Hanyo of Snow

Ch61 The Darkest Shard

(Miroku POV - Princess's Chambers- Daimyō's Manor - Sunset)

Smoke was starting to die down, guess they finally put out the fire. Made sure that each scroll was properly sealed so not a single drop of the suzuri no tamashii escaped the burning.

I did enjoy spending time chatting with the princess even if it was somewhat concerning before having to leave her side.

Destroying the scrolls slowed the preparations by a little bit, but everything needed to be completed meticulously to limit Kōtatsu's power by the time he made his move.

If I am correct it should be done swiftly enough, but make a man with his level of obsession desperate enough and there is no telling what he would do.

"Miroku is everything okay?" The princess asked as I smiled, sitting at the makeshift table that had been brought into the chambers.

"Of course, your save for now princess. The others I told you about should be here soon." I said, trying to reassure her. Placing my shakujō on the ground before picking up the ink brush. "Now last we talked about you mentioned about having some terrible reoccurring dreams lately?"

She looked down for a moment as I started to work on creating sutras, letting out a small sigh.

"Yes, yokai bearing down on this palace. After that the next thing I can remember is awakening in a mansion I've never seen before. Trapped in a room and feeling like someone observing me." She said with a shudder. "If this is really the same man I helped, why would he be doing all of this..."

I only sighed at that, looks like I was right.

Had a feeling during our earlier discussions, but if this princess grows up the lightless and purity of her body and mind was greater than most with her kindness.

Even if she couldn't understand it at the time, she picked up cues something had been going from Kōtatsu since he has been lurking around this territory long before meeting him.

Few pick up this level of prescience without training or strong enough spiritual energy, usually picking up some sign of impending danger every now and again.

Even fewer are honest about this kind of dreams, and I've been around this princess long enough to know she wasn't lying.

Seems like we were fortunate to arrive at the town when we did.

"From what I've witnessed that man is overcome by ta?hā, the suffering of craving and attachment. He has latched onto your kindness, beauty, and status. And his desires and dabbling in such forbidden arts has lead to this." I said, getting her to look a little despondent.

If the dreams of this manor was of any indication Kōtatsu desired status far beyond being a painter.

With the suzuri no tamashii he created was of any indication, he could very well reach it through force if it doesn't end up consuming the painter first.

I finished with my current sutra to notice her frowning as I reached for a new sheet of paper.

"This isn't your fault princess, Kōtatsu has long since fallen to his desires if I am correct...but that is not exactly what is troubling you? At least not entirely." I asked, getting a small nod from her. "Do you regret helping him?"

"No, not entirely...but even if I had known I still would have helped him. Before ordering my guards to bring him in. I don't like to see others suffering." She sighed out as I smiled. "My only wish is to not see my people to suffer or spill anymore blood from him after tonight."

She really had a kind heart, if he was captured the princess probably would argue for a swift and merciful end.

Far then what Kōtatsu probably deserves, but a rare sentiment these days in this part of Nippon.

Also making it extremely difficult to concentrate and not admiring her beauty and kindness...

The sound of yelling and something crashing in the distance shattered whatever remained of it.

Oh, this bodes poorly.

Grabbing my shakujō I jumped up as a pair of guards slipped into the chamber, one nervously clutching his spear before running to the princess.

"Is he attacking right now." I asked the other guard who shook his head.

"No, another painting was just found by from a merchant living the town. Before anyone could bring it to the palace two yokai leapt from it or so I heard. All I know was that we were sent to guard the princess." He said, getting me to nod as he hurried past me.

Either Kōtatsu was making his move and this was the scouting or the suzuri no tamashii was provoked. Don't know which one is worst, except they were looking for her.

The yelling grew louder the door started to bulge and two large yoaki burst through, raising my shakujō to block their spear and club. Straining to hold them as I got a better look at the attackers.

Gozu and Mezu, the gatekeepers of the underworld.

With a small bit of effort I adjusted my shakujō's behind the tip of Gozu's spear, using the club to push the weapon back and into the yokai. Getting it to stumble back before I twirled my staff and smacked both of them on the head.

Bringing my shakujō down on Mezu's head before seeing Gozu's head before seeing Mezu trying to rush past me.

Only to stop in its tracks as frost and mist rolled along the floor, covering the feet of both yokai before some hairs attached themselves to the other side of the room. Getting me to smile.

Took them long enough.

Y/N was pulled into the room, his hand making contact with Mizu before the yokai quickly turned into a misshapen black ice statue before shattering.

Gozu dissolved into a mass of ink droplets and flew back out the door. A small bit of mist caught part of the suzuari no tamashii and a few more chunks of black ice fell to the floor.

Yet I believe that over half of remaining ink was already out of the manor by now.

"You okay Miroku?" Y/N asked as the mist and frost started to disperse in the chamber.

"Nothing to worry about, you arrived just early enough. We only just missed a painting in town." I said, brushing off my robes as I looked at the princess and the guards.

All three looked a little shaken up, but the guards still had the spears ready. Otherwise unharmed.

"We saw them burst into the gates and spilt up, the bull headed onekilled one of the guards we saw earlier today before coming here." Yura said as she stepped into the room. "The others encountered the creepy painter earlier but he got away, master knows a bit about him."

So the suzuri no tamashii can act as an extension of Kōtatsu's will, striking vengeance on the guards for how they treated him earlier.

"What exactly do you know?" I asked, getting him to sigh.

"Kōtatsu is a nasty piece of work wanted in the capital, and he does have a jewel shard." He said, getting me to frown. "Yura didn't say anything, but I take it you already have a plan in mind."

"Mostly, just waiting for you four for it to work. But we only have so much time to put it into place." I said, spying Kagome and Inuko entering the chamber. "Let's talk and start to get some of the people out of here."

Honestly with how quickly the yokai broke apart things might just go better than I initially thought...of course it depends on how much yoki he has. The paintings I destroyed had images of possibly around 200 individual images of oni, shoki, and other yokai of various shapes.

A little more hōkiri in my strikes and I'm sure the ink would have been purified and destroyed on contact.

Easy enough to destroy them, but who knows how many yoaki Kōtatsu could summon from his paintings.

We need to start putting the preparations into place and evacuations the princess alongside everyone else in the manor. From my interactions I believe the princess would be among the last to flee for everyone to get out safely.

Something I was counting on now that Y/N and the others have arrived.

Now all that is needed is to get everything in place and take the fight outside the manor...if things go wrong I do not want to risk sucking anyone into the Kazaana or possibly bring it down on top of us.

(Inuko POV - On the manor's walls - Half an hour later - Nightfall)

Alright so far no a single sign of any yoaki or that putrid smell.

Honestly I'm not sure if we scared him off or not, but if this doesn't lure out Kōtatsu then we'll just have to drag him out of whatever hole he decides to crawl into!

From what Y/N said he was recognized as a nasty piece of work in their era and this was before creating that damned suzuri no tamashii. Once we get that shard, the local daimyō can deal with him however they wish.

My ears picked up the sound of footsteps, jumping to another portion of the wall to see it was just some guards from the manor. Some carrying empty bamboo containers and water skins, others surrounding them with their weapons drawn, and all of them had at least two on their clothing or weapon.

Supposedly according to Miroku they should repel the suzuri no tamashii from touching them, something Y/N confirmed. Though supposedly it'll work once per sutra.

Not much protection, but it's better than nothing.

"Figured that you would be around here." Miroku's voice said from below, getting my ears to twitch. Seeing her leaning against the wall before I jumped down. "Did you notice anything?"

"Would have grabbed Y/N by now, never want to experience it again after tonight." I growled out with a shudder. "So Yura didn't notice anything too."

"All clear on her end as well, we're about to move the princess out. Shippō has left her side since." Miroku said looking amused. "And none of the guards have tried anything"

"They better not." I said, trying to keep my composure.

Part of the plan was the kit helping to keep an eye on the princess, even if we had to go look for Kōtatsu. Don't want him to get get caught up in this mess more than he has too.

Guards were less than willing for a kitsune to be around the princess, but she warmed up to him quickly.

But if they so much as harmed a hair on his head...

"They won't, they are loyal to her and her father and won't dare go against their orders. Besides if anything did happen not sure how they would deal with the rest of us." Miroku said, getting me to eye her questionably.

"Hasn't been a full day and you already think you know us well enough. Or is it also because of that tanuki cub?" I inquired, getting her to shrug.

"Somewhat, he does seem to like Y/N and became friends rather quickly. Besides this is all new to me as well, but seems I've already been caught up in your chaos. As you put it, it hasn't been a full day and we find trouble and a shard." Miroku said, getting me to sigh.

"True." I said, figuring that she had a point. "Honestly you'll get used to it with time, don't force anything."

Probably the best I can describe it and the only words I can describe.

Still kind of pissed at the stunts she pulled yesterday with Y/N, but we both at least were united in the same goal of killing Naraku. Probably part of the reason I can tolerant her a little more than the hairy bitch at first.

However I won't hold back if they got between Y/N and Kagome!

Wait, isn't that...

Damn it!

"Kōtatsu has shown his hand then?" Miroku inquired as I snarled.

"At best scouts, they're incredibly faint but they reek of that accursed scent. If Yura doesn't spot them first we only have a little time." I growled out.

Either he sent them out as a diversion to hide or he'll try something. But we had expected this to happen.

"Let's see what his next move will be." Miroku said, getting me to nod before we hurried to the others.

(Outside of the manor - A few minutes later)

The smell never went away, in fact it still lingered in the air. Yura did find and dealt with a shoki or two, but perhaps there was quite a bit more lurking around.

Either way, we were going ahead with evacuations the princess now. She was surrounded by a group of guards armed with spears and swords. Some carrying buckets of water around them.

A few more were scattered around us, with myself and Y/N walking ahead and Yura to the back. Kagome and Miroku stayed close to the princess with Shippō clinging to the latter's shoulder.

Some stayed back with the manor incase Kōtatsu decided to attack anyway despite the princess's protests, they were not going to leave it unprotected incase he did show up there first looking for her.

Not that it matters much, the scent was starting to get stronger...and much more putrid...

"Inuko?" Y/N asked as he came to a stop, reaching for Shusūi.

"I'm fine." I said, holding back a groan as inky black clouds started to blot out the remaining sunlight ahead of us.

Let's just get this done with before I feel like emptying my guts or blacking out.

My ears twitching as I heard frost forming, weapons being drawn, Kagome reaching for an arrow, and...wheels?

Got my answer when a carriage barrels towards us before the shoki reigning the horses pulling it to a stop. Some of the clouds coming down in an array of oni and shoki as Kōtatsu stepped out.

Wearing a red kimono with a lightish blue-green hakama pants, with the carriage I guess he was trying to emulate a noble.

"Princess, please come with me and have your men pledge their loyalty to us alone and I will spare everyone. The yokai, hoshi, and miko are exempt." Kōtatsu said as the princess only frowned at him.

Only shaking her head as Y/N sighed.

"She doesn't want to save any more words for you except that your surrender." He said, getting Kōtatsu to bristle.

"No, I will get the happiness and prestige I deserve!" He yelled as more yokai formed around us and he pulled out two scrolls. "Kill them all except the princess, spare only some parts to expand my armies!"

They charged at us from all around, some on horse back of directly above with clouds causing them to float. I only smirked as mist started to pour off of him.

Stomping his foot to the ground before it erupted into an explosion of mist and frost, shocking Kōtatsu as it continued to expand and consume his arms. With some of the airborne members suddenly being dragged down into the mist.

Before the mist obscured it I was the man scrambling back, enjoying the sight of his panic as it faded from view only briefly.

Clearing up to reveal a lot of the yokai and his carriage had been turned into hideous ice sculptures, the surrounding ground around us completely covered in a layer of thick frost.

And was it just me or did that creepy artist look memorized by them?

No wait he is...

Y/N panted a little as the ice sculptures started to crack and shattered, leaving nothing but piles of rubble all over. Whatever sick joy Kōtatsu took in the sight vanished just as soon.

Replaced by it rage as he threw open his scrolls and more of the clouds touched down to form more yokai that rushed towards us.

"Everyone please stay safe and stick together, I don't want to lose anymore lives tonight." I heard the princess say from behind us, getting some affirmations from her guards before they charged forward.

I just smirked as I lunged forward into a group of shoki and tossed them aside, slugging an oni in the jaw as it tried to swing an axe at me.

Grabbing its arm before tossing it to Y/N as it struck his sword and was flash frozen.

Just as I thought, bashing them aside won't cause them break apart as easy. Freezing them was much easier on my senses and for us to deal with in general.

The main plan had been to lure whatever yokai came at us to Y/N for him to freeze over, seeding the ground with water had taken care of a majority of them in an instant.

My ear twitched before I leaned my head out of the way of an arrow that struck a smaller oni in the knee before it evaporated into a burst of reiryoku and ink.

Briefly turning back to glimpse Kagome notching another arrow as she stuck close to Miroku and Shippō, the latter tossing a fire cracker into a midst of a group of yokai.

An oni riding a horse tried to swoop in and grab the princess, veering off as the guards raised their spears it drive it away.

It tried to go back around before suddenly finding an ice sphere collapsing with its head, starting to turn to ice as it was dragged down to the ground.

At least Yura has the rear covered.

Now then, where in Yomi is the painter in all of this mess!

Tossing aside another shoki I just dove into the mess of yokai to try and find Kōtatsu.

If he had another carriage hidden away in a scroll he could easily run away.

Lashing out at any yokai within reach either I batted them aside, throwing them at one another, or simply threw them close to Y/N. Trying to find Kōtatsu was getting harder to by the second.

The smell of ink, blood, and ice was strong in the air yet I can still smell him faintly. He was hiding around here somewhere...

Found him!

With a snarl I barreled through the yokai to see Kōtatsu hurriedly back up as I reached for him, quickly retracting my hand as a massive axe was swung down.

"Kill her!" He barked out as an oni three times my size picked up the axe and swung again.

Jumping back as it chased after me, seemingly uncaring about the other yokai in its path. They quickly learned to part out of the oni's way. Not that it stopped me from tossing a shoki in its path.

Dodging as the shoki was cleaved in two and dissolved into a foul smelling puddle, putting as much distance before I could even smell it.

Crashing down into a group of some more shoki before tossing them Y/N's way as the oni kept swinging it's axe, bringing it down infront of me before jumping onto the back of the axe. Ducking under a swip from the giant oni before grabbing the weapon from underneath.

Swinging it upside the oni's head with the blunt side, sending it crashing it down to the ground. Before I could swing at it again my ears twitched and I swung it in another direction.

Knocking an airborne oni out of the air before it could notch an arrow at me., panicking as it was dragged towards Y/N's direction by it's feet.

Well Yura certainly was having fun with this...

Hearing the giant oni getting up again I tossed the axe towards it, catching it before I shot forward and tackled into its chest. Knocking it back an onto an ice spire that pierced the oni's side.

"You alright Inuko?" He asked as the giant oni was reduced to a large pile of black ice.

"Nothing I can't handle, just lost track of Kōtatsu." I said, quickly turning to kick a shoki from behind right into a group of yokai. "His scent has grown fainter, but he's still around here somewhere. You might want to duck."

Y/N barely moved his head out of the way of another arrow before I caught it and threw it back.

"Thanks Inuko." He said before we both stepped aside as one of the guards threw a bucket at a small group of oni and shoki being herded by a few others with spears.

In a puff of mist all were reduced chunks of ice, taking some satisfaction in grabbing the closest one and throwing it at a pair of oni before it shattered.

"We'll find him again soon enough, just need to thin their numbers some more." Y/N said as we drew closer to each other as another group of yokai charged towards us.

I just nodded with a smirk.

Honestly if Kōtatsu tried to summon anymore I'd probably be able to track him down if the foul smell of his ink grows heavier in the air. At least with Y/N and his mist I won't have to worry about it as much.

(Yura POV - A few minutes later)

"T-Thank you." A nervous sounding guard said, tossing his empty bamboo container at a shoki before retreating to the group in the center around the princess.

I paid him no more minds as I tossed the pathetic imitation towards master, it was impaled on Shusūi without him batting an eye before dealing with the other yokai. Looks like he is still managing things for now, but it looks like their numbers weren't thinking all that much.

Despite how many paintings found and the monk dealt with, that creepy painter either had way more scrolls than we originally thought or these were from ones of an army.

Given how many of them were just similar looking probably the latter.

Would explain all the oni and shoki, the former seemed as strong as their lesser brethren but all just pathetic imitations.

They were barely any challenges to us, especially master and seemingly the monk. Inuko would have an easier time if it wasn't for her sense of smell. The others, not so much.

With Kagome her aim was getting better but not enough of her arrows were packed with reiryoku to dispel them on contact and the guards were started to get winded. Honestly it was starting to become an annoyance to constantly make sure they were alive.

Dragging unsuspecting yokai to their doom by master was starting to lose its appeal.

At least the guards around him and the bitch needed less help, but they were starting to run out of water. Already used what we could spare except for some that was needed for the next part of the plan.

I was broken from my musings hearing several roars before seeing several airborne shoki and oni on horseback swooped in towards the princess.

Tightening a few hairs I managed to snag a few of and pull them down to the ground, one barely swerving away and made a grab at the princess.

Only for a firecracker to go off right in its face. Blinding it before being implaed by a few spears and a shakujō.

The guards huddled closer to the princess as she let out a sigh, the kit grinning before another pair of yokai swooped in on him. The monk destroyed it in easy and I snagged it and dragged it over master's way.

Shaking my head I moved closer towards him, setting up a few strands to get a better vantage point.

Using the others to string some shoki trying to sneak behind the guards, flinging them back into the pile.

Seems like they were starting to get desperate, more of them were trying to fling themselves towards the princess. Pushing each other into the direction of master or the bitch to try and get past.

Very few did and was cut down or I dragged them back.

But it seems like the numbers were starting to thin out finally, now then...wait a second...

Looks like the bitch noticed it too.

I frowned as I jumped down towards master, something jumping down from a nearby treetop. Dragging him back as I pulled him back as whatever it was lit itself aflame.

Burning the hairs around it, before Inuko jumped into its back.

The fire went out to reveal a mangey looking human like cat with tan fur and two small horns on its head.

A kasha, of course the creepy painter would have created a painting of them.

It snarled until I clamped its snout shut, master released a small burst of mist and it was promptly stomped apart.

"There's more of them were this come from, I'll be back." Inuko growled, crushing the black ice underneath her heel before charging into a group of oni.

"Perhaps now is a good time to fall back?" I asked Y/N

"Definitely." He said before looking behind him, the sound of other kasha's snarling in the a nearby treetop. "Everyone regroup to the princess!"

The guards around him hurried grouped together as we started to retread, me and master dealing with the closest yokai.

"Here, there's some left!" One of them called out to me, throwing up a bamboo canteen with another doing the same. Quickly catching them in my hairs and swishing them around revealed they had a little water, one being about a quarter full.

It would do.

With the swipe of a finger the water struck the ground and some of the yokai alongside the canteens. Distracting them enough for master to rush forward, mist erupting all along their front line.

He ran back before the mist could disperse, only for me to pull him back as a treetop lit on fire!

A pair of kasha leapt out of it towards us, both coating themselves in fire before charging in different directions. One went for the retreating guards, but got tackled to the ground by Inuko.

The other one tried to swipe at master, but he raised an ice wall as I pulled him back. Wrapping some hairs around the kasha. Yowling and hissing as it thrashed about until I plunged Benigasumi into its back.

Its fire went out before master slashed at it with Shusūi, the kasha turning into ice before I tossed the remains behind us.

"Head's up!" Inuko shouted, followed by yowling as I turned to see the other kasha sailing towards us.

I only shook my head and motioned for the kasha to fall downwards onto an ice spire.

Hopefully that was the last of those pathetic imitations, thankfully the bitch was more or less fireproof. Not sure how master would fare if that creepy painter had created an entire pack of those things.

Even if they were fake, the fires of the deepest pits those filthy grave robbers used was supposedly among the hottest there is.

"Alright I just need a few seconds." I said, setting everything up as the yokai started to try and swarm us. Master and the bitch tossing or freezing them in their way as I strung a few more strands around before smirking. "Ready!"

"Let's see if this works." Y/N said as he grasped a few strands of hair and I closed both of the hands into fists.

Multiple yokai suddenly found something binding a limb or in most cases their throats before in a flash they were all turned into a makeshift wall of black ice sculptures. Most began to fall apart and the two air borne shoki that were frozen crashed onto a few oni to my own amusement.

What was left of the wall in after a few moments was quite a few massive chunks of the sculptures suspended by a tiny amount of interwoven strands.

That was actually a bit more than I expected, but it worked pretty well.

Used a small pot to soak enough hair to regenerate a few fingers completely, carefully arrange the strands like a net, and master would flash freeze them.

A little surprised some strands hadn't snapped but it did form a nice, spiked net.

I closed it on the closest group of yokai as we fell back to the guards, the bitch gagging from the smell as the rest of the ice shattered.

Believe we have thinned their numbers enough, time to finish off this pitiful excuse of a tsukumogami.

(Kagome POV - Same Time)

"Retreat to manor and keep the princess safe, I'll hold them off!" Miroku shouted, walking towards the charging yokai as the guards hurriedly tried to stay together and Shippō jumped off her back. I notched an arrow and tried to focus my reiryoku into it as I began to look around.

Considering that a pack of what I guess were kasha just tried to attack Y/N and Yura, who knows what other surprises Kōtatsu has.

"Grab the princess!" His voice broke out, getting the guards and myself to try and look around for him. Before I felt his jewel shard again.

It had been pretty faint but had steadily growing stronger over the past few minutes alongside the sheer wrongness from the shard, managing to figure Kōtatsu's location amongst all the chaos before disappearing again seconds later.

Like it did just now as I trained my arrow upwards.

I barley had any time to shout a warning before a small ox cart with clouds on it's wheels speed down from above, a pair of oni hanging off it's sides and Kōtatsu clinging to the back for dear life.

Some of the guards were smacked aside by one oni while the other grabbed the princess who didn't even fight back as the cart started to raise higher.

"Away from this accursed place!" Kōtatsu barked out, only to widen his eyes as the princess burst into a cloud of smoke. "What-!"

A giant top emerged from the smoke, Kōtatsu barely ducking underneath as it knocked an oni off the cart.

"Fooled you!" Shippō declared with a grin as he fell off the side, catching the top as it returned back to it's original size.

The remaining oni tried to strike him until I fired the arrow, striking the cart's wheel that burst in a flash of reiryoku. Causing it and Kōtatsu to fall down as well.

Meant to aim for the oni yet this was just as fine.

Inuko caught Shippō as the oni fell into a dense cloud of mist right next to where the other one had landed and shattered. Kōtatsu was entangled in Yura's hairs, slowing his decent enough to have a rather rough landing judging by his groans.

"You okay kit?" Inuko asked as Shippō clamored onto her shoulder, the other Shippō bursting into smoke as also jumped onto Inuko.

"Yes, but I'm not sure how much longer I could keep the transformation up." Shippō said with a little yawn.

"I was almost out of your firecrackers too." Takechiyo said before tossing Shippō a firecracker. "Here's the last one."

"Thanks." Shippō said with a small smile.

"She wasn't here..." Kōtatsu said, getting all of our attention as he stared at us with a mixture of fear and anger. "She wasn't among you all...she's not in the manor..."

"The princess is out of the daiymo's territory by now, but Miroku was right that she didn't want to see or speak to you again after everything you've done." I said coldly as I reached for another arrow as the guards started to surround him.

Actually the princess was still in the manor, but he didn't need to know that.

We had hoped that we didn't need to risk Shippō being the bait, but he had volunteered. Kōtatsu had acted like both Miroku and Y/N figured he would.

Completely blind to anything else once he had his 'princess' in sight.

Eerily so in fact, he had brought his entire army with him.

Right where Miroku could finish them off.

She removed the nenju from her hand and even behind her I could see the Kazaana distorting the air around her hand as it sucked in all of the yokai and black ice around us. Some tried to flee, but none could escape.

A few were out of range, but Yura quickly pushed them back by breaking off and tossing branches from the still burning tree.

In only a matter of moments the yokai were all gone.

Miroku diverted her hand to the burning tree, uprooting it before sealing off the Kazaana with a wince.

"Never tried to suck in that much yokai all at once before, could have been worse." Miroku said as the nenju was fastened back into place, Takechiyo jumping off of Inuko and climbing onto her shoulder. "I should be fine in a few moments."

The tanuki cub let out a sigh of relief as we turned to Kōtatsu. He looked at Miroku with a look I can only describe between anger and in despair.

"All gone..." Kōtatsu muttered as a pair of guards grabbed his sides and the others kept their spears trained at him wearily. "They where all sucked up in moments..."

Is it just me or is he starting to sound calmer...something wasn't right...

I went to reach for an arrow before I felt something foul crashing against me, no not just me. Looks like both Y/N and Yura noticed it too as the bamboo flask at his hip started to flash a deep violet.

His jewel shard, the suzuri no tamashii was no longer keeping it hidden. The sheer foulness rolling off it made it hard for me to breathe just being near it.

How many people did he kill to corrupt it like that...

"My armies fell so easily..." Kōtatsu said, breaking me out of my thoughts as he grinned. "But I only need one."

Several thin tendrils of ink shot from the bamboo pipe and lashed at the guards around him, getting them to yell in pain before Yura dragged them over to Y/N. He quickly froze the ink still actively trying to drain their blood as chaos broke out.

One large tendril snuck under Kōtatsu's clothing as I notched an arrow, Miroku and Inuko rushed towards him as I fired it.

Silently hoping to hit the pipe, my hopes were dashed as an inky black cloud erupted around him. Blocking him from view before the arrow appeared, apparently deflected by something. Followed by a loud hissing sound.

I was pulled back before a massive black and red snake head lunged forward to bite at me!

Two more rising from the cloud, snapping at both Miroku and Inuko as they rushed back. A massive tail swung out of the cloud, battering some of the guards away before Yura could pull them back as well.

Kōtatsu emerged from the cloud on where the three heads merged, revealing an uwabami the size of a house.

"Get me out of here, I don't care who you have to kill!" He shouted as all three heads spat out torrents of fire towards the ground.

Most of the men either ran away or were dragged back by Yura's hairs. I ran back with the others and tried to look through the chaos to see where Y/N or Shippō was as clouds started to rise into the air on clouds.

Between the panicking soldiers and the fire it was difficult to spot them, until I caught sight of Shippō following after Miroku.

At least he looked alright, but where was Y/N...

There!

"Yura!" I called out to her, only to find her already passing by me and raising herself into the air.

"I already saw them Kagome, just stick with the monk until we can bring that accursed painter back down." She said, catching up to the uwabami as it started to fly away.

Y/N and Inuko had somehow gotten onto the back of the uwabami in the chaos of Kōtatsu's escape. Honestly between the three of them, it will probably only be about a minute until this mess was finally over after getting his pipe.

Still I hope that they will be alright.

That feeling the suzuri no tamashii unleashed from it's shard hasn't faded away...or was it Kōtatsu the shard was reacting too...

No, something else was going on with that shard...

(Y/N POV)

"How are you holding up?" Inuko asked as I poured more yoki into my hands and feet, mist rolling off as I formed a pair of makeshift climbing claws.

"Fine, though it feels like walking on the beach barefoot. I can't freeze it." I said, starting to feel a little drained.

Between freezing so many yokai even with the water and ink and now trying to make sure I didn't get burned from how much heat was pouring off the uwabami's scales. It was too hot for me to freeze it solid.

To think he had a trump card like this, if Kōtatsu wasn't keen on running away he could've razed the town with this uwabami alone unopposed.

Not sure how many of the others were burned by this yokai's fire but I'd imagine quite a few.

Would have been among them or at least singed if Inuko hadn't grabbed me before jumping on.

Hopefully they can be treated after this was over.

In Kōtatsu's attempt to run, he only trapped himself up here with us and the ground below.

There was no place for him to escape now.

"Come on." Inuko said, breaking me out of my thoughts before I found myself hoisted up by the back of my gi before she placed me on her back. Before she started to run along the back of the uwabami. "I'll deal with the heads, just get that damned pipe."

"Right." I said, stopping the mist from limbs and letting out a small sigh of relief as her body blocked a majority of the heat.

Freezing the whole pipe would cut off its connection to the uwabami if I'm correct and cause it to fade. It, that accursed ink, and the jewel shard inside were acting as the makeshift inkstone for the suzuri no tamashii.

Interference from one of the components will dispel any existing constructs. Something that usually work with this type of tsukumogami normally.

Also hopefully containing the shard long enough until I can get Miroku to look at it.

Doubt there was anything to prevent this from reacting to my own shard, but would rather find a way to deal with its corruption first.

Could practically feel its taint rolling off as Inuko got closer. And is it just me, or does the glow coming from the pipe is getting brighter?

Kōtatsu looked behind him and instantly panicked as he saw us, pulling out another scroll from his gi.

"How many of those damned things does he have?" Inuko growled out, her tone filled with annoyance as a group of half a dozen oni charged at us.

"Probably the last one, if not then he's getting pretty desperate." I said, taking in a deep breath as she smirked.

Breathing out a small stream of mist, the closest oni was quickly half covered in frost before Inuko smashed it apart. A pair of them here covered with a little frost as I cut it off.

She shatter the frozen portion and tossed both oni back , one of them colliding with another as all three fell roaring off the uwabami.

Effortless catching the axe of another oni, wrestling the weapon free from its hands and tossing it past the oni's head. Kōtatsu yelled in fear as the central head moved him out of the weapons path as it barely flew past his side.

It tried to charge at us, only for my to draw and Shusūi across it's chest. Quickly freezing it as Inuko hefted it up and tossed it off the side.

The last oni tried to charge at us, but was quickly dragged off the side by multiple strands wrapped around its ankles.

Looks like Yura has caught up to us.

I smiled at that before all three heads let out a loud hiss and I held tightly to Inuko as the uwabami's body began to twist.

It began to thrash about, twisting its body to either toss us off or swiping its tail to try and knock Yura out of the air.

Nearly knocking Inuko and myself off before I could see hairs wrapping around Kōtatsu's limbs.

He began to panic as two of the uwabami's heads spat out twin jets of fire as Yura tried to drag him down, burning the strands

However Yura smirked as she fell out of reach of the fire.

And we reached Kōtatsu as he clambered onto central head, only to panic as Inuko smirked at him.

"Not so tough without any of your damned paintings." Inuko snarled out as I got off her back. "Just make it easy for yourself and give us the shard!"

"You both are standing on my most ferocious work, burn them and scatter their ashes to the wind!" Kōtatsu shouted, pulling back as I noticed the right head rising towards us.

Inuko just shook her head and I jumped off the side to Kōtatsu's confusion as she was engulfed in flames. Being by Yura's hairs as I gathered some mist in my hand.

The left head curled to aim at me, before Yura pulled me back and slashed at its eye with Benigasumi. Getting it to hiss in pain as it thrashed about and shot out its fire all over the place in an attempt to hit her.

Missing each time and only getting its eye scratched for every near miss to the uwabami's irritation. The central head joining in with another stream of fire as Kōtatsu struggled to rein in control of both heads.

Buying me enough time to create six fist sized icicles that Yura took with a smirk.

Jabbing all three heads in the eyes and getting them to roar in pain as they stopped breathing fire as I began to pour more yoki into my hands.

They weren't enough to do any real damage, only irritating it more and starting to lose altitude as Kōtatsu struggled to regain control. I smiled at seeing his panic growing as Inuko growled at him, still on fire and looking rather annoyed.

"You really think that would work? That I would some crude looking excuse of a painting from a hack will kill me!" Inuko growled out, climbing towards him as the right head tried to bite down on her.

Simply kicking it aside and knocking out a fang.

However to my surprise, Kōtatsu only smiled at her threat.

"The hanyo, he's the one you consider a better artist than me.

I thought we shared something of a kindred spirit.

He could capture my creations in a light I never could, every minuscule detail of my yokai before they shatter.

Capturing their beauty in a fleeting moment.

" Kōtatsu said with a crazed look that even got Inuko to take a step back.

...I knew it.

He was definitely was appreciating me destroying his army earlier. I could only feel disgust at that.

I continued to mold a mass of ice with one hand as I reached for Shusūi to the other, feeling Yura's hairs tightening around my body.

"Such a shame to kill such promise, but he's ruined everything tonight.

Nor can I stand the thought of him getting everything I desired!

" Kōtatsu shouted, his expression shifting into what I could only described as one of deranged excitement.

"Take solace in your deaths will create my greatest masterpiece yet! "

The uwabami coiled around to try and swat and me and Yura, her dragging us apart and me letting go of the mass of ice now as big as my torso.

All three heads now trying to snap, spew fire, or swat all three of us with its body. Inuko jumping between the necks to avoid their attacks while Kōtatsu was again fearfully clinging to the central head.

Cowering as Yura swung the mass of ice with her hairs aiming for him or any of the uwabami's eyes. Each hit seeming at best to irritate them.

A loud hiss drew my attention as one of the heads tried to snap at me. Drawing Shusūi as I barely maneuvered away from the head, slashing it's eye.

Letting out a pained hiss before it lunged forward again, only for Inuko to tackle right into its jaw. It's teeth clamping onto her left arm and drawing blood.

"Damn it!" She roared out, slamming her fist underneath its throat and wrenching her arm free with several bleeding gashes. "How about we finish this now."

Seeing the three heads lining up for another attack, an idea came to mind.

"Yes." I said with a smile, letting go of Shusūi and mist began rolling from my hands. "Yura-"

"Already a head of you master, it was getting tiresome swinging it around anyway." She said, cutting me off and taking Shusūi before we both dove forward. Inuko looked between us for a moment before smirking as she grabbed the mass of ice.

Kōtatsu looked between the three of us panicked as we landed on all three heads as they prepared to fire.

Me and Yura froze/stabbed the eyes of the central and right heads respectfully.

Inuko swung the ice mass underneath the jaw of the left head, smashing it apart and sending the head back with a sickening crack.

The central head of the uwabami could only hiss and thrash about as I held on as the other heads went limb, the yokai falling to the ground.

Bracing myself the uwabami crashed to the ground and I was pulled off before the central head was buried into the dirt. Kōtatsu was sent flying off and face planted onto the ground. Leaving him quite bruised as he tried to run.

Until I landed next to him, freezing his hands and forearms to the ground in large chunks of ice.

"No!" He cried out as I grabbed the bamboo pipe and froze it solid. "Do you have any idea what you've done!"

"Denied your happiness, that's what you've been seeking this entire time isn't it.

" I said, shocking Kōtatsu into silence as I froze the ink inside.

The uwabami collapsing into a massive puddle of ink.

"You were only seeking what you desired, and would you have been happy after claiming everything you wanted tonight?

How much would it take until your happiness, no until your greed was finally satiated? "

He went silent once again as the jewel shard in the pipe began to glow again, taking me to pouring more and more yoki into my hands.

The ink inside was feeling like it was trying to break free despite my efforts to keep it frozen.

"Carving out my own kingdom, having my name respected and feared. I would have had it all..." Kōtatsu said, his voice growing quiet and I felt the ink inside go still. "But now I will have nothing..."

My chest started to feel heavier as the shine from the inside the pipe and my own shard glowed vibrantly before glowing dim. Immediately tossing the pipe as far as I can and reaching into my gi.

Something was very much wrong here, and I needed to get us away now.

"I will not allow you to take everything away!" Kōtatsu shouted out, ripping out his hands from the ice. Screaming in pain as he had torn some skin off before grinning at me. "Take as much as you need!"

I only had moments to toss out Yura's comb before a practical maelstrom of ink swarmed from all over, cutting off her hairs and trapping me with Kōtatsu.

Ribbons of ink from the maelstrom zipping past me and towards the mad painter, looking absolutely giddy as it entered his body. The pipe bursting and the suzuri no tamashii revealing itself as a simple black blob of ink and blood with the jewel shard acting as it's head...

No this wasn't a suzuri no tamashii, even with how much blood and ink used this went far beyond what one could do...

Especially with my shard starting to let out a soft glow, and I could swear I heard a soft chorus whispering in the back of my mind. I couldn't understand what the whispers were saying, only its intent.

Do not fight back.

What in Yomi did he unleash?

"Take as much as you need, join with me so we can destroy him together!

" Kōtatsu shouted, looking like he has completely lost whatever sanity left as the blob of ink swarmed around him and the jewel shard flying into his chest. "His body will be harvested to make an army to make me a daimyō!

No a shogun whose armies will replace and be more worthy than those failing Ashikagas! "

Okay he had now gone full on delusional.

Kōtatsu was so far gone he hadn't even noticed what was happening to his body.

Right now I could care less about what happened to him.

I tried to freeze the maelstrom of ink, trying to create an exit way that kept getting washed aside.

My every instinct screaming to get away from whatever in the Yomi damned shards Kōtatsu had given a physical form!

(Kagome POV)

No, no, no, no!

I notched another arrow, focusing as much reiryoku into it before firing it as the ink. Causing a brief ripple only for it to continue to swirl.

Yura desperately hacked away at the ink with her hairs and Benigasumi and Miroku bashing away with her shakujō only dislodged chunks that instantly melted away.

Even I saw chunks of ice pierce through the ink before they quickly sunk back in!

Nothing was working and I have no idea what was happening in there!

All I knew was we were going to reunited with the others before I saw both Kōtatsu's and Y/N's shards lighting up, him throwing Yura's comb aside as they became trapped behind the ink!

He only had enough time.to save her from becoming trapped within too...

Firing another arrow it just glanced off and I held back from yelling in frustration!

Inuko, Takechiyo, and Shippō passed out from the smell instantly. The guards were either keeping their distance or some were braver and trying to breach the ink with their weapons.

Yet nothing worked!

There had to be something!

The longer this goes on the more worried I'm getting! I can't see or hear whatever is happening behind the ink I can sense Kōtatsu's shard growing stronger and stronger!

If we can't get through this Tsukuyomi damned ink, I don't even want to imagine what's going to happen!

There has to be something!

I notched another arrow, tripping to focus on gathering whatever reiryoku I could into piercing through the ink!

This had to work, it had to-

"What?!" I said, looking around as I was nearly broken from my thoughts as I felt something warm glowing over me. Looking down to see all the shards we've gathered so far shining a light pink.

Feeling lighter before the tip of my arrow started to shine a bright pink, feeling my reiryoku flowing through...infact more than that.

I began to feel from it more reiroku than I ever could gather through when Kikyō was still in my soul...

Y/N described something similar when he broke free from Kikyō paralyzing him.

One of the presences in the Shikon no Tama...I see...

I took a deep breath to calm myself, training my arrow at where I can spot traces of ice emerging.

One shot, I have one shot at this. I can feel it throughout my body, I have to make this shot perfect. If this same presence worked with Y/N to save Yura, it can do the same for me.

Just praying to Amaterasu this works.

(Y/N POV)

"What!" Kōtatsu said, finally noticing what is happening to his body. "What are you doing!"

His body was now all shriveled up, at least the parts of him that weren't blotted out by the ink. Who knows how much of his body was consumed by it at this point or how much of his blood it absorbed.

But what I did know was he was already dead.

"Help me!" Kōtatsu shouted out, stumbling towards me as I tried even harder to break through the ink. "Please help me-"

Kōtatsu's voice was cut off as the ink finally consumed his entire body, collapsing into a puddle with his jewel shard in the middle. Leaving no trace of his body or that he even existed just moments ago.

Yet the maelstrom of ink didn't let up, instead it seemed to get even harder to freeze up now-

I yelled in pain as the ink started to boil and removed my hands, pouring as much yoki into them to cool them off.

I could already see blisters starting to form.

Yet it was the least of my concerns as I heard the puddle starting to boil and hiss behind me.

Looking back at the puddle that had once been Kōtatsu the shard glowed and rose into the air, carrying the ink into forming a rather crude effigy of him.

His mouth letting out a silent scream as his body started to warp.

Elongating and limbs twisting into some kind of twisted mix of human and dragon, Kōtatsu's face twisted until it was barely sticking out of its left shoulder as the new dragon like head and neck emerged.

A rather crude looking imitation of a dragon with the jewel shard glowing the darkest shade of purple I've ever seen acting as its right eye.

It's body swelling a bit more before several spikes and insect like limbs jutted out twitching and flexing.

I held my breath in horror at the sight, the accursed shard on my chest growing very heavy as this...yokai began to emit a soul crushing pressure...

This thing...it was one of the presences in the Shikon no Tama...

It let out a roar before some parts of the yokai began to fall off in chunks. It twisted to inspect one of its spikes falling off with an annoyed growl before turning back to me.

With how much Kōtatsu corrupted his shard I'm surprised it could even maintain its body and the ink maelstrom at all. Judging by how it was already starting to fall apart I doubt it would remain for much longer.

But it was not going to let me give that chance as the yokai let out a roar and barreled towards me.

Raising an ice wall between us, the yokai crashed through it no problem. Shattering it and didn't seem so concerned with its crumbling body. It's eye traversing along it body focused on my own shard.

Lunging forward as it tried to tackle me as mist exploded off my body, creating a makeshift smokescreen and ice armor that did little but shield me from the yokai's claws and froze part of it's body.

Shaking off the frost and letting out an irritated huff before its right hand began to fall off.

To my shock its neck twisted down to snap up the hand its jaws, charging towards me as I jumped back.

Creating some ice spires from the ground that pierced its body, but the yokai spat out several globes of boiling ink.

I barley had anytime to dodge and grunted in pain as I felt several droplets hitting my leg, the yokai lashed out and slammed it's tail into my stomach as I covered it in several layers of frost.

Knocking me onto my back and leaving its tail half frozen before it fell off.

The yokai letting out an enraged growl before jumping into the air, I barely rolled out of the way as it stomped right where I had just been. Snapping its jaws at my feet, only for me to coat my foot in ice like a makeshift blade and slashed at its mouth.

Braking off the blade in its mouth as the yokai roared in pain, chomping down on the ice as I sprang to my feet.

Glaring at me with it's eye before it began to back down from me, noticing the ink surrounding us starting to dissipate, a flash of pink light streaking in a familiar warmth starting to surge from my chest.

(Kagome POV)

Finally I could see whatever in Yomi had cornered Y/N, Kōtatsu's jewel shard acti g as its eye. And the glow dying down as it looked at my arrow.

I only smirked as how afraid it seemed.

Could practically feel the warmth leaving me, only leaving the impression that it was chiding me but I didn't care.

"Get away from him!" I shouted, firing the arrow and I almost felt completely drained after releasing it. Stumbling back before multiple hairs caught me and started to pull me after the arrow.

(Y/N POV)

The yokai let out an annoyed roar before seemingly trying to melt away, until I covered the entire ground in a layer of translucent frost that shone with a lightish hue. Slowly freezing it upwards before it started to thrash about.

Snapping it's jaws at me as I summoned translucent icy claws around my hand, grabbing and sinking my hands into it as the yokai began to wail on my with it's limbs.

"You're not going anywhere!" I shouted, holding back the pain from the boiling ink.

Every part of my body was practically screaming at me keep the yokai in place. It's whispers growing silent as the warm feeling of the other presence washing over me as the ice encased more and more of the yokai until only it's head and neck weren't covered.

All to make sure Kagome didn't miss her shot.

The yokai could only snarl at me and gave me a venomous glare from its eye before her arrow struck its head. Destroying it and all the ice in a flash of pink light I had to shield my eyes from.

Uncovering them I fell back as I had run out of yoki, grateful all the ink vanished with the yokai too.

Kōtatsu's shard floated in the air, its glow gone and now was reduced to a much lighter shard of purple. Still tainted, but I couldn't feel a trace of the yokai's presence in this shard at least. Whatever wasn't exorcised I suppose is the remaining taint from Kōtatsu himself.

I smiled at that and shook my head.

Kagome was really starting to come into her own as a miko.

And whoever you are, thank you again.

I felt a warm feeling washing over me from my shard

For a moment I swore I saw the faint image of a smile before I blacked out.

(Kagome POV)

As Y/N started to collapse Yura rushed forward to catch him, wincing as frost emerged from his body as Kōtatsu's shard collided with his own. I grabbed it with a frown, yanking it off as patches of frost appeared over Yura's hairs as well.

Dropping it to the ground as I helped set Y/N down as the hairs broke, smiling as he looked at peace now.

"Rest up Y/N, we've got you now." I said, lying him down on the ground. Noticing that again his features had gotten a little softer and more of his hair had turned white. Another shard and two thirds of his hair would be completely white.

Otherwise not much has changed.

"Yura are you alright." I asked as she flexed her fingers and her hairs retracted.

"I'm fine, think I might be starting to get used to master's cold. How is he?" Yura asked as I shook my head.

"He should be alright, seems like his powers are a little uncontrollable now." I said, looking at a small ring of frost that had spread a few centimeters from his body before stopping. "I believe that this was the last shard from the resistance he built up."

Honestly unless we can find someone he can trust to regain their abilities from the shards, the next shard would start taking a toll on his body again.

Considering how many shard holders we've found I'm not sure how long that will be.

"Yet another thing to deal with, what else is new. We'll find a way Kagome." Yura said, getting me to nod with a sigh.

"If tonight is of any indication such chaotic events are commonplace with your group.

" Miroku said, carrying a still knocked out Shippō and Takechiyo under her arms. Before looking a little saddened in the spot we last saw Kōtatsu.

"And in the end he ended up consumed by hista?hā, so attached to the ink and what it brought. "

"A fitting end for that damned painter." Yura said as Miroku set both Shippō and Takechiyo down, to our surprise pulling out a stick on incense from her robe. "You're thinking of holding a memorial for him, aren't you. Is it something the princess asked of you too?"

"No, while I'd gladly humble her request I'm just fulfilling my duty as a hoshi. Even a man like Kōtatsu deserves their last rites. For when a person dies they are neither good or evil. There is just the mercy of the Buddha." Miroku said with a sad smile on her face.

"Still you didn't deny it." Inuko said letting out a dry chuckle, getting me and Yura to turn. Seeing her clutching her arm.

"Maybe she was doing both, I suppose I can help out with the last rites." Y/N said, him waking up. He struggled to get up before I rushed to him, wincing as frost covered my fingers as I touched him before melting away. "Sorry about that."

"It's fine, just rest until we get back to the manor and get you treated or you're yoki under control again." I said turning to face Inuko and giving her a pointed look.. "That includes you too Inuko. I don't care how fast you can heal, those gashes looked pretty bad."

"Fine, fine. Just don't look at me like that." Inuko grumbled out, as I sighed.

"Kikyō did the same for you too when you, didn't she?" I asked, Inuko not looking at me at all.

Yura looked amused as Inuko glared at her, Miroku seemed to only be observing the whole thing with an amused expression.

"Perhaps." Inuko admitted, refusing to look at me as shook her head and walked over Y/N as he placed his hands onto the ground and created a rather jagged looking mound of ice that went up to my knee.

Part of it carved out for Miroku to lay out the incense.

"Still going to create a grave for him, after everything. "

"Should last until Miroku is done at least. Especially with how he died, I'm not sure if his soul was purified from the shard or not.

When the ink devoured him, it was one of the presences in the shard.

The same one I'm sure Maten described blocking the way to the after life.

" Y/N sighed out with a shudder, getting my blood to run cold.

Kneeling down to the ground to pick up Kōtatsu's shard, it and the other shards on my body feeling quite a bit heavier now.

If that thing was truly the case than Kōtatsu's soul was possibly trapped within both this and Y/N's shard. He and all the yokai we've dealt with who died using their power too.

Maybe not the Kumogashira master in Y/N's shard, but definitely sure of everything else.

"It might very well be the case, I felt exactly how you described the other presence to be like Y/N. Kōtatsu's shard, he corrupted it so much that maybe it reacted to your's like what happened with me and Kikyō." I sighed out, getting him to nod.

"Best answer we have, it fed off of his desperation and acted on its own when we captured him.

Possibly even consuming the suzuri no tamashii.

..or the worst case the presence was it the whole time.

A crude extension or manifestation." Y/N said with a sigh.

"At least the other presence, whoever she is acts as a balance.

But if we encounter another such shard, not sure how it will turn out. "

"A round of chō-han then, you'll never know the outcome." Miroku said, getting him to nod as Yura gave her a flat look.

"Of course you would use that expression, but the monk might have a point.

That damned painter used the jewel shard to create that pathetic excuse of a tsukumogami.

A lower one comparable to an animal, but this yokai.

..it only revealed itself once the ink and painter were one body and soul. " Yura said with a frown.

She's right, what I saw looked partially frozen, but I swore I saw Kōtatsu's face along it's body...

Wait did that mean...

"You believe this yokai is a composite yokai like Naraku?" I asked them, Yura nodded as Y/N sighed.

"Possibly, all the signs point towards it. It manifested itself after absorbing and devouring Kotatsu if Yura is correct, a temporary body just to get this accursed shard." He said while shaking his head. "It took the form of a dragon but with the limbs of other yokai jutting out randomly."

"Another damn pest to deal with." Inuko grumbled out as went to pick up Shippō as he started to stir. "So you have any idea what might be in the jewel now?"

"No, still too little to narrow down. I'll have to double check if there is any records when me and Kagome get back." Y/N said.

"Or if anything was recorded. And you told us Kaede might know something, we can ask her about both...Naohi and Magastuchi later." I said, coming up with names for both presences and getting several nods in agreement.

Fitting for until we can learn the truth of what exactly we were dealing with. Naohi is the culmination of the four spirits that makes up a balanced soul, Magastuchi was the complete opposite.

As soon as we're back in our era, I'll help Y/N look through his father's records and notes.

Another incident with a corrupted shard like tonight and I'm not sure how it will turn out with Y/N keeps draining more shards. We need to find out more about what were truly dealing with...

"I see you're already thinking of plans Kagome, perhaps we can all discuss them at the manor. But I'll be there in a few minutes, give the princess my regards." Miroku said, breaking me from my thoughts as she started to walk off. "Plus I think both of them had enough action for tonight."

Before I can even ask what she meant by that, I saw Takechiyo was awake. Looking half asleep as he attempted to climb on him.

"You okay Y/N..." He asked before shivering. "So cold..."

"I fine." Y/N said, looking amused as Yura's hairs picked the tanuki cub up and more or less placed him in my arms. "Still need to work on getting my yoki under control. But you and Shippō did amazing tonight. I'll give you some sweets to take with Hachi in the morning."

"Yay..." Takechiyo yawned out adorably as I held back from gushing at the cuteness.

Even more so when Shippō yawned and snuggled into Inuko's uninjured arm. Guess the smell really took a lot out of them and Inuko.

"Come on, let's get these two to bed and get you treated Y/N before we talk." Inuko said, cradling Shippō as she started to walk off and the rest of us followed.

Yura drawing herself closer to me and Y/N, before handing him Shusūi and her comb with her hairs.

"Please be more careful with these in the future master, and not to toss me aside like that again." Yura said, saying the latter part with a frown as Y/N nodded.

"Sorry about that Yura and I have no intention of doing so again. With the ink cutting off your hairs I'm not sure you would have enough to recreate you body after getting cut off from the rest." Y/N said, getting her to nod as he sheathed his sword. "You could have kept your comb back Yura."

"True, but I only suppose you and the girl trust me enough to do so. But I always made sure to keep it in a safe place and you both will have to do." She said, I just shook my head in amusement.

"So I qualify as a safe place now." I said, figuring this was probably about her idea.

"Unlike the bitch I'm sure you'll won't snap it in half anymore." Yura said with a smirk.

"Just as long as you don't give me a reason too you hairy bitch!" Inuko shouted back as me and Y/N shook our heads.

Guess she was right about that part at least.

Anyway just a bit more and I can finally crash after a long day. After today just one more day of traveling and we should be home the next morning after a trying few days.

All I could do is pray to Amaterasu tonight it won't end up the same, but with our luck I'm not sure it will work...

(Miroku POV)

Well for my first full day in the group it was certainly an...experience. Not a good one or a bad one but definitely more interesting than most of my recent travels. Don't expect all them to be like this, honestly after a single day I'm looking forward to a quiet day of traveling.

But today it definitely gave me some answers to the stories they told me so far.

Placing the end of incense between two fingers, I channeled a bit of hōkiri into them. Getting it to start to burn as I placed it into the grave Y/N made, shaking the smoke off my fingers.

After seeing this...Naohi and Magastuchi in action tonight through the shard and comparing them to what I know about Kikyō and Kagome I might have an answer for what is going on with Y/N.

Every jewel shard we have seen being used by someone either enhanced a part of one's powered beyond overall enhancements or improving a part for their desires.

Seems like he didn't know everything about his yokai heritage.

Granted it was a rather twisted ability, I doubt he could even use it without the shards or the imbalanced Shikon of his soul.

I only have it as an answer, but it's all that I can offer in turn. Least I could do for all our efforts going forward.

But tonight did prove fruitful in giving my journey another purpose beyond Naraku and their curse.

The Shikon no Tama must not exist anymore.

With this Magastuchi blocking souls from crossing into Yomi or entering the Samsara for those dying while using the shards or perhaps the completed jewel itself. ..

It was an unholy artifact that was far more trouble than it was worth.

Originally I wouldn't even use it to get rid of my curse, doubly so now.

I can worry about destroying it after we make sure it is reassembled.

Taking a deep breath I clasped my hands together with my nenju and began to give Kōtatsu his last rites. Alongside a prayer for him and all the other lost souls the shards have claimed so far and in the future, unable to move on into the afterlife for now.

(Chapter 61 end)