Chapter Eighteen: Good with Ketchup
Rin had always been told stories about how powerful dragons were, but she had always thought they were exaggerated. But seeing one on a rampage had proven how wrong she had been.
If anything, the stories had been understated. Real dragons were terrifying.
A fifty foot long creature weighing a dozen tons shouldn't have been able to move in a blur, but it was. The original group of mechs had already lost almost half of its numbers to the midnight black blur that weaved among them as if they were standing still. And while the dragon dealt with the mechs, black shadows moved among the infantry that had followed them, leaving nothing but corpses in their wake.
And while the dragon rampaged, the dragon shaped ship was dogfighting with the small crystal fighters, dodging their beams as it returned fire, and proving to be more accurate than the fighters despite its slower speed. Whenever it looked like it was about to be overwhelmed, a glowing pink shield would surround it and deflect the incoming fire. Then, one of the fighters dived at the ship kamikaze style, and a giant pink fist punched it into shards.
Ren blinked. The mage next to her gasped in shock. "I never knew you could use a shield like that!" Ren chuckled. "It's not that easy, but yes. I was just a child the last time I met a mage who could actually do it, though. Lord Sesshomaru fought against Naraku with a mage who used her shields as if they were extra hands. I never mastered the art though."
"Amazing!"
Ren tore her eyes away to doublecheck the troops they were supposed to be supporting and sighed in relief to see none of them appeared to have taken any hits from the wildly firing weapons of the mechs. Between the dragon's wards and the council mage's shields, it seemed they had been spared any further casualties for now. She could see that the forward lines were shoring up their barricades in case the mechs managed to get past the dragon, but she thought it was looking less and less likely with every moment. Then she let her eyes move to where her husband, in his gigantic true form, was still fighting with the tiger mech.
It looked like the battle was a draw so far. The mech was proving remarkably resilient to Sesshomaru's miasma and appeared far more heavily armored than the bipedal mechs. It hadn't successfully landed a blow on her husband yet, but neither had Sesshomaru damaged it significantly yet.
Then she found her eyes drawn to a massive feather that appeared headed their way, and her eyes widened. A wave of magical wind she recalled all too well lashed out from one of the figures on the feather and her jaw dropped in disbelief as an entire segment of the wall of crystal ships shattered. "A Wind Scar? That powerful? Who in this day could know of Lord Inuyasha's Wind Scar?" Then she had to rub her eyes and do a doubletake. "Lady Kagura? I don't believe it!"
But there was no mistaking the figure controlling the feather as it drew closer. Nor the sword being carried by the man beside her. She blinked several times as the feather landed a short distance away and the man called out. "Is this the headquarters of the JSDF?" He appeared entirely unconcerned about the soldiers who had readied their weapons as he gave her a formal bow. Rin blinked at him. "Tatawaki? Is that you?"
He bowed again. "I am indeed Tatewaki Kuno, Milady, might I enquire how thou doth knowest of me?"
Rin rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm going to recognize my own nephew, Tatewaki. I'm your Aunt Rin."
"I beg your pardon, Aunt Rin. I am afraid this is my first time meeting you."
"Not really, though you were just a toddler last time I saw you, and I was just a child when we met 300 years ago. I see you have come into your heritage as Inuyasha's heir." She waved at the soldiers. "It's okay. He's on our side!" She giggled. "Seriously, Tatewaki, coming down in a military headquarters during a battle was pretty reckless. You could have been shot." She turned to the girl clutching her nephew's arm. "And you -are- Kagura, right? Where the hell have you been these last three hundred years?"
Tatewaki bowed again, "My apologies Aunt Rin. To us, we saw you only yesterday as a little girl. It has not even been two days since we overcame Naraku."
"I see. So that swirly portal thingy was a time gate? I always wondered, but that was so long ago I almost forgot about it. And I never connected the fact that my nephew was the same Tatewaki I knew from so long ago."
"Yo, Kuno, you get in touch with military HQ yet?"
Rin blinked at the sudden voice coming from Kuno's pocket, and looked curiously as he drew a small yin yang shaped device out and lifted it up to speak into it.
"I have, Tao-Ching-san."
"Good. Standby for a sec. Jo-chan's sending over a drone to act as liaison."
Rin's eyes widened again as a hazy cloud of light poured out of the device and coalesced into a butterfly wing dragoness all of eight inches high. The little dragon looked around before turning to her and bowing. "Greetings Archmagus Rin, I am Jormungandr. I will be acting as liaison between your forces and the Mu-San. We are attempting to co-ordinate with your ground forces as we provide what air defense we can."
"The Mu-San? Is that your ship up there, I take it?"
"Correct. Our weapons are somewhat more powerful than your current force's, but we are heavily damaged at the moment and our speed is significantly reduced. However, our sensors are functional again, so we can transmit an aerial view of the battlefield, and act as a relay between yourself, Archmagus Lo shen, the Senshi, and Goddess Clove. Though she's a little distracted eating her way through the enemy's troops at present." The little dragoness waved over at the gigantic dragon still rampaging below.
"Archmagus Lo Shen is okay?"
"She is, though her helicopter has been disabled and she and a her force are currently taking refuge in a small clothing store behind enemy lines."
"Are the Monster Squad safe?"
"They are currently co-operating with the Senshi in an effort to shut down that power core before it can be activated. Lo-Shen strongly advises you to concentrate on evacuating as many people as you can, before the spell being set up in the castle up there is completed. The spell will siphon out the lifeforce and souls of everyone in a five-mile radius if we cannot prevent it from being cast. If we can successfully shut down that power core, it will at least only be able to draw in the souls of those who have already died tonight."
Rin paled. "By Kami-sama, what kind of spell can do that?"
"One that was never meant to be used in the mortal realm. I pray to my mother that Lady Ukyo can stop Xi'an-Chi and rescue Goddess Zhu-Shu. She alone might be able to put an end to this madness,"
"I understand almost none of that other than we need to prioritize evacuation. Yes?"
"Affirmative. I calculate we have less than an hour before the casting is completed. We will be able to provide significantly stronger support within 20 minutes or so, providing we take no further damage. Our self-repairs are proceeding steadily. Additionally, an effort is underway to interrupt the spell being cast and rescue our companion Zhu-Shu, who is being used as the focus of the spell."
Rin looked at Tatewaki. "Wait a minute, Zhu-Shu? Wasn't she the goddess you rescued way back then?"
"For us, that was also yesterday morning."
"So, you're telling me that whoever is up in that castle is using a goddess as the focus for a massive death spell?"
"That is essentially correct. Xi-an Chi seeks to become a god and is preparing to use Tokyo itself as the sacrifice." Jo answered. "I calculate his chance of success is excessively low, but his spell would still result in massive loss of life."
"Wait, wait, Xi-an Chi? The leader of the Skorpion Tong? This is all because of a mob boss? I thought we were fighting some invasion from another world?"
"Xi-an Chi joined forces with Blackmoon, a youkai organization from a parallel universe, and has become it's leader. Your opponents are from a world that was devastated by a human youkai war that ruined the Earth. Their technology is nearly a thousand years ahead oy yours, though hampered by the nearly complete collapse of civilization. Xi-an Chi himself is a survivor from the Silver Millenium. The ship up there is a Silver Millenium warship, as is the Mu-San. Conventional Military forces are insufficient to deal with this situation. Please, pull back and evacuate the civilians."
The mage who had stayed by Rin's side waved her hands, "Wait, wait, wait, you're saying all those myths about the Silver Millenium are real? There really was a High Magic Civilization that was lost to time?"
Rin grimaced. "That's classified, and we don't have time to deal with it now." She turned to the private manning the comms. "Tell the Colonel, we need to shift priorities to evacuation posthaste!"
The pale faced Private nodded nervously as he turned back to his radio. A moment later the Colonel came slamming out of the command center.
"What the hell is this change in orders about?"
Rin pointed upwards to where the massive magic circle glowed. "That's a spell that will kill every living person inside it. We've got less than an hour till it's fully cast. The enemy is willing to sacrifice its entire army to kill as many of us as possible. We must evacuate at once!"
The colonel blanched. "Understood. He turned back to the command post and began issuing orders. Rin turned back to the dragoness, "It looks to me like that ring of ships is tied into that spell. How badly will it be disrupted if Tatewaki destroys the rest?
Jo shook her tiny head. "Minimal. Tao-Ching thought the same, but unfortunately, the focus of the spell is the core ship and its satellites, all of which are shielded by the Tian-Long's projectors. Dreadnaught Class Shields would protect them from all conventional weapons and any magical ones below U class. Fortunately, the Monster Squad are piloting ancient War Golems of sufficient strength to qualify. Additionally, my drone units aboard the Tian-Long are searching for the shield projectors to sabotage them. A thousand years of random alterations by the youkai living aboard has resulted in significant deviation from her original design. I calculate I will have its primary systems mapped out by the time I have repaired the Mu-San sufficiently to initiate full repairs and upgrades."
"Can you destroy that castle then?"
"The destruction of the Tian-Long is not permissible. My orders are to assimilate it to recover the Dopplegangers and Mu's mother. To do so will require completing Mu-san's repairs and upgrades. Nor can I assimilate it prior to Zhu-Shu's recovery. So long as she is aboard the Tian-Long, the energy density around her exceeds my own and will prevent me from assimilating it."
"Assimilating?"
"I am Jormungandr, the world encircling serpent, this form is only a minute fragment of my being. A mere dreadnaught is hardly even a morsel for me." She gave a sheepish grin. "But the Dragon's child is far beyond me. Her mortal body is to her what my drone is to me. Even I cannot swallow the sun."
"And Xi-an Chi is trying to steal her power?" Rin paled, "That would make of this world a nightmare beyond imagining."
"That is why I am here. Kami-Sama cannot be seen to intervene in the mortal realm. My mother is under no such constraints, as she was never a signatory of the Asgard-Nifelhiem treaty."
"Your mother?"
"The goddess Sarhia."
Rin looked puzzled. "I've never heard of her?"
"I would be surprised if you had. Her true name has not been used in over two thousand years, only her pseudonyms." Jo sighed, "She is the patron goddess of lilies now, but once was the patron goddess of Youkai."
Rin's breath caught. "Are you talking about The Mother of Demons?!" She squeaked, "Are we doomed?"
"My mother is no longer a destroyer goddess. Lady Rin. She is striving to help, not punish, mankind. She follows the accord as her children do."
Rin put her hand to her head as she felt faint. "Of all the gods to come to our aid, I never would have thought it would be the Mother."
"Even so, the aid she is permitted to give is limited. The age of Gods has long ended. Mankind must stand or fall on its own. She may influence, but not intervene."
Rin nodded. "I understand. It is enough to know we have her blessing."
"That you have. At present she seeks to assist the Dragon's Child in freeing herself from Xi'an Chi's fetters. Children though they still are, only she and her sister retain dominion within the mortal realm."
Kuno nodded. "My lady Clove is currently doing what she may to aid your troops against these invaders while our companion Ukyo strives to reach her sister in Xi'an Chi's fortress above. Lady Kagura and I have come to offer our aid as well."
Rin's eyes widened as she looked to Kagura, "you don't mean-?"
Kagura nodded. "I would ask that you keep the living clear. My control is not so great that I can guarantee their safety in the middle of my puppets."
Rin nodded and turned to the radioman. "Send out a notice that a necromancer is about to re-animate the enemy dead to fight for us. They are to draw back and maintain a cordon between the battlefield and the evacuees. And warn them the dead will attack anyone living, without regard to which side they are on. They're not able to tell friend from foe."
She turned back to the battle still raging below as Kagura began her spell, feeling hope beginning to rise in her heart. Please, please, O great Mother of Demons and any other gods listening. Grant us your blessings that we might spare our people any further suffering tonight!
The elevator ended in the Castle's courtyard, and Ukyo looked around for potential ambushes. But other than a dozen or so dopples giving her happy little waves as they sat on their knees around the elevator's platform, the courtyard was empty. Like below, the dopple's weapons had been carelessly tossed aside, and the dopples were fidgeting like puppies ordered to stay. Ukyo sighed as she looked up the steps leading to the castle's entrance, noting more dopples looking at her eagerly as they lined the steps. But as she made her way up the steps, they obediently stayed in place while giving her longing looks. More of them waited inside, but also made no move to impede her as she made her way to the steps to the next floor and the elevator to the bridge and throne room. Unlike the lower levels, the castle appeared to be well maintained and unchanged from its original design.
The bridge she emerged onto however, had been changed drastically from it's original design, the separating wall between the operations area and throne room removed to allow the throne to overlook the entire bridge. Ukyo grimaced at the arrogance that implied. The intervening wall had been armored to prevent an attack on the bridge from affecting the throne room as well as conceal the military section of the command deck from formal visitors. But it looked like Xi-an Chi hadn't been able to resist sitting on his sister's stolen throne. She ignored the dozen or so Dopples running the ships' stations giving her excited little smiles and focused on the robed figure sitting on the throne at the back.
"I do believe that's the first time that elevator has been used in over a thousand years, Ukyo. I expected you to use the ships internal teleporters, not actually walk all the way here."
"Yet you lined the way with Dopples anyway."
"Yes. I don't know how you managed to override their orders to kill you, but it is disappointing that you failed to kill a single one. I was so looking forward to seeing the despair and guilt on your face."
"So happy to disappoint you." She looked at the impassive mask and smirked, "I take it that mask is to hide the mess I made of your face last time?"
"Don't flatter yourself, Ukyo. You might share some of Orihime's memories, but you are a far cry from being her." He waved to the side, drawing Ukyo's gaze to the petrified body of her former self standing on one side of the throne room. "I have yet to decide how quickly I will turn you into a matching bookend. It might be more entertaining to keep you around as a sextoy for a few years until you reach full adulthood knowing that I will inevitably petrify you as well."
"Pity that I'm going to kill you before that sick fantasy of yours can happen."
Xi-an Chi chuckled. "And weak as you are, just how do you think you will accomplish that?"
"I am still the Dragon's Guardian." Ukyo stated, her armor flaring as she materialized the Wraithseeker.
Xi-an Chi snorted. "I don't have time to play with your delusions of grandeur, girl." He beckoned towards the shadows behind the throne. "Do be a dear, my pet, and teach your former lover her place."
Ukyo warily watched as Shadow stepped from behind the throne. She looked the black dragon girl over and growled. "Where is the real Zhu-Shu."
Xi-an Chi chuckled again. "So, she's not able to fool Asgardian sensors. Another pity. But the need to deceive you is past. Yes, Mu-Er is certainly not my sister, but that will hardly matter to you for much longer."
The dragon-girl smiled toothily as she readied her swords. "Hzzzzzz, I will rend you and eat you."
"Are you certain you wish to lose another puppet, Xi-an Chi? Your last dragon girl was hardly even a match for me."
"Poor Emeraude was a failed experiment, though a loyal one. Mu-Er is the pinnacle of my genius. She lacked only a will of her own until I linked her to my accursed sister. Now she is the embodiment of her dark side."
Ukyo grimaced, remembering the absolute terror she had endured the night Heian had revealed herself to Orihime. Knowing that her beloved Lin-Tzu harbored such madness and keeping it contained had been one of the reasons she had striven so hard to find Sarhia and learn Shiva's dance. But she also knew Lin-Tzu's demon wasn't a wild animal, but a cruel and cunning being capable of being reasoned with. But that demon had died with Lin-Tzu, hadn't she?
"I doubt you truly channeled Heian into her. Heian hates you worse than Lin-Tzu ever did. Nor have I seen any indication of her in Zhu-Shu, thank Kami-sama."
Shadow chuckled as she closed her dark eyes, then reopened them to reveal burning purple orbs and an evil smile. ((You are entirely correct, Ukyo dear. I haven't been allowed out to play in ages. Which is why I don't want him to know I've taken over his little toy.))
Ukyo's heart plummeted as fear gripped her. ((Heian?))
((Hello again, my darling. Please don't panic. I promise I won't kill you.))
((H-h-how?))
Heian giggled. ((Sarhia sends her love, my dear. So sorry, but this IS going to hurt.))
Ukyo didn't even have time to react as intense pain wracked her. She screamed as she realized Zhu Shu's swords were piercing her abdomen on either side, and felt herself lifted into the air. Vainly she tried to lift the Wraithseeker, but it dropped from nerveless fingers. The dragon girl looked up at her and licked her lips. "Weak."
((W-w-why?))
Heian didn't answer her immediately, but tossed her aside to land in a heap at the statue's feet.
((I did apologize first, Ukyo. I had to make it look like I was trying to kill you so my stupid brother thinks what I just did was an accident.))
((A-a-accident? I'm pretty damn sure that was on purpose, Heian. Y—y-you swore to me you would never harm any of Lin-Tzu's soulmates.))
((You remembered that from your days as Orihime? Well, I meant it then and still do. I love you just as much as she does after all. I made sure I missed all your vitals, and your armor's probably already healing you. Relax. I just saved your life, my love.))
((W-w-w-what?))
((You're far too weak to face Xi-an Chi as you are, Ukyo. You would have been turned into a statue before you could have even landed a blow. Your Wraithseeker might have been forged by Totosai, but it's only partially integrated with your armor. You need more.))
Ukyo grimaced. She looked at her armor's status monitors and realized Heian was right, she was almost healed. ((Okay, so say I'll believe you for now. Treacherous as you are, you've never outright lied to me before. Just what was the point of throwing me against my former corpse?))
The dragon girl smiled as she sauntered towards her slowly, licking her blood off one of the swords. ((Oh, my darling little musclehead. Still so slow. Think about it for a second as you finish healing, then look up.))
Ukyo glanced up for a second then back down in puzzlement for another second before looking up again. ((Oh…)) She groaned as she used the Wraithseeker to pull herself upright, pretending to still be in pain. She shakily assumed a stance facing the dragon girl as Xi-an Chi chuckled.
"It seems your prey still has some fight in her, my pet. Why don't you cut off something to make her scream a bit more."
Ukyo switched the Wraithseeker to her left hand and gave him a vicious grin. "Sorry, but I'm done playing, Xi-an Chi."
She lifted her right hand. "Now, FEEL THE DRAGON'S WRAITH!"
She heard Xi-an Chi's scream as the over sized guan-do in the statue's hand broke apart into a stream of golden motes and reformed in her hand as the entire world faded into white.
"Kodachi!" Mousse caught Kodachi's mech as the gymnast's knees buckled.
She didn't respond to the angelic girl as Mousse supported her but seemed to regain strength enough to stand again a few seconds later.
"I-I-I'm okay Mou-chan, just a dizzy spell."
They had found an entry point into the pyramidal ship after the Mu-san had shot down one of the crystal ships and it had crashed into the barrier around the larger vessel. During the half minute or so it had taken for the shield to be restored, they had taken advantage of the open bay that the massive tiger mech had emerged from. But shortly after breaching the door to the deeper interior, Kodachi had grown increasingly unsteady. The girls had stopped to assess the situation when she had almost fallen.
Kaede shook her head sadly. "Guys, I think there's too much negative energy in here for her. She's only just acquired her succubus powers. I don't think she can cope with it yet."
Ai nodded. "Mousse, take her back outside and guard our exit. We'll need to make a quick escape once we blow this thing."
Mousse nodded as she lifted Kodachi's mech in her arms. "We'll cover your rear. I'll pray for your success without injuries."
The others waved as Mousse took Kodachi back into the hangar and made her comfortable on the floor just inside the hangar where she could keep an eye on the outside while staying mostly concealed. Fortunately, it seemed something had called off the mechs searching for them. She had just finished checking over Kodachi and telling her to stop apologizing for her inability to deal with the negative energy when she noted a foggy form starting to take shape in her cockpit. Then she saw Scythe shake her head. "She's not sick from the negative energy. You're her number one, right?"
Mousse cut her mic. "I am her beloved, yes."
"Yeah, yeah. How many others are in the harem? She's way too low on energy. You trying to starve the poor girl?"
Mousse blinked. "Um, I'm the only one in her harem so to speak. I'm working on getting her another person right now."
"Oh geeze, no wonder she's starving. You've crippled her ability to feed on negative energy with that damn accord binding, and making her subsist on just one lover? She's not a goddamn lesser succubus! She's a queen! She need's a minimum of three hearts to stay healthy!"
"A queen?"
"Yes! Lesser succubi only need one lover to survive, but Kodachi's the last Queen! And you're slowly starving her to death! How much of an idiot are you?!"
Mousse sighed. "No-one knows anything about Succubi Queens. My reference materials don't even mention them!"
"That's probably because the damn Accordians hunted them to extinction. Kuroyuki was the last survivor until Kodachi was born, and she killed herself when Kodachi's powers didn't manifest after her first period. She thought she had failed to preserve the queen's lineage because it had been mixed with Inuyasha's. At least that's how it was in my universe. Kodachi's got an older brother here too, right?"
"Yes."
"Then she's definitely a queen. Only Queens can give birth to males." Scythe shrugged her ghostly shoulders. "Her mother got caught enslaving Kodachi's father and got sentenced to only having him as a food source. She went crazy and drove Kodachi's dad insane too. Queens need more lovers because they are far more powerful than lesser succubi. I nearly killed Kodachi when I was forced to murder her harem in the other world. I killed the entire rhythmic gymnastics team. Iscariot forced me to."
"And then you became her lover?"
"Yeah, me and Emeraude. Between us and the occasional girl we'd capture, we barely sufficed. But I know the symptoms Kodachi is showing all too well. She's on the verge of a feeding frenzy. You need to get her some more lovers soon, my lovely angel, or she's gonna rape and drain someone near to death. She'll steal their heart and suck them dry in a mindless frenzy."
"So, that's why she has Makoto and Raijin's hearts."
"Huh, your Kodachi has theirs too? Nah, those weren't stolen. They gave them to her shortly before Kuroyuki killed herself. Then they ran off and abandoned her when her mother's negative energy made her the Black Rose. Those damn cowards ran away when she needed them most!"
"I see,"
"Still, they should have withered away after a few months. They're emotional connections, not literal hearts. She's gotta still mean something to them if she's still got em."
"Kaede says they're poisoning her."
Scythe snorted. "You can't poison a Queen like that. Heart poisoning is only something lesser succubi suffer from. The only reason Kodachi can't feed off the negative energy is because of the oath of binding. Lesser succubi are only Yin. They don't need to be able to feed on both positive and negative energy. That's why Kodachi is gonna need at least three food sources. You've cut off half of her ability to feed normally. You gotta make it up somehow."
"But you said your Kodachi only needed you and one other,"
"That's because my Kodachi didn't have an oath of binding, and could get by eating random people. Kodachi would drain the girl and then Emeraude usually ate them. I don't think this Kodachi is gonna want to do that."
Mousse looked down to where Kodachi was hugging her knees and gently rocking. "You are correct."
"Yeah, now that I'm free from both Blackmoon and Iscariot, I'm kinda appalled at myself. I don't know how long my soul will be trapped in the Martyred Virgin, but I don't think this world's Ai is gonna make me want to off her anytime soon. She's kinda like the Ai I used to be way back when I was still innocent. I hope she gets to stay that way."
"I see. Well, I must thank you for the information you have given me. I have much to consider now."
"Yeah, just don't take too long. I figure you got maybe a week at most before she hits fugue state. She needs an actual harem ASAP."
"I will strive to make sure of it."
"Please do. She may not be my Kodachi, but it still hurts to see her suffer like this."
"I agree."
"Oh, and um, could you keep the fact I'm stuck in the Virgin a secret for now? I don't want to make your Ai worry about me. She seems like she would if she knew. But that's how the Virgin works. The soul of the previous wielder sits in judgement over the current one to ensure they remain worthy. Iscariot perverted that cycle to make us little more than killers. The Virgin was created to be an instrument of justice as a consecrated holy weapon. I was supposed to be a hero, not an assassin. I think your Ai might actually fulfil that role. I want to help her do it."
Mousse nodded at the ghost. "I don't yet know Ai that well, but she has given me that impression as well. That is why I joined this 'Monster Squad.' If it survives this battle, I will be proud to stand at her side with Kodachi and help bring about peace between human and youkai."
Scythe smiled. "Peace sounds lovely. I wish my world had given it a try before it was too late." She turned towards the ship's interior and sighed. "Whelp, gotta go, looks like we're almost to the central chamber."
"I shall pray for your victory."
Scythe faded from view as Mousse turned to sit next to Kodachi and reactivated her mic. "Ko-chan, do you trust me?"
Kodachi's mech started, "Huh? Of course I do Mou-chan. What kind of question is that?"
"When this battle is over, I am going to need you to do what I ask of you, even if you don't understand why. Please, don't ask me any questions. Just let me do what has to be done. I believe if you do, I can fix these problems you have with Makoto and Raijin. But you probably won't like my methods."
"Mou-chan?"
"Please, my love. Just trust me. I am not like you Japanese. I am an Amazon. There are things I can do that you cannot. I just learned something that I think solves the puzzle I have been struggling with since Raijin arrived. And I know you have stolen no hearts."
"But-but I did!"
"There are things I believe you are indeed guilty of, Ko-chan, but thievery is not one of them. If you will trust me, I will prove it."
Kodachi turned to look at her. "How will you do that?"
"I can't say. Please, just follow my instructions and trust me."
Kodachi looked down and nodded. She turned to place her back against her. "Okay, Mou-chan. I won't ask questions. Just please, hold me and tell me you love me."
Mousse wrapped her arms around Kodachi and stroked her metallic hair. "I do love you Ko-chan. That's why I have to do this. If I am right, I believe you will never have to suffer these bouts of sickness ever again."
"You-you do?"
"Yes." Mousse sighed "but first we have to be victorious tonight."
Kodachi intertwined her hand with Mousse's "We will my love. I have to believe that. We will win because we must win. It's as simple as that."
Mousse held her tight as the clouds overhead broke and the full moon shone down like a blessing.
Tao-Ching stood on the Mu-san's upper deck and looked over the battlefield. He held Burekaishi in his hand as he contemplated his next move. Now that Jo had established a communications net, he had little need to remain aboard the ship when he thought he would be more useful elsewhere.
Below them, Sesshomaru had slowly gained the upperhand on Prince Sapphir, having damaged one of his legs. But they were too evenly matched. Tao-Ching planned to change that.
He held Burekaishi above his head as he focused.
The sword and the wielder are one, forged together from the same steel.
Totosai hadn't been making a metaphor. Burekaishi was no stronger than its master. He'd learned more than just how to break the Hibiki curse from his brief meeting with Mihoshi. He'd also been made the heir of the lost Hibiki school.
The blade of his sword radiated a pure deep green. He stepped to the edge and brought the sword down with tremendous force as he and the sword fell towards the mech below.
The Hibiki school was simple. The Hibiki had been champions of justice. His grandfather had always mourned that their heritage had been lost. The school had no need of complexity and had been pared down to one single strike. A single answer to overcome all foes.
"One Righteous Blow!"
Burekaishi howled along with him as the point of his sword hit the center of the tiger mech's head, and a roar of thunder shattered the air. The mechs head was driven into the ground and crushed as if it had been struck by a massive hammer while Sesshomaru looked on impassively.
From out of the wreckage, Tao-Ching strode, his clothes in tatters, but completely unharmed. He waved at Sesshomaru. "Heya, Lord Shesshomaru. Sorry to intrude on your fight, but you got bigger fish to fry than this kitten."
Sesshomaru nodded. "You are that Hibiki Swords Master I fought Naraku with."
"Yup. Tao-Ching Hibiki."
"I don't recall you being made of metal last time."
Tao-Ching cracked his neck as his steel skin returned to normal. "Yeah. The whole ironman thing is new to me too. It's a little gift from my sword. Anyway, the troops on the ground here are about to be polished off. Kagura is wiping out the stragglers with her Corpse Dance. As the overall commander you're probably needed at HQ. I'll take care of Auntie Lo-Shen and the girls." He pointed at the massive circle overhead. "You got about 45 minutes to evacuate the civilian populace if we can't stop that spell from being cast. Anyone inside its bounds is gonna get their soul sucked out according to my sources."
Sesshomaru resumed his human form. "I see." He looked up at the Mu-San. "I take it that is yours?"
"Yep."
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. "Just where did you come across a Silver Millenium warship?"
"Would you believe Mars?"
"I would, actually." He shrugged. "Well, so long as its not from Earth, I refuse to claim jurisdiction. Just make sure not to let it fall into someone else's hands. I have no desire to deal with the paperwork involved trying to keep it out of human hands."
"Gotcha. The Mu-San is her own property. She and Jo-chan are not slaves."
Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow again. "Not merely a warship, but a living Seedship? Truly legendary. Keep her safe at all costs. Not even I would choose to cross Kami-sama by harming her. I shall advise the Youkai Council to overlook her presence. I cannot say that human governments will do the same."
Tao-Ching shrugged. "I don't think I need to worry too much. Jo-chan isn't gonna let anyone mess with Mu."
"I will leave it in your hands then." He turned towards the mech again as groaning metal announced the opening of the cockpit in the torso. He raised his sword as a cyborg cat person crawled out of the opening. "If you will be so kind, please see to Archmage Lo-Shen and her guards. I have some unfinished business to attend to."
Tao-Ching nodded and turned his back on the approaching Prince. As he walked away, he heard the horrendous sounds of the helpless cat person screaming as he melted in miasma and jauntily hefted Burekaishi over his shoulder. As he figured it, Sesshomaru was showing more mercy than he would have. It was far quicker than he deserved for having led the invasion.
Ying-Ying sat in the command chair on the Mu-san's bridge as a mini Mu and a mini Jo sat on her shoulders.
"Thirty seconds until I can initialize high speed repair and refit." Jo stated over the intercoms. "I have isolated the Bridge and the medical bay for passenger safety. Please do not leave the Bridge during phase space reconstruction."
It started with a glow surrounding Mu in her pilot seat that quickly spread out into a globe that surrounded the entire ship. Within the globe Mu's missing wing reformed in an instant as the hole in her hull closed. In mere seconds it was as if she had never been wounded at all. But then her wooden hull began turning silver as she grew sleeker and lines of light began tracing the features of her hull. Her sails transformed into pure light between shining silver spars. And her sculpted dragons head grew longer and then detached from the hull as a long neck formed behind it. Only her deck remained wood, as smooth and shiny as the day she had launched. Then, to her stern, a long dragon tail grew and as the glow faded, Mu turned to look at her new form and let out a roar. She was still a ship, but was now just as much a legless dragon like a Quetzalcoatl. She dodged the fire from one of the crystal ships easily as she spun in the air, her wings closing around her before snapping open as she reared up behind it and a barrage of lightning erupted from her wings to tear the smaller ship apart.
Inside the bridge, Mu was jumping excitedly, her now disconnected tail wagging like a puppies. It was now merely two feet long and ended in what looked like a USB plug. "Jo-chan has made Mu so pretty! Mu doesn't hurt anymore!"
Ying-Ying smiled at the happy girl, realizing Mu obviously hadn't yet noticed the changes to herself yet. In addition to the shorter tail, Mu herself had gained a small set of her ship wings and a pair of long slender silver horns gracing her head. She now resembled a cyborg version of Zhu-Shu with mechanical wings. Given that Ying-Ying now knew the girl was a highly sophisticated clockwork and biological hybrid, she thought Mu's new look suited her perfectly. The glowing membranes of her wings rippled with a wave of light, revealing a pattern of faint hexagons embedded within them.
She jumped into Ying-Ying's lap for a hug as Jo began chasing down the remaining Crystal fighters, the vast difference in mobility between Mu's new ship body and them rendering them easy prey. She looped and whirled through the air with a speed just shy of breaking the sound barrier as her newly automated cannons strafed the occasional mech below.
Jo chuckled as she lined up on one of the satellite ships feeding the central hub and reared up. A bright beam of light erupted from her mouth to strike ships shields, making ripples of light pulse around it but doing nothing else. "A pity. Without Mars as a catalyst, our main cannon is merely S-class. But I am pleased to report the upgrades to the Mu-San are a success. I would rate us an equal to an Asgardian battle cruiser offensively, and far beyond anything in Lord Odins fleet in maneuverability."
"Mu's ship self feels so light!"
Ying-Ying observed the wildly gyrating landscape showing on the forward screens and smiled. "I can't feel more than the slightest sense of motion."
"Yes, the ship interior is significantly shielded against the inertia outside. The Mu-San's maneuverability would turn her crew to paste otherwise. I've limited us to sub-sonic speeds in populated areas, and hypersonic speed in atmosphere, but her true limits now are lightspeed in normal space. I've also limited access to the jump drives until Mu learns how to properly map realspace."
"Jump drives?"
"Mu and I are fused, Lady Ying-Ying. Mu-san shares my ability to traverse the informational sublayers of reality and essentially teleport. Until she can properly control where she will emerge, it is too dangerous to let her access it. Mu is my little sister. I want to make sure she learns to be a proper RIM spirit someday. She's just a baby right now, but in a million years, I want her to be able to proudly stand by my side."
"I'm sure she will, Jo-chan."
"She will be the first." Jo said softly.
"The first?"
"The first RIM spirit to ever experience a full life. The first to grow and mature as a living being. The first of us not to be created whole from nothingness. I cannot ever thank my mother enough for the miracle she has wrought by allowing me to merge with Mu. Truly, she is the great mother of new life."
((So, are you trying to say that for once in my life, I created a new life that I can be proud of?))
"Mother?!"
"Sarhia?"
"White Lady!"
((Yes, it's me. My body is still a statue, but I can finally interact with you telepathically. Zhu-Shu asked me to tell you that for now, she is okay. We don't yet know where her actual body is, but Ukyo and Heian are currently fighting Xi-an Chi, and the spell is making little progress. There's only about forty Dopples currently doing the ritual, and they are much slower than Xi-an Chi. You've got at least an additional ten minutes or so.))
(( Thank you Mother.))
((I am so happy to see you're doing better Mu-chan. I am relieved to see you healthy again.))
((White Lady helped Mu so much!))
((You have helped me more than I can ever repay by keeping my soulmates safe, little one.))
((Mu is sorry she got hurt.))
((You have nothing to apologize for Mu-chan. I asked for more than you were capable of. It is my fault if it is anyone's.))
((You can't hold yourself responsible for Xi'an Chi's actions Sarhia.))
((It's kind of you to think that, Ying-Ying. But I am sure you will change your mind when you learn the truth. Right now, there are far more important things to do, like collecting Tao-Ching, Lo-Shen, and Clove. The battle on the ground is almost over, It's all up to stopping Xi-an Chi up there, and destroying that central ship.))
((The upgraded sensors are detecting a massive source of mystical power in the heart of that ship.))
((Yes, Xi'an Chi has corrupted the silver crystal he took from the Serenity of the other world.))
((It's another Silver Crystal?))
((No, it has become a Black Crystal. Somehow, Usagi is going to have to destroy it.))
((Usagi?))
((Only Princess Serenity can control the Silver Crystal. Only she can purify the Black Crystal. That's the way Xi'an Chi plans to bypass the need for a RIM spirit in his God Engine, he wants to fuse the Crystal, the Shikon Jewel and Zhu Shu into himself to become a god.))
((Will it work?))
((No. They aren't compatible. But if he succeeds in making the attempt, he'll blow a hole the size of the moon in the planet.! This Earth will die just like the other universes!))
(Author's Notes) I am sorry this took so very very long. I had a stroke shortly after the outbreak of covid and it has taken so damn long to relearn how to use my left hand. I am also wheelchair bound, but thankfully have not apparently lost any of my mental facilities. )
