The screen flickered for a bit before the author appeared, sitting behind a desk.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 here and welcome back to another chapter of Hanyo of Snow.*
*About right on time for once, but let's move onto this chapter shall we.*
*In this chapter Touma, Kagome, and Yura deal with the bandits camped near the stream when Mittsume Jōrō ambushes them again, showing off the power the Midori Pearl.*
*Hope that you all enjoy it, but first the disclaimers.*
*I do not own Inuyasha, it belongs to the amazing Rumiko Takahasi.*
*Finally just sit back, relax, maybe put some music on, and enjoy. I'll see you all at the end of the chapter.*
The author snapped his fingers, getting the screen to flicker to static as the chapter begins.
The Midori Pearl
(Inuko POV - Mikage Creek Bank - 5 minutes later)
Kaede finally decided to take a break around a creek bank that she recognized, supposedly it runs alongside the village eventually. I was glad that she did admit her hand was bothering her, she had been going nonstop.
Looks like she was just trying to get back home as soon as possible.
Although shortly after we stopped I jumped away from here when I picked up the scent of a yokai nearby.
This was a new one for me, it smelled like some kind of snake mixed with freshly forged steel. Took a minute before I found some tracks that lead into the creek, quite a large sized one too.
However the trail ended there, probably at most a day old.
Whatever it was probably moved somewhere further downstream to hunt. Still better tell Kaede about it.
None of my concern yet such a yokai could pray on any humans among the creek.
"So there is nothing here?" Shippō asked while I shook my head.
"Not anymore there is, just moved somewhere else along the creek. Got its smell, so I should know if it comes back." I said as I jumped into the treeline, heading back to Kaede.
"So you were only smelling at shadows like dad was." Shippō said as I came to a stop. "He did the same when mom died, smelling shadows and carrying me around."
He looked a little sad at that and his ears drooped a bit as I sighed.
I think I know what he was getting at.
"Just was checking for something that I wasn't sure about for Kaede. If it was anything familiar she could handle it with us." I sighed out while shaking my head. "As soon as Kaede is back to her village."
"You worried she would end up like Kikyō?" Shippō said while shaking his head. "Well she won't, Kaede will be alright."
Hate to say it, but he partly got me there.
"That I can believe with how stubborn she is. Got that from both me and Kikyō when she was around your age, compared to human years anyway. Plus I have been looking forward to cutting something open." I said, getting him to nod.
"I think I can see it." He said with a grin before I flicked his ear. "Ow."
"Don't get cheeky with me kit." I said as he rubbed his ear. Before smirking. "Still thanks for the effort Shippō."
He just nodded with a huff as he laughed before I started to resume jumping from treetop to treetop. With him looking a little concerned.
"But are Touma and Kagome going to be okay?" Shippō said, getting me to smile.
"They're with the hairy bitch, of course they will... for this era anyway. Besides, we'll see them soon enough." I said, getting him to nod as we continued back to Kaede.
Silently hoping that they would be alright, of course if it was just the omukade they should be alright.
But if what Myōga said was correct I do hope they will be okay...
(Kagome POV - Middle of the Forest - An hour later)
It had been a while since our first fight with Mittsume Jōrō, but no signs of her at least near us. Of course there were a few screams ringing out around us, but it has been awhile since the last one...
Myōga had reassured us that we were not that far from the waterfall he mentioned, the area was starting to get kind of rocky too.
Still there was no sign of any other bandits or the kid they had taken hostage...I really hope that they are alright...
"Where the fuck is anyone, I know this place is pretty big but someone should have turned up by now!" A loud voice shouted out, breaking the silence.
Seems like we found someone, it didn't sound that far from us.
"Yura, can you please get us closer." Touma asked, getting her to nod as he reached for Shusūi and I gripped my hama-ya as her hairs wrapped around us.
"Give me a moment master." Yura said before she pulled herself in the treetops. We were pulled along by her hairs for a moment before coming to a stop.
Being let down as Yura jumped down as we had reached the halfway point to the village, a stream ran along rocky banks and not too far in the distance we could see the waterfall.
And three bandits camped out near some rock outcroppings. One with a bow standing next to a young boy who looked a little older than Sōta with his arms bound by ropes.
"Give them a bit more time, this village had been through Yomi and we already lost Zan. We move from this spot and we are dead. Either from the boss or the village." One with several scars on his chest said, getting the only bald one to seethe.
"This whole plan has gone to shit!" He growled out before drawing a tanto and marching to the kid. "Let's just kill him!"
The kid cowered and I went to notch an arrow, but the other bandit did it and fired an arrow. Getting the bald bandit to yell out in pain as it nicked off part of his ear, clutching it.
Me and Touma winced at the sight.
He deserved it but still.
"Killing the kid won't solve anything and this part of the forest is quickly becoming a cursed ground for bandits and on the other side is a hunting party after us. We wait a little more time for the others, if not we head back around the village and release him for a distraction. He's more valuable to us alive." The bow wielding bandit said as he stood between them and the kid.
Causing the other two bandits to back off as we stepped back int9 the treeline.
"So Mittsume Jōrō hasn't been here yet and the kid is alright for now." I sighed out as we began to move towards the outcropping.
"But not too long, for all we know she could be close by." Myōga said.
"The bandits shouldn't be too much of a problem for us master, except for the one with the bow." Touma sighed out. "Will be a little bit trickier to deal with."
"But we'll manage, still what to do with them afterwards?" I sighed out.
Despite everything it was still perhaps another hour's travel to the village at least. They said there was a hunting party yet if we did bring the bandits to them it would also lure Mittsume Jōrō back towards there if she wasn't already on the way here. Leaving them here would result in the same and letting them go now would only leave them targets to her.
Granted they did kidnap and hold a hostage and deserve whatever is coming to them, but leaving them to be hunted down to someone like Mittsume Jōrō is just another thing coming.
"I think I have an idea, but dragging them along will only slow us down and I think we should focus on the kid first." Yura said, and looking back at them he tried to hide away from them. "That three eyed wretch is already after all of us, we could hold out here after getting the kid away. The perfect conditions for master."
Yura did have a point here, but it seemed like me and Touma had another idea as we looked at each other and nodded.
"Save it for when she shows up, let's just get him away from them for now." Touma said as we quickly made a plan to deal with them.
I steadied my breath as I hid in the brush, notching an arrow as the bandits began to notice the mist forming atop of the stream. With it covering a thin yet thick layer atop of it as far as they could see.
Unaware that he was actually approaching from the opposite side of myself, a hand running in the stream and being covered by it.
Looks like they were behaving exactly like we thought. The one with the bow stepping towards the kid while notching an arrow, the other two drawing tantos.
"You two take the sides, I'll stay back. This has to be some kind of yokai." He said while standing over the kid.
"Got it." The scarred bandit said as he drew to the side towards the stream. The other one just snarled as he came towards my direction.
Okay just needed to distract him.
As he got closer to the treeline I released the arrow, intending to strike a tree or the ground to grab his attention. Only for it to deflect off a tree trunk and the very tip of the arrow to bury into the middle of his foot.
He slowly looked down and would have let out a scream if Yura's hairs didn't wrap around his mouth and arms, pulling him into the trees.
Not what I had in mind but it worked.
I began to approach the kid and the now wielding bandit as the scarred bandit was struck with an ice sphere, freezing his arms in place before he was dragged above too.
The bow wielding bandit released an arrow into the mist, cracking an ice barrier upon impact with the mist starting to dissipate.
"Show yourself!" He yelled out as the kid began to look around fearfully. Until he focused on me hiding behind the outcropping.
He looked surprised as I placed a finger to my lips and gave him a reassuring smile, the boy getting the message as the bandit fired another arrow into the mist.
I began to creep up to him as he reached for another arrow, only to steep back as he dodged a slash from Shūsui.
Touma slashed again and managed to clip the bowstring, the bandit growing as he reached for an arrow. Before being smacked down to the ground
as I struck the back of his head with my hama-ya.
Groaning in pain before being wrapped in Yura's hairs, the arrows being emptied from his quiver before he was strung with the others in a tree. Struggling while Yura jumped down.
"Well that went well, nice touch with the bandit there Kagome." Yura said, getting me to nod while I tried not to look at her.
I had only meant for a distraction, not to aim for his foot.
Not ashamed of the latter though...
Me and Touma approached the kid as he looked at us with a mix of fear and curiosity.
"It's okay we're here to help, we will get you back home soon." Touma said as a mist began to generate from his hand to form an icy claw over two of his fingers.
"Are you a hanyo?" The kid asked, getting him to nod.
Took a few seconds, but he was cut free and Touma dispelled the ice as the ropes fell to the ground.
He looked at the string up bandits in fear as he stepped back before bumping into me. He was startled a bit, calmed down when I gave him a reassuring smile and bent down to his level.
"Don't worry I promise that we will make sure they never bother you again. My name is Kagome and they are Touma and Yura." I said, gesturing to them. "Now what is your name?"
The kid looked at Touma and Yura before ducking behind me as he glimpsed the latter.
"T-Tatsu, my name is Tatsu." He said before ducking behind me. "Please keep the creepy lady from me."
"You have got to be kidding me." Yura said while I held back a chuckle.
"Nice to meet you Tatsu, don't worry about her. She's actually...well a little better than what you're probably thinking. But you can trust her around us that is." I said, with Tatsu looking at her for a bit before nodding.
She huffed at that while Touma shook his head as I stood back up.
"Hopefully we'll be able to get you home soon, maybe we will be able to see the others from your village soon." He said, getting Tatsu to flinch as tears started to well up in his eyes.
Both me and Touma looked at each other and nodded as I went to comfort him.
"Tatsu what's wrong? I'm sure they are worried about you too, you can tell us what's wrong if you want. But it is not safe out here for long." I asked.
He was silent for a few moments before nodding.
"T-They are going to be mad at me. Uncle and grandpa warned me not to leave the village alone even to the hokura just outside. B-But it was fixed and I went to pray that everything will be okay. H-He yelled at me, but they attacked and..." Tatsu said before wiping his tears.
Ah, I think I get it now. I suppose Touma, Sōta, and myself at one point.
But nothing quite like this...
So how do I put this to him...
"Of course they are going to be mad, you snuck outside the village when you weren't supposed to. Knowing just how much trouble has been happening lately." I said, getting him to look down.
Deciding to go the blunt and honest way while trying to raise my voice.
"While they will be mad for that, they are more concerned for your safety. Your uncle saw what happened, and of course they would be worried for you, they said there was a hunting party looking for you Tatsu. We'll get you back soon enough." I said, getting him to look at me and nod. I promise you will be okay."
"Promise?" He asked, and I smiled at him.
"I promise, but you have to face your uncle and grandpa when you get back." I said.
Tatsu looked a little dejected, but nodded grimly.
"Good, but why did you decide to sneak out anyway?" I asked him.
"It was destroyed by omukade recently. I used to pray with my family for the conflicts to end. No one had any time to come with me, it wasn't supposed to be long..." Tatsu said, getting me and Touma to sigh.
"Next time just wait until the time is right, you wait until everything will be over. I can promise you that it will be soon." Touma said with a smile, before shaking his head with a sigh. "Of course there is still an omukade to deal with first."
At this Tatsu freaked out and the bound bandits began to shake, sounds muffled by hairs keeping their mouths shut.
"Don't worry we won't let her get you." I said, trying to reassure the boy.
"Still what should we do with the deadweight? If it was me I would just leave them here, but do you two have a different idea?" Yura asked, flexing her fingers.
Causing the bandit to struggle out even more as they were lowered to the ground before pulled back up rapidly.
Dipping them down again only caused their struggles to increase.
Pretty sure Yura was trying to hide a smirk...
"How about we give them a choice, either they come this way to the village or we let them go in the direction of Mukade Jōrō who is hunting down the others. What do you think Kagome?" Touma asked me.
Honestly that could work, considering the village is looking for Tatsu and bringing them with us will benefit them.
If not, at least they have a chance of not being killed by her either way.
"Yura can you please unbind their mouths so we can get an answer. I think that is a good idea." I said as Tatsu hid behind me while I reached for an arrow.
We were going to give them a chance to run, otherwise not giving them anymore to waste.
"Fine, but if any of them attack they are omukade bait." Yura said as she flexed a finger.
That we can agree on.
"I'll take my chances, take them to their deaths! I'll live longer!" The bald bandit shouted as the other two looked at him.
"Not even a moment, honestly we'll take the village." The scarred bandit said while the archer compatriot sighed.
"Yura please let him down." Touma said, the bandit letting out a scream as he crashed to the ground. "I meant gently, just give him a tanto and take the others with us."
"It should be a straight line from that rock formation." Myōga said, pointing at it as one of Yura's hairs flicked the tanto at the bandit.
Yelping as it landed next to the foot I shot earlier, he glanced at us and saw me notch the arrow.
Promptly picked it up and began running/limping away.
"I'll see you all in the pits of Yomi! Of course it will be a long time!" He said, hobbling for the treeline.
"Either he is braver or dumber than I thought." The archer bandit said, getting Yura and I to nod.
"Still if we need to make it before the walking death wish brings that three eyed wretch down upon us." Yura said.
Jumping into the outcropping and swinging the bandits across the stream as me and Touma began to follow after her.
"Tatsu please stay in front of us, you'll be safer there." I said as we crossed the stream.
"Okay." He said, getting me to smile as we approached the treeline on the otherside of the shore.
Until I began to sense something.
It was faint but getting pretty close.
Wasn't the Shikon jewel shard, I can still sense it was still in the direction of the village. And that seemed to be moving slowly around the same area.
No this one was getting closer and seemed to be fluctuating between...one and two shards...and it was getting closer...
Oh this was bad, how did she get her hands on more of them!
I came to a stop and began to notch an arrow.
"Kagome, what's wrong?" Touma asked as stopped next to me, placing a hand on Shusūi.
"It's Mittsume Jōrō, I don't know how but she has another shard or two on her and I can't tell the difference." I said, my tone filled with dread.
Even with just one shard she would be so much more dangerous.
"Yura can you please get them and Tatsu to a safe place?" Touma said as we saw the bald bandit reach the treeline on the other side of the shore.
"So long suckers!" He yelled, before a section of her body slammed him into the ground. Wrapping around the bandit and dragging him into the brush. "Help me suckers!"
His screams died out and were replaced with a vicious crunch, Tatsu clutching my leg.
"Master, if that three eyed wretch has multiple jewel shards on her, are you sure about leaving this to the girl and yourself." Yura said, drawing Benigasumi.
"I'm sure, as soon as you get them to safety, the better it will be for everyone." He said with a small smile.
"Besides, she is after the both of us. We can hold her off for a minute." I said before looking at Tatsu. "You need to leave with Yura."
"Please don't!" He cried out, sounding fearful and worried.
Honestly right now I was not too keen on fighting Mittsume Jōrō. Especially if she has jewel shards now.
But I will never back down to her or any other omukade we come across.
Not just for my own fears too.
"Tatsu we will be alright, but if you are here the omukade will get you. I promise that we'll be back." I said, getting him to nod.
Before letting out a startled yelp as he and the bandits were pulled into the tree line suddenly by Yura's hairs. The ones around our bodies unwinding as she shook her head before gaining a determined expression.
"I won't be long, just be careful you two." Yura said before she pulled herself into the treetops and out of our vision.
Looking back with a sigh, I kept the arrow notched as we began to head to the stream while hearing some rustling from the other side of the creek. Dreading what to expect if she really had two jewel shards.
If Mittsume Jōrō was like her grandmother with the whole Shikon Jewel then it was going to be difficult to put her down.
Nowhere near there, yet still difficult.
"Ready for this Kagome?" Touma asked me.
"Not quite, especially with the shard or shards. I can't tell honestly. But it was bound to happen." I said, getting him to nod before noticing something. "Thought that you would have run already Myōga?"
The old flea shook his head as he looked ahead.
"Lady Inuko's orders and aside from Yura this is probably the safest place in the entire forest." Myōga said before we all heard a loud crack. "Incoming!"
My eyes widened as a tree was flung towards us, barley ducking out of the way as it crashed and rolled into the rock outcropping. Us running to the stream as Mittsume Jōrō emerged from the treeline.
With myself blanching in disgust as she snapped up what looked like a bit of an arm before she began to rise up.
I released the arrow and made a run for it to the stream with Touma.
Unfortunately it only grazed her, doing very little as she twisted out of the way. Did take some satisfaction and her growling out in pain.
"That hair yokai is not here, but it doesn't matter. I'll make her pay and you frosty halfbreed pay for that injury and everything else!" Mittsume Jōrō roared out as I reached to grab another arrow.
A pit formed in my stomach as I saw her grin as she tore open a pouch that hung around one of her arms. A small, light green sphere fell out and I could sense it to be what I thought to be a pair of Shikon Jewel shards.
Instead it was that and something mixed in.
Whatever it was had both Touma and Myōga shocked.
"Kagome, you said that you sensed the Shikon Jewel from there?" Touma said as he began to step into the stream.
"Yes, why?" I asked, feeling dread at his tone.
"That is the Midori Pearl, one of the Niji iro Shinjuku, the Rainbow Pearls. Think of seven gems with each one about 1/10th as strong as the Shikon Jewel." He said, getting my eyes to widen.
Okay that was bad, worse than having two jewel shards. If she gets her hands on the one in the village, it could be like Hiten all over again!
Well probably not as bad, yet certainly more ruthless and no reservations of killing us at all!
"All seven pearls belong under the control of Lord Kirinmaru and those serving under him. Perhaps that is why Yotsume was here, to hand off the Midori Pearl!" Myōga said fearfully, getting Mittsume Jōrō to laugh.
"So you know of this, no matter. I kill either of the halfbreeds and I get to keep this." She said with a grin, holding the pearl and bringing it to her face.
Except she dropped it when I fired an arrow into her hand, a small burst of reiryoku rupturing the back of it and getting her to drop the pearl.
She yelled in pain before grabbing it in another hand and slamming it over her third eye before I could grab another arrow.
Letting out a roar before ripping out the arrow, the damage it did healing up along with some of the smaller scars along her body. I released the arrow, only for it to bounce off her exoskeleton.
Mittsume Jōrō letting out a laugh as her teeth sharpened and two massive fangs jutting out of her mouth. Her third eye glowing with a lightish green hue before returning to normal.
This was bad...
"Finally! Now time to die!" Mittsume Jōrō said as she began to rotate and charge towards us as the ground became colder.
Seems that while she definitely got stronger and can heal now...
A spiked ice wall rose up from the stream as the ground became covered in mist, her trying to twist out of the way. Which proved too late as part of her midsection crashed into the wall, several ice spikes digging into her.
...she seems just as reckless as before.
I notched and fired an arrow as she twisted to pry the ice spikes out, it landed in a spot she removed yet seemed to do little more than annoy her.
Several of the areas punctured had already closed up, but others had not.
Great, unlike Mukade Jōrō her healing was imperfect, we can get around that. And make her suffer more...
"You'll both pay!" Mittsume Jōrō roared out as she feared back to attack.
"Like you could get the chance!" I said as I drew closer to Touma and notched an arrow. "So how much damage do you think we can do to her?"
"Considering her healing factor and carapace affected by the Midori Pearl, not that much. And then there is her burrowing and range to consider." He sighed out, getting me to smile.
"So stick together and dish out as much as we can." I said with a smile as Mittsume Jōrō charged forward.
"Exactly." Touma said with Myōga nodded, both of us not intending to budge until Yura gets back.
(Yura POV - A Clearing - Two Minutes Later)
"There that should be secure enough, now was there any among you with shards you knew of?" I inquired to the bandits.
Once again strung up and bound in a tree, a small clearing a bit of a way from the waterfall. Having just set quite a few wires to alert and bringing a few trees down on the three eye wretch depending on how she enters.
May or may not have rigged the bandit's tree to fall as well, I could care less about them surviving unless for tempting bait to lure her there.
Given her grudge it would be a foolish hope.
Wouldn't it out with whoever is pulling her strings.
At least the kid has been quiet and stopped calling me a creepy lady, having been silent now and clutching the lone tanto in its sheath that had belonged to the bandits originally.
I was not going to leave the kid completely defenseless.
Anyway it was possible that three eyed wretch got the extra shards from someone among them. Honestly it was probably not likely...
Yet the only other they could have gotten more shards in about an hour was a prospect that filled me with dread...and one I didn't wish to trouble with master or the girl too...
That accursed yokai already held a strong enough grip on their fears after yesterday...if it was behind this it will only get worse.
"No, if anyone did either they hid it really well. Everyone stole everything from anyone else." The archer bandits said, getting me to sigh as I lowered myself to the ground.
Looks like there was no honor among thieves with that lot, still this was bad news for master and the girl as this could be another 'test'...
"Fine, yell to the kid if you see anything coming this way including the village." I said, uncaring for the grim looks they gave me.
Given their choices was either to be torn up and digested or whatever in Yomi that three eyed wretch was planning, or to be executed by villagers in retribution they both wisely decided with the choice for a longer yet rapidly fleeting lifespan.
Or I find a way to dispose of them without contradicting my order, but time was on their side today.
And onto the kid.
"If they holler at seeing a human, lure them between this group of trees if it's us or your village. The rest is trapped." I said while pointing to them, getting the kid to nod shakily. "I'll be at the stream, tell anyone else there if we don't come back first."
Considering what she could possibly be doing with all the bandits disappearing, the villagers turning up could also be a deterrent to the three eyed wretch. With more jewel shards she could have easily destroyed the village to claim it.
Things were starting to remind me more and more of the mess with the overgrown weed...
"Will they be alright?" Tatsu asked, getting me to sigh.
"If you are worried about them being killed by that three eyed wretch then there is nothing to worry about, master and Kagome have faced worse. Unscathed, probably not." I said as I began to walk away. "But if you are worried about that omukade overall, don't. Even if she escapes by the end of the day she'll be dead."
And I'll make sure of that, if this is indeed another test I'm going to rip everything about it apart!
Starting with the three eyed wretch and then whoever is behind her!
The kid nodded nervously as I took off, wondering how master and Kagome were doing.
(Touma POV)
Great, she is starting to learn from experience.
Shifting my foot to raise ice spires from the stream crookedly, Mittsume Jōrō rotating away from them as she tried to take a bite at me. Jumping back as she snapped a hastily created ice pillar in her jaws. Letting out a growl before pulling back as Kagome's arrow bounced off her carapace.
For a few minutes now we have been stalemated yet things looked like they could shift into Mittsume Jōrō's favor.
Her regeneration meant most of the damage we did could heal up, it didn't seem to work on lost limbs though. Managed to snare one of her legs and was forced to rip it off before I could drive Shusūi into the split in her exoskeleton.
Kagome however has been aiming and firing arrows into the stump any chance she gets.
Or really any opening we could get.
With the stream at my feet I've been able to use my powers more effectively without costing much yoki. Covering the surrounding ground in mist made it difficult for the omukade to predict where exactly they could come from.
Yet while still reckless Mittsume Jōrō was starting to adapt our tactics and trying to bite at us more after trying to take a chunk out of Kagome's side and taking delight in her reaction.
Prompting me to snare her leg in retaliation.
"Above you!" Myōga shouted, breaking me from my thoughts as me and Kagome looked up to see Mittsume Jōrō diving down on us while the back end of her tail swung towards me.
Hastily raising some barriers from the stream, me and Kagome split off as the omukade tried to ram into her.
My barriers were smashed through as she adjusted her body, her tail trying to slam into me as Kagome notched an arrow. Barely managing to avoid being bitten as I quickly raised another barrier.
Crashing into it as Kagome ran back towards me, bringing an ice sphere to my hand as Mittsume Jōrō turned and began to chase after her.
Throwing it and getting the omukade to yell in pain as it burst open and covered part of her body in frost. Which only increased as Kagome fired the arrow, smirking as it landed and bursting apart some of the frost and carapace with reiryoku.
Mittsume Jōrō snarled as she bent back, breaking the rest of the frost before swiping at us.
Barely having any time to raise a wall as me and Kagome jumped back from it, trying to slash at it with Shusūi. Only for the blade to bounce off her as the omukade pulled back from the mist.
"How many more of those do you have?" Kagome said as we grouped back once again, notching an arrow.
"Two more, barely had a chance to make more." I said, bringing one to my hand.
I created a few while we were ambushing the bandits just in case, used them to either cover parts of her body in frost or create mist to blind her.
Helped keep her at bay for a while now...wait a minute...
I was broken from my thoughts and smiled.
"Kagome, look down and brace yourself." I said.
She looked confused before grinning and training her bow at Mittsume Jōrō who began to rotate towards us.
"What do you mean, brace yourself-!" Myōga tried to say before clinging onto my shoulder as we were jerked back followed by a loud snap.
A large branch from the fallen tree slammed into her body, splintering and causing her to stop. Before another was one forced into her mouth.
Gagging her screams as Benigasumi was stabbed into the split in her exoskeleton.
"Well I was gone for a moment, but not bad giving it to the three eyed wretch like that. Can't believe she could have gotten even uglier." Yura said as she twisted her blade, getting the omukade to wreath in pain.
"Her grandmother was even uglier." Kagome said with a smirk as Yura pulled back her wakizashi. Jarring it loose and catching it in her hand with a smirk that rivaled Kagome's own.
"I'll have to take your word for it." She said before turning to me with a frown. "Everyone should be safe master, but there is something all too familiar with this situation. I take it she never told you about the shards?"
"No, it was actually one of the Rainbow Pearls." I said, getting her to look surprised.
"How...never mind." Yura said while shaking her head, followed by a loud snap as Mittsume Jōrō broke the branch in her jaws. "Shall we continue this later, there is a three eyed wrench I would like to cut up."
"Indeed." I said, feeling a bit of dread at what Yura was insinuating before squashing it down.
Like she said it could wait til later.
"Finally decided to stop hiding, no matter I'll find where you're hiding my next meal after I bury you all!" Mittsume Jōrō snarled at us.
"We have heard better threats from an overgrown weed." Yura said, getting Kagome to hold back a chuckle while I smiled at that.
The omukade let out a furious roar before Yura flicked her fingers and more branches slammed into her. Only irritating her as she charged towards us.
However the arrow Kagome shot into an old scar and split part of it with a little reiryoku did cause some more irritation.
Until some of the damage began to heal instantly.
"Touma we'll cover you." Kagome said as she notched another arrow, getting me to nod.
Placing my hands in the stream as Yura kept forwards, the mist started to increase.
Just need to be careful not to dry it out.
Mittsume Jōrō tried to rotate towards me, but found one of her arms and several of her legs bound by hairs. Yura seemed to be struggling to hold her back as the omukade began to thrash about.
"Not this time!" She growled out, moving her body to strike back at Yura. Growling in pain as Kagome fired another arrow, this time landing in the split. Causing Mittsume Jōrō in even more pain from a brief pulse of reiryoku.
However the hairs holding her back began to snap before Yura slammed one hand into the other.
Pulling back the hairs violently and cutting off three of the legs halfway at the joints.
Mittsume Jōrō growled in pain before she began to rotate, snapping another arrow Kagome fired at her and charged forward. Kagome was being pulled back as she notched another arrow, the omukade cutting a swath into the ground.
Looking around I saw that I had formed a good number of jagged ice shards, already seeing some of Yura's hairs starting to wrap around them. Okay that should be enough for now.
Placing two recently created ice spheres into my kimono before beginning to create another pair and maybe some shards before rejoining the fray.
"Die!" Mittsume Jōrō roared out as she rotated and charged towards me. Yura flinging the shards towards her only seemed to slow her down a little bit. Seemingly ignoring the pain as she was in as several managed to impale her, the rest breaking after impact.
I felt myself being yanked back and up out of the stream, yet Mittsume Jōrō still chased after me. Grinding the shards into the ground before rising up after me.
Seeing the ice sphere in my hand I had an idea, bringing another out and combining them together. Setting it on my left arm and drawing Shusūi out.
Mittsume Jōrō continued after me, growling in pain from more shards impacting her as she began to slow her rotation and burst the spheres as she drew close.
Creating a crude looking tortoise shelled tinbe on my arm, grunting and feeling pain shoot up my arm from her impacting/biting into the shield with a surprised look on her face.
It was heavy and my arm was feeling a little numb, but better than being bitten in half or her biting an entire chunk of my body.
Quickly regaining her composure Mittsume Jōrō bit through the top part of the tinbe as I thrusted Shusūi forward, cutting along her ribs and one of her arms. Getting the omukade to yell in pain.
Which increased even more as an arrow and Benigasumi impacted her back, the latter being pulled out.
Noticing some of Yura's hairs wrapping around the remains of the tinbe before detaching it from my arm and flinging it into Mittsume Jōrō's face.
"My eyes!" She yelled out as it broke on her face, rubbing it with all six arms as I was placed back onto the ground.
"You okay Y/N?" Kagome asked as she notched and fired another arrow as the omukade thrashed about, striking her back again. Yet it seemed like she didn't notice the second arrow strike her. "Damn it."
"Arm a little numb, but alright." I said as Mittsume Jōrō turned towards us, several scratches marring her face with several of them closing up before charging at us.
Still briefly after being struck by more ice shards.
"Can't say I've seen a shield like that master." Yura said, pulling back before flinging some more ice shards as the omukade rotated. Breaking them off of her back. "Any other ideas?"
"I think I got one, just need an ice shard." I asked, heading back to the stream and raising an ice wall from it as Mittsume Jōrō rotated towards Kagome. Smashing into the wall as she stopped spinning.
Kagome managed to fire an arrow into one of the legs Yura severed, destroying the rest of it with a small burst of reiryoku as the omukade growled in pain. Kagome smirked and was pulled back before Mittsume's Jōrō tail smashed into the spot where she had just been.
I let out a sigh of relief as I fixed an ice sphere onto a shard as Yura flung it along with a few more.
Mittsume Jōrō battered most of them aside with her body and tail while about three of them managed to strike her, including the one with the ice sphere attached. Baring her fangs before noticing mist starting to come off her side.
Trying to rotate before frost and a jagged ice spike emerged, splitting her carapace and who knows what it is doing to the inside of her body. If things went well probably something similar to ice wedging eroding a rock. But I wasn't sure how exactly it would affect her.
Only that it will hurt like all Yomi for as long as it lasts. With the Midori Pearl I wasn't sure how much of that she could immediately heal from it, but it will provide a big target.
Mist stopped seeping from her side as she pulled back, growling in pain as the frost cracked and a pair of frost covered legs just hung limply.
"Damn yo-" Mittsume Jōrō yelled out as Kagome fired an arrow at the frost, cutting the omukade off as a large burst of reiryoku shattered the ice and almost everything it covered.
"Finally got her good." Kagome panted out with a smirk as the omukade roared out in pain before charging at her.
She notched an arrow as I looked at Yura who nodded, generating mist off of Shusūi before hastily raising an ice wall midstream.
It was smashed through almost instantly, Mittsume Jōrō tried to snap at Kagome. Only for her and myself to be pulled upward by Yura's hairs. Kagome fired another arrow, only for it to deflect off of her carapace.
She began to rotate and faced towards me, all three eyes widening as I fell downwards with Shusūi in its longmaul form towards her back.
Quickly recoiling back as it smashed into the ground, I dispersed the ice surrounding Shusūi and fished out the remaining ice spheres which Yura took in her hairs.
Seems like she wanted to avoid getting hit by it as much as possible. Still Ihad thought of that.
Mittsume Jōrō rotated towards Yura who pulled herself back before the spheres collided with her body, breaking and dousing segments of her body with mist.
Slowing down briefly as the water inside coated them in frost before resuming and cutting a small trench in the stream bank, breaking the frost and another arrow shot by Kagome.
"Great, she seems to be learning now." Kagome said, as she was pulled back from the omukade starting to barreling towards her.
As Mittsume Jōrō charged forward, Kagome smiled as she notched an arrow.
"Yura can you push her back a bit?" Kagome asked as she landed next to us.
Looking past her, I think I guessed what Kagome had in mind and so did Yura who smirked. Honestly if this worked it could do a lot of damage.
"I can, just stay clear master." Yura said, getting me to nod as I sheathed Shusūi and made a break for it with Kagome doing the same from the other side.
Mittsume Jōrō briefly stilled, trying to choose between me and Kagome. Only for that choice to be made when an arrow glanced off her exoskeleton. Charging at Kagome as she was pulled towards the stream.
Pausing as Yura bombarded her with the last of the ice shards I had created, some of them managing to dig into the omukade as she began to rotate. Breaking or grounding down the remaining shards as I reached the stream.
Generating a lot of mist around my hands as Mittsume Jōrō stopped and faced Yura.
Unaware of the large net of hair forming in front of her.
"Oni-Bi Gushi!" Yura shouted, lighting the hairs on fire as Mittsume Jōrō began to back away. "Burn you three eyed wrench!"
"No!" Mittsume Jōrō cried out, all three eyes wide with panic and ignored an arrow and small bit of reiryoku impacting her back as raised her lower half to shield her face as she began to scuttle back.
Honestly I don't blame her considering my own aversion to heat, yet she was walking back into our trap.
It took a moment for Mittsume Jōrō to realize her mistake with over half of her lower body now resting over the stream.
Now!
I pressed my hands into the stream, channeling as much yoki as I could into the stream as ice spires jutting out in all different directions. All having wedged or marred tips that quickly began to rip into Mittsume Jōrō.
Screaming in pain as her lower body was cut into, still covering her upper body. Sacrificing chunks of her body and numerous legs to break free on it all.
Only for the pain to continue as Yura's hair net crashed and began to constrict around the omukade. Burning her as she began to thrash about, the thrashing increased as Kagome fired an arrow into some split plating.
I dispersed all the ice I created, panting as the stream surrounded the mist and Mittsume Jōrō broke out of the fiery net and snapping the hairs
Looking about half dead with chunks of her centipede body and numerous of her legs ripped off. Her entire body was covered in lacerations and crisscrossing burn marks, followed by ragged breathing with her glaring at all three of us with clear hate in her eyes.
Looks like we were close to felling her, but some of the chunks of her and even some of the legs Yura had cut off earlier had either begun to close up or regenerate completely.
Seemingly like she will attack us again, I reached for Shusūi.
Only for my and Kagome's eyes to widen as we were jerked back rapidly by Yura's hairs as Mittsume Jōrō began to chase after me.
What was-
"There they are, fire on the omukade!" A voice called out, getting me to look to the treeline to see several men with bows and among them a panting old man. Letting loose the arrows.
So this was the hunting party from Tatsu's village, hopefully they have found where Yura put him.
As we were pulled next to Yura the arrows either glanced off her carapace or some of them were struck in open wounds, not even flinching from them at all.
"Master, girl that three eyed wretch is going to leave now no matter her condition. If anyone of the villagers asks, I'm not a tsukumogami." Yura said quietly, getting me to frown.
She suspected something and I was inclined to agree. And as she said, judging by the way Mittsume Jōrō was starting to back up while glaring at everything with pure hate while backing up the omukade was going to bolt.
Considering her condition and her healing wounds I wasn't even sure how things could end if we continued.
That and I noticed Kagome notching the bow while looking at Mittsume Jōrō.
"If that is the case, she's not getting away easily." Kagome said, getting Yura to smirk.
"That we can all agree on." I said, generating mist from my hands as Yura brought some of her hairs wrapped together. Pressing them together and began to construct a wedge-like shape out of ice. Putting as much yoki as I could to make it as solid and durable as possible in short notice. "Hopefully this will be enough."
"More than enough master!" Yura said as Mittsume Jōrō bared her fangs at everyone.
"I'll wipe you all out before dawn!" She roared out, beginning to rotate.
Roaring out in pain as Kagome's arrow managed to clip one of her legs, which only increased in volume as Yura buried Benigasumi and an axe blade made of ice into her side. Yanking out the former and causing said leg to fall to the ground.
Said omukade's rotation seemed to pick up speed before burrowing down into the ground. The entry sealed up behind with muddy debris that began to let in a little water in the center. Seems like she pierced the water table in her escape.
Of course once again she got away, but unless she gets the shard I doubt she could fully recover.
But right now there were other matters as one of the villagers, a young man probably a few years older than myself and Kagome signaled for the others to stay back and lower their bows. Him beginning to approach us with the old man trailing behind.
Taking a breath I looked to both Kagome and Yura as the latter sheathed Benigasumi, both looked determined.
"Alright let's do this." I said before the three of us began to walk up to them. Kagome alongside me while Yura fell behind.
"Hopefully this will go well." Kagome sighed out while keeping hold of her hama-ya. "That and they found Tatsu first."
"Perhaps they did but we will see girl. Though I should be worried if the kid guided them away from the hairs correctly like I told him." Yura said, getting both me and Kagome to pause in our tracks and look at her.
Wait what?
"Left some traps in case the three eyed wretch decided to go back, plenty of room for the kid to move around in and left him on where the hairs were." Yura said, getting both me and Kagome to sigh before resumed walking.
Really hoping no one got accidentally cut up about it.
"-we're lucky they had saved Tatsu, but are you sure that it was wise to have everyone else hang back. We only know that one of them is a hanyo and the other a creepy lady from him." We heard the elder man say to his younger compatriot.
Yura seemed to bristle at that remark while Kagome shook her head with a smile.
"That is why we are meeting with them, and remember what father has told you about minding your volume and tongue Sōkyu. I believe that you might have just insulted her." The young man said, getting the pair to stop. The older man ducking behind him. "Apologies for him, my name is Mitsusaki and thank you all for saving my nephew."
"It's no problem, we heard what happened on our way here. Honestly we're glad he's okay." I sighed out. "I'm Touma."
"The hanyo he mentioned I take it, I saw the mist." Mitsusaki said, getting me to nod. "Nice to meet you."
"And a yuki-onna hanyo at that, never thought I would see the day. Especially since a kasha hanyo passed through." Sōkyu said while peeking from behind Mitsusaki. "And especially with a miko with such-"
Whatever he was going to say was silenced by Kagome's glare, shutting his mouth and getting him to cower once again.
Honestly if she didn't shut him up I would have.
"Not quite one." Kagome muttered before regaining her composure. "Anyway I'm Kagome."
"Yura, and I take it that the kid managed to calm down enough." Yura said bluntly.
"He did, thanks for talking to him." Mitsusaki said, getting Yura to look away while I smiled at her. "He warned us about the traps, although one of our number did cut his hand even after we warned him."
"Seriously." Kagome said incredulously while all three of us stared blankly.
"He was always the dimmest candle in our village." Sōkyu said as he stepped back out from Mitsusaki, getting the younger man to sight.
"Harsh but not untrue." He admitted.
No matter the era there is always the one person who takes chances even after so many warnings not to...
"He and the rest of our group are back with Tatsu and will be relieved to know that you are alright, that and with how injured that omukade I'm hoping that was just an empty threat. Yet considering her last warning, it is just a vain hope." Mitsusaki sighed out.
"Unfortunately the three eyed wretch means it, especially since she has gotten one of the Rainbow Pearls." Yura said, shocking them and getting Sōkyu to break into a nervous sweat.
"You mean it?" Mitsusaki asked.
"Saw her put it in her top eye just before now, no matter what we did she would heal from it somewhat. Mittsume Jōrō is bound to be somewhat recovered." I sighed out.
"And she has been dragging the corpses of bandits to who knows where. Pretty sure she eats some of them, but there sounded like there was a rather large group of them being taken by her on our way here. Don't know why exactly, but it can't be good." Kagome added in, getting both men to shudder.
The two immediately turned to each other.
"Besides the omukade and the pest I had thought that she had been cutting them down in frustration. That and there was the tatarimokke you and father spotted the other day..." Mitsusaki said.
"And I've heard tales of yokai much stronger than her razing towns off the map on their own with just one of the pearls. I dread to imagine what she could do with the shard." Sōkyu said before they both turned towards us. "That is why the three of you are here isn't it?"
"We heard about it and what was happening to the village yesterday, but honestly we would have helped shard or not." I said bluntly.
"Besides Mittsume Jōrō would have been after me and Touma eventually anyway." Kagome sighed out.
"Why is that?" Mitsusaki inquired.
"They killed a relative of the three eyed wretch weeks ago." Yura said bluntly, getting both villagers to wince.
"Yeah we are well aware of just how vindictive she could be, that would check out. Honestly you can have the damned shard, it has cost us more than enough misfortune than the past few years. That is if you can separate it from the pest." Mitsusaki said, getting us to frown.
Something had gotten the jewel shard, yet it still seemed close given by their reaction and Kagome sensing it still around there.
"How long has it been with this pest?" Kagome asked.
"Shortly after the omukade attacked, I finally found the shard. By then it became attached to the pest that has been eating holes in our roofs everyday. Any attempt to shoot it down or track it is fruitless, still you might have better luck." Sōkyu said.
"Now we need to get back to the village while we can to warn the others. Take a moment to rest first if you need, we're going to inform the others and send a few ahead to warn the village. The only stop is to two bandits down from the tree." Mitsusaki said, getting Yura to grin.
"No problem, of course..." Yura said, looking towards me.
"Don't even need to ask." I said figuring out what she meant. Before I turned towards the two villagers. "They'll live and walk, just best to ask."
"I'll take your word for it." Mitsusaki said before beckoning Sōkyu to follow. "We'll depart in a few minutes after I get things organized with my men first."
With that both villagers turned around and began to walk back to their group.
"Are you sure we can trust them, I mean I can understand the archer and the hanyo. Yet the yokai?" Sōkyu said, barely concealing the distaste in his tone.
"They saved Tatsu and seemed more than willing to help us out, shard or not. Besides the two of them trust her enough, good enough for me. And Sōkyu remember what I told you earlier." Mitsusaki said.
Despite the distance I swear I could see Sōkyu start to sweat and pale as he quickened his pace.
"Are they gone?" Myōga asked as he poked out of my hair.
"Should be out of hearing range in a few moments." I sighed out as me and Kagome turned to face Yura.
Well we learned a few things yet there were still some answers that we were going to find out. Just not to the biggest question that was probably on our minds.
Especially what Yura might have figured out.
"So what was it you were trying to tell us earlier?" Kagome asked as Myōga shifted onto my shoulder.
"A few things have changed, but the overall idea is similar. Someone is using the one eyed wench in a test similar to overgrown weed almost exactly the way it played out. A yokai with a grudge, a jewel to boost its power, and it's going after victims to build up to something. What solidified it was her running from the villagers and us earlier." Yura said, getting both me and Kagome to look grim as the realization sank in. "Honestly I was worried that it was the yokai before finding about the Midori Pearl. I believe that master wasn't the target for this test again."
"Not just me, but perhaps all of us were. More specifically us and Inuko, they are making do without her now." I sighed out.
The yokai with how it had kept Inuko and Yura away indirectly while dealing with Hiten and Manten, the 'test' with the Ne no Kubi, and its actions yesterday showed it performs a more indirect approach unless it deems it necessary.
And probably smart enough to come to the conclusion that we would not fall to the same plan easily enough.
Given that Mittsume Jōrō has one of the seven pearls, it was someone working under Kirinmaru, and there was someone there when we dealt with that yokai.
"Coming to the same conclusion, I am Kagome." I said noticing the look of realization dawning on her face. Getting her to nod.
"Right, Myōga do you know think that Yotsume is behind this plan?" Kagome asked, getting the flea yokai to nod.
So he was here somewhere, according to him and Inuko the tatarimokke was there that day. Setting up another such scenario with another village in the crosshairs.
"More like coming up with the plan, the one overseeing it must not be that far off with Yotsume acting as the observer. I wouldn't be surprised if he is not that far from us even as we speak." Myōga said, getting me and Kagome to sigh.
An omukade out for our blood on one end and a tatarimokke possibly nearby on the other.
Well that's just great.
"Do you have any idea who could be behind both him and Mittsume Jōrō, they could be the original holder of the Midori Pearl?" I asked him.
"Unfortunately I doubt that he would know that much more than myself master. What I do know is that the Aka, Daidai, Aoi, and Murasaki Pearls are under the control of the Shikyō. The other three are unknown." Yura said.
"You are correct, but I do know who holds the Aka Pearl, the only one that Lord Kirinmaru has never rescinded at least once. The Kin and Gin Pearls were entrusted to his sister, but I have no idea who holds them. Who was entrusted with the Midori Pearl was a closely guarded secret." Myōga sighed out.
"Meaning we have someone completely unknown pulling things from the shadows once again." I sighed out.
"And we don't know what they are using with the bandit's bodies for other than assisting Mittsume Jōrō later. Only other thing I could think of being connected besides her hatred of us is a displeasure for hanyo." Kagome sighed out. "And they said a kasha hanyo? I think gramps told me about the yokai at least, a type of bakeneko travels between here and Yomi stealing corpses of those who had been sinful in life?"
"Yup, although they also do so to revive the corpse as a puppet or straight up eat them." I said, getting Kagome to look a little green at the latter part. "Also capable of wreathing themselves in fire, it would explain the burns and claw-like scars on her. I doubt even gathering that many bandit corpses would be enough to attract them back."
Honestly while at least the village seems alright with them for dealing with the omukade brood, I can't imagine learning at first that it was a kasha hanyo after such an event didn't frighten them at first.
The number of ways devised to counteract a kasha from making off with a corpse was legendary.
"Quite right in that regard. More than likely for something else like we thought before." Yura said, getting us to nod.
"What about Yotsume, anything we should be on the lookout for Myōga?" I asked him.
"Nothing much, aside from being a little stronger and his flight speed his powers as a tatarimokke aren't really that great. What you should be worried about is being asleep next to him. His greatest power is with dreams and he is at least decent with dream gazing." Myōga said, getting me to sigh.
"That could be a problem." I sighed out, seeing the confused look on Kagome. "Nasty little spell for information gathering, putting the target to sleep to find an opponent's weakness and what they know. Also works on the recently deceased too."
"Meaning he could find out about our era if used on us." Kagome said with dread before shaking her head. "Like we would ever give him a chance."
"Exactly girl, still have to be careful around the village. There is more to figure out here like why they would let something else have the jewel shard." Yura said.
"We'll figure it out and I'll get it. That and when Mittsume Jōrō makes a move I should be able to tell." Kagome sighed out while shaking her head. "Myōga said that Kirinmaru tossed the Shikon Jewel overboard around the same time Tōga died, Touma how long ago has the Rainbow Pearls existed?"
"Legends of multicolored sets of powerful gems for thousands of years, yet for the legend of the pearls have originated since around the same time as well. Yet I don't know who would have been brave enough to wish such things in existence under Kirinmaru." I said while shaking my head.
He tossed the Shikon Jewel overboard after someone wished to create the seven pearls. While he like Sesshōmaru probably would have no use for such a thing, yet is pragmatic enough to regulate and distribute them among his subordinates.
If the legends were true, keeping all seven of them to use on a single individual would be nearly as dangerous as having the completed Shikon no Tama.
"Which is why I can sense them, but not why I can sense it flickering between what feels like a shard or two." Kagome said with a frown.
"The cost." Myōga said. "To create such a set of artifacts there must have been a cost to create the Rainbow Pearls including the energies from the Shikon Jewel. I could only imagine it would be at a great cost."
He had a point, creating seven amplifiers of such power would have been at a great cost.
"And if they are like the shard, do you believe they would affect you as well master?" Yura asked, getting me to tense up.
...That was a very good question.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, but I don't know." I sighed out.
Honestly the chances were probably fifty/fifty but I was not looking forward to testing that theory out...
"As you said we'll get there when we do Touma." Kagome sighed out. "I think we should probably head with the villagers now."
"That we can agree on girl. Master I'll focus on unraveling what else is going on with this village, there seems to be more going on than what we figured out." Yura said, getting the rest of us to nod as we turned and began to walk towards where the villagers were.
"And we'll try to help on our end, getting the shard from whatever this 'pest' is and seeing if we can help get as many people away from the village as possible. Before or if Inuko doesn't arrive back on time." I said with a determined expression.
With Yotsume and whoever was helping to organize this whole thing, can't exactly guarantee the village would be left in good standing depending on Mittsume Jōrō's rampage and whatever else they come up with.
"Going to be another long night for us then." Kagome said, breaking me from my musings. Smiling at me. "Looks like we better get started, Mittsume Jōrō seems to be trying to take after here grandmother than. How about show her how well things ended up for her."
She smirked and I had to hold back a chuckle at her threat. Well Kagome seems ready for this.
"Why not, we're going to turn her own threat back on her anyway." I said, getting Kagome to grin.
"Now you're talking master!" Yura said with a grin of her own while I shook my head.
Well it seems like we're all ready, now all we have to do is dismantle as much of Yotsume's plan as we can and prepare/prevent a siege while we are at it.
Not an easy task, but when has it ever been?
Just hope that the theory about the pearls is wrong...
The screen flickered for a bit before the author reappeared.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 and I hoped that you all enjoyed this chapter. There is a few details to discuss before we wrap things up.*
*First off Inuko is nearly at Kaede's village ready to drop her off, jumping at shadows of any yokai nearby. What happened with Kikyō still on her mind heavily with Shippō trying to some success to reassure her everything is alright for now.*
*Back with the group after the jewel shard, they rout the bandits camped out at the stream. Rescuing the kidnapped boy before Mittsume Jōrō ambushes them soon after.*
*Even with being prepared, no way they could have been ready for her having one of the Rainbow Pearls. The only warning was Kagome capable of sensing them due to her connection with the Shikon Jewel from which the Pearls were partially formed from. Like in Yashahime when gaining one of the pearls she transformed a little while gaining a healing factor like here grandmother.*
*While not quite as impressive as Mukade Jōrō's, even with all three of them and Touma having an adavnatge it could have gone either way. Either she outlasted Kagome and Touma until they make a mistake or damage the omukade enough to finally kill her.*
*With the arrival of the village hunting party's arrival the group learn more about what happened to the village and the shard is now in the claws of something making an annoyance of their lives.*
*Alongside that the whole thing is starting to set up as a test. More specifically recreating what Naraku had done with the Ne no Kubi.*
*The group and Myōuga knowing how to prepare and dismantle the test coming up while also aiming to secure the jewel shard and weed out Yotsume before anything can happen to the villagers.*
*Anyway that should be all for now.*
*Next chapter will have the group preparing for the upcoming siege and setting up the means to put down Mittsume Jōrō for good. With Kagome mainly working on locating the shard while the others prepare everything and rooting at Yotsume. The tatarimokke having to act as Mittsume Jōrō grows impatient.*
*Should be out by Halloween, so I hope that you all enjoy it when it comes out.*
*If you have a question, leave a review or PM me and I'll get back to you when I can. So until next time, ciao!*
The author waves goodbye as the screen fades to black.