Kagurazaka Shopping District: Asakusa, Tokyo Japan
The Onmyouji. Who are they? They are in Japan way before the Shinobi even existed. Nowadays, they are gone in the 19th century in similar fashion as the Samurai and Ninja. Now in the streets, Roukuro is still wearing his traveling monk attire to avoid being accused as a "Cult Leader" of a strange religion. He successfully ran away from the four shinobi of Gessen. He knew that he made a mistake of performing a haiku in front of Gekkou and Senkou because they heard of it once and probably will remember it. He sighed and thinks.
'This is not good. My abilities are that of a spellcaster in the modern era, in short, a sorcerer.'
Sighing in relief, he noticed a girl running past by as he noticed some details. She has short brown hair with hairbands on the side of her head while hearing her screaming that she's gonna be late. The onmyouji hummed and sighs because he asked to himself while trying to use his phone despite having no knowledge about it. It can't be helped given the fact he was in the temple, mountains and nature for a long time.
'This gadget is called "cellphone"... How to use this weird thing? Wait, the sisters told me to text me.'
With all this confusion about the world of cellular phones and stuff, one girl felt really bad for him due to his ignorance of the modern world. She had pink hair with blue eyes and had a pink four shaped flower iris, titling her head before she was stopped by a white haired girl with an eyepatch as her red left eye glaring at the man before looking at her companion.
"Hibari, don't talk to strangers. Who knows what he'll do to you."
"Yagyuu-chan. Hibari feels bad for the weird monk man who doesn't know how to use a cellphone."
"Monk?" The stoic girl, Yagyuu scans the guy and even doubted if he was one due to his young age. Then again, monks entering the temple to be enlightened is started at a very young age similar to China, "Who are you?"
"Hmmmm?" Roukuro faced the two girls, who happens to be shinobis from another school to which he normally responded to, "I'm just a traveling monk, wandering in the city," Trying to persuade and convince both Yagyuu and Hibari using his words, the eyepatch girl is too sharp for her own good and still doubting about this guy. She questioned if this guy was just an ordinary traveling monk.
"Traveling Monk, huh?"
"Yes. Just a traveling monk."
"To be honest," Raising an eyebrow, Yagyuu made a statement, "You look way too young to be a traveling monk."
"This has been practiced ever since the late Kamakura Period. Besides, I'm not a warrior monk like Benkei."
"A Komusou huh? Well, you don't have a flute(specifically, a shakuhachi) and a tengai to cover your face."
"I'm just wearing a regular straw hat, not like a full fledge komusou," While still ignorant to technology, he can tell the time because he was taught really hard by his friends. He asked the duo, "Don't you have class? I mean, you look like students."
"Hmmmm?" Before Yagyuu can complain, she shakes her head and huffed, "Damn it, I got too distracted. Let's go Hibari!" As for the pink haired girl, she was surprised the eyepatch lady run as fast as she can because this prodigy is punctual and doesn't want to be late. The serious girl wondered about the mystery of Roukuro.
'I'm a hundred percent sure he's not a komusou. Who is this guy? What are his goals?'
'Hibari finds him mysterious. She's curious.'
Hanzou Academy (Secret Shinobi Area)
A white haired man crossed his arms and the rumors about an onmyouji returning to the modern world peeked his curiosity. He knows they are no longer around and was replaced by monks in the temple, to which he acts as one. Kiriya, a shinobi teacher hummed and wondered.
'Onmyouji? It looks like they are back from the dead ever since they are gone in the 19th century and wanted to help the people in need.'
Before he finished his train of thoughts, he can hear a girl screaming and apologizing to him. A refined black haired lady read a pocket book, who also had her tea ready, meditating, listening to whatever the discussion is brought to the table. Suddenly, a long blonde haired girl went from behind to fondle the breasts of the girl who is being late.
"You're sooooo late~! Time for a massage~!"
"Kyaaaa~!" The girl whined and trying to be free from her seniors grasp, "Le-Let go of me Katsu-nee~! T-That's not a massage!"
"No no~" The teasing blonde, Katsuragi grinned and just didn't care at the moment, "This massage will be a stress reliever though~"
"Stop this at once, Katsuragi-san!" The black haired lady, Ikaruga demands because of this indecent scenario and also the noise that bothered her ears, "Asuka-san doesn't look too happy with your so-called "massage"!"
Kiriya sighs, shaking his head letting the girls to prepare themselves as usual. Of course, Yagyuu and Hibari finally arrived to dicuss about the rumored "onmyouji" and as usual, the white haired lady bowed in apology for being late and the pink haired girl followed as always. But, now is not the time to blame on ones self because they had important things to do. Katsu stopped since the teacher was getting serious, before Asuka could sigh herself in relief.
'Yes. Freedom!'
"Forget about being late," Kiriya closed his eyes before facing his students, "We have heard of the news about an onmyouji in the country."
"Sensei," While Ikaruga have known about onmyoujis before, she haven't seen someone with the abilities of Abe no Seimei to continue his work,"Onmyoujis? Aren't they gone in the 19th century in this country?"
"That's a given. But, the fact there are rumors someone exorcised the youma with ease without even damaging them by neither using weapons or ninpos."
"Also, I happen to pass by a traveling monk before arriving here," Yagyuu added in her own details. Hibari smiles and also adds in too.
"Hibari sees him as a guy who is bad at technology and he needs me and Yagyuu-chan's help~"
"Traveling monk?" Kiriya raised an eyebrow, eyeing on both first years when the duo have met Roukuro in a traveling monk attire. Katsuragi have thought that was just an ordinary one since they have met them when they are a walking, doing alms as always.
"Dunno 'bout that ya two. Ain't that dude just an ordinary traveling monk?"
"He looks suspicious. He has a vibe that he experieced exorcising youmas before. No traveling monk ever have that spiritual power to do so," Yagyuu stated about her meet with Roukuro.
The eyepatch girls' faith was convicing that Roukuro didn't come to Tokyo, just to experience city life and do spiritual work as a "monk". Ikaruga can sense it first, followed by the teacher and the others as she nodded
"You may have a point Yagyuu-san. But for now, let's listen to Asuka-san and her information."
"Ye-Yeah," Asuka smiles sheepishly, "My grandfather even said that onmyoujis are a thing in the past now since we have monks in the temple to help get rid of bad luck. I even heard about great stories of Abe no Seimei and his journey."
"Abe no Seimei? That great onmyouji who helped shaped Japan back in the Heian Period?" Kiriya, along with the girls are interested if Asuka had the knowledge of the great onmyouji. Then again, she must ask her grandmother, Sayuri about the onmyouji and what they do way before they, the shinobis existed.
Ikaruga nodded and hummed, wondering about Asuka's knowledge and information about the onmyoujis and their history. The blonde yawned and didn't seem to care for a bit, finding it boring for her standards. Then again, she had to listen to get the information she needs. Asuka would be the one to tell the main stuff. While Ikaruga, Yagyuu and Kiriya would add details to this legacy of the onmyouji.
"Abe no Seimei is perhaps the most famous onmyōji in Japanese history. A descendent of the famous poet Abe no Nakamaro."
"Who now?" Katsuragi was confused, probably because she never listens to class unless it is related to kick ass. Ikaruga reprimands her to listne or she'll get the information she wants when they finally met that rumored onmyouji, returning to the modern era.
"Possibly his ancestor," Yagyuu sighs and shaking her head.
"Let's say, he's a genius," Asuka sweat dropped and chuckled nervously, trying her best to remember what her grandpa told her about Abe no Seimei, "Let's continue... Due to his success as an astrologer and diviner, he was widely believed to be a genius—and a wielder of magical powers and secret knowledge."
Since the second year girl didn't study the entire thing, Asuka was begging for the trio to help her telling the details of Abe no Seimei and why would someone continue his sworn duty as an onmyouji. Ikaruga chuckled nervously and decided to continue the details causing Kiriya to wonder if he would add to his knowledge since the girls have their interpretation as well.
After Sometime...
The discussion about Abe no Seimei and his history/legend was heard, Katsu groaned as she find it boring because there was not much action from the greatest onmyouji of all. Other than him against his rival, Ashiya Douman, she wasn't really paying much attention. Hibari hummed while she's eating her sweets to which she wondered about Roukuro and his ideals, why he chose to follow the steps of Abe no Seimei since she's hearing Yagyuu's side about the story. Kiriya in his thoughts about the mystery... Who was that onmyouji that the shinobi world is talking about.
'Onmyouji? They have risen again... Gone in the 19th century, reappeared in the modern times.'
The shinobi and kunoichi were down to face someone whose teachings are over a thousand years old, secretly practiced today. Katsuragi smirked, cracking her knuckles who rules the fight: bare-handed, onmyouji magic. Although it sucks for her to not reminding herself as that badass oni who loves to fight and drink a lot of alcohol, yet not the ways if ever she knows the original version. Asuka took a deep breath, nervous because it would be her first time to face an onmyouji, if they manage to catch him.
"Gee, I know about the Onmyoujis during my studies at school about history but I never see them in action," While the Frog recalls about the Mikagura sisters, they aren't female onmyoujis to begin with for they don't use any talismans or traditional exorcism of the youma, they kill the youmas where they'll revive in an endless cycle due to anger, revenge, sadness and any of the negative energy.
Katsuragi never bothered to listen in class as she was grinning, waiting to get into action and couldn't wait for it. While Ikaruga, curious of how the onmyouji fight in the past as she was looking forward to see an actual exorcism of a youma to ease their souls of negativity. Hibari... Well, she's also curious if their summonings could become her allies as well. Her eyes were special because once mastered, she could control them with ease and it was unknown if ancient onmyoujis (Even the once who are way old in the era) can be controlled. Yagyuu on the other hand, while she remains focused on the mission to get their information about that said onmyouji, she makes sure Hibari won't be in harms way in any manner.
'We will now go to one of Tokyo's haunted sites, Okutama Ropeway. I sense that area is filled with Youmas and any other form of supernatural beings. Will this even prove that modern fighting onmyoujis even exists, even in today's time?'
Okutama Ropeway (Tokyo, Japan)
After being convinced by Renka or Kafuru to download maps on his phone with a crapton of guide, Roukuro could see the rust and nature taking over to which he squints his eyes as this place is now a haunted place. He hummed and wondered how did he managed to get there.
'The Mikagura Sisters knows about the Okutama Ropeway... Its been awhile that I have my mission to exorcise any bad supernatural beings, man or woman. Then again, I have to listen to their reason first,' He was on the entrance and noticed it was all rusted, looks like it will crumble and roots of trees sometimes went in the building. He hummed that this place would become a local spot to those who wants to see the lake. Now, it was like a desert.
Flashback (Shinjuku Tokyo, Japan)
Roukuro heard his phone ringing and obviously, it was one of the Mikagura who'll tell him about communicating to people who are from the city since they are different from those who are in the temple. He hummed and he answered the phone
"Hello?"
'Oi Roukuro! Why didn't you get or even download maps on your phone!?' Kafuru was on the line, showing her frustration to this old-head onmyouji, who is ironically born in the modern era. The old fashioned boy groaned, apologizing.
"I apologize for forgetting."
'It doesn't matter,' He can hear Renka chuckling, to make him feel she's gonna root him all the way, even with his now limited knowledge of technology, 'What we can do is to help you out to give you awareness in today's society. Geez, you've been staying in the temple for too long.'
"I know," Roukuro sighed, hearing his friends reminding him and even scolding him in Kafuru's part. Hearing relief on his side, he reminded the girls, "I'm going to this abandoned cable car to find any sign of them."
'Rou-kun is going to find abandoned places to find youma's~' Hanabi giggled to which Kafuru told her to shut her mouth for awhile since only they in the shinobi world knows that he's an onmyouji. Renka smirked and being the hot-blooded girl that she is, she wants to go and exorcise the demons.
'Go and get them Roukuro!'
'Dokan!'
'Stop that you two!' Kafuru reprimanded the duo and sighs, shaking her head and she wasn't sure if the boy is being carried away due to his confidence to his abilities or he's too loyal to the words of Abe no Seimei, 'You're going to Okutama Roadway? Why do you have to find any abandoned areas here in Japan?'
"As an onmyouji, it is my duty to exorcise any demented beings to regain their peace and end their grudge to return to the world of the living and stay in the afterlife. Whether they are youma, youkai, ayakashi or mononoke."
When hearing his words on the phone, of course Hanabi made it loudspeak so that everyone can hear what he said. However, Kagura closed her eyes and wondering if this onmyouji's mission would do the exact opposite or a great success. Naraku as well, oh so curious to be on the field with Roukuro about exorcising disturbed beings of the dead. Kafuru groaned, the onmyouji is stubborn to deal with and just hoped for the best.
'Well, I hope you'll give them peace that they'll finally rest for good.'
"No worries," He gave all of them his assurance he won't die in any way, "Their spirits deserve to have a good rest for real."
Kafuru hanged up the call and sighs, wondering what would Sayuri/Jasmine would think about the exorcising of demons since they too, have youma friends to which he'll misunderstood them as forces of evil who'll destroy humanity. Renka wanted to get into the action and jump in to crush those demons in the way in the same thing as Hanabi, only adding fireworks on her arsenal. Speaking of which, Sayuri came out of the temple and decided to speak up, starting with an order.
"One of you has to look for Roukuro. If that onmyouji fights with someone who can deal with his power, he'll be in trouble."
"Maybe I can observe him, Sayuri-sama," Naraku raised her hand and offered to which Kagura smirked that finally, she'll see what the onmyouji can do since her abilities to exorcise youmas are far different than his. The old lady nodded and requesting her to just observe him. Naraku left and she's observing someone who isn't Kagura is very rare moment.
'Kagura's power, Roukuro's onmyoudou. Let's see how it goes.'
Flashback Ended
Roukuro sweatdropped that everyone is worried about him like he's a sacred treasure. Then again, onmyoujis doesn't exist anymore in today's society. He closed his eyes, meditating to feel the errie to this area which was once a local site in the 1960's. He hummed with a haiku.
「観察に、火を見つけたら、危ないなぁ」For Observation, finding something on fire, its so dangerous."
Focusing his surroundings, he noticed that the machineries in that cart is gonna be functioning to which he smiled a bit, witnessing that there are female youmas and some youkai would try to revive the area. He noticed, some have died in the area without giving their closure. His concentration went up as he really means of not giving any room of error on his part.
'Hmm, are they the deceased people who wanted this place to be revived like the 60s? Or, they just wanted it to be haunted and the rumored "Tokyo's Desert" will be dangerous to be reliving the country's glory?'
Taking a deep breath, he even sensed someone is watching him and stopped on trying to exocise these demons. Arriving and immediately hiding in the braches, Naraku, looking at the site afar impressed that he noticed her. She hummed, eating gum to which she wanted to join in exorcising the spirits. But she decides to wait for Roukuro's decision if he will listen to their reason or not. It was different from them since Youma's with pure hatred will come back to the world of the living like a vengeful ghost. This guy? He'll try to put them into rest for good.
He went near to those demons and the talismans are floating around him in case they'll attack him, he asked them like any monk would do. But, his job was different from them.
"Are you the same youma's and youkai who want to revive this place?"
Suddenly, the female Youma who was once a costumer looked at him with a sense of regret or anger. Her face has cuts and her body had a huge slash or impalement on the gut, showing guts on the floor, hanging and blood was spilled in there. She looked like a zombie, but the difference is that she had conscience of a youma. She stared at the handsome onmyouji, snarling at his attire and his talisman.
"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, ONMYOUJI!"
'Hmmmm?' Keeping his calm at the grotesque sight of this youma, he can sense that she's just a ghost, lamenting as to why the lake dried out early and the people didn't worked hard for it,'Youma, How can you be so sure that I'm an onmyouji? I'm just an ordinary traveling monk, curious about the dead and their ambitions as to why they are still here in the world of living.'
"YOUR AURA IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF A MONK."
Naraku sensed that the youma didn't attack the onmyouji, rather than hearing the monsters out and judge if they'll be exorcised in a horrific way or in a peaceful manner. She was baffled, how can this guy talk to unreasonable beings without being attacked? She saw how Kagura operate to kill the youmas without hearing any words from them, but this guy can see the good or bad of the dead. If bad overcomes the good, he would exocrise them. Good? He'll put them to rest, having peaceful thoughts as well
'This guy... What are you? Such amazing resolve and calmness to face a youma without attacking them via reflex.'
"YOU DON'T ATTACK ME, HUH? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US?"
'Interesting question you have there, youma. Do you have any regrets when you are alive? Or grudges that you want to let go?'
He sees that the youma had electricity around her, along with blood as well to which he wondered if she commited the unthinkable or she was murdered by someone or something. Roukuro took a deep breath, facing the youma and the monsters stare at him, deciding not to touch him.
"WHY DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?" The youma asked with poison coating in her voice, trying to attack him but is afraid to get exorcised.
'I just want to help you and end your suffering, knowing why your soul didn't rest for good.'
Enraged by the remarks mae by the onmyouji, the youma roared and she dashed in to kill this bastard, using her claws and wanting to call for backup if he attacks. Roukuro was surprised by such speed of this spirit, causing him to back step, pulling out a paper tailsman in his left sleeve. Naraku squints her eyes and silently looking out for him.
'Youmas! How will Roukuro deal with them? I know he deals it like an onmyouji would do. But, does he have the battle sense in him?'
With such hand speed, the young man grits his teeth and clicked his tongue as he threw the paper with speed before casting an onmyoudou spell. The paper turned into flaming serpents to trap the enemies while burning them up. However, the youma uses electricity to counter his spells and the bolt of lightning and the fire snake collied and blows up the place. The female youma smirked with a crazy grin on her, looking at the onmyouji like he's gonna be her next victim.
"WHAT'S WRONG? CAN'T HANDLE A YOUMA LIKE ME?"
'This youma is filled with anger in her heart. I have to soothen it before this park becomes a forbidden haunted area.' While the onmyouji was thinking about stopping the monsters grudge, the female youma shoots out lightning to kill the guy. Roukuro, being an experienced onmyouji throws some talisman to defend himself from the attack as the lightning and the paper charm to collide, causing it to explode. Gritting his teeth, feeling the pain of the impact while stepping back, he can feel Naraku's presense in the area.
'Naraku-san. If you are here and if anyone comes in this area, you can explain to those kunoichi what's going on... But "NEVER" tell about the appearance of an onmyouji here.'
Standing on the branches while keeping her presense hidden from everyone with the exception of the boy, Naraku can also feel the presense of Roukuro while she can feel the onmyoudo spell. It was different from the usual ninpos they do, it was more on cleansing youma spirits deep within their souls of the past. She was preparing her metal balls, ready to crush any demon once they harm the onmyouji.
'You shouldn't be reckless, Roukuro.'
As the fight goes on, the youma's army of demons were relishing the thought of killing an onmyouji, "that" onmyouji who followed the steps of Abe no Seimei. Chanting, praying to get rid of the youma's, he started throwing the paper talisman like a dart as one monster got hit in the forehead, starting the chants without any hesitation. A male demon roared, trying to get rid of the paper but only burned his soul as blue flames came out. He then mumbled while there is something on his mind
'While the Mikagura sisters were interested of the ways of the onmyouji, its study is an impossible task for those who didn't know the cause as to why youmas were a results of a dead woman or man leaving with negativity until the day they die.'
Chanting to give the female youma and her spirit a rest, ear spliting screams were heard of the area and Naraku understands why an onmyouji would give some disturbed spirits the proper rest they deserve. The woman and her allies of demons, covering their eyes because of the light emitted by the talisman as they represent the darkness, ready to kill any living beings. He gave her his piece of mind, giving the final message.
'Youma, you have done enough to relieve your anger by making this place haunted and the place would have lose its glory back in the day. Rest now, your family needs your soul at peace. Disappear your vengeance in your heart and soul.'
After that, the woman screamed and he had talismans floating, becoming a powerful light, causing other demons or monsters to disappear without a trace which makes Naraku a bit interested and understands the reason why Kagura find this boy interesting. Sometime, the youma becomes a normal woman in spirit form who happens to wear like a normal office lady. She looks at Roukuro, smiling and was relieved that her soul can rest for good, something that the onmyouji wants.
"Thank you so much onmyouji. Without you, I'll be a tormented soul roaming in this area and be lost forever. You saved my soul from eternal damnation."
'I have no problem with that. I'm just doing my duty to avoid an endless cycle of bloodshed.'
Naraku studied and hummed, observing of Roukuro and the youma that he saved who is ready to go to the other side, not returning to the human world. She have experienced on killing them and like a vengeful ghost, they just come plan is to inform Kagura on how to make youmas disappear, never to return to the world of the living. As for that woman, she disappeared and Roukuro was left alone, calling out Naraku at her hiding place, "Naraku-san, you can come out now."
The Goshin Clan female just appeared out of the blue and she was a bit impressed of how he exorcise youmas.
"You really are something else, Onmyouji."
"Again, Keep my presence a secret until the time is right."
"When will that be to reveal the hidden side of the onmyouji?" Crossing her arms, the woman analyzed the boy while he just shakes his head due to how will the Shinobi world react to see an actual onmyouji in the scenes, "I get it. You only want us to gather every information we get about the onmyouji until it is enough for us to know about their work and the reason of cleasing any unclean soul."
"More like, avoid misunderstandings from any side of the party."
He turned his back on Naraku and just using a ton of talisman and the result? He was gone. Naraku sighs and shaking her head, never understanding what was his goal to begin. Then again, he won't show his cards and carefully analyzing his plans, avoiding to be found at all. The Goshin girl wouldn't want to leave her traces behind for other factions to know as promised by Roukuro.
Few Minutes have passed
Asuka and the others arrived at the Okutama Pathway, surprised to see it does look haunted. It was not the same as that from the 60s, Katsuragi whistled and looking at the sight of the cart all rusty, place looks broken down and she noticed Hibari can feel it being once haunted by a former youma. She wanted to summon Ninto for inspection, but Yagyuu stopped her from doing it.
"Guys, it looks like an abandoned area here." Asuka stated, noticing nature is taking over.
"This place..." Ikaruga hummed and curious if the comglomerate have any involvement in the area. Katsuragi wasn't feeling all gropy and would want to investigate the place as well. She thought, noticing youmas didn't appear like they used to be and it didn't return to this place.
'I think someone exorcised the youma and I'm sure its not a shinobi.'
"Asuka, can you visit your grandmother and ask her about the existance of an onmyouji without relying on the legend?" Yagyuu suggeted and the Frog user hummed, smiling seeing that this could be a great idea.
"Yeah! It would give us more clues!"
Somewhat at the far area of the location of the finished exorcism, Naraku sees that it was only the matter of time before Roukuro's existance will be discovered and he won't be hiding anything from them. She sighs, before leaving for good as the boy and his identity is safe for the time being.
Glossary Info:
- In Japan, religion is like a taboo or something that is not worth mentioning, due to the connections of "Cults" and other weird religions in the country. It was because of a 1995 incident where the "Union Church" did this crime.
- Benkei(Real Name: Saitou Musashibou Benkei(斎藤武蔵坊弁慶) was a legendary Warrior Monk during the late Heian Period and he was a rival of Minamoto Yoshitsune when he tried to killed him and lost that battle, thus turned into a loyal friend of Yoshitsune until his death in 1189.
- Komusou(虚無僧): While nobody knows when it started, some would say it started during the late Kamakura Period when a Japanese monk returned back to China with a flute. The Predecessors were from the Ashikaga Period, but these group of monks became famous in the Edo Period. They are like beggar monks for alms, for the sake of enlightenment.
- Tengai(天蓋): A kind of straw hat that covers the entire face except for the mouthpiece where the monk could play the flute.
- Ashiya Douman (蘆屋道満): He's also known as Douman Houshi (道満法師)(But, some researchers said that it wasn't his other name.). He was born from the Heian Period, but his years in that time, his activity and even his later years until his death remains unknown. He's known as Abe no Seimei's rival and while his onmyoudo isn't inferior and weak compared to his rival, he's only second place behind the man.
- In Kagura's thoughts, she experienced about those monsters that even if they are exorcised by onmyoujis(Back in the Heian Period) or Monks, they would come back for vengeance. (Example: 御霊(Gouryou are more on the higher ranks like 平将門: Taira no Masakado) or the famous 怨霊(Onryou).)
- Shuten Douji (酒呑童子): Known as a "little drunk", "Drunken Demon of Kyoto" was known to be the most evil bastard in Japanese Myth (Even when he humans, he just loves to create mischief) The girl have watched anime and said that he's a badass and was different from the original version of this Oni.
A/N: Thank you for reading the story. Again, this is close on talking about Japanese history and what was his true intentions are. Also, the girls are also knowledgable to these talks, which they aren't ignorant as well and discussed about Abe no Seimei's life and his legacy.