EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 27: The city of crystal tears

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Sesshoumaru refused to let his eyes stray from the blue-haired woman walking in front of him.

He hadn't expected to encounter a fellow Daiyoukai. She was a long way from home. Sea dragons lived in the waters around the Isle of Sado, so how had she ended up so far west? Speaking of youkai, the island was also home to many with demon blood. Myoga's story had led him to believe that the Namidans were human, but that wasn't the case at all. Over half the people he saw were either hanyou or youkai. He found it bizarre that an island supposedly formed from a goddess's tears wasn't lethal to them. He had been anticipating a strong spiritual barrier like the one around Mount Hakurei, but he'd felt nothing of the sort.

He stole a glimpse at Octavia, who was staring at the crystal pillars in the distance. Her eyes had returned to their normal colour, but the air around her remained restless. The smaller crystals poking out of the ground winked as she passed them, as if responding to her power. It didn't seem to matter that her magic was trapped behind a seal. No wonder the animals had reacted to her as they had. The entire island seemed to know who and what she was. Sesshoumaru's skin prickled with unease. The shadows needed her for something. They wouldn't have bothered to lure her here if they didn't.

"Where do you come from, star mage?" the sea dragon asked her.

"It's complicated," Octavia said. "I travelled here from Tokyo, though."

"Tokyo, huh? Where's that?"

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at the pensive look on her face. "It's quite far away. You wouldn't know it." She met his stare and bit her lip. "What about you three?"

"Haru-chan and I were born here," the human man replied. "But my wife is from the sea."

"The sea?" Octavia repeated.

"My kind lives underwater," the sea dragon explained. "Not all dragons hail from the skies."

"You're a dragon?"

"Is that so hard to believe?" Her grey eyes shifted to Sesshoumaru. Why did they seem so familiar? "I'm guessing you haven't seen this one's true form yet."

"Why did you decide to live here instead of in the ocean?"

"I was injured in battle many years ago. After the fight was done, the storm knocked me unconscious, and the waves carried me here. Taro found me washed up on the beach. He saved my life. I haven't left his side since."

"Literally," her spouse added with a grin. "Who knew dragons were so clingy?"

"You didn't complain at the time," she countered.

The tender smile they shared made Sesshoumaru turn away in disgust. Humans and youkai weren't supposed to mix. It was as unnatural as a shark lusting after a sea slug. His father had been sick and twisted. He knew that now. But his father hadn't been the only demon with those perversions. What was it about mortals that certain members of his species found irresistible? Or was it the adrenaline that came with doing something illicit that made them so appealing?

"So, what do you do?" Octavia asked. "Do you have jobs?"

"We both work at the school," the sea dragon replied. "Taro teaches medicine, whereas I teach reading and writing."

"Nagi-san knows lots of different languages," one of the children said.

"And she can play the koto," added another. "She's amazing."

The sea dragon clicked her tongue. "Flattery isn't going to get you out of detention, sweetlings. All of you skipped class today, which almost resulted in a serious accident. Your punishment will begin at dawn tomorrow. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Nagi-san," they grumbled.

"Splendid. Off you go, then."

They sprinted away like a pack of wild animals. Only the young bear hanyou stayed, clinging to Octavia's hand like a limpet. "I'm sorry, Nagi-san," he whispered.

"You don't have to apologise, Haru-chan," said the human man.

"Yes, he does," the sea dragon rebuked. "If Sesshoumaru and the star mage hadn't been there, he would have died. I don't want you going near those falls again, little one. Not without a grown-up."

"Okay."

They carried on walking in silence. The path led them to a large torii gate made out of stone. Etched into the plaque at the top were four symbols Sesshoumaru couldn't read. Beyond the gate, he saw buildings capped with snow, and scattered amongst them were the five crystal towers they'd seen from the falls. They lit up when Octavia stepped over the threshold and a faint purple glow spread throughout the city, making the streets sparkle.

The sea dragon smiled, flashing her sharp canines. "Welcome to Momose."

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Octavia's cheeks ached from smiling as they strolled through the city. The towers had stopped glowing, but they were still beautiful. According to Nagisa, no one was allowed inside of them. It was their most sacred rule. When Octavia asked why, she said that it was because the towers were memorials for the island's goddesses, so entering one would be considered disrespectful. Since Okteviah had been the youngest of the five goddesses, her tower was the smallest, but its peak was still too tall to see from the ground.

"Why are there so many youkai here?" she asked Nagisa.

"Why wouldn't there be?"

"I thought your kind didn't believe in Seishin or the God Stars. Sesshoumaru sure as hell doesn't."

Nagisa chuckled. "Some of us do, some of us don't. We can believe whatever we want here."

Octavia watched a pair of teenagers sprint past them carrying crates of fresh fish. The girl looked human, but the boy had giant pincers for hands and a red lobster tail that thrashed from side to side as he ran. Octavia smiled as she overheard them laughing about a prank they'd played on one of their friends. They walked past a young woman with curved horns and hooves for feet, who was sitting on the porch outside her house, cradling newborn twins. She sang to them as they slept.

"You look sad, star mage," Haru said.

Octavia blinked. "Do I?"

"Yeah. Is something wrong?"

"Not that I know of."

Sesshoumaru tilted his head towards her. "And yet your tears betray you."

Her face was indeed wet with tears.

"Here," Taro said, reaching into his robes and pulling out a piece of cloth.

She accepted the cloth and used it to mop up her tears. "Thanks. I don't know what came over me."

Haru released her hand and wrapped his arms around her waist. Octavia placed her hands on his shoulders and returned the embrace. "Thank you for saving me," he said. "I have to go home now, but can I see you again tomorrow? Please? I'll try not to get stuck next time."

She giggled. "Sure. Why not?"

He flashed her a toothy smile. "Sweet. See you later, star mage!"

As he scampered away like a rabbit, Nagisa shouted after him, "Don't forget you have detention tomorrow!"

Octavia gave Taro back the piece of cloth. "Can someone please tell me what a star mage is now?"

Nagisa's lips curved into a smile. "It's what we call wielders of spirit magic. A star mage's power sometimes manifests as eight-pointed stars, hence the name. Does that answer your question?" Octavia nodded. "Good. Now it's my turn. Why do your powers feel so far away? I can only sense them when we're near the crystals. What happened to you?"

"It's a long story."

"You said that already."

"I wouldn't know where to start—"

"Enough," Sesshoumaru snapped. "Our business is our own."

Taro's shoulders slumped, but Nagisa crossed her arms and frowned. "I've never met a Daiyoukai with no youki," she mocked. "It must be strange. Except you weren't always like this, were you? I know for a fact that your youki was almost on par with mine once. Which means someone must have stolen it from you."

"You are not stronger than me."

"Oh, but I am. We dragons always are. Why do you think your father couldn't beat Ryukotsusei?"

"He did beat Ryukotsusei."

"Only because he resorted to sealing him. He wouldn't have stood a chance otherwise." Octavia's heart thumped in her chest. Sesshoumaru glared at Nagisa and suppressed a low growl. Octavia and Taro exchanged a nervous glance before the female Daiyoukai sighed and unfolded her arms. "Fine. Keep your secrets. I was just trying to help."

"We don't need your help," said Sesshoumaru. "Nor do we want it."

"Actually," Octavia started. "There is one thing I'd like to ask you about."

Sesshoumaru's brow creased.

"What is it?" Nagisa queried.

". . . Do you know anything about a group called the Iwa Faction?"

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