Taiin began to grow frantic at Masahiro's lack of response. She gripped his shoulders and shook him, crying his name, her voice edged with desperate panic.
"MASAHIRO!!! PLEASE!! ANSWER ME!! MASAHIRO!!"
Briefly, the thought crossed her mind that she should slap or punch him....perhaps it will help. But she remembered that grand rule that Shinshou cannot lay harm on humans and stopped short.
....But perhaps the pain will awaken him.....
Who cared about rules and taboos at a time like this? Panicked she deliberated, Rikugou was far off, and she..... she was the only one here...... she had been responsible for his safety.......but now.......
Taiin looked around in panic, she shook Masahiro again and watched in horror as his head flopped loosely to the side.
A sense of nausea washed over her
........NO.........no...........
Rules be damned... she couldn't lose him now.......
Taiin drew her hand back......................and then dropped it with a gasp, as she felt a sudden presence behind her.
She spun around in an instant, turning to face the sea, watching in horror as creeping mist rose from the turbid spray. It was laced with the aura of Youkai.
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At the children side, Rikugou fidgeted nervously. Though he stood at the foot of the hill and was unable to see the bay, he too could feel the aura prickling at this skin.
Something was coming.
And at once the aura seem to barrel forth, bearing down on them like sudden tempest. It moved with surprising speed, and thundering forth like the tide.
It was more than one......
It had to be......
Alot more than one....
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"Taiin! Get the children out of here!" Rikugou's voice became commanding as a silver spear appeared in his hand.
"NO! We cant leave Masahiro here! " Taiin called back in panic.
"We have to......." Rikugo never finished as before him the air solidified into a dark shadow that rushed forth at the three of them, its sharp tendrils reaching for the children. At the last minute, Rikugo swung the spear forward, slashing at the monster. The bright spear cut through the dark shadow like a light, and the creature, its features indistinct with shadow, fell at Rikugo's feet, writhing in the grass as it dissipated into the air.
Rikugou had not seconds to scrutinize the monster before another identical creature lept over the dissipating wisps of its fallen comrad, snarling as it charged forth. In the mass of darkened mist that seem to form its body, a mouth peeled open, toothy and leering.
Rikugou nimbly pulled his spear forth, rotating it deftly in his hands to point it at the creature's open mouth. Rikuguo was pushed back as the spear found its mark, sinking deeply into the monster as its vicious snarls twisted into pained whimpering.
He turned his attention to another identical creature that was charging towards then.
The two children seemed petrified in fear, they could see the monsters rushing towards them, their jaws wide and hungry, but at the last moment, the creatures seemed to be repelled by an invisible force.
There was scarcely room to breath as monsters endlessly set upon them, one after another. The brothers squeezed their eyes shut, holding their breath for the inevitable.
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Taiin's small hands fisted in Masahiro's collar, her nails digging into her palms as she shook him desperately.
"PLEASE PLEASE WAKE UP !!!!"
It was missing a leg.
The remaining three monsters had shaken off the loss of their leader and now began to prowl forth angrily, turning their gaze to the still form of the boy on the hill.
Without warning, the three creatures lunged forth, uniting into a slicing wind as they charged past the three Shinshou. Kouchin gasped in alarm
But Taiin had seen them, and with the children safe, she braced herself for the charge.
"Dont underestimate me.... " she growled under her breath.
Taiin's first gale sliced across the field, slicing squarely into the first monster. Its grinning face seemed to smile wider and wider, stretching across its flanks until it fell in two, zipped open like a sleeping bag. Trans-note: The sleeping bag reference is mine, I'm not sure how else to describe this, gruesomely, Taiin tears the monster open from the mouth.
It fell on the ground in two, both back and belly twitching.
The two remaining creatures stopped short at the sight of their fallen comrad.
"Dont think I'll let you off easy !" Taiin cried as her gales lashed forth, sending the beasts spinning through the air. The creatures struggled desperately in the air, writhing and twisting their bodies to escape the deadly sharp gale. Though the gales sliced thousands of wounds into their bodies, they had lost none of their speed, and presently, with sharp twists and kicks, they were gone. Slipping out of the vortex of the spinning gale and dashing off into the air, becoming fainter as they ran.
Taiin growled in annoyance, itching to pursue the frantically retreating creatures. But she knew there were more important matters at hand.
"Masahiro! Masahiro!!! "
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And with a spiraling twist, the man was gone, and only air remained at the vantage place he stood moments ago.