Shiro, Shaeu, 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 s, burning in a rainbow of dark cave it a pletely differeo Tokyo. Fortunately, we entered no difficulties as we followed Shaeu’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 frontation. After all, st time I was here I did defeat a couple of powerful denizens…

  “Over there-there.” Shaeu 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 o. 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 Fht 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, acc to the visions from the Kudan apanying 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 isoted unities, and a lot of zombies and i monsters.” I admitted. “But then, I’ve hardly scouted all of Tokyo. The Greater Tokyo area is a big pce.”

  “True.” Shiro ceded. “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 watg us. It was then a rge group of muscur 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, aook a swig, before wiping his mouth messily. “And daughter of Urakaze.” He Shaeu, who returned his greeting with an airy wave of her hand, still fident. “These two are new, no?”

  “Get to the point, will ya?” Blue pined. “We’ve been bored waiting for ya, and now even the booze is running out. I was beginning to think ya were never ing back. That might have been smart.” She she sound deafening. “Some of the Numbers, they’re wagering oher you’d e 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 ughed boomingly. “Blue here always was oo go with her gut. Me…” his smile ged, and his dark gaze was serious. “… I knew you’d e 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 Shaeu then. “Besides, no daughter of hers could be a coward. Old Four Tails pced 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, ughter broke out amongst the watg Parade, a mixture of hoots, growls and g. 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, I get in on that? I’m willing to wager that we’ll walk out of here alive.” I said fidently.

  “Indeed.” Shaeu grinned. “I see-see several Kamaitachi and other weasel Yokai watg us. Do hurry along and tell my mother I have e-e to cim the true bodyguards and servants I romised. I have great-great need of them.”

  “Uh, Aki, you’re being quite forceful here.” Shiro whispered. “retty outnumbered, and they all seem strong.” Daiyu nodded, not uanding 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 wele is so… unweling. It’s rather disappointing.”

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

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

  “Fine.” Red decred. “I admit to being curious about how this’ll all py 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 make good on that tonight.” I smiled at the sudden look of i in the eyes of Red and Blue. “But before that, business, right? We shouldn’t keep Nurarihyon waiting, and Shaeu wants to reuh her main.”

  “This way.” Blue gestured, and we swept down several twisting streets, until we reached a rger 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 st meeting. Fires were burning here, great bohe fmes yellourple, and thousand more Yokai were milling about, a crazed cironsters. Wait, is that…

  Seeing where I was looking, Red ughed. “Yes, that’s him.” The golden cage, hoisted high on a long, shaved tree-trunk, was dangling on golden s, a sad, barely scious 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, reag for Cutting Twilight, only to see it was the four-tailed foxwoman. She then darted backwards as a bde of wind furrowed the ground where she was standing, Shaeu gring 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, fnked by fe, powerful looking Kamaitachi, two male and two female. “You foxes are sreatly irritating.”

  “Ihey are, my dear mother.” Shaeu 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 uood 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 twitg 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 sce when Shiro says that. Before I could answer her, Shaeu spoke for me. “Of course I uand 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. “Uhey pledge heart-heart and soul, uhey 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 reasht?”

  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 hant and insihat sounds. So while I’m sure you’d be… fun…” the kitsune s 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 stant…”

  ”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 ied 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 s, small bars of preetals, Etherites and more were ging hands, some thrown by the crowd at her feet. Urakaze was colleg some as well, from Blue, who had a sour look on her face as she handed over a neckce made from what looked like bck pearls.

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

  “Aki, you bastard. Give me some warning first!” she pined, 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 ter. After all, when you are healed, you’ll have no excuse to stay isoted. You’re no lohe 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 thaive. “Such divine power. No, deeper, more.” She shuddered. “How I would love to explore your body, finding all your secrets, uning 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 tret it.” I warned. “Shiro’s mine.”

  At my words she g to me tighter, and Shaeu ughed. The kitsune merely shrugged. “Selfish indeed, h 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 swayily, even g the breeze. I could see Yamato-san inside, and his eyes were open, though I could detect little scioushere. 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 ughed. “Cursed ya out something bad too, saying it was all your fault. I ’t stand a weakling who ’t take responsibility for his own as. 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 ughed. Urakaze was watg, stone-faced, and I was once more reminded of how dangerous, alien, the Hyakki Yagyō was. “It flowed like the fi sake, and hty and vengeful Lord Nurarihyon leased. It assuaged our humiliation.” Her grin was hidden behind her fan, but I could imagi 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 sidering a challeo you, daughter. Though they had best-wisest not be foolish. Now is not-he time for such.”

  “Indeed.” Shaeu addressed the crowd. “I am Shaeu Tu Shae Dannan, daughter of Urakaze, the Tweh, 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 su honorific, perhaps to respect her mother. “I will make myself avaible 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 tinue.”

  “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 aurhat ends the matter for me.”

  “For all of us.” The kitsune agreed. “Well, many may still resent the oute, but those who disagree, they 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 happeo him. That gives others pause. So our little toy here, it was quite a shame when it broke so easily. At quite the veiming too.”

  Again, I’ve dohing wrong by the terms of reement. “Well, I 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 bme onto us. And his power came from Kannht? 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 iing. 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 e. “I see inside him, and pared 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 ly. 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 geing a little adherence…”

  “True.” The kitsune agreed. “Well, aren’t you quite the clever one. I’m impressed. Perhaps I shall win the sed part of ers after all.” She looked around, smiling. “Well, ain 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, spshing to the ground ag a small ke into the park, several unlucky Yokai filing and spshing in the sudden deluge before dragging themselves out of the water. Seeing this, the Yokai turo the ke and bowed, which was ical in a lot of cases, as their forms were quite unsuited to it. A vast shape the from the open door to the rger space within the shrine, and spshed down into the water below.

  “What the hell?” Shiro uzzled by the sudde, and Daiyu was raising Qi, ready to defend herself, but with a gesture I stopped them. Floating ier was now a very strange creature. It was a massive fish, a dozeres long, with the face of a dragon, and a wide, chubby body. A long tail, split into taving 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 sh 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. “her 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 e greet uests 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 as, I have no wishes of my own.” She gred 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 st?”

  Yeah, while Nurarihyon radiates menace, and he was threatenih nearly every sentence, I’d say his wife here is just as scary. “I have no wishes, dy Seirei. Only hopes and a fair exge. My panions also wouldn’t dream of wishing for anything from you. You should save yifts for your husband, who no doubt cherishes them and you.” I’ll dle oery…

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

  “So, you are the wife of Nurarihyon, dy Seirei? As one-one of the Hyakki Yagyō now, I greet you and offer you my respect.” Shaeu dispyed her iquette. Shiro stood frozen, uo e 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 bck 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 ugh now, her tails wagging happily, as the barbed words flew at us. Putting that aside, I tinued. “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 st mercy from Kannon, shielding him from torment. But I am sure Nurarihyon is more ied in the bigger prize. The defeat of the golden-eyed monster. I have brought the one who defeat it.” Stepping aside, I revealed a nervous Shiro, who looked at me accusatorially.

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

  “Indeed. I have heard a little about these prophecies and this creature.” Tan decred, 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 ke to cool her off. “However, I am not pleased at being pelled to serve the ends of others, without suitable… pensation. After all, I thirst for strength.” Tan tinued.

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

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

  Many of the Yokai seemed armed by Tan’s presence, drawing away, only the kitsune, Red and Blue, and Urakaze seeming rgely unphased. Seirei stood motionless, before leaping down off the strange dragon-faced fish she rode on the created ke, nding 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 pensation?” 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, joio 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 g the hanging cage, where Yamato-san was hanging, mumbling to himself, mind seemingly shattered, eyes vat. 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 do her best.”

  “I suspect my dear husband wishes circumstances were far different, and he could freely chastise your arrogance.” Seirei snorted. “As, such a wish is beyond even my power.” With that she gestured, and all of a sudden the fish disappeared, the ke 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 ughter. “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 bdes and whips rather than booze.”

  Is it that weird fish? Is it the healer? If so, sidering 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 , and then a ripe body in a deep bck 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 ged at all.” The beautiful woman decred. “Well, other than growing a ail, I see. Four. Well, you have a long way to go to reaother.” At that she ighe kitsune, looking at me, her eyes searg. “So, you are the ohat the Lord states I must aid. You seem well to me, as does…” she gnced across Shaeu, ign her, gave a brief iion to Daiyu, frowning, before looking at Tan and Shiro, letting out a long, drawn out breath, some dark ke water trig 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 fwed shell. Even from here, I feel the poisoned adhereinging my skin. It seems impossible that weak mortal could have survived this long, burdened by su atrophied, long-starved spiritual body, as well as the strain of your enta, and the poison….” She flicked out her toasting the air. “… not your adherence. One of ws, broken promises. Some of the nastiest kind.”

  She’s good. I hope she heal as well as she analyse. “Of course she’s still alive. Shiro’s a fighter, and she only suffered those broken oaths because she wao 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 ’t fight properly like this, and their strength is needed. And to see her so wounded, scarred, I hate it… you heal her, Bintara? I know Nurarihyon has asked you to, but you’ll have my gratitude as well.” I bowed low, impl.

  “ I?” she sighed, more water trig 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 fming hair, steam rising as water met fmes.

  “Yes.” Bintara tutted, dark eyes knowing. “Such dark adhereruly the divihat 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…” Shaeu decred, 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 w arm clutg 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 decred, before 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 pced 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 turo 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, allowio do my work, my arms around Shiro, as tears streamed from her eye and her empty socket, which was twisting with audible crag noises.

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

  With one final, harrowing g sound, Shiro would have colpsed if I wasn’t holding her. She let out a series of long, tasps, while Bintara was also breathing heavily, her skin pale and cmmy, dark water leaking from her as sweat. “For now, I shall require rest.” She gasped, spshing bato the ke, floating there like someo 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 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 ’t see a damn thing…” she flinched, her fiips 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 ’t say I appreciate the pain.”

  “With such a divine curse responsible for your wounds, you should be grateful I even aid you. Do not think you are rec 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 fident of healing Shiro pletely, 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 disappoi again.

  “Such a feat is not beyohough it will take some time and much effort.” Bintara said. “Lord Nurarihyon expects effort in equal measure to mine own iurn, wheime for battle es 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 ged 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 redug her pain will be wele. The poisoned adherence is rooted deep, and I am stymied at easy removal due to her tangled work. 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 p from her eyes, clutg me tightly. “… I…”

  “Best let her cry.” Shaeu decred softly as I held the trembling, bawling Shiro, while Yokai around us looked on, bemused. Turning to Daiyu she expined what was going on in ese, leadio nod sympathetically. Turning bae, Shaeu grinned. “I too know what it is-is to see an impossible dream e into yrasp. 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 heal-heal Shiro. I shall not-not fet this favour…”

  Nor shall I. Nurarihyon may be ag out of self-i, but I care about results. And if Shiro 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 favreement or not…