As promised, here is the next part of Mont Hakurei Arc
Chapter XVI. Mount Hakurei
[First goal update (6/7): +100XP]
Even without the aid of the lighter version of Chaos' Interface, Kouga and his pack would have understood that the man was one of the Shichinin-tai simply by his scent.
Except – contrarily to the ones encountered earlier in the day by Shadow's pack, or the one the young alpha had earned his daiyoukai status against...
This one wasn't evil.
Which wasn't even the strangest part of the day, given the fact they'd followed him to a small village at the base of a mountain so bathed in reiki they were still reeling from the fact it wasn't purifying them on spot.
But while they did indeed feel weaker than ordinary, the sibling-pack bond with the godly ookami and her pack was lending them protection from the harsh powers emanating from mount Hakurei.
As such, Tsume's pack had been able to follow the scent of yet another undead – soon encountering a young man with a kind aura gathering herbs while looking over the village's orphaned children, all of them seemingly enamored with the undead.
It left Tsume's pack in a conundrum – attacking mindlessly would just confirm the bad opinion humans had of youkai, but at the same time they couldn't well let the potentially dangerous man mingle freely with the unsuspecting villagers.
Thinking quickly, Kouga sent his two smallest wolves to follow the man around, the young beasts passing themselves for wild dogs begging for food while the rest of the pack retreated not too far, ready to act if needed but hidden from the villagers – and more importantly from Suikotsu, as the undead had been loudly named by the children around him.
Then, a message was sent to their sibling pack, updating Tsukiko and her pack-mates about the situation.
The ookami's answer came quickly, informing them that they'd make their way to them and of their own encounters with the Shichinin-tai.
It was a few hours later – while Shadow's pack hadn't arrived yet but probably wasn't too far – that the scent of bones and burial soil suddenly strengthened. The wolves didn't need the look they shared to immediately come out of the nearby wood they'd retreated to and discretely approach the village.
Moments later, the two pack member they'd left trailing the undead doctor were calling for help and fire was spreading to the village, far too fast for it to be anything but man-made.
Kouga swore and picked up his pace, pack following, and they soon found themselves in the village, where two new undead were facing the uncomprehending Suikotsu.
"So this is where you had hidden yourself, eh?" the first commented
"Anyway, we've come to pick you up, Suikotsu."
"Who are you?"
At that question the wilder looking undead let out a long suffering sigh "Not this again! Hurry up and wake up!" his sword snaked toward the other who stumbled back, barely dodging the attack "Or I'll really end up killing you!"
"Well," Kouga interrupted "I don't know what's going on..." his smile was wild "But I'm not one for mindless carnage."
With that, the new daiyoukai took his fighting stance, Goraishi seamlessly covering his own claws, and jumped toward the two man who'd just attacked the village.
Ginta and Hakkaku shared a glance – and the first stayed to help his alpha while the second went to help the humans that were trying to stop the fire.
"I don't know why a youkai would care!" the wild undead laughed "But you're cute so I'll fight you!"
Well, reflected Kouga – that answered any doubt he'd had about the Shichinin-tai member's identity – given what Tsukiko had related to them via the chat, this could only be Jakotsu. Which meant the other probably was Renkotsu.
"Take care of Suikotsu." the bald undead contradicted the first one "I'll fight the wolves."
"Bah! You want to hog the cute ones to you I'm sure!" Jakotsu protested – yet still keeping his attention on Suikotsu who'd taken advantage of Kouga's intervention to climb back on his feet
Renkotsu didn't even bother answering, attention now on Kouga and Ginta and attacking so fast the two youkai had trouble believing the man had really been human.
Still, while fire was dangerous they were more resilient than humans and so Kouga chose to take the attack head on while Ginta dodge, hoping to take advantage of the flame to come near the man faster.
But the bald Shichinin had used the flame to hide a nasty surprise first, the wolf realized with a wince as the large net wrapped around him – and while the metallic wire didn't held a chance against his Goraishi enhanced claws, he was still immobilized, be it for but a few moments.
Thankfully, Ginta was there, preventing their assailant to take advantage of the situation.
Meanwhile, Jakotsu was attacking again against the undead doctor – except this time the man didn't dodge, instead using his own body to protect a few children who'd come to his help, regardless of the danger.
Blood poured out of the wounds, and Hakkaku, who'd rushed to help the children too, didn't need a newly arrived Kagome's comment of "The shard is becoming tainted!" to guess something had changed
The aura of the undead, suddenly pouring blood-lust, was a clear enough message by itself.
"Eh! You finally woke up, eh!" Jakotsu laughed
As for the suddenly not so kind doctor, his attention was on the confused children in front of them – and only Hakkaku's instinctive reaction of protecting the young prevented them from being the target of the mad mercenary's ire.
"That fucking doctor kept me repressed for a fucking long time!" the man growled, dark red tainted mark transforming his face into that of a monster "I need blood now!"
"Here!"
Renkotsu, who like most on the battlefield had immobilized with their brother's awakening, fished something out of his clothes – throwing to the man a pair of metallic claws that he swiftly slipped on.
"Well then, who's first?"
InuYasha's only answer was to jump toward him, all claws out "Tchh. Wanting to fight us with claws, really?" he grumbled as the other expertly dodged out of his way and countered with a bloodthirsty attack of his own
Seeing their beta busy, Miroku and Sango had immediately turned their attention toward Jakotsu while Shippou and Kanna went to help Hakkaku take care of the villagers with a still weakened Kagome.
As for Tsukiko, she made her way toward Kouga and Ginta just as the other alpha, finally free from the net, went back into the fray by his pack-mate's side.
But while afraid, the children hadn't yet understood what was going on, managing to escape Hakkaku's gentle grasp to rush toward the nearby fight, this time stopping before getting in the way of the fighters but loudly calling "Suikotsu-sama! Come back!"
The Shichinin-tai stumbled, a grimace of pain on his face, and didn't dodge InuYasha's latest attack as well as before, the hanyou's claws reddening with his blood.
Having witnessed this in a lull in his own battle, Renkotsu frowned, and called "That's enough, we've got what we've come from."
"Aw!" Jakotsu protested, while waving "InuYasha! We'll fight next time!"
As for a groaning Suikotsu, he jumped back too with a frustrated growl "Fucking doctor, not fucking staying asleep..."
"Do you think we'll just let you get away!" InuYasha protested
But of course – Renkotsu wasn't stupid and already had planned their escape, fire spreading wildly around them.
And the mercenary hadn't been wrong – both packs chose to stay and save the village rather than engage pursuit.
By the time they'd help the grateful villagers to put out the fires and tend to the injured, the night had fallen and both packs, exhausted, accepted the hut lent to them for the night without any protest.
It was only the next morning that all gathered to talk about the situation.
"Those bastards are way too slippery!" InuYasha was the first to loudly protest, Kouga agreeing by his side
"And they're probably but a distraction Naraku's placing on our way in order to stay hidden..." Sango sighed
"But even if they're only decoys, we've still got to take care of them." Kagome added; gesturing at the village nearby "Otherwise people are going to get hurt again and again."
"Besides, we've got to get their shards back, and sent them back to hell." Shippou pointed out logically
"Still there's one thing that bothers me..." Hakkaku finally asked "What was up with that doctor?" a frown "I mean we spied on him for hours and he was a bit wimpy but kind, and suddenly he turned into some kind of rasetsu!"
"Split personalities." Tsukiko was the one to explain "With only one of them corrupted." she glanced at the village "The doctor must have been staying here because it was near enough from Mount Hakurei that it's aura of purity is already felt."
"Tell me about it..." Ginta shivered – while they were partly protected by their sibling-pack bond, it still didn't feel good to be near so much purifying reiki
"And that's probably why they left so fast." Tsukiko continued
"Because when the kids called out to him, he hesitated." InuYasha remembered "But what does it means? I mean, he's still dead isn't he..."
"It means his soul can be saved, contrarily to the others." Tsukiko answered, before shrugging "But he's still dead, just like you said, so just like the others we've got to send him back to the grave."
"So what next?"
"Well, there's still one Shichinin-tai we haven't met, and according to the villagers it's their leader." Miroku pointed out
"And where would I go if I were a recently revived mercenary whose last memories were of getting ambushed by local lords?" Sango mock wondered
"I would go find the bastards who killed me." InuYasha answered without missing a beat
They shared worried glances – the lords maybe preparing themselves for the undead Shichinin-tai they still wouldn't stand a chance against the shards' enhanced undead...
With that, they went to interrogate the villagers, soon learning that they weren't that far from the now empty village where the mercenaries had made their last stand and the neighboring shiro where Bankotsu's, the leader of the band, weapon had been kept.
When hearing the name of the mountain pass where the shiro stood, Tsukiko swore rather uncharacteristically "This is the pass Ryo wanted to take to get back to the western part of the country!" she announced sharply "And while I've full trust in his fighting abilities, there are dozens of children with him!"
"The Shichinin-tai aren't opponent he'll be able to take care of while protecting pups." InuYasha immediately understood his alpha worry – just like the rest of the two pack
With that, they took leave of the villagers both pack rushing in the direction they'd been aimed at.
Tsukiko, but also Kanna and Miroku felt that something was wrong long before the nose of the youkai picked upon the overpowering scent of blood.
"People have died recently." Kanna was the one to announce, sorrow in her voice "Countless souls taken far before their time."
The fact that even Miroku, who contrarily to the little girl was still fully human, could feel it, was telling...
And so the two packs sped up through the dry mountain roads, youkai soon able to smell the blood, and suddenly they stumbled upon the shiro, that had been hidden by the mountain scenery up until then.
Just like Shadow's holy servant had said – the armies of the local lords had been assembled to protect the weapon of the legendary mercenary, only to be easily cut down by the man with the weapon he'd bloodily reclaimed.
But more worryingly were the ongoing sounds of battle...
¤.¤.¤
Ryoichi mentally cursed as once more he wondered how he could have been so out of luck that the one mountain pass he'd decided to take, mainly because it was rather calm and seldomly used by anything but pilgrims going to Mount Hakurei, had suddenly become a war zone...
The worse, he mused, was that they couldn't even go back as making a detour would take several weeks and make them come far too close to a rather secluded clan of mountain spirits that tended to take a very poor view on any intruders on their territory. He didn't fancy starting any blood-feud with spiteful sprites.
And so the kitsune forged on in the tortuous mountain trail, hiding his worry from all the children yet all senses at the ready – with reason, as violence suddenly broke out just as they were nearing the shiro controlling the passage to the West, battle starting and ending so fast the young ones were left stunned as the sweet and potent scent of blood was suddenly covering the area.
While Ryo would have liked nothing more than to hide all the children away until whatever dangerous monsters around were gone, he couldn't – for there weren't any hiding space and the only way was forward.
And of course, they had already been seen by the shiro's newest occupant, seeing as the building was on a higher promontory than the rest of the road precisely to see the coming and going of the people.
As they made their way toward the shiro, the older reassuring the younger as best as they could, Ryoichi finally managed to single out the scent of the four people waiting for them at the top of the cliff...
"I doubt we're getting out of this without a fight." he announced to Shinobu, not needing to turn to see the other acknowledge the fact "You'll have to protect the kits."
"Do you really think you can fight alone?"
"There's not much of a choice."
The cat hanyou reluctantly acknowledged the fact – after all if he tried to help his leader rather than protect the children, there was little doubt those murderers wouldn't balk at taking advantage of the situation by menacing them...
"These are undeads." the fox went on, this time surprising Shinobu – his nose far less powerful hadn't managed to pick out their scent a midst so much blood "So don't let them play dead if they try to attack you."
As they neared the four fighters who'd provoked such a bloodbath, it was becoming more and more evident that these weren't youkai...
"How could humans do something like that?" Shinobu couldn't help but wonder – given the extent of the bloodbath, he'd though their opponent to be at least youkai
"Corrupted humans can be just as dangerous as any youkai." Ryoichi warned "And worse of all, they seem rather coherent for corrupted beings. They will be dangerous opponents."
The cat nodded his comprehension at the warning, and they were finally in the shiro.
"Ah," the youngest looking moaned while observing their band of misfits "I thought there may have been a woman or two to serve the sake, since Jakotsu just had to go and kill all of them!" his eyes roamed the group "But it's just brats and one youkai!"
Ryoichi didn't let himself be fooled by the deceptively young and innocent face of the man – his every gesture, even seated like he was, were loudly claiming him a skilled warrior and the weapon negligently resting on his laps looked heavy enough that most normal humans couldn't use it easily...
"Oh!" another of corrupted humans crowed loudly "Can I kill them then?" a pout "I mean I couldn't even finish properly my fight against Inu-chan, and Renkotsu didn't even let me fight Wolfie!"
Ryoichi mentally swore once more as he realized with the affirmation that he must have somehow stumbled on some of his fiancée's opponent – while he knew she was headed north with her pack, he hadn't realized they were that close as the latest news she'd sent were when her wolf-tribe friend had earned his status as daiyoukai...
The leader of the four had lazily waved his agreement at the eager fighter, and the next moment Ryoichi was jumping out of the way, while Shinobu was taking a fighting stance in front of the children, eyeing warily those that hadn't moved yet. Thankfully, they weren't interested in them for now, attention soon caught by the ongoing fight – none of the four having expected the kitsune to last more than a few minutes, yet as soon as the fight had started, all had realized they'd stumbled upon a far better opponent than they expected.
The swordsman was good – very good – with his weapon, Ryo soon realized, and his own weapon, while suited to his fighting style, had a very short range that was putting him at a clear disadvantage against the snake sword that was occupying the battle-ground.
Still – disadvantage or not, Ryo had his own pride as a warrior, and while annoying, his father was also the strongest kitsune in existence, and hadn't neglected his training, nor been particularly forgiving during the long hours of training, hunting and sparring sessions of his childhood...
As such, the kitsune was managing to dodge between the blades of the strange sword despite the rather unpredictable movements, and if he wasn't yet in range for his Star Blade, his Fox Fire was something the other was more than close enough to feel.
Soon, it became clear that despite the situation being heavily favorable for the swordsman, the corrupted human was loosing ground bit by bit – and the man knew it, even if he didn't let anger cloud his mind as he realized that he was loosing. As such, while unwelcome, the intervention of a second fighter wasn't unexpected, even if the other loudly protested "Stop interfering in my fight Renkotsu!"
"Bankotsu's order." the new fighter shrugged "Beside, you're obviously loosing."
"That's not the problem!"
The new fighter was more of a range fighter, probably the reason why he'd been sent Ryoichi realized as he canceled the fiery attack aimed at him by flaring his own flames – and while Fox Fire wasn't up to the furnace that now were Tsukiko's flames as an elemental sprite, it was more than enough against the oil started brazier aimed at him by the corrupted human.
"Bah! You're not much more effective than I am, ain't you!" the swordsman taunted loudly
Taunting or not – the two men were clearly used to fight together Ryoichi realized as they seamlessly adapted their attacks, never hampering the other and one of the two always where the other wasn't...
While he was starting to take some blows, not able to dodge everything now that he had two adversaries, the situation wasn't yet too bad – and the leader didn't seem inclined to fight for now.
Problems started to arise when the last undead, who was clearly looking the less sane of the group, and growing more and more antsy as the fight went on, suddenly jumped in, ruthlessly shoving Renkotsu out of his way and barely even looking at Ryoichi "You're doing it all wrong!"
"What the fuck Suikotsu!" the swordsman protested as he jumped in from of his teammate on the ground to prevent Ryoichi from taking advantage of the situation
And while indeed Ryoichi hadn't wasted the occasion, Fox Fire licking in the man on the ground's direction – he was keeping an eye on the claw-wearing Suikotsu, who was jumping toward Shinobu...
"The idiot is still too controlled! You've got to make him mad!" a large smile, as the glinting weapon took a swipe at the cat hanyou "And to make people mad, nothing better than a bit of blood, the younger the better!"
Shinobu had really improved in the few weeks since he'd been introduced to Chaos Game – because back then, he'd never had been able to dodge the attack, yet here was, not only dodging but returning an attack of his own, using an old pair of trench knives the kitsune had lent him.
Still – while the yama neko was managing surprisingly well against a fighter that was clearly more experimented, it wasn't a fight he could win yet.
Ryoichi focused on his own fight, looking for way to hamper his own two opponents enough that he could go and help his misfit number one.
From the side-line, the mercenary band's leader was now frowning.
Suikotsu's obsession with blood, while amusing, was causing more harm than not right now he realized, as the kitsune was fighting much violently, when up until now he'd been focusing on sparring his forces in case the fight was to take too long, he now was giving his all to the fight.
Taking a blow from Jakotsu's sword to get in range, the kitsune was soon viciously slashing at the swordsman, and sending a large wave of fire in the direction he dodged too, taking advantage of the few moments it took him to jump out of the flames and quell them to turn his whole focus on Renkotsu.
Bankotsu jumped on his feet, clearly realizing that the artificer wasn't cut to fight alone against that youkai – but even his intervention had been accounted for...
In the moment it took for the Shichinin leader to jump on his feet, and Jakotsu to douse the fire around him, Ryoichi had unleashed his recently restored Past Life Aura, Sun Flames flaring around him patching him up fast enough for it to be visible to the naked eye while enhancing all his reflexes, making the assassin fast enough for his Star Blade to cut right across the bald undead's throat and jump out of the way of Bankotsu's large halberd, the man only forbidding him to take back the shard.
And rather than focus back on Jakotsu and Bankotsu, the kitsune's dodging had taken him right in front of a Suikotsu about to make the final hit against a heavily bleeding Shinobu.
The fiery blade slashed once more, but Suikotsu was more nimble than Renkotsu, managing to deviate the blow enough that it took his arm rather than his head...
¤.¤.¤
[Second goal update (4/7): +100XP]
The quest update flashed right as their arrived in the shiro – but the two packs didn't gave it a second glance, attention focused on the battle-ground.
Immediately, Kanna and Miroku jumped toward the numerous orphans, reiki and water shimmering in a protective wall, while Kagome went to Ryoichi's side, Shinobu soon healing faster under both healing gifts combined, the miko naturally adapting her healing powers to blend with the powerful Sun Flames.
As for Shippou – he hadn't hesitated a second, taking a fighting stance in front of the two healers against a Suikotsu still ready to fight despite his missing arm.
Kouga had jumped toward Jakotsu swiftly, just as InuYasha had blocked Bankotsu's heavy halberd.
[First goal complete (7/7):+100XP, +1 beginner skill tome]
Sango positioned herself at the back of the two fighters – ready to assist either Kouga or InuYasha by making it harder for their opponents to dodge wherever they wanted while Ginta and Hakkaku, after seeing that she was ready to assist their alpha, had gone to help Shippou, knowing that while the kit was very good, his opponent was mad enough to be very unpredictable, something that could fast become dangerous.
"Right on time, bambina." Ryoichi smiled as he felt his aura recede around him, just as the familiar presence of the young woman made itself known by his side "And with quite a fighting force."
The young ookami smiled fondly – both at her fiance and at the pack-members fighting around them "With how fast they're growing, I barely have any work left to do!" she mock complained
"I can see that." the kitsune agreed, focused on Shippou's fight
In the weeks that had went by since they last saw each other, Shadow's pack had indeed tremendously grown, and none made it more evident than Shippou, as he effortlessly leaded the two allied wolves in their fight against Suikotsu, the three of them wilting down the Shichini-tai maddest member bit by bit, until the man was finally brought to the ground, heavily bleeding and too weak to get up.
"Well, what are you waiting for!" he still taunted, foaming at the mouth "Finish me off!"
"That's not for me to do." Shippou declined, Ginta and Hakkaku holding their attack too
Tsukiko nodded at the glance sent her way, elegantly stepping away from Ryoichi while her powers swirled around her, making the whole battle-field stop in its tracks.
Suikotsu enraged face grew scared as she floated toward him, anger and fear battling as the corruption mark seemed to waver on his face – and finally disappear, leaving behind another face entirely...
"You've freed me." the doctor thanked gratefully "He's completely gone..."
The affirmation made the two remaining Shichinin-tai eyes widen – but the doctor was already completing "But now it's time for me too to go, right?"
"It is." Tsukiko nodded calmly "Your time as already passed."
"I know." the other agreed easily "I can feel it somehow." a smile "Is it peaceful there?"
"It is." she confirmed "You won't have to fight."
"Good." he nodded firmly, now simply waiting
The wave of power around Tsukiko was gentle as it swirled around the undead, leaving but a purified shard behind, before recessing as fast as it had come.
[Second goal update (5/7): +100XP]
[Hidden goal complete! Peace at last...
You saved Suikotsu's soul
Hidden goal reward: +100XP, +1 Enhancement Stone to be chosen]
Taking the Shikon's fragment, she walked back toward her two kitsune, ruffling Shippou's hair with a smile before snaking an arm around Ryoichi's waist, firmly pushing the man behind Miroku's and Kanna's barrier, where Kagome had already escorted a reluctant Shinobu – the hanyou's hair still standing on their ends from having to go through the reiki, even if it hadn't harmed him.
As her powers had calmed down, the last two Shichinin-tai member found themselves wondering why she hadn't taken care of them as she had so easily done with their partner – Jakotsu clearly furious at the ookami hime's action while Bankotsu seemed more contemplative; but of course neither had any way to know about the young goddess' restriction in the Mortal Realms.
And so Jakotsu tried to rush toward the dangerous goddess, only to find his own opponent in his way, while Bankotsu was evading the latest attack InuYasha had unleashed as Jakotsu had renewed the hostilities...
In the next minutes, it soon became evident that Jakotsu was slowly loosing ground against Kouga and Sango, while InuYasha's opponent was much more skilled – but not only that, the man also had several shards enhancing him where the other Shichinin only had one, something Kagome was soon pointing out as she fired an arrow at the undead, who expertly used his own momentum to hide behind his halberd, and attack InuYasha back in the next moment. And while Kagome's arrow hadn't visibly damaged the halberd, the beta realized that the next attack was less powerful...
The Inu hanyou pushed his advantage, not wanting the lasts of the mercenaries to escape like they'd done several time already, his own Tessaiga soon leaving her own mark against the large weapon – but of course, this was the time saimyoushou chose to start buzzing around, soon followed by a nefariously familiar presence.
Naraku had sent help to the Shichinin-tai in the form of a powerful kugutsu, who made the ground shake on its arrival, and immediately lashed against InuYasha and all those fighting.
And while all had managed to evade the attack – the kugutsu's objective had been met, as the moment it had taken the fighter's attention, the two mercenaries has swiftly retreated, saimyoushou covering their escape.
Seeing as the undead were now out of their reach, the two packs' fighters focused on the kugutsu, and as powerful as it was it didn't last long against their combined might.
While they were understandably put out at seeing the last of the mercenaries slipping between their fingers, they still weren't too bitter as their main objective still had been accomplished, since they'd arrived in time to give some needed assistance to Ryoichi.
¤.¤.¤
As tired as all were, they still opted against taking the time to rest – while the warrior were used to it, the children probably would feel better once out of sigh and smell reach from the bloodbath. As such, the two pack and Ryoichi's own band of misfits were soon back on the road, if at a more sedated pace, and going back toward the village where Suikotsu had been found.
And it soon became evident that their fight hadn't been for nothing – as on top of getting rid of two more Shichinin-tai, Naraku's kugutsu's presence had been telling too: the wooden puppet felt unnaturally clean to the holy servants of the group, while the youkai had all identified the scent of water and flowers.
As they approached the village where they'd spent the night the previous evening, it once more became evident that something had changed while they were fighting – as the purifying powers of Mount Hakurei, that had up until now simply been uncomfortable thanks to the holy servants aura of power was now far too powerful for them to seek refuge there.
As such camp was settled in a nearby field, still far enough that it didn't bother the youkai, and the routine of setting camp and going about their evening lessons was soon helping the children calm down, while the packs finally had time to dress their wounds, Ryoichi struggling with Shinobu to make the cat stand still, under Shippou's bemused eyes – seeing the usually seemingly cool kitsune bicker like a child more surprising for him than Kagome, who already knew her alpha's fiancé well...
Soon, the humans of the group, that had headed toward the village to barter for food, were coming back – with, surprisingly, quite a few of the villagers in tow, the children helped by Suikotsu among them.
The villagers had taken far less as payment than they could have, grateful for the two pack of youkai's help the day before, and even more impressed when they realized that the new addition was helping orphans – just like Suikotsu had...
Part of their fight of the day was retold for them, edited enough for the children, to let them know that the kind doctor, while he couldn't stay among the living, had been saved before dying – and it had given a small measure of comfort to the orphans.
"Still... It's going to be dangerous for you to move alone as long as Naraku's pawns are still around."
"It is." the kitsune agreed "Shinobu has grown, but from what I've seen of the two remaining fighters, he couldn't take them on."
"We could leave some of our own in protection." Kouga pointed out "It's not as if we'd be able to all fight at once against two enemies, or even three if the bastard sends a kugutsu."
"Kouga's right." InuYasha nodded easily "And we could probably move around faster with less people."
The next day, they soon settled on InuYasha circling the mount's western side with Kagome, Shippou and Sango while Kouga, Hakkaku and Ginta were taking Miroku with them, his own shadow wolf thankfully now grown enough to carry him, and circling the eastern side.
Both sides were to be looking for the origin of the scent and the strange feeling of purity they'd felt on Naraku, thus the need for each group to have a holy servant with them – and of course, Kouga had annoyed InuYasha by loudly asking for Kagome to come with him...
Meanwhile Kanna and Tsukiko would stay by the band of misfits' side, the two holy servant ensuring that both Ryoichi and his soon-to-be beta would rest properly, and ready to fight if the need arose.
InuYasha's group had been traveling at a fast-paced rate, the hanyou's nose checking the water points around Mount Hakurei, while Kagome was looking out for the reiki she'd felt the day before when they stumbled upon a young boy loudly arguing with some villagers.
Apparently the child wanted them to lend him a boat to go and look for his father, who'd disappeared a couple of weeks earlier – and the villagers were refusing, explaining that they feared being cursed for stepping a foot of the sacred island.
If the child's plea hadn't already made the trio want to help, hearing about the sacred place settled it – this was a place they hadn't checked yet after all.
Soon, they were gathered with the boy's three sisters, who went on explaining that tending to Hijiri Island's sacred ground was a task that had been upheld by the males of their family for generations...
After explaining more about the origin of the holy ground, that was the enshrining place of Hakushin-shounin, a sokushin-butsu – in other words a mummified priest whose body was still tended to in the shrine, and who'd been protecting the island, lake and village ever since...
"We'll take care of your brother." Kagome promised to the three sisters moments later, as they were taking their leave – heading out to check the island, with the young Shintarou volunteering himself as their guide, since he was the only one who knew how to navigate the area
The trio was soon on a boat, Shintarou guiding them – and within moments, all could feel the power of a barrier – far less powerful than that of Mount Hakurei...
But giving the exact same feel of reiki as it did.
And as their boat came in view of the small island, the reiki intensified, InuYasha feeling the power battling against his own youki – a few moment later, they'd beached on the sanctuary's shore, and were immediately met by a sweet and familiar scent, as the scenery around them was that of a flower field giving off the exact same smell and feeling as what they'd felt coming from Naraku.
Shintarou looked around, bewildered "Those flowers weren't there before!" the children announced, before speeding up
They followed him, and within moments stumbled upon the shrine, that had been thorn apart by a violent attack.
Another hurried step – and the boy stumbled – looking back at what he'd hit, his eyes widening in horror as he recognized the clothes worn by the skeleton that had been in his way...
"Oyaji..."
The small pack shared a glance – two weeks was too short a time for a human body to decay that much, clearly confirming in their minds Naraku's involvement with the situation.
A second later, Kagome finally was able to put a name on the niggling feeling that had been unsettling her since they'd arrived on the island...
"Shikon shards!" she warned them "The barrier had been hampering my senses until now!"
A moment later, Bankotsu was lazily stepping out of the half-destroyed building, halberd resting across his shoulders "You took your fucking sweet time coming!" a frown "Even for a human like me it's annoying to spend that much time here! But well, it must be worse for a hanyou eh?" he eyed the group "And the youkai won't even come near visibly..."
They didn't bother with correcting the undead, instead swiftly falling into their fighting stances.
The mercenary rushed toward InuYasha, and all could see that the previously damaged weapon had been repaired and powered up – thanks to a shard embedded where the Kaze no Kizu had cut it the day before.
But more shocking the realization, the next moment – that InuYasha couldn't unleash his weapon's attack, the reiki barrier around them neutralizing his youki.
"Ah!" Bankotsu laughed "I can see why I was told to wait here now!"
Well – that confirmed the bad feeling they'd had since the undead had stated he'd been waiting for them – this had been a trap crafted for them.
But while InuYasha was indeed put at a disadvantage with his youki sealed by the island's barrier, Sango wasn't hampered at all, and by now she could use her Lightning Flames well enough that empowering her Hiraikotsu with their hardening property was child's play – as such when the tajiya realized Tessaiga wasn't unleashing her attack, she'd immediately sent her weapon to deflect the heavy halberd Bankotsu favored, something the mercenary clearly hadn't expected.
As for Kagome, she was following Shintarou, that was rushing toward the shrine, calling for the resident holy man's protection. In the boy's back, the miko couldn't help but frown – because between the powerful aura of Mount Hakurei and the reiki specifically attuned to blocking youki here, it was becoming pretty apparent to her that whatever holy servant had been here, he clearly wasn't intent on helping them.
The shrine was empty – which rose the question... Who was maintaining the barrier around the island?
The answer was rather evident for Kagome, since this had been one if the first thing she'd learned in the past: if no one was maintaining the barrier, then it was a ward, and as such anchored to something. All that was left was to find the anchor.
The futuristic girl centered herself, letting her powers swirl around her, looking for anything that could be it, while Bankotsu, while initially surprised, had soon adapted to his fight against both hanyou and tajiya.
As for said hanyou, he was growing frustrated – as not only his weapon had lost most of her powerful attack, and wasn't better than any normal sword right now, but even himself was affected by the hostile reiki, Chaos Game clearly announcing that all of his main characteristics were halved. And while that didn't make him weak or anything like that, since he still had his own battlefield experience, he could feel small wounds he would not even realize he'd taken usually take their toll on him, muscle strain when they normally didn't...
Of course, Sango was taking up the slack, but while an excellent warrior, it was evident that she was more used to fight against beast youkai than humans, while the mercenary on the contrary was at home fighting against them.
It was as if the frustration was just the push forward he'd needed – as the flames that had stayed up until now just outside of his grasp were suddenly answering his call, harmonizing with Tessaiga just like Sango's own green flame did with Hiraikotsu.
It was just as Kagome found the source of the annoying ward that InuYasha unleashed his attack, ruby red flames meeting with Bankotsu's halberd, only for the undead to jump back immediately, eyes wide as he realized that the previously powerless Tessaiga's edge had this time immediately started to eat at his own weapon, having left a clear mark in the split second it took him to put his weapon out of harm's reach...
"What the fuck!" loudly protested the mercenary, understandably never having seen such an attack – only to swore once more, as around them, the field of flower dissipated
"This was Hakushin-shounin-sama's bugutsu..." Shintarou explained while eyeing the iron tool with suspicion in his eyes – even the young boy was starting to realize that however holy the priest may have been in life, right now he clearly wasn't on their side
The next moment, the young boy was proven right as the dokko, as if possessed – or rather, probably controlled from afar – was suddenly speeding toward InuYasha's, who was clearly preparing to unleash his Kaze no Kizu, Storm Flames empowering the attack...
Sango was swearing right along with her beta when the youkai blade was purified before it could unleash its attack, even loosing it's fang-shape to revert to that of a normal katana.
But while it was disheartening, the hanyou didn't hesitate in pursuing the fight, as his blade was still humming with red flames, and Sango followed suit immediately, even Kagome getting her bow out – while she would be useless at close range, the undead was still a corrupted being, something her reiki could fight...
As if sensing the danger, the dokko was flying once more, and a new barrier enfolded Bankotsu a mere moment before the three attack hit him, in a show of power that would have probably ended him if it had reached him but a second before.
The new barrier shimmered in the color of the multiple attack, before disappearing, taking with it both mercenary and dokko.
[Hidden goal complete! Gone with the wind...
You turned Naraku's trap around, forcing Bankotsu to retreat
Hidden bonus goal complete! Family duty
You helped Shintarou find out what happened to his father
Hidden goal reward: +200XP, +1 blessed Armor piece
Hidden bonus goal reward: +400XP, +1 beginner skill tome]
The trio helped Shintarou gather his father's remain before heading back to the village, helping the boy to break the news to his sisters before heading back toward the field where they'd left their alpha in the morning, sending a message to the other traveling group about the latest happening.
¤.¤.¤
As such, all were soon gathered back to the makeshift camp, and coming to the only logical conclusion "We're going to have to head toward Mount Hakurei, and find a way to drop the barrier." Kagome was the one to summarize
"But since Naraku is clearly hiding, this is going to be dangerous, especially with how few humans you are." Kouga pointed out
"I think I could go too, since I'm a miko." Kanna mused
Tsukiko nodded in agreement, but stayed silent.
"And maybe..." this time she was more hesitant "If I was only focusing on my reiki, I probably could protect a youkai from the barrier."
Miroku and Kagome shared a wide-eyed look at the affirmation, but immediately started to think about it – the young shadow sprite was right, they realized, by focusing on making a small barrier they probably could do it...
"Except a barrier would mean they wouldn't be able to dodge or fight out of it." Sango was the one to point out
It was at that point that Kagome's eyes fell on InuYasha's now mostly useless subduing necklace...
"We could anchor the protection around praying beads!"
The rest of the afternoon, the holy servant spent crafting praying beads to enchant, then by the evening they made a test by visiting the nearby village – coming to the conclusion that the necklace were good enough to last a few hours without being recharged by a holy servant in the village, but that they would probably empty much faster on the mount itself, thus still necessitating the holy servants full attention.
Finally, groups were settled on for the next day, and soon most were lounging around the evening fire...
"So... You do know how pack works right?"
Shinobu startled, not having expected the question, and stared inquisitively at his fellow hanyou, who settled down by his side "I mean you've already taken over the position of Ryoichi's beta, but somehow I'm not sure you've realized..."
The inu sighed as the blank eyes confirmed it to him – the kit really hadn't realized. It wasn't that surprising after all, since he wasn't even a canine, but the damn kitsune could have taken the time to explain! Then again, knowing Ryoichi, he probably found it much more entertaining not to explain anything...
As such the beta spent part of the night explaining things he had only learned himself thanks to Tsukiko, neither realizing that their two alpha were observing with fond amusement nearby.
"Poor kit, he hasn't chosen the easiest alpha, has he?" Tsukiko laughed
"I don't see what you mean." Ryoichi protested halfheartedly "Besides it's his fault! If he wasn't so amusing when peeved, I wouldn't rill him up..."
"So, where will you be headed once the Shichinin's menace is over?"
"Nikko." Ryoichi announced "It's not like I can head north much longer with how bad the weather will soon be and the number of kits I'm traveling with. Besides, the little beta is due for a meeting with Totosai, he's more than earned it with his latest fight."
"And somehow I've got the feeling the poor neko will find himself facing the old blacksmith without any warning..."
The innocent smile her fiance answered with was more than telling...
Finally, conversations trailed down in the group, and people gathered for the night. Tsume's pack was close enough from Shadow's that they were sharing personal heat, Ryoichi settling easily among them and dragging a surprised Shinobu with him, while most children, canine or not found their way around the two pack – both to find a bit more heat, and because as orphans they tended to miss the rather familial atmosphere they were giving off.
[Life Challenge LV200! Naraku's playing ground...
note that the War Time Map System has been enabled for this event
Goal: survive
Bonus goal: gather War Points (WP)
Reward: +200XP, +1 alternate life Perk upon completion
Bonus reward: +1000XP for each 2000WP gathered, +1 Enhancement Stone to be chosen for each 5000WP gathered, +1 beginner Tail skill book for each 10 000WP gathered, +1 Tail Perk for each 25 000 WP gathered
[System Log: War Time Map
The War Time Map automatically monitors the area where a battle is fought. It monitors the on-going fight and give out War Point according to the strategic objective conquered, boss enemies vanquished and so one...]
[Shichinin-tai vanquished before entering the mountain (5/7): 5*1000WP]
"Well," Ryoichi was the first to comment as the new notification was the first thing to great them the next morning "I didn't expect that."
"You've already seen this?" Kagome asked curiously
"Once." Tsukiko nodded "On a day the world nearly ended."
"Way to reassure us!" InuYasha grumbled
"Well, I doubt the end of the world is on the board here," Tsukiko pointed out "And since we already knew we were heading toward the mountain to find Naraku, it's not too surprising to gain a quest related to him."
"True." Kagome nodded "Then I guess we're going ahead as planned?"
"We are."
With that, they headed out as intended, Kagome, Kanna and InuYasha leaded by Kouga on one side, while Tsukiko was leading Miroku, Sango and Shippou.
While they had debated about pairing InuYasha and Kouga together – the two had proved several times already that despite always bickering around the camp fire, when it was time to fight they were able to act together well. And of course, the holy servants had also been divided evenly between the two groups.
Ginta and Hakkaku were staying in the camp with the wolves, but also Blanche and Kirara, as one was too young for the battlefield despite being a holy being, while the other would have been one more youkai to protect for the holy servants – as for Padfoot, the Grimm was following Kagome on his mistress' orders while Shingetsu, Miroku's own familiar was staying with them.
The two groups split up from the get go, each circling once more the mount from their side – but this time close enough that they'd find a path to go up.
[Tsukiko entered Mount Hakurei (barrier): +1000WP]
[Miroku entered Mount Hakurei (barrier): +500WP]
[Sango entered Mount Hakurei (barrier): +500WP]
[Shippou entered Mount Hakurei (barrier): +1000WP]
Tsukiko's group was the first to enter the barrier, soon finding a small trail in the vegetation heading upward.
The mount was unnaturally still, the purity generated by the barrier even uncomfortable for the humans, and visibly even animals had opted to stay out of the area...
Kouga's group found it's own way to the mount's flank a few moments later...
[Kouga entered Mount Hakurei (barrier): +1000WP]
[Kagome entered Mount Hakurei (barrier): +500WP]
[Kanna entered Mount Hakurei (barrier): +1000WP]
[InuYasha entered Mount Hakurei (barrier): +500WP]
Kouga's group had found the steeper trail, and soon the vegetation was lessening, replaced by bare ground and dirt – then the trail was abruptly cut, and a few meters ahead, they could see the mouth of a cave. Padfoot grew to his larger size, taking Kagome with him, and the four were soon over the broken road, and heading in the darkness...
[Kouga's group entered Mount Hakurei (lower level): 4*500WP]
Time seemed to distort in the dark, but eventually, the corridor they were in led into a large cave, with a narrow way circle up and down around it – and more importantly, the oppressive feeling of reiki disappeared, only to be replaced by malevolent youki...
All over the cave, an army of youkai was herded, crowding the large area and flooding it with their youki – and visibly there to supervise them, Kagura.
Soon, their presence was remarked, and the youkai rushed to the attack in a disorderly mess, while Kagura stayed back to observe, eyes widening as she realized that Kanna's arrow were enhanced with reiki.
As if feeling the gaze on her, the young sprite raised her eyes toward her young sister, and gave her a disarming smile.
From the place he was plowing through the low-level youkai, Kouga noted the silent exchange – and the wind spirit's face didn't hide how much she wanted to ask about her sister's rescue, or Tsukiko's hint at a salvation, yet couldn't because as much as she was supervising them, the youkai would also report anything strange she did to Naraku.
Kanna it seemed had come to the same conclusion as him, as the youkai miko started to steadily make her way toward her sister, spear-heading their attack contrarily to her usual position at the rear, shadows swirling menacingly around the usually calm girl...
While Kouga's group was fighting the massive swarm of youkai, Tsukiko's group had continued heading toward the top of the mount by the outside - and at the top, they were rather surprised to stumble upon a large temple, having nearly forgotten that the place was holy because of how dangerous the reiki had been...
[Tsukiko's group entered Mount Hakurei (temple): 4*500WP]
But here, the intense feeling of purity was much more peaceful, as if simply the aura of a very powerful holy servant - which was exactly what it was, they realized once inside, as they had found the missing sokushin-butsu from Hijiri Island.
If Shippou was the only one to let out a rather girlish scream of fright, Miroku and Sango did stumble too as the mummified man's eyes opened and zeroed on them...
"Who are you?" the mummy asked, making Shippou shiver at the unearthly vision
"Visitors." Tsukiko lightly answered, before asking more seriously "You are the most powerful houshi I've ever met, yet you've come back from the dead and work with someone as innately evil as Naraku... Would you mind telling me why?"
Shippou was the only one among them remembering their alpha questioning Kikyou in the same way back when the hag was trying to resurrect her, but the other two weren't too surprised either – the man was an undead, something she naturally felt personally involved with, and her question was one they all had wondered about...
¤.¤.¤
(begin flashback)
Hakushin-shounin, while living, had been a priest of great power and benevolence, helping any and all without any hesitation, so much that eventually people built a purification center for him at the base of Mount Hakurei, where all would come seeking his help.
Eventually, famine fell on the country, during several year, and finally even Hakushin himself collapsed, falling ill after tending to the sick.
People gathered, grieving, and asking who'd save them if the benevolent man passed away.
And so, ready to save people even in death, the priest became a living Buddha.
With everyone watching, he was buried alive, a single pipe connecting him to the outside, ringing a bell continually for as long as he was still alive, while everyone outside prayed for him to enter heaven.
But alone in the dark, the holy man was suddenly plagued by doubts, by the will to live and the fear of the dark – and so while his life ended, his body did indeed remain a holy relic protecting the people, but his soul was left alone in the darkness.
An eternity seemed to go by, until suddenly, he wasn't alone anymore...
"It's alright to hate them." the man had said "You wanted to live yet they all selfishly took even your life for themselves, never thinking about you. Come, and live with me."
(end flashback)
As the holy servant finished retelling his tale, his unblinking eyes were on Tsukiko "This is how I came to be here. So tell me, holy one, how will you judge me?"
"You've told me how you came to be here." Tsukiko pointed out "Not why."
"I follow him because evil he may be, Naraku still saved my soul. I who'd been a saint all my life, was lost and suffering in death... He made me realize that I was no saint, and that it was normal to hate people."
"Yet if you were saved... Why are you so sad?"
It was only as she said it that Miroku realized that the nearly overwhelming feeling of grief he'd felt ever since arriving in the temple could of course only be coming from one person only – that Naraku may have fooled the priest with his words, he hadn't managed to corrupt the man's soul yet, which was the only reason why his reiki remained so pure instead of descending into the darkened version fallen holy servant possessed.
"Sad?" the man parroted, surprise in his voice – and wonder too
"Sad." the young goddess confirmed "You should realize that no dead soul can deceive me, houshi."
"I do."
They must be too used to travel with a goddess, Miroku realized wryly - as it was only as their alpha casually stepped into the man's personal barrier as if it wasn't there that they realized that ever since she'd started talking with the man, the ookami had stopped controlling her aura, that was unmistakable in a place a sanctified as the man's temple. And of course, no man's reiki, as powerful as he was, could keep a god out...
There was no revulsion in Tsukiko when she stepped on the dais where the man was seated, kneeling to be at eye level with him before taking the fragile hands.
"It's not the people who prayed for your death that you hated, isn't it? It's being confronted by your own weakness."
"I wanted to die the death of a saint... but instead I became afraid..." the man admitted, talking more for himself than the people around him "I didn't want to know how weak I was!"
"But being weak is alright." Tsukiko reminded him "Human or youkai, even for gods, we can't always be perfect, it is but an ideal to strive for..." her eyes were sad "But you despaired so over your own flaws that you forgot this, and prevented yourself from passing over."
"Prevented myself?" the priest repeated once more, eyes wide at the affirmation that indeed was surprising everyone
"Of course. You found yourself wanting, and unworthy of heaven and as such trapped yourself in the darkness..." a smile "You just have to realize that you were allowed to be afraid, and you'll find the way."
Hakushin's parched face came alight with wonder at the absolution, and whispered "Oh, I see now..."
And indeed he must have seen – because the next moment, he'd disappeared with a smile, the reiki around the temple finally peaceful.
[Hidden bonus goal complete! Stairway to heaven...
Hakushin-shounin found peace and finally moved on
Hidden bonus goal reward: +1000XP, Hijiri's Blessing Perk (+10 to Light affinity and Spiritual Resistance) unlocked]
[Level up!You are now level 185!
+1SP, +2CP]
[Level up! Kagome is now level 147!
+2SP]
[Level up! InuYasha is now level 172!
+1SP]
[Level up! Shippou is now level 146!
+2SP, +2CP]
[Level up! Miroku is now level 146!
+2SP, +2CP]
[Level up! Sango is now level 142!
+4SP, +2CP, +1PP]
[Level up! Kanna is now level 143!
+3SP]
[Person of interest neutralized (Hakushin-shounin): +500WP]
[Mount Hakurei barrier broken: +1000WP]
The group acknowledged the notifications with a though, and continued to explore the temple, soon finding a door that lead toward the inside of the mount...
[Tsukiko's group entered Mount Hakurei (higher level): 4*500WP]
As soon as they'd left the temple, they realized that indeed – the barrier around Hakurei had fallen, and that while in the temple they hadn't realized the effect it had outside, now that they'd stepped out of the temple's protection, the feeling of malevolent youki was oozing around, stronger than any had ever felt.
"Well, this may not be an end of the world scenario, but if we let that much youki spread around, there soon won't be anything alive around the area..." Tsukiko whispered darkly as she realized just how potent the dark feeling was
And Miroku had to agree – for now the youki was still, if barely, contained to the mountain, and even from the inside they could see the negative effect it was having, the few wild plants growing inside having already withered.
If this got out of the mountain, all the villages at the feet of the mount would be wiped from the map...
"There has to be something we can do!" the priest protested, mind already trying to find a solution
While informing both the other group and Ryo over the voice chat, Tsukiko's mind was running too – just like her priest and pack-mate, she had no intention of letting so many needless death happen...