The Grandchildren of The 2 Great Lords
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 41
The breeze blew as the tiny golden dots settled on the grass. Tsurara felt a nudge on her chest and she glanced over to where her Master was standing. Uneasy feelings started building in her heart, making her slip away from the crowd and appear behind her master.
"Sandaime," she whispered.
"Ominous winds are blowing, Tsurara… Something's about to happen." He said calmly but concerned.
While everyone was still impressed with the firefly display, Kameko felt a pang in her heart and her danger brain cells triggered with the passing of the wind.
Something doesn't feel right, but I can't put a finger on it!
She turned towards her cousin Seiichimaru, whom had started walking to where she and Kana where standing. He senses something… She turned to Rikuo's human friends and feared for their lives. We need to get them out of here!
The forest suddenly became quiet, as if it where afraid of something. Kameko met eyes with her lover as she saw him gracefully place his hand over the hilt of his Nenekirimaru.
"Kameko, we should go," said Seiichimaru very low, only inu youkai ears could capture. She nodded. Kana didn't hear what was said but she knew something was wrong. She could feel it. And Kameko's nod towards this tall man, whom had her same golden eyes, confirmed it to her.
Kameko looked at Kana and within the twinkling of an eye, grabbed her by the arm and swung her to her back and ran faster than the speed of light. In between that time (only Seiichimaru could see it), she had managed to transform into her inu form.
Without thinking, she threw Kana at the feet of where her friends where standing, turned towards Yura, and said: "Protect them." Yura nodded. "Hai." She too felt it.
Neither of Rikuo's friends had time to simmer down her words because just at that moment, the ground began to quake. The dirty smell of youkai and the increasing amount of aura was overwhelming. Kameko had never experienced anything like this before, not even when her village was attacked more than 400 years ago. The stench of blood and burnt flesh made its way back into her memory. She shook it of, knowing that, if she becomes overwhelmed with fear, she will never be able to defeat what was coming next.
She could smell the questions forming in Rikuo's friends' minds. They hadn't seen her inu form before and it can be quite intimidating.
The smell of youkai surrounded the clearing. The birds and the rest of the fireflies had flown away. Darkness had claimed their surroundings. The ground stopped shaking and Kameko sensed something, very weak, but it was there and she knew whom it belonged to…
Masumi…
He was puzzled as to why Seiichimaru was approaching his girlfriend and childhood friend with such steadiness and ease. He had a worried look. He saw him speak words that where inaudible for him, even if he strained his ears. He then remembered that they both are Demon Dogs; it's an uncanny quality of dogs to have sharp hearing. Rikuo mentally kicked himself for making such faux pas.
He always had this uneasy feeling when something was about to happen and now it had become stronger. He felt Tsurara grab the tip of his haori and stare at the nothingness ahead of her in fear. He leaned over to her and whispered, "Do not let fear overpower you, Tsurara… you are stronger than you think, that's why I trust you… now trust me." She smiled at the words of her master and soon enough, confidence filled her insides. She knew that, whatever where to happen, she would aid her master into defeating it.
Rikuo lifted his eyes to see a passing blur of silver and to his surprise; he saw the figure of Kameko changing into her youkai form. He had yet not seen such rapid transformation; he was still astounded, he blinked twice to make sure his eyes were correct.
That's when the ground shook and all his subordinates yelled, "Sandaime!" "Waka!" "Rikuo-sama!"
The great amount of youki energy was so tremendous; he needed to keep himself grounded in order to keep his clan in check. He cannot let fear overwhelm him. Just as he told Tsurara, he needed his clan to stand behind him and lend him their fear.
But the amount of youki was something he's never felt before, not even when fighting Hagoromo-Gitsune.
He could sense the clearing surrounded by different types of youki, yet he knew in his heart, that no one and nothing would stand against his clan. He had people he cared about and that needed his protection.
He stood forward, turned around and addressed his clan:
"Comrades, tonight we fight!" the crowd of his youkai and other fellow students roared. "Those of you whom I haven't had the pleasure of fight with, we welcome you… Let's show them what the Nura Gumi and the students of Arashiyama are made of!"
sKameko could hear Rikuo talking to his clan and other members of the student body that where present. She knew she could count on them. Kameko smoothly let her hand touch the hilt of her Tessaiga.
Grandfather, father… you have granted me with one of the most powerful weapons ever made… I will not let go until I'm done with this, freeing my father from his curse. Tessaiga, I know you know what I'm thinking… let free ourselves from this curse!
Kameko boldly stepped forward and addressed herself towards the forest:
"Come out, Masumi… Let's end this now, shall we?"
An evil laugh could be heard distantly. Suddenly, thousands of red eyes were seen above the ground, in between the trees and up in the air. The youkai aura intensified greatly as the creatures of the dark emerged from their place. A chilling feeling ran down Kameko's spine. I must not let it get to me…
Soon after, the figure of Masumi, cladded in the old traditional attire of a priestess: a white haori and red hakama, with a string tied around her collar, stepped up, standing at the shoulder of a dumb looking giant youkai.
Her monotonous black eyes where now filled with evil and hatred. Kameko let her lips quiver in response of her fear.
"Fufu, I can see you have your father's form," Masumi smiled evilly. "Let's see how long it last!"
The wicked miko yelled as she launched her attack; a glimmer of light shooting from her open palm. Kameko deflected it with her Tessaiga* and the moment she was about to launch her 'Wind Scar', the ground shook and before she could do something about it, all the red eyes that where hiding in the thick of the forest, emerged, attacking everyone in the clearing.
Masumi's hateful voice rang deep in the air, "And you think you can defeat me with your Kaze nu Kizu? Think twice, Kameko dear, your father used it before and it did nothing…"
"Fuck," Kameko cursed, looking at her Tessaiga. I guess I'm gonna need to use something else…
Kameko closed her eyes, as she turned back into her human form. Her katana transformed as well, becoming the old sword. Masumi seeing this, laughed manically.
The other creatures had begun their attack towards the rest of the Nura Gumi and the other student youkai. Yura had summoned her shikigami Tanrou and Rokuson to protect her friends, who cringed and shook in fear; all the more enticing for the circulating evil youkai. Yura also had her fish gun shikigami, Rentei, and was firing to all who came near to attack. Seiichimaru's eyes scanned the area where Yura was to make sure she was safe, but he could see she was holding herself. He seemed surprised but then shrugged the thought off knowing she was the successor to be the Head of the Keikain family. She should be all right, shouldn't she?
Seiichimaru himself had taken upon a hoard of demons, with one strike of his Tokijin he had them destroyed. Yet he knew his katana was far inferior than that made out of the fan of his Grandfather.
Rikuo was faring well too; him and his Nenekirimaru had severed several youkai. His subordinates had such eager to fight; they had taken upon themselves several youkai lurking in the shadows.
Rikuo had ordered the Sanba Garasu to take on all the youkai that could fly.
"Exterminate everything that does not belong to this school!" he commanded as his subordinates and comrades roared in delight. Aotabo was smashing youkai's heads together, spurting blood all over the place; Kurotabo, with his dance of a hundred weapons, sliced all the one that launched towards him. Kubinashi and his strings did their magic as well. Shoei and his sword of equally massive size sliced anyone who got close to Kameko, Natsuko and Suzume. It was a real blood bath.
Tsurara had ran towards Yura to aid her, whom was getting very tired for holding all her shikigamies. After Tsurara and her snow blizzard had destroyed the youkai surrounding the Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol, Yura sighed in relieve as her shikigamies disappeared and rested.
"I have become too weak!" yelled Yura, beating herself up.
"No! Yura-chan is strong and Yura-chan must fight!" reassured Tsurara. Natsumi and Saori cheered, "You can do it, Yura!"
Kiyotsugu and Shima followed, "We believe in you, Yura!"
Being surrounded by youkai all the time had made her enter into a comfort zone. Here nobody fought for power; all that her fellow classmates wanted was to spar and have a good time, with exception of that time with Bankotsu and the band of Seven. She had forgotten her inner strength and the reason why she was a child prodigy. She had forgotten that Hidemoto 13th himself had taught her well. She had forgotten the reason she was born into the Keikain family and the reason she was gifted… To protect her fellow humans!
An aura began to rise from Yura's body as she silently placed her hands together and prayed. This is my inner strength, I must not forget… I must protect my friends… I was born for this!
Kameko scanned around and saw that they where winning the battle. But something still felt amiss.
"Sister," Seiichimaru walked towards her, noticing that she had abandoned her demon form. She nodded towards him.
"Something's wrong, Seiichi… I can smell it!" she whispered.
Seiichimaru had never seen her in such despair. For one second, she seemed like the small and fragile girl who used to hide behind her mother's skirt. This was not the same person that took on Bankotsu with such determination and spirit, and won. The girl in front of him was no longer a miko or a demon dog but a mere human, and he was not going to have any of it.
He walked towards her with steadily. She gave him an inquisitive look as he neared her.
A loud slap was heard in the midst of the battle, making all eyes fall on them.
The clearing stood quiet as Kameko heaved in anger.
"How DARE you put a hand on me, you BASTARD!"
Rikuo seeing this was about to bolt, when strong, ape-like hands, grabbed him steady.
"Oi! SHOEI! LET ME GO!"
"Rikuo-sama, please wait! Let them resolve it alone. They are family after all."
"She is MY woman! She is to wed me and she will belong to me!" Rikuo said, seeing red in anger. Nobody lays a hand on her and lives to tell the tale…
"Master, please understand," said Kurotabo.
Seiichimaru spoke, "This Seiichimaru will not allow his kin to lower herself; knowing that she holds great power!"
The words stung Kameko in the chest; the slap still burning on her cheek… "Seiichimaru…" He speaks like his father…
He jumped at her and grabbed her by her collar and said, "You know what I am talking about, Kameko! Stop slacking around and show your caste!"
"Fufu! Sibling rivalry! How endearing! It warms my heart…" finally spoke Masumi as she remerged from the shadows.
"Masumi," Kameko hissed as Seiichimaru let go of her.
"Oh? My darling, that look bides well on you…" she sneered as Kameko's spiritual aura was rising but her eyes looked evil.
"See, my darling, you and I are so much alike," said Masumi.
"And why is that, bitch…" Kameko spat in return.
"Tsk, tsk, what a filthy mouth for a lady, don't you think?" spoke Masumi with mock in her voice.
"Shut up, you wench! I am nothing like you!"
"But of course, my dear, we are… See you and I are both gifted with spiritual powers and we know how to use them to our advantage…"
"Masumi, spare me the crap talk and lets get to it, shall we?" said Kameko, very irritated.
"I really wanted to chat with you; we haven't seen each other in more than 400 years, we could catch up…" said Masumi, rather bored.
400 years? Thought Rikuo. The question had risen in the face of all standing in the field.
"But I guess I must bring this sweet reunion to an end," mocked Masumi.
"Prepare to meet your end, Taisho Kameko."
OMG! First post of the New Year! I had so much fun writing this chapter and I hope you like it too, as much as I do! Please let me know what you think! Reviews are very important to writers, we like to know what you think... either good or bad...
Another shout out to Alexi Rein: "U R awesome!"
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