Hanyo of Snow

Ch55 The Fourth Soul

(Kagome POV - Just outside Tatsu's Village)

Mittsume Jōrō roared out as she twisted and gyrated towards us. Inuko looked unbothered as she kept forward and swung Tessaiga into the omukade, stopping her spinning as a chunk of her side and several legs were cut off.

She roared out in pain and Inuko merely stepped back to avoid her tail, shooting my arrow and knocking off another of her legs with a small burst of reiryoku.

As Mittsume Jōrō thrashed about I got an idea.

"Shippō?" I said getting his attention.

"Yes?" He asked, tilting his head.

I whispered my idea into his ear, getting him to gain a determined expression and pulled out two firecrackers.

"Sure, I just need a chance." Shippō said as I smiled, notching another arrow.

"You'll get one soon enough." I said before he threw the firecrackers.

They went off in front of Mittsume Jōrō's face, blinding her and getting her to let out a growl of irritation. I fired my arrow and it just narrowly missed her cheek, flying past her into a tree.

Dang it.

Well at least Inuko managed to lop one of her arms off, Mittsume Jōrō retaliated by trying to snap at her.

Only for Inuko to move Tessaiga in the way, breaking the omukade's fangs and cutting into her cheeks. Mittsume Jōrō hurriedly twisting back with blood dripping from her mouth as Inuko shook her head.

"If this is all you got without anything powering you up, Kagome was right." She said before smiling. "But now without your fangs, you really are a pathetic, toothless maggot."

Mittsume Jōrō let out a strangled roar and I think she had all but become feral in her rage as she lashed out at Inuko. Uncaring now if she got some gash for Tessaiga or losing part of her leg.

She only tried to dodge getting gutted or sliced apart, or when the shard sticking out of her back as I nearly struck it with an arrow. Otherwise she was just focusing on one thing.

Attack, attack, and attack.

I notched another arrow as Mittsume Jōrō barreled towards me, firing at as it struck her side. Leaping back as Inuko cut off all three of her left arms off.

Getting her to snarl as she rotated again, turning towards Inuko who nearly lumped out of the way.

Shippō throwing another fire cracker at her before jumping off my back and climbing into a tree as I notched another arrow. Disappearing into the canopy as I fired the arrow.

It struck her shoulder, getting Mittsume Jōrō to glare at me and tried to charge forward. Before release a piercing wail as Inuko cut off end of her tail. Hurriedly coiling herself up and began looking between the both of us.

Honestly I thought that she was going to burrow away until Shippō jumped down in front of her and threw a firecracker into her face.

Mittsume Jōrō let out a snarl and shot forward bitting into him!

I was notching another arrow when Inuko put a hand infront of me, as Shippō popped like a ballon in her jaws leaving a leaf.

Right, he can make decoys...

Letting out a sigh of relief as he fell out of the tree. On top of a Jizo statue that crashed onto Mittsume Jōrō's tail, getting her to roar and pinning her in place.

"Got you!" He cheered out, throwing another firecracker and bolted as she tried to slam herself on him.

Allowing me to shot an arrow into her back as she thrashed and tried to pry the statue off her.

Roaring out, only to be silenced as Inuko beheaded her with a single swing. Her body continued to thrash about aimlessly just like that of the Shibugarasu.

Until I got close and it went limp, Mittsume Jōrō finally dead.

Didn't stop Inuko to begin from cutting up her corpse after stabbing the omukade in the chest for good measure. Probably for the best.

I really didn't want to deal with a third attempt of her coming back to life.

"Thanks Shippō, but next time please warn me if you're going to do someth8ng like that again." I sighed out with a smile as he shrugged.

"Can't make any promises." He said while I shook my head.

Probably for the best.

"Still, quick thinking with his statue. I take it she had escaped plenty of times before?" Inuko asked me as I took out a small glass bottle and deposited the jewel shard into it.

"You have no idea." I said as Shippō took the statue.

"Always the most annoying kind to deal with, especially when backed into a corner. Though I think the three of you took the fight out of her by killing her." Inuko said, getting me to nod.

"Especially when she was at her strongest." I said, to which Inuko grinned.

"That will do, anyway come on kit let's finish this!" She called out to Shippō and getting him to run over to us. "Mind giving me some details of what happened here?"

"Sure." I said, feeling some relief that this will all be over.

If Yotsume was even alive when we get back that is...

(??? POV - A little ways aways)

So the test is coming to an end, I have more than enough information for the madame and Lord Kirinmaru.

But the yuki-onna's reaction to the shard and the pearl's behavior...I haven't seen such such a reaction from them other than the madame in close proximation. Even then she could at least control the reaction.

It at least needs to be observed before I will have to call this to a close. Along with getting Yotsume away.

(Y/N POV - Inside the village)

Yotsume stood little chance against the both of us.

I stabbed Shusūi into one of the remaining corpses as Yura removed the head, removing the blade as I froze the corpse and the Shibugarasu inside as I moved on to fending a corpse that had a tanto replaced it's hand before repeating the process.

Most of the ones Yotsume had summoned before dealing with use were headless and mangled or frozen and except for the few Shibugarasu that had were currently flying around the rest where either dead on the ground or had already fled.

Aside from him creating fireballs and streams of fire, Yotsume had been panicking more and more. Knowing what will happen once we clear everything out. Which should be soon.

Yura was right reviving Mittsume Jōrō and sending her away was his biggest mistake. Something we were going to make sure he regrets.

Cutting off the straps of a corpse's armor before thrusting Shusūi into its stomach and the Sibugarasu inside before Yura mangled the body and took the head.

That was the last one. Aside from a trio of Shibugarasu Yotsume was all alone.

Yura quickly snapped their bodies with her hair before we closed in on the tatarimokke.

"Stay back!" Yotsume cried out, unleashing two streams of fire while I raised an ice wall before Yura pulled me away. Wrapping some around his wrist and pulled him back before the fire burned it away. "Not like this!"

"Not so confident without back up Yotsume." Myōga said as he jumped onto the tatarimokke who began to swat at him while firing fireballs. "Do not worry, they'll leave you alive."

"Well master probably will, can't say for the rest of us when you spill everything." Yura said, tying up his limbs and wings up in hairs before making a pulling motion while I came up behind him.

"Never!" He yelled out, burning the hairs burning off the hairs off his left arm and wing.

Moving to his legs and thrashing, all five eyes widening as I cut off his left wing in half with a single stroke.

He yelled out in pain before I created an ice pillar into his stomach. Yura pulled him back and slammed him into a wall before tossing him up into that air.

Yotsume yelled before an arrow grazed his shoulder before a firecracker exploded in his face.

Followed by Inuko jumping down and punched him back down to the ground.

I let out a sigh of relief as she landed and Kagome got off of her. She was okay.

Now one more thing to deal with...

Yotsume groaned and looked up with a panic as Yura approached him with a smirk, brandishing Benigasumi while binding him in her hairs.

Before jabbing the wakizashi forward.

"My eye!" He cried out as Yura gouged out his fifth eye, wincing as she removed it and he turned back to his normal form. Albeit the wounds proportionate with his body and his right wing looking broken and mangled.

Still even if the eye only grew because of the Midori Pearl, still that wasn't a pleasant sight. Then again I did cut off a wing he grew because of that same reason.

Anyway Yura removed the pearl from the eye, binding it in hairs and grasping it in her hand as she tightened the bindings around a groaning and barely conscious Yotsume.

It should all be over by now.

"Y/N!" Shippō called out as he jumped onto my shoulder as I sheared Shusūi, smiling at him.

"I take it that you missed us?" I said getting him to nod.

"I did and I heard that you were in trapped in an illusion." Shippō said, getting me to shudder and nod.

"Worst kind of illusion for a yuki-onna, but I'll be alright. Throat is still a little sore from the curse though." I said before Kagome who smiled at me.

"Glad to hear it, and I'm alright too. Just slightly banged up from Mittsume Jōrō. She didn't stand much of a chance afterward." She said with a smirk.

"I can imagine." I said, given how quickly she, Shippō, and Inuko got back here.

"Kagome speaks the truth, not sure of what she was like earlier but I imagine she was as much of a headache as he grandmother was." Inuko said as Myōga jumped on her and shook her head. "Anyways nice job with the village, looks mostly intact."

"Thanks, we couldn't have done it without the villagers cooperation. Or without Yura, she was the lynchpin to making this all work." I said getting her to smile.

"Thank you master, and while I did enjoy burning the wretch to cinders. We still have one more issue to deal with..." Yura said, flexing her free hand and getting the panic looking Yotsume to squirm.

Right, we needed answers.

While Yotsume was the one managing this 'test', there was still someone else around here and we couldn't let our guard down yet.

I doubt they will let the Midori Pearl go just like that.

(Inuko POV)

The three of them did good from what I saw of the village.

Despite everything that happened yesterday the three of them were still doing fine especially Kagome, that was great to see. We had another shard of the Shikon Jewel too.

Still I was surprised by when I heard of the pearl still struggling and glowing green in Yura's hand. Keeping a strong grip on it from going to Y/N's shard.

So there was six more risks like that out there, all under the control of those serving my father's rival.

If what Kagome said that Y/N and Myōga knew was true, I was just hours older than the seven items 1/10th as strong as the Shikon no Tama.

Honestly if I knew of the pearls before I went after the jewel...well I probably wouldn't have gone after them. Would have been a stupid thing to do even without knowing about Kirinmaru at the time.

Easier to go after a singular and more reliable wish making source than seven pieces of one.

Then again she didn't say what all seven pieces at once could do, and they were seemingly not kept together at once...

Given together the power would be about a third less of the Shikon Jewel...well they probably would be of no use to me...

But maybe that power for Y/N...

"Inuko are you alright?" Y/N said, breaking me from my thoughts.

I shook my head as I saw the others looking at me, Myōga giving me a knowing look between myself and the Midori Pearl.

So he figured it out himself...well I consider them a secondary option.

Gathering the jewel shards came first.

"Just had something on my mind, anyone mind if I can get the tatarimokke to cough up what he knows." I said, unsheathing my classes and getting Yotsume to squirm even more.

"Go ahead, we'll keep on guard." Y/N said, drawing Shusūi and mist coming off of him. Shippō shivered a bit before he jumped onto Kagome's shoulder with his top in hand.

"I'll guard the pearl, and cut apart the damned owl if he tries anything." Yura said, getting him to gulp.

"Just make sure to save something for the rest of us." Kagome said as she notched an arrow.

I swear with this girl, she's becoming more and more attuned with this era by the day...

Y/N and Kagome are lucky to have each other...

Shaking my head I looked to Myōga.

"Any ideas on how to get him to talk?" I asked with a grin, only getting him to shake his head.

"He's like me, Yotsume won't tell you everything even if threatened with death." Myōga said, getting me to sigh irritably.

So he's a coward, but a loyal coward.

Probably more afraid of who he served under than he was of dying to us.

Well there goes some of my fun...

Cracking my hands, I placed my claws right below a panicked looking Yotsume.

"Talk and we may let you live, starting with who owns the pearl. I doubt Kirinmaru would trust you with it, they are still nearby." I growled out.

"S-So you do know about Lord Kirinmaru. B-But I'll never tell you, only his most trusted subordinates and the madame know their identity!" Yotsume squawked out and looked around nervously as the rest of us were on guard.

He didn't say anything about them being nearby, so they were nearby.

Yet he didn't say clarify something else too...

"Then how do you know?" I asked with a grin.

Yotsume looks with all four eyes between myself and Myōga and everyone else before gulping.

"I-I'm Lady Kyūki's retainer, that is why I know." He admitted.

"Who?" I asked, looking at Myōga. Figuring he would know.

"She is the delegator among the Shikyō. Not the strongest and one of the two smartest among them. If Lord Kirinmaru has a task for them and they're all over Nippon, her task to make sure they fall in line with his orders." Myōga said, getting me to nod.

Makes sense, Yotsume would serve as the messenger between if necessary.

"She also has the Murasaki Pearl, he slipped that out after using the Midori Pearl." Y/N said, getting Yotsume's plumage to pale.

Pretty sure that he wasn't supposed to talk about them.

At least we know someone else with a Rainbow Pearl.

But onto the truth of the matter.

"Was this little test for me and who ordered it?" I asked, getting Yotsume to look down. "I know that you were there when the Ne no Kubi was killed. You were there to see if I was awake were you?"

"Yes, the test was for you as one of the targets.

I was there to check when word of your unsealing had reached us.

" He admitted with no hesitation this time.

"The madame was disappointed that one of the targets weren't there, you but was curious to know about the other.

..this test was ordered by Lord Kirinmaru and the madame in order to gauge Toga's daughter Inuko and the yuki-onna hanyo Yukinokouji Y/N. "

...

All of us were in shock.

I mean I figured that they were after me, but Y/N! They even knew his family name!

That and my father's rival was possibly now active and after us!

"Lord Kirinmaru is awake!" Myōga exclaimed fearfully.

"No, he stirs. Could be weeks or months before he fully awakens.

He heard of how she inherited the Tessaiga.

As for the yuki-onna hanyo no one but he knows his interest. Just his name, appearance, and heritage.

The test was his idea, but left to the madame to conduct the details while he still sleeps.

Mittsume Jōrō's hatred of hanyo and her desire for revenge alongside the shard made a perfect gauge.

" Yotsume spilled everything as everyone looked uneasy.

"How?" Kagome asked Y/N who looked as surprised as the rest of us.

"Kagome I honestly don't know." He said, looking slightly shaken.

"Consider yourself lucky master that he is asleep for now." Yura said grimly.

Had to agree with them.

We already had one dangerous yokai after him, now for Kirinmaru to hold such an interest in him about as much as his rival's daughter...

This did not bode well, our only saving grace was that he wasn't interested in the jewel and was still asleep for now.

Can't say the same for his subordinates...

"Fine then, who is this madame!" I growled out, pushing my claws further against his throat and scratching his plumage.

"Actually Lady Inuko, I believe I know who?" Myōga said, getting me to look at him.

Until there was a ringing sound that got me and Shippō to wince.

Before Yotsume gained a smug expression and Yura yelled as her hairs seemed to be evaporating into mist in her hands and around him,

Damned if all! Whoever owns the Midori Pearl was here! Wait...

The pearl!

Tsukiyomi damn it, Y/N!

Before anyone could even do anything, the pearl rocket into his chest in a flash of green light!

(Y/N POV? - ???)

I saw a green flash of light and the next thing I knew was that I couldn't feel anything physical or see anything.

No color to see or a physical body to exist...yet other than that I felt fine.

I actually felt better ever actually, just perfectly healthy and no strain at all. Nothing around me and especially not that accursed shard stuck in my chest. No pulling anywhere...

Just myself here in the moment...

This was strange but I suppose it was cause of the shard the Midori Pearl into itself...it was made with yoki and the energies of the Shikon Jewel...

I'm really hoping that I wasn't in some sort of limbo between the living world and Yomi again like with Hiten, but this didn't feel like it...

No this just felt serene and empty...

Hopefully the others can pry the pearl from me before it is fully absorbed into my shard...if they hadn't done so already...

I think I'm starting all sense of time just existing here.

Don't think that-

"How can that be? That's impossible!"

Wait was there someone else here?

"Hello?" I called out, hoping for an answer.

Only to swiftly regret it as my entire being felt numb and heavy!

What is this...and why do I feel like crying...and my chest feel like it is being ripped apart...

T-These feelings are not my own...that had to be the only explanation...

For the first time in I don't know how long it had been for me light flickered before...my/someone's eyes. The vision was hazy, what I could make out was that it was a wooden structure that was candle lit.

And looked down on a wooden nightstand with a wooden box on top of it.

With the Shikon no Tama lying within...

This...when was this...

"Were we yokai not fated to journey an endless path?" My/Whoever this was spoke in a despair ridden and definitely woman's voice. Between their tears I saw a hand with pale skin and black nail polish grasping the jewel. "To wonder through aneternal destiny?"

Wait the pearls...could this have been the night Tōga died...

They were created shortly after his death...what about almost immediately...this was the night they were create, I'm sure of it...

"Damn it all! So the Shikon Jewel's ominous prophecy came true after all." The woman who I could only guess whose memory I was viewing from said as I felt tears streaming down her cheeks.

If it was true for him, thenthe prophecy for my brother could come true too. I can't let that happen!

And I could feel her thoughts too...what was that about a-

I was cut off from my own thoughts as it felt I was nearly crushed her despair once again...

"Madame the Inu no Taishō has died. Lady Izayoi and the hanyo child survived." A new voice, one that sounded borderline emotionless said.

Confirming my suspicions, this was the night Inuko was born.

And the well I felt her despair start to lift a little and the tears slowing down a little as...what I could only guess was jealousy and anger start to root in her/our chest as well...

She loved Tōga, this Madame that I guess who Yotsume was referring too...she was close to Kirinmaru...

"I know..."The woman said as she turned away with the jewel still in hand. "Those who are loved are fated to end in beauty..."

Lord Tōga...why didn't you notice...we were fate to walk an endless path together...

For centuries I waited, even with your mate and daughter. Now to find you've taken a second one and fathered another daughter...a family you were willing to die for despite your injuries...for a human woman and a hanyo...

Why have you never notice despite all the time together...it's not fair...

...Was this is Inuko going through right now with Kikyō's brief return...

I couldn't even imagine it...but now I think I can actually feel like what she has been going through with this with the Madame...

"What's that coming from your eyes...it's very pretty..." The second voice said before hearing them approaching the Madame.

Only to be smacked by her and glaring at them, not getting a big look at them through her tear filled eyes as she turned away.

"You think these are pretty?! You have such poor taste, you know that?"The Madame said as she walked back to the table.

"Taste?" The second voice asked, figuring they were probably some sort of younger yokai.

"Try and use that head of yours!" The Madame growled out, somewhat bitterly before shaking her head.

It's no use, he wouldn't understand...

He's gone...all for a life I couldn't have had with him...a chance I had never had...

Tōga is gone and all that is left is this soul crushing pain from an eternity that will never occur now! He used to tell me to be true to myself, so why didn't I ever tell him! Even after he took that human as his second wife!

...Now all that is left is an eternity of regret...

The Madame stopped in front of the table, looking down at the Shikon Jewel in her hand.

I can't live like this...not without Tōga...

Wait was she going to...

I've already lost Rion and now him...I will not lose my brother as well, but I can no longer live with this pain!

Don't tell me, the pearls...

"I don't need my yoki! I don't want to live with this grief! In fact, I don't want to life with this heart! And I will never shed this wretched tears again!" The Madame said, grasping her hand around the Shikon Jewel, a silver aura covering her body.

She was going to cast it all away.

"Shikon Jewel! Grant my wish!" She said, clasping the jewel in her hands as her tears fell.

One hitting the jewel and creating seven objects before the tears stopped.

Followed by the crushing feeling...in its place was what I could only describe as a hollow feeling.

Nothing, no apathy.

No feeling.

Just an utterly serene and unnatural calm.

Anything else I can feel was muted.

The Rainbow Pearls...the Shikon Jewel took her ability to use yoki, to feel emotions, and her tears in exchange for their creation, just as she wished. All in an attempt to end her grief and suffering from Tōga's death...

"Those are pretty." The second voice said as the Madame placed the Shikon Jewel back in the box alongside the Shikon Jewel. Turning and walking towards a window.

"These seven Rainbow Pearls contain the my yoki and the energy of the Shikon Jewel. Good riddance, I'm no longer a yokai." The Madame said, her tone lacking much if any emotion as she looked out the window.

The pearls were the crystallized form of her own emotions, yoki, tears, and the energy of the Shikon Jewel itself combined. To create such a thing I would hazard to guess she was at least a daiyokai to use that much yoki.

Still to think she would go that far to rid herself of her grief...no I can imagine it...

If I was in the Madame's place would I do the same thing, just to have ended the grief of losing Kagome or Inuko with Kikyō...

The Madame stopped infront of a glass window, seeing snow falling onto a gently fall sea below. And catching a glimpse of her human form through the reflection.

A woman who looked very much what was the staple of what the Japanese considered the definition of a beautifully noble woman, her grey hair done in the tradition style with golden hair pins, comb, and from the edges in the back I guess a blue butterfly hair clip.

With the only forms of make up I see was a dark violet rouge and magenta streak over her eyelids.

Aside from her hair color and green eyes the only way tell she was a yokai...or was were her unnaturally pale skin, pointed ears, slightly slitted pupils, and the violet stipe under her eyes much like Sesshōmaru's facial markings.

She looked at her reflection with a neutral expression, before it shifted into a glare.

"Get out." The reflection, no the real Madame said. "Get out of my memories!"

Before I could even think what was going on, everything faded to black.

(Y/N POV - Tatsu's Village)

I groaned as spots filled my vision.

"What are you?" I heard Yotsume say, getting my eyes to snap open to see the tatarimokke on me!

An arrow in his shoulder and being pulled back by Yura's hairs, the Midori Pearl in one talon and in the other broke skin off my neck.

Wincing before glaring at him and exploding mist off of myself. Covering us both with a cloud as I flash froze him.

Freezing the scratch on my neck and fixing my scarf before noticing my cheeks where feeling wet before turning into ice...

She may no longer cry, yet her tears were there in the pearl...

Shaking my head as I dispelled the cloud of mist revealing Yotsume to be frozen in a pillar of ice, all four eyes widened in shock while grasping the Midori Pearl which thankfully it wasn't reacting to my shard again.

"Y/N!" Kagome said, getting my attention and seeing her and Shippō running towards me. Only having a moment to brace myself as she hugged me. "Are you okay, when you were hit with the pearl I was worried about..."

"I know, I feel fine. Felt like it absorbed anentire shard but I'm alright." I said before blinking. "More than alright, I feel no strain or anything. Better than ever actually..."

Didn't feel a strain on the limit on my body like with the shards...that was pretty concerning.

"And were you crying?" Shippō asked, poking over Kagome's shoulder.

Right the frozen tears.

I dispelled them and shook my head.

"Not quite, they're not mine." I said with a frown. "How long was I out of it?"

"Just a moment." Kagome said as she and Shippō looked at me curiously.

"Let's just say there's a lot to unpack after we deal with who else is here, including seeing how the pearls were made." I said, shock Kagome as she nodded. "I take it something else is wrong with me?"

"Let's change say your appearance has changed a little, nothing drastic that I could see yet unless you feel anything. But best to check out later." Kagome said somewhat nervous, getting me to sigh and nod as she notched an arrow and I picked up Shusūi.

"Nothing really from earlier." I said before turning to Yura, who was looking all over. "Are you alright Yura?"

"Fine now master, going to make whoever this is suffer if we can." She said, her tone laced with anger.

I just nodded before I heard a crack, turning back to see the ice pillar with Yotsume crack and and turn back into water!

What?!

Mist poured off me as I began to freeze the water, but then I felt it actively starting to resist me! Best I can describe it was like the tide and moon, a push and pull over the water.

Whenever I tried to freeze it I felt it would start to melt and shift again, whoever this is would manipulate ice like a yuki-onna but also a water as well. It was starting to become a struggle to freeze it now.

Especially when some broke off into tendrils that whipped and froze into ice shards the flew at Inuko.

She nearly battered them aside with Tessaiga with a frown, before snarling as I finally lost control and the water and ice turned to mist.

Followed by a ringing sound.

(Inuko POV)

No!

I jumped up and swung Tessaiga down onto the mist, parting it to reveal a group of violet bee like yokai and one being cut in half. No sign of Yotsume and the Midori Pearl at all!

Damn it all!

With them gone, I doubt that whoever was overseeing this shame of a test left too.

Leaving whatever these yokai were to deal with!

With a growl I quickly cut through a few more, the others were cut down by Yura and Y/N while Kagome shot one down.

All were felled except for one that was twitching and heading towards me in the ground. I was about to squash it, but Y/N stabbed Shusūi through its back.

"Would advise touching it." Y/N said, flicking Shusūi before sheathing it.

"Their skin is poisonous." I said, figuring that would be the reason. Will have to see if any of those Shibugarasu were flying around to exterminate them.

"Yes, although skin contact is only agonizing pain for a while followed by you being driven into a frenzy temporarily.

Getting stung is a slow agonizing death unless treated from the venom causing the wounds not to close and bleed out from them.

Though given we're part yokai should take more than one sting to happen.

" Y/N said, getting me to wince at that.

And for Kagome to take a few steps back from the be.

So a single sting would be fatal to humans, even then if I squashed it I probably would have lashed out at them unwittingly.

"So they're a nuisance then, have you seen anything like this?" I asked Myōga, getting him to shake his head.

"No, I know most of the species of feral insect yokai on Honshū and this is not one. Considering whoever owns the Midori Pearl is under Lord Kirinmaru, they would have access to resources from beyond this island." Myōga said with a sigh, getting Y/N to nod.

"He's right, they're called miasma bugs or nicknamed the poison bees of Yomi for their venom. From my father's notes they're still a danger in what you would call secluded parts of the Ryūkyū Islands, not native to Honshū at all." Y/N said.

Ryūkyū Islands, if I remember correctly they were pretty far south of Nippon...though perhaps not in Y/N's and Kagome era.

"Then the yokai was at the mountain last night." Yura said, getting our attention. "I saw one around our camp last night, they were there last night."

I let out a growl before shaking my head and sighing irritably.

They were spying on us while dealing with Urasue and Kikyō...though I'm not to surprised since it was close by. Just yet another damned issue to deal with...

Y/N began to pat his gi before pulling something out.

"What is it now?" I asked as stepped closer to him, pausing as I picked up a strange scent.

It wasn't from the object no it was coming from Y/N, but where?

"I think whoever was behind Yotsume slipped this in before vanishing, wasn't in here." Y/N said handing the object, a scroll to me. "It's for you."

True to his word it had my name before unfurling it, prepared to rip it to shreds before feeling something wrapped inside the scroll...it can't be...

"Lady Inuko?" Myōga said as I started to shake and unfurled the scroll to see a short message.

Everything was gathered once you were sealed and restored once word had reached about your unsealing. It has been restored by Hōsenki at the urge of Lord Kirinmaru, one final favor to Lord Tōga to give it toyou.

Do not except a second time.

You and the yuki-onna hanyo will be left alone for now until, unless someone acts against his orders.

Already knew about the last part, but still...

Fully unfurling the scroll, I threw it down and inspected what had been wrapped inside.

"Lady Inuko, is that-" "Yes it is her's, it still has her scent along with my own and Kikyō's. Though with a hint of shellfish now." I cut Myōga off as everyone else gathered to see what was in my hand.

It was my mother's beni, I thought that it had been lost...

Shattered by that damned yokai in Kikyō's form...

Yet here it was back together again...

Flipping it open with my finger I could see faded cracks on the inside of the shell, though I had to squint to see them. But on the inside on the bottom was rouge.

Brushing my thumb on it and the scent, it definitely was the same kind mom used...she never seemed to run out of it or it went bad after decades. Always figured it was a gift to her from father...

"I thought it had been broken 50 years ago." Kagome said, breaking me from my thoughts as I closed the beni.

"Hōsenki restored it for sure, he is an oyster daiyokai and jewel crafter that was a vessel of Lord Tōga. If he remade it, then I doubt that it will be so easily smashed again." Myōga said, getting me to huff at that.

Giving it one last glance with a smile before putting it inside my kimono.

Never was one to use makeup, but it was good to have the beni with me again.

"At least one good thing happened tonight." I said before noticing Shippō giving Y/N a curious expression before jumping onto him.

So he did smell it too...

"A small mercy then." Yura said before noticing Shippō pulling on Y/N's scarf. "What are you doing kit?"

"Something smells wrong..." He said, getting Y/N to look confused.

"He's right, it's subtle but there is a strange scent from there." I said as Y/N moved his hand to pull down the scarf.

"Yotsume did scratch me there maybe..." He pulled down the scarf, before looking at Shippō as the kit backed up again and his tail bristled a little. "Shippō?"

His latest changes and that smell...I thought the former was just something yuki-onna had.

Never met one but most yokai had something like that, but one his neck...

"Is it a curse or something?" Kagome asked as she stared in shock.

"I only know one curse like that, but there would be a lot more of them and glowing silver. This is something I don't know and something Yotsume couldn't have done this." Myōga said grimly.

"What?" Y/N said brushing his fingers against his neck, his eyes going wide.

"You might want to create a mirror or something..." I said as an icy wall began to sprung up.

"It's just like the mizuchi scales at his house..." My ears twitched as I heard Yura said something under her breath, but I paid it no thought as the ice wall became a mirror.

And Y/N saw the changes.

When they had gotten that jewel shard his hair had turned a little whiter.

Now after the pearl his hair looked to have grown a little longer and wilder, from the tips half of it was now white.

His facial features softer but the biggest changes was his pupils were now slightly slitted and his top canines longer.

Common amongst most yokai.

What wasn't was the several ash-gray scales on the left side of his neck, right in the middle and trailing down to the base of his shoulder. Aside from that a sore on his neck where Yotsume possible ripped one off and a stray scale a little further away from the patch.

His scent since getting that accursed shard was becoming more and more like snow and wintergreen. Now it had a slight change.

Like that yokai me and Shippō had found traces of earlier, there was a scent of snake blended with a number of several other scents together that I couldn't recognize.

I heard of him and Kagome talking about a fourth aspect to his soul...

What did the pearl do to him?

(??? POV - ??? - A few minutes later)

"And that is everything madame." I said, with a final tap of my earring and a muffled scream from his beak Yotsume should be alright.

Granted healing was not my specialty, but I know enough to relieve Yotsume of most of his injuries. He still won't be able to fly for a week, but enough to for Kyūki to make her displeasure known to him.

Doubly so once I pilfer my charge from her.

Both she and Kyūki where sitting the in the meeting room, the rest of the Shikyō scattered across Nippon at the time.

Both had listened as we had spoken of the test, the madame looking frustrated as she listened and keeping a tight grip on her staff the entire time.

Something was bothering her, more so than I have seen her in a while. Keeping silent the whole time and growing frustrated once I described the effects the Midori Pearl had on him.

I wonder what did she know...

Yotsume spat out the stick and groaned, fluttering his wings before clambering onto his perch at the table.

Kyūki was silent for a moment before shaking her head.

"They possess no real threat at the moment, the omukade without both was nothing more than a runt without the pearl and shard." Kyūki said getting a contemplative look on her face.

Could she have finally acquire a shard?

Her and Konton had been looking for weeks and they thought they had been discreet, at least more than usual.

The madame has ordered me to keep an eye on this, but I have not followed up on them in a few days.

Well she probably had it hidden away from me if there was one.

"Yet he seems to have a good head on his shoulder, lying his vassel's species hidden and there is him absorbing power from the shards. Considering the rumors going on about them, there has been quite a few absorbed." Kyūki said with a thoughtful look.

Oh this bodes poorly.

"There will be none of that, they both need to be dealt." Zero said, her tone holding a bitter edge. "His reaction to the Midori Pearl..."

"It did madame." I said confirming her thoughts.

She didn't like to be reminded of what she did that day. And with what she messaged me, the yuki-onna hanyo had literally dredged them up.

"There was another reaction which Yotsume observed." I said, getting both of their attention. "Granted it seems he is slowly becoming a yokai, the pearl did something different. He brought proof, yet...wan't any condition to talk until now."

"Yotsume." Kyūki said, the tatarimokke to stiffen at her tone. "What did you see?"

"Indeed, what did you see?"

Yotsume held back a squawk and Kyūki sat straighter up while the madame shook her head.

Ah, he was awake now.

He walked into the room and assumed his seat next to the madame. Yotsume cowering before regaining his bearings.

"S-Scales Lord Kirinmaru. He grew several scales on his neck, I ripped one off." Yotsume said, as I placed the scale on the table.

Kyūki looking at it curiously while the madame frowned and looked at Kirinmaru.

He might very well know something. Lord Kirinmaru did know more about the hanyo than he was letting on.

Yet about the scale, I had no idea.

Knew that it definitely was not a qilin scale.

"Brother you know what it is, like how that hanyo wasn't of this era." Zero said irritably.

Not of this era, interesting...

Lord Kirinmaru always had a keen insight into the actions of human even during his periods of slumber, down to the year. Borderline on precognition and acting accordingly...

So a hanyo from the future, quite curious?

"You know?" Kirinmaru asked, seeming unbothered that the madame knew.

"The memory viewing worked both ways from the pearl." Zero said irritably while glaring at the scale and before looking back at Kirinmaru. "Brother don't tell me he is descended from the Kouga."

"No, his father was descended from the Ashiya." Kirinmaru said before picking up the scale and handing it to Zero. "The pearl showed what I had thought, his blood carries the clan's greatest sin."

So his human half is from an onmyouji clan, that would explain the reiryoku. Extreamly rudimentary and pitiful compared to a half decent priest or miko, but with enough training and shards perhaps some potential.

Yet the Ashiya's greatest sin?

The madame snatched the shard and examined it carefully while Kyūki looked curious.

"Lord Kirinmaru, is the hanyo related to Ashiya Douman." I asked, getting him to shake his head.

"No, at least from what Yukinokouji is aware of." Kirinmaru said.

"Than his creation." Kyūki said venomously.

"I am unaware if that fool had any hand in the abomination's creation as one of his actions. Yet its very existence of its nature surpasses the fool's crimes in terms of a sin." Kirinmaru said as Zero placed the scale down.

"Not like the last time, so the humans finally dealt with that abomination by his era. No doubt with that shikigami's help. So he posses an imbalanced Shikon...brother that hanyo needs to be dealt with." She said, being silenced with a glance from him.

One that I have seen enough to understand.

They would discuss this later.

Could it be...

"Any attempts against them after the sun rises and when I fully awaken are forbidden. Kyūki, Riku spread this message to the rest of the Shikyō." Kirinmaru said, pausing briefly before speaking again. "Riku, inform Tōkotsu that he is excerpt only if he crosses paths with either of them."

"Of course." I said with a smile.

He was the weakest of the Shikyō, but the most loyal to Lord Kirinmaru.

While he wouldn't go out of his way to clash with either hanyo, he would more than gladly if they were nearby or interfering with his son's 'hunts'.

"Kyūki, how much of the shards have been found." Kirinmaru said, his tone getting her to pause briefly.

"Most of them have been claim, half of the total shards belonging to the composite yokai Naraku. Between Tōga's daughter and the yuki-onna hanyo they posses the second largest number." Kyūki said. "Lord Kirinmaru-"

She was cut off as a rush of air filled the room, ruffling our clothes and scaring Yotsume as he tried and failed to glide to Kyūki.

"My orders still stand, leave the shards of the worthless orb alone." Kirinmaru said and he and the madame got up and walked out of the room.

I took satisfaction to Kyūki's displeasure as she frowned, manifesting and wrapping Yotsume in her tail and dragging the protesting tatarimokke.

Well I have a few questions left unanswered, I have no doubt the madame would be able to answer them after I have completed my tasks.

Yet still, a hanyo from the future and his reaction to the shards...normally such a thing should be an impossibility...

Between this, Lady Sesshōmaru being active, the Shikon Jewel shattered, and yokai of all kinds the era has turned into one of chaos if only brief.

While the events of today satiated my initial curiosity, it had only brought more questions and intrigue. Perhaps now will be my opportunity to help the madame...

But what I did know was that things will be interesting.

(Chapter 55 end)