“Huh… the Gregorian calendar? Is that some kind of ancient time keeping system?” asked Yusuke.
By eliminating humanity, they will destroy the duality that exists between the human and demon worlds, leaving only one dominant race intact.” However, since this year marked the start of the second millennium on the Gregorian calendar, they likely took it as the perfect moment to act. “The first stirrings of recent activity began when Kujo, a twin, won the Makai Tournament. “The Purity Cult considers two a cursed number,” Kurama explained. The dawn of the new year must have been their signal to act.” “They’d been extremely secretive up until now. “There isn’t much information on them in the Spirit World archives,” Botan said. “I’d never even heard of the ‘Purity Cult’ until just after New Year’s when they started riling people up in the Makai and recruiting followers.” “Which seems to be a common theme among our foes.” “Their ultimate goal is to eradicate humanity entirely,” Kurama said. “When they broke into the vault, I figured it was Koenma they had beef with.” “Why are these rebels so hell bent on causing chaos in the human world, anyways?” Yusuke questioned. There was no way of telling who was watching them from behind a warded window. Though they continued their analysis of the situation, all made an effort to keep their voices low. The five moved as a unit across the broken paving stones that lined the square. “Lord Koenma is still taking inventory of what was stolen,” Botan muttered. “They were smart enough to hide the Reikai artifacts they stole behind a warded barrier, which means we have no idea what kind of firepower they have at their disposal.” Hiei clenched his teeth and let loose a snarl. “Hey, nice, so the idiots trapped themselves like little mice, huh?” Yusuke said.
“They’ve hollowed out an entire chamber underground.” “The rest of them are in there, but the building isn’t what it seems,” he stated. Hiei stopped any further tomfoolery in its tracks by butting between Yusuke and Kuwabara and pointing to the building across the plaza. Finding the remaining cultists before they can cause any more damage is our top priority,” Kurama said. “Do we really have time to joke around right now!?” came Botan’s protest. “Oh you know, Kuwabara had to stop to take a shit in the woods,” Yusuke replied. He scoffed and turned towards the largest structure on the grounds with a snap of his head. Hiei, the final member of their group, who’d gone on ahead, leveled him with an unimpressed glare. Though they knew their quarry had to be hiding somewhere within the small compound, the area stood in a bank of eerie quiet, that was, until a dark figure dropped from an overhanging branch and Botan squawked in alarm. A dilapidated torii gate hung above the entrance, covered in faded, peeling red paint. In spite of Kuwabara’s complaints, the four made quick work of their climb and arrived at the main plaza. We don’t need a history lesson!” Yusuke growled. Huffing and puffing at the tail end of the pack, Kuwabara called out, “Is it a law that old shrines have to be at the top of a hill?”
“It appears to be an abandoned Hachiman shrine,” Kurama said, following close behind. He’d already thundered to the foot of the staircase and begun bounding up three at a time. “What the hell is this place!?” Yusuke shouted. She swooped down to join the others on foot, and her oar vanished in a blink of pink light. “Over there!” Botan exclaimed from the air. The clods of soil scattered over the stones remained wet and fresh. Moss and the coiling overgrowth of flat leaves had been recently disturbed. But, that neglect did not mean they had not been used. Forgotten for so long, the forest had all but consumed them. Unlike the perfectly swept steps one might find at a typical sanctuary, these stairs had been abandoned and ravaged by time. Stairs that were instantly recognizable as the classic stone steps leading to a temple rose from the dirt to disappear behind the cover of trees. What began as a scuffle on the outskirts of town had escalated into a maddening chase over rough terrain. The charge of frantic footfalls echoed through the forest, crashes and scrapes and angry shouts. Night over Sarayashiki, or rather, a wooded region just to the North. Stats: Published: Updated: Words: 6488 Chapters: 2/9 Comments: 4 Kudos: 14 Bookmarks: 2 Hits: 117