InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Written in the Stars ❯ Chapter 8
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: the amber dragonfly 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Drama / Comedy / Angst / Romance | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 02.29.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.9K | Visits: 272 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Drama / Comedy / Angst / Romance | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 02.29.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.9K | Visits: 272 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 8
Maomorin stared in amusement and irritation at the neko hanyou pointing a blade at him. “What do you think you'rrrre doing, Ishimarrrrru? You know betterrr than to brrrandish a blade at me…”
“I'm challenging you, Maomorin. I will fight you- and if I win, these three captives and your jewel shard belong to me.”
The fat white cat chortled. “As if you could defeat me… verrry well, hanyou! Yourrrr challenge has been accepted!”
He stepped forward, moving further into the cave. Stopping just shy of the center of the room, he put his furry paws on his gold bell and began rubbing it- as if he were shining it. Inusouta and Amber watched, perplexed. What the hell is he doing? they both thought.
“Ghost Cat Incantation!” Maomorin purred loudly. A thin, white mist began to stream out from the bell, filling the cave with fog. As the four hanyous looked around warily as visibility shrank, the giant cat disappeared, leaving only the large gold bell hanging in mid-air.
Amber blinked. Izayoi huddled against the wall behind her, her eyes wide with fear and anxiety- that alone had her brother and sister-in-law worried. Izayoi was never scared. Inusouta stood between Ishimaru and the two females, willing to protect them with his body alone if need be.
The neko hanyou tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes locked on the gold bell. He swung his sword in an attempt to slice it in half- only to pass right through it. Blue eyes blinked in confusion. Is it an illusion?
The bell swung towards him and hit him full in the chest, knocking him flat on his back. He landed with a grunt, wincing only at the cry of dismay his sensitive hearing picked up from Izayoi. This has got to be so hard on her… she says she hates violence… and she's being forced to watch me get my tail kicked.
The reminder of exactly who he was fighting for had him on his feet in a matter of seconds. He swung his blade at the bell again, only to pass through it once more. The bell moved around to his flank and barreled into him yet again, causing him to land on the cold hard stone roughly and his sword to get knocked away from his grip.
Izayoi gasped- she could feel the tug of the something… It was near the back of the cave, hidden in the shadows. She looked over and saw the mostly-hidden Maomorin trying to control his chortling as he rubbed his bell- the real bell- obviously controlling the fake bell beating the stuffing out of Ishimaru.
Glancing at Ishimaru and wincing as she saw the neko fight, Izayoi called out, pointing. “Ishimaru! The real cat is behind you! And there's something in his bell!”
“A lot of good that does me now,” he muttered under his breath as he staggered to his feet. His sword was now between the fake bell and the still-chuckling Maomorin, and the fake bell was between him and his sword. Ishimaru moved swiftly, landing next to the overly-protective inu male. He glanced at Inusouta, who looked ready to slice something open- probably him. “Inusouta- can you fight?”
The inu-hanyou gave him a blank stare. “I thought we were supposed to stay out of it.”
Ishimaru glared, his tail swishing irritably. “Just distract him so I can get my sword back!” he hissed.
“If you promise to keep your paws off my sister,” he replied.
“Dammit, if I lose, it won't matter! Just help me and we'll deal with this later!”
“Very well,” Inusouta agreed reluctantly. Retying his hair in a low ponytail, he cracked his knuckles and raced toward Maomorin in his hiding place, hoping to catch the cat by surprise. “Sakkon tessou!”
Izayoi stared in wonder as the black-haired hanyou slashed his claws at the cat, forcing him to jump backwards. There's something… vaguely familiar about that attack… The cessation of rubbing on the cat's bell caused the fog to lift and the fake bell to disappear.
Ishimaru ran for his sword, picked it up without slowing and swung an arc of blue light at where the giant white neko was now standing. “Dendou Suraisu Supa-ku!”
The electric shock sliced through the large gold bell around Maomorin's neck, dividing it neatly in two- and causing the Shikon shard to spring free, flying toward Ishimaru. He caught it without thinking, his gaze locked on the white neko.
The fat cat was yowling and screeching something terrible as he began to dissolve, evaporating into the air. “Currrrrrrse you!” he howled, his voice fading as his body did.
Once he was completely gone, the bell, sliced in two, cracked and crumbled to dust. Inusouta stepped closer, nudging the ash with his bare toe. “He was a ghost neko… he was not even real. His essence was trapped inside the bell all along.”
The guards at the entrance exchanged shocked and bewildered glances. They had been following a ghost all this time?
The lackey who had been so cruel to the four hanyous cringed as Ishimaru looked over at him, his blue eyes hard as ice. “Seize him,” he commanded quietly to the guards standing outside the cave entrance. When they paused, he pointed his sword at them, his face completely devoid of all emotion. “Do not think I won't hesitate to send each and every one of you to join Maomorin. I remember all the insults and atrocities you have piled upon me over the years. I am your leader now, so do it!”
The neko jumped to obey, binding the lackey in much the same way the inu siblings had been bound. Ishimaru gave him a cursory glance before turning around and walking away, his tail slapping the captured neko's face with the movement. “Get him out of my sight. I will deal with him momentarily.”
The neko guards bowed to their new leader- he may have been a hanyou, but he was obviously stronger than their previous boss and seemed to put up with a lot less insubordination. They hastened to comply with his orders, dragging the lackey out of the cave.
Amber nodded, privately appreciating the view. That neko is damn sexy when he's dead serious and commanding like that. Not to mention his shirt is still off… Her attention moved back to her oh-so-sexy mate, who was walking back across the cave, his hands stuffed inside his haori sleeves.
And she wasn't the only female who thought that. Izayoi stared at Ishimaru from her position against the wall. She was scared of the fighting, yet now that it was over, she felt extremely relieved and much calmer. Ishimaru was now the neko leader- and he would free her. He wouldn't demand that she mate with anyone she didn't want to.
Would he… would he decide to take me for his mate now that he's leader? It's his right, if he so chooses… Would I accept that? Would I want that?
Her gaze slid over the black-haired inu now standing by the kitsune, with his arms lovingly around her waist. He looks so calm, so tender as he holds his mate…
Izayoi's thoughts were all in a tangle. Sure, Ishimaru fought Maomorin, but not once did he actually harm the ghost cat. When he had finally landed a blow, it was on the bell- not on the neko. But the inu… when he had arrived, bound on the floor, his claws were covered in blood- neko blood, most likely. He had killed and injured, and would not hesitate to do so again.
And the words Ishimaru had threatened the other nekos with… she knew they were not said in anger or bloodlust- but as an attempt to get them to follow his orders. He was not a violent hanyou- unlike that inu. He probably would've gutted every last one of them and not blink an eye in doing so.
It was obvious that, if made to choose, she'd stay with Ishimaru than go with the inu that claimed to be her brother.
Amber hugged her mate, aware that he was staring at his sister in confusion. “She's terrified of you,” she murmured, her voice full of sympathy and understanding. “And I seriously worry that she's starting to fall for that neko. The sooner we get that shard and get out of here, the sooner we can try and get her memories back.”
He nodded without taking his eyes off his twin. He loved her, probably more than he really let on… and now, she didn't know him, didn't recognize him… didn't remember all the things they'd gone through while growing up. “I will do anything,” he replied softly. “I want my sister back, vixen. She is my twin… I cannot imagine not having her in my life.”
“I know, love. I love her too, but in a much different way. We'll do everything we can to restore her memories.”
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Ishimaru moved over to Izayoi, kneeling in front of her. His sword was sheathed again and he looked at her with those fantastic gold eyes. “Tenchi… are you… are you all right? That fight didn't upset you, did it? I'm so, so sorry you had to see that…”
She shook her head, deeply touched by his concern. “I'm okay,” she whispered. “I was just… so worried about you… that you might end up…”
“Shhh,” he hushed her, placing a finger against her soft lips. “Don't say it. I'm fine and you don't have to worry about doing anything against your will any more.” He flicked a glance at the conversing couple before turning his eyes back to hers. “And that includes going with him, if you don't want to.”
She blinked at him and he couldn't help but inwardly wince at the four cuts on her cheek- healing nicely, they'd be gone within a few hours due to her hanyou blood, but still… “I… am I... to be your mate now that you're the neko leader?”
Ishimaru looked startled at that question. He pondered the possibility. It's feasible…I defeated Maomorin in challenge so therefore I'm the leader of the clan now. So if I chose to take her as my mate, I certainly could. But would she agree to mate with a lowly neko hanyou?
Instead of answering her question, he simply gave her a sweet smile that nearly undid her. He was so gentle, so caring, so breathtakingly handsome. “Don't worry about that, tenchi. We should concentrate on getting you out of here. You can't stay here.”
She allowed him to help her to her feet, but she wouldn't take her eyes off him. “You… you will come with me? I don't know where I can go… I don't know anything about my past, and I don't dare go with those two alone. Can I trust them?”
He shook his head- not in negativity but in uncertainty. “I don't know. I don't know them any better than you right now.” He took a deep breath and looked deep into her eyes, holding her hands close to his heart. His next words were going to be the hardest he'd ever had to say. “Perhaps… if you go with them… you will recover your memories. You will know where you came from and who you really are.”
Izayoi stared up at him, aware that they were very, very close. She opened her mouth to tell him she'd gladly stay with him than leave with that hanyou and his mate when Ishimaru was suddenly pulled from her grasp.
“I thought I told you to keep your paws off my sister.”
She winced in fear as a quietly irritated inu tossed Ishimaru a good five feet from her. He landed with perfect grace on a three point stand: one hand and his two feet, his tail curling up into the air. “You have some nerve, puppy,” he hissed. “What if I said that I want her for my mate? What will you do then?”
Gold eyes narrowed at him as he cracked his knuckles again. “I would be forced to kick your tail from here to China.”
“Oh? I'd like to see you try.”
Izayoi made a whimpering, whining noise as she jumped to her feet and ran for the entrance to the cave, which was being guarded by only two neko guards. They bowed slightly, giving respect to her that their new leader had chosen to be his mate. They wouldn't let her pass and instead looked to Ishimaru for instructions.
He nodded to the guards. “She may leave, but make sure she is escorted wherever she wishes to go. No one is to lay a claw on her or they'll be dead. Am I understood?”
“Hai, Ishimaru, sir,” they replied, bowing. They took up flanking positions a respectable distance away from the inu and followed her out of the cave.
The neko then turned his attention fully on the fuming male in front of him. “All right, baka,” he said dryly. “I don't want to fight you because you were a fundamental aid in the battle with Maomorin, but if you insist I will defeat you. I will be taking Izayoi as my mate- it is both her choice and mine.”
“Negative. She is my sister and I say she does not have a choice.”
Amber ran up, her long gold hair flowing behind her. Ishimaru did a double take- didn't she have black-tipped gold fox ears? Now she had human ears. What was going on? “Inusouta… let's just take the shard and leave. He's got a clan to manage and we have more jewel shards to find. Izayoi will regain her memories with time and everything will be as it was before. Can we just go, please?”
“You mean this shard?” Ishimaru held up the tiny fragment between his claws. “Why should I hand it over? It's mine now- I won it during my battle with Maomorin. As I won the right to court Izayoi and make her my mate if she so agrees.”
“Which she will never do.”
“Enough!” Amber yelled, surprising the two males. “Look, we need that shard,” she said to Ishimaru. “You can either hand it over now or come with us and hand it over later. Either way, we will be taking that shard from you.”
Ishimaru relaxed slightly and adopted a rather casual stance. “You're inviting me to come with you?”
Amber flushed and refused to look at her silently seething mate. “Hai. That way you can see that we mean Izayoi no harm and that she is, in fact, my mate's sister. Perhaps, on our journey, you will find a mate of your own that you can bring back here with you.”
His blue eyes narrowed. “She's the only mate I want, lady.” He scratched an ear, pondering for a moment. “But traveling does sound intriguing. I've always wanted to escape this hellhole… and even though I am now considered the leader, I have no wish to be. Some other youkai can take over if they want. The neko clan does not exactly hold any respect or appreciation for me. Someone will kill me eventually.”
“Yet you will still be killed if you return,” Inusouta pointed out, talking sensibly. “It looks like your choice is either to stay here or come with us and never return. Not that you would get my sister or the jewel shard either way,” he added coolly.
Fangs flashed in a cocky feline grin. “We'll see about that.”
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A/N: Dendou Suraisu Supa-ku- Electric Slice Shock, Ishimaru's sword technique
Maomorin stared in amusement and irritation at the neko hanyou pointing a blade at him. “What do you think you'rrrre doing, Ishimarrrrru? You know betterrr than to brrrandish a blade at me…”
“I'm challenging you, Maomorin. I will fight you- and if I win, these three captives and your jewel shard belong to me.”
The fat white cat chortled. “As if you could defeat me… verrry well, hanyou! Yourrrr challenge has been accepted!”
He stepped forward, moving further into the cave. Stopping just shy of the center of the room, he put his furry paws on his gold bell and began rubbing it- as if he were shining it. Inusouta and Amber watched, perplexed. What the hell is he doing? they both thought.
“Ghost Cat Incantation!” Maomorin purred loudly. A thin, white mist began to stream out from the bell, filling the cave with fog. As the four hanyous looked around warily as visibility shrank, the giant cat disappeared, leaving only the large gold bell hanging in mid-air.
Amber blinked. Izayoi huddled against the wall behind her, her eyes wide with fear and anxiety- that alone had her brother and sister-in-law worried. Izayoi was never scared. Inusouta stood between Ishimaru and the two females, willing to protect them with his body alone if need be.
The neko hanyou tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes locked on the gold bell. He swung his sword in an attempt to slice it in half- only to pass right through it. Blue eyes blinked in confusion. Is it an illusion?
The bell swung towards him and hit him full in the chest, knocking him flat on his back. He landed with a grunt, wincing only at the cry of dismay his sensitive hearing picked up from Izayoi. This has got to be so hard on her… she says she hates violence… and she's being forced to watch me get my tail kicked.
The reminder of exactly who he was fighting for had him on his feet in a matter of seconds. He swung his blade at the bell again, only to pass through it once more. The bell moved around to his flank and barreled into him yet again, causing him to land on the cold hard stone roughly and his sword to get knocked away from his grip.
Izayoi gasped- she could feel the tug of the something… It was near the back of the cave, hidden in the shadows. She looked over and saw the mostly-hidden Maomorin trying to control his chortling as he rubbed his bell- the real bell- obviously controlling the fake bell beating the stuffing out of Ishimaru.
Glancing at Ishimaru and wincing as she saw the neko fight, Izayoi called out, pointing. “Ishimaru! The real cat is behind you! And there's something in his bell!”
“A lot of good that does me now,” he muttered under his breath as he staggered to his feet. His sword was now between the fake bell and the still-chuckling Maomorin, and the fake bell was between him and his sword. Ishimaru moved swiftly, landing next to the overly-protective inu male. He glanced at Inusouta, who looked ready to slice something open- probably him. “Inusouta- can you fight?”
The inu-hanyou gave him a blank stare. “I thought we were supposed to stay out of it.”
Ishimaru glared, his tail swishing irritably. “Just distract him so I can get my sword back!” he hissed.
“If you promise to keep your paws off my sister,” he replied.
“Dammit, if I lose, it won't matter! Just help me and we'll deal with this later!”
“Very well,” Inusouta agreed reluctantly. Retying his hair in a low ponytail, he cracked his knuckles and raced toward Maomorin in his hiding place, hoping to catch the cat by surprise. “Sakkon tessou!”
Izayoi stared in wonder as the black-haired hanyou slashed his claws at the cat, forcing him to jump backwards. There's something… vaguely familiar about that attack… The cessation of rubbing on the cat's bell caused the fog to lift and the fake bell to disappear.
Ishimaru ran for his sword, picked it up without slowing and swung an arc of blue light at where the giant white neko was now standing. “Dendou Suraisu Supa-ku!”
The electric shock sliced through the large gold bell around Maomorin's neck, dividing it neatly in two- and causing the Shikon shard to spring free, flying toward Ishimaru. He caught it without thinking, his gaze locked on the white neko.
The fat cat was yowling and screeching something terrible as he began to dissolve, evaporating into the air. “Currrrrrrse you!” he howled, his voice fading as his body did.
Once he was completely gone, the bell, sliced in two, cracked and crumbled to dust. Inusouta stepped closer, nudging the ash with his bare toe. “He was a ghost neko… he was not even real. His essence was trapped inside the bell all along.”
The guards at the entrance exchanged shocked and bewildered glances. They had been following a ghost all this time?
The lackey who had been so cruel to the four hanyous cringed as Ishimaru looked over at him, his blue eyes hard as ice. “Seize him,” he commanded quietly to the guards standing outside the cave entrance. When they paused, he pointed his sword at them, his face completely devoid of all emotion. “Do not think I won't hesitate to send each and every one of you to join Maomorin. I remember all the insults and atrocities you have piled upon me over the years. I am your leader now, so do it!”
The neko jumped to obey, binding the lackey in much the same way the inu siblings had been bound. Ishimaru gave him a cursory glance before turning around and walking away, his tail slapping the captured neko's face with the movement. “Get him out of my sight. I will deal with him momentarily.”
The neko guards bowed to their new leader- he may have been a hanyou, but he was obviously stronger than their previous boss and seemed to put up with a lot less insubordination. They hastened to comply with his orders, dragging the lackey out of the cave.
Amber nodded, privately appreciating the view. That neko is damn sexy when he's dead serious and commanding like that. Not to mention his shirt is still off… Her attention moved back to her oh-so-sexy mate, who was walking back across the cave, his hands stuffed inside his haori sleeves.
And she wasn't the only female who thought that. Izayoi stared at Ishimaru from her position against the wall. She was scared of the fighting, yet now that it was over, she felt extremely relieved and much calmer. Ishimaru was now the neko leader- and he would free her. He wouldn't demand that she mate with anyone she didn't want to.
Would he… would he decide to take me for his mate now that he's leader? It's his right, if he so chooses… Would I accept that? Would I want that?
Her gaze slid over the black-haired inu now standing by the kitsune, with his arms lovingly around her waist. He looks so calm, so tender as he holds his mate…
Izayoi's thoughts were all in a tangle. Sure, Ishimaru fought Maomorin, but not once did he actually harm the ghost cat. When he had finally landed a blow, it was on the bell- not on the neko. But the inu… when he had arrived, bound on the floor, his claws were covered in blood- neko blood, most likely. He had killed and injured, and would not hesitate to do so again.
And the words Ishimaru had threatened the other nekos with… she knew they were not said in anger or bloodlust- but as an attempt to get them to follow his orders. He was not a violent hanyou- unlike that inu. He probably would've gutted every last one of them and not blink an eye in doing so.
It was obvious that, if made to choose, she'd stay with Ishimaru than go with the inu that claimed to be her brother.
Amber hugged her mate, aware that he was staring at his sister in confusion. “She's terrified of you,” she murmured, her voice full of sympathy and understanding. “And I seriously worry that she's starting to fall for that neko. The sooner we get that shard and get out of here, the sooner we can try and get her memories back.”
He nodded without taking his eyes off his twin. He loved her, probably more than he really let on… and now, she didn't know him, didn't recognize him… didn't remember all the things they'd gone through while growing up. “I will do anything,” he replied softly. “I want my sister back, vixen. She is my twin… I cannot imagine not having her in my life.”
“I know, love. I love her too, but in a much different way. We'll do everything we can to restore her memories.”
---------------
Ishimaru moved over to Izayoi, kneeling in front of her. His sword was sheathed again and he looked at her with those fantastic gold eyes. “Tenchi… are you… are you all right? That fight didn't upset you, did it? I'm so, so sorry you had to see that…”
She shook her head, deeply touched by his concern. “I'm okay,” she whispered. “I was just… so worried about you… that you might end up…”
“Shhh,” he hushed her, placing a finger against her soft lips. “Don't say it. I'm fine and you don't have to worry about doing anything against your will any more.” He flicked a glance at the conversing couple before turning his eyes back to hers. “And that includes going with him, if you don't want to.”
She blinked at him and he couldn't help but inwardly wince at the four cuts on her cheek- healing nicely, they'd be gone within a few hours due to her hanyou blood, but still… “I… am I... to be your mate now that you're the neko leader?”
Ishimaru looked startled at that question. He pondered the possibility. It's feasible…I defeated Maomorin in challenge so therefore I'm the leader of the clan now. So if I chose to take her as my mate, I certainly could. But would she agree to mate with a lowly neko hanyou?
Instead of answering her question, he simply gave her a sweet smile that nearly undid her. He was so gentle, so caring, so breathtakingly handsome. “Don't worry about that, tenchi. We should concentrate on getting you out of here. You can't stay here.”
She allowed him to help her to her feet, but she wouldn't take her eyes off him. “You… you will come with me? I don't know where I can go… I don't know anything about my past, and I don't dare go with those two alone. Can I trust them?”
He shook his head- not in negativity but in uncertainty. “I don't know. I don't know them any better than you right now.” He took a deep breath and looked deep into her eyes, holding her hands close to his heart. His next words were going to be the hardest he'd ever had to say. “Perhaps… if you go with them… you will recover your memories. You will know where you came from and who you really are.”
Izayoi stared up at him, aware that they were very, very close. She opened her mouth to tell him she'd gladly stay with him than leave with that hanyou and his mate when Ishimaru was suddenly pulled from her grasp.
“I thought I told you to keep your paws off my sister.”
She winced in fear as a quietly irritated inu tossed Ishimaru a good five feet from her. He landed with perfect grace on a three point stand: one hand and his two feet, his tail curling up into the air. “You have some nerve, puppy,” he hissed. “What if I said that I want her for my mate? What will you do then?”
Gold eyes narrowed at him as he cracked his knuckles again. “I would be forced to kick your tail from here to China.”
“Oh? I'd like to see you try.”
Izayoi made a whimpering, whining noise as she jumped to her feet and ran for the entrance to the cave, which was being guarded by only two neko guards. They bowed slightly, giving respect to her that their new leader had chosen to be his mate. They wouldn't let her pass and instead looked to Ishimaru for instructions.
He nodded to the guards. “She may leave, but make sure she is escorted wherever she wishes to go. No one is to lay a claw on her or they'll be dead. Am I understood?”
“Hai, Ishimaru, sir,” they replied, bowing. They took up flanking positions a respectable distance away from the inu and followed her out of the cave.
The neko then turned his attention fully on the fuming male in front of him. “All right, baka,” he said dryly. “I don't want to fight you because you were a fundamental aid in the battle with Maomorin, but if you insist I will defeat you. I will be taking Izayoi as my mate- it is both her choice and mine.”
“Negative. She is my sister and I say she does not have a choice.”
Amber ran up, her long gold hair flowing behind her. Ishimaru did a double take- didn't she have black-tipped gold fox ears? Now she had human ears. What was going on? “Inusouta… let's just take the shard and leave. He's got a clan to manage and we have more jewel shards to find. Izayoi will regain her memories with time and everything will be as it was before. Can we just go, please?”
“You mean this shard?” Ishimaru held up the tiny fragment between his claws. “Why should I hand it over? It's mine now- I won it during my battle with Maomorin. As I won the right to court Izayoi and make her my mate if she so agrees.”
“Which she will never do.”
“Enough!” Amber yelled, surprising the two males. “Look, we need that shard,” she said to Ishimaru. “You can either hand it over now or come with us and hand it over later. Either way, we will be taking that shard from you.”
Ishimaru relaxed slightly and adopted a rather casual stance. “You're inviting me to come with you?”
Amber flushed and refused to look at her silently seething mate. “Hai. That way you can see that we mean Izayoi no harm and that she is, in fact, my mate's sister. Perhaps, on our journey, you will find a mate of your own that you can bring back here with you.”
His blue eyes narrowed. “She's the only mate I want, lady.” He scratched an ear, pondering for a moment. “But traveling does sound intriguing. I've always wanted to escape this hellhole… and even though I am now considered the leader, I have no wish to be. Some other youkai can take over if they want. The neko clan does not exactly hold any respect or appreciation for me. Someone will kill me eventually.”
“Yet you will still be killed if you return,” Inusouta pointed out, talking sensibly. “It looks like your choice is either to stay here or come with us and never return. Not that you would get my sister or the jewel shard either way,” he added coolly.
Fangs flashed in a cocky feline grin. “We'll see about that.”
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A/N: Dendou Suraisu Supa-ku- Electric Slice Shock, Ishimaru's sword technique