Coyote Tricks: The Bone Eaters Well

Spirit Singer and Shippo need to get into the Demon Realm in order to rescue Kit. Shippo seeks out an old friend to help.
This chapter is rated PG for references to a Yaoi relationship. If you haven’t read the disclaimers and warnings in the first chapter please do so before proceeding.

An Old Friend

“Are you sure your information is correct?” Shippo asked.
“Certain” Toshiro responded “between the information Koto was able to get from the committee files and our own information sources, this Shuichi Minamano is the one.”
Shippo looked out the window at the high school.
“It’s hard to imagine Kurama hanging around here for any length of time unless it was part of a caper” he said.
Toshiro only shrugged.
The last school bell had rung and teens had been streaming out of the school steadily for some time. The flow had dwindled to a trickle when Toshiro pointed out a tall red headed teen coming out of the gate.
“That’s him” Toshiro said.
Shippo watched the youth walking away and then stepped out of the car.
“I’ll handle this, wait here” he told Toshiro.

The red haired teen started across a foot bridge over a drainage channel and froze. In the middle of the bridge was a fox. It appeared ordinary enough except that it had five tails. Completely calm the boy slowly reached behind his ear and a rose appeared in his hand, seemingly from nowhere. At the sight of the rose the foxes ears perked and a look of excitement crossed its face. Kurama looked closer at the fox.
“Shippo?” he said.
There was a popping sound and puff of smoke and Shippo stood in the fox’s place.
“Kurama, is that you?” he said.
“Yes, Shippo it is so good to see you” the boy said happily and the two embraced. The rose had disappeared from sight.
Stepping back Shippo looked Kurama over.
“So what is this? A new disguise?”
“It’s a little more complicated than that, I’m afraid” Kurama said.
“Well you can tell me about it over tea. Are you free?”
“Yes as long as I can call my mother.”
“Call your mom?” Shippo said surprised handing Kurama his cell phone.
“Yes” Kurama said grinning “I’ll get to that.”
“That should be interesting.”

They walked back to the car and Shippo introduced Kurama to Toshiro.
“So how long has it been?” Shippo asked as they started back to the condo.
“Centuries” Kurama said “the last I saw of you was at your and Michiko’s wedding party.”
Toshiro’s ears tweaked at the mention of his mother’s name. Shippo’s eyes looked momentarily distant at the memories the name invoked.
“Yes that was some time ago” he said at last. “What about Kuronue? Where is he?”
“He’s dead” Kurama said with a look and tone that indicated the subject was not open for discussion.
“I’m sorry to hear that” Shippo said honestly.
“So how did you find me?” Kurama said suddenly “and more importantly what do you want?”
“Toshiro was at the Dark Tournament” Shippo said. “What makes you think we want something?”
Kurama gave a little grin, “I doubt you went to this much effort to find an old friend and lover just to pick up the relationship again.”
Shippo laughed “He’s Kurama alright. Yes we do need your help or more particularly the help of the friends Toshiro tells me you are hanging around with these days. We need free passage to the Demon Realm.”

They arrived back at the condo and Shippo introduced Kurama to Spirit Singer. They then filled him in about the well, Kit and their certainty that Kit was being held captive in the Queen of Shadows’ Prison.
Kurama sat thoughtful for moment afterward.
“If it is a prison” he said at last “Koenma will probably not be willing to help just to save a hanyou even if he is your friend.”
Kurama looked into Shippo’s eyes for a moment.
“But he is more than just a friend isn’t he” Kurama continued with an expression of aged wisdom that looked totally out of place on a 17 year old face. “And of course he might as well be Master Spirit Singer’s own son.”
“Fortunately, I have some favors I can pull in that should get us into the Demon Realm. Let me make some calls” he said standing up and opening what looked like a girls compact. He walked into a corner and talked into the device for awhile. The others could hear a female voice answering him back but couldn’t follow the conversation.
“My companion will meet us tonight at 10:00” he said after he was done.
“Kurama, I cannot thank you enough” Spirit Singer said.
“Save your thanks until we return, Master Singer. Getting into the Demon Realm is the easy part.”

Singer went back to his room gather things he needed and to prepare.
“So Kurama, you were going to explain your disguise” Shippo said.
“Well it’s not a disguise, it is a blending” Kurama answered.
“A blending…that means you can’t…”
“That’s right; I merged with Shuichi body and soul when he was still in his mother’s womb. I can’t change my appearance or leave this host but I still have all my plant powers.”
“But why?”
“Let’s just say I had a caper go very bad” Kurama said with a smile “and I needed a place to both heal and disappear for awhile.”
"But you should have regained enough of your spirit powers by now to leave and regenerate your original body. Why haven't you?"
"I guess you could say I became too human" Kurama replied. "Since I occupied the body before a soul entered it, Shuichi doesn't have one. When I leave it this body will die. I love my mother too much to do that to her if I have a choice. So here I remain until she dies or something kills me first. My life has gotten somewhat more exciting lately."

“I see” Shippo said and turned to Toshiro. “You should go get ready son.”
“Yes Father” Toshiro said and left to prepare.
“I had better go see to Master Singer” Shippo said rising. “Kurama, whatever happens I just wanted to say thanks.”
“I used to be more than just a friend once too” Kurama said with a sly smile.
“Yes you were which reminds me your comment in the car about my having an ulterior motive for finding you wasn’t true you know.”
“Yes I know.”

-

Shippo knocked on Spirit Singer’s door and entered when elderly shaman answered.
On the bed the Shaman had a small leather bag, a wooden staff, his wood flute and a black metal flute.
“Why two flutes?” Shippo asked.
“The metal one is Kit’s tin whistle. I gave it to him as a child. While he is not powerful enough to ever be a bard, he is talented enough with my training to assist my powers. He can even sustain it for a little while if I have to stop. Opening and closing this barrier will take much of my energy, if he can Kit will be able to help with that.”
“Don’t worry Master Singer, we will rescue him.”
“I know Shippo, thanks.”

-
They gathered in front of the house at 9:30. A chill had settled on the night air.
“My contact is going to meet us at a parking garage near the Sunset Shrine” Kurama said. “We can walk to it from here.”
As the group set out, a dark figure emerged from the shadows across the way and with a grin followed them.

Kurama led them down to the lowest basement level of the parking garage, almost deserted at this time of night. Standing near the inside wall was a tall blonde woman wearing a flowing kimono and holding in her right hand...a paddle?
"Gentlemen" Kurama said "this is Botan Spirit World representative to the current Spirit Detective and Guide of departed souls to the underworld."
Kurama introduced each of his companions to Botan.
"I must say you are considerably prettier than the White Man's version of the Grim Reaper" Spirit Singer said as he was introduced.
"Yes" Botan laughed pleasantly "I get that all the time."
"I am sure that if they knew such a beautiful sight awaited them, most men would look forward to their deaths." Singer continued kissing her hand.
Botan looked troubled at this but quickly covered it with a laugh and an "oh please don't flatter me".

Introductions done Botan looked at Kurama.
"You will owe me for this one, Kurama. If Lord Koenma ever finds out...."
"I will gladly take the spankings in your place" Kurama said with a grin.
'Spankings?' Shippo wondered but thought better than to ask.
"I stopped by the Spirit World Archives and did a little research on the Queen of Shadows" Botan continued. "She is at least a class A maybe even a class S demon. She led a rebellion against the Kami Lords calling for the extermination of human kind. She was locked away in this 'prison' you were talking about in a great battle of which the only known survivor was the great dog demon Lord Inutashio."
"Inuyasha and Lord Sesshomaru's father" Shippo added.
"Yes that is correct. There is another problem. A demon city has built up on the edge of the prison, made up of minor demons that worship the Queen of Shadows and await her return. You will need to avoid them."
"Thank you Botan we will endeavor to do that” Kurama said. Turning to the others he continued "are we ready to go?"

Everyone nodded and Botan almost too perkily said "Ok then."
She turned faced the wall. There was a spot where two support beams extended out from the stone wall. The light from the garage did not fall into the space in between creating a dark shadow. Botan put one end of her paddle against the wall in this dark space and concentrating started muttering under her breath. As she muttered, the dark space seemed to become even darker until no light seemed to be able to penetrate it at all. Then paddle fell forward as the wall it was touching disappeared into the darkness.

She pulled her paddle back and faced the group again.
"This is one of the secret portals we maintain into the Demon Realm” she said. "It is the closest one to the barrier. I will stay here and keep it open for you but I must warn you if any demons should discover it and try to pass through I will have to shut it. If that happens you will be trapped so don't take too long."

With another round of thanks to Botan for her assistance the group proceeded into the darkness. A moment later a shadow emerged from a pillar behind Botan. Botan started to turn as senses flashed a warning but was too late as a fist struck her from behind sending her crumpling to the ground unconscious.
A tall dark haired man dressed in armor centuries old looked down on her.
"I too would like to thank you" he said before stepping into the darkness as well.

-
They stood upon a rocky plain looking down on the valley below. To their far right was a village almost right up against the black wall that filled the horizon. Spirit Singer hummed briefly to himself while reaching out with his spiritual senses.
“That is the barrier we are looking for” he said at last.
“Alright” Shippo said falling into his natural role as clan leader “if we go down by that ridge line there, we should be able to approach the barrier without being seen from the village.”
The others looked at the path he had indicated and agreed. They started the making their way down into the valley.

They arrived before the black wall a short time later. Singer turned to the others as he pulled out his flute.
“I intend to open a door large enough for humans and class B demons to pass through. Once I’m done we will need to enter and find Kit quickly. I’m sure I can shield the energy of the door opening but if the Queen of Shadows discovers the opening she will eventually be able to force it open so we need to get out and close it as quickly as possible. Any questions?”
There were none. They had all traveled in the spiritual realms before and knew that they had no idea what they would find on the other side of the barrier. The magical substance of the Demon Realm, like the Spirit World, was malleable taking its shape and form from the magic and will of those who resided in it. So they were prepared for anything.

“Alright then” Singer said and turned back to the wall and began to play. The others felt the magical energies in the music filling the air like static. The darkness before them twisted and swirled as Singer’s powers wrestled with the centuries old magic that formed the barrier. Sweat broke on Singer’s brow as the strain of the effort became apparent. Slowly a dot formed in the middle of the swirling mass and gradually grew until if formed a circle large enough for a man to walk through. Singer played a moment longer binding the opening in place and then dropped to his knees exhausted.

Shippo jumped to the elder shaman’s side.
“Are you all right, Master Singer?”
“Yes Shippo I’ll be all right. That just took more out of me than I expected. I should be able to close the rift again after I catch my breath.”
“That won’t be necessary, Wise Elder” a familiar voice said.

They all looked toward the rift. Beyond the hole appeared to be a sunny tea garden with bright flowers and fountains. Standing just the other side was Kit, Silver Fang in hand. He stepped through the hole and into clearer view. His eyes were black with no whites at all and there was no sign on his face of the cheerful coyote they knew.
“You have done enough” he said smiling.

“Kit,” Singer said, “how did you know where…”
“I told him” came a voice behind them.
The group turned and saw a man in medieval samurai armor, his eyes black like Kit’s, behind him stood a horde of demons.
“Who are you?” Shippo asked.
“I am Momoru and I want to thank you Master Singer but now your time as at an end.”

A feminine laughter filled the air and behind Kit a figure emerged in the garden. It looked like a silhouette of a tall woman in a cloak. It moved toward the opening gradually growing larger until it filled the area beyond the rift.
“Hurry” Singer said pulling himself up “we must seal the rift!”

Momoru turned to the demons around him.
“The moment of our Queen’s liberation is at hand! Kill the human; he is the only obstacle to us now!”
The demons started flowing down the hill. Kurama, Shippo and Toshiro assumed a defensive circle around Singer. Kurama pulled a rose from his hair that transformed into a large thorn covered whip as Toshiro drew his Katana.

Shippo drew a small toy figure out of a pocket and threw it at the demons.
“Kitsune Illusion: Kajou Attack!” he yelled.
Suddenly the demons stopped as Godzilla (Trademark Toho Studios) appeared before them. The giant lizard leaned down and looked at the quaking demons before him and roared. The demons turned and ran in panic.
“Good one” Kurama said
“Thank you” Shippo replied. “It was a birthday surprise for the son of a friend.”
“Little Timmy” Toshiro asked.
“Yes”

Singer seeing the immediate threat relieved turned back towards the wall and raised his flute to his lips. He was interrupted as Kit landed directly in front of him.
“Die Human!” Kit cried and thrust the tip of Silver Fang right at Singer’s heart.

--
Author’s Notes: Godzilla is the property of Toho Studios and is used here without permission. The battle to rescue Kit is engaged with Kit leading the charge to kill his rescuers! Next Chapter, The Final Battle.