This... Is this what that old hag meant? The power she can release from Sesshomaru...? Meioshi thought, watching Sesshomaru float towards her. How long has Nintojo known about his true power...? Is it at a level beyond a normal inu? Beyond a True Inu...?
"... You have terrible tastes, witch," Sesshomaru remarked, walking past her.
"Eh?" Meioshi replied, confused by the comment.
"Of all the suitors you could have obtained, you throw yourself at a half-cooked crab," Sesshomaru said over his shoulder, sheathing his sword. "Did you truthfully sell a demon to another? You claimed this sin too openly."
"I didn't sell her like some madame!" Meioshi defended, feeling insulted that Sesshomaru would even use such an accusing tone for a half-explained truth. She put a hand over her chest, not even paying attention to the fact that her clothes were shredded thoroughly. She was practically naked up top, save for the under armor holding her bust in place and her hair falling over to cover the fullness of her bosom. "She was a demon who was killing young girls a bit too close to Heiwa. I was called by the sister town to deal with her as a proper executioner. For her crimes, I chose to have her serve a prison sentence that involved doing labor for an oni male. It just so... happened that he wanted a... particular type of labor. I had no opposition to it. It was either she did the time, or I kill her on the spot in front of an audience. I already had to deal with the bodies, and that was another task in and of itself. Stop glaring at me!"
"Put clothes on," Sesshomaru ordered angrily.
Kirameku Ha calmly removed his coat and covered Meioshi's smaller body. He inspected her wounds and then asked gently, "You are freed from this creature, daughter. The ritual you performed just before coming here. Those were your memories? The ones you would not speak of when you returned home from war?"
Meioshi's eyes started swelling up with tears before she shook violently for a second and calmed herself. She then whispered, "He kept me prisoner in this place. I wasn't strong enough to keep him sealed for eternity. My sisters, friends, those poor people... were all trapped here under his shadow. I couldn't free them without freeing him again. Whoever was able to get out was escorted out, but I don't know how many people remained here as a food source. I don't know how many people were lured here, brought here, abandoned here, anything! My injuries were great. I should have died. I wanted to!"
"It was not your time, daughter," Kirameku Ha reassured, wiping Meioshi's tears and bringing her closer to embrace her warmly. "You did far more than anyone was capable of doing then. Your strength has grown significantly since the days you may have called yourself weak. Your greatest enemies of the past are gone because you gained the strength that you needed to confront them and went beyond that to set yourself free. You have to forgive yourself now. It is the path of the hell traveler and the way of the Bushido. Complete your tasks, cleanse your soul."
With that, Kirameku Ha released her and left quietly. Meioshi gasped for air a few times before she finally let out her cries and screams. Her true grief was not having the strength to save everyone here. It was an ideal, she knew that. As much as she wished and wanted to be a hero and save all who were in danger, her reality was far colder. She simply couldn't save everyone. It was the one thing that she didn't understand as a holy warrior, especially when she was younger. Her clan had a unique gift and enviable might, but they were restricted from using it despite being able to do so much. They had to adhere to the world's rules. As a doctor, her reality was the same. She simply couldn't save every life brought to her, but she could escort whatever soul she wanted to heaven or hell...
Watching Meioshi dance this time was more impactful than before. She didn't lose a friend to a greedy parasite. She lost her "other" self. The young adventurer seemed to die here. This was where the ronin that Sesshomaru had come to know was truly born. This dance was specific to her. She mourned, paid her respects to those who had been lost, and now was forming a new path of torii gates for something else. As she danced, she was calling upon the elements and purifying them. Souls were being released from the beaches, sands, and forests. The torii gate path leading to Kanibozu's Temple was breaking apart as she purified that area as well. She shot a burst of holy light from Kaishi Novum into the sky and from it came large wagons and ships from the heavens in a parade fashion. Good youkai of varying species from dragonets to squirrels were all marching down from the clouds to claim the lost souls! The torii gate was a large dock for passengers.
As souls were floating over to their rides, some took human forms to speak to Meioshi. Among them was the handsome General Izuhara who took his time to caress Meioshi's cheek and startle her out of her dance. She was about to bow at his feet, but he stopped her to hold her in his arms and smile at her with longing in his eyes. Much to Sesshomaru's surprise, Izuhara kissed the corner of Meioshi's lips before kissing them fully and embracing her completely. He then chuckled warmly at her shocked, blushing face and whistled for his army to join him in the afterlife. Her medical unit ran to her to embrace her, and the men and women on the island who must have heard about her medical practice while in service ran up to greet her for the first time. Meioshi cried some more, but they were tears of joy and not grief. That was the only reason why Sesshomaru no longer felt jealous of another man touching his rival, but he did envy the happy ending Meioshi was being blessed with. So, the rumors were somewhat true about General Izuhara. He did have feelings for Meioshi. It was a pity that there was a spot in hell with Sesshomaru's name on it. He wouldn't get the same blessings she had despite...
________________________________________________
"BANZAI!"
"Ack!" Jaken yelped, sticking to the ceiling again from Ohta's outburst.
They were now on Meioshi's family ship, headed to the New World along the Silk Road. She was following Yamashi's much larger trade ship and the caravan leading them to the Trade Hub. Sesshomaru decided to ride with his mother and grandfather on Yamashi's ship. He had the option of riding with [Nihipali], but he formally invited Hikozaemon II to join him on this excursion so his lordship sat in his company. His mother just invited herself, but she had grown quieter since they set sail. Homugi was climbing on rope ladders and sniffing the air like an alerted pup to new territory. She was visibly excited - bit bummed that she couldn't ride with Meioshi after hearing about what happened on the island she left to but excited. Plus, Homugi got to ride with the reserved Reijiro and equally excited Sanraku. They remained at Sesshomaru's side, but she wasn't all alone. She had Yuko and Yamashi, after all. They were friends now.
Though Reijiro didn't show it, Homugi could tell he was at least interested in where their journey was taking them. Periodically, he would look out into the sea and watch the waves go by. Sometimes, he would catch the dolphins swimming before others did or even some choice youkai swimming after them out of curiosity. It was like they were saying goodbye to them. Once they entered other waters, Reijiro was more alerted to new sights and sounds in the waters. His ears perked up a lot. He only huffed at something when it was new or imposing much like a guard dog. It was cute to Homugi, though. He really was a soldier by nature, always giving you an unimpressed look and alerted to much of his surroundings. Reijiro, however, was secretly quite sweet. He looked up to Kirameku Ha greatly and had a soft spot for children. He took to young Kiijiro and Kirameku Ha's grandson almost instantly. Homugi wondered if the sassy man wanted sons someday. Having daughters might stress him out, but Homugi found that thought to be quite cute.
"You should talk to him," a familiar voice whispered.
"Yeep!" Homugi yipped out of fright. It was Yuko sneaking up on her. "Yuko! Don't do that."
"I wouldn't have had to if you weren't looking at him again," Yuko teased, picking up a bowl to fill with fruit. "I thought you didn't want anything to do with the House of Inu anymore. Why so interested in Lord Sesshomaru's new guards?"
"I'm not that engrossed with what he's doing. He's just...! Well...!" Homugi flopped onto a barrel to pout and put her face in her hands. "He's so handsome and a proper rogue and... completely out of my league."
"You're not out of anyone's league. If anything, he's out of yours," Yuko said confidently, putting grapes into her bowl.
"Unlike me, he has a job with the guard. They pay well, depending on your rank," Homugi said bitterly.
"So. You said you liked working at the ryokans with Mizu Hoseki. Did you change your mind about working there?" Yuko asked, adding more fruit.
"No. I kinda wanna invest in owning one myself. I like Meioshi's pilgrimage spots, and I think a proper inn and bathhouse could help others who were like me. It could be a safe place or even a therapeutic space. Cleaning them at night reminds me of the night Meioshi first took me in. I want to honor that memory," Homugi confessed. "Plus, we went on vacation at a pilgrimage site. That helped cleared the air a lot after we thought she died."
"That's a great dream, Homugi. I think you'll be an amazing water therapist," Yuko complimented, smiling gently.
"PIRATES!"