Several hundred years ago...
"Lord Fukuyama, Lord Toga of the House of Inu is here to meet you."
Manzo placed a scroll down before kissing his wife and tickling his daughter. He stood up and walked outside to meet his friend, happy to see that he wasn't alone and brought his own wife and son to see Yonamine. The little one looked a bit larger than the last time he saw him. He must have finally aged a year or was approaching a new year. Manzo pat Sesshomaru's small head, earning a short giggle before he returned to chewing on his rainbow fish toy, and embraced Milady gently before nodding to the palace doors where Yonamine and little Hasumi were just walking out to say hello.
"Little A-woo!" Hasumi cheered, waving happily.
"Your daughter is turning into a flower," Milady warned, smiling knowingly at Manzo.
"I'm already turning gray. Don't rush it!" Manzo said, brow twitching at the thought.
Milady laughed at the response, opening her arm to receive Yonamine's hug, and letting Sesshomaru grab a lock of her hair before the woman picked him up and sung his song. When Yonamine kneeled down for Hasumi to greet the toddler, Milady replied, "Serves you right for holding my little babe's other playmate hostage."
"I'm not a baby wagon!" Yonamine argued, blushing brightly. "You know this, princess!"
"Finally getting your son, my friend?" Toga questioned, making Manzo gasp and smile gently.
"We don't know the gender yet, but Hasumi's been sleeping next to the baby as often as possible," Manzo answered, looking down with a light blush. He was just happy. He then said, "But, I called you here for a different reason. It can wait until lunch if you prefer. Hasumi's gonna need practice being a big sister."
"I'll be the best sister ever, tou-san!" Hasumi cheered happily.
"Where's my baby's playmate, princess?" Yonamine questioned, putting a hand on her hip. "I have two now, so where's your two?"
"Ugh, palace life put a bit of a damper on it," Milady complained, rolling her eyes and waving a hand before flopping it down. "Can't get a moment's peace! The palace nurses are so adamant about taking care of my little babe. I have to fight them to keep them away!"
"Huh. You had that problem, too?" Manzo questioned, raising a brow and folding his arms.
"Well, we moved our parents into the palace, thinking all would be the same, but lo and behold, it ain't the same," Toga complained, mouth a wavy line. "Plus, our mothers fell ill. I'd rather the nurses focus on their health and helping father. We can care for the baby in the meantime. His demands are simple right now. I chose to focus on the law instead for a little while to give my attention to the family, but so much time gets lost in these political matters. I worry that'll it take me away from them too soon."
"We had a similar problem for the first few years of Hasumi's life. Having Father Doppo around helped tremendously. You may need to consider having an advisor - maybe someone that you're close to or will be close to in the future - or even consulting your own father if he's knowledgeable in certain aspects of law," Manzo advised.
"Father was a man of military tactic. If I have any problems in such an arena, I know he's the man to call. It's the economics and social public that's harder to deal with. If I make things too easy, we'll become too lax for potential enemies; on the other hand, my title is denounced and I don't know what that could entail for my family. Do we just go back to our previous lives, or do they take from us?" Toga asked, looking to the side to watch the civilians of Sozosora work or play idly.
"... Perhaps the answers you're looking for are not with us this time," Manzo said, gaining Toga's attention. "Name a king that you admire, Toga. Who are you willing to serve until death? The king that I admire and am willing to serve is my father-in-law today. When I took up the Korenaga Tate and vowed to protect Lord Doppo, I did so with joy in my heart. Lord Doppo is a firm leader and commands respect in his presence, but he respects those who choose family first and believes that is an honor worth far more than loyalty to the crown. Kings change with the times; families are foundational and transcendent. Even though I broke the law to be with his daughter, he didn't accept me for her sake or my daughter's sake. He accepted me because I was willing to go against the crown if it meant protecting my family first and cherishing every moment that I could spend with Yonamine even when death was approaching. 'Love until it is your last day on this earth. That is a foundation of a good, promising family.' This is something that Doppo would never admit aloud, but I was the happiest I could have ever been when he removed the noose from me and spoke those words to me. Nothing has changed about how I feel towards this man other than the fact that I am humbled to be able to call him father. For you to be the king you were called to be, you need an example of what it takes to be a good king. You may need to find someone you are willing to protect beyond just your family. You've known the way of the military man just as I have. There are soldiers who spend their days in armies for kings they've never met. They have no reason to serve other than the tale of glory that comes with a sword and shield. Lord Doppo made it a point to know his soldiers. He knows the names of every child and grandchild of his men, even the names of the wives and mothers. Many kings don't know the names of their men beyond the best of the best or the second-in-command. Lord Doppo knew me quite well. You might be the type of king who needs to serve another king in order to learn the value of humility, the truth about respect and love should you rule on the basis of one or the other, and the meaning of what it takes for a man to hold the weight of the crown. I have much to learn about this just as anyone would, but I have a great teacher to show me the way. I believe it is best for you to find your own teacher rather simply go with what your elders feel you should do."
You have grown so much, my friend... Toga thought, quiet at the man's words. Humans are so strange. Their lives are as short as flies compared to us, but they grow like trees. No matter how much we cut at their branches, they continue to sprout anew.
"Is that a gray I see in your hair?" Milady commented, taking Manzo by surprise. "That's some impressive wisdom coming from you. I expected an older gentleman to say things like that."
Manzo merely laughed gently at this and said, "Least I can do for the wisdom you've given us."
With that, the couples spent their afternoon together as they often did. Letting the children play while they spoke of different things. Only this time, Toga was the quiet one in contemplation and Manzo was the one looking at him. Their roles seemed to reverse on this day. Just before the families were returning to their duties, Manzo led Toga to the Fukuyama clan's quarters. It was a large building acting as the doorway to soldiers' barracks, training grounds, mess hall, and small trade school where Manzo learned construction in his youth. Some of the young men and a few women bowed as Manzo and Toga walked through. Manzo regarded them with small bows of his own and a warm smile. A young boy bravely waved at him, and Manzo (much like Doppo did in his youth) gave the boy a fresh bag of cookies before accepting a warm embrace before the young boy ran off to his teacher. The very same teacher who trained Manzo when he was the boy's age. Manzo bowed to him, feeling himself tearing up when his sensei bowed lower in response to regard him as king. It was a feeling Manzo would probably never get used to, but he remained grateful that his sensei was as kind and fatherly as he remembered to the new generation of holy warriors. The law, after all, to restrict holy warriors from marrying nobles had been changed a few years ago. The restriction now, however, is that only the strongest of the warriors will be granted this privilege. It hasn't been decided on whether or not only male children will be considered for this.
Toga wondered about the interactions he was seeing as they walked. Manzo was right. This feeling of gratitude and hope resonating in the next generation wasn't something he would have ever known in his youth or his time as a soldier. His own father, Hikozaemon II, never hid the fact that the king he served didn't like him, but the people for whatever reason did admire him despite the fear he struck into his foes and often sought his protection. His father, Toga could say, was very foundational and his mother aided in defining the value of a home and the family that lives in that home. Toga had confidence in being a part of his family's lives the way he was taught to do, but... That little boy that Manzo embraced... Whose life would he be able to touch like that? That, essentially, was what bothered the young inu king. Yes, he looked up to his father in terms of fighting prowess and warfare tactics, but he never ruled a kingdom before.
The sound of a door opening caught the inu king's attention. Manzo entered the room and stood before an underground torii gate with a mummified man on a stone table. He then said, "This is Kouumoto, the wielder of the Taiyoko-sen Coin. The holy shield gifted to him by the gods. From his shield the Korenaga Tate was born as was my clan." He summoned his mighty shield and stood before Kouumoto's grave with pride. He then continued, "But my shield didn't come from the coin alone. Nani's Naginata of Light was another piece birthed from this holy shield. The demon that Kouumoto faced was known as the akashita, the master of darkness and ruin. They are rivals battling each other even in death. Kouumoto chooses who can wield the pieces of his ordained shield in order to end the akashita demon's reign over our land. The smaller pieces like the Serizawa Chain and Himawari Jewel are a bit different. Kouumoto helps us choose who to train to take our place. Yonamine wants Hasumi to wear the jewel until Kouumoto is able to show her who will be next."
"You are giving the chain to your unborn then?" Toga asked.
"No... I think..." Manzo answered, turning to Toga with his eyes at his feet. "I... want your family to hold onto it. You've done so much for us. It would be naive of me to believe that you were our friends just because. You came into our lives at a crucial time - a time that wouldn't have happened if you didn't show us what our lives could be like. I don't think we would be where we are now if I hadn't met you or Little A-roo. My Hasumi is the light in my life, and I genuinely looked forward to being her father. I wouldn't have thought it possible if you hadn't paved the way for me to be the man that Nani needed or to even take such a risk and fight for the life that I wanted. In spite of the fact that Doppo ordered my death, I don't hate him at all. He let me live. He let me have a family. The one thing - " Manzo's voice broke as tears escaped his eyes. "The one thing I wanted when I met him as a boy. To have a family. I don't think I did anything... that deserved such a blessing as this... but it wouldn't have been here... without you." He got down on one knee, making Toga shake and tear up himself, and asked, "Will you honor me, brother, and hold onto this chain ordained by gods unknown? Let this be my gift to you. You may gift it to your wife in honor of the afternoons we've spent together or to your son to commemorate the vows I and Yonamine have made to each other on our wedding day. I only ask... that you honor my gratitude to you, my friend."
Toga didn't know what to say. He merely collapsed and allowed himself the privilege, the honor, and the gift to embrace another man... of another race... who would typically be his enemy... He allowed himself to be held by another man. He wanted to be the king that Manzo Fukuyama had become... The Serizawa Chain glowed before floating to surround Manzo and Toga in its warmth, and the two kings became connected... Their blood oath had formed...
_______________________________________________
Meioshi said nothing as Sesshomaru flew away from her. Instead, she simply let out a soft chuckle and watched the man leave her. Despite his self-righteous motivations, he was a good friend. Perhaps, in another life, they could be both rivals and friends. Feeling her heart slowing down and her power being used up, the doctor waited a little longer to start the plan. She knew she couldn't kill Azumamaro or the akashita demon per Tadamasa's warning, so the best she could was to simply aid Hasumi and Kouumoto in destroying this creature. From the looks of things, Sesshomaru might have ended Azumamaro's possessed life. That was good. She just had to wait for Liuxian and the others. Thinking of Sesshomaru's words for a bit, Meioshi smiled and closed her eyes. He must be fighting alongside that other demon then. It was too bad she couldn't meet this other demon formally and properly, but she wouldn't complain about it. Her power was fully drained, and the demon's hair was starting to wrap her body like a mummy... the same way Manzo was trapped on the other side. Hearing cracking, Meioshi was alerted to something behind her making noises. She felt reiki trying to reach out to her and heal her wounds.
"Not yet, Lord Fukuyama," Meioshi said softly. "We have to wait just a little longer before I free you. I need your help to save your family and to trap this beast. After that, I leave the rest to you."
The rest? Manzo thought, body cast steadily chipping away.
"You can trust me," Meioshi reassured, giggling weakly. "I'm with Kouumoto. I'm trying to release his might as well. It will take everything we have to do this. I have good news, though. There was a little boy that you knew in the past. You called him Little A-roo. He's all grown up now! You should see him! He's fighting this demon, too. I don't know who that other demon is, but it's fighting the akashita demon along with him. You must know this other that's with Little A-roo. I hope that... with my strength you'll be able to see them again and be reunited with your family. Your daughter misses you so much."
"Hasumi..." a masculine voice replied.
"Yes, your grace," Meioshi said softly. "She is here. She is calling out to the pieces of the Taiyoko-sen Coin now. You've a brave little girl, highness! She deserves a second chance at life, the way... I believe that Little A-roo does, too. You deserve to be with your family as well. I'll do what I can to make that happen for this fight, but the rest is a decision of the gods. I can do no more."
"Who are you?" Manzo asked.
"Meioshi. I'm a doctor, you see. I may not be the closest of friends to Little A-roo, but I am his sparring partner you could say," she answered with a small smile.
"Hmph! We spent all that time trying to birth Little A-roo's playmates and he goes and finds him one without us!" Manzo joked, laughing weakly. "Such a spoiled tot!"
"Ah, so that's your fault that he expects the world to bow before him," Meioshi joked.
"He was a cute kid. I wonder who he looks like the most now that he's a man," Manzo said softly as though he were imagining how the young child looked.
"If all goes well, you'll be able to see for yourself," Meioshi responded. TWACK! A noise alerted both warriors before an arrow was jammed into the towering pillar holding them up. It was the Green Pheasant's divine arrow. Not long after him was Liuxian flying around the city's borders on her boat and surrounding Sozosora with her shimenawa. Manzo questioned what was going on, but Meioshi let a chuckle out and suddenly gained a boost of confidence. "Right then. It's time to get you out of here, Lord Fukuyama."
"How? The akashita has trapped us," Manzo questioned, turning to Meioshi.
"Hasumi did an excellent job in waking everyone up," Meioshi complimented, smiling toothily. "It is my job to bring you together. I am your connector, after all."
"You're the spirit of the Serizawa Chain?" Manzo asked.
"Heavens no! I'm just a substitute," Meioshi replied, turning her wrists in the binds to grab at the hair in her left hand but revealing a comb in her right hand. "First things, first, I'll be needing my body for this. You, my lord, must go to the Green Pheasant below. He's been waiting to speak with you for hours."
Attaching the comb to the akashita, Meioshi combed through the locks slowly and weakly before the hair started breaking. She continued to do this until she called on a reservoir of her power, not within immediate use or grasp, and activated the comb's power. From it, gold dust splattered across the shield and mirror and Manzo's body cast was fully broken as he and his shield had dropped to the ground. He landed gently on the soil and looked back up at the doctor. She managed to perform a couple of hand signs before standing still and letting the comb wrap the akashita's hair between its teeth. Unleashing the hell traveler's powers, Meioshi's signature orange manto, elaborate kesho-mawashi, and deep indigo earrings had appeared on her body. Grabbing at the akashita's hair and tying bits of it around the glittering comb, Meioshi unlocked her power in steps. She had only one shot at this exorcism. It had to be done right.
Allowing the akashita demon to retaliate and try to regain its control over her, she firmly commanded, "I call upon the eye that watcheth over the lands below. Himawari Jewel, seek thine enemy!"
Hasumi radiated with power and another point in the forest did the same. It seemed to be located near the old treehouse that Manzo and Yonamine had built in the past.
"I call upon the drawbridge between the heavens above and the earth below," Meioshi said next, earning a look of determination from Manzo.
He activated his shield and summoned a burst of power that made a thunderous roar. The akashita demon exclaimed "No!" But, it could feel itself being sucked into Meioshi's shimenawa trail. Milady and Sesshomaru delivered crushing blows to the beast, knocking him back and forcing the two inu to watch Meioshi work.
Manzo said angrily, "It is by my power that darkness shall ne'er enter the kingdom overlooking the world. Korenaga Tate, thy walls be lifted!"
Once Sozosora was covered in gold light, all demons that once lived in the city or disguised themselves as humans were burned to nothing. The few possessed humans that survived Azumamaro's attacks were purified and aged rapidly to their correct year. Meioshi performed one last hand sign before the sky tore open and a beam of sunlight cut straight through the akashita demon to align with the mirror Meioshi was still strapped on. From the beam descended a man only the akashita demon knew.
"You!"
"Zanshin!" Meioshi interrupted. "Exorcism level of the first degree! I summon the Four Heavenly Kings and bind this demon of the sky and shadow. I call upon the sword that guards the heavens. Naginata of Light, strike with divine flare!"
From the distance, a spear shot through the sky and struck the akashita demon to make it shriek. Manzo called out his wife's name and was about to run to her direction until he saw a familiar demon perform a claw swipe at the creature and forced it to enter Meioshi's shimenawa trail. With it properly bound, the Four Heavenly Kings caged the demon and Kouumoto unlocked his full power to create a golden ceiling of pure light that started burning holes in the akashita's body.
"I am the reflection of the sun. My golden lantern lighteth the ocean of sky and cloud. Chen-bi, rain on this darkness to purify enmity between the wicked and man," Meioshi commanded, activating Chen-bi's strength. Hon'no returned to the trinket's home and let Meioshi take care of the rest. Chen-bi shot a spiral blast at the demon, making it shake and tear. The doctor then said, "To rejoin the pieces of the Taiyoko-sen Coin, let me be the chain that bonds us together. Release!"
With everything she had, Meioshi unleashed her might with a loud scream. Sesshomaru tried to bolt towards her, but the reiki energy was too strong for him, and he had to back away. He wanted to stop her. He could smell so much coming from her. Power, pain, blood, tears, and death. No, he had to stop her! Entering the purification beam, he pushed forward, feeling every ounce of gravity on his body and burning on his skin. This was far worse than Mount Hakurei, even worse than the hinoki tree of his dojo, but Meioshi was screaming in pain. Her life was escaping her. He had to stop her. CRASH! SHATTER! From the mirror was Meioshi's freed body falling with the pieces of the mirror's glass... an angel whose wings were torn... a heartbeat that was slowing to a stop... a force of nature wilting away like a dying seed... his little dandelion was fluttering to the ground. A bright flash of light blinded all and a gust of wind shot everyone back. The akashita demon was severely weakened to a point of immobility, but this came at a cost... Milady raced to the Fukuyama family's side while Sesshomaru raced to Meioshi's...
Scooping up the Fukuyama family, Milady acted as their steed as she charged at the akashita demon now bound by her son's ally and her power. Hasumi may have been in tears on the ride, but the joined powers of her family and the inu princess gave her staff more strength. In a final blast of power, Hasumi let out a battle cry before releasing a beam of reiki energy. The beast was finally incinerated in the blast and a portal opened to collect something in the bright light.
When the light faded and the sky became blue again, Yuko and Homugi ran over to Genso Shushu-Sen to find Liuxian while Jaken ran around to look for Sesshomaru. They spotted the boat flying within the center of the city and followed it. Jaken, on the other hand, managed to find Sesshomaru as his body was sizzling from the high amounts of reiki energy. He was extremely quiet and still. Jaken tried to call him, but he hardly heard anything. She lied to him. She said they would have their final battle and test their strength one day, but that day would be in the afterlife. He won't see her again for many years.
Yuko and Homugi found Liuxian in the city, standing over his beloved friend's still body. His smile wasn't as wide or bright like his usual. Instead, it reduced to a smirk and he had a look in his eyes that was remorseful, but he was still and breathing irregularly. Yuko ran up to him to ask what was wrong, but, when she went to touch his shoulder and looked down, she saw her beloved mentor not moving... or breathing...
"Sensei!" she called, rushing to Meioshi's side. She tried to shake her, check for a pulse, give her water, anything she could think to do while in tears. She even tried to check for a temperature, but her skin lost its color, her hair dulled, and her response was nigh. She was gone. "Sensei! Please don't leave me, sensei! You have to wake up...! Please... please wake up...!"
"Meioshi, no...!" Homugi whispered, trying to fight her sadness, but she too could only cover her mouth as she sobbed and let the tears fall.
She heard crunching behind her, gasped, and turned to see Sesshomaru and Jaken standing there. Sesshomaru was stiff in his movements, almost felt sick as his throat started to ache, but he wanted to see her. He wanted to punch her for not waiting for him. He wanted to kick her for saying her last words like that. He wanted to lasso her and tie her to Jaken's staff to be petty... he wanted her to live. He wanted her to smile. He wanted her to yell at him for being too cold. He wanted her to be with her children. He wanted her to be able to watch them grow into adults. He wanted her to see Ohta become a man and watch the girls chase after him. More crunching was heard, but the presence behind the group actually startled Sesshomaru. It was Shishido and Naonobu! He wasn't interested in anything they had to say if they were there to mock him, but they were silent and seemed to be waiting for something. Sesshomaru walked up to Meioshi's lifeless body, watching Yuko grieve for her loss. She crawled over her beloved teacher and picked up Meioshi's arms to wrap herself in them for the final time. Homugi had to sit down.
Jaken couldn't believe what he was seeing. All that work to find her place in Sesshomaru's "heart" just to leave his world so early. She was still so young herself! But, he could also see that his lord was hurt. Jaken, for a brief moment, felt some pain himself. He had no one to yell at again, no one to tease, no one to be petty with. The witch was gone.
Turning to Sesshomaru, Jaken asked quietly, "What should we do, my lord?"