chapter 7
A/n: double update here we go. Enjoy and please review and stay safe! Chapter 8 and so on will be a bit delayed so I apologize in advance to that. I'm currently not working but i got other things here and there so. yeah.
Three silhouettes appeared in front of Karasu tengu's room, their shadows looming over the thin fabric sheet that covered his room.
"I dare you to say that again, my stupid sons! If it really is Gyuuki—"
"I'm sticking to my guns, we have eye witness information. I am not saying that without reason, the crows of Ukiyoe district saw it." Kuromaru said, nonchalantly.
Karasu Tengu hums, then his phone vibrates. Karasu Tengu took the phone in his hand as he pressed a button to answer the call.
"Hello? Aotabo? I see you're going after Young Master—" Just a full second filled with silence before Karasu Tengu's voice booms in shock, surprising the three crows outside.
"—WHAT?! What did you say?! You're heading to Mount Nejireme?! Right now?!" Karasu Tengu shouts, not realizing another person inside the next room who had been hearing his conversation, walks away quickly.
Tsurara sighs as she closes her phone. "Not good, i can't get through.. What should i do?"
'Gyuuki clan... Even within the Nura clan, they're quite a powerful faction.. Aotabo didn't manage to come along... Maybe he was told something by mistake? If that's the case then—' Tsurara muses as she looks at Rikuo. Tsurara then grips her hand tightly.
'If anything does happen, i will protect the Young Master myself—!'
"GAAAHHH—no moreeee! I wanna go home, no more mountains!" Both Maki and Torii wails as they both slouched themselves unto the ground.
"Look at that, that's a claw!" Maki said as she pointed at the trees with claws scratch on it.
"We're gonna die—! The yokais are coming!" Torii said loudly. "Torii-san and Maki-san are right! We should all turn back right now!"
"Ok Nura! You lead the way!" Maki said as she quickly grabs Rikuo's hand.
"Hold it right there! Now that it's dark, its even more dangerous going down the mountains! Besides, there's no more buses going back!" Kiyotsugu said louldy. Maki and Torii looks back at his direction, they despaired together.
"Why the long face?! My villa is right here! This is the front line of the yokai research on this mountain! Of course the security is top notch too!" Kiyotsugu said as he pointed towards the large villa.
"Security? Against yokai? Does it work?" Rikuo said, face skeptical. "Yeah, i agree with Nura!" Maki shouted.
"You guys worry too much!" Kiyotsugu said. "well although i said it, those claw marks could be man made. The Gyuuki is just a legend." The man added. Rikuo frowns at both man.
"its all right! There's hot springs and food waiting for you guys! Besides,we have Yura-kun! Our young omnyouji, Keikain Yura-kun! Right Yura-kun? Everything is okay right?!"
Yura, who had been staring at her pouch didn't reply.
'I don't have any receipts.. Looks like i'll be using those expired coupons.. ' Yura said in an inner monologue as she holds her soulless expression on her face.
"Ah sensei, you should come inside too!" "ah no, no i have to go down now, wouldn't want to get in the way. "
"i see.. I was hoping to hear more stories from you." "oh no, my job here is done. "
"that's right, its dangerous at night, you mustn't wander around." The person, who controlled the man said smirks wickedly, up from above the tree as he cut the strings loose.
"eh? What am i doing here?" The man then looks up to the sky. The full moon shines brightly in the sky as grey and dark clouds slowly but surely make their way to block the moon's gentle light.
"ah.. It's new moon, gonna be a stormy night i guess." The man said quietly as he walks away.
"This is an appropriate night to hunt down the general's head." A figure said as the jump from tree to tree.
"oh Gozumaru. " Mezumaru turned back to his companion,landing on a tree branch near him.
"Hey, Mezumaru,you've done well. " "It's been though.. so,what's next? " "our young lady here, has been surrounded by her 'aides' though i don't know which one so—" A smirk appears on Gozumaru's face as both of them looked downwards.
"—We'll split em up and get rid of them one by one!" Gozumaru said as both yokai looked down towards their primary target,eyes blazing with determination.
"Now that the others are in the hot spring, this is our chance! We can go on with our nighttime yokai search now!" Kiyotsugu said as he smiles wickedly.
"Ri-right now?!" "Are you an idiot, Shiima-kun?! Have you forgetton our objective!?" Kiyotsugu then form a fist with his hand. "our objective is—to be caught by yokais!" "HAAAHH?!"
"you heard what sensei said earlier right?! We mustn't wander outside.. At night! We'll definitely get to meet him here! The master of yokai! There's still so many yokai spots here!" "H—hold on! I don't think its a good idea to get out right now! Aren't you taking yokais too lightly? There are some out there who will really kill people!" Rikuo said as she catches up on the duo.
"R-Rikuo?! " Shiima turned his head towards Rikuo. "and 'what' do you know about them, Nura-san? There's no use trying to stop us! Because unlike you, we are active when it comes to yokai!" Kiyotsugu said as he shakes Rikuo.
Rikuo silently clicks her tongue at her friend's stubborn attitude. "If you insist on going... Then i'll go with you. It's way too dangerous for the two of you! " Rikuo said as she fixes her glasses and walks ahead of the pair.
"Why's that—" Kiyotsugu complained. "wait for me! If that's the case,then i'm coming with you! " Tsurara said as she stood up in front of the entrance,her arms folded.
'Tsurara?!' Rikuo stares in confusion and a hint of annoyance in her gaze. 'I can't let young master go alone! ' Tsurara said in her mind,answering Rikuo's glare.
"Aaahhh i'm so glad we came here, i have zero interest in yokais or whatever,but i love this villa! I'm following him for life!" Maki said as she goes into the hot spring. "You're so materialistic Maki" Torii said.
"But what are the benefits of this spring? " Maki asked sounding serious,all of a sudden. "I can't read through all the steam! " Torii shouted.
'why did Rikuo-san was able to read through the mist i wonder? Her eyesight isn't very good right? Now that i think about it, Rikuo-san changed a lot when we were in our final years in elementary school, she started wearing glasses and was kind of gloomy back then, she wasn't like that before our final years.. Now she's doing errand for everybody.. It's a bit strange.. ' Kana mused as she stares at Maki and the other,keeping her body covered with her towel.
"By the way where is Tsurara-chan and Nura? " Maki asked "Yeah.. " Yura continued.
"Wait... " 'Don't tell me both of them slipped away?! That girl—' "I-I'm done! " Kana said as she stood up.
"That's fast! We should take our time with this kind of thing" Maki commented.
Oblivious to their surrounding, numerous yokais gathered, waiting in anticipation to devour their human preys, Mezumaru leading them.
"They've split up now, okay guys, let's get rid off them. " Mezumaru said wickedly.
Yura stood up from the hot spring, readjusting her towel to cover her body.
"What's wrong Yura-chan?" Makii asked. "I think we're being watched.." "What?! Are you serious?! Those guys! Hey you peeping toms! You better come out now or—"
A growl was heard then numerous yokais swarmed into the hot spring.
"Yo—kai!? AAAAAH!" Maki screamed as the yokais approach the springs in a fast rate. Mezumaru laughs as he looked at the girls,glaring at them like how a predator does before he utters another word.
"Devour them." "ROKUSON! " A deer shikigami appeared out of the smoke as it starts chewing and attacking the assaulting yokais.
"W-what is this thing?! A shikigami?!" Mezumaru said as he starts to panic upon seeing the shikigami.
"W-what's that?! " "Yura-chan!?" "Trying to attack an onmyouji while she's bathing, you've got guts!" Yura said while clenching her ofudas.
"Alright lets go lets go!" "I bet everyone is having dinner right now.." "Shiima-kun! You lack training!" Kiyotsugu and Shiima chatted while they walk even further into the dark forest, oblivious to their surroundings.
Just a few meters behind them,standing on top of a tree branch,Gozu crouches down, hiding himself between the tree leaves Gozu then laid his eyes on Rikuo, who seems to be looking around their surrounding warily.
"Heehh, so that's Nurarihyon's grandchild huh, in that case, its best to guess that the aide is here too.. "
—Gozumaru, Mezumaru,come here.
—Let Nura Rikuo enter this mountain.
—Gyuuki-sama?!
—No way..! That's dangerous!
—I have an idea. A conclusion...I reached after... Long consideration.. .
"Luring Nura Rikuo after the Kyuuso Incident...this is extremely dangerous.. " Gozumaru mused hesitantly before letting out a smirk plastered itself on his lips. "But since this is your idea.. I shall simply...Obey. " Gozu said quietly as he continues to observe from the security of the trees and his fear, concealing his presence.
"Look, there! This cliff is a yokai spot, 'the cave of the hidden cow'! Long ago, a priest who was chased by a yokai hid in there for a hundred days...Shiima-kun,get down there!" "H-HAH—?! That's impossible!"
A rustling then comes from the nearby bushes making Tsurara jerks in surprise. "Rikuo-sama watch out!" Tsurara screams as she pushes Rikuo away—
"Tsurara what the—" "Phew,luckily it was only a raccoon.. " —only for Rikuo to fall downwards to the cave below as both Shiima and Kiyotsugu watches in horror on what just happened.
Well, in the end the four of them ended up going down there.
"There's another spot up ahead! Nura-san you better watch your step because you're slow." Kiyotsugu said as he walks faster to examine the spot.
"WAAAHH—IT'S A TRAP IT'S A TRAP! ah—" "It's just a spider web Tsurara.." Rikuo said while she sweatdrops pulling the spider web out of Tsurara's head.
"Look at this! A gap in the tree! Big enough for a person to fit through it! It's the yokai spot 'one-eyed cedar'!" "Looks quite dangerous, okay i'll go first. " Rikuo said as she steps forward, leaning into the hole.
"W-Wah—! You musn't Rikuo-sama! I'll go on ahead!" "...Tsurara? "
Right after she tries to pass through it, Tsurara got stuck in the tree instead due to her backpack. She eventually got through the hole with a bit of help from Rikuo and Kiyotsugu.
"Seriously... Why have you been acting like this?" "Protecting master is my duty! " Tsurara replies cheerfully. Rikuo smiles at Tsurara as she explains the situation.
"Look, i'm glad you feel that way,but it's fine really! I'll be fine!" "Doesn't look like it though" Tsurara said as she frowns. "Rikuo-sama,right now i am the only aide at your side! Ao isn't here either—"
"Instead of protecting me, we should think about protecting these two.. This is Gyuuki's territory right? Even when he's in our clan if something happens, it's over for us." "That's true.. But.." Tsurara said as she looks like she's about to lose the argument.
"There's a lot of yokai spot here yet we haven't meet a single yokai!" Kiyotsugu screamed loudly, sounding desperate. Both of them suddenly froze, as if possessed by something.
"Oh well.. This way is.. " Shiima said his eyes were dazed as he drifted the other way. "Oh my, its a fork in the road... Shiima-kun do you think.. We should go meet them? Yokais.. I mean…" Kiyotsugu continued,as he too is in the same state as Shiima.
"Is that so..? I think we should go left.. " "I was thinking.. right... Okay, let's take different paths then.." "that's Kiyotsugu-kun for you.. What a good idea.. "
"Wait, both of you—hey—what should i do? They both split up...This is weird... Tsurara, you go after Shiima-kun. " Rikuo said as she ran after Kiyotsugu.
"Eh—!? Please wait a moment! Master! " Tsurara shouted as she glances at the other way where Rikuo ran off to 'I can't do this! I'm her aide yet—! But whatever master commands.. Is an order—'
"AGH—! whatever! Wait for me Shiima-kun! " "So you're the aide?" A sword come down to stab Tsurara as she reacted instinctively.
'Ice!?' Gozu looked at his blade in shock,it's edge covered in thick ice. "Are you one of Gyuuki-dono's servants? Stop this foolishness. Don't you know who i am?" Tsurara said as she changes into her yokai form.
"A Yuki-onna huh..." "Put away your sword. If you do that now, i will let you pass unharmed. I am pursuing someone under Rikuilo-sama's order, you will let me pass."
Gozumaru then begins to laugh. "What is so funny! You really do not know who you are up against? My master is—"
Gozumaru then appeared in front of the stunned Yuki Onna. His sword impaled Tsurara's foot and he twisted it's blade.
"stop your blabbering,woman." "Guh—!" " Don't act so high and mighty just because you're that brat's aide! You can't order me around just because you're from the main house! Don't look down on the Gyuuki clan got it?!" Gozumaru shouted, voice full of anger and fury.
"Don't tell me, you know she's the young master—but why!?" "It's the idea of the shrewd Gyuuki-sama!" Gozumaru shouted as he pulled his sword out of Tsurara's feet, holding it high in the air, it's tip ready to stab it's target.
" Noroi no Fubuki—!" Before Tsurara could defend herself from the incoming attack with her fear though, Gozu reacted instantly by kicking Tsurara in the stomach, sending her flying and slamming her back on one of the trees.
'Master, master is in danger—' Tsurara said in her mind as she feels her consciousness slipping away at a fast rate."I—but i have to protect her—!"
"Die. " Just about Gozu's sword was about to make contact into Tsurara's skin—
"w-what the—!?" A spear comes between Tsurara and Gozu.
"M-master! Please stay away from here! I must do this—" "Stay quiet Tsurara, you're badly injured." "B-but if i don't then who will protect Rikuo-sama—!" Gozu smirked wickedly as he dashes towards Rikuo.
"As if the claw of this Gozumaru would let you avoid—"
STABS—
"You talk too much. " In the blink of an eye, Rikuo's spear impaled Gozu's right side of his stomach. "GUHAH—" 'isn't she just a normal human!? '
Gozu mused as he coughed up blood. Gozu then pulls the spear out of his stomach and throws it away, sending a 'thunk' as it stabs itself to the ground. Gozu then proceed to launch a kick towards Rikuo.
'As if i will let her—what?! '
Blocking his foot with both arms in front of her in a plus shape, she grabs Gozu's leg and threw him through the trees as Rikuo ran and pulls her spear from where it had landed.
"YOU—!" Gozu shouts loudly as a claw then appeared from Gozu's right hand, zooming through the distance to clench its prey, only to be blocked by Rikuo's spear which she pulled from the ground while Gozu fall to his knee, clenching his injured body.
"There is no way—we would lose—" Gozu grunted as he stood up and dashed towards Rikuo. "—TO A MERE HUMAN! "
Rikuo swiftly dodges all of Gozu's attack with her spear, she dashes back to avoid an incoming attack from Gozu and she jumps backwards to a tree—then she ricocheted from the trees, back towards Gozu—
'SHIT! 'TRAANGG! "HAH! you think you can beat me with that?! This is the end—"
Blood splatters out of Gozu's body as Rikuo's spear slashed his shoulders and stopped at his neck, just mere inches away from stabbing his neck, Rikuo then retracts her spear. It's tip, soaked with Gozumaru's blood.
He fell to the ground, blood staining the dirt below. "Why did I... Lose to... You're not even... A yokai... —!" Gozu grunted.
"You are strong, that is a fact, but you—" Rikuo points the tip of her spear towards Gozu. "—made a fatal mistake, by underestimating your opponent." Rikuo said calmly, her expression flat as blood drips from the tip of her spear. Rikuo then crouches in front of Gozu, to look at him in the eyes.
"—so, you're really... Nura Rikuo—?" Rikuo let out a small smile, that looks more like a smirk than a smile, then she tilts her head to the side slowly.
"...who knows." Rikuo replied so softly,that Gozu thinks it's quite eerie.
Rikuo then hurriedly stands up and dissipates her spear, the wind blows her hair and her bangs covered her eyes,she lost her glasses earlier, she had to find it later.
"Rikuo-sama.. " Tsurara said in awe as she gazes at her master's back.
Kana runs through the forest panting while holding her flashlight. 'Glasses?! Isn't this Rikuo-san's—'
Kana's line of thought was suddenly cut off as she heard footsteps approaching, she quickly turned her head. Rikuo emerges from the darkness, carrying Tsurara with her.
"R-Rikuo-san?! W-what happened to you and Tsurara-chan?" "Please get her back to the villa, i need to look for Shiima-kun and Kiyotsugu-kun." Rikuo said as she passes Tsurara to Kana's arms.
"A-ah, okay... " Just then Rikuo walks back into the the woods. Kana snapped he eyes opens as she realized something.
'Ah! I forgot to give her glasses!'
(The villa)
"Aha! Finally i'll be able to get you now—" After many struggles and confrontation Mezumaru smirked, certain victory is in his hands.
SPLAAAASSSH!
The three crows attacks the yokais that swarm the hot spring as their scream rings loud into the night sky.
"The Young master isn't here... "
Mezu who fell into the water emerges as he bursts out in anger. "You bastards—! What do you think you're doing?! Who are you?!" "Boy, don't you know who you're addressing? We are from the Karasu Tengu clan, surely you've heard of us." Kuromaru said sternly.
"K-Karasu Tengu clan?! What are the main house's guards doing here?! Ah—!" Sasami looks at Mezu with disgust.
"How repulsive, a yokai that attacks the women's bath. " "W-wait what no! You misunderstood!" Mezu said while waving his hands, trying to clear the misunderstatement.
"Boy, i have something to ask you." Kuromaru said as he approaches Mezu.
(Mount Nejireme Summit)
Footsteps was echoing in the room as it grew louder and louder.
"Explain yourself to my sister, Gyuuki. " Rikun speaks as he steps into view.
"This better be worth my time,you cur. " Rikuo said menacingly.
Gyuuki snaps his eyes open, as he slowly turns back to face the siblings.
"...So you both came after all. It seems that the both of you inherited the blood." Gyuuki said coldly as he faces the siblings, who glared at him as the tension in the room thickens and thunders roars.
A/N; I am so hype for this Arc and i hope you guys are too! Please review and stay safe!
