Kenzoku — The Taking of Tao Manor
'You...know...?' Sango couldn't fathom why he would say such words. 'No, you don't.' Her perplexed expression became mixed with frustration as she glared down at his face. How could HoroHoro have such faith in her when he just saw how pathetic she truly was? She consented to giving her life in exchange for Kohaku's freedom, he knew that. So how could he believe that she would rise to this challenge—that she would fight for his life?
It was then that she heard Kagome's voice.
[ "Sango-chan, it's because we know the true you that we trust you. And we were right, you see." ]
Sango's teeth gnawed her lower lip as she shook her head, 'There's no way. HoroHoro can't possibly know the true me. A fool who falls in love at first sight can't be that sophisticated...' Despite her denial, she slowly rose to the challenge. 'Or sincere.'
'HoroHoro, I'd hate to admit but—.' Violet eyes gutted Yura as Sango reached beneath the slits of her qipao and unsheathed another dagger. 'You're right this time.'
The gleeful kick that Yura got from watching HoroHoro and Sango was snuffed by the intensity of Sango's glare. She felt herself flinch. And loathed how her body reacted. "Ugh, Kohaku!" Yura pointed her comb at the kyonshi, "Make yourself useful and kill her!"
The child's grip on the bloodied blade tightened.
"Kohaku..." For a moment, Sango dipped her head. Her bangs obscured her eyes as she whispered, "Forgive me." With that, she bounded past the kyonshi, fisting his midsection as she zipped by him. She paused for a moment and gave her cousin a dark message. Her eyes whispered, 'You're next.'
Yura jumped to a standing position with great finesse. She placed a hand on her hip as she balanced on the balcony railing. "Hmph, don't think you've won just because you've bested your brother," She stated with a flip of her hair. "I'm no ordinary dàoshì." She snapped her fingers.
Sango's eyes narrowed as fifty spotlights activated, revealing a squadron of corpses. "I can control an entire army of kyonish at once, and I don't need those flimsy talismans either," Yura boasted as the kyonshi closed it on her cousin from every direction.
Sango didn't recognize the new faces. But their eyes were as empty as Kohaku's and their skin suffered from the same lack of oxygen. They swarmed around her, concealing the whereabouts of her fallen Hiraikotsu and HoroHoro. 'It doesn't matter who it is...' She told herself. 'It doesn't matter who I face!'
"What's the matter~? Scared stiff without your precious OverSoul~?" Yura cooed mockingly.
"Hardly," The brunette whispered before her burning aura ignited. "KIRARA—In Hiraikotsu!"
"What?!" Yura hissed through her teeth as the boomerang sprung to life, knocking multiple kyonshi to their backs. "How is that fair?!" She queried as Sango raised her arm and Hiraikotsu was delivered to her. All she had to do was close her fingers around the hand grip.
"You've looked down on me long enough!" Sango called. She readjusted Hiraikotsu and balanced it on the palm of one hand. She ran her other hand along the length of the weapon, inflaming the boomerang with her resolve.
"What the hell?!" Yura's eyes widened as the flames that engulfed Hiraikotsu spread. They roared and formed an blazing ring around Sango's body. Yura then smirked and taunted, "What's that supposed to be? Some sort of circus act? What's that flaming hula-hoop gonna do?"
"I was saving this technique for the Shaman Fights but I'll make a special exception for you!" Sango exclaimed as she threw Hiraikotsu into the air, spinning its body like a helicopter's propellers. The boomerang spun and spun, its rotation fanning the flames around Sango's body. "Burning Cyclone!"
Yura's lips parted as an inflamed tornado formed around Sango. Her body became a mere silhouette amongst the burning wind. "T-This can't be!" The dàoshì was in disbelief as countless of her warriors were pulled towards the vortex and swallowed by the flames. Within seconds, the auditorium smelled of burnt flesh and the stage was left with many empty spotlights.
"Oh, but it can..." Sango relied as she dropped her technique, emerging from the dying swirl of flames. Hiraikotsu dropped into her hand as she glared up at Yura, "You only have a handful of your kyonshi left, including Kohaku. Admit defeat!"
"Never!" Yura shrieked as she looked towards the fallen corpse. "Kohaku, rise!" His eyes shot open as he sprang to life. He was on his feet in a flash. She pointed at the motionless HoroHoro with her comb, "Finish that boy off!"
Sango tensed and turned as Kohaku prepared his sickle and chain. "I don't—" She imbued Hiraikotsu with energy and hurled it at the kyonshi. "THINK SO!"
Yura gasped.
Her eyes widened.
Her lips formed an "o".
Her fingers loosened.
'I-Impossible...' Yura thought as Hiraikotsu ripped through Kohaku's body. His torso was severed from his lower body. The two halves fell to the floor with thuds. 'She...!' Yura grunted and snapped from her second of stupor. 'No matter! I still have my other—!'
Her heart skipped a beat when she realized that her hands were empty, and Sango was already midair. The brunette revealed her dagger and sliced through Yura's crimson comb.
The remaining kyonshi fell to the ground as Sango landed.
She looked up at Yura.
The other Tao was visibly shaking with a furious look in her eyes.
"It's over," Sango declared as she caught Hiraikotsu on its return.
"Heh," Yura's shoulders bounced. "You killed your brother and defeated me in a span of seconds," she smiled. "I knew you had it in you." The dàoshì leaped from the railing and landed on the stage with ease. Sango's face was stony as Yura strutted towards her, her hand still on her hip. "I'm no fool, I know when I've lost."
Sango remained impassive as Yura stopped just short of her and lowered herself to her knees. She closed her eyes and bowed her head. "You win, so finish me off."
"After all that you've done, I'm sure most people would agree that you deserve it," Sango told her. She didn't care that she was speaking to the crown of Yura's head. "You've killed. You've tormented. You used an innocent child as a means to hurt your own family."
Yura chuckled, almost dejectedly, "Yeah. And look where all that got me. I still lost."
"Yura," Sango spat her name like it was wretched. The words came out like clockwork, "It's about time you learned the true meaning of being Tao nobility."
The clatter of Sango's discarded dagger made Yura's head tilt upward, her eyes large and wavering.
"I'm not going to pretend to like you," Sango's eyes narrowed, "But, if you have any pride as a Tao left, stand up."
Yura was befuddled by the tears that rushed down her cheeks. She was infuriated. She was humiliated, so much so that her entire body shook, even as Sango showed her bloody back. 'T-That woman...!' Even her mouth was quaking as her mind raced faster than her tears. 'That woman who I loathed all these years...is sparing me?!' Her pride was dripping onto the stage. Each drop was absorbed into the wooden planks.
Her ego was shattered.
Yura watched as Sango knelt next to HoroHoro. She murmured inaudible words before reaching for the front of her qipao. The sound of tearing fabric filled the room.
Sango hoisted HoroHoro's upperhalf into her lap. She maneuvered his shirt from over his head then began weaving the ripped portion of her dress around his wound. "It's no bandage but it'll have to do for now..."
As Yura realized that her tears weren't angry or frustrated.
No.
Despite being brought to her knees by someone who she saw a pathetic insect...
Yura was grateful.
She was glad to be alive.
It was the first time that Yura lost to anyone—and life went on.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Ran could count the number of people who knew of the manor's secret elevator shaft on one hand—without all of her fingers. Having been installed well after the main house was constructed, the contraption's location couldn't be found in the ancient floor plan. Not even her children knew how easily she and her husband could navigate the manor and change floors without breaking a sweat. If it had not been for the circumstances surrounding Kagome's first visit to their home, the matriarch wouldn't even have resorted to using them to greet her.
But at the rate of which Kagome disposed of their kyonshi army and how quickly the others were closing in on her husband, Ran deemed it necessary.
Ran always found that she could easily lose herself in thought when alone inside the car. The combination of comfortable lightning and mild temperature control made the descents and ascents luxurious. She stepped from the box as it gently halted in the bowels of the mansion.
The awaiting passage was well-lit, unlike the rest of the bottom floor. But even without light, Ran knew the entire mansion like the back of her hand. Within a span of minutes, she found the Kyonshi Reserves chamber that was infiltrated. Upon stepping into the dim space, she immediately spotted the back of Manta's blond hair near the entrance. Flashes of light further down the chamber indicated that Kagome was still at work.
Unaware of the newcomer, Manta's shoulders slumped a bit, "I hope Kagome-chan will finish soon. Even without all the kyonshi from before, this place is creepy..."
"Is that so~?" Ran queried, making the teen stiffen and slowly crane his head over his shoulder. "Then perhaps you'll be inclined to join me at a more pleasant venue."
The brighter light from outside the chamber casted an eerie shadow over the Tao, prompting Manta to scream bloody murder. "Manta-kun?!" Kagome voice chorused from further in as Manta fell to his butt. The priestess came running as her friend scooted across the ground to distance himself. Her golden bow was slung over her shoulder as she put herself between Manta and Ran. "Who are you?!"
The woman chuckled but hid her smile from behind a decorative fan. "There's no need to be frightened, children. I'm not here to bring you harm," her words somewhat disarmed Manta, his shoulders visibly loosened.
"You still haven't answered my question," Kagome responded, her face still guarded.
Ran's face concealed how her smile widened.
"You're right. Where are my manners?" The woman queried. "I am the matriarch of the Tao Clan. Mother of Jun and Ren: Tao Ran."
"Their mother...?" Kagome whispered as she took in the woman. She certainly looked the part. She sported deep green hair and emerald eyes that were reminiscent of Jun's. "I see. Well, if you're not here to fight then what do you want with us?"
Shippo and Sesshomaru appeared beside the priestess as Ran responded, "I'm far more diplomatic than my husband, you see. I'd like to get to know you better." She gestured towards the door like a hostess, "Won't you join me?"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
"Stay close to me, okay?" Kagome requested as the elevator halted on the fourth floor.
Manta nodded when the doors parted to a wide, quiet corridor, "I will."
The teens followed behind Ran as she silently led them past several sets of doors, esteemed Tao busts, framed portraits, and decorative artifacts. Manta knew that Kagome was focused on observing their guide so he took the initiative of observing their surroundings and specific markers, in case they needed to flee.
The trio walked in heavy silence. The only sounds that Kagome could make out were her thudding heart and the clacking of their shoes against the floor. "...that's weird..." the priestess murmured.
"What is...?" Manta looked at Kagome curiously.
She readily answered, "I'm sure that the Tao Family is large, and yet, we've only seen the people sent to thwart us." Her eyes met Manta's, "Even when we were snooping in all those rooms, we didn't find anyone else."
"Snooping?" Ran's inquiry made the teens stiffen. "It must seem strange. But do know that we were expecting you long before you arrived, so I ordered the others to shelter in safety elsewhere." Her voice then lowered, "Just in case things get too rough."
"I see," Kagome regained her composure quicker than Manta. "I'd probably do the same if I were in your position."
Ran wore a small smile as she responded, "That's good to hear." Finally, the woman gave a slight right turn to face a pair of doors with golden handles. With a firm grip on one of the handles, she pulled one door open and stepped aside. "Please, come inside."
Kagome and Manta exchanged looks before nodding in unison. With Kagome in the lead, she took a few steps inside of the room. The space resembled what Kagome imagined a corporation conference room would be like: a long, polished table aligned by multiple chairs, a shining floor, and a cart holding a projector sat parallel to a blank screen near the far corner.
"This room is completely sound proof so no matter where they are, no one can hear what we discuss here," Ran prefaced as she made herself comfortable in a chair. "Please, have a seat and let's talk," she offered while gesturing to the chairs opposite to her. The teens obliged, with Kagome settled directly across from Ran and Manta by her side.
"Alright, what did you want to talk about?" Kagome inquired, calmly going straight to the point.
Ran reached within the layers of her clothing, "I like you already, Kagome-chan. So how about we make this experience more fun?" Manta blinked when the woman fished out and revealed a box of playing cards. "Let's play a friendly game while we talk. It'll be a great bonding experience."
"O...kay..." Kagome agreed with a bemused look. "What type of games do you like?"
"It's a bit shameless," Ran admitted as she unfolded the top flap of the card box. "But I'm quite fond of gambling games. How about Poker or Black Jack?"
Manta sweatdropped as he and Kagome's expressions deadpanned. "I've never played those games before," She admitted. 'I don't even think I gambled back in my first life!' Her inner voice screamed before she suggested while looking at Manta for his approval, "How about Old Maid?" The blond teen nodded and smiled.
"Actually, I wanted to challenge you directly, Kagome-chan," Ran interjected. She saw how Manta deflated and clarified, "Well, that was my plan from the beginning. I didn't expect you to have a guest with you."
Kagome looked at Manta and gave him an apologetic look. He merely smiled and shook his head, "It's fine. I'll be right here if you need anything."
"Alright," Kagome returned to Ran's eyes, "What game are we playing then...?"
Ran wore an inscrutable smile as she began shuffling the deck, "Concentration."
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Bankotsu stroked his chin as he watched Jun's form disappear around a corner. The awaiting shadows appeared to devour her as soon as she left his field of vision. "Is it really okay to let her go off by herself?" He questioned.
Ren gripped his opposite shoulder as he rotated his arm. "Of course, it is," He replied casually as he made a snappy V-motion with his neck, cracking the crook that had been stuck there for hours. "Not even I would get in Nee-san's way when she's that angry. Besides, after she's rescued Bailong, she'll meet me at the top."
Yoh caught on his words and queried, "Meet you...?"
"That's what I said," Ren replied as he took a few steps ahead of the pair. "You two should go check on Kagome. I'll be the one who takes care of my father."
"Yeah, whatever." Bankotsu's pinky fished for wax inside of his ear, "You're just trying to act all cool again. You can ask for help if you're that scared."
"Tch, who's scared?" Despite those words, his grip on his weapon tightened. "It's just... I'd never forgive myself if you were to come and something bad happened to you."
Yoh's cheeks pinkened at those words as Bankotsu grimaced and questioned, "Ick! When did you become such a sap on me, man?!"
Ren ignored the jeer and replied coolly, "I'm serious." His eyes were trained on the far end of the hallway, "This is my fight. I need to do this because to overcome my father is to overcome the fury inside of me." Bankotsu didn't share Yoh's look of surprise as Ren spoke, but he remained silent as he listened. "Like this tattoo into my skin, it was my father who carved this hatred into my heart."
"...but..." For a moment, golden eyes lowered to the ground as he ruminated over his sins. "...even though he forced those beliefs on me, it's not him who I hate." Ren remembered the initial expression on Kagome's face after he returned from his Shaman Fight qualification exam.
Kagome—who normally had a retort for any jab
Kagome whose emotions couldn't be contained beneath her skin—.
When she laid eyes on his blood-soaked clothes, she was floored.
It was then that he realized that Kagome didn't lie to him.
Despite the privileges and bravado that came with being the Tao heir, Ren himself was what she saw. She didn't see him as the bloodthirsty, angry person that he was raised to be.
Back then, he thought that someone like her would be terrified.
But instead, her wide eyes softened and she stayed by his side.
"I hate myself for believing him and hurting so many people," Ren confessed. "I can only hope that one day, my soul will be freed so I can be like you, Yoh. And maybe, Kagome would..." He didn't have the nerve to vocalize his deepest wish.
It wasn't that he was embarrassed.
Both Bankotsu and Yoh knew how he felt, they shared those feelings—that the longing for Kagome's heart.
But such a pure wish spilling from the lips of someone so filthy felt inherently wrong, like his breath alone would defile his feelings.
For a moment, not one of the three made a move or sound.
That was until Yoh's surprised expression was replaced by a smile. He stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Ren's shoulder. Yoh closed his eyes and leaned close to his friend. "Hey, don't worry about it, Ren," He stated softly. "I'm sure it'll all work out. You'll get there someday, just stay true to yourself."
Ren blushed, unable to comprehend how Yoh's words lifted a weight from his chest. "Yoh..."
Bankotsu placed a hand on his forehead and shook his head as he caught up to his friends. He took a step ahead of them and then turned to face them. "Jeez, Yoh, what's with you rooting for the competition?"
Ren's brow raised as Yoh chuckled and pulled Ren closer till their cheeks were squashed together. He grinned widely and replied, "Well, I can't say that I don't want to be the one to cross the finish line, but..." Bankotsu noted how the grin was wiped. For a moment, Yoh's lips were pencil straight as his eyes became sullen.
Ren blinked and tried to eye but was unable to from their proximity. "Yoh...?"
The brunette suddenly regained his glow as he pumped his free hand into a fist, "Let's hurry! I'm sure the others are waiting for us at the top!"
Ren huffed a chuckle as his lips spread into a smirk, "Just make sure you two don't get in my way!"
"Tch, don't forget that we're the ones who rescued you," Bankotsu smirked and reached down to two-finger poke Ren's forehead.
Suddenly, the air shifted as a scratchy voice spoke from the darkest corner ahead, "What a touching moment. Too bad you're having it in a restricted area."
Bankotsu turned to face ahead and spotted a pair of kyonshi. Both had ashen skin and limbs haphazardly sewn together with visible seams. While one had a robust figure and the other was lanky, both puppets' forearms were replaced with power saws, spiked maces, and other devilish devices.
The rounder kyonshi's face was covered the a talisman that read "Shackler". He took an offensive stance, "Tao Yúan himself sent us to punish you, Master Ren."
"Slaughter" was the symbols written on the other's kyonshi's talisman. The corpse cackled maniacally as he wildly brandished his chainsaw arm, "Teeheehee! We'll torture you till your last breath!"
Yoh grimaced at the prospect as he finally released Ren, "Wait—really?! That sounds awful!"
"Yes, really," Shackler answered before he and the other kyonshi exclaimed, "We're the Torture Brothers!"
The pair's dramatic poses faltered when Ren suddenly released his own cackle. "You know, I'm actually quite fond of torture," the scion declared calmly. He formed his OverSoul with Bason, "As long as I'm the one dishing it out!"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
The playing cards were arranged in four rows, each row holding thirteen cards. Kagome examined the backs and noted, 'This entire deck looks brand new. There are no signs of wear or tampering.' Her eyes met Ran's. 'So she really does want to play a friendly game.'
"Please," Ran gestured to Kagome, "You're my guest so I'll allow you to go first."
"Okay, thanks," The girl responded as she reached for the card directly in front of her. She flipped it over. She and Manta gasped at the image on the front. She uncovered the ace of hearts. But it wasn't the symbol that shocked them, it was the image of Tao Jun smiling. "What the—?" She immediately looked at Ran, "What's with these cards?!"
The woman seemed mildly amused at the teen's reactions and answered calmly, "This is my beloved Tao Family edition deck of cards." She smiled and explained, "Don't worry. Only the center image is altered, it'll function just like an ordinary deck."
Manta's voice deadpanned as he replied, "Well... I'm pretty sure we're wondering why you're using these cards instead of normal ones."
"I think games are much more fun when they're intimate," Ran replied before beckoning to Kagome, "Please, flip your next card."
"...right..." Kagome's voice wavered as she sweatdropped. She reached across the table for the card in the top right position. She flipped it over and revealed the King of Hearts, imprinted with a picture of an aloof Tao Ren. 'Eh...' Her eye twitched, 'Something tells me these suits and ranks weren't chosen arbitrarily.' She then returned the cards to their face down position.
"My turn," Ran announced as she calmly flipped over one card: the 10 of Diamonds accompanied by a photo of Sango. "So down to our discussion, Kagome-chan..." She reached to the left and revealed the 8 of Spades: a face that Kagome didn't recognize, and he didn't look remotely similar to any of the Tao's that she knew. "As you may already know, my Ren will be the 43rd head of the Tao Family." The woman returned her cards face down.
"Yeah, I know that," Kagome replied as she uncovered the 2 of Hearts, a child who Kagome had never met. 'This must be—!' But his face looked strikingly similar to Sango's and his eyes were the same ethereal amethyst color. "It's all he used to talk about," she said before she revealed another low card with a person who she didn't know.
"I'm sure he did," Ran unveiled the King of Diamonds: a man with sharp facial features and pointed mustache and beard combo. He sported lavish clothing and wore a stoic expression. "The Tao Family is an ancient, esteemed clan, so being at the apex is a great honor."
"Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?!" Manta jumped so that he was standing in his chair. He pointed at the second card that Ran revealed, one that made Kagome's cheeks burn. "What's with that thing?!"
The second card that Ran uncovered was the Queen of Hearts with an image of Kagome posing in the crimson dress that Jun purchased for her some time ago. 'I-I remember Jun-neesan taking that picture, but—!' She glared weakly at Ran, "What's the meaning of this?! Why am I in your Tao edition deck?!"
"Well, I thought it'd be appropriate since that is an engagement dress," Ran answered.
Manta's eyes rolled into the back of his head before he collapsed and slumped into his seat. Not even Kagome's calls and shakes of his shoulder roused him.
"You know, Kagome-chan," Ran interrupted Kagome's worried chants and captured the girl's attention. "I'm a reasonable person. By my standards, the dress had no meaning since you were ignorant of its purpose." The woman left her cards uncovered as her eyes stayed on Kagome's face, "So tell me..." She subtly leaned forward. "If I extend a formal proposal of courtship to your family..."
Kagome's eyes widened increasingly as Ran queried, "...will you grant Ren the opportunity to win your favor?"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Yoh already knew that Bankotsu was a formidable fighter and not one to be trifled with. But his glowing eyes and lack of hesitation to dispatch of enemies was somewhat chilling. The Asakura felt sympathy for both Bankotsu and the kyonshi that were sent on the suicide mission that was intercepting them.
Before Yoh and Ren could lift their weapons against the Torture Brothers, Bankotsu dashed through the empty space between the pair. He moved so quickly that Yoh could only see his motion blur before Bankotsu reappeared a meter behind the kyonshi. The corpses stood as still as statues for a moment before falling to pieces on the ground. Bankotsu looked over his shoulder at Yoh and Ren while stroking his blade like a pet. His voice was nonchalant as he asked, "You two comin' or what?"
With a spirited expression from Yoh and huff from Ren, the three took off towards the exit to the dungeon. They made haste as they found staircase after staircase. Up and up and up, and round and round and round, they went as they approached the top floor. Bankotsu led the charge, slicing through any and every kyonshi warrior in his path.
At last, they arrived at a set of doors that reflected the behemoth that was Tao Yúan. The doors were painted golden and accentuated with designs of black, intersecting rectangles. Twin crimson posts stood tall on each side of the entrance. The poles were complemented by golden dragon figures that spiraled around their circumference.
"Woah..." Yoh gaped up at the doors. "Does your dad really need such huge doors, Ren?"
It was a reasonable question. Bankotsu was the tallest of their friends and stood at an impressive 176 centimeters. But these doors dwarfed the teen, towering over his head like he was a mere toddler.
To Yoh and Bankotsu's surprise, Ren's eyes narrowed as he answered, "He does."
Yoh and Bankotsu looked at each other then tried to imagine what such a giant would look like. Their fluffy thought bubbles collided and merged into one as they pictured an older, sky-scraper sized Ren scowling down at them. He wore a devilish smirk as he raised a monstrous foot that overshadowed them. "Kagome is mine," the gigantic Ren told them before swashing them beneath his heel.
Bankotsu's fist tightened and Yoh blanched at the thought.
"Hey, buffoon..." Ren suddenly stated as he turned his gaze to Bankotsu. "You should probably stick this one out. You don't seem like yourself."
Bankotsu scoffed and placed a hand on his hip, "Didn't we already have this conversation? You two would be lost without me."
"Hmm," Yoh looked thoughtful as he scrutinized Bankotsu. "Normally, I'd say we could use all the help we could get, but Ren might be right on this one. We don't need you losing your cool and getting hurt."
The tallest teen aimed an irritated expression at the brunette, "You too, Yoh? You saw me take down those kyonshi." He was almost gritting his teeth as he added, "Something like this won't stop me."
"Like 'this'...?" Ren repeated beneath his breath. "What's 'this' exactly? What's going on with you?" The Tao noticed Yoh's reluctance and pursed scowl as the Asakura looked to Bankotsu.
Bankotsu's shoulders bounced as he huffed a chuckle. "If you must know..." He caught Ren's eyes as he stated, "I've dropped out of the race."
'Don't look at me like that...' Bankotsu inwardly scowled when Ren and Yoh's eyes flickered. "I realized that even though I had a head-start..."
[ "Well...you don't have any club activities so why do you come to school so early?"
And Bankotsu, as open and straightforward as ever, grinned and ruffled her hair, "I come here for you, Higurashi!"
"Eh? For me? And don't ruin my hair! I just brushed it before I got here!" She protested while batting his offending hand away. While Bankotsu grinned playfully and continued to ruffle her hair up.
"Yup, all for you, Higurashi!" ]
"...even though I've been running a marathon..."
[ "I only did it because I liked you, and I still do." ]
"No matter how long I run, the finish line won't ever appear before me."
["Ren!" Kagome's throat was a moist, bubbling cauldron as her arms spread out. They closed around Ren's form as she squashed their bodies together. "R-Ren…!"]
Bankotsu almost shook his head at himself before smirking at his friends, "But it's fine. I don't need to participate. No matter what..." He scratched the back of his head, his smile torn at the spot where his braid used to sway proudly. "I'll be on her side." He then faced the doors, "So, how about we get this over with?"
"Fine..." Ren relented, but not without tossing Bankotsu a quick look. "Just keep your guard up. My father is as heartless as he is powerful."
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Yura was squatted next to Sango as she attended her friend. For a while now, Sango's face was etched into scrunches of focus and concern. Her violet eyes never left HoroHoro even as she answered or responded to any of Yura's inquiries and statements.
"It looks like you really like this guy," Yura stated casually. Her hawk eyes observed how Sango's lips pursed and heat blushed her cheeks.
Sango was silent for a moment, unsure of how to reply. From the very beginning, Sango found HoroHoro to be more on the obnoxious side. She had been sure that his feelings for her were superficial and she had decided a while ago that she would wait them out. After HoroHoro gave her multiple compliments on her physical appearance, she deduced that he felt nothing more than teenage lust—an infatuation at the most. So she largely ignored his advances and never stopped to consider any of his proclamations of his feelings.
Sure, HoroHoro had grown on her.
And she eventually came to think of him as another friend, annoying but precious all the same.
But now...
After the stunt that he pulled, Sango couldn't help but accept that she read him incorrectly. She couldn't deny that she now felt that, despite how open and brazen he was, HoroHoro's feelings were sincere. And she didn't know if it was the way he stood in front of her, becoming a shield when she was at her worst...or if it was the way that he trusted that she'd save him...
But...
For some reason, Sango couldn't think about what he had done without her heart forgetting how to function. "...yeah..." Sango finally replied, albeit uncomfortably. Her eyes left his wound and found his face. She inwardly winced when her heart skipped a beat. That instant was so painful, but it was soon followed by her organ remembering its purpose. And it kicked into overdrive, violently pounding into her ears. "He's...my friend, after all."
"What?" Yura looked skeptical. "There's no way you two aren't dating."
"Huh?!" Sango jumped to her feet, her entire face beet-colored. "There's no way I'd date him!" Her own words made her flinch, but that instant regret paled in comparison to the dread instilled by the wide, catty smirk on Yura's face.
"Oh, really~?" Yura purred. Her eyes moved from Sango to HoroHoro, whose lips moaned and eyelids began twitching and fluttering. "I'll keep that in mind now that he's waking up~"
"W-What do you mean by that?!" Sango barked, her fists balled up at her sides.
Yura winked and raised a finger in front of her lips as HoroHoro's eyes finally opened. "S-San...tan...?" He queried.
Sango immediately fell to her knees at his side, leaning over him. "Yes, I'm here!" She told him as her hands encompassed one of his. "HoroHoro, how do you feel?"
HoroHoro chuckled and managed to pull himself upright. "I've been worse," He admitted before it looked like something clicked inside of his brain. "Wait!" He looked around the theater and noticed that the entire area was illuminated. "What happened with—?!" His scan finally led his eyes to Yura, who was squatted on his other side. "YOU!" He raised a finger.
"Yeah, yeah..." Yura looked bored of the conversation before it began. "I lost, okay? Get over it."
HoroHoro's eyes went cold, "After what you did, you have the gall to—?"
"HoroHoro..." Sango suddenly squeezed the hand she was still clutching. He immediately turned to look at her, so she offered him a reassuring smile. "It's alright. We won."
"But..." His head lowered. He paused for his dubiative question, but proceeded with trepidation, "What about...your brother...?"
HoroHoro's hand instantly missed Sango's warmth when she released it. Her hands clenched as she looked over her shoulder. "He's...over there..." She whispered. "When this is all over, I'm going to send him off...properly."
"I see..." HoroHoro muttered solemnly. He then gave Sango a half smile, "I'll be there, if you'll let me."
She nodded weakly and whispered, "Thank you...HoroHoro."
Yura's eye twitched at the scene as colors and sparkles swirled around the pair. "So...this is what it's like to be the third wheel."
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
'This isn't real!' Kagome's eyes shot to her lap, the burning in her cheeks intensified. It was only recently that she realized that she had feelings for Ren. Admittedly, that was one of the most sleepless nights that she remembered. She wanted to think about her obligations, but her mind wouldn't stop circling back to her heart. Even hours after she buried her face into her pillow and commanded her body to rest, Kagome had found her legs kicking giddily, like a schoolgirl.
Needless to say, it was incredibly embarrassing to realize that she had been in love triangle for thousands of years. Even without her past memories, she never questioned why she felt the way she did or why she did the things that she did around Ren.
It was frustrating.
It was flustering.
And it was devastating.
After hours and hours of ruminating through her memories, Kagome had decided that she would do nothing with her feelings for Ren. Part of her felt guilty—knowing that those feelings were a betrayal to how she felt about Yoh. Another part of her realized that within a few years, her final day would arrive so it would just make it more painful to become any closer to anyone, knowing that she would be leaving them behind when she became Shaman Queen. Within a couple of years, she would die.
So it was better to let it come with gentleness, right?
That's what she told herself.
Kagome was in a complicated love triangle inside of an absurd scenario where she had to sacrifice it all to save the world—to finally save Hao. Romance was out of the question. There wasn't any room for it. So she planned to dodge the topic whenever it arrived.
But now, she was sitting directly across the table from one of the people who she was enamored with. Kagome barely lived through Keiko's casual discussion of uniting the Asakura and Higurashi family. But Tao Ran took the proposal to an entire new level. The Tao matriarch didn't take the soft approach of trying to warm up Kagome's family to the idea. Ran went in for the kill and asked her if she'd consider an official courtship with Ren.
"...well, uh..." Kagome's eyes glared down at her lap. As much as she wanted to meet Ran's eyes, she found herself unable to. The priestess felt that the woman would see through her facade if she faced her. "I don't think I can accept such a proposal right now. I'll be focusing on the Shaman Fights for a while."
"Ah, that makes sense," Ran's response made Kagome breathe a sigh of relief. "But, you are Ren's fiancee in a sense, are you not?"
Kagome stiffened at the question.
"W-Well, in a sense..." The priestess squirmed, a bead of sweat rolled down her forehead as she thought back to her agreement with Ren. 'I-If no one else takes me, he will, right?! I agreed to that!'
Back then, Kagome had felt so much gratitude to Ren.
Her spirits had been raised so high by that pact.
She felt so light and fluttery.
However, she hadn't realized that she mistook relief for genuine happiness.
She had melted, and moreover, part of her looked forward to such an outcome.
Meanwhile, Ran was amused as she watched Kagome's brain go into overdrive and her cheeks burn deeper and deeper. The girl looked as if her mind was a battlefield where countless thoughts and feelings were duking it out for dominance.
The woman chuckled and broke the girl from her combative reflection, "Forgive me. I should have been completely transparent before I asked such a thing." Kagome finally looked up, confused and still nervous. "The proposal of courtship is already being prepared. Asakura Keiko and I have spoke on the matter recently."
"Eh?!" Kagome's shock startled Manta back to consciousness. He jumped in his seat and frantically looked left and right. She ignored his question of "What?! What did I miss?!" in favor of asking, "You and Keiko-sama have been talking about me?!"
"Well, of course," Ran replied without batting an eyelash. "It's clear as day that our sons are each other's greatest romantic rivals. And teenagers tend to have more reserves than we adults so we're going to lend you assistance."
"Eh? Lend her assistance...?" Manta's innocent blink at Kagome made the girl shyly cup her cheeks.
"See? Just look at you, poor thing," Ran pointed out. "You're embarrassed to admit it, aren't you?"
"Listen..." Kagome closed her eyes and sighed. "A-Admitting it isn't the main issue..."
"Oh?" Kagome regretted how Ran's interests were instantly piqued. "Then what is...?"
"It's..." Kagome's hands lowered back to her lap as she averted her eyes. "...complicated."
"That's exactly why Keiko and I came to our agreement," Ran sighed, but without exasperation. Manta's jaw dropped at the woman's admission. "With you and your family's permission, we'd like both of our sons to formally court you until you decide who you wish to wed."
Kagome's brain blew a fuse as a plume of smoke left her ears.
Her face was red as her internal voice screamed, 'C-Courted by Yoh AND Ren?!'
"Uh... Kagome-chan..." Manta sweatdropped as he shook the girl's shoulder. "Are you okay...?"
He deadpanned at the way her entire face glowed like a Christmas tree. "What type of thoughts are you having...?"
"Eh?" Kagome blinked. She looked up at her thought bubble that showcased Ren and Yoh dressed in tuxedos, extending their hand towards her. "Nothing! It's nothing, Manta-kun!" She exclaimed while shooing the pesky, fluffy cloud away.
"Shall we continue our game?" Ran suddenly asked, subtly cocking her head to the side. "I believe it's your turn."
"R-right..." Kagome answered, purposely ignoring Manta's growing suspicious stare at her eyes settled on a card. She flipped it over and lit up to see the King of Hearts: Ren card. She immediately reached across and uncovered its match. "Got it!" She smiled.
"Very well done, Kagome-chan," The Tao lightly praised. Kagome thanked her while watching as the woman began looking across the rows of cards. Kagome's eyes began wandering because of Ran's leisurely pace.
The priestess found herself curious about the four cards remaining in the open box sitting on the side. "So, if it's not supposed to be a big secret, who did you choose as Jokers?" Kagome queried.
"I'd be happy to show you," Ran responded as she promptly slid the cards from the box. One fluid hand splayed the quartet across the table. The woman broke into a fit of chuckles as both teens jumped to their feet dramatically.
"Ehhh?!" They chorused before meeting each other's eyes, "All four Jokers are Yoh/Yoh-kun?!"
Ran hid her smile but not her chuckles behind her fan as the teens gave her deadpanned looks. "Neither one of you are amused?" She queried through her hidden smile.
"No, not at all," they said flatly. Manta redirected his deadpan look at Kagome when hers dropped and she muttered while tapping her chin, "Actually, it is a little funny."
"Kagome-chan," Ran regained the girl's attention. "You should know that Keiko and I understand why you're so conflicted over our sons, so our proposals aren't tests or trick questiond." The woman's gaze watched as Kagome's expression changed, reflecting her uncertainty. "They're merely a truce to help you sort out what you want. There may come a day when you realize that neither Yoh nor Ren are right for you."
Kagome's tight lips loosened and fell ajar as Ran spoke.
"And if that day comes, then we'll both happily resign to defeat," the woman then gestured to the cards splayed across the table. "Shall we continue our game?"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Yoh didn't know if Tao Yúan sicked so many kyonshi on them because he wanted to test them, or as an attempt to wear them down. Whatever the case was, they weren't going to show fear and back down. After the trio pushed through the grand doors, a final corpse warrior awaited them. He was tall with a fit build and the pale blue skin that was typical of the dead. His talisman was imprinted with the symbol for "Imperial Order, Five Curse Squad Leader".
The kyonshi's arms were crossed over his chest when he greeted the shamans. "I congratulate you all for making it this far, but this is where your journey comes to an end," He declared without hiding his malintent.
Bankotsu was quick to go on the offensive, hurling his inferno ball. But the kyonshi effortlessly leapt over the attack and within the blink of an eye, he was several meters across the room. His monstrous grip held Bankotsu's face between his fingers.
"Bankotsu!" Ren and Yoh called as the kyonshi lifted the teen off the ground by his face.
Before they could make a move, Bankotsu tightened his free hand and thrust his fist upward, aiming for his accoster's chin. "What?!" The shaman growled when the kyonshi disappeared and reappeared back in his original position. "That bastard is pretty agile for a doll."
"Heh, let me show you just what this doll can do!" the kyonshi challenged before tightening his form into a martial arts stance.
"Ah?!" Yoh's eyes widened, "No way! That stance looks like Dao Dan Do, but Bailong isn't here so that must be—!"
The Curse Squad Leader cackled aloud, "So you've finally figured it out? I am indeed Bailong's Master, Shamon! And now!" The kyonshi made a rabid beeline towards Ren, who grunted and readied his weapon.
"We don't care who you are!" Sango suddenly shouted as her glowing Hiraikotsu barreled between Yoh and Ren and towards Shamon. "Hmph," she huffed through her nose when her target ducked beneath her boomerang and stopped mid-track.
"It's Sango and HoroHoro!" Yoh beamed as the pair took spots by their sides. "Good to see you two made it here alright."
Ren noted the haggard front of Sango's qipao and HoroHoro's blood-stained shirt. He looked at the blunette and queried, "Don't tell me she had to rescue you?"
HoroHoro bristled and shook his fist, "Hey! I wasn't just some damsel! I was useful!"
"Bickering as usual..." a masculine voice sighed, promptly all to turn and spot Ryu leaning against the doorway. "You both seem to be in good health."
"Another one?!" Shamon gritted his teeth beneath his mask. "No matter! You children enjoy your reunion—!" The kyonshi dashed towards the teens. "IN THE OTHER WORLD!"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
He didn't require any sustenance. After the countless tormented souls that he consumed, he hadn't felt hunger for weeks. His new body was maintained by the echoes of misery of the souls in his belly. At times, the most tenacious ones would an attempt an escape. They'd catch glimpses of light when he fed on new meals and would be instilled with determination to set themselves free. He could feel their probing fingers inside of him. Theybscratched at his insides like drowning victims clawing at the surface.
It was amusing to pull aparthis haori and watch them in action. He'd look down at his stomach. Fingertip-shaped imprints would raise his skin as they fruitlessly tried digging their way from their prison. But it was all for naught, and it always would be. All of those souls were now destined to live inside him until he no longer needed them. And with his sister's assistance, he amassed so many souls that his body no longer required regular feedings.
Regardless, this feeding was personal, or rather, malicious.
The other souls were a mere means to an end, but this soul was singled out because of who she was.
Higurashi Kikyo stood at the base of her shrine's staircase. Her eyes' creased as she stared him down, as if he was a foul, repugnant creature. He merely smirked; he cared not what she thought of him.
"It's been a long time, Kikyo," He greeted the spirit with faux cordially. "Even in this false world, you can't seem to catch a break, huh?"
"Do not patronize me," The priestess commanded coolly. "We both know what you're here to do."
"Still as frigid as ever, I see," He mused. "No matter, it's not like that'll do you any good here."
"It doesn't matter," Kikyo told him. "No matter how many souls you consume, you will not defeat her. In this world, she has reached near perfection." She smirked, "I am but a tiny, dispensable fragment of Kagome's soul."
"Her soul may have reached its peak, but as a consequence, her mind is at its most fragile state," He proclaimed, silently relishing how the priestess' mouth became a straight line. "All she needs is a slight nudge and she'll be brought to her knees. Now..." He looked over his shoulder. "Sister, if you'd please."
Out from the shadow stepped his sister,
and Kikyo found herself staring into her own eyes.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
The squad that was storming the top floor had only increased after Shamon was subdued. Jun and Bailong joined their ranks after the student defeated the master. After a brief outburst from Ryu about Bankotsu's hair, the group continued their trek deeper towards Yúan's throne room.
They walked in formation through a sparsely illuminated passage. Its floor was littered with decaying skeletons and stains where humans once stood. After his shoe crashed through and shattered a bone, Ryu's face wrinkled and hissed, "This place is disgusting!"
HoroHoro noticed how Sango stiffened so he nudged Ryu with his elbow and whispered-yelled, "Hey, man! Watch your mouth!"
Ryu saw Sango's dejected expression and opened his mouth to apologize but was interrupted.
"It's fine," Ren spoke up, "We all know how disgusting this place is, and just as a warning, from here on, it'll only get worse." The scion, who headed the procession, looked at the others from over his shoulder and added, "I've said this before and I'll say it again, this is my fight. There's no need for any of you to risk your lives."
With that, they pressed on until they opened a wide, open space. Unlike the unfinished hallway, this area was finely decorated with themes of crimson and gold. Near the center of the room, a throne for giants sat.
"Looks like he isn't home," Yoh commented while looking around for signs of life.
Ren's eyes narrowed, "No. He's definitely here. This is your last chance to turn back."
Suddenly, a monstrous voice boomed and echoed through the corridor, causing the shamans to raise their guard. "Such admirable concerns for your dear friends, I'm amazed at how soft you've become since you've least my dear boy." The teens were startled when an enormous form crashed through the ceiling and parked on the throne.
"Tao Yúan—at last," Sango whispered.
HoroHoro's mouth was gaping, "He's friggin HUGE!"
"How is that even possible?!" Yoh asked Ren while pointing at the gargantuan man.
"This is Ren's old man?" Ryu questioned after he sized up Yúan.
Bankotsu looked between Yúan and Ren and gripped his chin thoughtfully, "Huh...the apple fell pretty far this time around."
"Shut up, buffo—! ARGH!" Ren's eyes widened. A jab from Yúan's pointer knocked the wind from his lungs and sent him flying.
"I'm so disappointed in you, son," Yúan stated as Bankotsu sprinted and caught Ren before he could collide with a far wall. "You let your guard down and have become too slow."
"Let's do this!" Sango commanded as she sprung into the air. "Taaaaaake THIS!" She hurled Hiraikotsu at the man. 'He really is a monster...!' She pbserved when Yúan merely parried the attack with a raised elbow.
"Ah, Sango..." The Tao head closed his eyes and sighed. "The one with so much wasted potential. You would have made an excellent assassin." He then turned his head and swatted at the girl with the back of his hand.
"Oh no, you don't!" Yoh challenged as he shielded Sango from the blow with his OverSoul. "Tao Yúan, I won't let you hurt my friends anymore!"
"None of us will!" HoroHoro and Ryu bellowed in unison. With a swing from Ryu's sword and punch from HoroHoro's gauntlets, Yúan's left arm was severed and his right shattered into ice crystals.
"Don't forget about us either!" Jun added as Bailong sprung into action. He delivered a kick to the back of Yúan's neck.
"You poor fools..." Yúan's words and neutral expression shocked the younger shamans. "Has no one taught you that hesitating while killing your foe will be your undoing?" He then flicked HoroHoro and Ryu like insects. They crashed into the walls with frightening crunches. And before anyone knew it, Yúan's other hand grabbed Bailong by his leg.
"N-No! My Bailong!" Jun cried out as her father held the kyonshi like an unloved ragdoll. His giant finger delicately held Bailong up by his arms, dangling him in a precarious T-pose.
"And Jun, this is what happens..." Yúan held his daughter's terrified gaze as he pulled at Bailong's arms. "When you don't take good care of your toys." Within seconds, Bailong's arms were stretched until they came loose from his torso. "How worthless." With those words, he allowed the kyonshi to plummet to the floor.
"You're a monster!" Jun cried out. "From this day forth, I denounce you as my father!"
"Jun, get back to safety!" Sango instructed as she and Yoh charged at Yúan.
The man sighed and asked as the pair approached, "When will you learn that your convictions are lacking...?"
"I can't wait for him to shut you up," Sango smirked as she and Yoh suddenly ceased their charge and veered off in opposite directions.
"Oh? Did you think you deceived me with that little distraction?" Yúan queried calmly as he reached behind his head and grabbed Ren as he was about to strike. He gripped Ren and brought him to his face, "Worrying about protecting your friends has made you so slow. I might as well crush you right here and—."
Bankotsu intercepted by dragging his blade clean through Yúan's belly. The man looked down and the teen's hardened face and noted, "Ah, I see... So you do have friends who don't waver. You'd make a fine Tao assassin, boy." Bankotsu stood his ground as the man questioned, "Just how many people have you slaughtered?"
Bankotsu's heart clenched in his chest.
For a split second, the room was replaced by the image of a bloodied, enflamed Tokyo.
"I'll pass," Bankotsu hissed through his teeth as Yúan's belly resealed. "That's not who I am!" He refuted while hurling a fireball at the hand that gripped Ren. 'I see!' He noted as the man released his son.
Ren landed on his feet and looked at Bankotsu, "You noticed it too, huh?"
Bankotsu nodded and replied as the other friends joined them near the throne, "We've already won."
"You children really think you can defeat me?" The giant questioned irritably as he finally rose from his seat. "It seems I haven't beaten the lesson into you yet."
"You all, stand back," Ren commanded as he took a step closer to his father. "I'm going to finish this."
Yuan's face contorted with rage, "Your weak conviction to protect your friends will cost you everything!" He reeled back his arm before hurling his fist at Ren. His son simply closed his eyes and allowed the punch to phase through him.
"H-His fist is transparent?!" Jun gasped from the sideline. "N-No way... his body is...!"
That was when the truth became clear to everyone.
They could now see through the illusion.
The entirety of Tao Yúan's massive body was an OverSoul.
"Our bodies have always been so tense when he touched us that we never noticed it was an OverSoul," Ren explained as he gazed upon his father's true form: a golden-eyed, slender man dressed in lavish attire.
"So after all of these years, this is your true form and we never knew. That's sick," Jun called.
Yoh blinked then smiled, "He looks like a normal dude without his OverSoul."
"Don't be deceived, Yoh," Ren warned. "He may have a human body, but this is a person with a heart so clouded that he hid his true form from his own children."
"My children, you're laboring under a misunderstanding," Yúan interjected coolly. "I never lied or deceived you," He told them as he undid his robes and revealed body armor. From the neck down, the man's armor was covered in dangling mortuary tablets. "These are the spirits of our great ancestors. They aggregate together to form my OverSoul: the Great Tao King."
All were silent at the Tao head explained, "It is my duty to wear them always, for to put them down would be to let my guard down and risk the entire Tao family." Yúan's eyes visibly narrowed as he recounted, "Centuries ago, we, the Tao family, were feared and betrayed because we were shamans. Ever since we were driven to these lands, we vowed never to trust anyone again. So you see..."
Suddenly, Yúan revealed a silver blade ornamented with etchings on the handle and a purple tassle. "What you consider friends are actually strangers. So if you choose to abandon your ancestors and family for these people, then you must all of our fury head on." Yúan got into an offensive position as the sword took on a blazing golden energy and formed a dragon OverSoul.
"You think I care about that?!" Ren muttered. "Maybe someone does betray me someday in the future," the heir formed his own golden OverSoul. "But that doesn't matter as long as I'm the one who decided to trust them or not!"
Jun and their friends could only watch as father and son flared their Furyoku and prepared to put their all in the blows.
"The mistakes that I'm going to make will belong to me alone!" Ren exclaimed as the giant Bason behind drew back his arm. Yúan positioned his sword and called to his ancestors. "Bason Golden Pu—!"
"Hold it right there!" Kagome suddenly commanded.
Her voice was quickly followed by an elderly man's, "Stand down, Yúan! You lost the moment your conviction wavered!"
All turned to the right and took in the group of newcomers. In the middle of them stood the beautiful Tao Ran who spoke as the elder to her left pointed a handgun at her husband. "Just admit defeat, dear," She told him, "Your death will accomplish nothing."
To Ran's immediate right was Manta, who blushed and scratched his cheek, "Oh, um... I guess it's my turn to say something cool..." But before he could follow up, he noticed how many eyes left him and moved on to Kagome. "Oh no! I missed the cue!"
Meanwhile, Yoh, Ren, Bankotsu, and Ryu were left mystified and warm-cheeked from the sight of the priestess. She no longer sported the clothing that she arrived in. Instead, Kagome donned a silky, winter hanfu with the layered dress dyed whites and pastel blues and pinks. An embroidered creamy shawl was draped over her shoulders and uppoer back. Twinkling jewelry dangled from her ears and her part of her hair was pulled into an intricate up-do as the rest pf her locks laid flat against her back.
'A-A Tao Princess...!' Ren thought as his face became increasing red.
Yoh's face relaxed into bliss as he sighed dreamily, 'Such an angel, no matter what she wears~.'
'Marry me already, damn it!' Bankotsu's internal voice screamed as he scowled and averted his gaze.
Even Jun wasn't able to keep up her serious face seeing Kagome in her dress. She cupped her hands and glowed, "See, Kagome-chan? I told you Mother would want to spoil you~!"
Kagome blushed and smiled sheepishly, 'Spoil is one thing. I was completely pampered!' After the treatment that she received before they intervened in the fight, the priestess found it difficult to be in a bad mood. She enjoyed a private bath filled with soothing salts and lotus petals. Then a girl who she recognized as Yura of the Hair brushed and styled her hair.
And Tao Ran definitely knew which buttons to press. After the girl was refreshed, the woman assured Kagome that her bath was a mere sample of what she could look forward to when she visited them again.
Yúan finally released the tension in his body and sighed. He knocked against his shoulders and mumbled, "You kids sure gave me a workout. It's been a while since I've had to take matters into my own hands. Hm?" His brows rose when Kagome suddenly sauntered towards him.
It was his first time seeing the girl up close, and she was indeed a petite creature. Her large, fluffy bangs completely obscured her face from his view. "Tao Yúan..." Her voice was surprisingly soft. Yúan would have welcomed it if it weren't for the aura swirling around the girl. She raised her head and revealed her silent ferocity, "I've been wanting to speak to you, privately."
Yúan swallowed a lump in his throat and looked past the girl to his wife, who merely smiled and shook her head. His eyes then darted to Jun, who raised her fan to her mouth and looked away. He looked at Ren, who merely smirked and crossed his arms. When he turned his gaze back to the girl, she had already turned her back and headed for the door.
She paused, then slowly craned her head over her shoulder, "Don't drag your feet."
'R-Ren is in trouble with this one!' Yúan stiffened but complied and followed by the girl. Kagome didn't turn back to check on as she exited the throne room. Unbeknownst to her, the Tao heir wore the ghost of a smile. '...she'll make a fine wife for him.'
Meanwhile, Ryu scratched the back of his head and looked befuddled, "So I guess, it's over?" He followed the group as Tao Ching beckoned them to follow him. Jun nodded to him as she cradled Bailong's arms in her arms and asked him how he was feeling.
Sango and HoroHoro took up the rear of the group as they were led away. HoroHoro was too busy grinning and teasing Ren to notice Sango's eyes on him.
'Fuzzy and fluffy...' Sango thought as the fluttering in her chest reminded her of how Kagome used to describe the way Yoh made her feel. 'And so warm that I think I'll melt...'
"Hey..." Sango found herself whispering, "HoroHoro..." Just his name took her breath away, her voice was so tiny that she almost didn't hear it herself.
But still, as if his ears were trained for her voice, HoroHoro turned his smile to her. "What's up, San-tan?" She was surprised to find that his volume matched hers.
"Um..." Sango shuffled, praying that her face didn't catch fire. "You looked kinda cool today."
For once, HoroHoro was speechless, and stopped in his tracks.
Sango mirrored him; neither noticed that the rest moved on without them.
After a moment of HoroHoro visibly processing her words, he broke out into a wide grin. The warmth in his cheeks complemented hers and he replied, "You were watching me, so I had no choice."
Authoress' Notes: I struggled with this chapter more than I expected to. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake writing for a shounen anime/manga when my greatest writing weakness is action/fight sequences. After being stuck on this for weeks, I decided to scrap writing all of the fight sequences, despite the correlating Shaman King episodes/chapters having many fights. I tried to play more towards my strengths and allude to fights while focusing on characters and relationships. I think a lot of people don't read this fanfic for cool fight sequences anyway, right? Let me know if you all don't mind me skimming over fights whenever the fight is consequential to the story. I'd appreciate the feedback!
Moving along, great news: I have chapters 54-70 outlined out so hopefully I can get back to regular updates! For those readers who read this story for character relationships, especially fluff and romance, without spoiling anything, approximately chapters 57-65 will be focused on that. I'm very excited for them because there's so much cuteness bubbling inside of my head! Sometimes I wish I could skip over the angst, fighting, etc to write nothing but that! But alas, this story wouldn't be the same without the hard times. Until next time!