Summoning Human Form

Inside the home of the nine sisters, who had recently unlocked their ability to transform into human form, a modest yet well-equipped infirmary was designed to care for multiple people simultaneously. Beds were neatly arranged against the wall, each with a window behind it to let in natural light. At the front of the room, Kuzunoha had set up a small office space with cabinets full of herbs from China and Japan. Here, she prepared the medicines needed to heal her sisters when required.

Hoshiyo, having rested, slipped out from beneath the white sheets and changed back into her deep red robes, ready to return to work. A few beds down, she noticed Takeko resting, still recovering from her injuries. The urgency of their mission pressed on her; survival depended on it.

Just as Hoshiyo was about to leave the infirmary, Kuzunoha hurriedly stepped out of her office and asked, "Are you leaving already, Hoshiyo?"

"Yes," Hoshiyo replied, "I sent Rokuko to investigate earlier. She should have returned with new information that could help us today."

Kuzunoha nodded, holding a vial of medicine in her hands. "Rokuko returned this morning. She's probably in her room now."

"Thank you," Hoshiyo said. "Please take care of Takeko. Make sure she doesn't try to rush out of here to catch up with me. She needs time to heal. Somehow, our body became too weak during the pulses, and we returned to human form."

"Don't worry," Kuzunoha replied with a gentle smile. "I'll keep a close eye on her."

Her sister, Takeko, had been severely beaten, making movement difficult and potentially dangerous if another fight were to break out. Hoshiyo wanted to ensure Takeko's safety, so she stepped carefully out of the infirmary. The door slid open with a quiet rustle as she walked into the handcrafted wooden hallway. The floor creaked beneath her bare feet, echoing softly in the stillness. At the end of the hall, she reached Rokuko's room and gently opened the door.

Inside, Rokuko sat with grace, patiently waiting as she snacked on colorful rice dumplings dipped in a rich, dark sauce. Her body was wrapped in white bandages from head to chest, evidence of the injuries she sustained during her mission. The room was sparsely furnished, with only a dark purple futon mattress and an old, dark brown dresser. As Hoshiyo entered, Rokuko paused mid-bite, surprised by the unexpected visit.

"What are you doing out of the infirmary so soon?" Rokuko asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"Do you know where the pulses are coming from?" Hoshiyo demanded, her voice urgent. She wasn't willing to waste another moment.

Rokuko hesitated, stumbling over her words. She didn't want to reveal the location before Hoshiyo was fully healed, but there wasn't time to spare, especially if they could face the threat together. Despite the pain from the scars marring her neck and torso—souvenirs from her grueling return to the house—Rokuko forced herself to speak clearly.

"The abandoned shrine behind the house," she finally said, her voice steady.

"Gather the others and meet me at the back gate," Hoshiyo ordered. "If it's a Yokai in trouble, we need to reach it before it harms anyone else."

"Understood," Rokuko replied quietly. Summoning all her strength, she rose to her feet, her body trembling with the effort. Ignoring the pain, she went to the sliding doors and began knocking on the bedroom doors, summoning the other sisters.

Meanwhile, Hoshiyo made her way to the back door foyer, where the house was built with a raised floor for proper ventilation between the wooden structure and the earth below. She sat on the elevated wooden flooring, wincing as she painfully stretched her sore muscles to slip on her Japanese toe socks. After tying the straw sandals securely around her feet and ankles, she exited the sliding doors and stepped outside. The raw, burning sensation on her chest, a lingering reminder of dragging herself across the dirt, was a harsh reminder that she hadn't been down for less than a week, judging by the scabs. But she saw this as the perfect excuse to press on.

"Whoever you are, hold back on those pulses. I'm not fully recovered yet," Hoshiyo whispered as she pushed forward. She made her way through the inner gate, passing through the expansive rock garden. A flat stone path guided her toward the front entrance, where she heard the rhythmic clatter of a deer scare filling with water and tipping over. She crossed a small Japanese zen garden bridge, just wide enough for one person, as it spanned a narrow river filled with colorful Koi fish. Statues of deities and serene fountains with clean, flowing water lined her path, bringing her peace as she continued her fragile walk.

As Hoshiyo reached the gate, a powerful pulse surged through the air, knocking her off her feet and forcing her to her knees. Her stomach twisted, and a sharp pain shot through her head. Groaning, she muttered in frustration, "Didn't I tell you to wait?"

Just then, the eight other sisters appeared behind her, armed with weapons and carrying medical supplies. Rei, tilting her head slightly and raising an eyebrow, replied, "We just got here."

Hoshiyo's face flushed bright red as she quickly turned to face them, still on her knees. She realized that they, too, had been struck by the recent pulse. Only Rei, Ceres, and Mokoto stood, though they trembled on shaky legs.

"What are your orders?" Takeko asked, her voice steady despite the strain in her eyes.

Hoshiyo glanced at her, concern flickering across her face. "Are you sure you're up for this mission?"

Takeko gritted her teeth, slowly rising to her feet, wincing through the pain. "I promise I won't get in the way."

Hoshiyo nodded, brushing the dirt off her robes as she stood. "Alright, I trust you. But stay close to Rei, just in case. Let's move."

The sisters quickly set off, retracing their path up the mountain. They moved with urgency, knowing another pulse could strike at any moment. Hoshiyo's focus was singular—keeping them safe. She pushed through the forest with lightning speed, her sisters close at her side, the trees blurring into a haze around them. The torii gate loomed ahead, and as they passed through it, they dug their heels into the dirt, skidding to a halt just before they would have tumbled headlong into the shrine.

An unsettling presence loomed inside the shrine, its malevolent aura seeping through the cracks in the entrance doors.

Hoshiyo whispered, "Who's going to open the doors and see what's inside?"

Without hesitation, Ceres stepped forward. "I'll do it," she said, her voice steady though her heart raced. Her hand hovered over the handle as she approached the shrine's door. A flicker of fear crossed her mind—what if the creature inside attacked her sisters the moment she opened the door? But she quickly pushed the thought aside. Motoko had trained for years to deal with vengeful spirits, and today would be no different. With a deep breath, Ceres grasped the golden handle and slowly pushed the door open.

At first, the darkness inside was impenetrable, but as her eyes adjusted, she saw a creature in the center of the room, its body oozing black liquid. The beast's bright yellow eyes snapped open, and without warning, it charged. The creature bolted out the door, slamming into Ceres with a force that sent her crashing shoulder-first into a nearby tree. She collapsed, writhing in pain at the tree's roots.

Motoko gasped, rushing toward her. "Ceres, are you alright?"

Ceres curled up, clutching her stomach in agony. "Yeah, I'll make it," she said through gritted teeth.

Hoshiyo, unwilling to take any chances, quickly turned to Rei and Takeko. "You two, help her out. The rest of us will deal with this."

Before the four-legged creature could make its next move, Rei and Takeko nodded in agreement and rushed out of the open field to assist Ceres. Despite the heavy blow she had taken, no one expected Ceres to stand up so soon. Motoko was left to subdue the creature alone, a daunting task without her twin.

"Who are you?" Hoshiyo called out to the beast.

The creature responded with a bloodcurdling scream, thrashing its back legs wildly like a cornered boar. The sisters instinctively stepped back, narrowly avoiding the powerful kicks. Desperately searching to free the creature from the oozing black substance, Hoshiyo glanced toward Motoko, who had rushed to her sister's side. She saw Motoko cradle Ceres in her arms, both overcome with emotion.

"I'm sorry about Ceres, Motoko," Hoshiyo said urgently. "But we need your help. We can't do this without you."

Motoko whimpered, tears streaming down her face. "I can't do it without her."

Ceres leaned against the tree, her eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before her as the girls surrounded the oozing beast. She saw the creature's suffering and knew they had to act quickly. Turning to Motoko, she whispered, "I'm not going to die here, so stop those pathetic tears. You've been trained for this."

Motoko sniffled, then reached into her robes, pulling out a rectangular piece of paper inscribed with Kanji and intricate markings. Slowly, she pushed herself up from the ground, wiping away her tears. "I won't let you down," she whispered.

"I know," Ceres replied, blood trickling from her lips. The impact of the tree had done some internal damage, but she fought through the pain.

Motoko knew this was a defining moment. Whether or not anyone truly believed in her abilities would soon be put to the test. She gripped the paper talisman between her index and middle fingers, raising her hand as she prepared to confront the beast. With a determined shout, she charged forward, "Do whatever it takes to hold him down! That beast is a Kami—I'm sure of it. The Kami has been dwelling here for centuries, unnoticed."

Admiring her sister's courage, Hoshiyo smirked and said, "Now that we've tapped into our powers, we can push beyond our human limits. We've got your back, Motoko."

Without hesitation, Hoshiyo charged forward, flanked by Yoko, Seiko, Rokuko, and Utaku. The girls unsheathed their weapons, each one poised and ready for battle. They closed in on the Kami, surrounding it and blocking every possible escape route; their inhuman strength prepared to overwhelm the creature.

The Kami crouched into a defensive stance, its four legs spread wide, eyes darting left and right in search of an opening. But the odds of escape were slim with Utaku's sharp Gunbai poised for close combat and Rokuko's kyoketsu-shoge dagger coiled in its rope. The Kami knew it had to act fast. Its keen eyes locked onto Yoko, who was holding a Kiseru battle pipe, more suited for smoking out an enemy than close combat. Seizing the opportunity, the Kami barreled through Yoko's blind spot, sprinting away without hesitation.

"Where is he going?" Hoshiyo shouted.

"I'm so sorry, everyone," Yoko cried. "The Kami pushed right through me."

Hoshiyo didn't waste a moment, racing after the Kami. "Now's not the time to worry about that. We need to find out where he's headed, fast. Rei, Takeko, take care of Ceres."

As her sisters ran off in pursuit, Takeko waved after them and called out, "We'll keep her safe. Good luck, everyone!"

The forest blurred around them as Hoshiyo led the command, her breath steady but her heart racing. Behind her, Yoko, Seiko, Motoko, Utaku, and Rokuko followed in swift formation, their footsteps pounding the earth in unison. The air was thick with the scent of earth and the acrid stench of the black ooze trailing from the Kami ahead.

The Kami's pained screams echoed through the trees, a haunting wail that sent shivers down the sisters' spines. The beast crashed through the underbrush, its massive form leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Branches snapped, and bushes were flattened as it barreled forward, blind to everything but its torment.

"Keep up!" Hoshiyo called, her voice cutting through the roar of the pursuit. "Where is he going?"

The Kami's cries grew louder and more desperate as they neared the forest's edge. The sisters pushed themselves harder, their feet barely touching the ground as they ran. Rokuko's kyoketsu-shoge dagger swung at her side, ready to be unleashed at the first opportunity, while Utaku gripped her Gunbai tightly, her eyes locked on the creature.

"He's heading straight for the fishing village!" Yoko shouted, the realization dawning as they broke through the last of the trees. Ahead, the village lay nestled against the shore, the faint outline of fishing boats bobbing in the distance. Villagers moved about their daily routines, unaware of the impending danger.