It was a slow ordeal to bring the weakened Totetsu home.
Shinonome kept guard as Koyoi and Wolf carried him. When they returned to the dwelling, the eldest sister helped set up a futon in the dojo, Wolf and Koyoi gently plopping him on top as he coughed again. Wolf stood back up, "I'll be back."
"Where are you going?" Koyoi asked.
"To cure the Dragonrot." Wolf responded, "I need to carve a sculpture and give an offering to it in order to save your grandfather."
There was a pause.
"... Just who are you?"
The question hadn't come from Koyoi, but from her much quieter sister, Shinome. Wolf looked to her before looking back at Koyoi, "Inform your sister. I need to go."
Koyoi stuttered.
"W-Wait! Then... that story you told me..." She looked up, blinking. "All of it... was real?"
"Yes." Wolf simply said before turning to leave.
Quickly, he ran to the side of the house, finding a suitable piece of uncut log that was meant for a fire. Picking it up, he bought it back to the front of the dwelling, sitting on the balcony as he produced a small carving knife. He went to work, cutting away the bark on the outside and shedding pieces of wood, a general shape taking form. Working on an idol gave Wolf some much-needed time to think, his thoughts in a whirl as he attempted to recall what Emma had told him.
"The Dragon's Heritage can bestow the power of resurrection."
There no longer was a Dragon's Heritage, so what did his resurrection mean?
"Repeated use leads to stagnation, which will eventually reach a point where it 'overflows'... This causes those who do not have the power to become sick."
It was only through multiple deaths that others began to grow sick. So why had Totetsu fallen ill after only one death?
"The source of the Dragonrot is the stagnation in your blood. The blood has only a limited amount of power available to it."
Did this mean his blood had little to no power at all, yet had retained the ability to resurrect?
Sweat began to bead on his forehead, his carving more hectic. He could still hear Totetsu coughing, giving him reason to hurry.
By the time he was done, he had created a wooden buddha, its hands clasped in meditation. Wolf straightened himself, inspecting his rushed handiwork. "This should do."
Digging into his pockets, he produced two items, one of them being a tiny blue bag with a bell tied at the top and the other glistening with unnatural pearly light, its shape that of a droplet. The first was a recovery charm, given to him by Emma. The second was a droplet of dragon's blood, straight from the divine realm itself. Curing Dragonrot was a strange affair, but from what Wolf understood, he was essentially giving back what was taken.
He sat down in a meditative stance, putting both hands with the desired items together and bowing his head. What he expected was for the crystalline droplet to disappear into a force of petals.
Nothing happened.
Wolf tried again.
Still nothing.
"The buddha. It is not carved correctly." Wolf reasoned, using his carving knife again as he perfected the design before trying again.
He was met with the same result.
Confounded, he placed both items down, now wishing that Emma was here to offer assistance. Wolf felt completely lost at what to do before realizing something.
"Totetsu... his coughing has stopped."
He stood up, dreading the worse as he slid open the door, both girls turning to him.
"Is he-...?" Wolf attempted to ask before noticing Totetsu turn to him as well, seemingly much better than before. "Did it actually work?"
Totetsu grunted, "Go upstairs you two and continue your training. I must speak with... Wolf."
They both slowly nodded, Koyoi briefly catching his eyes before following her sister. Wolf turned back to Totetsu, admittedly confused. "... I'm afraid I do not understand. How are you-?"
"What you see now is this."
Totetsu exposed a Talisman over his chest, the kanji for 'life' written atop it.
"I am currently using all of my mana to keep me alive and healthy. Within a few hours, I will die."
"... I see." Wolf simply responded.
"Sit down, you've done enough standing." Wolf obliged, slowly easing himself to the ground as he sat beside the futon. Totetsu stared forward, "I heard what Koyoi told Shinonome. Some fantastical story about an undying retainer who saved his immortal lord by ending his own life."
Wolf did not speak.
"But the moment I felt you die was the moment I felt something attack my mana directly, stagnating it, I would be a fool to deny the truth." Totetsu turned to him, "So, if you are here... how did that story truly end?"
Wolf paused for a moment, "... After I ended my life, I woke up here, in Zipangu..." Wolf tried his best to explain, "I'm still unsure how it was to be, but the place I came from is similar to these lands but different in other ways."
Totetsu seemed to take it in. "An alternate world, that must be it. I've heard stories and theories of such a thing, yet never once in my life would I see someone who proves it." The old man shook his head, "Then that undead ape just now, did it also come from your world?"
"I was the one who killed it and ended its immortality. It should have been dead long ago."
"Then you've had to face off against some fearsome foes in the past..." Totetsu mused before shaking his head, "... Regardless, that is not important right now, what I wish to know is how your resurrection works."
Wolf slowly nodded, "The power of my blood returns me from death. I am allowed to perish a few times, but once I surpass the limit, I must withdraw life force from others." Wolf continued, "There is a way to cure those drained of life, by offering a droplet of dragon blood." Wolf frowned. "But everything is wrong. The Dragonrot was immediate... and for some reason, I am unable to dispel it despite having the ingredient to do so..."
"Dragonrot..." Totetsu noted before scoffing, "If I have learned anything from using talismans, is that you're missing a vital piece, perhaps a catalyst of some sort. That divine lord you originally served, was it not he who had the power to grant immortality?" Wolf nodded, understanding what Totetsu was getting at. "Then without him, I'd imagine your blood lacks the power it needs."
"... Perhaps." Wolf admitted, the explanation making sense. "All I know is that I should not be alive in the first place. None of this was supposed to happen, and all I hope is that I was successful in ridding his immortality for the greater good."
Totetsu looked away, staring out at an open window, Wolf felt the need to speak up, bowing his head against the floor.
"Forgive me. All of this... it is my fault."
"Hmph, groveling ill-suits you, Shinobi. I would have been a dead man had you not stepped in between that swing, fate is merely claiming its due. Besides, you're not the only one with a special gift...-"
Totetsu sighed.
"I've lived far too long."
Wolf raised an eye at that, "What do you mean?"
"As I say." Totetsu turned to Wolf, "I am close to 1000."
He blinked, "Then that means...-"
"Exactly. Koyoi and Shinome are not my granddaughters, they are my descendants. I am their grandfather, just as I was their parent's grandfather, and so on..."
"... How?" Wolf asked.
Totetsu grunted, "A careful life of mana refining... but also a blessing, though now that I look back, it is not unwise to consider it a curse." Totetsu shook his head, "Since you told Koyoi a story, I suppose it is fair to grace you with my own."
Wolf listened.
"It was when I was young. I had just finished my training to become next head of the Clan and like Koyoi and Shinonome, I too was trained not to feel emotions and to devote myself to monster slaying." Totetsu reminisced, "The only difference was that I was chosen."
"Chosen?" Wolf asked.
"Chosen by a foreign Goddess to stop a Demon Lord in the barbarian continent. You could imagine my surprise, if I was capable of such a thing at the time. " He stared forward, "But regardless, I was blessed by this 'Chief God', even though I did not even worship or know her."
Wolf could relate in some way, but not as accurately. It was unexplainable, but sometimes in his many passings, he would feel a wave of tranquility watch over him as he returned from death. Oddly enough, he would feel just as focused and determined, even more so than before.
An unseen aid.
He let Totetsu continue.
"So I met up with another group, consisting of an assassin, a dwarf, an elf which are pointy-eared humanoids that are effectively immortal,-" Wolf blinked at that, "-and a champion." Totetsu frowned, "When I think back, their names escape me... all except for the last." He turned to Wolf, "His name was Marcellus, a former jeweler turned warrior."
"And you were all Chosen by this Chief God?" Wolf asked, Totetsu nodding.
"Marcellus was different, he was the one prophesized to slay the Demon Lord himself." Totetsu recalled, "His power exceeded all of ours combined, his way with any weapon unmatched by many... but that was not where his true strength lied." A rare smile appeared on Totetsu's face, yet filled with melancholy. "His strength lied in the ability to inspire others. To provide support at a moment's notice regardless of the situation."
Wolf kept his stern gaze, "You thought highly of him."
"... Indeed. Yet, even a person such as he harbored doubts if you would believe it, doubts of why humans and monsters continued to fight." Totetsu seemed troubled, "And... like a moth to flame, I too began to harbor the same doubts as him."
That was a surprise to Wolf.
"That was my first mistake." Totetsu quickly said, "My second came when we finally arrived at our destination, the castle of the Demon Lord." The ancient man shrugged, "We were met with no resistance, and surprisingly, we were invited inside. The rest feared it a trap, but Marcellus accepted."
Totetsu shook his head.
"And then we learned that the Demon Lord was actually a Succubus, a creature of immense lust and charm. You could imagine our shock when she told us that she had replaced the previous before our arrival, and now only wished for peace between both humans and monsters. Her plan was to use her power and imbue the current race of monsters with the characteristics of succubus's, removing their blood-thirsty nature."
"A goal which resonated with Marcellus's doubts." Wolf noted.
"Right... but she could not do it alone, she needed power, and power from a succubus came from... intercourse." Totetsu looked uncomfortable. "So Marcellus... agreed to be her husband."
Wolf blinked.
"And as for the rest of us? The Demon Lord's offer promised a future of peace, yet the elf refused, abandoning our new cause to return to his forest kingdom. But for the most part, the rest of us stuck by Marcellus."
Totetsu let out a bit of air.
"Including me."
"You-"
"I betrayed what my Clan, out of the misguided belief that it was for the greater good."
Totetsu had a distant look in his eyes.
"We soon faced our next challenge after a few days of settling in the Chief God herself. She came to us in absolute fury, demanding to know why the Demon Lord still lived. Marcellus attempted to reason with her, yet she lashed out." Totetsu turned to Wolf, "You understand that... laying with a monster provides one with incredible amounts of corrupted power?"
Wolf recalled the bandit with his Ushi-Oni partner that his slain. "Yes."
"Then I should have you know that Marcellus's power had gone beyond mortal means, so much so that he defeated the goddess without any of us having to lift a weapon." Totetsu seemed to recall the battle, "After her defeat, it was as if a damn of magical power had been forced open. Transformation spread across the land, turning the blood-thirsty masses of monsters into the alluring bodies you see today."
Totetsu was silent for a moment
"I became Marcellus's right hand after that, a retainer so to speak for the next few years..."
"... What changed?" Wolf asked.
"The Dwarves." Totetsu grimaced, "I remember it as clear as day, the shock I felt when I saw the state of their holds. The Dwarf in our party was the heir to the throne who had allowed monsters to freely integrate into dwarven society, and that was where the trouble began. A dwarven man preferred the company of the newly transformed monsters due to their lustful nature, most abandoning their woman in order to be with a monster, or worse yet, allowing their own wives to be transformed. In that entire year, there was not one boy that had been born amongst their kind." He grunted, "I was not exaggerating before, and I do not exaggerate now. The Dwarves are now on the precipice of extinction."
Totetsu's gaze turned haunted.
"And it was there that I realized my mistake, I had not saved humanity, rather I had ensured its slow demise." Totetsu clenched his jaw, "I returned to the castle at once, noticing corruption spreading across the land which would later encompass half of the barbarian continent today. I pleaded with Marcellus, warning him of the danger that was to come, he instead attempted to reassure me, that all of this was a part of a greater plan, that once his wife amassed enough power, she would ensure males could be born alongside females with monstrous couples which would allow humanity to coexist."
The ancient man balled his fists.
"Needless to say, I didn't believe his words. I had been promised once, I would not be fooled again." Totetsu hung his head low, "So in utter shame, I left the continent and returned to Zipangu, speaking nothing of my involvement and instead prepared my clan against the new coming of monsters. Monsters that would entice and lure than murder and kill, even going as far as ascending the mountains to train new generations of the Amanomiya."
"... What of now? Do you believe his plan would have worked?"
Totetsu scowled, "It has been 1000 years. If not before, then when?"
There was a long bout of silence between the two, Totetsu grunting before he finally spoke, his tone apprehensive. "Well? Say something damn it."
"... Forgive me." Wolf shook his head, "I was merely thinking of what you told me."
"Then at least say how I was wrong, speak of my misgivings, criticize my foolish naivety." Totetsu had a look, not that of anger, but rather more of a pleading nature. It was clear that it had troubled him long enough.
"But who is to say all of this? I was not there at the time, and neither was your clan. You came upon a decision, and you made it with the best intentions in mind. I-" Wolf found the words, "I do not look down upon you, but rather I understand your plight."
And understand he did, Totetsu had abandoned the duty set by his clan to hopefully create a better world, just as Wolf had broken away from the Iron Code to... well, in all essence, to accomplish the same thing, a world without the corruption of the Dragon's heritage. The only difference was that one of them had sat upon his accomplishment and seen the full effect for a thousand years, feeling miserable with the result.
There was more silence before Wolf noticed something.
Tears.
Totetsu looked away, "I don't need your pity. Now leave me to die in peace-" The next word was added with difficulty, "-please..."
Wolf paused before slowly nodding, standing up to leave. He opened the door to the stairways, looking up to see Koyoi sitting at the top, blankly staring down at him. Pausing for a moment, he went upstairs, coming up next to her and then sitting down. A few seconds passed before she finally spoke.
"Grandfather... he's going to die, isn't he?"
"... Yes." Sekiro admitted, "Forgive me."
"Please,-" She turned to him, "It wasn't your fault. You tried to protect him."
Wolf was silent for a moment as he turned his head to the hallway, "Where is your sister?"
"She is chanting, just as grandfather told her to. I-" She then sniffed, struggling a sob before regaining control of her features. "-I-I should join her as well-" Koyoi quickly stood up, returning to her room as Wolf was left alone. He then looked back, staring forward as he meditated on what he had experienced. After everything, he finally understood Totetsu and his reasons, the question of whether they were right or wrong left for another time.
But the scene of Koyoi's back turned and her attempt at containing her sorrow...
Was he truly going to let a thousand years of misery continue on? To let the cycle carry on? He couldn't leave the heirs of the Amanomiya, not like this.
So Wolf made a decision.
The shinobi stood up, making his way back into the dojo room. Totetsu turned his head away from the open window, "You're back? Did you not hear what I-"
"I came here in the hope that I would find purpose."
He then knelt down, brandishing his sheathed katana and holding it before him.
"I have. I wish to serve Koyoi and Shinonome as their shinobi, and guard them against any danger."
Wolf knew the exact moment Totetsu had passed.
The ancient lord peered at the moonless night outside his window as Wolf waited beside his futon, letting out a long sigh. Finally, after a few moments, Totetsu slowly closed his eyes.
And never reopened them again.
A thousand years of life, ended in a mere few seconds. Wolf felt Totetsu's pulse to make sure before lifting the blanket to cover the dead man's head. The girls were still upstairs, training to Totetsu's insistence. He was unsure when to tell them of the news of their 'grandfathers' passing, yet luckily, the choice was taken from his hands, both girls coming down a few minutes after Totetsu's passing.
Shinonome was the first to speak, looking at Wolf. "I had felt his mana disappear from upstairs. Is he-"
"Gone? Yes." Wolf simply answered.
They both nodded, Koyoi staring down at the covered body as Shinonome continued. "It is a tradition that he be left in a separate room while family members watch after him in an adjacent room, otherwise he may be carried off by an evil spirit, or so the legend goes."
Wolf looked around, "Then I will close off half of the dojo and wait in the other half while you both sleep in your rooms."
Shinonome blinked, "But you are not an Amanomiya."
The shinobi turned to her, "Lord Totetsu allowed me to swear service to you before his death. I am now sworn to protect both of you... as your shinobi."
Koyoi's eyes lit up, head perking up. Shinonome however seemed uncaring, giving a simple nod.
"Very well then." She turned to leave, Koyoi coming up to him.
"You-... You're going to stay with us?"
Wolf nodded, "Yes."
"I-" She then nodded, bowing her head. "Thank you..." She looked up, a weak yet grateful smile on her lips. "Thank you so much... Wolf."
"It was the least I could do, after everything that has occurred." Wolf then turned around, "Go rest... Lady Koyoi."
Koyoi obliged, returning upstairs. Wolf then moved the body away from the window, placing it in a more secluded part. He then closed a few doors around it, effectively sanctioning the body from the rest of the dojo. He then sat down, Kusabimaru resting beside him in preparation to act as a vigil for the night. The outside was pitch black, not even trees and branches could be seen.
Wolf contemplated.
He wondered about Kuro, if he had successfully freed the young lord from his bloodline. He recalled Totetsu's story, a haunting lesson of 'what if'? Lastly, he... worried of the implication of the mortal blade, if its power truly did end immortal life, or simply sent it elsewhere to be dealt with. Wolf knew who he had killed with the cursed weapon, so were its victims within Zipangu, just as he?
It was an uncomfy prospect.
Wolf was about to recall more memories before stopping, eyes narrowing.
The window behind him was open.
Slowly, he gently grasped onto Kusabimaru, bringing it close to him.
"I'm not here to fight."
It was a woman's voice, mature and slightly sensual. "Then leave." He simply responded.
She scoffed, "I guess politeness is not a characteristic of a shinobi." She then exhaled, Wolf noticing slight whisps of smoke building atop the ceiling. "Won't you at least turn around?"
Wolf paused before slowly doing so, every movement geared and ready to fight. True to her voice, it was a woman in an incredibly loose black and white kimono. Her hair was pale white, a black flower tying a portion of it to the side. Her breasts were barely covered, the left side only saved by a colorful tattoo of a blossoming lily. Finally, long ornate tabis covered her feet, ending at her shins with golden designs as her left leg loosely hung from the edge, resting atop the floor of the dojo. She held a long kiseru, briefly taking a small huff before emitting them from her nostrils. Despite her laid-back appearance, her purple eyes seemed calculating... and very familiar.
He then realized.
"You were-"
"Ah, of course." A bit of smoke drifted over her face, seemingly morphing her features, her hair now completely black. "How did you like my udon? I take great pride in my cooking"
"The proprietress." He finished, staring at the unnatural smog she seemed to emit, the exact same that had struck him during the fight with the Kunoichi. "Which means you were also the one that had been watching me since I left the post station."
Her face shifted back to her exotic self, "I must say, you are one smart human, which makes you dangerous as well."
"Then you know you should leave." Wolf threatened, "You have attacked me once before, I won't let that happen again."
"And I believe you, but believe me, I only did so because I didn't want you to kill that poor girl. She was just trying to find a husband, y'know?" The monster reasoned.
Wolf was silent, admittedly uncomfortable with the thought.
"Anyways,-" She puffed a small cloud, "-I just wanted to talk."
He blinked, "You are not here to carry off Lord Totetsu?"
She scoffed, "Maybe I should revoke the 'smart' statement." She then shook her head, "No, that's just some superstition the Amanomiya's have. Besides, what would I, a ruler of the night, do with some rotting old man's body? Granted, it is the lord of the Amanomiya but-" The monster then seemed to realize, "Ah, where are my manners? I am Tsukuyomi, a Nurarihyon, and you are?"
Wolf didn't answer her.
"You are cold, Shinobi!" She laughed.
He was ready to draw his blade, "Speak your piece and leave."
"Very well then" Tsukuyomi lowered her pipe, "In all honesty, I just wanted to see for myself if the old man was truly dead, but now that you're clearly serving the Amanomiya, I simply want to ask..." She stared him dead in the eye, "Will you continue to kill?"
Wolf paused before giving an honest answer. "If I must."
Tsukuyomi seemed to analyze him with a critical glance before letting out a sigh, whisps of smoke emitting from her nostrils. "Good grief, I suppose that's all I can hope for."
She pulled her leg back, preparing to separate from the window. Wolf tilted his head, lowering his katana. "You will not attempt to stop me?"
"I should, and I have an obligation as a monster...-" She then shrugged, "-but my role is that of an observer, not a fighter. My interruption last time was merely a snap decision that I had made on a whim, but I am doubtful that such a thing would work on you again. Unless..." Tsukuyomi then peered at him with an alluring gaze, the exposed part of her kimono folding away to expose more of her smooth skin. "Lay with me." She spoke in a sultry tone.
"No." Wolf's answer was instant, Tsukuyomi perplexed.
"Most men would be charmed by that... but you are truly unswayed." She then adjusted her kimono, "But I must warn you, Shinobi. There are much more powerful monsters out there, ones that you definitely don't wanna piss off. If you wanna continue killing my kind, then go ahead-" Her eyes grew serious, "-just beware of the consequences."
"A threat?"
"No, an observation."
She was about to push off the window before a thought came to Wolf, "Wait, I wish to ask you one thing before you leave."
"Ho?" Tsukuyomi seemed entertained, "Well? Go ahead."
"The Kunoichis at the mountain." He didn't know why it bothered him so, but he had to know. "What has become of them?"
"... Disbanded, most had died at the claws of that giant freak of nature after all." Tsukuyomi seemed troubled, "Which begs the question why a monster that seems more at home in the era of the previous demon lord suddenly showed up...-" Her gaze was serious, "-and you."
Her insinuation left a pang of strange guilt in Wolf's heart.
"But it is also strange why the beast has suddenly disappeared this night, and that you are here. Did you perhaps...-"
Wolf drew his blade, briefly startling the Nurarihyon. Yet to her surprise, he turned it to the side, holding the weapon delicately as he stared down its edge. "A Shinobi's role is to kill, but even a shinobi must not forget mercy." Wolf repeated the mantra that was told to him when given the weapon. "The ape had bought much suffering, it had to be put down."
Tsukuyomi paused for a moment before smiling, closing her eyes. "I see." She then opened them, "Perhaps I had you understood all wrong. It... gives me a little bit of hope for you." She then turned around, "Until we meet again."
The Shinobi simply nodded before the Nurarihyon added one last thing.
"Oh, and that Kunoichi... Fumi I believe?" Tsukuyomi grinned lecherously, "She is still looking for you. I believe she wants a second round."
Wolf recalled the shocked Kunoichi upon the bloodied field... but also another memory, of him lying back as he felt her lips on his.
And for once, he felt at a loss of words, the Nurarihyon disappearing into a cloud of dark smoke with that damnable smile.
Morning couldn't have come soon enough.
Wolf wondered what the next course of action would be. He supposed that he should take both the girls and the body to a clan building, telling them the news of Totetsu's death... however, the only problem was that he had no idea where a clan stronghold or estate was. Asking the villager close to the mountain was impossible, as all of them had fled. His only option would be to scout for a location, yet that would take a while.
The sun hadn't risen yet, but Wolf heard a commotion upstairs. He placed a hand on the grip of Kusabimaru before the dojo door opened, revealing Koyoi and Shinonome. The shinobi blinked as he watched them go along their business, putting on their sandal in preparation to run.
"What are you both doing?" He asked.
Shinonome turned her head, confused. "We are preparing for our morning run."
Wolf stood up, "I would advise staying here until I find a-"
Someone called from outside. "Hello? Is there anyone home?"
The two girls flinched, Wolf already in front of them and gesturing for silence. He then turned back to the door, silently drawing his blade. A shadow grew over it, indicating that the unexpected visitor was in front.
"... Great." The man turned around, "Guess this was all just a-"
Wolf then punched through the paper, hand clutching the man's clothed chest and Kusabimaru held against his throat. "Speak, why are you here."
The mysterious man gulped, "I-I am the chief assistant of Lord Totetsu, I have come to see him once more."
He paused for a moment before letting go, opening the sliding door as the man recovered. He was a lanky figure in an expensive kimono, yet made rugged by an assortment of seemingly random objects buckled to it, from teapots, paintbrushes, and even a small drum. His hair was tied in a top knot, his face expressed with bold laugh lines and black eyes.
"How uncouth, was that truly necessary?" The man complained as he recovered before looking up at Wolf, blinking. "Wait, who are you? Nobody else knows of this place but me, unless you- wait, where are the girls, where is Lord Totetsu?! I don't know who you are but-" The man then seemed fearful, a shaky hand drawing a tanto from one of the many confines of his kimono. "I will fight you if I have to!"
Wolf was silent, simply shaking his head at the sorry sight before opening the door further, revealing both Koyoi and Shinonome. "They are safe."
"Oh, thank goodness." The man shook his head, sheathing the dagger. "Because I don't think I would have been able to defeat you. You look scary!" He then turned to the girls, smiling as he bowed his head. "Lady Koyoi, Lady Shinonome, it is good to see you both all grown!"
They both stared with blank looks, the latter sister speaking up. "Who are you?"
The man seemed torn, a cringe on his face. "Ergh..." He then shook his head with a shrug, his face red with embarrassment. "I guess it's been a long time, and you both were quite young. You may call me Dokeshi, I served your grandfather. Speaking of which-" He tip-toed up, looking inside. "Where is he?"
Koyoi and Shinonome looked at each other, Wolf deciding to be the bearer of bad news. "He has passed away."
Dokeshi blinked, "Totetsu is... dead?" He held a look of distress, "I- This is terrible news."
Wolf was silent, as were Koyoi and Shinonome.
The assistant turned back, now determined. "Alright... then we haven't a moment to spare. Where is his body?"
All of them gestured to the closed-off dojo, Dokeshi rolling up the sleeves of his kimono and exposing his arms, gritting his teeth.
"I'll be right back."
Dokeshi entered the sliding room, a brief scuffle heard within. Then it was silent for a few seconds, the air still before the doors reopened again. Dokeshi now held a giant box on his back, seemingly procured from nowhere as Wolf and the girls stared with wide eyes. "How did he-?" Koyoi attempted to ask before the servent pointed forth, walking forward.
"OK! Let's get going!"
He was met with silence, Wolf speaking up. "To where?"
"The clan estate of course." Dokeshi declared, "It's a day's walk. We can reach there before nightfall."
"Then... after all this time..." Koyoi turned to her sister, "We were so close to home."
Shinonome's face was unreadable, if she reacted, she did not show it.
Wolf came up behind the two of them, "It would be best for you both to pack. There is nothing left to do here..."
The two of them nodded, following Wolf's instruction and leaving the two men downstairs. There was a bit of silence for a moment, Dokeshi looking around before idly whistling, a feeling of awkwardness pervading that even Wolf could sense despite his lack of social awareness.
Finally, Dokeshi turned to Wolf.
"So er, y'know,-" Dokeshi let out a huff of exertion, adjusting the giant coffin. "-I don't think we were properly acquainted before."
"No, we were not." Wolf bowed his head, "You may know me as Sekiro, I serve Lady Koyoi and Lady Shinonome as their Shinobi."
Dokeshi's eyes widened, "A Shinobi?!" He spoke with shock, "I am in awe! That is just- wow! I didn't know any of you existed anymore, just stories and such! Where did Totetsu find you from?"
"It was I who found him." Wolf explained, "I was looking for purpose, and a former retainer by the name of Furukabu told me of Lord Totetsu's location."
"Sir Furukabu?" Dokeshi paused for a moment, "Ah yes, his departure was just before things at the estate began to go... downhill."
Wolf blinked, about to ask what the servant had meant before noticing that the girls had returned, small bundles now held behind their backs.
"OK!" Dokeshi clapped his hands together, "Let's go."
Wolf suddenly found himself trailing behind Koyoi and Shinonome, Dokeshi behind him as he carried Totetsu's body. They had left the hidden forest, traveling a path north through the mountains. He watched the girls traverse over a rock before scanning the immediate surroundings.
Dokeshi panted, struggling up the path. "... Ha, I did not think this through..."
The Shinobi turned to him, "Are you alright?"
"Oh, just fine. For Totetsu's sake, I am willing to bear any burden." He then mumbled the next part, "Though this task is proving to be more burdensome than I originally thought..." He then chuckled, "I'm sure if Lord Totetsu were here, he would have...- Well, it's hard to say, even I was unsure at times what was on his mind."
Dokeshi stepped forward before letting out a sound, almost falling back from an unsteady rock as his center of gravity was imbalanced by the box. Wolf instantly grabbed him by the hem of his kimono, pulling him back up on steady legs.
"H-Hehe, thank you." Dokeshi awkwardly added, Wolf nodding as the girls stopped, heads turned to the missed commotion.
"We should rest." He turned to Shinonome and Koyoi, "I will go forage-"
"Oh, that should not be necessary." Dokeshi produced a small sack, opening it to reveal dried meat and rice. "I knew we had a journey ahead of us. Let us sit, I'll make us all some tea."
Wolf nodded, admittedly grateful for the assistance. Dokeshi had made his life a lot easier thus far, the man in question setting the box down.
And then a was rustle was heard.
"Wait." Wolf simply said.
Everyone became still, the shinobi's eyes scanning the forest. Dokeshi paused for a moment before finally speaking. "Perhaps it was just a-"
The man was gone in the next second.
Wolf whipped his head to see a green blur before being blasted with an incredibly powerful gust of wind. He flew back, landing on his feet and grinding to a halt, Koyoi rushing to his side.
"Wolf! Are you alright?!"
He nodded, standing back up. The only sign that Dokeshi existed was the box carrying Totetsu's corpse, and that one of his sandals had been left behind, turned on its side atop the ground. Looking around, he saw an unnatural opening within the bushes, the path of escape for the kidnapper. Shinonome stood forward, her features on guard. "I saw it. A Kamaitachi took him. Their blindingly fast, and utilize the winds." She noted.
Just his luck.
Wolf flexed his prosthetic, "I shall go retrieve Dokeshi then...-" He then turned his head to the two girls, "-if you shall allow me." They both blankly stared at him before Koyoi realized he was asking permission.
"O-Oh, of course, Wolf. Do whatever you must to bring Dokeshi back."
He nodded before instantly breaking off into a sprint. Wolf's eyes were quick to pick up the trail, cuts into the trees signifying the path the kidnapper had taken. Realizing that he had to be quicker, he stabbed his grappling hook into an upward branch and pulled, gaining air. He then used the momentum, repeating the process before landing, feet now barely able to keep up with the speed he was going.
Wolf finally slowed when he noticed a change of scenery, a large rock in the middle of the clearing that provided natural shade.
Four figures could be seen underneath, one of them pinned. He instantly recognized the incapacitated figure to be Dokeshi, his eyes frantically noticing Wolf. The other three were monsters, with one of them straddling Dokeshi. As with all in this land, they seemed human at first, but Wolf was quick to notice the green-furred tails protruding from their behinds and ears atop their heads. Their legs were covered in what appeared to be long socks, only for Wolf to realize that it was white fur beneath their exposed thighs.
The smallest of them that held an urn seemed to notice him, tapping the shoulder of the one next to her.
"Sister!" She called, excitement in her voice. "Another human has come!"
"Heehee!" The one middle in height giggle, stepped forward, Wolf noticing two sickle-like blades protruding from the green fur of her forearm. "We're only looking for one man Human! You should turn around!"
To that, Wolf drew the monster silver katana.
The middle Kamaitachi seemed dumbfounded, the tallest of them noticing before stepping off of Dokeshi. The servent seemed to regain his voice, "Sir Shinobi, run while you-!" The youngest placed a rope binding over his head, muffling it over his mouth like a horse.
"That's enough out of you." She finished with a giggle.
Wolf sized up what had to be the eldest of the trio, her mature body covered with a slim green kimono, her forearm sickles about 90cm's in length. While her other two sisters seemed young and childish, her eyes seemed focused, a dangerous edge to her expression. "... Where did you get that blade?" She asked.
"It does not matter." Wolf responded, "Release the man."
She was silent before turning to her younger middle sibling, "Sister. This human is dangerous." She then raised both arms, "Set your wind to kill..."
Maku blinked, "H-Huh? What are you saying, Big Sis-?"
Wolf took the opportunity in their lapse in attention and rushed forward, hoping to finish a fight before it even started. The surprised face of the middle Kamaitachi was blocked by her calmer elder sister, slashing her arm upward. For a split second, Wolf felt the edges of his haori whip against his leggings before being forced back by a literal shockwave. Wolf gritted his teeth, stabbing the katana into the ground to halt his unwanted movement before looking up.
The eldest Kamaitachi was already upon him, swinging her arm down. He dodged to the side, the impact supplemented with powerful gales as he was blown away through the air, a cut developing on his cheek. He landed again, only to have to defend from another green blur, the middle sister having finally joined the fight. She launched a flurry, Wolf blocking her swipes before she retreated, giving him no chance to retaliate.
She landed next to the eldest, turning her head. "D-Did you see that, Big Sis? I did good!"
"Hm." The eldest simply nodded as Wolf analyzed a different approach. Yet it was quickly put on hold as he realized something.
"Where is the third one?"
Instantly, he raised his loaded umbrella on reaction, liquid splashing against the surface. He peered from behind, the youngest of the trio holding a look of surprise as she landed back down onto the ground. He spun the umbrella, dispersing the liquid from its surface. The fight was now proving to be much more difficult than anticipated. Not only were the Kamaitachi inhumanely fast, but they outnumbered him as well.
And it would only get worse.
Wolf turned to see that the Eldest made a move, the middle sister beside her. They rushed as one, the eldest launching another shockwave of wind as the middle one leaped in the air. He avoided it, was quickly assaulted by the descending middle sister, her strikes holding him up... almost as if-
He gritted his teeth, already sensing the Eldest behind him raising her bladed arm, her sister pulling back in time for her to swing down. Wolf spun, raising the katana to defend himself.
The monster silver shattered.
"Gck!" Wolf let out a strained sound, feeling a sharp pain from his shoulder and chest as he fell before rolling backward, recovering as he peered at the broken non-lethal katana. Blood dripped from the edges of his clothes, indicating that he had been injured. The youngest of the Kamaitachi made herself known again as she appeared beside her other two sisters.
"He's wounded..." She stepped forward, genuine worry in her eyes only to be stopped by the eldest.
Wolf supposed he was left with no choice now.
Standing back to full height, he elegantly drew Kusabimaru.
The Kamaitachi seemed to repeat their strategy once more, the eldest sending forth her shockwave as the middle followed up.
But Wolf was expecting them, and this time, he was to fight 'fire with fire' so to speak.
His prosthetic stirred, showing off a confusing item.
A pair of red fans.
Divine Abduction.
He grabbed the other fan with his right just as the shockwave struck, taking up a stance as he raised both in tandem. Blankets of red wind encompassed his form, dispersing the brutal gales that approached him. Now unimpeded, Wolf could anticipate the middle Kamaitachi.
Wolf bought both fans down, red winds swirling into a vortex around him.
She was caught and promptly turned around, her eyes blinking to see her elder sister stare at her with shock.
"B-Big Sis-?"
Wolf came up behind her and plunged his blade through her shoulder, stabbing her heart and wrenching it back out, blood shooting out like a geyser and staining the field red. She collapsed to the ground, her eyes glazed with death as Wolf looked up. The youngest's mouth was open, eyes rapidly blinking as she fell on her behind, seemingly unable to comprehend that her sister was now dead.
The eldest was already upon him.
He raised Kusabimaru, blocking her blade. No longer was her face calculating, now it was filled with pure rage, her sharp teeth bared as tears streamed down her face. She swung again but Wolf deflected it before the strike could gather power, giving him a crucial moment to retaliate. His prosthetic produced another tool, a tanto that paired well with his katana. He struck with a flurry of attacks, the Kamaitachi blocking his strikes with her arms before finally leaping back.
She attempted to summon another shockwave of wind, only for her body to fail her, sickly green blood ejecting from her mouth.
"H-!" Her reddened eyes looked to him, realizing the tanto was coated with a strange blue rust.
Sabimaru was an underhanded tool...
She succumbed to the poison coursing through her body, forced into a kneel as she threw up more blood. Wolf came up to her, not a single emotion on his face as he raised his katana and mercifully finished her, stabbing her through the chest and pushing her body into the grass. Her struggling ceased, eyes peering to the sky before finally losing their luster.
Wolf turned his attention to the last, the thick globs of tears almost covering the youngest's face to conceal her sheer terror. He took a step forward, the Kamaitachi screaming with hysteria as she clambered back atop the ground. Her urn was completely forgotten, the contents long having drained itself atop the grass.
It became abundantly clear that the youngest was no threat now that her sisters were gone.
Wolf turned around, walking up to Dokeshi. The servant stared at Wolf with bulging eyes as he undid the rope around the man's mouth. Finally free, the man spoke. "T-That was-! You just-!"
"Are you injured?" Wolf simply asked.
"I- Oh- uh, no, no. I-" Dokeshi seemed unable to form words before realizing something. "W-What should- what about the last one?"
They both turned their heads, the youngest of Kamaitachi now beside her elder sister's body. She seemed to be in a state of shock now, silently shaking the dead monster's shoulder. "She is of no threat." Wolf responded.
Dokeshi slowly nodded, his eyes scanning the death and carnage wrought by the man. "..." Finally, the servant seemed to calm down. "And the girls?"
Wolf nodded in agreement, "Koyoi and Shinonome should be-"
He stopped himself as he noticed the two girls enter the clearing from the woods. Koyoi stared, wide-eyed at the bodies as her sister ignored them, walking forward. Shinonome peered down at the two men, her face emotionless as Koyoi came up next to her, noticing the blood dripping off Wolf's haori. "Wolf!" She gasped, "You're hurt!"
He shook his head, reaching to his side. "Do not fear for me, Lady Koyoi." He then took the healing gourd of his side, bringing it to his lips as the medicinal liquid relieved his wound. He looked up at her worried face, "I have ways to recover."
Shinonome seemed to analyze her sister's approach, turning to the servant.
"Dokeshi, are you alright?"
"Y-Yep! All good, my Lady." Dokeshi responded.
Shinonome simply nodded.
And then turned to raise her hand, blasting the last Kamaitachi with a giant fireball. The monster was instantly disintegrated, Koyoi flinching as Wolf stood up in surprise.
She turned back around, and although Shinonome's face was emotionless...
Wolf briefly saw something in her eyes.
A shadow.
"Let us commence with the journey." Shinonome simply said before leaving. Wolf blinked, Dokeshi picking himself back up.
"... Between me and you, I can't believe that's the same innocent Shinonome I knew." He peered at the now burning crater, "I mean, I know she's a monster slayer now... but that was just...-" Dokeshi didn't finish his point, but also didn't need to. Wolf already understood his point, a memory warning him as he stared at her back.
"Those who go on killing will eventually become Shura. They don't even remember why... Simply enraptured... They kill solely for the joy it brings them."
Wolf gritted his teeth behind his mouth, now knowing what Isshin had seen.
CHAPTER FINI
I'M BACK BOIS. I was overseas for a while and had no way to write fanfiction, it was painful. So consider this my return... or resurrection from death if were talking Sekiro terms.
This was a big ruh roh to write, just a ton of stuff that I wanted to add but ended up just deciding, 'Eh, that'll go in another chapter'. Hardest part had to be making Totetsu's backstory, so rewrites and etc were plenty for this chapter. But I gotta say, I'm pretty satisfied now. If anyone spots any spelling mistakes, then sorry, I'm kinda rushing this now.
Next chapter will be aptly named, 'Enter the Seekers'.
I think you all will enjoy it very much since.
