Tale 7: Positively Burning

Time was very precious and sparse right now, as Mai and friends had not only to worry about not one, but two things getting into the wrong hands. Tamamo no Mae could simply not get control of Noruka or Soruka, or else everything would be finished.

Headed to the west was a party consisting of Mai, Shinju, Suzaku, Genbu, and Great King Enma. The sun had already begun to set into the western skies, night time practically taking over the sky now as a few stars began to gently sparkle in the sky.

"This seems to be the location," Suzaku commented, sensing a strong aura as the brought the group in for a landing. Where they landed was a bit...puzzling.

"I mean, I like Max Ansley World's Worldwide Park of Tomorrow and everything...but it would be odd to seal up one of the twins here…" Mai commented, looking around the park.

Indeed the group had arrived into the Worldwide Park of Tomorrow, a park that celebrated the world and it's past, present, and future. It was best known for small yet elaborate recreations of various buildings and monuments from all across the world that surrounded a massive lake.

"The two were sealed up over six thousand years ago, so it's entirely possible the land was were they were sealed before the park was built…" Shinju analyzed, taking in the surroundings. "Though, I can certainly feel a powerful yoki aura nearby…"

Before another word could reach anyone's mind, something began to rise out of the lake's deep waters with a strong magical presence. Once risen, it took the form of a floating island, with a singular building in the center and a volcano to a larger section in the back.

"Is this a part of the nighttime show?" One of the park goers asked.

"I'm not sure, it's been years since I've visited…" Another said. "Quite impressive if it's all staged…"

"I think we've found our answer," Great King Enma sheepishly remarked at the sight.

"Well, we should get a move on now, shouldn't we?" Suzaku suggested, being in her larger beast form. "Everyone get on, though I'd recommend you stay in your less bestial form, Genbu. It will make my life a whole lot easier."

The group got onto the back of the large bird, arriving onto the floating island. It was oddly quiet, and everyone looked around to investigate.

"I believe this might be a major issue if not taken care of properly…" Suzaku observed, looking at the volcano. It had steam starting to puff out, signifying it was still active. At the base of it there seemed to be a few large rocks.

"Indeed, so we should stop it before it explodes…" Great King Enma stated, before nodding in conclusion. "Me, Suzaku, and Genbu will help stop the volcano."

"And me and Shinju will see if there's any clues in the building there," Mai stated in response, giving a gentle nod. "Hopefully we can convince Noruka to join us!"

"I'm sure you'll be able to," Genbu stated with a serene look in her eyes.

"If you can get past my cold exterior, Noruka shouldn't be too different," Suzaku added in, spreading her wings.

"Now, that volcano isn't going to stop itself, is it?" Genbu concluded, transforming into her larger, much more durable beast form, the trio of beast and king going after the volcano. This left Mai and Shinju no choice but to investigate the small building.

It was a small but still spacious looking home from ancient times, only having one real door to enter. Though much to the girl's shock as Mai reached out to the door…

"It just opened?" Mai questioned a bit confused. "I thought it would at least be locked…"

"Guess they blew all their budget on actually sealing the place as opposed to any kind of door lock," Shinju commented with a shrug, following inside to the investigation.

The interior was far less a place that allegedly held an ancient evil and more of a cozy, lavish home. There was a nice kitchen, living area, and a locked room that was presumably the bedroom.

"At least ancient evil lives in luxury it looks like," Shinju commented, looking at the kitchen. There was a steaming, fresh bowl of ramen on the kitchen table, still being incredibly fresh and appetizing despite being sealed away for over six thousand years. "I'll investigate in here, why not check out the living area?"

"G-Got it!" Mai responded, a bit puzzled at what Shinju was planning on doing. Maybe there were clues in there Mai might miss in the cozy living area. There were a few soft chairs, a smaller table...though on the table there was a scroll, glistening with a shiny wrapping containing the contents.

"Would it hurt to take a look, would it?" Mai asked, opening the scroll to see the contents. What followed was an opening statement written in solid gold ink.

"To the one who has stumbled across this abode...I hope you understand the powers that lurk within it…And the danger is possesses if given to the wrong hands..." The opening statements started, before going into deep detail with a few illustrations to give Mai a more solid visualization...

The strange flashback Mai witnessed by simply reading the inscriptions took her to a time long since passed. The sun was gently rising over a torn battlefield, hundreds if not thousands of yokai and even wild animals wounded or in worse condition. In the skies starting to clear of clouds, it seemed there was a great scar across the sky, one half blue and the other half a yellow-green.

A powerful, golden light overlooked the three, being a being of both man and beast dressed in emperor's clothing. He had a gentle gaze as he held a book in his hands.

"What's happening, Huang Long?" Byakko asked, looking around the split sky.

"The process I had to do in order to split those two came at a great cost," Huang Long explained. "The bridge that once connected humans and yokai had to be shattered…So traveling between both realms is now quite difficult..."

"But is it possible to bridge the way again?" Genbu questioned with concern.

"Perhaps, if a heart of pure light from one world helps a dark, broken heart from another, the bridge may appear again…" Huang Long explained, stroking his chin in thought. "But until that day of fate arrives, two of you must be in the realm of man and the other of yokai…"

The four all looked at Huang Long, before looking at each other, worried and concerned.

"But...where are we going to go?" Seiryuu questioned, Huang Long looking at the four.

"The winds of the north and south will go to the realm of man, whereas the winds of the east and west will reside within the realm of yokai," Huang Long explained, each beast looking at who they would be with.

"Seriously? I have to be with smartie blue-hoo scales here?" Byakko questioned in a peeved manner. "Personally I'd prefer to live in dangerously snowy mountains and serve as a guide to your children, oh great one Huang Long. The further from the sea the better."

"Well I'm thankful that the dragon palace is quite deep under the oceans of the yokai world," Seiryuu commented with the slightest hint of being displeased. "It keeps myself from losing intelligence by the yapping of an incompetent hairball."

"Quiet you, at least I didn't father a glorified salmon," Byakko quipped back at the azure dragon.

"The realm of man is one of grand biodiversity and life, correct?" Genbu questioned to herself. "I look forward to bringing peace to all that live, from the smallest fly to the largest whale…it all sounds quite interesting and I look forward to seeing it unfold."

"Huang Long, in the tomb of these events and prior ones, did you include where my children were sealed?" Suzaku asked, getting to the point as opposed to bickering. Huang Long lowered his head.

"Yes, but revealing such a location to you directly would undo their seal," Huang Long explained. "As much as I know you miss your children, it's for their safety…"

Suzaku spread her wings despite her injuries, looking at Huang Long. "Then I'll search them myself, all across the world of man and once I can find an opening, in the world of yokai as well."

"Suzaku, I would hate to question you but…" Genbu asked her fellow beast in a sweet, gentle tone. "But are you sure about unleashing the possibility of destruction like this again if you do find them?"

The vermillion bird gave a look back. "I will make sure within every fiber of my soul they will not fuse like that again. I'll make sure they don't feel that amount of sheer stress and pressure and eliminate anything that would cause such a thing."

"I see…" Huang Long commented, starting to float into the air as ten jewels began to surround him. "I'll leave the Yokai Sangokushi in the hands of unlikely guardians, and these jewels to be scattered across both realms. Let when the bridge returns, that all four winds bring you all together once more…if a grave danger were to arise again..."

Mai took a step back from the inscription, knowing full well the details she had read.

"Maybe I should go get Suzaku, I'm unsure about accidentally awakening her son…" Mai commented, walking away from the sealed bedroom door with the inscription on it and out into the main living and dining area.

"Oh hey Mai, what did you find out?" Shinju asked, opening up chopsticks near a steaming bowl of Ramen.

"A lot of things, but most importantly, where did you get that ramen?" Mai questioned her friend.

"It was just sitting out here, perfectly fresh too," Shinju informed her friend, starting to dig in. "I've inspected it, it isn't poisoned or anything and I figured I shouldn't let such fine cookery go to waste."

"Hopefully it wasn't intended for anyone...I'm going to go get the others, alright?" Mai responded, heading out of the quaint little settlement and onto the main outdoor area of the floating island. Aside from the looming volcano, it was a dazzling sight to see the park merely look like a small replica from so high up above.

"Were you able to find anything inside?" Suzaku asked, flying down to greet the blonde after helping Genbu and Great King Enma put some rocks into the large volcano.

"Yes, Noruka is indeed in there but the door to his room is locked with a strong seal," Mai explained to the bird yokai. "I only get my magic when I've had a heart to heart with a yokai, since I'm just a normal girl. Were you able to stop the volcano?"

"That volcano should not be a threat to us anymore," Great King Enma explained, dusting off his hands as Genbu followed him down the volcanic mountain.

"We should go get Noruka before something else happens," Genbu stated, having done a lot of the heavy lifting in her tortoise form, shifting back into her elderly woman one.

"Right-" Mai tried to say, only for something to cut her off.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, despite the structure seen above the Lagoon of Nations, it does not pose a threat to our nightly presentation of Lights of a Hundred Nations. Our presentation of dazzling light and magic shall begin in 15 minutes, so please stay seated," An announcer voice came on, loud enough to be heard all across the park and even on the floating island…

...And loud enough to be heard by someone.

Within the sealed bedroom, underneath a mound of soft blankets and pillows, a lilac ear tipped with gold twitched at the noise.

"Oi...who's makin' this racket…" The figure said, stretching as he woke up. He had red hair much like Suzaku, and wore an outfit consisting of vermillion and black, highlighted with gold. He grabbed a nearby red and white war fan, holding it in his hand.

"I'm gonna show em' who's boss!" The voice continued, unlocking the door and starting to step out of his room. "After I get something to snack on, how long have I been asleep for?"

Upon stepping out the yokai stopped, noticing Shinju at the table.

"Hm? You're…" Shinju asked, finishing the last bits of ramen, leaving the red haired yokai shocked.

"You're the one eating all my food! How did you even get in!?" The red haired yokai yelled, ready to incinerated Shinju right where she was. Grabbing the bowl and running, the dark haired girl made a run for it.

"So Noruka should be sealed in that building here-" Great King Enma observed, only to have Shinju bolt on out with bowl in one hand and her emblem in another.

"Yeah! No time to explain, Genbu, we gotta do the thing!" Shinju quickly stammered together, throwing the bowl aside and getting out the jewel needed. "Calm as a plain, the north blossoming with life! If you would please come forth, the Black Guardian...Genbu!"

Once transformed Shinju now had her handy staff, swiftly making a run from Noruka. Now she could defend herself if he got too rough. Suzaku took an observation of this, flying into the situation.

"Noruka!" Suzaku yelled, flying down to investigate the aforementioned yokai, the latter giving a shocked, weirded look.

"Ah geez ma, don't get yourself involved with these stupid clowns!" Noruka shouted back, summoning a wall of molten rock to keep the vermillion bird in place within a cubical prison. "I'll take care of em' no problem! Just watch me!"

"Shinju, try to hold off Noruka as best you can," Genbu asked, transforming into her far larger beast form. "I'm going to keep trying to block off that volcano with Great King Enma."

"Got it!" Shinju nodded, taking up a stance as the confrontation between the two sides began. As Noruka charged right at Shinju with his claws bearing, she batted him away with her staff, mangagin to counter and hold him off as best she could with fluid, swift movements.

"Do you really think you can keep up a fight without trying to attack?" Noruka pondered rather aggressively with a harsh hiss. He pointed his fan to Shinju, holding it tensely. "You're boring me!"

"Take that!" Shinju shouted, managing to knock Noruka's fan out of his hand with her staff with a hefty defensive swing then smack him square in the face. The fan flung a good distance away from Noruka, promptly ticking him off.

"Why you…!" Noruka hissed, readying his other hand with long, sharp claws readied. "Take this, Crimson Claw!"

A powerful slash of crimson red energy was made into a swift motion, able to knock Shinju back into a nearby rock. Heavy pants could be heard from her, as she shakily held her staff.

"I'm not going to give in!" Shinju yelled, slowly starting to stand up as she was going to continue to fight.

"Give up already! You're too weak to keep going!" Noruka yelled angrily, holding out his fan. A fiery glow began to appear around the crimson haired yokai. "I'll be impressed if you can miss this!"

"Shinju! Look out!" Mai yelled, tackling down her friend as the words "Noruka Beam!" could be heard shouted across the island and a fiery beam of energy blasting just a hair above the two girls. The impact was enough to leave a smoldering hole on a large nearby rock, steaming from being melted right through.

"Tsk, of course you had a stupid friend dived in to save you," Noruka snarked, quite angry that his attack missed. "Now scram you two, unless you're both going to put up a fight!"

"Listen, Noruka, you don't want to fight us! We're-" Mai tried to say, only for Noruka to fire a blast of raging fire at the blonde. She managed to hop out of the way, just barely.

"Shut up! I'm not here to listen to you try to give me a reason not to fight!" Noruka yelled back, as steaming and smoldering as the fire he launched. "There's always a reason to fight, coward!"

"Noruka! We don't want to fight you! We want to help you!" Mai pleaded, trying her hardest to convince Noruka. The crimson haired yokai snarled one again.

"Then get lost!" Noruka shouted back with so much force and anger, blasting Mai away with a wave of fiery energy. Mai was sent back into the wall of the abode, something falling out of her coat pocket as she fell onto the ground, recoiled from the sheer blast.

Mai could see that she had a yokai jewel fall out of her pocket, her one and only royal violet one with regal detail. Slowly trying to get up, she grabbed the jewel, but began to fumble around clumsily and losing her balance, ending up at a decaying part of the floating island and was on a descent downwards.

"Mai!" Shinju yelled, trying to hold back Noruka and his fan with her staff.

"My friend true of heart, I call you forth in this great time of need!" Mai began to hastily recite, getting out her watch and spinning the jewel within. "Heart to heart…"

It seemed like the blonde was finished, falling into the dark lake, as the last moments of sunset had finally gone through, the sky becoming dark to set the dreary tone.

"Oh no…" Genbu gasped in horrified shock as the blonde made a hard splash into the lake. She still had to be at the volcano to prevent it from erupting...if only she was faster and less...large and slow.

"Mai, no!" Suzaku yelled, trying to break free from the igneous rock prison. But it was no use. Not even with how powerful as she was, it was near impossible to break free to help the fallen blonde.

"There's no other options other than for me to go in myself!" Great King Enma yelled, jumping off the edge of the island and after Mai. Was it impulsive? Yes, but he couldn't just sit around and not take any risks waiting around. Besides his work with the volcano was done.

It seemed hopeless, but he had to try no matter what at this point, the scent of the salty lagoon could be smelled, the feel and taste was all the much closer now…

The moment Great King Enma touched into the body of dark water, a beam of magical light shot right out of it.

Mai rose out of the lake, the light making her rise up. Once the light died down, she floated gracefully in new threads. The blonde now wore an ornate, red and gold uniform that regal guardsmen would wear, with blazing flairs and details similar to that of Enma himself. In her hand was a simple yet regal blade made from crystalized crimson fires.

"Mai!?" Great King Enma yelled, shocked that Mai was alright.

"Seemed our bond was able to pull us through after all!" Mai cheerfully stated, not being close to damp from falling into the water. She floated next to the great king, holding out the sword. "Now we have no time to waste!"

"Right! Noruka isn't going to take your words for an answer, so we're going to have to do it another way!" Great King Enma finished, the duo flying back up onto the island.

Shinju was at about at her limit trying to hold off Noruka between a rock and her staff. She didn't exactly have the best upper muscle strength, but she kept trying to hold him back with the enhanced durability Genbu's bond granted her.

"I'm not going to let you get out of control!" Shinju responded, trying to hold her own. Noruka was able to weakly wrangle a clawed arm free and snapped his fingers, sending a small but strong blast of fire between the two.

"What was that you were saying again?" Noruka questioned, looking at the girl who was flung into the rock. From all the combat she was doing, this blast ended up making her transform back into her normal self.

"Back off!" Mai yelled, jumping onto the floating island and delivering a strike of firey energy to Noruka as she stood in front of Shinju, Great King Enma soon following up with a ball of violet fire.

"W-What the!?" Noruka yelled in shock. "How in the name of the southwest beasts are you alive!?"

"You could say I'm a descendant of the great Huang Long," Great King Enma stated, folding his arms in a smug fashion. "And you should because that's what I am!"

"And I ask my friends to help me out!" Mai added in, nowhere near as confident as the great king before her. "A-And Enma here is my friend!"

"Is that so?" Noruka asked unamused at the two's introduction as he tapped his fan in his free, clawed hand. He gritted his teeth as a fiery aura began to charge around him. "Well let's see if your stupid friendship can withstand this!"

Noticing that Shinju may be in danger, Genbu quickly changed out of her beast form to run in after Shinju. Well, at least as fast as her aged body would allow her to anyways.

Finally, the aura around Noruka had finally reached maximum power, his eyes glowing a fiery crimson.

"Positive Burning Circle!" Noruka shouted, unleashing a strong wave of fire across the whole parameter of the island.

Genbu was able to defend the injured Shinju with her mighty shield, as Great King Enma and Mai stood and took the fire as best as they could. Thank goodness with their heart to heart, fire felt more like a warm summer breeze as opposed to actual burning flames.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, our presentation of our nightly presentation of Lights of a Hundred Nations, a dazzling showcase of light and magic from all across the world is about to begin. Please remain seated and be courteous to others during out presentation," The gentle yet straightforward announcer stated, moments after he became quiet a sweeping orchestra soundtrack began to play as the crowd below cheered.

Once the wave of flames died down, Mai and Great King Enma stood strongly, still good and ready.

"You're still standing!?" Noruka yelled in frustration, stamping his foot down a little. "I'm going to make sure you two stay down like your other friend there!"

The duo turned around briefly, watching as Genbu got to work on healing as best as she could to Shinju. The two then faced forward to Noruka, taking a fighting stance.

"We aren't going anywhere until you stop!" Mai responded, holding out her sword as she charged in after Noruka.

The two clashed against one another for a while, jumping up rocky structures and slowly but surely up the large volcanic mountain that had been blocked off. But she had to continue her fight, gracefully swishing her crimson blade against the other's attacks.

"You're pretty stubborn, aren't you?" Noruka asked Mai, trying to claw at her face. She continued to block, standing a bit taller due to the slope of the volcano.

"If you would stop fighting I would stop fighting!" Mai responded back, knocking Noruka down with a hefty strike. Goodness she wasn't even that strong and athletic yet she managed to do that…

"Take this!" Great King Enma yelled, hurling a ball of violet flames at Noruka as the redhead yokai was being knocked down.

"Why you…!" Noruka hissed as he slowly got back up, turning his focus to that of Great King Enma.

In a fit of rage, Noruka charged at Great King Enma at alarmingly high speeds, dragging him up the mountain as he gained enough speed to start floating up and up towards the blocked peak. Mai began to run up towards Noruka, but she was a bit slow and it seemed the floating she had earlier had worn off. The lights from several exploding fireworks helped illuminate the path, making sure Mai didn't trip over too many rocks on her way upwards.

As the fireworks went off, reflections in the lagoon showing moments from world history, from the three kingdoms era in china, the hundred years war in france, to the revolutionary war in america, several fireworks had streaked right against the rocky prison Suzaku was contained within. The explosives created a large enough dent for the vermillion bird to simply punch her way out in her less bestial form, freeing her at last!

Noruka had finally reached the summit of the mountain, throwing Great King Enma into the large rock that was clogging up the volcano with a sheer amount of force.

"Hang in there, I'm coming for you!" Mai screamed, having caught up just in time and jumping in after Great King Enma with speed and force she never thought was possible for her.

Great King Enma was a mere half inch away from smashing into the boulder as Mai caught him just in time, slamming the blade into the boulder to keep themselves steady…But...with the speed and force Mai was going at…

"I got yooo-oh no!" Mai yelped, the boulder blocking the volcano shattering like mere glass. The two began to lose their balance, falling in for a lava cooked demise.

Noticing the danger, Suzaku managed to transform into her true beast form and fly as fast as she possibly could after the two teens, swooshing right past Noruka.

"Eh...who? Wait?" Noruka questioned briefly, looking around confused.

"Don't try to get too cooked now," Suzaku remarked, catching the two on her on her back and quickly flying out the the volcano.

"We aren't too much on the hook…" Great King Enma remarked, Suzaku just looking confused at the blond's remark.

"Wait, ma!?" Noruka realized, seeing the vermillion bird fly overhead with Mai and Great King Enma on her back. How did she even get out?

"Yes it's me! You should know better than to treat your mother like that!" Suzaku spoke up to her child, floating past him.

"I was trying to protect you from those clowns, that's all!" Noruka responded back, pointing to Great King Enma and Mai riding on her back.

"My apologies, but please learn to treat company better, alright?" Suzaku scolded slightly, breaking Noruka to his limit.

"Alright that's it! I'm going to show you that I'm just as strong as you!" Noruka snapped back, an explosive and fiery aura starting to surround him, much more powerful and dangerous than the last one.

"I think it might be best that we stay airborne…" Mai thought aloud, leaning in a bit closer so Suzaku could hear her. "Is that okay with you?"

"Yes, in the meantime start concentrating your power...I think this might be a dangerous attack!" Suzaku responded, flying around to where Genbu and Shinju were.

"Oh goodness, Suzaku, you're alright!" Genbu greeted, having just finished the healing on Shinju, so much so that she was back into her transformed state.

"Thank you, but we have worse matters now," Suzaku explained, keeping herself hovering but still enough to be heard. "Noruka's charging up his ultimate attack, one with so much explosive energy that is can release molten rock straight from the ground!"

"So if that volcano were to erupt, it would be bad news?" Shinju asked, Suzaku nodding.

"Yes, it would be devastation in its purest form…that can easily spread beyond this floating island," Suzaku responded, Genbu looking down at the park goers watching the fireworks show. She soon stood up, holding her staff.

"You can count on us to make sure none of the wildlife or innocents below get hurt!" Genbu responded, Shinju soon joining her with her own staff.

"There's no time like the present to get to work!" Shinju stated, holding out her staff as Genbu gave a nod, helping Shinju onto her back as she transformed into her much larger and durable true beast form.

Shinju took a deep breath, starting to focus her energy much like Noruka was with his. However, this was going to be for the protection of the innocent, not the destruction of them.

"Now! Nature's Greatest Healing Call!" Shinju and Genbu yelled together, unleashing a powerful wave of energy to the surface. The ducks native to the lagoon, the squirrels, lizards, and birds who naturally resided within the many trees and the many trees themselves started to glow with a powerful serene energy. It seemed through nature itself, the animals and plants were all able to construct a magic barrier from spirit and will itself! And perhaps a bit of yoki as well, but mostly spirit and will.

It was just in time as well, as Noruka had finally finished charging his energy as well. He slammed his hand onto the ground, eyes glowing crimson…

"Destruction Burning Eruption!" Noruka yelled as loud as he humanely could the volcano exploding with hot magma just as more fireworks outside began to explode. Smaller wells of volcanic rock exploded as well, as the larger volcano made it rain fiery, volcanic rocks from a burning sky.

Suzaku, with Mai and Great King Enma on her back began flying straight upwards, spinning and dodging the volcanic rocks with such speed and precision. The two teens on the bird's back were holding their hands on Mai's sword, a powerful energy flowing through both of their hearts.

"Mai! Enma! Do what you do best!" Suzaku called out, having flown up high enough that the volcanic rocks were not so much an issue, but Noruka was nothing more than a small red dot.

Mai and Great King Enma nodded, jumping off the back of Suzaku as they dived downwards, reciting words together as they began to gracefully plummet with the sword pointed to their target.

"Burning Eight Gate Opening Strike!" Mai and Enma shouted with all their hearts, plummeting in a powerful comet of sparkling fire downwards. They kept going faster and faster, the finale of the show ramping up and up until they finally managed to strike Noruka down, a powerful yet gentle blast radiating from the impact. The grand finale of the show had concluded, the audience wildly cheering as the two finished their final strike.

Everyone ended up going back to normal, Mai and Shinju were back into their civilian clothes and Genbu and Suzaku were in their more humanoid forms. After such an impact, Noruka slowly got up.

"My head hu...Nah I can't say that…" Noruka mumbled to himself, trying to get his grounding up and not try to lose a drop of his moxie. He tried to stand up, only to fall back over. Suzaku quickly flew in by her child's side.

"Now Noruka, what did I tell you about your limits?" Suzaku asked, Noruka giving a bit of a huff.

"Ughhh mom I don't like to think I have any limits…!" Noruka griped slightly, before giving another sigh. "But I think I might've met them after...that…"

The fiery twin gave a bit of a sigh, looking embarrassed as heck, his eyes starting to water a bit. "I-I'm also sorry for treating you the way I did. I got a bit too much into it and didn't want you to get too hurt, t-that's all!"

"Are you crying?" Mai asked, Noruka looking up with waterfalls in his eyes at this point.

"N-n-no! Th-there's just s-something in m-my eye! A-And I j-just missed my ma a-after so long!" Noruka blubbered out, before finally crying into the vermilion bird's chest quite audibly and loudly.

"M-Ma I'm so sorry! I-It's been so long! I-I don't know what I-I was thinking!" Noruka kept crying his eyes out, the mother bird gently patting him on the back.

"Now now, I know you get very much into fighting, you have a true passionate spirit for that," Suzaku reassured with a gentle loving smile, seeming to get a bit of the waterworks herself. "In fact I'm overjoyed to finally see you again too, I can't physically describe the feeling myself to be so happy…"

The two cried it out for a bit while longer, deeply embracing. Part of Suzaku's wish seemed to have come true, to finally see one of her children again after such a long time. It was clear Noruka felt the same way as well, homesickness must have gotten pretty bad after so long…

Soon the others joined in all the hugging, giving a warm embrace to the recently reunited family. Once he cleared up, Noruka looked a bit confused at the sight of all the new folks.

"I never asked, but who exactly are these people again?" Noruka asked curiously, Genbu folding her arms a bit as Noruka sighed a little. "...Aside from Genbu."

"You could say they're...friends I've met?" Suzaku responded, stroking her chin as she looked a bit nerveously at Mai and whispered "that's the word, right?" to the blonde, getting a reassuring nod in response.

"We can catch up a bit inside your place," Shinju suggested sheepishly. "I'll try my best to make some ramen for you."

"Sounds like a deal," Noruka responded with, leading the group into the abode to settle down and talk things over.

"...And that is basically everything you need to know about everything that has lead to this point," Mai finished, looking like she was about to fall over from talking so much, quickly guzzling down a cup of water. "Any...Any questions?"

Most of the group said no, but there was a singular response from the kitchen area of the apartment like quarters.

"...Will bringing the water to 200 degrees celcius make the noodles boil in half the time?" Shinju asked, slowly looking over a small cookbook as she was working on preparing some ramen.

"Uhh, just try to follow the instructions as best as you can," Mai suggested, Shinju giving a nod in response.

"Gotcha gotcha, may take a few liberties with it though," Shinju concluded, getting back to work.

Noruka folded his arms a bit on the table. "I can say I don't like the sound of that Tamamo no Mae lady. Think she used to hang out with Ma and she always creeped me the heck out."

"Same that," Great King Enma added in. "It's no surprise she ended up becoming such a foul criminal in the Yokai World, and has gotten so incredibly dangerous with her plan."

"Well, I'm gonna kick her butt! Right into the sun!" Noruka responded, seeming ready to fight right here and now.

Mai was about to say something, only to get a message on her phone. A pretty important message to the group chat Mai had formed alongside Kokoro and Shinju way back when they first met had been received. Though, a few more members have been added since then.

Harmonious is Loading...

...Because loading is keeeeeewl (suggested by a fabulous user)

Open groupchat: Bejeweled Youkais

Diana: HEY! DUDES! EVERYONE

Ruby: Yeah? U｡･.･｡U?

Granite: What

Sapphire: Yes? (sorry, cooking)

Dian: Long story, Soruka's ok now.

Diana: sorukas been chilled out so we good fam

Diana: shoot yeah kiara said it

Diana: *kaira

Ruby: Oh! That's really really good to hear! U(･▽･)U

Ruby: Noruka's our friend now too!

Granite: So should we meet in the morning? We're dead tired over here

Diana: mood

Ruby: Mood!

Dian: oh mood

Sapphire: Big Mood (still cooking)

Peridot: Either way the morning would be acceptable after we've rested.

Ruby: Oh hello Mao! When did you get here?

Peridot: I was busy, I'll explain in the morning.

Dian: Yea a lot was. Unpacked.

Granite: Got it got it, we'll all catch up soon.

Granite: ...I think something is on fire, brb.

As Great King Enma ran over to inspect the fire Shinju might have accidentally caused, Suzaku looked a bit curious.

"What exactly are you doing on that plank of metal?" Suzaku asked, Mai putting her phone back in my pocket.

"It's how I contact the others in a matter that fully reflects the urgency of the situation," Mai explained. "I found out the others over across the pond have managed to calm Soruka down and we'll meet them after we've rested."

Suzaku looked about ready to fly up out of her seat, as Noruka tilted his head a little.

"Baby bro's okay...?" Noruka questioned feeling a mix of emotions as Mai confirmed with a nod.

"A-Anyways! Dinner's ready!" Shinju said, coming in with a few bowls of ramen. "Things came out a bit crispy!"

"Is that what that smoke was all about?" Genbu questioned, looking at the noodles. They seemed fine save for a few burnt edges.

"Maybe?" Shinju responded sheepishly, sitting down to have a good relaxed dinner with everyone else.

Things had settled down for the group, after dinner, resting, and maybe a shower, they will be ready to head out to meet with the others. With Noruka and Soruka on their side, maybe they will be able to finally defeat Tamamo no Mae?

Elsewhere, in a fanciful resort that overlooked the World Wide Park of tomorrow, a man was reclining in his hotel room. He had messy, dark hair and sheepish grey, almost blue eyes behind somewhat thickly rimmed glasses. He looked a bit overworked and had a cute looking charm hanging from his belt. On the table in the hotel room there were several papers, mostly containing words to a speech, alongside some photos and cute sketches.

"Mr. Karou Hayashi?" A young woman asked over the hotel room's phone.

"Mmm yes?" The man, Karou, responded with a bit sheepishly.

"Are you going to be ready to do your meet up tomorrow?" The woman, presumably an assistant asked. "While I'm sure international fans of Nyanpan Rider 018 are ecstatic to meet you and hear you speak, you always seem overworked sir…"

'Don't worry too much about it," Karou responded with some genuine enthusiasm. "As crazy Dream Kingdom Park can be with the most visited park in the world, I'm prepared."

"Great, see you in the morning, sir!" The woman finished, hanging up. Karou adjusted his glasses as he looked outside, seeing a spec of that was the mysterious floating island.

"...What on earth is that thing?" Karou asked himself under his breath. "I swear strange things have been surfacing too much lately…"

Karou looked over one of his photos, him and a young woman with long, dark violet hair at their wedding. "Almost as strange as you mysteriously disappearing without a trace behind…"