Hi! Last chapter! I can hardly believe it...
Since i'm going to be busy starting... er today, I'm already late... I'm posting this as is, I'll probably go through it later to check for the multiple mistakes I've no doubt left but I wanted to give you the end before being busy again...
Chapter XX. The Gates of Hell
The South was very different of the rest of the country in that here, youkai and humans weren't at each others' throat – and as such it was also the region where they encountered the most hanyou, and even if they weren't as integrated as they were in Ryoichi's own era, they were far more accepted than anywhere else they'd traveled until now.
Then again, Shinobu mused as his tanto made short work of a couple of low-level sea demons, nobody really had time for anything as petty as racism in this region battered by numerous storms – both natural, and demon-made – and full of volcanic activity and geothermal one.
Here most of the orphans they gathered hadn't been made by conflicts between youkai, or Naraku's damn influence, but because of nature's own wrath or sea demons' assaults.
Of course, he mused as he eyed the blacksmith clearly bearing the feel of corruption face a just as evil lesser ryu youkai, it didn't mean that there weren't bad eggs here and there.
"So?" Ryoichi asked to Shinobu by his side, whose hand had gone to the weapons in his back
"Please let me take care of this."
He nodded, and the young yama neko was gone in the beat of a heart, far faster than he'd been a few months earlier.
"Oh? Aren't you afraid for your little beta?"
The red kitsune eyed the presence that had been following them for a few days, hidden well enough that only him could sense it "The brat may not look like it, but he's good."
And Shinobu was good – the massive level gain from Mont Hakurei and the intensive training sessions he'd suffered through at the hands of both Ryoichi himself, and even an adult Shippou in the future, had made him adapt to his new gained powers, and prove his worth.
While he may not be an instinctive fighter like InuYasha, Shinobu was an intellectual one – a very good one at that, who needed to be put through a situation but once before learning and adapting – he'd had to be after all, to survive alone for more than a century as a hanyou...
And indeed, while the corrupted human had swiftly stepped down, apparently thinking the hanyou was there to save him, letting him fight the youkai one on one, it was clear that Shinobu was good.
Swiftly realizing – thanks among other things to the ryu's loud boasting – that the youkai's shield was absorbing his youki, the cat had smiled wildly..
"Oh So he's awakened his flames, uh? Must have been hiding it for the next spar!" Ryoichi mused with an amused smirk
"This isn't youki." the auburn-haired daiyoukai mused by his side, now even more intrigued by the fight
"It isn't," Ryoichi nodded "This is something even humans can us after all. The power from your own soul, awakened in a time of life and death, and powered by your will to live and fight."
And indeed, purple flames were now swirling around both his tanto, and when he went to attack next, the youki behind his strike had increase several times.
"He does realize he's only feeding his adversary?"
Indeed – the shield was glowing more and more as the ryu absorbed his youki – but he hadn't realized that the flame among the youki weren't stopping their work once absorbed...
"Of course he does," a smirk "Cloud Flame property is propagation after all."
"Oh the little hellion! He's overfeeding it!" the woman realized with wide eyes, gleaming with excitement – and indeed, the first cracks were appearing, and before long the shield was exploding into pieces, its destructive force at point-blank range gravely injuring it's own wielder under Shinobu's satisfied smirk.
The next second, a blade was thrust into the ryu's body, and youki was swirling malevolently, the blacksmith crowing with glee "It's finally complete! Datsuki, the most powerful youkai bade!"
His victory yell was cut short, and he eyed, unbelieving, the blade coming out of his torso.
"Ruthless as well, what a perfect little assassin you've raised!"
"Isn't he adorable?" Ryoichi nodded, in complete agreement with the other daiyoukai
For in the moment of triumph of the corrupted human, the hanyou had moved behind him so fast the human hadn't even seen him before ending his life before he became a problem.
[Secondary quest complete! A blacksmith's life-work...
You've dealt with both corrupted youkai and human
Reward: +100XP, +2 Hunting Trophy, +1 Enhancement Stone to be chosen]
"Not going to take the blade?"
"I don't need something like that." the yama neko denied "Why waste my time with stolen power when Totosai put my own worth into my own claws?"
Ryoichi nodded approvingly "Indeed. Besides, it's not like you'd just let us take something so dangerous, right, Tsunade-sama?"
"Oh, so you know me?" a dangerous smile "And you don't intent to fight?"
"I know my own worth." the red kitsune shrugged "I'm good, but not that good."
"Very wise, kit." the tanuki nodded, leisurely ambling toward the blade still oozing evil youki – and destroying it in one powerful wave of youki, not even bothering to take a weapon out "So, would you mind telling me what you're doing?" she eyed the awed orphans around them "I don't particularly mind, but I must confess to finding myself... curious."
"I'm taking orphans to the future to save youkai from extinction."
Shinobu stumbled as his alpha matter-of-factly announced this – then once more when the Lady of the South nodded "I see. Not a bad idea, I must admit. I though you were taking them to one of those Haven that are popping around up north."
"Wait... Why do you believe him just like that?" he couldn't help but protest, eyeing the auburn daiyoukai unbelievingly
"I'm a Mind-Walker." the Lady answered without missing a beat "Which your alpha clearly knew, as he opened part of his mind to let me skim his surface thoughts when I asked him that question."
"I have good mental defenses," the red kitsune said "I have to given what I am, so giving out memories is better than completely giving access to my mind."
"I'm not sure even I would would survive a peak in a god's mind, as young as he is..." the other daiyoukai hummed her agreement, then eyeing the children around them "Well, I've got nothing better to do for a while, so I'll be traveling with you!"
"Of course..." Shinobu sighed, not even surprised anymore – a few minutes were all that was needed to realize that the tanuki was both strong-headed and lackadaisical, and would do exactly as she wanted
And given her powers – she could easily afford to.
¤.¤.¤
Still, as easy-going as she was, Tsunade was a powerful being in her own right, far more powerful, just like Ryoichi had said, than both of them combined, and as such their traveling only got easier, as she clearly approved of their quest.
The Lady also wasn't as carefree as she was pretending, as she was attentive to any sign of sea demon, cutting through the would-be invaders of her lands ruthlessly, and helping people around when then passed through villages.
"You are helping people a lot for someone saying everyone should be able to take care of himself?" the yama neko hanyou couldn't help but ask after they spent a day helping rebuilding huts in a village that had been hit by an earthquake
"People have to be able to take care of themselves." she nodded in confirmation "Because you can only help others when you're good enough to take care of yourself. When I was but a simple youkai, there were countless of people dying from the sea demons, or natural catastrophes, and I escaped multiple times only by the skin of my teeth... So after a while I realized that I had to grow stronger, because in this land, only the strong survive."
A shrug "But now, I'm strong enough to do whatever I want. And if what I want to do is helping people? Then I'll help them." she gestured toward the village "But tomorrow I won't be here, so if sea-demons attack, or another earthquake occurs, it'll be up to them to survive."
Shinobu nodded his thanks at the explanation, then turned his attention back to the children's lessons.
The South was strangely harsh, for a land so lush and full of life, but it made for strong people – and that was a strength both physical and mental he mused, because the Lady's attitude toward life he could see, if on a lesser scale, even among the lesser youkai and the humans they were encountering.
It was a few days later, while they were making halt in a village, that the sky was suddenly covered in a swarm of lesser bird youkai, led by a young daiyoukai – on her order, the birds were rushing toward the village, only to stop as Tsunade flared her aura.
"I see you're at it again, Abi."
The girl's eyes widened, but despite her fear she did not back down "They are only humans, Tsunade-sama!"
"And they are also inhabitant of my lands, just like you! If you need blood so much, make yourself useful and go and kill some sea demons. Or are you that weak that humans are the only thing you can prey on?"
The young daiyoukai bristled at the taunt but answered all the same "I'd never get enough blood fast enough!"
"Why do you need blood?" Ryoichi wondered
The young girl eyed him suspiciously – but her mind was an open book, and as such it was the Lady of the South that answered "Her mother bit on larger than she could chew and got poisoned. She's trying to dilute the poison."
The red kitsune eyed the girl thoughtfully, and Shinobu sighed before protesting "We're collecting orphan's alpha, orphan's! What part of that don't you get?"
"Ah but she's feisty and she's got potential, I like it!"
"Should you really be talking about anyone else but your fiancée like that?" the hanyou wondered, before correcting himself "Who am I kidding, she'd probably react exactly the same way..."
"What the hell are you talking about?" the young daiyoukai finally snapped, fed up of the two ignoring her
"Well, I could heal your mother so that you don't need to butcher senselessly anyone around." he eyed her "But if she'd encouraging you to do things like that, I doubt she's a good role model, so I'd have to take custody of you of course." he affirmed shamelessly – while his beta was muttering about him not being a good role model for anyone
"That sounds perfect!" Tsunade nodded over the young daiyoukai's protests, better imperiously ordering the girl "Well, what are you waiting for? Take us to your mother! I'm curious to see if dear old Tekkei survives long without your brain!"
"My mother isn't stupid!"
"Pah! If she wasn't stupid she wouldn't be incessantly waging war against those she shouldn't." the smile on Tsunade's face was anything but friendly "After all, do you think I don't know the idiotic chicken of death was planning to attack me after taking over the bird tribes?" a laugh, before she eyed Abi "Tell me girl, do you really think she'd stand a chance, even with all of your little flying pets at her beck and call?"
The bird of hell hime didn't answer – but she couldn't quite hide her answer from her face, making even the children realize that she didn't think this was a fight her mother would be winning.
"Then be grateful the kit is offering you an out. I'll even let you take the House of Fire headship once she's managed to hit the bucket in one stupid way or another, instead of erasing your whole clan from existence. Well, the head of what will be left of your clan..." she amended herself after a second "After all I can't account for the stupidity of the rest of your clan."
The hime wasn't stupid – and while had no real desire to abandon her mother, she also did realize in how bad a position she'd put them with her scheme against their leader – a leader well know for her lack of mercy against those stupid enough to try and oppose her.
Tsunade may be kind with those around her – that kindness died a swift death when her own life was in the balance, as just like she'd said, she could only afford to be as kind as she was powerful.
So the princess nodded her head in defeat, and led them toward the mountain, where Ryoichi was soon flaring his Sun Flames under her stunned eyes, the bird of hell in her true form, as big as the mountain itself, soon visibly healing, blue fire coming alive around her body as her strength was coming back.
And the second she was fully healed, she took fly with a cry of victory, flames burning brightly around her and rushing toward her savior.
"How utterly stupid..." Ryoichi commented as the fire simply died around him
"Impossible!" the daiyoukai protested "This is a fire no mortal can survive!"
"Trying to use the fire of hell against the brother of Life herself is rather stupid." the red kitsune informed her "Something a youkai linked to hell like you are should have realized!" he added with disdain, before turning toward Tsunade, completely dismissing the other daiyoukai "Seems like you were right, the mother is really stupid. I wonder how she managed to produce a daughter as powerful and intelligent."
"A mystery I still haven't pierced." the Lady of the South announced with a melodramatic pout
"Attack!" the furious bird ordered
The birds seemed torn – some of them immediately following their leader into battle, but a handful knowing better and staying by their hime's side.
Those stupid enough to attack died in show of golden fire and thorny vines in function of whether they'd attacked Ryoichi or Tsunade – Tekkei dying both thorn into pieces by the tanuki's vines and burnt to ashes by the kitsune's light and divine powers enhanced fire.
[Secondary Quest Complete! The Fire Hime...
You've dealt with the House of Fire menace
Bonus goal: you've sparred the House of Fire Heiress
Reward: +100XP, +1 beginner skill book unlocked
Bonus goal reward: +250XP, +1youkai-made armor piece to be chosen]
On Abi's brown, a blue tongue of fire appeared as her mother died, marking her as the new Lady of her House – a House now reduced to herself and the few beasts that had been loyal enough to her to stay by her side.
She started blankly at the mountain side where nothing remained of what had been her life until then, then was finally drawn out of her shock by Tsunade curiously asking "Well, what will it be, young Lady?"
"I'm not stupid enough to seek revenge." the daiyoukai answered "While I don't like it, I don't stand a chance if my mother was dealt with so easily, and I do know she wouldn't have died if she'd just refrained from attacking."
"See!" Tsunade loudly whispered to Ryoichi "I told you! So much more intelligent than her mother!" her eyes were kinder when she stepped toward the princess "I don't like needless death, Abi, I told you so earlier." she gestured around them "I didn't like it when you killed humans, and I didn't like killing your clan anymore. Please keep this in mind, and I'm sure you'll understand one day why did it anyway."
The dark-haired daiyoukai nodded solemnly to her Lady, before answering honestly "I don't think I can just forget that you killed my mother. But I'll remember."
"You wont ever forget that I killed your mother." the tanuki nodded her agreement "But you've already forgiven the kit, so it's alright." then turning toward Ryoichi "I'll take my leave for now, I think it's better for your newest ward."
The red kitsune nodded, and while the Lady of the South was slipping in her true form and disappearing fast, he was shepherding his newest misfits toward their next destination, Abi falling into step with them without even a protest, her bird's youki swirling before they disappeared in an unearthly black rift.
"They went back to hell." she informed the curious cat "You looked like you wanted to ask."
"I did." Shinobu admitted "I'm also wondering... You didn't protest when Tsunade-sama said you've already forgiven alpha. Why?"
"Because she was right. Your alpha kept his word, and healed mother despite clearly not liking her, he only attacked once she attacked. Had mother refrained, he wouldn't have done anything. I know the Lady of the South would have killed my mother, be it today or another day." a shrug "The fate of anyone plotting against her is death after all."
"I don't really get it..." the yama neko answered honestly "I mean, be it today or another day, she'd have only killed your mother as long as she'd betray her." a shrug "But emotions aren't always logical, so I guess there's no helping it."
The hime giggled at the affirmation, rather amused by the rather honest opinion – where normal people would have either faked sympathizing with her or showed her no compassion at all, he'd both made known to her that he empathized with her loss, yet didn't regret it, given that the target of her mother's attack had been his own leader. This kind of unexpected honesty was rather refreshing...
In the weeks that followed, the hime adapted herself to her new life, far different from her previous one – and if, just like Kurama before her, she had trouble understanding why the kitsune was going to such length for a bunch of children he'd never met before, she was, contrarily to the youko, willing to learn.
Because she had witnessed what happened to those that didn't learn with her mother's demise, and had no intention of going the same way – and while for now it was simply the will to survive that was driving her, even Shinobu realized that day by day she was starting to take more interest in the orphan's daily lessons, then getting to know all of them, and starting to care.
And if for now, she was only caring because she knew them, she would realize in time that you didn't need to know people to care about their fate...
It was because she was adapting to her new life that Abi realized just as well as Shinobu that their leader was getting restless, and making them travel a bit faster than usual...
"This area is dangerous, Ryoichi-sama." the hime informed the kitsune as they headed deeper into the volcanic area
"I know." the alpha nodded, frown marred with worry "But we're meeting peoples there."
"Oh, so it is time then?" Shinobu realized
"It is." the red kitsune nodded as the hostile youki that had been swirling ahead for a while suddenly disappeared completely, overpowered by a feeling the bird of hell recognized easily
"A path to hell was opened!" she affirmed with wide eyes "One far larger than anything I could manage..." she added with a whisper "This... Were the Gates of Hell opened?"
"They were."Ryoichi confirmed as they arrived in front of the mouth of a large cave "Now, we wait."
¤.¤.¤
Sesshoumaru hadn't wasted anytime after his daughter's pack left, immediately heading toward the Nikko area.
Totosai was waiting for him even before he'd even stepped on the mountain "You've come for you coming of age blade, eh?"
"Will you craft it this time?"
The old youkai peered at him with a pensive hum, before turning abruptly, heading toward his forge and gesturing for the inu to follow.
"Your father had one last test left for you, but honestly I don't think you need it." a snort "After all you do already realize that a coming of age blade's worth and power is not simply proof of the worth of the blacksmith who crafted it, but more of a reflection of your own true power."
The daiyoukai merely nodded at the statement.
"Still, I confess myself intrigued... You seem... in a hurry?"
"One of chichi-ue's unfinished business is coming up again." Sesshoumaru admitted
"And you feel you'll need your own blade for that..." the blacksmith realized "So be it then."
A fang and three days later, and the daiyoukai was slipping the new blade to his waist, and taking his true form, traveling South, Ah-Hun carrying both Rin and Jaken in tow.
"To think both of your brats have surpassed you, Toga..." Totosai commented with a nostalgic smile
¤.¤.¤
Tsukiko would have let the matter of InuYasha's previous travel to the region rest – if not for the foreign youki that had recently awakened in her beta's back, making the hanyou antsy as he tried to resist the call...
As such she'd taken her uncle to the side one evening "You're going to have to tell me what happened fifty years ago, oji-san, because even I can feel that this annoying thing on your back is calling you."
The hanyou opened his mouth to protest – and relented, going over how during their travels they'd taken a boat to head south, and him and Kikyou had become lost in the mist, only to eventually approach an island populated by hanyou.
They had been careless, the miko's attacked by a bloods-stealing youkai while himself was assaulted by a fire youkai who'd left behind this mark on his back.
"These hanyou... They were all brats, and apparently, all were the slaves of those youkai bastards." InuYasha shrugged "But by the next morning when we tried to go back to the island, it had disappeared, and the mark on my back became dormant."
"Well if the mark has awakened, I guess we can safely assume that the island is back too."
"It's no like we have any time to waste with side trip."
"Then we'll hurry." the young ookami stated, eyeing his back with a wrinkled nose "After all we've got to get rid of this eyesore. And of the one who dared put a fucking slave mark on my beta."
"Wasn't your beta back then."
"So?"
Seeing there wasn't convincing his niece of anything, he held his hands in surrender "Alright I get it!"
"Beside, don't you want to know what happened to those hanyou?"
"Feh. I guess."
With that, the Moon Hime had awakened Kagome and Miroku "Oji-san and I have a small errand to take care of." she informed the too "Kagome, you take care of the pack, Miroku, you'll guide them."
The two holy servants shared a surprised glance, but nodded, and soon both uncle and niece were rushing through the black flame Tsukiko used, Padfoot by their side – they were nearing the coast, and the origin of the call when Tsukiko's acute senses made her realize another daiyoukai was catching up with them.
Having felt them too, Sesshoumaru was soon coming down, seamlessly dropping out of his true form, while Tsukiko could now feel Ah-Hun taking another direction – carrying the Lord's charge and retainer's toward her own pack she realized.
"Chichi-ue." Tsukiko greeted "You bear the same despicable mark as oji-san I see."
Both brothers eyed each other, rather surprised – and after InuYasha briefly announced "I was on a job with Kikyou, we found and island where some bastards were enslaving hanyou... got careless..."
"Two of chichi-ue's retainers came to me to finish off four demons. I declined, seeing as the West was still too unstable. Rather than wait for a few decades for the situation to stabilize in the lands they went ahead by themselves. This Sesshoumaru followed the two fools, but it was too late."
The daiyoukai eyed the island that was slowly coming out of the mist "The West is stable enough now." he concluded
"Well then," Tsukiko nodded determinedly "Let's get to it."
The three of them were preparing to take off once more when a young but desperate voice interrupted them "Wait! Please take me with you!"
As the little rushed toward them, her hood falling down to reveal startling features – blue fin-like ears clearly not belonging to a human. Seemed like they'd found one the island's hanyou.
"Why?" Tsukiko asked not unkindly, dropping to one knee to get on eye level with the child
"Because I don't bear the Shitoushin mark they made me escape to save me!" the crying girl explain "But I don't want to be saved if it means that I'm alone!"
"Then come." Tsukiko nodded decisively, letting the young child jump in her arms before they finally made their way toward the island "We're here to get rid of them after all." she completed with a smile
They were interrupted on the island's beach by a fiery youkai, with red hair and burning birds around him.
Sesshoumaru seemed to recognize him, as he stepped forward, new blade swiftly coming out of it's sheath as he attacked.
"That's Kyoura." the little hanyou in Tsukiko's arms explained "Aren't you going to help him?"
"He certainly doesn't need it." InuYasha denied "I'm feeling really ashamed of myself to have been hit by that level of skill back then..." he muttered for himself
"Well, you didn't have a lot of training back then." his alpha commented with an amused smile, patting him on his back "Beside, his powers are sealed..."
"That's Kanade-sama's work." the girl stated "She sealed their powers and bound them to the island. That's why they're killing us off."
¤.¤.¤
With that she proceeded to explain to them that once upon the island had been a peaceful haven where humans and youkai cohabited, soon producing numerous hanyou.
But alas, some had taken offense at the village where all were accepted, and so a powerful miko put up a ward cutting the island from the rest of the world to protect them...
"But every fifty years, it weakens for a few days, and the Shitoushin took advantage of this to attack us one day."
Kanade, the miko in question, used the last of her powers to steal and hide the four powerful youkai's powers within the artifact anchoring the wards of the island - but the four youkai hadn't let that hinder them, instead using the hanyou's own life force to gather their powers.
"But thanks to Kanade-sama's ward, they can only affect the living world and our island every fifty years."
While the child was explaining this, Tsukiko and InuYasha had felt several other presences making their way to them – the other hanyou, the elder one sharply cutting the girl
"Ai! What are you dong back here, freely sharing our sufferings with outsiders!"
"They're here to help!"
"Bah!" it was another hanyou who snorted, echoed by his twin brother "As if anyone would do anything against the Shitoushin!"
Just as he was saying that, Sesshoumaru was making his way back to them, not even giving a last glance at the dying youkai – and on all of those marked, one of the four claw mark disappeared.
"Tch. Don't mix my brother with you weakling." InuYasha snorted – not realizing the daiyoukai's surprise at the statement
Never before after all, had InuYasha called him brother...
"Well, the two of you shouldn't have any problems taking out the tree remaining youkai."
"What'll you be doing?" the inu hanyou wondered, knowing his alpha well enough that he could feel her powers struggling to get out of her control
"Dropping that barrier." she announced, to the children around them shock" It has not only bound the Shitoushin, but also cut all the inhabitant from the Mortal Realms..."
"You mean..."
"Souls," she nodded, eyes finally gleaming green "All of the souls of the villagers are still bound here, and the only reason they haven't devolved into poltergeist or gone mad from being prevented from passing on is the fact that they're still out of time."
"But the Shitoushin will get their powers back if the barrier is dropped!" the eldest of the hanyou protested
"They have already regained a good part of it." Tsukiko pointed out "By sacrificing your people." a shrug "Beside, even at full power I doubt they'll be much of a challenge."
"The Shitoushin are powerful! The second twin, who hadn't talked yet, protested
"They may have been once upon a time,"Tsukiko acknowledged "But they've been cut from their powers for how long?" she reminded them "A youkai very nature is its powers, being cut from your powers... It inevitably weakens you."
With that, she was turning toward the two inu "Have fun, chichi-ue, oji-san!"
Black flames opened a portal, and Ai rushed by her side "I'm coming!"
"Me too," the oldest hanyou added, before adding "I'm Asagi by the way. And if you're saying that the barrier is hurting our families' souls... then I'll witness myself the Cauldron's destruction."
The other hanyou nodded and followed along. Tsukiko eyed them with an amused smile "Well, come on then!"
"How do you know where we're going?" the third girl among the hanyou eventually wondered in a shy voice, as on more portal opened, nearer once more to the artifact holding the wards
"Your miko was really powerful, and wards cutting a whole island from time and space?" Tsukiko explained "The quantity of reiki is rather staggering, I've felt that much only once before. Finding the nexus of it is rather easy, she didn't try to hide it at all."
"You can... feel reiki?" this time it was the goat hanyou who dared to speak
"I am a miko." she indicated – no point in denying her holy powers when they'd soon witness her use them
"Bullshit!" one of the twins called automatically – before yelping as she zapped him lightly, just enough for him to recognize the energy used
Whatever more would have been added was put on hold as they'd reached a large cave, clearly man made as there were steps leading to a large stone door intricately engraved.
Tsukiko let her powers free, empowered by the simple proximity of the artifact holding the wards, making all the child gaze at her in wonder.
Around the island, she could feel the thousands of souls cut from Death Islands – but also Sesshoumaru and InuYasha battling the now two remaining Shitoushin without any real problem.
And from without the wards, the hidden power of the youkai.
"Padfoot, you take care of them."
The Grimm nodded, and shifted from the rather normal size he was at to the larger battle-form he'd taken to use just like Kirara did.
"When the wards go down, the whole place will probably become unstable." she warned the children "I'm sure you'll all be able to fit on that big lump."
Her partner whined at the appellation, before eyeing the six hanyou children and, reiki swirling around, growing even larger, before laying down to let them climb on...
"I knew you were just lazy!" Tsukiko laughed before stepping toward the door, who seemed to naturally open under the influence of both her reiki and youki
She stepped in the furnace inside, before finally arriving at the bottom of the volcano, where one more soul was lingering...
¤.¤.¤
"You are the miko Kanade, right?" she realized
"I am." the voice held a smile "And you are here to take us."
"It's past time."
"It is..." a sigh "I did all I could to save them, but instead I condemned them all to a cruel death didn't I?"
"Not all of them," Tsukiko corrected gently "And without your actions, they'd have died anyway." her tone grew more chiding "Cutting the island from time and space was pretty dumb thought, but what's done is done, so there is little point in worrying about it anymore."
"I understand that now." the miko admitted, having been one of the souls trapped by the island for a long time
With that, a small comb box appeared on the lava, brimming with malevolent youki "Here, I've been hiding this for all this time..."
"I'll take care of it." Tsukiko confirmed "You just go ahead and rest now." she concluded gently
With that, reiki evolved into divine powers, purifying in an instant the stolen youki, before breaking thought the barrier, the island finally rejoining once more the Mortal Realms, the countless souls swirling around her as she stepped out of the volcano, before finally passing on with a last farewell to the last children of their village, Kanade showing them the way...
Around them, just like Tsukiko had warned, the small island was crumbling and falling into the waters of the bay.
Among the falling remnants, InuYasha and Sesshoumaru had both finished their opponents, making the last of the revolting mark disappear – and an incredulous twin whisper "We're free now?"
"We are." his brother nodded, just as disbelieving "But now what?"
"Now you live."InuYasha answered gruffly "The South isn't as intolerant as the rest of the country." he informed them "As long as you pull your weight, you'll be accepted here."
"Or I can take you to my fiancé," Tsukiko added "he takes care of orphans."
"What about you?" Ai was the one to boldly ask
"We're heading into battle." Tsukiko announced gently "I can't even guaranty that my pack will get out it in one piece..." she admitted with a tired sigh
"So the time has come?" Sesshoumaru remarked
"The last shard is in the daiyoukai graveyard." InuYasha answered "We'll finish things there."
"I see." the daiyoukai nodded, before eyeing the children who were looking torn "My lands are much less tolerant than the South." he warned the children "And I do intend to see this fight to it's end," he added toward his daughter, who nodded her acknowledgment "But this Sesshoumaru isn't weak enough that he can't manage to protect a few pups while witnessing a battle."
The six hanyou shared hopeful glances, taking the strange statement for the invitation it was, and all nodded enthusiastically.
"Well, let's get back to your pack, musume." Sesshoumaru stated, as serene as if he hadn't gained six new hanyou charge
"Can't believe that bastard..." InuYasha was muttering to himself as they were once more slipping in and out of the black flame portals – but despite the gruff insult, it was impossible to miss the clear approval in his tone and gaze
By the time they met up with their pack, it was mid-morning the next day – and while a bit surprised, they hadn't made a fuss about the fact that Sesshoumaru was suddenly traveling with them, a pack of children in tow...
And if they still looked with gratitude at Tsukiko, it was rather evident that under Rin's lead, the six hanyou were soon becoming Sesshoumaru's pack – whether he liked it or not.
It was a few more days after that that Kouga caught up with them, the wolf too having gained new pack-mates in not only Kai and Shinta, but also Ayame, who'd just as she intended had gone brilliantly through the Coming of Age Trial, gaining alpha marks before swiftly catching up to him, boldly daring him to get to know her – something the young alpha had to admit he'd been rather impressed with.
With their sibling-pack finally present, Shadow's pack was soon finishing outlining the plan that had been coming together, and Yule was soon looming upon them...
¤.¤.¤
[New Life Quest! The Longest Night...
note that the War Time Map System has been enabled for this event
Goal 1: complete the Shikon no Tama
Goal 2:purify the Shikon no Tama
Goal 3: take back Naraku's Shinzou
Goal 4:deal with Naraku
Goal 5:survive the night
Bonus Goal: gather War Points (WP)
Reward: +2000WP per goal,
A Voyage's End(+10 to all Resistance skills) Perk unlocked upon Goal 1 completion, The End of the Endless Circle(+10 YinYang, Light and Dark affinity) Perk unlocked upon Goal 2 completion, The Weight of a Soul (+10 to all Awareness skills) Perk unlocked upon Goal 3 completion, The Mind of the Spider (+10 to all Ground skills) Perk unlocked upon Goal 4 completion, +2000XP and Chaos Game update 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 000WP gathered]
[Allies acquired (Mezu and Gozu): 2*500WP]
Naraku smirked as Kagura made her way back to him, the wind sprite not even bothering to hide how much she loathed being at his beck and call "They've arrived."
"Perfect."
He gestured for her detachment to follow him and approached the viewpoint he'd made her scout earlier, eyeing with both hate and amusement the group approaching the two gigantic stone statues framing the circular gate giving off an off-worldly feeling.
"Ask Kagura, I know you want to."
"Why are you letting them go first?"
"Because there is only one way to make the Gate of Hell open..." he explained as a few meters below the two statues awakened
"Do you wish to pass?"
"Feh! Why do you think we've come all the way here for?" InuYasha answered brashly "Of course we wish to pass!"
The two guards were now moving, weapons in hand "Then try to pass."
"This gateway is a place where only the dead may pass."
"And thus, those who wish to pass will die by our hands!"
The Kaze no Kizu was cut, making the ground around them shake as rocks were coming out of the cave's walls – bu the two guardians remained untouched.
"Futile."
"We cannot be slain by a sword of this world."
"And now that they've started to move," Naraku smiled from his spot "Gozu and Mezu won't stop until the Gates have opened and closed again."
Down with the pack, Miroku opened his kazaana, making the ground shake even more violently, but the two guards themselves, barely moved by the powerful curse, simply turned their attention toward him "Do you wish to pass too?"
"Don't!" InuYasha protested loudly as the houshi opened his mouth to answer "No point in giving them more targets!"
The holy servant looked like he wanted to protest, but relented, stepping down.
While by the moment Naraku's smile was widening, growing madder, the spirit was more and more worried as the hanyou kept on fighting alone, soon gaining one wound, then another – until finally, with blood pouring from one large wound, he didn't get up again, and the large Gate started to open, Kagome primal wail of despair mixing with Naraku's mad laughter...
With a gesture, a swarm of youkai were rushing through the light, making Naraku nod with satisfaction, and the evil hanyou stepped forward "I'm going ahead, you play around with them, we wouldn't want these idiots to get in my way now, would we?" a contemptuous look at the crying girl and shell-shocked friends around her "Then again I doubt they'll be in any state to stop me, I'll take care of their share of the shards when I'm back."
[Hidden Life Quest complete! Biting the biter...
Naraku has taken the bait
Reward: +800XP per goal,+1 Soul Token added to Inventory]
[Trap successful (InuYasha's fake death): +500WP]
¤.¤.¤
"Well," Tsukiko commented, stretching lazily "That's done with."
With that, the illusion around her pack shimmered and fell, revealing a healthy InuYasha, and a weary Shippou and Kanna "You did well."
The two children smiled at the praise, but weren't in a state to even answer – it had taken all they had to weave the illusion around them, an illusion that had to be powerful enough to fool all of Naraku's senses, but also gloss over the incoherence of the scene, like the fact no one had helped the hanyou, something that would have never happened in reality...
Thankfully that point had been easier to make the spider believe, thanks to his own egoistical ways – illusions did play with someone's mind and vision of reality after all, it was easier to make to someone self-centered believe that other people were just as bad as him.
On top of it, the two Mist Flame users also had to make hanyou gloss over the pack's composition – making the man pass over Kouga's pack as if they weren't even there and much more difficult, making him see Miroku when the houshi was absent.
Kagura was stunned as she watched the illusion drop, wondering with a bit of hope if that could mean...
"Come sister. It's time."
Her eyes widened at the confirmation, and without any further hesitation, she stepped down from her feather, coming closer to the pack.
"Kanna used most of her powers maintaining the illusion," Tsukiko announced "so I'll be the one powering up this."
This, the wind sprite realize – was the large ritual circle already drawn on the ground, hidden up until now by the illusion.
The alpha turned toward the rest of her pack, Kagome and InuYasha at their head "We'll be going ahead, Tsuki-chan." the miko said with a smile
"Be safe." the ookami enjoined them before turning toward Kanna and Kagura
Within moments, the cave was empty of all but the three women and Shippou, the kit visibly longing to be going with his pack but not even able to move so tired he was, even if he was getting better by the moment.
Kanna was swiftly disposing of her top, making Kagura realize that the other sprite's body was covered in runes, drawn in what could only be blood – an impression confirmed the next moment when the ookami came toward her, swiftly helping her out of the upper half of her kimono, and with a rapid gesture drawing blood from her and starting drawing new runes.
Soon, Kagura and Kanna were in the inner circle of the ritual elaborate diagram – and Tsukiko was freeing her aura, Past Life aura unleashed and empowered by the nearby open Gate to Tsukiko's own Realm...
Kagura's mind was taken to that day she had fled, leaving the girl by her side behind, so sure that she had been killed by the terrifying power – but now, as the power was hugging them, she wasn't afraid anymore, not even of the death that was coming her way to free her.
Because in the ritual circle, it was impossible to hide your feelings, and she could feel not only Kanna's own determination to save her from Naraku, her sister complete lack of intention of ever controlling her like their father, but also Tsukiko's alien mind and feelings, so clearly not a being on the same level at them, yet with intense feelings, worry at her pack-mate that by now were all facing their destiny, determination to save her simply because her canine instincts told her she shouldn't have to suffer at the hands of her own father, simply because her understanding of elements told her that the wind shouldn't be caged... Simply because she could, so why shouldn't she?
And finally Kanna was by her side, dagger slashing through her throat with a decisive gesture despite the terror in her eyes, and Kagura felt herself dying for a moment – before the whole ritual circle pulsed, green glow of the goddess receding to be replaced by the red glint of the blood around them, now pulsing to a new rhythm...
Kanna's heartbeat, now tying both sisters' life.
[Goal update (7/9): +25XP
Hidden bonus goal complete!
Kagura's life is now entwined to Kanna's freeing her from Naraku
Hidden bonus goal reward: +1000XP, Kagura unlocks Chaos Game light version]
[New ally acquired (Kagura): +500WP]
Tsukiko smiled at the two sisters leaning against each other – and sent a brief message.
A moment later, Ryoichi was there, helping her move her three pack-mates toward the camp Sesshoumaru had established, and where his own misfits were already taking their place...
¤.¤.¤
Kanna and Kagura were soon placed in a bedroll, both sisters having passed out in the few moments it'd taken to carry them from the cave – and Tsukiko turned back, ready to meet up with her pack, only to be stopped by Shippou "I'm coming too, alpha."
She eyed the weary kitsune, but couldn't deny him – after all, she was the one who'd taken the kit on the dangerous roads of their quest to complete the Shikon no Tama and kill Naraku, how could she deny him now that the end had come, no matter how weakened he was?
So she nodded, and held out her hand toward his, before flaring her black flames, the unearthly power taking them directly toward the in-between...
[Avengers Assemble (your forces are gathering in the In-between): InuYasha, Kagome, Sango, Ginta, Hakkaku, Kai, Shinta, Ayame: 8*500WP]
Once they'd entered the area between the Mortal Realms and Hell, the large group had immediately split up, Kouga's pack starting to dispatch the intruding youkai while Kagome and InuYasha started to make their way discreetly toward where the miko could feel the last shard – and finally Sango tracking down Naraku...
[First Wave Attack Successful (Wolf-tribe against Youkai Swarm): 5*500WP]
InuYasha and Kagome had soon realized, with some surprise, that they were heading in the direction of a familiar gigantic skeleton – somehow, it was looking like the last Shikon shard had ended up hidden into the Inu no Taishou's grave...
[Infiltration Successful (Kagome and InuYasha entered the In-between undetected): 2*500WP]
And indeed, the were soon near the large carcass of InuYasha and Sesshoumaru's father – with one notable difference since the last time they'd come here...
[Last Shard found first: +500WP]
[Avengers Assemble (your forces are gathering in the In-between): Tsukiko, Shippou: 2*500WP]
"You... Your life isn't quite over yet," Tsukiko voice commented as the goddess appeared by her two pack-mates side, Shippou in tow "So why are you here?"
The crystal skull embedded in Toga's armor came to life, diamond shards growing around to let him come near the four pack-mates "Seishi-hime, what an unexpected visit."
"You are Housenki the Jewel Youkai, right?"
"Indeed I am. As for what I'm doing here..." he explained "Right by the time I could feel my life coming to an end, I happened to get my hands on a Shikon shard."
"An untainted one..." Kagome unwittingly interrupted, rather surprised at that fact – but clearly seeing the pure shard hidden within the youkai's own body
"Indeed young miko." he confirmed, not taking offense at the interruption "I am a Stone Spirit," he went on revealing "which is how I can grow my own gems for my craft... It also means I could feel the shard's intent."
"The shard's intent?" Kagome repeated, confused
"It's intent, yes. You must have realized by now that the Shikon no Tama has it's own will."
The miko nodded – that much had been clear after hearing the stories of both Midoriko and Kikyou...
"The shard I had found was still pure, but could feel that more and more shard were gathered by a man of great evil, and becoming tainted. The shard was starting to fear that once the jewel was complete, it would be engulfed in darkness..."
"And to prevent this, it asked you to take it to a place the living couldn't reach."
"That it did, Seishi-hime. As such I used the last of my pearls, and came here, to protect the shard and wait for my own time."
"You did well," Tsukiko smiled "but your mission is over now."
"What do you mean?"
"Naraku is coming as we speak," a ferocious smirk "and his intent may be to steal you shard, this isn't what is going to happen."
"Do you think the little miko's power will win against that sheer evil intent?" the spirit asked, doubts clear in his voice "Even as weakened as she is?"
"She will." Tsukiko nodded with full confidence – while InuYasha was focusing on something else
"What do you mean, weakened?"
"Well it's evident," Kagome was the one to answer "I'm a priestess for Life, Inu. It means that my powers are always amplified, because the Mortal Realms are her domain... But here so close to Hell, Tsukiko may become more powerful, it's the exact opposite for me."
"You knew..." the hanyou realized, eyeing both girls "You knew, yet let us go ahead with this plan..."
"Because Miroku was right, and it's the best occasion we'll have to finish this once and for all, InuYasha." Kagome answered the unasked question "Don't you believe in me?"
"Keh! Of course I do!" the hanyou huffed, slightly embarrassed at the admission, before turning back toward Housenki "Hear this old man?"
"I do." the spirit nodded "And I'll fight by your side." he completed, while the diamond spars around his head rearranged, letting something drop into Kagome's hands "I can feel your resolve echoing in those shards around your neck, little miko..."
[New ally acquired (Housenki): +500WP]
Sango had done her job well, catching up with Naraku and baiting the hanyou into attacking her – and when the message came from Kagome, subtly letting herself getting pushed back, fleeing in the direction the miko had indicated...
Within minutes, she was arriving by the Inu no Taishou's grave – and InuYasha, seeing her arriving was taking over the fight, letting the hanyou tajiya breath a bit.
"So you had managed to survive, eh?" Naraku realized "I must confess to find myself relieved by this. After all... I wanted to kill you myself!"
"Keh, you say this now yet you've always sent your children do your dirty work!" the inu hanyou taunted, Kaze no Kizu rushing toward the spider – any damage done immediately regenerating itself "But then again," he added as Miroku, Kouga and Hakudoushi stepped out of Padfoot's shadows "I guess you don't have any of those left!"
Eyes widening with fear, Naraku stared at the houshi with hatred - at the houshi, and at the baby he was holding in his arms...
[Goal update (8/9):+25XP]
[Goal complete!+2000WP
Goal update: Kill Naraku]
[Child of Naraku killed (Byakuya): +500WP]
[Trap successful (Akago captured): +500WP]
Panicking as he was, Naraku didn't stop to wonder just why they had bothered with capturing the child where he'd hidden half his soul, instead lashing out violently at all of them, miasma oozing around him, contaminating all the area...
¤.¤.¤
While the rest of the pack was starting the trap by faking InuYasha's death, Miroku had been following Naraku's last children, focusing on the feeling of the half-soul, Kouga and Hakudoushi in tow.
The priest had been rather surprised at their latest addition asking to come along, but then remembered that the young youkai was in a way twin with the fundamentally evil baby they were after and as such hadn't protested.
[Infiltration Successful (Miroku, Kouga and Hakudoushi found Akago and Byakuya undetected): 3*500]
Kouga attacked first, Goraishi tearing into Byakuya – only for his target to dissolve in mist, leaving behind a white flower, as Naraku's last children had managed to dodge.
"Well, this isn't something Naraku or you had predicted." he commented to the baby he was holding in one arm, sighing "What now? I'm not much of a fighter."
Indeed – the next few minutes made the fact abundantly clear that Byakuya, while far from bad, just wasn't a warrior at heart, and soon he was failing to dodge Kouga's claws, then, in one last attack, the illusionist stopped moving, knowing he was dying.
It was then that Miroku approached him, while Hakudoushi himself was taking the baby he'd been a half of once upon a time...
"You don't want to die, yet you never expected to live," Miroku remarked "why is that?"
"Well it's evident right? That Naraku made me to be used, nothing else, tying my life even more closely to him, leaving no room to rebel..."
"Yet you don't feel resentful."
"It was my purpose in life." a shrug "And I'd have died at the same time as him anyway, like I said, I'm not like my siblings... Oh well, it was fun while it lasted..."
Miroku kept his eyes on the dying youkai, witnessing the moment his spirit left his body – and holy powers flaring around him, neatly catching it before it could dissipate into nothingness and tying it to a shikigami.
"You say that our alpha is too kind," Hakudoushi remarked as he walked back toward him, Akago in his arms "but it seems to me like her attitude is catching..." a wry smile "but somehow I can't get myself to see this as bad." then unceremoniously dropping the baby in the older man's arms "Here, take that," he said with distaste "I'm done with it."
It was only then that Miroku understood the rather evident reason why the young daiyoukai had asked to come along – a rather evident reason, in retrospect...
The child of Naraku had changed since they'd welcomed him in their pack, growing tremendously in those few weeks – in terms of skills, but much more importantly in his own understanding of feelings.
Hakudoushi had wanted to confront his twin – to reassure himself that he wasn't that bundle of evil anymore, and the two sharing the gift of delving into others mind, it had been as easy as sharing a glance with the baby...
And now, Kanna's brother knew without a doubt – that he wasn't like that anymore, and he barely could bear the idea of touching the baby a moment more than necessary.
"There was never any doubt." Miroku commented to the young daiyoukai as Padfoot opened a path of shadows in front of them
"I know that now..." the white-haired boy nodded, a thankful smile on his lips for the pack's unwavering faith in himself he hadn't had himself until now
[Goal 3 complete!+2000WP, The Weight of a Soul (+10 to all Awareness skills) Perk unlocked]
[Avengers Assemble (your forces are gathering in the In-between: Miroku, Hakudoushi, Kouga: 3*500WP]
Miroku turned toward Tsukiko immediately while Naraku started his rampage, the goddess aiming gleaming green eyes at the baby that was still trying to flee despite his powerlessness.
"I guess Naraku wasn't stupid enough to give you any mean to defend yourself?" she commented, amused
"Naraku is nothing more than a puppet now that he's made me!" the baby protested, voice echoing in their mind
"Indeed." Tsukiko nodded, amused "But that puppet is far more powerful than yourself right now." she mater-of-factly stated, before turning toward her childhood friend "Are you ready?"
A decisive nod – and suddenly, the fighters that had been moving around seemingly randomly were all attentive once more, InuYasha finally unleashing the Tessaiga's Bakuryuuha, Kagome's reiki flaring in three distinctive colors, her arrow following the path opened by the hanyou's blade...
Naraku's body was blasted apart, but this time was having difficulties regenerating thanks to the combined powers of Kagome, Kikyou and Midoriko's reiki.
Tsukiko handed the baby to Kagome, while turning her attention back toward Miroku "So, you've brought another guest?"
The priest nodded, handing her the shikigami where Byakuya's conscience laid dormant...
"Since he doesn't have a soul, he's bound to disappear..."
"And you don't want that."
"Byakuya may have obeyed Naraku, he wasn't an mindless evil best like some of his siblings were..." a sigh "But he was also made with no survival instinct, making him indifferent toward life at best."
"To best control him." Tsukiko nodded "An illusionist who didn't see the point of reality..." her powers swirled around the paper charm "It's too late for him, he's got no body anymore..."
[Hidden bonus goal complete!
Byakuya's gained a place in the reincarnation circle
Hidden bonus goal reward:+1000XP]
"But we can at least give him a second chance at life." she smiled, her priest nodding thankfully by her side – Miroku hadn't doubted after all, that she would understand his own desire to save the last child of Naraku, and do so where he himself couldn't
¤.¤.¤
The battlefield hadn't stopped while the goddess was acting, Naraku still trying to regenerate...
And suddenly, Naraku's power was growing once more - this time around the baby in Tsukiko's hand, the spider hanyou taking back his own heart in an attempt at defeating the reiki rampaging against his youki...
The hanyou's own barrier was soon violently pushing away everyone around him, letting him finally regenerate his body, never noticing his enemies satisfied smile as they all got up, weapons in hands...
"Fools!" he laughed "You'll never beat me now!"
And it was clear indeed that the intense aura of evil the hanyou was oozing had grow several times worse in that instant...
[Quest Complete! Free as the Wind...
All of Naraku's children fate is now out of the hanyou's hand
Reward: +25XP, +1 beginner Elemental skill book]
[Trap Successful (trick Naraku in taking back his soul): +500WP]
"Naraku, you're going down now!"
The hanyou wasn't stupid enough to let himself hit a second time by the dangerous reiki, and dodged immediately, preferring taking a hit by Sango's Hiraikotsu rather than risking Kagome's power.
"You are just an eyesore!"
And finally, the hanyou realized the other downside of taking back his soul...
"Impossible!" he protested as he realized that once more, he couldn't attack the dangerous miko
"I was kind enough to give you back all of your soul before you die." Tsukiko informed him "Despicable intent, and crippling weakness along with it."
Under the countless assaults, Naraku was finally understanding that he'd fallen in a trap – that none of them had any intent of letting escape this time...
Flaring his youki, he called to himself the swarm he'd sent ahead of him – only to let out another yell of rage as what came to his call were but a few handful, only the more powerful youkai having survive the wolf-tribe assault – and said wolf coming right behind the escaping yokai.
"Where is his half of the jewel?" InuYasha wondered, as he realized that Kagome wasn't striking yet for a good reason
"I don't know. It's inside him... but not there at the same time..." the miko tried to explain, confused
Her confusion ended a few moment later, when with a shout of "You want a fight? I'll give you a fight!" Naraku was changing
"A true form, eh..." Tsukiko commented "Because he cut himself from his human heart for a while, he managed to develop one, eh…"
Indeed, the dark-haired hanyou had transformed into a gigantic spider, and finally, Kagome could feel where his Shikon half was, deep within the youkai's body
"It's no good," Sango was remarking after a few minutes of harrowing battle "each time we cut a piece, another one is regenerating!"
"Even aiming at the youketsu is no use," InuYasha was adding "his damn barrier is protecting them..."
"That's because his half of the Shikon no Tama has become even more powerful thanks to his own tainted heart." Kagome commented with a frown "But the jewel is only strengthening him to make use of him..."
¤.¤.¤
"Because it wants to be completed once more." Housenki completed
"Well then..." Kagome commented "Why not grant its wish?"
"That is a dangerous move you're planning, little miko." the old stone sprite commented, yet clearly seeing her intention "Not only will you have to purify both Naraku and the jewel at the same time, but in success like in failure, you'll still find yourself right in the middle of all that power..."
"I know." the miko nodded, having already realized that this wasn't something a simple arrow would achieve
No – she and her half of the Shikon no Tama had to spear-head the attack, putting the two half of the jewel so close that they would naturally attempt to unify once more.
[Avengers Assemble (your forces are gathering in the In-between: Kanna, Kagura): 2*500WP]
[The Gang's Back Together (Shadow Pack and Tsume Pack have all made their way to the In-between): +1000WP]
"If this is the best way, then we'll all support you." Kagome's eyes widened, as the two weary sisters appeared – Padfoot by their side
Tsukiko couldn't help but smile at her familiar's actions – of course, the Grimm had felt the two's awakening just like she had, and their regret at not witnessing this to it's end. And so the mutt had taken the matters in his own paws, and gone to fetch them...
"I'll take care of that barrier." Housenki announced "Just concentrate on your own goal, little miko."
Kagome nodded, putting the bow back to her Inventory – instead getting out the much more familiar nanigata, realizing with surprise that it was already humming with a familiar power...
She glanced at Tsukiko, who smiled back "Well, it is made from my own fang..."
"Then I'll be borrowing your power, Tsuki-chan." the futuristic girl announced, eyes full of determination
"Please do so." the ookami confirmed
[Kagome's Nanigata gained divine attribute Touch of Death (Shadow's power enhancement activated when not in the Mortal Realm): +1000WP]
"It'll be up to us to open the path to the jewel once the barrier is down." InuYasha concluded easily enough, before turning toward Kouga "Your claws are up to cutting some youketsu?"
"Do you even need to ask?"
"Feh. You better keep up, you mangy wolf."
And indeed, the two canine alpha had rushed as one as soon as Housenki's attack was unleashed, a shower of sharp diamond spears showering the spider, pummeling his shield that was soon cracking, and falling...
InuYasha and Kouga were rushing from one youketsu to another, each strike destroying a part of the spider's body, Miroku following behind with his purification powers to slow the regeneration, the rest of the fighters sparing no pain to cut back the large target before it could grow back.
Kagura, Kanna and Hakudoushi were staying by Kagome as she rushed toward the spider's body, opening the way for the miko – and soon, all could feel the call of the two half, power rippling around Naraku and Kagome in wave of battling reiki and youki...
[Goal 1 complete:+2000WP, A Voyage's End(+10 to all Resistance skills) Perk unlocked]
Naraku's mad yell of triumph was mixed with Kagome's scream of pain – and in the maelstrom of power, both hanyou and miko were facing each other, the gigantic spider around them but an empty puppet getting wilted down by Shadow and Tsume pack while two's were battling for the completed jewel possession, the Shikon no Tama floating at the heart of the maelstrom, hoovering between both of them.
¤.¤.¤
"Oh poor miko, you've done exactly as the jewel wanted!" the mad hanyou laughed "And with us a new circle will start, we'll be together fighting for eternity!"
"The jewel never had what it wanted!" Kagome contradicted "Oh it tried, sure enough! But Midoriko put a stop to those youkai evil by sacrificing herself to create the jewel, and Kikyou herself stopped the jewel from gaining what it wanted by taking it with her in death!"
"Ah but it came back with you didn't it?" Naraku – had gone completely mad under the Shikon no Tama's influence, Kagome finally realized, startled
Because, intelligent as he was, the hanyou had realized he was getting manipulated by the evil half of the jewel – and so, powerless to stop it, he instead surrendered to it...
"You should give up too, miko!"
"I won't!" she denied
Jabbing her nanigata in the ground, but not letting go of it, she let the powers of three different life swirl around her in the maelstrom of power – and suddenly, felt a familiar presence by her side.
"You've come to die together?" Naraku taunted at InuYasha, who'd indeed managed to make his way to them, battered and blood by the power's assault, but there nonetheless
"As if!" the inu hanyou contradicted "I'm here because there's nowhere else I'd rather be." he said to Kagome "So let's get that bastard once and for all."
"Let's." the miko nodded, suddenly knowing what to do
After all – Midoriko's and Kikyou's powers weren't the only powers she was linked to...
Her pack-mark shone a silvery light as she felt all the people who'd touched her aura – all of her pack-mates youki and reiki mingling with hers, then Kouga's pack, and even, more faintly, Ryoichi and Sesshoumaru's packs, not quite siblings, but there all the same...
[All is one (enemies of Naraku's powers combined): +1000WP]
"This circle of destruction ends now!" the miko affirmed, as both youki and reiki combined around her, blasting through both the Shikon no Tama and Naraku himself in one last blazing show of power "Youkai and humans weren't made simply to fight endlessly, and we won't just lets some old fashioned souls resisting death dictates our life and fate!"
[Life Quest Complete! Lie's Weaver
never again will Naraku and the Shikon no Tama manipulate people
Reward: +50XP, +1 Pack Mutation unlocked]
[Goal 2 Complete: +2000WP, The End of the Endless Circle (+10 YinYang, Light and Dark affinity) Perk unlocked
Goal 4 Complete: +2000WP, The Mind of the Spider (+10 to all Ground skills) Perk unlocked]
Countless youkai souls tried to escape, as the combined power of Reiki and youki finally overcame the centuries old jewel – but the maelstrom of power had been taken over by Kagome's own attack, and there was no escaping anymore...
¤.¤.¤
Finally, silence replaced the raging power, and all fighters settled down by Toga's body, strangely still intact despite the scenery around them clearly having suffered from the battle...
"It was a good fight." Housenki commented, satisfaction but weariness too audible in his voice "I think it's time for me now..."
The spirit closed his eyes, one last time – pulsing diamond now still in death, a last shower of dust falling on all of them...
[Hidden Quest Complete! The death of a warrior...
You fought by the old spirit through his last battle, letting him move on without any regrets
Reward: +2000XP, Housenki's Legacy(+10 to Earth Affinity, Physical Resistance and Wards skill) Perk unlocked]
After that, Tsukiko had opened a portal, and they'd all tiredly trudged through it, and back to the Mortal Realms, where only Sesshoumaru and Ryoichi were still awake – even if it was clear from their posture that Shinobu and Abi had been waiting until recently too...
"It is done." the Lord of the West affirmed rather than asked
"It is." his daughter nodded tiredly
"We felt your call." Ryoichi added, talking to Kagome
"Thank you for answering."
The red kitsune nodded, and assessed the fighters – while none had escaped scott-free from the hours long battle, none were mortally wounded, and while he'd liked to heal some of the worst injuries right now, he could see that all of them only wanted to sleep, their time in the In Between having taken it's toll on them on top the harsh battle...
Without immediate healing, quite a few wounds would scar– but it was clear that right now none of them cared, and so he let them go, instead curling against his fiancée, letting his Sun Flames heal at least her as much as he could...
InuYasha was reluctant to let Kagome step away from him, even to sleep "I thought the Jewel would take you away..." he whispered eventually "And I don't think I could live through something like that a second time..."
The miko's eyes widened at what was as good as a declaration for the hanyou – then nodded with a light blush, and settled to sleep in his arms.
"Took those two long enough." Miroku mumbled, amused
Only for Shippou to sent a weak fire flare toward him "You're one to talk houshi."
The holy servant eyed his now scar free hand, and admitted with a smile "I guess you're right."
Sango smiled as his eyes met her, no words needed.
Soon all were asleep, and as the night ended, nobody was awake to witness the multiple notifications announcing the end of their adventure – they would only find them when they woke up, nearly a whole day latter...
[Goal 5 complete!+2000WP]
[Life Quest Complete! The Longest Night...
total WP: 27 500
Reward: +2000XP, Chaos Game updated!
Bonus Reward:+13 000XP, +5 Enhancement Stones to be Chosen, +2 beginner Tail skill book to be chosen, +1 Tail Perk]
[Welcome to Chaos Game 3.1!]
|New log entrance: System updates highlight
(note that all changes can be accessed from the Log)
Leveling System update: leveling range has been upped to Level 900.
Past the level 300 and Ninth-Tail, Tail Perk won't be gained by leveling up anymore, instead a new system of Mastery and Specialty has been enacted
Mastery System unlocked: Four Mastery emplacements have been unlocked, becoming available at level 1, 300, 600 and 900. Each Mastery will grant a CP bonus per 20 level and some unique Perk and Abilities
Specialty System unlocked: Eight Specialty emplacement have been unlocked, becoming available at level 1 (1 slot), 150 (1 slot), 300 (2 slots), 600 (2 slots) and 900 (2 slots).
Those Specialty grants a punctual CP boost and unique passive, and can be gained during Quests, Events and other Challenges or thanks to leveling up some Tail Perks.
The Specialties can be changed up to once a month or when leveling up.
Crafting System update: unused Enhancement Stone can now be used to give an XP boost to a Stone in use to help level it up faster.
Other that the three actual Enhancement level (normal, attuned and empowered) a new one has been unlocked (legendary). Legendary Stones can only be used on leveling items, and can only be hand-crafted or gained from some Quests.
Hunting System update: new dungeons have spawned, with new Bosses available. Each dungeon can be done once a day, and defeating one for the first time will unlock a one time bonus, generally in term of a new item of skill boost.
Political System update: you can now see your reputation among other factions in this tab, and Reputation can be earned during Quests and Events or simply by performing some actions]
[Level up! You are now level 218!
+13SP, +4CP, +1PP]
[Level up! Kagome is now level 192!
+17SP, +6CP, +1PP]
[Level up! InuYasha is now level 203!
+15SP, +6CP, +1PP]
[Level up! Shippou is now level 189!
+18SP, +6CP, +1PP]
[Level up! Miroku is now level 192!
+17SP, +6CP, +1PP]
[Level up! Sango is now level 187!
+18SP, +6CP, +1PP]
[Level up! Kanna is now level 190!
+17SP, +6CP, +1PP]
[Level up! Hakudoushi is now level 207!
+15Sp, +6CP, +1PP]
[Level up! Kagura is now level 161!
+38SP, +14CP, +3PP]
[Pack level up! Shadow Pack is now level 10!]
[InuYasha and Hakudoushi are now Five-Tailed!
Five-Tail Perks
- Moon Child: when in dire situation, the Moon will protect you, unlocks a powerful shield boosted by your Light Affinity(unlocked by being accept as a full-fledged member of the House of Moon family) (available to InuYasha)
- Poison Fang: all your attack can be enhanced by your own poison, unlocks Poison Resistance as a fast learning Fighting Skill (inherited from father) (available to InuYasha)
- Making your own Fate: you were born a daiyoukai without any attribute, it is time to change that (choose your own specie among daiyoukai) (available to Hakudoushi)
- Pack Symbiosis: you learn from your pack mate, unlocks Elemental Manipulation as a fast learning skill (with an element to be chosen) (available to Hakudoushi)
- Youkai Houshi: You were saved by divine power, granting you the possibility of using reiki (available to Hakudoushi)
- Broken Circle: you've learned to protect yourself from all kind of energies, enhancing you shield with your YinYang affinity (note that this is cumulative with other shield enhancements) (unlocked by participating to the Shikon no Tama's destruction)
- Completed Circle: your keen understanding of the balance between youkai and holy servants enhance all your regeneration rates by your YinYang affinity(note that this is cumulative with other regeneration rates enhancements) (unlocked by participating to the Shikon no Tama's reconstruction)
Available: 2]
[Kagura is now Four-tailed!
Four-Tail Perks
- Pack Symbiosis: you learn from your pack mate, unlocks Elemental Manipulation as a fast learning skill (with an element to be chosen)
- Youkai Miko: your life being entwined to one has awakened the possibility in your soul to unlock your own reiki
- Wind-Walker: as a wind sprite, you can use the air currents to travel places you couldn't access easily otherwise, or simply travel faster]
Available: 2]
[new Masteries unlocked:
- Assassin: +2 Agility, +1 Intelligence every 20 level, +10% damage to your sneak attack
- Rogue: +2 Agility, +1 Strength every 20 level, +10% to your discretion skills
- Hunter: +2 Agility, +1 Wisdom every 20 level, +10% damage to corrupted beings
- Defender: +2 Endurance, +1 Strength every 20 level, +10% while protecting others
- Warrior: +2 Strength, +1 Endurance every 20 level, +10% damage with chosen weapon
- Berserk: +2 Strength, +1 Agility every 20 level, +10% damage when life drops under 50%, +20% damage when life drops under 25%
- Arcanist: +2 Wisdom, +1 Intelligence every 20 level, +10% to rituals and enchantments
- Strategist: +2 Intelligence, +1 Luck every 20 level, +10% to your strategy skills
- Healer: +2 Wisdom, +1 Charisma every 20 level, +10% to all healing done
- Elementalist: +2 Intelligence, +1 Agility every 20 level, +10% to your elemental damage
- Sage: +2 Intelligence, +1 Wisdom every 20 level, +10% to your awareness skills
- Trickster: +2 Lu, +1 Intelligence every 20 level, +10% to your illusions and tricks
- Leader: +2 Charisma, +1 Endurance every 20 level, +10% to your synergy skills
Available: 1]
[New Specialties unlocked:
Evil Slayer: +7 Strength, +5 Wisdom, +10% damage against corrupted being
Shikon Hunter: +7 Luck, +5 Endurance, +10% chance of improved loot
Mount Hakurei Survivor: +7 Agility, +5 Luck, +10% HP regeneration
Available: 2]