Saving Touma

Chapter 2.R - Tengu

Kogoro, oblivious to the unfolding mystery, quickly bent to help fix the mess they had created. His senses wouldn't recoup until he noticed his chum standing still. 

But just as he was about to complain, he turned his eyes to where Yukimura was looking and was instantly taken aback, butt on the ground.

"Waa!" he exclaimed as he slowly pushed his body away.

Finding the boys' reaction rude, the lady huffed and left.

"Yukimura, isn't that...?" Kogoro asked, confused. The equally confused companion didn't respond.

"Maybe it's her twin sister," Kogoro suggested. But it didn't convince Yukimura in the slightest. Yukimura knew it was the same lady. 

She was wearing the exact same clothes and jewelry. It couldn't have been a different person. But how was this possible? They could only speculate.

"Yukimura, we need to go. The captain needs us," Kogoro prodded, snapping the other back to his senses.

"Ryo sensei! Katsuo!" someone shouted from outside.

The captain and the scared subordinate recognized the voice immediately. Ryo opened the door to confirm. 

In the courtyard, standing cautiously while looking around, were Yukimura and Kogoro, each with blood-soaked katanas in their hands. He was relieved to see them safe.

Knowing the monster was currently far away, he sprinted out of the house and toward the courtyard to meet them. Katsuo followed.

"Where are the others?" Ryo asked.

"Dead," Yukimura answered, tears welling up in his eyes.

Ryo kind of expected it after hearing the screams earlier.

"Come, let's take shelter," Ryo continued after pausing for thought. He tried to remain composed so his subordinates wouldn't panic.

But before they could leave the courtyard, the old man and his grandson came out of the house, rushing toward them. It seemed the monster had broken into the kitchen. 

Ryo and the boys assumed a defensive posture, shielding the frightened villagers. They took out their katanas and prepared for the impending attack.

All of a sudden, the front wall of the house blew up as the monster broke out of it and stopped in front of them. It was dark, like the deepest end of a cavern. 

At least twice as big as a human, despite being at a lower level than the courtyard. The sharp claws protruding from its bulky feet easily scratched the granite. 

Its eyes lacked sclera as if the gateway to hell was staring right at them. On its back were large wings resembling that of a giant karasu. Blood dripped down the fangs poking out of its facial hair.

The terrified spectators froze as the creature began approaching them. But their fear quickly turned to confusion when it slowly transformed. 

Its enormous body began to shrink like a blister losing its water. Its wings folded in until they completely disappeared behind its shoulders. 

The dark skin sank into what appeared to be wrinkled human flesh. And the claws retreated to become fingers for human toes.

What was left from the transformation was the body of an old woman, which Ryo and the boys almost instantaneously recognized. Dismay and befuddlement left them in silence.

"Tsumu-san?" Ryo asked, his voice breaking.

The old lady gave him a blank stare but didn't respond. She kept still until a few moments later.

"You cannot save them. They are all going to die," she said, but it wasn't clear who she was talking to. She was looking right at Ryo but not in his face.

Suddenly,Tsumu darted toward them and stopped in front of Ryo. She was so swift that fora second, Ryo thought she had disappeared. 

Before he knew it, Tsumu had alreadygrabbed his katana from his hand. Asecond later, Yukimura's severed head came flying before him, blood splatteringon his face. 

Then, as he was about to turn around on impulse, he felt Kogoro'slifeless body leaning against him and dropping to the ground. His head waschopped off, too. 

Only Katsuo, who was standing behind them, could reactaccordingly. But as he stepped back to escape the impending assault, he felt asharp object piercing through his spine, snuffing the life out of him in aninstant. 

The last thing he saw before the world turned dark around him was theold lady gradually walking into the frame, staring at him with a look of rage.