The screen flickered for a bit before the author appeared, sitting at a desk looking at his phone. Eyes widening briefly and immediately putting it away before noticing you and waving.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 here and welcome back to another chapter of Hanyo of Snow.*
*A little later than I planed with it being released a day late on November 3rd, but just a little hindrance.*
*Anyway in this chapter things take a turn for the worse as Inuko and Touma lose their powers as the Kumogashira invade the temple. Forcing the group to hide and fight from their lives as the swarm's master makes their move. I hope that you all will enjoy this chapter.*
*But first, I do not own Inuyasha. It belongs to the amazing Rumiko Takahashi.*
*Secondly just sit back, relax, maybe put some music on, and enjoy. I will see you all at the end of this chapter.*
The author snaps his fingers, turning the screen to static briefly before the chapter begins.
Moonless Night
(Touma POV - Buddhist Temple - Sengoku Jidai)
I was right, the mountains and sotobas at sunset make quite the beautiful picture. Good thing I took a photo of it before we decided to stay for the night.
Cause if things do go wrong I doubt I would ever see it again...or get to paint it.
The sun had nearly set completely in the distance and soon night would be upon us. Just wanted to get a good look at them one last time. Eating what little remained of dinner.
Wasn't much and about as average a meal in the Sengoku Jidai as the fish should still be frozen to the boat in a block of ice. Rice, millet, and barely cooked with chopped radish and I had to guess some kind of wild greens. Still they were cooked perfectly, far more better than anything from this era yet. Got to say despite she her dislike of yokai, she was a good cook.
And Shippō seemed to agree when he dug into his meal too, despite he didn't exactly like her attitude towards yokai.
Anyway he and Kagome were starting to settle into the night in the room we would be spending the night at. As for Yura...we'll she was somewhere among the temple's outer walls. Checking to make sure the monk's seals should be able to hold against the Kumogashira.
With tonight being a new moon and what Inuko thought she smelled it didn't hurt to be too careful. Or being a little on edge.
This would be unlike any other time I have experienced the new moon since I got my powers. For one we were surrounded in the middle of Kumogashira territory. Secondly I won't be losing all my powers with these accursed shards making me around 56% yuki-onna at this point.
Probably won't be much of things take a turn for the worst, but with Shusūi it was better than nothing. That and Yura was ready to burn down this temple once we all get out of here if things come to that.
And here I was hoping to be able to relax for a bit out here, but I guess not.
Besides it seems like the night has just began and I could already feel my yoki starting to dwindle rapidly. Probably only have a few minutes until I lose most of it and Inuko is fully turned human.
I should head back to the others right now, hopefully that we could manage to get some sleep tonight.
"Master we might want to be prepared for the worst tonight." Yura said as she appeared behind me, nearly startling me for a second before calming myself.
"What did you find Yura?" I asked while turning to face her.
"I found a number of sultras against the walls, they looked incredibly weathered Master. I'm not sure if there is even reiryoku flowing through them, but considering we are in the territory of those filthy headhunters it will probably be safer to check them with the monk. Otherwise I am uncertain if they would even last the night master." Yura said seriously, getting myself to sigh.
Either the monk had not been replenishing the seals enough or the Kumogashira had been a lot more active recently for the seals to have gotten to such a condition unnoticed. But for whatever the reason it just meant that it we were going to be in for a long night of those seals failed.
"We need to tell the others, but first we need to tell either Nazuna and her master first." I said.
"Tell us what?" Someone asked, and turning to the source revealed it to be Nazuna. The girl looking at Yura wearily
"That the monk's seals are failing and those filthy headhunters could break through tonight." Yura said bluntly, surprising the girl.
"And how would you know?" Nazuna asked, while looking shocked and a little fearful.
"Because I just checked them, with how worn those seals were I doubt they would last much longer." Yura said.
"And I trust her completely on this. Look it might be nothing, but you still might want to check up with your master about fixing the seals tonight. You might not be okay with us staying here for the night, but it would be for the best for everyone if you just at least checked with him given how much of a problem the Kumogashira have been. It would be the best for everyone's sakes if your master at least makes a few more sultras to last the night." I said, getting Nazuna to stare at me for a few moments before nodding.
"Master should be within the shrine right now. As much as I would prefer to stay away from the yokai traveling with you, if the Kumogashira do breach the walls it would be safer in numbers." Nazuna said while giving Yura a small glare while I nodded and Yura did the same.
"I could careless about that, but dealing with those filthy headhunters comes first." Yura said.
"Something that we can agree on." Nazuna said before she began to walk off.
"Be careful." I said, getting the girl to pause for a moment before nodding and running off.
And for the sounds of something striking the nearby walls, followed by another and another before I could see something rush up on top of the temple's walls and rush over towards another part of the temple.
Only for Yura to bury her wakizashi in it's head before drawing it back as the body fell back outside of the temple.
"It would seem like the sultras have failed already master." Yura stated as I drew Shusūi.
"Then I think we should head to the others first." I said as I saw what looked like several Kumogashira climb up the wall and rush towards where we would be staying for the night.
Another one climbed up the wall and jumped towards my, only for Yura to cut wrap her hairs around it's limbs and slamming it into the ground before flinging into a Kumogashira that was climbing up the wall.
Before I heard something landing behind me, turning around to see a pair of Kumogashira ready to pounce.
I began to surround myself with mist as more and more of the spider like yokai began to surround me.
This is going to be a long night...
(Inuko POV - 3 minutes later)
Great just great, I can already feel my senses dimming with each passing moment. And Kagome and the kit won't stop pestering me. Worrying about me all the while.
I've never been alright even when I knew that I was safe on the night of the new moon. Have been that way for decades, and especially tonight considering we were in the middle of yokai territory.
And why was the kit almost in my face now?
"What is it?" I asked pointedly, getting Shippō to grin a little.
"You wouldn't be scared of spiders, would you?" Shippō asked before he turned into a rather poor imitation of a giant, hairy spider in a poof of smoke.
He floated in the air for a few seconds before I placed him back on the ground and his transformation dissipated.
"You need to work on that transformation especially on the eyes, other than that I'm not in the mood." I said, getting him to pout.
"Something that seems to have been going on all day. What has been bothering you all day?" Kagome asked, getting me to sigh irritably.
"Believe me you will know soon enough-" I was trying to say when I picked the sound of something rustling in the trees outside of the room.
My hearing hasn't faded completely yet, nor has my sense of smell been muddled enough that I recognized the that scent.
Damn it! We really should have chanced it back in the river!
"Kagome grab your bow!" I growled out as I stepped outside the room and drew Tessaiga, only to see that it was in it's sealed form.
And seeing it that there was a lot more Kumogashira around us and climbing over the temple's walls.
I was weaker then I thought I was, otherwise I would have known we would have been surrounded earlier. There was possibly only a short time left until I was fully human.
One of the Kumogashira tried to leap at me, but an arrow lodged itself into it's shoulder. Before a firecracker attached went off and caused it to hiss out in pain and the rest of it's kind to back away as the rags covering it's body caught fire.
These things are weary of fire then, burning the temple down would probably be for the best.
"So the sutras have stopped working than. We need to get out of here." Kagome said as she notched another arrow.
"Which was what I was thinking." I said while smacking away a Kumogashira that tried to jump on me with Tessaiga.
Touma and Yura should be alright on their own, although the most I would probably have to worry about if that hairy bitch decides to burn down the temple first. Unlikely as Touma and Kagome would prefer to get the old monk and Nazuna out of here.
But first we needed to get rid of of these damned Kumogashira.
Speaking of which another one left left towards me before smacking it down into the floor with Tessaiga before jabbing it's tip into into one of it's eyes.
Might be nothing more than a rusty blade at this point, but it can still kill if used correctly. And judging by the burns on the Kumogashira I just killed and other on that tried to jump me earlier it seemed like that barrier our father set up against my bitch of a sister still held up.
So while I couldn't wipe them all out easily, at least I still take them out even while human!
I grinned as I pulled Tessaiga out of the Kumogashira's head and swung it into another one before the spider yokai was felled by an arrow into it's head. A pair of them tried to jump towards us and released some webbing, but only to get a face full of foxfire before Kagome shot an arrow into the eye of one and I forced Tessaiga through the throat of the other.
"Nice shot there kit, keep it up." I said, getting Shippō to beam as he threw a ball of foxfire into a Kumogashira and caused a few of them to back away in fear.
With a bit of effort I pulled Tessaiga out of spider's yokai's corpse and used it to block another one that came at me with a blade in one of it's hands.
Damn it, I think I will become fully human any moment now with how fast my strength was starting to leave...
The Kumogashira tried to swipe at me with it's hands and weapon, only for an arrow to be lodged in it's chest and I stabbed it in the eye. Kagome notched an arrow and fired it into another one before Shippō threw a fireball at the firecracker it was attached to it.
Blowing a hole into it's chest and causing the Kumogashira around it to scatter back while I stabbed Tessaiga through another one's eye before struggling to pull it out of it's head. Before having to use it to block another one that tried to claw at me.
"Lady Inuko what is wrong, these Kumogashira should be nothing more than a warmup to you?" Myōga said from my shoulder.
"I know!" I growled out while struggling to block it's attacks for another moment before managing to stab the tip of Tessaiga between it's eyes.
Kagome fired another arrow which destroyed another one of them in a burst of reiryoku while a few more scattered from a large burst of fox fire.
But even more started to surround us and some even burst in through the room behind us. The Kumogashira than began to close in on us before a bunch of them fired webbing towards Kagome and Shippō.
That is if I didn't get in their way.
"Go find the others, I will hold them off!" I growled out as I struggled to move in the webbing.
"Inuko-" "Just go already, it will take more than these damned pests to keep me down!" I growled out while cutting Kagome off as she shot an arrow into a Kumogashira that lunged at me and I battered it aside with Tessaiga.
It was getting harder to swing this thing properly even without the webbing. It could be any moment that the transformation can be complete. But I have survived worse than these damned pests during a new moon!
The Kumogashira began to focus on me as more and more began to surround and release even more webbing. I struggled to strike one that tried to lunge at me while the rest of the swarm began to close in on me.
Uncaring of Kagome and Shippō even as another one was destroyed in a burst of reiryoku.
Until the kit unleashed a massive torrent of foxfire in front of him
Scattering the swarm back and burning most of the webbing as the foxfire engulfed me. Wasn't even all that hot to begin with even without my robe and the flames began to dissipate soon after but I will admit that was a little impressive. Also helped by that I wasn't tangled up in webs anymore.
"Good job there kit, didn't expect for you to have it in you." I said with a grin as he ran over to me with Kagome not that far behind.
He was panting quite a bit, but he had a wide grin on his face.
Which faded away as the Kumogashira quickly surrounded us once again and he hid behind Kagome as she notched an arrow.
Damn these things are persistent.
"I thought that I told you two to get away from here." I growled out as I struggled to block a Kumogashira and Kagome's arrow embedded into it's shoulder.
"We we're not going to leave you here, especially when something seems to be wrong with you at the moment." Kagome said before smiling. "Though I think we didn't need to anyway."
I briefly wondered what she meant by that before the Kumogashira I was struggling against was pulled back and Benigasumi was buried in it's head.
"Took you both long enough." I said as I saw both Yura and Touma rushing forward and the Kumogashira around us began to pull back.
"There was plenty of these filthy headhunters to deal with." Yura said as she threw the corpse into the swarm behind us, scattering them even further.
But a pair of them tried to jump behind Touma in order to strike him, only for Kagome to shot an arrow that struck one of them in the chest. He turned around and stabbed it with Shūsui before Yura snapped both of their bodies after stabbing the other one in between it's eyes.
"Thanks Kagome." He said as he removed his blade from the pest's corpse.
"No problem." She said while notching another arrow and shot it into the eyes of a Kumogashira that was coming up from behind us along with the rest of the swarm.
"Oni-bi Gushi!" Yura shouted as she lit the two corpses on fire and threw them towards the rest of the swarm. They promptly scattered with some of them fleeing over the temple's walls and back through the now ruined room. She then pulled the corpses back and found them towards Kumogashira fleeing over the wall.
I took some enjoyment as they went over the wall and I could hear multiple hisses of pain erupting from the other side.
"That should keep those filthy headhunters away for a bit, but they will be back with half the swarm on us." Yura said seriously.
"And with this many of them around the leader probably not that far from here." Touma said.
"Considering the sutras failed, this would have been the perfect opportunity for them." I grumbled out.
Still if the leader was here than either it might be here for the monk, to turn the temple into a new nest for something, or for the jewel shards themselves. Wouldn't put it past such lowly yokai to at least check the temple considering they probably spent weeks trying to break in...
And they only broke through tonight...
Yura really needs to burn this temple to the ground, especially before I get my hands on that monk if I'm right about this!
"I believe I saw somewhere where these filthy headhunters should not be looking for us for a bit master. Especially with the new moon out tonight." Yura said, getting Touma to nod.
"What do you mean by that, and what about Nazuna and her master?" Kagome asked, getting me to bite back a growl.
I might be right about the monk and would love for him to burn, the girl is does not deserve that even if her attitude to yokai grates me. So we would need to get her out of the temple before burning it down.
Along with letting Kagome know about the new moon, best to get it over with at this point.
"Yura can you please keep an eye for them along with the movements of the Kumogashira for a bit?" Touma asked, getting Yura to nod.
"Of course master, but only after we get out of here." She said, getting him to nod as she began to lead the way.
Considering how many of those damned pests would be swarming us shortly and that I think I'm practically fully human at this point I could use a moment to adjust. The change from hanyo to yokai no matter how long many times it occurs it always feels a little weird.
We should have chanced the river, but we are far past that now.
I've dealt with worse than the Kumogashira on the nights of a new moon, it was only a matter of surviving until dawn. And I was going to make certain that none of us become die to those damn pests.
So not that different from any other of those accursed nights, except I have do have those I can at least count on to an extent since Kikyō.
The only difference being I may end up killing that monk depending on what I find out, wether he is human or not.
(Touma POV - A few minutes later)
We were currently in a small patch of forestry that was located among the temple's walls. It wasn't much except for a few trees, but it is as Yura said and the Kumogashira have been ignoring us.
From the gaps in the trees what we could see was that they were crawling among the other parts of the temple. A few carrying something among them, a few looked like they were patrolling for us, and a few webbing up the buildings and the walls before moving on.
It seems like they were turning the temple into a new nest. With the leader of the swarm either not being that far away or might already have arrived into the temple it self.
As much as I would prefer not to burn down a Buddhist Temple, it seems like we would have no choice.
Hopefully Yura can find Nazuna and her master before we have to do so.
"Seems like we are safe for now." Kagome sighed out before turning to face Inuko. "What is so important about the new moon tonight? Whatever it is, it has been bothering you all day and now it is clearing affecting you. You could have told us what is happening Inuko?" She said before facing me. "Something that I believe you know what it is as well Touma?"
"Oh he has known since the beginning, but considering everything you were going to find out anyways." Inuko grumbled out as she removed the remains of the webbing stuck in her hair.
Surprising both Kagome and Shippō as her hair was now purely black, her eyes a light brown, and her ears and fangs completely gone. She was completely human now, along with barring a striking resemblance to her mother.
"During the nights of a new moon a hanyo becomes a human just like on the day we were born. This is why I would have preferred to be anywhere else than in the middle of Kumogashira territory." Inuko grumbled out as Shippō rushed over to her and began to climb onto her, looking through her hair.
"Her ears, they're gone." Shippō said before she grabbed the kit by the back of his clothing and plopped him onto the ground.
"So that would make both you and Touma human...well mostly human given the jewel shards." Kagome said, getting me to nod and generate a small amount of mist around my fingers.
"Thanks to those accursed shards I am about 6% yuki-onna. Although I can probably only generate an icicle without a medium before I run out of yoki." I said while canceling the mist.
It would be a waste to spend on anymore yoki than I need with us being surrounded.
"I see, but why didn't either one of you tell me this earlier?" Kagome asked both me and Inuko with an inquisitive look.
Before I could even speak up, Inuko cut me off.
"If you have lived for the past several decades with yokai actively trying to kill you on these nights you would be hesitant to trust anyone. By Yomi I still am and if I had my way no one would know this as every new moon someone would take their chances to kill me. Had some pretty close calls, but they all ended up than. Pretty sure that is why Touma hasn't told you yet." Inuko said gruffly.
"That and I had no idea on how to tell you about this without letting you know about it affecting Inuko as well. Especially so soon after our first time in the Sengoku Jidai." I sighed out, getting Inuko to grin a little.
"Yeah, even with this damned rosary it wouldn't have ended well for the both of you." Inuko said.
And knowing for these few weeks, I could tell she meant it.
Kagome looked between the both of us before sighing.
"I suppose the both of you have a point, but you could have told me earlier. If I had known that I would have gone with trying our luck on the river." Kagome sighed out.
"Along with you should have told me that it was going to be a new moon tonight Lady Inuko!" Myōga cried out.
"You would have just run away if you did." Inuko growled out, silencing her retainer before facing Kagome. "Besides could you really expect for something like this to happen on the night of the new moon. I did, but I always have been on this night and would have been our safest option if the sutras hadn't failed."
Kagome looked like she wanted to say something it but just sighed.
"Fair enough, but do we have any ideas on what we are going to do. Especially with Nazuna and her master, hopefully they are still alright." She said.
"I hope so too along. But we actually have an idea, getting everyone out of here and then burning down this temple with Yura." I said, surprising Kagome.
"Your serious?" She asked a little incredulously.
Considering that we were planning on burning down a Buddhist temple I wouldn't blame here.
"The Kumogashira are turning this place into their nest as we speak. Everyone of those damned pests that had been terrorizing the area is gathering here and including the leader. If we want to get rid of them and hold the best chance of surviving the night, this would be the best chance to do so." Inuko said, getting Kagome to frown at her words before nodding.
I wasn't too keen on burning down a temple either, but it is our best chance of getting through the night considering the Kumogashira.
The tree above us rustled for a bit, getting me and Inuko to draw out blades before Yura landed next to me.
"Master I couldn't find the monk, but the girl is on her way. She should be here any moment now..." Yura said before Nazuna burst into our hiding spot, startling Shippō as he ran and quickly hid behind my leg.
Nazuna panted for a few moments before she looked at us, her expression a mixture of fear and pleading.
"Nazuna I'm glad your safe, but can you please tell us what happened to your master?" I asked, getting her to nod panically.
"The Kumogashira have captured him!" Nazuna cried out before she slunk down to her knees. "I know that you and the others must be strong, especially the other hanyo...so please save him!"
"So you putting your hate of yokai aside to save your master, I can admire that a little but it is far too late for that girl. Even if your master is still alive at this point." Inuko said, getting Nazuna to look up in surprise once she noticed her features.
"What happened to you?" She asked in shock.
"The new moon turns hanyo into humans for a while." Kagome said with a sigh.
"Meaning me and Touma are effectively easier to kill, still give those damned pests one Yomi of the fight if they tried. That and he still has some of his power left." Inuko said while jabbing her finger at me.
"Though that would be due to his jewel shards." Yura said before stiffening. "Speaking of which. Master where is the girl's backpack?"
Both me and Kagome froze at Yura's question.
Oh shit.
"You lost the jewel shards?" Inuko asked incredulously while looking at Kagome.
"We were surrounded by Kumogashira and they burst through the roof. It might still be there, hopefully buried under the roof. But we need to get them before they do along with see if we can save Nazuna's master." Kagome said, getting me to nod in agreement.
If even a single Kumogashira gets the jewel shards it will be bad. Even worse so if the leader of the swarm gets them. We've seen what the Shikon Jewel could do to a Shibugarasu and besides controlling a corpse from within, the tail, eyes, and teeth lined beak they are not that much different from the average crow.
So if the Kumogashira leader got them, than with 8 shards it will be difficult for us to put it down before dawn breaks. Except for possibly Yura and even than it will be a pain.
"I'll go for the monk, the rest of you go get the shards." Inuko said, breaking me from my thoughts and surprising everyone.
Okay, I did not expect that from her.
"And you'll need this, you would need it more than me." Inuko said gruffly as she thrust a sheathed Tessaiga into a startled Nazuna's arms.
"I would have thought that you would be the first one to go after the jewel shard. And why would you give your sword to the human that your no longer half-bitch?" Yura questioned.
While I was wondering the same thing, I would not have put it like that and was about to tell Yura that when Inuko just chuckled.
"The girl probably can't defend herself without it. That and I'm only checking if the monk is even alive at this point. Maybe the Kumogashira got to him already or saving him to be eaten up for blocking them from invading the temple as long as he could. It'll be faster anyway if it's just me." Inuko said with a shrug, give me a quick glance before focusing on Nazuna.
...I think I might have an inkling on what Inuko might be planing.
And if she was right then maybe she might be the one to find the shards after all.
"If you do plan on that, do you really think we would let you go alone." Kagome said, getting Inuko to shake her head.
"Of course not, I'll be taking Shippō with me." She said, jabbing a finger towards the kit who clung onto my leg. "I'm going to need him for the Kumogashira's webbing."
"I see, then we will check where we were going to stay for the jewel shards. Although Yura can you please keep an eye on both of our groups." I said to Yura, getting her to nod.
"Of course master, but wouldn't it be best to stick to you?" She asked.
"Probably, but I was thinking while you did that feel free to deal with the Kumogashira however you feel like. Anything short of burning down the temple, make sure to wreck havoc on the swarms as much as possible." I said to her.
Only getting Shippō to shake in fear and bolt right over to Inuko at the grin that appeared on Yura's face.
"As you wish master." Yura said happily, getting Nazuna to back away from here and Kagome to sigh while shaking her head.
She is perhaps a little too excited for this, but if it means that Yura can keep a majority of the swarm away things should be alright.
"Well if that is the case I'll just take Shippō with me. Need to make sure the monk hasn't been killed yet and getting the kit away from Yura." Inuko said as she picked Shippō up slung him over her shoulders.
"Please keep me away from the creepy lady." Shippō said as Inuko began to walk way.
"Try to be careful out there." I said, getting her to chuckle.
"I make no promises." Inuko said as she continued to walk away.
"Thank you..." Nazuna said as Inuko walked past here.
"Don't thank us yet, you probably won't be later..." Inuko said, confusing Nazuna as she rushed past her while carrying the still panicking Shippō.
If Inuko was right about whatever she was planning for, that might or might not be the case. But it was probably for the best we leave our cover now. With how many Kumogashira were on the prowl, I doubt that one of them were to find us sooner or later.
"We need to move now, Yura do you mind going first?" I asked her.
"Of course not master." Yura said as she was the first to leave along with a still confused looking Nazuna.
"Touma what is Inuko planning on doing with Nazuna's master. She wouldn't pass up making sure the Kumogashira getting the shards otherwise?" Kagome questioned as she notched an arrow into her hama ya.
So she must have figured it out as well.
"Either the monk is after the jewel shards for himself or to save himself from the Kumogashira, or he could be the master of the swarm who would want the jewel shards. Unless the sutras did fail on their own those are the best possibilities I can think of at the moment and it seems like Inuko did as well." I said, getting Kagome to nod.
"And with Yura keeping an eye on both of us while raising Yomi we can intervene if anything does happen." Kagome said as we began to emerge from our hiding spot.
"I know, but it is too early to tell what exactly is going on. But it is best to be prepared." I said, getting Kagome to nod.
Before she trained an arrow at Nazuna.
"Nazuna get down!" Kagome called out, getting Nazuna to duck down as she let her arrow lose.
And it hit the Kumogashira that was going to pounce on her in the shoulder. Getting Nazuna to draw Tessaiga and just swung at it wildly, getting it to hiss in pain. A second one tried to jump at her, but I slashed at the back of it's head with Shūsui before it went down.
Nazuna still kept swinging Tessaiga at the Kumogashira which was half collapsed on the ground. She sounded like she was starting to get a little exhausted before Kagome fired an arrow into it's eye, killing the yokai.
"Looks like we will have to explain on the way how to at least hold and swing a sword properly. If you just keep swinging it wildly like that you will only be easy pickings for the Kumogashira and we can not have that." I said, getting Nazuna to nod.
"A-Alright." She panted out, before I saw Yura's hairs wrapped around us.
We were pulled back with Nazuna going towards Kagome as a Kumogashira shot it's webbing towards us. It jumped off the nearby walls and towards us.
But only to find itself suspended in mid air by Yura's hairs, a grin spreading on her face as she flicked two of her fingers.
The Kumogashira's body began to bend in a way that I am pretty sure that it wasn't supposed to be before it bent with a sickening crunch. Soon the body went limp, it's limbs fall to it's sides with a sickening crack.
It's head and neck twitching and the drawn out hissing was the only indicators that it was still alive.
"So much easier to do this than a human, I don't have to worry about breaking it even further." Yura said as she puppeteered the barely alive Kumogashira in ways that would have killed a normal human the way she bent it.
Causing Kagome to pale a little bit and myself to take a step back from Yura, while Nazuna seemed unfazed at the sight.
"Master I suggest that you leave, there are more coming this way." Yura said as she stopped messing around with the near dead Kumogashira and drew Benigasumi.
Looking past her I saw that four Kumogashira were crawling towards her, immediately throwing her blade into the closest one while having the one under her control to start attacking the others.
Yeah it was probably time to leave.
"Just be careful Yura." I said as me, Kagome, and Nazuna left as Yura keep the swarm busy.
Hopefully both Inuko and Shippō will be alright. Cause if the monk was truly behind this than things might have gotten even more difficult for us tonight.
(Kagome POV - 7 minutes later)
And that was the third time I have seen a Kumogashira been thrown past the temple's walls, but this time it was on fire.
Yura sure was taking Touma's words to heart, we haven't had to face any Kumogashira on our own as I'm pretty sure most of them were being kept busy by her. And I assume the same could be said on Inuko's and Shippō's side of things hopefully.
Still Yura has been effectively been dealing with the swarm judging by the sounds of things, and the two severely mutilated Kumogashira corpses she had previously tossed our way and over the wall.
Just another reminder to thank Amaterasu that Touma has her comb to reign her in if necessary.
As for the rest of us, Nazuna mainly stuck around Touma or myself. Tightly gripping Tessaiga and jumping at the smallest sound.
Considering that she had lost everything to the Kumogashira invading like they were now and had just seen her master being attacked by them I wouldn't blame her. Though besides that she seemed more than ready to fight them, so I guess she was just jumpy about us being ambushed.
Despite the fact that all of us were keeping an eye for them.
And their was the fact of her master, if he really was the master of the swarm than it was responsible for what happened to her family and who knows how many other victims in this region.
Of he was or did deliberately allow the Kumogashira to invade the temple, he wasn't going to survive the night.
If that was true, I can barely imagine what it would be like for her when she finds out.
But I can focus on it later, we had arrived back to the room. Everything was just like when we had to fall back, the corpses still lying around. The only difference was the walls and enterance was still covered in webs.
And a lone Kumogashira that was crawling among the walls, it had it's back towards us. If it turned it's head towards it could just attack or call for help. The later is something that I hope that we can avoid, so it would be best to quickly get rid of it.
I notched an arrow as Touma and Nazuna moved closer to it before I shot the Kumogashira.
And the arrow ended up buried into it's head.
Okay I was aiming for it's hand, but that at least half pried it off the wall.
The Kumogashira moved to face me, but was jarred from the wall by Touma cut into it's body. Both he and Nazuna struck it with their blades.
And Nazuna did it again.
And again.
And again.
"Nazuna I am pretty sure that it's dead already." I said as she pulled back Tessaiga to see the Kumogashira that she had bludgeoned to death.
Before stabbing it in the eye with Tessaiga.
"Just making sure." Nazuna said as she tried to pull the blade out of it's eye.
"A good idea, but I think you bludgeoning it in the head repeatedly already did that." Touma said as she pulled Tessaiga out.
"Anyway Touma do you mind creating some mist in front of the doorway?" I asked, getting him to nod while I notched an arrow.
This way if there was any Kumogashira in the room this should probably draw them out. If not then we should still be ready for any more as long as the swarm doesn't overwhelm us.
He approached the doorway and released a quick burst of mist before pulling back. The mist managed to obscure the doorway from our field of vision. But it also seemed to work given a pair of Kumogashira managed to emerge from the fog and rushed towards us.
I fired the arrow and it managed to pierce one of them in the eye while the other released a strand of webbing that I barely managed to pull Nazuna managed to get hit by.
Touma slashed at it with Shūsui before Nazuna ran up and jabbed the tip of Tessaiga into it's throat. The Kumogashira's body twitched for a few moments before it finally died.
"That might have been it, but there could always be more around here at any moment." Touma said, getting me and Nazuna to nod before I notched an arrow.
As we approached the doorway I was the first to look in the doorway and...
There was a bunch of horrific withering masses in the middle of the room next to a webbed up corpse pile!
What in Yomi are there's things! They were everywhere! And some of them even had human heads on their abdomens!
Wait a minute...
"Are these the young Kumogashira you described?" I asked, trying my best to keep it together at seeing the spiders the size of a human torso scurrying around!
Yet even just looking at these things are disturbing me! Especially the ones with the heads!
"They are, they must have turned this room into a nest." Nazuna said a little fearfully, getting me to pale.
These things were even more disturbing than their older forms...
"At this point I would say they must be fairly young and their venom might not be enough to kill us, yet we better not risk it." Touma said, getting me to shudder.
Okay any reservations that I had about burning down this temple are officially gone now!
And I am pretty sure one of them is crawling on my leg right now!
"Get off!" I shout before kicking it off and shooting an arrow at it, killing the overgrown spider instantly.
A few more crawled towards us, but Touma and Nazuna quickly began impaling the young Kumogashira with Shūsui and Tessaiga while I notched another arrow and pointed it towards the pile of bodies and Kumogashira.
For once I felt like their was no resistance in drawling up my reiryoku. And maybe I was putting more into this arrow then I usually did so.
Yet considering that the Kumogashira's attention was now on me and they were so damn disturbing, I was leaving no chance of them remaining!
I let lose the arrow and it struck the corpse pile, which immediately create a burst of reiryoku. So much so that I had to cover my eyes for a moment. When it was done I uncovered my eyes to see that the Kumogashira and the corpse pile had been completely gone.
Well except for the young ones that Nazuna and Touma killed, the former looking at me in shock while the later smiled.
I smiled as well at seeing my handiwork.
I might be exhausted, but thank Amaterasu those things are gone!
I just really hope that there aren't any more lurking around this temple, but we might as well burn this temple down anyway.
"You must be a powerful miko if you were capable of getting rid of all of those Kumogashira with just one arrow." Nazuna said in wonder.
"Actually I just have a lot of reiryoku, but I'm still learning." I admitted, getting her to look surprised for a moment before nodding. "Now we just need to look for the jewel shards."
Touma had already started to look with me and Nazuna started to look around as well. However after about a minute or two of searching there was no luck. So that only left two possibilities.
Wither the Kumogashira had already gotten the jewel shards or my backpack was buried under the pieces of the ceiling that had collapsed.
Lifting one of the panels up took all three of us to do so.
However it wasn't underneath there. Which just left one more place left to check.
If not there than the Kumogashira swarm definitely took it that was something that I dreaded to think about-
"Kagome, Nazuna get back!" Touma called out, breaking me from my musings and to step back as a strand of webbing crashed between us.
A Kumogashira with a tanto in one of it's hands crashed down onto the ground and spat another strand of webbing towards us, it catching Touma at his feet.
I quickly notched an arrow as it lunged towards him, with Touma blocking it's tanto with Shūsui. I shoot the arrow into it's back, getting it to hiss in pain before he cut it down.
"You alright Touma?" I asked him as Nazuna jabbed the tip of Tessaiga into the Kumogashira's body.
"I'm alright." He said, before wincing as another Kumogashira was flung into the wall nearby him, crushed by the last piece of the collapsed ceiling.
A single strand hair to connected at the webbing at his feet before it was lit aflame.
"Even with half those filthy headhunters after me or dead, it seems like trouble still seems to find you master. Along with the jewel shards not being here." Yura said as she walked through the doorway, twitching her fingers to recrush the Kumogashira.
Ignoring that, true to Yura's words, there was no trace of my backpack and the jewel shards have it.
Then the Kumogashira really did get the jewel shards...well that's just great.
"If that is the case, do you know what is happening with Inuko and Shippō?" I asked her.
"I believe the bitch and kit might've found the jewel shards and the girl's master." Yura said matter of factly, getting Nazuna's breath to hitch a little. "But I think they might need assistance, if the crying acorns flying out of the temple mean anything and I am pretty sure the kit would only do something like that."
Honestly that sounded like something Shippō would create with his magic.
But more importantly I think it is safe to say that Nazuna's master might actually be the master of the swarm.
And I am going to enjoy seeing that false monk suffer.
(Inuko POV - A minute earlier)
I knew it.
The monk was showing his true colors as he dug through Kagome's backpack eagerly looking for the jewel shards, signs of his true form literally poking through his skin.
"You remember what I told you kid?" I asked Shippō as I leveled a sotoba towards the false monk.
"I know." Shippō said, trying to sound confident.
"Good just stay close to me." I growled out at seeing the false monk pull out the bottle containing the jewel shards. I threw the sotoba and it shattered the jewel shards.
The false monk looked startled, but that damned pest didn't have time to do anything as I threw another three sotobas at him, each one shattering against his body.
Might be heresy to use them like this, but considering they were of the victims of his swarms I think that it cancels it out.
"You can drop the act you damned fake! You might have been able to fact being a monk and even mask your scent for the most part, but you are nothing more than a damned pest that needs to be squashed!" I growled with another sotoba in hand.
He laughed at that before his neck and limbs began to elongate a bit as he grinned, his eyes appearing sunken and two spider fangs jutting out of his mouth.
"I'm not that much of a fake, I was once a monk in training before being turned when Kumogashira overran my monastery so many years ago. Still you all fell into my trap." He said as Shippō began to sneak past him.
Just need a little more time.
"Which is a pathetic excuse of trap, waiting for the night of a new moon to attack us for the jewel shards. You would have heard of hanyos looking for the jewel shards anyway, but to actively wait around here for them would have failed anyway. If that was your plan anyway, then you should sticked to hiding in this temple. Because your foolish trap will only have you dead by dawn!" I growled out.
Only to be a little confused as he just laughed.
"My plan was for my swarm to continue spreading if no one with jewel shards came through. I have lived a long life and I have nearly reached the end of it, all I had left was to turn Nazuna into the next master of this swarm. But with these shards I will be able to extend my lifespan by decades and continue to see my kind spread!" The Kumogashira master said.
So he was planning on turning the girl into something like him as well, should have expected something like this as he took her in.
Still it wouldn't matter anyway, this damned Kumogashira wasn't going to live past the dawn!
I rushed forward with the sotoba in hand while the Kumogashira master stretched his arms to reach me. I just ducked under them and threw the sotoba into his jaw.
He hissed in pain before spat out a large strand of webbing that I barely got out of the way of. With it settling behind me as his jaw stretched out a little bit before he barred his fangs towards me.
He tried to stretch his arms towards me, but noticed Shippō hurriedly gathering the jewel shards.
Shit!
The Kumogashira looped and extended his neck back around in order to try an impale Shippō with his fangs. Piercing the floor as the kit ran back towards me, however the damned pest sucked up the jewel shards.
Damned it all!
The master of the swarm faced towards me and opened his mouth.
Only for a stream of webbing to shoot past me as a bunch of crying acorns battered his head, with a few of them floating out of the temple. With him trying to swat them away.
Well at least that worked, now we need to hold this damned pest off for a bit.
"How many shards were you able to get?" I asked the kit as the acorns started to fade away.
"Four of them." Shippō said the Kumogashira spat out another stream of webbing that I barely dodged.
At least it was better than him getting all of the shards.
"It's alright, we will just carve them out of his corpse than!" I growled out as he tried to swat at me with his hands.
"With you being human do you really think that-" The damned pest was trying to say before I jumped up and socked him in the eyes.
"I maybe human, but I am still strong enough to knock you around!" I growled out before jumping back to avoid being swatted once again.
The Kumogashira master tried to again, but grunted in pain as Shippō threw some firecrackers into his face. Taking my chance I left forward and begin to strike his head, before once again trying to leap out of the way of his attacks.
Only for the damned pest to trap me in webbing!
"I've got you!" Shippō called out as he released a bunch foxfire that burned the webbing and caused the Kumogashira master to pull back briefly.
Before swatting away Shippō with a growl!
"I will deal with you next you kitsune brat!" The Kumogashira master growled out as Shippō was slammed into a wall.
And he roared out in pain as I rushed forward and stabbed his back with the broken half of a sotoba!
"Die!" I growled out as I continued to stab him each time for emphasis, enjoying his roars of pain for what he did!
But he twisted is neck around and shot a stream of webbing at me before I could stab him again.
"Enough of this." He said, before he extended his neck and bit into my shoulder!
Damn it... I could feel myself quickly going limp as he removed his fangs from his body...
I could feel like my body just dangling in the webbing...along with my breath slowing down as the venom coursed through my body...
Over my life I had been poisoned quite a bit...but this was easily one of the worst...or it might just be because of the new moon...
Either way all I could feel was pain as the poison continued to spread rapidly...
"It has been quite sometime since I had a proper meal, once my toxins have run their course in a matter of moments I shall enjoy feasting on your corpse." The Kumogashira master said his body and limbs glowing for a second until he revealed his true form, his multiple limbs spread out and connected like a giant spider web.
"But first the jewel shards!" He roared out as he tried to reach towards Shippō, the kit running away.
Only to grunt in pain as an arrow and Benigasumi to imbedded itself in it's arm.
"Took you all long enough..." I said weekly as I saw Shippō go behind Kagome as she notched another arrow. Yura was right next to her along with Touma as Nazuna looked at her master's true form in horror.
"Master...why?" She said taking a step back as the Kumogashira master let lose a bunch of webbing towards her. In a hurry she held out Tessaiga to block it as Touma and Yura rushed towards me. The webbing dissipating as it made contact with the blade.
Knew it was a good idea to have given her that...
"What?" He growled out, before an arrow pierced under his eye.
Heh, take that you damned pest...
"Inuko let's get you out of here." I heard Touma say to me. Looking through my eyes I saw that he was right next to me with Shūsui drawn and suspended by I guess was Yura's hairs. "Yura would you mind doing the honors."
"Happily master." Yura said as I saw her cut up the Kumogashira master with her blade and smelled something burning.
Before I found myself support in midair by her hairs and Touma's shoulder while I could barely feel my arm draped on him...
"Thanks for the help..." I groaned out as I saw that we were being lowered to the ground.
Myōga better be around here or else I'm coming back from Yomi to squash that old flea.
"It's no-""Die!" Whatever Touma was going to say was cut off by the Kumogashira master roaring in anger as he stretched his neck in order to bite me.
Only for Touma to pull me out of the way as he took the attack!
He grunted in pain, but the master of the swarm roared in pain as an red icicle protruded through his cheek and Shusūi cut into it's throat. It pulled back as we were lowered onto the ground and I saw mist began generate were it had bitten him.
"Why...why did you do that..." I groaned out as I saw the Kumogashira thrash about as Yura violently began to cut it apart with her hairs and Benigasumi.
Serves that damned pest right...
"We hanyo have to stick together after all, especially on a night like this...though I think I could have so a little better. But I couldn't just let you die." Touma said as he tried to walk while carrying me, albeit shakily.
I looked at him for a moment, before I felt my mouth twitch up a little.
"That you could have, but thanks anyway..." I said with a smile as my vision started to blur.
(Touma POV)
"It's no problem." I said, trying not to focus on the fact the poison was starting to affect me.
I might have been able to freeze the blood from were the Kumogashira bit into me, but being almost pure human with frozen blood in your veins is not exactly healthy. Especially with venom mixed in.
Thankfully I think I only got a small bit of venom actually injected or else I would end like like Inuko and she was fading fast.
Really hope what I know about flea yokai is true, otherwise we were all probably doomed.
But looking at what Yura was doing to the Kumogashira master I would say we probably weren't yet. Yet given the venom in both me and Inuko and the fact the wounds I inflicted on the Kumogashira were slowly closing up.
So it seemed like he has gained a healing factor from how many shards he must've took earlier. This could be trouble to deal with later.
Right now we needed to get out of this temple now and as far away from the swarm as possibly.
I took another step, before stumbling a little bit and Kagome caught me before I could fall and take Inuko with me.
"Thank you..." I groaned out, getting her to sigh.
"You can thank me once we get out of this Yomi forsaken temple!" Kagome said as I tried to regain my barrings.
"But we need to find a place to lay Lady Inuko down. I should be able to get the poison out of here system." Myōga said getting me to sigh in relief as me and Kagome tried to carry the barely conscious Inuko out of here.
Looks like I was right.
"We can focus on that after finding somewhere where the Kumogashira can't surround us." I groaned out.
"I-I think that it is too late for that!" Shippō cried out as we noticed the swarm starting to close in on us through the doors and rafters of the temple.
Some even trying to jump at us, but Yura wrapped them in her hair and threw them towards their master. Who proceeded to spit strands of webbing before they could crash into him, wether they be a live or not.
Despite that there were more of them pouring in we might be overwhelmed soon and I could starting to feel my legs starting to grow numb.
"Quickly there is a room back here!" Nazuna called out, getting us to notice the room and Shippō to run towards it. Throwing firecrackers to deter any Kumogashira from rushing towards it.
"Not like we have any other options right now. Can you hold one for another minute Y/N?" Kagome asked as we started to head towards the room.
"I think so, Yura pull back for now!" I called out to her as I felt my legs started to lock in place halfway there.
"As if you can get away-" The Kumogashira master yells were cut off as Yura swiped Benigasumi across his neck and face before her hairs was wrapped around us.
"I'll make sure you burn for what you did to master later." Yura said coldly before she rushed passed us.
Dragging myself, Kagome, and Inuko into the room by her hairs before slamming the doors shut. Before setting me and Inuko up against the closest wall.
"A little warning next time Yura." I groaned out as her hair quickly retracted.
"Just be thankful you are alive, which we won't be unless we don't jab Tessaiga into the door." Myōga said.
Nazuna nodded shakily and jabbed the tip of the blade into the door, before quickly reeling back as something slammed into the door as well as muffled roaring from the other side.
"So the properties of the yokai barrier is transitive than?" I asked, getting the old flea to nod.
"So we should be safe here for now, but otherwise are trapped in here for now." Kagome said as she surged the room.
The only exits being the door with a swarm of Kumogashira on the other side and a window barely big enough for Shippō to slip through. With Yura moving herself next to it I order to prevent any of them to come through it just in case.
Either way while we are safe for now, we were effectively surround.
"With the Tessaiga inside the door we should be safe for awhile." Myōga said before he jumped between Inuko and myself before jumping onto my shoulder.
And bit into it before I could feel him sucking my blood.
I tried to resist the urge to smack him off me before he bloated to at least four times his original size before he let go of me.
"If it wasn't for the poison and Lady Inuko's condition I could have feasted more on your blood Touma. I could finally feed on it without worrying about freezing to death." Myōga said before jumping off me as Yura flicked a hair towards him.
"Don't get any ideas you greedy old flea." She said coldly with a glare as Myōga began to suck the poison out of Inuko.
"I would agree and probably squash him, if he wasn't full of poison." Kagome sighed out before she turned towards me. "How are you feeling Touma?"
"Exhausted, drained, and tired, so same as about everyone else. But I'm glad the poison's gone." I groaned out while look to see what I said was true.
Shippō was lying down on the floor, trying to curl himself nearby while Nazuna laid curled up against the wall. Both were asleep from the looks of things.
Although for Nazuna it would probably be more accurate to say that she must've just crashed after learning the truth about her master now that we were safe here. It is best to let her rest for now while she still can.
Considering we all should do so while we can.
"Given that you were poisoned I can imagine. And speaking of which next time you try something like try to be more careful. You could have ended up like Inuko and I don't know what I would do if you were so close to death again after what happened with Hiten." Kagome said, getting me to nod.
"And warn me if you are going to try something like that again master." Yura added in, getting me to sigh.
"Believe me I didn't mean for that to happen while trying to save Inuko, but I will do so in the future. Though given our track record it will be difficult." I said, getting Kagome to sigh.
"Fair enough, although that doesn't mean that I have to like it." Kagome said before looking towards Inuko, her eyes widening to little.
Following her gaze I saw that Myōga had detached himself from Inuko...and now he was as big as Shippō and bloated. I knew that flea yokai could grow with absorbing poison, but I certainly didn't expect for him to grow that big.
"I sucked out the poison, but it will be up to Lady Inuko if she can survive the night." Myōga said before he rolled of and promptly passed out next to Shippō.
This couldn't be good, especially when it looked like that Inuko was breathing heavily and starting to sweat like crazy. I briefly touched her forehead and pulled back as she felt like she was burning up.
Seems like Myōga could only suck out the poison, but not all of the effects it had on her body
"Yura do you think that you can move Inuko closer to us?" I asked her
She just nodded with a shrug before using her hairs to move Inuko before setting her down against the wall.
"Touma do you think that you can create some ice if you still have any yoki left?" Kagome asked as she went into her bag.
"Yes, it will not be much but it should do." I said, getting Kagome to nod before she pulled out a washcloth. I generated a bit of mist in my hand and created a few small shards of ice before I ran out of yoki.
Depositing the ice into the washcloth, Kagome folded it up before applying it to Inuko's forehead.
"Cold..." She groaned out. "So cold..."
"Sorry we woke you up." Kagome said as Inuko's eyes fluttered open.
"It's fine..." Inuko groaned out as she tried to get up but winced.
"Just stay down, after how much venom Myōga drained you need to rest." I said, getting her to chuckle a bit. But it sounded more like a cough.
"I think that you should do the same...you were bitten by that damned pest too..." She groaned out.
"Not as much as you, although my veins still feel like they are on fire and my legs a little numb. I will do so after knowing that you are alright." I said.
Well as much rest as we could afford anyway given our current predicament.
"And I will have to make sure you both do so as well." Kagome said.
"Along with myself to keep an eye on master. That and make sure those filthy headhunters do not break in." Yura added in, getting me to nod.
"I was already planning on it, and I was just to ask you about that Yura. Are you sure that you do not want to get any rest while you can?" I asked her.
"It's alright master, don't really need to anyway. Besides someone needs to be ready for if they breach this room." Yura said, before her expression darkened. "That and I want to be ready to eviscerate and burn that false monk for poisoning you master."
"Save some of that damned pest for me...I want to make sure that he pays for poisoning us..!" Inuko growled, before groaning and slumping against the wall.
"You both will get the chance soon, but you need to rest Inuko." Kagome said, getting Inuko to groan.
"Don't need to tell me...I've already been poisoned enough in my life..." She groaned out before turning her head to face me. "Still...thanks again for preventing that damned pest from poisoning me again..."
"You would have done the same for me Inuko, you have more often than not. So it is the least I could do. Besides I don't want to imagine what would happen improve something happened to you." I said honestly, meaning every word of that.
"While I imagine that Yura wouldn't care and as much as you sometimes get on my nerves, I can't imagine something like that as well. That and I do not what to imagine what it would do to Shippō as well." Kagome said looking at the sleeping kit.
Inuko looks between me and Kagome for a moment, before a small smile graced her face.
Before taking both me and Kagome by surprise as she leaned into me.
What the-
"Can you two just stay next to me...for tonight..." Inuko groaned out, and it looked like she was starting to fall asleep.
...I never expected for Inuko to ask for something like that. But than again this is the night of a new moon and after what just happened, she would probably hate be alone.
"We were going to do so anyway." Kagome said as she removed the washcloth from Inuko's forehead.
"You didn't even need to ask." I said, getting Inuko to smile before she began to nod off.
"Thank you..." She groaned out as she leaned into me even more. "Even tonight you still smell like snow and wintergreen...it actually...smells nice..."
With that Inuko fell asleep, leaving me to wonder if she actually meant what she said or was it a bit of delirium. Still it looked like she was doing better than what she was just minutes ago. In fact Inuko looked like she was sleeping peacefully.
"It seems like she is cooling down and sweating like crazy. Still I think that I should keep this on her head, at least until the fully ice melts." Kagome said with a sigh. "Still I never expected Inuko to ask something like that?"
"Neither do I, but it has been a rough night for her. It has been one for us all. And it will be for us later." I said with a sigh of my own.
"Then I suggest you get some rest while you can master, you too as well girl." Yura said, getting the both of us to nod.
It was a rough night so far and once the Kumogashira breach this room it was going to turn hectic once again.
But here in this room we were safe for now, safe from the swarm outside and free to get some rest together before in inevitable happens.
But for now it is for the best not that for now. It's best to let Inuko, Shippō, and Nazuna sleep for now without the worry about the swarm after everything that just happened. That and for me and Kagome to soon join them as well.
So we can hopefully be rested enough to deal with the Kumogashira when the time came.
The screen shifts to static as the author reappears, although he had pulled up a laptop and was hurriedly typing on it.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 here and I hoped that you all enjoyed the chapter. Busy on working my other stories, so expect quite a few updates between now and the end of the year.*
*So I'll keep things short, but just a few things to point out. The scene with the infant Kumogashira are actually what they look like in the manga compared to the humanoid forms in the anime. And damn they are disturbing to look out pretty sure I gave some arachnophobes nightmares. If so I apologize. And as for the master, in the anime he's must another power hungry yokai after the shards. Which is not that far from the course in the manga, yet he did have the additional goal of collecting the jewel shards to extend his own life span as he was close to dying of old age. Decided to keep that in.*
*Anyway let's move on shall we?*
*The next chapter will be the end of the New Moon arc. With the group struggling against the swarm before the sun fully rises and dealing with them properly. You won't have much to wait, as I will have the next chapter up by November 12th and the last one of the year. So I hope that you all will enjoy it when it comes out.*
*If you have any questions leave a review or PM me and I will get back to you when I can. So until next time, ciao!*
The author waves goodbye as the screen fades to black.