Kasha

“Nurarihyon is doing all this because of a promise?” Shin asked as the sounds of screams and fighting filled the streets.

“Yes,” Yukimura answered as she ran slightly ahead of Shin. “King Enma didn’t say the specifics, but he did mention a promise he made to Abe no Seimei.”

“I can’t believe those two were friends. But that means if he could talk to Abe no Seimei, we could try talking to him too.”

“Shin, are you nuts? He and his yokai slaughtered innocent people all across Shibuya.” I can’t believe he could even have that idea. If he were open to reason like the Yuki-onna, it may be possible… But he’s already too far gone. We need—

“Yukimura, watch out!” I felt a sudden heat as Shin shouted out to me, and a ball of fire was heading toward me.

I’m not sure if my sword will work properly right now. Not without the pact. So I did the only thing I could in this moment, “Wall!” My wall of ice intercepted the fire before it grazed me, giving rise to steam around us. And through that steam I saw the outlines of a figure.

It was taller than both of us. A long, whip-like attachment hung and swung from its sides. Is that a tail? I brought my eyes up to look at his head, but before I could analyze the creature any longer, it began to run off.

When it did, I was about to check if Shin was alright; however, a burst of crimson light cut through the steam before I could. It was Shin. “You’re not getting away after hurting Suki!”

He was moving so fast that by the time I processed what happened, the two had already rounded the corner of the alleyway. I know it’s a trap, but Shin is still inexperienced… No, that’s an excuse… I just don’t want to be separated from him. After that thought formed in my mind, I recited, “Pillar.”

An ice pillar formed at my feet while I bent down and gripped onto its edge. The wind whipped my hair as the pillar shot me through the alleyway. When it finally stopped, I was in the open street where Shin and that creature were. But nothing prepared me for what I saw next.

The stench of rot filled my nostrils as I looked down upon the street. I was expecting it to be empty aside from the Onmyoji who were fighting the yokai, and the people who were fleeing. However, the street was filled to the brim. Are those people who haven’t escaped yet… Wait… no.

As I watched them move for a second longer, I noticed that their movement was abnormal. It was sluggish as if their bodies weren’t in good condition. I jumped down to the rooftop of a building to get a better look, and my stomach twisted. That wasn’t a crowd, it was something imitating one.

All the people on the street were already dead. They were simply corpses walking around Shibuya. They may have been dead, but they were moving as one unit, as if they were patrolling for someone. A yokai must be controlling them.

“Aren’t they neat?” As I heard a voice I didn’t recognize, I immediately pointed my sword toward it. “Whoa, whoa, time out!” The voice was unnaturally high-pitched, but that made sense after seeing the figure behind me.

It was a tall, slender figure with fur lining all across its feline body. However, despite resembling a cat, it was bipedal, and a flame was burning bright from its tail. It was a Kasha. “I might not fight you if you just answer one question: What’s your name? The boy I’m running from said it earlier, but I just gotta confirm. Are you Yukimura Suki?”

I didn’t verbally confirm; I only nodded. When I did, the yokai in front of me smiled, baring its fangs. “Perfect! Lord Nurarihyon told me to take care of you personally.” After saying those words, the yokai lunged at me with its claws.

I was able to dodge his quick swing, and it was the perfect opportunity to slice off one of its hands, but I couldn’t. When I moved my sword to disarm the Kasha, my mana stopped circulating through it, causing my blade to phase through it.

What’s going on? Was that the Yuki-onna? Why did you stop me?

“You didn’t agree to the pact yet.” I heard her icy voice whisper in my ears as the Kasha landed on the rooftop. Why did this have to happen now?

“Phew. I thought you were gonna slash at me.” It put its hands together as if it were praying, and then bowed. “Thank you for letting me kill you, Miss Yukimura.” After the Kasha said that, it lunged at me again with great speed.

I can’t swing at it with my sword; my only option is magic. When I realized that, I shouted, “Wall!” Seconds before its claws scratched out my eyes, an ice wall was erected from underneath the Kasha, slamming into its chin as it launched the feline into the air.

As it fell, I recited, “Spear!” Dozens of large ice projectiles were aimed toward the Kasha as it plunged downward. Despite my spells, the yokai smiled.

“Those are some nice tricks! Wanna see mine?” It didn’t let me respond before the fire from its tail engulfed the Kasha. As soon as the ice spears made contact with its flames, they sublimated into steam. “Cool, right?” That’s what the yokai said as it landed on all fours.

When the Kasha’s flames came into contact with the rooftop, they began to circle around me. I turned around to dash out of it, but it was too late, the ring of fire was already complete.

Even though it was autumn, I was beginning to sweat from the heat around me. “What’s wrong, Miss Onmyoji? Tired already?” The Kasha asked me as it lunged at me.

It dashed straight toward me. It’s so simple. I could’ve killed it by now if I could use my sword… No, that’s an excuse… I need to deal with it as I am now.

Before the Kasha hit me, I dodged out of the way, leaving it to dash through its flames. And immediately after it left the circle, it came back, dashing at me from the outside. I dodged again, but this time it was faster than before. Every time it dashed, it continued to increase its speed.

I need to cut off his mobility. “Freeze.” I stuck my hand out as I froze the floor around me, making it as slippery as ice. It was going to melt soon, but it stopped the yokai’s attacks. It was only when the Kasha stopped moving that I heard his voice.

“Yukimura! I’ll help in just a second.” Shin was talking from the other side of the fire. His voice sounded a bit far. Was he on a different rooftop? It doesn’t matter even if he was… I need him to leave.

“No. I don’t need help. You go deal with Nurarihyon, Shin.”

“But—!”

“Listen to me, or I won’t be able to face you again! The Kasha is after me, so go, Shin!”