Utsushiyo Monogatari: Crimson Shadow

Chapter Six : Separation

"Mind telling me what's was that about?", Seiryu demanded. Ryujin and Yakō chose to remain silent within the room in the safety of Katori's vast shrine in the south of Heian. While they achieved the outcome they desired, the political mess between the leaders was large. Makoto had declared an enemy out of Katori.

"Claiming Owari. Fight the strongest and no one will oppose.", Katori examined his fingers ambivalently. 

"You could have challenged Ryujin instead of messing up another's domain."

"That would be silly.", Katori dismissed Seiryu nonchalantly. More than likely, given the obvious nature of associations, the other Uji-no-kamis would suspect. Besides, the conflict yielded another positive outcome. The meetings could no longer take place in Harima, far from his power source.

Yakō heaved a deep sigh. "Even I wouldn't hit Makoto below the belt."

"There is nothing below that belt. Sacrifice a move or don't move. Lose something to win something.", Katori shrugged with a lack of remorse. 

Ryujin deliberated quietly even when nudged by Seiryu to say something.

"I secured Tōkaidō for Ryujin and Seiryu to expand further while Yakō controls the pass to Kinai the capital region. ", Katori laid it out for them. 

No one could get in or out of Heian without alerting Yakō now. San'yōdō, where Makoto controlled from Harima, was effectively cut off from North if Katori wished it. Tōsandō with the plains of Musashi was left as the only land and sea pass towards Onigamo's seat of control, the Akakura mountain. He had another thing up his sleeve which the others were unaware of. Makoto will not make a willing ally but he will listen soon enough if he was clever enough to see the big picture.  

"It's your tactics, Katori.", Ryujin finally opened his mouth. Katori was a loose cannon. Ryujin had no doubt that the Daiyōkai had something up his sleeve. Something had changed Katori. Triggering Makoto was unexpected. 

"Need you worry when I am the scapegoat ?" , Katori grimaced as he clasp the wound on his arm tightly as the dark greenish ooze started to seep again through his stained sleeves, snaking down his forearm searing a blackish path onto his hands before sizzling into the mat leaving a fuming acid burn.

"Makoto's poison is indeed potent. It will take you quite a while to purge it from the system."

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His hand clasped a bracelet tightly as fumes started pouring out. Opening his palm, a visible scotch mark still fuming away. Improvement. There were no more flames. Open. Close. Open. Close. The skin regeneration did not take long to start as his mind rotated his yōki as a moving shield. Pleased with the results, he placed the glowing bracelet back into its protective box. The old nagging ache started on his arm again as ooze flowed out but it was less than before. Makoto had intended to kill him. And greatly so. Three moons and he had not fully recuperated. He unsteadily stood up, with a small trail of the acidic flow, and moved towards his window. 

Surveying the surroundings, it was time to move in the early spring. Three new shrine caretakers were despatched by Yakō to oversee the grand property as more noblemen arrived. The mountain was his home for a long time. Savouring the fresh earthy breath of the nearby rice paddy, he watched the tiny figures of farmers working their fields. 

Owari would be his domain. Further away from Harima and Heian. Less noise. More quiet and focus on building up the humans. The way will be perilous. A cawing raven gracefully landed on his shoulder delivering the news he needed to to know. Yakō and Ryujin may have set up a path of shrines but it was much too obvious for his liking. As planned, a decoy was going with the convoy. The Tengu clan were not the ones who ruled the air. Seiryu's azure form signaled all-clear to move in the skies.