ShipTeaser

  “Step aside…” The Oni gnashed his fangs, his wild eyes staring. “I will crush the bitch myself. I know she has to die, but first…” He licked his lips sciviously, the watg me looking on with revulsion. “…but first, she has to take the pce of the wives she slew.”

  Tamamo-no-Mae looked at the Oni as if he was trash. Which he certainly is. “Bold words, Oni. But you are not to my taste. I fear I will have to dee. I would rather sleep with a pig than you. I enjoy intelligend elegan my lovers, and in both cases a pig wallowing in filth surpasses you immeasurably.”

  As the Oni roared in rage at her insult, he rushed at Tamamo-no-Mae. I was curious about the legendary battle that happened nigh-on fifteen hundred years ago, but my attention was focussed on the Saint of Swallowing Sorrows, and the Tiānyì that were surrounding him. Unlike Hisui, who came for me and seemed to have bullied the others away from me, he was being harassed by a number of the translut female spirts. Above all was the Chaotids, and they were what I was most ied in, so my Eye bzed, brining it into focus. Pain stabbed into my brain, matg that which was searing my bodies, but I refused to back down. If I’m going to get through this, I need information…

  “I shall break ys and arms and use you as a doll!” the Oni roared, the strike from him incredibly powerful, surging with earth and also lightning element. It was a strorike than anything I could deliver, but with a smile, despite her s, Tamamo-no-Mae still blocked it, bzing foxfires catg the desding mace. Sweat beaded on her brow, but her green eyes merely held pt.

  “Oh really? If ōtakemaru said that I would at least be ed, but you? I think not…”

  The Winds… they are blowing into the monk, into Tamamo-no-Mae, and … into me. I looked down, curious. The Chaotids were peing me, but I had never noticed before. Narrowing my focus, I tried to feel what was happening inside me, while paying attention to the monk. The Oni was raging, but blood was dripping down his face where it had been burned, and one of his legs ierced through, and ropey lines of stinking guts were tumbling through a ragged gouge in his stomach, the smell of cooked meat disgusting.

  “I still have my arms and legs… unlike you.” Tamamo-no-Mae smiled cruelly, and her uned tails sshed out, and the Oni’s hands flew off, leaving him dumbfounded as blood spurted everywhere. “You overestimate yourself. ōtakemaru is someone who I respect, at least for his power. But his children… all so disappointing.” Then foxfire surged, and the Oni’s head exploded. As he fell, ether scattered, and a rge amount of it was absorbed into one of the Formations below, starting to be refined into Qi.

  Oh, how cruel. You used the poor Oni, led him to his death, just to fuel your own revenge. Doesn’t your heart ache for him, little monk?

  Yes, so cold. The Buddha would be so disappointed in you.

  I think so too, sister. This sinful man wishes to bee Immortal? He is not even worthy of being a Saint.

  Yes, the burden of karma weighs heavy. Best y it down and e with us. Why experience pain and sorrow striving to deflect death, when you live in a moment of fleeting bliss that will seem eternal?

  Unlike Hisui, who was nearly corporeal now, these wraith-like Tiānyì flitted around the monk, whispering to him, ning him, and him relief. Though such relief is merely death…

  “No… I…” the monk said, almost in a trance. “Amitabha, the son of ōtakemaru is a monster. I may have tricked him, but I paid what he wanted, a ce to kill Tamamo-no-Mae! I did the world a grand favour, this humble monk bears no karma for this!”

  I see, I see. A fair point.

  But that means… no, we shall wait and see…

  I look forward to it, sister.

  As do I, sister. We must keep watg…

  What also ied me was Tamamo-no-Mae, of course. She was limp and insensible in my arms, but it seemed that this vision was also part of her trial, as a Tiānyì appeared beside her, almost tangible, like Hisui. This one was younger, and rather cute-looking, with brilliant e hair and silver-bck eyes, ae being short, she had an impressive chest. On seeing me looking, she raised an eyebrow. “You are intriguing, but elder sister has cimed you. I will tent myself with the empty shell here.” She tapped Tamamo-no-Mae on the shoulder. The se had frozen, leaving the headless Oni, though it seemed present and scious, if not alive. Well, I guess this is a vision, so it doesn’t have to be real.

  “Yed him. You killed his wives. Yes, you feel he was abusing them, so perhaps you felt justified. But who are you to e between a man and his wives? Such hubris. You always do as you please. Yet such hypocrisy.” The Tiānyì traced her hand along Tamamo-no-Mae’s expressionless, unresponsive face. “When beings you cherish were endangered, you cried vengeance. Do you not feel shame?”

  “Yes…” the Oni’s head reformed. “You did it out of spite, not mercy, bitch! Otherwise why not save them, rather than kill them?”

  “Quite. If death is a mercy… you should enjoy your surreo me. Oh… you do not respond. Yuilt is pin. Allow me to take you away on the Chaotids…”

  My Eye observed the Winds strengthening, surging into Tamamo-no-Mae in my arms, and Hisui, haviered this part of the Tribution now, whispered in my ear, her breath hot and tone sultry, sending shivers through me, but I held to my willpower, resisting. I already have women I like better than you, and when it es to allure, Tan has you beat hands down.

  “Rude. You are most frustrating. But it seems the Winds themselves are not eroding your spirit as they should. Strange. And your body resists the Purification, though that is but a temporary respite. Where your irength es from, it will surely run dry, little Qi Refihough…” Her hand moved to stroke my cheek under my shining Eye, and I smacked her hand away, making her hiss.

  “I will see your secrets. You will offer them willingly to me. If not…” She smiled then, showieeth, looking somewhat menag. “…even if you survive somehow, then she will surely not. Her fate is with my little sister now.”

  That’s what worries me. Surviving here is of course essential, we ’t achieve anything if I’m dead, but if Tamamo-no-Mae dies here, it’s all for nothing, and worse… Uranai’s prophecy warns the seeds I seek will be plundered aroyed. I don’t want it to end this way…

  “What you want and what you get are two differing matters.” Hisui interjected. “Your time is running out. Hers…” She looked down at Tamamo-no-Mae. “…hers ran out a long time ago. Besides, she is a sinful being indeed. You have seen only the merest acts of cruelty from her, you know this.”

  I nodded, despite not wishing to. I’ll not lie. Even from what I’ve seen and heard here, she’s cruel and capricious. But she also knows positive emotions. Yin and Yang, right? Everything has its pce.

  “Would you say that if it was your loved ones she slew in a fit of pique, or your try she ruined because she was bored?” Hisui asked pointedly, and I khe answer.

  “So sue me.” I snorted sourly. “Once more I’m a hypocrite. It’s no different to Na and Nie Ling, or even Duke Formor and Grulgor, if you think about it. I’ll use what I , what I must. Besides…” My eyes shoh not just amber light then. “…I think she’s suffered plenty for her sins. Execution would have been far kinder.” The vision, the battle restarted as we talked, and once more I was giving it some of my attention while I watched the Winds carefully.

  “We must all fight together!” one of the Samurai decred, clutg his katana. His face was noble, patri in style, and he reminded me of the cssic image of a heroic warrior from the past. The other warriors with him agreed.

  “Yes, the chaos she brought when she beguiled our Lord led to the deaths of thousands, and many more unted died as famine swept the nd!”

  “She left with my sister…” another decred, furious. “I never saw her again!”

  One of the Kitsune nodded, stepping forward towards Tamamo-no-Mae. He smiled, his handsome face reminding me of the Kitsune I slew. Tamamo-no-Mae looked simirly displeased, and she snorted coldly. “You, I see.”

  “You? What a way to greet your son, mother.” The fox spread four tails out behind himself, radiating power. “This reunion has been long in the making.”

  “I somehow uand ōtakemaru now.” Tamamo-no-Mae said bitterly. “Having disappointing children is a curse indeed.”

  “Mother, you wouhe fox decred insincerely. “If we grew up wrong, surely it is you to bme? Most of us you never spared any thought or affe for. Many of us you killed yourself. Is it any wonder we Kitsune are ed and twisted?”

  “Always excuses. I see you have not ged.” Tamamo-no-Mae took no responsibility. Several other Kitsune she reised were hanging back, but the Tengu was urging the six strange women to attack as well. “I was ill-suited to motherhood, I do admit. We ot be perfect at everything, now we?” She shrugged, ign his protests, and the Kitsune ughed, a barking, hag noise full of rese.

  “Oh, you are excellent at being selfish, and above all, angering me!” He decred. “Humans, if you wish to strike her down, now is your only …” His words were cut off as Tamamo-no-Mae’s foxfire fell from the skies, pierg her son through and burning him from the i. As he busted, he looked at her with acg eyes which were quickly lost, blue and yellow fmes spilling out from his charred sockets. “…ce. Mother…. I… hate…. you…”

  “I hardly hated you. But…” Tamamo-no-Mae said, a traencholy ione, as she watched her son burn to ashes. “…we all chose our paths. Bming me for the crimes you itted is cowardly. I own my sins. And I up after myself. Besides… matricide is against the will of the Gods.” Tamamo-no-Mae smirked, and the vision froze, Winds blowing cold and harsh, and the fmes formed a fiery version of the sin fox.

  “How wicked you are, to speak of the Gods, you who spit on them.” The Tiānyì who wished to cim her said, her youthful faow cold. “And you killed your own son, and he was not alone, many are your children and grandchildren who have fallen to your wrath. Kinsyer! Let the Winds be your judge!”

  She speaks true. Such is the most heinous of crimes.

  The Heavens hate those who sy their kin!

  She feels no remorse, no guilt!

  The intangible tail in my hand twitched. It was already faint, barely there, but as the Wind roared, it grew fainter, but… Hmm, if I imagine how I felt when I took Shinkume-no-Hana’s tail, then… What could have ged in just a few months? If anything… Tamamo-no-Mae was nearing her end, so she would be even weaker, more a hollow shell. Does that make a differeo my ce of survival? If so… how?

  “Unlike you, she bears heavy, heavy karma.” Hisui observed, even as the Tiānyì read the Winds aed the monk, calling him out on leading ao his death.

  “No, Tamamo-no-Mae was right!” The monk sweated, his flesh being translut, like thin part, veins and arteries clearly visible beh. “That fox was a fiend who enjoyed murdering virgins after disgrag them, girls and boys both! He was one of the most wanted Yōkai in this nd! I should be praised for leading him to his death!”

  True, he was a monster.

  Is that your answer?

  We will accept it. For now.

  But such a firm statement… perhaps it might…

  …e back to bite you!

  “You bear the responsibility for turning him down this path.” Tamamo-no-Mae didn’t respond to the cold accusations of the Tiānyì trying to take her. “If you had treated him with love and kindness, rather than abandoning him to his father, who grew cold and distant and abused him, seeing your refle in him that he longed for, turning him to an abuser in turn… perhaps…”

  “That’s bullshit.” I intervened, having heard enough. The Tiānyì looked at me, surprised.

  “This is not your , stay with elder sister and keep silent. Your life ebbs away, why waste it in defence of evil?”

  “I’m not defending evil. I’m just saying, we are all responsible for our own lives. Tamamo-no-Mae did many wrong things, and not looking after her children until they were adults, able to stand on their own… I ’t even fathom it. My children… I’ll be the best father to them all, no matter how many there are, I swear it to the Heavens and the Earth!” I mimicked Daiyu’s earlier oath, and Hisui drew in a sharp breath, as the Winds surged, and another bolt of Lightning fshed across the skies, intensifying the burning agony I felt.

  “Elder sister, is this Cultivator mad? To ihe Heavens during a Tribution will only intensify it and make said Oath far more binding!”

  “I may be mad, but I mean I’m pissed off!” I don’t need an Oath to bind me on this. Asha’s child, my child… it’ll just be the first of many. And as a father, I o make sure they and their mothers have a world that is safe to live in. To that end… “People suffer every day. I hate it, but I ’t ge it. Even the Gods, the so-called Heavens ’t, or else there’d be no need for us Chosen.” I scoffed at it all. “Most people so abused just want to live a happy life and prevent others suffering what they did. Yes, I have sympathy for him, but not his choices!”

  “Hypocrisy.” The Tiānyì sneered. “Elder sister, tell him!”

  “I agree.” Hisui muttered. “Not everyone is strong. Everong be cracked by the dripping cruelty of torment, eroded by the endless wind of suffering. His karmic weight is heavy, but Tamamo-no-Mae bears the sin of and abando! Not just that one, but many, many more.”

  “So, what of her? Do we know if she’s suffered?” I clutched the tail a for my Silver e. As I did so, I realised Daiyu was doing something, as she was once more strongly ied within me. I felt fear rise up at the thought of her being caught in this Tribution, but her warm voice came to me.

  Akio, hold on. I… no, we have an idea. Eri showed us… this Tribution, it is abnormal. The Heavens were cheated by the Saint of Swallowing Sorrows, but it could only happen because… the Boundary! The Heavens are far distant! And so…

  And so…?

  And so, hold ohink we have the answer as to what could ge! Do not let the Heavens take you from me, from us! This is our world, we fight for it, and the Heavens do not get to criticise us!

  ***

  “I’ve got this.” Aiko held out the token given to her by Shiro before we left, and I nodded.

  “Do it. It should be safe here, now you have secured this Territory.” We had dug down into a small undergrouype location, and even now, Shaeu was widening it rapidly, the golden statues digging away and moving rubble.

  “Here goes.” Aiko grinned, and a faint, imperceptible tone could be heard, space shaking around us, vibratily. Moments ter a ssh in space opened, and it revolved into the entrao a room, full of people I reised. First out was the cold yet beautiful Arisugawa Arisu, wearing a rich red gown, highlighting her queenly poise. I wonder… I could not help but gnce down at my figure. I was not small in the chest, but I was also ne, like her or Shiro. No, Akio does not care, so long as he likes me for me, I am tent with my figure. Besides, this is no time for jealousy.

  “I see. So you are well again.” Arisu decred, looking over us. “That is good. It would not do to repeat past mistakes. It is safe. Though rather gloomy.” Arisu called back to those within, and Eri was out, followed by a number of others, though many more were waiting inside. I saw Motoko and Natsumi, and seeing my expression, Motoked. Her face was damp with silvery sweat, and she looked exhausted, but also proud.

  “A challenge for a Favour. It is important to me. But… nothing is as important as Akio and all of you.”

  “Well said!” Natsumi agreed cheerfully, looking equally ragged and draihere were Elves behioo.

  Soliteare grinned ruefully. “I really believed I could win. My archery is unsurpassed, but…” She g Belera beside her, who snorted.

  “Beat me? No way. I was going to steal the victory a my pce as one of Akio’s wives! But… for that to matter, he has to be alive.” Her eyes gazed up out of the rocky hidey-hole, seeing the lightning bzing overhead, and then g Akio, who was still clutg Tamamo-no-Mae’s lifeless body, flesh mostly gone, boarting to break apart. It must be agonisingly painful, but he still fights…

  “Yes.” Motoko agreed. “There is nothing we ot get with our own dedication and skills, so long as we are all standing together.”

  “Let the British woman have it. Holy, I think she might have won anyway.” Natsumi ughed. “She’s a smart one. Besides…”

  “I ’t believe I came all this way, to see this.” It rincess Eleanor of Britain, wearing her shining green and copper armour. She too looked fatigued and exhausted, indeed, everyone did. There were Fae too, such as the white stoatkin Selensha, and Shaeu’s you brother and sister. On seeing them, Shaeu brightened, but opped her work.

  “Anna, Shaeraggo! Sister Selensha! Your appearance is most-most timely! The situation is grave, as you see!”

  “What we do to help? Just tell me and I’ll do it!” Selensha decred, holding her crystal-topped staff at the ready.

  “There is no need for haste, to hurry.” Shaeranna decred. “The chosen sort of my little U would not be so weak, so feeble, as to die here. Although…” She eyed Akio with a trace of trepidation. “He looks like he has seeer days, more pleasant times.”

  “All right, enough chatter!” Eri anised everyone, ing over to me. “Daiyu, you must know more about this situation than anyone else? I don’t have much time, soon I’ll have to start funnelliher to Akio again. I’m so exhausted, and I feel like I’m going to burst apart.”

  Funnel aether? That should not be possible. If so, the Heavens would have poured their fury ooo. But… Looking closely at Eri she was in a terrible state, her face ashen, her body trembling. Seeing that I was her, she managed a weary smile. “I may not have beeo help, but I won’t st. It’s just… it hurts so much.”

  “I am sorry, but it is not something I am well-versed in. Perhaps I should learn this Chirurgery, but I believe it is very difficult without suitable eyes.” Arisu-san said. I gnced inside her Room, to see the young twins surrounded by the purple glow of aether and a number of exhausted people, students from the training school such as Keomi and Hotene, members of Adamant, as well as Akio’s Vassals Suzu and the man from Hisuikomushi shrine. Seeing me looking, Suzu raised a hand weakly and muttered that this ying havoc with her practice regime for the cert.

  “Yeah, no kidding. But you’ve done good work. Really.” Shiro was there too, and her eyes were glowing a fiery crimson, showing that the great and dangerous being inside her, Ta?hā, was . “Using the twins to ect everyoo Eri and pass more than just thoughts was a genius move.”

  “I fess, without the guidance of Red, I would not have succeeded, White.”

  Ta?hā spoke up then, her voice tinged with wonder, which puzzled me. What a Goddess who has lived for thousands, tens of thousands of years or more, find to surprise her? “A Chaotid Tribution. It is… far, far too soon for such here. The…” She spoke some words that seemed almost to be blurry statid I realised that the Heavens, perhaps some vow Ta?hā had made, prevented anyone from uanding her words. Even she is so bound? Fasating. “…is clearly insuffit to make the leap to Earth Immortal and call the Winds. This is… troubling. The lo persists, the more damage the fragile Boundary will endure. Already there is a hole, and the cracks are spreading. This world is a ripe peach, if seen, it will be irresistible.”

  “Then we have to do something, right?” Shiro spoke over her. “Tan, you know about this kind of thing, what’s the situation?”

  “The little girl should speak.” Tan said to me, and I nodded. Yes, this is about Cultivation. If not me, then who? I quickly expined all I knew, and about how Akio and Tamamo-no-Mae were caught in the Heavenly Purifying Lightning. Eri and Arisu were listening, but even as they did so, they had returo the room, and more people I reised were their aether, Eri groaning and trembling, the twins g and sweating, even Arisu’s perfect, calm features twisted with disfort, as aether and spatial element surged i waves before vanishing.

  “Doing this… Eri and those aiding her should be swept up iribution!” I warned, but it clearly had not happened yet.

  “That is true.” Ta?hā agreed. “Many ing schemes and ruses have been employed to divert the Heavens, the…” There was another short burst of unintelligible static. “…over the long river of time. The Heavens are not ofteed. But again, with the paucity of ether present here, the sheer distance from the upper Astral, the fragile shell of the Boundary… the response of the Heavens is weak.” Ta?hā’s eyes narrowed as she listeo the singing voices. “…though not feeble.” She paused for a moment, sidering, and then tinued. “I believe I know the answer as to why we are not swept up by the Tribution. Though even without that… the Chaotids and those they blow ihe strength of one’s heart and one’s Dao. While those with heavier karmis suffer more… the Heavens do not discrimiransding physical mortality is not something easily done.”

  “My bro ma, though, didn’t he?” Aiko asked, listening desperately, and looking at her weary best friend with great . “No fancy lightning or wind then.”

  “That touches orue heart of Cultivation and why it exists.” Ta?hā decred. “I ot speak of this. Cultivation is a path of principles, of stages, reguted by the wider Astral. To asd, a price always has to be paid, or a victory obtained. Your brother, he chose a different path, being something other than mortal. At least in body, if not spirit. But he also has no Dao. I fear this will end badly.”

  “What even is a Dao?” Aiko asked, and Ta?hā once more looked to me to answer. Shaeu was fiercely interrogating her brother about a Lady Nimu? and her iions, but I had no time to sider that as I pondered. How to describe the Dao? Obviously, such is far above my realm, but… everyone Cultivates their Dao heart in their own way.

  “It is the way one chooses, the path they follow, the cept they embody, the dream they pursue, the power they crave… the heart they fill.” I said at st. “Some strive to master the sword, to bee a sword, be it to kill, or to save. Others seek the mystery of the elements, fme, wood, water, earth, metal. The impossible to uand cepts of time or space. Others seek healing, or love, or charity, intangible desires. Following one Dao is difficult, to follow multiple will break all but the most tred, defiant of spirits. My Dao… I ohought I would pursue excellence above all things, then my thoughts turo vengeance, but now…” I felt a little lost. I was happy now, though of course I had unfulfilled dreams of vengeand reag the peaks of Cultivation. “…all roads are Dao, and all roads lead to the Dao.” What is my Dao now? I have time to find it, but… “Without a path to follow, one ever reach the peaks.”

  “Well said, girl.” Ta?hā said, and I felt warm at her praise. “To be precise, a skilled artist may create great works of art, but an artist who only has skills will never produce true masterpieces. However, a heart that loves art, a heart that seeks to know all of art, to be art itself, is inparable, and will go far. Akio…” Ta?hā said his name, which I noticed, as she so seldom addressed anyone by their names, perhaps an affectation. “…his trial here is too great. a Spirit strehe Astral body enough to ehe heavy burden of physical loy that a Saint fes, but to go further, to reach funal immortality, at least to the ravages of time… without a Dao to hold and shape the body and spirit, it is futile. And the Chaotids blow within, search every fragment of body, spirit, memory and dreams, wearing it away. Only the diamond of the start of a path towards a Dao endure. All else is merely soft stone, eroded by time.”

  “I’ve read a bit of Cultivation stuff.” Shiro took over. “And from what I’ve talked about with you, Daiyu, while it varies, obviously, the core is the same. Cultivation is step by step, and the foundation has to be solid, else the road ends prematurely, uo ever break through.”

  I hat was why I had not yet pushed through to my Accumution, as I wao see if I could ie together my two Foundation Teiques first. I have time now. I do not have to always be the best, be the prodigy, face the expectations. I have people who will stand by me, give me time to grow. “And Akio is merely a Qi Refihough ironically he has a true Foundation. This is… maly unfair. The Heavens are…” I suddenly looked up as the skies boomed with golden thunder, and the Lightning burning Akio increased in iy. Eri let out a cry, her throat hoarse, and Shired.

  “Looks like I’m getting squeezed dry again. But what’s going on, Tan?”

  As Shiro headed back to Eri, her aether, Ta?hā spoke. “An Oath. Some fool during the Tribution has poked at the Heavens.”

  “That’ll be Aki then. I love him, but he’s got a bad habit of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Or maybe the wrong thing at the right time?”

  At that moment, Shaeu hurried rinning. “Daiyu, do you remember what you received from the Tower of London?”

  The exhausted princess Eleanor, who had been drained earlier, opened her eyes, grimag. “Please don’t remind me. I gave away so much…”

  “With more-more to e, I assure you. But… Akio does not-not deny his allies. After all… this test is clearly void, the Elves, Motoko and Natsumi throwing their ce aside to aid Akio, yet he will not-not begrudge Aditi her victory.”

  “I know that. He is fair, I will grant him that.” Eleanreed. “Though if he survives this, I shall be having words.” She g Eri. “He promised me he would not let you all suffer…”

  “This isn’t… suffering!” Eri grated, having heard, her cat ears flickering. “This is my joy, helping out in a dangerous situation. When I first ehe desert in Las Vegas, beat that scorpion… I hoped one day he’d t on me! If he wanted a meek, pliant girlfriend, I could do that, I do anything, but… he wants people he stand beside, who have his back. Who he loves. So this is no hardship. This is nothing!” She groueeth together, bck eyes sparkling with determination, and I admitted to being impressed. I o do my part too. Think, think… there must be something I do.

  “Yes, it was water blessed by the Lady of the Lake, whiabled me to perfect my Spiritually Pure Foundation…” My eyes widened as I uood. “The Lightning purifies the body, but… if a body is pure enough…”

  “You would receive Avalon, Eleanor. Akio is no-no thief, and besides… he believes you will need-.” Shaeu nodded proudly. “I simply hope you remember his good-good iions and respond fairly.”

  “I get it. Though we have a saying about ting chis, befgs hatch.” Eleanor said with a sigh, her cheeks a little red. “But I have given my word. I don’t jump to clusions anymore, and I look with eyes wide open.” We heard a snort, and an exhausted David Reckless, lying in the room, winked cheekily, leading to Natsumi giggling.

  “So, what-what would Akio receive? Lady Nimu? would surely not-not leave him with nothing?” Shaeu pressed.

  “You think his Spirit Water being stronger is the key?” Aiko said, eyes wide. “If so, what we dht now?”

  “I know.” I said, looking at Eri. “Even should I be caught iribution…” I flexed my barely-healed arm. “I am like you, Princess Eleanor.”

  “Call me Eleanor. We’re all friends here.” I am gd I also learned some English while I was learning Japanese. Not being able to unicate is hard. “Yes, you are one who heals, aren’t you? Maybe Avalon should go to you then…” she finished slyly, and I shook my head.

  “Akio is not a thief, and nor am I. Shaeu speaks for us all. But my point is, even should the Lightning try and purify me, I shall resist it long enough to pass over my Spirit Water.” I eyed Akio, my heart warm. “I shall embrace him and pour all my Water into him. One final kiss.”

  “Nope. Not happening.” My sis shook her head. “If you die to save my bro, nobody is happy. Think! Eri’s fine, and so is everyone else, so there must be a way.”

  “I ot pass Spirit Water through Eri, when she boasted about her Lovers’ Link, she clearly said it was only aether and adherence.” I shook my head, before my eyes widened. “No, we have a link!”

  Aiko flushed. “Yeah, that o’s…”

  Shaeu was cag, leaving everyone else fused. Na, standing to the side, looking out of pce, had been hauled into the room to dorength. As I gnced over at the maimed Nebisuki, she merely smiled weakly at me. “Even if you save him this way… what of Tamamo-no-Mae?”

  “That is not my .” I shook my head, sliding shut my eyes, inwardly grasping towards the point of e we still shared. It had faded somewhat, but still burned within me, and even with my eyes shut I could sense Aiko felt the same way. “All we have to do is do our part, and trust Akio to do the rest.” The shining pathway in front of my blinded eyes that led to Akio looked a little like a road, a Dao, and I put one illusory foot on it, and then my other, taking small steps, bringing me closer to him, closer to us. There were other strands too, shining beams of light that ected him to tless others, f a spiderweb of radiance. Aiko was there, still tied to Akio after the efforts to save our lives. Eri’s was a shining beam, surging with rainbow energies, and the others, though fainter, were a tangled weave.

  Akio. Hold on. My thoughts reached towards him. I… no, we have ahis is not how our path ends. I refuse to allow it! I have lost everything onever again! Eri showed us…

  ***

  The battle was fierce. Tamamo-no-Mae unleashed her fmes, though with her body bound by s, aail ensnared, her aether, elements and more were being drawn out of her into the Formations trapping her. She’s weakening… well, I know how this ends, anyway.

  “Die, monster!” one of the long-cwed women screamed as three of her sisters buro ash, though one seemed to phase bato existence, seemingly reborn, only for tails to sh out, biseg the remaining four i of vicious strikes.

  You let them perish too, feeding your formation.

  They had existence, hopes, dreams…

  Everything you rendered down to mere Qi for your own ends.

  For shame. you not hear their screams?

  As the Tiānyì surrouhe monk, hounding him, he covered his ears, his body now so translut I could even see his inner ws. The Golden Core, densed in his lower Dantian, was clearly visible, and I grabbed what details I could, knowing it would help Daiyu ter. Speaking of Daiyu…

  Take it, take it all, drain my dry, leave me a husk. But you ! Her thoughts surged into me. She was refining her Spirit Water into Qi and transferring it to me, not unlike how we Dual Cultivated. The effort was clearly doing her some injury, but her body refused to quit, g’e’s Favour rest her as fast as she suffered damage to her Chakra work. This is what we believe ges after the Quest. Your Spirit Water reaches new heights of perfe!

  “The false Saint is finished.” Hisui observed, though her beautiful face, cheek marred with the three burns, was grim. “It is not so much the weight of his sins, though those who have karmic burdens to bear certainly find passing Tributions more challenging. But who among Cultivators has not cheated, stolen, killed? No, it is that he has these burdens, yet has never developed a firm, pure heart.” She licked her lips. “While I am very hungry, my sisters have him. His spirit may be Sainted, but it is a false, fwed stru. I would rather rancid meat.” She grinned, pointing to the samurai, as he mao cut a deep wound in Tamamo-no-Mae, but iurn she impaled him with one hand smashing through armour, flesh and bone alike, clutg his still-beati, only to crush it with a single squeeze, a strange, mencholy expression on her face. “This will end it. For him, and for her too. As for you…” She paused, smiling knowingly.

  Oh, he was a good, noble man.

  Yes, a hero. Fighting tht wrongs.

  A, you led him here, alnning to kill him.

  Just a tool. But you said…

  Yes, you said…

  The evil deserve to die, so it was no karmi leading the Yōkai here.

  But what of this? Oh look… a man seeking to merely avenge his deluded sister…

  And another… his kingdom burned, and he seeks restitution…

  Tamamo-no-Mae was desperate now, and she fought, heedless of the injuries accumuting, more s bindihe mortal warriors died, and theher Kitsune offspring and rivals. “I… I never harmed your sister…” She looked down on the man she had just beheaded, as his blood mingled with one of her grandchildren, a feral-looking, twisted Kitsuh blood-red eyes. “…I found her witty and charming, so I took her to see the world. But the world is not kind. She fell in love with oher than I, a noble abroad. Only to eventually be poisoned when she was no longer beautiful. But you, down in Yomi, know that I had that noble fyed, his house burned, all that turned a blind eye impaled, and his try ruined.”

  “You think that justice?” Hisui asked, as the monk screamed, finally broken. “No matter. His heart is hollow. Even revenge was sed to his fear of his life ending. The Dao of Revehe Dao of Hatred, the Dao of Sin. There are many paths one would sider of Yin, but the Heavens and the Earth, just as they are a pair, so too is good and evil, right and wrong, karma. her is right, nor are they wrong, and to be true, darkness must tain some light, and the opposite is true. But he…” She snorted, as the translut monk was torn apart, his body disiing. “…no hollow heart of fear form a Dao worth following.”

  Ugh… so disgusting. I do not like the taste, sisters

  Maybe we should let the Winds have him?

  No, I shall eat! You always only leave me scarps, sisters!

  Yes, bad food is still food. But the elder sisters always take the choicest meals.

  “Not this time. The meal is bad all around.” The e-haired Tiānyì pined. “Such a strong being, easily on par with a Saint, with so much karmic weight… empty, wasted. I found a few dregs, but…”

  “I too lose out, it seems.” Hisui looked at me sorrowfully. “I ot persuade you to accept a peaceful end, rather than being ground down by the Tribution to nothingness?”

  “Peaceful?” I snorted. “I was here to withe end of the Saint of Swallowing Sorrows. Having my spirit, my mind, everything about me, torn apart and used as sustenance doesn’t strike me as better.” I wasn’t certain why I ended up being drawn into his Tribution, seeing his fate, but while I was lihusly with him, I did drag up a few clues. Besides, everyone is fighting for me. Eri’s sending through endless amounts of aether. Such a task is agonising, but everyone is helping. And Daiyu is doing the same with Spirit Water. Though she doesn’t have enough to make a difference, unless…

  Yes, Shaeu is her aid, her all. She is densing every drop she and feeding it to me. We will endure, we will not falter. So you must fight with every speck of will you have too!

  That’s right! Eri chimed in too. It’s only some damn wind and lightning. We used to get thuorms in the mountains all the time! I was scared of them as a child, until one day we were caught in it together with Aiko, and you made it fun for us! Though you got scolded by father-in-w whe home, all covered in mud and ughing.

  Wow, so embarrassing! Even my sis was there. Sorry I ’t be much help bro, but I’ll cheerlead for you. Uh… don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not putting on a short skirt and skimpy top for you though! I’ll just… oh, you know what I mean. I could tell this time she really was joking about the cheerleader outfit, but deg to turables, I sent her a thought back of her, Eri and Daiyu wearing such outfits, jumping and waving pompoms eically. e on, bro, is this the time for jokes, be serious… but… hey, if you survive this, and e back to us safely, I’ll do it. You would tht girls?

  I don’t need a reason to dress up for Akio. Do you Daiyu?

  Such clothes are strange, I have much to learn. But… e bae and I will do anything. Win! My Dao panion do no less!

  As the girls did their best to keep my spirits up, I gri Hisui, tapping my Eye. “I think I survive, you know. Now the monk has failed, and it was his Tribution, the fury is dying down.” My Eye wasn’t much use, looking at either the Lightning or the Wind merely gave me a few brokeences, long strings of question marks, and the fact they were Divine-Css Fate-Type effects, the most powerful I had ever seen. “And as for my Dao… I may not walk a path yet, or have solidified it into a tangible idea, but… I know.” The thing I believe in, want to nurture, want to empower, want to make my strength. It’s easy. “es. The bonds we share. Not just with each other, but with the world itself. This is my world, Hisui. I sometimes get cold feet, it’s hard carrying that weight. The fate of billions on my shoulders, not just humans, but Fae, Yōkai, tless other types of sapient beings I’ve yet to meet… I was just an ordinary guy a few short months ago. Maybe less than ordinary. A coward who ran from es, from attats, never feeling worthy ood enough. But I look at the lives I’ve ged, and saved…” Space colpsed the vision fading, and I was back with Hisui in my own Tribution. Mine-san was the only one remaining there, and she smiled at me.

  “I’ve got to go now. Almost done. You grasped it.” She nodded, proud of me. “The emptiness is filled. Nothing hollow ever resist the Winds.”

  As she started to vanish, I shook my head sadly. “Sorry. It’s all I say. Whoever’s fault it was you died, the fact is you’re dead, and the world’s poorer without you.”

  “Thanks a lot.” Mine-san ughed, looking embarrassed, even as she turransparent. “I’m not her, though there are traces of her in me. I’m the intangible that the Winds gathered to test you. Not real. But what’s not real be real, affect reality, right? Damn, yeah, I really backed the wrong horse in life. Sucks to be me. Maybe if things could have been different…” She vahen, and I finished what I had to say to Hisui.

  “…they outweigh the times I’ve stumbled, the lives I couldn’t save. And so long as I tio stride forwards, w together…” I grinned. “You wao devour me? No thanks. I’ll fight until my st breath. I owe it to the traio Mine-san, to the is who died in Kyoto… to the beings in the Boundary I’ve killed, for reasons good and not so good… but why not take a little look?”

  I lowered my mental defences, and the Tiānyì buzzed around, though if any of them closed in and weren’t shoed off by Hisui, I let off small sparks of the golden Lightning, sending them scurrying away. Hisui looked at me warily, toug her burned cheek. “Trying to kill me? That would be petty vengeand doomed to failure. Though how you el the Lightning?”

  “I ’t. I’m just diverting it a little. Hurts like hell.” I grimaced, Prominence Dusk drawing in tiny sparks, all I could manage now. “Besides, I have something to show you. Why I ’t lose here.”

  With o suspicious look, Hisui vanished, appearing inside my mind. Looking around, she gasped at the shining spiderweb of lights. No, not a spiderweb. Branches.

  “Is this… a tree?” Hisui asked.

  “Yeah. You wonder why I came here? This is your answer. A Tree. Of es, of Bonds.” T within me, my body the trunk, was a series of branches of varying sizes. Some were huge, Eri’s, Shaeu’s, Hyath’s, while others were smaller. Those who I held with Lovers’ Link had rger brahan those who were tied to me by beihroned, Vassage, or Kin Bonding in general, and there were others ected too, where our spirits had touched. There’s even Shinkume-no-Hana now. Having taken hold of her, she has her own branch. And…

  “Very impressive.” Hisui ughed. “A Dao of e. And the Wind…” It was surging into me, trying to erode everything about me, and also reading me, and my memories, my shame, my guilt, my triumphs and losses, happiness and sorrow. And through me… everyone ected to me. Eri was there, trying to transfer all she had to me, all everyone had to me. And the Winds touched them too. Faint, and weak breaths but… through her, the twins, Hotene-san, Mariko-… Mine-san was the only oddity, but perhaps I would uand it in time. Sorry Tribution, but despite my failures, they all knew I tried. You ’t bully me with their sadness. It’s too te for the dead, but for the living… I shall shelter them all uhe shade of my Tree, all our branches woven together…

  “…it has little purchase here. Yes, now if only you could survive the Heavenly Purifying Lightning…”

  He will! Everyone will squeeze out their strength to the st drop topping Akio up! If I get any dissent, I’ll… I’ll force them!

  My bro has this! If only to see Eri, Daiyu and me in lewd outfits. Never doubt my bro being a huge sis, and a stupidly attentive boyfriend to the others!

  I shall Purify him first with Water, so that the Lightning finds him fwless. If there is naught left to Purify, it is merely the fading sparks of an impotent storm.

  As the voices of Eri, my sis and Daiyu echoed within me, reag Hisui, she froze, eyes going wide in stunned shock, and she choked out a thought that I could hear. “How… this is not correct. The Tribution should have… no, wait…” Hisui felt the Winds blowing. “At this distance from the source of the Chaotids… perhaps… it ot tell the differeween your bonds and yourself? How… how do such strong bonds form on a backwater world such as this?” Hisui clutched her head, trying to make sense of it all, and I knew I was smiling wryly.

  You think I know the answer? I get it, I’m shocked too, but… I don’t hate it. Not at all…