Ch23 The First Strike
(??? POV)
Smiting humans gets boring after awhile, especially when they were encroaching on our territory.
You would think that reducing two entire armies to ashes would send a message, but it seems to have fallen on some deaf ears.
"Sister Hiten!" My little brother Manten called out. "These humans had two pheasants, and the best part is that their uncooked!"
Raw pheasants now that was a good find. Not as good as a Shikon Jewel shard, but still was a good find all the same as there were none in our territory.
Then again our clan hunted them all years ago.
"Toss me one of them!" I shouted and held out my hand to catch the incoming foul.
I grabbed by the neck and immediately took a bite out of its stomach.
How can humans eat these things by cooking them is beyond me. I tried it once and it took me a few days for my stomach ache to fade.
After I got a few more bites, I fired up my feng hou lun and took to the skies with Manten follow suit soon after on his cloud.
There was a certain charm about patrolling your territory with your family after all, especially after the shard came into place.
Seriously one shard falls straight into your head and you have enough power to help drive off anyone who dares approach Raimei Valley.
This was our family's ancestral home after all.
Shame we couldn't bring Sōten with us, too dangerous for her and can't risk her being killed.
Anyway a quick patrol would do quite fine, we already have 5 shards and are in no real hurry to collect anymore at this point.
Still with another shard for myself I'm sure that I could rival a fully grown raijū in power. Add in the perks from mom's blood and you have yourself a force to be reckoned with.
But I would like to have a patrol over and done with soon anyway, I have someone warming the bed for me back home after all.
As I finished the pheasant, I sensed a small flare of energy. One that I had learned to pick up on after obtaining my second shard.
The signature of a Shikon Jewel shard, and if the feel was of any indication multiple shard.
"Manten do you sense what I'm sensing?" I asked my younger brother as he flew right next to me.
"Of course, I sense two or three shards I think." He said, getting me to nod.
"That's what I thought." I said, trying to pinpoint the location of the shards.
"Didn't expect to encounter anyone else hunting the jewel shards so soon. Do you think that it is the composite yokai we've been hearing about?" He asked, getting me to shudder.
Disgusting creatures the lot of them, but they are quite powerful even without the shards. Thank Raijin that they are extremely rare or otherwise there would be a lot less yokai around.
We're lucky that there is only one currently living thankfully.
"No, with how smart I've heard that one is she would have made her presence known to us or tried to make an arrangement of sorts. No I guess this is someone else." I said, tapping Raigekijin against my shoulder.
If these shard hunters were able to collect two or three shards, then they must have some degree of strength behind them.
Still, either collect the shards or go back to the castle and get a good laid once again. Tough choice.
"Hey Manten, want to take care of collecting the jewel shards this time?" I asked.
"You just want to have sex again with that woman, don't you sister." He said with a grumble and a sorrowful glance at his head.
Again seriously with the hair, he doesn't really need hair to attract any woman or man he wishes. I know I didn't with my various bed partners and neither did our mother with our father.
"You got it, but I believe you can handle it Manten. You did mange to wipe an entire human army out yesterday after all." I said, granted it was a small army and most humans were comparable to incests. Still that kind of feat was usually accomplished by fully grown raijū after all.
"I guess you are right, if you believe that I can do it then I won't disappoint you Hiten!" He declared, causing me to smirk.
"Now that's the spirit! Tell you what, I'll do you a favor and lure them to you before heading back home. Sounds like a plan?" I asked, getting him to nod.
"Of course sister!" He shouted before floating down to the forest below to lie in wait.
I steadied myself before twirling Raigekijin and aiming it at the source of the shards.
This was going to be fun.
(??? POV)
Although I can't tell what the raijū are actually planning, but it looks like divide and conquer.
A simple, but effective strategy.
I suppose that I could lend my services, but I doubt they would actually ask for my assistance.
Even with the barrier bestowed upon me by the Shikon Jewel shards so far in my possession, I doubt it would last that long against their combined strength for long. It would be trivial to waste precious parts to recover from that.
No, it is a little too soon to step in yet. I shall bid my time for now and observe Y/N's potential for now.
Besides a simple distraction shall by me enough time to observe his growth while keeping his vassal and Inuko busy. Kikyo's reincarnation and the kitsune kit were of no importance wether they live or die.
No, what mattered was Y/N's growth, if he could survive the raijū and come out on top then he is worth of my attention.
But this is only to prove if he is worthy, he still has to completely earn it and I have one final test for him.
If he can survive anyway.
(Y/N POV)
"So these gigantic castles are called..." Shippō trailed off as he rode on my shoulders.
"Skyscrapers, some are like castles but most of them are higher then the castles you would probably see here.
Although you can't see them that well during the day, once it turns nights you could see them in the background.
The windows usually look like they are lit with candles in the background.
" Kagome said, getting Shippō to awe in wonder.
To keep himself safe from the Raijū Kyōdai and my self safe from possibly dying from what can basically describe as an overload of energies from 5 Shikon Jewel Shards. The two of use and Kagome are heading back to the modern era.
Shippō of course is still upset at not getting a chance for revenge although he understands why and being confined to a Shinto temple once we get back home.
Although the tales of sights of the modern era and the promise of a playmate in the form of Sōta seems to have alleviated them.
Anyway we have everything in order and making our way back to the village as fast as we could.
However the storm cloud was now overhead and the distant rumble of thunder had both Inuko and Yura on guard. The former ready to draw Tessaiga on a moment's notice and the later getting as close to me as possible without crowding me.
They were ready at a moment's notice, but I doubt it will do much when the raijū attack.
They are usually as ferocious and formidable as the lightning they manipulate.
We might have beaten Sesshōmaru, but she left to heal and all of us barley survived her especially Kagome.
So I wouldn't like to think how well we would do against two raijū working in tandem and backed with raw power provided by the jewel shards.
Also with Sesshōmaru, she underestimated us. However for these raijū they probably won't.
With what Shippō knew about us fighting Sesshōmaru, it seems we were having a reputation and if the Raijū Kyōdai were smart they wouldn't repeat the same mistake.
"Get down!" I heard Inuko shout she and Yura came behind me and pushed me and Shippō down just as a bolt of lightning crashed down where we previously were.
It seems like they were finally making their move.
"We have got to get moving now." Inuko said as she picked me up while I did the same to Shippō. "Kagome, your coming with me. Yura take Y/N and the kit."
"Alright then, Shippō hang on tight then." I said getting the kitsune to nod as he clung on tight to me.
Yura wrapped her hairs around us while Kagome climbed onto Inuko. The two of them hoped or rose into the canaopy above us.
Only for a massive bolt of lightning came sailing towards me.
I barely had time to throw Shippō out of the way before I found myself being pushed away by Yura.
The bolt hit Yura directly and a second later all we knew was pain.
(Kagome POV)
"Y/N!" I cried out as he and Yura screamed out in pain as the later was struck by lightning.
Yura was suffering the worst of it as parts of her were turning black and catching fire, being made of hair seems to work against her this time.
Y/N thankfully had a bit of a lesser effect, but it was still pretty devastating.
He was wrapped in her hairs and I could see the electricity traveling through her hairs towards Yura's comb. Basically trapping him in an electric net.
I could only watch in horror as the two were electrocuted before the lightning subsided and their forms began to fall downwards towards the ground.
Inuko bond over to them with speeds I have never seen her travel it. She caught the slightly blackened form of Y/N and the smoldering form of Yura before touching down onto the ground and dumping me down next to Yura and went to check on Y/N.
Before I could even approach Y/N, Shippō crashed down onto the ground from up above and groaned as he picked himself up and crowded him alongside myself.
"Is he going to be alright?" I asked Inuko, panic lacing my tone as I tried to keep the kit from going frantic over his condition. And myself as well.
"He'll be alright, if the raijū were trying to kill him then he would be ashes by now." Inuko sighed out, getting my heart to drop. "Thankfully it seems like Yura took the blunt of that lightning. He will be out of it for a while and has a few minor burns, but he should be alright."
Oh thank Amaterasu he was alright!
I nearly burst into tears at that revelation.
Shippō couldn't though and burst into tears in relief.
"Can't say the same for Yura though." Inuko said dryly while pointing at said yokai, snapping me and Shippō to our senses.
"Oh dear Yomi, Shippō help me put her out!" I shouted as I rushed towards Yura and started to dump handfuls of dirt onto Yura.
Her limbs started to catch on fire and burn away. With the static electricity dancing around her blackened body, I did not wish to risk putting out the fires with water.
"You mean save the creepy lady, fine." Shippō said, before he pulled out a top.
He spun it and to my surprise it grew to gigantic proportions and dig into the earth, forcing me back as waves of dirt and dust washed over the fire. A few seconds later the top returned back to its regular size and the fires were put out.
"That should do it, but I think the creepy lady will try to kill me now." Shippō said a shudder as he retrieved his top.
"She would." I said with a wince as I looked over Yura's prone form.
She was mainly blacked with her legs and right arm being almost completely burned off. Add in the face she was covered with a ton of dirt she wasn't in the best shape.
If I hadn't seen her regenerate from nothing once, then I would have proclaimed her dead. Still I doubt that she has enough hair with her to fully regenerate from that.
Though once she finds out who covered her in dirt, she'll be out for Shippō's fur if Y/N doesn't calm her down or restrained her.
I learned the hard way not to mess with her hair.
I was broken out of my musings when a small fire appeared on what remained of her right leg.
You have got to be kidding me!
Before I could even move, a trickle of ice moved across the ground and towards her hand. Swiftly putting out the fire.
"Glad to see your awake." I heard Inuko said as I saw her supporting a groggy looking Y/N.
Shippō rushed over to him and clung onto his arm and I let out a sigh of relief that Y/N was alright...well mostly alright.
"Same here and Shippō can you please let go of my arm. Your pressing against a burn." Y/N said, getting to the kitsune to back off with a 'sorry'. "It's alright, anyway can someone help me up please. I'm still trying to recover the feeling in my legs."
Well that's just great.
"Kagome you do it, I'll go check on the charred bitch." Inuko said while walking over to Yura, sending me a quick look.
Wait is she-
Never mind that Kagome, you can think about that later. Just focus on helping all of us getting out of this situation alive.
"Don't worry Y/N, I've got you." I said while bending down and slinging my arm underneath his own and try to support him.
"Same here." Shippō said while pulling out a leaf and placing it onto his head.
In a puff of smoke was another version of me...with a kitsune tail and Shippō's green eyes.
"What do you think, a perfect match?" Shippō said...in his own voice.
"Not really, your tail is showing. Anyway a little help here?" I asked, trying to support Y/N's weight with him trying and failing to help balance himself with a twitchy leg.
"Dang it, not again!" Shippō shouted, his tailed bristling before settling down. "Alright give me a second." He said as he came over and supported Y/N with a groan. "You can lose some weight though."
"You're probably right." Y/N said with a chuckle, before I could admonish Shippō for saying something like that. "Anyway we have much more serious issues to deal with."
He's right, we still have the Raijū prowling around and Yura in a critical condition. We needed to leave now.
"Correct." Inuko said, with the charred form of Yura hung over her shoulder. "Can't get a pulse from her, but then again this is a faux body. She'll probably be alright." Inuko said, before looking up and widening her eyes. "Quick toss me her comb!"
Noticing her expression, I reached into Y/N's gi and tossed Yura's comb towards her.
Just in time though, as a wall of lightning crashed around Inuko as she fumbled trying to catch the comb and avoid the lightning strikes.
Luckily I had thrown the comb, otherwise it probably would have been a repeat of what happened earlier. Except Yura might've been killed this time and Y/N ended up in a worse state or following her in death.
Honestly a part of me still wishes that I had the chance to snap her comb after what she did to us.
But then again she just took a lightning bolt for Y/N and he would be devastated if she were to perish, especially after something like that!
So I suppose I can let it go for now, considering more lightning rained down, especially towards Inuko and a few bolts forcing us back.
It took me a few seconds to realize that this was a trap.
The raijū was separating Inuko from us as we held the jewel shards and she was the strongest.
How were they able to tell the difference, I have no clue. But Shippō did say they already have 5 shards, so it might have something to due with that.
"Damn it!" Inuko cried out after more lightning rained down forcing her further and further. "Can't get around, you three are on your own for the moment. Find somewhere to hide from the raijū, and I'll find you. Just wait for me and don't do anything stupid!"
A massive bolt of lightning later and she was gone, vanishing into the forest behind her with the occasional lightning bolt chasing after her.
"Damn it to all Yomi! Shippō help me out and let's move out!" I shouted as me and the transformed kitsune moved in tandem, carry Y/N as he tried to move along.
This is bad, very bad.
We're separated from Yura and Inuko with the former nearly dead, Y/N can barely walk at the moment, we have two raijū lying in wait to trap us, and the only back up we have is a kitsune kit.
Am I forgetting something...oh yeah. Myōga seems to have fled once again.
I am going to squash that coward next time I see him.
But for now, I need to focus on keeping us alive until Inuko finds us.
If I can survive Sesshōmaru trying to kill me, then I can survive these raijū and get us to safety.
(Hiten POV)
"This is getting boring." I groaned as I took some more shots at the inugami hanyo and a few at the two humans and the kitsune kit.
The inugami hanyo looks like the most trouble, pretty sure that there is a possibility that she could overpower Manten and can't risk him facing off against someone like that without myself around.
Can't risk losing another family member after all.
As for why she was literally dragging dead weight around...well I have no clue. But I could care less, a corpse is a corpse as far as I was concerned.
The humans with the kit though, would be more easy pickings if the reason they even have collected as many shards if it was due to the hanyo. If not, then I'm sure my little brother can handle them.
He might even get a hat out it with the kitsune kit.
Killing and skinning his farther in front of him was a little much. If he had killed the kit first or just waited until the kit was out of site I wouldn't have such an issue with it.
No kid deserves to see their parent being skinned after all.
Still he will probably be happy to have a kitsune skinned hat anyway.
I do not get what is his issue with his hair. Bald or not he is still my little brother after all and it wouldn't change anything in the world for that.
My ears picked up a certain buzzing noise far off into the distance, and I halt my bombardment to make sure I wasn't hearing things.
I winced at the noise, looks like the hanyo is going to be busy dealing with some of the nastiest yokai out there. Honestly I could care if she lived or died with what she was dealing with.
She would be doing me a favor by wiping them it anyway.
No what really mattered was Manten disposing of the humans and obtaining there jewel shards. Judging by their distance they should be there soon.
Well it looks like my job here is done, now it is Manten's turn.
All I need to do know is wait and fuck the beauty currently warming my bed.
I'm counting on you not to screw up Manten or else you are going to get it.
(Inuko POV - a minute earlier)
I am looking forward to killing whichever of the Raijū Kyōdai keeps tossing lightning at me. Especially with dragging the half dead hairy bitch along with me.
I dodged another bolt before I heard something break and a buzzing noise. Looking down below me, I saw what looked like a broken hive on the ground.
And surrounded by some kind of wasp yokai.
"You have got to be shitting me!" I growled out as I drew Tessaiga and sliced one in half.
A few more of those things approached me, ready to sting me. I jumped out of the way and sliced one of the wasps wings off, causing it to crash into the ground.
I didn't get a seconds rest as more kept swarming me.
Each time I have to dodge, I kept cutting one of them apart and adjusting Yura so she wouldn't fall off.
Still no matter what, these things wouldn't give up so easily. These things are annoying though.
Thankfully the lightning has cleared, but it could only mean the the raijū are after the others.
I need to deal with these pests as quickly as possible.
"First raijū and now a hive of Saimyōshō, you seem to only be finding trouble today Lady Inuko." Myōga said from a nearby branch, causing me to growl.
He disappeared when the first lightning bolt came down, that little coward!
I jumped over to his branch, squashed him with my feet, and jumped away before hacking a Saimyōshō with Tessaiga.
"Be grateful that quick squish was all I give you! Run out like that again and you'll regret it!" I shouted, getting the old flea to flinch. "Now tell me how to beat these things or else!"
"Of course, but there is nothing for you to worry about. Saimyōshō are exactly like their smaller counterparts except a lot more aggressive and their sting is potent enough to kill most yokai." Myōga said, getting me groan.
"So basically they are weak, but annoying as all Yomi to deal with got it." I groaned out as I cut apart another one that flew close to me.
Kagome, Y/N just hold on for a bit. This could take some time.
(??? POV)
That should keep Inuko out of the way.
I wish for no other unwanted variables to interfere with Y/N's battle. Especially after him being injured to such a degree.
Still I should probably leave and catch up to him in order to observe how his confrontation with the younger of the raijū plays out.
I can only spread myself so far after all and I already have enough other kugutsu scouringNippon for jewel shards after all.
(Kagome POV - A few minutes later)
"I think we should be safe here for now." I said as helped lead Y/N to a small rocky outcropping on the edge of the forest. It was big enough for us to hide under and the shade from the trees Darby made it difficult for us to be spotted from above.
"Should be." He sighed out, with a makeshift crutch mad out of ice in one hand.
He had recovered the use of one of his legs not that long ago, but it is still pretty wobbly for him to walk on.
With that and a slightly exhausted Shippō we needed to rest for a bit.
"Come on guys, we're almost there." I said, leading them towards then outcropping.
"Oh thank Inari!" Shippō said as he ran into the outcropping as fast as his little legs could take him, getting us to chuckle.
A minute later we caught up to him and I rested Y/N down and sat next to him. Shippō came right up to us and plopped right down next to me as I let out a sigh and slumped against the rock.
We need to get moving, the Raijū Kyōdai were luring us into a trap, we need to find somewhere else to hide, we need to find a place to meet up with Inuko and escape the raijū.
There were so many things we needed to do and with so little time, but we need a rest as Y/N was still in some pretty banged up and Shippō was only a kit.
But there was another reason, one I'll admit was pretty selfish of me in this situation.
Yet there was one thing I wished to do before we moved on and possibly fight for our lives.
I just wanted a minute to be alone with Y/N for a minute...minus Shippō but I suppose it's a close second.
It was something I took for granted now that I think about it.
I can still remember what would seemed like forever okay, just sitting next to him as he sketched or the two of us making small talk on lazy days.
Now with the craziness since being dragged in the well such a simple pleasure is something I took for granted with how often he or I have nearly died.
I just wanted to spend a moment of how we used to in order for me to help cool my head and form a plan.
And just to stay enjoy this moment like the good old days...
Like those good old care free days...
I miss being a normal girl, being unaware of the truths of this world including yokai.
Yet I chose to come back here and gather the Shikon Jewel fragments, partly out of paranoia, partly of making sure my family is safe, partly to travel with Y/N, and partly...because a part of me likes this.
Something I will deny it if anyone even if Y/N asks.
Sure sometimes I wish to go back and be a normal girl and that I didn't have to interact with Inuko and Yura all that much. The later I'd prefer never interact with at all. Also nearly being killed multiple times also helps.
But every other parts, the beautiful locations, the interesting people, even the fighting which once again I'll never admit makes it all worthwhile.
Still it will take plenty of time to get truly used to this along with balancing my life back home and once again the constant threat of dying, but in the end it will all be worth it.
There will be no more threat to worry about and if the Shikon Jewel is completed, I'd wish for the cessation of it's existence after bring it to the modern era...after possibly wishing for the changes Y/N is going through due to its effects or make him powerless if he wishes.
Need to find out more about the Jewel first of course as it sounds too good to be true and usually such a thing holds quite the catch to it.
That and I would have to ask Y/N for the later wish of course, it is his body after all.
Anyway besides all that I just want to enjoy this for just a few moments longer, just like the good old days...
"Kagome, Y/N move!" Shippō shouted as he tried to push us out of the way.
And the moment was gone.
Just in time too, as we scrambled to move a giant burst of lightning blasted the spot where we previously were. When it cleared up all that remained of the formation was charred rubble and a great big trench in the ground.
You know, when I found out that we were going to be encountering raijū I was kind of expecting to be incinerated by plain old lightning.
Not by what was the equalvilent of a fucking unstable rail gun!
"Damn it I missed!" Someone yelled out and when I turned to see who, I gawked at his appearance
I expected a lot from what I knew of raijū, never expected one of them to look like that.
But there was only one feature that really got my attention and my anger.
Around his waist was a fox pelt, no a kitsune pelt.
This was the raijū that killed and skinned, Shippō's father
This was Manten.
I tried hard not to whip out my bow and arrow and strike him down on the spot, probably a bad idea to do so against somebody who could probably breath lightning head on.
"So this is a raijū I thought he would have looked a bit more...like a wolf." I said, to Y/N. Who was struggling to hold Shippō from charging at the raijū.
"Actually you are kind of right, most raijū as distantly related to wolf yokai like what you were probably thinking. But his looks are different then what my father's notes say, perhaps he's a hybrid?" He stated.
"That's right, dad told me that their clan partly fell because their father married a lizard-like yokai. Most raijū prefer to keep to themselves and interact with others of their species." Shippō growled out as he tried to get out of Y/N's arms.
Okay this could be bad, the only reference I have to a hybrid of any kind is Inuko and Y/N and both of them are pretty strong.
So this could potentially be worse then facing a full blooded raijū.
I was once again broken from my musings when Manten's maw began to glow and released a great burst of lightning towards us. The two of us barely had anytime to duck out of the way as it dug up and burned the earth around us.
I got back up and to my horror I saw that Shippō had broken away from Y/N's grip and was rushing towards Manten.
"Shippō don't!" I shouted as I notched an arrow, ready to fire at a monuments notice.
"Do my eyes deceive me, but aren't you the kit of the kitsune that I killed?" Manten said as he sidestepped a ball of foxfire. "You are aren't you!"
"That's right and I am going to make you pay for that and disgracing him like that!" Shippō shouted as he lept at the larger yokai.
Only to be batted aside by one of Manten's fists and crashed into the ground.
"Of corse, what else are you to do with a pelt beside wear it or use it for declaration. And don't worry, I'll reunite you with your father soon as a nice fluffy hat after I get the jewel shards." Manten said, before charging his breath ready to strike.
Before I released my arrow and it land straight above his nose, causing him to scream out in pain as it embedded into his head. Manten discharged his breath into the sky.
Shippō ran behind me in fear, and flinched at the glare I gave him.
"We are going to have have some words about that little stunt of yours after we make it out of this. But for stick with me and Y/N and do not leave your sides!" I said, getting the kit to nod frantically.
"That hurts like Yomi you little harlot!" Manten snapped, before hurriedly dodging a series of ice spikes sent his way.
"I wouldn't say that again if you knew what was good for you." Y/N called as he leaned against his makeshift crutch, mist leaking off him.
I could only smile at that.
Despite not having the courage to tell him how I feel, it is good to know he will always have my back. And I will always have his.
Manten meanwhile just sent a fearful look at Y/N, more specifically the ice he created.
"A yuki-onna hanyo here!" He said while trembling fearfully and a grin spread across my face at the realization.
Looks like his heritage and lack of hair would work against him here. And it gave me a wonderful idea.
"Shippō stay close to me." I said to him before turning to Y/N. "Y/N, can you create as much mist as you possibly can?!"
A grin spread on his face as he caught onto my plan.
"No problem." He said and suddenly all I could see was white as mist poured off of him in waves .
An exceptionally chilly mist.
I pushed through the cold as a readied my bow and made I had everything else ready before facing Shippō.
"I said that we will talk about your recklessness later, but how about a shot at revenge. Only if you follow my lead of course?" I asked getting him to nod.
"If it means a chance to kill him, count me in." He said, getting me to nod.
"Good now follow me, it is time to give him some payback." I said, notching an arrow as we took off into the mist.
It might have been suicidal to face Manten out in the open.
But here in the mist, we held the advantage and for the first time since falling down the well we had the edge to take someone stronger then ourselves out.
And I'll be damned if I were to lose that without a fight!
(Chapter 23 end)