Friends and Children (First Half)

There you are.

Really now, you should know better than to climb up on the roof.

I swear, Kintoki must have been just like you when he was your age. I certainly never taught him to be so rambunctious.

Teehee.

I'm fine, Raikou. I'll never fall down from a roof or a wall. It's not who I am.

Only Humpty-Dumpty falls down.

Oh my, how awful. Hehe. So Lord Dumpty falls off a roof then?

Yes, that's right.

Oh, wait, no. It wasn't a roof. Humpty-Dumpty sat on a wall.

Then Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall. And all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again.

Oh my...

Oh no, please don't be scared, Raikou. It's okay.

I'm not Humpty-Dumpty. There's no such person as Humpty-Dumpty here.

So nobody's going to get hurt. Okay?

...Right.

You're right, of course. If you say so, then it must be true.

Mother believes you when you say no one will be hurt.

...

Hehe. How very strange.

I feel so much like my old self again whenever you and I speak.

It's as though I've gone back to my childhood, when I was still innocent in the ways of the world.

Back when I was still called Monjumaru, and did not yet carry a sword or seek glory in battle.

Of course you're still you, Raikou. Monjumaru is still there, inside you. I promise.

Do you really think so? Hehe, you do know it's not nice to tease your mother, don't you?

I'm not teasing. I can tell. She's still in there.

Ahh...

If Kintoki were here right now...I think you and he would have been great friends.

I swear, I don't know where that boy has wandered off to.

Kintoki.

Do you mean Sakata Kintoki, of Mt. Ashigara?

Oh my, you're so well-informed. Yes, that's him.

He grew up in the province of Sagami, where he was known as Kaidoumaru of Ashigara. As the Child of Sekiryu, the god of Mt. Ashigara, he was born with incredible strength.

But now...he is Kintoki.

My own, beloved child, Sakata Kintoki.

Uh-huh, uh-huh.

I don't know, Raikou. I don't understand.

I can't say for sure, but I don't think he needs us.

Huh?

I am who I am. I belong only to you.

I am who I am. I'm your friend, lonely Raikou. Monjumaru.

...?

It's okay. You don't have to worry about anything.

Your child is all grown up. Kintoki is a warrior now.

In a different time, I'm sure he would have stayed close to us...

But now, he's forgotten all about you.

...So I don't need to be friends with anyone but you.

Haha, hahaha...

Ahahahahahahaha! Weak! So weak!

You're all so weak and fragile! You're so pathetic it's actually hilarious!

I expected more from you, Kyoites! Even with a hundred swords, you're still no match for a single one of us!

Pathetic!

Fall back! Fall back!

They're much too strong for us! Fall back!

Get some of the Genji warriors here, on the double! These are no ordinary oni...

They must be the ones from Mt. Ooe! Fall baaack!

Get them, Torakuma!

Nice, nice! Very nice! So strong! Yeah!!!

But I really love how big you are! Especially your arms!

After all, you can send a whole bunch of officers flying with just a single swipe! Mwahahahahahahahaha!

Go on, Torakuma! Destroy everything in your path! Ahahahahahahahahahaha!

Well, well, listen to you.

Fufu, somebody's in a good mood.

Hell yeah I am! I've got more power than I know what to do with now!

I've never felt better, and I owe it all to this awesome new arm you got for me.

This is exactly why you're such a great leader for all of Mt. Ooe's oni, Shuten-Douji!

Fufufufu. Whatever are you talking about?

I don't lead any oni. That's waaay too much trouble. You go right ahead and lead them if you want, Ibaraki.

Ibaraki-Douji, leader of the Mt. Ooe oni! That sounds just lovely. You can do that from now on.

O-oh, really? You sure?

Anyway, more importantly, Ibaraki, you can use Torakuma and Hoshikuma as much as you like...

...but make sure you actually eat what you break too, okay? Otherwise you're just being wasteful.

You can destroy all the walls and demolish all the houses you like...

Rip off all the arms and legs you want, too.

But, let me say this one time and don't make me say it a second.

Whatever you kill, be it human or animal...

...you must also eat. That is the rule.

And you do know what will happen if you break this rule... Right?

U-uh-huh.

Say it.

O-okay. I'll make sure to eat everything I kill. I promise.

And if I don't want to eat something, I-I won't k-k-kill it...

Good.

A-and look, Shuten! I still haven't killed anything yet! I've just been breaking things!

Besides, there just isn't much meat out there that meets my exacting standards! I swear, these humans all smell so bad it's just gross!

For a moment, I thought I'd found some meat back at Ichijou Modori-bashi that looked promising, but

...O-on second thought, never mind.

Oh Ibaraki. You're just adorable, you know that?

Huh?

That's it. Keep up the good work. Mmm, I can't wait to see what you can really do tonight.

I like devouring the occasional human myself. If you could bring one back for me, I'd just looove that.

...Though of course, there may not be time for that tonight.

Huh? What do you mean, Shuten?

Fufu. I mean our fun tonight's going to be a little different from usual.

Just this once, we're not going to be looking for pretty outfits, or kidnapping pretty girls...

...or gathering sparkly treasures, or stealing the best wine in Kyo.

We're not even going to play with the blond-haired blue-eyed brat.

O-oh! Really? We're not?

That's great! That's really great, Shuten!

Although...

This is the first I'm hearing about not looking for treasure or abducting people.

So if we're not gonna play with the brat either, why did we come down from the mountain tonight?

Are you gonna eat people? W-without me?

Mmm. As nice as that sounds...no.

Were you even listening to me, Ibaraki? Oh well, I guess it's all right if you don't know.

Hey! No fair! Come on, Shuten, tell me!

W-wait, I've got it! I-it's got something to do with that guest of yours, right!?

There you go. My guest and I have something we need to do here in Kyo.

Isn't that right, guest?

Indeed, my lady.

Oh, there you are. You disappeared on me again, huh? That spirit form trick of yours must be handy for you, hm? It's a pain in the ass for me.

!

(What an idiot! Now he's done it! Nobody can annoy Shuten and live to see another day!)

(He's a dead man if ever I've seen one! Not that I could care less whether he lives or dies.)

(He's definitely got it coming, though. I never liked how he showed up out of nowhere and started hanging around Shuten like it was the most natural thing in the world.)

(Now that you've pissed off Shuten, she's gonna tear your head off like she's plucking a flower!)

(Heh heh heh, now go on, die! Die, die, die!)

Ugh, it really is a pain to deal with, you know?

My apologies. It won't happen again.

(Heh heh heh... You're damn right it won't happen again, weirdo.)

(You obviously don't know how wild Shuten can get when she's upset.)

(The moment her beautiful white fingers touch you, she'll either blow your whole body up on the spot, or she'll crush every bone you have!)

(Ahahahahahahaha!)

Oh well, that's okay. Don't worry about it.

Thank you, my lady.

(Huh?)

(Why hasn't he exploded? Why are his bones all still in his body?)

(Wh-wh-what's going on, Shuten!? Why aren't you doing anything to him!?)

(I thought I was gonna get to see another beautiful bloodbath!)

You just do whatever you think is best. Right, Ibaraki?

Aah! Wh-what, Shuten?

If it wasn't for my guest here, we could never have made it through Kyo's Bounded Field without asking the moon for help, right?

I-I guess...

Usually, we can only sneak into Kyo once a month or so.

And you already used up our chance this month so you could go to the Ichijou Modori-bashi bridge, right?

And forget big oni like Torakuma or Hoshikuma. We can only bring them along every six months or so, if we're lucky.

It's such a hassle. Who wants to deal with that? Not me, I'll tell you that.

But tonight, just ooone word from our guest is all it takes.

You're good, guest. I'm impressed.

Thank you. I'm glad I could be of service...

...Master Shuten-Douji.

... ...

So, this is what a Caster from another world is capable of, hm? Nice. Veeery nice.

Dammit! Of all the things I thought might be goin' on here...!

Large hostile detected! Master, we're dealing with some

？！

Yeah, that's an oni all right! It must've come down from one of the nearby mountains!

It's weird, though. We don't usually get big ones like that.

The Bounded Field Lord Seimei put up around Kyo should make it near impossible for an oni that big to slip through.

Usually, we just have oni sneakin' in maybe once or twice a month, and that's only by makin' themselves weak enough to get through.

There's no way a weakened oni like that'd be able to smash the place up so easily.

And on top of that, I see the ones leadin' it are

Hey, Shuten, look! We've got a warrior here to make up for the officers' piss-poor showing now!

Hahahahaha, but it doesn't matter who they send! None of them can so much as touch us!

Now come on! I'll tear the flesh from your bones and eat it before your very

Wait. You!?

Kintoki!?

...Ibaraki.

Fufufufufufu. My oh my, if it isn't the blond-haired blue-eyed brat himself.

How are you, brat? It's been sooo long, hasn't it?

Goodness, you look even stronger than you did the last time I saw you. I guess all that sumo's really working for you, huh?

Don't you think so, brat?

Shuten.

Long time, my ass! You were just here last month!

？！

Yes, Master. But do not let down your guard around them!

They have no memory of who we are, just like Lord Kintoki.

What's more, their magical energy readings easily surpass those of their Spirit Origins registered in Chaldea!

So you're the oni makin' a big old mess of the place.

What's goin' on today, huh? Usually, you just sneak in quietly, but tonight, you're obviously goin' all out!

Shuten-Douji! Ibaraki-Douji!

And if you're here, the big guy's gotta be either Torakuma or Hoshikuma, right!?

What's goin' on, Shuten? Why're you causin' so much trouble tonight!?

You want to know why? Fufu.

This is why. You can see them, right?

!

Those marks on her left hand... Are those Command Spells!?

？！

The Masters were chosen from among those who possess great power here in the Heian period...and that would certainly include Shuten-Douji of Ooe!

Still, I never expected an oni to be one of the seven Masters!

...Huh.

I thought the brat had brought along a Caster of his own, but that seems not to be the case. Hmm...

And as far as I can tell, that black-haired brat there isn't a Caster, either.

Hmm...

You there. I sense something...different about you. Why don't you let me take a closer look?

Here. Look at me.

Look. At. Me.

？！

Master!

Aw crap! Fujimaru! Don't look directly at her!

Sorry, I should've said somethin' sooner. It's not safe for humans to look directly at an oni.

Okay, that's not true of all oni, but it's definitely true for this one. She's dangerous!

？！

Master, get behind me!

？！

Please, do not try to tough it out!

I know your Mystic Code has been heavily modified, but it still cannot hope to completely shut out all manner of magical energy effects!

Please, Master, stand down.

Aww, he went and hid behind the dolly. No fun.

Well that's boring. I was hoping you'd play with me some more.

Ha! That's rich, seein' how you're the one who brought Ibaraki and the big guy here.

Hmm...

Well now. You're a Servant, aren't you, dolly? But you're not a Caster, are you?

...Fufu, does this mean you're the odd man out, Kintoki?

...

Ha! This is too good! One of the so-called Four Heavenly Kings, and you're still not worthy to be chosen as a Master!

I was pissed off when I first found out Shuten had been chosen for a human ritual of all things, but not anymore!

Hahahahahaha, what a pathetic showing, Sakata Kintoki!

Shaddup!

Loooseeer! Loooseeer! Ahahahahahaha! It must be so hard, living with that kind of shame!

Hey, I just had a great idea! Shuten, I'm gonna do a thing now! Don't get in my way, okay!?

Oh? Well, I'd hate to spoil your fun, Ibaraki. What is it you're going to do?

I'm gonna do this pathetic Genji a favor and put him outta his misery! Mwahahahahaha!

Come on, Torakuma! Let's get 'em!

The giant horse creature and the oni are both headed this way, Master!

Sparks are about to fly in a big way, but oh well! Let's go, Ibaraki!

No, there ain't.

Ibaraki may not be as bad as some oni I could name, but she's still an oni, and her antics are way worse than any kinda mischief a human could get up to!

So even if we can't capture her here, we can still stop her and chase her away!

？！

You're in for it this time, Kintoki!

Bring it on, Ibaraki-Douji!

Damn doll! Get outta my face!

How are you so good at blocking my flames!? I'm the leader of every oni on Mt. Ooe, you know! Grrrrrr!

...Thank you for your kind praise.

？！

I wasn't praising you!

Ibaraki.

That does it! I'm not holding anything back next time! Come on, Shuten, don't just stand there! Help me out!

Let's show the brats and that damn doll how unstoppable we are when we're fighting together!

That's enough, Ibaraki.

Sh-Shuten...?

(Even the big guy just took a step back. Guess they ain't gonna go all out here.)

(Though I guess that makes sense, since I don't have a Caster with me. Not enough in it for them.)

(So what about Shuten then? Does she have a Caster, or is she in the same boat as me?)

(I'm not seein' anyone who looks like a Caster right now...but these are still oni we're dealin' with.)

(Not gonna let my guard down, but I got no idea what they're doin' here!)

That's enough, Ibaraki. We're done playing with them.

...O-okay. He's not as much fun to fight as Tsuna, anyway.

But let me just say this, Shuten: I wasn't the one playing around.

...?

No, it wasn't you either, doll. I'm talking about you, Kintoki!

What about me?

That doll might smell like oil instead of blood, but at least I could tell she was really after my head.

But then there was you and that other brat, Kintoki! What were you two thinking!?

It was like your hearts weren't in it at all...

I don't get it. How could you be facing the leader of all oni on Mt. Ooe...

...and not even try to cut off my head!?

？！

Shut up! You don't deserve to say my name!

... ...

...You're one to talk.

Did you even eat a single person tonight?

Grk.

G-gnn, gnnnnnn. Wh-why'd you have to run your big mouth, Kintoki!?

Heh. Looks like we've both been holdin' back. Right, Shuten!?

This is just another game for you, right? Always is with you.

I'm sure you're a Master since you've got the marks, but I don't see your Caster anywhere.

You're not actually Casterless, are you?

Fufu. Fufufu.

Fufufufufufufufufu. What is it, Kintoki? You trying to say I don't measure up?

Well, I'm afraid you're wrong. Here, why don't you say hi to my new friend here?

Come on out, Caster.

You called, Master?

!!!

You know my True Name? You must have some experience with Holy Grail wars then.

But, unfortunately, I have no recollection of you in this materialization.

I do hope you can forgive me, potential past acquaintance.

A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Master Shuten-Douji's Caster.

...Have you and I met somewhere before?

？！

Dammit! So you've got a Heroic Spirit too!?

FINE! Good for you! So glad to hear it. Not that I'm jealous or anything.

You're not? You suuure? Fufu.

Now the only thing I want to do is tell you how great my new Caster friend here is.

Fufufufufu, you know, it's almost indecent, asking for it like that.

You're real bad, aren't you, brat?

I ain't askin' for shit!

Sure you are.

No, I'm not!

Enough! Just shut up! I'm gonna tie you all up so tight you won't be able to so much as blink without my say-so!

I'm puttin' an end to the Imperial Holy Grail War right here and now!

...Master.

Oh my, somebody's fired up! All right, I guess we can play with you for a little while. Ibaraki!

Ooh, you want me to rough 'em up, Shuten!? You got it!

No, Caster and I are playing together this time. You and Torakuma stay out of this.

Huh!? What are you saying, Shuten!?

Understood. As you wish.

Multiple hostiles detected. They appear to be homunculi, Master!

？！

Hell yeah! Let's do this!

HrrrRAAAH!

Impressive, Sakata Kintoki. You mowed down my combat homunculi like they were nothing.

What would you have me do next, Master?

Ahh, this is so much fun!

You're even more into this than usual, aren't you, brat? Ooh, you're getting me aaall worked up.

Ahhh... What a waste.

Oh, it'd just be wrong for me to make something this fun a one-time only deal.

All right, Caster, do it.

As you wish.

But please be aware that I won't be able to control where we end up if we include Lord Torakuma's significant mass.

That's fine. Don't worry about it.

Well, see you later, brat!

Hold it! You're not going anywhere!

O earth, make a path.

I can no longer detect their magical energy signals!

Whatever they did, it appears to be something very different from Command Spell-based rapid movement in standard Holy Grail Wars, or even similar pseudo-transmission techniques!

As far as I can tell, it seems to be a smoke screen combined with a more typical rapid movement spell.

The result is a technique that specializes in assisting multiple combatants' escape from a battlefield.

It even reminds me of the earth evasion spell once used by ancient China's famed tactician, Taigong Wang. Incredible.

So they even took the big guy with 'em. Dammit...

？！

Yes, Master. I will use my spirit form to make a quick round of the city.

I won't have much time, as I'm concerned I may also be affected by the spirit form curse...

...but I will be certain to cover as much ground as I can.

I will check the Imperial Palace as well and return soon with my report!

...They were just toying with us.

Holdin' back or not, I lost that one, straight up. (Sigh)...

Dammit!

...But that's okay. We'll win the next one.

？！

Damn straight.

Welcome back!

...Oh? Is your other companion not with you?

Danzo? She had somethin' to take care of first.

(I prob'ly shouldn't say she's out on a scoutin' mission. It'll just make her worry.)

(Gotta say though, these Heroic Spirit people are pretty amazin'.)

Don't worry, it's nothin' major. She'll be back soon enough.

I see... Then I hope to see her safe return shortly.

Oh, I know the sun's out and all, but I wouldn't recommend leavin' the house just yet.

There might still be oni out there.

Oh, come to think of it, this house has a Bounded Field of its own, right?

Of course. It has been in place since Lord Tametoki lived here, and it has never once been breached.

Well, that's good to hear. So where's Kaoruko? She in the back?

Oh, no, actually.

She said she didn't want to make Lady Shoushi worry, so she set off for the palace first thing in the morning.

Damn, talk about bein' responsible! Then again, it don't surprise me at all that Lady Fujiwara-no-Kaoruko would be such a faithful retainer.

By the way, Kaoruko DID take the carriage, right?

Oh yes, of course!

Good. Those talismans Lord Seimei put on it ought to make a solid illusion.

And she should be fine once she makes it to the palace, since it's got some seriously tough Bounded Fields. Doubt even that Caster can break through 'em.

All right then, in the meantime, I guess we just wait for Danzo's report.

She said she'd check in on the palace from a distance too, so she might even see Kaoruko while she's there.

？！

A-all right, if you'll excuse me, I'll go prepare your breakfasts at once.

Sounds great! Thanks!

...Phew.

Man. I never imagined an oni'd be one of the Masters.

Guess it kinda makes sense. She's reeeally strong, and Kaoruko got chosen as well for a whole different kinda strength.

Still... An oni, of all things.

...And Shuten, at that.

？！

Yeah. We go back a ways, much as I wish we didn't.

Shuten-Douji and Ibaraki-Douji are both crazy dangerous, even for oni.

They're ridiculously strong, ridiculously tough, and they know how to use sorcery of a kind.

They've even got an oni castle of sorts up on Mt. Ooe where they keep their underlings. In addition to Torakuma, they've also got Hoshikuma, Kanekuma, and Kuma-Douji.

Oni used to only be solitary creatures, but those two have been gatherin' them up in their castle.

Right now, you can still count their numbers on both hands...but eventually, they could have a full-blown oni army.

Long story short, Shuten-Douji and Ibaraki-Douji are on a whole different level from your typical oni.

Even Lord Abe-no-Seimei said they're the greatest threat Kyo's ever seen.

But the weird thing is...

...I haven't heard a word about them actually eatin' people.

And not just tonight, either. All the time.

I don't know about Ibaraki...

...but Shuten's definitely just playin' around.

I know for a fact she used to eat people, but nowadays, she just...doesn't.

It's all a game to her. Killing, stealing, torturing... Everything.

？！

For now, anyway. Which means she must be holdin' back a hell of a lot.

Hell, when I fought her about half a year ago, she cut my left arm to shreds and almost tore it right off, and that was still just her playin' around.

Luckily, Lord Seimei managed to put me back together.

Basically, as far as she's concerned, all living things human, beast, or whateverare just toys for her to play with.

She's that freakin' strong.

It's no wonder Lord Seimei says she's the leader of all oni, and the closest one there is to an oni from the kingdom of demons.

There's more stories I've heard about her, too.

They say that back when she lived on a mountain in some other country...

...she'd go around killin' people left and right, devourin' them whole, and line up their heads and...other parts for all kinds of messed up games.

And there's no tellin' when she might start doin' the same thing here in Kyo.

... ...

......

？！

...You know, since I'm supposedta be a Genji warrior...

...maybe I shouldn't've let up until I'd cut both their heads off.

But...somethin' about that just doesn't seem right to me.

I've fought Shuten lotsa times by now, and Ibaraki's right.

I just can't bring myself to really go for their heads.

It's like...

What'd happen if I cut off their heads now?

Somethin' about that just doesn't feel right to me.

If I cut off the head of an oni who might talk a good game...

...but hasn't actually eaten anyone...

...would I really be proud of what I did when I dig into breakfast the next day?

No. I couldn't.

... ...

...Oh, this might be a good way to put it.

It wouldn't be golden.

？！

...Hm?

What is it, Fujimaru? Why're you lookin' so down?

I'm just thinkin' here, so there's no need for you to look so sad, right?

Right?

...I see. So you get it, huh.

？！

All right, enough of that! First, we have breakfast, then we take a nice long nap while we wait for Lady Danzo to get back!

Besides, it's a real bad idea to fight when you ain't been getting' enough sleep!

I have returned.

？！

Forgive me for taking so long. I was out tracking the oni.

It was more difficult than I expected, as Shuten-Douji's group came and went at a moment's notice.

They would appear somewhere in the city seemingly at random, roam for a bit...

...then disappear again after thrashing a group of officers or Genji warriors out on patrol.

Hmm?

I can understand showin' up at different places at random, since it sounded like that's what that spell of theirs did.

Hell, that Caster bastard said as much right before they disappeared.

But...

You said they didn't stick around long before disappearin' again with that spell of theirs, over and over?

Correct.

Why in the world would they do that?

If there was somethin' they wanted, or somewhere they wanted to go, they'd usually head straight there.

Are they just playin' around? Hmm...

There is one other item of note. Genji warriors have been stationed at various posts throughout the city, on orders from the main Genji house...

...but there were no signs of any unusual activity at the palace.

Speaking of which, I also saw Lady Kaoruko arrive safely at the palace in her carriage. Fortunately, she did not encounter the oni on her way there.

So Lady Kaoruko's safe? That's great.

But no unusual activity at the palace, huh...

Maybe they already know Shuten was behind last night's attack, and that she's one of the Imperial Warriors...

...and decided they didn't need to do anythin'. Heh. That does sound like somethin' the Minister of the Left would do.

Even so, that still leaves the question of what it is the oni are after...

Could you tell us exactly where it was they showed up, Danzo?

Of course. After we fought them, they first appeared at the intersection of Higashi Kyougoku Road and Hachijou Street.

They next appeared at the intersection of Nishinotouin Road and Rokujou Street, then Sai Road and Gojou Street.

They showed up on the west side of Tsuchimikado Road...

...and finally, at the intersection of Omiya Road and Gojou Street.

？！

I'll go borrow a brush and an inkstone.

Okay, let's do this.

At the intersections of Higashi Kyogoku and Hachijou, Nishinotouin and Rokujou, and Sai and Gojou...

...Then on the west side of Tsuchimikado, and the intersection of Omiya and Gojou.

Oh, and we fought 'em at the intersection of Omiya Road and Sanjou Street.

？！

I do.

They headed northwest at the intersection of Higashi Kyougoku and Hachijou, north-northwest at Nishinotouin and Rokujou...

...northeast at Sai and Gojou, north-northeast at Omiya and Gojou...

...east on the west side of Tsuchimikado Road, and northeast at Omiya and Sanjou...

...I'm so sorry, Master. Lord Kintoki. I should have realized it sooner.

Since I already had a map of Heian-kyo on file in my database, I can only assume that my circuits were malfunctioning.

Please, take a look at this.

If we draw lines along the paths the oni took from every location they visited...

...and we note where they intersect...

？！

Aha! So that's what they're after!

I believe so.

Perhaps the reason they disappeared whenever they encountered resistance was not to draw attention away from their destination...

...but to prevent warriors from gathering in other locations while they were fighting.

...Then they're definitely just playin' around.

Four Heavenly Kings aside, no regular Genji warriors could give Shuten a fight when she's serious.

Still, thanks to their playin', we now know exactly where they're headed: the place where these lines cross!

So let's see where it is...

It appears to be in eastern Kyo, around the Ogimachi district.

...G-gotcha. So that's their game, huh.

？！

Yeah, you could say that.

There's a house near there that belongs to someone pretty much everyone in Kyo knows about.

It's not far from here.

We could walk there in a few minutes.

Lord Kintoki...

...could you please tell us who this person is?

... ...

... ...

...Abe-no-Seimei.

Abe-no-Seimei, the strongest and most famous onmyouji of the Heian period!

I even heard his name spoken in reverent tones during the age of war some hundreds of years later. I don't believe any onmyouji has ever surpassed him.

？！

And it looks like their destination is right around his house.

Come on, let's get goin'!

... ...

... ...Well, there you have it.

Um...

Lord...Kintoki?

I'm sorry. I know what I said earlier...but I was lyin'.

Well, maybe not lyin', but it wasn't exactly the truth.

？！

？！

Yup. You got it.

Abe-no-Seimei's and Minamoto-no-Raikou's houses are actually in the same neighborhood.

I finally finished loading Heian-kyo's historical geographical records, and Lord Kintoki is right!

The Abe family house, and Lady Raikou's house...

...are in the same neighborhood!

I never would have imagined it!

Impressive, Master. You must be very well-read.

？！

(Sigh)... Unfortunately, Lord Seimei's not home right now.

Hell, there isn't anyone there right now, since he supposedly sent all his servants out on leave, too.

And since I'm guessin' the oni aren't gonna be too interested in an empty house...

...they're probably gonna come for this one.

？！

Agreed. We should try to convince her that the Imperial Holy Grail War should be stopped before Shuten-Douji arrives.

Alternatively, we may be able to convince her to persuade the Genji to disavow it. Lord Kintoki!

... ...

...Yes.

(Yes?)

？！

......

(Come on, body, move, dammit!)

(Just knock on the gate. That's all you gotta do.)

(So why won't you move?)

(...What am I sayin'? 'Cause I'm nervous, that's why!)

(Ugh, this is pathetic! No matter how old I get, I still can't help but act like a kid around Raikou!)

(Come on, Kintoki, get it together! This is an emergency!)

(Even if Raikou's a Master)

Oh, hello! Welcome home.

The hell!?

Wh-where'd this kid come from!? I swear she wasn't there a moment ago!

Th-that's because she came from Lady Raikou's house.

She just opened the gate a bit and walked right out.

Hehe.

Are you done running away from home now? Oh good. That's wonderful news.

But why are you still just standing there?

Come inside, Kintoki. Mother will be so happy to see you.

...?

？！

Nope. Never seen her in my life.

If she's not one of the other Genji warriors' kids, maybe she's

Hehehe.

... ...

(Hey, Danzo. This kid ain't actually a Caster, is she?)

(I don't think so. I do not detect any Heroic Spirit readings from her.)

？！

(I cannot detect any magical energy from her. Why? Is there something strange about this child?)

(Nah, if you don't sense anythin' unusual about her, that's fine.)

What are you doing, Kintoki? Come on, this way.

H-hey, don't tug on me! Although...

If I've gotta go into the house anyway... Oh, forget it! Whatever happens, happens!

C'mon, Fujimaru! C'mon, Danzo!

This way, Kintoki.

Go on, go on. Mother is waiting for you.

Hey, no runnin' in the house! Raikou doesn't like that!

Hehe. There is just something about children that makes a house seem like a home.

This house is as secure as an fortress, but with a child running around, it is easy to forget about all the blades lining its walls.

That being said...

I also noticed there were a few warriors in full armor stationed behind the gate, and others in light armor stationed in every room.

It would seem that they are prepared for a battle to break out at any time.

Perhaps even a siege.

？！

...

(I can't believe how heavily the house is bein' defended only a few days after Raikou started holin' up.)

(She might as well be shoutin' from the streets...)

(...that she's one of the Masters.)

(And if she is, then this kid's gotta be...)

Hey, girlie. How long have you been stayin' here?

...Huh? Where'd she go?

She walked off to the room in the back while you were apparently lost in thought.

Again!? Aw man, I must still be off my game!

I keep gettin' nervous in here. Dammit, I just gotta get used to this place already.

...Do you mean you still don't feel at home here, Kintoki?

!

Raikou...!

N-no, it's not that...

I just meant that, uh, I didn't wanna do anything rude, that's all!

If it sounded like I was sayin' somethin' else, I apologize!

That's quite all right.

？！

？！

(Her aura is truly frigid! It may be different from a swordfighter's aura, or bloodlust, but it has frozen me in place all the same.)

(And if it is affecting a puppet like me this much, it must be even worse for you, Master!)

(Please, steady your breathing and try to remain conscious!)

Firstly, welcome home, Kintoki.

I am glad to see you're safe and sound. That is the most important thing.

We will discuss your punishment for your... unauthorized excursion later.

P-punishment! But Raikou, I

Kintoki!

Y-yes, ma'am.

Now, these people you've brought with you...

...Who are they?

？！

(Indeed it is!)

(I see almost nothing of the maternal figure we know.)

(I have no doubt that so much as one wrong word from us will see her cut us to pieces on the spot!)

(Please be extremely cautious, Master!)

Answer me, Kintoki. Who are these people?

If you refuse to answer, I will decide what to do with them here and now.

Is that what you want, Kintoki?

Raikou.

I mean... Mother!

... ...

...Y-yes?

Wh-wh-where did that come from, Kintoki!? You haven't called me "Mother" in ages! A-and in front of strangers, no less!?

？！

Mother, these two are new friends of mine! Also, I was hoping to ask you about the young girl who let us in.

Is she the child of one of our warriors?

Oh my goodness! Is that true, Kintoki!?

Oh, as for the girl... Ah!

So she went outside on her own again? And after I told her how dangerous it was right now, too.

Oh goodness, whatever am I going to do with her?

Oh! But she's safely back inside now, yes? Thank goodness...

Oh Kintoki, you're such a good boy, getting her back inside!

I knew I raised you right! And just look at how big and strong you've grown, too!

In fact, I think you have gotten even bigger since you ran away!

Just look at your arms! Hehe, those are strong Genji arms if ever I've seen them!

This may just call for another coming of age ceremony!

Hey, come on, Mother, that's just crazy talk!

Besides, I haven't changed at all! I mean, it hasn't been THAT long since I left, right?

Also, what the hell are Genji arms!?

Hehehehe.

Ahh, children. They grow up so fast...

Oh Kintoki, you were so small and adorable when you were a child, and now you've grown up so big and strong.

Hehe. You know, you were just about the same size then as she is now.

Ahh, this is so touching. It won't be long now before you're the one carrying me on your back.

In fact, why don't we do some training right now? Go on, Kintoki, carry Mother on your back.

Go on. Go on!

？！

Hm?

...Now, who are these people?

Again!?

I already told you, Mother! They're my friends!

It's not like I've just been sleeping out on the streets. My friends and I've been doin' all sorts of things.

And nothin' to be ashamed about, either! In fact, it's the total opposite!

We've been runnin' around tryin' to stop an evil plot that threatens the whole

...

... ...

... ...???

Huh?

Friends?

Did you say these people are your friends?

Sure did.

Even though one of them is a woman?

？！

I see. Well, that's a relief.

So then, that would mean...

!!!

Oh my... Oh my! I can't believe it!

Kintoki! This is the first time you've ever brought friends home!

Oh my, really?

Uh, RaikouI mean, Mother, that's

Oh my, oh my! Hehehehe. Oh, goodness, I can't stop smiling!

Well, this is just delightful. Thank you so much for coming.

Please, right this way. Make yourselves at home!

Would you like some sweets imported from Hakata? Oh, or perhaps you'd prefer peaches or pears?

Please, by all means...

...stay and relax for the rest of the day!

Oh, this is wonderful! You simply must tell me all about what Kintoki is like as a friend!

Oh, yes! You will stay for dinner, won't you?

？！

Oh, perfect!

I hope you brought your appetites! I'll cook so many delicious things you won't know what to eat first!