Holy mother eff, I haven't updated in a long time. It's been around five and a half months since I updated last, almost half a year. And this story has been up for a year and a month or two. Dang.
Sorry for the wait, I wouldn't be surprised if you were pissed off. I was originally planning to wait for more reviews / finish rewriting the beginning of he story, but… I guess I just want to finish it now.
Chapter 24:
-(Ningenkai)-
"Amaterasu-dono, help me through the trials that I must perform." She had finally reached the estate. "I want to become more than I have been molded to be."
Opening the door, she scuffed up several years of dust, practically unbroken. Closing the door behind her, she made her way upstairs to the roof.
Opening up the door, she stepped to the small shrine. It pointed east, to the sun which was now just above the horizon. Laying her bag down to the side, she bowed.
"I have no incense or sweet cakes to offer, but I believe the lives of my family should be enough to ask for help." She looked up at the clouds. "Besides, you're probably just sitting on your ass up there doing nothing anyways."
"So I'll just get off my ass and help you."
Yumiko yelped, stumbling backwards as a figure appeared. "Amaterasu…?"
"Who else?" She stepped past her, going to the entrance to the roof. "Come, I will begin your training."
"Wait, you're training me?"
"You asked for my help, and I will give it to you."
"Okay…" She scrambled after the goddess, following her down the halls. The gloom had lifted in the others presence, light infiltrating and the dust seeming to disperse before her path.
'Like air freshener to an attic,' Yumiko thought absentmindedly. 'Or Windex to a grimy window… where did that come from?'
"In here." The goddess slid the door open, stepping in. She followed; a long wall covered with swords faced her.
"I swore I would not touch the sword."
"Because Hiroshi excelled in it. But now that you know that he was to be the Chosen Warrior, what do you think of swords?"
She glanced at the multiple blades hanging on the wall. "I think they're cruel. They're cold- they feel nothing when they slice through dozens of people. They're unmovable- their purpose cannot be changed; they will always be machines that kill."
"Some think of them as beautiful."
"Because they are awed at the beauty, but fail to look beyond its glimmers. Like all you gods."
"Oh?"
She turned, glaring. "We're all just tools- playthings even, aren't we? Especially my family to you. The only reason why you're here right now is to win a little wager between you and this other god."
"What is between Tsukiyomi and I is more than a wager, girl. It's a fight. Why do you think that we're on the opposite end of the sky every day and night?" the goddess responded tersely. "Sun and moon are meant to disagree."
"And because of that you made Sato and Suzuki 'meant to disagree' as well."
"If you want to put it bluntly, yes. But our wars would destroy the three worlds. You should be honored by my choice."
"But I'm not. I was told that I could have been related to the family of the Emperor of Japan, but our clan was disowned. So why bother with us?"
"My family was executed. I could do nothing to stop their deaths."
"So you come running to my family for help, and now that they're gone, you come running to me. I don't like it- it's all desperate."
"Life is desperate. Once you become immortal, it's easier to see it," she replied dryly. "It's like you've gone through it all."
"You know, I'm starting to wonder why I came to Hokkaido at all."
"You wanted to be stronger."
"Yeah, but for what? I mean, volleyball, sure, but there's nothing else. Besides showing them that I can. And then there's the whole kick Rando's ass part, but hopefully he'll drop dead any day now."
"Your friends never told you then."
"Told me what?"
"The demon that hunts the Sato Clan has taken hostages. You in exchange for the hostages. They hope that you can give him a fight and kill him."
"Rando! What! He would never do that."
"His impatience has proved him willing to do anything for getting the last Sato."
"The Last Sato… that title sounds kind of depressing."
"…"
"I can't believe they didn't tell me that," she muttered. "D--- Koenma. Who are the hostages?"
"Botan- a ferry girl under the employment of Reikai. Keiko- a human close to the current Spirit Detectives. Yukina- an ice demon, and the sibling of the fire demon Hiei. Shiori- the mother of the human body that the kitsune Youko Kurama took refuge in."
'Wait, that's definitely wrong. Hiei has a sister! And Shuichi never mentioned his mother to me! At least, I don't think…'
'But worst of all, Shuichi didn't tell me.' Her eyes hardened. 'I'm definitely going to have to kick him when I go back.'
"Meh." She turned to the goddess. "I'll strike a deal with you."
"Indeed?"
"I subject myself to your training. In exchange, I'll beat the demon Rando, and take back the techniques of the Sato Clan. After that, I'll go up against the Suzuki Chosen and beat him."
"Her- your friend, Suzuki Sachi, remember?"
"Does Tsukiyomi know about me and Sachi?"
"If he does, he'll ignore it for the time being. She is the strongest in the Suzuki Clan. And he wants to win."
"Well anyways- You don't train me well, I'll die. Either against Rando or Sachi. And that will be last of the Sato Clan, and no one to fight for you."
"So I'll benefit from the wins, but what about you?
"I get the training of the Shinto sun goddess."
"Fair enough." A sword detached itself from the wall and flew to her grasp. "We sign in blood."
"Ew, blood?"
"Fickle, are you? Perhaps it's just being a goddess- our blood replenishes."
"No large pools or anything? Because I don't have enough for that."
She laughed. "I might begin to look forward to training you."
"Deal." She held out her hand.
Amaterasu sliced both of their palms. Dropping the sword, she grasped Yumiko's hands. A blinding flash of light burst out before she was let go.
"For a start, go for a swim."
"Can I change?"
"Into a hakama and gi- that is traditional."
'D---, now what have I got myself into…' "Couldn't I drown?"
She ignored her. "I'll be watching you." She replaced the sword where it belonged. "I must ride in the skies, but I can still communicate. Have a nice bath." She disappeared.
"I can be such an idiot sometimes…"
---
'The past two days…' She twirled her hair around the chopsticks. 'I've improved, but will it be enough?'
"Itadakimasu."
Using the chopsticks, she dug into her simple bowl of rice. The sun goddess had put her on a diet too 'And d---, I had wanted to eat those senbei crackers I brought from Tokyo so badly. But technically, they're made out of rice, so couldn't I eat them?' She sighed, setting her bowl down.
'I wonder what Sachi is doing.'
Crack
"Gah!" She fell over. "Amaterasu! You scared me!"
The goddess flapped her kimono sleeve impatiently at the girl. "What are you doing here, lying around? I give you a break from your training, and you waste it doing nothing. You only have several hours to sleep- now go!"
"D---, now I'm on a sleeping schedule too!"
"I've been more than lenient, but considering our position, we have much to do in the course of a few days. Get some sleep. I'll wake you when I rise at dawn."
"Fine, fine. Go do your sun-goddess activities and leave me to sleep." She lay down on the thin pallet which was her bed. 'How can I fall asleep when my mind is this active…?'
---
"The last day of your training." The sun goddess stared down at Yumiko. "How do you feel?"
"Sore and tired. And hungry."
A blow from the goddess' paper fan made her mumble complaints under her breath. "All right sensei, what now?"
"That man you spoke to before you left- who was he?"
"Roka? What does he have to do with my training?"
"He's part of the Suzuki clan. He helped you leave Tokyo and remain unnoticed by Spirit World by giving you a toxin that hides your spirit energy."
"Is that bad?"
"For Reikai, yes. It makes you untraceable, but it renders your spirit energy powerless. I'm teaching you how to use both your life energy and your spirit energy."
"Difference?"
"Nothing you need to know now. Both are activated by either concentration or instinct, the first of which obviously requires control and is more reliable."
"Is this the yoga Genkai started me on?"
"Stop fooling around." Threat of another hit from a certain fan forced Yumiko quiet. "The easiest way to begin to gain concentration is through meditation. Absolute control is gained through concentration. You'll be meditating briefly to see how it feels; I also want you to exercise your control over your power."
"So, basically, I meditate and keep my power from spazzing?"
"Yes."
"All right, I can handle that."
After about five minutes of trying, Yumiko turned back to the goddess. "I don't get it. I don't feel anything there, inside of me, like."
"That's because you have no spirit energy. Roka gave you that toxin, remember? You have to listen to what I say."
"Well then what's the point of me trying to control my energy! My gods, you are so… ugh! Annoying!"
"Now at least you know how to find your source of energy. Since I'm a goddess, I have gathered an annulling medicine." She held the vial above Yumiko's reach, moving it out of her snatching range. "Doubtless though, it comes with consequences. Your energy signal can be tracked, if your spirit energy comes back into existence. Reikai probably has all radars looking for yours."
"So then how long do we have until the Tantai come?"
"Again, you underestimate a deity. I can create a force field that will keep others out. Anything inside can leave but cannot enter again. My trick will buy you all the time you want to keep them out. But doubtless you're going to want to go to Koenma to catch a portal."
"I might be overestimating a deity this time, but couldn't you transport me somehow? To wherever Rando is?"
Amaterasu smirked. "We'll see." She uncorked the vial and handed it to the other; the slushy purple liquid suddenly turned unappealing. "Let's see how you can stand this taste first."
---
Yusuke snapped his communicator shut. "Koenma found Yumiko."
Kuwabara's head snapped up from the computer screen. "Where?"
"Up north, where we found her last time. He's going to open up a portal near our school. We have to meet the others there."
"All right, just let me get my shoes on."
"Hurry up, will you!"
"I'm going as fast as I can Urameshi! Stop rushing me!"
"The longer it takes for us to get Yumiko, the longer Rando has those hostages! And I can bet your ass that Shizuru is not going to be happy when she gets out!"
Kuwabara swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing up then down as he nervously began to sweat a little. "You're right Urameshi. We have to hurry!" The two rushed out the door, roughly banging it behind them as they raced down the streets.
"You two are late," Kurama stated blatantly, calmly leaning against the brick wall. Hiei, Touya, and Jin were waiting in the shadows of the alley, all three showing slight signs of impatience.
"Sorry foxboy. Won't happen again." Yusuke grinned and gave the thumbs up, panting slightly as he bent over in slight exhaustion.
The redhead nodded with a small smile, pushing off the wall and walking to where the others were. "Come. The portal has been established; all of us, including Koenma, are not sure how long the lead will last."
: End Chapter
Would it be too much to ask for reviews? I'll try and finish the next chapter…
