Hanyo of Snow

Ch54 Countersiege

(Y/N POV - Tatsu's village - 8 Minutes later)

It was a mad scramble for a few minutes to relocate what traps and things we could use against Mittsume Jōrō and the Shibugarasu she will be bringing. Especially with Kagome pointing out that she was approaching the village.

Still I believe we held a good enough chance, we just needed to put it all into practice when they arrive.

Speaking of which...

"Is everything ready Yura?" I called out to her as she jumped from one roof top to another.

"Just about master, that three eyed wretch won't know what hit her. Need anything just shout." Yura said, getting me to nod.

"I will, feel free to do the same Kagome or myself Yura." I said, getting her to nod.

"Will keep that in mind." Yura said before taking off as I began to walk over to the front wall of the village.

Kagome should be there along with a majority of those left behind in the village, probably to the closest point of entry for Mittsume Jōrō considering she set up her warning there.

More than ready if she simply decides to burrow into the middle of the village too though.

But as I heard some cawing in the distance, it would seem like the Shibugarasu were drawing near. Quickening my pace towards the wall.

The caws growing even louder as I glimpsed Yotsume flying over head, flying over the village before hurriedly pulling back as about three arrows were fired at the tatarimokke.

Squeaking as one nearly struck his wing as the cawing in the distance increased. Perhaps at the tatarimokke's expense.

But it looks like they were here now.

(Kagome POV - Same Time)

Dang it, he was out of range now.

Yet there were plenty of other things to aim at.

I had been waiting with several other villagers with bows on some of the houses closest to the wall, getting a view over it and now of the growing amount of yokai pouring in.

Shibugarasu in the trees and a bunch more in the air. I can't tell how many but my best guess was at least a hundred. Maybe some more in the back

On the ground I could make out at least three dozen shambling corpses for Mittsume Jōrō's little army.

All in various states of decay, some even missing limbs and what looks like they had been replaced in stumps with weapons or in the case of legs what I can only guess to be some crude form of wooden prosthetics. In some cases it looked like multiple branches tied together.

Each of them had some form of weapon in hand like a tanto, spear, blade, or farming tools.

All of them had their chests covered with armor, some looking like they were patched together haphazardly. Protecting the Shibugarasu inside the corpse and perhaps maybe an exit for them too.

Mittsume Jōrō was rather determined to have this village razed to the ground, honestly without herself there was still a pretty good chance this amount of Shibugarasu with the corpses could work.

But we were not goin to allow that to happen.

I was broken from my thoughts as an arrow shot not that far from my head, striking a tree and getting the cawing to die down. Followed by a small thud.

Turning my head back and giving a glare to a villager on another rooftop, him getting smacked in the head by Mitsusaki.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I notched an arrow as the cawing returned louder than before as the Shibugarasu flew out of the trees.

Here goes nothing!

I fired my arrow along with the other archers, thankfully none flew by close to my head.

Sadly it only managed to put a small dent in the flock, along with an arrow or two stuck into the corpses down below.

Okay, try to focus a little more reiryoku into the next one...

Grabbing and notching another arrow, I let it loose, smiling when I saw a glimmer of violet among the flock.

Which quickly faded as the flock quickly caught up to my position.

"Stay back!" I shouted as I smacked one the flew close for comfort with my hama-ya as more drew in. Swinging it as more drew in and I grabbed another arrow, notching it as more Shibugarasu drew closer.

Until some suddenly came to a stop, wrapped in hairs before a gruesome snap tossing their bodies back outside the village. One close by tried to fly away, only to be cut up by Shusūi.

"Sorry if I'm a little late." Y/N said, getting me to smile a little.

"Not at all." I said while notching an arrow, him slashing any incoming Shibugarasu. "She's still not here, then again we would know."

"Definitely, my best guess is she's softening us up to get us off guard." Y/N said, getting me to nod.

Considering it seems everyone on the other roof tops had been dealing with the pests, Yura's hairs dealing with them. And tossing a tree trunk onto the corpses trying to break down the wall.

Snapping one of them and I took a chance, firing my arrow.

Managing to strike in a crack in the armor, getting the corpse to grow still.

Yes, got one!

Notching another arrow and concentrating my reiryoku into it, I fired it into an incoming flock. Destroying some of them in a small burst of reiryoku that was bigger than the last one.

"Nice shot." Y/N said as I grinned.

"Thanks." I said, grabbing and firing an arrow into the flock as the ground began to shake as I sensed Mittsume Jōrō on the move

Great, she was right below us...

Yura's hairs wrapped around us before we were yanked back as Mittsume Jōrō burst through the house we were just at.

"Time to die!" She snarled out, her skin crimson and the jewel shard embedded above her third eye.

Well she looked just like her grandmother now, minus the third eye now. Just hopefully no where near as difficult to put down.

An explosion of mist erupted off of Y/N blocking my vision before we were pulled back again, Mittsume Jōrō biting into cloud of mist with a growl as a volley of arrows bounced off of her carapace.

Swinging her lower half into the house in retaliation.

"Scatter!" Mitsusaki called out as he and the other villager's jumped or were pulled back by Yura's hairs as Mittsume Jōrō destroyed the house.

"Run, it will make it all the more full to hunt you down if the pests don't kill you first!" Mittsume Jōrō said with a smirk.

I was about to notch an arrow before Y/N held out a hand with a smile.

"Kagome can you please wait a second." He said as more mist began to generate from his hand.

What was he planning?

"Too your left!" Yotsume shouted as he flew towards Mittsume Jōrō.

Her turning out of the way from a bucket being flung at her from the mist, but not before some of her legs tied with Yura's hairs. To my shock she ripped them off before roaring with pain as a second bucket collided with her.

Covering part of her torso is jagged ice and frost that began to flake away.

Perfect.

With a smirk I notched and arrow and shot it, it hitting in a place opened up by the ice. Enjoy hearing her growl in pain.

Which quickly faded away as she thrashed about, shattering the ice and most of the damage we did quickly healed up. Leaving only a few scratches and one of her legs still ripped in half.

You have got to be kidding me!

"Hairs to your right and something coming to your back!" Yotsume called out, getting her to twist her body.

Moving away from the hairs and letting several large sharpened stakes to pierce through the wall, smashing a large entrance into the wall and allowing the corpses to rush in.

"Feel free to do whatever you wish, just stay out of my way or I'll send you to Yomi!" Mittsume Jōrō roared out before she began to rotate and speed up towards us.

Yura barely pulling out of the way as the omukade chased after us. As Mittsume Jōrō turned back around we were pulled back towards another house. Shifted apart from each other as she rammed into another house.

Growling as she stopped spinning as she began to brush the remains of the wooden spike trap she just barreled into. Looking more annoyed than anything.

As we regained our footing I saw a corpse trying to come up from behind on Y/N with a tanto, quickly notching an arrow and firing it.

Striking it in the shoulder, with Y/N turning around and placing a mist covered hand on it. Covering the whole body in frost, the Shibugarasu inside cawwing out in protest.

"Thanks for that Kagome." Y/N said, getting me to smile.

"No problem." I said before frowning while looking at the irritated Mittsume Jōrō. "So we're going with that plan Y/N?"

I don't like it, but it could work.

"I should be alright with Yura and Myōga looking after my back." He said as we heard Mittsume Jōrō letting out a growl. "See you in a minute Kagome, take care."

"You too." I said as we broke into a run.

"Got you!" Mittsume Jōrō shouted, getting me to look back.

Big mistake!

Especially when it looked like she was rushing down to bite on my head!

Until the frozen corpse smacked into her head, smacking her into the wall of of a house.

"I believe you wouldn't find the girl appetizing at all, how about something you can actually stomach." Yura said from a roof top, flicking a finger as the omukade got back up.

"You kuromakiri bit-" Mittsume Jōrō cut herself as Benigasumi plunged into the split in her back, before the frozen corpse was forced into her open jaws.

"I suggest running Kagome." Yura said as I notched an arrow as I heard the ice cracking.

"Right." I said, firing the arrow and getting the Yomi out of there.

Didn't put any reiryoku into it and I'm not sure I had managed to hit him in a spot that hurt.

But if it pissed her off even more, it would be worth it.

Judging by the sounds of her rampage in the distance as I notched another arrow, she was very much so. Yet I was sure that would mainly be on Yura's part.

Right now I imagine that she was leading her over to one of the main traps we had managed to set up while Yotsume had failed to sabotage with Y/N in wait.

From there he will be as bait.

As much as I dislike the notion with his ice he could stall her off with Yura's assistance.

We just need to wear her down a bit and focus on cutting off the Shibugarasu's corpses.

If we are not careful they can overwhelm us or the village if the singular focus was on Mitsume Jōrō and Yotsume.

Speaking of which I just found a corpse with it's arm cut off, accousted by a pair of villagers with at a dead Shibugarasu at their feet.

Training my arrow and beginning g to channel reiryoku in it, this seems like a good starring point.

Hopefully everything was going okay so far with the others.

(Y/N POV - Other side of the village)

I winced as I saw a corpse being contorted in a direction that would have killed a regular human being flung across the village, the Shibugarasu inside cawing in protest.

No doubt something else Yura was going to use against Mittsume Jōrō, seeing some of her hairs pulling things towards where I heard Mittsume Jōrō's outbursts and seeing Yotsume flying above.

Considering the distance, she was luring the omukade into an excellent position.

Just needed to turn the corner and...

I heard a cawing and swung Shusūi behind me, cutting into a Shibugarasu that had tried to dove at me. Before bringing it down on another one.

Quickly glancing over before hurriedly turning the corner and covering the ground in a thin layer of mist, putting out more and more of my yoki in making it rise from the ground.

Hopefully Yura will be here with-

"Y/N behind you!" Myōga called out, getting me to turn around.

And hurriedly step back as a four eyed version of Sōkyu to land on the ground, his talons scrapping against the ground.

So this is Yotsume's human form.

"She'll be here any moment." Yotsume said as flames began to emerge from his palms. "I could use a break from her screeching orders at me."

Lobbing both fireballs at my, sidestepping one and raising a thin ice wall as the second fireball crashed into it.

Followed by a small violet projectile that speed through the fireball and wall, colliding with my stomach and feeling pain shooting up through out my body, feeling like someone was slowly placing my nerves over a flame.

"A curse?" I groaned out as I took a step back as Yotsume approached with a smirk.

"Quite a weak one, yet more than an enough to hold you over. Just let me turn up the intensity." Yotsume said with a smirk, getting me to grimace as I took a step back.

Until the pain ended as Yotsume went to smack himself on the arm.

"What the?" He said, before all four eyes widened as I rushed forward with Shusūi. Growing to panic as one of Yura's hairs quickly began to coil around him.

Shifting into his true form, barely avoiding the hair. But squawked in pain as I managed to cut off some of the feathers off of his chest.

"Thanks." I said to Myōga as he jumped back on me.

"Keep off the ground!" Yotsume yelled from up above, weaving through Yura's hairs.

"I can tell four eyes!" Mittsume Jōrō roared out from behind a row of houses. Before reaching her full height and rushing down to bite down on me!

Barely being pulled out in time by Yura's hairs, the omukade quickly recoiling and resting part of her lower body on the houses. Sweeping her tail at Yura from a nearby rooftop.

Swiping at me next and barely avoiding both her jaws and a small fireball from Yotsume.

Come on almost there...

"Look behind you!" Yotsume called out as he began creating another fireball, breaking his concentration as Benigasumi nearly impaled his wing.

Mittsume Jōrō just let out an irritated growl as she twisted out of the way of a bucket constraining frozen water at her head, twisting her body to smash through another bucket and part of a tree trunk Yura had flung at her.

The bucket passing by me, placing my hand on it as I took a few steps back. Mist trailing off it as it sailed back to Mittsume Jōrō.

Should be at the right place...

Mittsume Jōrō batted aside a corpse, tearing it and Shibugarasu inside it apart. Turning back towards me, before grunting in pain as the ice bucket collided into her midsection. Bursting into several ice wedges that cut into her carapace.

"You frosty halfbreed!" She yelled out in pain as she ripped the ice out, some wedges still in her as the wounds began to regenerate. "Melt in Yomi!"

She lunged forwards ignoring everything else including Yura coming up behind her.

Now!

I stamped on the ground, the omukade quickly twisting back. But she was too late as three ice spears pierce through her body bursting from the ground. Mittsume Jōrō thrashing in agony before several hairs began to wrap around her arms and throat.

I let out a sigh of relief as I dispelled the mist on the ground.

While Yotsume managed to sabotage most of the buckets of frozen water that we were going to burry around the village, did burry a small amount with the most located in this part of the village.

The rest Yura using to battering against Mittsume Jōrō.

"Master." Yura said, getting me to nod as I ran to one of the surroundings houses.

Barely avoiding a curse fired by Yotsume.

"Got you now!" He yelled as flames began to gather in his talons.

Quickly banking away with a squawk as Benigasumi nearly ran him through, the blade embedded into a wall.

"Fly away from him you damned owl." Yura said as she pulled the blade back, it grazing against Mittsume Jōrō as she began to break the hairs and ice spears.

Walking into the house there was a sharpened tree trunk suspended from the ceiling by Yura's hairs. There was another one in a house parallel, but I would only have time to do one.

Producing an ice sphere from my kimono and breaking it, water falling on the tip before I began to shape it.

Looking outside I saw Mittsume Jōrō fully break from Yura's hairs, trying to squash her with her tail.

"Just die you kuromakiri bitch!" She growled out as Yura jumped onto a rooftop, pulling her hand back.

The other sharpened log swinging into the omukade's side, causing her to roar out in irritation as she snapped it on half. Yura using both halves to slam into Mittsume Jōrō's head.

Anyway looking over the point it was covered with jagged wedges and further back began to form barbs like a harpoon. This should do.

Tapping the tip of Shusūi against the log I rushed out of the house, channeling mist along the blade.

Only to be blindsided as part of Mittsume Jōrō twisted towards me, I tried to duck but one of her legs swatted my chest.

Grunting in pain as I was sent flying back only for Yura's hairs to suspend me in the air. Mittsume Jōrō watched with a grin as she coiled around to attack. Before screeching in pain as the log impaled her side.

"You alright Master?" Yura asked as she set me down and flexed her fingers, twisting the log and increasing omukade's roaring.

"Just a glancing blow thankfully." I panted out as I channeled more mist over Shusūi. "Ready?"

"Ready." Yura said with a smirk as she jumped forward and threw Benigasumi.

Mittsume Jōrō ripped out the log and threw it towards Yura, who caught it in her hairs and threw it towards Yotsume. The tatarimokke swerving to avoid it and Mittsume Jōrō twisting out of the way from her eye being poked out by Benigasumi.

Yura directing the blade as the omukade twisted her upper body to avoid it striking her head while Yotsume continued to avoid the hairs trying to constrict him.

Just a little more...now!

I ran forward as I shifted the mist on Shusūi to create the longmaul before Yura lifted me into the air. Releasing me mid air and pulling back Benigasumi as I slammed the longmaul on the split in Mittsume Jōrō's back.

"Oni-bi Gushi." Yura said, lighting a hair on fire in the split as I dispelled the ice surrounding Shusūi in chunks. With her picking the chunks and flinging them at Yotsume and the writhing Mittsume Jōrō.

"Damn you all!" She yelled as she was pelted with ice, twisting her body as Benigasumi went to cut at her legs.

Ignoring me as I rushed forward, closer to Mittsume Jōrō. Watching as her body continued to twist before stopping close to her and stomping my foot on the ground.

Creating a jagged ice spike from a buried bucked, cutting into her side and one of her legs.

Mittsume Jōrō roared out in pain and twisted to bite down on me, but I was yanked back by Yura's hairs. One wrapping around the tip of Shusūi.

Time to wrap this up.

"Look-" Yotsume tried to say, but his warning was cut short as Yura managed to wrapped her hairs around him and dragged him down.

Smacking Mittsume Jōrō in the face, her trying to bite the tatarimokke in two in retaliation as me and Yura got to the sides of her.

Yura smirked as she flexed a hand and I was lifted into the air, out of the way of a small net of hair she lit on fire.

Mittsume Jōrō recoiled back and tried to gyrate towards me.

Which was a huge mistake.

"Kushi no Ori!" Yura shouted, lifting her hand and I repeated the motion with Shusūi. Trapping Mittsume Jōrō in a cage of interwoven hairs that hindered her movements as we struggled to move her back.

"No!" She roared out and tried to break out.

Managing to snap some of the hairs, briefly snapping some. Only halting when Benigasumi cut across her nose.

Me and Yura landed on the other side of a house, swinging Shusūi and a hand down respectively.

Mittsume Jōrō roared out as she collapsed back first into a house.

Roaring out in pure agony upon finding herself impaled on a series of sharpened tree trunks that split her carapace. Despite the effectiveness it would probably keep her down not for long.

Covering Shusūi with mist I jumped up and was lifted into the air as I formed the longmaul as the omukade began to break herself out. Slamming down the longmaul on the split.

Quickly being pulled away as Mittsume Jōrō swung at me with her tail. Dispersing the ice as a large net of hair was formed above.

"A quick look of what is to come you three eyed wretched, Oni-bi Gushi!" Yura said with a smirk, lighting the hairs binding Mittsume Jōrō and net above.

I winced at her shrieks and from the heat produced of the flames as the net came crashing down. Yotsume flying away as Yura watched Mittsume Jōrō burn.

Before Yura frowned a moment later as Mittsume Jōrō broke herself out of the trap, a wooden spike or two still impaled in her before burrowing underground as the flames started to die down.

"Almost, we almost got her." I sighed out and saw several chunks of her body alongside making out quite a few legs and an arm that were charred from the flames.

Perhaps without the jewel shard in her brow this whole gauntlet of traps would have killed her or at the least crippled her.

If anything we just pissed her off even more, I'm not even sure how injured she would be...

"Doubt the three eyed wretch could recovery completely from doubt. She'll be licking her wounds before surfacing again." Yura said as she walked up to me.

"I take it was that obvious." I said while shaking my head.

"It was." Yura said before flexing her fingers.

Snapping the necks of a trio of Shibugurasu that crashed into the dirt behind us.

"Still we have at least a minute to begin clearing up her 'army'." I said, getting Yura to smirk.

"True, shout if you need my assistance master." Yura said as she jumped onto a roof top.

Quickly slamming another Shibugarasu into the ground before jumping into another rooftop.

Well I think she is starting to enjoy herself, and at least freed us from Mittsume Jōrō for a moment...

"Do you need to rest a minute?" Myōga asked, getting me to shake my head.

"No, I'll be fine." I said, beginning to jog along the houses and looking for any trace of Shinugarasu or corpses.

There was still a lot to clear out even without having to worry about Mittsume Jōrō popping up again.

(Yura POV - 5 minutes later)

Let's see what I caught this time.

Fishing up another corpse I inspect it before nodding in approval and bringing Benigasumi to it's neck. Decapitating it before twisting the body into a knot at slamming it back to the ground.

Another head of hair to harvest when I get a moment.

As I assumed it didn't take long for the three eyed wretch's army to start falling apart. The choice to use these pests was to provide only extra bodies to distract from herself.

Even then she doesn't care about them, I imagine it was the damned owl who organized all those pests. Would be giving the three eyed wretch too much credit.

She's nothing more than a brute to small to live up to her grandmother's molt.

The one good thing I could literally think she had a good taste in some of the victims. The less decomposed ones anyway, some actually had some good hair.

Speaking of which.

I stopped at a rooftop, pulling a pair of startled villagers up as several Shibugarasu dove towards them and a downed corpse. One tried to fit in through the armor, until I snappedthe corpse's spine back onto it.

Cawwing as I flung it and the corpse towards the damned owl in the distance before snapping the other pests into a mangled mess.

Lowering the villagers who made a mad dash towards another pair dealing with a corpse. Smirking g at seeing one of the pests being shot out of the air with an arrow, followed by a glimmer of reiryoku.

Both master and Kagome had been making work of the corpses and pests on their own without my assistance.

Admittedly I would say between the three of us and the villagers, the three eyed wretch had lost about half her army.

Aside from my own efforts I've seen some bodies left dismembered with plenty of arrows stuck in and in one or two cases left frozen solid.

The three eyed wretch had picked the worst possible option for an army.

Yet without us things probably could have gone quite a bit worse for the village even without her.

Dragged a few injured villagers to safety, they'll live if treated soon enough or if I can direct master towards freezing their wounds shut. He had already done so for about two or three of them by chance. In the chaos.

Speaking of which.

With only a twitch of my fingers I clipped the wings or necks of some pests flying dowards a downed corpse.

Ignoring their caws as I lifted up the corpse, though this one was perhaps more of the three eyed wretch's leftovers.

Lower legs replaced with bundles of branches and ropes and hands replaced crudly placed kamas. At least this one had a nice head of hair.

Mangling the body and decapitating the head before continuing to inspect rest of the village.

We should be able to finish this farce of a siege soon if the three eyed wretch makes an appearance again soon enough.

Could do so doubly if I puppeted the villagers. But I doubt master would approve more than already so, that and I wouldn't be as gentle as I would if it was him or Kagome.

If the wretch stops licking her wounds we could finish this. Especially when I retrieve our 'surprise' for her...

I was snapped from my musings as a violet projectile past by me while another one struck me.

Nothing more than an annoyance, like it's caster.

"You really thought that would work." I said as Yotsume let outa squawk as I wrapped him in my hairs. Him groaning in pain as he was being constricted and I readied Benigasumi.

Only to swing both it and him behind me as Mittsume Jōrō tried to bite down on me.

My wakizashi glancing off her carapace and Yotsume smacked into her head. Loosening the hairs around him as the wretch snapped at him and crashed down onto the house I just was at.

So she finally revealed herself, quite in rough shape too.

Her carapace was now marred with a small assortment of cross crossed burn scars with a few others from places she had been impaled at poor else.

I took some satisfaction at seeing the one especially across her nose.

There was some small splits across her body alongside missing some of her legs with some looking half formed.

One of her right arms had a stump slightly below where the wrist would be.

Less injured than I would have thought, but I assume the wretch's faith in her regeneration had been shaken.

"Stay out of my way or I'll devour you!" Mittsume Jōrō threatened Yotsume who quickly flew behind her. Before she twisted to face me with a glare. "I'm going to enjoy ripping you apart you kuromakiri bitch! You'll be the first to die!"

"A smart choice for once. Or just another boast from a wretch who fails to live up to her own words." I said with a smirk.

Enjoying her roaring out in rage before gyrating towards me, jumping away and watched as she tore through the house I was just on.

Watching as she continued to try and barrel into me as I just continued to jump back before I swiped my hand.

A pointed log swung at her, breaking the wretch's rotation as it swung into her. With her retaliating by breaking it into pieces.

Perfect as I threw Benigasumi at her, to which the omukade began to twist back away from it. And from the hairs attached.

So she can learn.

Yet...

Yotsume squawked as he avoided a bucket of frozen water colliding with him, getting the three eyed wretch to mess up as she tried to avoid both. Still managing to wrap around several of her legs before plunging the blade into the largest split in her back.

Without the damned owl she will be charging in blind.

Still I could feel the hair straining to break and...well that will do it.

"You-" Mittsume Jōrō tried to say, but I cut her off by twisting Benigasumi inside her before pulling the blade out and lighting the strand of hair on fire.

Was not hot enough to be much more than irritant to her.

But it distracted her enough to be struck by four arrows. Two bounced off of her carapace, one struck an open wound, and the final one broke one of her arms in two with a burst of reiryoku.

Nice shot girl.

"Just die already!" Mittsume Jōrō turned around and roared at Kagome and three villagers notched another set of arrows. Charging at them.

"Behind you!" Yotsume shouted as he dove out of my hairs, getting the three eyed wretch to turn back around.

Swatting a decapitated head I tossed at her, the arrows bouncing off her back.

Knew that would happen with the damned owl flying about, at least the others managed to get away. Yet even with four eyes he missed something big.

Such a shame, it was a nice head of hair too.

Flicking my hands both the omukade and the tatarimokke were caught in a mess of hair, the wretch thrashing about and started to break the strands.

Honestly it was getting a little difficult to hold her back, but I just need one more good tug...

Mittsume Jōrō roared out in pain as an ice spear rose up from the ground and pierced straight through her body, followed by master jabbing Shusūi into a small split,

Right that would do it.

With a great heave I crashed Yotsume into the wretch, giving master some time to pull back from her. Grasping my hands into fists as the strands started to snap, managing to slam them both into a house.

Three wooden spikes piercing through Mittsume Jōrō's body.

Nowhere near as potent as the other trap but it would hurt.

Not bad for one head of hair...

By Chirizuka Kaiou why didn't I think of it beforehand!

Okay new plan in mind!

Sending over the frozen bucket to master and jumping down to him as he touched it, flinging the now spiked object at the wretch as was removing the spikes.

"You okay Yura?" Master asked as I approached him.

"I'm fine, but I have an idea on how to finally bring the wretch down for good." I said, throwing Benigasumi back at Mittsume Jōrō. Cutting into her as she removed one of the spikes. "Going to need some time and unfortunately-"

"You want me to distract her. How much time do you need?" Y/N asked, beginning to generate some mist over Shusūi.

Getting me to sigh and smile.

"Just about a minute or two. Be careful." I said, getting him to nod as I wrapped my hairs around him and master charged forward.

The three eyed wretch destroyed the last of the wooden spikes and most of her injuries were already closing up. Turning to glare and bare her fanges at us.

Only to double over as a large chunk of ice slammed into her, master freeing his blade from it before I used my hairs to put some distance between them. Ducking out of the wretch's sight.

She shot back up and looked around before seeing master's retreating form. Letting out a growl before barreling after him.

"Come back here you frosty halfbreed!" Mittsume Jōrō bellowed out, with Yotsume flying after her as I jumped away.

It was going to be a waste of hair, but it should send that wretch back to the grandmother she wishes to take after.

Anyway I believe there were some corpses still with their heads or unfrozen this way.

(Y/N POV - A minute later)

"You think whatever plan Yura has will work?" Myōga asked as I continued to run.

"Definitely, it would have better odds of working where the traps did. I believe that whatever she comes up with." I panted out honestly, catching a glimpse of Yotsume flying about over head.

Managed to lose the omukade due to Yura pulling me down another street once she started to chase me. However that could have only bought me a few moments at best.

Honestly that gauntlet of traps was our best bet in the haste and Yotsume's sabotage, well one of two.

The other one I'm not so confident given Mittsume Jōrō's carapace, but it will deal some serious damage albeit in one shot.

I'll trust whatever it is she comes up with.

Looking around I saw signs of conflict, mainly some damages to the houses and a multitude of Shibugarasu carcasses alongside a mangled corpse or two. Pretty sure a majority of Mittsume Jōrō's army was decimated at this point.

Wait a second, I recognize this area...this could work.

Bending next to one of the corpses, generating mists and I froze it.

Stopping as I hurriedly ducked under a small fireball.

That will have to do.

"He's here!" Yotsume yelled out as I tapped Shusūi against one of Yura's hairs on me before making a run further down the roadway.

Soon I heard a rumbling approaching us, obviously Mittsume Jōrō. Except I couldn't tell which direction.

Didn't matter anyway, this is the correct spot.

I turned around as I heard her coming, brandishing Shusūi as Mittsume Jōrō rotated towards me.

Stomping on the ground and creating about a meter thick ice wall she barreled into.

That was the last of the burried buckets, at the very least it disoriented her.

"Damn you!" She roared out as straightened herself out. Before being forced back a bit as the frozen corpse slammed into her and Yotsume.

Thank you Yura.

I ran a bit further to a house, producing an ice sphere to my hand and channeling my yoki to it as the omukade regained her bearings and charged at me.

Getting in close before I threw down the sphere, creating a cloud of mist and narrowly missed being slammed into by Mittsume Jōrō as she continued forward.

Crashing into a house and if I remembered correctly the wooden spikes lining one of the walls. If not the roof collapsing on her would more than irritate her.

Yura's hairs pulled me a bit away and I ran like a bat out of Yomi as I heard Mittsume Jōrō let out an enraged roar as she was more than likely pulled herself out of the wreckage.

I imagine that it won't be long before she comes after me once again.

(Kagome POV - two minutes later)

And...now!

I shot an arrow and it took out a Shibugarasu, scaring off a few more as Mitsusaki and another villager hacked off the limbs of another corpse. Rendering it useless to these pests as they began to fly off.

Some of them falling to some other villagers armed with bows, shooting them down.

Their numbers were beginning to thin considerably along with the chances to encounter a still walking bandit corpse. Pretty sure at this point Mittsume Jōrō's army was nearly falling completely apart.

Plus hearing some caws growing distant from the village, some are already fleeing for their lives.

Yet with Mittsume Jōrō roars in the distance I knew we still had quite a bit to go...

"What in Yomi is going on?" Mitsusaki said, breaking me from my thoughts as I just saw the then prone corpse be lifted into the air.

Someone even firing an arrow into it as it's neck was snapped and it's head decapitated by...

"It's alright, just Yura." I said, looking for her. Trying to hide my shudder as I brought a hand to my neck.

To think that would have happened to me once...

"Quite right girl." I heard Yura said, getting me to turn around to see her scalp the head with Benigasumi. "This should do."

"For what." I asked with a wince as she tossed the scalped head aside.

Not sure if I can get used to seeing that.

"I have a plan to finally deal with the three eyed wretch and master is serving as bait.

Not sure how much longer he can keep distance from her, but.

..Mitsusaki right?" Yura asked, getting him to nod.

She pointed to her left. "Just spotted about four corpses that way along the wall heading into the forest along with hearing plenty of the pests. You might want to deal with that."

Shit, it seems like they did have a back up plan...somewhat.

A few corpses perhaps kept in reserve red slips way past the village in the chaos. If they were lucky enough unnoticed minus the cawing.

More than likely heading to the hot springs before anyone noticed if Mittsume Jōrō's army fell or joined up by the rest. Perhaps some of those caws were not anyone fleeing.

Then again I could be giving those pest too much credit.

"We'll handle it, just send that omukade to Yomi and finish this." Mitsusaki said, getting me to nod.

"We will." I promised as he began to call on the villagers after him.

Hopefully they should be alright, but if they gather some more villagers those corpses outside the village stood no chance. Alongside any remaining it the village.

"Ready?" Yura asked, as her hairs began to wrap around me.

"You literally didn't need to ask." I said, notching an arrow as she picked me up and began to follow the sound of Mittsume Jōrō's roars. "So what is the plan anyway?"

She smirked and I swore I saw something move on another rooftop as she explained it.

(Y/N POV - Same Time)

Looking around I came to a large open area in the middle of the village, no sign of Yotsume or Mittsume Jōrō anywhere. Come to think of it I hadn't seen the latter in about a minute.

That didn't bode well.

Generating mist from my body I began to look all over the place for where she could come from. Before feeling the ground shaking from underneath me...

Shit!

I tried to jump back, but yelled in pain as Mittsume Jōrō burrowed from under the ground, biting through a gear and creating two shallowing gashes on my right foot.

Not before she yelled in pain as a red ice shard pierced through her cheek.

I grabbed my foot and froze the wounds closed as Mittsume Jōrō crushed the ice in her mouth.

Damn it, it was going to be a pain to walk around for a day or two. Honestly if I hadn't noticed her, she probably would have taken a chunk of my foot off...

"Not bad, actually pretty sweet." Mittsume Jōrō said with a grin as the hole in her cheek healed up as I stood back up with a wince. "I'm going to savour devouring your corpse you filthy halfbreed."

...I really hope she meant the traditional meaning of the word.

"Look out!" Yotsume cried out as I brandished Shusūi.

Getting Mittsume Jōrō to twist around before I found myself forcibly dragged back.

And the omukade to roar in pain as a sleek black object whipped across her face before an arrow struck an open wound, followed by a small burst of reiryoku.

Looks like Yura's preparations are done.

"Y/N are you okay?" Kagome asked as Yura placed me down in between them as I pulled out an ice sphere.

"Hurts to walk a little, but I'll live." I said, smashing the sphere against my foot.

Creating a geta/cast around my right foot out of ice. Pretty crude but it should let me run around rather than just with one geta.

Kagome let out a sigh if relief as I blinked at seeing Yura controlling the object with a smirk.

"What is that!" Yotume asked, barely flying out of the way from being whipped.

"Hair! It's hair!" Mittsume Jōrō roared out as she ripped apart chunks of the tendril as she continued to thrash about. "Why didn't you tell me the damned kuromakiri bitch can do this!"

"I didn't know they could!" Yotsume protested as he flew away from the omukade literally snapping at him.

Both ignore the clumps of hair falling onto the ground...so that's Yura's plan.

Not a bad plan honestly.

"So have you tried anything like this before." I asked Yura, getting her to shake her head.

"Nothing so far from my nest, it won't last long." Yura said with a smirk, getting me to nod.

"So what do you need me to do?" I asked.

"Just cause the wretch as much pain as possible, when the time comes aim for the head. And I've brought it along with me." Yura said with a smirk.

"I'll handle the tatarimokke if he get's close, now let's finish this." Kagome said, smiling at me while notching an arrow.

"Right." I smiled back before me and Yura charged forward, well more of Yura pulling me along.

Kagome fired an arrow that Yotsume tried to avoid alongside strands of Yura's hairs. While Mittsume Jōrō thrashed about, trying to snap or crush Yura and myself. Yura attacking her with the tendril of hair or Benigasumi.

As for myself I spent a few moments looking for and opening while covering Shusūi in ice and quite a bit past the blade's length. Remebering the feeling from yesterday and channeling it to the tip.

Come on...now!

I stepped forward and was propelled forward, evening Shusūi with my arm before thrusting the blade into a split in the omukade's armor. Channeling my reiryoku into the tip of the ice before breaking it off and dispelling the rest off the blade.

Panting a little as I had depleted my reiryoku, but it did the trick as Mittsume Jōrō writhed in agony.

"Reiryoku, you-" She yelled out, quickly being muffled as the tendril wrapped around her jaw.

Her muffled yells increased as me and Yura slashed another split in her armor, followed by an arrow to one of her legs.

Yet she quickly but through the hair and spat out the chucks before Yura reformed the tendril albeit much skinner now.

I managed to land a slash in another split, managing to take a chunk out of one of Mittsume Jōrō's legs before I found myself being pulled back and onto a nearby roof.

Alongside a large bucket resting on top, the water is still mostly frozen and the contents inside.

Double checking the conflict as I dispelled the ice I saw more hair scattering onto the ground. Mittsume Jōrō twisting out of the way of the hair tendril and Benigasumi, trying to avoid Yura while looking for an opportunity to attack.

Kagome kept notching and firing arrows at Yotsume to keep him from getting close.

One such arrow narrowly missed him and instead struck Mittsume Jōrō's tail, creating a small burst of reiryoku. Causing to snapp at the tatarimokke in retaliation.

Looking over my work I sighed at seeing some of the projectiles had broke down again, but it will have to do.

"Yura let her have it." I said as I swore I could see her grin from here.

Her hairs grabbed to projectiles and threw them.

Yotsume squaked as one of them nearly impaled him and most pierced through Mittsume Joro. The omukade letting out a strangled roar as the projectiles took effect.

They were the tips of the legs of the dead omukade she had left outside of the village, filled with jagged ice.

Figured at best they would pierce through Mittsume Jōrō's hide, which they did. But the most devastating effect was with those wounds inside her.

Meant to break up and even with her regeneration, there were jagged ice shards shreading where they hit.

Undoubtedly an agonizing process, same with making them. So many simply broke down storing or making them.

At least they were making for an effective deterrent alongside Yura's hair judging by how much she was writhing while trying to remove whatever ice shards she could.

"Damn you heretics!" She shouted as I was lowered from the rooftop and rushed forward. "This is what you did to one of my own!"

"The same one you left for dead as a warning." I said with a frown, enraging her more as she tried to snap at me. Only to be gagged by Yura's tendril.

Thrashing about I produced my last ice sphere, generating most and throwing it on the massive split in Mittsume's Jōrō's back. Her letting out a gagged snarl as a wedge spring up and into her before I was lifted into the air.

One more hit should do it.

Covering Shusūi with ice into its longmaul form, I brought it down on the wedge. Furthering damaging the split and Mittsume Jōrō let out a roar of pure agony as she bit through the hair tendril.

Until she twisted her body and willingly split herself in half!

Letting out a roar as she charged Yura and bit through her left arm, severing her hand.

Mittsume Jōrō smirked at that devouring that part with relish.

Only if she just knew how big of a mistake that was.

(Yura POV)

Honestly I didn't expect the wretch to willing be bisected and sacrifice part of herself for an advantage. Yet I could already see a new section of her body starting to grow albeit malformed.

But I was expecting something like this.

"Now for the other one...wait that wasn't flesh!" Mittsume Jōrō said, panic filling her as she realized what she had consumed.

"I was hoping that you would do that." I said with a smirked, getting the wretch to thrash about as I began to break down the arm inside her. Reforming the part she bit off and reattaching my hand.

She immediately began to snap her jaws rapidly, an attempt to severe the strands connecting my forearm inside her.

Her fangs were sharp, I'll give the wretch that. But I just needed a few moments.

She severed the hairs, but yelled out in pain as I jabbed Benigasumi into the regrowing section of her body.

The wretch roared out and twisted to face me, glaring at me with nothing but pure hatred. Lunging forward.

"Don't-" Yotsume tried to warn her, but was cut off as Kagome's arrow grazed his back.

Too late for the wretch anyway.

"Kushi no Ori!" I shouted, raising my hands and gathering all the fallen strands of hair off the ground. Trapping that wretch in cage of hair and binding her limbs.

Such a same to lose all of it, but the wretch sullied it by trampling and slobbering all over it.

"This will not hold me, I'll kill you last you damned-" Mittsume Jōrō threatened as she tried to thrash about. Growing silent and still as master drove Shusūi's tip into her forehead.

Right next to where she had placed her jewel shard.

Master wedged it out of her forehead, grunting in pain as the shard rocketed to his chest and where his own was. Creating a small mass of frost and a chilling gale from her back. Weighting the omukade down to the ground as I removed him.

Shattering some of the cage and the strands carrying him, but Kagome rushed to help him with the shard.

Hopefully he will be alright albeit drained...

As for the wretch.

"No!" She roared out as she tried to move, her skin and eyes returning to normal and stopped regenerating,

Perfect, there was no way she would return from this now.

"Oni-bi Gushi!" I shouted, igniting all the hairs and consuming the wretch in a large inferno.

Smirking as she screamed while being consumed by the flames. Sighing in relief as I looked to see Kagome and master backing away from the blaze.

"Damn you all! Damn you all to the deepest pits of Yomi!" Mittsume Jōrō roared out as parts of her began to fall off in the flames.

"Sure, when you get there tell your grandmother just how big of a disappointment you were in life." I said, enraging her even more.

"Damn you-" Mittsume Jōrō cursed out, before letting out a chocked gurgle as an arrow was shot into her neck. Cracking it with a bit of reiryoku.

Thank you for shutting her up Kagome.

I let the wretch struggle and wreath in the infernal for a few moments more before throwing Benigasumi into it.

Gorging out and removing her third eye before I pulled it back, taking it as the wretch reverted back to normal.

Well minus her third eye that is.

Nothing more than a corpse as she fell to the ground, sprawled out as the flames began to die down. Which will soon only leave her charred remains.

Good riddance.

I shook the eye off of Benigasumi before it began to glow green, the Midori Pearl burst from it as I wrapped my hairs around me. Actually struggling to hold it back.

You have got to be kidding me, these things were drawn to master's shards too!

"Really had hoped that it wouldn't react like that..." Y/N said as he and Kagome walked towards me.

Him having the Shikon Jewel shard and Shusūi in hand, part of his chest and kimono covered in frost that was receding and his hair a little more white. Kagome stood nearby him with an arrow notched and looking above.

"Same, and are you alright master?" I asked.

"A little drained aside from the shard but I'll be fine." He said before looking wearily at the Midori Pearl as it glowed and still struggled towards him. "Not so sure if that touches the shard.

"That would be an understatement Y/N." Kagome said while shaking her head. "But did you both notice something else about it?"

Now that she mentioned it...

"Thought I felt a chilling gales aside from my hairs being covered in frost." I said.

"T-They were quite real." Myōga said, perching himself on master's shoulder while shivering. "N-Nearly blew myself off him too."

"I think I remember Hiten saying something about it, controlling the winter winds." Kagome said with a frown as master began to generate mists before shaking his head.

"Could be, there have been records of yuki-onna doing such things. Not sure about hanyo. Something to test out another time." Y/N said, getting me to nod.

"First a mess to wrap up and the damned owl too. If not whoever is behind this test." I said looking around and spreading my hairs.

They would be back to claim the pearl, no doubt they knew the consequences of leaving it out in the open like this.

"Haven't seen Yotsume since I fired that arrow at Mittsume Jōrō...admittedly I was trying to aim for her eye." Kagome said, her face a little red before shaking her head. "As much as he would probably like to fly away, he has no choice."

"You got that right!"

Soon after there were multiple cawings coming around us before the sky above was filled with pests diving down or dropping flaming branches on us!

Kagome fired her arrow and I used my hairs and Benigasumi to deal with with the incoming pests. They didn't seem to be bothered at all by their losses.

In fact more seemed to be aiming towards myself and the damned owl hadn't shown himself at all...wait.

One of these pests had four eyes instead of three, close to the pearl!

He realized his ruse was up as he turned from a Shibugarasu to a human form as his talons pryed open the hair surrounding the Midori Pearl as master rushed behind him.

The pearl flying into Yotsume and sending him flying back and passed master as it was absorbed into the damn owl's head with a flash of green light.

(Y/N POV)

When the flash died down Yotsume form had changed into a cross between a human and an owl, his floating somewhat ripped with a fifth eye now on his head as well as he flexed his talons.

"Curious it feels different than the Murasaki Pearl." Yotsume said, shaking his head and flexing his talons. "But it will have to do as much as I don't want to. Orders are still orders."

I created some mist, but hastily backed away as he unleashed two large streams of fire from his hand. Burning away Yura's hairs as well.

"Now this is more like it!" He shouted, jumping towards me.

I barely had any time to raise Shusūi to black his talons before I shifted my foot, creating an ice pillar that got him to gasp and double over as he tried to take another swipe at me.

Despite the addition boost to his powers from the Midori Pearl, it didn't seem to help his durability much as he was gasping and wheezing as some Shibugarasu descended down onto me.

Between Shusūi and Yura's hairs they were made into some quick work, but I did have to avoid some flaming branches dropping nearby.

Yotsume created another stream of fire to burn away the hairs and an arrow from Kagome as I approached from the side. Before he suddenly turned to me.

"Got you!" Yotsume declared, his fifth eye glowing green and holding up a hand.

Revealing the Shikon jewel shard!

Wait when, he must've swiped it while I struck him.

I needed to look away now!

I tried to get back, Yotsume created a wall of fire from his hands, the jewel literally boosting his fire power and I soon found myself in the middle of a ring of fire.

The roar of the flames drowning out all the noise around me and I felt my eyes tear up from smoke. Finding it difficult to breath and growing weaker from the heat...

I tried to recoil, brushing against one of the flames...only to feel nothing there...

Wait, this is an illusion...than why does it feel it something is making it hard to breath...a curse mixed in perhaps...

I brushed my hand against another flame, only to instantly recoil back and pant as the heat felt real...

So there had to be some real fire around me...

What was real and what wasn't....

(Yura POV)

"Get away from him!" Kagome shouted, firing an arrow that struck with the biggest burst of reiryoku I've seen from her since yesterday.

The damned owl squeaked as he was sent flying back and I immediately reeled in master from the flames.

But it didn't help at all, his eyes were glazed over and he had a band of energy around his neck. Constricting his neck and my hairs couldn't pull it off!

"Seems like the Midori Pearl makes my weaknesses my strengths.

" Yotsume coughed out, clutching his shoulder as he sprouted a pair of wings from his back.

Flying away from another arrow and unleashed a plume of fire.

"Once he's fully out of it I'll get what I want. Until then I'll deal with you both."

"Considering what the girl did, save your blustering for Yomi!" I growled out as I flexed my hairs forward and Benigasumi.

He is using some kind of curse to asphyxiate master, using fire and illusions to weaken him enough to knock him out. Wether to find out information or to spirit him away at this point I don't care anymore.

This damned owl needed to suffer, now!

He hurriedly flew back, creating a plume of fire that burned threw my hairs and Kagome's arrow.

It cleared up and I saw him giving what I could best describe as a smirk with a beak, both his fifth eye and jewel shard glowing.

Before slamming it into the portion of the wretch we had bisected earlier.

No!

"Oni-bi Gushi!" I called out, lighting the hairs on fire, but he created a wall of flames which were followed by an all to familiar and irritating roar.

The wretch was back.

She emerged from behind the flames, glaring at the both of us before charging at Kagome.

I began to pull Kagome back, but a stream of fire burned the hairs around her and blocked my view of her.

Clearing up to see the omukade running away with Kagome struggling, coiled up inside her body.

I threw Benigasumi, but it only struck a corpse that backed the path. Felling it instantly.

Pulling it back as more corpses shambled into the clearing, alongside some more pests joining in the air with the damned owl.

"That's what you think will take to stop me, bringing the wretch back and this as your backup." I said with a frown, before noticing Yotsume holding his shoulder. Panting and sweating as his fifth eye continued to flicker green.

Looking back at master, the curse around his neck was seeming to dissipate and he was stirring...I see.

"You're pathetic for a tatarimokke, you wasted the shard on the three eyed wretch and can barely maintain the illusion." I said while brandishing Benigasumi "It would take a lot more than this and her to succeed. Besides Kagome won't let the wretch stop her."

At least I hoped.

Just need to get him to sing like a songbird, plucking one of his wings or skewering him would work.

"We shall see." Yotsume said with a glare.

"Quite lying to yourself Yotsume, you would rather be anywhere but here. I can taste your fear, it is making your blood taste bitter." A voice said from behind Yotsume, getting him to hurriedly look around while I smirked as master stirred and the curse

Seems like the old flea decided to make himself useful for once.

Master groaned as he raised his hand, mist gathering in the palm of his hand. I think I know what he wanted to do.

"Myōga I should have known you bit me earlier!" Yotsume growled out, creating a small fireball as he tried to crush the old flea. He looked to be about twice his usual size.

"Like you should have known not to lose your focus as always." Myōga said, jumping off the tatarimokke.

Getting him to turn to us with all five eyes widening in shock. Before letting out a squawk of pain as an icicle struck his good shoulder.

I grinned at that before helping master up.

"Thank you both." Y/N panted out, getting both me and the old flew to nod. "Felt like I was suffocating in an inferno..."

"You were, the damned owl had you with a curse aside from the illusion. The wretch is back with Kagome, we won't be here long." I said, throwing the damned owl a scathing glare..

"Hopefully she will be." Y/N said as mist began to roll off him.

"She will be." Myōga said with a smile before looking into the distance. "I've stayed by his side as ordered Lady Inuko."

"Wait what!" Yotsume cried out, turning and crying out in pain as a fire cracker detonated in front of his face. "My eyes!"

Both master and I smiled and turned to see the bitch had indeed arrived, resting Tessaiga against her shoulder. Smirking at the kit on her other shoulder as he was tossing another firecracker up and down.

"Nice one." Inuko said, getting Shippō to beam before turning to face us. "Sorry we're late, what happened with the girl now?"

"A three eyed omukade just took her, that previously had the jewel shard and one of the Rainbow Pearls.

Think of several shards in one mixed in.

" Y/N said, before drawling Shusūi at the damned owl who looked to be on the verge of molting in panic.

"We killed her, but he brought her back with the shard. "

"We'll explain the rest later, we have a damned owl pluck." I said, getting him and the pests around him to panic.

"Got it, just make sure to save me a chance to gut the tatarimokke." Inuko said.

"We'll save you what is left." I said with a grin as master fixed him an icy glare.

"Fine, let's go kit." Inuko said as Shippō threw the firecracker, getting Yotsume and the pests around him to veer around it as she bound off in the direction of the wretch went.

At the very least the Kagome should be alright. But right now...

"Yura?" Y/N said coldly as he frost began to spread from his feet, his icy glare making the damned owl panicking as he looked between us. "Let's finish this."

Oh I am going to enjoy this.

"Gladly." I said before we begun our attack

(Kagome POV - Otherside of the village - Same Time)

Damn it...I can barely move my arms or legs no matter what I tried!

Considering she wasn't trying to kill me or crush yet, she was probably slipping out of the village to avoid being killed again. Before she can kill me again.

Well I was not going to let that happen, I was not going to almost die to an omukade again!

Just need to reach my fingers a little and...got it!

Now I just need to pray to Amaterasu for this to work, Gramps did say this was to help draw out my reiryoku. My control was still spotty, just needed to create a little in the drawstring...

Concentrating a little I felt my reiyroku being drawled out, channeling it into my hama-ya.

It worked as Mittsume Jōrō roared out in pain, uncoil and tossing me onto the ground.

Okay I didn't plan that part all that well, but I was free...

"You bitch!" She growled out as I picked myself up and barley jumped out of the way from being squashed flat by her tail. "I was going to devour you, but I'll just settle what's left of your carcass!"

"Keep telling yourself that instead of running and I have no intention of being your comfort food!" I shouted out, notching an arrow and training it at the speck of violet on her back.

Which she immediately recoiled back it, twisting her body to prevent me from firing at it.

Wait wasn't that where Y/N split her in half...oh.

I grinned at that.

So that's going on, honestly I don't like the odds of fighting Mittsume Jōrō alone.

But judging how I was able to see the violent glint peaking out of her carapace, I just needed to pry it loose. Then she'll just be a lifeless husk.

Easier said than done of course.

"Why you, just bluster from my next meal. Perhaps you are right about, I do not intend to die again! I'll go after whatever that crazy bitch is and destroy her, but I'll settle the score later!" Mittsume Jōrō declared.

"You won't, even with one of the Rainbow Pearls and a Shikon Jewel shard you couldn't kill any of us! Even before that your attempt of an army barley lasted half an hour!" I said, getting her to growl.

"But I'm more than enough than a pathetic excuse of a miko without the shards, besides you're afraid. You've been since we first met." She said with a grin, rearing up for an attack.

Perhaps she was right about one thing at least.

"You're right, I was scared when we first met and hearing about a brood of omukade about the shard.

" I said, trying not to shudder while thinking about the one she had left impaled as a warning.

"Mukade Jōrō nearly killed me and Y/N, dragged me from my family, and bit a chunk from my side.

I would rather not face another omukade if I can and now I'm uneasy even thinking about looking at regular centipedes.

" I said, shaking my head while glaring at her.

"But I'm not scared of a pathetic grub like you! "

At this she let out an enraged roar/snarl as I smirked.

"What I'm only speaking the truth. Your grandmother Mukade Jōrō was more threatening than you ever were without any help or anything boosting her power!

She nearly killed me multiple times while you haven't succeeded in trying to kill any of us even once!

You're so desperate to be like her, yet you fail to be even as threatening as her even when you had a fifth of the power she had!

So why don't I do you a favor, and send you back to the Izanami damned pit you crawled out off! " I shouted as I shot the arrow.

Striking Mittsume Jōrō, who didn't care as it struck and cracked her skin as she charged towards me as I went to draw another arrow.

Only to stop as we both heard someone laughing.

Isn't that...

"Tongue still as sharpe as ever girl." I was right as Inuko jumped down and swung Tessaiga.

Carving out a chunk of Mittsume Jōrō's side, the omukade roaring out in pain and recoiling as Inuko leapt next to me.

Shippō jumping onto me and hugging me with a smile.

"Glad to see that you're okay!" He said before climbing onto my shoulder.

"A little banged up, but I'm alright." I said with a smile, getting him to nod before I turned to Inuko. "Thanks for the assist, is Y/N okay now?"

"He was, did something happen?" Inuko asked with a frown as I let out a sigh of relief.

"Nothing to worry about anymore with Yura back there. How about we make sure she stays dead this time." I said, notching an arrow and getting Inuko to smirk.

"Fine by me." Inuko said before facing Mittsume Jōrō. "So you're related to that insect bitch, killed her twice and it looks like you'll be sharing her fate. Should be just as easy to kill as her too."

Mittsume Jōrō looked like a mixture of panicked and enraged as she looked between the three of us, before barring her fangs and begin8ngnto twist.

"Damn you all!" She bellowed out intending to fight.

I was actually hoping for that.

Meant that she had no chance of escaping her death now.

(Chapter 54 end)