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『Kodoku no Saibou』(1×1 w/ Jikkah)

Nana pushed herself up despite how her arms screamed from the effort. She looked at Kojurou and shook her head, feeling the impending doom that maybe this Akihime would arrive too late regardless. She couldn’t help feeling so helpless, like she was going to die hundreds of miles from home, alone in that cage.
 
Kojurou moved closer, placing his hand on the glass, "Please, I beg you, trust me for just a bit longer. You will be freed. I won't let you die in such a way."
 
She avoided his gaze, ears drooping as she gave a solemn nod. There was little else she could do but endure. She flinched when the entire castle rumbled, the building shaking so violently it made ripples in her tank water.
 
Kojurou looked to where the sound came from and moved out of the room to investigate. Soldiers and guards were running down the hall, and Kojurou tried to stop one to get some answers.
"There's a demon in the courtyard! He's destroying everything!" A guard answered. Kojurou's brows furrowed with concern.
"A demon?" He asked. The palace rumbled again, a loud explosion echoing in the halls.
"Nana!!" A voice called, faint and distant.
 
Nana’s ears flicked at the familiar voice, eyes slowly widening and she struggled to move closer to the front of her tank. Pearls rolled down her cheeks, forming in her eyes, hoping desperately that her ears weren’t playing tricks on her.
 
There was the sound of screams, the iron smell of blood filling the halls, and Kojurou back peddled into the room to stand by Nana. Whether it was to protect her or himself was unclear, but he refused to leave.
"Nana, where are you?!" It was Motochika. It had to be.
 
She pounded her hands on the glass, watching the door intently. Nana opened her mouth, lips moving but not a sound came out of her. She wanted to call out to him, to call him name- but both her magic and her voice had been sealed away.
 
Nana looked to Kojurou and nodded firmly, and then something occurred to her. She used her finger to write in the algae growing on the glass, writing out the character for husband. The character was backwards for Kojurou, but it was quite clear.
 
"Your husband?" He asked. Before he could question her further, a large hand grabbed the door frame to the room, splintering the wood. It tore a large and wide hole into the wall to accommodate the large shape that pushed into the room.
Motochika was in rough shape. His tusks were shattered, his left horn broken in half and his left eye cut and oozing fluid and blood. His chest was bruised and burned from the cannon shot, the skin split and chunks missing.
 
She felt her heard crack and break at the poor shape Motochika was in, and had she been in possession of her voice, she would have let out an anguished wail. Nana pressed her hand to the glass, staring intently at Motochika and willing for his eyes to meet hers.
 
"Nana..." Motochika took a step toward her, glaring when Kojurou took a step closer to the tank.
"I understand you are her husband...and you are probably quite angry."
"You don't even know a fraction of my anger." Motochika snarled, "Step aside."
"I cannot." Kojurou replied.
 
Nana looked to Kojurou with confusion and anger- why say he would help only to then stand between her and freedom? She bit back a silent cry of frustration, looking to Motochika with pleading eyes, shaking her head no- she didn’t know why Kojurou had chosen to take the actions that he did, but where he stood was his own death, and she did not want the man who had shown her kindness to be slain in vain.
 
Motochika looked over at her, "If he doesn't move, he dies, Nana."
"I only wish for you to wait for my friend to arrive. You've killed many of the Emperor's men-"
"He took my wife!" Motochika hollared. Kojurou grimaced.
"I only wish to avoid a war.."
"Oh, there is no stopping the Hell I will raise for you humans." Motochika promised.
 
Nana begged in vain for Motochika to spare Kojurou, not a sound coming from her. She held up the handkerchief as if it were proof of something, looking to Kojurou and pounding on the glass weakly get his attention- desperate to warn him of the danger he was putting himself into.
 
Kojurou looked to her, concern clear on his face, before looking back at Motochika.
"I beg you," Kojurou said softly, "I have done all that I can for her, if you will just allow me this small moment to wait for my friend-"
"I'm. Not. Waiting." Motochika shifted, his gore spattered club poised for an attack, and he rushed at Kojurou - his speed a stark contrast to his size. Kojurou didn't back away, praying that his death would buy Akihime the time she needed.
"With urgent haste in accordance with the law." A barrier erected between Kojurou and Motochika, barely stopping the oni's club in time. Motochika looked back in anger, to see who would interfere. Akihime's hand dropped as a talisman burned away, a soft scowl on her face.
"Oni King."
"Bakeneko Child." Motocika huffed.
 
Yukimura stood just behind Akihime, the talisman in his fingers burning away in tandem with Akihime’s.
“My lady, the Emperor is being escorted by his guards to safety. A squadron of soldiers is on the Oni King’s trail and will be arriving shortly- what are your orders?”
Nana pressed both hands to the dirty glass, a panicked look on her face, tense at the confrontation before her- helpless to do anything for her husband, who was now outnumbered.
 
"Get Kojurou to safety. Cut off Chosokabe's arm if he tries to stop you." Akihime instructed, "Sasuke, boil the tank if he moves."
"Easy."
"Don't you dare!!" Motochika snapped, before settling, "I won't move...don't hurt Nana..."
 
Amaya did as instructed, moving past Motochika to Kojurou, extending her hand to him. “Please, this way.” She instructed, trying to settle her nerves with her back turned to the Oni King.
Yukimura prepared another talisman, ready for Akihime to use another spell need be.
Nana looked between Akihime and Motochika, looking more and more distressed as the encounter evolved.
 
Kojurou looked to Nana and frowned softly before looking back at Amaya and taking her hand.
"You've started a war, you know." Akihime said. Motochika glared at her.
"Look at what they've done to my wife and you tell me it's without warrant."
"I will agree, what has been done to her is deplorable. But you've murdered countless men." Akihime replied, "That will not be taken lightly."
"They stole my wife. Killed our kin. Put her in a glass case and allowed it to dirty. And you want me to just walk in and ask politely that they give her back?!" Motochika snapped. Akihime reached for her bow and he glared more.
"You bettay your kin, Bakeneko Whore." He snarled.
"I do what is required to maintain peace." She said.
 
Amaya retreated back to Akihime’s side with Kojurou, brow furrowing when she was safe behind Akihime. “My Lady, the Emperors men are nearly through the webbing I’ve used to secure the door to get here- we’re running out of time.” She warned.
Yukimura scowled at Motochika’s words, his grip on his talisman tightening as he gnashed his teeth. Despite his heavily wounded appearance, the hairs on Yukimura’s nape stood on end in the presence of the Oni King.
 
"Give me just a moment longer, Amaya." Akihime said before making her way towards the tank. She swung her bow forward and Motochika gripped his club tight in his hand.
"What are you doing?" He demanded. Akihime only paid him a passing glance before notching an arrow and aiming at the tank. Motochika became quite agitated; his eye grew wild with rage as he rose his club to Akihime.
"Don't you dare hurt my wife!!" He shouted, the walls quaking at his voice.
"Yukimura. Sasuke."
"I've got you, dana!" Sasuke snapped his fan shut and moved to push Motochika back.
 
The talisman in Yukimura’s fingers grew and extended to become a spear, brows knit as he put himself between Akihime and Motochika. “Don’t move.” He ordered, the sharp point of the spear aimed right at Motochika.
Nana retreated from the front of the tank, moving back as far as she could while keeping her eyes trained on Akihime’s arrow. The dragon queen looked to Akihime, not moving an inch, nor cowering.
 
"I swear to every God known, if you even scratch one scale, I'll parade your skin for all of Japan to see, whore!!" Motochika snapped angrily, frozen in place by Yukimura's spear and Sasuke's fire. Akihime locked her gaze with Nana's and gave a small nod, signalling her to stay perfectly still, before letting the arrow fly.
"Nana!!" Motochika jerked forward in fear. The arrow shot through the glass, shattering it and dumping the algae infested water all over the floor - as well as dropping Nana unharmed to the ground. Akihime dropped her bow to her side before making her way to Nana.
"Please forgive any grievance, your Highness, as well as treating Motochika so poorly. Any interruption would have put you in danger." She said, offering her hand to help Nana upright.
 
Yukimura narrowed his eyes at Motochika when he shouted, pressing his weapon closer. “Hold your tongue!” He hissed.
Nana tumbled onto the floor, glad to at least be out of that tank, and out of that murky water. With the glass broken, she felt the spells sealing her weaken, finally able to speak barely a whisper. “I assume that means you’re here to aid me then? Thank you.” She took Akihime’s hand, making the onmyoji’s hand look small as she carefully pushed herself up, turning her gaze to Motochika with worry. “Motochika..” His wounds made her heart ache, frowning softly.
 
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