Torakichi's eyes widened as the Ochita turned around to face him and his companions.

It’s reddish orange eyes then dimmed as it looked at everyone one by one.

The Ochita then gestured towards the water filled hole from which steam arose.

Torakichi’s brows furrowed in confusion.

He cautiously stood up and walked towards what appeared to be a hot spring.

Torakichi looked at Keii, who shrugged in response.

The Ochita carefully placed its katana down before walking up to Torakichi who froze as the Ochita’s steps shook the cave.

It then gently placed its large, burnt hands Torakichi’s shoulder before slowly nodding prompting Torakichi to nod as well.

The Ochita then carefully undid the binds that kept Hibana up and after unwrapping the child, the Ochita placed it near where it's katanas were.

It then gently nudged Torakichi towards the hot spring before gesturing that he enter.

Torakichi slowly undressed as the Ochita returned to its spot where he carefully held Hibana.

The Ochita then gestured that everyone else join Torakichi and they did as instructed.

Keii undressed before following Torakichi into the hot spring and his eyes widened immediately after.

“My goodness!” He gasped as he lowered himself into the water.

“What?” Torakichi asked as Hanabira and Amai undressed.

“These waters are brimming with Ne, but not only that. It’s far different from any Ne I’ve seen in my life. Try moving some.” Keii said as softly as he could while Hanabira and Amai joined them in the spring.

Everyone tried manipulating the Ne within the spring and almost immediately after Hanabira and Amai let out gasps.

“Oh my!”

“It’s pulsating.” Amai said as she sat next to Hanabira.

Torakichi, on the other hand, simply sat in the water whilst cycling his Ne.

“Anything?” Keii asked.

“No, but thanks to the water, my Ne feels… invigorated.” Torakichi said.

“Indeed!” Keii said rather loudly prompting everyone to loom at the Ochita, but much to their relief, it was still gently rocking Hibana in its arms.

“So that’s an Ochita.” Hanabira muttered.

“Yes… I honestly don’t know what to say or do in this situation. Before us is a demigod and I can’t help but feel-“

“Embarrassed?” Torakichi asked.

“Yes.” Keii said.

“There is so much I want to ask, but I feel as though I am undeserving of receiving any wisdom from her.”

“Her?” Amai asked.

“That’s what I’m choosing to refer to her as. That and that foul spirit also called the Ochita as such. Spirits don’t reproduce like we do, as they are simply conscious clumps of Ne, and so they don’t have gender. When they manifest in our world, they choose whatever appearance they please and if not they just take the form that best resembles their spiritual selves.” Keii said prompting everyone to let out hums of understanding.

They then all finished bathing and eventually got dressed before sitting in front of the Ochita once more.

The Ochita then moved as thought it were sighing before offering to return Hibana to Torakichi, but Torakichi raised his hand.

The Ochita’s eyes brightened and it held Hibana close once more.

Torakichi and the others then prepared some beds but just as everyone readied themselves for sleep, Hibana walked up to the Ochita before offering her hand.

The Ochita took Hanabira’s hand and gently lifted her into it's arms.

After wrapping both Hibana and his mother in blankets, the Ochita turned around, allowing Hibana to see what the Ochita was protecting.

The corpse of another Ochita only the armour that covered his body was far less burnt, this revealed to Hanabira the intricate patterns that lined its black surface.

It looked as though the armour was made from a metallic, yet scaly material.

Sitting atop the fallen Ochita’s head was a helmet on top of which sat a red plume.

Hanabira looked up and saw that the Ochita’s red eyes had dimmed somewhat and so she too closed her eyes and patiently awaited sleep.

.

..

Hanabira was awoken by the sounds of movement.

She opened her eyes to find that she was still in the arms of the seemingly sleeping Ochita.

She gently tugged at the Ochita’s thumb and it's eyes instantly brightened.

The Ochita turned around before gently placing Hanabira and Hibana on the floor.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Hanabira joined everyone in packing their things and after binding Hibana to Torakichi’s back, everyone lined up in front of the Ochita before deeply bowing.

“Thank you!” Torakichi simply said.

The Ochita nodded in response before accompanying everyone to the cave’s mouth.

It then waved everyone goodbye as they left they cave.

Hanabira took one last look at the Ochita to find that it was still waving it's hands and so she waved back once more before following Torakichi and the others up the mountain.

The winds blew as loudly and as harshly as ever.

The path up the mountain got steep and more jagged the further up they travelled, but fortunately for everyone other than Torakichi, their Ne covered bodies were spared from the worst of it.

.

..

“Look, there!” Keii said through gnashed teeth as he pointed at something up the path.

Everyone followed him to what looked like a broken dragon statue.

They continue upwards only to find more broken dragon statues.

The surrounding area was also covered in tall, dark, snow covered trees that hid something further up the mountain.

Torakichi and company walked up the path before stumbling into an empty stone courtyard.

Four large broken statues stood at each of its corners and between the two south-facing ones, was a set of stairs that presumably led to the mountaintop.

Everyone cautiously walked up the stairs as the winds howled furiously above the treeline.

They all then collectively gasped as the roof of a large temple came into view.

They eventually arrived at what appeared to be a wall of tall trees, but a small path led them around the trees revealing an enormous garden that was untouched by the mountain snow.

Everyone gazed in awe at the countless flowers that were carefully arranged in the circular garden.

Torakichi even spotted several Moon Tears here and there.

He looked up and felt a chill run up his spine as the mountain winds seemingly blew past the garden.

“Mr. Kanemoto!” Hanabira yelped, prompting Torakichi to run to her side.

He followed her eyes to find that she was staring a pond.

Everyone froze and stared at the pond’s still waters.

They then slowly approached the small body of water which was surrounded by countless statues of what looked like praying monks.

The statues sat neatly side by side in a semi circle around the pond and far behind them was the entrance to a large red temple.

Torakichi and company gathered in front of the pond which had water so clear that they could almost see all the flora at the bottom.

Hanabira looked at Torakichi, but just as he opened his mouth to speak, the sound of steel hitting stone pierced the air prompting everyone to look at the temple’s entrance.

Standing there was a rather short and beautiful man, who’s head was covered with long, silky silver hair that was tied in a braid that almost reached his feet.

He wore a white kimono that was fairly dirty and held in his hands a Yari that had the Visage of a beautiful silver dragon etched on its side.

“Begone, foul trespassers. I shan’t warn thee again.”

The man said with a voice so soft, everyone would have missed it were it not for the silence of the garden.

Torakichi and Keii unsheathed their katanas while Hanabira and Amai retreated behind a row of flower bearing bushes.

“Who are you?” Torakichi asked as the man slowly approached.

“Who I am matters not. What does is thine presence. Leave this place at once.”

The man said and again, his voice was so soft it didn’t even sound as though he was speaking. It felt as though the wind was carrying his words on his behalf.

“I’m sorry, but we have business here. We’ll leave as soon as it is concluded.” Torakichi said as the man came to a stop a few metres in front of him.

The man then sighed before pointing to a spot just in front of the Temple’s entrance.

“Go there.” The man instructed.

“Best me in a dual and I shall allow you usage of those waters, but should thee fall, your companions will carry thine corpse down the mount and ye shall never return.” The man said.

Torakichi exchanged glances with Keii.

“I think it’d be better if I went. I think this man can use Ne.” Keii said.

“Alright.” Torakichi said before gesturing that Hanabira and Amai follow him to the temple’s entrance while Keii and the mysterious man stood a few meters apart in front of them.

“Before we battle I must ask. Who are you and why do you protect the sacred waters of the pond?” Keii asked.

“I suppose telling thee would change naught at all. My name is Jundo and I am the silver dragon, guardian of this place. I suppose ye will be giving me your name next.” Jundo said as he held his Yari high.

“I am Keii Umihara.” Keii said before silence then befell the garden.

Keii took deep and even breaths while Jundo stood with the stillness of a porcelain figure.

Keii raised his katana before dashing towards Jundo who raised his Yari in response.

Their weapons clashed several times before Keii retreated.

His hands trembled as the shock from his many attacks strained his forearms.

He gathered as much ambient Ne as he could before charging towards Jundo again and like before, the two engaged in brutal close combat with each strike testing the durability of their weapons.

Keii quickly stepped away as more Ne gathered around his katana with every passing second.

“Thou’st the ability to manipulate Chikara, mmm?” Jundo said with an expressionless face.

“Chikara? No one calls it that anymore. It now goes by the name of Ne.” Keii said as he caught his breath.

“Oh? No matter. It sickens me to mine core watching you fumble with such a sacred art. Come at me once more.” Jundo said with his Yari still held high.

Keii nodded before dashing towards Jundo, but instead of raising his katana, he threw it to his right hand before widely striking at Jundo’s Yari.

Jundo’s eyes widened as Keii moved with an animalistic aggression that had neither rhythm nor pattern.

Keii sent out attack after attack as his stance got lower and lower.

Jundo took several steps back before thrusting his Yari forward in an attempt to stab Keii, but Keii dashed forwards into the attack, narrowly avoiding getting stabbed in the heart before thrusting forward and placing his katana a few centimetres from Jundo’s neck.

Silence once again filled the air as Keii and Jundo stared each other.

“I take it this counts as my victory.” Keii said as he stared into Jundo’s widened silver eyes.

“No.” Jundo muttered as his face slowly twisted.

“What?” Keii asked before the air suddenly fell.

“NO!” Jundo yelled before an unseen force shoved Keii backwards.

Torakichi ran to Keii’s side and helped him up before unsheathing his katana.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Torakichi asked, but Jundo simply glared at him as countless streams of Ne gathered around his body.

“So long as I deem it so, no soul may touch those waters.” Jundo growled as what looked like cracks appeared on his once perfectly smooth skin.

A blade of Ne formed above his Yari’s blade, but something else also appeared. Small grains of a pale grey substance could also be seen within all of Jundo’s Ne as he assumed a battle ready stance.

“Do you really plan on turning back on your word?” Torakichi asked as He and Keii stood with similar stances.

“Ugh! Just die!” Jundo yelled before thrusting his Yari forward, sending forth a torrent of Ne.

Torakichi and Keii quickly dashed out of the way, but Jundo wasn’t finished.

He dashed towards Keii before raising his Yari to attack him, but Torakichi interrupted the attack with his own strike.

Jundo skilfully blocked the attack only for Keii to attack him in turn.

Jundo kicked Keii in the chest before using his Yari’s long handle to block Torakichi’s incoming attack.

Keii quickly recovered before thrusting his katana towards Jundo’s belly.

Jundo pushed Torakichi towards Keii making the two bump into each other.

They quickly recovered before facing Jundo again as he gathered more cloudy Ne around his Yari’s blade.

Torakichi and Keii readied themselves for another quick dodge, but just as the clouds above reached their darkest and the sun slowly sunk into the horizon, Jundo dashed towards Keii with his Yari raised.

Torakichi frantically ran towards Jundo before raising his katana in an attempt to block the strike.

“Leave!” Jundo yelled as his Yari’s blade met with Torakichi's resulting in a wave of force that shattered Torakichi’s katana, allowing Jundo’s blade to cut across his chest.

The residual force sent Torakichi and Keii hurtling towards the Temple’s entrance, but whereas Keii crashed into a pillar, Torakichi flew out of the Temple’s main gate and began his tumble down the mountain.