Chapter 10: Universal Sin

"It seems like you're all ready." Iori voice came out more as a sigh of resignation as he saw that spark of determination ignite in each of those before him. It was somewhat familiar in a way.

The image of that human boy stringing up a Yokai came to mind. Viciously extracting all the secrets of Senjutsu before finally doing away with the creature.

"I will now explain this method to you."

The 3 eager Yokai soon felt pressure descend upon them, as though the world itself had held it's breathe, eager to recapture a secret long lost to the winds of history. Each knew their lives would be greatly changed by this immortal's revelations and guidance. The gale of change began to pick up in intensity, whipping and cutting across centuries of stagnation both intentionally ad not.

"This will seem like a rather simple process," Iori explained, tone heavy and forlorn," But don't be mislead, such foolishness has only ever left someone dead or worse, crippled. Take head and don't find yourself falling into those exact same pitfalls.."

"First, follow your Ki Channels. Don't just scan them internally, no. Allow yourself to fully immerse yourself in them. Like a fish in a stream."

Kunou tried to take in his words and internalize them, she really did but it was a though the girl had bumped head first in a wall.

'Immerse myself?' She didn't show but, them panic was beginning to get to her,' What if I can't do it? What if I fail? Will I become crippled? Then what?! Will my mother never know rest? Will she have to spend the rest of her days looking after a foolish girl like me?! May-'

"Calm yourselves."

That soothing voice calmed their nerves, settling their raging ponds of emotions. He knew everyone's worse enemies would always be themselves. Nerves would and could conquer even the strongest of beings.

"There is no rush." He intoned quietly, allowing his words to become nothing more than background noise," This first step is all about finding your center. A state of both relaxation and focus. Nothing bad will happen if you fail."

That little speech had significantly lessened the burdened set upon these youngsters shoulders, it was good to know that this step at least wasn't even the dangerous bit.

Kunou allowed her small shoulders to slump and tails to still in tandem. Pointed, golden ears perked up in attention. Eyes shut and scrunched brows slowly lessened in strain. She no longer tried to force the sensation, and just breathed.

One breathe.

The world was dark, only the immortal's voice filling the void. But it was not overbearing, acting more as apart of the environment.

Two breathes.

The dark world was stagnant, murmuring soothing in nature. And she internally reached for her own Ki.

Three breathes.

After years of practice, it was a simple thing to do. It was like moving a long practiced muscle movement, twitching with but a thought. She had seen her own mothers Ki, whose was more akin to an endless flame. Like the sun in some ways. But hers? It was a mere bonfire. Small and insignificant in comparison, but that was fine. She was still young and still had a lot of life to her.

Four breathes.

Following the immortal's words, she tracked the golden streams of crackling fire. From her finger tips, up her arms, down-

It stuttered slightly before jumping to the next channel.

"Good." His change in voice was startling, but she still kept her focus on the work ahead," You're noticed it. This always happens, being made aware of something strange always made it glaringly obvious."

The kitsune only subconsciously took in his words, a single task embedded into her psyche. Scanning her channels.

Five breathes.

She went over every inch of her body, finding multiple times in which a single strand of golden Ki would 'stutter' before appearing on the other side significantly affected.

"Continue," He ordered," If you completed, start scanning from a different location. One finger at a time. Try to go down different paths, against the current in others. Use your Ki to build an image of the body."

Six breathes.

And on she went, doing exactly as he said and as time went on, an image began to appear. A shadowed outline of her own body slowly burned itself in her inner eye. Golden lines of fire ran and flowed down spindling channels reached everything. Her hands, torso, legs, tails, head and even ever fingernail and hair!

Ki perfectly suffused her body completely and it only further high lighted the near black holes in the shape of various organs. In hindsight, it was simple to see how these blockages have impeded her flow. Every time those flame like strands entered one of those areas, something would happen inside and only a mere trickle would remain. Because of that, more of her Ki needed to be foisted inside just to even out the flow!

"Good." Iori nodded to himself," All of you have that image and can see these blank spots. The body is an amazing thing. It's subconsciously aware of these blockages and in order to keep the Ki flow even, as to avoid possible injuries, it'll put more energy into these spots."

"Keep that image," He demanded, sounding a lot more grave," Here is the most dangerous part but also simplest. Target a singular organ, focus in on it. What does it look like?"

Kunou did as bid, focusing all over her attention on the blank spot in her Ki flow in the shape of a heart. The black organ pumped in turn with every heart beat, eating up energy only to expel a minimal return. An incredibly greedy thing.

'Does it know it needs more Ki?'

As though the blocked organ could sense her attention, it 'turned' to her. Staring daggers of both hate and desperation. Like a starving beast finally coming face to face with its captor. It's hostility nearly caught her up short. While it wasn't new for her to hear disparaging words being sent her way when no one though she could hear, but her mother's power generally made it so no one had the nerve to actively show murderous intent. Until now.

Slowly, an image of a dirty, incredibly skinny fox appeared before her. Cracks of golden fur peaked out from hard crusted black sludge. She could easily see the ribs even through the thick mask, long skinny limbs laid in wait. A maw full of jagged teeth bared itself to her attentions. If looks could kill…

Then those golden orbs would've annihilated her many times over.

The pressure the image gave, jolted her out of that trance. Sweat dripped down endlessly, heat beating rapidly, lungs struggling to take in every bit of air it could. Hell even her stomach felt like it wanted to rebel and expel her lunch.

Kunou looked wildly to either side of her only to see a similar sight among her guards. Daidachi's red skin looked several degrees paler and his muscle bound chest heaved with every breathe. Riko didn't look much better, especially with her hair poofed out like a cartoon cat after getting it's tail stepped on.

Their eyes, one and all stared up at the suddenly somber looking immortal. The falling sun fell over his long, inky black hair highlighting his shimmering blue eyes that looked on the youths in pity. Those plain features just didn't match anything about this man.

"The body of every being is born this way." He spoke in a low, melancholic tone," With a natural limit built in deep. It's not so bad when you're born but as you age, these blockages get stronger and stronger. Your organs work harder and harder just to get mere scraps of life giving Ki but for primary organs, that pitiful amount will never be enough. Don't misunderstand, these organs do have a type of intelligence. It knows not as to why it isn't getting a much Ki as it use to, only that we are depriving it of sustenance. That we're starving it through our actions. Hunger turns to vicious hate. It used to be called something else, but I like to call it our Universal Sin."