Feeling Revenge in the Bones
While Touta and the twin sisters are heading off for the demon hunting mission, Moroha went off to the Corpse Dealer, after trusting her big backpack to Granny Kaede to make sure it doesn't get taken, to present the bounties she collected.
"So, what do you think, Corpse Dealer Jyubei? That one gave me a hard time, you know." Moroha asked the old man looking at the skeleton of the Three-Eye Mistress.
"Where'd you disappear to those past few days anyway, Moroha? You're not trying to run away, are you?" Jyubei asked suspiciously while also looking at the corpse of Hitokon too.
Jyūbei is a middle-aged man with slick brown hair parted in back, a mustache and a beard. A distinctive feature is the scar running across his right eyebrow and eye.
"Course not!" Moroha laughed at the answer.
"Remember, you're on a short leash, one that's attached to a mountain of debt you still owe me." Jyubei said in a firm tone.
"No need to remind me, I'll pay it back soon." Moroha assured she's not backing down from the debt.
"Don't think you're getting out of your promise. I'm the one that has to shoulder that debt of yours." Jyubei reminded of that as well.
"Uh-huh. So, what do you think about the Three-Eye Mistress skeleton, pretty cool, right?" Moroha asked gesturing to the skeleton.
"I am rather impressed that you managed to bring back the skeletons of the upper body." Jyubei admitted.
"Yeah, you could say I had a little help from a potential new hunter." Moroha grinned while thinking about Touta.
"Well, adding that with the Hitokon and the flea demon, that'll be… 30 mons." Jyubei said.
"30 mons! Yeah, now that's what I'm taking about, and here I was worried that you were gonna try and strave me to death." Moroha grinned, but then she realizes something odd of what the old man just said.
"Uh, flea demon?" Moroha gasped a little of only one flea demon she knows.
"Boing! Boing! Hello!" The flea demon known as Myōga bounced from the demon skull and onto Moroha's nose.
"I know it's been a while, Lady Moroha, but don't you think it's a bit cruel for you to sell off your loyal servant like this?" Myoga asked and suck off some blood from the girl.
"Oh, I didn't see you there, Grandpa Myoga." Moroha splatted the flea demon having him fall off her nose.
"So, you're telling me you weren't selling it after all? Well, better make that 29 mon." Jyubei took away one coin from her.
"I guess 29 is still okay but come on! Back when I brought you Tokotsu, you gave me a whole bag of silver for him, so what gives?" Moroha asked, thinking this old man is being a little cheapskate.
"Yeah, that headless Tokotsu." Jyubei remembered that bounty.
"That beast and these scraps just don't compare. In fact, if you had brought me Tokotsu's head too, I would have paid you with a bag of gold." Jyubei said showing the bag of gold making Moroha drool a little.
"Besides, that bag of silver was actually more of a deposit." Jyubei revealed of the purpose of giving her that bag of silver much to her shock.
"If you don't bring me the head, you're gonna be giving me that deposit back." Jyubei warned making Moroha feel worried now.
"Hey, Takechiyo!" Jyubei called out to his little helper.
Appearing in a puff of pink smoke and on top of a wooden support of the ceiling is a little demon creature answering Jyubei's call.
"What you need, Master Jyubei?" Takechiyo asked with a proper bow.
Takechiyo is a small tanuki with fair skin, blue eyes, and brown short hair. He wears a red and black ita-mono chestplate, kusazuri leg plates, fur trim epaulets and shorts, red wrist and ankle bands, and a tortoise shell hat.
"Moroha's not getting out of this. I need you to stay on her tail and make sure she slays Tokotsu." Jyubei ordered.
"Sure thing, boss." Takechiyo nodded and confusing Moroha of what Jyubei like he's making it sound like Tokotsu is still alive somehow.
"Word is that Tokotsu's son Jakotsumaru has been going around, gathering bones in order to bring back his father." Jyubei informed the little demon hunter.
"For real!" Moroha shocked.
"Moroha, you're gonna want to take him out before he gets the chance, or you'll have some trouble in your hands." Jyubei advised.
Moroha look a little serious for a moment knowing how tough this Tokotsu was back when they fought even though she doesn't quite remember most of that battle, but she knew this was a job she needed to do in order to earn some money for a few days' worth of meals.
"Say, you don't know where he is, do you?" Moroha asked, hoping the old man would know.
"Oh yeah, I can take you! You better be grateful." Takechiyo jumped down and smug.
"Yeah, yeah." Moroha said as she stands up putting her sword to be ready and feeling excited too.
"(Maybe I'll be able to see Tout again and have him come hunt with me.)" Moroha thought smirked with a little giggling.
"Why are you smirking like that?" Takechiyo asked.
"Oh, no reason." Moroha bushed off the question as her cheeks are turning a little red.
"(I'm betting my other eye it must be that potential new hunter she mentioned.)" Jyubei thought guessed.
(Nighttime, with Touta and Girls)
Touta and the twin sisters arrived at the bridge at the night is dark with the clouds parting to show the big crescent moon, they are hiding inside a big bush that Touta made before coming here to hide themselves together.
"Anything yet, Setsuna?" Touta asked.
"No, still nothing so far." Setsuna reported quietly.
Towa does her best to stay focused on the mission that all the waiting can make even people like Towa to doze off a bit as she let out a yawn.
"You sound bored." Setsuna said as she heard the yawning.
"No way, not at all. Just a bit sleepy." Towa assured that she is fine.
"Sleepy?" Setsuna confused.
"Oh yeah, I guess we are staying up later than we normal do back at the modern era, but this also reminds me of that one time we stayed up late because we were trying to find Bigfoot." Touta recalled with a little laugh.
"Turns out, it was just a really tall guy in a monkey suit and was wearing glove on his feet for some reason." Towa remembered that part too.
"What are you two even talking about?" Setsuna puzzled of this conversation.
"Sorry, just thinking about our past." Touta chuckled.
"Well, just try to be quiet and don't apologize more than you have to, otherwise it becomes annoying." Setsuna warned while hiding her blushing cheeks.
"Still, this is the darkest night I have ever seen. There are so many stars out—"
"Be quiet." Setsuna shushed Towa and looks over to the bridge.
"Something is coming." Touta narrowed his eyes as he senses a demon here.
Red balls of light started to appear then came a young boy while a kimono with a hood over his head along with a skeleton cow pulling a cart filled with lots of skeletons, this surprises the three twins until they heard some growling and saw four wolves coming to the bridge as well.
"Why are there wolves here?" Touta asked.
"Probably hunting, but that doesn't make any sense for them to come here." Towa puzzled of this.
"They appear to be coming towards that boy." Setsuna said.
The wolves came jumping to attack the boy, but this one is no ordinary boy for he is a demon named Jakotsumaru, and the son of Tokotsu and use his fan and lightning to remove the bones from inside the wolves' bodies putting them in his cart.
"Oh no, you don't!" Touta angered as he immediately jumps out from the bush charging at the demon.
"Touta, wait!" Towa called out.
"Don't go rushing into battle like that!" Setsuna scolded.
Jakotsumaru notice the boy with wolf ears and tail coming at him just as he was about to take the last wolf for its bone, Touta swings his Black Moon sword at the bastard which was block by his fan.
"I will not forgive those who mistreat canine kinds like that!" Touta angered.
"Well, well, didn't expect to see a wolf demon out here from the mountains. I bet your bones would be very nice and strong for my collection." Jakotsumaru grinned.
Touta swing his sword again on the left though was blocked again only with a little more force forcing the bone collecting demon back a bit, but what he didn't know was that Touta had already made another attack as he throws in an uppercut sending him flying in the air.
"Damn it, he got me!" Jakotsumaru shocked.
"You're not getting away!" Touta jumped after the guy slashing him, but to find that he only cut the kimono and the demon disappeared.
"What the hell?" Touta shocked as the cart with the skeleton cow also fell as they can't move.
"Touta, are you okay?" Towa asked as they run up to him.
"Yeah, the bastard got away though." Touta informed.
"Sorry that I jump out like that, I just couldn't stand there while he was hurting those wolves like they were nothing." Touta clutched his hand onto his sword.
"It's fine, we didn't know if any wolves were even coming to the bridge to attack the bone thief kid. You always have such strong connections to wolves as you are part wolf yourself." Towa said.
Touta turn to the last surviving wolf who is staring calm and in awe at the boy as the wolf felt he owes a great debt to this demon boy, then Touta walks up the wolf and kneels down for an eye level face-to-face.
"You better head back home, I'm sure you came here to get revenge on the guy who probably took some other wolves you know. But it's too dangerous for you to handle." Touta said while petting the wolf's head.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure that will pay for messing with the wolves. I'll avenge them for you as a fellow wolf." Touta promised with determination in his eyes.
The wolf can sense the boy speaks the truth and he is willing to go out of his way to stop out that monster who killed his brethren, and his instincts are telling him to listen to this boy feeling that he can trust this one almost like he is a wolf.
The wolf nods and runs off to head back home, but he stops for a moment to let out a loud howling to let Touta know that he has faith in him before running off for real this time.
"I take it the wolf is heading home?" Towa asked.
"Yeah, he'll be okay, and he even trust me with finding that demon to avenge his pack." Touta answered with a nod.
"Then we better go now, there are shards of bones that can lead us to where the demon is going and perhaps his home." Setsuna pointed at the shards with her weapon.
"Alright, I was worried that we may have to track him down with my nose since I didn't get a good sniff of him." Touta said.
"Although, I wonder why they're glowing red like that?" Towa asked as she looks down closely at the bone shards.
"We'll figure that part out later, now let's go." Setsuna marched forward to hunt down the demon.
"Hey, do you think we'll meet Moroha to face off the bone demon?" Touta asked his girlfriend.
"Well, she does demon hunting for some bounty, so maybe we will see her again." Towa guessed.
"(I rather not have to deal with unnecessary distractions.)" Setsuna thought deadpanned.
(With Moroha)
Takechiyo in his giant flying form goes down in front of a castle though there doesn't appear to be any people there, which can also mean this is the lair of Jakotsumaru and Tokotsu, and Moroha jumps off from Takechiyo's back.
"Okay Takechyo, this shouldn't take too long. Go find a safe spot to wait." Moroha said.
"Don't you take off because I'm gonna be keeping a close eye on you, Moroha!" Takechiyp reminded her of his job here as he flies off to a safe distance.
Moroha smile thinking that little guy can be a little annoying most of the time, but he can also be a fun little guy to have around like trying to be a like grown man and can fly too.
"Hey, Moroha!" Touta shouted cheerfully getting the girl in red's attention.
"Touta, you're here!" Moroha shocked.
"That's right, Towa and Setsuna are also here too." Touta moved aside showing Towa with a flashlight and Setsuna next to her.
"Hey there, Towa. What's up, Setsuna." Moroha greeted.
"Are you out here hunting a demon too, Moroha? Because we've been trying to hunt down a demon that's been taking bones from people and wolves." Touta explained.
"Weird coincidence, I'm trying to hunt the same demon!" Moroha surprised, and then she smiles.
"You know, I have been thinking about asking for your help again on this bounty. This one is worth a whole bag of gold." Moroha squealed of excitement.
"A bag of gold?" Towa puzzled a bit.
"Why are you surprised, Towa? Isn't gold still valuable back home?" Touta asked.
"Well, I think it is, but I'm not sure entirely." Towa said.
"Hey Moroha, why do you smell like you're two instead of one?" Touta asked when he noticed another scent with Moroha.
"That would be me, young man." Myoga said jumping onto Moroha's shoulder.
"Lady Moroha, as one of the Four Perils, Tokotsu's head is worth far more than a mere bag of gold! He's worth at least a gold ingot." Myoga informed.
"An ingot! That's a lot of money!" Touta gasped.
"You have no idea what an ingot is, do you?" Setsuna asked with a deadpan expression.
"Nope, I don't even know if that's even a word." Touta admitted with his innocent smile.
"Well, ingot is another word you could say a gold bar." Towa explained which Touta now fully understands this.
"Anyway, the real problem is the other Four Perils. It's a certainly they won't be silent for long." Myoga pointed out to Moroha.
"Yeah, you're right, but I'm sure it won't be a problem now that I have Touta and the sisters here to collect that bounty." Moroha grinned at Touta.
"Sure, we're after the same guy, So, of course, we'll help take this bone demon down!" Touta nodded.
"Besides, I want payback on the bastard who killed those wolves." Touta said with a growl and a scary aura with his eyes looking fierce.
"Whoa, you look more intense than I last saw you! What the heck happened?" Moroha asked shock.
(With Jakotsumaru)
Jakostumaru is seen within a dark room sensing four strong souls entering his castle, and he knows one of them is what he wants the most.
"Moroha the Demon Killer, soon I'll take my revenge against you!" Jakotsumaru angered with his eyes glowing red.
He would never forgive that stupid girl for killing his father just for some bounty, soon her bones will be what helps his father come back to the living.
(With Touta's Group)
"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Myoga. And I've had the honor of serving the Great Dog-Demon and his family for three generations. And I must say, Lady Moroha's blood is the closest to the Great Dog-Demon's by far. Why, it's even more delicious than Master Inuyasha's!" Myoga smiled and hoping on Moroha's head.
"Would you stop going on about that, already?" Moroha annoyed of this old guy and his obsession of blood.
"Wow, you must feel like an awesome princess to have a loyal servant of your own." Touta complimented.
"W-Well, the guy does have his uses." Moroha chuckled blushing a bit.
"Oh, so you think she's a prettier princess than me?" Towa pouted.
"No, no, I didn't mean it like that!" Touta gasped and hurry to Towa's side.
"Anyway, I need you to tell me about the Four Perils." Moroha ordered the old flea demon.
"The Four Perils were demons that crossed over from the mainland during the Spring and Autumn period. Konton, Totestu, Kyuki, and Tokotsu, these four beasts made up the roster. And the one who ruled over them was Kirinmaru, a Beast King similar in power to the Great Dog-Demon." Myoga explained about the Four Perils.
"Wait a minute, did you just say Kirinmaru?" Towa asked as the others are shocked of hearing that name again.
"Yes, that's right. Why do you ask? Have you heard of him before?" Myoga asked back.
"We heard from a tree spirit that he's going to destroy the world with time into whatever bad age." Touta explained.
"It's Degenerate Age." Setsuna corrected.
"Well, I find it hard to believe that such a valiant Beast King would hold such dark ambitions." Myoga surprised as this leaves the four teens puzzled a bit.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Touta and the twins have come to the castle where they will find the bone demon to stop people's bones from being taken away from their bodies, and now they are joined by Moroha to fight the bone demon's father as things are about to get wild to the bones!
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!