192 5.81 Shippo And Hachi. Another Encounter With Hiten And Manten

As the two youkai had reached well within the target, Hoshi-sama struck the ground beneath him with his staff and made a barrier around the duo and sealed them within it. The duo was taken aback and began to immediately cry out for help as they had not done anything wrong.

All of us approached the barrier that had caged the duo and Hoshi-sama was the first to ask who they were and what they were doing in the middle of the night, walking towards the path that we had come from.

"Shippo is my friend here that had lost his father to the Thunder Brothers and he is a kitsune while I am a tanuki. We both are youkai that has the ability to shapeshift and are useless in combat. Please, kind travellers, please let us go and we would be in your way."

"Thunder Brothers? Is that the one Himura was mentioning when he had first met them?" Inuyasha asked as he glanced at me and then back at the duo, still caged within the protective barrier.

The child-like youkai named Shippo tried to use its Fox Fire to release themselves from the protective barrier but to no avail, as the Fox Fire reflected back at them. The child-like youkai screamed in surprise and quietly sat down on the ground, with its tiny arms crossed over his chest and sniffled loudly.

The other tanuki was trying to beg its way out with Hoshi-sama and pleaded that it will serve the latter as its master if need be.

"Tell us what happened first before we release the both of you," Sango spoke up and squatted down to look at the child-like youkai named Shippo and maybe she was thinking it would make another great pet but dismissed the idea as they were not combatting youkai.

"Keh...! Oi, troublesome kid. Speak when the adults were asking you a question! You said something about Thunder Brothers?" Inuyasha took a long stick and began to poke several times at the child-like Shippo as Inuyasha couldn't even get close to the protective barrier.

"I will talk...! I will talk...! Unless this hanyou stops poling me like an animal in the zoo...! And I'm not a troublesome kid, and my name is Shippo and this is Hachi...!"

Kikyo came forward and pulled the stick gently away from Inuyasha's hands and a smirk left his face as soon as the stick was taken away. It seems he was having such fun bullying others who seemed weaker than him. Finally, he had his revenge for being ostracised by other kids and youkai alike.

"I am kitsune and I am a fox demon. My father was recently killed by the Thunder Brothers and I wished to get stronger to avenge my father's death. It was just 2 days travel from here and my father's body is now with the hideous shark faced a monster that called himself as Manten."

"My name is Hachi and I am a tanuki much like Shippo here. I am a non-combat youkai and I could easily shapeshift into someone or something when I need to be. Most of the time I would transform into a yellow gourd that can float and carries other travellers from one point to another. That is my source of income."

"Please help avenge my father...! I would do anything for you...!" Shippo pleaded as it kowtowed in from of us. Seeing his state and recently experienced the demise of its father, Hoshi-sama asked everyone's opinion before he released the barrier.

Kikyo and Sango agreed and Hoshi-sama warned the duo not to perform any tricks before lifting the protective barrier around them. The duo nodded its head and Hoshi-sama removed his staff from the ground and the protective barrier was soon lifted.

Inuyasha was eyeing Shippo that made it ran behind Hachi for protection and Hoshi-sama used his staff and knocked on the former's head that made it cower in defence.

"Why do you do that for? I thought that Hachi fellow would not do any tricks?"

"Ah... Hiko-sama, it is a practise to show who is master and who is a servant. If I don't do this, this Hachi here would be up to no good and thus forget its role. Also, it would be the norm for me to occasionally knock on Hachi's head further in this series..."

Hiko-sama just nodded with his forever frown look on his face that this Hoshi-sama is acting pretty weird when dealing with a non-combat youkai. "Hey, Shippo...! My name is not hanyou and its called Inuyasha! You said about Thunder Brothers and for the third time, I had been asking you now. Where are they?"

Inuyasha was equally pissed when he heard about these Thunder Brothers and wanted to avenge Shippo even if he didn't mention to it on his true intentions. Inuyasha was not good with kids so he hid his intentions well. All he wanted to do was to tear some youkai up.

"2 days travel from here, Han... I mean Inuyasha. They killed my father and used him as a decorative sash on Manten. He places it above his shoulders. I cannot do anything to help my father and he told me to run. I used some items on my bag of tricks but nothing seemed to work only for this spinning top."

Shippo explained as he spreads out his bag and shows a lot of toys on it. Little Kaede was astonished to find so many toys that she began to come close and squatted towards the bag. Little Kaede was holding on to a toy horse and when Shippo saw little Kaede holding it, it began to move closer."

"You like this horse? Look, I can transform it but would be big enough to carry me or even you, I think." Shippo said to little Kaede and it seemed to blush abit. I looked at Hiko-sama and told him that Shippo was a male fox demon.

Shippo then soon transformed the toy horse and he sat in it and galloped on its tiny legs like a windup toy. Little Kaede looked at it and Shippo gave the tiny reins to little Kaede and she sat on it and galloped around us, shrieking with joy, and finally returning back the toy horse to Shippo.

We all watched as Shippo temporarily forgot his sadness and worries as he talked to little Kaede who seemed to show deep interest with the toys and stuffed animals. Little Kaede had never owned any toys before and her life had been filled to make herbs and potions for the common illnesses of the villagers.

Hachi had followed Hoshi-sama and was told to fish in the river for supper. He was also being directed to light up the fire to prepare for grilling.

Soon, over supper of grilled trout that had been recently caught by Hachi, we watched both Shippo and Hachi if they are interested to join our elite team. Even though they are non-combat youkai, but somehow they could be put to use in terms of transportation.

There was a single fish left in the grill and Shippo was about to reach for it when Inuyasha snatched it away. This made Shippo cry and Kikyo gave her grilled fish to Shippo instead. Shippo stuck out his tongue at Inuyasha and the latter hit his knuckles over the former's head.

We watched the whole scene unfold and soon find out that this may be the way of interaction that would bind us more closer. Sango offered a bun to Kikyo where the latter spread a generous pinaatsubata servings on it and shared half with Shippo after he had finished eating the last grilled fish.

Inuyasha saw and folded his arms and turned his back towards Shippo and Kikyo but peeked at the latter over his shoulder. We saw and laughed again at Inuyasha's childishness.

We took our places on the ground where we laid a blanket over it while the ladies and Shippo slept on the wagon. Hoshi-sama had placed a temporary protective barrier around us and it will ring when someone enters through it, made by the bells that were emplaced on Hoshi-sama's staff.

I exchanged small talk with Hiko-sama and said that whatever I do right now would certainly change everyone's future. I asked him if he had plans to pass down his Hiten-Mitsurugi-Ryu to anyone and I suggested he could teach Inuyasha as I will forge a Kodachi for him and imbued it with Kamehameha energies.

Hiko-sama thought it for a while and finds that it was a good idea since a youkai would have limitless energy and would be able to handle the Hiten-Mitsurugi-Ryu properly.

However, having a youkai to be disciple gave him doubts if Inuyasha would be his disciple or not in the future, would be another question.

We slept for a few hours before dawn breaks over the horizon and we washed our faces with the prized initial Karada Soap that was brought in the sleeve of Hiko-sama sleeve. Since there was quite a number of travellers with us, Hiko-sama passed some to the group and was told to return it back to him after use.

They washed their faces in the stream and soon everyone was feeling very refreshed and smelled great afterwards. Hiko-sama produced the Hamigachiko and broke off some hibiscus sticks and used it as a toothbrush and passed some sticks to the group and dipped it once in the Hamigachiko and started to brush his teeth.

Everyone joined in and Kikyo, little Kaede, Inuyasha, Shippo and Hachi along with Hoshi-sama all cleaned their teeth with the sticks and a dab of Hamigachiko. Their breath felt like peppermint and its a wonder for them as they had never felt the sensations before.

Hiko-sama further explained that this is a product patented by the corporation and was a big hit with the clients all over the towns that they had supplied to. Even if they used horsehair or boar hair toothbrushes, the sticks from a hibiscus plant would also do just fine.

When Shippo asked Inuyasha to smell his breath when he blew, Inuyasha said it smelled peppermint, and when Inuyasha did the same to Shippo, the latter remarked and closed his nostrils and said it smelled just like a donkey's ass! The duo started to run while being chased by the latter and we all laughed at their antics.

It seemed that those two got along well even though it started from a wrong foot! Both were orphans and with the difference in ages, Shippo regarded Inuyasha as an elder brother but never mentioned to him.

Shippo came running to Kikyo with a bump on his head and tears on his face as Inuyasha managed to get a hold of the latter and delivered a knuckle sandwich. Inuyasha was reprimanded by Kikyo due to his actions and he climbed a tree and turned his back against us all.

We laughed at Inuyasha and Shippo that were constantly bickering with each other since last night, starting from the grilled fish. Shippo regarded Kikyo as his older sister and was being consoled while little Kaede was slowly spreading some ointment on Shippo's bump.

He sat there and was blushing due to the show of concern by little Kaede. When Kohaku saw what happened, he was reminded of how Riko was sitting close to him and he felt shy since he had never experienced being close to a girl his own age.

We broke camp and headed onwards to our journey on horseback when Shippo showed us a fork in the road where he had come from with Hachi. So we decided to take the unbeaten path and hopes to meet Hiten and Manten so Shippo would be able to get back his father's body around Manten's waist.

We munched on grilled fish from last night as we made our way towards the place mentioned by Shippo. I had a mental plan worked out and I rode with besides Sango and Kohaku to discuss on the plan that I had planned. This was also relayed to Kikyo and Inuyasha as well as Shippo to cause a diversion for the Thunder Brothers.

Our plan is not to exterminate them but to retrieve Shippo's father and to perform a proper burial. That was the least what we can do for our latest adventurer. Shippo looked at me as I broke out the plan as we were nearing the site. Hiko-sama and Hoshi-sama would stand back with Sango and Kohaku as the last line of defence and those not involved, would be standing back at a safe distance.

I would have to ensure that no one would get hurt in this process because the only long-range attacks and defence would be from Kikyo and Sango with their Hama no Ya and hiraikotsu respectively.

Everyone listened intently as we broke out the plans and the only person who would decide to exterminate the Thunder Brothers would be Shippo as a way to avenge his father. Shippo agrees and told us that if he didn't succeed this time, he would eventually get stronger and kills them the next time around.

I looked at the little fox demon and wondered what he could with his toys to actually kill the Thunder Brothers. With the Raigekijin, only the Kodachi imbued with the Kamehameha would defeat it.

In the distance, we heard rumbling noises and sounds of explosions and this indicating that the Thunder Brothers were near. I instructed Hoshi-sama, Hiko-sama, Kohaku and little Kaede to stay behind and take some cover behind a huge boulder while the rest of us advanced.

As we got nearer to the booming explosions, the tremendous force from Raigekijin's blast rocked the earth. It is not that we do not wish Kohaku to be involved but he was more suited to close-quarter battles with youkai in their natural firm and not in human form.

Dozens of youkai had escaped from the jungle as the Thunder Brothers were basically treating this smaller youkai as their target practice. Anything worth was taken by them while the rest were left rotting in the ground.

"We can't get close to the Thunder Brothers of the Raigekijin is still spewing out its Lightning Bolt Attack," I called out to Inuyasha and Shippo who seemed intent to get close and too close would spell danger to them!

I wonder how these two were called Thunder Brothers since their attack was actually Lightning. Maybe the original authors of Inuyasha don't want it to be confused with Lightning Hands in Nine Dragons.

"Sango-Chan and Miko-sama began your distraction now...!"

I commanded as we were within a distance that we felt was comfortable enough to intervene with the Thunder Brothers.

A Hama no Yan steaked across the sky and dispersed a strike from a Lighting Bolt Attack. Hiten was taken aback at the sudden intrusion and had not expected anyone to actually intervene with their enjoyment. Soon after a Hiraikotsu flipped through the air and separated both Hiten and Manten to a distance not too far from each other.

Hiten was on his so-called hot wheels situated at his ankles while Manten was on his thunder cloud comfortably sitting while he unleashed his Fire Breath on the youkai that were residing and hiding underneath the thick foliage of the forest.

"Give back what you had taken from me, you ugly demon! You had three strands of hair that looked like Homer Simpsons...! You both are stupid, fat and obnoxious cartoon characters...!"

Shippo was basically seething with rage as he mentioned to Manten to release his father's pelt to him. He was filled with emotion when he saw Manten had made it as a kind of decorated sash around the waist and had made the head of the fox demon to bite down on its tail to act as a buckle.

"Mmuuuaaahahaha...come here you little fox demon, I make you as a hat instead to keep me warm and fuzzy just like your father here... Mmuuuaaahahaha...!"

Manten mocked at Shippo as former adjusted the pelt around his waist and continued to laugh.

Shippo took out an acorn from his bag and transformed it into a spinning top and it appeared on Manten's head which causes Manten to lose his balance and spiral down on top of the trees, as the weight began to bear down on the latter's head.

"Hey Hiten, remember me? We meet again, you weakling...! Here's the dog demon I was talking to you about and he's going to give you a headache you will never forget...!"

"Heh... Kid! Yes, it's been a while...! This is Inuyasha that you had mentioned before...? Him, strong? That Inuyasha is merely a half-dog demon...! I truly hoped so, you have power and yet no style. This should be an interesting battle...!"

As Hiten spoke, he raised his Thunder Pike and gathered the energy as he did before and raised it above his head. Manten in the other hand was basically pinned down while Shippo used his Fox Fire to try to dislodge the pelt that was around Manten's waist.

As the energy gradually filled into the Lightning Pike, Inuyasha squatted down and cupped his hands in order to hoist me high in the sky. I took the cue and ran forward and stepped on the cupped hands and was flung high into the air. Inuyasha also had jumped into the air and was beside me as I withdrew my Kodachi from the sheath.

"NOW Inuyasha...!" Just as Hiten was about to release his Lightning Bolt Attack, Inuyasha unleashed his Sankon Tesso while I whipped my Kodachi imbued with Kamehameha in an upward manner from the left to the top and the other manner from the right afterwards.

Two bladed after image appeared while the Sankon Tesso unleashed by Inuyasha followed it from behind the after image. The Lightning Bolt was unleashed and it clashes with the Kamehameha and Sankon Tesso. The clash was tremendous and it boomed across the sky resulting in the pelt the Manten was wearing became dislodged as Manten was affected in the aftershock!

"Again...!" I shouted as I began to lose my momentum and floated gently to the ground with the help of Shippo's Copter that made me look like the boy in Doraemon with a copter on his head...! I managed to perform a horizontal swipe and created an afterimage of it that raced towards the already dissipating Lightning Bolt Attack while Inuyasha unleashed another set of Sankon Tesso towards Hiten.

Of course, both counter-attacks from Inuyasha and I were easily evaded but left Hiten feeling shaken. They heard about the Shikon no Tama and decides to steal it and make them even stronger than before. He remembers Inuyasha's name because his Sankon Tesso nearly hit him and would serious injuries if it did.

Hiten quickly gathered Manten who was on top of the treetops and was scolding him for being easily manipulated by the tricks of Shippo. Manten was gesturing to Hiten about the loss of the pelt around the waist and told him it is better to lose it than to lose his life. But he changed to make it easier to digest by Manten that it would be better than losing the 3 pieces of the hair on his head.

The pelt that had come loose from Manten floated gently and Shippo was able to retrieve it easily. Shippo held it close to his face and body as he hugged the pelt and was kneeling on the ground.

"That's a great combo, Inuyasha. I could not have done so without you...!" I raised my palm high in the air and Inuyasha looked at me in total bewilderment of not knowing what to do. I then took his hand and proceeded to perform a high five with it.

"That's a high five for a job well done."

"But we didn't do anything, we were supposed to exterminate those guys."

"Inuyasha, we came here for that reason..." I pointed to Shippo who was holding the pelt and was crying. Inuyasha went over and squatted in front of Shippo and gave a pat on Shippo's head. When Shippo saw what Inuyasha was doing, he bawled out much louder and hugged the pelt and in turn embraced Inuyasha.

The group eventually met with us and we looked at Shippo that were hugging Inuyasha with the pelt in the middle and everyone felt mixed emotions of relief and sadness.

When Shippo recovered, the first thing he mentioned was to give his father a proper burial and so we headed back before the fork of the road and made a simple burial mound to bury Shippo's father and after saying some prayers by Hoshi-sama, we continued our journey.

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Shippo was silent along the way as he did the last rites as a son to a father and rode on top of Hiko-sama's shoulder, which he didn't mind at all. We continued our journey when Kohaku broke the silence.

"Himura, is that the power you were discussing back at my house in the mountains when you said you used your Kodachi and drive away Hiten?"

"Yes, Kohaku... That's the one imbued with my Kamehameha, a sphere of explosive energy that devastates anything it comes in contact to. I just used it to transfer into anything I held in my hands, it can be a stick or a rock... Evena small harmless pebble."

"I see... I can never match up to you, Himura. I'm good against slow-moving or large, cumbersome youkai that had no brains or cannot think like a human at all."

"Don't worry, your time will come soon. Practise hard with your sister. You can deal with smaller youkai near our northern gate when we come back to Kitakata."