Ryoma and Tetsuo re-entered the shogun’s parlor. Himiko and Yuki were ecstatic to see the duo come back in. The shrine maiden exclaimed, “Ryoma! Tetsuo! You won’t believe what the shogun has disclosed to us!” The samurai felt a sense of intrigue not entirely from his curiosity but rather from the sheer excitement his companions exuded.

“What’s the reason for all the commotion?” Tetsuo asked. Ryoma then asked, “Has the lord shogun decided to help us after all?” His hope for assistance was nearly palpable. Makoto, however, shook his head and said, “I’m afraid I’ve yet to budge on that decision.” Ryoma slumped back, his happiness dashed and his enthusiasm deflated.

“Despite that,” Makoto continued, “I have a proposition in mind that you may want to hear, Ryoma.” This caused Ryoma to perk back up ever so slightly. “What did you have in mind, Lord Shogun?” The samurai asked. The shogun turned to the servant girl who fetched Haru’s head and nodded. She reciprocated and left the room. Ryoma felt a rush of nervousness wash over him, wondering what other horrors the shogun had left to present.

The servant girl returned with another box, though one less fancy than the last, and placed it on the floor between Makoto and the quartet. Himiko and Yuki stared at the others yet Ryoma felt too hesitant to uncover another gut-wrenching nightmare. Tetsuo eventually stepped forward and said, “I’ll open it.” Fingers trembling, he removed the lid.

“By the gods!” Tetsuo exclaimed. Ryoma clenched his fists in anticipation and asked, “Is it something horrid again?” He could barely eek out the question. Tetsuo shook his head and said, “No, it’s something amazing. Everyone, gather around!” The rest of the quartet moved to cover the adjacent sides of the box.

Ryoma gasped at what he saw. Contained within the simple box was a talisman with red lacing. “The fire ofuda!” He exclaimed. Himiko laughed and said, “So, you were telling the truth after all, Lord Shogun.” Makoto smiled and asked, “Are you inferring that I’m a liar, young maiden?” Yuki interjected himself into the banter and said, “Well, it’s such an incredible story that you must forgive us for any doubts.”

“Fair enough.” Makoto said. “It was quite the endeavor to retrieve it.” Tetsuo snapped back to the current situation and asked, “Wait, how did you obtain it? Was it not guarded by Raijin?” Makoto nodded and said, “Indeed. We had a host of samurai surround the stone wall on that mesa and throw spears to catch the lightning he threw down. I personally went to retrieve the ofuda from the shrine. And so, here it is now. However, we can’t seem to activate its latent power.”

“May we try?” Ryoma asked. As his mouth moved, so too did his hand toward the ofuda. The lid swiftly closed on the box, though, by Makoto’s hand. The shogun said, “While I do wish for you to utilize this talisman, I’m afraid I can’t help you for nothing in return.” The samurai cocked his head and asked, “What is your price, Lord Shogun? I swear, I’ll find a way to pay it.”

“I only ask for a favor.” Makoto said. “You see, my men are so weary from combating the demon threat that it seems a human is now testing their capabilities. I simply need you to eliminate him, and the ofuda will be yours.” Ryoma nodded and said, “Consider it done. What is the name of this nuisance.” Makoto said, “My sources tell me his name is Koichi Hanamura.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

***

Koichi and Ame entered into a new village. Mounted on his steed, the couple could see over top the nearer houses and noticed the village seemed to be lacking in vitality; nearly no one bustled about in the streets. “How strange.” Ame said. “Where do you suppose they all are?” Koichi snickered and said, “Maybe they heard we were coming and ran for it.” Ame giggled and they continued forth.

Miu was washing linens for the recovering villagers while Iori played with a stick, pretending to be a swordsman like Ryoma. Koichi appeared in the square and asked, “Are you two the only villagers left?” Miu looked up to answer him but hesitated upon seeing the three-horned, oni-like helmet upon his head. She knew not to judge strangers right away, but something about his attire betrayed his pretense of being a moral and just person,

The sight of Ame comforted Miu, however, as she supposed someone traveling with a shrine maiden couldn’t be all that corrupt. “No,” she answered, “most of the villagers are simply ill. They’re on the road to recovery, though.” Koichi frowned and asked, “So, sickness haunts this village? What a shame; I intended to find a decent challenge here. Slaughtering you all will be no great refreshment.”

Koichi’s last words made Miu’s blood run cold. “Slaughter?” She asked. In that moment, she realized she was correct in mistrusting the stranger albeit a tad too late. She screamed, “Help! Somebody, help us!” The only one to respond, though, was the village elder who scrambled out of his home. “What’s the problem, Miu?”

“The problem, old man,” Koichi said, “is that I’m about to kill every last one of you.” Before the elder could respond, Koichi drew his naginata and launched it through the air, piercing the elder in his chest. He gasped for air and crumpled into the dirt. Miu screamed at the sight.

Iori yelled, “No! You monster!” He charged forward with his stick and swatted at Koichi’s leg, causing the stick to snap. Koichi laughed and exclaimed, “You truly have a warrior’s heart, kid! I may even spare you.” Iori, holding back tears, said, “You’ll regret that decision, monster. I’ll bring reinforcements and then you’ll be sorry.”

“Oh?” Koichi asked. “And who might that be? No one in the village seems capable of stopping me.” Iori spat at Koichi and said, “I’ll go find Yuki and Ryoma. Himiko and Tetsuo, too! They’ll stop you!” Ame perked up and asked, “Did you say Himiko? Would she happen to be a shrine maiden like me?”

Iori nodded which caused Koichi to begin to piece it all together. “Wait a moment.” He said. “You wouldn’t be referring to a samurai who’s running around with a shrine maiden and kappa, would you?” Iori nodded once more, and Koichi’s playful demeanor melted away. “Alright then.” Koichi said. “Bring them to me within two days, and I’ll spare the villagers. Waste my time, and I waste them.” He pointed to Miu and said, “I’ll start with her. Ame, find something to bind her.”

Ame agreed and dismounted, walking menacingly toward Miu. The woman tried to escape but the demon tackled her to the ground. She turned her head to Iori, eyes burning purple, and said, “Run along now, little boy. Don’t disappoint us.” And so, Iori ran as fast as he could out of the village and toward the direction of the shogunate.