897AN* Well it has been a long time, and I hope that all of you are safe and well during these difficult times. Sorry for such a lengthy absence, but here is hoping that this will make up for it. Please enjoy, and once again, stay safe.
Shinso
"Well?" Jubi asked as Fangfang returned.
"It's bad. They've already surrounded the entire area." Fangfang explained "Are Naruto-san and the others still in the seal?"
"Yes." Lingling nodded.
"The running illusion won't work anymore." Yukari noted.
"No. We need a new plan." Jubi agreed "Kurumu, how good are you at dreamwalking?"
"Average, but I didn't practice it as much." Kurumu admitted, getting confused looks from the others.
"Dreamwalking?" Yukari blinked.
"It's an ability that all Succubi have." Jubi replied as Kurumu transformed into her true form and placed her tail over Moka's head where it opened up like a flower "They can enter the dreams of any sleeping person, it's how they know how to best seduce men. Kurumu should be able to go in and warn them about what is going on, and if we are very lucky speed things up and get them out sooner."
"This way we don't need to worry about bringing them up to speed." Lingling nodded "The moment that Naruto-san awakens he can strike with precision."
"Exactly. The downside is that we still have no idea how long this is going to take, which means that it's going to be down to the three of you to hold the line. Think you can manage?"
"We'll have to." Fangfang said firmly.
"Alright then. Here I go." Kurumu said as he opened tail was pressed firmly against Moka's forehead as the young succubus used her ability to enter the dreamworld that Moka's seal had created.
Within the seal Naruto and the others sat on the flying carpet as night had fallen and fireworks were going off. Moving near the windows to the expansive dining room showed the vampires all singing Happy Birthday to Moka, who was now celebrating her tenth birthday. As the singing and cheering died down Kaluha moved towards Moka with a giant wrapped present for the girl.
"Tada! This is my present Moka-chan! It took me a long time to make!" the older girl smiled happily as Moka began unwrapping the present, revealing a giant stitched together stuffed animal that Naruto couldn't identify the species it was based off of.
"Yay~ A hand made teddy bear!" Moka cheered as she hugged he giant animal that was nearly twice her size.
"It's a bunny rabbit though." Kaluha chuckled sheepishly.
"A bunny rabbit, I'm so happy! A bunny rabbit!" Moka smiled, enjoying the thoughtful gift.
"Kaluha-neesan, that's surprisingly boring of you!" Kokoa declared as she slammed her gift down in front of Moka, bringing the older vampire to shocked tears "My present is much cuter."
"Haha, since we're always fighting receiving a present from you is kinda embarrassing." Moka chuckled as she untied the ribbon, revealing a very familiar looking bat inside.
"It's Kou-chan! A Bake-Bake Bat I caught!" Kokoa declared as Kou transformed into a singled sided blade "It specializes in transforming into weapons! You can have it Moka-neesama!" As Moka caught the transformed bat it dragged her upper body down with it as she tried to hold it "Too bad it weights 100 kilograms though, and it eats a lot too."
"I-I think I'll pass." Moka said as Kou turned back to normal and returned to Kokoa's head.
"Ehh! Why?!" Kokoa exclaimed in shock.
"It's much more suited for someone who has superhuman strength like you, and besides it's already so fond of you." Moka explained.
"Hmm~ Then I wonder if you'll like mine?" Akua remarked as Moka opened the eldest sisters present.
"A scarlet dress!" Moka exclaimed as she quickly changed into the strapless dress.
"From around the age of 10 our powers start to increase as we enter the realm of adulthood. So you need to change your clothes too by wearing some sexier ones." Akua explained with a smile "So cute! It looks so good on you Moka!"
"Akua-neesan, everyone." Moka blushed as tears welled up in the corners of her eyes "Thanks, I'm so happy. Thank you so much!"
Naruto smiled a bit as he watched the scene before glancing over at Touhou Fuhai who was watching as well, though his gaze was locked on Akasha instead.
"So time isn't quite linear here I take it." Naruto noted "Seeing as how we jumped at least a year ahead."
"It seems that way." Mizore nodded "Though we have only been in here for about an hour."
"Everyone is probably freaking out about this right now." Naruto sighed.
"Too late to do anything about it now." Touhou Fuhai declared "Escaping from this world without help from the outside is almost impossible. And besides, Moka's mother Akasha is an old friend. I'm also interested in these memories."
"Akasha disappears after this night right? I wonder why?" Mizore mused.
"It's odd. Everything seems fine." Naruto agreed as he watched "But that doesn't mean that something won't happen. Let's wait and see."
The party continued on for a bit longer until they saw Issa and Akasha stepping away, causing Touhou to move the carpet to follow them as they went into their own room where the pair began to talk.
"I wanted to talk to you about them taking custody of her. I talked to the other family about it and they agreed immediately." Issa explained.
"I see, that's good." Akasha nodded as she helped him take off his coat while he loosened his tie.
"Gyokuro is coming back to live in this mansion soon," Issa continued "and as she's Kaluha and Kokoa's birth mother, it seems like she hates you and Moka. If she's going to leave it'd best be as soon as possible."
"Yes... And also, I want that girl to live a life where she doesn't have to deal with that thing in the basement." Akasha said sadly.
"Yeah, about that." Shuzen frowned "I received some worrying information today. It seems like the oldest one, Akua"
Before he could continue he and Akasha turned towards the door as a faint noise was made, with Akasha walking towards it, opening it and revealing no one was out there.
"Moka was there. Follow her." Naruto said quietly as Touhou looked at Akasha with a torn look before moving after Moka who was being led by Akua out of the mansion and to a graveyard just below with a giant steel door that would lead underneath the mansion. The door itself was locked shut with several locks that Akua was quickly destroying using the same technique that she had used to kill the assassins that had been sent after her.
"This is funny." She snickered "No matter how many locks you put, none of them will stop me."
"Nee-san, didn't mother tell us not to come near here no matter what happens?" Moka asked in a worried voice.
"Are you scared Moka?" Akua asked as opened the door and led the girl inside.
Naruto frowned now, not entirely sure how to follow after them as any of his abilities would reveal his youki and would in turn let them know that he was there. Waiting a few more moments Naruto heard the sound of the girls laughing as he carefully stepped into the doorway, with Mizore and Touhou Fuhai following after him. Naruto stepped carefully and was ready to grab the pair behind him to make a quick escape if he thought things were getting to dangerous, or if there was even a chance of the pair turning around.
"Moka, do you know who the "Shinso" are?" Akua's voice carried back up to the three.
"Yeah. He was a vampire, one of our ancestors, right? Though there are many versions of it." Moka replied "And I heard that those who directly inherit his powers are also called Shinso."
"Yeah... But even though you said inherit it isn't through heredity. Only by carrying their blood can you inherit the Shinso name." Akua explained "In other words the one who absorbs a Shinso's blood and takes their powers will become the next Shinso."
"Wh-why are you telling me this?" Moka asked.
"Then did you know this?" Akua continued "In the past one Shinso tried to wipe out the entire human race by himself. He took the powers of countless youkai into his body and became a giant monster, and his attacks engulfed the entire continent in fire in just seven days."
"So? What are you trying to tell me?" Moka asked, a worried tone entering her voice.
"Before long he was defeated, but what if I told you his corpse was in the basement of the Shuzen residence?" Akua asked. There was a moment of stunned silence ahead as Naruto frowned when he heard Moka asking her what she said, prompting the eldest sister to explain more "It's surprising right? I didn't even fully believe it at first. That was, until I saw this."
"No way... Then this is..." Moka trailed off as the echoes died down, with the pair having reached the bottom of the stairs as Naruto and the others moved cautiously down to the very edge of the bend, crouching down to see the sight that the sisters were staring at. The creature was massive, as even in it's crouched down form it was obvious that standing it would have towered over the entire mansion, and likely over most skyscrapers. It was a twisted and terrible sight, and Naruto immediately knew whatever this creature might have been once, it was now a hybrid yokai like Anti-Thesis had been comprised of, though comparing this to any of the former students of Yokai Academy was like comparing a saber tooth tiger to a house cat. Even from the distance that they were at Naruto could feel the presence of this ancient yokai and even he could tell that it was very nearly his equal, only implying just how terrifyingly powerful it had been when it had lived.
"Alucard, a Shinso. This is what became of the man who is said to be the oldest vampire." Akua stated as Moka tensed in fear "Don't be scared. It's alright. He's dead. But you can feel it, right? He's dead and yet his presence is still so overwhelming. Both a Shinso's power and abilities far surpass that of a normal vampire. I want to get a hold of this power no matter what it takes."
"Become this...?" Moka asked quietly "What is it that you want?"
"The world." Akua answered as she faced her sister "Fufu. You're the first one I've told about this."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Don't know... I wonder... Probably because I wanted you to know more about me while you still can." Akua mused.
The pair were soon starting to walk back towards the stairs and Naruto quickly grabbed the shoulders of the two and moved quickly back up the stairs, where the carpet was waiting and took them high enough up that they weren't seen as the girls made their way back into the mansion as the sky was beginning to lighten with the coming dawn. Touhou wasted no time in following after Moka who still seemed to be in shock at what she had just seen and learned about her eldest sister as she walked. It wasn't long before Akasha walked up, shouting Moka's name in a mixture of anger and worry.
"M-mother? What's wrong? You look so-" Moka began, her concerned question begin cut off as Akasha slapped her daughter across the face, stunning the younger girl as the elder vampire spoke, her body trembling.
"You saw it didn't you Moka? That thing in the basement." Akasha stated, already knowing the answer to the question "How could you do that?! That's... That's!" She trailed off, not seeming sure what to exactly say as she grabbed Moka's arm and dragged her to her room where she was quickly packing Moka's belongings, much to the girls shock as she tried to get Akasha to answer why she was doing this.
"You can see what I'm doing." Akasha stated "First thing tomorrow morning you are leaving this mansion."
"You're joking right?! Why?! Is it because I saw that thing underground?! Is it because I didn't listen to you?!" Moka exclaimed "No, I don't want to!"
"That's not it." Akasha said in a quiet yet firm voice that stopped Moka's shouting "This is something that Issa-san and I had decided before you saw it. And the people taking care of you have also agreed to it. You were eavesdropping on us last night, right?"
"Why... why?" Moka asked quietly now, her voice strained as she was near tears "Is it bad for me to be here? Am I in your way, mother?"
Akasha didn't answer her question as she turned and gently placed a familiar looking choker and rosary into the girl's hands.
"What's this?" Moka asked in confusion.
"It's a charm. I made it with a rosary and choker. I'm sure it'll help you in the future." Akasha knelt down so she was at eye level with Moka as she continued "Believe me when I tell you this Moka, I want you to be happy living life as a normal girl, so we need to part ways now. And until the day where I can tell you everything, please don't ask me why."
Moka was stunned for a moment before she turned, knocking the rosary away as she ran off, finally giving into the tears as she ran.
Naruto was silent as he watched, and felt Mizore placing a hand on his shoulder. Glancing over at her she nodded to show that she understood that he didn't like seeing Moka so upset and knew that neither of them could do anything to help fix this right now. There was a brief flicker that warned of time moving forward a bit as the sun had completely risen and Moka was making her way to the car that was waiting for her, having changed out of the scarlet dress and into more travel appropriate clothing. Most of the Shuzen household was there to see her off, with only Issa, Akasha and Akua being absent. Kokoa was crying at her sister leaving, begging and pleading for her to not leave as Kaluha held the younger girl with tears of her own falling. Soon enough Moka was in the car and being driven away as Kokoa tried to chase after them.
"Why isn't the memory following her?" Naruto asked after a second glancing around.
"I am not sure." Touhou Fuhai frowned "Perhaps there is more to this than we realized."
The elder yokai turned the carpet towards the mansion where they saw Akasha standing in the window watching the car drive away. Moving closer they were able to hear Akua speaking.
"You sure you don't want to say goodbye?"
"If I go and see Moka's face now, I'll regret my decision. Isn't it the same for you too, Akua?" Akasha stated, not turning from the window.
"Aiya, so I guess you already know who I really am. And father also left for work early today, perhaps you were trying to lure me out?" Akua remarked, letting the silence last for a few heartbeats before continuing "A long time ago, there was a Shinso that tried to wipe out the human world. That Shinso's name was Alucard. However, his ambitions were ruined by the appearance of another Shinso. That new Shinso was accompanied by two comrades, and the three of them fought and won against the enhanced Alucard. And before long those three people were given the title of the "Three Demon Lords". To this day they continue to watch over the sleeping corpse of Alucard." As Akasha glanced towards the girl Akua finally made clear her goal "What I'm after is you, leader of the Three Demon Lords, Shinso Akasha Bloodriver."
Naruto frowned as they moved a bit so they could keep listening they heard Akua still talking to Akasha.
"Akasha-san, are you sure you're not regretting it? Chasing Moka out of the mansion like that?" Akua asked "I'm guessing you sent her away because you discovered my true identity, but to be honest I'm surprised. I thought the two of you would never fall apart no matter what happens. The two of you were always there for each other, you two had a connection deeper than anyone else in this family." She paused here for a moment, her tone revealing a mixture of pain and longing "I was always so jealous of you two."
Akasha finally spoke now, her own tone sad as well "Moka had a very difficult birth. So when she was born she was close to death."
"Death?" Akua asked in surprise.
"Yes... That was the first time that I prayed to God: "I don't care what happens to me, but please save my child.". Those feelings haven't changed at all." Akasha explained, her eyes revealing her deep love for her child.
"I love Moka a lot too." Akua admitted "It's strange, but I get this warm feeling when I'm with her."
"She was especially attached to you." Akasha giggled, getting Akua to laugh as well.
"Yeah, yeah. Even though our personalities were completely different it just made us a better match." Akua smiled "That's why I'm grateful to you, for taking her away from the mansion." the younger vampire paused again as she took another step forward, her resolve gathering as she spoke "I had intended to take action earlier, but whenever I thought of Moka I would hesitate, and before I knew it an entire year had passed. I mean if you die, Moka would be really sad right?" There were only ten steps between the two now as Akua continued speaking, raising her right hand to point towards Akasha "I have my own goal. That is to obtain the power of the "Shinso" that Alucard once possessed, to obtain the power of the strongest vampire. That's why I need your blood. The blood of those that defeated Alucard, the ones called the Three Demon Lords, the blood of a Shinso."
"And then? What are you going to do after becoming a Shinso?" Akasha asked after a moment of silence as she turned to fully stare down the younger girl "Are you going to follow Alucard and wipe out the human world that has caused you so much pain?" The questions seemed to surprise Akua as she didn't answer, prompting Akasha to continue speaking "I won't run or hide. I don't mind, come at me with whatever you have. I've told everyone to stay away from this place today. No one will disturb us."
"Thank you. I am indebted to you Akasha-san." Akua said quietly.
"Come now, Akua." Akasha said, her right hand over her chest as she spoke wih a small smile on her face "I'll take care of all those feelings you carry."
"Damn." Naruto muttered as knew that there was nothing that could stop this clash.
"It is bad." Mizore agreed "But to think that Moka's mother was the leader of the Three Demon Lords..."
"It's not like I was trying to hide it." Touhou Fuhai remarked with a shrug as Naruto glanced over at the smaller man "The Three Demon Lords is just a title someone stuck us with. It's not something that we gave ourselves. Of course, at her best Akasha's unrivaled strength made her worthy of the title of a Demon Lord, but since long ago she has always had one unchanging weakness, that she was too nice. Making her fight her own daughter is just cruel." The three observers watched as the two vampires walked down the stairs and into the hallway filled with suits of armor holding various polearms "Akua on the other hand obviously intends to kill her. She needs to absorb a large amount of Akasha's blood to take the power of a Shinso. And Akua has that secret technique that she showed us earlier."
"That ability that killed all of those Chinese yokai." Naruto nodded as the two vampires stopped to face each other, with Akasha taking a simple stance that had her right arm raised up with her hand level with her neck while her left was held lower, giving her a wide range of options to use her arms to strike with. Akua's stance was a fighting style that Naruto wasn't familiar with as she stood on one leg, with her right leg raised up and her left arm held up with the palm facing upward as her right arm was pointing almost straight downward. The two stared at each other for the space of a few heartbeats before Akua launched forward at a speed that Naruto had to admit was impressive as Akasha managed to step to the side of the knife hand thrust that went past her and straight towards one of the suits of armor. Instead of smashing through the armor her hand and arm passed through it like she was pushing her arm through a pool of water, with ripples going across the armor around her arm.
"That technique..." Akasha remarked in shock as she faced Akua.
"Even I won't challenge a Shinso without my own trump card." Akua replied "This is a secret technique that uses barrier arts to delay my existence, which allows me to pass through and destroy any physical object." As she explained she pulled her arm out of the armor and swung it through the suit adjacent to it, slashing through them and letting them fall "Hougetsu Jigen-Tou(Moon Crushing Dimensional Sword), the worlds most powerful blade, used by one the Three Demon Lords, Touhou Fuhai."
"Such a sinister child." Akasha frowned "To be able to use the Jigen-Tou, which is said that only Touhou Fuhai can use at such a young age..."
"I've been living with the Miu Family since I was small. There I had to fight many enemies as I worked as an assassin, and during that time I researched and perfected Touhou Fuhai's technique." Akua explained as she launched herself at Akasha again "All of it was to defeat you and obtain the power of the Shinso!" Reaching Akasha faster than the woman could react she swung her arm down slashing Akasha from her left shoulder diagonally to her right hip, causing a spray of blood as she flipped backwards to try and get the tempo of the fight again, only for Akua to continue to press the assault as she took Akasha's back before the woman realized it, slashing though her lower back as she shouted "Where are you looking?! I'm behind you!"
Akasha was on the retreat again as Akua sped by and up into the air where she was prepared to go in for the kill as she declared her next move.
"Hyakujin Ryouran(Profusion of Hundred Blades)." the girl declared as she swung her arms outward and Naruto was just barely able to pick out the invisible blades shooting down towards Akasha that would turn her into little more that scraps of meat on the floor if they connected. As the attack hit the ground the blast wave was powerful enough to blow out the windows of the hall that they were fighting in, forcing Naruto to grab Touhou Fuhai and Mizore while he adhered himself to the carpet with chakra, saving both of them from being blown off. It took a bit for the smoke to clear enough to see Akua on the ground, still ready to fight as she stared down Akasha who was still standing, having dodged the majority of the attack. Her dress was damaged with the right shoulder and upper sleeve damaged, with a cut along her shoulder and one along her upper arm.
"Hm, what's wrong? Weren't you going to take care of me?" Akua sneered "That shouldn't be the Power I want from you." Akua paused for a moment as she took in Akasha "The Shinso are a sublime existence like stars. Their power far surpasses that of any average vampire. They say that the huge power is even deeper and more beautiful than pitch black darkness. I think it's about time you show me, Akasha-san, the true power of the legendary Shinso."
Akasha's response was to start chuckling as Naruto was able to feel her power beginning to rise up now, the hairs on his arm rising up as he sensed a being that stood on a level that could oppose him with ease as he was now.
"You really are strong, but you're still holding back as well aren't you? You can't damage me with just that." Akasha explained with a smile as her wounds began stitching themselves shut as her power continued to rise, much to Akua's shock "You aren't as calm as you think you are. Even though we may not be blood related, as your Mother I can tell." at this point the last of the wounds had sealed themselves shut, leaving no trace that they had ever been there "If it hurts we can stop, Akua."
Akua was ready to strike again, her rage rising up at this remark. Just as she was about to attack again a familiar voice made it's presence known.
"STOP!" Moka shouted in anger, causing Akua and Akasha to both pause and look towards the young girl who looked flushed from having run all the way back, her eyes red from crying "What is the meaning of this? Why are you covered in blood Mother? You're the worst Akua-neesan! Don't hurt Mother!"
"Moka!" Akua said in shock as she stared at the girl.
"Why did you come back?! Don't come any closer!" Akasha shouted in shock.
Akua stared at Moka, her posture tense and Naruto watched intently as this would be the tipping point for the eldest Shuzen daugther. As Moka ran closer Naruto saw the moment she made her decision and felt his heart drop as Moka screamed for Akasha to look out, right as Akua cut in her half at the waist.
"MOTHER!" Moka screamed.
"Stay back Moka. You're better off not seeing it." Akua said, raising her blood covered hand to lick it clean.
"Why... why..." Moka asked quietly, her body trembling.
"I'm sorry. This is who I truly am." Akua said between licks "Remember what I showed you yesterday? That creature hidden under this mansion. Despising humans, hating the world, those who try to defy destiny by destroying everything, the transcendental vampire. I am one of those that have succeeded that wish, a descendant of Alucard." The only sign of any regret to her actions was a single tear falling from her left eye as she spoke, bringing Moka's rage to a furious crescendo.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" the ten year old vampire screamed as she lashed out with a vicious roundhouse kick that Akua raised an arm to block, only to realize that the power behind it was several magnitudes higher than she had been expecting as she was sent flying away in a crash of rubble as Moka's rage continued to rise higher and higher before she screamed, and Naruto smirked as he could feel the power from her.
"She's a Shinso..." he said quietly in pride, before blinking as he saw the entire mansion starting to shake, knowing that despite how powerful Moka was there was no way that she could unleash enough power at this time to make an entire building tremble like this.
"Moka..." Akua began as the small girl moved to stand over her mother's body.
"Why? Why Akua-neesan?" She asked quietly at first before she screamed in anger "Why did you kill Mother!" launching herself at Akua again the elder sister dodged the punch that Moka sent, and was stunned when her strike shattered the entire stone wall, creating an oval opening that three people could walk side by side through. As the wall was destroyed the entire mansion shook again and now Naruto could pick up the movement of an extremely powerful youki, one that had even him tensing in worry.
"Am I the only one feeling this?" he asked.
"No, this is bad." Touhou Fuhai frowned "I didn't think that this would happen. It's coming."
"What is?" Mizore asked with a frown.
"No." Naruto said in shock "I thought it was dead."
Before the older yokai could explain tentacle like appendages shot up, tearing through the mansion with ease as they rose up. The appendages writhed as they moved, tearing entire sections of the mansion away as they rampaged while Touhou Fuhai moved them back and out of range for a bit as they saw Alucard awakening again. As the tentacles slowed their rampage the three of them were able to see one of it's six fingered hands palm up with a smaller tentacle extending out of each finger tip holding Moka on the palm, as the mouths on the ends of the tentacles had latched onto the girl and begun to drink her blood. As Akua moved to try and rescue Moka more of the smaller tentacles rose up to grab her, with one opening a mouth that latched onto her throat, fully intent on consuming her blood. Before it could eat her though they were cut down with a single knife hand slash.
"Be careful Akua. If you are caught by those tentacles your blood and body will be absorbed into Alucard." Akasha explained as she stepped closer, a hand holding her stomach where the flesh was still knitting itself back together "Having slept 200 years, he's hungry. If you unleash your power carelessly, he'll think you're food, and you'll be targeted like Moka."
"No way... I sliced you in half with my own hands!" Akua exclaimed in shock at seeing Akasha standing there.
"Unfortunately, this is a sturdy body. So cutting me in half isn't enough to kill me." Akasha explained.
Akua reacted by getting back into a fighting stance, prompting Akasha to get in her comfort zone before the girl could even react.
"I'm sorry Akua, for not being able to take care of you earlier." Akasha said, her tone carrying the sincerity of her words just as surely as her face was "I really wanted to help you some more, but at this rate Moka is going to be absorbed inside Alucard. Surely you don't want that either right?" Akua trembled a bit before she lowered her hands and Akasha leaned in closer, whispering her plan into the girl's ear prompting a startled exclamation.
"W-what do you mean?! Then what about you?! And Moka..."
"I didn't want to do this either." Akasha explained as she began removing her ruined dress "But it can't be helped, there's no other way to save Moka. It was okay for me to ask you right? Since you're such a fine Onee-san."
With that Akasha threw away the dress, standing in a corset and underwear as she prepared to fight the monster that held her daughter.
"Damn, and I thought I was hard to kill." Naruto remarked.
"There is nothing to be surprised of, even among vampires Akasha is extremely strong and possesses extraordinary regenerative abilities." Touhou Fuhai stated "Akasha the Nosferatu, if she fights seriously there is no one that can kill her. It was also her that defeated and sealed away Alucard 200 years ago. However there was one miscalculation back then. As Akasha used her own power to seal Alucard, their Shinso blood was synchronized. Which means that Akasha's awakening would be linked to Alucard's awakening, and for that reason Akasha has compressed her power and watched over the seal. And there was one more miscalculation that I was unaware of. That her daughter Moka had received her Shinso power."
"If that was the case then why didn't Akasha do something earlier?" Mizore asked.
"That's because even if Moka had inherited Akasha's blood, normally there would be no chance that the two of them would synchronize, but it seems as though fate has changed this." Touhou Fuhai explained "The moment that Moka's Shinso powers awakened, Alucard also woke from his slumber."
As Moka screamed in agony, and a rumbling growl was also felt shaking the very air, Akua and Akasha moved to rescue Moka. Rushing forward Akua leapt up as the larger tentacles tried to devour her, slashing through them with her Hougetsu Jigen-Tou, only for them to repair the damage instantly.
"That won't work! Just cutting it won't do anything!" Akasha shouted back to the younger girl as the tentacles slammed down, forcing Akasha to save the girl as she leapt up higher while holding Akua "In order to damage them you need to thoroughly destroy them." Pausing to set the girl down one of the larger tentacles rushed towards them "Like this." Lashing out with a blindingly fast roundhouse kick, her foot came into contact with the giant tongue and sent a cascading crack through it before the real damage was revealed as a giant hole tore through the entire tentacle, sending small scraps of it flying.
"Whoa..." Naruto whistled as he saw this strike.
"I'll have you go back to sleep Alucard." Akasha declared as she stepped on some of it's scraps "I won't let you take away my beloved daughters. Know your place."
Leaping up towards two more tentacles Akasha brought a knee into one that had a more human like mouth, shattering it with ease before spinning higher up into the air where two more roundhouse kicks destroyed another two tentacles that had been moving in. As a fourth tried to devour her she flipped over and on top of it where he landing crushed the tentacle into a red pulp.
"Incredible... The tentacles that my Jigen-Tou couldn't even scratch are being completely destroyed... They can't even regenerate." Akua said in shock as Akasha continued cutting her bloody path towards Moka "Such overwhelming power. So this is the leader of the Three Demon Lords, Akasha Bloodriver."
After sustaining the damage that it had Alucard's hand twitched as it slowly began to close it' fingers over Moka, intending on keeping it's prize and forcing Akasha to hurry. As she leapt higher and prepared to land on the hand spear like points began to rise up around the dome like protrusion that Moka was standing on, and once they were all pointing upward they shot out towards Akasha. There was a moments hesitation as Akasha seemed to have already reached the conclusion that she wouldn't be able to get to Moka in time if she stopped the attack that was coming towards her, and with a smile on her face allowed the protrusions to spear through her.
"M-Mother!" Moka screamed as she saw Akasha land on the palm, placing the rosary onto Moka's neck as she spoke.
"I'm sorry Moka. All this that happened, it's all my fault." Akasha said softly.
"Mother?"
"There were a lot of difficulties when I gave birth to you." Akasha began, tears now falling "And you were on the verge of death the moment you were born. So I gave you as much of my blood as I could to revive you, despite knowing how dangerous it was. But I don't regret it, because you are my most important treasure." Akasha was silent for a few moments as the tears fell and she took her daughter in "This is goodbye Moka. The lifeforce of this monster called Alucard is too powerful for us to kill. So the only way to stop him is to be eaten on purpose and seal him from the inside."
"M-Mother?" Moka asked in shock as the tentacles released her and seemed to be focusing solely on Akasha now.
"I really don't think I'll be able to come back this time." Akasha said softly.
"No, what are you saying?!" Moka exclaimed "You're invincible, aren't you Mother? You were cut in half and still survived! Please don't go anywhere, I don't want to say goodbye!"
Akasha was silent herself as her own tears began to fall, before she apologized as two of her fingers began to glow before she touched the jewel in the center of the rosary.
"Mother? What is this? What is this rosary? I'm scared. Hey. Mother!"
"I'm so sorry Moka. Please forgive your Mother." Akasha sobbed as the rosary was fully activated, and a blinding light was unleashed.
"Did she just do what I think she just did?" Naruto asked as he raised an arm to block out the worst of the light.
"Yes. Moka's sealing ceremony has begun." Touhou Fuhai nodded as he watched intently. The light was blinding for a few more moments before it died down and revealed Akasha still standing there with the tentacles through her as Moka lay on the palm with a glowing ring around her, barely conscious.
"Moka... The Shinso Blood flowing within you is synchronized with Alucard's. And right now, it's completely connected with you. In other words, in order to make Alucard fall back to his slumber, I must seal away the Shinso Blood within you first. And that is what the rosary is for." Akasha explained.
"It hurts." Moka whimpered "Mother, it hurts."
"I'm sorry!" Akasha sobbed "Sealing away the Shinso, means that I must also seal you away as well. But trust me, this isn't dangerous. Even if it's called a seal, you'll just be put to sleep. And besides, starting today, that rosary will protect you."
"The rosary...?" Moka asked.
"The fake personality that is born from the rosary, that new personality will take your place while you're asleep and protect both the seal and your body." Akasha explained "I'm so sorry for doing this to you, but I have no other choice. In order to put Alucard back to sleep and stop him from destroying the world, I have no other choice."
Naruto watched stunned as he saw Moka's silver hair beginning to change to pink, beginning from the tips and working it's way up towards her head as the girl screamed in pain as the seal began to work.
"Did she say fake personality?" Mizore asked in shock.
"She did." Naruto nodded "I suspected as much."
"You what?" Mizore blinked in shock as even Touhou Fuhai looked at his with a raised eyebrow.
"Unless she had a split personality there was no way that one of them wasn't a false persona." Naruto said quietly "There are schools of fuinjutsu back in my world that focus on this sort of thing, and I studied up on them a bit. But to call her a fake isn't accurate, Omote is just as real as Ura, they just have different means of being born."
"Don't worry, the seal isn't permanent." Akasha explained as a zigzagging line appeared on the dome protrusion, revealing it to be a mouth of some kind "One day, when that rosary is removed, your personality and one part of your strength will be released."
"MOTHER!" Moka screamed as the mouth opened entirely and tentacles rose up, wrapping around Akasha to prepare to bring her into the body fully.
"And the only one who can remove that rosary, is someone who means no harm and truly cares for you." Akasha explained, paying the tentacles no mind and focusing on her final moments with Moka "You too will meet your destined person one day, and when that day comes I pray that you find your happiness." Moka's eyes widened as the tentales wrapped around Akasha completely now and began to pull her down "Goodbye. Don't give up, and behave yourself. I love you, Moka."
With those final words Akasha was brought entirely within the mouth that snapped shut with a spray of blood, leading to Moka's screams for her mother to come back, making Naruto close his own eyes now as he looked down. There was no time for mourning the loss of Akasha for him however as a cracking sound resounded around them, causing Naruto to look up at the sky with Mizore to see the sky cracking and shattering like glass, spreading further and further.
"This is bad." Touhou Fuhai remarked as he looked up at the sky.
"No shit." Naruto remarked.
"This is the end of the dream!" a voice called out from the void above them "This is the final stop of the memories sealed inside Moka! You need to get out of here quickly, or you'll all disappear together with the dream!"
"That voice..." Mizore trailed off in shock as an arm appeared out of the void, soon followed by the rest of the body as she flew down to land heavily on the carpet.
"Kurumu!" Naruto blinked in shock as she landed "How?"
"I am a Succubus." Kurumu huffed in mock indignation.
"Nice work finding your way here on your own." Touhou Fuhai remarked with a nod.
"The world of dreams belong to Succubi. Although it was a little hard because I got lost." Kurumu chuckled sheepishly now as she admitted the delay.
"When did you learn to do this?" Naruto asked.
"After your coma last year." Kurumu grinned "I didn't like seeing you so helpless, so I had my mom teach me how to enter dreams. She thought it was for something more intimate."
"Walking around a person's mind is as intimate as it gets." Naruto remarked as he helped Mizore stand up before he glanced over at Touhou Fuhai who had a look on his face that Naruto couldn't identify "You coming?"
"Of course." he remarked as he moved over to Kurumu as well.
"Great! Because as bad as things are here, they are worse outside." Kurumu explained as they grabbed her arms "While you guys were asleep the Miu family showed up with a bunch of Fairy Tale people! They already surrounded the mansion! Jubi wanted us to try and trick them but once they surrounded us I came to get you."
"Any idea on how many?" Naruto asked "Any other information you can give would be great."
"Not really. There are going to be a lot of them though if they surrounded the place." Kurumu answered as she started flying upward, with the carpet being used to keep them level as they entered the void, though no before Naruto glanced back one last time to see that Moka was still laying on Alucard's hand, crying for her mother.
"They're late." Fangfang complained "How can we wait around with all of them sleeping like this?"
"I'm sorry, do you have a better plan?" Jubi asked.
"Eh... no..." Fangfang admitted.
"Then shut up and wait. Kurumu said she wasn't that skilled with dreamwalking and a person's soul is far from a simple place. The subconscious will often create the most complex constructs that it can in order to protect it, and combined with the seal there is no telling what Kurumu had to circumvent before she even got to them, let alone what she might have to do in order to get back out."
"Jubi is right." Yukari nodded "It's only been twenty minutes since she went in. We just have to be patient."
"I know! But the Miu family could be here any second! And if they attack us now with our strongest fighters sleeping we won't stand a chance." Fangfang complained.
"I don't mind either way, since I'm already dead." Lingling remarked now.
"Eh. I'd rather not have Naruto die if possible. It would take decades to reform in this world." Jubi remarked "But I would eventually, so I can accept the loss if I have to."
"You two are terrible!" Yukari complained now.
"More importantly, there's something strange about the Miu guys." Lingling noted "Those guys came in with a huge army, but there's been no commotion for awhile now. It's too quiet... What in the world is happening at the main residence right now?"
"There are few options." Jubi remarked, getting the zombie to look "First, they are trying to do this civilly and the army is just for show. Unlikely but it could be a real possibility. Second, it's a standoff right now and neither side has blinked yet. A little more likely, but given the numbers that the Miu family has I find it hard to believe. Third, they are trying to confirm if what they are actually after is actually here before they strike. If this is the case we are just in the calm before the storm."
The three standing yokai traded looks as they weren't sure which scenario was worse.
Naruto frowned as gripped the edge of the carpet as Kurumu led them out of the seal, though the pressure was immense enough that they were moving at what seemed like a crawl. Naruto's mind was already racing from the information that he had just gotten from Kurumu along with everything that he had seen inside of the seal, and as he contemplated things more and more he started coming to a few conclusions that had the pit in his stomach dropping more and more.
"What is this?" Mizore asked as she held up an arm to try and ward off the pressure that she was hitting them "It's like swimming against the current in the ocean."
"We're crossing the protection line of the seal." Touhou Fuhai explained "If you don't stay focused you'll get lost and trapped in here forever."
"Hey Touhou Fuhai." Naruto said quietly "What we just saw... I think I finally pieced it together..."
"Pieced it together?" the older yokai asked "Pieced what together?"
"Fairy Tale's goal... Everything that they have been doing. I think I know what they are about to do. And I pray that I'm wrong..."
The older yokai frowned now as he looked at Naruto before he spoke up "We can talk once we are out of here. Don't waste time getting distracted now."
