Utsushiyo Monogatari: Crimson Shadow

Chapter Four: Ayakashi

"The Uji-no-Kamis have arrived,"a young man announced their arrival loudly as disembodied hands started carrying out the materials required for the meeting. The Shrine festivities at the mountain entrance were merely a farce to close down the Shrine. The noises of the busy market place could be heard from the distance. The main event was not the bonfire but the meeting of the regional Ayakashi leaders. 

Wisps of clouds started to envelop the grand hall of the shrine. Makoto took his seat to the right of the seat belonging to the Primary  Uji-no-Kami, the head of all the leaders, while Lady Oiwa accompanied his side. His eyes carefully watched each arrival materialise. Oyureihime appeared in the opposite table with her partner. 

"Oyureihime sama. Always a pleasure to see you,"Lady Oiwa greeted the first arrival as the others started to banter.

 "As always you too. Although I guess that Yakō is late as usual...," Oyureihime looked around for her old friend.

"That old disrespectful kitsune...," the famed Onigami materialised in the next table in his human form. His namesake for his title, as tradition with them. Known to the humans as ogres or trolls, they were much more than just being monsters. Oni were known for fearsome looks, until they decide to take the more aesthetically pleasing human form. Still the appearance had no effect on their temperance. 

"Now now, Onigami sama, calm down," The Komainu leader chided him, baring his teeth at the thought of the fox spirits, often termed after their mortal animal namesake as kitsune.

"Hahaha I see that Onigami sama's temper hasn't changed."

Beside Oyureihime, the unmistakable black wings of the Tengu leader and his second in command. Amanozako was not a force to be reckoned with when it came to the mountain peaks. Still, he enjoyed humour.

"Shut up, you old Tengu Kisama."

"Now now Onigami sama, no need to be rude to Amanozako sama...we are all Daiyōkai here," the two Tanuki and Komainu leaders reproached in unison as they took their seats, nodding to the Tengu leader. A nod of recognition was returned in turn . Onigami kept quiet as those were more trouble than what it was worth.

Finally, two long serpentine bodies flew into the Grand hall as all stood up to greet them. One white and the other azure. Swiftly transforming into two meticulously dressed young men , the Primary Uji-no-Kami, Ryujin took a cursory look around at the attendees. Seiryu, his second who was known as the Azure dragon, was beside him.

"Yakō...late again. Wonder what mischief you have up to...", Ryujin laughed at the bluish ball of light which bobbed behind him. 

"I was delayed by something highly interesting.", Yakō replied calmly as though nothing had happened. His waist long straight white silver hair and distinctive golden eyes with sharp features could matched Makoto.  Unlike most kitsune, he was powerful enough to hide his tails. Among the Uji-no-Kami, he was the only one without a second.

"Your punishment is to tell us the details," Ryujin winked at him. Yakō was seemingly humourless, unlike the others.

"Nothing of interest to all here," Yakō answered cursorily.

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"Human politics are tedious. Human affairs more so. You have to be more careful with the girl," Oyureihime spoke to Makoto in the privacy of the cascading waterfalls under the moonlight. 

"I don't know what you mean," Makoto replied. 

Oyureihime shook her head. "It is entirely up to you but if the rest finds out, she will be dead."