"Yes! Direct hit!"A sudden jolt of joy struck in the priestess' heart as she watched the exorcism ofuda work and begin to disintegrate the black centipede. Hotaru was feeling a little dizzy after expelling so much energy, and was about to collapse on the floor to relax when something caught her eye. Ofuda, but not of her own.
The miko tensed, afraid she was unable to react quickly enough with such depleted spiritual energy. Instead of an attack as she had expected, however, Hotaru was greeted with a friendly transfer spell that leaked warm energy back into her tired muscles. The brunette paused, her chocolate eyes floating gently to the person who sent her the strength, offering a gentle and thankful— albeit shy— smile to the other exorcist. It was at least enough to keep her going, but the battle was over now...
Or, so she thought. When refocusing on the dark spirit, Hotaru's eyes widened.
It... it should have been banished after such an exorcism! How is it still here?! Her shock made her frozen, mouth parted in confusion.
By then, Inugami and Nure had returned to her, both transforming back into their human appearances.
"My lady... the spirit is still alive, even if just barely.""How come? Did your ofuda not work? That thing should be long dead by now after one of your exorcisms!"Hotaru stopped, holding a pale slender hand to her throbbing forehead and squeezing her eyes shut to think.
"I-I don't know... It should have been banished, unless..." The soft eyes snapped open in realization.
"Unless its being manipulated by another force! That's it! We have to find who is controlling this spirit, I may be able to track it. Nure, you stay here and keep the spirit contained while Inugami brings me to the higher spirit." As she spoke, Inugami returned to his huge wolf form and allowed Hotaru to sit sideways in a lady like fashion upon his back by bowing low for her.
"Man, why do I have to stay behind?! Ugh, fine, since you asked me, Princess~" The blonde took her hand with a wink and was about to kiss it before the wolfhound spirit threateningly went to snap at the watersnake spirit, making Nure shoot him an annoyed look.
Hotaru wrapped her arms around the scruff of Inugami's neck, holding on tight so as not to fall off. With a quick huff in her direction to make sure she was secure, the wolf-dog bounded off at quick speeds, doing his best not to jostle the priestess as they headed towards the source of the wicked magic.
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