Chapter 2

Tatsuo dropped to the dusty road as the eel ayakashi approached, barring its rows of sharp fangs. It would lunge at him in a moment so Tatsuo had to quickly draw the circle with his left index finger. The blood smeared in the dirt would be enough for what he was aiming for.

“Claw of the Mountain Wolf.” Tatsuo said as he placed the tip of the wakizashi into the center of the circle. The wolf claw that dangled from the pommel vibrated with energy as the command was spoken.

As the eel lunged the earth between it and Tatsuo suddenly shot up, forming a massive wolf claw that slashed across its face. The eel was thrown back in the air as the earth fell back to the ground lifelessly. The ayakashi had three slashes across its face the sealed almost instantly.

Tatsuo got up and began to run, putting more distance between him and the group. “Onmyoji! I can't kill it, we're in its domain!” He shouted, hoping the Onmyoji was knowledgeable enough to know what that meant.

Naoki hesitated for a moment before he realized what Tatsuo was getting at. He focused his fire magic, feeling his connection to all his fireflies that were linked by his spell. Changing their instructions was a simple things due to the simple nature of the request, seek spiritual power.

“What is the ronin talking about?” The older farmer asked, clearly shaken as he watched the eel charging at the ronin.

“The eel has a domain set in this field.” Naoki said while he pulled out a special talisman he hadn't expected to use. It was a simple paper talisman but with many intricate markings. “While we are in its domain it is nearly as strong as a Kami. So to defeat it we either need to overwhelm it with power or weaken the domain.”

“And you do that how?” The older farmer asked.

Naoki felt his fireflies sending a message to him through their spiritual connection, they had found the spot with a load of spiritual energy. “We find what is creating the domain.”

Naoki lifted his hand bag up as well as the paper talisman he had pulled out. Before he darted off into the farmland he turned to the farmers. “No matter what happens, do not open that bag” He pointed at his backpack that he had left on the ground. “Should I not make it then I request you burn this in a purifying fire. Am I understood?”

The farmers nodded swiftly, taking hesitant steps away from the bag as Naoki bolted into the farm.

Tatsuo rolled to the side as the eel lunged again. This time however instead of carrying itself forward it swung its neck towards Tatsuo. Swearing under his breath Tatsuo kicked off the ground, jumping just high enough to land on the eel's head. The head was slick from the water it submerged itself in so Tatsuo drove the point of his blade in between the scales of the creature. Sticky blood began to pool around his hands as he held on, the eel thrashing about to throw him off.

Tatsuo held on, spotting the Onmyoji running out into the field. The eel was focused on the blade in its body and realized the move to get him off. It dived for the water.

Another swear broke Tatsuo’s lips as he pulled the wakizashi out and fell back into the rice fields. The eel dove deep into the water while Tatsuo fell on his back into the ankle deep water.

Quickly returning to his feet, Tatsuo lifted the wakizashi defensively. He spotted the Onmyoji slowing his pace, and ran in the opposite direction to distract the ayakashi. The water was beginning to stir and ripple, following him. The eel was hot on his trail and would out speed him without a doubt. He just needed to get to land.

Naoki reached the spot his fireflies indicated. A waterlogged section of the field, indistinct from any other spot. Now that he was close he could sense the spiritual energy emanating from this spot and began to use the butt of his shakujo to try and uncover what was hidden beneath the surface.

He spotted the ronin fleeing, the eel in the water behind him. He had to act quickly or the ronin would be killed. Hurrying his pace he felt his shakujo hit something solid. A spark of spiritual energy told Naoki everything he needed to know as he lifted it free of the mud. The skeletal head of an eel. Acting swiftly Naoki spoke his words and pressed a paper talisman to the skull, feeling the spiritual energy begin to disperse.

“The domain is sealed!” Naoki shouted for the ronin to hear.

Tatsuo heard the sound of the Onmyoji and lunged forward, dragging his wakizashi across his palm to coat it in his blood. Behind him the eel had emerged, lunging to bite down on him with its razor teeth. Tatsuo wouldn't hit the land in time, but his blade would.

His blood coated blade dug into the dirt as he fell into the water. With water filling his mouth Tatsuo shouted out the command. “Claw of the Mountain Wolf!”

It was much weaker without the circle, but now that the eel was weakened it should have been enough. The earth near the blade formed into the claw that slashed out at the eel above Tatsuo. The head was removed in a single slash, leaving its blood spilling across the field, narrowly avoiding Tatsuo.

Tatsuo rolled over in the water, staring up at the night sky. The onmyoji and farmers approached him after several minutes, hovering over him.

“You killed it in one shot.” The smaller farmer said.

“I noticed.” Tatsuo said, struggling to his feet. He reached into his pack and pulled out a roll of bandages to treat his cut hand. He quickly rinsed the blood from his palm and began to wrap it.

“Would you like me to treat your wounds?” The onmyoji asked.

“No need.” Tatsuo said, if he tried it may cause more damage to him. Tatsuo began to move towards the waystation. The farmers and onmoyji hesitated for a moment before trailing behind him. The farmers thanked the onymoji and Tatsuo as they traveled. The onymoji took it in stride, but Tatsuo simply starred forward. He never was good at accepting thanks.

That night there was a celebration in the waystation. Tatsuo was given a room to stay in for the night for free, along with a paid meal. The next morning as Tatsuo was heading out of the inn to hit the road he spotted the onmyoji leaning against a post.

“Morning ronin.” The onmyoji said with a casual wave. “Hitting the road early I see.”

Tatsuo looked at the onymoji with an appraising look. “Suprised you arent passed out, you drank alot last night.”

“I have built up a bit of a tolerance with alcohol.” He laughed. “My name is Naoki. What is your name?”

Debating for a long moment Tatsuo finally decided he saw no harm. “Tatsuo, nice to meet you.” He said, trying to put on friendly term. He began to walk down the road, assuming the conversation was over.

Naoki began to follow him down the road. “So were heading the same way. You heading for Dojira?”

“That I am.” Tatsuo said plainly.

“Wonderful we can share the road then.” Naoki said joyfully. He was looking behind him as he walked. “So if you do not mind me asking, how did you attracted that ayakashi last night? You did something and it focused solely on you.”

Tatsuo didn't answer right away, letting the silence stretch for a long moment. “Did you not figure it out for yourself?” He held up his left hand that was still wrapped in the bandage. “It was attracted to my blood.”

“Interesting, I have never heard of human blood attracting an ayakashi, other yokais yes but not a ayakashi.”

“It's because it's not just human blood.” Tatsuo stated. “My blood is half human half yokai.”
Naoki stared for a long moment, as if waiting for Tatsuo to tell him it was a joke. “Interesting, how did this happen? I know its possible but I haven't heard of a case of it. The closest I can think of is a human becoming a yokai, but you haven't done that have you?”

Tatsuo was silent for a moment, remembering the man who had become a full yokai. The scar on his chest began to itch at the memory. “No I have not.” He walked on without answering.

The two walked in silence for a long while. Naoki watched Tatsuo, trying to crack his exterior.

“Why are you heading to Dojira?” Naoki asked. He felt he needed to watch this one closely. Half human half yokai shouldn't exist unless he was in the process of transitioning into a full yokai. Most people would want to have their yokai blood exorcized if that was the case, but Tatsuo showed no signs of wanting that.

“Im looking for a cook named Hideo.” Tatsuo said, staring ahead.

“Why?”

Tatsuo turned his head to Naoki. “To kill him. He killed my brother.”