Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Don't Be Afraid, Fish Balls Can Fly
(TL Note: The title is the equivalent of the saying "When pigs fly". Essentially something mundane becoming fantastical like a flying object. Although this time the saying seems more literal...)
Yae Sakura gazed at the sacred object above her—the Shikon no Tama—a small pink crystal.
About the size of a marble, it emitted a soft pink glow.
"Miko Kikyō, this is the Shikon no Tama," the Demon Slayer patriarch said solemnly, pointing to the orb above them.
"So that's the Shikon no Tama..."
The Jewel was formed from the souls of countless monsters fused with Tsukasa, a miko powerful enough to face great monsters head-on. Yae couldn't believe such an important artifact was just a tiny bead.
As the patriarch prepared to remove the Jewel and hand it to Kikyō, chaos erupted outside.
"A monster sneak attack!"
"Hurry! Stop the monster from entering the cabinet!"
"Damn you, monster..."
Suddenly, a winged snake charged in, moving so fast that before anyone could react, it bit down on the Shikon no Tama and turned to flee.
"The Shikon no Tama!"
The Demon Slayer patriarch roared with anger, attacking the winged serpent monster with his weapon. But the serpent was incredibly swift and sensitive.
It dodged the attack easily in mid-air, then swallowed the Shikon no Tama whole and flew high up, ready to escape.
The winged serpent had been lurking here for two days already, undetected by the Demon Slayers. However, due to the powerful barrier they'd set up, it couldn't get inside at all, let alone steal the jewel.
Until today, when the barrier finally disappeared!
As the winged serpent began its escape, Kikyō swiftly drew her bow and arrow, firing a shot imbued with powerful purifying energy.
Demon-repelling Arrow!
In an instant, Yae Sakura unsheathed her spiritual blade, unleashing a massive blade spirit that slashed towards the airborne serpent.
Yet neither Kikyō's demon-repelling arrow nor Yae Sakura's sword spirit found their mark.
With astonishing speed, the winged serpent dodged both attacks. By the time Kikyō was ready to fire a second arrow, the serpent had already vanished into the clouds above.
The distance was simply too great...
Yae Sakura gazed at the distant winged serpent, now no larger than a mosquito. She hadn't anticipated such incredible speed and agility. Even if they resorted to firearms now, hitting the target seemed unlikely.
"Dammit!" The Demon Slayer patriarch seethed with anger over the loss of the Shikon no Tama.
Kikyō couldn't help but furrow her brow deeply. I've barely arrived to take custody of the jewel, she thought, and it's been stolen right out from under me! This is my responsibility.
This cannot be forgiven.
"Leave this to me..."
Watching the winged serpent disappear completely, Yae Sakura mentally assessed her chances of survival if she were to fall from this height. Surprisingly, she realized... she probably wouldn't die.
"Sakura, you..." Kikyō started, about to question what Yae Sakura intended when...
Yae suddenly set down the little fox on her head, took a step back, and drew upon spiritual energy...
"Flash Body!"
In an instant, she transformed into a sword-like blur and vanished.
When she reappeared, Yae was high in the air, right behind the winged serpent.
Once Yae locked onto a target with her eyes, no matter where it was, she could appear directly behind it.
Even if it was far up in the sky, as long as she could see it...
"W-what...?"
The winged serpent, already touching the clouds, never expected someone to suddenly appear behind it.
"Die!"
There was nothing to hold onto up here, so Yae grabbed the winged serpent's wing and thrust her spiritual blade straight into its head.
If she waited too long, the creature might digest the Shikon no Tama, making things complicated.
So time was of the essence; Yae didn't have a moment to lose.
But then... after killing the winged serpent, Yae realized too late that she could've just held onto it and let gravity do most of the work for her...
It was too late now. Both Yae and the winged serpent's corpse began plummeting towards the ground together!
Yae glanced downward at the rapidly approaching earth...
This is insane!
I'd be dead or crippled even if I survived...
I was too impulsive!
I wish I could fly myself...
Despite her fear, Yae Sakura composed herself. She positioned the winged serpent's corpse beneath her, hoping that her S-rank Valkyrie body might withstand the fall from this dizzying height.
She wasn't confident at all.
-
As Yae Sakura was enjoying this thrilling ride—more exciting than skydiving—a sudden voice reached her ears.
"Big Sis, I'm here!"
A creature no taller than half a meter flew towards her.
"Higokumaru!"
Yae Sakura's eyes lit up at the sight of Higokumaru... Help is on the way!
Even if I can't fly, Fishball can!
Great... wait, can such a small Higokumaru carry me?
-
"Big Sister, give me your hand quickly!" Higokumaru finally flew to Yae Sakura's side.
Without hesitation, Yae Sakura threw away the winged serpent's corpse and grabbed Higokumaru's hand.
"You're so heavy... Big Sister."
But in the end... both Yae Sakura and Higokumaru fell together.
-
As they approached the ground, Yae Sakura prepared to let go of Higokumaru's hand. We're falling anyway... why drag her down with me?
Just as Yae was about to release her grip, she noticed that Higokumaru was still tightly holding onto her hand. Then... their descent slowed considerably...
"Higokumaru..."
Yae looked at Higokumaru, straining to keep them both afloat, and felt touched...
Despite always calling her "Big Sister," Yae never expected... how reliable she'd be in this crucial moment.
-
At last, both Yae Sakura and Higokumaru landed safely.
-
"Sakura, are you two alright?! You scared me half to death."
After a moment, Kikyō and several demon slayers approached. Seeing Yae Sakura and Higokumaru unharmed, they immediately sighed in relief.
"Thanks to Higokumaru, I'm fine," Yae said, holding the little fox close and stroking her soft fur.
"Oh right, that monster ate the Shikon no Tama. Kikyō, see if you can find where it is." Yae pointed at the winged serpent's remains scattered nearby.
Monsters that eat the Shikon no Tama gain the ability to keep coming back from the dead. But unlike Kikyō or Kagome, Yae couldn't see where exactly the jewel was inside the serpent's body.
So when the creature started reviving again, she simply cut it up once more.
Then all they had to do was wait for Kikyō to arrive.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone