The Keychain That Meant Everything

I dug my fingers into the cloud's fluff as we shot forward.

They're acting like this is some kind of game.

Ten and Sumi's laughter echoed across the rice paddies. Here we were, racing each other while Peng rampaged in the distance.

But... wasn't this exactly how Inorin and I would've acted? If I found her again, we'd probably end up competing over something similar, like racing shopping carts down the street, completely ignoring whatever crisis.

Just like old times.

"You know," Sumi's voice cut through my thoughts, her red eyes studying me. "I've been wondering about your power. I've never seen someone manifest their powers as a fish before. And forgive the invasion of privacy, but when I trapped your companion in my talisman earlier, I caught glimpses of your other abilities. The natto manipulation, the tree…"

"What's your point?"

"My point is, I'm just curious what kind of desire could spawn such varied powers."

I stared at my wood arm, watching the crimson pulse beneath its surface. "Everything I do... it's all to find her. Inorin. I'd do anything."

"Hmmm. That's a pretty answer, but we both know it's not true."

"The hell do you mean it's not true? You think I'm lying?"

"Oh please. If finding her was your only desire, you'd have a single focused power like the rest of us. But look at you. Face it, you're a mess."

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped. She had a point. Every new power had emerged after remembering something about Inorin.

"It's the memories. Every time I remember something about her, Peng gives me a new ability."

"Getting warmer. But why those specific memories?"

All those moments. They were times Inorin had supported me, believed in me when no one else would. And I never...

"I never told her thank you." My voice cracked. "She gave up everything for me, and I never even-"

"Wait. Did you say Inorin? As in that loudmouth drunk?"

"You know Inorin?"

"Know her? HA!" Sumi patted down her robes before pulling out a worn, folded talisman. "Here. catch."

I fumbled the catch with my wooden arm, nearly dropping it. "What is this?"

"Just open it."

My heart hammered against my ribs as I stared at the talisman. The paper felt delicate between my fingers, like it might crumble at the slightest wrong touch.

"That drunk stumbled into my realm long back. When she handed me that, I told her 'I don't do favors.' And besides-" Sumi pitched her voice higher in mockery of herself. "'How am I supposed to know who to give it to?'"

"What did she say?"

"She just said 'You'll know when you see.' Then she stole ten of my talismans and ran off cackling, that bitch."

My hands trembled as I unfolded the paper. Something small tumbled into my palm.

There in my wooden hand lay a ratty daikon keychain, its white surface now grey. The original daikon keychain.

This... I searched everywhere for this. After you disappeared, I tore apart our whole apartment looking for it.

I cupped the keychain, this keychain that meant everything.

You drunk. You had it all along?

"Yes, yes, very touching. That drunk gave you a white fluffy thing. But if you're quite done having your little moment, we've arrived."

The cloud beneath us suddenly dissolved as Sumi yanked away her talisman. She landed gracefully while I hit the ground face-first.

"Guess who's going to be hunting down those forty-eight talismans~" Ten's voice rang out as she trotted to us on Wuwei.

"A promise is a promise," Sumi forced out through clenched teeth, though I swore I heard her mutter 'cheating blind bastard' under her breath.

"The new horde will be here any second." Ten's voice turned serious. "I'll take the north entrance. Sumi, you handle the south. Kuroha, you got the west. The eastern walls should hold for now-"

"Actually," Sumi cut in. "There's one teensy problem with that plan. This dead weight can't use her powers while they're tied up in that..." She waved vaguely at the rampaging koi in the distance. "Fish situation."

"I see. Then I'll just have to handle both sections myself."

Ten already helped me earlier, and now because of me...

"I can still fight!" I protested.

"Oh please." Sumi rolled her eyes. "What are you going to do? Slap them with that keychain?"

"Enough." Ten's voice cut through our bickering. "The Yang won't wait for us to finish arguing. Kuroha, I already told everyone to gather at my hut. Could you make sure they're all accounted for and watch over them?"

My wooden fingers clenched around the keychain. Babysitting duty? Really? But looking at Ten's stern expression, I knew better than to argue.

"I'll... try my best."

"Good. Now disperse!"

Ten and Sumi shot off in opposite directions, leaving me alone with my uselessness.

I trudged through the village, checking each hut. Most were already empty, their occupants heading for Ten's like good little villagers.

"Uncle Huang!" I spotted him among the crowd. "Is everyone here?"

He scratched his beard, squinting as he did a mental headcount. "Should be. We all heard from Ten- wait." His eyes widened. "Has anyone seen Kanon?"

My heart dropped. "Kanon?"

"Last I saw, she was at her hut still gathering medical supplies."

I was already running before he finished speaking. Kanon's hut was near the eastern wall, the one area Ten said would hold. She should be fine. She had to be fine?

The sound of splintering wood stopped me cold.

There was Kanon, emerging from her hut with an armful of herbs. And there, scaling the eastern wall behind her, were Black Legs, their segmented bodies pulsing a sickening red glow.

Ten was wrong.

The eastern wall wouldn't hold. Not against Black Legs. Those limbs could scale any surface. I learned that lesson in Longfeng's ravine at the cost of my arm.

"Kanon!"

She stumbled backward, herbs scattering across the ground. Her legs gave out as the first Black Leg scaled the wall, crimson eyes fixed on her.

I sprinted forward, but what could I do? My wooden arm hung useless at my side, my powers still trapped in Peng's rampage. The daikon keychain bounced against my chest with each step, a mocking reminder of my helplessness.

Please. Anyone. Help her.

The first Black Leg's jaws opened, rows of teeth showing. Kanon's scream pierced the air, then-

A flash of yellow and black. The creature's body split cleanly in half, dissolving into black smoke.

More figures dropped from above. Black Legs exploded into mist left and right, their dying shrieks filling the air. That uniform... I know it anywhere.

The Feilong Corps had arrived.