Tale 9: The Queen of Despair, Fright to the Finish!
A long much needed rest had been granted to both groups after a long, tedious fight against Noruka in the west and Soruka in the east. But now, with the twins calmed down, there was one last goal to accomplish.
Back at the central mansion, the groups finally met up each other after a much deserved and long rest, having a brief celebration before having to confront the great evil before them. Nothing like a small bit of cheer to celebrate greatly halting the plans of Tamamo no Mae and guaranteeing a victory to lighten the mood.
And almost instantly, a sparking reunion occured between two souls who haven't seen each other in ages.
"Noruka?" Soruka asked quietly, while subtle he was surprised to see his brother.
"Soruka?!" Noruka yelled, tackling the other as they finally hugged.
"A-Ack! A bit too tight-" Soruka commented by being a bit taken back by the other's much more high amounts of energy.
"I can't help it!" Noruka responded with a cheerfulness in his voice and a bit of a misty eye. "You may be a pain sometimes with not wanting to do much, but you're still my brother!"
"Do you even like me as a brother, though?" Soruka questioned, drifting into his usual bit of negativity. "You did say I was a pain…"
"Of course I like you as a brother you egghead!" Noruka answered, boisterously, to his brother's question. "Not seeing you in so long has made me feel lonely! Even if we don't get along all the time, I love the times we do get along!"
Soruka gave a gentle smile, not helping but to give a hug back to his brother. He was a bit too hyper for Soruka's case a lot of the time, but he was just as happy to see Noruka again, even if he wasn't as loud about it.
However, among the happy reunion, one such soul couldn't help but to leave from such a cheery atmosphere. They started to head out to the back balcony, one such person noticing them leaving among the celebration.
"Kaira?" Great King Enma thought aloud to himself, quietly following the other out to the back balcony. He couldn't be seen, but he had a bit of concern for him. What was on his mind?
The aforementioned half yokai was looking outside to the balcony, a gentle open beach and ocean bellow with a gentle glow from the sunlight. It was a bright sight, even if Kaira's heart was far from as sunny and warm as the outside.
"Kaira?" Great King Enma asked, trying to keep his distance but making sure he could hear his voice as he stood by a nearby bench. "Are you alright?"
Kaira turned his head at the voice, looking displeased. "What do you want?"
"You don't seem to be okay, do you want to talk about it?" Great King Enma asked the other, the blue haired boy's eyes looking more aggressive as he let out a low hiss.
"I don't need your help, it's something you couldn't understand…" Kaira responded aggressively.
"What do you mean? You do realize I'm king of the yokai world so there's a lot I can probably do to help...right?" Great King Enma asked, Kaira looking about ready to explode.
"And you know what you have that I don't?" Kaira hissed back, brimming with anger.
Great King Enma was only silent as Kaira got closer to the other, pushing him into the wall near the bench he was standing by.
"You actually have a family! And not to mention hundreds upon thousands of people who love and support you as king!" Kaira finally yelled out, angry tears falling down his eyes. "You realize how lucky you are!? I have nothing, nobody accepts me and those who do get punished in some way!"
"Kaira…" Great King Enma responded with, a little taken back from the explosion of anger the other was facing with. "There are people who accept you, like our group for starters…"
"Who's to say they won't just disband after all of this is said and done?" Kaira hissed back, a sliver of mercy in his heart trying his best not to strangle the young king. "I'm too human to be considered a yokai but too weird to be considered human! I'm a freak of nature, so much so that fate cut my mother's life and everyone despises my mere existence! I have nothing!"
The great king could tell Kaira was absolutely pouring his heart out over all this. While it was sad, a lot of it was true. But, the blond put his hand on the other's shoulder in hopes to get him to calm down and listen.
"Listen to me, I don't strive for a world where humans and yokai are friends just for publicity's sake," Great King Enma began with, sounding serious and heartfelt. "I do it because I truly believe in it, and hope hanyou like yourself are accepted...Had I not wanted to help you since a young age I don't think I'd have that philosophy."
Kaira got a bit quiet with a deep sigh at what he was told. He couldn't help but be a bit quiet for a moment.
"I know you face a lot of prejudices I can't understand fully myself, but is it so wrong that I want to be your friend?" Great King Enma started to wrap things up with, trying to reach out to Kaira's heart. "You can't give into that hatred filled darkness! I...I fell into it once and I ended up hurting too many people to list, I don't even think a lot of people can forgive me…"
"For someone as perfect as you, I'm not sure if you understand being in such a situation where you'd give into the darkness in your heart after losing everything…" Kaira remarked, not really taking in Enma's story.
"Kaira, please listen to me!" Great King Enma finally lashed out, pretty much tearing up in hopes the other would at the very least listen to him. "It may not seem like it, but there was a point where I truly lost everything! It was a point where my heart became filled with so much darkness I went against my own philosophy…"
"So it was you who was behind the yoma incident those months ago?" Kaira asked the other, Great King Enma biting his lip and nodding.
"...Yes...That was me at my lowest point…" Great King Enma confessed with a heavy tone in his voice. "But even if I needed help, I got out of that point...So I'm sure I can try to help you now, right?"
Kaira gave a brief smile and a nod. "So, I suppose that makes us even, huh? I see what you mean now..."
The great king grabbed the hands of the other. "Yeah, so you wanna walk together now, as friends?"
"Sure," Kaira responded with, having true joy deep within his heart for once. He felt so happy, he couldn't even notice the dark looming clouds in the horizon.
There was a moment of true peace between the two, before a gentle voice came from the door.
"Are you two doing okay? I noticed Kaira was gone and Great King Enma left to this room," Mai asked, shyly in the doorway and trying not to interrupt the two regal figures.
"Yeah, everything's going alright," Great King Enma casually responded with a big grin on his face. Mai gave a relieved smile, happy there wasn't any ill will between the two.
The happy moment was soon interrupted with a loud crash of lightning striking near the three on the balcony.
"Well well, I'm disappointed in myself that it took this long for me to find you," A voice of a hovering vulture remarked, it's plumage a dark ash grey and looking down with hot pink eyes.
"Stop trying to hide yourself!" Mai shouted, not realizing the sound of the lightning must have gotten the attention of everyone else in the residence.
With a puff of smoke the vulture revealed themselves to be none other than Tamamo no Mae, seeming to radiate with a much more powerful dark energy than before.
"Seems everyone is here now, how utterly smashing of a sight to say the least," Tamamo no Mae quipped, folding her arms. "But that doesn't matter, for what I've done under every single one of your noses,"
"What do you mean, fox face!?" Kokoro demanded to know, Tamamo no Mae narrowing her eyes.
"Oh nothing much, just harvesting the despair yoki from all the suffering caused by the battle of both Noruka and Soruka," Tamamo no Mae answered. "From yourselves and the people startled down bellow in fear."
"What do you plan on doing now?" Shinju questioned, a lot less aggressively.
"Just a minor operation to start spreading the word of despair across humans and yokai alike," Tamamo no Mae responded with a smug attitude. "And what better place to start than the most joyous place in the whole human world?"
The malicious yokai gave a grin, before shrugging her arms. "But, I think I've said a lot, haven't I? I'd like to see you try, but you're going to end up choking on despair just like everyone else…"
With a quick puff of smoke, Tamamo no Mae was gone, leaving everyone else to discuss what had happened.
"So is Tamamo no Mae really going to aim her efforts on a freakin' theme park?" Noruka questioned the fox's motives.
"I'm not sure," Soruka input his thoughts on the situation
"I mean, a lot of people visit there and have a wonderful time, so for disaster to strike, it would be devastating…" Mao began, looking a bit worried.
"Good point, but where did they go?" Suzaku questioned, unfurling her wings a bit as she folded her arms. "I feel something in the southern wind, like beautiful dreams might be crushed…"
Mai's eyes widened in shocking realization, something clicking in her mind. "I think I know where Tamamo no Mae might've gone at the resort…"
The Dream Kingdom park was a, if not the pinnacle, of dreams being made a reality. It was a beautiful park, having a magical air about it that seemed to transport those to a beautiful, enchanted world. One where the dreams and love of both young and old could prosper, and the troubles of the outside world were cleansed away…
The icon of the park was a massive, beautiful crystal castle. The structure looked like it was made of solid, sheening silver stardust trimmed with gold, the roofs of the castle being like large, sparkling colorful jewels. In front of it, was a large stage where many people have gathered around.
Usually character shows took place, but this time there was a special speaker.
Waiting in a special dressing room behind the castle's stage was Karou Hayashi himself, creator of Nyanpan Rider 018, whose characters seemed to be joining hand in hand with the ones within the stunning park. Though, the man seemed to be struggling with his speech.
Luckily, within the shadows, a grey fox with piercing hot pink eyes appeared in front of the man.
"W-Who are you!?" Karou asked the strangely manifesting fox. "H-How did you even get past security?"
"I am Tammy, and consider me a muse, a beacon of inspiration for the struggling artist," Tamamo no Mae introduced herself, attempting to deviate the attention of the manga artist. "As for getting past security, that matters not, I am here to help you."
The man tried to dial for security, but to no avail. All that came out from the man's phone line was static. The fox sat on the desk with several sheets and a briefcase.
"Now, please show me your work," Tammy stated, her eyes seeming to glisten. "I am more than happy to help you find inspiration...Which should help usher a new era…"
"Well…" Karou began, opening the briefcase to show Tammy several pages of Nyanpan Rider 018. "This is a series I've been writing for almost 15 years now, the ongoing tale about a cybernetic feline and the many friends he's made to stop the forces of evil across the world and even other galaxies…"
Tammy made a curious look. "And what is this series exactly about in terms of themes?"
"It's about things like love, friendship, justice…" Karou explained, Tammy making an audible gagging noise. This left Karou a bit shocked, disgusted even.
"Gross, you write about that fluffy garbage?" Tammy scoffed at the man's answer.
"To be fair, my wife really enjoyed those themes, I wanted to make something that would make her and others smile…" Karou tried to defend himself, Tammy giving a cold gaze.
"And where is your supposed beloved wife?" Tammy prompted with a harsh tone.
"She's been gone for almost 15 years, actually...I'm not sure where on earth she went…" Karou replied nervously. "I hope wherever she is, we can meet again one day…"
"Your wife may as well be dead news," Tammy answered, clearly getting a little bit harsher. "As things like love and kindness...those will only get people killed…"
"T-That isn't true!" Karou tried to retort back with, Tammy leaning in a lot closer to look dead in the man's eyes.
"Oh but it is. The truth may be a harsh thing, but things like endless suffering, hopelessness, and mindless bloodshed, those are what make people stronger and more interested," Tammy responded with, her gaze almost getting hypnotic. "Let the bloodshed of innocent fools flow like ink on your page, never stop until nobody remains, let the darkness within everyone's hearts become stronger and stronger!"
A strange aura seemed to engulf that of Karou, his stare becoming a bit more blank and robotic.
"Mr. Hayashi?" A voice asked nervously. "Are you alright? Are you ready for your speech?"
"Yes…" Karous responded with a cold tone, clearly being under the inspiriting influence of his 'muse'. Tammy took the form of a small lizard, gently perched on his shoulder as the man began to make his way out to the stage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls," Karou opened with, seeming to be normal at first. "It is with tremendous honor to be here today! This momentous day, in this kingdom of dreams, marks a new era..."
The audience seemed to be happy, but the shapeshifting fox's influence seemed to have gotten stronger.
"An era where….hopelessness and fear will run rampant, the ones who are kind will be paid only with cruelty and hatred…In fact….Kindness and love will never exist….Since all it does is cycle back into hatred..." Karou began with his speech, his tone getting more and more off.
"W-What's going on?" Several voices in the audience asked, both young and old. There was a clear, tense air beginning to form.
"We will usher a world where you either be violent and merciless, or die at the hands of such a thing. That is the way the world will work, with no love or kindness to be spread or given," Karou continued to give his warped speech. A clear strong aura of despair yoki began to radiate from the masses, seeming to be stronger than usual.
"It's working, in a place like this with plenty of hope and joy being turned into fear...I like this...It's so strong!" Tamamo no Mae thought to herself with an evil grin.
"So now!" Karou began, before soon being taken over by Tamamo no Mae now in usual form floating right behind him, absorbing all the despair yoki from everybody. "Let your fears run wild in this new kingdom!"
Tamamo no mae unleashed a flurry of hot pink fire, ice, and lightning, instilling even more fear into everyone, with even more despair yoki. It went from running like a faucet to a bursted dam, it was so much dark, evil energy.
Karou soon snapped out of his funk, turning around to see the evil fox yokai absolutely radiating with raw, evil power.
"Who are you really!?" Karou asked with as much aggression his meekness could allow. "And why is everybody screaming in fear?! What is going on?!"
Tamamo no Mae grinned. "That shall matter not to a fool like yourself, unless you're wishing to join in an era without any love or kindness..."
"I refuse to join in such an era!" Karou answered back. Tamamo no Mae gave a dead and cold look.
"Then don't speak again!" Tamamo no Mae yelled back, hurling fire at the defenseless man. Though something seemed to swoop in quickly to save the man from the incoming attack.
"Tamamo no Mae!" Mai spoke up, the fox looking at a familiar blonde girl leading her friends as they tried to politely make their way through the crowd.
"Oh delightful, it's you fools…" Tamamo no Mae began unamused, many people still running in fear.
"What do you have planned this time?" Noruka asked, taking his side next to Mai. "Whatever it is, I'll burn it down!"
"Noruka...I don't think it's wise to provoke her…" Soruka muttered to himself.
Plenty of the dark energy had engulfed Tamamo no Mae, the fox giving you an evil laugh. "What do I have in mind!? Well I'll show you!"
The strong amounts of dark energy began to engulf Tamamo no Mae, spiraling to an extreme amount like that of a strong twister. People began to run away in all directions from the sheer terrifying force that seemed to be coming.
Once the dark winds died down, emerging from it was a massive, dark scaled dragon with five heads, all looking with intimidation from it's long necks. One had a long, old looking face, another had features like that of a boar, another looked like one of a crocodile, another of a large snake, and finally the center head had rather fox like features. The large beast's claws were a hot pink, and had large wings that obstructed most of the shining castle.
"I will make sure I will lead a new age, one without love or joy! Nothing will stop me, so cower in your fear and disparity!" The center head of the dragon roared, letting her voice be heard. "Now! Bow before the one and only queen of shadowing despair!"
Tamamo no Mae's large claws started to motion to Karou. "Starting with you!"
The evil dragon's claw motioned to either slice or crush the man, but at the last possible second was stopped, even feeling a harsh slash that pierced through her thick scales.
"What in-" Tamamo no Mae asked, only to see two figures having stopped her attack, and another taking Karou to safety.
"Did you think we were going to stand around like sitting ducks!?" Great King Enma provoked to the transformed fox, Kaira starting to guide Karou back to safety.
"That would be a lot less intrusive, you utterly stupid children!" Tamamo no Mae roared, sounding five times louder and more warped given all the heads she has now. She started to lunge the large snake head to Enma, the young king trying to avoid the venomous fangs.
"Alright! Enough of your nonsense, I'm going to end this quickly!" Great King Enma began to say, forming energy between his hands, focusing on unleashing his soultimate first and foremost.
Taking note of what was happening, Tamamo no Mae quickly retaliated by slamming her large claw down, and then biting Great King Enma hard to inject the snake head's deadly venom into him.
"Great King Enma!" Mai yelped, shocked to see such a thing happen to her friend. She quickly rummaged through her bag, trying to find a Yokai Jewel to use...She had to find someone to call on and fast…
Quickly taking note of both crises at hand, Shinju and Mao quickly took out their emblems and jewels and began running into
"Calm as a plain, the north blossoming with life! If you would please come forth, the Black Guardian...Genbu!"
"Cloaked in snow, striking from the west when least expecting it! If you would please come forth…the White Guardian...Byakko!"
The two familiar voices called out, their holy beast companions being not all that too far behind.
Tamamo no Mae was already starting to make her way to crush the finicky blonde trying to find a jewel with her large claws.
"Mai, look out!" The not often all that loud voice of Mao shouted, diving in quickly to save Mai from getting wrecked by the large dragon.
"Huh? Oh...T-Thank you, Mao!" Mai thanked, not realizing she was seconds saved from a grizzly end by the hands of Tamamo no Mae.
"And don't think you can do anything to Enma!" Shinju shouted, using her staff like a pole vault to jump up to kick the venomous snake head right in one of its eyes, giving out a loud hiss of pain.
"Why...Why you! I could feel that!" Tamamo no Mae yelled at the dark haired girl, trying to fling her off. Moments before it was too late, the large snake head felt an ice cold stab right in a weak point on the neck, starting to slowly begin falling off from the base of the dragon's neck.
"That's not fair! Who did that!?" Tamamo no Mae demanded, watching in horror as one of her heads began to fall off and explode into dust. Appearing in front of the evil drake was none other than a particular white tiger humanoid.
"It's perfectly fair, it's just one thing…" Byakko quipped, swiftly running off before he could get destroyed by the large beast. "You're too slow."
Genbu raised up her shield as the boar dragon head started to charge at her, to protect her and Enma from getting smashed. Her staff was in the other hand, slowly glowing with a healing energy.
Mai decided it was enough standing around, she got out her emblem and jewel to call forth her feathered friend.
"Burn it up in the southern skies above! If you would please come forth the Vermillion Guardian...Suzaku!" Mai yelled with all her heart, doing her special transformation summon with the great vermillion bird being summoned to her aid.
Soon the large dragon was being pelted with flames at one of her many heads, the fierce bird starting to display her large, fiery talons to try and claw through the rough skin. Kokoro took note, balling up her fist and slamming it into her palm.
"So, we got a dragon here, huh?" Kokoro commented, getting out her emblem. "Well let's see how you like the taste of your own medicine!"
"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, summoning and transforming much like her friends earlier.
In addition to the fire, Tamamo no Mae was now being stricken by waves of water, and soon her alligator dragon head got a good large smack in the eye from a nine section whip, letting out a horrid roar in pain.
"Ghhh...Why do you always have to persist against me?" Tamamo no Mae questioned in raw anger. "Goodness is only a distraction from the truth about the real world!"
"That's what you think!" Mai responded to the dragon. "But goodness and love is much stronger than sadness and suffering!"
Tamamo no Mae paused for a moment, thinking deeply. "I…"
A powerful dark energy began to flow around her, from all the fear everyone in the area had been emitting.
"I don't want to hear your nonsense!" Tamamo no Mae roared, letting out a massive, shaking shockwave of darkness that knocked everyone down from the sheer power of it. Such an attack was enough to make everyone back into their normal states.
"See? Hopelessness always is more powerful than your foolish friendship and whatnot! What a load of absolute nonsense!" Tamamo no Mae laughed at the heroes.
Among the chaotic battle, Noruka and Soruka both observed the damage being done. Noruka looked pretty displeased.
"We've been watching this fight and not getting involved in it!?" Noruka frustratedly questioned, taking a battle stance and looking about ready to jump right on into the fray. Soruka put his hand on his brother's shoulder to stop him to think for just a moment.
"Noruka, wait…" Soruka began to speak up. "Tamamo no Mae is powerful, we probably can't fight her alone or with simply both of our powers…"
"You're kinda right not gonna lie…" Noruka thought aloud, pulling out a red and black jewel marked with a singular line. Soruka did the same, but with a blue and black one marked with two lines. "If only we could really use these things for something more…"
"Yeah…" Soruka sadly commented.
Upon the jewels being held out together, something seemed to spark between the two shiny orbs, much to the shocking surprise of the twins.
"What the…" Both of them commented, as now there was an emblem similar to the four holy beast ones, but one with not one but two jewel slots, and with a yin and yang motif done in scarlet and cyan, laced with golden details.
"H-Hey!" Noruka gasped in shock. "This is like that thing ma uses!"
"Indeed...Could this be our answer?" Soruka commented with worry. "We would need someone strong of heart to even think about using it…"
"Strong of heart, you say?" Noruka responded with a grin on his face.
As swift as the wind, the twin yokai came to Mai's aid, sensing that they could help her.
"Hey!" Noruka shouted, throwing the red and black jewel and the emblem to Mai. "Use this!"
"Ack!" Mai yelped in shock, quickly picking up the two objects she was thrown. "T-Thank you!?"
"This could be of help as well…" Soruka added in, properly coming down and gently placing the blue and black jewel into Mai's hand.
Mai looked at the three objects intensely. "Does...Does this mean you see me as a friend?"
The twin yokai took a step back upon hearing those words. Friend? They were friends to her now.
"Y-You see us as friends?" Noruka commented in shock. "Even after I tried to hurt you?"
"And we've only met for a short amount of time?" Soruka added in, Mai looking up and giving a gentle smile.
"Well, I'm willing to forgive as long as you change your tune," Mai began to explain. "Which you have, I can see it in your eyes and sense it in your hearts, so I know it's absolutely genuine."
The blonde held out her hands to hold the hands of the twins. "Besides, to quote someone dear, you can never have too many friends."
The twins gently grasped Mai's hands in friendship, a large grin on Noruka's face and a gentle smile on Soruka's. It was a shame the three couldn't just hold their hands in serenity much longer. They had to face against Tamamo no Mae right here, and right now!
Inserting the jewels into emblem, Mai held it, feeling a warm feeling into her heart as words began to click into her mind.
"White bright fire of sunlight's dawn, black dark ice of moon's twilight! If you both would please come forth...Both of the Taijitu Guardians! Bright Guardian Noruka and Dark Guardian Soruka!" Mai shouted with all of her heart, a powerful dual beam of light allowing her to transform and power up further.
Mai now stood, wearing a beautiful and elaborate wushu uniform with cyan and scarlet themed to the Taijitu symbol, with a harmonious balance of light and dark throughout. Her hair was now held up in a ponytail, with decorative pins of mixed flower colors. In her hands was a set of two elegant dancing fans.
"W-What in the!?" Tamamo no Mae stammered. "I'd...I'd never think such a power was physically possible for you brats!"
"Because love and happiness overcomes all!" Mai said back, holding up her fans in a pose. Though for now, she could not waste anymore time.
The blonde girl looked absolutely determined as she held onto the twin's hands before floating up high into the air, the three pulling out their fans and focusing energy.
"Harmonious Dark and Bright Melody!" The three yelled with all their hearts, a Taijitu appearing under the large dragon and making a large barrier around her. Moments passed before she was pelted by many powerful lasers of firey and freezing energy over and over again, from all angles, before finally a blast of harmonious dark and light energy absolutely blasted the dragon to smithereens.
As the mighty evil dragon let out a roar of defeat, there was something everyone had to wonder among the dangerous fight…
During the intense fight, Kaira and Karou ran quickly, trying to avoid the onslaught of danger and fear everyone was giving. After a brisk run, the two reached a quiet area of the park, far enough to not be in danger but not too far that Kaira couldn't run back into battle to help out if needed.
"Thanks...kid…" Karou thanked between huffs in his breath. It had been so long since he had done a run so intense.
"Don't mention it," Kaira hesitantly responded, Karou getting a good look into his eyes. Something seemed to spark back up into the artist's mind.
"You know, it's probably a common things with Americans, but your eyes look an awful lot like my wife's…" Karou remarked, Kaira looking off a bit quitely.
"I'm not American, to be perfectly honest I don't know what I even am…" Kaira responded a bit dourly. "Other than a freak…"
Karou was quiet for a bit, before sitting down next to the snake king. "I felt the same way myself, actually…I've always wanted to write about someone who was two halves, hence why with the help of my wife I made Nyanpan Rider…"
The blue haired boy didn't have much else to say, looking off to the distance.
"But...even after my wife disappeared, I was determined to keep the spirit alive, hopefully to help children across the world who felt out of place or weird…" Karou finished, rubbing the back of his head. Kaira gave a heavy sigh.
"I wish losing my mom made me like that…" Kaira mumbled under his breath. "But instead I...I don't want to talk about it."
There was a silence between the two, Kaira clutching the locket that belonged to his dear mother. It was the closest thing he had to family, he couldn't lose it. It didn't matter if he couldn't even open it, it was so dear to him.
Even now, Kaira couldn't help but tear up a little. While he did have some friends now, he was still quite lonely, it just wasn't the same without his mother to give love and support when he needed it the most.
Though, the blue haired king's remorsing was soon interrupted by an intrigued question.
"My wife had that same necklace you're holding there…" Karou commented, Kaira's tearful eyes looking surprised at him. "At least I think so, mind if I take a closer look?"
Kaira was a bit hesitant, but he handed the locket over to Karou, making sure to tightly grasp around the cord it was attached to so he couldn't lose it.
The middle aged artist seemed to see some kind of inscripture by the emblem of the snake kings. It said a simple phrase.
The Things I Hold Most Dear.
It also seemed by some miracle, Karou was able to open it, Kaira rushing over with shock to not only reclaim it, but to take a gander what was inside.
The contents of the locket were two stunning pictures, delicately put into place and protected closely. Within were two photos, one of Karou on his wedding day, and the other of a tiny newborn Kaira.
Both of their hearts felt heavy as they were basically speechless. Tears formed into both of their eyes.
Karou had a son, and Kaira had a father...
Among the two's speechlessness, a light, ghostly apparition appeared before the two.
"I've waited long for this day…" The voice spoke, being the ghostly spirit of Kaira's Mother and Karou's wife, Paradmavati.
"M-Mother!?" Kaira gasped in shock.
"Tomoko, my dear?" Karou added in just as shocked.
The ghost of the snake queen smiled. "Yes, whatever you choose to call me, I'm here now…"
"W-Why did you leave so...so suddenly?" Karou asked, trying not to be angry upon seeing the ghost of his wife.
Paradmavati got silent. "Before the times of Yokai and Humans knowing well of our realms, having a hanyou son would have caused so much trouble for us both...So I chose to raise him myself...but made sure that one day, you two could reunite when there was harmony for both…"
"It was a tough choice, but I had to do what I must…" Paradmavati continued with her talk, becoming uneasy herself. "I'm truly sorry we couldn't all live together…even then...fate didn't want me to stay in this world for too long…"
"Kaira, you're still young but...I truly wish I could have seen you grow up fully…" Paradmavati finished, becoming tearful herself. "You're my pride and joy, my one and only beautiful child...But even then...even if I won't see you grow up fully, get married, become king properly...I'm still so proud of you…"
"R-Really?" Kaira choked back, Paradmavati smiled.
"Of course I am, there's only one of you out there, and you truly are a jewel," Paradmavati joyfully remarked. "Same for you, Karou dear, the both of you are truly grand…"
The three all tearfully hugged one another, embracing each other one last time. At long last, they were all back together. Even if it was for a moment in time, they were all happy they could all unite for a brief moment. However, Paradmavati broke off from the hug, looking saddened yet happy.
"I'm afraid it's my time to go now...You two...please take care of each other…" Paradmavati ended with, disappearing into thin air.
Karou closed the locket and handed it back to Kaira. He gave a look that was serious but full of heartfelt intent.
"Kaira...I mean...son...you have friends that are in danger…" Karou stated, Kaira remembering that simple fact. "You should go and help them, since I have a feeling it's dangerous."
"But...What if something happens to you?" Kaira asked with concern, Karou looking off.
"We'll worry about me later, for now, worry about yourself and your friends." Karou finished, looking at his son with strong eyes. "I'm pretty sure more than just your friends are counting on it…"
Kaira simply nodded in response, understanding what he has to do now. He felt a whirlwind of emotions in just a few moments of time. But right now, things were in danger, and he had to get back to the scene to help his friends.
After being struck with such raw power, Tamamo was a husk of her former self, starting to fade away in some spots as she slowly clutched her chest, breathing heavily.
"You….You won..." Tamamo no Mae huffed, getting the attention of the nearby Noruka, still pretty confident after that fight.
"You bet we did!" Noruka boasted, being quite proud of himself. Tamamo no Mae looked at the red haired yokai.
"Why don't you and your brother finish me off? I feel it would be the only honorable thing to do in order to obtain victory…" Tamamo no Mae pleaded, Noruka slowly stepping up, urdging Soruka to follow suit.
"C'mon, let's finish this!" Noruka started with a bit of aggression in his tone.
"S-Sure thing…" Soruka responded, a bit more quietly. "If we must do what we must…"
As the twin yokai approached Tamamo no Mae, the fading fox began to sinisterly grin as energy began to glow around her hands. Around the twins they were soon bound to pillars of dark energy.
"W-What the!?" Noruka asked, struggling to move.
"W-We can't move! W-What is happening!?" Soruka questioned as well, just as confused.
Through the sheer force of the dark energy, the chains around the twin's shoulder pads shattered, causing the energy binding to become even more painful, the two starting to scream in pain. Tamamo no Mae simply grinned and cackled at the sight of the two being twisted into plenty of pain and suffering.
"Your screams are beautiful music to my ears! Continue to scream, cry harder, cry for your mama and papa if you want, too! Let the despair consume you whole!" Tamamo no Mae laughed, as Noruka and Soruka began to suffer. The pain got more and more intense for the two, the darkness pillars getting stronger and stronger with more and more pain being evident in the two yokai's faces and hearts.
"Now...If it is true harmony you foolish humans and yokai want, allow me to give it to you…" Tamamo no Mae remarked, holding up her hands into the air as the dark energy got more and more powerful. It was clear she wasn't anywhere near her full strength, but she was not going to let that setback stop her.
"Let the earth shake and break apart, let the mountains explode with molten lava, let the lakes flood over, let the wind bring harsh and cruel weather, let the water be polluted, let the thunder strike everything in sight, let the fire engulf all around, let there be no more heaven!" Tamamo no Mae began to chant, a twisted pattern showing up on the ground and oozing with darkness and tremendous power. "Hear my call! Let the harmonious fusion of these souls bring forth the destructive one once again!"
Everything seemed to have reached a peak of intensity as Tamamo no Mae let out one final laugh. "I summon you, the great destructive one, Norukasoruka!"
As Tamamo no Mae finished her chant, she faded for good, but a large spiral of darkness started to form from where she performed the ritual on the twin yokai.
"W-What the!?" Mai stammered in panic, reaching out her hands to her friends to hold onto. It was a huddle of Mai, Kokoro, Shinju, Mao, Enma, and Kaira now, embracing each other for the great darkness that was coming. They didn't look up, but they felt that Suzaku, Genbu, Seiryuu, and Byakko were holding on as well, shielding them from the danger.
Bolts of dark lightning began to strike everywhere as the dark spiral got more and more intense, winds picking up. The wind felt truly ominous, having everyone's hearts beat in fear...not knowing what was going to happen next...