Maze arc – Hidden danger

They were walking for the most of the day, passing through many rooms. Path was perilous and they've made several wrong turns before finally finding the right way, or the one which they felt was right. There weren't any monsters and it was kind of frightening to think that they can be ambushed in every moment. But, with Akira's sword drawing techniques they were probably safe from the most of the monsters.

The room where they've found themselves looked like they've just stepped outside. Ceiling was gone. There was moon visible on the sky, with a lot of stars shimmering on the dark background. It made the room somehow appealing, and suddenly they wanted to lay down, and take a rest. What was the worst that could happen?

"Akira-kun, what made you come to us for the first time?" Mugi asked, as they sat down, backs on the wall, looking at the sky.

"Oh, a nice question. Two years before everything happened, Azusa was on the trip here. She and her parents have probably been going to Osaka, but they've decided to stop here. I still remember the first time I saw her. Being with my tree, I've observed many people but she… she had something attached to her. When I looked at her I've felt… special. I just could not stop thinking about her. That is when.."

"When what?"

"I'm sorry.. I'm just not accustomed to talking about my past. That is when I decided to take my human form again. A grave mistake."

"What do you mean, what happened?"

"When I was with my tree, I've sheltered her. She gave me home, life, and I gave her protection. It was a mutually beneficial relationship, one which each kodama has. But… one day when I was walking through the city, learning about everything which changed since last Hyakki Yagyo which happened fifty years ago, I've felt that something really bad happened. And when I went back my tree.. My love… she was gone. People have cut her down. She was the only one I wanted and had to protect, and the only one who I've had left. Since everyone I meet ends up dead in fifty years out of old age, or because of Hyakki Yagyo, she was the only one who was constantly here.

That is why I haven't wanted to get close to Azusa in the beginning. I've felt like she will die if she's close to me. And with the Hyakki Yagyo here, I may not be able to resist Nurarihyon's call in the end. You know, Hyakki Yagyo is the black parade. In it, all Yokai wake up, walking through the streets of Japan. Everybody who encounters this parade drops dead."

Mugi's jaw dropped down as she shuddered in fear.

"So.. we… we are… going to die?"

"I've thought I will never have the chance to do something different. Yokai are not evil. We do not want to kill, yet Nurarihyon forces us to do so every fifty years. His mental power is too strong. I've killed many of my friends. I do not want to kill anymore. There is only one way to counter Nurarihyon, and that is through the power of Onmyoji."

"I've heard about Onmyoji. What does that term mean?"

"Oh, you don't know? I thought that is a legend everybody knows."

"Don't counter question with question. Just answer."

"Onmyoji is a practicer of Onmyodo. This is bloodline ability, one which runs through the families and CANNOT be learned. Onmyodo is actually a traditional Japanese esoteric cosmology, one which found the way to the Japan from the China. But, Onmyoji, practicer of Onmyodo, is more than that. He can divinate, summon four elements, control the yin and yang in every person, and he can summon Shikigami, spirits, to do his biddings and fight Yokai. And he is the only one who can stop Nurarihyon.

Onmyoji today are rare… actually, I've never seen one before… before…"

"This is the most critical part, Akira-kun! Don't falter!" Mugi cheered on.

"Before I saw Azusa!"

Mugi just stared at him in a silence, for a few moments. And then she just proceeded with staring him right in the eyes.

"Do you feel well? Are you sick?" she asked him, totally serious, checking his forehead.

"I'm fine! Yeah, that's why I've never told you this! Azusa is Onmyoji! She has the power inside of herself but it can't be awoken without keys! I know who has those keys, but I was not able to lay my hands on any of them since they exist inside of five Yokai."

"That means that Azusa.. Azusa is… the only one who can stop this? And what do you mean keys? So much information! My head spins!"

"Fumiko, the girl you saw. She holds a key of the Ku, a power of Sky. Mami, Yokai without a face, holds a Key of the Ka, power of Fire. Moriko, girl with a sadness inside of her eyes, holds a key of the Fu, power of Wind. Tsuchi, spider Yokai, has a key of the Chi, power of Earth. And finally… there is a key of the Sui, key of the Water. I hold it. Nurarihyon keeps a close eye on me, but as I'm close to Onmyoji he can't near me. Being close to Azusa kept me safe. If we are to awake Azusa's powers, we need those keys."

"Akira…"

"What is wrong?"

Mugi had a shocked face.

"Look.. look above!"

Suddenly, he saw the shimmer on the sky and somebody, no, something appeared. He haven't had time to react, and his shoulder sliced open.

"Akira-kun!" Mugi screamed.

"What the hell had just happened?!" Akira unsheathed his katana, taking it in both of his arms.

"I don't know! I saw the shimmer of sky and suddenly you were attacked!"

Suddenly, Akira felt sting in his other shoulder. And in his body. Wounds kept opening over his body and he could not see what attacked him. He was bleeding all over the body.

On the other side, Mugi felt dread, terror. She wanted to help him, to do something. But she was unable to, and she started crying, helplessly.

"Mugi, do something!" Akira yelled, trying to hit that which he was unable to see.

I'm done with being a weak, timid girl! I want to protect my friends, and that which my friends care about! All of my life I was kept inside of my palace, never experiencing anything! Old Mugi is gone! This is a new, improved me!

I can see it now. The creativity, which guided me – which made me a musician in the beginning. Spontaneity, because of which I've always had so much fun. Inventiveness, because we've always found the new ways to play our music in the end. Power… thing which always laid dormant inside of me. I am Tsumugi Kotobuki! I will protect you, Akira!

And then she saw it. Everything around her stopped for a bit and she saw the humanoid figure attacking him. She jumped high in the air, feeling her body lighter than everything around her. It was the power of the Void.

Her body felt so strong, so light, and traveling to the space which existed parallel to ours, she could clearly see the thing now. It was a humanoid being without any visible outlines of face, and Akira seemed to move really slowly as it landed hits on him with a speed which was actually normal when she was here, in this other plane of existence.

"Whaaat iss the mortaaal doing on the Plane of Air?!"

Mugi wasn't keen on answering. She felt she must do something, and she jumped even higher. As she did, her foot landed on creature's head. It was obviously a hard hit, because the creature's head burst open, and it fell down, dead after first hit.

Suddenly, she was back to her own dimension, and she saw Akira bleeding heavily, but alive.

"Akira-kun, Akira-kun! Are you alright?!" Mugi asked, taking him by his back.

"Yes… I am… Mugi, do you realize what have you done..?" he asked her with a strain in the voice.

"I invoked some strange kind of power… what was it?"

"You used the power of the Ku, power of Sky. You're the only one which can battle against Fumiko and take her key. And look… there is something on the wall."

As she turned around, confused but excited about her new power, she found the text, which shimmered in the pale moonlight on the sky.

と り

In the kanji letters it said takes.

In the pale moonlight of the strange room, Mugi awoken the power of Ku, power of Sky. But their struggle is not yet done. Because Etsuko is still somewhere in the maze.

Next chapter: Maze arc - Sacrifice