I'm back! Finally!
Like I had warned before, I didn't have time to write those last few month as I've bought a house with my fiance! And there was a lot of work to do before we could live in the house... And there's still a lot of work to be done, but I haven't stopped working at it since three months, so I needed a pause... And decided that writing abit was a good way of relaxing... So that what I've been doing for the past three days ^_^
Be warned that the work isn't done in my house, so I still won't be regular on the update, but I do try.
Regarding the story: I've made quite a change to the story, but in all honesty this was a choice that had to be made given Tsukiko's background as Death's sister.
And of course: thanks to all that encourage me with their review, or point out misspelling (yes naginata, I've changed it ^_^) and I hope you'll enjoy the chapter
Chapter 6. August 1996 Lie Weaver
Both Tsukiko and InuYasha had felt the youki first.
It wasn't very powerful, so neither were all that worried, but the hanyou still went out with Kagome to be ready for a fight, while Tsukiko hanged back near Kaede's hut in order to protect a Shippou still on bed rest for two more days.
The attack was swift, and surprisingly not aimed at the young miko and her shards they realized, rushing to a small shrine at the village's border – by the time they had reached the youkai, who looked like an old woman with a scythe, she already had what she'd came for and was running away.
Kaede arrived within moments, out of breath and looking alarmed "This was Kikyou-onee-sama's shrine!" she quickly realized, approaching the ruins to confirm her fears "Her bones, and some of her burial ground were taken..."
"Is it bad?" Kagome wondered
"It is." Tsukiko confirmed, as they had made their way back to the hut "From what I saw, this was a hag, the are good at necromancy..."
"She could try to revive onee-sama as one of her undead servants." Kaede nodded
"We've got to do something then!" Kagome affirmed, eyes widened
"It doesn't have anything to do with the shards, though." InuYasha pointed out – but he was protesting a lot less than he would have when they first met, the miko knew, and more by habit than by real want to avoid helping
"Wasn't Kikyou the former guardian of the Shikon no Tama?" said miko contradicted "It may well have everything to do with our hunt!"
"Then, let's go!"
All were stunned to realize it was their youngest member that had stated that with quiet confidence.
"You're still not completely healed." InuYasha abruptly reminded him "You'd only slow us down."
"I can ride Padfoot with Kagome-chan," the kitsune pointed out "And it's not as if I'll always have the luxury of being completely healed, is it?"
"I'm coming too."
"It won't exactly be a safe travel, Kaede-obaa-sama."
"I know, but this is my sister we're talking about." the old woman affirmed firmly "It is my duty."
Well – there was nothing more to add to that, all of them realized.
"Let's go, then." Tsukiko nodded
The pack was ready to move out within minutes – Kaede was ridding Padfoot with Kagome, while Shippou was borrowing a ride on Tsukiko's shoulder – and they were soon chasing the hag down, the alpha and her beta heading the grouping and tracking the thieving youkai.
"InuYasha," Kaede asked as they rushed through the country "can you tell us what really happened between you and Kikyou-onee-sama, fifty years ago?"
"Tchh. I don't see why you care."
"Because if we're going to see her again soon, it may be in our favor to know."
The hanyou grumbled a bit more – but even he could see the wisdom in this, and eventually he started talking, about a past long gone...
¤.¤.¤
(flashback start)
Kikyou was the perfect priestess, always compassionate toward the sick, calm and composed – and protecting without fail the Shikon no Tame from all the youkai that tried to get their paws on it on a daily basis.
InuYasha was but one of numerous attempts – except he never really tried to kill her, and she in return never did kill him either. He wanted the jewel in order to become a full youkai, but he didn't have to kill it's guardian for that.
Except that said guardian was skilled, and each new tentative to get his claws on the Shikon no Tama was met with failure.
Eventually, it became a matter of habit, until the day she talked to him.
"Do you see me as a human?"
The question had thrown the hanyou out from a loop – but the miko following words quickly explained her question to him...
"I can't show any weakness, nor be indecisive, or youkai would take advantage of it. I'm human, yet not allowed to be one..."
Her next affirmation was even more surprising.
"In a way, we're a bit alike you and I... The hanyou and the inhuman priestess... this is why I haven't killed you."
This was the day he'd fell in love with Kikyou, InuYasha realized later.
And one day, during their talk, she'd dropped the idea "If you used the Shikon no Tama to become human, it would be purified, and I would be free."
They could have a life together, she hadn't said – but he clearly heard the longing in her words...
And so, they agreed to meet, on the next day – only this time, she would bring the jewel, and he would wish on it.
(flashback end)
"You were going to become human?" Tsukiko's voice was carefully neutral, Kagome noted – and she herself was surprised at the proclamation
"It was just a spur of the moment decision!" the hanyou defended himself – before adding, voice bitter "Beside it's not like it matters anyway. It was a trap. She had never intended to give me the jewel. When I went to the promised place, she immediately attacked."
This – was strange, Kagome realize. Even without having known the priestess, this didn't make any sense. If Kikyou merely wanted to kill InuYasha, she could have done so long ago, without wasting her time with a convoluted scheme...
"The rest you know," InuYasha concluded at Kaede "I escaped her attempt, attacked the village and seized the jewel. Then Kikyou tracked me down, and I was sealed to the Goshinboku."
"It doesn't make sense." Kaede whispered softly – and she was heard by all "Kikyou-onee-sama wasn't someone who deceived people, not even youkai..."
"There is something fishy in this." Tsukiko confirmed, unknowingly echoing Kagome's doubts "She didn't need such elaborate trap, which jeopardized all the village, when she could have gotten rid of you from the start, oji-san."
"Well, it's not like I know what was in her head, is it?" he retorted with his usual snark – but all the pack could read in his eyes that doubts had been planted, and that he too was starting to wonder
Still – Kagome was somewhat satisfied to be proved that she had been right for the start: InuYasha had been praising the dead miko too much for them to simply be enemies...
Of course, the miko was too kind not to feel sorry for the hanyou – because she knew by now how difficult it was for her beta to trust anyone, and he had put his trust in Kikyou, only to end up nailed to a tree for fifty years of slumber.
The last part of their trailing was made in somber silence, all of them lost in their thoughts – then, their way was barred by an old rope and wood bridge crawling with warriors. This time, neither Kagome nor InuYasha had to be told to extend their senses...
"These things reek of death!" the hanyou protested first
"Clay bodies." the miko soon confirmed, naginata in hands
While they were prompt to start fighting back against the undead warriors, who weren't all that strong – they were numerous, and the narrow bridge wasn't a good place to pick a fight, Kagome soon forced to switch her weapon back to its smaller form, even InuYasha's Tessaiga too large for the fragile structure.
Of course, it was as they were starting to feel the strain of fighting at a disadvantage that the hag reappeared, floating a few second above them before her eyes singled out Kagome.
The next moment, she was cutting the bridge in two with her large scythe, sending all tumbling in the air and snatching Kagome in the same movement.
Shippou, who had left Tsukiko's shoulder during the fight, was caught by InuYasha, while Padfoot managed to save Kaede, and they were soon touching the ground several dozen meters below, none for the worse if for the temporary fright at loosing the ground under their feet.
"That bitch!"
InuYasha and Kaede were both surprised to hear such loathing in the young ookami's voice – but she was already rushing thought the river and toward the top of the cliff toward where her friend had been abducted "What is wrong with youkai and humans in this era?" she was growling, nearly slipping into canine language
They hadn't time to ask what she meant by this – they had reached the top of the cliff, where a small hut was propped, a large baking oven near it; and Kagome was there, tied and having been unceremoniously dropped in a large cauldron filled with herbs and water – and a large reiki barrier around her, much to the hag's rage.
"You won't be able to resist eternally girl! Soon, your soul will be cut from your body and free to get into another vessel!"
That was when InuYasha saw the body sat by the cauldron's side, in miko clothing – a familiar face, but empty eyes and a body that looked like a puppet without strings...
He opened his mouth, ready to call out the familiar name – yet he could see that for now it was but an empty receptacle, and if even days before his first reflex would have been to rush and tempest about the situation, right now he couldn't.
Because the hanyou was now a beta, sworn to protect his pack, and instincts attuned to them – and the young miko under his protection was visibly suffering from whatever the hag was doing to her with her potions and spells, and his alpha was trembling with barely restrained fury, power nearly dizzying by its intensity twirling violently around her.
Something had triggered the young youkai hime, for the second time since he'd known her, and once more she wasn't going to stand back, he realized. So he turned toward the young priestess, forcing his eyes away from the troubling image of his first and only love "Don't let that barrier down Kagome, we're kicking this old hag's ass and getting you out of this soup!"
The young miko let out the small smile, not able to hide that whatever she was fighting against was painful, a large aura swirling around her and barely restrained by her barrier. As if his words had helped her, the barrier gained in intensity – but it was that moment Kaede chose to speak, having at last seen the soulless miko by their friend's side.
"Don't!"
InuYasha could have sworn he'd heard her voice, tensed and panicked, a moment before her name was pronounced...
"Kiykou-onee-sama!"
It was as if the aura around Kagome had suddenly gained a life of it's own, and the girl let out a heart-wrenching cry, just as the barrier around her cracked, and fell.
"What is this..." the hanyou could only whisper as the large aura left the now unconscious body of Kagome to rush toward Kikyou
¤.¤.¤
"This,"Tsukiko said, "Is a soul far larger than any human should have."
Her voice was strange, the hanyou realized, echoing with alien and untold power, and sounding unnaturally detached from the situation, and suddenly he wondered what he would see should he turn toward his niece...
Now Kikyou was getting on her feet with the natural grace she had always had – but when her eyes opened, they were burning with hate "How dare you raise me!" she said, voice breaking from sorrow and reiki alight around her hands, ready to strike at the hag
The newly revived miko wasn't given the time to do anything, as the hag was already dead on the floor, so swiftly no one had even had the time to see Tsukiko's katana get out of its sheath – but no one had missed the overwhelming feeling of reiki, nor the the way the body on the ground was crumbling into dust under their eyes...
"Well, now that the eyesore is taken care of..." Tsukiko turned toward Kikyou "Your turn."
"Why would a holy one like you work with this traitor?" the priestess protested, clearly thorn between incomprehension and fury – and the way she was addressing his alpha didn't escape InuYasha's notice this time; nor did her accusation
"You are the one who betrayed me!" he protested, suspicions rising again, but indignation stronger
"You lie! I gave up the last of my strength to seal you to that tree after you attacked me and stole the Shikon no Tama!"
"That's not what happened! You are the one who drew me in a trap instead of keeping our agreement!"
"Please! Kikyou-onee-sama, it's me, your sister Kaede! Hear me out!" Kaede pleaded, trying to calm the newly raised miko
"Why would you side with him too?"
"You have both been tricked!"
At that, the revived miko looked to consider the situation, but anger was quickly taking back the upper hand "No! Whatever truly happened, it's too late!" she shouted, tears in her eyes "Because I died hating you, as long as you live I cannot get over this hatred and move on!"
"Well," Tsukiko voice reminded them of her presence – how they had manage to forget, with the feeling of her power, they wouldn't know "you've had your chance." this was clearly aimed at Kikyou
"What do you mean?"
"I gave you a chance to voluntarily go back to your proper place in the reincarnation system out of respect for a holy servant who did her duty most of her life..." the ookami stated coolly "But in the end, you failed to respect the natural circle, and are clinging to a cursed life given by a necromancer..."
"And who are you to judge me?"
"Are you that blinded by rage that you can't even tell something any dead soul would know?"
"I'm not dead any longer!"
There wasn't any step taken, and yet, Tsukiko was suddenly nearly nose-to-nose with the resurrected priestess "Make no mistake, dead soul, you've had your life, and passed on, too early, maybe, but you still passed on and went back to the reincarnation circle. What you are right now is a fake body of clay, and a parasite stealing the life of a living girl who still have her life to live and her destiny to complete! A destiny you failed to complete!"
"What are you talking about?" a bewildered Kikyou asked, clearly unsettled by the power she was feeling
"Wishing InuYasha into humanity?" this time, there was no longer any careful neutrality – but clear loathing "From oji-san it was alright, he didn't know any better... But you? The guardian of the Shikon no Tama? You better than anyone else knew that a selfish wish wouldn't destroy the jewel!"
"It wasn't..."
"How was wishing for an easier life not selfish, girl? How was wishing for someone to lose the very nature of his being just for him to conform to your standards not selfish? Or wasn't a hanyou good enough for you?"
"I loved InuYasha!"
"And yet you'd have him turned human, and loose half of himself, rather than find a way for the two of you to be together. Were you so eager to get rid of your burden?"
InuYasha should be furious – he really should be, he mused – but right now, he was by an impossible to wake Kagome, realizing that while he would have loved to have Kikyou back... that would mean condemning Kagome, who was pack, and pack didn't just sacrifice each other's, and his senses, so much better now than they had been before, were screaming at him that the miko wasn't really resurrected, but just a construct, just like his alpha was saying – a stolen soul trapped into a body of clay crafted by a malevolent hag...
But the worst was probably the cutting accusations that Tsukiko was aiming at his first love.
Because in a way, he could hear a truth in them – oh he didn't doubt any longer that Kikyou had truly loved him, and that both had been tricked by some unknown third party – but Kikyou had asked him to become human, where neither Kagome nor Tsukiko had ever said anything against the fact that he was hanyou; and it maybe because they both were raised in a different era, it didn't erase the fact that they had both been more accepting of his nature than his own lover.
So he dragged his eyes away from Kikyou, toward the soulless husk in his arms "Oy! Wake up, idiotic girl, our alpha is getting all annoyed about your nap!"
Maybe it was stupid – but there wasn't a lot more he could do apart from taunting – and against all logic, the body in his arms shuddered...
And a few meters away, Kikyou fell to her knees, as the aura from earlier escaped from her body to get back into Kagome's...
"No!"
The undead miko tried to flee, realizing that if she stayed all her soul would get back to the living body it had just emptied – but Tsukiko was negligently in her way, freezing her to her spot, and now that she was nearly gone once more, she realized who this was, and how foolish she had been to try and escape...
And so, she stopped her struggles, bowing her head toward the woman she had finally recognized and ready to bore the might of her anger.
"InuYasha and you were dealt a bad hand," Kikyou raised her head, surprised to hear the voice much kinder now that she had stopped struggling, and green eyes peering at her from the goddess who was now kneeling on the ground by her side "and while I don't know who tricked the both of you and caused you to die far too early, I know he probably also was the one who confused you enough to ever think that wishing humanity on oji-san would make the Shikon no Tama disappear..."
¤.¤.¤
Kikyou's eyes filled with comprehension and shame, as she finally accepted the harsh accusations from earlier, just as she was given absolution...
"But your time is over, and your soul has moved on and right now all you're clinging on is a fragment distorted by anger and the necromancy used to raise you. Clinging to the Mortal Plane would only bring InuYasha and you more suffering, and go against what you lived for..."
"I just don't want to be forgotten so soon..." the miko admitted brokenly, making InuYasha close his eyes in grief at the whispered words that tore anew at his heart
"And you won't be." Tsukiko promised, taking the miko's hands in her own, and gesturing toward the hanyou – who didn't see, as his eyes were closed
But the miko understood the message well-enough – and with Tsukiko's power touching her own soul, the anger was dimmed, and pushed back, and the echo of the love she had felt once upon a time was strong enough to soften her eyes.
The goddess was right of course, InuYasha wouldn't forget her like that, despite everything that had happened "At least the hag rising me let us know about the treachery..." she sighed – then her eyes fell on the still unconscious body of Kagome, in InuYasha's arms, with a worried Shippou a few steps away "But you're right..." she added toward Tsukiko "I can't steal a life just for my own vengeance, and this poor girl have a hard task ahead... I just wish I could help..."
"You will." Tsukiko promised as she felt the priestess releasing the hold she had on the last fragment of soul still in her, her powers mingling with it and guiding it back to Kagome
"Farewell InuYasha, I really did love you... So I won't ask of you to change anymore, but simply to be happy..."
The hanyou's eyes widened at the words, but a quick glance around him showed that only he, and maybe Tsukiko, had heard the untold last words of Kikyou.
"Will Kagome-chan be alright?" a worried Shippou asked
"It's difficult to say." Kaede answered with a frown a bit of sorrow at her sister's harsh fate lingering in her old eyes "The fact that her soul was awakened to it's previous state, then came back to her may have changed her."
"Don't worry." Tsukiko smiled serenely "Kagome will be alright, and Kikyou will have her wish too..."
[Hidden Quest Complete! The next great journey...
Kikyou learned of the lies that ended her life, and voluntarily gave back her soul to Kagome
Reward: +100XP, all gains A Miko's Blessing (+10 to one Mystic Knowledge), Kagome gains Unified Soul Perk (Kikyou's knowledge was passed on to Kagome, +10 to all Mystic Knowledge)
[New life Quest! Lie's weaver...
Goal: uncover what happened on the day InuYasha was sealed
Reward: +50XP per goal, +1 Pack mutation upon completion]
[Goal complete!+50XP
Goal update: find who manipulated Kikyou and InuYasha]
[Hunting Complete! Urasue the Hag
Reward:+25XP, +1 Hunting Trophy]
[Level up! Kagome is now level 65!
+2CP, +3SP]
[Level up! InuYasha is now level 109!
+1SP]
[Level up! Shippou is now level 47!
+2CP, +3SP]
The pack and Kaede's return to Edo was subdued – while they had defeated the hag, and she would never again raise someone from the grave to turn them against their loved one, the fight didn't really feel like a victory.
Kaede was once more mourning her sister – and worse InuYasha, who hadn't felt the passage of time while sealed, had been confronted with her lover, and learned that they had been set up to think they had betrayed each other. While the hanyou was thankful for that knowledge, as it meant Kikyou hadn't betrayed him, and it hurts to realize that had they only known, a tragedy could have been avoided...
As they reached the village, Tsukiko paused, stretched, then grabbed her uncle by the collar under Kagome and Kaede's surprised eyes "We're going to soak a bit, we're covered in dust from those annoying warrior, and I can't stand the stench any longer!" she announced , not really leaving any choice to the hanyou, while Shippou was nodding, clearly agreeing with her affirmation – even Padfoot seemed keen on the idea as he nudged the young miko off his back
Kagome looked at the group heading toward the nearby hot spring – the existence of which she had learned only after suffering thought several bath in the ice cold river – with a smile.
While her upbringing was too ingrained for her to be ready to share a bath as pack as Tsukiko could so casually, she understood that right now the bonding experience as pack may well be what the hanyou needed.
With a sigh, she followed Kaede toward her hut – she'd settle for the river, if only for today, as even without a youkai sharp senses, she still felt dirty from the impromptu sojourn in the hag's cauldron...
A couple hours later, the pack was together once more, gathered in a clearing not too far from the hot spring, Tsukiko coaching Shippou through some new moves with his tanto, while InuYasha was napping on a branch nearby, ears twitching from time to time as he kept watch as the same time. Kagome, sprawled in the grass, was meditating, trying to learn to call her powers without the help of her weapon.
Finally done with her training for the day, the miko stretched a bit and called the hanyou down, taking her hairbrush out of her Inventory with a thought – while she may never be comfortable enough to share a bath with all the pack, there were other ways to bond with them she knew, thanks to Tsukiko's lessons.
InuYasha barely protested before letting her attack his clean hair, and was soon relaxing under the gentle touch – and Kagome noted with an amused smile that Shippou, having seen them, was now tugging on Tsukiko's sleeve, intent clear. The alpha smiled indulgently, and within moments was seated by her childhood friend's side, combing their youngest' hair and playing with the light locks.
The pack spent a few more days in Edo, and if InuYasha's mood was a bit darker than was usual, none of them remarked on it, letting him mourn in peace.
And the hanyou decided to mourn in the only way he knew, by becoming stronger – as such, he announced one evening "We should stay a few more days."
Kagome raised an eyebrow, surprised at the affirmation, and the beta explained "This," a window appeared in the air, with a Challenge on it "We should be able to do it."
"Why, though?" Shippou asked – they had decided to be wary of challenge after all, since they were more dangerous than arena fight
"It would raise the pack level. And the second level bonus is something we really need."
They turned their eyes to said bonus description – a +5 raise in spiritual resistance that could eventually be raised to +25, which wasn't useless but not ground-breaking either...
"Read all the description." Tsukiko teased, clearly having seen Shippou and Kagome's reservations on their faces "The bonus will make us consider all our pack-mates powers as friendly..."
The kit's eyes widened, as he turned toward Kagome, who was coming to the same revelation – because she was the only full human, and with powers well-known to hurt youkai, she couldn't train with her reiki against her friends just yet, not having enough control over it in order not to hurt them...
InuYasha was right, they needed this!
"So, what's the challenge?" Shippou asked, while already reading the description "Three Boss fights back to back?" a groan "This isn't going to be easy..."
"Well, it is a Challenge." Kagome pointed out in a lighthearted tone, before turning toward InuYasha and Tsukiko "Let's do this then!"
With that, the pack accepted the Challenge – and their surroundings faded, soon replaced by a large arena, with a few places to take cover and traps laid around
"Wow, even the fighting ground has been enhanced..." Shippou noticed with a wince, Kiba slipping in his small hands "So, who's this?" he added, pointing at the figure that was materializing slowly on the other side of the arena
"Voldemort." Tsukiko recognized easily "First War Voldemort," she precised, as there were several incarnation of the man in the Boss List "Powerful wizard, at this point of his life he had tone of brute power but also quite a lot of finesse. Like most wizard, he's a long range fighter. Good news is, as a damage dealer he doesn't have a lot of HP. Bad news is, he deals plenty of damage to compensate."
They shared a wince – while Tsukiko and Kagome had some knowledge of kyudo, the group main focus clearly laid in close range.
"Well, I guess we'll do this the hard way then." commented Tsukiko "InuYasha, you'll attack first to grab his attention, and we'll circle him to hit hard and fast while you keep him occupied."
The hanyou nodded – where he would have loudly bragged about not needing their help before, Kagome noted with a fond smile – and the fight was on.
Fighting a wizard, they soon found out, was both hard and surprisingly easy.
Hard, because this type of long-range opponent was the worse they could have been slatted against, the fact the spell he used were unknown to all but Tsukiko meant they were fighting blind – even if the wolf princess did manage to explain most of the attack as shortly as she could as they were fighting.
Hard too, because the man was quite evidently intelligent, a seasoned warrior that knew how to use the battlefield around him and was used to be outnumbered.
But easy too, because as a wizard, Voldemort had a crippling weakness - he wasn't used to fight against weapon users, and while he did adapt soon enough, they too were the worst kind of adversary for him.
The arrogance strong wizard tended to develop made them shield against attack, rather than evade – but a weapon wasn't shielded against in the same way as a spell, and this proved to be his weak point, since with the limited HP he had, he wouldn't afford to take too many attacks.
As soon as the pack realized he could shield against only one weapon at a time, their strategy was confirmed – and they timed their attack to land nearly at the same time, preventing him from avoiding them all and taking nearly a quart of his HP in one combined attack.
After that it was only a matter of managing the same pattern two more times before his HP bar dropped into the red.
The last hit, to their surprised, was inflicted by a new arrival – a tall, heavily scarred man with angry Flames dancing around him, who dropped Voldemort with one powerful fist before turning toward them, grunting
"'Tch. More trash."
[Goal update: Defeat three Bosses back to back in the Arena (1/3)]
"Xanxus," Tsukiko identified for them "the Varia Boss. A violent assassin who uses both long and short range attacks. This is a bruiser, he's got nearly three times Voldemort HP count, but his attack, while powerful, aren't as crippling as long as you don't take too many."
Once more, the pack nodded, acknowledging the description and relaxing ever so slightly – this was an enemy they were better fitted to fight.
Of course that didn't mean they could take it easy – a second fight right after the first one wasn't an easy feat by any mean, and they were all keenly aware of the increasing risk of making beginner mistakes with the weariness that was creeping on them.
Xanxus was a very different fighter from Voldemort – while both were masters of the battlefield, one had been master of his emotions, cold and calculating, the other was fury and fire incarnate, lashing out with everything he had.
In other words, Xanxus was the same kind of fighter as InuYasha.
The fight had been far longer than the one against Voldemort, by virtue of their second enemy having far more HP, and the uncanny ability to dodge strikes that should have connected – for a human, the Varia leader had nearly youkai like instincts, which made Tsukiko wonder if the man hadn't had youkai ancestry, just like her Cloud Guardian in her life as Kazami Sawada had had.
A question she would never have the answer to, as she had killed the man a long time ago – or rather, would kill him in a few year, but she wasn't really suppose to meddle with lives she'd already lived through.
Still, as Xanxus' HP bar finally dropped into the red, and the nearly beast like man was finished of by their third adversary, all of the small pack could feel the exertion, and Tsukiko wasn't happy to identify their last opponent...
[Goal update: Defeat three Bosses back to back in the Arena (2/3)]
"This is Pride, one of the nine quasi immortals I met in my third life." she explained as they all jumped out of the lashing out shadows "Chaos Game has translated this by giving him a very high HP regeneration rate."
"In other words we've got hit him hard and fast." InuYasha summed up
Tsukiko nodded, and KageShin in her hands started to resonate with power, shadows swirling around it ominously.
Understanding what she meant for them to do, Kagome and Shippou shared an unsure glance – this they had never done in a fight after all – but hardening their resolve, they called their powers too, focusing on their weapon.
Even if InuYasha, who tended to do it naturally ever since Tsukiko had explained it, made it seem easy – focusing power into a weapon's strike was anything but easy, and beyond calling their powers to the weapon itself, imbuing it with their own youki or reiki, neither the young kit nor the miko had ever managed this in a fight, even if they had trained to do it.
But neither the hanyou nor his niece seemed to hold any doubt in their abilities, both grinning wildly before jumping toward the ever moving shadows, nimbly avoiding them to try and strike at the body of the enemy itself, rather than his strange powers.
Of course, there were far too many shadows for them to manage completely – but between Tsukiko and InuYasha's unrelenting attack, the shadows were soon forced to draw back nearer to the boy's body to protect him rather than attack – and with that, gave an opening for Shippou and Kagome, who jumped in, aiming at Pride directly while he was still defending against their alpha and her beta...
[Challenge Complete! Three time's the charm...
Goal complete!+25XP
First War Voldemort beaten! +25XP
Varia's Leader beaten! +25XP
Pride beaten! +25XP
Reward: Pack XP doubled until the next Pack level]
[Pack level up! Shadow Pack is now level 2!]
[Level up! Kagome is now level 65!
+1SP]
[Level up! Shippou is now level 51!
+3SP, +2CP, +1PP]
[Level up! InuYasha is now level 110!
+1SP]
[Shippou is now Two-Tailed!
Two-Tail Perks
- Changeling: you can change your form to anything you can think of with enough training, unlocks Shape-shifting as a fast learning skill (inherited from mother)
- Marauder: you have a unique ability with illusions, unlocks True Illusions as a fast learning skill (inherited as a Kitsune)
- Sun Child: unlocks Light Manipulation as a fast growing skill (inherited from father)]
available: 1]
The young kit stared a bit dumbly at the multiple notifications, still not quite believing it – before cautiously confirming the Changeling tail-perk, remembering how his mother used to amuse him with it when he was young, and she was still alive.
And with a wave of youki, he felt before he saw the two-tails he was now sporting, still hardly believing it.
To know that Kagome was already strong as a two-tail, or InuYasha and Tsukiko were both three-tailed was one thing – to realize that he, small, young, scaredy-cat Shippou was a two-tail was another! For a moment, he wished his parents could be there to see it – but he soon pushed the melancholy aside, and instead jumped enthusiastically in the ookami hime's arms and let himself be showered in praised by his new pack.
Challenge complete, they had spent a further two days getting used to the feel of mingling their powers in and out of a fight, and furthering their fighting strategies now that they didn't have to worry about inadvertently harm each other with their opposite spiritual powers – after all youki used right could be just as dangerous for a human as reiki was for a youkai...
Shippou had also started training his new powers, and Tsukiko had been impressed to see that the kit seemed to have a knack for shape-shifting, learning very fast to take on completely different form – even if the result were far from perfect – she remembered spending month training only to change her hair and eyes when she had started training her Metamorph ability, which was the closest to his new ability...
Then once more they were on the road, heading toward the latest rumors of bloodshed and chaos – numerous and bloody battle in this era could be just normal, given the era, but with luck, it could be the work of a Shikon Shard...
"Kyah! Hot spring!"
Tsukiko laughed at the childish enthusiasm her miko friend demonstrated each time they neared the naturally hot water, but didn't waste any time in following her in.
"Don't go to far," she warned nevertheless – there was a priest or monk bathing out there, but with the heavy rocks making a nearly natural wall it should be alright
Keeping a part of her senses trailed on the previous occupant of the hot springs in case he decided to come nearer, she let herself sink into the water – while she wasn't as tired as Kagome, who wasn't yet used to the long days spent walking, getting rid of the grime of the road was always welcomed.
It was a few minutes into their bath that she felt a spike of interest, as the holy servant finally realized their presence – and her Soul Sense soon realized that it wasn't only the fact there were two naked woman nearby that had spiked his interest...
"Say, Kagome-chan," she asked her friend, her own reiki already focusing "Do you feel anything nearby?"
Surprised at the question, but used to Tsukiko prompting her like that from time to time, the young miko in training closed her eyes – then opened them back in surprise "Eh! Shikon shards! I hadn't felt them because they were so close! Also... They aren't corrupted by youki at all!"
Tsukiko nodded, satisfied to have her suspicions confirmed – as for InuYasha, at the loud proclamation, he'd rushed toward them... Or rather toward the priest still hidden behind the rocks...
With a loud shriek, and a peeved "Osuwari!" the hanyou was crashing in the water.
"What do you think you're doing, baka-inu?" a blushing Kagome protested, hiding herself in the water
"Tch. You said they were shards!" the beta answered, considering himself in the right
"Untainted shards possessed by the holy servant spying on us from the other side of the wall," Tsukiko confirmed calmly, "But well he was here first..."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Kagome wondered
"As long as he wasn't coming toward us I didn't see the point." the wolf youkai shrugged "It's not as if the spring belongs to anyone."
"That doesn't have anything to do with the shards!" InuYasha reminded the two girls, peeved to be dripping wet in his haori and dismissed so easily
"Well it's not like we can just beat him up and steal them," pointed Kagome "he's not a mad youkai!"
Looking at his dubious expression, it was clear InuYasha was ready to do just that – but then again, the hanyou had spent most of his life fighting to survive, so it wasn't that surprising...
"Why don't we speak about this once we're out of the water?" Kagome sighed, before adding toward the rocks "We've got meat on the fire."
Tsukiko laughed at the gurgle the man's stomach emitted at that information, low enough that a human wouldn't hear – but then again loud enough that all the youkai of the pack heard it. Kagome was soon out of the water, while InuYasha was taking advantage of the fact he was already wet to bath too – as for Shippou, he hadn't left the nearby clearing where they'd made their camp, not wanting to leave their bedding and supper unattended.
Tsukiko, dressing herself with a thought and the help of the Wardrobe System, made her way toward the other side of the hot spring.
"Thanks for the invitation." the man said before his eyes widened "You're..."
The princess had to repress a snort "Wow, you're quite a lecher for a holy servant if you hadn't even realized I was a youkai before..."
"I'm an admirer of all female form!" the man protested hotly – if such an unashamed confirmation could be constructed as a protest
"You're quite open-minded, houshi-sama." she praised, amused at the comment – and now identifying his chosen profession thanks to the hakushou by his side
"A servant of Buddha shouldn't discriminate." the man answered easily as they walked toward the pack's camp "I've got nothing against youkai as long as they aren't harming innocents."
"Wise enough." Tsukiko mused "But a philosophy most don't adhere to in these days and age."
"Which is why it's so surprising to see your traveling companions."
"Two youkai a hanyou and a miko..." Kagome commented as they arrived "I guess our pack is unusual in these parts." she admitted, amused – after all they wouldn't have warranted a second look in Tokyo's magical district, from what she'd seen the one time she'd been there
The priest noted the miko's choice of word, but didn't comment on it, instead choosing to introduce himself now that all were present "I'm Miroku, a traveling houshi who helps people in need and exorcise spirits."
"I'm Kagome!" the young girl answered with a smile "I'm a miko in training! This is Tsukiko-chan, our alpha! She's a Huntress! InuYasha is our beta, and Shippou-chan is learning to fight with as we travel!"
"And you are gathering the Shikon shards." the priest commented – voice light, but eyes sharp "Yet I don't see any of you needing anymore power," at that he glanced toward the three tails neatly curled at Tsukiko's feet, and even more surprising, the kit's two tails lazily waving in the air
"We don't need this kind of tainted power." Shippou agreed easily, having seen more than enough about the cursed shards effects on youkai "But Kagome-chan must gather them, so we're helping!" he affirmed, proud to be a part of such an important task
The miko smiled indulgently at the young fox, who could still act quite childishly from time to time, for all that he'd had to mature too fast when loosing his family – then, seeing the houshi's attention turn toward her "I'm the guardian of the Shikon no Tama." she looked guiltily at the few shards around her neck "Not a very good one, since I let it be stolen and broken, but it's guardian all the same... And so I'll gather the shards back and ensure that it's never used by evil ever again."
"An ambitious plan." couldn't help but remark the priest "Especially if you already lost it once."
"Well try to protect something you didn't even know you had!" Shippou retorted, having heard about Kagome's first fall into the well and not liking anyone mocking his pack
The man was surprised at the affirmation, but didn't ask about it, instead explaining "Still, I'm afraid I can't give you my shards."
"Why?" the wolf hime wondered, guessing by the feeling the man was unknowingly broadcasting at her that there was more to the story "After all, these things are of no use to you, and you'll have all the youkai who've got an ounce of evil in them after you..."
"That's precisely why I must hunt those." Miroku affirmed – then, seeing the travelers clearly didn't find the explanation enough "I'm hunting a youkai whom I'll know will go after the shards. As long as I have them, I'll find him eventually."
"Why are you hunting this youkai?" Shippou asked "Is he a bad guy?"
"He is." the priest confirmed, a bit amused at the kit simple-minded question
"Does he have anything to do with that nasty curse of yours?" Tsukiko added, eyes on the praying beads curled around Miroku's right hand
The surprise around her was general – from the priest himself, who didn't think anyone could feel his curse, as from her pack, who hadn't felt what was evident for her. Of course, it wasn't as if they had the esoteric sense that came with being a goddess such as her Soul and Blood Senses...
Finally, Miroku nodded "I don't know how you know that..." he eyed her suspiciously "And hadn't you been traveling with a miko, I'd been tempted to think you're the one I'm after..." Tsukiko didn't react at the veiled threat, but InuYasha bristled by her side "Still, you're right."
"So the youkai you're after cursed you?" Kagome asked "Is it why you're hunting him?"
"It is. Because if I don't kill him, this curse will kill me eventually..."
"What kind of youkai is it?"
"As to that..." a sigh "I don't know."
Seeing the disbelieving stares around him, Miroku served himself a second serving of the dinner they'd shared with him, and explained the origin of his curse.
Or rather, the curse of his grand-father Miyatsu, a powerful monk, who had been tracking and battling regularly against a youkai rumored to be searching for the Shikon no Tama.
The problem was – this youkai could steal human's appearance, and each time they met, wore a different face...
And one day, the youkai stole the looks of a beautiful hime.
¤.¤.¤
"Don't tell me," Kagome interrupted, guessing easily enough at the dreamy look on the houshi's face "He was a pervert just like you."
"Ojii-sama was an admire of the feminine beauty just like me." Miroku confirmed, making the pack sweat-drop "And so, unprepared for the attack that came, he didn't manage to dodge." a glance toward his hand "Both his sutra to ward off evil and his hand were pierced... And the curse was set."
This time, he was more talking to himself than to them as he nearly whispered "In place of the wound, a kazaana had been ripped open, sucking everything in it as long as was not covered, growing large year after year and use after use..."
"Eventually taking it's owner's life." Tsukiko completed the unfinished sentence, making the priest nod his assent before continuing
"Only to appear on the next one in the family. The curse took my grand-father's life, and was passed on to my father, then to me as he too was taken by the wind..."
In Kagome's wide eyes, her empathy toward the man could be clearly read, and the pack, who knew InuYasha, could see that even him wasn't left indifferent by the story.
"So this is why, when I heard the Shikon no Tama had been broken, and the shards scattered across the country, I knew I had to gather them... Because sooner or latter, Naraku will come after them and I'll have my chance to kill him, and get rid of this curse!" he affirmed, eyes firm with resolve "And he will come, of that I don't doubt. After all, he's already killed the Shikon Miko once, fifty years ago." he warned Kagome
This affirmation took all the pack by surprise, as soon all of them were making the same connection...
"A youkai that can steal face..." Kagome was by InuYasha's side in a moment, seeing him trembling in rage
The packs soothing presence around him kept him from giving in to the burning feeling that was threatening from taking him over "He's the bastard that Kikyou and me up." the hanyou whispered in agreement to the unspoken revelation, fury in his words
"Then we'll hunt him." Tsukiko promised, voice icy
"We will." Shippou nodded too, hands resting on FuurinKiba "Just like we avenged father."'
"After all," Kagome added tone lighter than she really felt – this was after all a youkai who'd managed to fool the far more experimented Kikyou "With these," she pointed at the shards around her neck "we'll cross path one day or the other."
In the wake of the realization they had just had, none of them really gave any attention to the familiar green words that had appeared after Miroku's tale...
[Goal complete! +50XP
Goal update: learn about Naraku's origin]
[Level up! Shippou is now level 52!
+1SP]
Miroku was taken aback by the sudden intensity of small group of travelers – then understood in the few words that were spoken that they too were now set on hunting his old nemesis.
Usually, the priest tended to travel alone, preferring not to create any lasting bond with other people when his life expectancy was so short – but this group, no this pack, was different.
Not only for the powerful and pure, if mostly untrained, reiki he could feel coming from the young miko, but also for the unusual unity they were revealing without a second though and the easy acceptance with which they had all become set on their new goal all for the sake of one of their own...
These people, the cursed houshi reflected with a small pang of loneliness, he wouldn't mind getting to know better.
"Why don't you give it a chance?" Miroku turned toward the young ookami, who smiled serenely, as if she'd read his thoughts "We look to be heading the same way, just travel with us for a while to see if you like it or if you prefer making your own way alone. After all, since we're all after the shards and Naraku, we'll probably still meet quite often so it's a chance to get to know each other better."
"Tsuki-chan is right." Kagome confirmed with a smile "The more the merrier."
"As long as he doesn't get in our way..." shrugged a disgruntled InuYasha – inwardly a bit awed with the easy acceptance the two childhood friends shared, the same acceptance that made them into a pack
Shippou peeked curiously at the young man from behind his plate, the young but perceptive fox reading the hesitance, and the longing, in the houshi's eyes. The human may be a bit of a pervert – and hadn't even tried to deny it – but he didn't seem like a bad guy.
"You shouldn't be afraid to have friends and family because of this Naraku guy." he said knowingly, thinking about how he'd tried to take on the Thunder brothers alone "It's making you sad, and making him win."
Miroku's eyes widened at the affirmation – and with it, his last hesitation disappeared and he smiled "You're right." bowing "Please take care of me, for I'll be traveling with you for awhile."
[Hidden Quest Complete! Gathering allies...
you managed to interest Miroku enough that he's willing to travel with you
Reward: +100XP, A Houshi's Companionship Perk unlocked (+10 to one Awareness Skill)]
[Level up! You are now level 137!
+1SP]
[Level! Kagome is now level 68!
+2SP]
[Level up! InuYasha is now level 111!
+1SP]
[Level up! Shippou is now level 54!
+2SP]
[Level up! Miroku is now level 28!
+7SP, +2CP]
The pack shared surprised glance – they hadn't expected their new traveling companion to be included in the numerous level up caused by the hidden quest but seeing as Tsukiko didn't seem surprised, nor worried, they guessed it didn't matter right now...
And sure enough, the answer came a few moments later via the Communication System, the hime reminding them that even Souta had leveled up when caught up in a fight with them. While neither Kagome's brother nor the young houshi were chosen by Fate like the miko was, each was a holy servant, and as such favored by the gods – their powers were sufficiently compatible with Chaos Game that it helped them as long as they were around one of the Game's main player...
"Now that you all know my story, I have a request for you."
Tsukiko eyed suspiciously the young man, whose aura felt a lot lighter than when sharing his story as he was suddenly by Kagome's side. Her friend was visibly of the same mind, as she answered hesitantly "Yes?"
"Please bear my child!"
"Eh!"
"If misfortune fell on me, and I couldn't manage to off Naraku, it is essential that the duty be passed on to a child of my blood!"
"Get away from Kagome!" InuYasha finally shouted, swiftly removing the stunned girl from the lecher's arms
"Oh I see." he nodded "I hadn't realized it was like this."
"What the heck is he saying?" the hanyou wondered, somehow sure it would be something stupid
"I hadn't realized InuYasha was in love Kagome. I'm sorry!"
"She's pack!" the hanyou protested a bit too fast
"You shouldn't hide from your feeling like that," the houshi admonished "It's not healthy."
"It's you who wont be healthy for long if you insist on saying such idiocies!"
As the discussion went from serious to courtyard talk, Shippou turned toward his mentor "I've got nothing against them, but still... Humans are strange..."
Tsukiko smiled at the kit, amused at the affirmation but explaining nonetheless "They seem strange to you because they tend to be able to change emotions a lot faster than us. Their adaptability is their greatest strength after all."
¤.¤.¤
The light mood in which they ended the day was soon forgotten the next day, as after a few hours a walking toward a castle where Miroku had apparently been asked to protect a local hime from some youkai kidnappers, they happened upon a large battlefield – or rather, a butchery.
"All their bowels have been torn out," InuYasha remarked somberly as Miroku was praying for the poor souls
"This is not the work of a low level youkai." the priest remarked, prayer done "Without a doubt, a shard must be at work here."
"And this smell is strange..." Shippou added, nose wrinkled "There's ink mixed in the blood and gore!"
The group was soon back on the road again – the smell of ink that Shippou had identified led away from the bloody scene, and in the direction of the castle they were previously heading toward – something that didn't bode well for the hime Miroku had been asked to help...
It was as they neared the small village neighboring the castle that they happened upon a few guards beating-up a small man with large, round eyes and his hair tied to the neck, wearing the usual writing tools of a scholar.
Apparently the scene wasn't usual, judging from the mutter of the farmers around...
The man was a painter named Koutatsu, and it wasn't the first time he'd been caught staring at the princess passing by. Said princess was soon stopping the beating with a soft word, and carrying on her way.
The traveling companion shared a glance...
"The fucker smells like blood and guts and ink." InuYasha bluntly summed up
"But the hime is clearly touched by a curse and won't survive long." Miroku added, a frown on his face
"Well, this guy seems to be after the princess, right?" Kagome pointed out "So if we help her we'll catch him."
"And why can't we catch him now?" InuYasha protested
"Because collaterals."
"Eh?"
"To avoid innocent villagers getting caught in the fight."
"Tch. Humans..." the hanyou grumbled – stomping nevertheless toward the castle where the hime was heading to
An amused Miroku couldn't help but remark "He acts tough, but he really is kind isn't he?"
Kagome smiled warmly at the priest "Wow, you saw through him really fast!"
"It's part of the job, Kagome-sama." he explained "As a houshi I've learned to guess a lot about people from what they say... And what they don't."
"It's something you already do naturally." Tsukiko pointed out to the girl with an amused smile "And something most holy servant learn to do sooner or later. While meditation is important, empathy isn't a skill to be neglected either."
"Tsukiko-hime-sama is right." Miroku nodded – said hime rolled her eyes at the title the houshi insisted on giving her
"You'll see!" she muttered "You'll be forced to drop all those formality as soon as we're stuck in our first fight together! Calling me such a mouthful will get you killed otherwise!"
"You should be used to it. You are the only heir to the Lord of the West after all. " teased InuYasha
"Doesn't mean I like it." she grumbled good-naturally, still a bit surprised at the unexpected insight the houshi had had on her origins – most holy servants didn't care enough about youkai to learn about their distinctive mark like the moon on her forehead in this era, yet Miroku had recognized it, and given her the correct, if lengthy, title according to her rank
The priest laughed good-naturally at her protests, knowing she was probably right, but didn't answer as they had arrived at the castle – quickly, he introduced himself to the guard, and they were soon introduced to the local hime and her worried father...
They explained about how the princess had been having the same dream night after night – about an oni coming to get her in a carriage, taking her to an unknown mansion where she stayed for several hours, alone in an empty room but with the unceasing feeling of being watched by some unknown being.
After assuring both that they would help, the pack and the houshi were soon talking about their course of action.
"The painter is human," Kagome was quickly pointing out "Yet the corpse we've found couldn't have been killed by him, and there are oni involved here too..."
"But he reeks of blood and guts." Shippou protested "It's too fishy to dismiss!"
"I'm not dismissing it. That man clearly was surrounded by an evil aura." the young miko agreed "I'm just wondering how he's tied to the situation."
"He's probably the one controlling the oni." InuYasha affirmed, visibly having thought about it "Did you feel a shard?"
"I couldn't say, I didn't focus on him." she admitted guiltily "The aura around him was too disturbing."
"It could have hidden the feeling of a shard then." Tsukiko concluded, now seeing where her beta was leading
"But... the Shikon shards can't be used by human, can they?" asked Shippou
"That's not totally true." Miroku corrected "The shards feed on evil in all its form. Youkai are simply most susceptible to it, and sturdy enough not to die right away under the taint of evil. While humans can be infected by a small dose of evil, without completely falling, there is no middle-ground for youkai."
Tsukiko nodded – even if simplified, the houshi had summed up the reasons why corrupted youkai tended to be so much more dangerous than corrupted humans, this was something she knew well as a Huntress.
¤.¤.¤
After a long talk – as like always Tsukiko tended to make people around her work to the conclusion rather than explain everything right away – they eventually settled on a course of action, and preparing themselves, waited for the night to come.
And just like the hime had described, with the darkness, oni came to take her away – except she had failed to mention how strange their appearance was.
"It's just as you've guessed," commented Miroku toward InuYasha as they sped after the carriage "These things are drawings!"
They arrived to a large and empty mansion, where Shippou, who'd volunteered himself to take the form of the princess, was already battling Koutatsu's creations, Padfoot by his side, the Grimm having followed him from the shadows.
"And there's a shard in his inkwell!" Kagome realized as they all took their weapon out "It's the ink itself that's evil!"
With a large slicing motion, InuYasha was cleaving through a large group of ink-drawn oni, before faltering as the body felt to the ground in a mass of guts and ink, the powerful scent dizzying to his sensitive nose.
Easily identifying the problem, Tsukiko reminded him "Shield your nose like I taught you to do in our time!"
Shaking away the last of the powerful smell effect on him, the hanyou did as he was told, and was soon joining back into the fray – as for the monsters, they had been kept at bay by Miroku, the priest demonstrating for the first time the frightening power of his cursed hand.
"There's no end to it!" Kagome groaned, her naginata twirling around her as she fought side by side with Shippou "He just keeps on unleashing new drawing!"
"We'll just have to cut the root of the problem then!" decided InuYasha, pushing the oni out of his way and rushing toward the painter, who scrambled back in fear
"Don't come near me!"
The hanyou faltered for a second at the honest terror in the man's eyes – missing the harder, crueler glint when he paused his attack, and getting pushed back the next moment by yet another painting hidden away in the painter's clothes.
Not wasting a second, Koutatsu started to flee on an ink dragon, while InuYasha was jumping back on his feet, furious and ready to chase him – only to be stopped by the calming hand of Tsukiko on his arm.
"It's too late, oji-san." she whispered sadly
As she said this, he realized that the evil feeling had suddenly increased, making Kagome recoil in horror – and the inkwell at the painter's side started to bubble, the blood and guts reaching toward the terrified man before the hanyou could do anything more than try to reach a helping hand toward him.
"Rest in peace." Miroku sighed as the rest of the group neared the bubbling patch of miasma
Kagome knelt, snatching the shard and purifying it in the same moment "He was trying to draw the hime." she informed them, eyes sorrowful, as she spotted the drawing that had fallen from Koutatsu's haori during their fight
"Tchh. As if anything but evil could be drawn with such a tainted liquid." the hanyou mocked – yet he still rolled the drawing, taking it in front the of the incense Miroku was already burning "If you're wasting our time with a memorial, at least give him the one untainted possession he had left."
The priest smiled serenely – just like he'd said earlier, InuYasha may act tough, the hanyou really was far more considerate than he gave himself credit for. With that, he finished his prayer for the painter's soul, the rest of the small traveling group respectfully silent around him.
Yes, he thought – this was a group he would stay with, and not only for their miko's unearthly aptitude to cleanse off such evil...
[Hunting Complete! Koutatsu's Inkwell
Reward: +25XP, +1 Hunting Trophy]
[Level up! Miroku is now level 30!
+1 PP, +2CP, +2SP]