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

  That sounds a little simir 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 jured 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 ever be satisfied with meagre spoils. As… 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 dest, that shattered the Boundary like a falling star, Prithee, they shall cross the seas and csh with others like them, and the Hyakki Yagyō too. Blood shall rain on Kyoto, city of tless 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 specutions look more likely.

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

  “Ominous.” Nurarihyon procimed. “Though isoted within my world here, I have felt the rippling echoes of something powerful retly. I wondered if some fool using borrowed Divinity was kig up a needless fuss, but it seems something worse has desded.”

  “What do you wish for, dear? You look dowed, please wish!” Seirei procimed, 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 turo 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 eve if he wanted. Shaeu had told me about the power of the Queen of the Fae, and Ulfuric had mentiohe dreadful power of the Fomorans who destroyed his home, but I had got a little cocky after my ret victories and had believed I -tier batant. But meeting the numbers of the Night Parade, and most of all, these three… well, it’d be just as foolish to start sidering myself weak, as I’m clearly not, but… I have a long way to go, and beings that 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, deg at the st mio address him respectfully. As I deed 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 Shaeu, 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 stand against the oning disaster?” I’ve learned. I ’t do everything alone. I’m guessing even those with real power such as Nurarihyon ’t.

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

  “You already wished for that.” Seirei pouted. “Aayed 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 smming it bato the table a hair’s breadth from my ed body. “My dear, I wish for you and Uranai to be free of pain.”

  As he did so, she rexed, and Uranai rose on unsteady legs, eng her prophecy again. “Cause flows, and effects shift. The world hath ainties, only probably's.” Uranai intoned. “There is a hunger, a thirst that surpass the greed of this creature. Only she devour it, before all is ed. The world is yet too small for such a being. Such a huhat was bound by s is now bound by other mahose 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 s. And I ’t order her around. But… do you really think she fight a creature that even the Night Parade, you, yourself, Lord Nurarihyon, ot? I see you love your wife, and I love Shiro. I wouldn’t expose her to such danger carelessly.”

  “I see. Well, that is quite uandable, is it…” he began, only for the cleaver to be smmed down, this time severing the table ly in two. “… not.” His voice was as cold as the grave and as anding 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 pce closest to our hearts. But we must roam, parade. It is what we do. But instead we have waited… now, it is time to cim 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.

  “Ihe shame ahs the Hyakki Yagyō had suffered.” Nurarihyon grinned. “So many dead…”

  “Well, five 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 ioo be torn from his mouth? To think he would be so disrespectful when he is in such a position.” Seirei pined.

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

  As she grahat wish, he s me. “You would bargain with me? I am Nurarihyon, the one who takes as he pleases. Perhaps I defeat this threat, perhaps not, but if I came out to battle, it would only hasten the worst fate, that lies beyond. The dest of far worse.” He sighed. “No, do you pity the rabbit caught in the snare of the hunter? Does the rabbit get to pin and whine? You are here, and I shall have my due pensation. Else I 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 Ta?hā 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…”

  s creaked as I flexed all my strength, even using Body Enha, making up for the g elements with aether. Blood, silver and red, ran down the s, but with a great effort I mao tear one hand free, though it broke my thumb painfully.

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

  “Futile.” He snorted. “But I am impressed with the effort.” The cleaver was in his hand, glittering cruelly. “Now, about that defiance…”

  When I die, Shaeu will too, acc to the description of Pledged One… but then, what about Kioration? Shit, I don’t know what would happen, and I’m not eager to test it, but…this was just another in the line of bad positions Yamato-san had thrust us into, so I could talk my way out of it. I had to be able to.

  “… defiance? Of course I’m defiant. I love Shiro. I may seem to be a trapped rabbit, but I’m not a rabbit. I’m a person. I think, I feel. No more than you would sacrifice your wife, would I hand Shiro over to you, even to save the Night Parade. Don’t get me wrong, Shaeu holds fondness for it, as her mother is a part of it, and so’s she now. But… well, you Yokai are cruel, and callous, with nard for life. Why would I ask Shiro to risk herself for you?”

  “Nard for the living?” Uranai spoke, surprising me. “Prithee, tell me, how many creatures that think and feel hast thou sent to Yomi? More than a handful.”

  I wi that, uo deny it. While most of the dwellers of the Boundary I had defeated or my armies had were undead or bestial creatures, I had attacked the jumo, the gnolls, even the Myids first. “Well, I didn’t take delight in torture or cruelty. I’m ashamed yes, but I’m hoping to create a world where all live in peace, regardless of who they are. After all, Shaeu, Hyath, I love them both. Shiro too, perhaps she ’t be ted as truly human anymore.”

  “So it’s the pain that worries you? You humans truly have grown weak. I remember the good old days…” he smirked. “Battles where the winning army impaled the losing ones alive. Hands and heads cut off and piled in baskets. Even when I visited lonely houses at night, the father would offer me a daughter or a sister, and I would have my sport. If she pleased me, I would leave behind gifts, if not… well, you get the idea.” He snorted, and I was once more struck by a wave of his League, only my anger and urge to hit him keeping me from capituting. “Dead is dead. Those under your prote who perished, do they care that they suffered so? No, it is all fotten…”

  “Bullshit. If that was true, Haru-san wouldn’t be in such pain.” I said, and Nurarihyon looked puzzled.

  “I wish I knew what you were talking about…”

  “Granted.” Seirei said softly, and his eyes went wide in sudden reition.

  “I see. Well, an unusual circumstandeed. And I admit… you have a point. Though I hold the cleaver, and you in s. So your point is hardly important.”

  “Well, I find it hard tive the Night Parade, after all, even the frie such as the Red and Blue Ohreatening to rip us limb from limb and have us tortured, mere minutes before sharing drinks with us. But those who did the deed and killed my rades are dead iurn. I think that should be ao it. ’t you accept that, for Shaeu’s sake? You were happy to see her return, you said. And I’m sure she’ll be a proud member of the Night Parade. Maybe she ge things for the better, like we are in the Seelie Court.”

  “I see. You wish tain. Fair.” Nurarihyon ughed. “But I am not one of these fn spirits, bound to honour my word. Though…” he sighed. “… it might well be true that if I kill you here, it would ruin a cause and shatter an effect. Even so… my position is unassaible. So, out of sideration for the Seventy-First, I will allow you to make me an offer. I wish it would be a good one.”

  “Granted.” His wife decred, and the sudden tide of aether that overpowered my body was shog. My own League was somewhat lower than the doll’s, and while it was not su insurmountable gap like it was to Nurarihyon, I still failed to halt whatever it was she had done. My mouth opened despite itself, and I realised that I was going to say something I didn’t want to. With a wrench, I broke my own arm, the pain clearing my mind for a sed.

  “Shiro, you need her assistance.” My mouth formed words. I wrenched my broken arm again, twisting the broken boo astral flesh and nerves, silver mist rising, red blood spttering the ground. It helped a little, and I was able to ge what I was going to say, though I was still uo refuse. Shiro… if she’s o defeat the threat that could kill Princess Mikasa… I really refuse that and o death, especially if the Diviner says that would end up dooming Japan and maybe the entire world? My thoughts were bitter, and I wasn’t sure whether they were really mine or not, but… they felt like mine. If I support Shiro, then…

  “I tell her about this, and vince her to aid the Night Parade. However… I ’t fail her again. I already have once. So I ’t let her die. And I’ll need… surety, pensation. Reparations.” I threw his words back at him.

  “Really, dear? I’m not sure…”

  “No, you have been granted your wish. Have you another?” she asked, after pouting, a little hurt.

  “I see, then perhaps…” he asked for a small, patterned fan, which he used with his free hand, the other holding the cleaver.

  “I want Shaeu to retain her membership of the Parade and to be treated fairly. I wao be able to see her mother when she wishes. Eri, Hyath, Grulgor and I, we are to go free, unharmed. After all, I hem. Shiro ’t fight alone, and until the time she is needed she will stay far from you and your Parade. So, wheime es we all stand beside the Night Parade and face this hreat. To that end, we need Yamato-san unharmed too. And for the attacks on those of us who traverse the Boundary to stop. We ’t be so wasteful. Look at what we’ve both lost!”

  “Uable.” Nurarihyon denied me. “Letting you go… it pains me. You would be such sweet fruit. But it seems I must. Else the Parade has no way of tag this Shiro woman. Hunger must meet hunger, after all. Shaeu Tu Shae Dannan… my own rules allow her passage. Though she will face many challenges and troubles, I will not interfere, no more than I did to save the Matriarch or that Kitsune. As for the others… yes, I would have them gone. Kyoto is ours, they are unwele here. But the fool who serves the false Goddess of Mercy, he stays. That fool brother of Red’s wasted much power, killing those who should not be sin so easily. Some was rescued, but even so… no, the man, Yamato, he must… provide. How you deny me fair spoils? We do not attack shrines and temples. That is rand cession. And the followers of the Gods do not wahe Night carelessly. On this I ot budge.”

  I closed my eyes, still uo refuse Shiro’s assistance, even though in my heart I k was not mio promise. But this was iable, ever since Yamato-san screwed up and got greedy. Damn. “Will he suffer?” I asked, and Nurarihyon grinned.

  “Oh, indisputably. The greater his cries to his God, the sweeter the power. And I will need much power, I and those under my and, are we to fight off this uping abomination. So, you will send us the girl who thirsts?”

  “No. I won’t send you anyone.” I denied him with all my might. “I io link my own nd to Kyoto. I’ll base it at a suitable shrine, so you have nht to interfere. However, I will allow Shaeu’s mother and those she and Shaeu approve of access. That doesn’t viote any of your rules, does it? After all, Shaeu has been h for a while, and goes to Shirohebizumi all the time. Shiro is not your salvation, she’s a girl I cherish. But… much as it might be better if the Night Parade perishes, you’re right. We face many threats and everyone is needed. I ’t afford to care about the past, and whatever cruelties you all itted. Those I o punish died. So, wheime es, Shiro, Shaeu and I, we’ll e and fight beside the Parade. But leave us alone. Unless…” I had an idea. “… any of your Yokai heal wounds caused by excess adherence? If you feed on it…”

  “He is so i.” Seirei muttered. “Do you wish…”

  “I wish to hear him out.” He ruffled her hair once more. “Yes, there are those who may be able to assist. But why should they?”

  “Because if Shiro is still hurt and weak, then she won’t be saving your sorry Parade.” I snapped. “You o 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. Killi 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, Sves. I have visited them all and been offered tribute, taken as I pleased! You think you 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 uo 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 p Kyoto as well. Until this threat is defeated.”

  “You expect me to trust you? You even said I ’t believe your words.” I said, still shivering from his wrath. For a moment I had imagihe cleaver smming into my head, and I thought I had gooo far. Sorry, Yamato-san. I tried. I did. But… I ’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 decred, and his wife whispered that it was granted.

  “I, Nurarihyon, will receive the mortal Yamato as my just pensation, as he roamed the night unwisely. All others who roamed tonight shall be fiven a free. Shaeu Tu Shae Dannan, she will be treated as the Yokai she is, a part of my Parade. Your Territory in Kyoto shall remain ued by the Hyakki Yagyō, and I shall dispatch a healer of the fi skills to the aid of this Shiro, though any adherence recovered shall be ours. In exge, you shall bring the thirsty oo 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 sin. 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 expin this and live with the decision? Well, it’s… the best oute I hope for. sidering we’ve been pying 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 pcid, I managed a nod, and a wish ter, I was free of my s, f my savaged arm bato 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 doorened, and I found myself falling through it. I nded outside the wagon, and as I did so, Shaeu and Eri cried out, spotting me.

  “Akio, you have-have returned! I was worried!” Shaeu 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 barely keep myself here, only Shaeu trig 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. Hyath, Grulgor, you two head back as well.” Hyath was totally exhausted, more than I was, and Grulgor wouldn’t be needed for what I had pnned.

  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. Hyath 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 ot-not wait.” Shaeu’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 ao us.” she promised. As I took Shaeu’s hands, Yamato-san spoke up, urgently.

  “Wait. We go? You mao 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 ’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 go against what I’ve agreed, I ’t save Yamato-san, but I …

  Turning to Shaeu 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.”

  ShipTeaser