Utsushiyo Monogatari: Crimson Shadow

Chapter Nineteen: Kami

The great tidal waves violently smashed the ships of the imperial forces against the rocks, in favour of the pirates who cheered. Cries of men thrown overboard as their ships broke asunder. Many clutching to the planks for dear life before their strength gave up to the temptation to let go. Bodies drifted tragically into the depths slowly as the waves swallowed them. Strong winds blew as the clouds started to gather. Unseen to mortal eyes and little to their knowledge, a gleaming blue dragon threaded through the clouds commanding it at will, while a white dragon was sliding across the inland seas.  

Seiryu and Ryujin, Susanoo growled with fury as he clenched his fists at the shadows haplessly, watching them stir up more chaos. Even the sea life were not spared. Fish were dying and so were the turtles who could not cope with the violent currents. Those two troublesome dragons were making a mess out of his seas. Too many bodies, yet Ame had orders not to interfere. More so, his resentment was growing towards Ryujin who had reminded him smugly of non-interference in the battle despite his complaints. His shrines were filled with pleas of the innocent and it was giving him a headache. A good Kure dragon was a dead one, as far as Susanoo was concerned. Yamato was not the land of Kure where they go berserk.

A familiar drumming sound of thunder roared in rhythm heralding an arrival. Susanoo pricked his ears carefully. Could it be? Uncertain, he rose out of the rolling waves to ascertain. Indeed it was,  much to his relief, Takemikazuchi appearing in his combat gear. If there was an Ame Kami he liked, it was him. Travelling alongside the clouds was Kuraokami and Takaokami, the twin Yamato dragons of the sky and seas. Sight for sore eyes, Susanoo smiled at the feeling that things were looking positive. Dealing with Takemikazuchi was straightforward and no nonsense. One purpose, one job and one result.  Unlike the others who were often fickle. 

"About bloody time, what does Ame say?" Susanoo shouted in exasperation  as the wind flung his hair across his face wildly, giving him the appearance of a mad man. Mad he was indeed. 

Takemikazuchi descended towards him and said, "No change in what Ame says. We cannot interfere with human warfare..."

"Come off it, Ryujin is making a graveyard out of my seas. Seiryu is running amuck in the skies. Look there," Susanoo pointed at the death aura circulating above the wreckage and floating bodies. "Both are also creating yurei to fuel the human battles."

"Grand elder, I have not finished... Ame said no interference with human warfare. Ame's conditions certainly didn't extend to the Ayakashi or those Kure dragons." Takemikazuchi said. Out of the blue, a slim bolt of lightning strike slipped from the clouds and neatly  into his hand materializing into his personal tachi shaped sword. Blinding electrifying sparks could be seen all over the blade.

"HaHAHAHA that's why you are my favorite...," Susanoo replied as his tsurugi sword started emerging from the waves. Grabbing it , he stirred the waters to summon the cowering worthless local inland sea deity. His word alone overruled Ryujin's. 

"Have fun," Takemikazuchi departed with those words as he walked through the tumultuous waters towards the burning villages near land - sword positioned down in his hand. 

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Dusk. The sunset was blood red reflecting the fields he was walking on. Darkness was coming. Men were still fighting each other. Bodies laid around, with parts of arms and feet. Groaning could be heard. As the spirits rose released from their mortal agonies, waves of their straying ara-mitama started to flow rapidly towards Takemikazuchi. More were  radiating from the gathering yurei of dead men. With each flow of ara-mitama, his eyes glowed redder with violence. He smirked as he watched another portal opening and sucking the unfortunate spirits in.  Definitely not a passage to Yomi. Someone was countering him.  What he greatly loathed with passion was when the complaints of Yomi being passed to him. The dead were not going where they were supposed to. Balance and order needed to be restored.