Tale 4: Deep Seas of Azure Ahead!
Tamamo no Mae had brought together her accomplices once more, in her lair within an unknown, dark yomakai. In her possession were several sealed up bottles of a powerful dark energy, her paw-like hands grasping them firmly.
"Excellent work Kaira my boy, very excellent work indeed," Tamamo no Mae praised the boy, overlooking the bottles. "The amount of despair yoki you've managed to retrieve from that park is excellent!"
Tamamo no Mae opened the jars, seeming to absorb all the yoki into her very being. She gave a sinister grin. "I feel my power slowly coming back, I can probably get away with a big transformation and a little something extra too!"
"Extra?" Kaira asked, as Tamamo no Mae snapped her fingers, Wani knowing exactly what she meant. Soon enough, Wani came back with three cages with two yokai.
"You see my boy, my powers are strongly based on despair yoki from other's suffering, it allows me to shapeshift into more than just regular animals, as well as perform some much powerful magic…" Tamamo no Mae informed, stepping by the cages with her usual grin. "After some studying and regaining more power, I can finally perform something a little special with these...lovely yokai…"
"Ay who you callin' lovely?" A rebellious green lizard yokai yelled, trying to break free from the magic barrier.
"You'll pay for this, you old witch!" A shimmering diamond coated cat yokai with a hissed, quite displeased with Tamamo no Mae trapping him.
"I don't mean to be rude, but doesn't something feel a bit off from the equation here?" Jami pointed out at the setup. Tamamo no Mae sighed.
"Listen, I can't be perfect with certain equations, I couldn't get my hands on this "Jibanyan" yokai," Tamamo no Mae sighed, pinching the bridge of her snout before clasping her hands. "But, with my superior magic, I should be able to still make this work."
The powerful fox yokai clasped her hands, before she sent two bolts of violet-pink lightning that struck both of the contained yokai. There was a lot of violet hued smoke, covering the scene. Once it all calmed down, there was a single yokai in the third and center cage.
"Dianyan? Gurerurin? Never heard of em," The new yokai began to say, taking the form of a slightly metallic purple cat yokai with a serious attitude, shades and squatting and all. "I'm Warunyan of the Pretty tribe, the most stone cold rebel!"
"Excellent, so it did work!" Tamamo no Mae shouted with glee, before getting a serious look in her foxy complexion. "Wani!"
"Yes ma'am?" The large gator dragon yokai Wani asked his boss.
"Let Warunyan go, somewhere outside of here," Tamamo no Mae ordered. "I don't like cute things cluttering up my workplace."
"Of course, I'll take care of that right away!" Wani did as instructed, taking the cage with the rebellious feline outside. Tamamo no Mae focused her gaze on Kaira.
"You on the other hand, you'll be assisting me and Wani in another operation for not only more despair yoki…" Tamamo no Mae began to plan out. "But to get us one step closer to our goal…"
Tamamo no Mae clasped her hands before turning her back away. "I'll give more details tomorrow, for now you must be quite tired. Those pests must have really worn you out, haven't they?"
As instructed, Kaira went back into his quarters, a bit confused. He was undeniably tired, yes, but he couldn't shake off this particular feeling.
Even though Tamamo no Mae was treating him well, there was a different synergy she had with Wani and Jami. A very specific kind of synergy that would be great for not only scheming, but singing songs about how great and utter geniuses all three of them were, maybe even really wanting an ancient artifact.
Perhaps it was the hard reality that despite being treated kindly, he still could never fit in even if he tried. But, he was used to it, far too used to it, so Kaira had no idea why he constantly felt upset about the ordeal...Maybe getting sleep would help…
However, once asleep, there was not a dream, but rather, a recollection of a memory of the past.
Nor was it a particularly pleasant one. It was a few months prior, before Kaira was imprisoned by his own people...The young man recalled being by the side of his mother who wasn't doing so well. She was a part humanoid, part snake yokai with a white and blue lower body and a gentle, calming gaze with her carmine eyes.
"Kaira…" The boy's mother weakly said, putting her fin like hand on the boy's face. Kaira was trying his hardest to stay strong, last thing his mom wanted to see was him crying. Regardless, he did his best to keep himself strong.
"You are the snake king, strong, noble, and capable…" Kaira's mom weakly began to say for her final words. "I will always keep a steady eye on you, from the divine heaven…Please keep fighting with a strong yet noble heart...my child..."
Kaira's mom coughed a bit, gasping for air until her coughing fit finally settled.
"I love you very much...please never forget that…You're the most important thing in the world to me..." Kaira's mom finally finished, smiling gently at her son.
Within moments, Kaira had felt the hand of his mother leave his face and return to her side, where it would remain motionless before she slowly faded away…
That concludes that memory, or at least the part to be recalled for the night...
Elsewhere in the early morning, within the walls of the great palace of Yomakai, the ever so energetic Great King Enma was getting ready to head out, even in his entire human disguise and everything to not shock too many yokai. He was ready to go right then and there, he would arrive right before Mai and the others would even think!
Unaware of how fate had things planned, alongside not exactly being the most quiet yokai, someone had stopped the young king right in his literal running down the hall.
"You're going out aren't you?" Yami asked the child rather firmly enough to send just the slightest yet still heart stopping chill.
"Listen, mom, I've already explained that this might lead to bigger issues if they aren't dealt with now, and especially by me directly," Great King Enma tried to reason, getting just the slightest bit hot headed. "Kaira's with one of the most evil yokai ever known now, they both need to be stopped.
Yami paused for a moment before lifting up the boy's left arm and pulling back his long shirt sleeve. Underneath, his rough fighting with Kaira was still quite evident with bruises and slightly healed cuts remaining as a constant reminder.
"If this was the kind of damage supposedly only Kaira did to you…" Yami began, slowly sounding more uneasy with each word. "...I can't even begin to think what someone as dangerous as one of the most evil yokai in the entire world could do to you."
"Don't worry, I'm strong enough to handle it, you don't gotta worry so much!" Great King Enma attempted to plead with, Yami adjusting her gaze to something much more serious, even if her eyes were already beginning to mist…
"Great King Enma...no...Jizou...you are the king of the yokai world, but you are also my child first and foremost," Yami began, her voice becoming more heavy and serious. "I...I already lost you once. All of the Yokai World wept over your loss...but there was one who cried the loudest among them…"
It became fully realized to the young king what his mother was meaning. Even if it had been several months since his return and nearly two years since he "died", some pain never truly heals completely. Some memories stick with oneself no matter what, both good and bad…
"I...I understand…" Great King Enma finally concluded, agreeing to stay for the day.
"So, Enma isn't coming along, is he?" Mai asked, sitting with Kokoro, Shinju, and Mao at a table enjoying a casual lunch at her resort. Nyanmajo and Sailornyan were a bit preoccupied, looking over at a nearby shop selling various pieces of merchandise.
"Yeah, which is a shame, we dunno what kind of dangers are gonna follow us," Kokoro answered, taking a sip of a chocolate shake, garnished with whipped cream and colorful candies. "But good news is that I'm a yokai princess so I can kinda fill the shoes, maybe?"
"You're a princess?" Mao asked curiously, Kokoro simply nodding.
"Yep kid, long story short, but due to an uprising a long time ago all the kids of previous Enma had to hide in various Yomakai and even the human world," Kokoro answered. "At least that's what I was told."
Mao paused to think in deep thought, quite intrigued by what he was told. Who knew such a rough yet soft girl like Kokoro could be a princess, she seemed like a stark contrast.
"Either way, the four of us should be okay with going to Otohime's place right?" Shinju tried to reassure everyone. "Yeah we don't have Enma with us, but we're still pretty capable."
"I think we're all ready," Kokoro began, standing up. "You ready Mai?"
Unknown to the others, Mai briefly got up over to the merchandise vendor that was keeping Nyanmajo and Sailornyan so occupied. She was still able to hear her friends, letting out a rather loud "Yeah! Just give me a moment!" for her usual standard.
"We're going already?" Sailornyan asked, looking over at Nyanmajo struggling to get to the top of the check out register. "Let us at least buy our commemorative souvenir vacation sunglasses, first!"
"You spent that long choosing sunglasses?" Mai asked, a bit puzzled. Despite how many times she's gone through changes of clothes, the blonde was never really the fashionista type.
"Listen it was hard to decide if me and Nyanmajo should go with matching Casey and Carol Cat sunglasses or Ernie and Elena Eagle sunglasses," Sailornyan explained. "Plus there were a lot of shirts and other accessories, we gotta doll up on vacation you know!"
After patiently waiting for her feline friends to get their merchandise, Mai returned to the table her friends were at. She had already prepared, getting out a pink Yokai Jewel laced with gold and holding it near her watch to do the usual hand motions.
"My friend true of heart, I summon you! Heart to heart…" Mai began, doing her usual hand motions. "Legendary Pretty Otohime!"
One summoning and transformation sequence later, Mai had not only gotten threads based on the sea princess, but called forth Otohime herself. Though, something was a bit different.
"Mama, who are these people?" A tiny yokai peeped up, sitting on Otohime's lap. He looked very tiny, barely making it past the three foot height mark. Half of his little face was covered by deep teal hair, tied neatly in a ponytail with a seastar themed crown. His visible yellow eye lightened up with curiosity, a scarf made of aqua blue aura covering his mouth, which seemed to lead to two sea dragon themed heads, smiling for the prince in his large overcoat. Around his neck was a necklace with an aqua jewel around it.
"Miss Otohime you never told us, you...you know…" Shinju commented, trying to keep her remarks more safe for younger ears.
"Oh I don't believe you've been introduced to him yet," Otohime began gently, nudging the small yokai child gently. "Go on, introduce yourself."
The tiny child yokai's eyes lit up. "I'm Umioji Orochi, prince of Ryuu-guujo!"
"You have a son!?" Mai gasped in shock, utterly floored that one of her own yokai friends had a child of her own.
Umioji Orochi seemed to somewhat recognize the group, well, Mai at least. "Oh! Uncle Nanda told me about you! When mama was gone for a trip...right?"
"From my past readings of youkai lore, isn't Orochi like this...really moody, really scary, eight headed serpentine dude who takes no mercy?" Kokoro asked a bit confused that Orochi would take the form of a bright eyed child.
"It's...complicated and it'll probably be best to explain on the way," Otohime informed gently. "Nanda has already informed me of yesterday's events, though I wasn't sure when I would be summoned."
Within moments, a familiar aide came to the side of the ocean princess. Well, familiar to at least some of the group.
"Ryujin!" Shinju yelled in glee, shocked to see the dragon yokai once more. "You work for Otohime?"
"Oh you, and your friends as well!" Ryujin greeted, floating by the side of the royal duo. "And well, yes, lady Otohime rules not only over marine life and marine yokai, but dragons as well. Plus my father was formerly an aide of hers. But enough from me, let's get going now!"
The gang all got on the back of the large reptile, or at least valiantly attempted to.
"I believe it'll be...extremely difficult for me to take off with all of you at once for the distance we're going," Ryuujin admitted. "A bit too much for comfort…"
The group looked around at each other, deciding who would go and who would stay. Tamamo no Mae was always on the prowl, so who knew if she would appear in the yokai world or the human world.
"Mai, Kokoro, I think it might be best if you two went with Otohime," Mao suggested, both girls in question looking at each other.
"What? You sure kid, you don't got anything fishy planned do you?" Kokoro asked, twinging her face briefly at the realization she made an unintended pun.
"No, no! I-I just think it's best since Mai has the power of the watch and you're a princess yourself…" Mao responded a bit frightened at the teen's slight aggressive tone.
"Well, I do know if anything suspicious happens we'll give you a call," Shinju stated, wrapping things up. "We can probably visit some other time when the stakes don't involve some fox witch of evil intentions."
"Right, we'll see you soon!" Mai waved, getting on with Kokoro on the back of Ryuujin. It was oddly nostalgic to be just Mai and Kokoro on this, it seemed they've come so far since then.
"Take care!" Nyanmajo shouted to the flying off dragon, wishing a safe trip for the group.
It seemed like it was going to be a long ride, so much that tiny Umioji Orochi nodded off to sleep in his mother's lap, clinging onto her right arm.
"You see, several yokai like the aforementioned Orochi have various...well, variants?" Otohime explained in her usual gentle tone. "Some yokai call themselves Orochi, but came about differently, like being a boy who fought a powerful monster or a formerly dangerous serpent…"
"So what about Umioji Orochi?" Mai asked, Otohime looking a bit distant.
"Long story, but a few years ago I confronted a horrifying sea monster known as Ugayafukiaezu and after a grueling battle I won but as I was about to head back to base, I noticed something moving…" Otohime continued to explain, gently petting the child's head. "...That being a tiny, sickly infant, I couldn't just leave him there…My heart couldn't handle it..."
"And that's where that kiddo came from? A corpse of a sea monster?" Kokoro asked, pointing to the sleeping Umioji Orochi, Otohime nodding in response.
As the ride to Ryuu-guujo progressed, Kokoro couldn't help but notice out of everyone, Umioji Orochi's shadow was moving kind of strangely. Must be the ocean waters, but it was odd…
Soon enough, everyone had arrived safely at Ryuu-guujo. Due to the nature of such a place, everyone was perfectly dry yet felt somewhat lower gravity...the undersea was strange. Waiting at the palace gates were once again, some familiar faces.
"Oh! Nanda-Ryuuoh! Yao Bikuni!" Mai waved, hopping off of Ryuujin to greet the two, even if she tripped due to strange gravity. "...Ow…"
"I wasn't expecting to be seeing you so soon, Mai," Yao Bikuni greeted, helping Mai up. "But when Otohime heard you were coming over, I couldn't help but see you. It's been a long while…"
Noticing the crowd gathering of visitors and her sleeping tyke, Otohime looked around. "Oh dear...if I'll be required in trying to find my father, who will watch the young prince? I can't let any danger come to him…"
Everyone looked around at one another, but one stepped up out of the rest.
"Don't worry your majesty," Kokoro began, holding out her arms. "I'll watch the little guy."
Everyone looked just a little bit shocked.
"Are you positive that you can?" Yao Bikuni questioned, a little confused that someone so aggressive looking could take care of a child.
"Nobody will mess with me besides, I can take a lot. That and I've taken care of a cat who naps a lot so this won't be much different," Kokoro answered back, her arms still reaching out.
"I see, please take him to his personal quarters and keep an eye on him until the others and I can return safely," Otohime instructed, handing over the sleeping prince to the aggressive but well meaning teen.
Without a moment of hesitation, Kokoro was already in the palace and found the prince's quarters. It was much more like a large mansion as opposed to the enormous castle she hailed from, so it was easy to navigate. The room itself reflected the mansion's very sea based decor, several parts made from seashells and coral. Everything else was fairly normal for a child's room: a few bookshelves with children's books, many toys, especially in terms of soft, plush animals, all with a regal yet innocent flair. Heck it didn't seem like that all that long ago it was a nursery...then again Umioji Orochi was still very young if he still had daily naps…
It took well under five minutes for Kokoro to tuck Umioji Orochi into bed and made sure he had one of his plush animals, a dolphin in this case, by his side. All she could really do was sit in an armchair until he woke up and needed something.
"Well, now what?" Kokoro whispered to herself, trying to figure out what to do. She had her phone yes, but dodgy phone service was something she wasn't going to deal with, nor did she really want to ask about if there was wi-fi...
As Kokoro was biding her time, she noticed something moving in the shadows, and it wasn't her own shadow. It seemed to get bigger and bigger, the room being slowly being covered by a dark force. Worse yet, it felt pretty powerful. Peering into the closet the rough teen found something, a simple toy hammer, that hopefully she could use to fend herself with.
"...Turn Back, intruder…" A dark, shadowy voice crackly whispered, sounding dry yet intimidating. It left a shiver down Kokoro's spine, but she wasn't gonna let this bother her. She gripped that small toy hammer with her life.
"Like all heck I'm going to let you lay a finger on the prince here!" Kokoro harshly whispered, trying to keep her voice low.
Doing as prompted, the evil shadowy entity appeared from the darkness. He took the form of quite the tall yokai, easily towering over Kokoro. He looked like an Orochi alright, but with grey skin, snow white hair, and a glaring red eye. Donning teal and blue robes that fit him with slight bits of silver armor, he had a large scarf of shadow black dragons that were not only very large and intimidating, but very angry. He folded his arms, bony, clawed fingers being visible.
"I showed myself, now go before I make you leave myself…" The shadowy Orochi greeted with. Kokoro taking a stance.
"Just who are you anyways? You better not be one of Tamamo no Mae's goons or else I'll whoop you real good!" Kokoro snapped back, still keeping her tone in a hushed whisper.
"I'm Shinkai Orochi, shadow of the deep sea," Shinkai Orochi introduced himself, the large aggressive dragon heads beginning to snarl.
Not taking any chances with letting this guy hurt the pure and innocent Umioji Orochi, Kokoro went right at him with a strong jump and a good "thwack!" from the hammer. Well, more of a loud squeak, followed by more rapid squeaks.
Needless to say, Shinkai Orochi was not amused in the slightest. He looked about ready to tear Kokoro into two but one thing stopped the two from going into a full on brawl.
"Mmmnghh...Shishi, what's wrong?" Umioji Orochi asked with a slight yawn as he got up. "I'm up from my nap if you wanted to play…"
"Y-Your highness, the upper most apologies…" Shinkai Orochi apologized with a slight bow. Kokoro put down the hammer as she put her other hand to the side.
"So you're lil princey's bodyguard?" Kokoro asked, the shadowy snake yokai nodding.
"Indeed, I've been making sure he never gets hurt, for as long as I can remember…" Shinkai Orochi introduced. "Though even after almost four years...I've never really properly introduced myself to the prince's mother or the rest of the personnel..."
"Gotcha, I totally get you, I ain't very sociable either," Kokoro responded with. "Sorry for hitting you with the lil hammer."
Umioji Orochi sat up, having stretched a little to get up. "Good! You two've made up. Now promise me you two won't fight, since you're my brother and she's a friend okay?"
"Yes your highness, I promise I won't get into a fight with...ermm…" Shinkai Orochi responded with in the most formal way possible.
"Kokoro Yukimura," Kokoro introduced simply. "Didn't know if you caught it but, that's me."
"I see, his highness Nanda Ryuu-oh spoke of you and especially your friend Mai," Shinkai Orochi responded with, noticing he was being tugged on by the young prince.
"We can play now right, right?" Umioji Orochi asked, the pure innocence in his eyes being something hard to refuse.
"Yes, though let's keep it confined to here, as it's by your mother's request as not to get hurt," Shinkai Orochi finished, the trio plotting out for a good time in the child's room.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the undersea mansion, Otohime had gathered Mai, Yao Bikuni, and Nanda Ryuu-oh in a central meeting room. There were a few scrolls spread out on the table, everyone looking things over.
"It seems awakening Seiryuu is going to be a lot harder than we all thought…" Mai commented on the matters.
"You can say that again, most of the hints he left behind are downright cryptic…" Nanda Ryuu-oh added in. "I'm asking way more questions than usual!"
"I'm not even sure what lord Seiryuu means by he'll 'only awaken when the deep sea experiences a great storm, and then lightning will bring be back forth', do storms even effect the deepest parts of the sea?" Yao Bikuni asked, pondering about the papers.
"I think there might be something in an underground chamber but breaking the seal itself is well…" Otohime started to conclude with a deep sigh. "...Cryptic and tricky in itself…"
"Surely he must have left something behind in all this, right?" Mai asked, trying her best to analyze with all the others. Protector of many she may be, but puzzles and cryptic clues were far from her forte. A whimsical, top hat wearing professor she was not.
Before the deciphering could continue, there was a loud, disturbing noise from outside.
"Good heavens what was that!?" Otohime asked, looking around. Everyone rushed to the source of the noise, happening in the front courtyard. Once they arrived, there was a very unpleasant surprise.
"Well," A familiar sinister voice said, coming from a black hammerhead shark with piercing hot pink eyes. "I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon, girlie."
Being quick to reveal herself, the hammerhead shark turned out to be none other than Tamamo no Mae, a sinister grin plastering her face as usual.
"You won't take another step, you won't hurt anyone because we're all in this together!" Otohime said back in the most gentle yet aggressive way possible, Tamamo no Mae's grin getting somehow, even more sinister.
"That's just peachy, you have your own little friends, well, I didn't come alone either…" Tamamo no Mae began, snapping her fingers. "Wani! Kaira! Come forth!"
On cue, the aforementioned yokai came to join by the side of Tamamo no Mae. "Now, boys, let's give these idiots a chance to revel in despair for once!"
"As you wish," Kiara responded, getting out his sword.
"Yes ma'am, right away!" Wani finished, balling and hitting his fists together.
The three split off into different groups after parts of the party: Kaira going after Yao Bikuni, Wani chasing Mai and Otohime, and finally Tamamo no Mae pursuing Nanda-Ryuuoh all on his own.
The utter chaos didn't limit itself to the front lawn, Kokoro, Umioji Orochi, and Shinkai Orochi noticing part of the fight was starting to get dangerously close…
"...Mama?" Umioji Orochi asked, glancing out of a window briefly. Outside, it was clear Otohime and Mai were trying their best to fare against the brute yokai Wani, him not having a care for much of the property. Kokoro's face got rather shocked looking.
"Kiddo, I hope you don't mind piggybacking for a bit," Kokoro began, the tiny prince looking a bit worried. "Since I think we're going to have to…"
There was a loud crashing sound at a nearby room a hall down, presumably Wani having thrown something or someone through the wall.
"Yeah we're running, hang on kid!" Kokoro panickedly yelped, the tiny sea prince jumping on the back of the teen, clinging for his life. Shinkai Orochi followed, but in the shadows naturally, as the three of them ran for their lives. Last thing Kokoro wanted was to see such a sweet kid get hurt...
The three kept running, trying their hardest to find any kind of safer ground. Through a rushed panic, the three ended up going into the basement...or at least they thought. It had a bit of a tight door, but wasn't anything Kokoro couldn't open with a bit of force and help from Shinkai Orochi.
Once in the mysterious basement, it wasn't anything like a typical basement, being much more nicely kept, clean, and not full of musty old storage. It seemed almost divine with carvings of sea life as well as one peculiar carving.
This carving was an awful lot like the art piece Mai saw at the Library, depicting a vermillion peafowl, an azure dragon, a white tiger, and a black tortoise all facing against some kind of dark entity. But here, the entity was a lot more clearer, being some horrifying yokai with sharp talons, wings, and horns. Around it, it was spreading harsh storms, tidal waves rising, diseases spreading, and even volcanoes erupting…
But in the center of the room was a state of a large, great dragon, his expression stern and wise. In front of him was a small pedestal with a strange azure emblem within it. Kokoro tried to grab for it, but it was stuck in there…
"Woah...this...this is something…" Kokoro commented, looking around. Umioji Orochi looked around as well, not daring to get off her back. Shinkai Orochi emerged briefly from the shadows to look around as well.
"This place is quite calm, but it does seem to be a place honoring the former ruler of the seas, Seiryuu…" Shinkai Orochi commented.
"Oh mama's papa and my grandpa!" Umioji Orochi concluded, before getting a bit quiet. "I never got to know him though...Does he just not like me or did something really bad happen? I've only heard mama talk about him..."
"No, I believe he merely sealed himself away a very, very long time ago after a particular incident…" Shinkai Orochi informed, putting his hand on his scarf in deep thought. "That incident being over 6,000 years ago…"
Before any more thoughts could be thought or another word spoken, the door to the underground altar broke open. Standing in the doorway was none other than Wani, a smug look on the large yokai's crocodilian face.
"Well well well, looks like someone is snoopin' around here!" Wani greeted with, giving a loud laugh. "Those other girls were a pain, but I'll...I'll get rid of you!"
"No you won't, not on my watch!" Shinkai Orochi shouted, lunging after the aggressive crocodile yokai. One of his large dragon heads started to pull on Wani's arm, in an effort to see if he could be tossed. But Wani didn't seem to react to being bitten, following up with a punch square in Shinkai Orochi's jaw. The dark sea snake was knocked over pretty hard, but not giving up his fight, no matter how many times Wani would punch him.
Umioji Orochi on the other hand, couldn't bear to look. It was clear on the poor child's face he was very distressed.
"F-first that meanie hurt mama...n-now big brother Shishi…" Umioji Orochi started to cry. "I don't like this! I don't like this at all!"
The visible upsetness in the prince's heart seemed to reveal something as the jewel around his necklace began to glow before it opened up. What was really inside was one of the ever so crystal clear Scared Jewels, having solid azure lines meaning "Thunder". The jewel gently was placed into Kokoro's hand, the teen knowing rather instinctively what to do now.
Kokoro went over to the pedestal with the azure trinket, inserting the jewel within it. Once the jewel was inserted, the emblem was free, being distinct with a dragon motif. With the emblem in hand, words began to flow through the teen's mind.
"The mind of the deep and near infinite ocean, let the eastern waves strike! If you would please come forth, the Azure Guardian...Seiryuu!" Kokoro shouted, a bright azure blue light flooding the room. Not only did she feel a flow of power in her heart, but something else joining with her as well.
Once the light died down, Kokoro stood wearing some new threads in the form of a light azure wushu uniform with short sleeves and generally meant to be more masculine. A few dragon themed details were throughout, complete with a hairclip and even a dragon themed nine section whip.
By her side was none other than the Azure Dragon himself, Seiryuu. It seemed the statue of him had come to life, his light blue scales shining as he held onto a yellow orb in one of his claw like hands. His eyes gave the same stern yet wise look.
"So, it seems you were the one who awakened me…" Seiryuu commented. "Not what I expected, but I'll accept fate nor will I judge."
"Yep, now we got that pain in the butt to deal with," Kokoro responded, pointing to Wani as she held onto the nine section whip. "And I just know how to do so."
First was getting the attention of the large crocodile with a large cracking of the whip, leaving the Orochis with each other as a result. "Oi! Big and ugly, come over here and let's fight!"
"Ya serious, me against the ol' boss? How about no!" Wani yelped, running off out of the underground chamber.
"Get back here you weak coward!" Kokoro shouted, nudging Seiryuu to follow her.
"Should we think about planning this out?" Seiryuu commented, Kokoro looking back slightly.
"Yeah, try to think of something, I got a giant croc to pursue!" Kokoro yelled, attempting to get onto the dragon's back. "Mind if I hitch a ride?"
"I mean, I'll think of something as we give chase…" Seiryuu finished, letting the rough girl indeed, get a ride on his back.
The two ended up giving chase to Wani, making sure not much was damaged in the process. A few cracks of the whip but after some practice, it was enough to trip up the crocodile in the back courtyard. Though...She had to wonder where Mai and Otohime went…
"Alright, we got you Wani!" Kokoro yelled, getting off Seiryuu's back as she was even more hot headed than usual.
Wani got up a little, crossing his arms. "I think there's bigger fish for you to fry!"
"What in the seven seas do you mean by that?" Seiryuu asked, giving a glare.
Soon, they got their answer in the form of a Colossal Squid, ash black and monstrous in a much larger size.
"I do not kid when I say this, but this form is quite appealing!" Tamamo no Mae cackled, floating around as said giant monster squid. "I'll campaign for absolute destruction and despair!"
Two figures stood in front of the large squid, trying to face off against her and her terrifying squid form.
"We aren't backing down, Tamamo!" Mai said, clearly being a little rough around the edges from fighting alongside Otohime. Though, the latter did the best to patch her up with her healing abilities.
"Oi! Mai, if you keep pushing yourself like this, you're going to be just as impulsive as me!" Kokoro shouted, joining up with her blonde friend. Otohime and Mai were just as shocked to see her with Seiryuu.
"Father!? You've been awakened!?" Otohime gasped aloud.
"You summoned Seiryuu!?" Mai added into the shock. Kokoro rubbed the back of her head.
"Long story, but I think we can explain it all later," Kokoro tried to get everyone together. "Right now, we got that squid that won't kid around to deal with!"
In the midsts of the chaos, Seiryuu kept a calm look on his face. "I believe I have an effective strategy for getting rid of those fiends…"
Seiryuu kept his gaze focused as he explained his plan. "What we need to do is combine our strengths in our hearts by creating a vortex of our abilities…"
As if Seiryuu's plan was making sense, something sparked in Mai's head. She reached out her hands.
"Everyone, let's hold our hands together!" Mai suggested, everyone prompting to do so until they formed a circle as they held hands. Tamamo no Mae looked a bit surprised.
"Oh come on! Trying to do some kind of spiritual bomb when I haven't even done anything!?" Tamamo no Mae yelled, huffing up in squid form. "I'll show you the real way of fighting dirty!"
In a fit of anger, Tamamo no Mae adjusted herself, squirting a large cloud of ink. To the quartet facing off against the squid, it threw them off guard.
"...You know, I don't know what I was expecting…" Mai commented on the matters, trying to see clearly despite the cloud of black ink.
Wani didn't dare question the tactics of his own boss, but he couldn't help but be a bit dumbfounded at the choice. She turned into this giant squid just to squirt ink…
Regardless, the four still held their hands together and were able to still have the power of heart flow through them. It was just a gable whether or not it would strike the large squid due to the ink covering their visions.
"Should we even risk it?" Otohime asked. "We might not be able to hit our target!"
"I think it might be alright, we just have to believe, especially in these dark times," Mai reassured, taking a deep breath. A flowing of power went through her and Otohime's hearts, a jewel glowing bright pink.
"Shining and Deep Submerging Dragon Palace Hospitality!" Mai and Otohime yelled in unison, performing a spectacular and sparkling wave of dazzling energy. It was able to hit Wani and Tamamo no Mae, and not only that, but clear the cloud of ink.
"Argh! I hate this cutesy sparkly-" Wani tried to say, only for the loud "thud!" of Tamamo no Mae in squid form of catch him off guard. "Boss!"
"Oh trust me Wani…" Tamamo no Mae muttered, being quite dazed. "I too hate that cutesy nonsense, more than anyone!"
Taking note of them both being down, Kokoro held the nine section whip in a tight grip, ready to fight. "Alright, let's finish this off!"
Feeling a flow of power from not only Mai and Otohime, but Seiryuu as well, Kokoro posed with the majestic dragon, ready to strike.
"Now, let's do this! Tsunami Dragon Breaker!" Kokoro yelled, lunging with Seiryuu at the colossal squid Tamamo no Mae took form of.
"Boss, look out!" Wani yelled, leaping in front of the charge the azure dragon was taking at his boss.
The result was a large explosive attack of azure lightning and ocean water, the impact being extremely powerful. Much is to be expected from a Holy Beast yokai, but still, quite the destructive spectacle to be seen.
After things settled, all that was left was Tamamo no Mae, back into her normal state. In her eyes was a bit of legit shock.
"W-Wani!?" Tamamo no Mae asked, looking around a bit worried. She then adjusted her gaze to be back to her usual menacing look.
"...I won't forget this, and I will make you pay for what you've done today…" Tamamo no Mae hissed lowly, disappearing with a puff of violet smoke.
During the fight between the others, Kaira was busy pursuing against Yao Bikuni. He was also tasked to find Nanda-Ryuuoh, but who knew where that nosy dragon went. Plus the less he has to hear about the aviation of bees, the better.
It seemed Kaira had finally cornered Yao Bikuni, his sword ready to slice the mermaid to ribbons. Though when the mermaid spoke, it caught Kaira off guard.
"You're...You're…" Yao Bikuni began to say, legitimately shocked at what she was seeing. "You're Snake Queen Pardmavati's child!"
Kaira put down his sword, shocked at what Yao Bikuni was telling him. "You knew my mother, and me, apparently...But how? I don't even know you!"
"Well, you've grown up a lot, that much I can tell…" Yao Bikuni stated, trying to remain calm since it was clear Kaira was still pretty tense. "It's been an awfully long time since I've last seen you...ten years I want to say?"
The snake king cooled his jets, by becoming a bit quiet. It was a while before he finally spoke. "Please, tell me more about your relationship to my mother...and how you're able to recognize me!"
"I understand, I will tell you, your highness," Yao Bikuni finished, taking a deep sigh as she slowly began to explain everything…
A long time ago, a pair of yokai were sitting around quite worried. One was Yao Bikuni, the other was the aforementioned Raja Naga, Pardmavati, who was gently overlooking a small nest with five eggs.
"I've summoned you forth since well, I think I have a problem…" Pardmavati began to speak, looking rather worried as her tail flicked nervously. "My eggs...it's been about a week and a half since they were supposed to hatch…"
Yao Bikuni inspected the best of eggs. It was clear Pardmavati was taking the best care possible, being kept warm and clean. However, there was something shocking she soon learned by merely inspecting one.
The egg seemed to completely shatter in the yellow mermaid's hand upon being held...and with was...nothing. Not a single thing inside, no traces, nothing.
Pardmavati was silent at such a sight. All that time of making sure they were incubated, clean, and likely to hatch resulted in such a sight. She looked completely heartbroken, looking down at the nest with a worried look.
"Please...please tell me one of them survived, any of them…" Pardmavati requested shakily. Her heart felt heavy, unable to speak in a composed manner.
Going around the nest, Yao Bikuni kept inspecting the eggs...but kept getting the same results. Second egg, shattered instantly with nothing.
Third egg, instantly shattered, nothing.
Fourth egg, broke apart instantaneously, an empty dream within.
Yao Bikuni could not feel all the pain and doubt her heart that the snake Yokai did. No traces of any souls could be found around the eggs, so they truly were empty. Pardmavati looked devastated beyond belief, lying close to the floor with her face flushed red from rubbing her eyes…
"Why did the one I have to fall in love with be a human man? Had I not why...I could have actually had a family…" Pardmavati went on, verbally beating herself up. "Hanyous...why must they be cursed like this?"
Yao Bikuni gave a sigh of reassurance, gently patting the snake queen on the back. "I don't know your majesty...I'm beyond sorry that this happened...and to you of all the Yokai out there…"
"Thank you dearly...but at the same time…" Padmavati continued, trying to stay audible despite her sobbing. "...I wish fate didn't make me fall for a human man...or that hanyous are more likely to survive…"
"It isn't your fault, it isn't your fault…" Yao Bikuni gently reassured the snake queen.
A long, dreary pause was between the two, giving them a moment to mourn. It was unlikely the last egg would be any different than the rest until…
The fifth and final egg started moving a little, until an audible tiny crack could be heard. Both of the Yokai women's hearts skipped a beat or two just then.
Another crack could be heard, both ladies gathering around the egg. Pardmavati got a nearby blanket, Yao Bikuni inspecting the egg as it hatched, a single arm poking out. Muffled crying could be heard, lightening the heart of the snake queen.
"They...they're crying! They're alive!" Pardmavati cried, this time out of pure joy.
The mermaid yokai got to work freeing the newborn from it's eggshell, gently peeling it away so she could pick him up. Upon inspection, they looked like they had cobalt blue hair and patches of white and blue scales among their legs and chest, matching that of their mother's snake like lower half.
They kept on crying, reassuring Pardmavati that they were alive and well, though they calmed down a little once they were wrapped up in a blanket.
"Congratulations, your majesty!" Yao Bikuni cheered happily, looking at the child as well. "He's pretty cute, I'm sure he's going to grow up into a fine king!"
Pardmavati closed her eyes gently, smiling with a few happy tears around her eyes. "I'm sure of it as well…"
The snake queen held her newborn closer to her, seeming to whisper something into his ear. "It won't matter if you're yokai or man, or something in between...I know you'll do great things and I cherish you more than anything in the world…"
"Mom…" Kaira muttered, trying not to cry, but he was finding it incredibly hard not to. He felt his heart getting more tender, upon realizing why his mother cared about him more than anything, even risking her own health for him…
Yao Bikuni gave a gentle pat onto the back of Kaira. "I know your mother loved you very much...I don't know why I ended up growing so distant but I always wanted to visit you and your mother again…"
Kaira was quiet again, crying into the shoulder of the mermaid. He was inaudible, but Yao Bikuni seemed to understand the hardness the young king was going through…
"I...I had recently heard about the news of your mother and I'm...I'm really sorry, your highness…" Yao Bikuni reassured, giving her deepest and honest apologies to the snake king. "But...there's one thing I want to give you…"
Yao Bikuni somehow was carrying something, a small locket in a light gold with aquamarine gemstones, the crest of the snake kings embellished onto it. "I somehow knew we would meet again one day...and your mother wanted me to give this to you when the time was right."
Kaira took the locket, shakily holding it into his hands. He nodded, drying up his face a bit and slowly recompose himself. "T...Thank you very much, I'll protect this…"
Noticing a dark aura nearby, Kaira slowly began walking out, putting the locket away in a safe part of his robe, thanking the mermaid under his breath. He kept it close, it was the closest thing he had to his mother after all…
Waiting for him outside was a very displeased looking Tamamo no Mae. She looked a bit somber, yet tried to keep her sinister look. She looked at Kaira dead in the eyes.
"So what's the long face for?" Tamamo no Mae asked. Kaira shrugged it off.
"It's nothing…" Kaira grumbled, trying to hide the face he broke down crying.
"I see...we're going to head back and start from square one…" Tamamo no Mae responded, taking Kaira with her.
Back with Yao Bikuni, she didn't have much time to process the snake king leaving as another yokai had found her.
"Oh! Yao Bikuni, there you are!" Nanda Ryuu-oh greeted. "Come with me, he's...he's returned!"
"He?" Yao Bikuni asked, but before anymore questions could be asked, she was dragged along by the curious dragon king.
The aftermath of the fight was still present, Yao Bikuni and Nanda Ryuu-oh reuniting with Mai, Kokoro, Otohime, and the recently awakened Seiryuu.
"Great Lord Seiryuu!" Yao Bikuni gasped in shock to see the dragon once more.
"Brother, goodness, it's been ages!" Nanda-Ryuuoh cheered, practically hugging the azure dragon as best he could. Feeling a bit too large for comfort, he shifted from being a large dragon to more of a humanoid like yokai, in vein of Nanda Ryuu-oh and the two previously met holy beasts. He donned regal scholar robes, having a slight aged look in his face as his blue dragon tail swished around.
"I am more than happy to have returned," Seiryuu stated, happy to meet with his subjects. "But, it seems the celebrations may have to wait, as Tamamo no Mae is on the prowl and who knows what she has planned…"
"I'm not sure what she has planned either, all I know is that it's horrible and involves the despair of others…" Otohime began, sounding worried.
"She also speaks of a mysterious book called the Yokai Sangokushi?" Mai added in, Seiryuu looking shocked.
"The Yokai Sangokushi!?" Seiryuu gasped in shock. "Goodness...if she's after that, it'll call for not only myself and the other three holy beast yokai...and the sacred jewels as well…"
Kokoro noticed something by her feet, a clear jewel with azure and vermillion lines meaning "Wind".
"Well good news is we found one of the jewels," Kokoro stated, holding up the sacred jewel.
"So far we have the gems for Fire, Water, Thunder, Mountain, Earth, and Wind…" Mai stated off the top of her head. "And I know Shinju's befriended Genbu and I've...at least attempted to get to Suzaku…"
Seiryuu stroked his chin, closing his eyes. "You have a brave heart child, Suzaku is one who almost never opens her heart…"
Otohime looked around a bit worried. "I think there's someone missing...Miss Yukimura...don't tell me you…"
Kokoro's eyes widened, looking shocked. "Oh...Oh no! Oh s-"
"Your majesty...please fear not…" A familiar shadowy voice said, revealing to be Shinkai Orochi. He certainly startled everyone, being quite the tall, unruly sort. But in his arms was the young prince alive and well.
"Mama! Mama!" Umioji Orochi chirped, extending his arms to be held by his mother. Otohime looked shocked, a bit off put.
"Who...Who are you?" Otohime asked, a little shaken.
"I'm Shinkai Orochi...I've been watching over that little one for as long as he's been around…" Shinkai Orochi introduced himself with a formal bow. Umioji Orochi looked up.
"It's okay mama, he's my big brother Shishi, he doesn't bite!" Umioji Orochi reassured his mother.
"I see, so you're the one he's been talking to…" Otohime concluded. "Thank you dearly for protecting the prince when I couldn't…"
"There's one last thing I request, however…" Shinkai Orochi began, looking off shyly. "Can...Can I please refer to you as "mother", being his highness' "big brother" and all…"
"Of course," Otohime answered, making the dark serpentine yokai more than happy, possibly the happiest he's ever been.
The group from the surface stuck around a bit longer with the happy family reunion, before came their time to eventually return back to the surface world.
"Now, don't fear to summon me when there's great danger," Seiryuu waved goodbye, nodding. "It's my duty to protect as a holy beast yokai, after all."
Mai and Kokoro headed back to one of the many resort lobbies, thanking Ryuujin for his efforts in bringing them between both worlds.
"Oh your back!" Nynamajo greeted with, returning with Sailornyan, Shinju, and Mao, all being more accessorized with souvenirs.
"Did you guys have fun?" Mai asked curiously.
"Yep, we went to the First Frontier, then the Final Frontier, then back and forth again! There's so many amazing rides here!" Shiju lit up, Mao looking a bit nervous.
"Y-Yeah...Galaxy Valley was a bit much for me...however…" Mao answered, shivering a bit recalling the ride.
"Personally I can't wait to try all sorts of foreign beverages tomorrow!" Sailornyan said gleefully. "After all, it's Ansley World! Nothing can go wrong!"
Kokoro looked smiled a bit holding up the emblem for Seiryuu. "Well, I can certainly say me and Mai had fun on our own. But, let's have a bit of fun together as a group, yeah?"
And thus concluded the day for the group's supernatural adventures, spending the rest of it as best as they can. It was a kingdom of magic, a land of dreams they were spending their time in, surely nothing else could possibly go wrong, even with only one holy beast left to be found. Today it was the east, and tomorrow, it would be the west...