Note: It would have a lot of terms in Buddhism and a crapton of references in Japanese history, info and Myth. I'm not an expert of Buddhism and I'll be doing a ton of research to make it authentic.
WARNING: Possible Character Death
Disclaimer: I don't own the Senran Kagura franchise. If I do, the men won't be too much of a joke as well (Example: Murasame's potential, Kiriya's past and Hanzou's antics). All of the characters belongs to Kenichiro Takaki except my OC.
Seimei Shrine, Kyoto Japan
*Gong* *Gong*
At the shrine, the practicing monks, elders and the like are ready to do a prayer for the Gods. People could hear the mantras, humming in unison while meditating and talking to the nature.
「南無阿弥陀仏、南無阿弥陀仏」Elder Monks and Spiritual Leaders/Members starting to chant the Heart Sutra.
A young man with black messy hair, sharp turquiose eyes kneeling down to pray. He closed his eyes, praying to the God's as he wanted to give him the strenght to cleanse the youma. Speaking of which, why is this man gonna exorcise those demons? At first glance, he's not even a shinobi to begin with and he doesn't even fight at all. However, the fighting Onmyouji is already extinct in Modern-Day Japan and they are now being called for Religious ceremonies, fate of marriages and funeral purposes by not becoming a vengeful ghost.
'Abe no Seimei-sama. Being an Onmyouji bears a heavy responsibility to bring peace to those youma, youkai, ayakashi and the mononoke... Please, give me the strength to save them or releasing them their pain."
The man named Roukuro began to flashback on how he even met with Female Shinobi, when in his belief, they are separated and in his practice, it would be impurities to the temple and himself.
Flashback (Hiking Trails to Mt. Kurama, Kyoto Japan)
In the deep forest of Mt. Kurama, two ladies were on the search to find the half-human, half youma Fubuki as they heard that this woman is also the granddaugther Kurokage. Both of them look like twins when looking at first glance. The first girl smiled and keeping her true feelings hidden while the other had a cold no nonsense look on her face while making sure they'll reach their goal. Unbeknowst of them, a young man stopped them in their tracks when they hear his voice.
"Travelers, are you lost in these woods?"
'This man,' The cautious girl, Senkou feels suspicion that he isn't just a wandering "young monk", but a man with a mission, 'Can you feel his aura, Gekkou? He's not a shinobi, that's for sure.'
"Hmmm?" The positive looking girl, Gekkou decided to entertain this suspicious man and faced him with a smile on her face, "That's a private matter good sir~"
'Yeah...' While focusing on what is the mans intent, Gekkou's true feelings and inner thoughts can be understood by her and Senkou alone, 'He's not an ordinary man. I don't know his goals nor his intentions.'
"A private matter. I see," The man only nodded and was praying a little before doing a Japanese haiku, 「両姉妹, 宝を探すに、いつか見た」"The two sisters were, looking for valued treasure, can be found someday."."
Senkou was surprised a bit and it wasn't no coincidence of why he blurt that haiku out of the blue. Feeling that this is man is dangerous, she dashed in and going to attack him as a test if he was indeed a "different man". With the intent to hurt him, Senkou does a middle roundhouse kick with such speed and power. However, he dodged, backstepped while observing them.
'He dodged?! That bastard... I knew he ain't just an ordinary traveling monk!' Gritting her teeth, Senkou failed to land a blow on the guy before Gekkou went into her sister's aid, calming her nerves to make sure they'll find their goal.
"Calm down Senkou. We have to focus on our mission to find this woman named Fubuki."
'That kick, if I get hit by that, it would be a very painful experience to feel it.'
After he landed his feet, under that straw hat he smiled a bit and asked, "What are your names, wandering ladies?"
"You have manners for a weird traveling monk and you are also within our age limit or prehaps you are a senpai~ For that, we'll give you the same manners in return," Gekkou giggled and nodded, introducing herself first. "My name is Gekkou and as you can see, we are Shinobi~"
'Shinobi...' The man chuckled, who know he met such extraordinary ladies, 'Interesting. The kunoichi are still alive and well, just hidden in the shadows.'
"My apologise for attacking you out of the blue," The serious girl bowed before doing the same thing, "My name is Senkou. Can you at least tell us your name?"
"Alright." The man removed his straw hat, revealing to have a young face as what Gekkou said is absolutely true, "My name is Roukuro. If you can't tell what I do. I'm actually an Onmyouji."
Both of the girls were shocked. Who would have thought that an onmyouji still lives, especially who followed Abe no Seimei's footsteps to the modern time. Out of great respect, he even followed the mans ways to help whatever he can in both the human and the supernatural world. It was a revelation for both Gekkou and Senkou to have found the last remaining "fighting" Onmyouji in modern Japan since they have changed their ways from the Heian Period to the Present Times. Before the two lost their thoughts, Roukurou will remember them.
"Nice to meet your acquiantance, Gekkou-san, Senkou-san. We'll meet again." With that, he left them while the two of them went into the opposite direction to find Fubuki. The both of them have the same thought while going into their journey.
'Roukuro/Roukuro-san, huh? An ancient practice of Onmyoudou still lives. Indeed we'll meet again.'
Flashback End
He doesn't know what Gekkou and Senkou are doing these days ever since they only met at that hiking trail. Humming and hearing the Heart Sutra of the people in the temple, he followed the suit. In his mind, he want to get out of the temple and visit the city every once in a while.
'Gessen, huh? I'll try and visit them.'
He wondered how he did even know Shinobi schools when he's only stuck in the temple. Probably from the elders talking about the old times.
Gessen Academy (Ninja Room)
The room was bright as always while the shinobi were waiting for their teacher ever since the word was spreaded within the campus about the last remaining fighting onmyouji that Gekkou and Senkou have ever met in their lives. In the room, a young lady with short gray hair tied with a white ribbon on the back of her head and icy blue eyes hummed, thinking about this revelation.
'Onmyouji? Aren't they only appear on the temple talking about fortune telling as a example?'
"Yumi-chin," A sassy yet fashionable looking girl called her out, whom the latter was focused and wondering what would be the mission if they'll be seeing this man in the flesh, "Its kinda funny that an onmyouji just came out of the blue~"
Gessens Leader, Yumi stopped her thoughts and looks straight at the first year girl, "I agree with that Shiki-san. By the way, wasn't your family connected to them?"
"Dunno girl~" The fashionista, Shiki shrugged ever since she didn't contact her family that much when she's doing her own thing, "Onmyouji's are pretty much called only for Religious stuff and doing in battle is pretty much dead these days."
"Onmyouji?!" A brown haired girl was smiling because it would add more to her manga. She wanted more details to add variety for her works, "You guys know about them!? I want to learn more about them!"
A short bluish bobbed haired girl sweat dropped, because while they have met onmyouji's before, a fighting one is pretty much dead due to the influence of the Westerners during the Meiji Era. While they all agree there are plays in the Edo Period, they aren't a myth and were used as Informants for the Shogun of the Tokugawa. She thought
'I think you are asking the wrong people, Murakumo. We should wait for Sensei to bring us the news about this rumor.'
"Minori is bored~!" A childish lady whined while rolling around, wanting to find herself to enjoy, "Can she play now~?!"
"Not now Minori-san." Yumi repremanded the child-like girl named Minori, whom she's their little sister, smiling as she also checked the clock, "We have to wait for Wang Pai-Sensei to bring us the news." Minori pouts a bit before nodding with a smile.
Before they are dicussing about the possibilities of the appearance of said "fighting onmyouji", they hear a stern old voice indicating the teacher has returned. The girls went into formation to hear about additional information about this news. The man, Wang Pai starting to discuss the girls.
"I'm back from my travels to Kansai." The old man also wondered about the information Gekkou and Senkou gave to him when the girls were looking for Fubuki back then.
"Kansai?" Yumi asked in curiosity, "What were you doing when going there thus far, Sensei?"
"I went to temples in Kyoto and asking those elders about this "traveling monk"."
"Traveling Monk?" Yozakura raised her eyebrow because there talking about onmyoujis, not monks. It was a way to make people know that those types of onmyoujis were dead to begin with, "I thought you asked about onmyoujis. What's going on?"
'That's strange for Elder monks to say that it was a traveling monk,' Being the smartest member of the group and also had experience with them thanks to her family, Shiki is starting to analyze the situation and nodded, 'Come to think of it, while the Abe and Kanou family were famous onmyoujis in this country and also, nowadays, they think onmyoujis are pretty much dead due to it being supersition.'
"Yes. I did ask them about that specific Traveling Monk," The old man sighs in disappointed, even monks in Temples are being secretive, "But they only said that they have some of them, but not "that"."
Yumi was closing her eyes and analyzing why would they try and hide their secrets to everyone, including the Shinobis. The girls will try and hear about the orders of their teacher, because their mission begins now. A commanding firm tone makes the girls stand up, listening to every detail they can find.
"Listen up! That person will be the key to know how to ease the pain of the yoma and while we normally kill them with our weapons, that "special traveling monk" deals it in their own way!" While in the shadows, Wang Pai looks at the two girls... Particulary Shiki and Yumi, "Yumi and Shiki, I want you two to look for this person and grab every infomation you can find or even a bit of hints about them."
"Yes sensei!" The two replied in unison, although Shiki finds it boring and just wanted to check her social media and fashion trends. However, Yumi wants to do her mission deligently without fail since she'll do everything for the school and for her late father. Speaking of which, the ice leader wondered if her Grandfather have ever met onmyoujis in the past.
'I haven't ask grandfather about his journeys. Now, I have to find who is that onmyouji Sensei is talking about.' Before she can make a decision, she must ask both Gekkou and Senkou of the Junior Branch, 'Wait, what about Gekkou-san and Senkou-san? I think they have a clue about this mystery.'
Before Shiki can do her thing, Yumi tapped her shoulder and the gal chuckled, "What is it Yumi-chin~? Do you have any plans for training again?"
"Not this time," She shakes her head, "But we should visit the Middle School Branch."
"What?" The gyaru raised her eyebrow after the ruckus they did back then, "Look, I get that they are fellow Gessen students and we are their seniors. Should we really ask them gals? You're cray cray gal~"
"But, this is the only way that we can find that onmyouji. Can you at least, trust my judgement this time?"
"I trust ya. But I find 'em two suspicious."
"Let's swallow our judgemental selves for now and focus on the mission Sensei has given to us."
"Alright," The blonde shrugged and just went on with the leader. Before that, she's waving her hand to say good bye to the elite class, "See ya gals~!"
"See you two!" Yozakura waved her hand, before looking at the duo of Murakumo and Minori, to which she wonders if the two would get lost. Then again, Yumi and Shiki are too smart for their own good. Minori looked at the second year if she wants to play while the former masked lady goes back into her room to write more manga and would surely ask the two about the onmyouji.
Gessen Academy (Middle School Branch: Library)
For the half sisters, Gekkou and Senkou were looking for a book about the history of the onmyouji if there is an available book out there. The cheery sister sighed a bit ever since they have made peace with their seniors and everyone that they used force against. With Fubuki by their side, they'll find the answers about why onmyoujis exist. Not Shinobi Influenced like the Mikaruga sisters, but the ones who have been shaping Japan since the 5th-6th Century which was the Asuka Period. After trying to search about the legend of the fighting onmyoujis, it wasn't found on anything other than the normal meaning of onmyoujis. The serious sister sighed and looks at the cheery one.
"I don't think we can't find it here."
"Maybe we should ask Fubuki-sama about the information of onmyoujis?" Gekkou suggested on asking to Fubuki.
"Logically, that would be the best option," Senkou crossed her arms and thinking about the possibilities of their leader, knowing about the history of onmyoujis, "Come to think of it, aren't they also known to create stories about the dead? Its like a parlor game for them."
"You mean the Hyakumonogatarikaidankai?"
"Yes. We should ask for Fubuki-sama's advice and telling us what should do about it."
Before the duo had come to the same conclusion to go to Fubuki, they were stopped by two students, Yumi and Shiki. Senkou sighed in disbelief before swallowing her own pride to confront their seniors as Gekkou did the same thing. The two middle school students faced them and the moonlight girl greeted the latter with a smile.
"Greetings, Yumi-senpai and Shiki-senpai~ What can we do for you~?"
"We would like to ask you two..." The stern determined leader of the Gessen Elite team asked the half sisters about the information of the onmyouji, "... If you have any information or whereabouts of this "fighting onmyouji"."
"We were told by Sensei to find any info bout this dude or dudette if they even exist ya know~" Shiki added with her laid back tone, shrugging. As much as she wants to ask her family, she wanted to do this on her own. Gekkou and Senkou were taken aback. Was the news of this person really that famous, was all in their minds. Then again, the two may have remembered who that is... Yet still doubting if the words of that said man was true. He wasn't dressed as an onmyouji at all, he was wearing what traveling monks do.
"We aren't sure," Was all the reply of Senkou. When she attacked the man with a powerful kick, he dodged her with ease to which she's puzzled. She understands traveling monks exists way back in history, but onmyoujis that can fight? That's something that they'll never know. Even Gekkou as well.
"Senpai, even we are on the same page about the info of the onmyouji."
"However," Yumi looked at them straight in the eyes, wondering if the two were lying or not, "You two were the ones that spreaded of the rumors of this story and you should take responsibility."
The two were suprised on how sharp the intuition of Yumi is. Hiding would have no point as of this moment, Gekkou, being the brains of the half sisters decided to explain about the beginning of the the onmyouji/onmyoudou and its history. But only she'll explain it briefly to avoid infomation overload.
"The principles of Yin and Yang were on process way back in China before it spreaded to Japan in the 550s. However, it was the Koreans, particulary a Korean monk named Kanroku introduced onmyoudou here in Japan."
"Wait, I thought it was the Chinese who introduced the onmyoudou due to their principles of the Yin and Yang." Yumi was confused about it.
"They are one of them as part of their philosophy," Shiki nodded in agreement with Gekkous statement, although she decided to shut her mouth as why she didn't mentioned about the Korean part before she'll get cancelled. Sighing in relief, she decided to tell them, "So, would ya gals come with us~?"
"Eh? You don't have any grudge on us, senpai?" Senkou had a baffled reaction because of what they did. However, Yumi and Shiki shaking their heads indicating there is no reason to resent them as they are fellow Gessen students after all. The moonlight girl smiled a bit, this time without any hidden thoughts.
"All right Senpai~ We have to ask Fubuki-sama though."
"My cousin?" Yumi hummed and shaking her head, knowing very well that she can trust with family, "There is not need for that. I think she can trust me. After all, we are family."
"That's Yumi-chin for ya~"
"We will come with you," Senkou has made up her mind and facing the two seniors, "That man can actually fight since he can dodge my attack."
"Dodge? A traveling monk can dodge a shinobi's attack?" Yumi raised her left eyebrow and crossed her arms, "It looks like they still exist today but well hidden in the modern society."
"Shall we go now?" Gekkou was waiting for the decision of Yumi.
"Yes. Let's go," The four girls left the building and was ready to find the onmyouji if that person really exist or is a matter of figment imagination.
Meanwhile (Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan)
After he took the train from Kyoto to Osaka... All the way to Tokyo. He's still wearing the traveling monks attire, as Roukuro looked at the buildings and skyscrapers to which people were on the rush hour and still doing a mantra while walking to avoid any disaster. Humming, the teen could feel an omnious aura surrounding the area and sighs deeply with lament.
"The Youma, huh? They are very similar to that of the Ayakashi, Youkai and Mononoke."
He noticed that the area becomes blood red and he could hear screams of fear and terror, to which it wasn't even new to him. It was becoming a shinobi barrier in which he haven't felt it before since the barrier he created was only based on fighting the supernatural, not humans.
'Its been awhile that I'm gonna put youma's to rest for good. They aren't like the famous vengeful ghost of Oiwa after all,' Roukuro thought and was gonna get a lot of paper charms to exorcise the youma's and perform the sutras that was taught on the temple. Taking deep breaths, his concentration went up to the roof while holding the rod on the left, paper charms on the right.
The youmas were going after him and he threw the charms into their foreheads with accuracy and was doing to pray their souls to exorcise them. Normally, youmas won't be affected by this... But because they a tormented souls, it will work. This cause all the low leveled youmas to stop in their tracks as Roukuro is ready to do a prayer against them.
'Gokito... Start...!'
He can hear the shrill cries of those youmas to indicate that they want him to start. But, he doesn't even want to stop. Why stop now when you are going to put them into rest and ward off against evil? As the exorcism continues, surprisingly, Yumi and the others arrived went in into the barrier and they are surprised that this monk really exist while Gekkou and Senkou knew he isn't ordinary from the start. Shiki is starting to analyze as to why he does it.
'Gokito? Ain't that a thing when you are at the temple to perform the people who are in need of happiness, great luck for their business, warding off bad spirits and stuff? Who the hell is this dude?'
After 10 minutes, the youmas were gone and exorcised as he saw four ladies to which he groaned and he thinks they'll attack him due to his ability to fight youmas.
'Hey hey... Isn't this an overkill for me? These girls are too strong and I can sense it in their auras.'
"Wait!" Senkou told him to stop whatever he is plan to hear them out, "Are you the same onmyouji that me and Gekkou have met when we are searching Fubuki-sama?!"
"You must be the guy that we have found on the trails of the mountains! Are we wrong?" Gekkou added and she wanted to confirm if that was him.
"Gekkou-san... Senkou-san..." The man raised his eyebrow to which Yumi and Shiki were looking at their juniors. He decides to pretend to not know them despite the two knows him only by coincidence.
'It seems that they are here, huh? Tsk, I must remain my identity as a secret before telling them the truth. Early announcement could mean trouble. Too bad, now, I decided that I can't visit Gessen at the moment.'
"He seems to have known you two," Before they can continue their conversation, Roukuro threw four paper charms while reciting a haiku for them and moving his hands for a spell activation.
"You girls must be mistaken. I don't know any of you," He retorts while thinking that they must forget about him.
'Forget everything you see. I'm just an illusion.'
「気になるさ、無謀な思想、光見て〜」"Curiosity, such a reckless idea, just look at the light〜"
"What the-?!" The girls were surprised before the charm activates a bright light forcing them to cover their eyes to which they didn't see it coming.
"Damn it, he blinded us! That coward!" Senkou grits her teeth, covering her eyes against the light. The rest screamed to how much light it burst. After a few seconds... He was gone. Shiki was the first one to apologize.
"Sorry Yumi-chin. I didn't took a picture of him before he can perform his attack."
"It can't be helped Shiki-san. He isn't an ordinary person," The leader shakes her head.
'That haiku... Could it be... Roukuro-san?!'
'Let's not assume that its him Gekkou. Our senpais don't know who he is.'
The two already knew who Roukuro is, but they only know his occupation and his name. Even if they remember the first time they met, they aren't even sure if he's words are worth believing. Before the half sisters can collect their thoughts, Yumi and Shiki called them and their mission wasn't successful.
"We failed our mission to gather any information from him."
"Senpai!" Gekkou shouts in disbelief and she thinks they didn't fail totally. When she thinks about it, that guy made a mistake because of the haiku.
"To become a elite shinobi, you must taste defeat and failure to gain experience."
"Y...Ye-yes." The sisters just nodded and didn't bother to make a protest. Shiki streches herself up and yawned, thinking that the mission is over without success for now.
"Don't be glum and all~ At least we had fun on our mission, right~?"
As much as Yumi would protest and rant at Shiki's antics, she made a fair point. The purpose for the mission is to gather information about Roukuro and his identity. They know a bit from Gekkou and Senkou that these two have met for a bit when they are lost at the woods in Kyoto. Speaking of that boy, he groaned and clicking his tongue as a sign he made a mistake.
'Not good. I recited a haiku and I know both Gekkou-san and Senkou-san picked it up fast and know that it was me. Those two are prodigies to begin with.'
Roukuro closed his eyes and takes a deep breath to regain his composure. He began to wonder what would be the roles of shinobi and onmyouji? Ever since the existance of the onmyouji, their role was similar to that of fortune telling in the west. Was the onmyoujis teachings all gone due to it being a supersition in the 19th century? Roukuro shakes his head and he doesn't accept it. However, he has shinobi allies to count on and yet, even they must protect his secret.
'Mikagura Sisters. I haven't seen them for a long time.'
After this, he left to find others if they need in his service.
At an Ancient Temple
While preparing themselves to meditate, a brown haired battle hungry lady was twirling her sticks because they haven't seen Roukuro for a long time. What was their friendship to the onmyouji was unknown but it is known they are very close friends since forever. Renka, the eldest of the group smirked and looking at the two girls in front of her.
"Listen up~! We must protect Roukuro's identity at all cost~!"
"That guy who acts like he's from the Heian Period?" A small dirty blonde short pigtail haired girl named Kafuru raised her eyebrow and looking at the two, "I can do that. How about you two?"
"Don't worry about me!" The middle sister, Hanabi points at herself with confidence with a huge smile on her face, "I'll slam their faces with my hammer if they will try and force us to leak Rou-kun's information!"
"Don't use violence you idiot!" Kafuru rants before telling them about how ignorant Roukuro is about technology since he's only staying at the temple for his entire life, "Does anyone of you even teached him how to use a phone or two?"
Worried that he would be lost since he doesn't bring or even buy a map, Renka sweatdropped and groaned, "Oh yeah. He only uses scrolls and letters as a way of communication."
Afar from the Mikagura were two girls who also cleanse the youma, but in a different way than Roukuro's. A black haired beauty, Kagura was thinking since the onmyodou didn't truly died out. Smirking a bit, she wonders about the great people in Japan during her time and of course, she knows what the onmyouji are capable of and studied it as well which is why she was known as "The Woman who cleanses the Youma."
'Abe no Seimei's and his teachings huh? The famous onmyouji who transformed Japan into what it is today. Same with his master, Kamou no Yasunori and his family. They are great men when I was a mortal in the past.'
"Kagura," A short stoic green haired girl, Naraku from the Goshin Clan bowed and was curious about her superiors thoughts, "What are you thinking as of now?"
"...Hmph," She looks at her and hummed, "... Just about the great people in the past."
"I see. Kagura, what do you think of that onmyouji?"
"He's like me," Sighing, she looks at the sky, "However, reviving Abe no Seimei's teachings to the public won't work in today's age."
"Superstition, huh?" Nakaru smiled a bit in a grim manner. The Mikagura group wished for Roukuro to be safe and not getting himself in harm and danger. They are like him, to make sure that the youmas won't come back. For Roukuro, he sees the youma the same as the youkai, ayakashi and mononoke.
Glossary Info:
- Onmyoudou follows Taoism, Buddhism and Confusianism which is different from Roukuro, who practices solely only on Buddhism.
- 南無阿弥陀仏(Namu Amida Butsu): Some won't understand what it means, but in Buddhism, it means to trust Amida to help us reach to Nirvana and to avoid any casualities or bad luck that comes in our way.
- Heart Sutra (般若心経(Hannyashingo): A famous Sutra that is still practiced today. It explains perfectly the teaching of non-attachment, which is essentially the doctrine of emptiness.
- In Japanese Haiku, you need to add nature(Flowers, Stone, Mountains, Grass as example) and elements(Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Gold, Wood for example) on your words and it has to be in 5-7-5 (In Japanese. English Haiku would sound a bit weird if it doesn't match in the original language).
- Traveling Monks(Warrior Monks(僧兵))are a thing in Japan, but their goals are much different from the past (From Heian Era to Ashikaga Era (The beginning where the Samurai have much power(It originally started in the Kamakura Period.)), some would get killed if it doesn't favor to the Daimyo/Bakufu (The Shogun becomes more famous during the Sengoku Era(When Oda Nobunaga's forces fought them in Mt. Hiei.).) since they too practice divination.
- About the Meiji Era, Western influence creeped in Japan that Ninjas were considered as a myth about doing jutsus, magic and stuff. Even onmyouji's are like entertainment as well. The girls were like influenced by Takeda Shingen's kunoichis that disappeared in history after he died.
- 百物語怪談会(Hyakumonogatarikaidankai): Also known as the 100 candles Japanese ghost stories which it is actually a scary game that is still being retold till today. One famous retold story is the 四谷怪談(Yotsuya Kaidan), a story about the Vengeful Ghost of Oiwa, haunting her husband for all eternity after what he did to her.
A/N: Thank you for reading this story. To be honest, writing the story was too hard to begin with. A lot of research about Buddhism, how Japanese haiku works. While I'm trying my best to make the story to be in tact with the canon as much as possible, Japanese myth, history, stories and such is the main thing. Most of these takes place of the New Link series, but I have to add also the previous franchises as well. The feeling of the story would be like Deep Crimson, since it focused on youmas and clensing it.