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『Kodoku no Saibou』(1×1 w/ Jikkah)

Yukimura followed after Akihime, finding he didn’t need to do any of the heavy lifting, and that Akihime had the whole thing covered. “Should I erect a ward?”

Nana fought hard, swiping with her tail to try and cut the men, but it only tangled herself into the nets. When she was finally forced onto her back, she was tired and heaving for breath, the drugs weakening her greatly.
 
"Just make sure no one can get in and he can't get out." She told him as she moved down the hall.

They pulled and tugged, dragging her back to the tank in a panic. They didn't want Motonari to know what had happened.
 
“Of course.” He gave a firm nod, pulling another talisman out from his sleeve and stopping in the hallway. He cast the barrier effortlessly, making sure Akihime would have a barrier that would both keep people out at the same time it kept people in.

Nana had run out of fight, far too zapped of strength to keep thrashing. She winced when she was dumped back into the tank of drugged water, once more feeling the burning sensation in her gills.
 
Akihime snapped the door open firmly, eyes on Satoshi as he jumped away from the oiran he was with.
"Wh- who are you?!"
"Shut up." Akihime hissed before glancing to the oiran, "Leave."
"H-Hai..." She nodded quickly and gathered herself before leaving the room.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" Satoshi snapped.

"Christ..." The men muttered in relief.
"Thank God that's over."
"Yeah. Who knows what would have happened if Mori found out."
 
Yukimura bowed his head to the oiran, allowing for her to pass through the barrier before moving to join Akihime in case she needed him further. He stood just outside, ears pricked to the conversation.

“What do we do about him?” One of the men asked, motioning to the dead soldier laying on the floor. “Do we throw him overboard..?”
 
"What are you d-"
"Mayuri." Akihime said firmly, "Do you recognize that name?" Satoshi became uncomfortable, his eyes averting from Akihime.
"Answer me." Akihime hissed, nearly slamming her geta on the floor in front of him, making him jump.
"I-I do!" He replied, "Sh-She was a maiko, I heard she lost her footing!"
"I've met her." Akihime said, watching the color drain from Satoshi's face, "she's a rokurokubi now. Waiting for you to come back and free her."
"I-I don't..." Satoshi shook his head numbly and Akihime grabbed him roughly, causing him to wail in fear.
"You do know. You killed her, you disgusting cur. Took every yen she had and didn't have the decency to even pray for her. You cursed her because the Gods couldn't find you fast enough. And your poor karma has brought you straight to me."
"P-Please, I'm sorry!" Satoshi wept, shaking in Akihime's grasp.

"Aye. Feed him to the sharks. It's what he gets, the idiot." Another said with a nod.
 
The was no mercy to be had from either party in the room, even Yukimura cast his cold gaze upon the man, eyes flashing gold. Yukimura had seen plenty of human depravity, but it still disappointed him all the same.

“Get the mop.. clean this up quickly before Mori finds out..” The men moved quickly, dragging the man up the stairs and dumping his corpse overboard, cleaning up the blood that had pooled on the ground.
 
"Let's go," Akihime threw Satoshi to the floor, causing him to grunt from the force, "you're going to fix this."
"O-Ok! Just don't hurt me!" He pleaded, pushing himself up. Akihime glared at him, and he looked to Yukimura for some sort of compassion. When he saw none from the okami, he moved to his feet and left the room. Akihime followed him closely, keeping him in her line of sight.
"If he tries to run, Yukimura, kill him." She ordered, causing Satoshi to turn back to her in fear.

"What a mess..." One muttered, cleaning blood from the wall.
"All for a scale."
"No treasure was worth all this."
 
Yukimura nodded and bowed his head as they moved down the hall, lifting the barrier so they could pass freely. By now several girls and even a few customers were peeking into the hallway to catch a glimpse of what was going on, most retreating back into their rooms when the three emerged into the hall.

The bloody water, along with a few glimmering scales scattered about the floor from Nana’s struggle, were cleaned up, all evidence of the transgression erased. Nana was securely back in her tank, once more laying unmoving at the bottom.
 
Akihime walked outside with Satoshi and used a talisman to try and locate where Mayuri had gone. It burned into a small firefly that fluttered off lazily, and Akihime shoved Satoshi.
"Follow." She ordered and Satoshi seemed hesitant before obeying.

Motonari came down after a while and glanced around, eyes bored and disinterested.
"I heard a ruckus not too long ago. I trust everything is in order?"
"A-Ah, aye! One of the men caught a shark while fishin and ended up gettin pulled in!"
 
Yukimura was right behind Satoshi, making sure that if he tried to run, that he wouldn’t get far.

The other men nodded and muttered in agreement, opting to keep their mouths shut and heads down if it meant keeping their heads on their shoulders.
 
The firefly took them to a dirt road outside the entertainment district, far from prying eyes, before fluttering behind a gathering of trees. Satoshi started to drag his feet and Akihime shoved him again.

Motonari squinted in suspicion but said nothing, glancing at Nana briefly before leaving without a word.
 
Yukimura’s firm grip found Satoshi’s upper arm, keeping him on track as he led the man to where the firefly had disappeared.
 
"Akihime-san...?" Mayuri's voice called. Satoshi's legs froze and he refused to go any further, even with Yukimura dragging him. Akihime moved closer to where Mayuri's voice sounded.
"It's me, Mayuri...I found him." She said. There was the wet creaking of bone as Mayuri's head stretched out from the dark. Satoshi almost screamed, the sound catching in his throat. Mayuri glared hatefully and her head inched closer, Satoshi trying his best to keep as far from her as possible.
"P-Please, don't hurt me! I'm sorry!" He panicked. Akihime's gaze held no pity as she stared at him.
"You will give every yen back to her as an offering and you will soend the rest of your days making penance for your crime. Or my okami is likely to send you to Hell himself."
"N-No, please!!"
 
Yukimura’s sharp nails dug into the man’s arm, holding him firmly in place and not letting him budge an inch away from Mayuri, glaring down at him with the same cold gold eyes. “Be a man! Do it!” He snapped, shaking him a bit.
 
"You ruined my life...! Took everything from me and left me as bones in the dirt...!" Mayuri hissed. Satoshi's legs gave out, dropping to his knees with his arm still in Yukimura's grasp.
"I'm sorry! Really! I don't know why I did it! I was scared to marry! I didn't want to be tied down!" He sputtered, "I'll give it all back! Please, forgive me, Mayuri!"
"If I ever see you at the Gates of Paradise, I'll fling you into Hell and follow you to ensure you stay!" Mayuri yelled. Satoshi wailed, bowing hos head.
"I'll make right! I swear! I'll become a monk and repent for the rest of my days!!" He said. Reaching into his robes, he pulled all the yen he had in his possession and offered it to her.
"Here!! ¥500,000!! Your contract in full! Please, take it and forgive me!" He wept. Mayuri stared at it before looking to Akihime, who nodded and took the bills from him.
"I had better see you at a shrine the next time I'm in the area." Akihime threatened. Satoshi nodded quickly and Akihime signaled Yukimura to let him go.
 
The Okami found himself not wanting to release him, but did as Akihime signaled. He released Satoshi and took a step back, eyes trained on the man as he moved back to Akihime’s side. “Should he not be brought to justice further?”
 
"Mayuri?" Akihime asked. The maiko couldn't bear looking at Satoshi any longer, her head receeding back into the darkness.
"Do what you wish to him..." She replied weakly. Satoshi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"M...Mayuri...!"
"What justice do you find suitable, Yukimura?" Akihime asked.
 
“Why should you be afforded a luxury you stole from another?” Yukimura asked coldly, summoning forth a single spear, approaching the man.
 
He drew back his arm before throwing his spear at the man, impaling the him square the chest. Yukimura retrieved his spear and turned to Akihime. “Shall I dispose of his corpse, Akihime-sama?”
 
Akihime turned away, moving to where Mayuri was hiding.
"Feed him to something for all I care..." She replied. She knelt before Mayuri and took out a talisman, whispering gently under her breath. Mayuri looked relieved, her whole body sagging as she seemed to drift off to sleep. Soon, her body began to crumple and disintegrate, her kimono flopping against the grass and releasing a horde of fireflies into the night. Akihime watched them flutter away, eyes sad.
 
Yukimura summoned forth a wolf to drag away the man’s body to some alley for the dogs, moving to stand guard over her as she worked, his heart ached as he watched her, moved by Mayuri’s plight, and that she finally received justice.
 
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