A/N: I wanted to give credits to my friend Dove for creating the concepts and ideas that went into creating Byakko. As we're at the halfway mark of the bonus content, I want to give some much overdue thanks to Feenie13 for beta reading my stories and being an awesome pal, and Axl_Fox, who's also awesome and helps me with some of my grammar mistakes. And my deepest thank yous to you, yes you, for reading and leaving reviews. It really makes my day to see them!
Now without further ado, let's continue our tale.
Tale 5: To Tell a White Lie
Another night had arrived in the dark, dank lair of Tamamo no Mae. It was far more lonely now, since Wani had since fallen in the fight against Seiryuu. Not to mention, nearly all the holy beast yokai were reunited...Suzaku, Genbu, Seiuryuu, they had all reawakened…
"I've harvested more despair, but will it be enough to stop the holy beasts if they were all to awaken?" Tamamo no Mae pondered to herself aloud, pacing through the hallways. "I must...I must get my hands on the Yokai Sangokushi!"
"Ehh, you really seem persistent on getting that book," Jami asked, being one of the two remaining loyal henchmen of Tamamo no Mae. "I know it probably contains some kind of key to extremely dark arts, but why are you so persistent?"
"Don't you know, Jami?" Tamamo no Mae responded firmly, glaring down at the small boar yokai. "The Yokai Sangokushi is key to a yokai more evil, more powerful than I am...a yokai born from hatred, strife, and discord…"
Tamamo no Mae's grin kept getting bigger, more and more sinister. "Me and that yokai have similar hearts of darkness...I'll bring forth a new world order with that yokai under my control, erase all and start anew…"
The fox witch sparked a dark flame in her hand, keeping her pacing around. "This world, it's been corrupted, ruined...I want to reset, and what best way to do that than to bring forth a yokai before the times of Enma? Start a new era..."
Tamamo no Mae concentrated on the dark flame before fizzling it out. "The Era of Tamamo no Mae!"
"Interesting, I'd be more than happy to walk a new era with you, your greatness!" Jami responded with a grin, before looking a bit doubtful. "But, even with my physical frailness, I think I can take on Byakko on my own, and dismantle the rest of the beasts before they all come after you."
Tamamo no Mae tilted her head to the side. "Really now? You can only shapeshift into a pop idol and other fragile yet convincing human forms, I doubt that'll help you much...But I do have a possible aid."
Jami was soon presented with a rough yet still clear crystal, containing a jet black soul within that oozed of pure, corrupted darkness. "What's this exactly, your greatness?"
"That's a Soul Jewel I found when I woke up after being freed...I know you'll be strong enough to get rid of Byakko and the other beasts if you know them as well as Byakko…If you use it, that is..." Tamamo no Mae explained. "It's a soul so packed with despair and hatred, it rivals with me! Which means it has amazing power!"
Jami took the jewel, a little hesitantly. "I certainly know Byakko, being his former general, but the others? There's Suzaku….and the other two…"
"Good, now when a new day dawns, go forth, find and slay that beast before the meddling children even have a chance to find him!" Tamamo no Mae ordered, Jami giving a salute before going her own way. Tamamo no Mae started to approach the door of the room she was pacing around in.
"Now, to find that boy that's the key to getting the Sangokushi…" Tamamo no Mae whispered to herself, her eyes glaring around to look for Kaira. Where on earth could he be…
The soul Tamamo no Mae looked around for, Kaira, was outside the room the entire time, ducking and hiding to try to stay out of her sight.
He had heard everything, and for someone like him...well...He waited and waited for Tamamo no Mae to finally disappear down the hall.
"Erase all?" Kaira thought to himself, trying not to be too nervous about this. "Is this world even worth fighting for anymore…Or is a new world order due?"
It was a lot to process...Would giving Tamamo no Mae the Yokai Sangokushi be a good idea? Not even he knew where it was…
The same night Mao Hikage was trying to rest easy, despite a strange, odd dream. Wherever his dream was taking him, it was a dark room, but just light enough to see decently. The air was dead quiet, not a sound stirring in the night.
Within said room were two sleeping yokai, nuzzled together and holding hands, like otters who didn't want to drift away from one another. They seemed to be twins, their most striking difference seeming to be one having fiery red hair, the other having hair as black as this very night. The twins didn't seem to notice Mao, as if he wasn't there. Perhaps this was a past vision of an event prior?
It seemed eerily quiet, almost too quiet. Yet, despite it all, Mao felt like someone else was nearby as well. The door to the room creaked opened in a manner so slow that not a single sound was made. Mao couldn't make out what on earth was opening the door, and by the time it was fully opened, something slipped in within the blink of an eye and closed it shut.
The figure blended almost perfectly into the shadows, looming over the resting twins. The only thing that was just barely visible of this figure were two glaring, golden yellow feline eyes.
Whoever it was, it kept and eye over the twins, a possible hint of regret in his eyes before shaking it off. A clawed hand waved drew closer to the two.
"Forgive me...but I must…" The voice whispered with a slight tinge of regret. They didn't seem to slash all that too hard on the black haired twin's left arm, but it was hard enough to leave a mark and wake the twin up with a loud scream.
By the moment both twins were screaming, a large, intimidating shadow slammed open the doorway. This figure had glaring yellow and red eyes, as well as what seemed to be large wings on their back.
"You! What are you doing!?" The winged figure asked, her voice loud and booming, could make anything quiver in fear with a voice like that.
"D-Dear! I-It...it isn't what you think!" The feline eyed figure stammered, scared horribly of the larger figure. The winged one took full note of the sheer evidence dripping on the feline's claws, their face getting more and more furious. He seemed to try to step away, but the winged figure grabbed what seemed to be a tail on the other, dragging him out quite violently.
…
The rest of the dream was a mystery, Mao waking up quite shocked from such a dream. Thankfully he seemed to avoid it before it got too gruesome for his innocent eyes. The morning seemed to have barely just started as the black haired boy woke up.
"Maybe...maybe it's best to contact the others about this…" Mao gently spoke to himself, still slightly groggy. "But that's odd...why would I have a dream of a total stranger's memory, let alone a rather dark one?"
"Strange you dreamt of something not only disconnected, but rather...uneasy…" Seiryuu commented in deep intrigue. Alongside Seiryuu, there was Genbu and the three girls.
They had all met up in the central mansion that Genbu summoned them all to not all that long ago. There was a mysterious slab on the wall, seeming to house the Sacred Jewels on an outer ring of eight and an inner circle of two. There were only two missing from the outer ring as well as the two in the center .
"Have you been feeling well Mao? I know you're probably shocked from having a vacation on you suddenly…" Mai asked concerned for her friend, Mao looking in deep thought.
"I've been alright, though I'm not sure why I've had such odd dreams lately…" Mao commented, adjusting his glasses. "The previous ones all had a white tiger involved somehow...but this one seemed to break the pattern…"
"Has Byakko had a history of showing up in people's dreams?" Shinju asked the two other holy beast yokai.
"I couldn't tell you, the cat's behaviour is so...so cryptic and odd…" Seiryuu gave his two cents on the matter with a shrug. "Even if you pointed a knife at him, he still kept a smug look on his face…"
"Seiryuu's right, Byakko is...an incredibly odd beast to say the least…" Genbu answered back. "Not even I knew him all that well…"
Kokoro looked bemused. "I mean, a lot of old legends say white tigers appear before gentle and virtuous kings. They also said white tigers are a thing once a normal tiger reaches 500 years of age."
"But tigers can't live for 500 years, can they?" Shinju questioned a bit confused. "Usually a tiger can live for about twenty years…"
"Yes but what may not be true for human world tigers…" Mai began in deep thought before standing up. "Could be true for tigers in the yokai world…"
"But can we find and escort a virtuous king so easily?" Mao questioned, Mai looking bright eyed as she thought of something.
"I'm sure, we all know Enma, right?" Mai answered with a nod.
"Yeah but...doesn't he have like…a bunch of meetings?" Shinju brought up, Kokoro kicking back a little.
"True but meetings are boring for anybody, even him," Kokoro commented on. "You'd have to be a dried noodle in the mud to not be bored out of your mind with a schedule of paperwork and meetings."
Knowing what she had to do, Mai held out her watch and the jewel Great King Enma had given her. She took a deep breath, her hands trembling a bit. It was so nerve wracking with all that power she could call upon on a whim…
Mai quickly grabbed for her phone and made a call, to the confusion of everyone in the room.
"M-Mai! I thought you were going to summon him, not call him!" Shinju yelped.
"I-I can't! I can't just summon an extremely powerful and very busy yokai like him without asking first to make sure it's okay!" Mai stammered out nervously, as the phone started to connect to Great King Enma on the other line.
"Hello, uh-huh, okay, alright, gotcha, see you there!" Mai spoke on her phone before hanging up. "He'll be here shortly, Genbu showed him how to get here a while back!"
As if on cue, Great King Enma showed up without a hint of delay as he entered into the room.
"Your majesty, you arrived rather quick," Genbu commented, Seiryuu looking a bit puzzled.
"...Is he truly a descendant of Huang Long? He seems a bit...short...Does he drink his milk?" Seiryuu questioned Genbu with a whisper. Genbu simply nodded.
With a few brief explanations, Great King Enma was all caught up on what was going on.
"Hmm...I think I have a good idea on where Byakko might be, he has a mountain range in the most westward yomakai named after him…" Great King Enma explained. "It's said to contain a judge of kings, so maybe he's there?"
"Right, and even if it's a bit dangerous, we have to explore the mountain to hopefully find Byakko…" Mai commented on the matters, nodding her head. "Me, Great King Enma, and Mao will go this time, I think going a bit smaller will help us not get lost easily."
"It's settled then!" Great King Enma declared, rallying up the aforementioned party. "Ungaikyo! If you would please set coordinates for the Byakko Mountain Range!"
"Y-Yes your majesty!" The Ungaikyo of the mansion stated, adjusting itself as it focused. "I'm ready when you are.
Just before heading out, Genbu stopped Enma briefly, something in her other hand. "Before you go, please take this. You too, Mao."
What she handed to the two boys were very thick coats. "It's dangerously cold out there, and the young lady Mai has come prepared at the very least…" the old tortoise yokai stated.
"Thank you very much," Mao thanked, putting on the coat.
"Same here, thank you, now let's go!" Great King Enma finished, the trio heading out through the mirror yokai's teleportation ability.
Upon arrival, the mountain range seemed to be having a blizzard hitting it. Strong winds bringing sheets of snow were blowing, a thick blanket of snow already covering the barely visible mountains. It was a bit of an intimidating sight, but everyone took a deep breath.
Right now the only option was to proceed as best they all could, and proceeded they did. It didn't seem too bad at first until…
"Agh!" Mao yelped, tripping over something that was covered by snow and not solid. Whatever it was, it made Mao fall right in, the other two panicking.
"Mao hang on! I'm coming after you!" Great King Enma yelled, going into the hole without second thought.
"W-Wait up! This is kind of impulsive don't you think!?" Mai yelped, going in after as well.
The strange hole seemed to be an odd vertical cave entrance of sorts, and it splitted the gang apart: Mai with Great King Enma, and Mao all by himself.
"Mao? Mao!? Mao where are you!?" Mai yelped, looking around. Thankfully the cave seemed to be partially illuminated, well enough to see. It was a pretty spacious looking cave, being more of a violet and blue hue as opposed to the more warmer tones seen in the human world.
"I think we're going to have to look for him...I'm sure he's somewhere in this cave here, right?" Great King Enma brought up. "After all we did fall down the same hole…"
The two kept exploring through the large cave network, yelling for Mao whenever they could. It was hard to deny, but there was a strangely powerful presence that could be felt.
Soon enough, a figure emerged. The two hoped it was their friend but…
"So, seems you two are the meddling kids Tamamo no Mae keeps complaining about!" The voice undeniably belonging to Jami spoke up, making herself known. "I, the great mist illusionist Jami, shall make sure you don't proceed!"
"Another one of Tamao's goons...figured…" Mai gently cursed under her breath.
"You're the one responsible for separating Mao from us, aren't you?" Great King Enma inquired rather aggressively. "Tell us where he is!"
"Listen even I dunno this cave very well, it shocks me that you didn't find Byakko with you magnetic protagonist aura," Jami added in with a shrug. "Even someone who tagged along got lost and I can't tell you where he is…"
"Either way, I won't hesitate…" Mai spoke up, grabbing for one of the Yokai Jewels she had. This time, it was a simple yet elegant looking yellow jewel. Getting out her watch, Mai began her set of poses.
"My friend true of heart, I summon you! Heart to heart…" Mai began, doing her hand motions to summon a yokai. "Fushigi Kyubi!"
One flashy and firey transformation sequence later, Mai summoned forth the flashy yokai and donned her whip baton and rather loud costume once more.
"So you're the scoundrel this time?" Kyubi commented, his eyes glaring as he formed a ball of fire in his fingertips. "I'll make sure you're brought to justice with my trusty sidekick here!"
"Even if I'm in a bit of triple trouble here, I'll still play with you three morons!" Jami shouted, shorting out of her boar like nose. A thick fog covered the cave room. "Now try to find the truth in this!"
"That utter scoundrel! But, keep your head strong, for justice, for love!" Kyubi commented on the matters, still having the flame in his hands.
Mai seemed to have an idea strike her. She took out her whip like baton, and well, started to whip it around the fog. The whipping was proved to be effective, easing up the fog.
"Eep!" Jami yelped, soon being pelted with fire magic from not only Kyubi, but Great King Enma as well.
There was a bit of smoke from the fire, the group waiting for it to ease out.
"Did we make bacon crisps?" Great King Enma asked, having a fist clenched and still ready to fight.
"The flames of justice never fail against evil! Acho-ho-ho-ho!"" Kyubi stated, feeling quite proud.
Though...There was something amiss about the whole ordeal, and the group would soon find out…
During Mai and Great King Enma's confrontation with Jami, Mao was still by himself, looking around the cave to see if he could find the others.
"Enma? Mai? Where are you two?" Mao gently tried to speak up, his voice trying it's best to be loud but it wasn't too loud given his gentle nature.
Mao kept on walking through the mysterious path of the cave, trying dearly to find his friends. It was a bit worrying, but hope might have showed some mercy on the poor child as he saw a figure in the distance, lying on the floor.
"Are you...are you okay?" Mao asked the figure, gently approaching it. Upon further inspection, he seemed to ring a bell.
"C...C...Cold…" The voice of a shaky, almost ill sounding Kaira spoke, shivering out of his mind. He didn't look too well physically either, cold sweat and a feverish complexion pretty visible, so Mao could deduce he wasn't faking it…
In response, Mao gave Kaira the large coat he wore on the way in, making sure the sickly snake king could warm up. The shivering from Kiara seemed to ease up a bit.
"T...Th…" Kaira tried to say, muttering out a quiet "thanks" before getting things a bit more focused. "Why did you want to help me…?"
"Good, bad, or morally confused, I can't let someone just die," Mao answered to Kaira, his gentle aura seeming to keep the usually rather angry snake king at ease.
"I guess you're right...it was kind of a stupid choice for me to come here," Kaira sneered, wrapping himself up tighter in the coat. "Due to what I am and my lineage, my body can't decide if I'm warm or cold blooded, which means colder climates like the mountains here are bad news…"
"Lineage?" Mao asked curiously, a bit curious. He knew his title was snake king, but he wondered if there was more to it.
"Long story short, I'm a hanyou, or half human, half yokai," Kaira explained. "My dad was human, but my mom was the queen of a prestigious family, the snake kings. I'm the sole heir to the family due to...well...serious complications that plague most hanyous and got the rest of my potential siblings..."
"I see...Personally I think I'm human, but I've had a lot of strange things happen to me," Mao explained, giving his thoughts. "Usually in the form of strange prophetic dreams…"
"So, we're both freaks then, huh?" Kaira commented, nodding slightly. "Guess I'm not alone…"
"Even if I don't know why I have odd things happen to me, and see odd things...I'm thankful in knowing I'm not entirely alone…" Mao remarked with a gentle smile. "Even if we aren't the same we can at least kind of relate…"
"Yeah...yeah…" Kaira responded, even leaning a bit onto Mao. "You kinda remind me of someone who hung out with an old friend of mine...Yamao I think was his name? It's been so long…"
The two kept in each other's company for a bit longer, until something started to approach the two.
"So…" The voice began, startling Mao somewhat. "I think I've finally found the one…"
The mysterious figure in the obscured light seemed to be a large feline, having eyes much like the ones Mao saw in his dream.
"W-Who are you?" Mao asked, the figure making himself more clear as a large white tiger yokai, a smug look gracing the tiger's face.
"I am the westward king of snow and mountains, the White Tiger, Byakko," Byakko introduced himself. "But it seems I've finally found the king who rules with a gentle hand…"
Mao got a bit nervous, shocked even. "B-But I'm not a king, you have to be truly mistaken!"
"A bit deceptive I may be as some say, but I can undoubtedly feel the blood of a great king flowing in you, Mao Hikage," Byakko explained, getting closer to the two to let them both lay on the rather fluffy tiger.
"If Mao really is a king, can you awaken his powers or something?" Kaira asked, Byakko looked a bit miffed.
"Yes, but it would be highly dangerous for all of this, his majesty's Mao especially," Byakko explained. "You see, his powers had been locked away for so long on top of a human guise, and awakening to them right now would cause him to literally combust into flames. Possibly even slightly explosive too."
The tiger adjusted his gaze. "But...I do know a way on how to gradually awaken your powers with my assistance…"
"How so?" Mao asked curiously.
Before Byakko could speak, his ears twitched as he looked around, sensing something that was wrong.
"Please, come with me, I feel there's a powerfully dangerous evil that's appeared!" Byakko asked for the black haired boy. "The other one can come along if he's feeling up to it."
"I'm…" Kaira began to speak, before curling up in the coat more. "...Actually pretty tired...please let me take a nap for once…"
"With that settle, get on my back, let's go!" Byakko declared, Mao getting on the tiger's back as they went off into the direction of the evil that Byakko was sensing.
Back with the fight between Jami, Mai, Great King Enma and Kyubi, it seemed the heroes had the upper hand as Jami was lying on the floor, smoked with soot.
"Darn it...my fragileness can't do any fighting…" Jami coughed, being weakened. "Nor was I expecting the firepower of the great king today…"
"Do we have to keep teaching you this lesson that evil never wins, old pig?" Kyubi asked, Jami looking up.
"Well...I did come...prepared…" Jami spoke up, holding up the dark soul gem Tamamo no Mae had given her. "Now...please, lend me your strength!"
Jami cracked open the jewel, a dark power enveloping her. But it wasn't just her getting power, it was clear by a few squeals and yells that this was something more than a power up.
"W-What! I said lend me your strength, not-" Jami tried to yell, only for the darkness to contort her body around like mere putty to fit the shape of the new evil. The last of Jami came with a single loud squeal and something breaking out of the body of the yokai.
This new, evil looking yokai was a bit taller than Mai, donning glaring yellow eyes and plenty of teeth. She had tusks and large, demonic boar-like feet and claws, and hair that seemed to extend into demonic wings.
"I've done it…" The demonic yokai spoke, cackling slightly.
"W-Who...Who...who is it?" Mai asked, the demonic yokai smiling.
"Taking the title of a traitor, I've abandoned everything to fight you once more," The demonic yokai introduced herself. "With chops, kicks, arrows, ears, beams, wings, and cutters forged in the flames of the infinite hell, I'm Darkness God…"
The demonic darkness god let out a maddening cackle.
"I'm Darkness God Onryou!" The freshly introduced Darkness God Onryou introduced herself in such a manner that required a dramatic zoom in for emphasis.
"Who?" Kyubi asked, the darkness god looking angry.
"I said you can call me, Darkness God Onryou!" Darkness God Onryou yelled, the last part of her title keeping the dramatic zoom in.
"Either way, we'll fight you, ready Kyubi, Great King Enma?" Mai asked, the other two nodding.
"Right!" Great King Enma said, taking a battle stance.
"Well well, you're so eager to fight me," Darkness God Onryou began, looking miffed. "Is that how a former boss of mine and former friend should treat me!?"
Mai and Great King Enma seemed to have a realization at the same time on just who this was really.
"Yoma Kijo…" Great King Enma spoke, shocked.
"Junko...you've...you're back…" Mai added in, a bit taken off guard by the realization.
"Heh, that's right," Darkness God Onryou spoke, laughing some more. "But those names are in the past, but...you really think you could have gotten rid of a god?"
Noticing them off guard, Darkness God Onryou swooped in and grabbed Great King Enma by the neck.
"You bet I'm back and better than before!" Now, just look at yourself, your majesty! You got rid of your godly powers because of some disgusting girl!" Darkness God Onryou yelled. "Was sacrificing your godlike powers really worth it? You were converted by force!"
"I wasn't converted!" Great King Enma tried to say, trying not to lose his cool. "Are you going to keep denying the kindness Mai gave me when nobody else would, especially you!?"
At this remark, Darkness God Onryou slammed Great King Enma into a nearby cave wall, chunks of violet and indigo rocks scattering from such a violent impact. The dark god kept the king in a rather tight choking grip.
"You're such a moron, how can you rule without showing people the true cruelty of Infinite Hell?" Darkness God Onryou sneered aggressively, showing that she indeed had no mercy in this. "And think everyone's just going to forget the fact you were on a rampage turning innocents into monstrous yoma?"
"I…" Great King Enma tried to say, only for Darkness God Onryou to fly up a bit and let him go, only for…
"Destructive Power Kick!" Darkness God Onryou shouted, kicking the regal yokai right into the ground.
Mustering up with what strength he could, Great King Enma shot a powerful wave of fire at the dark god yokai. But, it seemed to not affect her very much.
"Pathetic," Darkness God Onryou sneered, displeased with such a display from the king of yokai.
"I...I won't let you win!" Great King Enma cried, tears clearly in his eyes as he tried to stand up despite how beaten he was.
"You really think so?! You're nothing more than a sniveling crybaby right now!" Darkness God Onryou cackled at the pathetic sight, readying her arm.
"Fist's power cho-" Darkness God Onryou tried to yell, only for her arm to be caught by the baton whip of Mai.
"I won't let you hurt him any further!" Mai yelled, trying her hardest to pull the dark god away from Great King Enma. "Now go back into the drain pipe you came out of!"
"Just the same as usual, Suzuki," Darkness God Onryou sneered. "Thinking you're all so good and true…"
Darkness God Onryou responded to this by throwing Mai into a wall. "And how much I hate it, especially when I'm the only one right in these parts! I am a god, after all!"
Kyubi came quickly to aid Mai, but not before giving a glare to Darkness God Onryou.
"Even a weak crybaby can become a horrifying hero, like Aika in the Demochick series," Kyubi stated. "Though, you're living just off of grudges and anger...no sight of hope in your dark heart…"
"Why...Why you!" Darkness God Onryou yelled, focusing her energy. "Eat this! Burning Wave Beam!"
Thankfully the three ducked out of the way from the beam, Mai and Kyubi standing next to each other now.
"Let's finish her," Mai stated, reaching her hand out for Kyubi's to do a heart to heart soultimate.
"Oh no you don't! I have no time for your garishly dressed nonsense!" Darkness God Onryou yelled, energy arrows appearing behind her. "Now! Supersonic Arrows!"
The dark energy arrows were fired, pinning Kyubi and Mai to a nearby cave wall. Mai had been transformed out of her suit and back into her normal civilian clothes.
"Because I knew you two, I was able to get your weaknesses like it was nothing," Darkness God Onryou explained with a cackle. "And my return was because a kind soul found my soul encased in crystal, I just needed a yokai's physical form to emerge from…"
"And you think you can get away with such things on my watch? Within my domain" A voice said, revealing to be Byakko with Mao on his back.
"M-Mao!?" Mai, Kyubi, and Great King Enma yelled in unison.
Mao got off the back of Byakko, a bit nervous. "I...I'm not all that strong but...hurting my friends like this, it's utterly unexcusable!"
"And what do you think you're going to do? Just stand there like a chicken?" Darkness God Onryou asked, her grin still sinister as ever. "I completely trashed the king of yokai, you can't do anything to hurt me!"
Byakko looked over, handing Mao two objects: A white emblem themed after a tiger and a clear jewel, one of the Sacred Jewels. It had three white lines meaning "Lake"
When holding the two objects, words seemed to form into the mind of Mao, as well as some stylish hand motions.
"Cloaked in snow, striking from the west when least expecting it! If you would please come forth…" Mao began, focusing as he inserted the jewel into the emblem "The White Guardian...Byakko!"
A transformation sequence later, Mao had emerged from a shining white light in a new set of threads, being a stylized Wushu uniform with a tiger motif and welding Wind and Fire Wheels. Byakko had turned into a humanoid form, complete with an outfit best suited for stealth. Odd...he seemed to resemble the figure from Mao's dream…
"More of this sparkly transforming nonsense!?" Darkness God Onryou yelled in shock. "I never thought a boy would be able to do such a thing!"
The dark god yokai spread her wings, still keeping a sinister glare in her eyes. "But...I won't let you! Be blown away by…Sky Soaring Wing!"
Darkness God Onryou let out a strong gust of wind. Byakko didn't seem affected by it, disappearing pretty quickly. Mao was able to ride out the wind storm completely unaffected by the wind attack.
"W-What!?" Darkness God Onryou screeched in horrified shock. "How is this even possible!? Y-You didn't even flinch!"
The sinister yokai kept a rather sadistic looking grin. "But...you won't be able to survive this, especially since I can't seem to find your feline friend! Rock Splitting Cutter!"
A strong, cutting like wave of energy was headed for Mao's way. Even though he didn't know a thing about combat, he did the best he could by holding the circular blades in front of him for defense.
Upon impact, the cutter attack completely shattered by the defensive will of the black haired boy.
"A-Are you serious!?" Darkness God Onryou yelled. "Why won't you die!?"
Before she could speak again, she felt something cold being stabbed into her back, freezing her body solid. Behind her was a rather sneaking Byakko who gave a smug look to the demonic god.
"Simple, you said it yourself 'since I know these two, I can defeat them', but you can't defeat us," Byakko answered for the evil yokai. "As this is our first encounter."
"Why...why...why you! If I could I'd sling my hell forged ears at you!" Darkness God Onryou yelled, as Byakko and Mao took a stance.
"Now, let's get rid of her, shall we?" Byakko asked, Mao nodding.
"Yes…!" Mao responded, taking the paw of the humanoid tiger. A heartfelt power seemed to flow through the two as they got absolute focus.
"Roaring Night Blizzard Claw!" Mao and Byakko yelled in unison, leaping in after the frozen yokai, performing a stunning furry of icy slashes in a spectacular fashion.
"No! No! Nooo! I wanted ninety nine lives, not ninety nine problems!" Darkness God Onryou screeched in pain, giving one last screech that could be considered ear piercing, even for demonic entities.
Once the darkness god was gone, all that remained was one jewel. It had a trio of black and white lines, meaning "Heaven". Mao picked it up, having reverted back to his usual clothes.
"So...This is one of the last sacred jewels…" Mao said, holding it up.
"All we need are two more…" Great King Enma stated, having recovered.
"You're collecting the sacred jewels, huh?" Byakko commented. "The last two are Yin and Yang and getting them is a bit...tricky…"
The tiger yokai had reverted back to his more beast like form, looking a bit uneasy. "Yin and Yang...brings a lot of ache to my heart…"
"How so, do you mind talking about it?" Mai asked the large tiger concerned. Byakko gave a sigh.
"To make a long story short...I'm Suzaku's husband, or at least I was. I merely acted like I was in love with her to get past enemy lines and win the battle without having to fight her fist to fist, I would have needed to get her off guard…" Byakko began with a heavy sigh. "But as time went on, it became less of an act and more genuine. We even had children, those being the first twins in the whole Yokai World, Noruka and Soruka…"
Byakko kept a low head. "In a fit of confusion, I attempted...well...child murder, and Suzaku was naturally not happy. I've seen the absolute worst of her anger and wrath, I was violently dragged back to these mountains, and have remained ever since…"
"Are Noruka and Soruka still alive?" Mao asked, Byakko nodded.
"Yes, they were just...sealed away after a particular incident, their location said to be written in the Yokai Sangokushi," Byakko answered, Mai's eyes lighting up.
"Oh...so that's why she's looking for it…" Mai concluded, the feline's eyes widening.
"Y-You've met Suzaku?" Byakko stuttered in shocked response.
"Yes but she's been...difficult?" Mai answered, rubbing the back of her head. "She's cold and not very friendly…"
Byakko started to lay down on the cave ground. "I see...I see...Honestly I can't blame her, it's truly my fault she's more cold than she's ever been. I broke her after all, and I'm not sure if I can fix her…"
"But...I know she has good in her somewhere, I'm not going to give up…" Mai finished, Byakko lifting his head up.
"You really are determined when it comes to bonds Mai," Mao responded.
"No kidding," Great King Enma added in.
"Either way, we should be getting a move on, we can't let the other beasts wait around," Byakko stated. "If something calls for all four of us, it can't be good."
Everyone started to follow the tiger yokai through the cave. "But pardon me for a moment, there's another fellow here, I'll get him then we can move hastily."
Back with Kaira, he was slowly waking up from a nap. He started to feel a lot better, but something was amiss. He felt in his robe, only to notice something missing.
"M-Mom's locket!" Kaira yelped, noticing a mouse with black fur and hot pink eyes holding the locket in it's paws. "Y-You! Give it back!"
"Why should I?" The mouse said, revealing to be none other than Tamamo no Mae. "You've been holding onto this key for the longest time and didn't tell me?"
"It was my mother's! I'm not going to let you take something from me, or plan it for some nefarious plot!" Kaira yelled back, pretty angry at his boss.
"Don't tell me...you plan on leaving me!?" Tamamo no Mae gasped at even such a thought being proposed.
Kiara's eyes glared. "Yeah, since even though this world has it's issues, it's not worth destroying everyone and everything over! Especially a world filled with nothing but chaos!"
"You fight for a hollow cause...that one boy's kind aura had rotted your sense away…" Tamamo no Mae growled. "But, you and the rest will soon pay, as now I have the ultimate key in my hands!"
Before Kaira could even think about pursuing, Tamamo no Mae quickly disappeared. Soon enough, Byakko and the others arrived, Mai and Great King Enma looking shocked.
"Kaira!?" Mai and Great King Enma yelped, Great King Enma taking a stance to fight. Mao quickly got in between the two and Kiara.
"Let's not cause a fight, not now…" Mao stated, Kaira getting up, still wrapped in Mao's offered jacket.
"I ain't looking for a fight since guess who's boss turned out to be a thieving jerk who took something from my mom?" Kaira answered a bit angirly. "And plans to use said heirloom to find a book that'll lead her to the path of serious chaos?"
"You had the key to the Yokai Sangokushi the whole time!?" Mai asked shocked, Kaira shrugging.
"Sorta? Long story, but we got a lot to worry about right now," Kaira stated. "But, I'll work with you if it means not dying."
"Sure thing," Mai stated, looking at Great King Enma and Kaira. "But don't start any fights you two, got it?"
The two boys nodded, joining up with Byakko as the group headed out. The Ungaikyo that brought the trio here waited. Though, Mai stepped up first.
"Ungaikyo, do you mind if I can ask you something?" Mai asked, the mirror yokai perking up.
"Yes, what is it?" Ungaikyo asked curiously.
"If possible, I need to make a stop, just for me. Teleport the others to the central mansion, but teleport me to…" Mai began, whispering into the mirror yokai, who did a nodding motion with its body.
The sun was setting over the vermillion hued mansion that Suzaku resided in, tropical plants blooming around with a calming atmosphere.
"S-Suzaku?" Mai asked, having just arrived and looking for the bird yokai. She was soon greeted by said bird yokai, looking tensed as usual.
"It's you again, what do you want?" Suzaku asked, Mai looking at the bird. The two sat at the beach, looking at the setting sun.
"I've been through a lot, not just when I met you, but before that…" Mai began, keeping herself composed. "My heart's been broken, I know what it's like to utterly hate someone, I've felt angry plenty of times in my life…"
Suzaku tilted her head. "Really? But how? You never seem to resort to violence and get along with both humans and yokai…"
"I don't know how I keep pulling myself through it all, but I think it's something Seiryuu told me the other day...that I have a strong heart," Mai answered for the bird yokai. "I'm not physically active, I don't know how to fight, I make pretty average grades in school…But my heart is my strongest part of me..."
The vermillion bird seemed to start to understand what Mai was getting at. "...I see, you may not be a warrior who fights with her fists, but rather one with kindness…"
Suzaku stretched her wings a bit, before folding them to her side. "Truth be told, despite my strength, I was not the one who won the Holy Beast War all those years ago…"
"Really? Who won then?" Mai asked, Suzaku looking in deep thought.
"It was actually Genbu, the one least likely to start a fight out of all of us...She managed to make allies with all of us no matter what and cease our fighting…" Suzaku spoke, craning her bird head upwards. "Not once did she fight us, and she won the war...Or at least, settled it."
Mai looked intrigued by what Suzaku had told her. "So, that does prove that compassion is not weakness…"
"Honestly, it isn't weakness," Suzaku commented. "People with compassion are franky more powerful than I am, as much as I don't want to admit it…"
"Then why were you so cold to me?" Mai asked, Suzaku looking a bit saddened.
"I had forgotten about such love and kindness long ago, as what brought me such joy, my sons Noruka and Soruka, were sealed away…" Suzaku explained, her voice getting a bit heavy. "I spent ages finding the only record of their sealed location, searching far and wide, not being able to find anything…"
The blonde girl reached her hand out to the bird, patting her sympathetically on her fluffy neck fluff. "Your feathers are really soft, did you know that? But...I understand, it's understandable that something can break you..."
Mai stood up next to the bird. "But kindness can help fix those things sometimes, or at least make things a bit better…"
Suzaku nuzzled her head next to Mai, letting her pet her bird like head. She really was soft like the clouds she flew up with, goodness.
"Thank you, I understand your style now and why you kept persisting even after I tried to push you away with my coldness and anger. I wasn't sure what it was like for someone to get close to me after so long."
Suzaku reached under one of her wings, handing Mai something. "Here, I feel giving you this proper and this for the first time will help you."
The two things Mai were handed was the Fire sacred jewel Suzaku had accidentally given her during their first encounter, and the other being a vermillion colored emblem themed after a bird.
"Thank you very much, Suzaku!" Mai cheerfully thanked, hugging the bird yokai.
The two kept in each other's company until the sun went over the horizons, before Mai was returned to the others for the night. Even if something gloomy was looming, things started to look a bit brighter. Cold ice had been melted away from Suzaku's heart, and now all the holy beast yokai were together. Tamamo no Mae didn't stand a chance...did she?