(Inuko POV - Mountain Trail - Midmorning - Next Day)

After the incident with the macaques things had been quiet and uneventful last night. For the first time in what seemed like a long while...

Minus waking up to the kit kicking me in the face in his sleep.

Had no idea when he moved next to me, last I knew Shippō was curled up near Y/N.

Despite the rude awakening we managed to gather everything up and started the trek up the mountain. Mainly it has been quiet for the most part, especially from the kit.

After he apologized multiple times for kicking me awake.

Overall things have been calm for the most part...except for one thing...

"You still worried that something might happen?" I asked Y/N, getting him to sigh.

He had been hanging back during the trek along the mountain side. Looking at either side of the trail for any hiding spots or up ahead. Me and Yura had already been doing that already.

Guess he might be starting to jumping at shadows over these next few days. Don't blame him, but after last night I'm starting to get a little concerned for him.

"Yes, just had something on my mind since last night." Y/N said, shaking his head. "Besides the hot springs I couldn't get the sight of the lizard out of my mind even now."

Lizard?

Wait, the kit did chase one trying to sneak food before bed.

"How so?" I asked, frowning slightly.

"It looked like a common lizard, but...I don't know something about it just recognize it was immediately wrong about it. Like my mind was telling me that it was something else entirely." Y/N said, trying to figure out what it was.

Perhaps he was onto something.

But if it was a yokai I probably would have smelled it.

Y/N did say that it had left a tail behind, but that probably had gotten eaten during the night. Still aside from such a feeling, there wasn't that much to go on and I hadn't bothered to check up on it...

"Kit can you come here for a second." I called out, getting Yura and Kagome to stop up ahead as Shippō jumped out of her bike's basket.

Running forwards before clambering onto my kimono and looking between me and Y/N curiously.

"Shippō did you notice anything about the lizard last night?" He asked the kit before I could. Seems like we both had the same idea.

"No, but I did find it crawling out of Kagome's bag." Shippō said, getting the both of us to tense.

It could have been just looking for food like the kit tried to take, wouldn't be the first time. But her bag contained the shard we had gotten from Mittsume Jōrō inside. It was still there in the morning...

Either a hungry animal or some kind of scout. Wasn't a yokai, but Y/N could tell something was wrong...shit!

Really hope he is wrong about this.

"You have an idea of what it could be?" Y/N asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Could be wrong, but we might have a nuisance to deal with coming up." I said as Kagome parked her bike as she and Yura came over to us.

If I was right and Kagome had probably seen the lizard too, she probably would have noticed something was wrong as well. Maybe less clearly than Y/N, but it could have been a toss up between the two.

Either way could have been a lesser quality of shikigami by that flaw, relying on a katashiro to manifest it.

Knew some bits of shikigami from Kikyō, she was practicing on how to summon/create them from her own reiryoku. Supposedly the most difficult way to do so, but as she described creates the strongest shikigami in the method she was taught at least.

Never did tell me how progress went, but know her Kikyō wouldn't have relied on them unless absolutely necessary. Probably wouldn't have gone through it if it wasn't among part of her teachings to wrap up on her own

Damn girl was headstrong when she wanted...

Still given that and the faint scent last night, we're probably near or being trailed by someone with some skill in manipulating reiryoku.

This again could be nothing or an issue we needed to deal with.

(Miroku POV - Cliffside - A few minutes later)

Okay this could be a problem.

From her I could tell that they seemed more guarded than when Hachi reported last time I had him spy on them. Peering down over the ledge I could clearly see hairs sweeping over the cliff face. 

Weaving into rocks and crags to uncover any potential hiding spot.

So they must suspected something was up, but it didn't matter. But it just made me eager to see how things go, meant at least one of them had a good head on their shoulders.

"Lady Miroku, I have to attack the inugami right?" Hachi asked nervously, looking between me and said...still don't know if she was a daiyokai or hanyo.

"Yes, me and Takechiyo will handle the others." I said, getting the older tanuki to wince.

"Why go through all of this trouble Lady Miroku, using your right hand you could end things instantly." Hachi said and I held back a sigh

And the urge to whack him with my shakujō.

"Hachi you should know better than that, using this hand could kill them and I don't want that. Or to use that to kill such a group of beauties too." I said with a smile before tightening my nenju as the tanuki deadpanned. "Besides with the shards they have, I don't want to risk it."

Truthfully I had no idea on how the Shikon Jewel shards would affect my curse, no way was I going to take that chance.

Even if it was just absorbed I wasn't sure if the shards can be destroyed. Cremating the jewel itself only caused it to reform 50 years later before scattering the shards all over Honshū.

"That's true..." Hachi sighed out as he pulled a leaf from his happi coat. "Well, if anything should happen please save me."

"Of course." I said before looking at Takechiyo, rubbing a sutra against his tail. "Can you please give it to me now."

"Sure." He said, running over to us before handing me the paper. "Do you think it's charged enough?"

"Should be good enough." I said, the sutra glowing blue briefly as I inspected it. Placing it in my sleeve as I saw the group below get in position. "Takechiyo follow my lead and remember the plan."

He nodded as I tapped my shakujō on the rock, Hachi jumping off the cliff as I smiled.

"Henge!"

(Kagome POV - Same Time)

I stopped walking when I felt the ground beneath my feet rumbling, looking up and  praying to Amaterasu that it wasn't-

There was a huge boulder falling towards us!

"I've come for you!" A loud voice yelled as the boulder grew a face and mouth full of fangs!

Before I could reach for my hama-ya, Yura's hairs dragged me and Y/N back as the yokai slammed into Inuko! Pushing it, her, and Shippō off the path.

Sprinting to the edge the trail I saw the yokai's fall start to slow down, Inuko planting her feet into the ground as their descent started to slow down. Even from her I could see her snarling at the yokai while holding it back, alongside a shivering Shippō clinging to her shoulder.

Okay they seem all right.

Grabbing my hama-ya, I reached for an arrow before noticing something else heading down at us.

Jumping back as something large landed on the path, kicking up a large cloud of dust and separating me from Y/N and Yura.

Clearing up to reveal a large somewhat cartoonish looking brown bear with a large, straw jingasa hat covering the entirety of its back looking between the me and Y/N before growling.

"Get off our mountain!" The bear yelled out, their voice sounding much younger than he appeared to be.

Raising a paw, the bear turned its attention to Y/N and trying to swat at them. With the both of them looking just as confused as I was.

He and Inuko both suspected something was up, but nothing like this. If there was any yokai living in these mountains attacking people on these trials unless this was recent.

But that bear looked like something Shippō could turn into...and with its back turned towards me I can see a bit of a tail poking out of its jingasa. Seeming trying to hide it's tail from sight.

Looked way too fluffy from what I see...

Either one of two possibilities with what are dealing with, and looking past the 'bear's' shoulder both Y/N and Yura didn't seem all that bothered. Just needed to reveal their true forms first.

Notching an arrow, I peered over the ledge to Inuko had stopped and tossed the 'boulder' onto a small ledge. Training my bow at the back of its head.

Hopefully this will at least scare it-

I let out a yelp as I fired the arrow and was jerked back by someone, dropping my hama-ya. Finding myself behind my handle bars and a monk on my bike!

You have got to be kidding me!

"There is nothing to fear." The monk said, seeming nonchalant about this whole situation and started to peddle away. Looking down at me with a smirk. "I'm a hoshi, and I'm not someone suspicious."

Like Yomi you weren't!

"Unleashing two yokai on us says otherwise!" I growled out as he shook his head.

"I see, how unfortunate." The monk said before sighing. "Your companions seem to agree."

Right then I noticed Yura's hairs stretching towards the monk and bike, only for the latter hairs to slip off upon touching him.

Great, just great.

He could see and even destroy Yura's hairs without noticing, unlike the Kumogashira this was the real deal.

(Yura POV) 

Managed to stop the bike at least and monk now drawing the shakujō off his back before facing me.

So it was a shikigami, and this monks seems to be different from others I've encounter throughout the years.

Mostly those were either bandits disguised as monks, those without a hint of power who couldn't see my hairs, and those with actual hōriki and that were easy pray for me. Those weren't as holy they liked people to believe, at the least their hair would be the best quality for my nest whenever one showed up.

Yet this one was quit different, for one his robes looked extravagant for a monk this far from a temple and not a patchwork of sewn together rags.

That and I didn't like the way he held the shakujō, battering Benigasumi away as I threw it. Severing the hairs connected to it before using some more to reel it back to me.

Fast reflexes for a human too, better than any monks I've seen.

If we were dealing with a Sōhei this could trouble. Hopefully master and the bitch won't be long.

(Y/N POV)

"Stand still!" The 'bear' roared at me as it tried to swipe at me with his paws, but I just kept side stepping them.

Honestly I was never really trying to be honest, easily dodging them without Yura's assistance necessary. Not sure if the 'bear' was actively trying to avoid striking me or if I was just reacting faster than it could react. Probably the former.

But I can't waist anymore time on this.

As the 'bear' lifted both of their paws, a cloud of mist erupted off my body as they slammed down into it.

"Cold! Very cold!" The 'bear' cried out as they stood on their hind legs and I slipped behind them, lifting the back edge of jingasa on their back.

Stepping back as a long tail about as long as the 'bear' popped out...near the end of the tail was a single ring shaped patch of fur.

Of course a tanuki, and judging by the transformation...alright I have just the thing for this.

Sprinting past the tanuki as they swung their tail at my, I just ducked under it and reached my and began to rummage around in my bag.

Come on, I know I packed some...find it.

"Why you-" The tanuki tried to say, only to be cut off as I threw a gummi into its mouth.

In a puff of smoke the 'bear' changed into their true form, a tanuki cub a little younger than Shippō with short brown hair with a pair of ears poking out, blue eyes, and pretty light colored fur. Wearing a jingasa on his back, leg and arm bands, and a chestplate with furred shoulder pats. Looking pretty absorbed in the taste of the gummy and wagging his tail happily.

Had to surpress a chuckle at their reaction.

Dad did have plenty of experience with tanuki not just in Tokyo, having encountered some on less traveled/inhabited islands in the archipelago. Most in the modern era are wary of humans and just want to be left alone. Although giving them cooked meals to those on the island can at least be civil to a human.

However younger cubs have taken to playing pranks on humans, using their transformations in haunted areas. But there was one easy way to deal with them. 

It seems no matter the era, they can't resist gummy based candy.

"This is so good! What is this?" He asked excitedly, his pupils seeming turning to stars as I smiled.

"It's called a gummy, I've got some more. But can you please tell me what me what's going on?" I asked, getting the cub to frown and him to turn furious.

"Lady Miroku stood me not to tell you anything!" He yelled, getting me to blink before sighing.

Figured as much.

"Tell me what you can and the bag is yours." I said, getting him to nod eagerly.

"Deal Y/N!" He said, tail swinging eagerly as I threw him the bag.

"'Lady Miroku' told you our names didn't she?" I asked, getting the tanuki to nod as he ate and gushed over another gummy.

So the lizard really was a shikigami, suppose that explained some things. Yet a monk summoned it to scout us out before ambushing us with a pair of tanuki. If she was after the jewel shards it was a clever plan.

But if there was more, I needed to find out what.

Only thing was certain, there was more going on that we don't know about.

(Yura POV)

I jumped back as the monk slammed the end of their shakujō where I had been standing. Twirling it to snap the strands of hair I tried to send after him.

No matter what I tried, this monk either snaps my hairs or they slide off their body  from what I'm guessing is a barrier around their body. Even if I got close enough to break it either the monk would just jump back or try and strike me with the shakujō 

Kagome was looking through her bag for something as I held the monk off.

While the monk had been weaving through my hairs, they've also made an effort to prevent her from leaving or from me just dragging her back. As long as they were ignoring the girl it was fine.

Quickly getting sick of this little stalemate.

Grasping Benigasumi in hand I pulled myself closer to the monk, trying to cut away at him while broke my hairs again. Slashing at him furiously, only for the monk to twist his staff to block each attack.

Smirking at me and only making me want to cut up this monk even more!

"Quite the tricky one you are." The monk said, jumping back and swung his shakujō behind them. Severing the hairs I had set up behind him. "Did you really think that would work?"

"No." I said, lunging forward to slash at them with Benigasumi.

Curling one hand behind my back before the fallen strands rose to trap the monk in a cage of hairs, immobilizing him as I stepped back. Hate to be wasteful, but should hold him at bay for a few moments-

And he promptly frees his arms with his shakujō! 

"Oni-bi Gushi!" I yelled out, igniting several hairs and suspending them around the monk as he reached into his sleeve...wait a second...

Tried to pull them back, but the monk slapped a sutra on one of my hairs.

Instantly causing my entire body to stiffen, damn it!

"Was saving that for you or the inugami." The monk said, breaking through the rest of my hairs as I could do nothing but glare at him. Inspecting the sutra before frowning. "Already starting to burn though, might just have enough time to leave?"

"Don't count on it!"

The monk jumped back from both Kagome's shout, and the stream of fire from the spray can she held in her hands. Holding it over a burning strand before firing again, causing the monk to retreat further.

Right into a cloud of mist forming at their feet, getting the monk to shiver a little.

If I could have smirked, I would have as the mist cleared up to reveal the monk's sandles trapped in a layer of frost. Master standing right behind him and shaking his head.

"Nowhere for you to run now Miroku." Master said, getting the monk look back at him surprised.

Before he started to chuckle, and his voice started to sound softer than before.

"Takechiyo told you didn't he." The monk said with a sigh before smiling at master...and their voice sounded like a woman's now, surprising me and the girl.

Great, the monk was actually a crossdressing nun. And I wasn' liking the way she as looking at master.

(Y/N POV)

Now that I've gotten a good look at Miroku I'll admit it'd be really hard to tell she was a woman. Plenty of traveling monks of this era were recorded to have a pretty face...and admittedly some of those monks were tied to unscrupulous behavior. The robes also helped conceal anything alongside altering her voice.

More than well versed in her craft.

And if what Takechiyo said and I've seen so far, she is more than intelligent enough to use it.

Had to wonder what was with the nenju wrapped around her right forearm, I'll ask about it later.

"What else did he say?" Miroku asked, leaning against her shakujō without a care. Cracking some of the frost at her feet as I formed some moe mist around my own.

She could have easily shattered it even with Kagome wasn't aiming an aerosol can at her or with me in front of her.

"Enough to figure out some of what you were planning." I sighed out. "There are better methods of gaining our attention than trying to steal our shards."

"Possibly...but need to make sure of something first. As an aside." Miroku said, pulling out Kagome's necklace from her robes. Dangling the shard between her fingers. "I was originally after the shards of the Shikon no Tama, suppose I can settle for this one."

"You have got to be kidding me!" Kagome shouted as the felt around her neck.

Miroku chose this time to smash the frost from the ground, swinging the shakujō to force me back before dodging a spray of fire from Kagome.

Twirling her shakujō to sever the flaming hairs, forcing Kagome back as I stepped between them. Shifting my foot, a large ice spire rose that the monk barely had time to jump back from.

Releasing another rust of frost towards her feet, Miroku slammed the bottom of the staff to shattering it. Before sprinting towards my me.

I barely had time to hastily raise an ice wall as she swung the shakujō straight into it, breaking it as I drew Shusūi. Blocking in finial from hitting my side with my blade, the metal rings producing a loud clang.

Wincing from the noise, I slashed at the shakujō. Forcing Miroku to block, actually managing to push her back...though I felt uneasy when she smirked back at me.

"She's going to kill me!" A voice echoed from below the cliff edge, Miroku sighing as we both pulled back.

Glancing down below I saw Inuko pointed Tessaiga at a large, adult tanuki wearing a purple haori with red and white circles. Cowering in a rocky nook before her and a confused looking Shippō.

"Quite a vicious one." Miroku sighed out, walking to the ledge while unfastening the nenju around her hand. A serious expression on her face as she looked at me. "If you value your own and her safety, don't interrupt and stand behind me."

What did she mean by that?

Before I could rush forward, Miroku dropped the end of the nenju and I could see some cloth covering her palm. It parted back as a violet light emerged from her hand, immediately the air around distorted as a gale began to pull towards it...

Kazaana.

She had a damned Kazaana embedded in her palm!

The winds released Inuko's grip on Tessaiga, drawing the sword in followed by her and Shippō before Miroku closed her hand. Inuko crashed into the cliff face, Shippō landing right on her looking shaken as Tessaiga was lodged into a nearby ledge.

And that was only a briefly glimpse of the Kazanna's power...

Miroku adjusted her nenju as I sheathed Shusūi with a frown.

"Was this what you wanted to get our attention? You could have just asked instead of all this commotion or worsening your curse." I said, the monk smiling at me.

"Partially, so you are aware of it at least. As I said before needed to check for sure." Miroku said, training her shakujō at me before turning away. "If you want answers and shard back come find me before sunset."

Before she could sprint off, I managed to grab onto her staff. Miroku started to tug it out of my hands, but I covered one into an ice claw and grabbed her left wrist.

Shifting the claw into a brace, I froze my feet and sandles to the ground. Coating them in frost to anchor me in place as she tried to pull back. She was much stronger than she looked, had to hold back a wince from the pain.

Yet neither of us were going to budge from this spot.

"Or you can just tell us right now." I said, getting Miroku to sigh.

She tried to tug away, only to look surprised as hairs wrapped her right forearm. Jerking it back towards the cliffside away from us.

"We both agree on that master." I heard Yura said, turning back to see her glaring at Miroku with Kagome riping up the sutra into pieces. "After taking the shard back and binding that damned arm."

I just nodded as Yura's hairs weaved past me and into Miroku's robe around the collar area.

Not a moment later a strand of hair pulled out the shard, the necklace's chain wrapped around the strings of a small pouch that was dragged along...before it started to grow violet and started rip open.

Oh no...

"Y/N get back-" Kagome called out as I broke the ice around me.

Yet it was too late as the bag split open and multiple shards shot towards my chest.

(Inuko POV - A few moments earlier)

First a tanuki tried to knocked me down a mountain, then whoever was behind that used some magic to bury my face into a cliff, and wedged Tessaiga inbetween two large rocks that I'm still trying to pull out!

If they hadn't dealt with whoever that was up there first, I'll more than gladly bury their head into the dirt!

With a small heave I finally dislodged Tessaiga before sheathing it, turning to jump up the mountain.

A sudden chill filled the air before a cold breeze erupted, blowing against me and Shippō before frost began to coat the edge of the trail...

Damn it, Y/N!

"Is he going to be okay?" Shippō asked worriedly.

"We're about to find out." I said, really hoping that he was.

"I'm sorry. Takechiyo look after him!" Someone shouted out as the breeze died down, getting me to growl as I heard them started to run away.

Like Yomi I was going to let them get away from all the shit they just pulled!

Hopping back onto the trail I saw a great portion of this section and the surrounding cliffside was covered in a thin layer of frost. Nearby where I landed I saw a very disoriented and half frozen looking Y/N, layers of ice covering his chest and forearms. Yura was chipping away at some of the ice while I caught a whiff of the culprit's scent.

It was the same one from the hot springs last night, except much fresher. Before the scent suddenly grew a lot fainter.

Great, just great. They were at the hot springs too, last night.

And from the looks of it had taken Kagome's bike.

I sighed before walking towards Y/N, Shippō jumping off my shoulders to rush towards them.

"How is he doing?" I asked Kagome as Shippō stopped at her feet.

"Y/N seems to be half conscious, I think he should be alright after a minute or two." Kagome sighed out as he let out a groan and some frost broke off of him. She looked down at the kit before smiling. "Can you hand me the pouch back now?"

"Right, I kept it safe." He said, reaching into his hakama to pull out a small pouch.

Kagome took it back with a smile before depositing three shards into the pouch while I winced at the sight.

Definitely explained why there was such a strong reaction.

"What exactly happened here aside from some monk trying to steal our shards?" I asked irritably.

"Y/N called her Miroku, I believe from the tanuki that confronted us." Kagome said before frowning. "Best I can think of was that she was testing us, seems like it was a shikigami he saw last night."

"Probably was there while at the hot springs too. Their scent was there too." I said, my ears twitched as I picked up the sound of something shuffling.

Peering from the corner of my eye I saw something peeking behind a large rock...hiding very badly even after they saw me.

So that's what happened with them, at least it explains some things.

"Master seems to think part of the reason was her damned arm. I could care less, she took the girl's shard in the chaos and clearly wants us to follow." Yura said, brushing of the last of the frost off Y/N it looked like he was coming too.

"Right into another trap possibly." I said, shaking my head and facing the direction of this Miroku's scent.

Explained what the Yomi that wind was, but there was still much we didn't know what was going on.

"Going to check around incase this monk is still around and drag her back. Shouldn't be too long." I said, before glaring back at the rock. "Quite hiding back there if you're worried about him!" 

The tanuki cub jumped back from his hiding spot as I jumped further down the trail.

If he was fearful of the others, worst the cub would get was them trying to get answers or Kagome thinking that he was cute. Except maybe Yura trying to get his pelt.

Still that monk couldn't have gotten that far already.

(Miroku POV - Foothills - Same Time)

Alright this should be a good place to catch my breath.

Making sure that they weren't following me, I let out a sigh as I pulled out the remains of my pouch. Tying the strings around the shard I retrieved and placing it back in my robe.

Things have gone horribly wrong, I wasn't expecting that to happen.

Weeks of locating any of the jewel shards gone in just a moment, even with the protections I put in place never thought they would tear holes clear through it to Y/N's shard. Even after getting more than one, they never reacted like that before.

Had a few ideas on why, especially when we touched if my senses were correct.

Guess we had one thing in common at least...

Fixing my nenju to my arm I looked back at the trail, before setting off on this strange, metal one man carriage again.

Of course things had gone horribly wrong, but I must continue on with the plan. Takechiyo knows what to do from here.

Come so far not to continue it anyway.

Just a little bit more, and my answer will finally be in reach...

(Y/N POV - A minute later)

"Wait there are more types of delicious gummies!" Takechiyo yelled out as I felt like my head wasn't swimming in water anymore. Sitting up to see the tanuki cub waging his tail excitedly as Shippō smiled.

"Plenty more where he and Kagome come from, maybe you can ask them for some more later." He said, getting Takechiyo to nod happily.

At least those two seem to be getting along at least.

"Maybe latter Shippō." Kagome said, shaking her head before she turned to face me. "How are you feeling Y/N?"

"Drained, more so than usual." I said, trying to stand up and stumbling before Yura caught me. "Thanks, I don't think I can stand on my own for a bit."

"It's no problem." Yura said as I sat back against a large rock. "You just took three shards to the chest master. That monk kept them hidden in a pouch that the girl couldn't sense them from."

"Probably warded off to minimize such a thing." I said while wincing.

Only other experience facing multiple shards was from Hiten and that had been a near disaster. Less so, but nearly shattered the resistance I'd built up. Another shard will probably destroy it entirely.

Not looking forward to that.

Along with feeling it almost destroyed the resistance to heat the Midori Pearl destroyed. Didn't think it would be this soon.

"How bad is it?" I ask, noticing both Shippō and Takechiyo running over to us.

"Except for some more of your hair has turned white this time, not much." Kagome said, looking to them with a smile. "He's okay now, going to need to rest for a while."

Shippō sighed in relief as Takechiyo just nodded.

"Lady Miroku will be glad to hear it." He said as Shippō looked at him.

"You were worried about Y/N too." He said, getting the tanuki to pout and face away from us.

Me and Kagome smiled at that sight, and I had to surpass a chuckle at her reaction. Guess she was holding herself from gushing the cub's stubbornness. Sōta had a similar phase about two years ago.

"Maybe you can finally get him to talk, the cub refuses to talk. Even when bribing him with food, usually works with tanuki. Seems to lead him and the kit to talk about snacks, otherwise it seems the other tanuki got away." Yura said, getting me to nod.

Before a loud shout drew our attention, Takechiyo jumping back as a large rock landed next to him. Erupting into a cloud of smoke to reveal the tanuki from earlier, lying on his stomach and groaning in pain.

Said tanuki panic and gotten infront of Takechiyo as Inuko landed next to Shippō.

"Don't kill us!" The older tanuki cried out, withering until her annoyed glance.

"Never was and you better start explaining everything now." Inuko sighed out irritably before turning to me. "How are you doing now?"

"Exhausted, but okay. You went after Miroku?" I asked.

"Could only find that tanuki, no trace of the monk on the trail. Her scent is faint and leads off the mountains, probably to the town the villagers told us about." Inuko said.

So she went straight into a market town, if Miroku wants us to find her it would be a tricky place to locate a single monk there. Doubly so if she decides to leave sometime before sunset.

Could have just asked us, but was making us definitely work for what she wanted.

"Takechiyo are you okay?" The older tanuki asked, breaking me from my thoughts and seeing him inspecting the cub.

I tried to stand up again, felt like I was going to stumble back again before hairs wrapped around legs and body. Keeping me up without falling back.

Yura smiled as I gave her a grateful nod, the two of us walking closer with Kagome and Inuko to the pair of tanuki.

"I'm okay Hachi, Lady Miroku asked me to look after Y/N. He seems to have gotten hurt earlier. He and Shippō seem nice, they have tasty food called gummies. Chewier than dango but just as sweet!" He said excitedly, getting Hachi to look between him and us.

"I see..." He said nervously looking between the four of us with Takechiyo nodding without a care.

"Can you tell us what is going on here. The best we can figure out is a test." Kagome said, crossing her arms while giving Hachi a pointed look.

"Very well." Hachi said, looking resigned. "Lady Miroku thought this could happen." Shaking his head he gestured to the cub next to him. "I presume you all know Takechiyo by now, my name is Awa no Hachiemon or just Hachi please. We are in service of Lady Miroku."

"Figured as much, you both have a pact with that monk." Yura said, getting Hachi to nod.

Heard tales of such, monks making pacts with yokai either for assistance or to bring troublesome ones under heel with mixed results. Plenty of records in the Sengoku Jidai that suggests it was an uncommon practice, but the last time the general public was aware of such packs still existing was the early 19th century.

"No, only myself. Takechiyo is just my ward." Hachi sighed out.

"I was thinking of such, his pelt color isn't one you would see in tanuki from this side of Honshū normally. From your name I'm guess he is also from Awa, somewhere else on Shikoku, or another smaller island like Sadogashima?" I asked curiously, surprising both tanuki.

Honestly I had been curious since I first saw Takechiyo, my father had plenty of experience with tanuki and had learned to identify where one was from by their fur coloration.

What little I can remember off the top of my head most tanuki yokai in Honshū had a cream or gray furred coloration.

Takechiyo had a more lighter brown coloration from his tail compared to them.

Hoping that it was from Sadogashima, there should be plenty living during this era. By modern day the last tanuki yokai native to the island was hunted in the 50's before more migrated there in the following years

"None of them, but you figured it out just by our fur?" Takechiyo said, getting me to nod as his eyes lit up with Kagome looking amused at his reaction.

"I'm a friend to Takechiyo's family, his father asked me to look after him until trouble died down on their island. Something we would rather not talk about." Hachi said, trying to get the conversation back on track. Takechiyo turned sullen at the and nodded as the older tanuki sighed. "Lady Miroku was originally just going to steal your shards in the night before deciding against it, one of the reasons for all."

"And the others." Inuko growled out, getting Hachi to flinch.

"W-Won't say!" He cried out, looking at all four of us.

...I think I might have a suspicion for what these other reasons can be, alongside Kagome and Yura judging by their frowns.

I pray to Amaterasu that this isn't a repeat of Hiten...

"She believes that your group might be an answer. One that she is sure of since the Shikon no Tama shattered. Since Lady Miruko isn't here, she's waiting ahead." Hachi said.

"Miroku wants us to locate and catch her, that's the test." I said, getting Hachi to sigh in confirmation.

Certainly easier ways to het her point across, but Miroku wants to be as sure as possible of her decision.

"Master, does this have to do with her damned arm?" Yura said, getting my attention. "The monk doesn't have long left in this world."

"Rather she doesn't have long in general, nor for Yomi or for the samsara. Her soul will be lost entirely to where only the kamis know where." I sighed out, shaking my head and shocking Kagome.

"Y/N, what kind of curse does she have?" Kagome asked with a frown.

"Kazaana or rather the Wind Tunnel is one of the nastiest curses from the mainland. Originally it wasn't a curse, more a spell created by a rather intelligent taotie to assist in their insatiable appetite. Think of a literal black hole in their stomach, the winds drawing in most things and twisting any objects to fit into the opening and to another dimension where nothing escapes from. A place where no soul returns from, at least for the realm of mortals." I said, horrifying Kagome and Shippō while Inuko and Yura paled.

Honestly the details of the curse are rare, but clear enough to paint a gruesome picture of what the aftermath of the curse once time was up. The only details was if it truly killed those sucked in or not, the fate eventually befalling the cursed.

The end result of the Kazaana is a mystery that best remained unsolved.

Just being erased into oblivion once fully sucked in, constricted and deposited into a dimension of no escape, or as what Kagome is thinking with me right now and just straight up crushed by an event horizon.

Thinking about it now, perhaps my words were too light in description.

The Kazaana was one of the worst curses in the world, period.

"There is no way to break the curse then." Kagome said, getting me to sigh.

"Only by the caster's death or the victims death. And even if the Kazaana doesn't kill them, death will just leave a large crater in their wake. Can be suppressed through methods with some form of spiritual power, but only a delay. Worst part is that the curse is hereditary, passed to a child at birth until either the caster dies or the family line ends." I said. "The only mercy is the curse can only used on one target at a time."

The only attempts to cast the Kazaana twice has been recorded by a taotie as a warning.

End result was a mountain's peak split in half and a landslide as both collapsed in on themselves as the second one was cast.

A curse to use if you really want someone and their descendants to suffer a slow and painful demise or for them to suffer eternally.

"Then the caster is after the jewel shards too!" Inuko growled out as she shook her head. "Or Miroku is after them to break the curse. Could be both."

"Just one way to find out." Kagome said, getting Yura to sigh as we faced the pair of tanuki.

"We need to find Miroku." I said, Hachi's snout turning down at me words. "You're not going to tell us or you have no idea."

"Lady Miroku only told me incase she slips away, only to bring Takechiyo with you into town. I was against it, but I was assured no harm will come to him." Hachi said before looking at Shippō.

He just smiled and ran next to Takechiyo.

"Of course there is nothing to worry about, except for maybe the creepy lady." Shippō said, getting Yura to bristle.

"Kit..." She said, trying to keep her annoyance in check before shaking her head. "The cub will be fine, let's just get this over with."

Kagome and I just nodded while I began to walk up to the two and Hachi, Yura unraveling some of the strands on my leg.

"Don't worry, we'll look after him until we meet Miroku." I said, noticing that Takechiyo's tail began to wag as I figured what he was going to say. "Did promise you some more gummies, but one more bag alright. You too Shippō."

"Okay." Takechiyo said excitedly, turning to Shippō who smiled back.

"Thank you." Hachi sighed out with a smile. "I'll look after him after you find Lady Miroku as she requested and away from whatever ensures."

"You mean hiding out from any fighting, something you would have done without looking out for the cub." Inuko said, getting Hachi to flinch as she started to walk off. "Figured as much, anyway let's get going while her scent is still somewhat faint. Doubt she couldn't have gotten that far from here without falling off that bike all the time."

"You tried to practice on your our bikes, didn't you?" Kagome asked.

Inuko briefly stopped in her tracks, ears twitching before walking with a quickened pace.

Yura smirked at that while I just shook my head, stumbling a little as both Shippō and Takechiyo clamored onto my sides before perching on my shoulders.

"Please warn me next time." I said, getting them both to nod before I started to follow after Inuko.

Hoping that we can at least catch Miroku this time, there will be escape for her now. Though I'm not sure if she'll actively put up as much of an effort into resisting us, but I can't be certain.

Miroku had made quite an effort into her plans, so I wasn't sure what else she could plan.

What I did was that she had our attention now, and everyone had questions that only the other side could answer.

(Miroku POV - Merchant Town - An hour later)

I'm such fool...

"Are you sure that these are the finest girls you have?" I asked the madame of this 'lovely' establishment.

"Of course, is something wrong?" She asked, shaking my head.

"Nothing at all, but their performance is certainly fine." I said politely, the two courtesans at my sides drawing closer.

First the princess yesterday and now these courtesans, must be something in the water or crops in this region affecting their faces. But at the least the performance was good, especially the shamisen player. Better than most on this part of Honshū at least.

Sake was a fine quality too, but would rather be drinking with Hachi than these girls...that was a rare thought.

Maybe it was the anticipation of them finding me or the worry of Y/N and whatever happened with the jewel shards.

Them all being more beautiful than the present company also helped.

A supposed paradise for beauties in this place...I had been a fool for thinking I could clear my head here. That and leaving that iron carriage hidden in the entrance.

Perhaps after a few more performances I could find a better hiding spot.

Yet at the very least being here had made one thing clear.

I was sure of this will work out, it had too.

Just a little bit more to be certain though.

(Kagome POV - 20 minutes later)

"Are you certain that still track her?" I asked Inuko, her nose hunched close to the ground with Shippō on her shoulders.

Uncared of the glimpses and looks of suspicions sent our way.

"Hard to find with so many scents mixed together, but her's is still here if rather faint." She said, going back to tracking as we followed her.

It had seem like Miroku had arrived into town quite a bit ago, but no one here would seem willing to talk to us...considering our appearances and my cloths most people thought us to be yokai.

Very few actually ran away from the sight of us thankfully, most people passing us by just seemed to give us a wide berth.

As long as we didn't bother them in their life, they were just fine keeping their distance.

Suppose that it wasn't all that different from walking the sidewalks back home centuries from now.

We've been looking for Miroku for a while now, Takechiyo pointing out some places where she could have gone. But either there wasn't any trace of her or a faint scent that she had passed through the area and into a place we've already passed. Either he is misdirecting us or she probably backtracked a few times to hide where she went.

Considering the ambush she lied out earlier and Takechiyo jumped between Y/N's shoulders, looking in opposite direction I believe that it could be the latter.

"Wait." Takechiyo said, breaking me from my thoughts as he got Y/N's attention. Pointing to his left. "Lady Miroku should be this way."

Following his direction we saw that it was along a quiet looking side street.

"Your sure about it this time?" Y/N asked, getting him to nod with a smile before Inuko stood up and walked up to the entrance.

"The cub might be right, I can pick up Miroku's scent much clearer in that direction. Still pretty faint, but she definitely was here." Inuko said, crouching back down onto the ground again and ran ahead.

"Could be the monk leading us down another dead end." Yura said, flexing her fingers and I could see some strands stretching towards the side street. "Starting to get real tired of this..."

"Same, one way to find out." I said as we followed after Inuko.

Only took us a minute to catch up to her, nose close to the ground and Shippō running around inspecting anything on the sides of buildings. Probably looking for my bike, but never staying too far from her.

Me and Y/N checked around behind her while Yura's hair's stretched all over, her looking from side to side.

"Are really certain she'll be around here?" I asked Takechiyo, getting him to nod.

"Her scent is getting stronger, but still hard to tell..." Inuko trailed off, peering around a corner before standing up. "Tsukiyomi damn it!"

I had to wonder what got such a reaction from Inuko, turning the corner I wish I hadn't.

It was a one story building like most of the town...except the frame looked a bit more extravagant. And near the front door was a woman in an elaborate kimono sitting behind a wooden cage like window.

Very much like the one's I've seen of photos from Taitō Ward back when it was known as Yoshiwara 100 years ago.

Pinching the bridge of my nose while Shippō tilted his head in confusion as Y/N and Yura arrived, the woman's eyes widening in fear once she saw Inuko.

"Yokai!" She cried out, running back into the building.

"So she's that kind of monk." Yura said with a bland expression before turning to Y/N. "Master, you and the bitch believed that she was at the hot springs last night."

"I do." Y/N sighed out as my eye twitched and I tried to remain calm. "Really hope that she isn't like Hiten."

"Agreed." I said, taking a deep breath.

Get answers from Miroku first before considering before making my displeasure on her spying on us bathing later. Amaterasu help us if she really was a second Hiten, a smarter and saner one that is.

"Hiten?" Takechiyo asked, tilting his head.

"Long story cub, your better off not knowing." Yura said while shaking her head. "Are you certain the monk is here?"

"Scent trail leads in there." Inuko said, before noticing Shippō running up to the entrance. "Wait for us kit."

"Miroku's here, Kagome your bike is here!" He called out as we drew closer, and true to his word I glimpsed it leaning on a wall right behind the doorframe.

I'll just grab it after we deal with Miroku or she decides to escape again.

"Either the monk will make a break for it or she'll be indulging herself in one of these rooms." Yura said as Y/N sighed.

"If she hasn't been alerted to us already being here." He said as Inuko ran in their followed by the rest of us

No way she was going to get away this time!

(A minute later)

Didn't take us long to locate Miroku, Inuko throwing open the doors to the largest room in the establishment. Revealing her with a sake cup in hand, a courtesan on each arm, and many more running back at the sight of us.

Miroku merely smiled, before she suddenly crossed to room and got directly infront of me!

"All four of you are just what I needed, a sight for sore eyes." She said happily as I jumped back from her. Her expression turned serious turning to Y/N. "I'm sorry for what happened earlier, are you okay?"

...Four of us...

Great, just great.

"Still kind of drained, but alright." He said as I tried to keep my annoyance in check. 

She sighed in relief as Takechiyo jumped onto her shoulder.

"He's alright Lady Miroku, but from what I can figure this wasn't the first time this happened to him." Takechiyo said, getting Miroku to him.

"I was worried, but I had began to wonder as such." Miroku said, reaching into her robe to pull out the conglomerated shard she stole. "This does weigh a little less then a jewel of this size should, I presume your reiryoku and what we both have in common play a part." She added, patting the base of her neck with her right hand.

Y/N's eyes widened as before he sighed.

"So it is a curse, you were able to sense all that." He said as Miroku smiled.

"Had to get closer to be sure, wish it was under better circumstances." Miroku said, getting me and Yura to frown as I moved closer to Y/N. "But you were unaware of it, curious. Albeit a much weaker one than myself."

"Seems like we have a lot to talk about." I said trying to keep my frustration in check.  "Your test is over."

"Not quite Kagome." Miroku said, giving a quick glance to Takechiyo as he jumped off her shoulder and scurried out into the back entrance.

Ducking behind a corner as Miroku ducked and weaved through Yura's hairs before they could ensnare her from behind.

"She's right, this is over. You've seen more than enough ." Y/N said, mist spreading onto the floor as he, me, and Inuko rushed at here.

"Perhaps, but I've to be absolutely certain." Miroku said, jumping back before her feet could be encased in ice. Reaching her shakujō on the other side as Inuko landed where she had once been and shattered the ice. 

Twirling it to sever some more hairs before taking off out of the back entrance, jumping into the yard as Inuko ran after her with them both and Shippō soon vanishing from sight.

"We need to cut them off before the monk can exit the village." Yura said, getting me and Y/N to nod.

If she manages to escape again I'm not sure what else she had planned especially if my bike was still here. Perhaps something with Hachi and Takechiyo, but we won't let that happen again.

This all ends now!

(Inuko POV)

I'll admit she's fast for a human, but she couldn't outrun me forever!

Miroku ran down a side street before I hopped onto a roof, spending a few moments looking for her before jumping onto the next roof. Seeing that she was running directly out of the village.

"Shippō." I said, getting his attention. "Prepare to get off and head back to the others."

Don't want him to get caught up in this again.

He nodded before I managed to bypass the monk before she ducked into a side street. Jumping in the same direction I saw Miroku emerged and trying to run towards the town's edge.

Not this time!

Drawing Tessaiga, I jumped infront of Miroku. She held her shakujō to block my strike before stepping back.

"Resorting to violence, figured as much Inuko." Miroku said as I snarled at her, watching Shippō disappearing into the growing crowd. Suppose they wanted to see a yokai getting dealt with by a monk.

Like I'd even let that happen.

"You spied on us and stole our jewel shard, test or not you should have expected this." I said, closing the distance as Miroku used her staff to deflect the slash.

"Admittedly I had dozed off in the springs that time, but even then I wasn't going to just leave that shard be." She said, twirling her staff to block another strike.

"Still didn't deny your a deviant and a thief." I growled out, continuing to try and slash the monk.

We continued like this for a few moments, I noticed that Miroku couldn't continue to defend herself like this. Each block seemed to take a little more out of her. Need just a little more leverage...

Miroku's eyes widened as she fell backwards and slashed her shakujō out of her hand and into the air. Pointing Tessaiga at her chest as the shakujō landed tip first into the ground,

Right next to a wooden top that rolled into the crowd, a small hand snatching it before anyone else could notice.

Nice one kit.

Flashing Shippō a grin before glaring at the downed monk.

"Should have kept a better eye on the kitsune." Miroku sighed out, her hand disappearing into her sleeve.

Brought down Tessaiga as she threw a sutra from her sleeve, running off as I cut it in half...

Wait a second, there was nothing on it!

Damn it!

"Everyone get back from here! If you value your lives put as much distance between us!" Miroku called out as I ran after her.

She was planning on using the Kazaana again rather than me catching her or...

As soon as she ran to the outskirts of the town, I saw Miroku reach for her nenju and planted Tessaiga's blade into the ground.

"You would rather use your curse than lose this test of yours." I growled out, with Miroku smirking at me.

"True, I admit that I do hate to lose." She said, the last bit of her nenju covering her palm. "But I also need to make certain of this choice. More than anything else since the Shikon no Tama shattered."

"Better pray this doesn't end like last time." I said with a growl and a smirk of my own, digging my heels into the dirt.

Miroku removed the nenju and the winds immediately began to pick up around me, the gust pulling in rocks and stones into the Kazaana. My ears twitched as I heard something breaking followed by neighing and squeaking over the roar of the winds.

Seeing part of a stable and a horse being pulled into the hole in her palm, vanishing into it with a loud whine before seeing more debris being sucked in.

I just growled at that, planting my feet into the ground as I felt Tessaiga started to get pulled forward.

But until she gave up I wasn't going to budge from this spot!

(Y/N POV - Edge of Merchant Town)

"You okay Shippō?" I asked, holding onto a pole as the wind started to pick up small items at the edge of the town towards them.

"I'm okay, but we should get out of here!" He called out from next to Yura, some of her hairs keeping him anchored incase these winds got any worse.

We had only caught up at the tail end of what seemed to be a small scuffle between Inuko and Miroku, the former disarming the latter. Took a moment to find Shippō in the crowd before Miroku announced her warning.

Yura barely had any time to wrap hairs around us before the Kazaana was unsealed and sucked in all the livestock from this part of town.

Thankfully people heeded her warning and had cleared out before the winds picked up, leaving us as the closest to the epicenter as the gathered crowd was scrambling for shelter.

Honestly from this distance and with Yura's hairs we should be safe, but not Inuko.

What was going on is what I could only assume to be the most dangerous game of chicken I've ever heard of. Either Inuko refuses to budge and risked getting sucked in and at that range I'm sure how effective Yura's hairs could secure her. Or Miroku seals the curse back up and tries to make another run for it once Inuko got close enough.

Neither one looked like they were going to give up anytime soon...

"Y/N." Kagome said, breaking me from my thoughts to see her looking at Inuko and Miroku. "I think I have an idea to stop this, we just need a little push."

Yura looked at her quizzically as I pieced together what Kagome was planning....

The push she was asking for...possibly. Barely had any practice the other day and even then it wasn't all that good, but that was before the addition of three shards earlier.

"Would probably be completely drained, but it should work." I said getting her to smile before we noticed the hairs around us starting to unravel. "Yura?"

"Figured you or the girl would ask this master. This is crazy, but be careful." She said, getting Kagome to smile.

"We'll try." She said before grabbing my arm as I began to focus yoki into my other hand. "Ready?" 

"Ready." I said, the two of us jumping into the gales.

Quickly finding ourself pulled along with the debris in the winds, holding each by the arm as we swerved to avoid some pots flying towards us as I focused on gathering yoki into my palm.

A little more...now!

Thrusting my hand back, I released a tiny burst of wind and we flew forward.

It was nothing more than a very gentle breeze concentrated to a point, creating and releasing it had nearly completely drained me again.

But it and the suction of the Kazaana was enough to propel us forward much faster than force of the winds could.

Soon we saw Inuko and Tessaiga slowly being dragged closer to Kazaana and a wide eyed Miroku, hurriedly covering the curse with the nenju and wrapping it around her arm.

The winds stopped, but it was too late.

We flew past Inuko and I braced both me and Kagome as we slammed into Miroku, sending the three of sprawling into the ground with a groan.

Okay, not keen on doing that again...

(Kagome POV)

Ow...

I should have thought this through more...I think I head butted her...

With a groan I started to sit up, wincing as I touched my forehead.

Definitely headbutted her.

Sitting up I saw Y/N was getting up again, the two of us next to Miroku who was still sprawled out on the ground.

I don't think she'll be getting back up anytime soon.

"You okay Kagome?" Y/N asked with a groan as he looked over Miroku's nenju.

"I'm fine, my head hurts a little." I said, getting him to nod as he leaned over Miroku towards me. Getting closer before mist began to emerge two of his finger tips. Pressing them against my forehead as I let out a small sigh of relief. "Thanks."

Could feel the pain starting to ease up quite a bit.

That and it felt quite nice too.

"No problem, but I'm not sure how much longer I can keep it up." Y/N said, already I can feel the cold from his touch starting to weaken.

"It's fine, I'm feeling a lot better already." I said with a smile, which he returned.

"Y/N, Kagome you both are certainly something else, jumping into the winds like that." Inuko said, I glance to see her walking towards us while sheathing Tessaiag. Shaking her head before smirking. "Guess she wasn't going to go through with it after all."

"What were you going to do if she had?" Y/N asked, removing his hand from my head.

"You two already answered it yourselves." Inuko said, getting me to sigh at that. Suppose she just had faith in us or figured Miroku wouldn't go through with sucking into the Kazaana.

"Going to need to tie her up incase she decides to continue this 'test' of hers." I said shaking my head as I noticed Yura and Shippō running over to us.

"Hopefully she'll be more willing to talk to us now." Y/N sighed out, getting me to nod before he let out a loud gasp. His face turning red.

What was-

I yelled and kicked Miroku as we both ran up to Inuko red faced, her growling as the monk sat up and massaged a frost covered hand.

"Never mind that, kill her!" I shouted furiously, noticing Y/N shaking as small, jagged ice formed on his knuckles before it shattered.

Probably ran out yoki, shame. He'll have to settle for Shusūi after I kick the Yomi out of her again!

Before Miroku could do something, Yura's hairs bound her arms together and slammed back first into a tree. Hoisting her up halfway up the trunk before tying her to it.

"Think of trying anything else monk and I'm sure the bitch will do much worse than I will do. Or I decide to snap your neck myself." Yura threatened, to which I hoped Miroku did try something.

Only to be slightly disappointed when she raised her hands in surrender.

"Calm down, I've seen more than enough." Miroku said while smiling as my eye twitched.

Like Yomi I was going to calm down after what she did!

I looked at Y/N, seeing him sighing before shaking his head.

"You could have just been straight to us from the beginning, instead gauging us with this 'test' of yours." He said, shaking his head as a strand pilfered our shard from her robe. Flinging it into my hand as I caught it. "You don't have much time left until the Kazaana consumes you Miroku?"

"A few years, but the yokai responsible has made their prescience known for the first confirmed sighting in a decade. With how elusive they are, the shattering of the Shikon no Tama was the only chance I could ever have of ending this curse in my lifetime." Miroku said shaking her head while frowning. "I'm ready to share everything...but can you please let me down now?"

Y/N and Yura shared a look as the latter smiled.

"In a few minutes, the frost on your hand should melt by then as well." He said, getting me and Inuko to smirk.

Miroku let out a resigned sigh before nodding.

Honestly I think even if he hadn't run out of yoki, Y/N probably wouldn't have helped her with that for a while.

I sneaked closer to Yura as Shippō began to climb up Y/N's back.

"Do you think you could drop her straight down?" I asked her, Yura smirking at that.

"Was thinking the same thing girl, even if either of you didn't ask for it." She said, and I swore I heard Inuko stifling a chuckle.

Being strung up in a tree and a painful landing is the least Miroku could suffer for what she did!

Taking a deep breath to get rid of my frustrations, I'm just relieved this 'test' for us wasn't nearly as harrowing as the last one...though a tiny portion of this town had gotten wrecked...

We should probably leave here immediately after releasing Miroku.

Then we can finally get the answers she had made such an effort to chase her all over to learn it.

(Chapter 58 end)

Hey guys Mukuro7 here and I hoped you all have enjoyed this chapter.

So essentially the group has seen what Miroku can do and how crafty she can be and fleshing her out some more. Like Y/N and Kagome have noticed she's more like a more subdued Hiten with her desires. Factored in with how intelligent she is setting a scheme to test the group's capabilities and resolve to see if she would place her faith in them against Naraku.

Cost Miroku her jewel shards, but after this chapter it's safe to assume she is more than happy for the results of how things are doing.

And a little bit of showcasing Y/N's powers continue to grow with the shards, did mention a few chapters ago after absorbing the shard's power from Mittsume Jōrō and earlier this chapter absorbing Miroku's own. Best he can do is a small, cool breeze for a few seconds. But like his reiryoku more shards and practice can turn it into quite an edge.

Anyway that should be all for now.

Next chapter should be the halfway point of the Miroku arc, where she reveals a truth that has been hidden for over half a century. Hope you all enjoy the chapter when it comes out.

Going to be refreshing my memory with the Inuyasha and Yashahime manga between stories in the meantime, been a while since I've read the former anyway.

So until next time, ciao!