Naoe could not have been more proud. Long ago, when he had first agreed to take the brash short-tempered boy under his wing, he had his doubts about whether or not Ronuku could be taught. He could scarcely believe that this was his future self (anything with Naoe's soul would not be seen with unruly hair such as that. Absolutely unthinkable!) or that the boy would learn anything. Even after their year of training Ronuku remained uncooperative and boorish, struggling to win almost every fight. The samurai wondered if his student would ever master any fighting technique and bring some sort of honor to his name.
But now, as Ronuku bowed to Kohana and activated their power with ease, Naoe saw that his student no longer fought through mindless anger but was actually working with his fellow pupil and relying on the moves that he had been taught. After the two first unlocked the sibling bond, Seiko began to work with them on being able to summon the power at will instead of waiting for intense emotion or a life or death situation.
"Now that you've felt it once, it will be easier for you to utilize it again," Seiko had said, "You know the emotions you felt that originally unlocked your power, just remember the feeling and know your purpose."
Ronuku and Kohana surprisingly didn't argue for once and listened to the wise old miko's tutoring. After a few days of practice and work they were able to summon their power just after unsheathing their swords. At first it was startling to see the two engulfed in the blinding white light, their eyes glowing as if possessed by some otherworldly power, but they quickly proved to be in full control of their actions while in that state. Moving in unison, Seiko instructed them through the kata taught by their masters until they manipulated the white beam that ran between them into slashing through a tree and dissolving it.
While amazing and strong, their power did not come without any draw backs.
"Your power is very unique," Seiko had explained to them during a training session, "While the powers of a miko or a monk are able to purify darkness, and those of a demon are able to taint the light, yours is neither one nor the other. It is fueled by a desire to protect something that is special to both of you, it neither taints nor purifies, simply inflicts your will upon the world."
"But what if we combined it with purifying powers?" Kohana asked, "Our friend is a miko, surely if we all used our abilities together…?"
"Yeah, we'd definitely kick Naraku's ass!" Ronuku crowed.
"Yes," Seiko nodded, "In that instance your powers would serve as a boost of strength, amplifying the purification powers of the miko."
"Sweet! We've got this in-"
"But, be warned. Your powers, should you use them in service of a demon, will boost their powers and amplify their demonic taint. Always think carefully before you act."
"…When would we ever do that?" Ronuku asked.
"Maybe to help Sesshomaru or Inuyasha?" Kohana shrugged.
"And we'd still kick Naraku's ass!" Ronuku folded his arms and nodded.
Kaida pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. Naoe was astounded by Ronuku's incredible one-track mind, but the samurai knew that the boy's heart was in the right place, so perhaps this plan could work out after all.
So today, as Naoe sat with a cup of tea, being served by the village girls who tittered behind him, he watched his pupils practice with a sense of pride in their accomplishment. He and Kaida had been worried that their student's reliance on powers was worsening their skill in battle, but now that their true power required practiced swordsmanship they were improving ten-fold.
Ronuku and Kohana were battling shikigami once more. Unifying their movements, almost a mirror reflection of one another they faced their wooden opponents. Raising their swords and swinging down in an outward arc, the white beam bent and shot forward and incinerated the dolls in front of them.
A shikigami approached Kohana from behind, weapon raised to strike her in the head. But, as though her senses were supercharged, Kohana spun and impaled her assailant before it even got close. It erupted in white light and became a pile of dust. Three more came from the left. Ronuku pivoted and moved in a rehearsed three step arc. The beam spun out and wrapped around the dolls, severing them in half.
The two continued on for the next twenty minutes, taking down every shikigami that Seiko sent after them. When the miko summoned no more opponents, the two students sheathed their weapons and the white light faded from their bodies.
There wasn't a single scratch on them.
"Excellent work," Kaida called from her spot next to Naoe, "How do you feel?"
"Worn out," Kohana responded, stretching her shoulder, "It's exhilarating using our power, but I feel like I just sprinted about a hundred miles."
"Yeah, it's crazy! I feel like I can do anything while we're fighting, but now my arms are on fire!" Ronuku flexed his hands and let his limbs swing to his sides.
"It's no wonder," Naoe responded, "The amount of energy you're producing is practically inhuman, I wonder how much your bodies are able to handle."
"A normal person wielding this power would be killed instantly," Seiko said, matter-of-factly, "but these two carry the souls of Tsuneo-sama and Hisae-sama. They received blessing and protection, their power will not harm them in short bursts."
"Short bursts?" Kaida stood up, concern etched in her voice.
"Well I suppose if they kept it up for too long their bodies might not hold up to it," Seiko scratched her chin, "After all, erecting the barrier came at the price of the sacred sibling's lives, if you recall."
"Do you hear that?" Kaida turned and stared at their students.
"Yeah yeah," Ronuku shrugged, "Don't over-do it."
"Why would we keep it up that long anyway?" Kohana asked, "Battles only last a few minutes."
"Yes, but it's the two of you," Naoe chided, "You've done good work these past few days, but you must admit that you have had a tendency to 'over-do' it before." The two students glared at him but he wasn't bothered. The past several years had shown that in the heat of battle Kohana and Ronuku would both go to reckless extremes to win. Perhaps they had improved now, but it never hurt to remind them.
Seiko's cane thumped and threw up little clouds of sand as she walked across the practice clearing. Slowly she approached the remains of the shikigami, at least what was left of them. After she walked for a few minutes she hummed and nodded to herself.
"You two are ready."
"Huh?" Kohana looked over, "Ready for what?"
"To leave? Are we done?" Ronuku excitedly asked.
"Leave? No, not quite yet," Seiko said, "But I believe you're ready for a final assessment."
Naoe blinked as Kaida's eyebrow's shot up. Final assessment? Already? They'd only been training here for a few weeks, surely they couldn't have mastered the technique by now?
Naoe looked at Kohana and Ronuku. The looks on their faces said everything: there was no more time for training. The driving force behind their power, their need to protect their family, was calling them to do just that. Naraku posed too much danger, if they waited around any longer then there wouldn't be a family to protect. Naoe glanced at Kaida and saw that she had a similar vein of thought.
The time for their students to act was now.
"Allright then," Ronuku said, "Let's do this!"
"I'm ready when you are!" Kohana added. Seiko chuckled and hobbled towards the dais, taking a seat on the cushion.
"I can see that you're eager," she croaked, "But no. Not today. Take this time to rest and build your strength. We will begin your assessment tomorrow."
Ronuku folded his arms angrily and grumbled. Kohana approached the dais and knelt next to the old miko.
"Seiko-sama," she said, remembering the honorific, "May I ask what our assessment is?" Seiko didn't answer at first, she tilted her head back as if her blind eyes could see the sky. Slowly, she inhaled and then exhaled.
"You will remove the barrier that surrounds our village."
Kohana blinked.
Ronuku's jaw dropped.
Naoe's eyes widened.
"What?"
"The barrier around our village has been up for hundreds of years. It protected us from the onslaught of the demons and has guarded us every day since then. But," Seiko sighed, "It has also imprisoned us. None can pass through except for Tsuneo-sama or Hisae-sama. Our people have been within these walls, unable to leave. Our numbers have dwindled, our crops are few, and there is sickness that plagues us every year. The outside world has changed, I can feel it, and it is time our village rejoined the rest of the world. As the wielders of the sacred bond, only you can accomplish this."
"Just a moment," Kaida stepped forward, "You've told us that placing the barrier killed Tsuneo and Hisae. Wouldn't the same happen to Kohana and Ronuku if they removed it?" Her eyes narrowed and her hand briefly brushed her sword.
Naoe felt the same protectiveness that his mistress did. The two of them had been working with and teaching Ronuku and Kohana for years. As headache inducing as they could be sometimes, there still existed the bond between master and student. That they brought them this far only to be killed was unthinkable! He wouldn't allow it!
"If they aren't strong enough to survive the barrier, then they aren't strong enough to defeat the enemy threatening their family." Seiko said. Kaida angrily gaped at her and Naoe scowled.
"Now you listen he-"
"It's ok," Kohana said, "I'd rather face Naraku having done something with my powers other than fight wooden dolls. If one day more makes the difference and saves Futeki, then I can manage that. I want to make sure this power is actually useful. What do you think?" She looked to Ronuku.
"I think we should go back," Ronuku frowned, "I've been away from Sango too long, she should be having the baby soon. But…," he sighed, "I want to go back and actually be able protect them. I'll take down the barrier."
"Ronuku," Naoe said quietly, "You're putting your life at stake here."
"You do not have to do this," Kaida added.
"Maybe not," Kohana said, "But," she glanced around the village, "I think Hisae would want this. To save the village one more time." Naoe blinked and looked out across the landscape. Admittedly, he had noticed there were far more huts than there were villagers. This place was dying off, if they abandoned it the village would eventually be lost forever. A small twinge, a dying echo almost at the back of his mind cried out against it.
Tsuneo? He felt it. His previous life wanted to save this village. Kaida and Ronuku looked as though they understood, that they too felt the call.
"Besides," Kohana looked back, "I'm not going to die before I see my son again! And Ronuku's going to be there when his baby is born!"
"Yeah!" Ronuku added, "Our lives have been at risk hundreds of times! This isn't any different, we'll take down the stupid barrier and then we'll head back!"
"Very well," Seiko nodded and smiled, "Tomorrow morning you will meet me at the front gates of the temple. But today, rest and restore your strength…You're going to need it."
For the briefest moment an expression crossed her face, as though she were anxious about an unspoken threat. In an instant however, it was gone. Humming to herself again, the old miko turned and hobbled back towards her hut.
"Right," Ronuku said, "If we have the whole day then I'll see you guys later." He stifled a yawn, still worn out from the fight with the shikigami, and walked off to find a place to nap. Kohana bowed politely to her teacher and walked off after saying something about being thirsty.
The two teachers stood together as their students departed.
"Naoe," Kaida said quietly, "Something does not seem quite right. Can you sense it?"
"Nothing seems right these days," he said, raising an eyebrow, "What are you referring to exactly?" Kaida narrowed her gaze and glared.
"Seiko…she's withheld something important."
"You think so?"
"Yes," Kaida nodded, "Tomorrow may be even more dangerous than it seems."