The Cursed Iris

Sprout 60: Executing the Plan and The Eighth Dragon Emperor

Kikyo and Shizuko both reached the first village on the map Asami showed them. It was called Yorsha, and it was a little on the smaller side compared to the ones Kikyo and Shizuko have already been to.

They noticed a tall bright blue castle in the distance. They both gagged, "Damn that thing is ugly."

"We're definitely destroying it, forget what Asami is talking about." Kikyo stated.

"Agreed." Shizuko nodded.

Kikyo hopped on Shizuko, and she took off towards it. Kikyo couldn't help but worry about Ayame's condition. She had to finish this quickly so she could return to her side, "I don't know Ayame that well right now, but she seems like a strong and resilient girl. She'll pull through this," Shizuko reassured.

"Why are you reading my thoughts?" Kikyo blushed.

"Because I know you now," Shizuko chuckled. "Let's focus on this, because I am worried about Toru too."

Kikyo sighed. "You're right, so we'll destroy the castle, then we string up that leader in the village square?"

"I like that plan." Shizuko replied with a smile.

They continued onward to the castle, Kikyo Narukami, you are the one who was supposed to be the Iris. Ayame Akiyama stole your birth right, a random voice echoed in her head.

"Shizuko did you say something?"

"No, I didn't say anything."

"That's weird..."

Kikyo and Shizuko reached the castle gate. Kikyo activated the Umi's abilities, and she summoned the Kitsu-Kukan, "Ready to cause some hell Shizuko?" she asked. Then she destroyed the gate causing a large explosion.

The guards began to come from the castle in waves as they did Kikyo summoned waves of water to knock them away while Shizuko used the Kitsunebi, "These guys are pretty weak," Kikyo noted. "Guess their gears are useless."

One of them summoned smoke, but it was easily dispersed by another gear that used wind blew the smoke away. "Plus they suck at teamwork." Shizuko sighed.

"I mean not like we're really that much better." Kikyo chuckled playfully, she then threw the Kitsu-Kukan. It hit every single one of the knights, but it didn't kill them. Which was the goal for the most part; Kikyo just wanted to destroy the castle and find Mizuho. She had a feeling that if she went along with this, then maybe she'd appear.

"Your plan is reckless, my mother would destroy us if she ever found out about it." Shizuko chuckled.

A man in a robe walked out of the castle, "What do you think you're doing?" he yelled.

Kikyo smiled, "I think Lady Inari will appreciate that I'm going to use this plan," she replied to Shizuko.

The man stared at them both, and he instantly cowered in fear, "Those eyes!" he screamed. "You have those accursed eyes!"

This was the second person to react like this to Kikyo, the first being Layla. She deactivated her abilities, "Okay I don't know what that's about, but look we came here to end your reign of terror over the innocent people of this village."

The man was shaking visibly scared out of his mind. "You can do whatever you want, please just don't hurt me!"

"The power of fear and hope. Shizuko I thought we were done doing that!?" Kikyo yelled, visibly frustrated.

"What the hell do you mean? I haven't done anything!" she replied.

That confused Kikyo, because why is this the second time someone reacted like this to her? Why does it only happen with people who she's gone against? "Tell me, where is Mizuho?" Kikyo asked.