Capítulo 19: The decent into hell is long
(Chi)
After I'd left the swordsmith to his fate, I led Okami towards mount Fuji in the foggy distance, with two much smaller adjoining mountains resting in front. The day was close to ending when I reached the tall structure of dark rotted wood. The beams shot high up into the sky, only connecting at the top to form the black Tori gate with the symbol for Yomi etched into the beam running straight across. My body ran hot with sweat and my chest ached. I stared up at the structure and the dark void leading into the small space between both mountains. Stroking Okami's neck I wished him well before smacking his hide briskly, making him take off at a canter down the winding road.
Help us! Help us!
I spin around in tight circles as faint screams for help fill my head.
But I was the only one here, how did…
The curse the swordsmith spoke of.
"you will not have much time before the effects of the curse take hold."
His voice was now a haunting presence and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand at attention. I ground my teeth together as I fought the onslaught of voice taking root inside my mind.
You will die in there. Descending for nothing! The girl will already be dead.
Women, men, children, and demonic voices tethered together, speaking these harsh words. Deep down I felt something growing. I felt livid.
White hot anger seared through each of my muscles causing them to constrict. Sights of running blood filled my mind's eye and I shook my head hard, pulling Misaki's sweet smile to mind instead. The voices dimmed but did not disappear. I would need to hurry up before things got any worse. Drawing the sword out I immediately felt the pain as the hilt bit into the soft spot on my palm, drawing blood. Drops of it dripped down the hilt and collected at the tip.
I stepped into the darkness of the cave and the air smelled rancid and full of loneliness and despair. Stairs carved out of the rock floor led downward. They continued until I could see nothing beyond them. I could not turn back now. Misaki was here somewhere. I could feel her presence in this odd way. It's what was drawing me further down.
It felt like an eternity walking these stairs, bit as I wondered just how many more there were, they stopped. My feet finally graced leveled out ground.
"Huuuummmaaaannnn…bblloooddd for eating!" the words were an excited yowl.
With one step forward, shadows shot out from every angle heading straight for me. Raising the blade, it glowed red and a scream emitted from the shadow as it connected with the metal.
Let me out! Let me out!!!! Demon killer!!
Another voice in my mind.
So, this blade really does trap the souls of the ones it kills. I fended off the rest, quickly surprising myself at how fast my movements had become. I roared as anger filled me to the brim, I breathed hard, fighting for control. Each time a demon fell it was another insistent voice added to the many in my mind. My temples pulsated fiercely with the clutter.
"Focus Chi-san…focus." I coaxed myself. It was barely working and Misaki's smile was fading hastily out of view.
"NO!" I growled as I propelled myself forward down what turned into a cave. I heard scraping up ahead and slowed my steps.
A demon with eight spindly legs and razor long teeth came barreling down the cave, hissing and spitting a green venom that sizzled and burned as it hit the caves dampened walls. I slid left, and then right, slicing the beast across the chest. It screamed and launched itself off the cave walls, knocking me to the ground. As it moved to open its mouth my blade broke the skin in the back of its throat. It's screams filled my mind as it died, and I bit my lip so hard it began to bleed as I twisted the hilt.
"Princess…" I mumbled in pain.
I clutched desperately at my chest, the ache leaving me breathless. I leaned on the wall of the cave for a moment before pushing forward again. I ran, looking for archways, or separate pathways, but there were none, just a straight shot forward.
I lost count of the demons I laid waste to or how much time I spent doing so, but all their voices were clouding my mind. Some were innocent, screaming and pleading for my help. Others wished death to greet me, and the rest were ravenous for blood. So ravenous that for a few seconds my mind was consumed with nothing but blood. I was tempted to slit my own wrist just for the joy of watching my blood drip onto the ground.
I was losing myself in treacherous thoughts and it took all my willpower to stay present and focused. This blade was driving me insane.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!" I shouted, bringing my hands to my temples and shaking my head violently. While I was struggling for control over my own mind, I'd let my guard slip and a demon with no nose and twelve red eyes clamped its teeth down on my shoulder, pulling me backwards and onto my back. The sword clattered from my hand and in turn all the voices wailed in anger. Flipping onto my side I punched the demon swiftly in its face. Over and over and over, I just kept hitting it until It tried to crawl up the wall and away from me. I lunged for the sword and threw it with force. It pinned the demon to the cave wall with a clear whistle, and for a second, I enjoyed watching it squirm in pain. I Was almost hesitant to kill it. I did not want another voice in my head. But if I didn't kill it it would surely kill me. Gripping the sword hilt, I moved in one fluid motion. I yanked the blade free and plunged it deep into the demon's chest. The wound on my shoulder throbbed, but I bit back the newly surfacing pain.
"Chi?"
Amid the voices I heard my father's echo through the cave. My hands shook and my chest heaved. I heard his voice. It was him wasn't it? It couldn't be.
"Son?"
I whirled around and all air left my lungs. I stared at my father.
He was slightly younger than when he departed this world but his face
Was still the same sharp expression and serious gaze.
"Otosan…" my voice trembled.
"Hello my boy."
I wanted to embrace him, to tell him everything that had happened over the month since his passing. I wanted to tell him about Misaki. But as I moved forward, I halted. The memory of my father's Harakiri flashed in my mind.
Father killer! Father killer, father killer, father killer! The voices raged.
I had killed my father. I'd severed his head from his shoulders and burned his body in a field of lavender. THIS was not my father. I screamed out in anger at the impersonation as I brought the Muramasa up in a wide arc. The air whistled with the quick movement.
The demon's eyes grew black and dismal as the skin at its neck split open and black icor oozed out; it crumpled to the ground. I stepped over it and finally walked out into a clear space in the cave.
The Swordsmith had been right. I was beyond all the training I'd done as a child. There were things I now just knew. There were movements I had never known before that were second nature thoughts now. As I crept slowly forward, I grew solemn. I was anxious to hold the princess in my arms, but I was reluctant as well. In coming here, I forfeited my friendship and my love. There were so many things that I had wanted to do with Misaki. But as the same feeling in my stomach pulled me forward through these narrow caves, I knew that I would have to be prepared to lose her all over again when we made it out of here.
When I round the next corner, a tall stone door sat closed in front of me. No one guarded it. My stomach fluttered as I neared it. Misaki was through this door. I ran my hands across the wall in search of a handle or latch, but there was none. However, there was calligraphy scratched into the stone.
He who wishes to enter the room of eternal abyss must first clear his mind and then want nothing, for nothing is what waits for one in the dark.
How was I supposed to clear my mind with over a dozen voices screaming in my head?! How was I supposed to want nothing when I desired Misaki?
Closing my eyes, I pressed my forehead to the damp stone. I worked to quiet the chaos in my head.
Misaki's smile…
the voices faded.
And then I understood. I could want absolutely nothing. SO, although my heart longed for my Kitsune I would have to allow that hope to leave me. I would have to relinquish her joy smile and her mischievous laughter brought to me. I would have no choice but to let go of our memories.
I slammed my hand against the stone in anger.
I was being selfish. In my time on this earth, I had not known selfishness; I loved her…but my affection was not of much importance now, and it would not help us now. I needed to get her out of here and back home to the safety of her father. I would deal with my personal anguish later. Taking a deep breath, I painfully released all wants. And as Misaki's smile faded entirely from view, and my heart throbbed, the door opened. Air cold enough to rot flesh and bone blew out as they shot open and an encroaching darkness seeped out. In the far distance lay Misaki, clutching her face, her body shaking, and her eyes clamped shut. She appeared unharmed but her tremors screamed otherwise.
"Hime…" I whispered, not even bothering to mask the relief in my voice.
"Amazing. Right. On. Time."
My turn was swift, but my mind was not prepared for what my eyes had to process. Two men, nearly identical to one another, took up space in the open doorway. The one who had spoken out wore a devilish grin, fit for one who roamed the underworld.
I was taken aback as I was now face to face with myself….
But even as my heart fixed to explode looking at something that simply could not be, the voices wailed the name of the one in front of me.
Susannoooo!
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