Ryoma and Yuki continued following along the road for another few miles or so until finally, dawn broke and they came upon a shrine. “Is this it?” Ryoma asked his traveling companion. Yuki said, “Indeed. This is exactly where Himiko told me she could be located.” Ryoma then said, “Thank the gods. Let’s hurry inside, thank her for what she’s done, and inform her of the elderly couple we encountered.” Yuki nodded, and so, they ventured toward the shrine.
A mighty torii – a red and wooden gate – stood before the entrance to the building. Its purpose was to signify the entrance to a most holy place. Ryoma sighed in relief at the thought; he could use spiritual strength at this juncture, especially after the last two days. He turned to Yuki, hoping to find a resonance of feeling with the kappa, yet Yuki stood motionless, staring up at the torii.
“What’s the matter, Yuki?” Ryoma asked. Yuki didn’t answer. Eventually, Ryoma put the pieces together and asked, “Are you afraid you’re not meant to travel into the shrine?” Meekly, Yuki nodded. The samurai mulled it over for a moment before he said, “Look, I understand your concern. You’re technically an oni, but that doesn’t make you evil. The torii should ward off ominous spirits, but you have a good heart. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Yuki gulped, thought it over, and eventually said, “Oh, alright. Let’s continue.”
Ryoma smiled once more. He was glad to be removing yet another obstacle from the path to his goals. He and Yuki stepped forward together through the torii, but then, something felt off. The samurai was looking forward to bathe in the bliss of blessings, as though the torii itself was purifying the world around it. However, some arcane, malicious force rushed into the duo’s presence and Ryoma’s blood ran cold.
“S-see?” Yuki asked. “I t-told you I wasn’t welcome here. The torii will make sure of that! I-I should just stand back and let you enter.” He started creeping back, away from the torii, but Ryoma knelt down and grabbed the kappa by the hand and said, “Come now, Yuki. You know this isn’t because of you; like I said, you’re an innocent, well-meaning kappa. No, this is something far more atrocious.”
“What do you think it is, then?” Yuki asked. “What kind of demon could be lurking about?” Ryoma unhanded his friend and said, “I’m not sure, but given that we only felt the dark energy once we stepped through the torii, I’m willing to bet that it’s emanating from inside the shrine.” Yuki gulped and said, “It must be a powerful demon to infect such a holy place with its presence.” Ryoma nodded and said, “Indeed. We should make haste; the maidens may be in trouble!”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
With that, Ryoma and, reluctantly, Yuki raced forward and stormed into the shrine. The sight within was quite perplexing, to say the least. A circle of shrine maidens sat on the floor, each of their heads bowed in prayer. They were reciting some holy mantra in unison. Looking further in, the group of maidens were encircling another girl, tied to a support beam and naked as the day she was born.
The naked girl saw Ryoma and exclaimed, “Ah, finally, a man! Please, do come hither and breed this little whore!” She thrust her hips forward as she spoke. Most of the shrine maidens looked up from their prayers, saw Yuki, and began trembling in fear. “Not another demon!” One of them yelled and the others followed suit in shrieking and running away. All except one on the other side of the beam.
Yuki turned his gaze beyond the lustful, bound girl and saw the maiden still on her knees and with her head bowed. “Himiko?” He asked. She looked up from her prayers and sure enough, it was she. Even Ryoma was sure of it. She said, “Yuki, you came. It’s so good to see you.” Her words dictated enthusiasm yet her voice itself seemed jaded and faded by comparison.
Hesitating ever so slightly, Yuki asked, “Himiko, what’s wrong?” The girl on the beam began laughing and answered, “What’s wrong, dear kappa, is that she’s lost one of the bitches from her flock. She’s gone and never coming back, Himiko!” The girl roared maniacally, as though the thought of her own ability to possess was the most humorous thing in the world.
“Shut up, you damned succubus!” Himiko cried. “Why did you have to take control of Sayako? Why did you do it?” The succubus, though not able to see Himiko, answered, “I didn’t choose Sayako specifically; any of you whores would’ve done the job so long as I could sink my claws into you. I just need sex! And it looks like we finally have a proper contender here.” She looked Ryoma in the eye and, in a sickeningly cutesy voice, asked, “Will you please satiate me, samurai?” She splayed her legs, inviting him in.
“No,” Ryoma said coldly. “I’ve no interest in bedding a succubus, thank you very much.” He swiftly walked pass the possessed maiden to Himiko and asked, “Is everything alight here? How did one of your maidens fall prey to a demon?” Himiko, unable to retain her strength any longer, began crying and said, “It’s just so awful. We all departed from here to seek out the nearby villagers in case they needed help. While we were gone, the succubus found its way into the unguarded shrine. Earlier tonight, we heard a commotion coming from Sayako and discovered she was wrestling with a succubus! She tore off my friend’s clothes and entered her body before we could dispel her!”
Himiko’s sobbing grew more and more intense. Yuki looked away out of respect. Ryoma, however, knelt down and placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at the samurai whose stern expression was oddly comforting. She gave in to her instincts and lunged forward, embracing him. Quickly, he reciprocated the gesture, holding her tight and letting her know that everything would be alright. And surprising herself, she believed him.