Disclaimer: It's mine! It's all mine! I'm actually Kazuhiro Fujito in a VERY GOOD DISGUISE!!! Oh, what's that you say? It's time for my medication? Awwwwwwww...... Seriously, folks: Ushio & Tora springs from the massively creative cranium of Kazuhiro Fujito &, presumably, belongs to him and whatever other affiliated companies happen to be involved. Hey, lighten up; it's only the Universe......
Chapter 3: Alchemy
By Ysabet
"You helped me before..." whispered the girl, trying to backpedal away from the deadly creature that loomed so large over her. "Why not now?" Asako swallowed hard, keeping her eyes fixed on Tora's terrible silver gaze--- it was better than looking at his teeth, or his claws; the bakemono stared down at her, sharp eyes slitting briefly.
"That was then, girl. This is now, and I wasn't wounded then." A thought seemed to strike the monster then and he sat back a little, considering. Then he leaned over her again and spoke:
"I'll tell you what: As you are Ushio-brat's friend, I will kill you quickly so you won't suffer; that way I can eat you and defeat this bastard. Then the Donshoku won't get your soul, my territory, or Ushio either for that matter." Tora smiled down at his prey, pleased with the dreadful logic of his proposal.
Asako squeaked, scooting back until she thumped hard into the rough stone wall; Tora stepped forward, a single huge hand on either side of her shivering form. *Think, think--- there's gotta be a way to talk him out of this---* She drew in a deep breath and looked directly up into the bakemono's terrible face.
"And-- and what'll you do when Ushio finds out? He'll come after you with the Spear, and you'll *wish* you were dead..... You'll wish you were still stuck down in that basement with the Kemono No Yari through you!" She tried to keep her voice calm; showing fear right now might be a very fatal mistake.
Tora hissed softly, obviously struck by her words; he blinked. "Rrrrrrrrrr. True enough, he does like you. And the stupid boy gets angry over *every* little thing!........ Hhhhrrrrm. I suppose he would come after me." He settled a little, carefully resting his wounded side on the cold stone floor, propping his chin on one hand. "But--- I am too weak to fight the Donshoku right now; I need power. I need YOU." The bakemono shrugged; "Looks like I'll have to eat you after all." and he leaned forward, silver eyes fixed on Asako's. She shrank away, her throat tight with fear.
And then Tora stopped for a moment, tilting his striped face slightly, reflective. "Still..... You are bright enough from what I've seen, girl. If you can think of another way to handle this, then perhaps--- No? Well, then." He stepped forward again.
"...Be still a moment; this will be over quickly...." And the monster raised a hand full of claws. "..... Unless you've thought of something----?"
"NO!! WAIT--- I, I've got a better idea---" Asako flinched back, trying to keep death at bay; Tora paused, eyeing her dubiously. "What? It had best be worth my while, little human; my solution is so simple." But he lowered his claws.
She thought frantically. "You.... need to get your strength back, right? And you do that when you eat human flesh and blood, right?" *Keep talking, Asako, keep talking. While you're talking you're not dead.* "So, do you need--- a lot?"
The monster frowned again. "Not really, girl. A bite or so, no more; it is not the amount of what I eat--- it's the life in it that I need to heal. Why?" Now she had the bakemono's attention; he cocked his head to one side, interested.
Asako pushed herself up on her hands, sliding back up to sit with her back against the wall. One palm stung with the roughness of the stone; she looked down at it, rubbing the fingers unconciously together. "What if.... what if I gave you s-something freely? I mean, if I gave you.... some of my blood.... would *that* be enough to help you?" She tried not to think too much about what she was suggesting.
"Hrrrmm?" The monster seemed almost taken aback.
******************
Tora looked hard at the girl; she *seemed* serious, but humans were chancy creatures at best. Was she actually suggesting that she sacrifice part of her life to him? That seemed insane from a bakemono's viewpoint.... but she WOULD live if she did that; perhaps the bargain felt like a worthwhile thing to her. And..... *sacrificed* life, *sacrificed* blood freely given--- well, he WAS a bakemono, after all; there were rules about such things-----
He could gain a lot more from something freely given than from simple human prey. It was oddly fitting, too, here in this place just above his old prison..... And he was hurting; he wanted to heal.
Running one hand gingerly along the large gash in his side, Tora nodded, impressed in spite of himself. This human was braver than most, almost foolhardily so--- she reminded him of Ushio-brat. No wonder they fought so well together..... He looked at her hard. "Well. If you did *that*, then you could live, I suppose. But it will have to be NOW, girl; I need my strength back quickly. The Seki Donshoku Mono will find us sooner or later." He sat back a little, allowing the human room to move. If she tried to run.....
But instead she only got to her feet unsteadily, breathing hard, looking around the junk-filled room. "O...kay. Give me a minute."
******************
Asako gulped; she was going to have to go through with this or she would be dog-food. Monster-food. Well, she thought a little hysterically, if she went through with it *part* of her would be monster-food ANYway..... But it was better than dying. Let's see..... sharp, she needed something sharp. And a bowl or something. She began searching through the dusty debris of decades, feeling the bakemono's silver eyes following her every move.
After a few moments she had found what she needed in a cracked pottery bowl and a broken bottle; the glass shards were plenty sharp enough to do the job. Staring down at what she held, Asako felt her heartbeat calming..... it was always this way for her. If she had a plan, if she knew a way to do something, she could follow through; it was the uncertainties that gave her problems. But she knew what she had to do--- and she could do this.
She *could* do this. She had to.
Tora watched her as she knelt down beside him on the dusty floor; Asako rolled her left jacket-cuff back a bit and looked blankly down at her wrist. Frowning, she used the shard of glass to rip a length from the bottom of her rather abused t-shirt to use as an improvised bandage; then she sat back on her heels and looked him squarely in the face.
"Okay. I'll give you what I can spare--- it won't be much. You said you don't need much, right?" Her hand was shaking as she laid the sharp edge of glass edgewise across her wrist. The bakemono blew out a breath; he seemed slightly surprised at the fact that she was actually going to go through with this. Sitting up carefully, Tora pointed a single taloned claw at her face.
"No, girl, not much; but you must *say* what you are doing--- this is a sacrifice, after all." That made her pause; a 'sacrifice'? Well, she supposed it was, actually. But--- "Umm, why? I mean, why is that important?"
The monster grinned, sharp teeth reflecting the dim starlight coming in through the shattered doors. "Bakemonotachi have their own laws about sacrifices. We gain more power from something willingly given than we do from something we take. But you have to tell the elements what you are doing; it makes the sacrifice real." He sat up rather painfully, one hand holding his injured side, staring at her expectantly; the bakemono seemed almost cheerful, like a kid waiting for a promised treat.
*Tell the elements? What's he think I am, a miko?* But..... Okay. Asako drew a deep breath, looking down at the shining bit of glass and the pottery bowl. Then she spoke, addressing the air firmly: "Umm. Uh...... I, Nakamura Asako, give this blood to Tora--- " ("'Nagatobimaru'" hissed the monster, making her start) "--- ah, Nagatobimaru the bakemono as a gift so that he can heal himself and defeat our enemy. I'm saying this so the elements can hear me." She concentrated for a moment, remembering..... "Wood, water, fire, metal and stone, do you hear me? This is mine, and I'm giving it to him!" And she quickly drew the shard of glass *hard* across her wrist.
It didn't hurt quite as much as she thought it would--- and then it did, and her eyes watered. The blood ran in a small stream rather than in drops; the glass had been sharp and she had cut herself deeply. Asako watched, almost hypnotized by the dark flow that filled the bowl; beside her Tora was as still as stone. One inch.... one and a half..... two..... The dark rivulet splashed flecks high on the sides of the bowl; they looked black in the dim light. Two and a half..... She was beginning to feel a little dizzy now--- careful, not *too* much. But the cold pottery was warming in her hand and the shard of glass slipping from her fingers to fall, "plink!" onto the harsh stone beneath her knees. Three..... Three and a half..... Four. The bowl was three-quarters full and her vision was beginning to swim--- it would be a terrible pity if she dropped it. *Better stop now, Asako.*
With shaking fingers she placed the bowl on the ground between herself and Tora, groping for the scrap of cloth; her fingers fumbled as she tied it tightly around her wrist--- would it stop the bleeding? Apparently so. Well, that was done. Giddy with a combination of blood-loss and incipient hysteria, she laughed a little and said to the monster, "Well, drink it--- don't let it get cold....."
******************
Tora shifted uncomfortably, staring at the pale girl beside him with curious silver eyes. No-one had ever done anything like this for him before, not in all his centuries----- a sacrifice? For *him*? How..... peculiar. Humans were very strange things. The monster carefully scooped up the small bowl.
Ahhhhhhh, he could feel the power of intent, of *will* radiating out with the liquid's heat; so much strength in this little mouthfull! He drank it down like milk----- it was fragrant and salt-sweet, and the bakemono sighed as warmth and power slowly spread through his limbs with a slow, lazy thoroughness. The wound in his side throbbed painfully, but Tora could feel his flesh healing, could feel it knitting under the influence of the sacrifice. For a moment he closed his eyes, still gripping the bowl; humans had such *power* in them, stupid as they were! And this girl..... courage had its own unique strength and savor. He had fully intended to eat her; after all, what was she to him? But now all he could feel was a strange, unaccustomed sense of gratitude as his hurts lessened and the burning in his side cooled and dwindled from deadly, draining heat to a bearable ache---
He opened his eyes; she was slumped back on her heels, grasping her bandaged wrist loosly. *Her* eyes were almost closed, in sleep or in faintness, he couldn't tell. "Girl. Are you well?"
Blinking, she turned to look at him; there was no fear in her eyes, just weariness. "I'm okay, I guess..... just a little dizzy." The human sighed, then sagged back to sit against the wall. "Tired..... Did it help?"
"Oh yes. It is working..... I will need a little time to rest and heal. Then I will hunt again..... You should rest too, girl, or you'll be of no use" he said gruffly, noting her pallor. Whether she knew it or not, she had given him a little of her life's energy along with her blood; her words to the elements had affected her, too. Tora reached out a long arm, catching her shoulder and pulling her down onto the floor; the girl stiffened and resisted for a moment, but her limbs were limp with fatigue and the results of prolonged terror. With a sigh she relaxed suddenly, curling against his side.
The bakemono looked down at her; he could feel her life running through her body like a river--- some of it coursed through him now in vivid, warm little waves. Well, that was how he had been told by other bakemonotachi that it was like with sacrifices; you found yourself bound to the one who gave to you for a while. He couldn't eat her now..... Stupid human, stupid brave little human, to do such a thing. She really *was* a lot like Ushio-brat. With a sigh of his own, Tora settled down to sleep for a bit; they were safe enough for a short while, and they both needed the rest.
******************
Asako lay very still against the bakemono's warm fur, her eyes closed; her thoughts were muzzy with exaustion, but sleep evaded her for the moment.
*Stupid, stupid, stupid; what are you doing, lying here against a monster? He was going to EAT you a little while ago, you know..... But I feel so weird--- when I gave him my blood and he drank it, I felt almost like.... I don't know; like--- I could almost hear him saying something, something like 'I won't hurt you now, you're safe'. Is that stupid or what?* She could feel the heavy heart beating beneath the thick fur, hear the monster breathing; Tora smelled.... rather like the lions at the Tokyo Zoo, dark and musky; and there were other scents too, earth and ozone and a strange, wild tang. She had been so *afraid* of him--- where had her fear gone? Into the bowl with her blood? Or was she just too tired to be afraid anymore? She really was so very, very tired..... Something had gone into the bowl besides her blood, she was sure of that; maybe that was what the 'talk to the elements' bit had been about--- 'making the sacrifice real.' She'd have to ask Oji-san.....
Sleep. She needed sleep now. It was almost funny..... Here she was, all curled up against something that had almost been her death; and she was feeling safer than she had all night.
******************
Outside the wind rattled through the almond leaves like someone running a stick across the spokes of a wheel; Shigure frowned, looking from the main shrine's doorway into the darkened yard. As if they needed somthing else, it looked as though a storm was approaching.
His steady grey eyes scanned the shadows beyond the gate: nothing, not a trace of scarlet. Yet he could feel it, could feel the Seki Donshoku Mono beating itself against the shrine's defenses--- it was almost like a scent in the air, something acrid and harsh, something that made the soul want to tuck its tail and run. Against the rising sounds of wind the priest muttered a half-audible prayer to himself and whoever might be listening, then slid the door closed.
He knelt by his son; the Spearbearer (it was hard to think of him as Ushio really, looking like this; Shigure was half-ashamed to admit it, but there it was) lay still and silent, wrapped securely in the juzu. His chest rose and fell, his heart beat--- but where was he, really? Inside the piece of cold, cold metal that even now lay misted with a layer of frost, bound by the beads across the boy's chest? Shigure shook his head and pulled his jacket a little closer around him.
Speaking of which..... if he was going to act the priest, he might as well look the part. The older man rose and went to a closet in a small side room, pulling out a set of robes and his priest's staff. As he shrugged his shoulders into the robes Shigure wondered if there was something else he could be doing----- just wrapping the boy in beads (even *those* beads) probably wasn't enough; hmmmmmmm...... Well, there were ofuda he could try, or.....
Oh. It was a bit... extreme... but why not? A rather grim smile crossed his face, and he walked back into the main shrine again to pull open another drawer in a small cabinet there. An array of small, spiked objects lay before his eyes; nodding approvingly, Shigure selected several and set to work. The priest chuckled a little despite the seriousness of the matter, pushing his grey hair back from his face; sometimes it was good to be clever.
******************
Against the walls of the Aotsuki shrine the shadows moved, questing, sniffing like a dog. The Seki Donshoku Mono had no concept of either time nor surrender----- really, it was a fairly simple creature. Things broke down eventually, creatures lost their edge of speed or power, they despaired or succumbed to the Donshoku's lures..... All things became food for the Red Devourer's appetite. All it needed was patience and darkness; and there were many hours yet until sunrise.
******************
"There," breathed Shigure, relaxing and wiping sweat from his forehead. All done.
The Spearbearer still lay in a quiet heap before the shrine, wrapped in juzu..... but now something had been added. Three bronze dorje had been carefully hammered upright into positions equidistant around him, outlining a square--- or they would be, that is, if a fourth one had been placed. Instead it lay loose on the ground beside the mark that would later receive it; the priest shuddered at the damage he had been forced to inflict on the shrine floor, but it had been necessary. When the moment was right he would add the fourth dorje, and Ushio would be surrounded by the strongest protection his father could muster.
Shigure could only hope that it would be enough.
After all, there was the *other* little problem..... the Seki Donshoku Mono had one other weapon, one that no sacred object or charm could dispel: its effect on the human psyche. The priest closed his eyes briefly, feeling a faint thrill of panic running along his nerves; should he have warned Asako-chan? Or Tora-dono? It was unlikely that they would ever be in a position to have to worry about that aspect of their enemy--- by the time it got *that* close, it would be too late.
But still.....
Shigure sat down crosslegged on the smooth floor, watching the candleflames flickering; he could hear the first patterings of rain against the tiles of the roof. The storm would be here soon. He sighed, thinking back to what he had been told about the Donshoku. As a soul-eater, it was attracted to *strong* personalities, powerful minds and emotions; and as such it was equipped in its own unnatural way to deal with the natural defenses of said personalities..... through their dreams.
It seduced; it promised, lured, cossetted and persuaded, with never a word said (or so the old stories told). When it found prey that it could not digest, it lulled them into unconciousness and entered their dreams, offering them *everything* they could desire---- all their fantasies fullfilled. Oh, not necessarily the fantasies of the body (though those were certainly offered), but the also the *little* things, the moments of instant gratification: a spiteful co-worker reduced to humbleness, an unwanted rival disposed of, one's personal gloriousness recognized by one's peers..... all the momentary wishes that occur in the heart that are dismissed as petty, unworthy. But they still occurred----- and every wish, every desire was a door for the Donshoku. And it was *particularly* good at finding the doors that weren't shut *quite* as well as one might wish.
And then it HAD you; your longed-for beloved would hold out her hand, spurning your rival---- and you would take her hand in your dream, and find yourself in the worst possible of hells.
The priest looked over at his son; the Spearbearer's eyes were closed, his face oddly empty and vacant. For a moment Shigure's heart wrenched in his chest, the anguish of a father for his son breaking through his priest's detachement; but..... only for a moment. Then his eyes cleared, his face calmed; panic was only food for the Donshoku. He WAS a priest, after all; he could at least pray......
And as the wind outside whipped sharp gusts of rain against the thin walls, he did just that. After all, what else could he do?
******************
The darkness could feel something..... slipping. There was a gap beginning to open----- it surged forward, hungry and red-----
----- as the wind pulled a single ofuda from its staple over the gate; the shred of white disappeared into the shadowy sky like the last spark from a dying fire.....
******************
Asako started awake, feeling something warm and furry move past her; she slid bonelessly back and thudded onto cold stone---- *what the---- Oh; ohhhh......* and all the events of the past evening came flooding in. NOW what?..... what was that *noise*?!?
It hurt the ears; a painful, shrill multi-tones whine, rising above the rattle of windborn rain like some horrible siren. The girl shrank back, covering her ears as the tones swept all of sleep's muzziness painfully away; where was Tora?----- There, moving through the junk and debris, knocking everything aside in his rush; she could hear the low, eager rumble of his growl even over the hideous whining sound. Asako clambered stiffly to her feet; her side was numb where it had been against the cold stone for--- how long had they slept? Never mind. She staggered forward, her footsteps faltering at the sound of Tora's sudden, furious roar........
******************
Shigure jumped; had he drifted to sleep, sitting there at his prayers? The priest gripped his staff and rose to his feet with a fluidity that belied his years, thudding across the floor towards the shrine entrance. Merciful Buddha, what was that *noise*?!?-----
He slammed open the door, nearly shivering the wooden tracks into splinters---- to look upon a scarlet, many-mouthed Nightmare.
The Seki Donshoku Mono had come, and all Hell was breaking loose...........
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Heh heh heh...... yet another cliffhanger. Get used to it! But I'll make it up to you; guess what? You can find the Ushio & Tora manga STATESIDE at www.planetanime.com for pretty cheap. Does that help? My friend B-ko found 'em there! Stay tuned for our next exciting episode..... where you'll learn the origin of the Beast Spear, straight from the manga's mouth (as well as finding out whether or not Our Heros get to be Dish of the Day. Filet of Soul, anyone?)............. Evil Ysabet
P.S.: Oh yeah, one last thing, for those of you who are esoterically minded--- the 'calling on the elements' bit. That's not a goof, my not using the usual Earth, Air, Fire and Water; in most Asian philosophies there are FIVE elements instead: Wood, Water, Fire, Metal and Stone. I chose to follow that instead, for purposes of anal retentivity............. Picky Ysabet
Chapter 3: Alchemy
By Ysabet
"You helped me before..." whispered the girl, trying to backpedal away from the deadly creature that loomed so large over her. "Why not now?" Asako swallowed hard, keeping her eyes fixed on Tora's terrible silver gaze--- it was better than looking at his teeth, or his claws; the bakemono stared down at her, sharp eyes slitting briefly.
"That was then, girl. This is now, and I wasn't wounded then." A thought seemed to strike the monster then and he sat back a little, considering. Then he leaned over her again and spoke:
"I'll tell you what: As you are Ushio-brat's friend, I will kill you quickly so you won't suffer; that way I can eat you and defeat this bastard. Then the Donshoku won't get your soul, my territory, or Ushio either for that matter." Tora smiled down at his prey, pleased with the dreadful logic of his proposal.
Asako squeaked, scooting back until she thumped hard into the rough stone wall; Tora stepped forward, a single huge hand on either side of her shivering form. *Think, think--- there's gotta be a way to talk him out of this---* She drew in a deep breath and looked directly up into the bakemono's terrible face.
"And-- and what'll you do when Ushio finds out? He'll come after you with the Spear, and you'll *wish* you were dead..... You'll wish you were still stuck down in that basement with the Kemono No Yari through you!" She tried to keep her voice calm; showing fear right now might be a very fatal mistake.
Tora hissed softly, obviously struck by her words; he blinked. "Rrrrrrrrrr. True enough, he does like you. And the stupid boy gets angry over *every* little thing!........ Hhhhrrrrm. I suppose he would come after me." He settled a little, carefully resting his wounded side on the cold stone floor, propping his chin on one hand. "But--- I am too weak to fight the Donshoku right now; I need power. I need YOU." The bakemono shrugged; "Looks like I'll have to eat you after all." and he leaned forward, silver eyes fixed on Asako's. She shrank away, her throat tight with fear.
And then Tora stopped for a moment, tilting his striped face slightly, reflective. "Still..... You are bright enough from what I've seen, girl. If you can think of another way to handle this, then perhaps--- No? Well, then." He stepped forward again.
"...Be still a moment; this will be over quickly...." And the monster raised a hand full of claws. "..... Unless you've thought of something----?"
"NO!! WAIT--- I, I've got a better idea---" Asako flinched back, trying to keep death at bay; Tora paused, eyeing her dubiously. "What? It had best be worth my while, little human; my solution is so simple." But he lowered his claws.
She thought frantically. "You.... need to get your strength back, right? And you do that when you eat human flesh and blood, right?" *Keep talking, Asako, keep talking. While you're talking you're not dead.* "So, do you need--- a lot?"
The monster frowned again. "Not really, girl. A bite or so, no more; it is not the amount of what I eat--- it's the life in it that I need to heal. Why?" Now she had the bakemono's attention; he cocked his head to one side, interested.
Asako pushed herself up on her hands, sliding back up to sit with her back against the wall. One palm stung with the roughness of the stone; she looked down at it, rubbing the fingers unconciously together. "What if.... what if I gave you s-something freely? I mean, if I gave you.... some of my blood.... would *that* be enough to help you?" She tried not to think too much about what she was suggesting.
"Hrrrmm?" The monster seemed almost taken aback.
******************
Tora looked hard at the girl; she *seemed* serious, but humans were chancy creatures at best. Was she actually suggesting that she sacrifice part of her life to him? That seemed insane from a bakemono's viewpoint.... but she WOULD live if she did that; perhaps the bargain felt like a worthwhile thing to her. And..... *sacrificed* life, *sacrificed* blood freely given--- well, he WAS a bakemono, after all; there were rules about such things-----
He could gain a lot more from something freely given than from simple human prey. It was oddly fitting, too, here in this place just above his old prison..... And he was hurting; he wanted to heal.
Running one hand gingerly along the large gash in his side, Tora nodded, impressed in spite of himself. This human was braver than most, almost foolhardily so--- she reminded him of Ushio-brat. No wonder they fought so well together..... He looked at her hard. "Well. If you did *that*, then you could live, I suppose. But it will have to be NOW, girl; I need my strength back quickly. The Seki Donshoku Mono will find us sooner or later." He sat back a little, allowing the human room to move. If she tried to run.....
But instead she only got to her feet unsteadily, breathing hard, looking around the junk-filled room. "O...kay. Give me a minute."
******************
Asako gulped; she was going to have to go through with this or she would be dog-food. Monster-food. Well, she thought a little hysterically, if she went through with it *part* of her would be monster-food ANYway..... But it was better than dying. Let's see..... sharp, she needed something sharp. And a bowl or something. She began searching through the dusty debris of decades, feeling the bakemono's silver eyes following her every move.
After a few moments she had found what she needed in a cracked pottery bowl and a broken bottle; the glass shards were plenty sharp enough to do the job. Staring down at what she held, Asako felt her heartbeat calming..... it was always this way for her. If she had a plan, if she knew a way to do something, she could follow through; it was the uncertainties that gave her problems. But she knew what she had to do--- and she could do this.
She *could* do this. She had to.
Tora watched her as she knelt down beside him on the dusty floor; Asako rolled her left jacket-cuff back a bit and looked blankly down at her wrist. Frowning, she used the shard of glass to rip a length from the bottom of her rather abused t-shirt to use as an improvised bandage; then she sat back on her heels and looked him squarely in the face.
"Okay. I'll give you what I can spare--- it won't be much. You said you don't need much, right?" Her hand was shaking as she laid the sharp edge of glass edgewise across her wrist. The bakemono blew out a breath; he seemed slightly surprised at the fact that she was actually going to go through with this. Sitting up carefully, Tora pointed a single taloned claw at her face.
"No, girl, not much; but you must *say* what you are doing--- this is a sacrifice, after all." That made her pause; a 'sacrifice'? Well, she supposed it was, actually. But--- "Umm, why? I mean, why is that important?"
The monster grinned, sharp teeth reflecting the dim starlight coming in through the shattered doors. "Bakemonotachi have their own laws about sacrifices. We gain more power from something willingly given than we do from something we take. But you have to tell the elements what you are doing; it makes the sacrifice real." He sat up rather painfully, one hand holding his injured side, staring at her expectantly; the bakemono seemed almost cheerful, like a kid waiting for a promised treat.
*Tell the elements? What's he think I am, a miko?* But..... Okay. Asako drew a deep breath, looking down at the shining bit of glass and the pottery bowl. Then she spoke, addressing the air firmly: "Umm. Uh...... I, Nakamura Asako, give this blood to Tora--- " ("'Nagatobimaru'" hissed the monster, making her start) "--- ah, Nagatobimaru the bakemono as a gift so that he can heal himself and defeat our enemy. I'm saying this so the elements can hear me." She concentrated for a moment, remembering..... "Wood, water, fire, metal and stone, do you hear me? This is mine, and I'm giving it to him!" And she quickly drew the shard of glass *hard* across her wrist.
It didn't hurt quite as much as she thought it would--- and then it did, and her eyes watered. The blood ran in a small stream rather than in drops; the glass had been sharp and she had cut herself deeply. Asako watched, almost hypnotized by the dark flow that filled the bowl; beside her Tora was as still as stone. One inch.... one and a half..... two..... The dark rivulet splashed flecks high on the sides of the bowl; they looked black in the dim light. Two and a half..... She was beginning to feel a little dizzy now--- careful, not *too* much. But the cold pottery was warming in her hand and the shard of glass slipping from her fingers to fall, "plink!" onto the harsh stone beneath her knees. Three..... Three and a half..... Four. The bowl was three-quarters full and her vision was beginning to swim--- it would be a terrible pity if she dropped it. *Better stop now, Asako.*
With shaking fingers she placed the bowl on the ground between herself and Tora, groping for the scrap of cloth; her fingers fumbled as she tied it tightly around her wrist--- would it stop the bleeding? Apparently so. Well, that was done. Giddy with a combination of blood-loss and incipient hysteria, she laughed a little and said to the monster, "Well, drink it--- don't let it get cold....."
******************
Tora shifted uncomfortably, staring at the pale girl beside him with curious silver eyes. No-one had ever done anything like this for him before, not in all his centuries----- a sacrifice? For *him*? How..... peculiar. Humans were very strange things. The monster carefully scooped up the small bowl.
Ahhhhhhh, he could feel the power of intent, of *will* radiating out with the liquid's heat; so much strength in this little mouthfull! He drank it down like milk----- it was fragrant and salt-sweet, and the bakemono sighed as warmth and power slowly spread through his limbs with a slow, lazy thoroughness. The wound in his side throbbed painfully, but Tora could feel his flesh healing, could feel it knitting under the influence of the sacrifice. For a moment he closed his eyes, still gripping the bowl; humans had such *power* in them, stupid as they were! And this girl..... courage had its own unique strength and savor. He had fully intended to eat her; after all, what was she to him? But now all he could feel was a strange, unaccustomed sense of gratitude as his hurts lessened and the burning in his side cooled and dwindled from deadly, draining heat to a bearable ache---
He opened his eyes; she was slumped back on her heels, grasping her bandaged wrist loosly. *Her* eyes were almost closed, in sleep or in faintness, he couldn't tell. "Girl. Are you well?"
Blinking, she turned to look at him; there was no fear in her eyes, just weariness. "I'm okay, I guess..... just a little dizzy." The human sighed, then sagged back to sit against the wall. "Tired..... Did it help?"
"Oh yes. It is working..... I will need a little time to rest and heal. Then I will hunt again..... You should rest too, girl, or you'll be of no use" he said gruffly, noting her pallor. Whether she knew it or not, she had given him a little of her life's energy along with her blood; her words to the elements had affected her, too. Tora reached out a long arm, catching her shoulder and pulling her down onto the floor; the girl stiffened and resisted for a moment, but her limbs were limp with fatigue and the results of prolonged terror. With a sigh she relaxed suddenly, curling against his side.
The bakemono looked down at her; he could feel her life running through her body like a river--- some of it coursed through him now in vivid, warm little waves. Well, that was how he had been told by other bakemonotachi that it was like with sacrifices; you found yourself bound to the one who gave to you for a while. He couldn't eat her now..... Stupid human, stupid brave little human, to do such a thing. She really *was* a lot like Ushio-brat. With a sigh of his own, Tora settled down to sleep for a bit; they were safe enough for a short while, and they both needed the rest.
******************
Asako lay very still against the bakemono's warm fur, her eyes closed; her thoughts were muzzy with exaustion, but sleep evaded her for the moment.
*Stupid, stupid, stupid; what are you doing, lying here against a monster? He was going to EAT you a little while ago, you know..... But I feel so weird--- when I gave him my blood and he drank it, I felt almost like.... I don't know; like--- I could almost hear him saying something, something like 'I won't hurt you now, you're safe'. Is that stupid or what?* She could feel the heavy heart beating beneath the thick fur, hear the monster breathing; Tora smelled.... rather like the lions at the Tokyo Zoo, dark and musky; and there were other scents too, earth and ozone and a strange, wild tang. She had been so *afraid* of him--- where had her fear gone? Into the bowl with her blood? Or was she just too tired to be afraid anymore? She really was so very, very tired..... Something had gone into the bowl besides her blood, she was sure of that; maybe that was what the 'talk to the elements' bit had been about--- 'making the sacrifice real.' She'd have to ask Oji-san.....
Sleep. She needed sleep now. It was almost funny..... Here she was, all curled up against something that had almost been her death; and she was feeling safer than she had all night.
******************
Outside the wind rattled through the almond leaves like someone running a stick across the spokes of a wheel; Shigure frowned, looking from the main shrine's doorway into the darkened yard. As if they needed somthing else, it looked as though a storm was approaching.
His steady grey eyes scanned the shadows beyond the gate: nothing, not a trace of scarlet. Yet he could feel it, could feel the Seki Donshoku Mono beating itself against the shrine's defenses--- it was almost like a scent in the air, something acrid and harsh, something that made the soul want to tuck its tail and run. Against the rising sounds of wind the priest muttered a half-audible prayer to himself and whoever might be listening, then slid the door closed.
He knelt by his son; the Spearbearer (it was hard to think of him as Ushio really, looking like this; Shigure was half-ashamed to admit it, but there it was) lay still and silent, wrapped securely in the juzu. His chest rose and fell, his heart beat--- but where was he, really? Inside the piece of cold, cold metal that even now lay misted with a layer of frost, bound by the beads across the boy's chest? Shigure shook his head and pulled his jacket a little closer around him.
Speaking of which..... if he was going to act the priest, he might as well look the part. The older man rose and went to a closet in a small side room, pulling out a set of robes and his priest's staff. As he shrugged his shoulders into the robes Shigure wondered if there was something else he could be doing----- just wrapping the boy in beads (even *those* beads) probably wasn't enough; hmmmmmmm...... Well, there were ofuda he could try, or.....
Oh. It was a bit... extreme... but why not? A rather grim smile crossed his face, and he walked back into the main shrine again to pull open another drawer in a small cabinet there. An array of small, spiked objects lay before his eyes; nodding approvingly, Shigure selected several and set to work. The priest chuckled a little despite the seriousness of the matter, pushing his grey hair back from his face; sometimes it was good to be clever.
******************
Against the walls of the Aotsuki shrine the shadows moved, questing, sniffing like a dog. The Seki Donshoku Mono had no concept of either time nor surrender----- really, it was a fairly simple creature. Things broke down eventually, creatures lost their edge of speed or power, they despaired or succumbed to the Donshoku's lures..... All things became food for the Red Devourer's appetite. All it needed was patience and darkness; and there were many hours yet until sunrise.
******************
"There," breathed Shigure, relaxing and wiping sweat from his forehead. All done.
The Spearbearer still lay in a quiet heap before the shrine, wrapped in juzu..... but now something had been added. Three bronze dorje had been carefully hammered upright into positions equidistant around him, outlining a square--- or they would be, that is, if a fourth one had been placed. Instead it lay loose on the ground beside the mark that would later receive it; the priest shuddered at the damage he had been forced to inflict on the shrine floor, but it had been necessary. When the moment was right he would add the fourth dorje, and Ushio would be surrounded by the strongest protection his father could muster.
Shigure could only hope that it would be enough.
After all, there was the *other* little problem..... the Seki Donshoku Mono had one other weapon, one that no sacred object or charm could dispel: its effect on the human psyche. The priest closed his eyes briefly, feeling a faint thrill of panic running along his nerves; should he have warned Asako-chan? Or Tora-dono? It was unlikely that they would ever be in a position to have to worry about that aspect of their enemy--- by the time it got *that* close, it would be too late.
But still.....
Shigure sat down crosslegged on the smooth floor, watching the candleflames flickering; he could hear the first patterings of rain against the tiles of the roof. The storm would be here soon. He sighed, thinking back to what he had been told about the Donshoku. As a soul-eater, it was attracted to *strong* personalities, powerful minds and emotions; and as such it was equipped in its own unnatural way to deal with the natural defenses of said personalities..... through their dreams.
It seduced; it promised, lured, cossetted and persuaded, with never a word said (or so the old stories told). When it found prey that it could not digest, it lulled them into unconciousness and entered their dreams, offering them *everything* they could desire---- all their fantasies fullfilled. Oh, not necessarily the fantasies of the body (though those were certainly offered), but the also the *little* things, the moments of instant gratification: a spiteful co-worker reduced to humbleness, an unwanted rival disposed of, one's personal gloriousness recognized by one's peers..... all the momentary wishes that occur in the heart that are dismissed as petty, unworthy. But they still occurred----- and every wish, every desire was a door for the Donshoku. And it was *particularly* good at finding the doors that weren't shut *quite* as well as one might wish.
And then it HAD you; your longed-for beloved would hold out her hand, spurning your rival---- and you would take her hand in your dream, and find yourself in the worst possible of hells.
The priest looked over at his son; the Spearbearer's eyes were closed, his face oddly empty and vacant. For a moment Shigure's heart wrenched in his chest, the anguish of a father for his son breaking through his priest's detachement; but..... only for a moment. Then his eyes cleared, his face calmed; panic was only food for the Donshoku. He WAS a priest, after all; he could at least pray......
And as the wind outside whipped sharp gusts of rain against the thin walls, he did just that. After all, what else could he do?
******************
The darkness could feel something..... slipping. There was a gap beginning to open----- it surged forward, hungry and red-----
----- as the wind pulled a single ofuda from its staple over the gate; the shred of white disappeared into the shadowy sky like the last spark from a dying fire.....
******************
Asako started awake, feeling something warm and furry move past her; she slid bonelessly back and thudded onto cold stone---- *what the---- Oh; ohhhh......* and all the events of the past evening came flooding in. NOW what?..... what was that *noise*?!?
It hurt the ears; a painful, shrill multi-tones whine, rising above the rattle of windborn rain like some horrible siren. The girl shrank back, covering her ears as the tones swept all of sleep's muzziness painfully away; where was Tora?----- There, moving through the junk and debris, knocking everything aside in his rush; she could hear the low, eager rumble of his growl even over the hideous whining sound. Asako clambered stiffly to her feet; her side was numb where it had been against the cold stone for--- how long had they slept? Never mind. She staggered forward, her footsteps faltering at the sound of Tora's sudden, furious roar........
******************
Shigure jumped; had he drifted to sleep, sitting there at his prayers? The priest gripped his staff and rose to his feet with a fluidity that belied his years, thudding across the floor towards the shrine entrance. Merciful Buddha, what was that *noise*?!?-----
He slammed open the door, nearly shivering the wooden tracks into splinters---- to look upon a scarlet, many-mouthed Nightmare.
The Seki Donshoku Mono had come, and all Hell was breaking loose...........
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Heh heh heh...... yet another cliffhanger. Get used to it! But I'll make it up to you; guess what? You can find the Ushio & Tora manga STATESIDE at www.planetanime.com for pretty cheap. Does that help? My friend B-ko found 'em there! Stay tuned for our next exciting episode..... where you'll learn the origin of the Beast Spear, straight from the manga's mouth (as well as finding out whether or not Our Heros get to be Dish of the Day. Filet of Soul, anyone?)............. Evil Ysabet
P.S.: Oh yeah, one last thing, for those of you who are esoterically minded--- the 'calling on the elements' bit. That's not a goof, my not using the usual Earth, Air, Fire and Water; in most Asian philosophies there are FIVE elements instead: Wood, Water, Fire, Metal and Stone. I chose to follow that instead, for purposes of anal retentivity............. Picky Ysabet