Being borderline dragged back to your cart wasn't much fun. Practically being manhandled like a rag doll and thrown inside said cart due to Gang's failing strength was even less so. For the two men, the next week was filled with nothing but bed rest, the thrashing they took not allowing them to do anything else. Upon the week's passing and, feeling he had rested enough, Hao had a meeting with the family who had contracted him.

When he arrived, the family was more than polite to him. They treated him as though he were one of their own, so grateful they were for the priest's exorcism. When the discussion of payment came up, Hao wasn't able to convince the family that he was indeed the one who owed them. Rather, they decided to double the fee they had agreed to pay the Onmyoji. Hao, however, managed to talk them into paying only one fourth of the original fee under the pretense that he was responsible for most of the damage done to the estate. He even went so far as to send some of the men who had added onto his own estate to aid in repairs.

Late that night, after the rest of the household was sleeping, the priest decided to spend some time setting on the veranda, gazing at the moon and stars. Watching the twinkling objects in the sky was a longtime hobby of his, having spent many nights under them as a child. Feeling something solid brush against him, he looked down to see Matamune sitting beside him.

Scratching the back of the cat's head, his eyes perked as he noticed something. The priest stood abruptly and paced back into his room, the shoji already slid wide open. He returned bearing a small sitting cushion, identical to the one he had been setting on. Placing it a small distance from his, he casually placed the feline on it with a smile.

As the cat raised his left hind paw to scratch behind his ear on the same side, the bear claw necklace given to him by Hao, clacked together. Staring at it, Hao remembered what he had told Matamune regarding becoming a goryoushin.

"If you are to become a goryoushin," Hao started. "There is one thing you must keep in mind."

The feline cocked his head at the man.

"When two goryoushin battle one another, their powers are expended," the Onmyoji contined. "If they do not take time and wait for their energy to replenish, there is a possibility of their souls disappearing."

He stared up at the sky as the cat contemplated what he had just heard. "It is one of the duties of an Onmyoji to defend this balance and prevent the spirits from destroying one another." Hao smiled. "That can sometimes be a difficult thing to accomplish. We shamans...don't always have an easy life, either..."

"Of course," the Onmyoji continued, "I have no intention of allowing you to fade away, if you do indeed become a goryoushin. I simply thought it would be best to let you know that, were you to become a goryoushin, that I may have to ask for your...services when I must battle other spirits, and this is a threat you would have to face."

Matamune looked up at his friend solemnly. Hao gave the feline a reassuring smile.

"There's no way I'm ever going to allow you to fade away, my friend."


Hao awoke holding his head. Glancing up out of his window, he noticed that the sun was up, and had apparently been up for quite some time, as it seemed to be high in the sky. The priest casually scratched the back of his head as he realized that he was not yet fully recovered from his wounds, the cause of his sleeping in.

"I was wondering when you were going to decide to get up," a familiar voice stated.

"Oh, good...evening, Gang," Hao replied, not bothering to look up.

The Chinese shaman grinned. "You know, everyone's waiting for the training session you promised them. They have been for a while now."

The Onmyoji stood up abruptly, sending Matamune tumbling. "I can't believe I slept through that!" he shouted, adding "I...I assume that they're rather angry, aren't they?"

Gang chuckled. "Nah, they're understanding of it. According to them, it doesn't matter who you are; if you fight a goddess, you are lucky if you make it back alive."

Hao had wobbled over to get dressed in his trademark Onmyoji clothes. "Still, I shouldn't get their hopes up and then leave them waiting out there all day..."

Gang shook his head. "Actually, I had a better idea." Hao paused to look up at the man.

"Since you're still a little under the weather," Gang continued, "I thought that I could oversee today's session. After all, you were only going to spar with them, right?"

The priest nodded. "That's right."

"Not to mention, didn't you say a few days ago that a couple of your students didn't come back?"

Hao nodded once more. "Yes, Haruki and Gorou decided to stay in the villages they had traveled to in order to help the people there. I was worried about them at first but, when I received word of what they intended to do, there was no way that I couldn't give them my blessing and best wishes."

Gang grinned. "Well, less people should make the training even smoother." Motioning for the priest to sit down, he added "don't worry about it, I think I can handle one practice session. You can do it next time, 'cause this is the only time I'm doing it."

The priest chuckled. "Fine, fine. Thank you, Gang. Oh, and go easy on them," he added.

"Yeah, yeah," the shaman replied, waving his hand over his shoulder as he stepped outside.

Gang grinned smugly at the assembled group before him as he walked into the courtyard. "So, Hao says that he'll take you up on the offer to get more rest," he said, thumbing at the Onmyoji's room. "Don't worry though," he added, grin broadening, "I'll be training you today."

"Oh come on, there's no way that you can be as good a teacher as Hao," Daisuke scoffed.

Gang smiled. "Care to be the first participant, then?"

"Sure thing," the child retorted, marching forward to meet Gang. "We'll show him, Hotaka," the boy added as a young warrior, appearing to be in his teens materialized behind him. The soldier appeared to be no older than fifteen, decked out in iron armor that covered his chest and upper legs. Aside from the pair of straw sandals on his feet and iron helmet on his head, the rest of the young man's body was bare.

The Chinese shaman chuckled. "Alright, so you have a spirit. Do ya know how to sync with him, kid?"

"Hyoui-gattai, Hotaka!" Daisuke shouted, drawing a short sword from its sheath on his left hip and extending his hand as the warrior spirit formed into a sphere in the boy's palm. He followed up the motion by slamming the sphere into his chest, allowing it to merge into him.

Spiritual energy engulfed the blade of Daisuke's sword, giving it an ethereal extension, while the soldier's armor formed on the boy's chest and upper legs, albeit in a smaller size so as to fit better. The child smirked. "Well, 'teacher?' How's this?"

Gang smiled as he drew his white handled jian, as his dragon companion formed upward out of the ground. "We'll show this kid how it's done, Ti-Lung."

Inside the manor, Hao had settled himself in front of a desk. Before him lay an open book, half of the left page filled with writing. Picking up his brush and dipping it in ink, he set about adding to its content. Scribbling on the page, he came to a halt when Matamune walked across it, observing the words.

With an amused chuckle, the priest gently brushed the feline to the side in order to continue working. The cat, believing a game had just been initiated, weaved around his friend's hand to look once more at the scribblings in the book, causing Hao to laugh aloud.

"It's a book, my friend," the Onmyoji stated. "Though not just a normal book. I've decided to make a compilation of the various abilities, techniques, and methods of training that I've accumulated throughout my life." As the cat gave him a puzzled look, he smiled. "I just thought it would be best to preserve this knowledge for the future of the Asakura name. Plus," he added, "the only time I've been able to work on it is when you are asleep."

Matamune paced back to the edge of the desktop, watching intently as the priest's hand moved across the page, adding more and more scribblings. Hao was in the process of brushstroking the next character when the entire room began to shake, causing the brushtip to streak off the page.

The priest gave an exasperated sigh. "I told him to take it easy..."

Outside, Daisuke lay draped across the large rock in the center of the courtyard, exhausted. Aiko was not much further away, stretched out on the ground. Only two remained, Ryota and Takeshi, both breathing heavily. Ryota had positioned herself into a semi-crouched stance, hold her dagger protectively in front of herself. Takeshi was grasping a spear, easily ready to strike if necessary.

Gang stood not to far from them, both his jian drawn, almost completely covered in his earthen dragon scale armor. His near Ti-Lung appearance was topped off by the tail protruding from his lower back. As opposed to the two he was facing, his breathing was normal, his entire being completely composed.

"Well? I'm standing here, waiting," Gang stated with a smug smile.

The two filled their lungs with air before charging at the Chinese shaman. Gang paid them the same respect, albeit without the need to suck in oxygen. When the two closed in, he made his move. As his assailants move in, one from each side, Gang ducked swiftly before bridging backwards. The two trainees' weapons clashed together where the man's chest had been moments before, slicing only air.

Using his black-handled sword, the Chinese shaman deftly smacked both of his opponents' weapons away. Planting his feet in the ground, he rocketed himself forward, lashing out with the white-handled blade at supersonic speeds. The hits landed before the two young shamans could even register it.

Sheathing his weapon, Gang glanced around the courtyard, a smug smile spreading across his lips. His various opponents lay scattered around, exhausted. Even Shinobu, the most promising of the group, despite his age, sat with his back against the central tree, snoring loudly.

"Oh, come on..." the shaman jeered, "you can't all be finished, can you?"

Daisuke, laying sprawled out face first in the dirt a couple yards away, murmured a half hearted "Just shut up..."

Gang chuckled before shrugging and crossing his arms in front of him. Whistling tunelessly, he slowed padded his way over to the large rock resting beside the courtyard's central tree. Reaching his destination, he hopped atop it, sitting cross-legged, as Ti-Lung manifested beside him.

"Don't you think you went a little hard on them?" the dragon inquired in his usual hiss.

The Chinese shaman was staring at the far door behind which was Hao's room. "I don't really think so. I had it a bit rougher back home. But you know all about that."

"True, but you're of nobility. You were expected to be incredibly strong. They are only...commoners," Ti-Lung stated, coiling himself nonchalantly in midair.

"Well, they're not going to get stronger if I hit them with pillows, are they?" Gang retorted. "They're all training to follow in Hao's footsteps, so they will need to be strong."

The dragon had already lost interest in the conversation. He was flitting higher and higher, coiling himself around and through the branches of the tree before Gang had even finished the sentence.

The shaman sighed. "How typical of you," he said, shaking his fist at the dragon. "If you aren't even going to listen, don't ask!" he added with a grin.

"Ahem." Gang snapped his head back down, eyes staring across the courtyard. Hao had exited his room and was standing on the veranda, a slight frown on his face and left eyebrow raised in a quizzically annoyed way.

"Didn't I say to 'take it easy on them?'" the priest inquired, adding extra emphasis on the word "easy."

The Chinese shaman rubbed the back of his head, displaying a goofy grin. "Well, I was of the opinion that they needed a tough fight to get them ready for when it gets serious."

Hao sighed, looking at the base of the central tree. "Even Shinobu?"

Gang chuckled. "Especially Shinobu. He is the most promising, after all."

The priest gave yet another slight sigh, shaking his head, all the while agreeing with Gang.

"Hey," the Chinese shaman intruded, "what's that?" he added, pointing to the book in Hao's left hand.

Hao pressed the book against his side. "Oh, it's not really much of anything," he chirped. "I just thought that I would give a rough example of my various training methods, along with other advice, to those who will succeed me after I am gone."

Gang gave his typical grin. "Mind if I take a peek at it?"

The priest couldn't repress his smirk. "No...no, I'm afraid not."


His feet padded softly on the dirt as he marched home. He raised his left hand to rub the same side of his head. The local children had been making fun of him once more. One had even hit him with a decent sized rock.

"Demon boy! Demon boy! Son of the fox!" they had chanted at him. He had no clue what they were talking about. He wasn't some demon's child. He was Asaha Douji, son of Asanoha Douji, his mother, whom he loved very much.

"They're just being bullies," Asaha had decided. "Maybe one day they'll grow up and quit it."

His ponytail had started coming undone, so he fixed it as best he could manage. It still wasn't nearly as good as his mother tied it. He'd get her to fix it properly once he got home, he noted.

"Make sure she stays tied down!" a man screamed somewhere up ahead.

"The tanuki will reveal herself soon!" another added.

"Torch the damn place!" yelled a third.

Asaha rushed up the path, curious to find out the cause of the commotion. Stepping into the clearing, the child's eyes went wide with shock, his shoulders falling slack. The building to be "torched" was his own home, the "tanuki" obviously his mother.

"Mother!" he screamed.

A group of men stood outside the house, weapons drawn. They appeared to be led by a monk standing amidst them. He was the one currently shouting orders and directing the others, the child noted.

"That's it!" the monk shouted. "Make sure there's no escape! Make sure the wretch is consumed by the flames, accursed tanuki!"

The chilling shriek that was elicited from his house as the flames engulfed it was too much for the boy. His blood froze as his knees buckled, unable to hold him upright any longer.

"MOTHER!" he shouted as loud as his lungs would allow, drawing the attention of the assailants.

As a few of them began to walk towards him, weapons at the ready, panic seized him. Attempting to flee and stumbling, the child was forced to crawl as rapidly as possible into the tall grasses surrounding the clearing. When he finally felt he was able, he quickly pushed himself to his feet and began to run, swearing that those accursed humans would pay.

The sound of wood splintering was enough to jerk him awake. Hao bolted upright, drenched in a cold sweat. "A dream...only a dream..." he whispered aloud, wiping the moisture from his brow. He was resting his face in his right hand when the splintering sound rang out once more.

Gang's voice ripped through his thoughts. "Hao! Hao, get out here now, DAMMIT!"

Bare feet stamping against the tatami padding, the priest threw the shoji open forcefully. Just outside the veranda stood a huge black oni. The thing was far larger than either Zenki or Kouki. It appeared to possibly be more fierce, as well. Its teeth looked longer than Hao's fingers, while its two horns on either side of its head appeared to be longer than his entire body. The monster's mane of white hair served as a stark contrast to its jet black skin.

Hao fumbled with the inside of his robe to produce his two talismans. Touching the ground, they emitted a bright flash. When the light had cleared, Zenki and Kouki, Hao's own ogres, stood to either side of him, sizing up their opponent.

Kouki gave a roar, hoisting his axe in both hands, and dashed forward. Just as the ogre had raised his hands, preparing to cleave into the oni, Hao shouted. "Kouki, stop!" the priest yelled. The ogre turned, puzzled at being stopped before doing what he did best. Hao pointed to the ground beside him. "Get back over here." Kouki obeyed.

Ti-Lung was busy distracting the large oni, swirling around the monster's head. Gang was dodging and weaving amidst its legs, striking out with his black-handled blade, barely leaving scratches behind.

Using the time given by the diversion, the priest began to sync his own shamanic energies with those of his two ogres. As Zenki transferred his energy into his stout shield, the item floating gracefully in midair before attaching itself to Hao's left arm. At the same time, Kouki poured his own powers into his axe, slowly transforming its head into a straight bladed naginata.

Seeing that Hao had finished his preparations, Gang followed suit. Resonating with his dragon companion, the Chinese shaman's body began to become encased in earthen armor. His hands around his now both drawn swords and feet planted on the ground had become talon like.

Nodding to one another, the two shamans dashed forward, ready to go to war with their enemy. Seeing Gang gain advantage over Hao, the oni attempted to crush the man, slamming its massive hand down, forcing the Chinese shaman to dig his heels into the ground in order to prevent his momentum from carrying him forward.

As the large hand slammed in front of him, Gang acted. Stabbing downward with both of his jian, the shaman used every ounce of his strength to pin down the giant palm by driving his blades through it. "Hurry up, Hao!" the Chinese shaman yelled. "There's no need in drawing this out! Let's just destroy the damn thing!"

The priest nodded, deflecting debris that had been thrown up with his shield. With the last of it cleared, the shield detached itself, floating gently in front of the priest due to the vast amount of furyoku being generated by the oversoul. With a powerful thrust, Hao drove the blade of his naginata through the shield, leaving most of its length protruding from the other side.

Seeing the actions of the shaman, the oni raised its free hand above its head. As the creature made to crush the little man before it, the priest raised his newly combined weapon. The shear energy output of the blade was enough to repel the monster's talons, not allowing them to get remotely close to its wielder.

Tossing the weapon in the air, Hao caught it as it fell, holding it like a spear. With a flick of his wrist, he released the weapon like a javelin, propelling it at the monster's head. The point of the blade hit the oni directly between the eyes and drove through its skull, exploding out the back. Bone, hair, and organic matter alike were utterly disintegrated in the weapon's wake.

The monster's body toppled immediately, slowly breaking apart in the process. The fused weapon separated into its components once more, before fading away into their energies, returning to their respective talismans. The priest pressed his hand to his head, swiping his hair out of his with the same motion.

"Reishi acting up again? It's been years...so why now? Not since..."

"Ohachiyo," Hao murmured.

"Eh?" Gang inquired. "You say something?"

"No...just musing to myself, that's all."

The Chinese shaman shrugged. "Hm...and now there are oni to deal with... You're just full of fun, huh?" he said with his trademark grin.

Hao didn't return the gesture. "Fun. Right." he said glumly.

"If it acts up again, I may have to go away...just like before."


It had been incredibly hard to lift his head, as if stones had been stacked on top of it. On top of that, his eyes had become heavily lidded, making sight difficult, as well. The only immediate object he could make out was the white pants clad leg of his friend. A few more blurry figures stood out in the distance, but the feline couldn't make out exactly who it was. He assumed one of them was most likely that man that the priest had brought to live at the mansion.

Matamune's health was slowly fading. The diseases that had ravaged his body all this time had finally begun to take their full toll. Unable to actually raise his head, the feline barely managed to turn it to the side, passing a glance over at the priest. The man had a smile on his face. He was always smiling, come to think of it, the cat thought.

"There's no need to worry, my friend," Hao said to him. "Remember what I told you when I gave you that necklace," he added, pointing to the object around Matamune's neck. "You have a strong will, so the choice will be yours."

The cat knew that. He knew it very well. He hadn't actually thought about much else since hearing it, save for basic instincts every now and then. The feline had to admit, he was a little apprehensive. Certainly, he believed what his friend had told him, without a shadow of doubt. The man had never led him astray or lied to him, so there was no need to question the priest's wisdom. No, Matamune's doubts resided within himself. Even though his friend had explained that he had the will to become a goryushin, and he believed the man's words to be fact, he couldn't help thinking that he would fail somewhere in the process.

That was what terrified the cat. If he happened to make the slightest error, who knew what could happen. His very soul could cease to exist, as far as he knew. Hao hadn't even remotely explained what he would have to do, and he couldn't just sit up and ask the man, not only because he couldn't speak the man's language, but also because it was impossible for him to sit up. His strength had been completely sapped.

He felt the priest's gentle touch, slowly stroking down his back, scratching lightly behind his ears. Matamune felt his apprehension ease a little.

"Remember, Matamune," the man was saying, "a portion of my furyoku is with you," as if he had read the feline's thoughts. "You will be fine if you so wish to remain here."

The sensation of his friend's hand was numbing away. Though he could hear the man's words, the man himself sounded as if he were across the courtyard. The cat thought he could hear someone crying, but he wasn't sure. His hearing was nearly gone, his eyes barely slitted open.

Hao sat back, folding his hands in his lap. He turned and gave a slight smile to Aiko, who was trying as best she could to cover up her sobs. "Don't worry, Aiko," the priest assured the girl. "It's something that we all must go through. Being sad for those who pass or afraid of passing ourselves is trivial." His smile broadened. "Plus, it isn't the end. More the start of an entirely new journey."

"If I am not able to overcome what trials await..." Matamune thought, as Hao wrapped his right arm around the young girl, consoling her. If a smile could be attributed to a cat, that would be the only word to describe the appearance of the feline's mouth as his last breath escaped him, his eyes closing, not to open again.

"...It has truly been a pleasure to know these people."


No, I've not forgotten about this story, it's just that studying to be a game designer is tedious as hell.