Two Hundred And Ninety-One

Two Hundred And Ninety-One

“... long hath the Hyakki Yagyō endured...” Uranai continued, her prophecy spilling from perfect lips. “... yet time drains as sand from an hourglass, soon to be spent.” Her eyes went vacant, as if she was watching something far distant, and I caught flickers of violet and gold within them. “Verily, within the shallow tides across the ocean a great beast lurks, harbinger of a darker fate for the spirits of the land the Gods called the Rising Sun.” Uranai shuddered, her already shaky legs vibrating alarmingly. “Gleaming eyes of gold, and a rapacious hunger, no boundaries does it or shall its greed know.”

That sounds a little similar to what Matsumuro-san said, regarding Princess Mikasa. Though there seems to be a little more detail. As I thought that, Nurarihyon raised one eyebrow at me questioningly, while he stroked at the handle of the conjured cleaver wistfully. I get it. I’ll keep silent for now...

“... already cause swirls endlessly, fixed into immutable event. The hunger devoured carelessly, and other lives were drawn into the maelstrom. A being of such fell power, it can never be satisfied with meagre spoils. And events... already set... progress.” Uranai blew out a long shuddering breath, close to a moo. “... those bound to they who call themselves Divine, scattered by the winds whipped up by this descent, that shattered the Boundary like a falling star, Prithee, they shall cross the seas and clash with others like them, and the Hyakki Yagyō too. Blood shall rain on Kyoto, city of countless shrines, and Yokai will perish, yet Yokai such as we hath always died, one day perhaps to be born anew.”

I see. I think that must be the event that Matsumuro-san fears. This is good information. I’m grateful, even if their hospitality leaves a little to be desired. Crossing the sea and ‘bound to those who call themselves Divine’, well, coupled with the Red Dragon, that made our prior speculations look more likely.

“... no, verily, we must dread the stirring of the hunger, and what comes in its wake. For the fell beast will be aroused by those fleeing insects, and will see sweeter prey. And against such, we are helpless, for this hunger is a being that should not be, it hath no place in this sheltered world.” Uranai slumped down, momentarily spent by the effort of her visions.

“Ominous.” Nurarihyon proclaimed. “Though isolated within my world here, I have felt the rippling echoes of something powerful recently. I wondered if some fool using borrowed Divinity was kicking up a needless fuss, but it seems something worse has descended.”

“What do you wish for, dear? You look downhearted, please wish!” Seirei proclaimed, her face downcast. Well, in this light they do look like husband and wife. It’s actually... a little cute.

Nurarihyon snorted. “Perhaps for the power to easily defeat this creature, no, such a wish is too greedy, my dear.” He reached out and ruffled her hair, disarraying her ribbon headdress, which she fixed with her small hands. “No, perhaps...” he turned to me, an amused yet evil expression on his face that caused me to shiver. “... what would you wish for?” he asked me, as Uranai remained silent barring soft, fatigued moo’s.

Me? Okay, I know how this goes. Making wishes with Yokai is only going to backfire, but... Nurarihyon’s hand was on the handle of the cleaver, and I knew he could split me in half before I could even react if he wanted. Shaeula had told me about the power of the Queen of the Fae, and Ulfuric had mentioned the dreadful power of the Fomorans who destroyed his home, but I had got a little cocky after my recent victories and had believed I was a top-tier combatant. But meeting the numbers of the Night Parade, and most of all, these three... well, it’d be just as foolish to start considering myself weak, as I’m clearly not, but... I have a long way to go, and beings that can squash me like a bug if they wish are out there, possibly many of them. “It would be presumptuous for me to make any wishes, especially since I’m sure your wife only wants to grant yours, uh, Lord, Nurarihyon.” I stumbled over his title, deciding at the last minute to address him respectfully. As I declined the wish his grip tightened on the handle, so I made my pitch. “So, I believe it should be you who makes such a request. Though I like to think as the husband of Shaeula, the Seventy-First, I could be an honorary member of your Parade, it is still too presumptuous. However, I would advise...” I was clear to stress it was only advice. “... if you don’t want to be greedy, then why not wish for the help of those who can stand against the oncoming disaster?” I’ve learned. I can’t do everything alone. I’m guessing even those with real power such as Nurarihyon can’t.

“You think I haven’t done that?” Nurarihyon laughed. “My dear, I wish to know who can aid us, and how they can be swayed to our cause.”

“You already wished for that.” Seirei pouted. “And we stayed in Kyoto long, rather than roaming. My head... agh, it hurts...” the pretty doll clutched at her forehead, tears rolling down her pale cheeks, and Nurarihyon pulled free the cleaver, before slamming it back into the table a hair’s breadth from my chained body. “My dear, I wish for you and Uranai to be free of pain.”

As he did so, she relaxed, and Uranai rose on unsteady legs, commencing her prophecy again. “Cause flows, and effects shift. The world hath no certainties, only probably's.” Uranai intoned. “There is a hunger, a thirst that can surpass the greed of this creature. Only she can devour it, before all is consumed. The world is yet too small for such a being. Such a hunger that was bound by chains is now bound by other manacles, those of emotion. Verily, she shall not stir unless...” her gaze fixed on me, and it all started to make sense as to why I was here, and not dead. “... he who holds the manacles speaks.”

“I know who you are talking about, but... I don’t hold her in any chains. And I can’t order her around. But... do you really think she can fight a creature that even the Night Parade, you, yourself, Lord Nurarihyon, cannot? I can see you love your wife, and I love Shiro. I wouldn’t expose her to such danger carelessly.”

“I see. Well, that is quite understandable, is it...” he began, only for the cleaver to be slammed down, this time severing the table cleanly in two. “... not.” His voice was as cold as the grave and as commanding as the devil himself. “Do you think the Hyakki Yagyō loitered here for fun? Well, I admit, we spend much of our time here in Kyoto, for it is the old capital, the place closest to our hearts. But we must roam, parade. It is what we do. But instead we have waited... now, it is time to claim our due!”

“Your due? You mean reparations for the deaths in the Parade?” I asked, Resilience keeping my tone level, even though I was deeply frustrated and angry.

“Indeed. The shame and deaths the Hyakki Yagyō had suffered.” Nurarihyon grinned. “So many dead...”

“Well, forgive me for saying this, but... how is that my fault? After all, you’ve just admitted to waiting here for us, lying in ambush. Yamato-san may have been out unwisely, the stupid bastard, but even so, you were the ones who attacked first. We were only defending ourselves. As for the Kitsune, and I argue the Matriarch too, you could say they were rank challenges, which you approve of anyway.”

“Dear, do you wish for his insolent tongue to be torn from his mouth? To think he would be so disrespectful when he is in such a position.” Seirei complained.

“No, not yet, my dear. I confess to being somewhat amazed at his bravery, or is it idiocy? One gesture and he is dead, yet he dares talk back to me, Nurarihyon! Shocking. No, I wish for the table to be restored, it was such a shame to destroy your work.”

As she granted that wish, he sneered at me. “You would bargain with me? I am Nurarihyon, the one who takes as he pleases. Perhaps I can defeat this threat, perhaps not, but if I came out to battle, it would only hasten the worst fate, that lies beyond. The descent of far worse.” He sighed. “No, do you pity the rabbit caught in the snare of the hunter? Does the rabbit get to complain and whine? You are here, and I shall have my due compensation. Else I can split you apart now.”

“No.” I resisted. My nerves were screaming at me, his League was trying to pressure me to relent, and he must have had quite the Majesty as well. Even so, I focused on what mattered. Shiro. No way I’ll ever hand you over to the Night Parade, even if you weren’t injured. “I’ll never give Shiro up. And if I die here, well, she called me the one who holds the manacles. I disagree.” I looked at Uranai, who was once more exhausted. “But I’ll never be able to tell her to help you, and she won’t on her own.” I doubt Taṇhā would either.

“Your foolish little half-kitten is still outside.” Nurarihyon warned. “The daughter of Urakaze too. It would pain me so to sacrifice her, and I may have to bleed the Kamaitachi if they protest, but... when I torment them, you will...”

Chains creaked as I flexed all my strength, even using Body Enhancement, making up for the lacking elements with aether. Blood, silver and red, ran down the chains, but with a great effort I managed to tear one hand free, though it broke my thumb painfully.

“Well, surprising. But I wish he would fail.” Nurarihyon said, and suddenly fresh chains were wrapping me.

“Because if Shiro is still hurt and weak, then she won’t be saving your sorry Parade.” I snapped. “You need to offer something meaningful, otherwise it is just us losing out. And more threats won’t work. You obviously fear this monster with the golden eyes. Killing me out of a fit of pique will just doom you to fight it alone. You don’t even have the grounds to retain Yamato-san. You need us...” I said triumphantly, only to nearly piss myself as his League burned me, his eyes dark voids.

“I need you? Yes, I do. But I am Nurarihyon! For millennia I have roamed Japan, followed by my Parade. Emperors, Shogun, Priests, Warriors, Farmers, Peasants, Slaves. I have visited them all and been offered tribute, taken as I pleased! You think you can dictate to me? I am Nurarihyon, I will fight if I must, and if the world burns and the Parade dies, then so be...” he paused, his wife tugging on his sleeve, her eyes sad.

“Dear, I do not wish for you to perish. Nor for my end. I wish...” she was unable to state her own wish, though her mouth opened and closed. At that, he let out a bitter sigh.

“I want the God-touched mortal. I will squeeze him dry. I will send you a healer. And I will leave you alone, your place in Kyoto as well. Until this threat is defeated.”

“You expect me to trust you? You even said I can’t believe your words.” I said, still shivering from his wrath. For a moment I had imagined the cleaver slamming into my head, and I thought I had gone too far. Sorry, Yamato-san. I tried. I did. But... I can’t give up my life or anyone else’s for you...

“I wish for our words to be binding on us for this pledge.” He declared, and his wife whispered that it was granted.

“I, Nurarihyon, will receive the mortal Yamato as my just compensation, as he roamed the night unwisely. All others who roamed tonight shall be forgiven and set free. Shaeula Tu Shae Dannan, she will be treated as the Yokai she is, a part of my Parade. Your Territory in Kyoto shall remain unmolested by the Hyakki Yagyō, and I shall dispatch a healer of the finest skills to the aid of this Shiro, though any adherence recovered shall be ours. In exchange, you shall bring the thirsty one to the aid of the Night Parade when we call for you, and provide aid yourself, to the best of your ability, until the beast is slain. Then we shall freely part ways.”

“I want no hostility between us and the Night Parade, yourself included, for a year afterwards.” I asked, and he nodded. “A year to us is a mere moment. Very well. Is it agreed then?”

“It is.” I said, and once more the weight of aether fell upon me, and I found myself agreeing to the terms. Well, other than Yamato-san... ugh... shit, how am I going to explain this and live with the decision? Well, it’s... the best outcome I can hope for. Considering we’ve been playing poker with no cards, we finally won our freedom.

“I did believe you would have succumbed to my demands with far less resistance.” Nurarihyon muttered. “I believe you are a worthy partner for one of the Parade. But be thankful for my mercy. I did not have to offer it.”

Keeping my thoughts placid, I managed a nod, and a wish later, I was free of my chains, forcing my savaged arm back into position. “Well, I shall see you out. Now be honoured, few have stepped foot inside my home and lived to tell the tale. Now depart.”

With a flick of his wrist a doorway opened, and I found myself falling through it. I landed outside the wagon, and as I did so, Shaeula and Eri cried out, spotting me.

“Akio, you have-have returned! I was worried!” Shaeula cried, while Eri staggered over, her face haggard.

“Akio, you’re back!” she grabbed me, hugging me awkwardly. “I’m so relieved!”

“Isn’t the curse broken?” I asked, and they shook their heads.

“No, it is.” Eri sighed. “I can barely keep myself here, only Shaeula trickling aether in has held me. But I couldn’t go until I saw you were safe. I am going to have a hard enough time when I return as it is without that worry...”

Oh yeah. Our parents... and the state of her body. “It’ll be all right.” I promised. “Now go. I’ll return soon. Hyacinth, Grulgor, you two head back as well.” Hyacinth was totally exhausted, more than I was, and Grulgor wouldn’t be needed for what I had planned.

I felt a fleeting press of lips against mine, and a furry tail brushed my leg, and then Eri was gone, vanishing from my arms.

“I shall rest toooooo. Hyacinth is... very weary.” She departed, as did Grulgor, the sack still over one shoulder.

“Well, mother. I shall-shall be off. But soon we shall meet once more. I can not-not wait.” Shaeula’s grin was bright.

“I will send you more-some Kamaitachi as I promised, and when I discover-find who misled my forces, I shall make them answer to us.” she promised. As I took Shaeula’s hands, Yamato-san spoke up, urgently.

“Wait. We can go? You managed to persuade Nurarihyon himself?” he said incredulously, hope in his eyes.

Returning his gaze silently, I held in a pained sigh. I’m not a god, I can’t work miracles. Though, this ending does sit badly with me. I’d like to strike back, even if just a little bit. I don’t feel I can go against what I’ve agreed, I can’t save Yamato-san, but I can...

Turning to Shaeula I whispered something into her ear her eyes went wide in surprise for a moment, before she nodded. I then answered Yamato-san, my tone apologetic.

“Sorry. I tried my best, but... there’s no escape for you.”