Yohime felt her façade fall away. Yes, she was Yohime, but first she was Kagome. She had gotten to accustom to being 'Yohime' she forgot who she truly was.
She was Kagome.
Only then was she Yohime, after Kagome.
She did not stand by and watch others get hurt. She most certainly did not call people 'ayakashi-sama', she did not bow to the wishes of a now dead father and she did not let herself be helpless.
True, she was no longer the Kagome of old, she had manners, was refined, could be every inch the lady she was raised to be.
But she was also the independent woman from the future who leapt into battles she had no hope of winning, to save her friends.
Slowly, she rose to her feet, her eyes locking with the woman in front of her.
She had been called many things before 'Yohime'.
Kikyo. Shikon no Miko. Miko no Mao. Angel-who-walks-the-Earth.
Each of those names held a story. Of a reincarnation. A Quest. A War. Her Travels. She refused to look back with regret on any part of her life, and that included this part.
The ayakashi took a step back.
Startled at the unconscious move she made, Lady Yodo reacted with frightening speed, grabbing Yohime's face, but she quickly let go with a startled cry.
"You know not whom you threaten, Ayakashi."
Hagoromo Gitsune stared at the sight before her eyes. The girl who had been cowering before her eyes just a few short seconds ago, now screamed of power, determination and authority. A warning bell rang in the back of her mind. Reaching out, she harshly grabbed the girl's face, only to have her hands burned.
Jerking back a cry escaped her lips.
"You know not whom you threaten, Ayakashi."
Her subordinates drew their weapons.
"On the contrary is it you, human," she spat as if it tasted foul in her mouth, "who does not know her place."
My place…
Coming to a totally rash and insane decision, she smiled.
"My place is besides that man."
Unfortunately for her, the girl she was protecting chose that moment to scream. That millisecond of distraction cost her dearly. The next thing she knew, she was firmly in the arms of a very angry, very powerful ayakashi, poised to suck out her liver through her mouth. She tried to call forth a burst of power that would seriously injure her captor, but it only sluggishly came. Pointed teeth came ever closer and a word slipped into her heart.
"Nurarihyon."
No sooner than that quietly name escaped her lips, the sound of feet beating against the floor registered in her mind. An aura, familiar and strangely comforting rapidly approached.
The ring of swords being drawn out and she was shoved out of the way. The massive amount of fear made her weak at the knees, her reiki only now surging forward to protect her, fickle thing. She craned her neck, searching for that man, her gaze landing on two-toned hair.
There stood Nurarihyon amused, yet serious, sword barely touching the indifferent face of Lady Yodo as it was blocked by four ayakashi.
"Tch."
Leaping back, he gritted his teeth as he barely dodged the huge weapon being swung, his clothes were not as lucky.
"What is it? An intruder?"
Lady Yodo's cold voice questioned.
"Who are you?"
The one who attacked Nurarihyon demanded in a booming voice, paying no mind to the defiant look on the intruder's face. Those present watched as the ayakashi's clothing shredded revealing an intricate tattoo.
"Are you part of the yakuza?"
A question, yet her tone was a statement.
"I am the Supreme Commander of the Nura Clan, Nurarihyon. This one's my woman. Sorry, but I'll be taking her back."
From his words, one would think Yohime had gotten lost and he was somply here to pick her up. Lady Yodo brought her hand up covering her smile.
"An ayakashi coming to save a human? You are a strange fellow. Are you a stray mouse that's lost control of itself, I wonder?"
No sooner than she spoke, a great many ayakashi flooded the room. Lady Yodo reeled back in shock.
Glancing back, Nurarihyon smirked.
"What's this? So you came then, you guys?"
"It would be boring if it were only you," Gyuki pointed out.
"We are your Hyakki Yakou, after all," Karasu-Tengu added.
"You're all fools," Nurarihyon scoffed.
Hagoromo Gitsune, on the other hand, was not happy.
"It seems we have many unexpected guests. Vermin who do not even know the differences in power between us."
Yohime was trying to figure out a way to escape from the plank-ayakashi, rescue the pearl-hime from the low class ayakashi and then make her way to Nurarihyon's side. She was thankful the sword keeping her in place was sheathed, but for the millionth time in the last decade she cursed her kimonons.
"So, is anyone going to provide us with entertainment?"
At Hagoromo Gitsune's amused tone, the giant took her words as an okay to start. Slamming the handle of his weapon against the ground, he shouted out.
"My name is Gairouta! I have occupied Rashomon for countless years! As you pass to the after lefi, take the name of this technique as a souvenir!"
Whirling his great weapon around, he screamed, "Raikonbou Takekaze!"
Some of the lower ayakashi of the Nura Clan were caught in the winds and were sent flying into the walls, nocking over the paper covered frames.
Gairouta laughed in delight.
"I blew them away without a trace!"
Hagoromo Gitsune raised a brow.
"Oh? You spoke too soon."
However, another called out a warning.
"Vanish."
Nurarihyon drew his sword and effortlessly slashed him from knee to head, killing him.
Blood rained down on his bare chest, running in rivers down his abs.
"Anyone else who interferes will be cut down."
Apparently that signaled the start of the battle. The Nura Clan threw themselves into the fray, screaming joyously.
"Well, isn't this fun, helping out the Supreme Commander?" A tall man clad in white removed his mask.
"If we survive this let's go for sake again."
Pulling out his sword, Gyuki shouted, "Do not falter! Bolster yourselves with all your might and you have nothing to fear!"
"No need to worry, Gyuki."
Turning, he saw the one eyed man smiling in delight.
"We were once mere forms of darkness, no one here fear death. It's just a question of whether we return to the underworld sooner or later."
He chuckled.
"I can't argue with that logic, Hitotsume."
As war cries and insults were heard, the battle intensified. Blade met blade, claws tore through flesh, some froze, others burned. Bitten, cursed, and still the battle grew more heated. Yohime suddenly found herself in the tight grip of Lady Yodo.
Gyuki fought with the Great Tengu of Mt. Kurama, as Nurarihyon confronted Hagoromo Gitsune.
"Fascinating! What riveting entertainment!"
And from the look on her face she meant every word. Her hand reached down to stroke the long hair air of the woman clutched firmly in her arms.
"It's been a good century since and ayakashi apposed me."
Drawing up his sword, he growled out,
"Don't touch my woman!"
Her face turned hideous as she abandoned the disguise of human, and her tails shot out from behind her.
When they reached him, blood splattered across the white fur, and he came to a stop, vomiting blood.
"Ah, so you've fallen in love with this woman? This play is really bizarre!"
She continued mockingly.
"This hime," she said drawing her face close enough to gaze into tear filled eyes, "has the power to trick ayakashi, too? I'm overwhelmed with the urge to eat this rare ikigimo, even more."
Fear, the likes of which he had never felt before, shot throw his heart as he saw the fox's mouth a breath away from his woman's lips.
"YOHIME!"