Arc 1: Prelude to Canon
Chapter 3

"…and then your leader arrived." I recounted the events of the attack to the guards who had just arrived to apprehend the single Kitsune that I was forced to leave alive.

The looks of awe being directed at me was probably tinged with a lot of skepticism since all they have is my and Tsurara's words on how I, a seemingly ordinary human, had effortlessly killed three Kitsunes and knocked another one out, each of which were Gobi with power that was more or less equal to a High-Class Devil. And Tsurara's words didn't count much to them due to her being my PA. Of course she would do her best to make me look more than I appear to be.

However, the three talismans and one bound Kitsune, along with the testimony of their Princess seems to lend more than enough credence to my claim. I swear by the third recount, they wanted to hear it just for the sake of it. The two Oni, one red and the other blue seem especially excited by my martial prowess.

Kitsunes, according to my knowledge, are creatures that primarily relied on Youjutsu and other esoteric powers, not physical abilities, but a properly trained Kitsune, one with a modicum of skill in Senjutsu is still much stronger than a Regular Human. The fact that I took three of them out with one strike and the other with a glare speaks volumes of either considerate skill, strength or a combination of both.

These two Onis are probably just a step away from directly challenging me themselves. The sole Kitsune in Kunou's guard details is chatting with Tsurara, talking about girl things, if not, verifying my strength.

But all these aren't that much of a concern to me, it's the reaction Karasu had at hearing our surnames. Could it be that Yuki-jii-san has connections in the Kyoto Youkai faction? Or is at least famous here? That will actually explain why Karasu reacted the way he did hearing our surnames. And then there's that matter of Yasaka coming to personally thank us. Kunou is already different in appearance than her canon counterpart, far fluffier, cuter and prettier. Then what does that say about Yasaka?

Before I can delve deeper into the metaphorical rabbit's hole, Karasu returned dismissing the other guards who took the single Kitsune with them.

"Thank you for waiting. Once again, my name is Karasu, the Captain of Kunou-hime's Imperial Guards. Once again, I thank you for saving the Princess."

"No problem. I've done it once, I'll do it again."

The Tengu chuckled. "By that flippant tone, I surmise that you don't realize just the significance of what you have done today." Oh no, I'm well aware of what I did thank you very much, but if you want to see it like that, then who am I to stop you? "Had Kunou-hime been abducted, her mother, the venerable Yasaka-sama would've torn all of Japan apart searching for her, regardless of the consequences."

'No doubt about that.' Nariyuki and our territory falls in Yasaka's part of Japan, so the chances of her flipping our home upside down to look for Kunou underneath it is pretty decent.

"As politically savvy as she is, there is nothing a mother would not do for her child. Needless to say, she would've incurred the wrath of many in the process, and may have even started a full-blown conflict with other factions. Your actions this noon did not just save Kunou-hime's life, but our faction as well." Karasu smiled(?) at me. "Which is why Yasaka-sama wishes to personally express her gratitude." You already said that earlier.

"While we understand your concerns, personally thanking us seems a bit overboard for us." Tsurara nodded in agreement. "I mean, we can't just sit by and watch her get taken away for some illegal ritual that is very likely to end up with her being dead, can we?"

"That's very kind of you Hinode-dono. But what you did today is not by any means a simple matter to be thankful about through paper."

Great. Just what I needed. Going from meeting the second most important Youkai in this half of Japan to meeting the most important.

"It's okay really. The sentiment is enough for us!"

"Worry not, Yasaka-sama is willing to come to you. In case you are worried about being involved with our matters more than necessary, then do not worry, for no one will know of this meeting outside of us." Yet you missed a bunch of lunatics skittering around in your territory. "One cannot maintain leadership over half a country and navigate politics for centuries without learning the importance of discretion."

I sighed. "Fine, might as well get this over with."

The Tengu chuckled. "Thank you for your time Hinode-dono, Oikawa-dono."

"Come on Haru-sama! What's the worst that can happen?"

"Kunou getting kidnapped in the middle of the night?"

"Rest assured Hinode-dono, we have tightened the security at the palace. There is no way anyone without authorization can enter or leave the perimeters, Kunou-hime will not be repeating this mistake any time soon." So she will do it again?

"I'll take your word for it then." Even though something is telling me not to.

"Thank you very much for your concern Hinode-dono. Not many show concern as genuine as yours. Ah, we are here."

"Wait, this is the inn we are residing in."

Karasu raised an eyebrow(?) at Tsurara. "Is that so? This inn's owner is an acquaintance of ours, perhaps you would like a discount?"

I shook my head. "Yuki-jii-san had already reserved a room in this inn with discount, so there is no need for that."

"Very well." Karasu slid open the doors to the hall. "After you."

With a grimace I and Tsurara walked into the hall and took our seats opposite to Kunou and who I presume to be Yasaka. Yasaka is seated opposite to me while Kunou is opposite to Tsurara with Karasu taking a seat diagonally behind Kunou.
(Similar, but golden fur, different dress and without the two spirits)
As I expected, Yasaka is vastly different in this timeline from her canon counterpart. She is taller than me, over six feet if I'm not wrong, with a voluptuous body and skin tone close to milky white but slightly darker. Her hair of liquid gilt cascaded down her straight and poised back, her eyes shone like the sun, her facial features are both angelic and ethereal, and her lips are curled in a smile that looked both gracious and mischievous. Her eyebrows aren't those round things in canon, instead thin and long, and her eyes are a bit narrowed. She is wearing a scarlet kimono with white and yellow floral patterns and a golden obi.

It took all my not to just stare at her. The tension in the room, empty aside from us, is so thick it is almost tangible. Yasaka initiated a small staring contest with me, and we held it for a minute or two, unblinking, while Tsurara and Kunou nervously watched us. Karasu looked like he even expected it.

Finally she broke the silence before it can go on any longer as awkward and oppressive.

"I welcome you to Kyoto, Haru Hinode-dono, Tsurara Oikawa-dono. I am Yasaka, leader of the Kyuubi Clan and the Kyoto Youkai, appointed by Her Holiness, Amaterasu-Omikami-sama to rule over the Youkai Realm of Western and Southern Japan." She began (read: recited). "Karasu has informed me of the situation. I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for rescuing my Kunou from those miscreants who dared to trespass into our territory." She bowed deeply with Karasu and Kunou imitating her and surprising me.

I and Tsurara hastily returned the bow. "Please, no need to thank us. We only did what a decent person would do."

"It would've gnawed on our consciousness if we had allowed Kunou-hime to be accosted in front of us."

"We've done it once, we will do it again. So please, no need to thank or bow to us. The thought alone is appreciated."

Yasaka took a good look at us before smiling. "I see you take after your respective guardians."

"That… we do." Only in a few aspects though. "Also, please forgo the formalities. It makes me really uncomfortable. Just Haru and Tsurara will do."

Yasaka chuckled and continued. "Very well Haru-dono, Tsurara-dono, you have the eternal gratitude of the Kyuubi Clan and the Kyoto Youkai for your actions. We will prepare an appropriate reward…"

"Uh, I'm pretty sure I made it clear that we don't expect any reward for our actions, even if we didn't voice it out loud…"

"I see, that is very gracious of you."

"Oh, but if you could…" Tsurara put her hand into my pant pocket and pulled out the receipt of the lunch making Kunou adopt a hilariously adorable look of horror. "Can you please pay Haru-sama back for what Kunou-hime ate on his tab? I doubt Haru-sama would've mentioned it out of his fondness for children, so I'm doing this in his place."

Kunou was about to lunge for the receipt if the twitch of her body was anything to go by, but she was a little too late as Yasaka has already taken the receipt. After taking a quick glance at the bottom, she turned a highly unamused gaze at Kunou.

"…Kunou, did you force these nice people to pay for your meal? A meal you weren't supposed to be having?"

The adorable little Kyuubi let out a tiny whimper as she quailed under her mother's palpable disapproval, and proceeded to direct a teary-eyed look of betrayal at Tsurara, who just shot her a grin of utter smugness. Kunou then gave the saddest puppy eyed look at me and I instantly caved in like wet paper, ignoring how Karasu clasped a hand over his beak trying his damnest not to break decorum and dissolve into laughter.

I raised a finger and nervously spoke up. "In her defense, I was the one who volunteered to feed her-"

"After her stomach growled like an angry Dragon." Tsurara snarked beside me making Kunou whine, turning red in mortification while Karasu's shoulders were violently shaking. It doesn't help that Yasaka herself looked very amused with the situation.
"I see." Yasaka then gave a needlessly dramatic sigh and sent Kunou a look that practically screamed that they would be discussing this in further detail later before turning back to face us. "I am very sorry for my daughter's disgraceful behavior. Rest assured that every Yen you spent on her will be repaid."

"But I volun-" Tsurara clasped her hand over my mouth and covered it with ice so that I don't speak any more than necessary.

"That's all we ask. Right, Haru-sama?" I fearfully nodded seeing the cold smile directed at me.

"Then I believe that we are done were. We must return to our realm immediately. Capturing the Tamamo-no-Mae Loyalist alive was an unexpected windfall. We have much to ask of them. Such as the location of their comrades for one. The Loyalists have been a rather unsightly blight for a good long while now. We hope to finally excise them this time."

I melted the ice over my mouth and added. "If you need our help in anything, let us know. We are here for a week, and we wouldn't mind helping out."

Before she can refuse Tsurara sternly added, "We insist."

Yasaka sighed and softly smiled at us. "If you insist. Now Karasu will show you out. Thank you for coming."

We bowed to each other one last time and were about to leave the room when I paused and added, "I would keep my daughter with me at all times in this situation if I were you."

Yasaka, Kunou and Karasu blinked before the leader nodded with a rather odd gleam in her eyes. "I'll take your words in consideration."

"Please do."

With that we left the hall and just as Karasu closed the door we heard Yasaka speak very crossly to Kunou.

"Now, young lady, I do believe we need to have a talk about your conduct…"

As long as Yasaka keeps Kunou by her side, the latter will be safe and sound and hopefully none the worse for wear after the experience. It's over, there is no need to worry as I'm sure Yasaka won't need our help in solving this mess.

'Or so I thought…'

We were startled awake by a loud pounding on the door to our room in the middle of the night, Tsurara jolting next to me.

"Hinode-dono! Oikawa-dono! Are you there!?" Hearing the panic in the Tengu's voice I leapt out of my futon and opened the door to a heavily injured Karasu, who looked like he has just gone through Hell and back.

"What happened to you!?" I exclaimed, immediately pulling him inside our room for Tsurara to heal him and I couldn't help the grimace noting his condition.

One of his eyes is swollen shut, the other being half-way there. Several bald spots are on his head that looked like feathers had been torn out in patches, and the skin beneath is an ugly red as if it was burnt. Trails of blood dripped from various places on his person, his beak chipped in several places and his armor is basically torn to shreds. And the most telling is how low his Ki is.

'Did he seriously come in this state? Just how bad is the situation!?'

"There's no time! We need your help, please! Kunou-hime has been abducted!"

White hot rage surged in me and I cursed. I had a feeling this would happen! I even told Yasaka to keep Kunou around her at all times! Did she not listen to me!?

"Let's go."

He led us out of the inn and down a side alley. Fortunately in the wee hours of the morning there is basically no one, or it would've been troublesome if people saw an actual Tengu, half dead on its feet leading away two youngsters to who knows where.

Looking around to make sure we aren't being followed, Karasu extended a hand into the air and made a curtain moving gesture. And much like a curtain, the air in front of us slid to the side, the drab scenery of the dark alley giving way to a landscape of a much older period. Now we stand on a hill that overlooked the Edo Period-esque city that served as the home of the Kyoto Youkai.

To my surprise, the Mana concentration here is even thicker than it is in the Human Realm, and below us, all manner of Youkai roamed the streets, Nurikabe, Kasa-Obake, Oni, Ushi-Oni, Futakuchi-Onna and the countless local mythological beings that I read about in the books.

Not wishing to waste any time I asked Karasu, "Can you fly?"

"Y-Yes, thanks to your healing I can now, shall I lead you through the air?"

I nodded and ignoring Karasu's squawk of surprise as my Dragon wings burst from my back, we followed him through the air covering the distance to the Palace at a shorter time than we would've taken with the ground. It's a good thing we healed him as soon as he reached us, or we would've been running around the place to head towards the palace because of his injuries. Unfortunately, he had to be the one to come get us since all the other able-bodied personnel are probably busy trying to track down the abductors and rescue Kunou.

Upon reaching the palace at the top of the hill opposite to the one we were standing on, the Tengu lead us through the gates inside where several strong Youkai are barking out orders at the rest causing a mad rush within the halls, so much that it is difficult to navigate our way to the throne room with so many of them in the way.

But after much shoving, we finally reached the golden doors beyond which anger and desperation hung thickly in the air. Yasaka is highly aggravated as evidenced by her nine luxuriously fluffy tails swishing around in an agitated manner. Catching sight of us, she hurried over.

"Thank you both for coming on such a short notice."

"It's fine, we volunteered didn't we? Now, what happened?"

Her beautiful features twisted into an expression of animalistic anger and a mother's fury as she hissed out, "Traitors! Spies in my own court! Cursed blackguards stabbing us in the back!"

"Allow me to explain." Karasu being the calmer one butt in. "After our meeting concluded a few hours ago, Yasaka-sama, Kunou-hime and I returned here. Yasaka-sama left to assist in the interrogation of the Loyalist that you left alive this noon, and after the harrowing experience, Kunou-hime was understandably exhausted and retired to her room to rest."

"We, her guards, took turns standing watch outside the door while the rest patrolled the halls. Approximately four hours ago, while I was stationed outside Kunou-hime's room with another guard we were approached by three of Yasaka-sama's ladies-in-waiting, who wished to inquire on Kunou-hime's condition, and I am ashamed to say that we let our guard down. We never imagined that there were Loyalists planted in the palace."

'Of course it would be from the inside right when they will least expect it…!'

"The moment we turned our backs, they struck us down. When I regained consciousness, they were gone, and so was Kunou-hime. Most likely, they panicked when they learnt that three of their comrades were killed and one was captured, fearing that their identities would be revealed, they made their move first."

"Thank you Karasu. You should go and see the healers. You wounds despite being healed are quite severe."

"But, I should also help look for Kunou-hime…"

"Karasu…" everyone flinched hearing me growl. "…you have done more than enough. At your current condition you will not be much of help to us. Go and get yourself treated properly. Once you and the other guards have recovered, you may join us in our rescue effort."

"…I understand." He bowed and took his leave limping out of the room.

"So, any luck in finding them?"

Yasaka closed her eyes with a dejected sigh and shook her head. "No. Despite our trackers' best efforts, we have not been able to locate them. They were careful enough to not leave any traces behind, so we have no idea where they have taken my daughter. I'm sure they will eventually find them with enough time, but time is exactly what we do not have, not when we still have no idea what it is they are planning to do with her."

Hearing that Tsurara herself cast a tracking spell to look for Kunou.

"I'm afraid we do now, Yasaka-chan." An elderly voice interrupted gaining all our attention.

'Nurarihyon…' That short stature, the oddly-shaped head elongating backward from the face like a gourd are enough hints for me to realize who he is.

Yasaka took a deep breath to calm herself. "Allow me to introduce you two. Haru-dono, Tsurara-dono, this is Nurarihyon, leader of the Hyakki Yakou and sovereign of the Youkai in Eastern and Northern Japan. Nurarihyon-dono was here to discuss diplomatic matters with me, but when Kunou was taken, he offered to help us extract information from the Loyalist. As a Master of illusionary-type Youjutsu and mental techniques, there are none more suited for interrogation than him. Nurarihyon-dono, this is Haru Hinode, grandson of Yukihira Hinode, and his Personal Attendant, Tsurara Oikawa, the daughter of Setsura Oikawa. They are the ones who saved my daughter earlier this noon during the first abduction attempt earlier."

Pushing down my rage with a deep breath, I silently nodded in respect at the Legendary Youkai.

"I already figured out that much. I must say you're quite the swordsman, lad." That surprised me. I knew master swordsman can recognize a fellow swordsman at first glance, but never thought I would be on the receiving end of it.

"Thanks…?"

Yasaka understandably looked confused. "I don't recall him ever mentioning about using a sword…"

"Oh no, it's just my intuition. When you're as experienced as I am, these kind of things become immediately obvious, any swordsman worth their salt will be able to tell. I would love to test my skills against yours lad, but now is not the time for it." He grouched tracing his fingers on the handle of the katana that was almost as big as him.

"Were you able to learn anything from her?"

"Hm, she wasn't keen on giving it up, but I pried the details of the ritual they are planning from their lips. It's our worst fear Yasaka-chan. They are going to resurrect Tamamo-no-Mae."

I silently cursed. Reviving the dead while not unheard of, is certainly possible. However, due to it being tabooed, no records or instructions on how to do it is supposed to have been destroyed.

"Isn't that a taboo?"

"It certainly is, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Loyalists have managed to salvage a destroyed copy or learned from foreign lands. They might've even managed to figure out a ritual out through trial and error. They've certainly been around long enough to do so. Doesn't really matter. Point is, that's what they are planning and they are going to use the little lady to do it."

That anger I pushed down reared its head back again even more stronger than before exploding out of me in the form of my white Dragon aura cracking the wooden floor beneath me.

"Haru-dono!?"

"Lad!?"

"They are going to use her as a sacrifice to resurrect Tamamo-no-Mae in her body!" I growled out reeling in my aura. Every resurrection rituals require specific reagents and living sacrifices of equal value to the one being resurrected. Tamamo-no-Mae was a Kyuubi, and to resurrect her, another Kyuubi must be used as a sacrifice, in this case, Kunou.

"Where are they!? Where did they take my Kunou!?" Yasaka demanded shrilly looking on the verge of a meltdown.

"Sorry, Yasaka-chan, but those four were just fodder following orders. They didn't know where their leaders are conducting the ritual, only that it's a 'fitting place' and that can be anywhere. The old palace where Tamamo-no-Mae posed as a Courtesan, or the plains of Nabu where she was slain, or the place of her birth. Without knowing how the Loyalists think, it can be anywhere in Japan."

"Then, there's really nothing we can do but wait for the trackers to locate them? Will they even make it in time?"

Just as she started losing hope, my PA's voice prevented her falling into the pits of despair.

"Found her."

"Eh?"

"Tsurara?"

"Haru-sama forgive me for taking so long. Earlier this noon after the first group of abductors were dealt by you, I expected this to happen sooner or later. Thus I had placed a small undetectable tracker on Kunou-hime's nape. Unfortunately, the place they took her was making it hard for me to pin down her location, thus it took me so long to inform you of this. But now I know their exact location. I'm very sorry for not letting you know earlier."

Relief flooded all over us and I hugged Tsurara making her blush and smile in glee. "Great job Rara! Great job! I don't care that you didn't tell me about the tracker before, but now that you have, let's get a move on!"

"Wait lad! Where is she being held?"

"Mount Hiba. On the old border of Izumo-Hoki border in Shimane."

"Tch, of course it would be there. That's smart of them. Shimane is the one place in all of Japan that neither Youkai Factions have any jurisdiction over. A purification barrier around the entire prefecture stops any attempts at teleporting in, and even if it wasn't there, we can't just carelessly barge our way in either…"

I knew that, but… "Why's that?"

"Never you mind lad. You won't be able to sleep at night if you know." Hearing the grim tone underlining his voice and seeing Yasaka's paling face, I held back from asking more despite my rising curiosity. "To make matters worse, they actually set up shop there of all places. They couldn't have picked a worse spot in all of Shimane if they tried."

"Again, why?"

Nurarihyon sighed and looked at me grimly. "Well, might as well tell you now instead of risking your curiosity getting the best of you. Listen lad, you'll do good staying away from there. There is a cave named Yomotsu Hirasaka, the real entrance to Yomi, not the silly tourist attraction that the humans can enter."

'Fucking hell! Of course they would set up shop there! Where else to extract the soul from if not the source of its current residence?'

"Wait, Yomi as in…?" Oh Tsurara…

"Yep, our very own version of Hell, the place of eternal doom and gloom, and misery, where all the dead of Japan, save for those of different faith will end up in."

Right, unlike most religions, Shinto didn't have different afterlives depending on the deeds committed in life, where the good go to Paradise/Heaven and the sinners are condemned to Purgatory/Hell. Many might believe that Takamagahara is Heaven but that place is the Realm of Gods, where Gods and Humans-turned-Demi-Gods reside in.

Yomi is our final destination, and despite what Nurarihyon said just now, it is neither Hell nor Heaven.

"Well, there is one possible good news. If they are going through the trouble of setting up the ritual right in front of Yomotsu Hirasaka, they must be using their own original ritual and not one of the old ones. Meaning they will be treading very lightly to maximize the chances of the ritual's success. It might buy us time, if it hasn't already." Don't say it so cheerfully if you yourself don't believe in it old man.

"To do what exactly? For all we know, the ritual might as well be nearing completion. Negotiating to allow our entrance into Izumo will take too long. And forcing our way in will only ensure the destruction of our factions. How can I possibly choose between my daughter and my subjects?" Seeing Yasaka sink to her knees with despair plainly depicted on her face, I couldn't help but grimace.

"…I'm sorry Yasaka-chan."

My eyes met those of Tsurara's and I nodded giving her the go ahead to create a portal to Shimane.

"I don't know what's happening in Izumo, nor do I understand how you feel as I'm neither a parent, nor a leader." Seeing Yasaka and Nurarihyon paying attention to me, I decided to do the most cringe worthy thing in my life: shitting out Shounen MC lines. "But, I don't think you should be giving up so easily. If I were in your shoes, instead of agonizing over having to choose one over the other, I would fight to my last breath to save both."

Seeing as Tsurara is reaching completion to creating a portal to Shimane, I faced Nurarihyon. "From what you said, either of you going to Mount Hiba will cause destruction to your Factions right?" He nodded slowly eyes widening as he realized my intentions. "So it will be alright if a third party aligned with neither of your Factions barge in and rescue Kunou right?" I shrugged and nodded at Tsurara manipulating Space and Time to rip open a hole in reality to directly lead us to Shimane to the closest possible point. "So we are going, be back in a few!"

"…why?"

"Hm?"

"Why are you going out of your way for someone you barely know?"

"Haru-sama is extremely caring and overprotective of children, so no matter who they are, he will do his absolute best to look after them."

"I don't think that explains everything young lady."

I looked back at Yasaka over my shoulder and wondered how exactly I should answer her without cringing in the future looking back at this memory. I guess I'll pull an Ichigo Kurosaki here.

"Because it's the right thing to do. Sure, this is completely illogical as it's neither the safest, nor the wisest, nor the sanest thing to do, but as long as it's the right thing to do, there's no reason not to do it." I turned to fully face her and crossed my arms over my chest. "And what about you? What are you going to do if you don't go?" I couldn't help the sigh seeing how the indecision mar her features. I walked towards her and crouched to her level looking her in the eye.

"Sitting here and crying about not being able to protect her will not help the situation at all." Following my instincts, I placed a hand on her shoulder. "She's your daughter, you should be doing everything that you can to save her. If you go you might be able to save her no matter how slim the chances are. But if you don't, she will die." I didn't yell nor glare at her. Ichigo Kurosaki would've been screaming her ears out saying the same things in my place, expressing his compassion and in-born heroic nature. But I decided to take a soft approach.

Getting in her face, grabbing her by the lapels of her kimono and disregarding the inappropriateness of my actions will only mortify me in the future should Yasaka ever decide to talk about this incident to my kids.

"You're right Haru-dono." I smiled seeing the determination in her eyes and helped her up. "Kunou is my daughter and I will do anything to protect her, no matter the cost."

"Now, wait a minute…" Nurarihyon tried to grab Yasaka's attention but unfortunately for him, the woman is currently in her own world now.

"And if my people are endangered by my actions then I'll fight to the end to protect them as well. I won't choose one over the other."

"Hold on…"

I bit down on my lips to suppress my laughter and from the corner of my eyes I saw Tsurara looking away with a hand covering her mouth as her shoulders shook.

"Nurarihyon-dono, forgive me for being so selfish, but might I ask you to remain here until Haru-dono, Tsurara-dono and I come back?"

Frustrated, a vein throbbed on his temple and Nurarihyon threw his gnarled hands up into the air shouting, "I SAID WAIT YOU DAMN BRATS! I SWEAR YOU WILL DRIVE ME TO THE GRAVE!" Ignoring my laughter, Nurarihyon pointed a finger at Yasaka with his eyebrows twitching in annoyance. "Have you already forgotten!? You cannot leave Kyoto! The only reason the Ley Lines beneath the city have remained stable despite humanity's unconstrained destruction of nature is because you are here regulating them! Do you know what will happen if you left for too long, or worse, died!? DO YOU WANT THE ENTIRE CITY AND THIS REALM TO GO UP IN FLAMES!?"

Yasaka's eyebrows shot upwards as if that thought just occurred to her. "Oh."

"And you!" Nurarihyon pointed his finger in my direction as I steadied myself on my foot. "Stop laughing! Why the hell are you telling her to go fetch her daughter huh!? Do you realize the hazard of her leaving this place!?"

"Of course I know that."

"Huh?"

"But I couldn't just leave her in that state could I? What if she became one of those dark, and gloomy edgy characters in Mangas!?" Yasaka and Nurarihyon gawked at me. "The country and this realm would be in ruins!" Then I smirked in a battle thirsty manner. "Besides, I plan on redirecting Tamamo-no-Mae's soul from Kunou to their leader, that way I can test my mettle against her and have Tsurara bring a safe and healthy Kunou back to you. I see this as an absolute win!"

After several seconds of dumbfounded silence, Nurarihyon laughed hearing that. "If that is the case, then…" steam poured out of him like All Might as his form shifted, and grew taller going from 3'5" to 6'3". Once the transformation was complete, a swipe of hand dispelled the smoke revealing a young individual who is taller than me with long gold and black hair likely covering his formerly bald elongated head. "…allow me to join you." He said in a younger, deeper and a suave voice that definitely didn't suit his old age.

Seeing that, I myself couldn't hold back my laugh and sent him a challenging look. "Are your brittle bones capable of taking it?"

"Hmph! Don't underestimate me!"

"Then do try to keep up with us old man."

"Oi brat, I should give a good beating with the flat side of my blade for being disrespectful like that. But, I suppose that stubbornness of yours is admirable in its own way. Mount Hiba is pretty far into the barrier, and we don't have any time to waste. How do you propose we get there once we enter the barrier?"

"Heh, two words: Cosmic Velocity."

"…what?" Of course he won't know what that is.

"Wait! I cannot allow you to go! This is the Kyoto Youkai's matter to handle!"

"Meh, it's fine! I'm planning to cede my leadership of Hyakki Yakou and the Kanto Youkai to my grandson Rikuo within this decade anyway, so if I'm going to go out, I might as well do it with a bang."

"But…"

"Don't worry. In the worst case scenario I'll claim to have been acting independently. I won't let any blame fall upon your Faction or mine. And it's the duty of the older generation to protect and nurture the younger generation." He shrugged. "I'm just fulfilling that duty."

"So you admit that you're old?"

"Oi."

"Haru-sama…"

"Very well. Then I leave Kunou to you three. I beg you, please save her."

"Don't worry, we'll bring her home safe and sound. Not sure about the geezer though."

"I'll show you 'geezer' you damn brat!"