Looking at Toga's sincere expression, Miketsu felt like she couldn't say anything more. He was probably the first to offer demon sake to a god.
Afterward, Miketsu politely declined Toga's invitation for a refill. Seeing her attitude, Toga didn't insist. The demon sake was originally potent, and the burning sensation it created upon contact with her stomach made its taste unimaginably intense.
At this point, Toga and Owl had formally established their sworn brotherhood, but one issue remained unresolved: their address. Since they were now sworn brothers, Toga couldn't keep calling her "Your Excellency"; that was too distant.
As sworn brothers, they should address each other as such. The question now was, who was the elder brother and who was the younger? Generally, in sworn brotherhood, the more virtuous and respected person is the elder. However, while Toga had influence, it was primarily in Harima and couldn't affect Heian-kyo.
So, they decided to determine seniority by the simplest, most basic method.
"I am three hundred and seventy-one this year."
"No need to compare, I am older than you."
"..."
Seeing Toga's stunned expression, Miketsu shrugged slightly. While she didn't know how old Inari Okami was, she was definitely much older than a yokai who wasn't even five hundred years old.
Upon hearing Miketsu's words, Toga gave an awkward smile, then bowed and said,
"Then, I shall address you as Elder Brother here."
...
After finishing the banquet with Toga, Miketsu happily returned to Inari Mountain. Although she had been burned by the sake during this outing, she still gained something: she recognized a sworn younger brother and was called "Elder Brother." This made her feel great, giving her a sense of regaining some masculine dignity.
The next day, Miketsu returned to the usual spot, this time specifically to see Toga off. To her surprise, there were others there besides herself.
"Although I really want to go back to Harima with you to fight Oyakata and avenge Master, my current strength is still too weak. Even if I returned, I wouldn't be much help. So, I plan to diligently enter the Onmyoryo to improve myself and return to Harima once I become stronger," Yura said solemnly, looking at Toga and Totosai.
"You can rest assured and continue to deepen your Onmyojutsu studies here. Master Doman's legacy needs you to maintain it..." Totosai said to Yura. Their conversation filled Miketsu with emotion. Faced with the cruel and bloody enemy Oyakata, the yokai and humans of Harima had truly formed a commendable alliance.
"The inheritors of the Harima style have always provided us with great assistance, and no one wishes to see it severed. Cultivate peacefully in Heian-kyo, young Onmyoji. I will handle the matters of Harima. With this Tessaiga, we have enough confidence to defeat Oyakata," Toga said, looking at the young Onmyoji girl.
"Tessaiga? Is that the name you gave that sword?" Yura asked curiously when she heard Toga mention the name.
"That's right, that's the name I gave this sword. To be precise, it's the name it took when it manifested in the world as a demonic blade."
So, you've already named it? Tessaiga? It sounds quite nice, Miketsu thought, secretly nodding. It seemed she would have to think of a good name for her own sword when she returned.
"Where is Fujiwara no Kanehira?" Miketsu thought as she looked around, realizing that someone who should have been there was missing.
"He is currently under investigation and surveillance by the Onmyoryo and his family. Until the final punishment is decided, he will temporarily be unable to move freely, so it is regrettable that he cannot come to see us off."
Totosai explained to Miketsu. Hearing his words, Miketsu felt a touch of concern for the old man, thinking that perhaps she could specifically look for him next time she went to the Onmyoryo.
"Alright, it's getting late. We should go," Toga said slowly, glancing at the sky. Then he turned his gaze to Miketsu.
"Thank you for coming to see us off. But this is far enough. Let us part ways here. I hope that when we meet again, I will have eliminated Oyakata and pacified Harima." As he spoke, Toga drew his Tessaiga and held it upright in front of him.
"Please take care, Elder Brother."
Seeing Toga's gesture, Miketsu smiled slightly, then also drew her sword and held it up, letting its hilt touch Tessaiga's.
"Take care..."
...
The sun rose high, shining over the land. It was late May, and Heian-kyo, gradually entering summer, was slowly warming up. Staying too long under the sun would feel intensely hot.
In the outskirts of Heian-kyo, in a forest far from the city, three figures were currently moving forward—no, perhaps two... because one was riding on the head of another.
"Faster~ Faster~ Big Tanuki, hurry up~ You're walking so slowly~"
A small, delicate girl with long rabbit ears, short white hair, a round face, and large red eyes, wearing a thin kosode, was standing on the head of a large tanuki standing on two legs, happily shouting as she clutched his ears and hair.
"Hey! Don't grab! Don't scratch! Don't step! Damn it, haven't you caused enough trouble?!"
Wearing a straw hat on his back, traveling clothes, a sake gourd at his waist, and a large tail dragging behind him, this was a large tanuki, more than half a person's height, standing upright. He was currently struggling fiercely against the little devil on his head.
"It's because Big Tanuki walks too slowly. Yamausagi has never walked this slowly before!" The rabbit yokai named Yamausagi pouted, responding to the tanuki yokai's question.
"Then why don't you get down and walk yourself?!"
"No, I can't get down yet! Every day at this time, I ride on Mr. Frog. I can't break this routine! Otherwise, Mr. Frog will worry!" She seemed completely unwilling to pay attention to the tanuki yokai beneath her, continuing to do as she pleased.
Just like that, the tanuki yokai, swayed helplessly by Yamausagi, finally couldn't resist shouting loudly at the figure walking in front of him.
"Hey, can't you help me control this guy? Nura Rihyon!"
The figure walking ahead of the tanuki and Yamausagi was a boy who looked about thirteen or fourteen. He wore thin clothes, had a sword at his waist, and long, pale golden hair that defied gravity, floating up and extending from the back of his head. There were markings beneath his eyes, and a faint smile graced his handsome face, his golden pupils exuding confidence.
"My apologies, my head isn't as big as yours, so that little one can't stay on it. You'll just have to endure it a bit longer," the handsome yokai boy named Nura Rihyon turned around, smiling at his companions behind him, upon hearing the call from the rear.
"I'm asking you to help get this guy down and make her walk herself!" The tanuki said grumpily when Nura Rihyon made that remark.
"Heh, such a cute young lady on your head, and you want to drive her off? Tsk tsk, truly no compassion for flowers." Nura Rihyon turned his body completely around, looking playfully at his companions behind him.
"Hey... if you like it so much, why don't you put her on your own head?! Don't just stand there doing nothing, Nura Rihyon!" The tanuki continued, still struggling with Yamausagi on his head.
"Hahaha! I'm truly sorry, but didn't I just say? My head is small, and Miss Yamausagi isn't comfortable on it."
"Then throw her off! Why bring something like this when we're adventuring?!" The tanuki said, fiercely reaching up to his head, intending to grab Yamausagi directly.
Seeing the tanuki's movement, Yamausagi suddenly pulled out a large folding paper fan from somewhere and slapped it on the tanuki's hand, making him yelp in pain and retract his hand immediately.
"Ah!"
"It's not time to get down yet~" Yamausagi said seriously, waving her paper fan. The tanuki, clutching his throbbing hand, wondered where this little princess got such strength.
"Heh, just bear with it for now. After all, we promised this little lady we'd help her find her Mr. Frog."
"That was you! I didn't promise anything!"
"Don't say that. Didn't we agree earlier? Yokai chivalry, famous throughout the land. It has to start with small things, Tamamura."
"I only want to be famous throughout the land; get rid of that 'chivalry' nonsense!"
"Haha, let's go, let's go. We're almost at Heian-kyo's Ghost Market. Pick up the pace and try to get there before dark."
Rate on N.U.
