Thermoceptive Mask
The doctor was following Homugi's directions to a man named Totosai as they sailed on her boat, Genso ShuShu-sen, high in the sky. The blacksmith was a close friend of Sesshomaru's father and practically lived inside a volcano. Would she be meeting Kiyonobu there? How did the residents of Ogre Island know of this man? Was his skill just that great? She then thought about Shanwang's riddles. Totosai doesn't know that he has a map in his foundry leading to the broken pieces of Ogre Island. There has to be some way to find it. She can't withstand the heat of the lava or the overwhelming power of the smoke. She also had to worry about Rakuyama's presence in the living world. She was a fully realized titan with an alarming amount of power in all three of the worlds. Meioshi was going to have to find a way for Homugi to stop or weaken Rakuyama for the time being.
"Caritas," Meioshi called, making the sprite hop to take flight next to her face. "Do you remember much about Lady Rakuyama of Koridetudi? Species, weakne - ? Wait!"
"Hm?" Homugi questioned, looking from the landscape into the doctor's shifting eyes. She was thinking of something. "What's wrong?"
"Through my eyes, you will see..."
"It was a mask! The riddle was describing a mask that can see beyond what the natural eye sees, but what? We have to turn around," Meioshi said, changing the angle of her magical oar. "Sesshomaru said he confronted Lady Rakuyama outside of the Mujina Woodlands. He was looking for a rendezvous point that your ambassador might have had to speak with the clan leaders of that territory."
"Ambassador? Which one?" Homugi questioned, furrowing her brow.
"He said his name was Norihisa," Meioshi answered, angling the boat's nose downward. "He was with a few soldiers at Shinju o Tateru."
"Norihisa was reported missing weeks ago," Homugi said, narrowing her eyes. "There must be some mistake."
"Missing?" Meioshi questioned.
"Yes. I found a puppet in the shape of his body at the murder site including the puppets of several others days before Sesshomaru was involved," Homugi replied. "They should've notified him of this early on."
"Shit!" Meioshi hissed, narrowing her eyes and gritting her teeth. "She's targeting the House of Inu! We have to find something that can stop her before she takes it over. There has to be something that can weaken a kyonshi demon."
"I think I might know something to help with that," Bonitas said with a smile. "I might not like it, but I'll have to admit that it's helped your family for a few generations. The Ogre's Almanac. When we healed you upon your return from the Netherworld, the demons that you faced down there created several scrolls of information that your body recognizes. It's time for you to use that."
"How?" Meioshi questioned, turning to Bonitas.
"You have to activate it within you," Bonitas replied. "Tap into the abilities you share with Shanwang."
Meioshi considered the sprite's words and slowed the boat down to a hovering halt. She took some deep breaths and closed her eyes. Taking a seat, she folded her legs and proceeded to enter a meditating pose and state. The markings on her back glowed and burned until she could see Shanwang's interested grin and glowing eyes in the darkness. She reached out to him until they synchronized with each other. Unlocking the scrolls of her experience, she searched for the kyonshi and gave her inquiry to Shanwang through their connection. She lightly gasped when he responded, giving her the data she needed.
She smirked at his cooperativeness, if only for a moment, before saying, "We'll have to come back to Totosai's Foundry later. We might have to take one of his tools, but we can return it with time. I hope he'll understand. Homugi, do you know how to get to the Mujina Woodlands from here?"
Homugi sat in silence for a moment, sniffed the air, and pointed to her left before saying, "That way. It smells like it's been burned, though."
"We have to hurry," Meioshi said, standing to her feet to steer the boat to the fabled Mujina Woodlands.
Unfortunately, neither she nor Homugi sensed the danger lurking around Totosai's volcano. He had just stepped out to take a break before he was surrounded by thick fog. He could smell the scent of a strong demon within it. Turning to his sides to analyze the fog and find an escape route, Totosai backed away only to be circled by three marshland ogres. Kiyonobu, being the leader, glared into the blacksmith's soul as he growled...
"This is where the woodland demons were?" Meioshi questioned, scanning her surroundings.
"The trees are so tall here," Caritas said, impressed by the foliage.
Homugi was leading the group to the entryway of the village, observing the damage done to it. Ashes, wooden spikes, and tattered cloth were all that remained now. The air was so cold and thick. Homugi may not have been familiar with such a drastic change in atmosphere, but Meioshi practically felt like she was visiting her second home. This was Koridetudi's natural environment - a wintry wasteland. A rustling in the bushes caught the group's attention until some elderly Bake-danuki and Anaguma villagers appeared. They were carrying wicker baskets in their paws that only the doctor would recognize as they belonged to some of her wards. One of the baskets had a soft ball of rainbow-colored string on the side.
"Oh, it's another inu!" the Anaguma elder said with surprise evident in his voice and features. "And sprites!"
"Hello, elders," Bonitas greeted politely with a bow. "You can't possibly be foraging for anything here, right?"
"'Fraid not, little one," the Anaguma elder replied, bowing in respect.
"It's Lady Homugi, elder," the Bake-danuki elder said, turning to his comrade. "This must be her group of investigators. Have you returned for more clues?"
"Wisemen, what on Earth happened here?" Homugi questioned, exchanging glances between the two.
"We don't know for sure ourselves," the Bake-danuki elder started, "but a wildfire came out of nowhere and burned everything. Lord Sesshomaru and his servant, Jaken, were able to get everyone to safety at an estate some miles from here. You should see it, Lady Homugi. It's quite beautiful! The clan leaders are there now, trying to organize a recovery and rebuilding plan, but I think where we are is nicer. The children can actually play together safely, and we can make more space for everyone if needed."
"You're sure we're talking about the same Sesshomaru?" Homugi questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"We had our doubts just like you as well, but he made it here just in time. He wasn't able to stop the fire, but he did calm most of it with his use of the wind. I didn't know he could control such an element," the Anaguma elder replied, shrugging in disbelief at the memory. "But, after we were evacuated, he told us that the estate belonged to some sort of vigilante. A woman who built it as a refuge for the innocent. He was pretty adamant about keeping it orderly and ensuring that we show gratitude to its creator should we ever meet her. Lord Sesshomaru was a frightful boy before, but he sure can be scary if he suspects one may desecrate a place that was of great importance to him."
Meioshi grew eerily quiet at the elder's words and thought back to her time spent with the western lord. Good and bad. Did he really value the ward estate so greatly? Going so far as to practically sanctify it? Somehow... the doctor grew even more confused about Sesshomaru's presence in her life. He had such a disgraceful attitude before! And he was unapologetic about it, but then... What exactly were his real intentions when they first met? Was it really just to find a new opponent? Why'd he bother helping her this whole time? What was he thinking saying those awful words to Homugi in front of her? Was Homugi right? Did something happen to him to make him so brazen? Meioshi shook her head lightly and went on to inspect the burnt remains of the village and the lingering snow of the Netherworld. There was nothing she could do about Sesshomaru now, but she could help Homugi and indirectly help him with their investigation.
Sifting through items, Meioshi took note of a few burnt herbs and shrubbery. She recognized the scents of some of her family's incense ingredients. Eyes widening, she remembered something about Unmei's findings in her family's letters. Hastily gathering greenery, the doctor stocked up on different synthesizing ingredients until she came to the bark of a burnt peach tree. That was it! Summoning a burst of strength, the doctor punched the tree trunk until the tree split and waited for it to fall to the ground. It didn't land on anything luckily, and she was able to collect the bark, pulp, and ash of the peach tree.
"Meioshi, what are you doing?" Homugi questioned, rushing over to the doctor.
"I need to make a potent repellant for you. Draw your weapon, milady," Meioshi requested, taking tools out to work. "Caritas, Bonitas, I need anything resembling coal and wax for this. We have to make peach tree ink."
"Yes, Lady Meioshi!" the sprites responded, hustling to search for the requested items.
"Why peach tree ink?" Homugi questioned, not understanding the specifics of such a thing.
"Kyonshi demons are one of the most difficult enemies to fight, especially Rakuyama," Meioshi explained, grinding herbs together on a flat slab of stone. The rapid motion and friction of her actions made sparks fling out. She then continued, "She's immune to almost every natural element and purification energy because she's able to devour them, but she can't handle the most sacred or potent of expelling energies. The hinoki tree is only second to the might of the peach tree. If we cover your mace with the ink, your strikes will be enough to stop her from gaining dominion over the House of Inu. If Sesshomaru wasn't being given the correct information for his part of the mission this entire time, Rakuyama's servants were already killing and possessing the missing clansmen and other demons you were sent to find. Those puppets are actually husks. Netherworld kyonshi drain their victims of their spiritual, or soul, energies. When there is no more for them to devour, they continue to your organs and fluids until your body is emptied."
"How do you know all of this?" Homugi asked.
"Because I faced her before," Meioshi responded, turning to Homugi with a solemn glow in her eyes. "We never fought each other, but I fought her henchmen and they are very good at killing you."
"What's their attack pattern? Can they be surprised?" Homugi questioned, narrowing her eyes.
"The best defense is armor that can be used in offense or weapons with a reflective quality. Don't use your strongest yoki-based attacks or weapons," Meioshi advised, remembering her struggle against these monsters.
"I found some charcoal, Lady Meioshi," Bonitas said, floating to the slab.
"I didn't find any candle wax, but I did find oil from a few gas lamps that weren't destroyed," Caritas chimed, placing his bowl of oil next to Meioshi.
"Thank you," Meioshi said, hustling to make the ink with her ingredients. She sensed a swift-moving presence dash through the bushes and stopped for a moment to say, "They're coming back! Homugi, guard the elders and escort them back to the estate. They should know the way. You might be able to catch their scent."
Eerily, a gust of sharp, icy wind softly passed over everyone's skin and shadows crept along the ground. Though incomplete, Meioshi mixed what she could and summoned her Dai Fubuki blade to hastily cover it in the oil. The tanto glowed brilliantly before she leaped behind Homugi and dashed at a shadowy figure that rose from a hunk of snow to dash at the blue merle beauty. Homugi then dipped her morning star mace into the leftover oil and ran to the elders' defense as another shadow charged at them with an open mouth full of fangs and claws sharp enough to cut through mountain stone. Though incomplete in its synthesis, the peach tree ink mix did prove to be effective in burning the shadows and forcing them to take a more physical form. They were dressed in what appeared to be a mixture of clothing styles. One shadow appeared to be more Chinese in his attire and braided ponytail, a young woman wore a kimono, and another male was dressed in Thai suiting. Together, the two fought side by side in defending the elders with the help of the sprites. Bonitas and Caritas were able to produce holy barriers to block sneak attacks.
From the elders' perspective, the women looked like they were practically dancing through twirls and either backward slashes or forward jabs. Meioshi cycled through hand-to-hand combat and her use of the mighty tanto to deliver critical finishers while Homugi mainly used her mace and a berserk finisher. With an expert high kick, Meioshi sent the Chinese male kyonshi hurtling towards the Japanese female kyonshi Homugi managed to elbow. The two collided with each other and gave Meioshi enough time to summon Baohu qi Voluptatis and thrust it through both demons. She unleashed a purifying incantation that set them ablaze and caused them to disperse into ashes. The Thai male roared to call upon a masked enemy and fused with the creature to enhance its attrition. Meioshi switched up her fighting strategy for this new enemy and activated her Oni Eye. Being that it was still a new ability not mastered, she wasn't sure how well it would work here but she would trust Shanwang's gift for this moment. Closing her eyes, the doctor sensed the flowing energy of the solid form of the masked shadow.
"Yoki, generate. Ko, control," Meioshi chanted, hearing the solid shadow move quietly along the ground. "Points, connect. Points, close."
When the doctor opened her eyes, she could see the shifting of energy throughout the shadow's body. Two major stores of energy were in the bladder and heart, respectively. The masked shadow charged at them with swipe attacks, but both women dodged and proceeded to strike.
