Chapter:51 The Shrine(5/?)

"WELL, WELL, WELL, LOOK WHO WE HAVE HERE. IT'S KAZUHA! I NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D END UP SEALED TOO."

The Oni's voice boomed as she casually flicked the oversized sword at the Kitsune.

The Kitsune, or Kazuha, gracefully dodged the Odachi, her tails weaving through the air with otherworldly elegance. She chuckled, her voice carrying a playful tone as she landed on the tip of the giant sword.

"Ma~ I got caught trying to save your sorry ass Suzuka. But that's a story for another time."

She eyed the changed surroundings for a moment before using one of her tails to playfully smother the Oni's face,

"For now, it looks like we're both out of our cozy little seals. Any idea how many centuries has it been?"

Suzuka, the Oni, growled in response, her eyes narrowing.

"YOU! YOU WERE ALWAYS A NUISANCE, KAZUHA."

Gojo, still standing amidst the ruins of the stone pedestals, stared at the duo. Her eyes couldn't help but follow the *Cough*bounce*Cough* interaction between the two Yokai. It was... entertaining, to say the least.

"Wait, wait, let's not get too chummy before introducing ourselves, shall me. You two were sealed in here for a reason, right? What's the story behind this shrine?"

Gojo interjected, her tone mocking and yet curious at the same time.

The Kitsune, Kazuha, lowered her bamboo fan, revealing a mischievous smile.

"Hmm~ nothing unusual ya' know, just caused a bit of chaos, killed a couple of thousand humans, maybe razed a couple of cities... ate a god or two."

By the end of her statement, her tone had a dangerous edge to it but that edge disappeared as she continued,

"Yup, that's about it. As for this shrine."

She glanced around at the decimated indoor garden and chuckled,

"Well, it 'used' to be this muscle brain's home but was later used to trap her here."

She pointed at the Oni who growled in response,

"The Gods thought they could use her as a power source for their weapons. Quite ambitious, I must say."

Suzuka, the Oni, snorted with contempt.

"AND THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD CONTROL US? HA! FOOLS."

Gojo raised an eyebrow.

"And the plan failed because?"

Kazuha laughed, twirling a strand of her long blond hair.

"Why? Why of course because yours truly wanted to visit this oaf for a fight and caught them lacking."

She finished her sentence quite haughtily.

Suzuka snorted, her voice rumbling over,

"THEN HOW COME YOU GOT CAUGHT AS WELL?"

Kazuha looked away from her Oni companion,

"That's none of your business."

Gojo had just about enough of these two acting like a married couple, she yawned and asked the final question that would decide what was to happen next.

"So, what's your plan now that you're free? Going on a rampage, causing more chaos?"

The two Yokai looked at her incredulously,

"No, seriously? You really thought that now that we are free, we would go about breaking stuff like a child throwing a tantrum? Well, this meathead might."

Kazuha said in a rather exasperated tone,

"YES, WE ARE NOT... WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?"

The Oni was about to follow up after Kazuha's words but suddenly stopped and glared at the fox Yokai,

"I mean, we are in this situation because you went ahead and ate a couple of gods, so..."

Her words were cut short as Suzuka swung her sword at her, sending a wave of searing red curse energy that was dodged by the Kitsune but kept on going until it had ripped through the walls and slammed straight into the forest around the shrine.

"Watch it, brute."

Chided Kazuya as she dusted her kimono,

Suzuka merely scoffed before turning towards Gojo,

"WHO ARE YOU HUMAN? AND WHAT BUSINESS DO YOU HAVE WITH MY HOME?"

Gojo crossed her arms, exasperation evident in her eyes, and yet the playful smile never really left her face,

"Who? Little old me? I am just a small-time sorcerer who was asked to clean out whatever was killing this place's previous owners. Didn't expect to find a couple of yokai drama queens, though."

She glanced at the wreckage around them.

"I mean, seriously, couldn't you two have a more civilized conversation? Or at least wait until after I leave before destroying everything? Now what am I supposed to tell my employer?"

Suzuka grunted, her eyes narrowing at Gojo's casual attitude.

"YOU DARE TO MOCK US?"

Kazuha intervened, placing a hand on Suzuka's shoulder.

"Easy, meathead. We are not here for a fight, and we certainly don't want to waste our energy on unnecessary battles."

She turned to Gojo with a sly smile.

"As for you, sorcerer, you seem to have some skills. How about a proposition? You tell the new owner that as long as they don't try to enter our territory, we won't kill them, but if they dare to try something funny again, we will slaughter their entire bloodline."

Gojo raised an eyebrow, pretending to consider the offer.

"And what's in it for me, aside from not getting paid and losing my reputation?"

Kazuha chuckled.

"How about we spare your insignificant life."

Gojo pretended to think for a moment, tapping her chin.

"Hmm, tempting offer, but I'll pass. I've got my own agenda, and being bossed around by a couple of weaklings isn't really my thing."

Suzuka snarled, raising her sword threateningly.

"YOU DARE TO REFUSE OUR OFFER?"

Gojo's grin widened.

"Of course. I've got stuff to do, and places to be, besides, your drama is not really on my itinerary. So, if you two are done with your little reunion, I'll be exorcising you."

Suzuka and Kazuha exchanged glances before bursting into a peel of laughter. Gojo frowned, not understanding what was so funny.

"Exorcising us? Oh, sweetie, you really think you can just waltz in here and exorcise two ancient yokai like us?"

Kazuha wiped away an imaginary tear from her eye.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, little sorcerer, but it's not that simple."

Suzuka, still chuckling, pointed her Odachi at Gojo.

"YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFEAT US? THEN BRING IT ON, HUMAN!"

Gojo sighed in exasperation.

"Oh dear, you two really need to work on your listening skills. I said I would exorcise you quite painlessly but if you insist..."

Gojo's expression turned serious, and her eyes glinted with determination. She took a step forward, her hands slipping out of her pockets.

"Alright then, let's get this over with."

In an instant, the atmosphere around Gojo shifted. A surge of curse energy enveloped her, and her form blurred as she moved at a speed nigh invisible to the dup. Suzuka and Kazuha, who were still recovering from their laughter, suddenly felt a chill running down their spines.

Gojo appeared in front of Suzuka and Kazuha almost instantaneously, and before they could react, she slammed her fist towards the duo. The resulting shockwave from the surge of curse energy sent the two Yokai flying backward.

Suzuka crashed back into the stone pedestal, creating a deep crater where she was sealed moments ago and Kazuha slammed into the dead tree, spitting out blood from the impact of the punch.

Gojo stood calmly amid the chaos, her gaze fixed on the two Yokai.

"I told you, I'd exorcise you painlessly. But if you insist on resisting so much, I won't hesitate to take my time ripping you apart limb from limb."

The Yokai struggled to get back on their feet, visibly angered by the sorcerer's actions. Kazuha brushed off some imaginary dust from her kimono, her eyes narrowing.

"You've got some nerve, sorcerer. But let's see how you handle this."

With a wave of her bamboo fan, the Kitsune sent a flurry of reddish-blue flames flooding toward Gojo.

The white-haired sorcerer, however, stood still as the fame flowed past her.

"Is that all you got?"

Suzuka, recovering from the shock, charged at Gojo with her Odachi raised high. The enormous blade came down with incredible force, aiming to cleave Gojo in two. However, Gojo grabbed the blade with her bare hands,

"Too slow."

Before Suzuka could react, Gojo delivered slammed her palm into her abdomen, sending a shockwave through the Oni's body. Suzuka staggered back, visibly hurt by the unexpected counterattack.

Kazuha, on the other hand, recovered from her surprise and unleashed a barrage of foxfire orbs, aiming to engulf Gojo in an inferno. But Gojo stood still, letting the orb burst all around her 'infinity' barrier.

"Really? I thought by now you would understand that attacking me is pointless."

The sorcerer closed the distance between herself and Kazuha in an instant. With a swift kick, she planted her leg into the Kitsune's ribs, sending her tumbling sideways at the courtyard walls.

Suzuka, recovering from the shockwave, aimed to catch Gojo off guard. However, the sorcerer's powers were beyond what she could compete against after a long period of being sealed. 

Gojo turned her head towards the Oni, smirking at the blade hovering inches away from her neck,

"Peek-a-boo!"

She let loose a series of rapid punches and kicks, each infused with curse energy, tearing into the Yokai's body.

The Oni struggled to keep up with Gojo's speed and precision. She was strong and durable, but the Sorcerer's attacks were chipping away major chunks of her defense in a matter of moments.

Kazuha, recovering from the impact, decided to join the fray. She gathered foxfire in her hands and joined in on the melee, slamming her burning fist toward Gojo. The sorcerer, however, was unbothered by her attacks as her barrier was neigh impenetrable.

"Is that all you've got, yokai?"

Gojo taunted as she turned her attention back to Suzuka. The Oni, fueled by frustration and anger, swung her Odachi with increased intensity. But Gojo, chuckled as it bounced off of her barrier, occasionally swatting the attack with her bare hands as if she was swatting pesky flies.

Their attacks barely lasted five minutes, each attempt at breaking through Gojo's barrier ended in devastating injuries for the duo. 

Gojo moved with unmatched speed and precision, overwhelming the two Yokai with her physical powers alone. The Kitsune and Oni, realizing that they were outmatched, exchanged glances.

Suzuka, gritting her teeth, spoke in a low growl.

"RETREAT, KAZUHA."