24

Fujiwara may be short and unassuming but, the instant I launch myself at him, his aura sharpens. Even though he's yet to make a move I can feel a stark difference between the man in front of me compared to before. His raw power is still unchanged and he still maintains the same idle posture as when we were speaking just now; however, his aura is like the sharp tip of a blade, and incomparably fierce. It isn't Intent like I utilize, rather it is a manifestation of his skill that has yet to become such.

While I may have launched myself at Fujiwara, I was by no means being reckless. As my body grew stronger and faster, my mind had to adapt to keep up with it. Due to this, I'm still able to study my opponent in the moments it takes for me to reach him. While his stance is still as casual as it was during the earlier conversation, his eyes are greedily absorbing any details he can derive from my approach. From this, I can tell that he's taking this seriously and intends to trick me into holding back on my opening attack.

Frowning I plant my feet and twist up through my core, slashing the Odachi with the resolution to bisect my target. I don't use my full strength nor do I augment it with Touki or Sword Intent but the force behind the swing is still nothing to scoff at. I have enough control to stop the swing right before I kill him though so I'm not worried about accidentally executing a potential ally.

"You commit too heavily to an opening attack. Such arrogance." As my sword nears him, his body drifts backward at the last moment. So small is the margin of error on his retreat that the front of his clothing billows as my attack passes by, the displaced air buffeting his chest. His arm shoots up to punish my mistake as he jabs my right armpit with a finger strike. Rather than deadening the nerves in my arm as he intends, he grimaces as his fingers throb painfully.

By now I've recovered from my first swing and my sword is coming back around once more. I speed up my movements to test how much he can cope with. Like the first strike, he dances around my blade again, the smallest of gaps between himself and injury. I don't overextend this time but instead, probe his reactions with a series of slashes. Every move I make is dodged with the tiniest margin and I start to get frustrated that not only is he not taking this seriously, but I am also unable to make him take this seriously.

It's at the peak of my frustration that I realize he isn't simply watching me and predicting my next move, he's assessing my skill and finding it lacking. His eyes hold a disdain to them as my blade flows from one slash to the next. Yet there is also confusion, as though he is expecting to see something and it hasn't appeared. "Why are you holding back, Oni? I've heard stories of your kind from before they disappeared. You fought like slavering beasts, unhinged and feral. Why are you hiding behind false civility, swinging a sword as though you possess skill?"

I tamp down on the rage that bubbles up at his dismissal. My thoughts can't afford to be clouded or else I'll end up resorting to the same tactics he wishes to see. I could win that way but my pride would make it feel like a loss all the same. There has to be something I'm missing here. He isn't faster than me so why is he able to dodge so swiftly? Is it his footwork?

The instant before my next swing should connect my eyes flicker down to his feet. As my blade approaches, his legs twitch and his body is lifted slightly off the ground. At the same time, his body floats around my strike like a leaf in the wind. He's somehow using the displaced air to push himself around the blows, remaining unharmed no matter how fast my assault or how much power is behind it. Could I get around this using Ki or Youjutsu? Sure, but that would be tantamount to losing since he has yet to use those either.

He has to be some sort of Youkai with an affinity for the wind to do this without expending energy. I would be able to sense any emission of Ki or Youki so he isn't fueling an augmentation or a spell. Rather it seems as though the wind itself is coming to his aid, that or he is just that light. This time I stab at him instead of slashing, wondering if the lower volume of air being forced forward would change his approach. He narrows his eyes and this time my sword touches him but he still gets pushed back unharmed.

The wind didn't move unnaturally, as far as I can tell, so he is just light enough to be pushed around. What does he have hollow bones or something? As he lands, his sleeves billow widely to his sides, and combined with his sharp features and short stature he almost looks like a hawk… Well shit, he's a bird-type Yokai, isn't he? My realization must have shone through my expression because he narrows his eyes at me.

"Perhaps you are more than I thought originally. Knowing what I'm doing is not enough, however." I smirk and level my sword at him shifting into position to thrust forward again.

"Knowing is half the battle, Fujiwara." He shakes his head as I thrust my sword at him again, thinking I'm employing the same flawed strategy once more. Of course, I'm not that stupid and this time my sword shifts going over his shoulder. His bewilderment only lasts until my left hand comes off the hilt of my sword and my claws dig into his shoulder. He doesn't have time to react as I drive my knee into his stomach. As his feet rise off the ground I force him back down and hit him again. This strike is blocked by him but I can hear the creak of his arms on the impact, showing how foolish it is for him to continue to try to defend.

As I go for a third knee, I'm pushed back by a fierce gale of wind that explodes outward from Fujiwara. Even though he forces me off him, I smile, knowing that I forced him to use powers first. He grunts in pain as he wipes some blood that dribbles out of his mouth. I can see more blood flowing from the deep lacerations my claws created on his shoulder. "Not bad. You didn't do enough damage to accomplish anything though."

Scoffing I retort, "Do you think I put much effort into those hits? One half-assed knee strike was enough to make you cough blood, what would have happened if I had put some power into it?"

"Impudent. Do you think that if I was trying you would be able to land a strike? You're a thousand years too young for your arrogance to turn into confidence." I growl at him as we glare at each other. We both turn to the edge of the courtyard and I glare at Yasaka when the sound of her laughter reaches us.

"Oh don't mind me, please continue posturing. I am quite enjoying it." Yasaka waves her hand negligently, a mirthful smile affixed to her features. Fujiwara reddens in embarrassment while looking quite ashamed. Coughing he draws his katana from its sheath. The blade is exquisitely crafted and is colored with a soft verdant hue.

"Apologies my lady." With a flourish of his sword, he shifts his body; He leans forward with his torso twisted and his katana parallel to his vision, pointed ahead toward me just below his eyes, in a modified version of the Kasumi no Kamae stance. In response I draw my sword up and firmly plant my feet, ready to receive his assault. He breathes in deeply and some tension seeps out of his stance, his body becoming light and loose.

His legs twitch and he disappears.

My heart stutters and my pupils constrict as I lose track of him. My instincts are the only thing that saves me from defeat as I lean backward, catching my reflection distorted in the flat of the blade that passes through the space my head had just been. My left-hand darts up and traps his sword, while my right slams the hilt of my sword into him.

Wind bursts along the blade making me pull my hand back and he steps around my counter, drawing his sword back at the same time. My right-hand draws the hilt upward and my left palm is placed onto the spine of the odachi bracing it diagonally across my torso and blocking the slash of his katana that follows.

Effectively half-swording at this point, the power I can use is reduced but the speed I can reposition my sword in such close quarters is magnified. This change of my wielding of the sword is what allows me to keep up with his furious assault. Slashes and stabs are consistently directed at me from varying angles, each being blocked or parried. The longer we fight the more I grow used to the speed at which he moves. I'm finding the battle has the effect of honing my abilities far faster than training by myself ever did. Occasionally he flickers out of view again, striking at an oblique angle that I wouldn't expect.

It is during one of those surprise attacks that I make a mistake. Having ducked under a slash, I punch him in the chest and slash downward. Sensing an opportunity he backhands the flat of my blade, forcing it off-center, and thrusts his sword far faster than before. Wind coils around his katana, enhancing it in the same way as it enhances his movement.

Narrowing my eyes I realize I can't move my sword up to block quickly enough to stop his. I'm not without options; I can activate my Touki to block his thrust or use the increased speed to bring my sword back up. Knowing this I still refuse to do so. Activating my Touki would be tantamount to admitting my skill inadequate to deal with his escalation. If I have to escalate to match him every time then I'm his equal rather than being superior. Instead, the muscles in my arms and across my shoulders tense as I slam the sword into the ground with all my unaugmented might.

The abrupt crash of my sword into the ground causes a small seismic event in the area, creating a fissure in the floor. I have to reinforce the sword with Touki to ensure it doesn't shatter but I make sure to not augment the weapon's capabilities beyond that. If I were to enhance it in any other way it would be an enhancement of the sword and thereby an admission of my loss in the exchange. With his footing disrupted by the impact against the ground, his thrust goes wide missing me entirely.

I drop to the ground and spin, sweeping his leg out from underneath him. My muscles coil and as he falls I pounce. I take no small measure of joy in the expression of surprise on his face as the tip of my sword stops just under his chin. It was a fun fight and I hadn't had a chance to spar with a real swordsman till now so I learned a lot. Of course, it would be better if it was real.

I turn my head to an 'empty' corner of the courtyard, ignoring my defeated opponent and 'Yasaka'. A couple of seconds of leveling a stare at that corner results in the world blurring and melting away as it reshapes. Yasaka and Fujiwara both disappear from their respective positions, reappearing where I'm staring.

"Well done, I wasn't expecting you to notice the illusion." Yasaka claps happily, seemingly unfazed. Fujiwara on the other hand looks like he's assessing me, waiting to see how I'll react. Honestly, the part I'm unhappy about is that I haven't gotten to fight him for real yet; the illusion was actually a novel experience, given it was woven by a kitsune. If she had let me - someone she's known for less than twenty-four hours - fight someone she addresses as 'lord', she would be an idiot.

"It wasn't too hard, your illusion didn't affect the ki either of you emits. I am impressed that I could interact physically with the illusion though." I tilt my head and wait for the answer to the unasked question. Fujiwara sighs and molds his Youki; once finished a shell made of air approximates him, standing in front of me. It even holds a sword made of wind. "Ah, I see. Yasaka just layered an illusion over it I assume?"

"Indeed." Fujiwara nods and the air clone dissipates. This charade was likely to both test me and to ensure that if I wasn't trustworthy then Yasaka wouldn't lose an ally. That being said, I was just starting to enjoy myself.

"Did you see everything you wanted then, Yasaka?" While I ask her this I head over to the weapon racks and put the odachi away, the weapon having served its purpose. Turning back, I see that Yasaka's eyes have narrowed and Fujiwara is silently fuming at my mode of address.

"You performed well against your opponent and surprised me by seeing through the illusion; I suppose I've seen what I wanted. Why do you ask?" Grinning, I ramp my Touki up to fifty percent, whipping the wind around me into a frenzy before the energy wraps itself around my form. Thunderous cracks ring out in the courtyard as I pop my knuckles.

"Now that my blood is pumping we should have a real spar. That warm-up just now wasn't enough to satisfy me. How bout I take you both on at the same time?" Fujiwara's glare is so intense that it would cause a lesser person to back down. Yasaka is laughing softly while shaking her head.

Her eyes glimmer with mirth as she shoots me down. "As much as I would love to play with you, I may be too much of a woman for you Ibaraki-san. I fear you wouldn't have the stamina to last."

Surprised I lose control of my Youki for a moment, causing flames to flare up around me. I shuffle my feet and try to ignore the heat that blooms in my core at her words, hoping the flames cover any embarrassment that colors my features. "Lord Fujiwara looks interested though if you still are?"

Fujiwara's expression is stony as he levels his sword at me in a silent challenge. My excitement comes back with a vengeance as his ki flares in an attempt to match mine. While it is an underwhelming amount, it's still more than anyone I've fought since the Elder. I'm interested in seeing how similar fighting him is to fighting the illusion from before. I sigh in false regret at Yasaka's response, theatrically gesturing to say 'woe is me', "I'd rather go a few rounds with you but I guess I'll have to settle for him."

That seems to be the final straw that sets him off as his sword suddenly appears at my neck, the blade grinding against the barrier made by my Touki. I snort at the lacking pressure that futility seeks to wound me. A flare of my Touki knocks the blade away and he spins with the momentum. Pivoting, he sends another slash faster than before, aimed low to open my abdomen.

My arm darts out, claws like spears, poised to rip open his chest. My sword intent is held back but my Touki flares around each nail. Sensing the imminent embrace of death, my opponent halts their move, beating a quick retreat. He moves back eager to create space and I move forward to control the distance in the engagement. My outstretched arm snaps back and I spin, lashing out with a heel. The kick scythes through the gap and is met with nothing but air. My core halts my rotation and my other leg snaps up catching him in the chest.

Assuming he will just be pushed away like the air clone before presents me with a dilemma. I can only harm him if my strikes connect and I have to predict that he won't allow me to pin him or stop his movement. Because of that, I run through multiple ideas before settling on one to try. As my foot approaches his chest I grip the Touki on the extremity, condensing the volatile flow into a chaotic orb. I push inward on it from all directions and my Touki glows to the naked eye on the bottom of my foot. Right before my kick lands on my opponent, I let go.

The resulting detonation throws me bodily onto the floor and I roll with it, bringing my palm to the ground behind me and launching myself back onto my feet.

Err, foot. Singular.

I stumble when I try to put weight onto the missing support, cackling a little as I redirect my ki to grow the foot back from scratch. Once the appendage is reformed I wiggle my toes and scan the area for my sparring partner.

From across the courtyard, a hail of wind blades cut their way toward me, a gentle green glow coating them. They would almost look docile and serene if not for the fact my hair all stands up as I stare at them. I weave through them, tears forming in my clothing as the gaps are barely wide enough for travel. Fujiwara continues to slash his sword to form the wind blades; his right side blackened and craggy; covered in wounds that ooze blood and some that I suspect is from my foot turning to mist.

When I get within a few feet of him I pool Youki in my chest and breathe in deeply. There must be some mad glint in my eye because he disappears as I breathe out. My chest glows through my clothes and fire floods out of my mouth. Half the courtyard is engulfed in the flames, the ground and sky burning under the flow. I cough once the flow ceases, puffs of black leaking from the side of my mouth. I take a moment to smile at the destruction, the nostalgia of mimicking all my anime predecessors hitting me all at once.

I leap upward, craning my neck down to see two Fujiwara's slice through the place I just was, cutting each other down. Their forms vanish like a mirage and I fire a compressed jet of flame from my right palm. The short intense burn throws me into a corkscrew allowing me to twist out of the way of the projectile that flies at me. What I'm not ready for is the projectile to shift its trajectory, slamming into and through the Touki on my cheek. The angle was shallow enough that it just rips the side of my face open rather than shooting through my skull.

As the skin on my face knits together, the flesh squirming against my cheekbone, I look at the end of the projectile's flight path quizzically. Flapping its wings and somehow looking remarkably pissed off is a small russet sparrow. Its beak is glistening with red blood that boils and rises off in a red haze, identifying it without a doubt as to the one who caused the wound. Working my jaw around and checking for any stiffness I tap my finger against it thoughtfully. "It was the exploding foot, wasn't it? I could see how that would be offensive. It was really an accident though! Totally untested attack."

I shrug nonchalantly which incenses the sparrow, whom I'm now certain is Fujiwara. A grouping of feathers falls off the bird and he and the feathers are engulfed in the same gentle green glow. Before my eyes a veritable flock of angry sparrows forms, beating their wings threateningly. "No hard feelings, right?"

A piercing squawk heralds their charge and I'm struck with the realization that, perhaps, just maybe, I went a tiny bit too far. The flock breaks apart into multiple columns of feathery death, spiraling in groups and curving toward me. Each verdant tornado rotates maliciously, ready to grind me to dust. Yet my cheeks start to hurt from how wide the smile on my face is.

The Youki that I keep so tightly trapped inside me rushes out as my grip on it slackens. The energy races through my body toward the open air, almost excitedly leaping toward the imminent conflict. I barely even have to will it as the Youki sparks in the air around me, converting instantly into a sea of flame. Through the intimate connection I share with the flames, I sense more than feel the impact of both our attacks.

The sea of flame struggles to hold back such a focused assault, the power spread so wide and lacking precision. Seeing the piercing of the veil as a certainty, I suss out the trajectories of the tornados. Once I have a mental image of the directions the assault is coming from, I give them a path. Controlling the intensity of the flames allows me to send each attack in when I wish.

The first spiral cuts through the shield I'm enveloped in but I'm already in front of them. Two are torn apart by my claws, another has a wing ripped off by my teeth, a fourth is crushed in my grasp. Another pair escaped my grasp and scored long thin cuts along my arms with their wings. They are caught by surprise when the flames behind me surge around them burning them to a crisp.

A fully powered punch causes a pressure wave to crush the tornado that cuts through the flames next. Yet one bird uses the others to shield itself and dives, wings folded, straight through my leg. Its body punches straight through in a shower of blood and sinew. The sparrow is stomped, flattened under my other foot before it can make its retreat.

I form a barrier with Youjutsu that shatters as a ball of compressed air hits it, the two spells canceling each other out. Another is batted aside as I face the third flock to cut through the sea of fire. I reach out to grab them and they split apart. They circle me, waiting for an opportunity to approach again.

They never get the chance.

More Youki is pumped into the flames and they turn blue, white dancing in the core. The birds' shrieking fills the air as they turn to dust and even that dust is burnt away. The sensations pressing on the conflagration disappear at the same time the assailants are disintegrated. Heh, must be too hot for him.

I'm forced to drop to the ground as a giant blade of wind carves its way across my safe haven. He flames part like nothing as the concentrated attack moves through them, somehow not dissipating. I snuff the fire out with a flex of my will, knowing their purpose has been served. As they clear I take in the damage that has been done to our surroundings. The courtyard, which could have been called spartan before, could now only be said to be in ruins. The tiles had exploded under the heat, any plant life was turned to charcoal, the wind blades had scored the walls with numerous cuts, and the ground was covered by craters.

If it weren't for the fact that this was a separate dimension created by Yasaka's Sunshower Barrier and I wasn't having so much fun, I might feel bad. Contrary to my ecstasy at the thrill of battle, Yasaka was shaking her head as though embarrassed at our behavior. Fujiwara's expression was much harder to read; resorting to reading his ki instead told me he was still slightly angry but had buried it under cold analysis of his opponent. The sliver of fear that coiled its way through his ki didn't escape my notice.

Before he can crush that seed of fear I should finish this. If that disappears then he won't respect me in the future and continue to object to what I do. Ramping my Touki, and the physical enhancement provided by it to the max, I pounce. He doesn't have time to react as he's snatched out of the air and clamped to the ground in my claws. I speak to him softly as he struggles in my grasp, adding a touch of shapeshifting to stretch my smile beyond human proportions. "Yield little bird, this fight is over."

He trills sadly and I take that as his compliance. I back off him and roll my shoulders as I stand, not even attempting to wipe the smile from my face. It's been too long since I've fought someone who could actually wound me. Granted if I had used everything from the start he couldn't have touched me but where is the fun in that? Still, I learned more than enough during that fight to apply to my training later. Combined with the entertainment value, this fight was more than worth it.

"Did you enjoy the spectacle, Hime?" Yasaka's expression is unfocused as I address her but quickly returns to the present. She opens her mouth to respond until her eyes actually take in the scene in front of her. Her eyes lock on my form and her mouth is slowly pulled into a smirk.

It is then that I feel the breeze and realize how much damage has been done to my clothes. The birds had basically shredded my kimono and my stunt with the fire breath had burnt off anything on my chest. My outfit could be called a skirt if you were being generous. Goddamn ecchi universe stripping women in battle. I'm going to need something more sturdy to fight in.

I smile and place my palm on my cheek, "Oh golly, I'm so embarrassed. If only there was a gallant lady who could save me from this perilous situation I've found myself in. Why I may even be so grateful as to give them a reward." Both my arms go down to hold my 'skirt' up in the middle, coincidentally pressing my breasts together.

I sigh when Yasaka just laughs and snaps her fingers materializing actual clothes on my body. She laughs harder when I pout at her. Can't blame a girl for trying. The barrier starts to fade around us and I allow myself to relax fully, coming down from the adrenaline high I was on. As my body unwinds I immerse myself in the feeling of the world, reveling in the flow of ki. I release a shaky exhale as purified ki flows through my muscles, massaging every fiber in nature's embrace.

My eyes snap open when Yasaka clears her throat and I give her a wan smile under my half-lidded eyes. A good fight and Ki healing are probably better than sex, too bad Yasaka won't help me find out right now. I bat my eyelashes flirtatiously but she just smiles politely causing me to sigh. Such a tease. She speaks then, ignoring my flirting to my dismay. "Thank you for agreeing to spar with Lord Fujiwara today, it was most informative. Should you still be of the same mind as before then I will send a summons soon to point you toward an ally in your quest or an obstacle that you would have to remove. Of course, I may need your assistance as well."

I nod having expected as such when I'm struck with an idea for something I could help with. "If you'd like I could help you develop an illusion that could hide or mimic ki signatures. I'm quite good at sensing and suppressing them."

She smiles and her eyes glimmer with a sentiment that I can't decipher. "I'll have to speak with you later about such things then. It is rare to find someone so young and so capable."

A servant, different from the one who guided me here, slides open the door to the courtyard. She is dressed the same as the others who work here and looks if I'm being honest, quite forgettable. This of course makes me suspicious because of how forgettable she looks, being perfectly average. Nobody is that plain-looking without being an assassin or spy. I memorize her ki signature immediately.

"Yua-chan is here for me so I'll be leaving now. I'll have someone deliver everything you need to your residence in the coming days." She starts to walk away but gives me a final glance over her shoulder, "I feel as though good things will come from us working together. Have a nice day, Ibaraki-san."

I gulp a little as she flashes a genuine smile, the corner of her eyes crinkling. I can't help but smile back. "Yeah, you too, Hime."

As she feels the illusion fade and the structure of the spell fade into the ether she focuses her attention back on her daughter. Kunou is performing a ceremonial dance with her teacher and Yasaka's heart warms with pride at the skill with which her daughter executes the task. She's going to be an excellent shrine maiden one day, probably better than Yasaka ever was. Her other lessons are all going equally as well, Kunou diving into any task related to succeeding her with a startling fervor. The happiness is somewhat dampened by the knowledge that this hunger of hers comes from a desire to be closer caused by both the death of her father and the distance caused by Yaska's own busy schedule.

Her precious daughter was already showing signs of maturity beyond her age but so much of that was her forcing herself to act more grown-up. She tries constantly to be a respectable shrine maiden and make her mother proud. She does, by Amaterasu, her daughter makes her so proud; yet she wishes she would just enjoy her time as a child more. When her father was alive she was so curious and bright-eyed; playful and precocious; now she was trying to be a little clone of her mother.

It would do her well to have some company her own age to force her out of her shell. The issue was finding someone worthy of her daughter's presence and whom she could trust enough. Yasaka claps politely as her daughter finishes a routine and receives a beaming smile in response before Kunou blushes and attempts to look dignified. The Ibaraki girl's sister is a bit younger than Kunou but she might work… eventually. Yasaka would need to ensure that they truly weren't a threat before they would even catch a glimpse of her daughter.

The idea of them having some hidden agenda was amusing given how Ibaraki seemed to be so inexperienced with secrecy, the girl baring her emotions to everyone so readily. If the rest of her family and indeed her people were the same then they would be quite easy to watch. None so far seemed to be capable of hiding their intentions but it would be folly to judge them on her limited impressions so far.

Ibaraki herself would become a valuable tool with some time and polish, perhaps even being a useful ally should she develop well. Her strength, given her age, is nothing short of miraculous. Yokai by their very nature take long periods of time to grow to the peaks of their power. The average Diayokai took a thousand years to reach that level; a level that this unknown child was already coming close to reaching at sixteen. Even Yasaka herself took four centuries to reach that evolution of power, something that marked her as a prodigy.

The fact that she could see through the first few layers of Yasaka's illusions was enough to give a positive impression of the girl. Although the idea that she wouldn't be able to manipulate ki signatures in Kyoto when she was connected to the Ley Lines would have been infuriating if it wasn't so adorable. The idea that any old sage would be able to unravel her illusions was laughable but she wouldn't correct that assumption.

Her prowess in battle was the real treat, even as rough and clearly self-taught as she was. To be able to defeat Fujiwara, a powerful yokai who had lived longer than Yasaka herself, was shocking. Even if Fujiwara couldn't be considered Ultimate-class in most areas, his speed definitely reached the minimum of that level. Combined with his skill and experience he was one of the top experts in his class and had slain a few Ultimate-class beings that got cocky.

Her attitude and lust for battle would need to be tempered properly, however. Time will tell how the young woman develops, and how much the West Yokai Faction gains from her.

After I was escorted out of the shrine and through the barrier into Kyoto proper, Yui, left me to return home on my own. I was glad because something about her aura bothered me, too average, as I said before. With her no longer around my mood catapulted skyward again, buoyed by my fond memories of the fight that just finished. I could get used to having more combatants like that to spar with; the novelty of a new fighting style to counter made the encounter even sweeter.

I had lunch and spent some time wandering the city, familiarizing myself with the place I'll reside in for the foreseeable future. I'll have to return to the village often but this was where home would be. By the time I had enough of wandering the sun had set and I realized I shouldn't stay out longer, lest I worry my mother more than I need to. My spirits still remain high as they have all day and at this point, there is nothing that could ruin my mood.

As I walk past an ally on my way back, I can hear a girl sobbing within. Instantly ruining my mood.

My footsteps slow at the mouth and I sigh toward the night sky. Silently, I curse whatever god is amusing itself at my expense right now. I should have just gone home. Why didn't I go home? The sobs aren't tiny sniffles but the sort of heart-wrenching heavy full-body sounds that sound like pure desolation. A tiny part of me considers ignoring the sound, pretending I didn't hear it. That voice is ruthlessly squashed when I think about how young she sounds. Biting my lip I turn and start walking toward the sound.

I walk slowly so I don't scare her while adjusting my features to be softer and less threatening, just taking away the angle and hard muscle. The little girl looks to be eleven or twelve with long raven locks of hair that enshroud her as she falls apart in her grief. Guilt washes over me at the thought of almost abandoning this tiny angel to lament alone, any notion of doing so being ripped away violently.

My Ki circulates by itself and the pain that was crushing me washes away leaving me wary. Since the girl doesn't even notice me yet I can assume she wasn't doing anything on purpose but I examine her more closely now. She's adorable and likely one of the cutest children to ever exist. Everything about her tugs at my big sister instincts, something I have a hard time suppressing for the moment.

"Do you need help, kiddo?" I chastise myself because of course, she needs fucking help, children don't normally bawl their eyes out in alleys. She gasps in surprise -actually, it's more of a hiccup and a cough- confirming she was unaware of my presence; She turns to face me, allowing me to see her face fully. With tears shining in her eyes and an expression of pure desolation she stares at me with naked fear and my heart feels like it's about to break.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm not here to hurt you." I crouch down without coming any closer, hoping that if I'm not towering over her she'll feel more at ease. Her left-hand darts into her pocket and she holds a brace of talismans to ward me away. I try to keep my voice soft and soothing but the sight of the talismans leaves me searching for details about who she is. "Whoa there kiddo, I'm just going to sit down here. Is that alright?"

She nods hesitantly, suddenly scanning her surroundings. I can feel a surge of mana from her as she does so, making me narrow my eyes. I school my expression before she notices but I don't miss her sigh in relief. Turning back to me she still has the look of a wounded animal in front of a hunter about her and I'd be offended if she wasn't so sad looking.

I'm about to reassure her again when pure white sparks jump from her fingers causing her to flinch away from the offending limb. Her face morphs back into one of pure agony and hot messy tears run down her cheeks again. I freeze as I notice how much she looks like Suzaku and what those sparks mean.

For fucks sake, why me?

Forcing down the realization that this kid is Akeno Himejima I slowly move closer to her and pull her into a hug. She stiffens and red hot agony runs through me as I'm hit with a dose of Holy Lightning but I grit my teeth and bear it. Once she relaxes and the lightning stops she slowly returns the hug, soon soaking my shoulder with new tears as I rub small circles into her back. I adjust my grip when black wings burst out of her back, only taking a second to roll with that development.

As her cries die down into sniffles the smell of cooked flesh fades away and my senses return from the assault. The Holy Lightning is the second most painful energy I've encountered; Suzaku's Vermillion Bird flames being the clear winner. The next thing I notice is the angry prodding I feel through my connection to my Ancestor. A part of me wonders what the hell he could possibly want now, however, the answer becomes clear the moment I stop blocking the connection.

'What are you doing?' The question is calm but is filled with anger that lurks just beneath. The impatience in the delivery is barely tempered enough to not be apparent to anyone.

'Comforting a child. What does it look like?' I grit my teeth as white-hot rage fills my chest. I don't have time to deal with whatever he wants to whine about now.

'It looks like you are hesitating against the enemy. Again!' So baffled am I that I have to metaphorically reboot to understand what he's getting at.

As though speaking to a moron my next sentence is slow and concise, enunciating every syllable. 'She. Is. A. Child. She's not even a fully trained Onmyouji. Not only that but she's a half-breed who is disdained by her clan. She's so far away from an enemy it isn't even funny.'

'Exactly, she is a potential enemy that has yet to grow into a threat. I know how much damage she did just now; with enough time she could kill you. You wouldn't even face repercussions for killing her! Stop being weak!' His patience has clearly evaporated as he screams into my mind. His voice booming in my skull as he snarls. My response is instant, instinctual, and backed by unshakeable resolve.

'Enough! You forget your place! I've agreed to resolve your grudges but you push beyond your reach." I sneer mentally as this specter, this flimsy soul fragment, questions my decisions. I took his burdens because I saw purpose in the cause and knew I would fight his enemies eventually anyway. I think this relationship has gone on too long. Apparently, I'm not the only one.

'Fine. If you are unwilling to keep your word, I'll kill you and the girl.' With those ominous words, my body starts to heat up rapidly. A strangled gasp chokes its way out my mouth as I throw myself back from Akeno. Smoke starts to billow through my pores and the pain causes me to slam my eyes shut. I can feel abyssal flame in every cell in my body. I can feel fire in my soul.

The black flames light my world up through my closed eyelids and even with my Ki cycling at top speed to heal me I can tell it's a losing battle. Even with my vitality, even with my healing, I can't keep up. Dimly I'm aware of Akeno's confused and horrified voice crying out to me but I can barely stay conscious let alone reply.

A soothing light joins with the black flames the two clashing with each other and I know Akeno is trying to help. The pain eases enough for me to think clearly and before I blackout, I smile at Akeno, hoping she doesn't blame herself.

With his host's consciousness suppressed, Ibaraki-Douji forces his way into her mindscape. The exorcism ritual the half-breed started tugs at him burning itself into his remnant soul like a brand; It isn't able to remove him, he isn't possessing her in a traditional sense, but weakens him and slows his progress. It is an annoyance that he doesn't want to deal with so he will make sure she suffers before he feasts on her corpse. The thought of savoring such a delicacy again makes him eager to finish this. A fitting appetizer before he crushes the Principal Clans.

As his feet hit the ground of the mental plane his knees buckle at the force. While he had dabbled in possession he's no expert, mostly relying on being a vengeful spirit for the conceptual leverage to do so. Therefore his entry is neither smooth nor subtle. It matters little though as the grudge flames take their toll on his host's soul and mind.

Looking around he smiles as he takes in the sight of the flames wreaking havoc. Every bit of scenery is burning under the relentless assault, black fire charring any surface. The landscape flickers constantly; sometimes it takes the shape of the village he created others it was something alien to him, more modern. With increasing frequency though, it became an image of Mt. Ooe back during the days he lived.

All he has to do now is find her avatar wherever it stays in her mindscape. Typically in these scenarios, the avatar resides in either the center of the plane or in the most emotionally significant location. This isn't a universal constant as mindscapes widely vary, especially when you take into account the stark differences between the mentality of different species. The more human-like the species is, the closer they align to that kind of logic. Beings like the Fae have minds that are incomprehensible compared to humans and let's not even discuss Others and their Kin.

The resilience of her mind and soul are impressive, that is a compliment Ibaraki doesn't mind paying his descendant. The sheer fact her mindscape hasn't collapsed under the grudge flames is astonishing but it does nothing other than giving him time to possess her and halt the attack.

Remnants of the other specters she has taken in still remain, even after they returned to the afterlife. They walk through the area, filling space with nothingness that looks like them, or the absence of them. Ghastly voids, mimicking the shapes of the people and animals his descendant avenged; their souls engraving an echo into the mental plane. Their eyeless faces and faceless heads swivel and track his progress filling him with a dread he doesn't understand. Their absent features would almost give him the impression of pity if he didn't know better.

Pushing the fortress gates open atop Mt. Ooe, the scenery shifts to a pristine forest, the grudge flames unable to enter the domain. The aura that drifts through the air is hard to describe but sends chills down his spine. It smells of slaughter, something that would normally bring him comfort if not for the taste of purity that lingers in each whiff. His eyes burn as he stares at the gently swaying branches above, a feeling of inviolability seeps from the trunks of the trees as though the earth itself supports them. The leaves fall to the ground like arrows, piercing the air and shattering the earth. The blades of grass that brush against his legs feel like swords, cutting into his spectral form, ichor scorching the ground as it seeps from the wounds.

It's the shape in the center that scares him the most. Fear, something he never wanted to feel again. A feeling he thought buried under his rage. The tiger, the one with whom he had shared the flame all this time is staring him down with disdain in its eyes. No longer is it pure black, its form dominated by the grudge it had once held; instead resplendent silver coats its body, the black flames leaking through gaps in its fur. The stripes of flame are more akin to vents in its armor, pure power radiating from its form.

The eyes are the part that haunts him the most. they stare at him as though all-knowing, tearing into his most hidden depths and baring them to the world. They glimmer like stars and burn like suns. Looking at the beast is like staring at a mountain from its base and seeing the unfathomable magnitude of something greater than oneself.

As he had done all his life he buries any thoughts or feelings under his anger, the raw rage crushing his weakness in a relentless tide. "Stand aside tiger, I have no quarrel with you, only your master."

The tiger lies on the forest floor, lazily lifting its head as it takes in his words. Its tail swishes behind it with the same lack of urgency it has displayed since Ibaraki-Douji arrived. "My master… I suppose you could see it that way. She is so much more than that but my position doesn't require rectifying your ignorance. I am her teacher, not yours."

"What does an animal have to teach, especially one who died so pathetically?" Snorting disdainfully he regards the tiger. It snorts and in a surprisingly human gesture rolls its eyes. An expression stuck between thoughtful and reverent is set on its face.

"I'm no longer that animal who died in those woods but… what else am I? Maybe I never was that tiger. I am… I am." The tiger hauls itself up onto its haunches, setting its head back to stare at the stars.

When did it become night?

"My name is Byakko but I am not the White Tiger of the West, Beast of the Stars, Judge of Virtue. I was formed from my student and master's will from the remnants of the original's soul and life energy. I was molded by her thoughts and desires; the impressions she has of the Byakko of Legend; her own memories and wishes. I am all this and yet none, I am my own nascent soul, untainted by past lives and prior beings." The tiger preens at its own assessment as though coming to a conclusion it has been searching for a long time.

"If you are your own being then step aside. When I take over for her I'll let you loose on the world. You can make your own destiny then, unchained from her existence." Every being yearns for freedom, this beast should be no different.

The tiger pauses, tilting its head to the side. Ibaraki-Douji can see the moment it takes his suggestion seriously, a realization coming to it that it can choose its own path. The tiger frowns and glances over its shoulder into the distance, peering through the foliage. It comes to a decision as it squares its shoulders, dignity, and grace filling its posture, and looks back at him.

"I wish to see what she becomes…" The tone is wistful in a way that shocks Ibaraki-Douji. A faint whisper that grows with strength as the fervent wish crosses into the open air. "Your path was set from birth, your potential all dragging you down the path of slaughter. Your fate was to follow Shuten-Douji in his folly as the ardent supporter and die as such."

Ibaraki-Douji's rage explodes into a tangible pressure but the malice is unnoticed by his enemy, the beast continuing unphased. "Even with her memories inside me, I know nothing of how she will die or how she will live. Will she follow your ideal, becoming a scourge of the earth? Will she reject her origins and sacrifice her power for humanity? Will the conflict between this life and the last tear her apart? Or…"

A manic gleam makes itself known in the tiger's eyes, fanatic devotion brimming in its sentiment. "Could she bring those conflicting natures together into a greater whole? Is she destined to become a Kijin, Buddha, or God? Will fate ensure she remains mortal? She could even forge her own path into some new form."

Suddenly the tiger is large enough to swallow the sky, its paws crushing mountains as it treads through the world. "All gods hold an animal sacred, I wouldn't be opposed to such a fate."

Panic sets in as Ibaraki-Douji tries to flee this place and is unable. The air turns heavy and dense as iron and the heavens themselves seem eager to crush him. His breath - though he has no lungs - refuses to do anything but sit painfully in the bottom of his chest. Five claws scythe through the sky, scraping through the clouds, and he understands…

This is the end.

"Your memories will not go to waste Oni, my master may need them." Oblivion greets him.

Waking up is an ordeal. Pain rips through every part of my being but for once I take solace in it. The pain lets me know that I still live, an outcome that I had given up hope on. When I can't hold it in anymore I groan in a mixture of pain and relief. The sound is followed by a sharp intake of breath from my side and rapid shuffling. I turn my head to the source and open my eyes, immediately closing them as I cringe at the light. My head pounds from the sensory input but I figure that if that's all I have to deal with I should count myself lucky.

Forcing my eyes open, I wait until they adjust and I can finally see. I'm still in the dark alleyway from before and Akeno is kneeling beside where I've fallen. An orb of light floats around her and multiple emotions war for dominance; fear, worry, confusion, and relief battle out inside her. "Are you okay Miss?"

I laugh, wondering the answer myself. Circulating my ki allows me to assess my physical condition. My body is, pardon my language, a shit show. The damage is obscene and a lesser being would have long since succumbed. Yet it is no cause for concern. With the grudge flames extinguished my body is rapidly returning to peak condition.

It's the spiritual damage that I'm most concerned about. I have no real method of even checking it but I can 'feel' an ache from deep within that doesn't bode well. From my meditations and training, I'm aware that the soul is infinite and boundless but that doesn't mean damage doesn't matter. Enough damage will cause it to unravel, dispersing either to the afterlife or into oblivion.

I know my soul is unnaturally resilient and large and that fact is likely the only reason I haven't died. At least my training in that area was useful for something. Realizing Akeno is still waiting for an answer, I give her one, "I will be. Thank you. My name is Ibaraki, what's yours?"

Akeno looks conflicted as she bites her lip. She probably doesn't want to let me know who she is, given that she's currently running from her 'family'. That being said, I made a good impression when I comforted her earlier and she no doubt thinks I couldn't harm her as I am now. "It is nice to meet you, Ibaraki-san. My name is Akeno Himejima. Pardon me for asking but… what was that just now? I've never heard of a spiritual possession like that before."

"It was… more of a contract, I guess. One that outlived its usefulness looking back on it. The only reason I kept the arrangement going is that I thought breaking it would kill me. Apparently, I underestimated my will to live." I shrug and flash her a smile. She looks at me like I'm insane, which to be fair, isn't too far off the mark.

"That isn't how possession works… You don't just form a relationship with a vengeful spirit. What even were those flames?" Akeno's eye twitches at the nonchalance with which I destroy Onmyouji conventions. It's not my fault they don't know enough about this sort of thing.

As for her question about the flames, "That is a good question! I call them grudge flames because they're pretty much using the regrets of the vengeful dead for fuel but beyond that… I have no idea."

Putting my hands on the ground I haul myself up to a seated position. On all my sides are piles of ash and I notice that the talismans Akeno was warding me off with before are gone. It isn't difficult to piece together what happened after that. "Thank you for helping me, it makes more sense that I survived knowing that you tried to exorcise the spirit."

Akeno sighs and shakes her head. "I don't think I did all that much. At most I weakened it enough for you to push it out."

I would argue with her but I have to move in front of her and block a wave of fire from the end of the alley. As it washes over me I frown at how weak the attack is. Fire on this level might not have even hurt Akeno let alone kill her. My Ki sense picks out three small signatures in that direction, their emotions showing how much they want to kill Akeno. Well, that won't do.

Akeno has paled dramatically, a reaction I wouldn't expect from grunt-level assailants. She is a child though; one who just had her mother killed... I should probably cut her some slack.

"We'll be rewarded if we bring back the half-breeds head. Shame she didn't die in the opening attack but that just means we can draw this out." They have their appearances disguised, being at least that capable, but their identities don't matter. Corpses don't need names.

I check Akeno to see if she'll kill them herself. She's frozen up and is shaking though. Realizing that she isn't going to be able to kill them I roll my shoulders. I'd take my time with them and make them suffer if I wasn't so tired and in so much pain right now. Instead, three tiny balls of Ki rip through the air and crush their skulls.

They don't even react.

So weak.

After picking Akeno up I continue making my way back home.