Three Hundred And Twelve

Three Hundred And Twelve

Shiro, Shaeula, Daiyu and I moved through the streets of Kyoto, the silver skies above illuminating the many buildings and odd structures around us. Lanterns strung overhead on long chains, burning in a rainbow of dark colours, gave it a completely different feel to Tokyo. Fortunately, we encountered no difficulties as we followed Shaeula’s lead towards the Night Parade, the few creatures out and about in Kyoto either in other areas or steering clear of us. Perhaps they fear a confrontation. After all, last time I was here I did defeat a couple of powerful denizens...

“Over there-there.” Shaeula pointed elegantly, and already we could see numerous strange and frightening Yokai perched on the surrounding buildings, looking down on us. There were Oni, Kitsune, Kappa, Tengu and many weirder creatures that I couldn’t even put a name to. The atmosphere seemed... tense... somehow, far less boisterous than the raucous festivities that we had witnessed in our prior meetings, and I was starting to get a bad feeling. It’s not Foresight or anything like that, but I do feel a bit... wary.

Daiyu was on edge, seeing so many dwellers of the Spirit World before her, and she moved closer to me instinctively, readying herself for battle. Shiro, meanwhile, was only curious, perhaps trusting my words that Nurarihyon wanted, no, needed her cooperation, according to the visions from the Kudan accompanying him.

“This is seriously amazing, Aki. We’ve nothing like this in Tokyo, do we?” she gushed, her curiosity and instincts piqued.

“Not that I’ve found, just isolated communities, and a lot of zombies and insect monsters.” I admitted. “But then, I’ve hardly scouted all of Tokyo. The Greater Tokyo area is a big place.”Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com

“True.” Shiro conceded. “By the way Aki, girls don’t like it when you nit-pick at everything they say! Just some advice from this princess.”

“I’m sure my sis has told me that before.” I said, a wry smile on my face, happy she had tried to lighten the mood. We slowed to a halt, the Yokai, thousands of them, still watching us. It was then a large group of muscular Oni came through the streets towards us, led by the familiar sight of Red and Blue. On seeing us, Red’s face curled into quite the malicious grin, his fangs showing, bone white against his crimson flesh.

“Well, we meet again, little man-thing.” He had a gourd over one shoulder, and he took a swig, before wiping his mouth messily. “And daughter of Urakaze.” He nodded at Shaeula, who returned his greeting with an airy wave of her hand, still confident. “These two are new, no?”

“Get to the point, will ya?” Blue complained. “We’ve been bored waiting for ya, and now even the booze is running out. I was beginning to think ya were never coming back. That might have been smart.” She snorted, the sound deafening. “Some of the Numbers, they’re wagering on whether you’d come back, or whether ya’d survive if ya did.” She paused, her smile grim. “My tally was on ya not returning. Guess I lose.”

“Har. Har. Har.” Red laughed boomingly. “Blue here always was one to go with her gut. Me...” his smile changed, and his dark gaze was serious. “... I knew you’d come back. After you walked out of here, the old Kijo bitch dead and gone. You’ve got guts, for a foolish little creature.” He looked at Shaeula then. “Besides, no daughter of hers could be a coward. Old Four Tails placed all her treasures on your return too, and your survival. That...” he belched, and I could smell the stink from here, Shiro and Daiyu looking disgusted. “... I’m not so sure about.”

At his words, laughter broke out amongst the watching Parade, a mixture of hoots, growls and cawing. Well, this is about Yamato-san, right? But it’s not like I broke any agreements. I left him there, alive, just as I promised. Though I admit that’s only the words, not the spirit of the agreement. “Well, can I get in on that? I’m willing to wager that we’ll walk out of here alive.” I said confidently.

“Indeed.” Shaeula grinned. “I can see-see several Kamaitachi and other weasel Yokai watching us. Do hurry along and tell my mother I have come-come to claim the true bodyguards and servants I was promised. I have great-great need of them.”

“Uh, Aki, you’re being quite forceful here.” Shiro whispered. “We are pretty outnumbered, and they all seem strong.” Daiyu nodded, not understanding her words but getting the idea from her facial expression and tone.

“There’s nothing to worry about.” I said loudly. “In fact, I’ve no idea why our welcome is so... unwelcoming. It’s rather disappointing.”

“No idea, ya sure?” Blue chuckled bitterly.

“Yes, I’m sure. So, shall we go? I need to speak to Nurarihyon.” I said fearlessly. I’m still confident that we have the upper hand in negotiations here. After all, he needs Shiro and Tan more than we need him, I’d say.

“Fine.” Red declared. “I admit to being curious about how this’ll all play out. No matter, if you die, I’ll pour out what little booze I have left for you, just like I did for that foolish idiot that was my bro.” he tapped at the gourd.

“Oh yeah, I promised you some booze, didn’t I? Well, it so happens we can make good on that tonight.” I smiled at the sudden look of interest in the eyes of Red and Blue. “But before that, business, right? We shouldn’t keep Nurarihyon waiting, and Shaeula wants to reunite with her mother again.”

“This way.” Blue gestured, and we swept down several twisting streets, until we reached a larger open area, a modest park, where the massive snake-drawn pagoda-style shrine house was waiting, along with the massive carriages and stranger dwellings from our last meeting. Fires were burning here, great bonfires, the flames yellow and purple, and thousand more Yokai were milling about, a crazed circus of monsters. Wait, is that...

Seeing where I was looking, Red laughed. “Yes, that’s him.” The golden cage, hoisted high on a long, shaved tree-trunk, was dangling on golden chains, a sad, barely conscious figure in rags within. “Our prize.” Ugh, the golden bars below the cage are rather... rusty-looking.

“Not that it was as rewarding as we hoped.” A voice said suddenly in my ear, a brush of warm flesh against my cheek. I jumped, reaching for Cutting Twilight, only to see it was the four-tailed foxwoman. She then darted backwards as a blade of wind furrowed the ground where she was standing, Shaeula glaring at her, irritated.

“Well, is that any way to greet your senior in the Numbers?” the Kitsune grinned, seemingly pleased at her joke. “Your mother would be so sad you are treating me poorly.”

“I would have no-none issues if she carved you apart with her winds.” Urakaze disagreed, emerging from the crowd, flanked by four large, powerful looking Kamaitachi, two male and two female. “You foxes are so very-greatly irritating.”

“Indeed they are, my dear mother.” Shaeula agreed, smirking. “Father has his share of troubles with foxes as well-well. As for this one, she should keep her hands off-off what does not-not belong to her!”

“Really? How sad for me.” The kitsune sighed theatrically, rubbing at her eyes and shedding what were clearly a scattering of fake tears across her beautiful face. “I believed you were one who understood a man of power should have many dalliances with the beautiful, wise and powerful.” She licked at her sensual lips, and tugged at the chest of her yukata, exposing an expanse of creamy white cleavage, her golden tails twitching behind her.

“Shit, Aki. I do not approve of her.” Shiro pouted, a bit lost but making her own interpretation of events. “This one’s no good, she strikes me as a bit of a slut. She won’t remain faithful! You’d never be sure her children are yours!”

Uh, I feel a sting in my conscience when Shiro says that. Before I could answer her, Shaeula spoke for me. “Of course I understand that. How could I not-not? And I am indeed proud of all-all the females, my sisters, that Akio has chosen. They are beautiful, wise and strive to better-better themselves, and support Akio as he does what he surely must-must. But dalliances?” she snorted, disgusted. “Unless they can pledge heart-heart and soul, unless they seek eternity together with him and us, I have no-no use for them. Nor for you-you.” she snorted. “Shiro is indeed correct. You are not-not faithful, are you fox? If Akio wishes to seek pleasure, we are here. There is no-no room for you!”

“Well said.” Shiro agreed, blushing. “As for the pleasure bit, Aki, uh... well, soon, I hope? After all, we are here for a reason, right?”

Yes, we are. Feeling a bit sorry for the overwhelmed Daiyu, who was only here as leaving her with the others was a bit cruel, I nodded. “Yeah, sorry, but I promised to be loyal to those I cherish, no matter how arrogant and insincere that sounds. So while I’m sure you’d be... fun...” the kitsune snorted at that. “... I think the price would be rather too high for my tastes.”

“I see.” She smiled. “Well, it is quite true that we foxes are always seeking pleasure. Tamamo-no-Mae, may she rest wherever she now dwells, was said to have a thousand lovers after all, and her blood burns in all of us foxes of many tails.” Her smile was now wicked. “But perhaps if you were strong enough to dominate me, body and soul, I would be constant...”

”Enough.” Urakaze growled. “I have no wish-hope to see my daughter’s husband wasting his time and love-passion on you. Get to the point-reason you are here.”

“You’re no fun. Your daughter seems to have inherited your prickly nature.” The kitsune sighed, pulling out a beautiful fan and snapping it open, shading her face. “Well, greetings. You have returned. As I wagered you would.” There were grins and cheers regarding that, and old coins, small bars of precious metals, Etherites and more were changing hands, some thrown by the crowd at her feet. Urakaze was collecting some as well, from Blue, who had a sour look on her face as she handed over a necklace made from what looked like black pearls.

“Of course. We have common purpose. I have brought the one Nurarihyon wishes to meet, and who requires a healer which was promised to us.” I gestured to Shiro.

“Aki, you bastard. Give me some warning first!” she complained, her single eye looking down shyly. “You know I’m pretty much a shut-in, apart from you and the gang. I don’t do well with people I don’t know, let alone a crowd this big. A crowd of Yokai!”

“You’ll be fine. You have to get used to this sooner or later. After all, when you are healed, you’ll have no excuse to stay isolated. You’re no longer the weak and fragile Shiro, but Shirohime, noble princess of the Hungry Ghosts!”

“I suspect my dear husband wishes circumstances were far different, and he could freely chastise your arrogance.” Seirei snorted. “Alas, such a wish is beyond even my power.” With that she gestured, and all of a sudden the fish disappeared, the lake water rippling. “But my dear did wish that the one needed should recover from her wounds. Be grateful.”

“Is that... Har. Har. Har.” Red grunted out a series of slow laughter. “It’s been a long time since we saw two of the Single Digits, right Blue?”

“Shut up, will ya? If ya draw the ire of Lady Seirei, it’ll be ya up in the cages, enjoying the taste of blades and whips rather than booze.”

Is it that weird fish? Is it the healer? If so, considering it came out from Nurarihyon’s Territory with his wife, it must be powerful... The water rippled, and suddenly two purple horns broke the surface, swiftly followed by long indigo hair, and a feminine, elegant face with dark eyes. Bare shoulders were next, and then a ripe body in a deep black gown. Soon the horned woman, looking nothing like the Oni, with their crude, angry features, was ashore, dripping dark water, the hem of her robe trailing behind her bare feet.

“Bintara, it has been a long time.” The kitsune giggled. “Have you been well, hidden away with Lord Nurarihyon?”

“Nebisuki, I see you have hardly changed at all.” The beautiful woman declared. “Well, other than growing a new tail, I see. Four. Well, you have a long way to go to reach your mother.” At that she ignored the kitsune, looking at me, her eyes searching. “So, you are the one that the Lord states I must aid. You seem well to me, as does...” she glanced across Shaeula, ignoring her, gave a brief inspection to Daiyu, frowning, before looking at Tan and Shiro, letting out a long, drawn out breath, some dark lake water trickling from her lips. “I see.”

“Well, what do you see, fishwoman?” Tan asked, and Bintara tossed her head, irritated.

“I am no fishwoman, foolish divinity, trapped inside such a flawed shell. Even from here, I can feel the poisoned adherence stinging my skin. It seems impossible that weak mortal could have survived this long, burdened by such an atrophied, long-starved spiritual body, as well as the strain of your entanglement, and the poison....” She flicked out her tongue, tasting the air. “... not your adherence. One of laws, broken promises. Some of the nastiest kind.”

She’s good. I hope she can heal as well as she can analyse. “Of course she’s still alive. Shiro’s a fighter, and she only suffered those broken oaths because she wanted to protect me and others, not for her own gain. And Tan is doing her part. She helped me to save her. But... well, Shiro and Tan can’t fight properly like this, and their strength is needed. And to see her so wounded, scarred, I hate it... can you heal her, Bintara? I know Nurarihyon has asked you to, but you’ll have my gratitude as well.” I bowed low, imploring.

“Can I?” she sighed, more water trickling down her body, her hair leaking it over her bare shoulders. “I am the Bitan, the first Bitan, she who heals all ills, and brings life even to the dying.” She looked at Shiro once more. “Let me see, foolish host to a divine parasite.” She reached out, and Tan quivered under her touch, as she stroked the savage scars around Shiro’s empty eye socket, brushing aside the flaming hair, steam rising as water met flames.

“Yes.” Bintara tutted, dark eyes knowing. “Such dark adherence. Truly the divine that seek to bind are cruel. But...” she sucked in a breath, and Tan shuddered as some of the energy was drawn in. Bintara rolled it around her mouth with a disgusted expression, before swallowing. “...little pleases the Hyakki Yagyō more than denying them their due.”

“Wait, Shiro, those scars...” Shaeula declared, excited, her eye glowing. “They are surely fading, I know I am not-not mistaken!”

My own Eye glowed, and though my ability to see adherence was low, I could definitely notice the difference around Shiro’s eye. As more was sucked out, she let out a cry of pain, her working arm clutching at her face, her hair shading to silver once more, as the sun yielding to the moon.

“I shall allow you this pleasure. If I remain at the forefront, I will likely suffer at her hands.” Tan declared, before offering some parting words as she went to her slumber. “Princess, I am happy for you.”

“Wait, this... fuck. Shit. Aki, this hurts, this hurts badly!” Shiro cried in agony, panting.

Stepping over, I placed my hand on her back, allowing my Ether Healing to numb her sense of pain. As my Ether soaked towards whatever Bintara was doing, she turned to me, an angry expression on her face, before pausing, puzzled.

“I... you have some skills. Inferior. Pathetic even. But if you study for a few hundred years, perhaps you could prove worthy.” She sniffed, allowing me to do my work, my arms around Shiro, as tears streamed from her eye and her empty socket, which was twisting with audible cracking noises.

She’s drawing out the adherence, that is easy to see, and doing that causes horrible damage, just like when we tried, and should be causing further adherence to spring forth, making it worse, but she’s managing it... and more...

With one final, harrowing crunching sound, Shiro would have collapsed if I wasn’t holding her. She let out a series of long, tortured gasps, while Bintara was also breathing heavily, her skin pale and clammy, dark water leaking from her as sweat. “For now, I shall require rest.” She gasped, splashing back into the lake, floating there like someone at the beach, hair and robes spreading out.

“I’m... ugh, I’m not all right.” Shiro shuddered. “Maybe being hideous is better than enduring that. It felt like my whole body was being pulled apart. But... Aki, do you think...?” she paused as I gently brushed aside her bangs.

“Yeah, the scars have definitely shrank a little. It’s subtle, but I can tell. There’s a hint of new flesh around the edges. And...” I managed in wonder. “Shiro, your eye!”

“My eye? What about it?” she asked.

“It’s there! An eye!” I half-shouted. The milky orb was dead, clearly, and Shiro wasn’t aware there was anything in her scarred, battered socket, but it was clearly new. I wonder if this has appeared in her Material body as well.

“Are you sure, I can’t see a damn thing...” she flinched, her fingertips brushing the surface. “...uh... yeah. I guess there is something here.” She said quietly, before turning to the floating Yokai. “Thanks, I guess? Though I can’t say I appreciate the pain.”

“With such a divine curse responsible for your wounds, you should be grateful I can even aid you. Do not think you are recovering the adherence I extract, that belongs to Lord Nurarihyon, I shall offer it as tribute.”

“Uh, no, I don’t care about that crap. Do you, Aki?” she asked me, and I shook my head.

“No, I just care about getting you healed. Nothing else. Excuse me, Bintara, may I ask... are you confident of healing Shiro completely, and even her Material body?” Shiro tensed in my arms at the question, and the expression on her face was a mixture of hope and despair, ready to accept disappointment again.

“Such a feat is not beyond me, though it will take some time and much effort.” Bintara said. “Lord Nurarihyon expects effort in equal measure to mine own in return, when the time for battle comes against this dark creature, who belongs here as little as this parasite does.”

“So, she’ll recover fully, even the scars?” I pressed.

“Do not make me repeat myself. I am the first Bitan, fool. My very talents changed me, made me immortal, a Yokai. You insult me to think I would leave a woman scarred. Men treasure their wounds, women are cursed by them. Apt, in this case. In time, I shall surely repair her, all of her.” She looked at me then, eyes glittering. “Perhaps your aid in reducing her pain will be welcome. The poisoned adherence is rooted deep, and I am stymied at easy removal due to her tangled network. If I am not cautious, I shall remove the parasite as well, and she shall surely perish. Not that I would ever make such a foolish error.”

“You hear that?” I said to Shiro, happiness surging through me. “It’ll be all right. I told you we’d get you back to the beautiful girl you’ve always been.”

“I... yes. Yes, I heard Aki. I... I... awa... I...” her words became unintelligible as she sobbed, tears pouring from her eyes, clutching me tightly. “... I...”

“Best let her cry.” Shaeula declared softly as I held the trembling, bawling Shiro, while Yokai around us looked on, bemused. Turning to Daiyu she explained what was going on in Chinese, leading her to nod sympathetically. Turning back to me, Shaeula grinned. “I too know what it is-is to see an impossible dream come into your grasp. So for now, let her release her pent-up sorrows.” Turning to Bintara, she bowed, this time with noticeably more respect than she showed Seirei. “I too am in your debt, if you can heal-heal Shiro. I shall not-not forget this favour...”

Nor shall I. Nurarihyon may be acting out of self-interest, but I care about results. And if Shiro can truly smile again from the heart, like she used to when we were in Bar Sekirei, or at Uni, or talking shit about games and manga... then I’ll return the favour, agreement or not...