while the elder man puts a hand under his chin in thought.

"Hmm..."

"What is it?"

"Coraline's skill...Unlike most hooligan children out there, she's actually putting a serious effort into her swings."

"Really?"

Hayato nods at Akari, just as Sōta trips backwards and falls on his back, dropping his stick.

"Wah!"

Coraline steps up to the boy, and pokes his chest lightly with her branch.

"Ha! I win!"

Sōta holds his arms up and laughs,

"Okay, okay, you win! I surrender!"

They both giggle, and as the girl helps the boy to his feet, their grandfather comes over to ask,

"Wherever did you learn skills like that, Coraline?"

She turns to the elder man and replies with a shrug,

"Dunno. It jus', comes to me, I guess...Father...he said our ancestors were once warriors of the blade."

"Interesting...Perhaps you're a prodigy."

Coraline tilts her head in confusion:

"Prodigy? What's that?"

"It refers to someone who has a natural talent for something, like how the males in the Higurashi Family are gifted in Priesthood."

"Oooh...So ya think I'm a sword prodigy?"

"It's possible..."

Coraline looks down at her branch in thought.

"Wow..."

(Flash)

...So then maybe this is in my blood...Maybe I am meant for ShatterSoul.

Coraline focuses back to reality as Bishop comes charging at her again.

"Hrrrrah!"

(Slash, clang)

"Gggh!"

Well, gift or no', if I don't step i' up, I'm as good as dead!

She shoves the older man back once again...but he was prepared for such a move this round.

"Grh, not this time, Croft!"

He slides back a step, before springing at her with an unmatched speed, and cuts across her torso!

(SLASH)

"Aaaaaagh!"

Coraline is thrown in reverse and lands hard on her back, her torso bleeding a good deal and shocking everyone on the sidelines.

"Coraline!"

"Cor!"

"No!"

"Aw man, that's gotta hurt!"

...Fortunately, it seems the attack wasn't lethal, and the girl slowly albeit painfully rises on her elbows.

"Gr-gh..."

D-Damn, what I wouldn' give for Inuyasha's endurance right now...

Hopefully the wound's outside the inner skin tissue...

She moves to stand up, and nearly falls down again with a pained grimace, placing a hand on one knee while trying to ignore the gradual flow of...escaping red.

"Crap...C'mon, Cora. Pull yurself together..."

"Coraline! Are you alright?!"

She looks over to her friends, and smiles bitterly before calling back in a strain,

"No, worries! I'll be okay!"

Even though I feel like I go' hit by a wrecking ball...

Inuyasha doesn't buy her expression:

"Bull! You're bleeding, and you look like you're gonna collapse any second! Just say the word, and I'll jump in to kick this bastard to hell!"

Coraline shakes her head:

"No, Inuyasha, don't! I go' this!...Please...I don't want you getting hur' next, and that goes for the rest of you!"

"...Coraline..."

"Setting yourself up for death, Croft?"

She darts her head back to Bishop, who looks at her with a menacing smirk.

"It's smart to not let your friends get involved. Why sacrifice their lives to prolong the inevitable end?"

"Shut yur gob! The only one who's meeting their end is yeu!"

Coraline holds the ShatterSoul Sword up with some difficulty, but determinedly.

This is ge'n' ridiculous. No matter how much I strike, I can't land a blow against Bishop.

...There has to be another way to use ShatterSoul than the blade...bu' what?

(Ba-bump...ba-bump...)

"Huh?"

Just then, the fabled blade began to pulse, a feeling so strange yet so familiar to the girl holding them in her hand.

Caidé atá?...It, kind-of feels like the energy pulse, I feel before switchin' to my Aura Sight...

I remember: in the book image, the woman holdin' ShatterSoul, had her eyes aglow...

"Maybe, if I try usin' my Aura Sight while holding the blade..."

(...Sheen)

Whoa!...Bishop's darkness has really tak'n over his body. It looks like it migh' even be killin' him.

(Narrows eyes) He has no idea his new power basic'lly signed his death certificate. Devil to his eejitness.

Just as she made that discovery...the ShatterSoul Sword briefly shines the same ice blue as her eyes!

"A-hh!"

The sword's-!...Okay, what's going on?

"The blade has accepted ye as its master, wean."

Uh! Wh-Who said tha'? Who's there?!

"Peace, blade. I be one of yer ancestors. I cannot reveal me identity as of yet...but ye, are me reincard."

S-So, I'm yor reincarnation...and yu'r, like a past me? Maybe even family?

"Aye, bu' that is not why I be here. Wean, ye must look within to fully unleash ShatterSoul's power."

How'do I do tha'?

"Simply focus. Imagine the energy of your soul flowing into the blade like blood through th' veins...Become one with ShatterSoul, and the rest shall come with ease. Ye can do this, reincard. I believe in ye...as does yer Father."

F-Father?...He's with you?

"Aye. Unforchuna'ly, he cannot reach here, but he has been watchin' over yae since tha' fateful day, sending his encouragement and love...He still worries over ye like any father would, but knows ye have the spirit to face life with yer head held high."

Oh wow...

"I mus' go now, but we shall meet again...For now, jus' breathe, and gather all yer courage. Ye can prevail over this heathen!...Ye, are a Croft!"

With that, the mysterious voice was gone...

How peculiar...Hah, okay, focus.

Coraline close her eyes, imagining her spiritual energy flowing into the sword...In response, rings of ice blue light began billowing over the blade. The bystanders gasp, and even Bishop was becoming wary of this new development.

"What? What is she...?"

Unless...No...No, she's tapped into the sword's power!

"Bishop."

"Huh?"

He focuses back to reality as Coraline opens her eyes again, sclera and irises fully aglow.

"Yor end is near. You and yur ancestors have caused me family nothin' but pain...Now, yeu shall pay!"

She single-handedly raises the sword, and traces two diagonal curved lines of ice blue light into the air, creating an criss-cross pattern...

"Scriosadh Spiorad!"

The celtic blade cuts horizontally across the middle of the creation, and their wielder makes a shoving motion to send the energy on a collision course for the target enemy!

(POW)

"AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!"

His body is shocked to the core by the spiritual power...before he drops to the ground face-up...The only sound in the room is Coraline's heavy breathing, as the spectators stood frozen to their spots from what they witnessed...That is, until Shippō sees something wisp out from Bishop's body.

"Owaaah! Look!"

Focusing on the commander's body, we watch a ghostly mist manifest and whirl into an orb hovering over the back. Miroku realizes,

"That must be Bishop's soul! (Narrows eyes) But it's unlike any human soul I've seen. So dark-ridden..."

Getting a closer look, we see that the spirit in question had pockets of dark purple energy mixed with the grey-white, and was throbbing a blood red. Besa wonders,

"Perhaps this is the aftereffect of the Shadow Being's poison...Hm?"

Attention is then directed at Coraline when she starts wandering over to the down man, her eyes still aglow and blade at the ready...

"What is she doing?"

"Dunno..."

She stops in front of the body, staring at the soul as it shoots out some electric red currents, barely maintaining its shape.

"...Goodbye, Constantine Bishop."

(Swash, SLASH)

With no hesitation, the young Croft brings ShatterSoul down against the doomned spirit, splitting it in half!

...As the energy fades away into non-existence, Freeman stutters aloud,

"Wh-Wh-What just happened?! Did Cora seriously, destroy a soul?!"

Besa replies just as stunned,

"It, looks that way...Either that, or she just guaranteed his entrance to Hell."

Focusing back on the girl in question...she drops to her knees as her eyes return to normal.

...Bishop...is dead. I...I killed him. I really killed 'im.

...I sliced his soul in two...

"Coraline!"

She turns to see the others rushing down to meet her.

"Are you okay?"

"You look like hell, dude!"

"How the heck did you do that?"

"That was incredible!"

"I knew you'd prevail!"

...Everyone...I, I'm glad they're alrigh'.

Now tha' Bishop's gone, he can't do th'm any harm...or me.

She smiles faintly and says,

"I'm, alrigh'. Just, tryin' to process all of this...I can't believe, I actually did it. It's all over now."

Inuyasha crouches down to her level and places a hand on her shoulder.

"...You sure you're okay?"

"I'll...I'll hang in there...but I think we should all leave this place; leave i' in peace."

As she struggles to stand up, Coraline adds,

"One of you, see if you can find Bishop's transporter on 'im. I know, it's a bit crude to rob the dead...b-but he might, have the code for getting back to Edo."

Just as she straightens up, she found herself swaying on the spot, the exhaustion and blood loss hitting her with full force.

"A-hh!"

Inuyasha swiftly catches her around her torso as she stumbles.

"Coraline!"

"I'm, fine...I...gh-uuurh..."

Unfortunately, her last wind had come to pass...and Coraline would fall unconscious.

Inuyasha's POV

"I'm, fine...gh-uuurh..."

I feel the girl's body shiver a bit, before she goes limp in my arms...

"Coraline? Coraline!"

Dammi', please be okay!

Besa walks over in front of me and checks Coraline's pulse.

"...It's okay. She's just unconscious...but her pulse is a bit slow. We better get her back to Sonya's, and quick!"

I nod, as do the others, and Freeman rises to a stand from Bishop's corpse.

"I got the dead bastard's transporter. We can come back for the body later if we have to, but sis comes first."

I pull Coraline into my arms:

"I've got her. Let's get a move on!"

"Right!"

Skull Kid exclaims while running ahead of us,

"We'll take my shortcut again!"

With that, we rush out of this tomb and hurry as fast as we can back to Sonya's place...

When we got there, the older woman's eyes go wide at the sight of the injured girl.

"Mo dhia! Wha' happened?!"

I answer straight up,

"Bishop happened."

"(Nod) Say no more, young man. (Wave) Quickly, set her inside!"

...

...

A while later, we're all sitting inside the home, and Coraline's laying on some kind of raised futon under a thick blanket after being treated for her injuries, including that nasty cut across her torso. She's still unconscious, but isn't looking as bad as earlier...Even so, everyone was worried...including me.

Coraline...

As I watch her, I hear Shippō ask Sonya,

"Is Coraline going to be okay?"

"She'll be alright, chile. Luckily, tha' cut on 'er torso was shallow and didn't touch anything vital...Still, with tha' injury on top of the other stressors against her body, the young blade has definitely taken substantial physical damage...Coraline will need lots of rest in order to recover."

Miroku comments,

"It's hard to believe she was still standing after that final attack. It must take a lot of spiritual energy to unleash such from the sword."

"Aye, monk, bu' the Crofts have been known to carry immense spiritual strength. I do not find it surprising tha' Coraline was able to remain conscious fer the amount of time she did. She carries the endurance her ancestors once did...and it seems ShatterSoul can sense her potential."

I turn to the old woman in confusion:

"Really? The sword can sense that Coraline's got what it takes?"

"Auy...I imagine ye are askin' because your own blade has done similarly?"

I was taken aback by her question...and just turn away without a word.

But she isn't wrong...Tessaiga seems to know that I'm its master.

And based on what we witnessed...ShatterSoul senses the same for Coraline.

"...Hm?"

I then look up to see Lumos floating in front of me for a moment, before settling himself by Coraline's head...

"Keh, you're worried about her too, huh?"

"I think it's more than simple worry."

We all turn our eyes on Skull Kid, who's sitting on the edge of the raised futon near Coraline's feet.

"What do you mean?"

"The Will O' Wisps are odd, and like us Deku, they've been friends with the Crofts for centuries. We trust their auras...I think Lumos may have chosen Coraline as his new human partner."

"Whoa..." "Seriously?!"

"Incredible!"

I then pick up on a soft mumbling, and look down to see Coraline scrunch her face in irritation before settling down again. I realize we must've been a little too loud, so I turn to shush the others.

"Keep it down; Coraline needs sleep, and it won't help if we're yackin' too loud."

My friends look at me in surprise...before smiling knowingly...

"What? Why are you givin' me those looks?"

Miroku answers,

"Oh, it's nothing bad, Inuyasha," and Sango adds,

"We just think it's nice to see you caring so openly about Coraline."

The twins nod in agreement, and Shippō giggles with Skull Kid, causing me to blush lightly and retort,

"Kuh, I dunno what you lot are talkin' about."

You better wake up soon, Coraline. I dunno how long I can go with everybody lookin' at me like I'm a big sap...

But, I guess I can deal with it for you.

Time Skip, Coraline's POV

...I'm not sure how long I've been passed out for after, finally destroying that burden on my soul...but I feel like I could sleep for longer.

"Mmm...m-hrm?"

Nevertheless, I slowly open my eyes...and found myself staring at the interior construction of a thatch roof...

Am I, back in Sonya's?

"...Coraline?"

I turn my head right, and see a certain dog demon staring at me from the floor.

"Oh, Inuyasha. (...Tired smile) Nice t' see you."

"Same...How are you feeling?"

"Huah, a bi' groggy, and my muscles are achin', bu' other than that, not bad...How long h've I been asleep?"

"About two days. You're actually awake sooner than expected."

"Ah..."

That's when I remember,

"Uh! ShatterSoul. Is i' safe?"

Inuyasha stops me from sitting up:

"Take it easy. I got it sitting next to Tessaiga over there against the wall."

He points across the room, and I see both blades were indeed sitting next to eachother...I relax and lay back down on the loveseat.

"Oh good...Where's everyone else?"

"Sonya went down to the bay to catch some fish or crabs, and Shippō decided to tag along. Sango, Kilala and Miroku are sitting out by the woods bein' entertained by that Skull Kid's flute, and the twins are checkin' out the cliff view while trying to find that code on Bishop's transporter thing."

"Heh, I had a feelin' my bros would take the initiative on tha' project...What about Lumos?"

"Look next to you."

I flip my head left and see the Will O' Wisp floating a few inches off the edge of the loveseat's back.

"Hey there...Have yeu been here the whole time I was sleepin'?"

"(Ghostly moan...)"

"Heheh, though' so...You were an asset through this entire experience, Lumos...and, I thank you."

My gaze turns back to the ceiling as my mind flows like a calm stream over these recent days.

"...T' think...after all this time, I finally deal Bishop wha' he deserves, and I go' te learn more about me family's history...But, at the same time...it all feels bitterswee'. That bastard may be gone...but his mark won't be...and revenge can't bring back th' dead."

I frown sadly and add,

"I dunno wha' father could be thinkin' right now...Is'e proud of me...or is he sad I had t' go down a doiligh ród, just to see tomorrow?"

"Well of course he's proud of you. Don't be stupid."

I turn Inuyasha's way again to see him looking at me with a serious expression.

"This may not've been the path your old man envisioned for you, but who says parents get it right all the time?...And if he's got anything to be really proud of, it's how strong you've become."

"Y' think so?"

"I do."

I crack a small smile at his judgment.

"...I hope yur right...Thanks, Inuyasha. No' just fer this...but for standin' by me through this whole ordeal, along with everyone else."

"No problem."

I reposition into a more comfortable position, and just stare off into space for a few minutes...

"Say..."

"Yeah?"

"...As soon as I have th' strength to stand...I...I wan' to take you and the others to see them."

"See who?"

"...My parents."

May as well visit them once...before I leave Majora again.

Come another day of recovery, and my muscles finally permit me to move again without any real trouble. I could feel everyone's relief when they came back from their respected activities yesterday and saw I was awake, especially in the big hugs I received from Shippō and Skull Kid. Sonya's special healing salves definitely did their job, speeding my recovery to the point where my injuries were still a bit tender, but not shooting bolts of pain into my nerves anymore. I can now stand on my feet without my knees buckling on me, like they did yesterday, which earned me more couch time by a stern dog demon...

Now I'm preparing to lead my oversea friends...my parents' graves, a journey that for me is long overdue. Earlier this morning, I grabbed a pair of blue jeans, a white tee and my grey button-up shirt from my surplus backpack, and now I'm lacing up my combat boots, though a bit loosely so I don't agitate my calves...

Once I'm done, I head outside of the blackhouse where everyone else would be waiting...

"Are you sure you're able to walk all the way, Coraline?"

"No worries, Sango; I'll be okay. I need to star' danderin' sooner than later anyway, otherwise m' legs will stiffen up somethin' fierce."

"Well, if you're sure..."

"Positive. If worse comes to worst, I'll just ask we take a small break..."

Sucking in a cleansing breath to steady my nerves, I begin the more emotional pilgramige.

"Well, if everyone's ready...le's get going."

...After about an hour-long walk, we reach our first destination...The remains of my old home. Surprisingly enough, there's still a good deal of the framework standing after all this time, the surviving wood and brick blackened from...the arson...

"Is, this...?"

I nod in confirmation to Freeman's question,

"Yes...This is all tha's left of me home...I'm, actually surprised there's anything left. I would've...thought it all, crumbled away by naow..."

I slowly walk up to the area, stopping by the spot where the mailbox would've been as a feeling of anxiety begins bubbling within.

"Mph..."

It's okay. Just breathe...The past, can't hur' me, anymore...

This place has too many good memories to be bad anyway.

"Coraline?"

I turn right to see Inuyasha looking at me with concern.

"You alright?"

"Hhh, haah...I am...Bein' here again, jus' brings back alot of memories. (Sad smile) Lots of th'm are good, though."

I wander to the spot where my old room would've been.

"...I remember, this is where my room was. (Turn) Over thonder on the sec'nd floor would've been the library...and further ahead on th' first, father's study...When I was little and th' weather was drawky, I sometimes grabbed a book from the library and went into the study, jus' sitting and reading while listenin' to him do his work...It was one o' those, nice quiet moments we shared..."

I walk over to the area in question, and see the small trap door was still in tact.

"Here is th' secret compartment where I found father's old bookbag, containin' his original work, along with some other valuable items. It's in my room in Tokyo now, and I keep father's work in a secre' spot, to be doubly sure it stays safe."

...Letting out a breath, I turn my gaze in the direction of the glen.

"His grave, and mother's, are in a grove ou' that way."

Leading on again, we soon arrive in the little grove where...my parents are buried. The area looks about the same as I left it, the oak, birch and juniper trees circling the clean patch of grass that gave way to little pockets of dog violet, self-heal and woody nightshade...And based on the light tingle in the atmosphere, this place still receives a healthy amount of visitors.

That much is confirmed by the condition of the headstones in front of the roots of one juniper, the limestone only having a little wear on the edges. I can still see the inscriptions clear as day, as well as the emblems carved in the top. The top centers house the family seal, while on my father's headstone, he had a horseshoe in the top left corner, and a conch shell in the right, symbolizing protection from evil and wisdom respectively. Mother's also has a horseshoe in the top left...but on the top right, there's a carving of a swallow, representing motherhood...

I kneel down between the little pockets of wood anemone and wood avens, reading the following inscriptions.

In Memory of

Mathias Croft

Born August 10th, 1978, Died March 13th, 2012

"The extraordinary is in what we do,

not who we are."

In Memory of

Amelia Croft

Born April 21st, 1979, Died June 5th, 2006

May her spirit find peace and love in the next life

as she did with her husband and daughter.

"...Hey father, mother. Been a while, hasn' it?...I never thought I'd act'lly return to see you both again...When I left Majora those years ago, I was sure it was fer good...but I guess the universe had different plans, eh? (Sad smile) I have no doubts you've been watchin' over me, and, I jus'...I want to thank you for doing so."

I glance behind me at everyone:

"I'm sure you both remember Sonya an' Skull Kid, of course; perhaps even Lumos...The others are friends I've made in Japan: Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Shippō, Kilala, Freeman and Besa...I've had alot of unimaginable experiences with them, and we've become real close..."

My left hand found itself stroking the tops of each gravestone, my heart clenching with an old grief.

"I miss you both...yeu especially, father...I could've really used your guidance a couple times...but I guess havin' yur spirit watchin' me is enough. You know doubt know what I've done recently: Bishop...he's no more...I dunno if this means Trinity will no longer cause me harm, but, a' least that sleeven is gone."

Tears begin to pool into the corners of my eyes.

"I...I, love you both, and won' ever stop thinkin' about you, even when I leave again...You'll always be in my prayers..."

I couldn't think of anything else to say, and a soft progression of sobs escape me, my teardrops dripping between the tiny stalks of grass to be soaked by the earth...I feel a hand on my shoulder, and turn to see Sonya smiling sadly at me.

"It is alright, blade. Yeu've come so far, and I have no doubts they're incredibly proud of you."

"(Sniff) M-Mhm..."

I dry my eyes the best I can and stand up from the graves, moving back over with the others to watch Sonya place a small set of ragged robin and bell heather in front of each headstone, causing me to tear up again from the sentimentality. I feel my brothers hug me, and I turn to bury my face into Besa's shoulder to let out another quiet sob...just as a familiar clawed hand rests on my own shoulder.

Inuyasha...

What ultimately stopped me from crying, was the sound of Skull Kid's fife flute as he softly plays the tune of one song I haven't heard in ages.

...The Ballad of the Windfish...

Smiling slightly through my tears, I pull away from my brother and see Miroku paying his respects to my parents graves, along with Sango...Shippō then hops onto Freeman's shoulder so he could meet my eyes with his own expression of concern.

"...You okay?"

"(Sniff, nod) Auy...I'll, be alright, lad."

He nods in understanding...and after a while more, we leave this sacred spot to its peace.

...Goodbye Mother, Father.

I hope yous both are happy and safe with eachother in the afterlife.

No POV

After their tour of the remains of Coraline's home and her parents' graves, our group would return to Sonya's blackhouse to turn focus on another important topic: how to get back to Edo...

"So've you two managed to figure ou' how to activate the location code for Edo yet?"

Freeman replies to Coraline from his seat on the floor by the central hearth,

"I think so. (Holds up the device) This thing has like, a history list of all the most recent locations Bishop transported to before he died. If we select the one he used before returning to headquarters with all of you during his attack, I'm pretty sure it will lead right back to Edo."

Inuyasha - he sitting on the loveseat next to the redhead - asks with a bit of skepticism,

"Pretty sure?"

"Well, we can't really guarantee anything, but we based this on the timeline of Bishop's last moves before the final code here. (Turn) Right?"

Besa nods from between his brother and Sonya,

"Right. Um, speaking of him, shouldn't we...That is, do we need to head back to the tomb and...you know, remove his body?"

Skull Kid chimes from atop one of the loveseat arms with a little kick in his legs,

"Eh, I doubt the corpse is still there. The Will O' Wisps have likely taken care of that problem already. They've been keepin' the tomb pristine for so long, they wouldn't want the body of an enemy to remain inside and tamper with the peace...Meanwhile, my tribe will be busy repairing the damage to the thicket..."

Sonya raises a stern brow at the 'faerie' child:

"An' should tha' not include you too, gasúr?"

"Nah. I'd just get in the way, plus bein' here's way more fun."

Coraline laughs silently behind her hand at her old friend's childish behaviour, before complimenting,

"Well yeu certainly took initiative a few days ago when you created tha' path for th' others...I don' know how I'll be able to properly thank yae, Skull Kid."

"Heh, oh I already have an idea how~, but it can wait until later this evening."

"Alrigh'...Oh, (turn) and I need ta thank yeu as well, Sonya, for shelterin' us and providing the guidance I needed fer the trials I faced."

"Ye are most welcome, blade. It's been wonderful to see you after all this time. I am a little sad tha' ye will soon leave yet again...but I suppose this is how fate intends it. Majora may 'ave been your birthplace, but it's not necessarily your home."

Sonya then directs her eyes over to the top of her bookshelf, where some new materials lay.

"Take those items with ye. It's the best leather I was able to get from the village, along with some strong thread. Yeu should be able to create a fine scabbard for ShatterSoul usin' them."

Coraline's eyes light up, and she walks over to take the items for her hands with an excited smile.

"Thank yeu so much; this is perfect!"

"I thought ye'd like what I have to offer."

Curious, Sango gets up from her seat at the table with Miroku and Shippō to get a closer look for her own eyes.

"This leather looks quite durable. What sort of animal does it come from?"

Sonya answers,

"The red deer. It's a widely common animal in the upper glen; their hide is tough and resistant to water."

Coraline then notes,

"...I see the fur is still on the hide..."

"Aye. That side is intended f'r the inside of the scabbard. As long as ye keep tha' part well-oiled, it will help prevent the sword's blade from rusting and provide a smoother draw."

"Interesting..."

Inuyasha found himself furrowing his eyebrows at the older redhead.

"How do you know so much about swords and scabbards, old woman?"

"Haha, well, ancient weaponry was'e specialty topic of Mathias, and he often came by in his youth t' tell me abou' some of his research. I suppose me memory picked up a thing or two..."

...Eyes fall on the young Croft with a new level of interest.

"Your father researched weapons?"

She shrugs at the demon slayer while sitting back down on the loveseat,

"Mm, more so the theories of craftsm'nship and the uses of ceremonial types, but, yea'. He wanted to understand the reasons behind why humans would need weapons, y'know, besides th' more obvious explanations like hunting and war."

"Hm..."

"...Actu'lly, some of father's research expanded as far as Japan. That's how he and grandfather me' and became colleagues."

"Your dad and Mister Higurashi knew eachother?"

She nods at Freeman,

"Oh auy...I think they first met abou', three or four years before I w's born, durin' a period when father was engrossed with the histories of ancien' Japan. He was mostly interested in the mysteries and legends, and 'e came to hear of grandfather after chattin' with a historian at the Tokyo National Museum. After a couple letter exchanges, father and mother wen' to visit grandfather abou' a year before my birth, and they really hit it off. Heha, they finally found someone who understood their views on th' mysterious and the unexplained...I think grandfath'r even came here t' Majora once."

"No kidding..."

"Yea', but I was only four a' the time, so I don't remember too much...except...Hang on."

Coraline's face suddenly gives way to a new wave of enlightenment as she recalls something...

"What is it?"

"I...I can't believe I didn' think of this until naow. Grandfather, father...they-I-I-I think they were talking abou', the legend of the Shikon-no-Tama...!"

Everyone more personally associated with the journey for the jewel shards gasp,

"What?!"

"No way!"

"Seriously?!"

She runs a hand through her hair as she strains for the details.

"Lemme think...I had come back from th' glen after playin' with Skull Kid...Oh! I saw an old scroll on the desk in father's study, and go' curious."

(Flash)

"Fath'r! I'm back!...Fath'r?"

We return to the days when the Croft home stood proud, and watch a four year-old Coraline - wearing a red jumper and jeans with her hair tied into a small braid - peek her head into the doorway of her single parent's study after being taken home by her friend and another older deku.

Weird. I though' he was here with Mist'a Higurashi...Hm?

Her attention then falls onto an item on her father's desk...

"Oooo, wha's that?"

She climbs onto desk chair to get a closer look, and we see the item is an old scroll, called an emakimono in Japanese. The style used for crafting the artwork followed the intermittence method, which meant the kanji scripture would be written at the end or beginning, not that Coraline could read it...But the illustrations definitely snared her curiousity: painted on the old parchment is a scene depicting a miko holding out an orb of sorts, it shining a bright ethereal light while several monstrous yōkai surround her, poised to attack...

"Wooow...Wha' kind-a monsters are those, and who's the lady?"

...It was then Mathias - dressed in a light forest green shirt and brown khakis matching his vest - and Hayato - back when his hair was a little less grey and wearing another set of his traditional white/indigo blue Jōe robes - come back to the study after visiting the library.

"I really appreciate your assistance in reconstructing this scroll, Mathias."

"Of course, Higurashi-san. I am simply honoured you would ask of me to help, and to have you in my home."

"Yes, despite the annoyance of travel, this has been quite a change from the air I breathe back in Tokyo...I almost don't want to go back."

They share a laugh before spot the little girl standing on the chair and peering over the scroll while leaning on the desk on her elbows...

"Oh, Coraline! When did you get here?"

She looks up, and smiles brightly at seeing her father.

"Hi!"

She gets down from the chair and quickly adds,

"I didn't touch th' paper; I was just lookin'."

Mathias laughs at his daughter's antics and replies,

"I had a feelin' you would be in here before long. Good on yae for being careful."

Hayato sighs in relief,

"Finally, a child who actually knows how to respect artifacts...Your daughter truly is one of a kind, my friend."

"Heha, what can I say? Coraline has such'a wide curiousity, and is an eager learner...You have a granddaught'r aroun' her age, correct?"

"Heh, hai, though her curiousity is more fixated on play rather than education. I hope that someday, I can get even some interest from her of our family history..."

The conversation is interrupted by Coraline when she comes bounding over to ask while pointing to the desk,

"Wha's tha' scroll f'r, and who's the lady with the circle in her hands tha' the monsters want?"

Croft meets eyes with Higurashi:

"My my; curiouser than I expected...Is it alright to tell her?"

"Heh, why not? I like her attitude, and her eyes have an intelligence you don't usually see in children her age."

"(Smile) Well alright. I'll let you take lead."

"Arigatō."

The trio wander back over to the desk, and Coraline hops up onto the chair again to get a better view of the emakimono as Hayato begins his explanation, rolling out one side of the parchment to show the remainder of the faded text.

"Ahem. To answer your questions, young lady, this ancient scroll depicts a legend from the Sengoku Era, which would be more than four hundred and fifty years ago today."

"Whoooa, that's really far back!"

"Indeed. Though according to this record, the story may perhaps be twice as old, as far back as the Heian Period...The image you see captured there is a miko, or priestess whose name has become lost, holding a jewel known as the Shikon-no-Tama, or 'Jewel of Four Souls'."

"...Four souls? I thought yous only had one."

Mathias cuts in to clarify for the confused child,

"Hayato is referring to the Shintō Philosophy, a belief in which four spirits unite as one t' form a strong balance within the human soul, like a four-way scale."

"Ooooh...Where'd the jewel come from, and wha's it for?"

Higurashi continues:

"It isn't entirely clear how the jewel was created, but it was rumoured to have immense power, which depending on the possessor could be used for good, or for evil. The monsters you see surrounding the priestess are actually yōkai who sought the jewel for their own selfish gain."

"Yō-kai...Is tha' another word for, demons?"

"Correct. These are of course only a few examples of what demons in my country look like. They come in a variety of forms, and some stories even depict them as good beings."

"Huh...What happen'd to the jewel? Did a demon get i' from the lady, or did the lady save it?"

Hayato rolls out the remainder of the emakimono, showing that most of the images after the miko scene have become distorted or cracked due to natural deterioration.

"Hm, that's where the story becomes a bit complicated. From what your father and I understand, the jewel had been passed through scores of parties, both human and demon, but not a one had the jewel for very long...Then one day, it suddenly vanished, forgotten to time."

Mathias adds while pointing to one section,

"There is one fragment we've been able ta restore, depicting a fire, but the meaning is unclear...The Shikon-no-Tama may very well remain wha' it is now: a mystery."

"Hmm..."

Little Coraline looks down at the scroll again, narrowing her eyes in thought.

A jewel...a priestess...monsters...and a fire.

(Flash)

"...That's all I can remember, surprisingly...It's possible th' emakimono is in the shrine somewhere for safekeeping, but I wouldn't know where. Grandfather's always a bi' secretive with artifacts like those..."

Inuyasha asks in amazement,

"So your father was helping to uncover more details about the jewel?!"

"I guess. Another one of h's specialties was restoration, especially anything relating to parchment."

Everyone hums over this new information, and Miroku and Sango think aloud,

"The priestess...I wonder if that could've been Kikyō..."

"Or Midoriko...Are you sure the name was lost, Coraline?"

"Positive, and grandfather didn' sound entirely certain if the artist who created the emakimono was referrin' to the Sengoku Period, or was tryin' to retell th' story from back in the beginning...Although...the image of the flames...I can't help bu' think of, how Kaede mentioned that Kikyō asked fer the jewel to be cremated with her body. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if th' battles back in Midoriko's hay day caused a number of fires too..."

The young Croft begins rubbing her temples in frustration.

"Agh, it's all so confusing..."

Skull Kid lightly taps the top of her head with his flute and scolds,

"Hey, what've I always told you about thinkin' too hard?"

"...Tha' it makes me look like a constipated librarian?"

"Right!"

They and a few others let out some laughs, and Miroku comments,

"Well, whatever the case, it seems that knowledge of the Shikon-no-Tama had traveled to you before you even knew of its importance later on...And for your father to have known about it..."

"Auy, I'm just as shocked as yeu are. (Weak smile) I guess me family has had a somewha' deeper connection to Japan after all, and I never really realized it."

"How could you not remember somethin' like this until now?"

Coraline turns to Inuyasha and replies simply,

"The mind has'a funny way of storin' away memories. Some are easier to recall, and others are so deeply encased, it takes a specific trigger to get 'em back. I was only four, so the legend w's only an interesting story from another country to listen to...I had no idea it would become so important until d'ese recent months."

Inuyasha half-scoffs,

"Could've done well with the info sooner...though I guess it doesn't matter much now..."

Coraline shakes her head at the half-demon, before stealing a glance at the ShatterSoul Sword.

Now when I return to Japan, I'll be bringin' a little piece of Celtic Hist'ry with me...

The Irish Warrior fighting a Japanese Miko's war. Ha, who would've figured?

Some time later in the evening, we find our group of young souls sitting around a small fire pit set up a small distance away from the blackhouse and a fare distance from the more flammable forest, using the blankets as seats...

"Haauh, hard to believe it's only been a few days since we came 'ere, but these feel like th' longest hours of me life. So much I've learned..."

Coraline glances at the doorway of the home where her new weapon laid.

"And still more to..."

"If anyone can I do it, it's you, Cora. You've come too far to not succeed."

She turns to flash an appreciative smile at Besa.

"Good t' know y' have confidence in me, brother."

"We all do. (Glances around) Right?"

The others nod, and Shippō goes as far as exclaiming with a little jump,

"Yeah! If Inuyasha can swing a powerful sword around, who says you can't?"

Said dog demon shoots the younger fox a look.

"You make it sound like I'm still an amateur."

"That's not what I mean! I just-"

...Shippō cuts himself off when his ears pick up on the distant sound of a chorus of melodic, but eerie wails...

"Owaah!"

He jumps into Freeman's arms in fright:

"Please tell me I'm not the only one hears that...!"

Smiling in a mix of sympathy and reassurance, Coraline says to her fellow redhead,

"Calm yurself, Shippō; tis only the keening of the Banshees."

"B-Banshees?"

"Auy. They're spirits tha' take the form of women dressed in grey, an' they typically gather down the loch near here to wail a lament. They're no danger to you or I."

The fox demon relaxes some, but Besa asks uncertainly,

"Uhm, don't their wails fortale doom to those who hear it?"

"Tha's just a misconception. Their laments actu'lly have a more sentimental meanin'. I mean, yes, they center aroun' death, bu' they only mean to greive for those who feel they can't...It's said tha' Banshees are masters of prediction, so they may wail as'a way to warn a person they're abou' to walk into danger."

Closing her eyes, Coraline listens to the windswept keening...

"Aah, I see...A faerie queen has passed..."

"You understand the sound?"

She opens her eyes and says to Miroku,

"You hang abou' any culture long enough, yeu star' to pick up a few things. Heh, and I had a few wheeker- tha' is, excellent teachers. Fath'r, Sonya, the Wisps; even the Deku Elders were kind enough to teach me a thing 'r two. (Glance) And of course, Skull Kid."

Said deku child nods proudly, before lamenting while placing his chin in his hand,

"I heard one of the faerie queens up north hadn't been feeling well for a few weeks...Guess she was reaching the end of her life..."

"A good life, though, I imagine...and I'm sure a new queen's already been chos'n."

"Yeah...so maybe we should celebrate, for the old queen and the new one!"

Coraline forms an amused smirk and asks,

"And how do yeu propose we do tha'?"

"With more music, duh!...Which, brings me to this..."

Skull Kid then removes his hat to pull something out, then present it to his childhood companion.

"I meant to give this to you for yor birthday five years ago, but, then you left...so I'm givin' it to you now."

Taking the item for her hands...the young Croft softly gasps when she sees it as an ocarina, transverse-style with twelve holes and made from clay painted with swirls the same colours as the maker's clothing.

"Oh, Skull Kid...this is amazing. (Smile) Thank yeu. I can tell you worked hard to make it."

The resident of the glen rubs the back of his head with a small laugh after setting his hat back on.

"I'm glad you like it...So. Think you remember how to play?"

"Hm...It's been a quare long time...bu', perhaps..."

Raising the vessel flute to her lips, Coraline sets her lips on the mouthpiece to gently blow a starting note...before losing herself in a slow but short minuet that suggested the instrument as a Tenor in the Key of C...A minuet that Skull Kid knew well.

"Aha! The Minuet of Forest!"

The girl lowers the ocarina and comments with a smile of pride,

"Seems I do recall th' skill yeu taugh' me...I think I'd like to try somethin' a bit more challengin', like, the medley 'Kokiri and Epona'."

"I was hopin' you'd say that! Okay, I got the Lost Woods, while you play Epona."

---

Note: when I say Epona, I mean the extended version of the song that plays in the background of those certain LOZ ranches.

---

Nodding, Coraline raises her gifted vessel flute to her lips to begin playing the first song of this duet medley...Skull Kid joins in after the first line, crooning a slower progression of The Lost Woods that blends with the beat of Epona...creating a song that awes the listeners around the fire.

"Oh my..."

"Such a beautiful melody..."

"I knew sis could warble a tune, but this...this is on a whole other level!"

"I'll say it is..."

Shippō and Kilala found themselves swaying in their seats as the human and deku child played on.

"Mm...This is nice, right, Kilala?"

"(Mew...)"

Meanwhile, Inuyasha's eyes were locked on one of the musicians, watching as her fingers gently danced on the holes in the clay.

This girl never seems to be short on surprises...

The way she plays...It, almost reminds me of...

(Flash)

The hands of time guide the silver-haired youth's mind back to a scene he hadn't looked back on in years, a moment in his childhood that actually radiates with innocence and happiness...We find ourselves in a small grove of snowbell trees, spotting two familiar souls sitting in the grass by a small pond between some pockets of Japanese iris flowers...

Following the high-pitched sound of a flute being played, we discover the musician...is Inuyasha's mother! In her hands is a shinobue (or takebue), a transverse flute made with seven holes and from the bark of a bamboo tree. We also notice that her attire is quite simpler from last time we saw her, it being a misty rose kumon kimono with chysanthymum flowers decorating it, a black hakama matching her obi sash, tabi socks and waraji sandals rather than the elaborate jūnihitoe court dress. Even so, this hardly retracted from her beautiful black liquorice waist-length hair and pale ivory complexion, her light pink lips smiling as she played...

The song itself was one created especially for her son, a lullaby that always seemed to soothe their spirits during their lowest points. Such is evident based on the little grin occupying the small half-demon dressed in fire rat red, his hazel-gold irises fixated on her and her alone...

(Flash)

...Mother...You knew what life would be like for me...but you never stopped trying to offer me some hope.

Hope for a better tomorrow.

The grown boy adds as he continues watching the girl with long red hair play her ocarina alongside Skull Kid's fife,

Just like this girl's been doin' since we first met.

Despite our rocky start...she's giving me hope.

At the same time Inuyasha's mind wandered, Sonya had emerged from her home to stand by the doorway, smiling as she watched the two childhood friends catch up on an old pasttime.

Heh, now here's a munya sight I haven' seen in years...

"I see those two childers have gotten togeth'r again."

She turns to see Grimm approaching, dressed in a knitted jumper made from a dark mahogany and gray tweed, dark wash jeans and brogue shoes. Getting a better look, we see he has short, thick and grizzled gray hair tucked under a lighter-shaded flat cap, his skin a light ivory tan with the marks age wrinkling him, a thick moustache, and dark green eyes.

"Auy, tha' they have."

"Hm...but soon, she'll be leavin' us...Then again, I suppose the young blade was mean' to spread her eiteogaí an' fly, far from the reaches of this wee village."

Sonya nods and thinks to herself,

Yes...an' fly she did, into the hearts of those who need her.

Time Skip

Come the next day around noon, our group of nine was packed and ready to try out the transporter device stolen from the deceased Trinity commander. Of course, beforehand, Coraline had stolen into the village to say her goodbyes to Grimm...

Now she's sharing a heartfelt hug with her childhood friend.

"Well...guess I'll be seein' you, Skull Kid."

"Yea'...I wish you didn't have to leave, bu', I know that goodbyes don't last forever...Take good care of my gift, and always think of me when you play."

"I will...I promise."

The pair part, and the girl sets her surplus bag on her shoulders while also grabbing Shattersoul for her left hand...She and the deku child exit the blackhouse to meet the others as the twins prepare to summon a portal.

"Okay, everybody stand back. We're gonna try and aim for that thick trunk over there, and as soon as the portal's open, be ready to run and jump in."

"We got it, Besa."

"Just push the button already and let's get this show on the road!"

"Inuyasha!"

"What?"

"Hauh, never mind..."

Freeman rolls his eyes at the banter between the fox and dog, and scrolls down the code list to find the one used to travel to Sengoku Edo during Coraline and company's capture...

"Okay, got it. (Looks back) One last check: does everybody got what they need, not what they don't?"

Everyone else shouts back,

"Yes!"

...Coraline then picks up on a familiar ghostly chirp, and looks on her right in her satchel pocket to see the glow of the Will O' Wisp resting inside.

I can't believe that Lumos is comin' with me, but from wha' Skull Kid said last nigh', it seems he wan's to continue to lend me'a hand on the road ahead.

(Smile) It'll be interesting to see how he'll react to Japan, both past and present, and I'll have t' give the Higurashis a word in advance about his nature...

Among other things.

Coraline looks to the hut one more time, smiling at Sonya and Skull Kid.

And them...I'm sad to leave them, but glad to 'ave seen th'm.

"(Waves) Sláinte, Skull Kid, Sonya! May our paths cross again!"

"Sláinte, Cora! Have fun in Japan!"

"Sláinte, blade! May yousuns continue to grow strong, and I pray for yer success in defeating the evil ahead!"

The young Croft sends them a nod, and turns her stare back around just as her twin brothers activate the transporter.

"Here goes,"

"Something!"

(Beep...Pi-pow)

The watch sends a bolt of energy towards the tree, hitting the bark in a ripple...before reversing and swirling into a wormhole projecting onto the bark! The Brownlees fist-pump, before gesturing the others their way...

"Alright, this is it. Next stop: Edo."

Everyone was a touch hesitant at first considering the last time they took their chances...but then Miroku steps up to act as the first candidate.

"I'll go first."

"You sure?"

"Yes. (Turns with a smile) I'll see you all there."

He then breaks into a run, and leaps headfirst into the portal!...Next, would be Sango...then Shippō and Kilala...and then Freeman and Besa decide to hop in together.

"See you two there, Cor, Inuyasha."

...Once they're gone, that just left the redhead, silverette and the hidden away Lumos. Coraline turns to Inuyasha with a smile and says,

"Shall we jump in together, like with the well?"

"Keh, sure, why not?"

They walk over close to the portal...before the half-demon wraps an arm around the girl's waist, and they leap into the unknown...leaving only the portal to shrink into nothingness before Skull Kid's eyes.

...See you again, best friend. Hehee!

...

...

...

(Leap)

"Hah!"

Soaring over land, sea and time itself, our viewpoint changes to that of the remains of Taki-no-jō in Tokorozawa, Saitama as our last pair of people lands safely onto the grass of the clearing further up...Everyone looks around, checking to make sure that this was the correct destination.

"Did we do it?"

"Are we back?"

...Shippō then spots the ruins of the castle down the hill between the tall pine and few beech and snowbells.

"Hah! Look, (points) that's where we were before we got captured!"

Eyes turn to the location, and aside from Freeman and Besa, they all recognize it instantly.

"It is...!"

"...Then that means we're back in Edo!"

"Yes!"

Everyone begins to cheer in triumph...and Freeman says to Besa,

"Phew, and a good thing too...The watch had only enough power for the one trip."

"Yeah..."

Inuyasha heard their words clear as day, and stops cheering in an instant.

"Wait, what? (Turns) You guys knew that device was only good for the one trip?...Why didn't you say something?!"

Everyone else stops and turns to look at the pair in shock, who smile and respond simply,

"Because it was more important that we got you lot back to Edo,"

"Even if it means we can't go back home."

"...Oh my god...you guys sacrificed y'ur chance t' go back to the modern era!...Unless..."

Coraline walks over to her brothers, and takes Freeman's wrist with the transporter prototype into her free hand.

"...It's a long sho'...but maybe, tha' crystal..."

Confused for a brief moment...the young man with the plainly cropped hair clues into the young woman's pondering.

"Sis...are you thinking what I think you're thinking?"

"Only one way to be sure."

She turns to the others and says,

"We need t' go back to the Bone Eater's Well right now. I'll explain on the way."

...

...

"Okay, so lemme see if I understand this: you think that those crystals in Freeman and Besa's wrist bands might actually have the power to help them travel through the well?!"

Arriving in the Forest of Inuyasha, Coraline nods to the namesake,

"It's more of a theory, but yes. The crystal has been rumoured to harbo' secret powers besides the ability to heal...Look, I know this sounds crazy, bu' what other options have we?"

She and the group enter the clearing where the infamous well sat as she reasons,

"There's no way of knowin' what sort of power source the watch we stole from Bishop uses, nor do I wish ta break into Trinity headquarters to steal another one. (Smirk) Unless you actu'lly wan' me to rish my skin like that..."

"Kuh, not on my watch, you crazy woman."

"We're with Inuyasha, sis. Don't you go lookin' for trouble just for our sake."

"Yeah, we don't want another Bishop-type after your hide."

Stopping by the structure, Coraline holds her hands up defensively and replies to the three disapproving males,

"Alrigh' alrigh', I'll be a good girl. I won't play burglar."

"Good."

Sango laughs a bit at their conversation and says to Miroku,

"Talk about overprotective..."

"Indeed, though it's only expected with older brothers and 'good friends'."

They smile knowingly at the last description as the Brownlees peer their eyes down the well...

"Sooo, how are we gonna do this, or how do you do this, Cor?"

She shrugs at Freeman,

"I jus' hop down and the portal opens automatically," and Inuyasha adds,

"Same here. There's no real thinkin' to it; you just do it."

"Hm, alright."

"Let's give this a shot and hope for the best."

Freeman and Besa then move to sit on the lip of the well...

"You two ready?"

"Ready as we'll ever be. Oh, and, incase this is the last we'll see eachother..."

They turn to meet eyes with Sango, Miroku, Shippō and Kilala.

"It was really cool to meet you four in person."

"Yeah. I'm crossing my fingers this isn't the last time, though."

Said demon slayer and monk reply in kind,

"Same to you two."

"It was a pleasure to meet you both."

The fox demon hops up to hug each twin around their torsos.

"Take care, you guys! I really hope this isn't the last time!"

The twin tail then jumps onto their laps to rub her head against them, before they look up at the dog demon.

"We know we'll at least see you again sometime."

"Yeah, don't be a stranger, Inuyasha."

"Keh, whatever."

The twins chuckle at his reaction, before focusing downward.

"Okay, here we go..."

"Next stop: hopefully home."

They slip down from the lip...and a familiar ethereal light shines from the bottom of the well as it does for Coraline and Inuyasha during their travels, indicating that passage was granted!

"They did it!"

See you soon, bros...

Besa's POV

(...Glow)

"Hup!"

"Hap!"

That was...incredible!

Much to our shock and likely everyone else back in Edo, Freeman and I actually made it back to modern Tokyo!...As soon as our footing was stable, I turn to my brother with a look that most likely matched his.

"...Did we..."

"I think we did."

Just as we begin to smile triumphantly at our success...

(Ba-bump...)

"Huh?"

I feel that odd pulse from a few times before, coming from my wrist...I look down, and see the crystal lodged into the wrist band glowing in a similar manner to that of the lights I saw while traveling through the well's portal...!

"What, the..."

"Mine's doing it too."

I turn my gaze up a bit to see that Freeman's crystal was emitting the same glow...

What does this mean? Why are the crystals acting like this?

"...Say, Besa..."

"Yeah?"

"...Do you think, maybe we can not only come back here...but we can travel through the well like Cora does now?"

I dart my head up in surprise:

"Maybe...Maybe we can!"

He then smirks knowingly at me and quirks,

"I guess there's only one way to find out, eh bro?"

I smirk back and reply,

"Guess so. We better climb up first."

We pull ourselves up to the top, and sit on the edge the same way we did a minute ago.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

If this works...I wonder...maybe we could...

(Shakes head) Focus, Besa. That question can come after you make it to the other time.

(Leap...glow)

No POV

Back in Edo...

"Looks like the twins made it."

"Yeah..."

(...Glow)

"Huh?!"

"No way...!"

"It can't be...!"

Once that familiar light passes, two equally familiar boys appear at the bottom of the well!...They quickly turn to one another and shout excitedly,

"It worked!"

"...Freeman! Besa! Is tha' really yous?!"

They look upwards and reply to the shocked spectators (their sister mostly),

"It is!"

"We honestly didn't know if this would work, but we're glad it did! That portal was awesome the second time 'round!"

Using the vines to climb back out, the Brownlees rejoined the others before explaining what made them do what they did...

"Amazing!"

"So, does this mean you guys can travel through the well like Coraline and Inuyasha now?!"

Freeman smiles at Shippō and replies just as happily,

"Looks that way, kiddo."

"Awesome!"

He and Besa laugh, before the latter pulls the former aside for a quick chat.

"What?"

Besa whispers his idea into his brother's waiting ear...

"Uh! (Grin) I like it!...But I'm shocked, Besa: this is usually the type of plan I would come up with."

"I know. I'm just as surprised with myself...but then again, you've talked me into alot of crazy adventures over the years, so it was only a matter of time before I did you."

"What're you two talkin' 'bout over there?"

They focus back to reality upon Coraline's call, and nod at one another before walking back over.

"Well, you see..."

"Now that we can come back here...we were wondering..."

The brothers take a deep breath and request,

"Can we join the team?"

Everyone was taken aback by the question:

"What?"

"Join us?"

"Yes. We know our strength is more average when it comes to combat, but we're quick learners, and don't back down from anybody."

Freeman adds after Besa,

"Plus we're really good at finding information on things from people. Asking the right questions, ya know?...Look, we know we're askin' alot, but it looks like your fight against this Naraku bastard's gonna get harder with how sparse the info about jewel shard locations are, so the more allies you have, the better...Whaddo you say?"

...Coraline would be the first to respond.

"Yeu guys do realize tha' if yous join the battle, it'll mean goin' into combat with demons, right?"

"Yes."

"And, tha' doesn't freak y' out? They aren't gonna be like the Noh Mask or Soul Piper either."

"Nope."

The redhead turns to the others for their opinion.

"Whaddo the rest of yeu think?"

Sango replies,

"Well, we've seen them engage in hand-to-hand combat and well use a blunt objects as makeshift weapons...They aren't too shabby, but there's room for improvement. (Turn) Miroku?"

"Hm...It certainly wouldn't hurt to have more allies, and they seem to know how to handle themselves...Though I am a bit concerned about their potential vulnerability."

Shippō chimes in with his opinion:

"I think it'd be great to have them join up! I like Freeman's fun attitude, and Besa's real smart!"

Coraline smiles down at the enthusiastic fox demon, and takes note of a subtle nod of approval from Kilala, before turning to the last of the group.

"...I'll leave it to you, Inuyasha. What do yeu think; are Freeman and Besa cu' out for the team?"

"Hm..."

The dog demon walks over to stand in front of the twins, and gives them the once over.

"You two sure about wanting to do this?"

"Yes."

"Absolutely."

"Keep in mind that you'll have to pull your own weight. I don't wanna hear any complaining from either of you because of long travel."

"Not gonna happen."

"Dude, we come from America and currently live in the hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo. We've mastered long travel."

"Then there's the possibility you two will have to go into combat. I'm not sayin' you'll be completely on your own, but you better be ready to contribute and look after yourselves."

"We understand."

"Yeah, we're no pushovers to this sort-of subject."

...Inuyasha stares at the pair for another minute...before letting out a breath and nodding,

"Alright. You're both in."

Freeman and Besa's eyes widen before they both exclaim,

"S-Seriously?!"

"Yeah yeah, seriously. Just don't make me regret this, okay? I wanna see you two give your hundred percent, got it?"

"O-Of course."

"We promise. Thank you so much...!"

Coraline gapes a bit, before rushing over to hug her brothers in excitement.

"You guys, wow! Hehaha, I can't believe it!"

"Yeah, we know!"

"We're just as shocked!"

Shippō hops onto Freeman's shoulder, sporting a grin just as happy as the trio of siblings that the group would have two more members.

"Woo-hoo! You and your brother get to join up! I'm so glad!"

"Haha, me too, kid, me too."

While they smiled over the news, Sango comes over to chat with Coraline.

"You certainly seem happy. Are you not worried about the trouble they could get into?"

"(Nervous smile) Maybe a bit, bu' then again, my brothers have technic'lly been in danger from the first momen' we me' thanks to those sleeven Trinity men...At least this way, I won't hafta constantly regale wha's goin' on, 'cause now they'll get a first-hand view. Plus, I have faith they'll give it their all."

"Hm, that's good...Of course, we'll need to consider getting them weapons that will work better than those...What were those pieces of metal called again?"

"Haha, crowbars...but auy, I see yur point: they migh' last in combat against bandits, but probably not a demon...Only question is where are we gonna get such weapons?"

"(Smile) You leave that to me. I have an idea or two."

Meanwhile, Miroku wanders over to clap a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder with his own smile in regards to the latter's decision.

"This was quite a decision you made. I wasn't sure if you would let the them join up with us or not."

"Keh...well, they're not half-bad fighters, and they got the spirit we need for takin' down that bastard, Naraku...And Coraline seems happy that her brothers are able to come along, so why not?"

"Aah~, so this is not just for the group, but also to please Coraline."

"Awoh don't read into anything sappy, monk! It's not like that!"

"Whatever you say, my friend."

The half-demon scowls at the human's knowing smile...before turning to look at everyone else and stopping at the animated faces of Freeman and Besa...He couldn't help but smile a little himself.

I guess it doesn't hurt to have two more people on board...

Freeman, Besa, Welcome to the team.

---

...Phew. That was a long one. Had lots of fun writing this chapter.

And cheers: My OCs Freeman and Besa are joining the gang for the journey ahead! Yay!

Alright, so from here on, we'll be going back to the original Inuyasha anime storyline. If you've been following in accordance to such, I think most should know which antagonist will be introduced next.

Hint: their name begins with a K and ends with an A.

Anyway, be prepared for more adventures and stay tuned!