Ch65 Evening Clouds
(Kagome POV - Coastal Mountain Path - 3 hours later)
You know I think I recognize this place. It seems very familiar but I can't quite put my figure on it...wait now I can.
Think this mountain would later become part of the Bayshore Route along Tokyo Bay. Might be mistaken but the view looked familiar. I can imagine a few roadways or highways running through this area. Wouldn't be that surprised.
According to Miroku if we leave by sunrise on foot and leave by sunrise we could reach the Mikage Wetlands, on foot and following the edge to Mikage Creek we should reach Kaede's village by noon.
Never truly going to think I'll get used to the fact all of this place and most of where we have traveled would one day become part the third largest city on Earth in a few hundred years...
Shaking my head to clear up the thoughts I look out toward the ocean, and the old man was right.
The sunset was beautiful here, especially a rare red sunset and the way the sky reflected off the water.
Y/N would have loved this view, quickly snapping a picture with my phone incase the search in town didn't turn up anything and he'd miss it.
And it looked like I wasn't the only one.
Shippō immediately climbed up a tree with a good view out into the ocean and perched on a branch. Pulling out a few sheets of paper and a box of crayons and immediately started to sketch on them.
"Of course that is what you wanted to do Shippō. You could have just asked Y/N in the first place to take you here." I said, shaking my head up at him with an amused smile.
"Wanted it to be a surpise for him. This seemed like the perfect place." Shippō said proudly.
He wasn't exactly wrong, the view here was beautiful.
"Next time please be more upfront with us Shippō." I said a little sternly, getting him to shake his head.
Glancing around aside from the view there were a few people out that didn't look like samurai but I couldn't be too sure.
Aside from that the mountain was covered in trees, supposedly there wasn't any yokai who normally lived in this mountain's forest except a few small nuisances that could be driven away easily.
Maybe I could ask around for some...wait a second...
One...no two...
Oh no...
They were incredibly faint and at the furthest edges of what I can sense, but there was no mistaking it.
Two shards of the Shikon no Tama were not that far off.
Both felt quite far in the distance and seperated from on another in two different directions.
Maybe they will pass, but I can't take that risk yet with a pair of shard users after everything so far if one or both come our way. They could very well be the yokai we were warned about having just moved further away.
And if it came back down here...
"Shippō stay up there and don't come down into I come back or something happens. If anything else does happen run back to the manor and wait for me and the others." I said, getting him to nod.
"Okay." Shippō said before he stopped coloring and he looked at me worriedly. "Is something going to happen Kagome?"
"I hope not, but we can' be too careful." I said honestly.
He just nodded and I resisted the urge to unsling my hama-ya and notch an arrow as I went to look to talk to someone about what happened days ago with the black clouds...perhaps even have a look around just incase.
Shippō should be safe there or at least run off if trouble foes occur...plus I'm sure seeing a kitsune would probably put people on edge even if he is harmless.
What I'm more worried about was those two jewel shards.
Even if they do go away, the others would need to know about this.
Hopefully things are going around better on their end...
(Inuko POV - Costal Town - Same Time)
I impatiently tapped a claw against a wall waiting for Y/N or Miroku to get done talking with some people about any of the samurai were left in town. Was fine with most people keeping their distance from me.
Yura for the most part was on the roof top above, cliaming to have spotted something earlier she wanted to check out.
Had been about 10 minutes since we stopped eating.
The old man was a decent enough cook, Shippō kept hogging all the dumplings so I take it the kit enjoyed it. Afterwards we split up and Y/N and Miroku so far were the ones asking questions.
So far nothing, but it seems like one or two of the senior members mistook Y/N for someone else, best he could tell was some onmyōji with black and white hair passed through here decades ago as none could remember his name.
Any samurai could have gone and left in that time, plus it was going to be night soon.
Less people willing to ask by then.
Or we could be drawing them out by people asking about them.
Either way works for me. The sooner they learn of whatever trouble the monk was accidentally correct had passed or not, the easier we'll be able to sleep at night.
"Any luck master?" Yura asked, snapping me from my thoughts as Y/N approached us.
"Nothing so far." He said with a sigh.
"We already searched around a third of the town, doubt we'll be able to get anything before night falls." I said bluntly.
"True, but still worth a try." Y/N said before he turned his head upwards. "What about you Yura, have you seen anything."
"I haven't yet master." Yura said as she continued to look at things above us.
"Would be better if you told us what it was." I grumbled out quietly as I picked up a scent.
A macaque.
Not that strange but figured they would be more inland...wait a minute.
"Finally got some news at least." Miroku said in her true voice as she walked up to us, sighing. "There is still one samurai in town, but he is leaving before it gets dark."
"That's good at least, do you know anything about him?" Y/N asked as I noticed Yura stiffen above and the scent getting stronger...
You have got to be kidding me.
"His name Nobunaga for one." Miroku said and I growled a little irritably
Of course it's him...
"Was he also described as clumsy or having a pet macaque?" I asked, getting Miroku to blink in surprise.
"Yes actually, why?" Miroku asked as Y/N sighed.
"Yura did you see Hiyoshimaru?" He asked, getting her to nod.
"The fool's macaque was on the roof of the house earlier and is now running towards the edge of town now." Yura said, getting Miroku to tap her fist against her hand.
"So this is the same Nobunaga from your first shard hunt. We can at least get some answers from him at least." Miroku said to which Y/N nodded.
"Considering if his pet is still as clumsy as he is, we should be able to catch them in no time." I said, getting off the wall and following the macaques scent.
"You're not wrong, it nearly fell off a roof again." Yura said, getting me to sigh and shake my head.
Looks like Amari is possibly our only lead for any news unless we can find anything else. But still better than nothing.
Hopefully Kagome is having more luck then us than.
(3rd POV - Coastal Mountain Path - 2 minutes later)
"This is looking pretty good." Shippō said as he finished another drawing, putting on top of another paper before he stopped upon hearing a twig breaking.
Putting his crayons down and reaching into his happi coat as he looked around trying to spot what made that noise. Maybe it was a bird or a yokai, but Shippō wasn't taking any chances...except that if it was too strong he was hoping at the least flee for his life.
Kagome had asked him too and Shippō couldn't see her anywhere.
"Falling Daruma!" Someone shouted and Shippo's eyes widened as sections of what appeared to be a large daruma flew out at him from the nearby tree.
"You know you don't!" Shippō declared as he threw two tops at branches at the nearby branches that bounced off them.
Both grew to giant sized as they exited the tree and slammed against the first two pieces, bouncing off them as they fell to the ground.
Both tops colliding with the other and back down onto the next two pieces.
One of the daruma pieces Flipping about and sending a top flying back up and sticking that daruma doll's head.
Shippō and the his would be atracker just stared in amazement as the whole exchange as the daruma doll pieces and tops fell to the ground.
All returning to normal size a moment later after erupting in a cloud of smoke.
"...How did you do that?" The voice said in amazement, snapping Shippō out of his shock.
Smirking in the direction of the voice and pointing at himself.
"Skill, nothing but skill!" He declared proudly.
Honestly that was nothing more than a bluff.
Shippō had been practicing some what Sōta had called 'trickshots' with his tops in the modern era after being amazed by them. He even tried his magic with some kind of metal top the kitsune hadn't seen Sōta borrowed from a friend was after using his magic on it.
Never again...or at least when Shippō didn't feel like he was going to throw up just seeing one of those tops again...
Probably a bad idea to think riding on it would be a good idea in the first place...
Shippō was just amazed he managed to pull off that trick without having to use his other tops.
"...Whatever!" The voice demanded, sounding a little flustered before coughing. "I will have my vengence!"
Shippō merely tilted his head before seeing the end of a wooden hammer used for making mochi pop up of the tree's canopy. The end hooking onto a branch and launching something from the other end and right into Shippō's tree.
He jumped up and climbed on the trunk higher into the canopy, sniffing the air along the way.
Figuring he was dealing with a tanuki or a fellow kitsune.
Instead the scent was something different, it was strange yet familiar but Shippō couldn't figure it out.
"Laughing Acorns!" The voice shouted and Shippō eyes widened as seemingly a flurry of laughing acorns flew at him, seeing his attacker for the first time.
A raijū girl who looked seemed a head taller and not that much older than Shippō himself.
The kitsune kit jumped from branched to avoid the acorns before pulling out pocketfulls of what appeared to be crying mushrooms.
"Why you, take this!" Shippō called out throwing handfuls of mushrooms.
"No you take this!" The raijū shouted out as she thew more acorns at him.
Both kept this up, the sound of laughing and crying driving away the onlookers fearing the place was just cursed.
After about a minute of this a small pile of acorns and mushrooms began to form at the bottom of the tree as both kept throwing things at the other and dodging each attack.
"Stay still so I can hit you!" The raijū soutwd as she threw another handful of acorns.
"No, your aim stinks anyway!" Shippō shouted as he stuck out his tongue at her. Jumping onto another branch as he threw more mushrooms.
The raijū's eye twitched before she let out a scream as she slipped on a branch and fell down.
Shippō didn't get a moment to celebrate before he too slipped and fell.
Both screamed as they crashed and landed in the pile of acorns and mushrooms below the tree. Cushioning their fall a little. Seconds later all the acorns and mushrooms erupted and vanished into clouds.
Leaving behind two groaning yokai as they picked themselves off the ground.
"Ow...is what I would be saying if that really hurt!" Shippō declared with false bravado, trying to look smug.
"Like falling out of a tree would hurt me too!" The raijū said with a smirk too, hiding her wince. Holding out her hands at him with a snarl. "Take this!"
Firing twin bolts of electricity from her hands Shippō's eyes widened in fear as he hurriedly threw up some foxfire and scrambled back.
Only to blink as the lightning immediately fizzled out upon contact with the fox fire.
"...You're weak for a raijū, are you?" Shippō asked bluntly, getting her face to flush.
"S-Shut up!" She shouted, stomping her foot before calming herself and pointing a finger at the kitsune. "So what if I am, I'm strong enough to defeat you! I've already come up with several strategies with my partner!"
Shippō looked at her and then around them to see and hear no one else.
"Did you run away from them or something as soon as you found me?" Shippō asked, tilting his head.
"...Yes." The raijū admitted with her face flushed a little.
"Thought you were a kitsune, your magic seems pretty cool" Shippō said honestly, getting the raijū's face to flush before beaming with pride.
"Really?" She asked, getting Shippō to nod before she beamed in pride. "Of course, it's what I'm good at!"
Grinning at Shippō the raijū reached behind her and pulled out a denden-daiko with the pattern of mitsudomoe on the drum.
"How about we finish this in one strike!" The raijū declared as she brandished her denden-daiko at Shippō.
"Sounds good to me!" He shouted as he pulled out his kendama. "Three!"
"Two!" The raijū said as they both pulled back their toys and braced themselves.
"One!" They both shouted out together and charged at the other.
Swinging their toys at each other and narrowing missing, both Shippō and the raijū came to a stop a little ways apart with their backs facing each other.
"Not bad." He said as a cut formed and created a large tear on his right sleeve.
"You're pretty good yourself, this is starting to get fun." She said as the spike on her left shoulder pauldron fell off as they turned back to each other.
Yelling together as they ran and swung at each other intending to finish the other with a single blow again. Swinging their toys at the other again...both hitting the other in the face as the denden-daiko let out a loud clang striking Shippō's face.
Both threw their toys in the air as they fell to the ground, Shippō's kendama striking the branch he had been sitting on earlier.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow." Shippō said, holding his head as his ears were ringing.
"Bit my cheek earlier there too." The raijū groaned out as she rubbed her cheek before noticing something fluttering down to her. "What's this?"
It took a few moments for the ringing in his ears and the pain to die down to notice his pictures had been knocked loose from the tree along with his crayons.
Hurriedly scampering around to pick up the crayons Shippō did notice that the raijū staring at one of the drawings in awe.
The corner of her eyes briefly lifted from the drawing.
"Are those the strange writing utensils you used to make this?" The raijū said, Shippō noticed her free hand twitching as she looked between his crayon and the drawings.
"There crayons, I also have colored pencils but these are easier to sneak around." He said before giving the raijū a smile anymore. "How about we share them, only if we don't fight anymore. Deal?"
Shippō asked, hoping that she at least take the deal...while he was secretly reaching for a firecracker just incase.
Honestly he was kind if expecting her to start demaninding his crayons or trying something...it was something he might've tried to pull too if he really wanted something...
The raijū looked between his hand and the fading sunset, looking like she wanted to shout. Sighing and pouting she extended her hand.
"Deal." She said, getting Shippō to beam at her. The raijū's face flushed as she turned away from him. "Come on, show me how to use them."
"Left the blank paper back in the tree." Shippō said sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head and started to scamper up the tree. "Besides it has a better view of the sunset before it vanishes."
"I know, been here a few days but this is the prettiest one I've seen." The raijū said as she started to climb up after him. "Think my sister would like a picture."
"Know that feeling all too well." Shippō said with a smile...before blinking and looking down at her. "Did you attack me while trying to make a drawing of your own? Why did you attack me in the first place?"
"I'll tell you after the sun sets. If we don't hurry we'll missing it." The raijū said as she hurriedly climbed up the tree trunks faster. Shippō doing so too with a yelp.
Down below the raijū stared up at him before shaking her head.
"So that is Shippō..." The raijū said, looking up at him a bit more before climbing up even higher after him.
She didn't want to miss this sunset and her sister or caretaker shouldn't be able to find her for a while.
"Hey do you want to split some potato chips?" Shippō said poking his head out from the branch, peering down at the raijū.
"Po-tay-toe chips?" The raijū asked as she tilted her head.
"They're good...I might've snuck this bag for myself." Shippō admitted before scratching the back of his head sheepishly. He more or less snuck them from Kagome's bag as a midnight snack for later.
He wouldn't eat that much, he was somewhat full of dumplings. But seeing how Takechiyo usually hung around Y/N for snacks he figured bribing her with food from his era would help.
Before the raijū could answer, her stomach growled a little, her face flushed as before growling.
"...Fine, I'd like some." The raijū said as she started to climb up the tree even faster as Shippō opened the bag.
Might as well enjoy this moment while she can...plus those chips smelled good...
(Y/N POV - Edge of Coastal Town - Five Minutes Later)
"Well he is spirited, I'll give him that." I said, figuring that was the best thing to say after Hiyoshimaru nearly fell off a roof again jumping between buildings.
"That's one way to say it." Inuko mutter put as her ears perked up. "Looks like we don't have to continue trailing him anymore."
"Hiyoshimaru!" I could hear Amari called out before the macaque jump off the roof and the man winced as he stepped into view. "Easy there! At least you didn't steal anything this time..."
Amari cut himself off as we stepped into view of him, jumping back as Yura jumped infront of me.
"I see that he is still as foolish as you." Yura said before noticing something. "Seems like you found yourself into more trouble recently."
It was true, following her gaze I noticed that part of the shoulder and matching wrist poking out of his hitatare were covered in bandages alongside of the left sleeve of his left sleeve.
"Y/N, Yura, Inuko it has been a long time." Amari said with a smile before looking around as Hiyoshimaru disappeared behind his back. "I don't see Kagome with you?"
"She's on the otherside town looking after someone who joined with us after we last met." I said, getting him to nod.
"A kitsune kit, heard some rumors every now and again.
Last I heard you all saved an entire village from an omukade, a horde of corpses, and a tatarimokke a few days ago.
Not sure everything I heard but I think I can believe it.
I take it that you have collected a lot of those jewel shards.
" Amari said, looking at my hair with a wince.
"You have no idea." I said simply to which he just nodded before turning to Miroku.
"Don't think I've heard of a monk joining you guys before?" Amari asked as he and Hiyoshimaru tilted their heads in unison after the macaque poked his head back out.
"Miroku, a simple hoshi. I heard about you from them, and I think I heard about you before. A messenger for the Takeda Clan, they usually don't wander too much southeast of Kai." Miroku said, getting him to nod.
"So you've become a messenger now alongside wandering about." I said, Amari smiling proudly.
"Nothing like you all...but the messenger part was Tsuyu's idea. She appealed to the clan after they found out I had helped out then even if only a little." Amari said while scratching the back of his head looking embarresed.
"You mean after possibly abandoning your duties when you heard about Tsuyu first like the fool you are." Yura said, getting both him and Hiyoshimaru to look downcast at that.
Ouch, she really hit the nail on the head for them.
Still the call to become a messenger was definitely a smart one. At least he could alway return back between messages if not dispatched somewhere...if he didn't accidentally hurt himself or anything.
"Figured those bandages were from falling into a rocky ravine of something?" Inuko said with a grunt, getting Amari's face to flush in embarrassment. "Some of them are then."
"...These ones are" Amari admitted after a moment before tugging on his right sleeve.
"Some really bad scrapes that should be healed up in a few days.
On my other arm scratches from a lizard yokai that had been harassing some people around Tsuyu's husband territory, I can probably take them off tomorrow.
The ones on my shoulder are actually burns from a kasha around two weeks back. "
"I can believe a lizard yokai, but did you really defeat a kasha." Yura said.
"Not alone, I was with five other samurai. Honestly were lucky to have survived that experience." Amari said, shuddering in fear of that memory. "I got lucky, one of the others nearly lost an eye to that yokai. The worst of the burns are gone, but it still-"
Amari yelled in pain as Hiyoshimaru gently poked his shoulder, the macaque staring at me. I sighed, figuring I got the message as I stepped up to him.
One of Yura's hairs wrapped around my water bottle as mist coated both of my hands, applying a few drops to each as I approached Amari and Hiyoshimaru climb back down his back.
He looked at me in confusion before his eyes widened in realization.
"Thank you Yura." I said as she pulled the bottle back. "This should help with that pain."
Amari just nodded as I place both hands on his shoulder area and channeled my yoki through it, careful not to accidentally freeze those bandages.
So two weeks of natural healing already happened on the burn, not sure how much a few drops of water can help accurately the healing process without actually seeing it. But it definitely should help ease the pain he is currently experiencing there.
He winced at the cold before blinking as mist covered my hands and his shoulder for close to a minute, before I was satisfied and stepped back.
"How are you feeling?" I asked as Amari stretched out and rolled his arm.
"Better then I have in a while." He said with a grin.
"You should take it easy for a while, master only helped with the pain." Yura said as she handed me back the water bottle.
"She's right. I did heal some of it, but I'm not sure unless seeing g how bad it is under those bandages. The flames of a kasha are the ones usually found in Yomi so more difficult to treat." I said close up the bottle. "Never treated a case like that before with my powers anyway."
"Believe me Y/N, this feels a lot better. I'm grateful for your help." Amari said as he lowered his arm and smiled at me which I returned.
"It's no problem." I said honestly.
"We were trying to find you anyway, your macaque just made it easy for us." Inuko said as Amari flinched.
"What did he do now?" He groaned out as Hiyoshimaru tried to play innocent.
"Merely jumping from roof top to roof top, but we were seeking you or any of the remaining samurai in town.
We just wanted any information on the ominous black clouds that you all were dispatched to investigate.
" Miroku said calmly as she walked up to him.
"Any little bit of information you can tell us will help.
..like what you're trying to hide right now. "
Following her gaze I saw that Hiyoshimaru was frantically shaking his head no as Amari was breaking into a nervous sweat.
It only took me a single step for him to look from side to side before sighing.
"...Fine, only because you probably have a lot less to fear from Hiten then I do from her." Amari said, getting my blood to run even colder.
...What did he just say?
"You're fucking kidding me!" Inuko snarled out.
"That crazy thunder bitch was here!" Yura shouted out suddenly looking a little nervous. I don't blame her.
"You all know her?" Amari asked us.
"Fought her, barely won, hates Inuko's guts, and let's just leave it at that." I said with a sigh. "I take it that she isn't here anymore?"
"I think so, the only reason I found out is this area is one of her little sister's favorite spots." Amari said.
"Sōten?" I asked, getting him to nod. "We never met her, but have heard about her from Hiten."
Amari looked like he wanted to say something but a glare from Yura and Inuko silenced her.
"I think that she might be the only reason I'm still alive.
Sōten seemed to like Hiyoshimaru, that or maybe me disappearing would cause people searching the mountain and find her.
Not sure if both raijū are still on the mountain bit the clouds did vanish on the next day and I saw Sōten by herself on the mountain yesterday, wanting to draw Hiyoshimaru.
" Amari said, with Hiyoshimaru puffing out his chest as I just let out a small sigh.
So she probably wasn't here anymore, but we're not going to risk it.
Especially since Kagome and Shippō were on that mountain right now.
"The one who is trying to undo your ponytail." Miroku said, looking amused as the macaque had claimed to the back of his head and was trying to.
Until he was wrapped in one of Yura's hairs and lowered into Amari's hands, unraveling as he sighed.
"Thank you." He said, scratching Hoyoshimaru's back and the macaque starting to look content.
"I'm camping out to the east as I have a message to deliver before heading back north.
I only came back into town because he ran off.
If Hiten has truly stayed around here I would recommend heading out, but I'm not sure.
Anyway I wish you all the best of luck."
"You as well." I said, giving Amari a wave as he did the same while he turned and started to walk out of town.
"We need to get to Kagome and the kit right now." Yura said as we turned back and started to head back into town. "Even if the crazy thunder bitch isn't around, if her sister is still on the mountain she won't be too far behind."
I just nodded as Miroku let out a sigh.
"When I first heard about Hiten from you I knew this day would come, but not so soon.
" Miroku sighed out as she followed out after us.
"Best we make camp somewhere else. Even if she is not here best to do so.
Either way I would prefer the next time I see her being trying to hit on me again or have her trying to kill Inuko. "
All three of stopped briefly and turned to stare at Miroku.
Okay so I wasn't the only one who heard that.
"You met her before?" I asked as Inuko let out a growl.
"And Manten a few months ago, more or less negotiated with them not to raze a village to target a nozuchi that had tricked Manten with some faulty wares.
It was easy enough to flush him out with the villager's help.
Think he tricked some of them as well, they tilled the soil with his ashes in the fields later.
" Miroku said simply with a shrug as she continued to walk off past us.
"Stayed there for another day, never saw her brother again but Hiten kept floating around, more or less flirting with me.
She more or less saw through disguising my voice.
You never asked about her and I only met her the one time, she did seem eager for us to meet again at some point but never did. "
"And if she did you'd be along with me, Kagome, and Yura." I sighed out, shaking my head and figuring it was best not to think if Miroku would be as eager for that as well or not. "Next time if you know any other yokai or human before hand that we meet for the first time please let us know Miroku."
She just turned her head back, smiling and nodding at me.
"Of course, though it will be more than likely humans. I've traveled these lands and dealing or exercising yokai for a long while now after all." Miroku said.
"You mean possibly scammed or slept with. Wouldn't be surprised that you'd possibly slept with that crazy bitch too!" Inuko growled out.
Miruko never paused in her stride and merely shrugged.
"Best we head to back Kagome and Shippō. Even if there is nothing to worry about they should be back at the manor possibly right now. Of not we should start worrying." Miroku said, more or less without any choice in her tone or taste.
"Of course she did..." Inuko said, her and Yura giving Miroku a bland look as I sighed.
"She never confirmed or denied it. But Miroku is right, we need to hurry." I said, getting them to both look at me and Yura sighed.
"Your just as bad as what I heard about your grandfather if that is true monk!" She shouted to Miroku as she pulled herself onto a rooftop.
Before I could follow after them, I blinked as I was pretty much unceremoniously picked up by Inuko and she placed me on her back.
"It will be faster this way." Inuko said, shifting her shoulders before hopping off the ground and onto a rooftop, bounding after Yura. "Just as worried about Kagome and Shippō. Could be nothing."
"But we're not taking any chances." I finished for her, Inuko nodding as she speed up ahead of Yura and Miroku. Guess she really was just as worried for them.
Hopefully it is a false alarm, we've had plenty of close calls this week. Yet with our luck lately that is nothing but a foolish hope...
(Kagome POV - Coastal Mountain Path - Same Time)
When I had seen people panicking and shouting about two kitsune fighting in a tree I hurried back over to where Shippō was supposed to be.
Aside from not getting any answers from anyone else on the trail we had bigger things to worry about.
Of the two jewel shards I sensed the furthest one has more or less vanished from my senses, presumably it had simply gotten further away.
But the shard I could sense had drawn closer to the town and a had stopped for a bit.
..something about it was making me uneasy.
If this one really was after us we needed to get back to the manor and warn the others if they hadn't found anything either.
If not I'll just have to follow Miroku's shards.
Still hopefully he is alright...
What the?