The air was still cold, but the first hints of April's approach were evident in the tinge of warmth that accompanied every breeze.
Izuku's eyes skimmed the park. Dead leaves from the previous fall still littered the ground. The monkey bars, swings, and other playground equipment showed signs of rust and wear. Izuku squinted. There was something odd about the place. It was as if a layer of dark mist hung in the air, making everything seem older, more worn, and far more perilous.
"Do you feel it?"
Izuku jumped when Shiroha spoke. They had come to the park together, but he had become so focused on his surroundings that he forgot she was there.
"This is what becomes of a place overrun by yokai. If they were stronger, the feeling would be far more overpowering."
Izuku nodded, "I know. It feels like...," he took a deep breath. "It's like the Kato's house. It has the same feeling. It's… icky, and it feels like it's hard to breathe."
Izuku's shoulder twitched, and he began shifting from foot to foot, surveying the park warily. He clenched his fist and tried to steady his breathing.
Shiroha watched Izuku intently. All of his attention was on the park, and he was clearly geared up for an attack while still trying to project a sense of calmness. She watched his jaw clench, and his body stiffen and release, only to stiffen again as he tried to maintain control. Her eyes narrowed. One corner of her mind was snarling at the thought of the still lingering trauma from that home.
She sighed. Such things can take years to overcome.
"Well," Shiroha spoke aloud. "You have been strengthening yourself with meditation during your training, but as you know, opening your senses as you have done until now, leaves you vulnerable. It is good that the kappa did not want you to use it outside your training. However, there is a safe way to open your senses so that you can better utilize your spiritual energy when contending with yokai and enhance your abilities to their fullest."
Izuku nodded, "When I meditate during training, I can… feel everything more… I'm not sure how to describe it. It's like everything becomes super focused and clear. But, when I tried to open my senses during my fight with Trouble, I…" Izuku's voice trailed off.
Shiroha's eyes softened. "You could feel the malignant force of his spirit."
Izuku nodded, biting his lip.
Shiroha pawed the ground, "None of that now. Do not blame yourself. Neither the kappa nor the furball is to blame, either. Neither have formal training, and they are not yet adept enough to effectively teach a human such things; they are still young and need more experience.
"Our goal tonight is to make one adjustment to how you use your spiritual energy. You have already strengthened it enough, and you have excellent control after all these years despite the… breaks in your training. However, despite this control, when you extend your energy, you also drop your defenses. So, to ensure you do not leave yourself defenseless when you extend your spiritual energy beyond yourself, do not let it pour out of you uncontrolled. What I want you to do tonight is meditate on your power, just as you do during training. Open your senses, but center your energy in your core, around your heart."
Shiroha paused. "Do you have any questions?"
Izuku shook his head, but his face was pinched in concentration, "Do you really think I can control it like that? I don't think I've ever really been able to control it like that."
Shiroha hummed, "When you use a command, you imagine your power strengthening your very words. When you create a borderline, you imagine your energy forming a wall between you and your opponent. You have demonstrated that you can harness and direct your spiritual energy according to your will. All you need to do is use the same imagery, but do so while meditating. Rather than letting your energy flow out and around you, as you have been doing, imagine that it is taking the form of a ball, like a spherical shield around your heart.
"Make it dense. It must not be," Shiroha paused, "airy, might be a good way to describe it. Currently, when you extend your energy beyond yourself, it flows like the air around you. However, you do not want it to be like air, but like a bubble of water. Because uncontrolled spiritual energy tends to flow like air, when one tries to concentrate it, it is easier to make the center dense, leaving the edges thinner. However, you want the edges to be thicker and denser than the center. Imagine that your spiritual energy is like water filling up inside you. Water has surface tension. The outer layer should be the thickest, not the thinnest. Can you do that?"
Izuku took a deep breath and concentrated, working to control the energy shifting within him.
Shiroha examined Izuku.
Izuku had adequately condensed his spiritual energy around his heart, but was still in the process of making the outer edges more defined. The center was still the densest, becoming less and less dense as it moved outward.
Shiroha nodded, "Good. Now, push the energy outward from the center, but not beyond the current edges. You may even think of it like a hollow sphere. You do not want it to be hollow, but you will never rid the center of all the spiritual energy anyway. It may be the imagery you need to accomplish the task, though."
Izuku's face scrunched in concentration, and Shiroha continued to watch as Izuku's energy moved. Slowly but surely, his energy formed a ball around the center. The outermost edges became thick and firm while the inside swirled with the rest.
Shiroha smiled, "Now, slowly and gently make the sphere bigger. Do not rush. We have time. You want to maintain the current form. If it wavers even a little, stop, and reform the sphere. If need be, make it smaller again until you can reform it. Making the sphere was the easy part, but maintaining it while making it bigger will be harder to control. Go slowly. With patience, you can achieve this."
The process was painfully slow, but an hour later, Izuku had successfully extended his spiritual energy beyond his physical self by about a meter.
Izuku panted, straining, but still managed to maintain the barrier, "I can feel it."
"Yes, you have now done what you always have, but not left yourself vulnerable to attack. Now, for the next step."
Izuku groaned, and Shiroha smirked.
"When you opened your senses before, you were able to sense things in your immediate surroundings, and as it grew stronger, you could sense things from farther away. Humans have largely lost their ability to sense energies. Yokai have not, and they do not need to go through the same training to learn to control it.
"While I have used the analogy of water when describing how to control it, another is to liken spiritual energy to a light. The area your spiritual energy encompasses is like the place where your 'light' reaches. However, a light can also be seen by someone from very far off."
Izuku panted, "Right, like how I could sense Ginro and Kekyu, or the people walking on the paths nearby. So, while you might not benefit from a light, you can still see that it is there."
Shiroha nodded, "Spiritual energy is like this. Even though your 'light' only extends so far, others can feel it, just like they would see a far-off light. Take a look."
Shiroha nodded toward the playground, and Izuku turned to look. Little yokai, all beady-eyed and wary-looking, were poking their heads out of crevices, from behind trees, and within bushes.
"You too should be able to see theirs now that you are fully using your own."
Izuku blinked. Shiroha was right. He could see something that looked like a faint glow around the yokai, except that for many, it was a dark glow.
"I can see it!"
In his excitement, the sphere around Izuku warbled. Izuku jumped, his eyes snapping shut as he refocused.
Shiroha chuckled, as Izuku restabilized the barrier of spiritual energy, "Do not worry. You still need to practice maintaining it. However, now that you are utilizing your spiritual energy to its fullest extent and maintaining your guard, your abilities will remain pronounced. Once you have finished stabilizing the barrier, what do you see when you look at me?"
Izuku slowly opened his eyes and looked toward Shiroha. The spiritual energy flowing around her was immense. Far more powerful than the tiny yokai hiding in the bushes, and bright, rather than dark.
"It's beautiful."
Shiroha laughed, "Why, thank you, little one. The state of one's spiritual energy can tell you much about them. I imagine the other yokais' energy looks dark compared to mine?"
Izuku nodded, and Shiroha continued, "If you were to look at the kappa or the furball, their energy would be darker, but it would not have the same tonal quality as the small yokai over there. Other more malevolent yokai, like Trouble, the Gotoku Neko, and the Suiko, would have much more sinister-looking energy."
"I could feel the Gotoku Neko even then," Izuku sent a questioning look to Shiroha.
"I imagine so, given how powerful and malevolent the Gotoku Neko are, and as it was not hiding its intent. As you strengthen your spiritual energy further, you will not always need to open your senses as you are doing now to sense others' spiritual energy, though you will need to do so in order to 'see.' However, just as you could sense the Gotoku Neko, others will also be able to sense you better, unless you hide it. And the weakest yokai will either naturally gravitate toward you or flee. At that point, you will need to discern what to do with any yokai that remain. You might ignore some if they do not pose a threat, but for those that are, you will need to use commands or borderlines. However, the stronger yokai will require stronger spells or rituals."
Izuku sighed, "I thought I had made progress, but it feels like I've made none at all."
Shiroha's voice was gentle, "Izuku."
At the sound of his name, Izuku looked up, eyes wide.
Shiroha spoke firmly, "You would not have done so well tonight without all the training you have done so far. Your meditation, using commands and borderlines, creating and placing talismans, and training your body have all prepared you for this lesson. I understand that learning you have been using these strategies ineffectively can be frustrating, but when training with me, you will correct them. You can still use the commands and borderlines, but only use them on the weaker yokai, like those in this park, and then I will teach you spells and rituals for the stronger ones."
"And we need a ritual to defeat the Suiko," Izuku whispered.
Shiroha studied Izuku for a moment, and then nodded, "Yes, the Suiko are strong. Stronger than your kappa friend, and we need the ritual – a very specific ritual, in their case. Although borderlines and commands would not be effective against the kappa either."
Izuku's jaw tensed, "but…"
Shiroha cut Izuku off, "Yokai are not humans. Do not give them the same courtesy – for most will give you none in return. They do not know altruism. While I will not tell you to be on guard against your friends, do not think that any of us are helping you out of pure altruism. The hairball sensed your power and potential. The kappa also sensed your power, and knew that he would no longer be at the bottom of his colony, and I see your potential and know I can gain my ninth tail by helping you. While not all, many humans also interact based on give or take."
Izuku nodded. He knew Shiroha was right, but he did not like to think that Kekyu and Ginro had ulterior motives.
"Now," Shiroha turned to face the playground. "You have done an excellent job maintaining your spiritual energy tightly around yourself while we talked."
Izuku blinked, realizing that she was right. The sphere of spiritual energy was still intact around him.
Shiroha quickly moved on, "Now for the next stage. You should use extending your senses, just like this, to help you in a fight. While it is possible to sense other yokai even without expending your senses, doing so, while protecting yourself, as you are now, will give you more power in a confrontation. So, do you think you can maintain the protective barrier while also controlling your energy to cast a borderline or manifesting the power within your words? It will be harder to maintain two at once."
Izuku took a deep breath. "Let me try."
He took a step forward, and several of the yokai scattered. Most diving back into their hiding places, but a few of the smallest darted off into the woods that lined the edge of the park – fleeing.
However, a few yokai stayed, snarling. Izuku drew up a borderline, focusing on his intent – to make the yokai leave the park – and cast the borderline. As he did so, the barrier surrounding him lost form. Some of it dissipated, while the rest funneled into casting the borderline.
Izuku would have panicked, but Shiroha hopped up beside him. All the yokai on whom Izuku had cast the spell were no longer there, having fled once the spell was cast.
Izuku's shoulders slumped. "I didn't maintain it."
"No, but you did successfully cause some of the yokai nearby to flee with your aura alone, and those who stayed fled once you cast the borderline."
Izuku sighed, "But I've done that before in school."
Shiroha chuckled, "Yes, but that was after laying the talismans. For some, borderlines were the correct strategy. They never came back, did they not? As for others, it was not. You said the furball taught you the talismans, and that you perfected them by copying those at the temple. No?"
Izuku nodded.
"The temple was clear of yokai, was it not?"
Realization sparked in Izuku's eyes, "We're here to learn how to clear an area before cleansing it, then use the talismans as a final barrier to keep yokai out. At the temple, they must have done the same. I thought it was just the talismans alone…"
Izuku turned to Shiroha, who smiled broadly, canines flashing.
"Yes, and that is what we will practice here and at your new school. In all honesty, none of the yokai here require you to extend your senses and use the barrier. However, as it is not necessary here, it makes the park a good place to practice, and you will need to use it to locate and protect yourself against the yokai at your new school. Before we are done here, I want you to be able to maintain the barrier while casting commands and borderlines so that you are ready to maintain it while using even stronger spells."
Izuku grinned, "So, opening my senses, but using it like a barrier is a good way to protect myself from spiritual attack on top of being able to sense danger, or seeing other yokai's 'light.' Could it have helped protect me from all the yokai in the Kato's house? Did learning how to use my spiritual energy make me more vulnerable while living there?"
Shiroha sighed, "Did you open your senses while in their home?"
Izuku shook his head.
Shiroha nodded, "Then, while it made you more noticeable, having a strong and clear spiritual energy like your own always does, it would not have necessarily made you more vulnerable. Having the sight itself puts you in a precarious position, as it makes you noticeable. If you had opened your senses while in the home, without the protective barrier, you would have opened yourself to more direct attacks.
Izuku gulped.
Shiroha nudged Izuku with her nose, "All very true, but you are safe from them now. So, back to the task at hand. Recreate the barrier and find where the yokai are located. I want you to try to determine their level of animosity in addition to their locations. While their animosity will be weaker than that of stronger yokai, it is good practice. Then, you will once again try to cast borderlines and commands while maintaining the barrier."
Izuku hesitated, "Whenever I opened my senses during training, I could feel Ginro and Kekyu – and you after you joined us. Kekyu feels warm and a bit spiky, while Ginro feels cool and calm. I couldn't 'see' like tonight, but I could feel it."
"Yes, this is because you let down your guard completely. As you grow stronger, you will begin to sense others' spiritual energy more clearly. Although the yokai will either have to be close – or very agitated, if they are farther away."
"Would I have been able to feel the Suiko before it attacked my… attacked my mom?"
Shiroha froze for a moment before sighing with resignation, "Yes. So long as the yokai is not exceptionally skilled at hiding its energy, when we are done, you will be able to sense them. You did sense it, the Suiko, did you not?"
"Not until it was right in front of me!"
"Yes, but you were able to sense it even though you had not opened your senses. When you have strengthened yourself, you will have more warning – do not think it will be much more – but it will give you time to prepare. Also, if a yokai were to have a sudden spike of anger, you might feel a flare of animosity – especially if it is directed at you. There are many factors, and some things you need to learn by doing.
"Do not blame yourself for the tragedies of the past. Just because you are now able to do things that you could not do then, does not make you less or guilty."
They stood there for a while, doing nothing. Izuku sorted through his thoughts, his brow pinched.
Shiroha waited and eventually spoke. "Are you ready to continue? Or do you need to stop for today?"
Izuku's eyes shot to meet Shiroha's.
Shiroha's eyes softened. "Either choice is fine. There is no right or wrong answer, and there is no shame in taking time to think through what we have discussed."
Izuku looked around the park. He wanted to continue, but was unsure if he would be able to maintain the barrier, and while he knew that not maintaining it was not a failure, it would still feel like one.
"I think I need today to think."
"Very good. Let us come back tomorrow."
And so, they did.
Night after night, they returned. Izuku would prepare and maintain the barrier while casting commands and borderlines to expel yokai from the park. At first, the barrier dropped more often than not, but as time passed, he was able to maintain it consistently.
Finally, two weeks later, all the yokai were gone. When Izuku surveyed the park, he did not see the tiny sparks of spiritual energy that indicated the location of a hidden yokai.
Shiroha beamed, "Well done!"
Izuku turned to smile at Shiroha, excitement building. He knew what was coming.
Shiroha stepped forward, "Now that the yokai are gone, it is time for the next step – to cleanse the park. Watch closely, little one. Can you see how my spiritual energy is moving?"
Izuku nodded, focusing hard on Shiroha while maintaining the barrier.
"Watch closely as this is how you cast a purification spell."
Shiroha stepped forward, and when she placed her paw on the ground, a golden, radiating light spread out through the ground around her paw.
"See this? Can you tell what I have done with my spiritual energy?"
"Well, you concentrated it down near your foot, and when you placed it on the ground, it looked like you forced your spiritual energy into the ground."
"True," Shiroha intoned, "But not everything. Once again. Watch the energy inside me. What does it do? Does it change at any point?"
The golden light retreated from the ground, and Shiroha's spirit settled.
Izuku squinted, concentrating hard, and then he saw it. The energy converged near her heart, turning golden, and then swept downward. Only once her paw touched the ground did the golden energy finally reach her paw and spread into the ground.
Izuku's eyes widened. Shiroha took another step, and then another. Each time her paws tapped the ground, more golden light poured forth. Each step was slow and deliberate as she moved forward. It was as if she were creating a golden path of pawprints trailing behind her – and the light from each place where she stepped began to spread, radiating out like undulating waves.
She was five steps into the slow walk when the light from her first two steps began to overlap. It was at that moment, once they touched, that the golden light became almost white and began to spread rapidly.
She was ten steps out when the rapidly spreading light caught up, and once it did, Shiroha's pace sped up. Soon she was in a near run, and each nimble step only added to the spiritual energy that she was tamping into the ground.
She made one loop around the perimeter of the park and then circled toward the center. When she reached it, she stood still, nose cast upward, breathing evenly and deeply.
Izuku thought she looked picturesque, standing there serenely as the light radiated from the ground and faded. Soon, everything was dark once more.
The light had been so bright and the darkness of the evening was so complete once more that Izuku blinked, "Did anyone else see that? It was so bright, I mean, I know it was from your spiritual energy, but…"
Shiroha laughed, and the sound was so pure that it made Izuku feel as though he was being washed with cool, soothing water or breathing the cleanest mountain air.
"No little one. No one but you, I, and any other being capable of perceiving spiritual energy could see that." She grinned mischievously, "How do you feel?"
Izuku took a moment to let himself go, breathing deeply and glanced around, "I feel like I've been transported onto a mountain. The air feels clean, and I feel," Izuku paused, there were no words to describe it, "Well, the closest I can come up with is – at peace. Like being here will make me better."
"And that it could."
Izuku's head shot to the side, wide eyes falling on Shiroha.
Shiroha smiled, "If one were to be infected with a disease by a yokai, and they were to come here while the purification power is still new – if they stayed long enough – they would be purified of the ill energy forced upon them by the yokai. Now, as it grows older, the healing effects for spiritual ailments will fade. However, the land will remain pure for some while, and yokai like the Suiko and others of its kind will not be able to enter, just as they cannot enter the training grounds."
Izuku smiled, "But exactly what is it? I know you said you were purifying it, but is spreading spiritual energy all that is necessary? Couldn't another yokai come and undo it?"
Shiroha hummed, "Well, most yokai are either not powerful enough or do not have enough control over their power to use it purposefully. Most do not care to take control – after all, allowing it to fester and spread indiscriminately suits their tastes. Now, there are yokai who do train, but while yokai with a purer energy, like myself, can enter a purified area and an unpurified one, yokai with an impure energy cannot enter a purified area – and only the strongest would be able to enter, though it would be painful. No one likes pain, and unless provoked, a malevolent yokai will not suffer the pain of a purified area, especially when there are plenty of people to harass in unpurified places.
"That being said, what I have done is not much different than what a malevolent yokai might do in its own territory. As you said, could they not come and do the same? Well, even if they have no control, they still do something similar in their own territories. Their ill energy seeps into the ground or the water around them, as you humans might put it, "marking" that territory as theirs. It's not as crude as how animals do, though," Shiroha shuddered.
Izuku nodded, "So, in essence, you marked this ground as yours, but with your spiritual energy."
Shiroha lifted a paw, "Ah, that is the last point of difference – even if it is ever so slight. Yes, I could have marked this land as mine with my spiritual energy by imbuing it into the ground. Other yokai would have sensed me. However, I did a purification. Let us say that you had completed the purification ritual instead. What yokai sense would be no different than what they do now. Whether you or I completed the ritual, the result would be the same."
Izuku's face scrunched in confusion, "But you let yourspiritual energy flow into the ground."
"And then what happened?"
"It began to spread out."
"But I wasn't adding more spiritual energy to that spot, was I?"
"No."
"The earth itself has its own energy. All my energy did was trigger the earth's energy, unbinding it and freeing it of the ill energy that was festering here. The more I poured out, the more the earth absorbed, allowing the pure energy I imbued to grow, allowing the earth to rejuvenate."
"So, it was more like a healing spell."
Shiroha nodded, "And? Where did I first center it?"
"When you started, the energy centered near your heart and turned golden."
"Yes. Centering the energy around one's heart allows one better control. My desire was to purify the land, and I convey my will through my heart, the place that allows our lifeblood to flow through us."
Izuku's eyes brightened. "If I do that, then can I cast healing spells too, just like you?"
Shiroha laughed, "Maybe, maybe not. This kind of purification spell is easier, unfortunately, than a healing spell. After all, all you are doing is giving the earth a chance to restore itself."
Izuku took a deep breath.
Shiroha continued, "Did you not explain the feeling like the air was pure, that you were at peace? This is the earth. People venture out into nature to experience this. But if we thrive in harmony with the earth, rather than fight against it, then this could become far more the norm. Now, you will need to apply what you have learned here and purify your new school."
Izuku stiffened, looking around the park, now deserted of yokai. "But these yokai were small, much smaller than any of the yokai at any of my schools have been, and you helped me a lot. You were the one to cast the purification spell after all."
"Izuku," Shiroha intoned.
He looked at her.
"You are ready. I may have cast the purification spell, but I did so as a demonstration. You must have confidence in the abilities you have developed to use them fully – to use them well. I believe you are ready, and you still need to practice the purification spell. You cannot practice it here, since it is already done, and I could not stop halfway."
They stood there for a moment, Izuku pondering Shiroha's words.
She studied, Izuku
"Are you confident in yourself?"
Izuku looked around the park once more. He felt his cheeks squeeze, but his heart was racing. He realized with a jolt that, while he was nervous, he was also excited, very excited.
"Yes."
Chapter 15: One Year to Go: Part 1
The sky was still dark, and there were hours to go until the first rays of the sun would crest the horizon. Everything was quiet, even the bugs were hiding from the chilly night air.
April had barely begun, and the nights were still cold enough that Izuku needed a jacket. He hoped that when Sato-san's partner returned from work early that morning, the man would not realize Izuku was not at the house. A week ago, Sato-san's partner's company changed his shift. Now, the man was not coming home until the early morning hours, and the changed schedule made him all the more irritable.
Izuku rubbed his arms and bounced in place, hopping from one foot to the other to keep warm as he glanced around to reassure himself that no one else was up and about.
Thankfully, the street remained deserted.
Izuku's eyes were drawn, as they had been several times already, to the gate only a few feet from him. Once he climbed over those gates, he would officially have trespassed onto the grounds of his new school. The very school he would attend in one week for his last year of middle school.
At the thought of confronting all the yokai hiding in the building before him, Izuku's heart began to pound once again. He was nervous, but he also very much anticipated the experience – and the possibility of a yokai-free school.
He felt Shiroha approaching before he saw her and smiled. The training in the park had strengthened his ability to sense yokai exponentially, and when they were nearby, he could sense all his yokai friends even when he did not deliberately open his senses. He was looking forward to being able to sense even those he did not know well as a forewarning. He wanted to avoid a situation like his mother's. Izuku's mouth pressed into a thin line at the thought. Of course, opening his senses would heighten his ability even more, and now, he was confident that he could protect himself. Being able to sense malicious intent before anything truly happened – Izuku was impatient for it.
As Shiroha stopped beside him, Izuku turned, smiling, to face the Byakko. He was glad she was finally here. Even if people couldn't see her, it reassured Izuku to know he was not about to do something that might land him in a world of trouble all alone.
Shiroha smiled back, her canines showing, "Are you ready? It has been almost a week since we purified the park, and once we have banished the yokai here, you will have your chance to attempt the purification spell."
Shiroha glanced at the school, then turned back to Izuku, "You were able to cast out the yokai in the park with mere commands and borderlines since they were small and weak. However, now, it will be necessary for you to determine when you should use commands and borderlines, or when you should use a stronger spell. Did you draw the spell-casting talismans I taught you and bring them?"
Izuku nodded, holding up several talismans in his hand.
Shiroha nodded, "Very good; have them ready at all times. First, focus on the smaller yokai. However, if you think a yokai is too strong for a simple borderline or command, let me know, and I will discourage it."
Shiroha looked at Izuku pointedly, "The goal of this practice is determining when to use a stronger spell. The reason I will discourage the yokai is only to give you the time you need to prepare and use the spell-casting talismans. I will walk you through the steps. We will not finish banishing all of the yokai today. So, you will have plenty of time to perfect your timing and, eventually, you will not need me to intervene."
"How long do you think it will take?" Izuku asked.
Shiroha's lip quivered, "A few days. It depends on how quickly you grow accustomed to using the spell-casting talismans. Are you ready?"
Izuku paused before responding; he could feel Shiroha's excitement. He did not think it was because she enjoyed fighting other yokai, but because she was excited to see him grow. Something deep inside Izuku loosened. So many teachers and instructors had been dismissive or downright antagonistic. It felt good having someone excited about his potential.
Izuku shifted from one foot to the other as his eyes focused on Shiroha, then they turned to the school before them. "Let's do this."
With that, they flew forward. Shiroha leapt over the gate in a single bound. Once Izuku reached the gate, he vaulted upward. Then, catching the top of the gate with his hand and using it as leverage to hoist himself up, he slung his legs over, landing in a crouch on the other side.
Shiroha turned toward him, prancing. "The furball unlocked the side door, correct?"
Izuku nodded once.
Shiroha grinned, "Then let us proceed inside."
Izuku took the lead as they dashed across the yard toward the side door Kekyu had told Izuku about. After carefully checking their surroundings, Izuku and Shiroha slipped inside the building.
Once the door was closed, the two yokai hunters paused, gaining their bearings.
Shiroha whispered, "Now, extend your senses while protecting yourself."
Izuku nodded and formed the barrier as he extended his senses to scope out the hallway and nearby rooms.
Shiroha paused for a moment, giving Izuku time to search his surroundings, then asked, "Do you feel it?"
"Yes," Izuku whispered. "There are several yokai here, and one or two seem stronger than any of the others I've faced."
"Very good. Now, can you sense any clusters of small yokai?"
"Yes, there are a few in the hall down around the corner over there," Izuku pointed, his eyes still shut in concentration.
Shiroha nodded, "Well, what kind of tactic do you think you should use?"
"Well, there are a lot of them, but all seem to be at a level where I could use a borderline or a command to get them to leave the school. When we cleared the park, a single borderline could cast out more than one, but this seems to be a much larger group…." Izuku's voice trailed off.
"Yes, but for their level, the size of the group does not matter so long as you act quickly or have already protected yourself. Though acting quickly is still important, even if you have protected yourself. After all, you do not want to miss any. Are you ready?"
Izuku nodded, "Yes."
The two moved silently down the hall, like ghosts. Shiroha was impressed. Izuku knew how to walk quietly, and she decided that she would once again have to compliment the kappa on his work training Izuku.
As they rounded the corner, several yokai jumped, and they began to scatter, but Izuku was quicker. With his spiritual energy settled around him, protecting him and flowing through him, he was able to cast a borderline quickly, and the yokai fled. Izuku and Shiroha felt them leave the school – the small flames of the small yokai's spiritual energy growing more and more distant.
Izuku beamed.
Shiroha prodded Izuku. "Well, now, the other yokai most likely felt that. Let's move. Unless they confront us directly, we will need to go to them."
Izuku jerked slightly, elated at his success. He smiled, "Yeah, there are a lot of little ones over there."
Shiroha chuckled, "Yes, focus on the little ones first. After all, they are the easiest to get rid of, but there is another reason to focus on them. You do not want the smaller yokai sneaking up on you while you face a stronger yokai and take you by surprise, or trip you. That is why it is best to deal with them first."
Izuku nodded, and the pair moved toward the next gaggle of yokai. Then, slowly, they made their way through the school, banishing one yokai or a group of yokai at a time. After an hour, they could feel several small yokai leaving without a confrontation, but they could also sense the strongest yokai growing more restless with each borderline and command Izuku cast.
They were on the third floor when Shiroha paused, and Izuku, realizing her hesitation, stopped with baited breath.
Shiroha studied Izuku for a moment, "You have made great progress in banishing the yokai. Many remain, but we should stop here for the night. You must return home, and we risk you becoming too exhausted to deal with a stronger yokai if one chooses to attack. They will not sit still much longer."
Izuku hesitated. He felt fine, and it seemed a waste to stop.
Shiroha assured Izuku, "I know you want to keep moving, but we have time. You have yet to use one of the spell-casting talismans, and once you do, you will see why we should stop. Spell-casting can be just as exhausting as exercise. Let us practice using one today. Can you sense anything amiss?"
Izuku concentrated, trying to find any abnormalities. "I think there's a stronger yokai near the door where we entered, but it feels – I'm not sure how to describe it. It feels foggy?"
"That is because the yokai is trying to hide itself. Remember this feeling. None of the yokai in the park were strong enough to try such a thing. If this yokai were even stronger, you would not be able to sense it at all until you were closer. It is one of the weakest of the stronger yokai – that is why it thinks it can deceive us." Shiroha's eyebrow quirked upward, "Shall we go? After all, you need to practice using the spell-casting talismans so that it becomes easier."
They did not worry about moving stealthily as they made their way back through the school and approached the side door where they had entered. As they drew nearer, the fuzzy image of the yokai did not grow clearer, but it became easier to locate.
"Why is it easy to locate if it's trying to hide?" Izuku asked softly.
Shiroha huffed and smirked, "Because it underestimates you, and you have grown strong. Now, I will give you this warning – there are other, stronger yokai in this school, ones you are not yet strong enough to sense. Once you take care of this one, they will try harder to hide."
Izuku glanced at Shiroha, "But you can sense them, right?"
"Yes. With time, I think even you will be able to sense them."
Izuku smiled at her words, but quickly sobered as the door came into view. Izuku slowed, scanning the hallway for anything out of place and checking to make sure the only yokai in the area was the one trying to hide.
"Can you sense any other yokai here? I can't sense any." Izuku felt his pulse quicken. Knowing there were yokai in the school that were strong enough to hide themselves from him made him nervous.
Shiroha glanced at Izuku out of the corner of her eye, then looked forward, "No, little one. Only the yokai blocking our path remains. However, smart move checking for others."
Izuku's lip quirked, but he remained focused. Slowly, he approached the door to the room where he could feel the yokai hiding. Standing on one side of the door, Izuku waited for Shiroha to take her place on the other before gripping the handle and sliding the door open quickly.
Izuku spun around the door frame and moved through the opening, going low while Shiroha bound into the room over his head. The yokai, who was waiting by the door, howled and swiped at Izuku, but the blow did not land. Shiroha used one of her tails to brush the yokai aside. The yokai lost its balance and staggered.
Izuku shifted his weight, spinning to face the yokai while putting more distance between them. As soon as he grounded his stance, Izuku pulled out one of the talismans and, holding it between his fore and middle fingers, snapped it into place in front of his face.
At the same time, Shiroha landed gracefully and spoke firmly, "Repeat after me."
Shiroha began to chant, and Izuku followed, mimicking the monosyllables while focusing his spiritual energy into the talisman.
The talisman began to glow, and the yokai, who had turned to face them, grew pale at the sound of the chant and sight of the swirling spiritual energy. It realized it had made a fatal mistake. However, it was too late. The chant was over.
Izuku knew intuitively what he had to do next. As soon as the chat was done, Izuku flipped his wrist, releasing the talisman while flicking it toward the yokai. The talisman flew forward and struck the yokai. Spiritual energy from the talisman flashed and surrounded it – like fire; it consumed the yokai, who evaporated into nothingness.
The room fell silent.
Shiroha stood by the windows where she had landed, and Izuku, while still on his feet, had to prop himself up with his hands on his knees. Izuku panted heavily and shook away a sudden surge of vertigo. Shiroha padded up to Izuku.
"Are you okay, little one? Casting such a spell is difficult, but you did well."
Izuku could only nod as he tried to regain his breath. Once he could talk again, Izuku smiled, "Wow! That was… that was…"
"It is quite the experience, wasn't it, little one."
Izuku nodded and, still panting, said, "I wasn't quite expecting that."
Shiroha hummed, "Well, I know you are not fond of hurting others, but I hope you understand the importance of what you seek to do."
Izuku's face settled in a grim line. While he knew the purpose of the spell, actually watching it take effect was almost disturbing. "I'm not fond of making excuses, but I won't use something like this against humans. Even if they are the worst kind of villain, and while I'd prefer not to use this kind of strategy against yokai either, I know from experience that yokai are not like humans, villain or not. So, until I'm stronger, I'm willing to stop them any way I can."
Shiroha watched a myriad of emotions cross Izuku's face, and when she spoke, she spoke slowly, "While I know humans prefer to believe that there is good in all, there are yokai who are not good and never will be good." Her voice softened, "And, there are humans who are very unlikely to seek out the benefit of and help others. Always be wary, little one – constantly. Now, let us go."
As soon as Izuku had his bearings again, the two yokai hunters slowly made their way out of the building and then slipped off the school grounds unseen.
As they made their way back to Sato-san's house, the sky began to lighten on the eastern horizon. Izuku walked slowly, even though he knew he needed to be back before Sato-san or her partner noticed he was missing. She would be up in a little bit, after being woken up by her partner coming home. As they approached the house, Izuku slowed and began watching the road for Sato-san's partner's car.
Shiroha kept pace beside him, but also scanned the area as she watched for the adults, "Little one, it seems the coast is clear. Go now. Slip back into your room and rest. It has been a long night."
Izuku only nodded and, after glancing around one more time, slipped across the lawn and to the open window of his bedroom. As soon as he was inside, Izuku collapsed on the bed and fell fast asleep.
Shiroha waited, standing on the front lawn until a car turned onto the road and then into the driveway. Then, she watched as Sato-san's partner stumbled from the car, grumbling angrily. Another sharp-toothed yokai had latched onto the man.
Lips curled in a sneer, Shiroha bound forward and, grasping the yokai by the back of its neck, tore it off the unsuspecting man and ran away – the yokai wailing and cursing in her grasp. Once she was far enough away, Shiroha tore into the yokai, and it dissolved – just like the yokai in the school. She stood there for a moment; her eyes fixed on the place where the yokai had drawn its last breath. Then, she turned her head toward the house where Izuku slept, lips drawn in a grim line.
She was well aware that Izuku was hiding the fact that the new family was not as caring or patient as the last, but she respected Izuku's wishes. However, the new foster home was on the verge of deteriorating further. Initially, there were no yokai in the house. Over the last few days, however, the two adult residents had begun to attract yokai. Shiroha only hoped she would be able to teach Izuku the purification spell soon and that he would think to use it on the home. While she knew she could suggest it, she did not want Izuku to become dependent upon her judgment. However, if he did not purify the house, she would intervene.
Shiroha sighed.
At least for tonight, everything will be fine.
For two more nights, they stealthily entered the school building, fighting and banishing the yokai from the school. Izuku had to use spell-casting talismans on several, but so far, things had gone well. Izuku was unsure if it was a good thing or if it meant one would prove too much.
Shiroha paused after they banished another group of small yokai. "Very good, little one. Tell me, how many more yokai are in the school?"
Izuku concentrated. Over the past three nights, his ability to sense yokai had grown stronger, but he was also realizing how much more he had to learn. Yokai were tricky, and they were growing more crafty as the nights passed – even the small ones.
"Well, I don't sense anymore small yokai, but I do sense one more mid-tier yokai. I can also sense one, maybe two more strong yokai, but…"
"Yes?"
"I think I can sense another yokai here that I wasn't able to sense before."
Shiroha stopped, still in the shadow of the building, "Oh?"
"It's not one of the stronger ones I mentioned before. This one is new. It feels slimy – I think."
Shiroha smiled, "Very good. The two stronger yokai you faced tonight, those which required spell-casting talismans, were just as strong as Trouble. However, there are three more strong yokai here. One of them was not here before. What else can you sense? What about its location?"
"It's near one of the other yokai – the one I couldn't sense until near the end last night."
Shiroha nodded, "Yes, while yokai are proud, they do call on others on occasions. These two yokai might be amicable or have formed an alliance for the meantime. We will have to see. Given the situation, we should not return tomorrow, but take a break and resume the day after. I'd like to do one more exercise before you take on the stronger yokai here – to prepare for the situation where we might have to face two stronger yokai at once. Let us meet tomorrow in the center of town – around noon, shall we?"
Izuku blinked at Shiroha, "The center of town? At noon?"
Shiroha barked a laugh, "Yes. The exercise will help."
"But, what about…? Well, I guess no one can see you, but still."
Shiroha merely smiled, "You shall see."
The next day, Izuku and Shiroha tried to walk down the sidewalk. People rushed past, and the cars on the nearby road were caught in a gridlock. Izuku tried to keep the grimace off his face. While he had practiced extending his senses and maintaining the barrier in the park and while purging his soon-to-be new school of yokai, walking down the street on a busy Saturday afternoon was a completely different story.
Once Izuku and Shiroha met, she had instructed Izuku to extend his senses and put up the barrier, and then invited Izuku to walk with her.
Izuku grumbled, "It's harder to keep it up right now than when I had to maintain it while facing yokai!"
Shiroha chuckled, "Very true. While yokai are generally malicious, humans can be far worse, especially in such frustratingly overcrowded places."
"There are so many yokai, too. They're…" Izuku paused, "drawn to places like this. Yokai were drawn to the Miyobi's and even more so to the Kato's houses. The Katos were always on edge and s-so angry, so unsatisfied – might be a better word – with the world."
Shiroha glanced at Izuku out of the corner of her eye, thoughts turning to the Sato's home, but refocused on the current conversation, "And the people here are not at peace either. They either ignore those near them," she nodded to a man pushing past an elderly woman, "or, if they see something they disapprove of, they automatically assume the worst. They slowly kill themselves with their assumptions – assumptions that lead to dislike and dissatisfaction with the people and the world around them."
Izuku moved to help the elderly woman into the shop she was trying to reach. Once she thanked him and was inside, Izuku turned back to Shiroha, "But the world isn't nice… or fair."
Izuku's shoulders slumped as he thought about his peers and the worst of the families he had lived with.
Shiroha began walking down the sidewalk again, "Maybe, but how you respond to those things matters. There is also good in the world. After all, is that not why you want to be a hero?"
Izuku nodded at her words, only pausing briefly to resolidify the barrier around him, keeping it extended despite all the people rushing past. It felt as though his nerve endings were raw and exposed to the foul miasma surrounding him.
"Solidify the barrier a touch more, it will help," Shiroha intoned softly, her sympathy evident. "I know this is hard, but it is necessary to use the barrier and maintain it in various situations. Practicing it here, with so many people around, will make it easier to maintain if you need to face the two yokai simultaneously."
Izuku nodded, and they continued their trek, the smell of car fumes and sweat from the passing people filling the air.
Down the street, a sudden shriek alerted everyone of a villain attack. The tide of people shifted, moving in two general directions – one away from the commotion and the other, toward it, so that they could watch the inevitable fight between hero and villain.
Izuku was buffeted by the crowd, but he moved decisively to the side, using a series of martial arts steps that Ginro had taught him so he could navigate the crowd. He aimed for an elevated entryway to a shop where he could keep his distance, but still watch the fight. Shiroha followed, slipping between the people like a leaf slipping along a steady breeze.
In the time it took Izuku to gain his vantage point, Death Arms had arrived on the scene.
"I wonder if he'll be okay," Izuku muttered. "It looks like there are two villains, and one feels… wrong."
Shiroha queried, "Two people? Look more closely, little one. Focus your senses."
Izuku's face pinched, and then his eyes widened as he realized that there were, in fact, not two villains, but one villain and a yokai.
The yokai looks like a dour-faced old man and was moving alongside the villain, hissing and snarling vehement words at the victims, a mother and child. While the yokai was not purposefully goading the villain, the attention it was giving the victims was egging on the villain.
Izuku gasped.
Shiroha's voice sounded in a low snarl, "A Momonjii."
Izuku's head whipped over to look at Shiroha, "A what?"
"No time to explain. You are almost ready to cleanse the school. So now, I will teach you another spell. Do you have a talisman? I will cast a spell of my own to hide us. After all, you cannot involve yourself overtly without worry of being labeled a vigilante. Are you ready?"
Izuku held up a talisman between two fingers.
Shiroha gave a curt nod. "Now, imagine your energy concentrating within the talisman in the shape of a tiny ball and repeat after me."
Shiroha began chanting, and Izuku followed, repeating the new series of monosyllables.
As they chanted, Izuku felt his spiritual energy tightening around the talisman until it began to vibrate. Izuku concentrated, and his arm shook with the strain that accompanied the tightening energy. Shiroha, too, seemed to be locked in place from the intensity of the spell.
"Now," Shiroha's voice was pinched, "sharply throw it!"
Izuku released the talisman, and it shot forward like a bullet from a gun, flying over the heads of the people and striking the yokai, who screamed. Although the yokai could be neither seen nor heard, the civilians, hero, victims, and villain alike all froze for a split second, and after glancing around, turned back to the fight.
The yokai fled, and Shiroha leapt forward, looking over her shoulder as she spoke, "I will find you later. I must follow it."
Izuku watched as she left. The villain fight was ending. Death Arms would soon have the villain in custody and pass him off to the authorities. Izuku wasn't sure what to think. He had just helped in a villain fight – even if he had only scared away a yokai.
Elated and a bit bemused, Izuku stood on the stoop of the shop for a moment before considering what he should do next. Since Shiroha was gone, Izuku decided to make his way home. Sato-san had a few more chores for him to finish. So, turning, Izuku maintained the barrier while he began his trek back to the house. There were so many shifting auras around him that he did not sense the pair of eyes lingering on him or the small presence following him home.
Not even an hour after Izuku returned to the Sato-san house, Shiroha hopped into Izuku's room through the open window.
Izuku spun to face her, "What is a… what did you call it?"
"A Momonjii," Shiroha stated bluntly. Then her tone softened, "As you know, some animals, if they live a very long time, turn into yokai."
Izuku nodded, "Yes, and some objects can too, if they are exposed to certain energies for a long time or are well taken care of by their owners."
Shiroha nodded in approval, "While some foxes are born yokai, a very long-lived fox can also turn into a yokai. Cat yokai, such as the Maneki Neko that visited you in the hospital, were once ordinary cats. The Momonjii are different in that they have gone through two transformations due to their long life."
Izuku felt a shiver run down his back. Yokai were either benevolent, neutral, or malevolent. They also had classes or tiers. Water yokai like Ginro were of a lower tier and therefore weaker than the higher-tier water yokai like the Suiko. Suiko are always malevolent, but kappa could fall into any of the categories.
Similarly, kitsune could be malevolent or benevolent, and all started out as lower-tier kitsune. Byakko, like Shiroha, were kitsune whose power had increased to the point that they abandoned their trickster ways and had become benevolent, high-tier kitsune yokai who dedicated themselves to the Inari.
Izuku shook, "So, is a Momonjii a higher-tier yokai?"
Shiroha sighed, "In a way, not all yokai have classes, so to speak. Bats that live a long time become Nobusuma. While they were originally bats, the Nobusuma resemble flying squirrels. However, you must always remember their bat origin as they have developed a taste for blood, which is their staple diet. They live in forests and will attack travelers, aiming for their heads while trying to suck their blood. Stories about vampire bats originate from the Nobusuma – although they have no relation to real vampires from the West. After all, vampires were just humans with a pre-quirk ability."
Izuku nodded. He remembered being surprised when Kekyu had told him that all the fantasy stories had a basis in fact and were all derived from pre-quirk abilities.
Izuku's brow pinched as he asked, "You said the Momonjii is the second transformation. So, do they come from a long-lived Nobusuma?"
Shiroha nodded, "They do. While a Momonjii will lose its appetite for blood, it is still dangerous. The Momonjii are the inspiration for the fantasy known as the 'bogyman.' Momonjii, as you saw, look like hairy, old men. They dislike noisy children and attack them."
Izuku jerked, "So that's why it attacked? It looked like the victims were a mother and child!"
Shiroha nodded, "The Momonjii hate crying children the most, and it must have been passing by when the villain attacked, which, of course, caused the child to cry. It was unfortunate timing, but fortunate that we were there. While the Momonjii have lost their thirst for blood from their time as Nobusuma, they have become toxic and cause sicknesses. As malevolent yokai age…"
"They find new and more malicious ways to harm people and other yokai." Izuku finished for Shiroha.
"Exactly."
"Do we have to worry about it spreading a disease to the kid?"
"No, I healed the child after taking care of the yokai. You are not yet ready to face a Momonjii or extend your purification to people. You still need to master purifying the land to accomplish either of these goals. Once you can purify the land, we can work toward extending it to purify other humans or yokai – specifically benevolent yokai, who have been attacked by malevolent yokai, of course."
Izuku's eyes widened.
Shiroha's lip quirked, "Now, do not mistake purification for being able to heal. You will be able to purify them of the ill energy or spiritual sicknesses inflicted by yokai. New medicine can combat the effects, and I have to say, human medicine has come a long way, but those who have been afflicted by a yokai cannot be cured unless one such as yourself helps them."
"Are some people who have illnesses the doctors don't know how to cure due to yokai?"
"Some."
Izuku bounced as he eagerly asked, "So, I could help them?"
"That depends on whether you can master purification spells. You may or may not be able to do so. It also depends on how we frame your quirk."
Izuku nodded, deep in thought.
Shiroha smiled, "But even if we do not think of a way to incorporate healing, I do not see why you cannot do it in secret. I did, after all, spread a cloak earlier today when you chased away the yokai."
"Is that why no one saw me 'shoot' the yokai?"
Shiroha nodded with a toothy grin, "Now, we do not want to go about using such methods for the wrong purposes."
Izuku smiled sheepishly, "I know."
"Very good. Now," Shiroha turned toward the open window, and Izuku tilted his head curiously, "We have a visitor."
Shiroha trotted over to the window and, looking out, spoke firmly, "Come inside."
As Shiroha stepped back, a badger-looking yokai hopped into the room. It looked guiltily at Shiroha and glanced at Izuku out of the corner of its eye.
Shiroha looked down at the yokai, "Well, Mujina. What say you? Why did you follow my protegee home?"
The Mujina bowed, "I must thank you. The Momonjii hurt my family, and then came to the city. I do not like the city. It is an angry place. But I must avenge my family, and the Momonjii came here. So, I followed."
The badger-yokai turned to face Izuku, "You stopped it." Then it turned to Shiroha, "You banished it?"
Shiroha nodded, and the Mujina bowed again, taking Shiroha's nod as a dismissal.
When the Mujina had left, Izuku turned to Shiroha. "Was that a tanuki? But you called it Mujina."
Shiroha nodded, "Mujina and Tanuki are very similar. While the tanuki resembles the raccoon dog, the Mujina is a badger that has become a yokai. The tanuki and the Mujina are often confused. They are shy and generally do not enjoy interacting with humans, though a few do live among humans.
"However, back to the task at hand. We met today so that you could practice maintaining the barrier in a crowd. Tonight, we are taking a break, as I would like you to rest before taking on the strongest yokai in the school. You did well today, and for all my loathing of the Momonjii, it provided an opportunity for you to use your abilities in a different way. Do you remember the new chant?"
Izuku blushed, "Some, but not all of it."
"Then let us review it. It may come in handy tomorrow night when we finish purging the school. After all, you will also have to purify the school and lay the talismans. You start school on Monday."
So, after reviewing the new chant, Izuku went to bed early. Sunday would be a long day.