Okami Rising Chapter 6: Reinforcements
Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, couldn't believe what he was seeing as he and his wives observed the large village from the ridge above it. They had encountered what looked like everyone who could move on the plains behind the ridge, warning the Shinobi and his Kunoichi wives of fighting and 2 demons, however observing he recognized one as the new Yokai serving the Demon Salyer corps. Okami Shinigami, an interesting name, not entirely flashy, not entirely unflashy. But currently, Okami Shinigami may be the flashiest person in existence. He was fighting a demon who was clad in a brown kimono with a black hakama. They both had two sowrd. Okami having a green nichirin katana and wakizashi, the demon wielding two katanas.
Okami had lighting crackling off him though and was using that to empower himself. Okami hadn't said anything about powers, maybe this was new. However, it wasn't enough as the demon kept up with him, three heads tied to its belt. Lightning came off each parry, homes were destroyed as the two fighters fought through them, the Demon every so often fired blood red spikes at Okami who deflected them all.
"Lord Tengen, what's the plan?" Makio asked him, she was tall, muscled, and was his toughest wife, with blonde and black hair. Looking at the battle she winced watching Okami take a slash to the ribs only for him to give the Demon a slash to his nose.
"I'm thinking Makio. Hinatsuru, Suma, you two be ready to act as backup, Makio and I will make it seem like we're the reinforcements, then when the time comes, you two flamboyantly poison him!" He said with a grin, the quick plan having worked on Lower Moon 6 a while ago. As the 4 hopped into action, they could only hope this worked.
"YES, OKAMI GIVE ME THE FIGHT WE ALWAYS WANTED! EVER SINCE I CLAIMED ZENCHO HAD RAPED YOU WHEN YOU WERE HIS PAGE!" Dakuto shouted at Okami who was starting to get annoyed by having to hear this all over again. Dakuto was a man who needed to kill, and his demon form was addicted to killing.
"Just shut the fuck up and die already!" Okami countered, slashing at Dakuto's head, Dakuto instead sacrificed his left arm, but spun around and kicked Okami forward into the village's brothel. Okami grunted and went deeper in, waiting for Dakuto to follow, when he didn't Okami let his lightning aura fade, and he slowly moved through the brothel, silently checking rooms in case Dakuto came in another way. Each room he checked looked comfy for what the building's purpose was. Okami had only been to one other brothel in his life in Kyoto and that was to drag out a fellow samurai who had slept there for an entire day after getting drunk.
In the final room, Okami found a woman who looked terrified to see him, but he put his finger to his lips to indicate he won't hurt her. He motions her to follow him so that he can get her out when he hears the voice again. She's a strikingly beautiful woman, long, neat black hair, pretty soft brown eyes, noble like pale skin, it's as almost if this was a noble woman from his time, but that didn't matter now, they were trying to escape.
"Oooookamiiiiii where'd you go? Hiding in a brothel? My my you've changed! But I'm getting tired of your attempts to run and hide. So will you please come out?" Dakuto's wheezy voice came from what seemed like everywhere. As there was no lighting in the building or surrounding it, Okami had controlled his lightning to not cause fires. Meanwhile the spikes from Dakuto's blood art had no explosive or fire capabilities unless they pierced gas or caused it to explode.
Okami indicated to the woman that when he threw the door open she should run and he'd immediately go after Dakuto, to give her a chance, she shook her head not wanting him to leave her. He let out an inaudible sigh and looked her in the eyes, willing the woman to feel bravery, hoping he was right about this, but when she didn't budge he indicated it to her that he was opening it whether she wanted him too or not.
Meanwhile Tengen Uzui and his wives were moving fast, they had seen Okami get kicked into the brothel and had started moving immediately, but jumping roof top to roof top when the village had had homes cut apart, blasted with lightning that strangely didn't leave fire, or shot up with a blood bullet created by swinging swords really fast, both of these were flashy powers, and as Tengen and Makio closed in on the demon, Tengen threw a light bomb, meant to disorient and confuse the demon. The light bomb flew beside the demon and popped, lighting up the area around him.
3 things happened in slow motion after that.
One, Tengen and Makio were a bit too close and were affected by their own disorienting bomb that caused them to stop and the demon to turn towards them angirly.
Two, Suma and Hinatsuru were too far and couldn't get to their loved ones it time as the demon prepared to leap at Lord Tengen and Makio.
Three, the light from the bomb showed the insider's location on the outside of the shogi door and the outsider's location on the inside of the shogi door. There was a female scream then as the demon went to leap at Tengen and Makio, a stabbing sound was heard as a green nichirn burst through the shogi door, stabbing Dakuto through the back and pulled him through the shogi door shattering it, as well as the woman that Okami was protecting was able to flee.
Dakuto felt the blade through his back and gasped, but Okami reactivated his lightning on the blade to contract Dakuto's muscles, forcing his body to throw himself off Okami's blade with and deeper into the brothel, crashing through a few walls with a groan then a wretched exhale of pain.
The 4 ninja quickly moved to where Okami was, plan A ruined but prepared for Plan B. Taking up positions, the 3 women drew wisteria laced knives while the Sound Hashira who Okami had briefly met a month ago prepared his cleavers.
"Seems you're flashy as ever, being able to control lightning like that." Tengen spoke with a chuckle but quickly died down at Okami's furrowed brow. "What? Still hung up on that meeting?" Tengen asked him.
"No. Dakuto, or 5th suisei, or whatever the hell he is… he's strong. Even with my newfound ability… he's just not going down." Okami would sigh and stare into the brothel where he had sent Dakuto, but he didn't pursue, as right now he was beginning to feel exhausted, was the lightning ability a fluke? Something caused by Okami's rage at having the three fellow Mizunoto slayed?
"What do you mean? Like not dying or not cutting his head off?" Makio asked, narrowing her eyes and the Yokai in front of her.
"I keep trying to get to his head but… I can't. The most I got has been his left arm which he regrew, that stab, and my lightning blast which definitely didn't kill him. Fuck this is a hard battle. I wish I was fighting the Demon that had Tomioka-sama again." Okami sighed.
"I heard that, well Tomioka boy's report indicated you killed the demon with a kama?" Uzui asked. To which he got a nod. "Well look at it this way, this is a stupidly hard mission for you, a Mizunoto, would've never been on if the Oyakta-sama had known what was going down." Tengen said, sighing at this whole mess, though he questioned what a 5th suisei was as he'd never heard of it he simply shrugged it off mentally and decided to find out later.
"So, wait a minute, you knew about the demon?" Okami asked.
"Knew? Yes. Not how powerful it was, we got the message from Riju's crow. We didn't get anything about who or what it was." Hinatsuru said. The Uzui family suddenly sweat dropped as Okami slapped his palm into his face. Then jumped as he screamed in frustration into it.
"Are they seriously that boneheaded to not tell you 4 that one was dead, he outdueled them, and specifically asked them to send a crow to me?! Is this organization that decentralized that they were able to do that?!" Okami screamed into his hand.
"What?" Was all the Uzui could manage to ask before Okami's green nichirin katana and wakizashi began chattering away as his lightning reactivated, his wolf ear perking up. The Uzui family taking up arms along side them as the demon walked forward.
"Okami… and… a hashira… with three delectable women…" Dakuto approached, his skin now burnt in areas, he licks his lips, the gaping hole in his chest closing. He was down to one katana, however that made him seem all the more dangerous, bringing his free hand to the hilt of his only katana he suddenly dashed at them with incredible speed, rushing with his katana at a low angle, the blade dragging into the ground, wood, dirt, and flames coming up with it, as he reaches the group he swaps target, going from Okami on the inside to the woman with black and blonde hair on the outside, grinning wildly he almost didn't see the one with black hair in a long ponytail draw a giant crossbow and fire at him, a barrage of wisteria laced kunai coming at him. He deflected the knives but as he did, he witnessed the women jump off and disappear, using the katana to knock some kunai from his body he glared at the two remaining. The sound hashira and his dearly hated Okami.
"Wanna play Janken to see who fights this bastard first?" Tengen asked the Yokai, knowing he could order the Yokai out but suspecting that Okami wouldn't leave even if Oyakata-sama himself.
"No. We take Dakuto out. Together." Okami said, with that Tengen grinned.
"Two on one?" He asked him.
"4 on one if we count our blades, 10 on 1 if we count those ladies." Okami said.
"Those are my wives your talking about." Tengen says with a grin. Normally people reacted to being told all three were married to Tengen, it was either jealously or repulsion, but with the story being Okami was from the Sengoku era, he hardly cared.
"My dad had 1 main wife and 5 subordinate wives." Okami said with a shrug. Tengen nearly fell out of shock, this man's dad had 6 wives?! "Well, that was after I was born though. I never knew my mom. All of them said that my dad was a poor man but Lord Oda favored him because he did something no other Samurai had been brave enough to do."
"Are we going to fight or what Okami?!" Dakuto shouted, angry that he was being ignored, suddenly he was sprinting at them with a scream. He had fallen for Okami's trap who responded with an attack that Dakuto parried, knocking Okami's blades away, suddenly Dakuto felt a kick to his side and was sent sideways, crashing through a burning house that collapsed on him, however he managed to climb out just in time. Dakuto was incensed, this duel had only lasted ten minutes but if this kept up then it would be sunrise before he knew it and he'd have to flee. Dakuto thought back to his time before he was a demon. Most demons couldn't remember but his master allowed him to know everything, said it made him more bloodthirsty, more destructive, better in battle.
Flashback: 1570
It was winter, snow was on the ground, Dakuto was on his knees in the snow, Ungiri Zencho behind him, a katana prepared to behead him, dusk was approaching, and Lord Oda Nobunaga was looking at him.
"I'm having a hard time deciding if you should die, beside your pathetic whimpering about how you've been serving me still, not a single man has defended you. You pathetic worm!" The Lord of the Oda spat him.
"My Lord! Please! They're just peasa-" Dakuto tried to say but was silenced by a shout.
"And you are forgetting that I do not care for your excuses! Peasants are made to rule! But you can't rule dead peasants that are so feared they cannot be useful! One more word and I shall have your tongue taken." It chilled Dakuto how quickly Lord Oda could swap from yelling to calmly finishing an otherwise angry sentence. "May I hear anyone speak in his defense?" Oda asked the gathered men. Dakuto knew he was dead, ever since Okami had humiliated in a duel, no one wanted to associate with the man who fantasized about samurai and pages, however instead of relief when the voice behind him began to defend him, Dakuto felt no relief, instead he felt humiliation, shame, anger, spite, and wishing his hands weren't tied so he could try attacking the would be executioner to get himself killed.
"My lord," Ungiri Zencho, ever respectful started, "While Tsujigiri is looked down upon, it is legal, what sense in legality does it make for executing a man for a crime that doesn't exist? If you dislike it that much shouldn't there be a law made?" Zencho asked him, Dakuto saw Lord Oda calm and consider the words, Lord Oda was unpredictable but today he hadn't been drunk.
"Very well. Let him rise. But I strip him of his lands, titles, and rank. I exile you for drawing a blade against my samurai who summoned you. Begone from Kyoto." Were the last words Lord Oda told him.
Dakuto soon found himself alone, walking away from Kyoto, he was freezing, the snow falling thickly now, perhaps this was how Oda expected to be rid of him? Letting him freeze to death. Walking through the snow alone, all that's left is his swords, that and his burning hate for that poor bastard for defeating him in his duel! Okami Shinigami may the Kami strike you down, however he stopped, he felt uneasy, looking around he quickly drew his katana.
"Show yourself! I feel your presence! I do not wish to be bothered by you!" Dakuto shouted, two figures walked out from the snowy dark where he could see them. One was a man whom stood tall like a lord, one was a samurai but upon closer inspection they were so wrong! The first man had hateful orange eyes, but when looking at him, his frown turned into a smirk. The samurai had 4 no 6 eyes! The two regarded him when the lord spoke up.
"Tell me your identity." The lord commanded, smirking, amused that a ronin would threaten him.
"Dakuto." He had told them, his body told him to run but his brain said he could use the, for revenge.
"Kokushibo. Attack." Was all the man said before the samurai beside him drew his sword and attacked, to both of their surprise not only did Dakuto parry the first blow, but he kicked the samurai back and was suddenly in front of the lord, about to cut him down, however the man punched him through his chest. "I sense talent, but no guide. I smell anger, hate, bloodthirstiness. You want revenge the man told him."
"Agh… What…" Dakuto could only manage, the fist through his body, blood coming from his mouth, he couldn't believe it, he would be dead soon, his life, ended by a lord punching him through?!
"I hate this world too and yearn to see it destroyed. The people here, so happy to be in the sun when I can't. Pathetic mortals. Would you be willing to serve me? I'll let you get your revenge if you serve me well. Take Kokushiubo here for instance. My Upper Moon One. Do you know why you got past him? Because I wanted you to. To judge you for myself." The man said. "You are nothing but a speck of dust. I am a tsunami. But I shall grant you revenge if that is what you wish. Only after you have served me." The man said, looking at the dying Dakuto who submitted. In response the mysterious lord cut his palm and put the bleeding part to Dakuto's mouth who began licking it, the man making sure Dakuto knew his place at his feet. The man removed his hand from Dakuto who began changing it response to the blood, it felt like his body was ripping itself to pieces, but at the same time he resisted the pain, the pain was immense, unending, and jarring, but he survived it.
That night Dakuto and Kokushibo butchered a village and fought some Demon Slayers, low ranking ones that had been in the village drinking in celebration of a victory. Dakuto kept seeing Okami in their faces and so killed 4 of the 5 while Kokushibo lazily disarmed and tortured the highest ranking one.
Current Time
Dakuto stood, his eyes having the fire of hate in them, he hated Okami, hated Zencho, hated the Demon Slayers, hated this world and felt the same drive Muzan did to destroy it. His body took on a blood red aura and he rushed at Okami and Tengen, roaring, the two preparing their blades.
Okami incepted the first strike, but was nearly knocked down by it, Tengen intercepted the next, and with that the two of them begin to attack in kind, it was an odd thing, the fight grew more ferocious, yet the only sound was of the blades clashing, Dakuto was faster now, stronger, it was almost as if the memories had brought back a cold burst of adrenaline. But demons had no pumping heart for adrenaline. Dakuto suddenly faked Okami out, then brought his foot down on Okami's head before going for a decapitation, only for Okami to clumsily raise his arm, however rather than slicing through his arm, the katana bounced off, leading Dakuto to realize Okami still had some of his armor. That infuriated Dakuto who began to pressure Okami away from Tengen, trying oh so very hard to kill him, however he wanted both to suffer, remembering Tengen's words about the women being his wives, Dakuto suddenly came up with am plan, hearing Tengen behind him, Dakuto jumped out of the way and let Tengen accidentally shallowly impaled Okami. Tengen pulled the blades out as Dakuto nailed Okami with a blood bullet sending him flying.
"Fuck!" Okami screamed as his body was pierced and he watched Dakuto jump away. Tenngen looked at Okami wide eyed unsure of what to do. "I'll regenerate! Get them out of me! Chase the bastard! He's gonna go for your wives if you do nothing!" Okami yelled at the Sound Hashira, he didn't care about rank, knowing the love in Tengen's voice, Tengen acquiesced to Okami's demand and jumped away chasing Dakuto. As he jumped, he heard his wives' screams, feeling him with dread.
Dakuto grinned, he had found the women, and had managed to launch such an attack that he had separated them and now was forming 3 huge Demon Blood Art: Blood Bullets. Smelling the Sound Hashira, he made sure that he knew what was happening. "I hope you're fast enough to save them, though with the way I separated them, you'll only save two at most!" Dakuto yelled out laughing madly.
Tengen studied the houses and found that Dakuto was right, his wives had been knocked into three houses, Suma and Makio were close together, but Hinatsuru was further down the road, and it looked like it had come down and trapped her by the leg, but if he stopped to save her then he couldn't save Suma who had the wind knocked from her and Makio who was slightly bleeding from the head.
"Lord Tengen! Save Makio and Suma! I love you!" Hinatsuru shouted, making the choice for him, with his speed he was able to get to Makio first, grab her up and hop to the one Suma was in, which he grabbed her as well, as he jumped out of the second building he heard the first two houses get destroyed and watched helpless as the Blood Bullet shot at the third house approached, his defiance gone and tears stinging his eyes.
"HINATSURU!"
