On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Shiro, Shaeula, Daiyu and I moved through the streets of Kyoto, the silver skies above illuminating the many buildings and odd structures around us. Lanterns strung overhead on long chains, burning in a rainbow of dark colours, gave it a completely different feel to Tokyo. Fortunately, we encountered no difficulties as we followed Shaeula’s lead towards the Night Parade, the few creatures out and about in Kyoto either in other areas or steering clear of us. Perhaps they fear a confrontation. After all, last time I was here I did defeat a couple of powerful denizens…

“Over there-there.” Shaeula pointed elegantly, and already we could see numerous strange and frightening Yokai perched on the surrounding buildings, looking down on us. There were Oni, Kitsune, Kappa, Tengu and many weirder creatures that I couldn’t even put a name to. The atmosphere seemed… tense… somehow, far less boisterous than the raucous festivities that we had witnessed in our prior meetings, and I was starting to get a bad feeling. It’s not Foresight or anything like that, but I do feel a bit… wary.

Daiyu was on edge, seeing so many dwellers of the Spirit World before her, and she moved closer to me instinctively, readying herself for battle. Shiro, meanwhile, was only curious, perhaps trusting my words that Nurarihyon wanted, no, needed her cooperation, according to the visions from the Kudan accompanying him.

“This is seriously amazing, Aki. We’ve nothing like this in Tokyo, do we?” she gushed, her curiosity and instincts piqued.

“Not that I’ve found, just isolated communities, and a lot of zombies and insect monsters.” I admitted. “But then, I’ve hardly scouted all of Tokyo. The Greater Tokyo area is a big place.”

“True.” Shiro conceded. “By the way Aki, girls don’t like it when you nit-pick at everything they say! Just some advice from this princess.”

“I’m sure my sis has told me that before.” I said, a wry smile on my face, happy she had tried to lighten the mood. We slowed to a halt, the Yokai, thousands of them, still watching us. It was then a large group of muscular Oni came through the streets towards us, led by the familiar sight of Red and Blue. On seeing us, Red’s face curled into quite the malicious grin, his fangs showing, bone white against his crimson flesh.

“Well, we meet again, little man-thing.” He had a gourd over one shoulder, and he took a swig, before wiping his mouth messily. “And daughter of Urakaze.” He nodded at Shaeula, who returned his greeting with an airy wave of her hand, still confident. “These two are new, no?”

“Get to the point, will ya?” Blue complained. “We’ve been bored waiting for ya, and now even the booze is running out. I was beginning to think ya were never coming back. That might have been smart.” She snorted, the sound deafening. “Some of the Numbers, they’re wagering on whether you’d come back, or whether ya’d survive if ya did.” She paused, her smile grim. “My tally was on ya not returning. Guess I lose.”

“Har. Har. Har.” Red laughed boomingly. “Blue here always was one to go with her gut. Me…” his smile changed, and his dark gaze was serious. “… I knew you’d come back. After you walked out of here, the old Kijo bitch dead and gone. You’ve got guts, for a foolish little creature.” He looked at Shaeula then. “Besides, no daughter of hers could be a coward. Old Four Tails placed all her treasures on your return too, and your survival. That…” he belched, and I could smell the stink from here, Shiro and Daiyu looking disgusted. “… I’m not so sure about.”

At his words, laughter broke out amongst the watching Parade, a mixture of hoots, growls and cawing. Well, this is about Yamato-san, right? But it’s not like I broke any agreements. I left him there, alive, just as I promised. Though I admit that’s only the words, not the spirit of the agreement. “Well, can I get in on that? I’m willing to wager that we’ll walk out of here alive.” I said confidently.

“Indeed.” Shaeula grinned. “I can see-see several Kamaitachi and other weasel Yokai watching us. Do hurry along and tell my mother I have come-come to claim the true bodyguards and servants I was promised. I have great-great need of them.”

“Uh, Aki, you’re being quite forceful here.” Shiro whispered. “We are pretty outnumbered, and they all seem strong.” Daiyu nodded, not understanding her words but getting the idea from her facial expression and tone.

“There’s nothing to worry about.” I said loudly. “In fact, I’ve no idea why our welcome is so… unwelcoming. It’s rather disappointing.”

“No idea, ya sure?” Blue chuckled bitterly.

“Yes, I’m sure. So, shall we go? I need to speak to Nurarihyon.” I said fearlessly. I’m still confident that we have the upper hand in negotiations here. After all, he needs Shiro and Tan more than we need him, I’d say.

“Fine.” Red declared. “I admit to being curious about how this’ll all play out. No matter, if you die, I’ll pour out what little booze I have left for you, just like I did for that foolish idiot that was my bro.” he tapped at the gourd.

“Oh yeah, I promised you some booze, didn’t I? Well, it so happens we can make good on that tonight.” I smiled at the sudden look of interest in the eyes of Red and Blue. “But before that, business, right? We shouldn’t keep Nurarihyon waiting, and Shaeula wants to reunite with her mother again.”

“This way.” Blue gestured, and we swept down several twisting streets, until we reached a larger open area, a modest park, where the massive snake-drawn pagoda-style shrine house was waiting, along with the massive carriages and stranger dwellings from our last meeting. Fires were burning here, great bonfires, the flames yellow and purple, and thousand more Yokai were milling about, a crazed circus of monsters. Wait, is that…

Seeing where I was looking, Red laughed. “Yes, that’s him.” The golden cage, hoisted high on a long, shaved tree-trunk, was dangling on golden chains, a sad, barely conscious figure in rags within. “Our prize.” Ugh, the golden bars below the cage are rather… rusty-looking.

“Not that it was as rewarding as we hoped.” A voice said suddenly in my ear, a brush of warm flesh against my cheek. I jumped, reaching for Cutting Twilight, only to see it was the four-tailed foxwoman. She then darted backwards as a blade of wind furrowed the ground where she was standing, Shaeula glaring at her, irritated.

“Well, is that any way to greet your senior in the Numbers?” the Kitsune grinned, seemingly pleased at her joke. “Your mother would be so sad you are treating me poorly.”

“I would have no-none issues if she carved you apart with her winds.” Urakaze disagreed, emerging from the crowd, flanked by four large, powerful looking Kamaitachi, two male and two female. “You foxes are so very-greatly irritating.”

“Indeed they are, my dear mother.” Shaeula agreed, smirking. “Father has his share of troubles with foxes as well-well. As for this one, she should keep her hands off-off what does not-not belong to her!”

“Really? How sad for me.” The kitsune sighed theatrically, rubbing at her eyes and shedding what were clearly a scattering of fake tears across her beautiful face. “I believed you were one who understood a man of power should have many dalliances with the beautiful, wise and powerful.” She licked at her sensual lips, and tugged at the chest of her yukata, exposing an expanse of creamy white cleavage, her golden tails twitching behind her.

“Shit, Aki. I do not approve of her.” Shiro pouted, a bit lost but making her own interpretation of events. “This one’s no good, she strikes me as a bit of a slut. She won’t remain faithful! You’d never be sure her children are yours!”

Uh, I feel a sting in my conscience when Shiro says that. Before I could answer her, Shaeula spoke for me. “Of course I understand that. How could I not-not? And I am indeed proud of all-all the females, my sisters, that Akio has chosen. They are beautiful, wise and strive to better-better themselves, and support Akio as he does what he surely must-must. But dalliances?” she snorted, disgusted. “Unless they can pledge heart-heart and soul, unless they seek eternity together with him and us, I have no-no use for them. Nor for you-you.” she snorted. “Shiro is indeed correct. You are not-not faithful, are you fox? If Akio wishes to seek pleasure, we are here. There is no-no room for you!”

“Well said.” Shiro agreed, blushing. “As for the pleasure bit, Aki, uh… well, soon, I hope? After all, we are here for a reason, right?”

Yes, we are. Feeling a bit sorry for the overwhelmed Daiyu, who was only here as leaving her with the others was a bit cruel, I nodded. “Yeah, sorry, but I promised to be loyal to those I cherish, no matter how arrogant and insincere that sounds. So while I’m sure you’d be… fun…” the kitsune snorted at that. “… I think the price would be rather too high for my tastes.”

“I see.” She smiled. “Well, it is quite true that we foxes are always seeking pleasure. Tamamo-no-Mae, may she rest wherever she now dwells, was said to have a thousand lovers after all, and her blood burns in all of us foxes of many tails.” Her smile was now wicked. “But perhaps if you were strong enough to dominate me, body and soul, I would be constant…”

”Enough.” Urakaze growled. “I have no wish-hope to see my daughter’s husband wasting his time and love-passion on you. Get to the point-reason you are here.”

“You’re no fun. Your daughter seems to have inherited your prickly nature.” The kitsune sighed, pulling out a beautiful fan and snapping it open, shading her face. “Well, greetings. You have returned. As I wagered you would.” There were grins and cheers regarding that, and old coins, small bars of precious metals, Etherites and more were changing hands, some thrown by the crowd at her feet. Urakaze was collecting some as well, from Blue, who had a sour look on her face as she handed over a necklace made from what looked like black pearls.

“Of course. We have common purpose. I have brought the one Nurarihyon wishes to meet, and who requires a healer which was promised to us.” I gestured to Shiro.

“Aki, you bastard. Give me some warning first!” she complained, her single eye looking down shyly. “You know I’m pretty much a shut-in, apart from you and the gang. I don’t do well with people I don’t know, let alone a crowd this big. A crowd of Yokai!”

“You’ll be fine. You have to get used to this sooner or later. After all, when you are healed, you’ll have no excuse to stay isolated. You’re no longer the weak and fragile Shiro, but Shirohime, noble princess of the Hungry Ghosts!”

“Ugh, I know I ask you to call me Shirohime, but it feels weirdly unpleasant when you do… but I guess it did make me feel a little better.” She sighed.

“I see.” The kitsune darted closer, and Shiro hid behind me. “How marvellously shy. And I sense something within you, buried close to the surface.” She licked her lips, hungry now rather than seductive. “Such divine power. No, deeper, more.” She shuddered. “How I would love to explore your body, finding all your secrets, unwrapping them one by…” the kitsune jumped back, sensing my anger. “I see. I got carried away again.” she apologised. “But when your wounds are healed, I dare say you will be a true beauty. Letting that pass is something I will regret forever…”

“Well, at least you’ll be alive to regret it.” I warned. “Shiro’s mine.”

At my words she clung to me tighter, and Shaeula laughed. The kitsune merely shrugged. “Selfish indeed, hoarding so many treasures for your own. Well, I do so like a strong man. But enough of this.” She gestured to the cage, which was swaying gently, even lacking the breeze. I could see Yamato-san inside, and his eyes were open, though I could detect little consciousness there. His body was crisscrossed with cuts and scars, and it looked like he had suffered other indignities, his hands bare of nails.

“Such a shame. He seemed so… vigorous at first, struggling and screaming.” The kitsune said.

“Ya, he cried like a child.” Blue laughed. “Cursed ya out something bad too, saying it was all your fault. I can’t stand a weakling who can’t take responsibility for his own actions. How about ya, Red?”

He snorted. “No way, I hate cowards. Even my stupid bro, who I’m sure was the product of an affair now, died in battle. Poor dumb bastard.”

“Such sweet despair.” The kitsune laughed. Urakaze was watching, stone-faced, and I was once more reminded of how dangerous, alien, the Hyakki Yagyō was. “It flowed like the finest sake, and our mighty and vengeful Lord Nurarihyon was pleased. It assuaged our humiliation.” Her grin was hidden behind her fan, but I could imagine it was ugly.

“The Parade suffered many losses.” Urakaze agreed. “Many-most of the Numbers and their followers, they were angry. Even now, some are likely-certain to be considering a challenge to you, daughter. Though they had best-wisest not be foolish. Now is not-never the time for such.”

“Indeed.” Shaeula addressed the crowd. “I am Shaeula Tu Shae Dannan, daughter of Urakaze, the Twentieth, and Prince Shaetanao Gar Shae Dannan, one of the noble-noble Princes of the Seelie Court. I respect the traditions of both the Fae and the Yokai. But as my mother says, now is not-not the time for a challenge. We are here on business with … Lord Nurarihyon.” She felt it better to award him such an honorific, perhaps to respect her mother. “I will make myself available for challenge soon. Perhaps it will not-not be as difficult as you think to find me.” She snorted. “Now, do excuse me, mother. Please continue.”

“There is little-nothing else to say.” Urakaze shrugged. “We are creatures of strength. The Kijo Matriarch perished, and your… husband…” she eyed me judgingly. “… he met our Lord and returned. That ends the matter for me.”

“For all of us.” The kitsune agreed. “Well, many may still resent the outcome, but those who disagree, they can simply prove their will by force of arms.” She snorted. “My poor, foolish fox, who perished at your hands…” she waved her fan. “… well, we all saw what happened to him. That gives others pause. So our little toy here, it was quite a shame when it broke so easily. At quite the convenient timing too.”

Again, I’ve done nothing wrong by the terms of our agreement. “Well, I can think of several reasons. He… well, he wasn’t the most mentally strong, was he? Otherwise he would have taken responsibility for his own mistakes, not pushed the blame onto us. And his power came from Kannon, right? A Goddess of Mercy. Perhaps she withdrew her favour? Since he had acted in a way that went against her will?”

“There are no divine beings that have any mercy for the weak like us.” The kitsune sighed. “Well, that is quite interesting. How do you know that the touch of foul divinity on him has gone, his adherence diminished?”

“Easy.” I tapped my Eye, which burned a brilliant orange. “I can see inside him, and compared to before, he’s pretty wrecked. I have experience, so I saw immediately.” Yeah, there’s still a few fragments lingering, it was hardly torn out cleanly. Perhaps that’s why it’s a little weaker now Aiko has it. It’ll take time for the Divine Favour to bed in and recover the damaged areas, I’d guess… “It looks like he’s still generating a little adherence…”

“True.” The kitsune agreed. “Well, aren’t you quite the clever one. I’m impressed. Perhaps I shall win the second part of our wagers after all.” She looked around, smiling. “Well, our gain is far more disappointing than we hoped, so you’ll have to excuse us if we are… disappointed. But yes, you are here for a reason.”

The great doorway to the shrine-home of Nurarihyon opened, and out came a gushing flood of dark water, splashing to the ground and etching a small lake into the park, several unlucky Yokai flailing and splashing in the sudden deluge before dragging themselves out of the water. Seeing this, the Yokai turned to the lake and bowed, which was comical in a lot of cases, as their forms were quite unsuited to it. A vast shape then leapt from the open door to the larger space within the shrine, and splashed down into the water below.

“What the hell?” Shiro was puzzled by the sudden event, and Daiyu was raising Qi, ready to defend herself, but with a gesture I stopped them. Floating in the water was now a very strange creature. It was a massive fish, a dozen metres long, with the face of a dragon, and a wide, chubby body. A long tail, split into two, was waving behind it, and as the doors to the temple shut, I realised I could see a familiar face upon the back of this fish Yokai. It’s that doll Yokai. Seirei. Nurarihyon’s wife.

One of the most powerful Yokai here, a massive snake with a wizened, bearded human face, slithered over, belly on the ground. “Great Lady Seirei, it has been too long. I offer you my praises!”

“It has indeed. So, what do you wish for, snake?” she answered solemnly.

“I could not dare dream of wishing for anything.” He intoned subserviently. “Neither I nor my daughters would dream of requesting anything from Lady Seirei, when you have so graciously presented yourself before us.”

“Most wise.” She pursed her small lips, adjusting her golden sash. “My husband, he wishes for me to come greet our guests in his stead. He is mightily angry, his wrath supreme. If I was bold enough to wish, able to, I would only wish that his anger would diminish, the object of his ire to be removed, destroyed. But alas, I have no wishes of my own.” She glared at us then. “We meet again, it seems fortune is not kind. What do you wish for this day, which perhaps my dear husband should wish is your last?”

Yeah, while Nurarihyon radiates menace, and he was threatening me with nearly every sentence, I’d say his wife here is just as scary. “I have no wishes, lady Seirei. Only hopes and a fair exchange. My companions also wouldn’t dream of wishing for anything from you. You should save your gifts for your husband, who no doubt cherishes them and you.” I’ll ladle on the flattery…

“I have seen many strange things already.” Daiyu muttered. “But this is perhaps the strangest of all. Perhaps only those from Kunlun would have seen such sights.”

“So, you are the wife of Nurarihyon, lady Seirei? As one-one of the Hyakki Yagyō now, I greet you and offer you my respect.” Shaeula displayed her noble etiquette. Shiro stood frozen, unable to come up with anything to say, so I grasped her hand behind my back, squeezing her reassuringly.

“Well, my dear wishes me back at his side. He told me he definitely did not wish to have the sly cheat who devalued his prize drowned in the depthless black waters of his sea, nor did he wish for such a person to share the fate of the fool in the golden cage.” She took a breath. “My dear is generous and kind, he will overlook such a transgression, even if he does not wish to.”

The kitsune was barking a laugh now, her tails wagging happily, as the barbed words flew at us. Putting that aside, I continued. “Well, I do feel bad for Yamato-san. I don’t think the fate he received was justified, it seems disproportionate. Yes, people died, and at the time I could have happily killed him, but when I calmed down… well, perhaps it’s a last mercy from Kannon, shielding him from torment. But I am sure Nurarihyon is more interested in the bigger prize. The defeat of the golden-eyed monster. I have brought the one who can defeat it.” Stepping aside, I revealed a nervous Shiro, who looked at me accusatorially.

“Aki, I hate making a spectacle of myself, you know that!” she mouthed at me, before Tan took over, a small mercy perhaps. Her eye and hair turned crimson, and flames started licking at her long locks.

“Indeed. I have heard a little about these prophecies and this creature.” Tan declared, drawing awed and fearful gasps from the Yokai around us. The kitsune was flushed and breathing heavily, tails writhing, and I felt the urge to toss her in the lake to cool her off. “However, I am not pleased at being compelled to serve the ends of others, without suitable… compensation. After all, I thirst for strength.” Tan continued.

“You should not be here!” Seirei gasped, eyes going wide. “You are reeking of divinity, such a being cannot possibly stand here without tearing apart the fragile balance of the Boundary!”

“Yet here I stand.” Tan said mockingly. “You should be most thankful I am here. For if this threat is as grave as you fear, it will take strength such as mine to face it. For the compensation.”

Many of the Yokai seemed alarmed by Tan’s presence, drawing away, only the kitsune, Red and Blue, and Urakaze seeming largely unphased. Seirei stood motionless, before leaping down off the strange dragon-faced fish she rode on the created lake, landing softly. Striding forwards on short legs, she gazed at Tan, troubled.

“I have no doubt my dear has little wish to trust such as you. But he has no choice.” She sniffed, saddened. “Do you wish for compensation?” she asked. That’s not good.

My expectations were betrayed though, as Tan merely smiled, tilting her head arrogantly, fiery hair streaming out behind her. “No, I do not wish for such. It is he who wishes the princess healed. I admit to wanting such as well. After all, to dwell here, joined to a wounded body, is quite pitiable for a being as noble as I. But that is no wish.” Her eye gleamed ruby red. “Your ability to twist causality is indeed powerful, creature. Passing off the price to those that wish is clever. So we shall not wish, but demand. Show us this healer, before my patience grows thinner. I am so very thirsty, after all.”

“I hear you.” Red chuckled, only to be silenced as Blue cuffed him, hissing at him to be silent.

“Yes.” I glanced at the hanging cage, where Yamato-san was hanging, mumbling to himself, mind seemingly shattered, eyes vacant. I paid the price because I wasn’t strong enough to save him. But if I don’t get the healer to help Shiro, then was the price worth paying? “I’m sorry the Parade seems unsatisfied, but we agreed to help each other, and I’m here to do just that. Now we need help healing Shiro, so she and Tan can do her best.”

“I suspect my dear husband wishes circumstances were far different, and he could freely chastise your arrogance.” Seirei snorted. “Alas, such a wish is beyond even my power.” With that she gestured, and all of a sudden the fish disappeared, the lake water rippling. “But my dear did wish that the one needed should recover from her wounds. Be grateful.”

“Is that… Har. Har. Har.” Red grunted out a series of slow laughter. “It’s been a long time since we saw two of the Single Digits, right Blue?”

“Shut up, will ya? If ya draw the ire of Lady Seirei, it’ll be ya up in the cages, enjoying the taste of blades and whips rather than booze.”

Is it that weird fish? Is it the healer? If so, considering it came out from Nurarihyon’s Territory with his wife, it must be powerful… The water rippled, and suddenly two purple horns broke the surface, swiftly followed by long indigo hair, and a feminine, elegant face with dark eyes. Bare shoulders were next, and then a ripe body in a deep black gown. Soon the horned woman, looking nothing like the Oni, with their crude, angry features, was ashore, dripping dark water, the hem of her robe trailing behind her bare feet.

“Bintara, it has been a long time.” The kitsune giggled. “Have you been well, hidden away with Lord Nurarihyon?”

“Nebisuki, I see you have hardly changed at all.” The beautiful woman declared. “Well, other than growing a new tail, I see. Four. Well, you have a long way to go to reach your mother.” At that she ignored the kitsune, looking at me, her eyes searching. “So, you are the one that the Lord states I must aid. You seem well to me, as does…” she glanced across Shaeula, ignoring her, gave a brief inspection to Daiyu, frowning, before looking at Tan and Shiro, letting out a long, drawn out breath, some dark lake water trickling from her lips. “I see.”

“Well, what do you see, fishwoman?” Tan asked, and Bintara tossed her head, irritated.

“I am no fishwoman, foolish divinity, trapped inside such a flawed shell. Even from here, I can feel the poisoned adherence stinging my skin. It seems impossible that weak mortal could have survived this long, burdened by such an atrophied, long-starved spiritual body, as well as the strain of your entanglement, and the poison….” She flicked out her tongue, tasting the air. “… not your adherence. One of laws, broken promises. Some of the nastiest kind.”

She’s good. I hope she can heal as well as she can analyse. “Of course she’s still alive. Shiro’s a fighter, and she only suffered those broken oaths because she wanted to protect me and others, not for her own gain. And Tan is doing her part. She helped me to save her. But… well, Shiro and Tan can’t fight properly like this, and their strength is needed. And to see her so wounded, scarred, I hate it… can you heal her, Bintara? I know Nurarihyon has asked you to, but you’ll have my gratitude as well.” I bowed low, imploring.

“Can I?” she sighed, more water trickling down her body, her hair leaking it over her bare shoulders. “I am the Bitan, the first Bitan, she who heals all ills, and brings life even to the dying.” She looked at Shiro once more. “Let me see, foolish host to a divine parasite.” She reached out, and Tan quivered under her touch, as she stroked the savage scars around Shiro’s empty eye socket, brushing aside the flaming hair, steam rising as water met flames.

“Yes.” Bintara tutted, dark eyes knowing. “Such dark adherence. Truly the divine that seek to bind are cruel. But…” she sucked in a breath, and Tan shuddered as some of the energy was drawn in. Bintara rolled it around her mouth with a disgusted expression, before swallowing. “…little pleases the Hyakki Yagyō more than denying them their due.”

“Wait, Shiro, those scars…” Shaeula declared, excited, her eye glowing. “They are surely fading, I know I am not-not mistaken!”

My own Eye glowed, and though my ability to see adherence was low, I could definitely notice the difference around Shiro’s eye. As more was sucked out, she let out a cry of pain, her working arm clutching at her face, her hair shading to silver once more, as the sun yielding to the moon.

“I shall allow you this pleasure. If I remain at the forefront, I will likely suffer at her hands.” Tan declared, before offering some parting words as she went to her slumber. “Princess, I am happy for you.”

“Wait, this… fuck. Shit. Aki, this hurts, this hurts badly!” Shiro cried in agony, panting.

Stepping over, I placed my hand on her back, allowing my Ether Healing to numb her sense of pain. As my Ether soaked towards whatever Bintara was doing, she turned to me, an angry expression on her face, before pausing, puzzled.

“I… you have some skills. Inferior. Pathetic even. But if you study for a few hundred years, perhaps you could prove worthy.” She sniffed, allowing me to do my work, my arms around Shiro, as tears streamed from her eye and her empty socket, which was twisting with audible cracking noises.

She’s drawing out the adherence, that is easy to see, and doing that causes horrible damage, just like when we tried, and should be causing further adherence to spring forth, making it worse, but she’s managing it… and more…

With one final, harrowing crunching sound, Shiro would have collapsed if I wasn’t holding her. She let out a series of long, tortured gasps, while Bintara was also breathing heavily, her skin pale and clammy, dark water leaking from her as sweat. “For now, I shall require rest.” She gasped, splashing back into the lake, floating there like someone at the beach, hair and robes spreading out.

“I’m… ugh, I’m not all right.” Shiro shuddered. “Maybe being hideous is better than enduring that. It felt like my whole body was being pulled apart. But… Aki, do you think…?” she paused as I gently brushed aside her bangs.

“Yeah, the scars have definitely shrank a little. It’s subtle, but I can tell. There’s a hint of new flesh around the edges. And…” I managed in wonder. “Shiro, your eye!”

“My eye? What about it?” she asked.

“It’s there! An eye!” I half-shouted. The milky orb was dead, clearly, and Shiro wasn’t aware there was anything in her scarred, battered socket, but it was clearly new. I wonder if this has appeared in her Material body as well.

“Are you sure, I can’t see a damn thing…” she flinched, her fingertips brushing the surface. “…uh… yeah. I guess there is something here.” She said quietly, before turning to the floating Yokai. “Thanks, I guess? Though I can’t say I appreciate the pain.”

“With such a divine curse responsible for your wounds, you should be grateful I can even aid you. Do not think you are recovering the adherence I extract, that belongs to Lord Nurarihyon, I shall offer it as tribute.”

“Uh, no, I don’t care about that crap. Do you, Aki?” she asked me, and I shook my head.

“No, I just care about getting you healed. Nothing else. Excuse me, Bintara, may I ask… are you confident of healing Shiro completely, and even her Material body?” Shiro tensed in my arms at the question, and the expression on her face was a mixture of hope and despair, ready to accept disappointment again.

“Such a feat is not beyond me, though it will take some time and much effort.” Bintara said. “Lord Nurarihyon expects effort in equal measure to mine own in return, when the time for battle comes against this dark creature, who belongs here as little as this parasite does.”

“So, she’ll recover fully, even the scars?” I pressed.

“Do not make me repeat myself. I am the first Bitan, fool. My very talents changed me, made me immortal, a Yokai. You insult me to think I would leave a woman scarred. Men treasure their wounds, women are cursed by them. Apt, in this case. In time, I shall surely repair her, all of her.” She looked at me then, eyes glittering. “Perhaps your aid in reducing her pain will be welcome. The poisoned adherence is rooted deep, and I am stymied at easy removal due to her tangled network. If I am not cautious, I shall remove the parasite as well, and she shall surely perish. Not that I would ever make such a foolish error.”

“You hear that?” I said to Shiro, happiness surging through me. “It’ll be all right. I told you we’d get you back to the beautiful girl you’ve always been.”

“I… yes. Yes, I heard Aki. I… I… awa… I…” her words became unintelligible as she sobbed, tears pouring from her eyes, clutching me tightly. “… I…”

“Best let her cry.” Shaeula declared softly as I held the trembling, bawling Shiro, while Yokai around us looked on, bemused. Turning to Daiyu she explained what was going on in Chinese, leading her to nod sympathetically. Turning back to me, Shaeula grinned. “I too know what it is-is to see an impossible dream come into your grasp. So for now, let her release her pent-up sorrows.” Turning to Bintara, she bowed, this time with noticeably more respect than she showed Seirei. “I too am in your debt, if you can heal-heal Shiro. I shall not-not forget this favour…”

Nor shall I. Nurarihyon may be acting out of self-interest, but I care about results. And if Shiro can truly smile again from the heart, like she used to when we were in Bar Sekirei, or at Uni, or talking shit about games and manga… then I’ll return the favour, agreement or not…