Advancing through the spirit realm, Yuriko began to understand why Tatsu wanted her to remain by his side.
The portion of the spirit realm where the kitsune resided was beautiful. The landscape brimming with lush forests, rolling meadows, crystal clear lakes, and beautiful distant mountains. As they reached its borders, Yuriko shuddered.
The change was instantaneous. One moment Yuriko found herself surrounded by beautiful forest. The next, the area was a barren wasteland of greying stone and skies. Lead by Yasukazu, the group marched onwards, traversing the barren terrain. A feeling of dread falling over her as they continued, that feeling only intensifying as she caught glimpses of figures moving on the periphery.
"What are they?" Yuriko whispered, watching as a head poked up from behind a boulder. The creature was grey in color, it's face leathery with mournful, yellow eyes.
"Lost souls," Tatsu stated. "We are traveling through limbo now."
"What do they want? Because they're creeping me out." Yuriko shuddered.
"They sense a living being Yuriko Harris," Tatsu replied. "Namely you. Mortal beings do not travel these lands. If I and the other wielders were not present, they would try to attack. They believe that by taking your soul, they will return to the land of the living."
Yuriko shivered, inching closer to Tatsu as they continued. She now understood why no one wanted her to take this journey. According to Yasukazu, the spirit of Rick Morgan resided on a different spiritual plane. To access that plane, one would need to travel through Limbo.
Limbo itself was not so much a hell, but a holding area for lost souls. The denizens of this plane were either too evil for heaven or too good for hell. They were lost, trapped in a perpetual waiting area. This, as Yuriko learned, was where most ghosts called home. Ghosts often had deep connections to the mortal realm or unfinished business, leaving them to wander this desolate area. Sensing a living being in this world meant many would try to take that life energy to return to the mortal realm.
"Please tell me we're almost there," Yuriko groaned.
"We are," Yasukazu replied, the elderly eight tail pausing. Reaching out a hand, the rotund kitsune smirked as he reached out his hand. Yuriko found it odd, the air around Yasukazu hand seeming to ripple at his touch. "We are here," he said. "Follow me."
Yuriko nodded, the group stepping forward slowly. As they passed, Yuriko could see this invisible barrier ripple like water. As Tatsu now pushed her though, Yuriko blinked as her eyes attempted to adjust to a piercing white light.
Blinking, Yuriko gazed around in confusion. Instead of a desolate, rocky area, Yuriko beheld white sand beaches with gentle waves crashing along the shore. It struck the young woman as odd. This place looked like a Caribbean paradise. What was someone like Rick doing here?
"Who are you?!"
Yuriko paused as an angel now stomped towards them. The woman was gorgeous, possessing a perfect figure with a gorgeous face and a pair of golden wings.
"We are here to talk with your charge," Yasukazu stated. "Rick Morgan."
"I am Camille," the angel stated. "Rick's guardian angel and none shall hurt Rick as long as I exist."
Before Yuriko could offer a reply, Camille rushed forward to attack. The guardian angel looking to destroy these interlopers. Yasukazu now stepped forward to intercept, raising one hand and delivering three quick and precise strikes. Camille shuddered, collapsing at the old kitsune's feet motionless. The entire situation over in mere seconds.
"Holy shit," Yuriko said in awe. "What was that?"
"Ishi no katach," Yasukazu replied.
"I'm sorry I don't speak Japanese."
"Stone touch," Yasukazu said, looking between Yuriko and Camille. "She will be fine shortly, after we have found this Rick Morgan."
"Did Yasukazu ever teach you that?" Akane asked Isamu. The imposing one eyed kitsune shook his head no, drawing a gap toothed smile from the old kitsune.
"Regrettably I took some of my secrets to the grave," Yasukazu grinned. "Pity, Stone Touch was one of them. Death makes one realize that not all secrets should be kept secret."
So surprised by Yasukazu skill, none failed to notice a figure racing towards them until he began to yell. Turning quickly, they noticed a young man, perhaps in his late teens, cursing at them.
"Who are you? What are you doing?"
"Are you Rick Morgan?" Yuriko asked, the man stopping dead in his tracks.
"Yes, and who are you?" Rick asked, eyeing the group wearily.
"My name is Yuriko Harris I need to..."
"Harris?!" Rick exclaimed, the man now angrily glaring at Yuriko. "Wait I DO know you! You're that old woman! The one that trained the Catalyst! Get the hell out of here or I'll make you suffer!"
Rick now assumed a fighting stance, causing the four kitsune to now step forward, their brows furrowed in anger.
"You have no power here boy." Tatsu growled.
"Where as we do." Akane smirked.
"Unless you wish to discover if the dead feel pain, I suggest you calm down." Isamu growled.
Rick paused, eyeing the kitsune carefully before staring at Yasukazu, the elderly kitsune sporting a small smile.
"And what about you old man?" Rick snarled. "No boasts or threats?"
"One does not need to boast when they have nothing to fear," Yasukazu replied. "I am already aware that you pose no threat. It is why your companion struck before you. We only wish to talk. Fighting accomplishes nothing."
Rick stopped, looking between Yuriko and the others before grunting in frustration. "What do you want?"
"What are you doing here?" Yuriko asked. "I've only heard stories but, shouldn't you be in Hell?"
"This is Hell," Rick exclaimed. "Do you have any idea how ANNOYING it is to be stuck with HER for all eternity? I was on my way to being in control of the Normal! I could have ruled the world! Then that son of a bitch Casseus betrayed me."
"Casseus killed you?" Yuriko asked.
Rick nodded, his face twisting into a menacing scowl. "That son of a bitch stabbed me in the back," he growled. "Quite literally! Stole my magic and took over the Normal. My supposed guardian angel got distracted by her brother and left me vulnerable. Now, I'm stuck here with the most annoying person in existence! Do you have any idea how grating it is to listen to her?"
"No idea," Yuriko shrugged. "But, I need your help."
"Help?" Rick scoffed. "Why would I help you?"
"I can make it worth your while," Yuriko stated. "You give us information, I can make sure Casseus suffers."
Rick paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully for a moment. "Interesting," he said softly. "But how do I know you'll keep your word?"
"You say you know me," Yuriko stated. "Then you should know I hate Casseus just as much as you do. If we help each other, maybe we can both get our revenge."
Rick began to laugh softly, a maniacal look on his face. Revenge against Casseus was all he had left. The dark wizard had stolen his life and his future. If he could enact any sort of retribution, even in the afterlife then perhaps an eternity with Camille wouldn't be so bad.
"What do you need?"
"Who ordered the attack on Connor Moreland?"
"I did," Rick stated. "Casseus though was involved in the planning. Our goal at the time was to drive a wedge between the vampires and the Morelands. I wanted to impress the Boss, secure my spot as the heir apparent to the Boss. It drove Casseus mad, which was the point. Still, I needed his assistance in completing the spell."
"What spell?"
"Mind controlling the elite vampire Hannibal," Rick continued. "It was not an easy task. I asked Casseus for lessons, which that smug bastard agreed to."
"So Casseus was aware of the plan?"
"He's as much an accomplice to the attack as I," Rick grinned. "And that arrogant fool probably doesn't realize I stored a record of those plans in the Normal's Archives. I would gladly give a statement or even give information on where the Normal headquarters is if it means watching Casseus fall."
Yuriko nodded, looking between Rick and the kitsune at her side. After so many years of animosity, maybe Yuriko could finally help end hostilities between the Morelands and vampires and bring down Casseus at the same time.