Kirameku Ha honestly couldn't fathom why he bore such ambivalence towards Sesshomaru in this moment, but he supposed (though he would never say it aloud, in case of offense) it came from the initial feeling of surprise when his lordship trailed behind Meioshi as she walked down the path of torii gates in her full holy warrior regalia. Sesshomaru looked miffed at first, but he was quite confident in his strides and seemed to be sniffing the area. Meioshi's powers were amplified outside of the torii gates. He could be smelling the herbs trickling in to try to purify him. Or, he could be acting like a loyal hound and sniffing for danger. Either way, the lad seemed excited for a fight - eager, even. Meioshi was the opposite. She wasn't eager to fight, but she was ready to fight. Her training in the army taught her well. She anticipated battle, death, and threats to her honor and acted accordingly. Her Bushido Code was in full effect with her return to its ways of life. He was happy that she was returning, though. She was ready to move on from her past and embrace life again. This was the Meioshi he helped to raise and was quite fond of as his own granddaughter.
Kirameku Ha was sporting his complementary robes as the family guardian to the Jigoku name. Orange may not have done his tanned skin much justice, but the blue was hypnotic on him. Like Meioshi, he wore straw shoes instead of boots like Sesshomaru, which his lordship found quite interesting. Really, this whole scenario was ironic. Lord Sesshomaru fighting side by side with former samurai? Pfft! Kirameku Ha and Meioshi, however, knew nothing of the boy's past, so they have no idea that he had strong bitterness towards these so-called warriors. Kirameku Ha was simply walking confidently with two youngsters, letting small memories distract him for a moment. Possibly an effect of Meioshi's powers. Her magic had a tendency to soothe others into a sort of lull if you weren't careful. He remembered the days when he stood by Arimasa's side in battles like these. Umehana and (much later in life) Kaede became worthy additions to the exorcisms they often had to perform. They were an interesting group to those who paid or begged for Arimasa and Kaede's services. Perhaps that was why he felt an air of genuine surprise about this situation. Kirameku Ha always had his place at the Jigoku family's side, so it was easy to see Arimasa's spirit within Meioshi. The sea dragon prince had his arms around his beloved sprite of a granddaughter now, but Sesshomaru was in... a rather interesting position.
He and Kaede were a lot alike when Kaede was younger. In fact, when Kirameku Ha had met the priestess, she was quite cold to the world. Only sharing her kindness with children and young girls. She had changed drastically after meeting the Jigoku family. She became playful again like her innocence had sparked to life after years of dormancy. She was much like a tree after the winter. Umehana was not cold when the Kairyuu met her, but she did not speak until something important had to be said. She was very firm about her words and had strong beliefs. Sesshomaru may share a similarity with her since they both questioned marriage customs at young ages. Oddly enough, Umehana knew more about the Jigoku bloodline than the active hell travelers themselves! He wondered if Sesshomaru knew something since it seemed the inuyoukai were returning as symbols to the Jigoku name.
Thinking back to Umehana, Kirameku Ha's eyes couldn't help but soften at the memory. That was a funny day.
_____________________________________________________
Roughly forty years ago...
"Fisherman."
"Hm? Ah, the son of the late Maekawa," the grouchy elder introduced.
"... That is not your father's name, my lord," Kirameku Ha replied with a raised brow. "Why's the wrinkly bastard insulting your name?"
"Brother! Mind your manners," Arimasa reprimanded, smirking at his childhood friend.
"Hmph!" the elder harrumphed with a bark under his breath. "Define father, pushover."
"Oi! Watch it!" Takeda barked, standing in front of Kirameku and Arimasa to shield them. "I'll not stand by and let you disrespect the Jissoji prince or his second-in-command!"
Arimasa smirked at his men shielding him. Honestly, such a fuss was unnecessary... but humorous all the same. He was proud to have earned the loyalty of such fine men, but the situation was a bit more delicate. The townspeople knew his ancestors, so this place was where Kokina Hoshi brought him as a child to train. Why did it look so different, though? He didn't remember seeing so many people living here. He didn't even know a palace was here! Arimasa and his men met with the fisherman as promised, who informed the other fishermen about their trade of free labor for rations and information, and the men were brought to different people for work. A lot of grumbling came from them. The level-headed taisho was about to join them, but the younger fisherman who was partnered with the grouch shook his head at the general with a soft smile. He instead led him into town. Kirameku Ha, Tsugahara, and about two or three men went with their taisho to follow the lad. Arimasa was now in a familiar part of civilization and immediately recognized the sights and sounds of the new parts of Niji Saku. In his youth, there was one restaurant that served porridge with vegetables and fruit. Was it - ? It was still there! Yes, he remembered. There were only two houses in this part of Niji Saku: one for the cook's family and another for the inn keeper. Everyone else was new.
"Hey! You!" a man shouted.
Arimasa and the others turned to the voice and saw a rather short kid running through the village to escape someone. He was wearing a large straw hat with a wide brim that covered half his face and most of his shoulders with shade. He was jumping over hurdles with pristine movements and snatched different items from people to make a quick weapon. The kid was in the middle of making a rope dart, but he bumped into Arimasa, looked up at him, and hid behind his towering form. Some men were glaring at him. Others were eyeing the kid with lusty and disturbing gazes that bothered the general, and they grinned with maliciously curved lips and missing teeth in odd places.
"Couple of tourists, huh? Look, hand over that shorty and you might not get a scar on that pretty face," one of the men threatened.
"Takeda," Arimasa called, turning to the burly soldier slightly. "Leave him alive."
"No promises," the soldier harrumphed, preparing to fight by rolling his neck to loosen up any stiffness.
Arimasa turned to the kid and said softly, "Stay with me, okay?"
The kid wrapped his arms around the general, making him smirk, and turned to Kirameku Ha to say, "We'll guard the lad. Tsugahara. Make sure Takeda doesn't lose himself."
"With pleasure, my lord," Tsugahara said, punching his palm eagerly.
Together, the small group of men defended the rice hat kid and the fisherman lad in a display of fighting power that made the grimy attackers turn tail and limp off to safety. They mentioned something about waiting at the farm and more men appeared to tend to the wounded and beaten. That disturbed the rice hat kid, so Arimasa placed a hand on the kid's head and brought him closer to his chest to whisper, "You can stay with us. I'll be here for a while. Sounds like you'd be safer at the docks."
The rice hat kid didn't say anything. He only blushed, nodded his head, and looked at the soldiers a bit closer to inspect their armor and working linens. They were certainly fit! Even the burly Takeda was a beacon of the ideal male physique! Ultimately, however, the rice hat kid was closest to Arimasa and was able to observe the taisho's firm body firsthand. Kirameku Ha, however, was a bit suspicious about the rice hat kid and fisherman lad. It might have simply been his intuition, but he sensed something different about the two of them. Something about their spiritual auras called out to him. They were good people without a doubt. They were just... different. Arimasa could also feel that the fisherman lad was an odd one, but the rice hat kid seemed harmless. The men and rice hat kid followed the lad to a simple ryokan and ordered a round of drinks for everyone, paying for each item politely.
He then sat with them at a table that had an outside view and said, "Sorry about my grouchy father. He's a kind man at heart. He's just disappointed in one of your ancestors, Lord Ji - ah! Pardon me. Lord Arimasa."
"Are you sure you wish to speak about this so publicly?" Arimasa asked, looking around to see eyes on him and the men.
"Here is fine. I think the women find you handsome. Your eyes are striking, my lord!" the fisherman lad complimented with a nervous chuckle. "Niji Saku has been... a hard place to live in over the past century as my father explained. Many of the people moved to the farmlands or the sister town since your ancestor left. Those who are here are mainly surviving on hope and the last bits of morale. It's getting to a point where we're like you, trading labor hands for food or clothes just to make things easier."
The rice hat kid shook a bit at the lad's words like he was both frightened and disgusted at such a harsh reality he was going to have to bear. Arimasa placed a hand on the kid's hat again and whispered words of reassurance to him. Kirameku Ha took careful notice of the rice hat kid, however, and peered at his hands. The were dirtied from some prior task earlier, but the fingers were slender and his body was unshapely underneath his brown clothing. Like the real figure was being hidden. Similar to the lad, there was something in hiding. Maybe that's what made the second-in-command so suspicious.
"Don't worry yourself, Rice Kid. We'll protect you!" Takeda declared, flexing the muscles in his arm to show his strength. "Men like that ain't worth giving away free labor. We'll show you how to fight tomorrow! You could use a lesson or two. Get some meat on those bones!"
"Any meatier than you and he'll be put on a roast," Tsugahara joked, earning a scowl from Takeda.
"This village lost wealth just because one man left?" Kirameku Ha asked, not understanding things.
"No. The village lost protection from very strong demons. Humans who side with them tend to resort to theft. It's not always money that gets taken," the lad admitted sadly.
"What about the army and the embassy that you said you had?" Tsugahara asked. "They're not protecting you?"
"They can only do so much with demons. They rely heavily on the Shinto priests here. That's why only some homes can afford to have a barrier. The rest are fair game. If you're a hell traveler, maybe you can join the Shinto priests and make the barriers a bit stronger," the lad suggested.
"I will. Looks like you need more than exorcists in this town," Arimasa said, nodding to the rice hat kid. "Where are you experiencing problems with demons the most?"
"Definitely the threshold of the hell travelers, but... I think the beaches are the best place to start. Clear out the docks for the ships first and it'll make travel much safer. From there, I'd probably move along the borders. If I remember right, Maekawa, your ancestor was working hard to form a border around Niji Saku. Maybe you should continue where he left off. Father would know more about what he was trying to do by forming the border, but my suggestion would definitely be to close off the village from any new demons entering in. That way, you can deal with the demons who are left here. It'll get hairy, but it's a start," the lad said.
"... Very well. Do you mind if we gather fish along with you while I work the docks and beaches?" Arimasa asked politely.
"Of course, my lord! Oh! Should I maybe try to get some bedding for the young one there?" the lad asked, nodding at the rice hat kid.
"We'll occupy part of the beach once it's purified. He can choose to stay on the ship or where we're allowed to go. Am I not meeting with the embassy today?" Arimasa then asked.
"Father felt it best for you to show us your power first. If you're really a hell traveler, then we'll take you to the embassy," the lad answered. "We just wanna make sure you're not some group of well-mannered pirates or something. We've had enough hardships as is. We don't need another burden."
"It is understandable," Arimasa said, rising to stand. He looked down at the rice hat kid and said, "Come, child. You need a safe place to sleep. Men like that will come back to get you, especially if you were meant to pay a debt. Kirameku Ha, with me."
"Yes, taisho," Kirameku Ha replied, nodding his head.
"Wait," the rice hat kid said with a strong voice. "Fisherman, you are wrong."
"Huh?" the lad replied, surprised by the remark.
Kirameku Ha - ever so sneakily - used the butt of his sword's sheath to knock the rice hat kid's hat off... to reveal a woman with rose pink lips and light brown to light green eyes. They were a very unusual color, but they enhanced her dirtied face and the beauty underneath. The woman shyly hustled to get her hat back and covered herself with its large body. Undeterred, she continued, "I boat near the hell traveler's threshold often. There were no demons at the cliff, just the one guardian spirit by the pond. I speak to it all the time. Maekawa was a child when he came into power! I know his story. He wasn't a traitor. He was just scared! What right does anyone have to judge a child on duties he hardly understood? His return should be acknowledged at the least. He - ! He made a safe space for me and my friends... who I may never see again after today. It's not right! None of you are right! The hell traveler's threshold... is a beautiful place. Empty and old, it may be, but... I've wanted to live there since I was a girl. Unlike the rest of you, I and my friends - my sisters - were safe from the likes of you uncaring villagers! At least there, I know the gods didn't abandon us! Otherwise, why would a guardian spirit still be there?"
"... This guardian spirit you saw," the lad started, smirking softly at the woman, "what did it look like?"
"He is small like a mouse, but he's some other kind of creature. I know he's a youkai, but he's good and kind. He protects me! I know he's at the threshold. He has to be the guardian of the hell travelers," the woman defended, tears falling freely from her eyes. "He didn't protect me today because - !"
"Did this creature give you it's name? As a show of friendship?" the lad asked, chuckling.
"Young man, you should not insult this woman," Arimasa said, not understanding the exchange.
"His name is Kyūjo-sha! Insult me as much as you wish, but I will not let you insult him!" the woman said with a stomp.
"Kyūjo-sha is a guardian spirit to the hell traveler clan... in a way. You are correct. How interesting!" the lad said with a light laugh.
"What's so funny?" the woman demanded.
"I happen to know the tale of your little friend. If you are truly friends, he must've given you some gifts like a shield or a medallion of some kind, yes?" the lad asked, earning a light blush from the woman and her silence finally. "A-ha! Then, perhaps, you can escort Lord Arimasa to his threshold. After all, he's an active member of the clan."
"But I - !"
"He can't throw you out, my lady. You can continue to live at the threshold. It's your safe space, yes?" the lad asked, interrupting the woman.
"... He can't?" the woman asked, relief pouring out from her soul. She then finally turned to Arimasa and bowed low before him. "W-will you let m-me stay at the threshold, my lord? It's my home. It's all I have left now."
"... Those men were trying to steal it from you?" Arimasa finally asked.
"No. My parents tried to trade the family as laborers, but the patrons were trying to take me and my friends as something else. I refuse to be a slave for some disgusting bandit! I want the man that Kyūjo-sha promised I'd meet! I promise to leave your threshold when and if I marry that man, but I have nowhere else to go, my lord! Please let me stay there! I love my place!"
"... Show me your world," Arimasa said softly to the woman, making her perk up. "This place that you're staying in. Show it to me."
Flinching, the woman threw herself on the ground and replied, "Yes, my lord!"
After things had been settled with the fishermen, Arimasa and Kirameku Ha escorted the unnamed beauty onto their ship to bathe and have some privacy. The men still agreed to protect her and treated her with respect. When she came off the ship to meet Arimasa, she was dressed in a simple hankimono, but she wore a cape on her person. It was much too large for her, seeing as though it belonged to the unusually tall Arimasa, but she rolled it up quite expertly to make a thick collar and let her hair down. The young general... was breath-taken by the woman's innocent charms and lovely face. When she found her hat, unfortunately, she was covered up again. Though Arimasa wanted to see more of the woman, he did not push her to remove the hat. He assumed she felt comfortable with it on. It was a pity, really. She would look beautiful with a proper kimono and slippers. The straw shoes did her no justice.
"I'm ready now!" the woman cheered in a spritely manner. She bent over one of the fires the men made and summoned up a singular bit of flame with a playful group of sparks surrounding it. "This will light the way."
"You have reiki?" Kirameku Ha asked, smirking at the woman's burst of energy. Such a stark difference from her weeping earlier.
"Kyūjo-sha calls it mianyi. It's an energy source specific to the hell travelers. He taught me how to use it to manipulate certain elements. Fire and lightning seem to be the dominant ones the hell travelers can control or have mastery over, but it was said that they can train themselves to control others. I prefer nature, personally," the woman replied. "But, I like fire and wind, too. They're very useful."
"Why wind?" Arimasa asked out of genuine curiosity.
"To control my boat better. I can adjust the speed to my liking with a proper wind current or alter water currents. Fire is all-around useful. I can cook and stay warm with it," the woman replied. "We'd better go before the ghosts start walking through town. They talk A LOT."
"Oh?" Arimasa responded with a warm chuckle, earning visible blushing from the unnamed woman. Goodness, she was gorgeous! "Might I ask about your eyes?"
"My eyes?" the woman questioned, tilting her head slightly.
Arimasa leaned over until he was at her level and locked eyes with hers. He then pointed to them with a singular finger and said, "My eye color has been known as Iron Dragon or Sea Dragon Blue since I was a boy. Yours are not brown like a normal person either. They are this jewel-like green but there is brown in there. A lighter brown. Is there a story behind your eyes?"
"Nothing as legendary as that. It's a bit daintier, I guess. My mother said a youkai came to visit her in the middle of the night during the spring. It gave her different blooms, so she always woke to the smell of perfume from the flowers. She thinks the youkai gave me my eye color. They stand out during the spring when flowers bloom brightest," the woman explained. "Do yours stand out when you're at sea or when it rains?"
"Definitely at sea! That's why he's the sea dragon!" Tsugahara cheered, chomping into an apple. "Second can command the waters using reiki. He's not a master at it, but he'll get there."
"Oi!" Kirameku Ha barked, frowning with embarrassment.
"Couldn't tell you if taisho could do it, too, though," Takeda through munching on bread.
"I don't know much about reiki other than the story of the oni turtle, but I can show you how to control the elements using mianyi. After all, if you are a hell traveler like the fisherman said, you may as well learn how to use your own power source," the woman offered.
"An oni turtle?" Kirameku Ha questioned.
"You are familiar with my family's connection with the grand king oni?" Arimasa questioned, now looking at the woman with a serious expression instead of the flirty one.
"Yes. I was living at the threshold for a while. I became familiar with your family's stories. I like them. Oh, the early hell travelers, I mean. They were very kind in their past lives. You seem to have carried a similar quality. Thank you... for protecting me, Lord Arimasa," the woman said, bowing politely. "Oh! We really should go now. The ghosts."
Arimasa nodded quietly before bidding Kirameku Ha to follow him this time. They followed the little woman far deeper into Heiwa than they thought possible. But, she was right. The older parts of Heiwa were beautiful. Flowers and trees were healthy. The beaten pathway was a perfected and clean road. Youkai were present, but they were good ones and were quite curious about the men with the little woman. Finally, when they made it to the pond, Arimasa knew exactly where to go and what to do. Kokina Hoshi embedded much about his duties into memory. Without thinking, Arimasa twirled the Kaishi Novum about in his hand and summoned up his power. It was heavy and rattled the earth. The Hellish Kaidan formed, and the Lurking Beasts were awakened.
"Wait, my lord! You'll damage my boat!" the woman pleaded frantically, waving her arms about.
Just as she was running up to Arimasa to stop him, the kappa guardians living in the pond arose from the water... and held the woman's houseboat in its cup of water.
"Speak thy name, hell traveler," one of the kappa demanded.
"Jissoji Arimasa, descendant of Jissoji Kokina Hoshi. Stand down, guardians. I am the lord of these lands," Arimasa ordered firmly. Kirameku Ha and the woman watched with awe as the kappa guardians bowed before the man. He then ordered, "Reveal to me the temple of my clansmen. I am here to train."
"Arimasa?" a deep voice called. It was a red demon familiar to the young general.
He turned to the creature and smiled brightly before saying, "Aka! My friend, you are still here?"
Aka ran up to the man, frightening Kirameku Ha and the woman with its speed, but he slowed to a stop and took Arimasa's small hands into his claws to hold them in friendly greeting.
"My bright boy! You are home once more!" Aka cheered, roaring with glee.
"Umehana?" a small voice called. This one was familiar to the woman as were the other kind youkai.
"Kyūjo-sha!" young Umehana called, running up to her friend. It was a crossbreed between a mouse and a ferret. She held it in her arms gently, earning his nuzzling into her cheek in return. "My friend, those men - "
"Worry not, Umehana. You are home, and your friends are on their right paths now. You did well. I'm sorry that you had to endure such a fright," the small creature apologized sadly.
"Lord Arimasa is letting me stay. I am blessed! Do you know of this man? He is a hell traveler," Umehana said, walking up to him and Kirameku Ha.
"I know him. He came here as a boy," Kyūjo-sha said, blinking cutely. "He and his troublemaking friend there used to play in the fields together. He's so tall now!"
"Isn't he a sprout?" Aka replied happily. "And a general of an army? A noble position!"
"You all know me more than I know the girl there who has been living in that houseboat. Who are you, maiden?" Arimasa asked.
"Her name is Umehana. She was here as a child right around the same time you were. It simply was not time for you both to meet then. She is very special to your clan," Kyūjo-sha explained. "Each hell traveler must master at least one of the eight elements corresponding with the oni king's mastery. Your clan is granted some control over fire and lightning because of your founder, Father Izanagi, and his journey into the land of shadow and death. Your clan are very precious to his lordship. This young lady here," Kyūjo-sha said, flying around Umehana and playing with her fireball like a toy, "is going to teach you how to control the element of your choice. That's why I showed her how to control mianyi. Think of her as a mage."
"Ah, is my presence necessary for that type of training?" Kirameku Ha asked Arimasa.
"Yes, actually. You are going to be the first human trusted to guard the clan, after all," Kyūjo-sha answered with a bright smile. He had no mouth, but his eyes were expressive.
"... I'm sorry. What?" Kirameku Ha questioned.
"You don't know? Humans can't see youkai unless we're assigned to protect you or unless we will it to be so. You can see all of us as clear as day, yes?"
"Wha - ? EH? I'M GOING TO BE A YOUKAI!?" Kirameku Ha replied, mouth dropping exaggeratedly.
"In a way, yes! Now, hurry and pick your element! We have a lot to do before your men leave to report back to Jissoji Castle, yes?" Kyūjo-sha asked with a cute laugh.
________________________________________________
Such a fond memory! Kirameku Ha underwent his training to master the element of his choice - water, of course - and Arimasa... met his future wife. Apparently, he needed to understand and learn how to use mianyi properly, so Arimasa had trained under Umehana until the two had fallen in love with each other. He supposed that's what made him curious about Sesshomaru. Kyūjo-sha had returned to the Guardian Circle, and the Green Pheasant mentioned his own curiosity about Sesshomaru after the incident with the onmyoji clan. Meioshi and Sesshomaru shared a similar protectiveness over those they cared about, whereas Arimasa and Umehana shared a love of boating and nature hikes. Was there something else this dynamic duo shared in common? Even the inu returning to Heiwa was an odd thing to happen in recent days. What truly was the meaning of Lord Sesshomaru's presence? Was he meant to represent Meioshi's power limit?
"You are quite deep in thought, great uncle," Meioshi said, stopping in her walk.
The Gogyo Stone of Fire was much larger than the Gogyo Stone of Water, at least double in size but less ornate in design as its brother.
"Tell me what puzzles you after this," Meioshi said, summoning her powers to unlock the prison...