Shion the Miko

Land of Demons

"So this is Land of Demons...".

Shou has arrived after just 2 days of flight. With the speed he's travelling with Watatsumi power it's really fast if he's not taking detours.

Shou observed as he walked around the villages that the people are quite superstitious. A type of leaves is often hanged at the front door to avoid evil spirit from entering supposedly.

As he walked he overheard some kids playing around.

"Heh! I can walk on water you know! Believe me!". The boy said seriously.

'Toki-chan, you liar! Enma will pull your tongue tonight!'.

It's basically a spirit of sort.

Shou conclude the legends of spirits and the superstitions originated from Moryo and the priestesses relationships over time.

Given how the continent is not really involved in the Shinobi wars, it's land are thriving just fine. It's quite similar to Land of Fire he would say, just a little more traditional.

Travelling with body flicker, Shou finally reached his destination.

Shou stands right outside the gate of Kagura Palace. It's called a palace but it's a large shrine basically. This place is open to visitors, but the main sanctuary is forbidden to enter. And that's where the Saishu, the title Shion held stayed in.

The 2 guards standing nearby sees the suspicious figure wearing a grey cloak and a mask covering half of his face. This is the definition of suspicious.

"Stop! State you business here and lift your cloak".

Shou watched as an old man simply walk in, ignored by the guards. Hey, why you stop me but not him... Shou complained a little.

He took off his mask and lift his hoody off.

The guards are in a daze for a while. One of them blushed a little and walked towards Shou.

"Ehem... I assume you are a traveler? This shrine is definitely a must spot to stop by. I can show aroun-".

The other guard slapped his head.

'You think you can slack off easily?!'.

"Ouchhh. What was that for!".

'Ehem. Please excuse us. Go ahead inside'.

"Ah. Yes. Thank you". Shou bowed a little before walking through the gate into the main area.

With Shou's pretty privilege, he entered easily without suspicion. Maybe he shouldn't come with the grey cloak and mask on to begin with, Shou reminded himself.

Shou passed by the Tori gates and walked ahead. He sees few people lining up to give offerings and prayer to the Kami. There is a board giving instructions on how to offer a prayer as well.

This place is quite beautiful and the energy here definitely feels good. You could say it has good Feng Shui.

Naturally, since he's here he would offer his prayer. After washing his hands and feets at the wash basin, he went ahead and line up in front of worship hall.

Finally, it's his turn. He put some coins into the offering box and rang the bells to attract attention of Kami. He bowed 45° and clapped twice. Joining his palms, he offers his prayer. He bowed another one time before leaving.

He sees few priestesses here and there, ready to guide the visitors. Few are doing their own ceremonial or religious thing like scared cleansing.

But there's a particular station he's interested in. He sees a short tree with branches with many paper strips tied to up near the station as well.

Shou went to offer some coins at the station to draw the Omikuji, or literally Sacred Lot.

The miko who's tending take the coins and held out a cylindrical box, shaking it. She opens the lid and ask Shou to take one of the sticks.

After taking it, he sees there's a number written on it. He gave it to the miko, and she then opens a small cabinet behind her with the same number. She take a folded piece of paper and give it Shou.

He felt quite excited as he opens it.

Dai-kichi! (Excellent Luck).

'Congratulations! You should bring it with you all the time and keep it until your 'luck' comes true'. The miko explained shortly.

"Thank you miss".

Shou bowed a little before leaving. He's quite happy to see the Excellent Luck. It seems that this trip will be smooth he felt.

Seeing a seemingly daydreaming priestess, he went to approach her.

"Hello".

'Uh? Ah. Yes? How may I help you?'.

"Umm... May I see your, uhh, leader?".

'Leader...???'.

"Umm... The best priestess here. Like, the queen, Daimyo of priestess".

'Oh. You mean the Saishu?'.

"I think(?). Her name is Shion if I am not mistaken".

'I see. I am sorry but its very difficult to meet her. She rarely comes out and usually it's only on certain auspicious days. Or if there's a ceremony and she usually is the one who leads them'.

"Uhh...".

Shou used his big brain to come up with an excuse. A light bulb shined brightly in his head.

"I, I need her help! I am possessed by an evil spirit!".

'W-what? Ahaha... You look fine just now...'.

"No! You have to believe me! I felt it, it's trying to take over me!". Shou use his acting skill, grunts and acting as if he's in pain.

Shou whispered to Watatsumi in his heart,

Watatsumi-san, I need your chakra a little.

The dragon rolled his eyes, snorted, and releases some of it.

Shou eyes turned golden with slit pupil. Some scales forms on his skin, and two horns is visibly growing.

"Ah! I... I can't contain the evil!".

Watatsumi laughed a little, feeling quite amused. Although being called evil felt a little disrespectful but his acting and the priestess reaction is worth the entertainment. GHAHAHA.

'Oh... Oh my god!!!'. The priestess was also panicking and flailing around in fear.

Shou stops channeling Watatsumi's chakra, causing his appearance to return to normal. With water release he make some fake sweats.

"Haa... I... I managed to hold him. But he's trying to control me still. I need to meet your... (What was it again?), your priestess queen! I need her to remove the evil inside me. Please!".

'I will inform Shion-sama immediately! Please come with me!'.

The priestess is frantically walking fast, sweating while leading Shou into the main sanctuary. Finally coming inside the building, 2 guards escorted him in.

The priestess is seemingly reading a manual and went into a room. She comes out with tied long leaves on one hand and a jar on one hand, containing some powder.

Shou watch as she move around in circle and slapping the leaves onto Shou and throwing the powder around him and his body.

"Watatsumi-san, are you okay?". Shou is quite worried.

Ha?! Why would I be affected by this?!

Watatsumi felt quite offended.

"Oh. Glad you are fine Watatsumi-san".

Hmph!

The priestess stopped and wiped her sweat.

"This... Should temporarily calm the evil. How do you feel?".

'Ah. Yes I feel it calms down. But it's still there trying to take me'. Shou continued the act.

"Wait until Shion-sama comes. She will definitely save you!".

'Ah. Yes...'. Shou felt quite bad for tricking her seeing how serious she looks.

The door at the end of the hall finally opens, revealing a pretty girl just about Shou's age. She has purple eyes, pale white skin and very pale blond hair. Two guards escorted her to see Shou.

At first sight of Shou, her eyes starts to glow with kaleidoscopic pattern constantly moving. Her entire body is shaking seeing the vision.

***

The whole sky was consumed by darkness. Eyes. Many eyes covered the sky. Screams, destruction, fear, despair. She sees the 'end of the world'. The eyes in the sky bleeds out with black blood, and with it the entire world was engulfed in darkness.

***

Shion felt all her energy was gone after seeing such a horrifying thing to a point of falling to her knees!

"Shion-sama!!". The two guards and the priestess earlier went to see her, very worried for her suddenly falling.

With shaky eyes, she looks at Shou with fear. Out of all visions of death she had seen, this is the first time she has seen something so horrifying. It's as if, Shou's death in his vision involves everyone, and the entire world's death as well. She felt her heart beating uncontrollably, her chest palpitating.

"I will get her to her room first. You call on a medic". One of the guard is about to pick Shion up, but she pushed his hand away

"No.... No need. I am fine".

Shion gathered her strength and stands up weakly.

"Shion-sama. You should rest. Just what kind of vision can make you like this...". The guard look at Shou with dissatisfaction.

"The fate of everyone... I see it...".

The guards have question mark on their faces, not understanding it. Seeing how serious the matter is, she don't even manage to show her arrogant attitude to Shou. For the first time, her vision involves not just the person she's seeing, but perhaps, the entire world...

"Everyone. Leave".

"But, Shion-sama-".

"I said leave". She said with authority. The guards and the priestess left as told, leaving only Shou and Shion.

"You. Who are you? Just what...".

Shou is quite confused why Shion suddenly fell to her knees and act so serious.

"I am Shou. I am looking for your help for some things, if you don't mind". Shou scratch his cheek.

"I heard it from my guard. Just what kind of evil is inside of you... I, I will try my best to remove it! Or... At least seal it! In the name of the priestess, I vow on my life!". Shion even suspects Moryo's soul was unsealed without her knowing and is now trapped inside Shou. Perhaps this is why Shou is lead here, so that Moryo can kill her! And once Moryo kills her, he would then get his body and that will cause the end of the world! Shion had already made a far reaching conclusion.

???

Shou was a little in a daze seeing Shion so serious.

"Umm... Shion-san- actuall-".

Before Shou can explain, Shion stood up right and furiously weaved hand seals.

Hatsu → Jin → Kai → Min → Shin → Gan → Reppyo → Shōzen → Mika → Dan → Raku → Shō → Fu → Sai → Dan!

The whole room light up in pink light, especially the ground beneath Shou!

"W-wait-".

Ethereal chain is suddenly summoned out of the light and enters Shou's body!

Shou! Stop her! It's hottt!!! I can't move!!!

The chains went to wrap Watatsumi around, tying him up!

"Shion-san!!! Stop!!!".

"Hold on! I will try to seal its power! It will be painful, but bear with it!". Shion assumed Shou was in pain. But in fact he does not; Watatsumi however is in pain!

"He's not evil! Watatsumi-san inside me is not evil! Stopp!".

"It has corroded your mind! No, don't give in to it! Don't let yourself consumed by it! Just a little more! Hold on!".

"Wait no he's not evil I am for real!!!".

The ethereal pink chains stops moving, and the glow recedes after few more seconds.

"It's done. But it's only temporary. I will try to figure out a way to remove it from you". Shion let out a heavy breath, quite tired after using her priestess power.

Shou don't know what to say, he was left totally speechless.

From his perspective, he just come in here, then Shion fell to her knees, and suddenly she becomes all serious and weaved all these hand seals and use that technique.

Shou entered his subconscious space to see what happened to Watatsumi.

"Watatsumi-san?! Are you okay?".

He sees him chained up here and there, and a prison cage is formed sealing him.

Watatsumi slammed his claws onto the cage and pulled the chains trying to break it.

Shou! Release me!!!

"I can't!". Shou also tried to break the cage but he can't himself.

"Use the dragon blade!". Shou reminded Watatsumi.

I can't pull it out! My power is blocked!

"Hold on! I will explain it to Shion here".

Shou gets out of the subconscious space. Shion is sweating here and there, and seemingly she still looks nervous.

"Uhh... Shion-san...".

'Haa... You are fine now. But it will be difficult to remove it. I have sensed it. It's not Moryo, but it's power is very strong! It's surprising you aren't consumed by it to begin with! Ha...'.

"Wait... Shion-san. Let's sit somewhere first... Calmly".

Shion blinked twice hearing Shou said it that way.

They both sat on the floor across each other, taking deep breath in and out.

"Shion-san... Ehem... I will start from the beginning. This is all a HUGE misunderstanding you see...".

Watatsumi is furiously screaming and thrashing about inside the cage meanwhile.

Shion furrowed her eyebrows and listened attentively.

...