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『Kodoku no Saibou』(1×1 w/ Jikkah)

"Let him pass." Akihime commanded gently, and Sasuke lowered his fan before stepping away from Motochika.
"Mind not what he says, Yukimura, he's understandably quite upset." She told her okami gently. Motochika's gaze moved to Yukimura; hard and cold.
"Step aside, dog."
 
Yukimura begrudgingly lowered his spear, stepping aside to let Motochika pass.
Nana looked different than she had when he had seen her last on the beach; hair splotched with white, and horns protruding from her head. “Motochika.” She called, watching him with tired eyes, eager to see him closer.
 
His eye softened when he turned his gaze to her again, and he cleared the distance in two full strides. He picked Nana up and held her, smiling with broken tusks.
"I thought I'd never see you again.." He said softly.
Akihime moved to her shiki, glad she didn't need her prayer slips after all, and set up a barrier to prevent the emperor's men from interfering once they broke through Amaya's webs.
 
Nana reached up, hands hovering over his badly wounded face, too afraid to touch him. “You’re hurt..” Despite being weak and ill, there wasn’t a single scratch on her.
“Your orders, Akihime-sama?” Yukimura asked, keeping Motochika in his line of sight.
 
He nodded, obeying without arguing.
“I want to go home..” She said softly, fighting tears from her frayed nerves. “Treat your wounds too..”
 
Nana looked to Akihime, turning the best she could to face her somewhat in Motochika’s arms. “Esteemed Onmyoji, do you intend to stop our retreat?” She asked calmly.
 
"So long as no more human blood is spilled, I will not impede you, your Highness. I wish to apologize on behalf of their kind, they know not with whom they deal. I will make strides to correct their mistakes." Akihime replied.
"Nana, I cannot forgive as easily. Our kin were slain, you were left in a state of neglect that would sicken those back at the Dragon Palace. Allow me to right the wrongs done to you." Motochika said softly. Akihime's brows furrowed gently and her hand moved over her prayer slips.
"I highly advise against such actions. A war would end poorly for both parties."
 
Nana looked conflicted, ears drooping as she pursed her lips. “We will retreat peacefully for now.” She decided, looking to Motochika for compliance. “We will decide things after I’ve treated your wounds at home..”
 
Motochika looked like he was going to argue, but decided against it.
"Alright, Nana...let's get you home...the sea would do you some good.." He said. Akihime's hand dropped and she bowed respectfully to both of them.
"I will make sure you are unhindered in your escape. You have my word." She said before turning to her shiki, "Yukimura, please lend your barriers against any attackers. Amaya, please have your webs ready to stop any who get past Yukimura. Sasuke, use your magic to aid Yukimura."
"As you wish, dana." Sasuke replied, though he seemed displeased.
 
Amaya nodded, taking a step forward. “There is a route that will help us avoid most of the Emperors men, please follow me.” She offered, using her spiders to find the best escape route out of the castle.
Yukimura nodded, preparing a talisman in one hand, and his spear in the other. “I will guard them with my life, no one shall come to harm.”
 
"You have our thanks, Bakeneko- er...Akihime..." Motochika said. Akihime merely nodded.
"Think of it as a step towards helping the humans atone."
"Right." Motochika huffed before following after Amaya, keeping a good hold on Nana.
 
Amaya kept the group on the path her spiders saw, using their eyes to see ahead. “There are three soldiers up ahead, we want to take the right-most path toward the stairs used by servants- the entire stair-well is currently empty.”
“Thank you, Amaya-dono!” Yukimura moved ahead of Amaya, wielding his spear to engage the soldiers who just noticed the group of odd companions and monsters.
 
"Hold! Stop right there!" The soldiers moved quickly and Sasuke stepped to stand beside Yukimura.
"Don't get too comfortable with my help." He said, a bit of teasing in his voice, before waving his fan gently. From the folds, small red maple leaves - not dissimilar to the one on his head - fluttered and glittered towards Yukimura's spear. They fused into the wood, causing it to flicker with a soft blue fire. It didn't burn in Yukimura's hands, though the wood was warm. It was enough to cause the guards to stop in their tracks.
 
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“Thank you, Sasuke-dono!” Yukimura thanked him as he launched forward, striking the men with the flat of the spear with enough force to knock them unconscious- they’d be roughed up, but they’d live.
“This way, there are no soldiers here now- they’ve just breached my webs leading to us.” Amaya said, continuing forward.
 
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Motochika held Nana tighter to his body as he followed behind Amaya, Akihime behind them.
"You have my thanks, spider woman.." He said softly. Akihime kept her eyes open; Amaya and her spiders could detect humans easily, however there was one she was concerned about that could hide from her and her children. And it was only a matter of time before they bumped into him.
"Yukimura," Akihime called, trying not to alert Amaya or Motochika and Nana, "come here, if you please."
 
Nana held tightly to Motochika, keeping her tail safely wrapped around his middle to keep it out of the way.
“My lady has ordered my to guide you, I shall do so gladly.” Amaya said softly over her shoulder.
Yukimura perked up and slowed down his pace when Akihime called out to him, moving to her side and leaning down a bit. “What is it Akihime-sama? Is something wrong?” He asked quietly.
 
Motochika looked down at Nana, "Are you doing alright...?" He asked gently.
Akihime moved closer, keeping her eyes on those ahead of her so they wouldn't hear.
"I need you to see if you can detect another onmyoji. It will be difficult, which is why I want to lend you some of my power. I need to know where he is." She requested quietly.
 
Nana nodded, but she looked like she was struggling to stay awake. “My fatigue is just wearing on me, I’ll be fine, please don’t worry my husband..”
Yukimura nodded, pulling out a talisman for assistance. “Is something wrong? Who am I looking for?”
 
"I will worry...you're my wife..." Motochika told her softly.
Akihime frowned, realizing Yukimura had no idea who Mitsunari was and probably had no real way of truly tracking him. She hadn't held on to anything linked to Mitsunari after she finished her training.
"It's Ishida Mitsunari, the deciple I told you I trained with...he's the Emperor's personal onmyoji and I want to make sure Amaya isn't headed anywhere near him. He masks his presence from spirits and demons, even I have a hard time finding him. If we cross paths with him, there will be blood - and it won't be his."
 
“Forgive me my husband, once we are to safety, I’ll attend to myself as well..” She soothed.
Yukimura nodded. “I may not be familiar with his presence, but I will do the utmost to detect him regardless.” He assured firmly, confident he’d be able to discover Mitsunari’s location. He closed his eyes, using his sharp hearing to guide his feet as he focused his attention on the talisman.
Amaya was the one to find Mitsunari first however, rounding the corner to the Onmyoji.
 
Motochika's eye widened at the sight of Mitsunari, who already had a talisman ready. He swung to shield Nana with his body and Akihime rushed forward, eyes panicked.
"Amaya!!" She yelled, pushing open the lid of her prayer slips and sending them soaring toward Mitsunari. Two of them magnetized to his talisman, forcing it to burn in his hand. The third narrowly missed his head as he inclined it to the side.
"How did I know you would show up?" He asked, tone bitter. Akihime refused to take her eyes off him as she got between him and Amaya.
"I go where I am needed."
"That isn't here." Mitsunari stated.
 
Amaya stumbled back, having gotten so close to Mitsunari she could almost touch him. “Forgive me my lady, I didn’t see him ahead at all..” She apologized to Akihime.
Yukimura wielded his spear at Mitsunari, a soft frown on his face as he placed himself between Mitsunari and Motochika, making himself the last line of defense to protect the Oni King and the Dragon Queen. “You know what the Emperor is doing isn’t right.”
Nana allowed Motochika to shield her, holding tight to him and pressing against him to make herself smaller and easier to shield.
 
"I'm just glad I could get between you in time, Amaya." Akihime said gently. Mitsunari scowled gently and reached to grab a new talisman; this one purple with red ink.
"Sasuke!" Akihime grabbed another slip as the kitsune rushed forward, his features shifting into more vulpine before he completely changed into his fox form. His fox fire engulfed his paws and his tails, jaws open wide to bite into Mitsunari's throat, only to bite into an odachi that formed from Mitsunari's talisman.
"Akihime," Motochika called, "let me help you!"
"Please, keep your wife safe! My shiki and I will handle this!" Akihime told him. Motochika scowled deeply.
"I cannot allow you to fight this battle for me!"
"Chosokabe, please!" Akihime hissed before she looked to Amaya, "Amaya, give me room to prepare my bow!"
 
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