"You are very generous, Tsuchimikade-dono! Thank you so much!" Kyokotsu gleamed, bowing furiously. "You know, Tsuchimikade-dono, I think the quarters are haunted! When I used my quarters 6 years ago, I noticed the next day that my room was sealed shut! I couldn't open it! Upon closer inspection, I saw that nails were embedded unto my door! Nails are an omen of bad luck! I think some ghosts are trying to trap me inside." the general pouted, speaking in a serious voice at the same time.
Suddenly, he noticed that Tsuchimikade-dono had taken her place just in front of him, her bright smile tantalizing and refreshing! Kyokotsu turned another shade of crimson as he covered his face with his long robe-sleeves. He could swear that steam must be pouring out of his ears. Tsuchimikade-dono's beauty was as clear as the rising sun, her aura as stunning as the cherry blossoms, and her gentleness as caring as Izanagi's pledge to give life to 1,500 humans. Why was an important person like her being so kind to a mere general like him? She was a celebrity! The head of the prominent Tsuchimikade clan! Yes, she was very kind and down-to-earth.
"Tsuchimikade-dono... I-I-I would prefer if-if you would ke-keep your dis-distance... I m-might explode." Kyokotsu stammered as he turned around, only to bump to another celebrity that froze him solid: Yomikawa-san. "Yo-yo-yomikawa-san!" Kyokotsu's eyes rolled back as he bumped against the door, regaining his consciousness. Yomikawa-san offered the nervous general another hearty praise, causing Kyokotsu to bow fiercely once more. "You are too kind to someone like myself, Yomikawa-san! I am the one who could never match you! Nuh-uh! Not ever! You are legendary, Yomikawa-san!"
Meeting two famous individuals sent Kyokotsu into a blissful stupor as he stood up with a dumb smile on his face. "Excuse me, Tsuchimikade-dono, Yomikawa-san, I must return my... err, belongings to my quarters. I shall be back in time for the meeting." Kyokotsu spoke hastily as he darted off, bumping into one of the shoji walls before being able to successfully withdraw.
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Kyokotsu arrived inside his room. It was dark, dusty, and had a particularly disturbing aura within it. The lad walked around for a little bit before he started to twitch.
"Hehehe..."
Kyokotsu staggered as he twitched once more. His eyes were darting around wildly, unfocused and untamed. He stood up, lighting a single candle on a black altar. After that, he sat down in front of the altar as he placed the bashed skulls on its black pedestal. There was a picture frame which was illuminated by the candle's dying light-- a woman with a bright smile.
"I'm home, mother. I brought ya skulls! Yes. Yokai skulls, aren't they beautiful? Oh, I understand you mother. Remember when they bashed your skull? Yes, I remember that. It was quite easy to break them in, ya know?" Kyokotsu spouted meaningless words, his neck and face twitching immensely. "Blood, oh yes, so much blood. I liked it, mom. Oh yes... I want it, need it, desire it, lust for it."
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The door slid silently as Kyokotsu exited the room. He parted his orange locks, his green eyes surveying the environment of the quarters. It seemed like no one was there. The general leaped happily as he dashed towards the main house. Before he could waltz in though, he saw that some of the elders had already arrived. It wasn't surprising since with Ox-Cart shikigamis, transportation was easy. Kyokotsu sighed happily as he waited for all the elders to arrive before he went inside the meeting room.
Kyokotsu didn't sit near the spot of Tsuchimikado-dono, instead, he opted to stand just beside the shoji door. His eyes were closed, because in the first place, you didn't need eyes to listen. Besides, it was good to ignore the piercing glares of some of the elders which was quite understandable.
Yomikawa-san began to narrate the recent events, especially the issue of a large and demonic aura. This was true. Before Squad 6, the squad currently assigned to Kyokotsu, moved to support Squad 5, Kyokotsu also noticed a spine-tingling demonic aura that could be felt in the Chiba Prefecture. In fact, it took a while for Chiba to be exorcised since the demons seemed to be rallying under that dark power. It took Kyokotsu four years to restore Chiba to, at least, drive out the major yokais. Upon Tsuchimikado-dono's order, he took his squad to assist Squad 5 in Kanagawa, leaving Squad 8 to successfully exorcise Chiba.
When he had arrived in Kanagawa, Kyokotsu shivered as he felt a disastrous amount of cascading demon energy which probably originated in Yamanashi. However, knowing that Yomikawa-san was in Yamanashi, Kyokotsu opted to focus his efforts on exorcising Kanagawa. Nonetheless, there was truth in Yomikawa-san's words. With the squads dispersed to different locations, an attack on the main house could prove disastrous. In fact, Kyokotsu left his squad divided in Kanagawa and Chiba. Only a few squadrons remained in the main house, barely enough to combat a Night Parade of a Hundred Demons.
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The elders became restless. They couldn't be blamed. If they expended their troops to fortify the distant prefecture of Yamanashi, this would leave the other flanks vulnerable. Kyokotsu understood their side, and even disagreed a little bit on Yomikawa-san's suggestion of sending more troops to fortify Yamanashi. On the other hand, Squads 5 and 6 were already in Kanagawa, and it would only take a day or two to reach Yamanashi. However, by doing this, they would risk endangering Kanagawa and Chiba.
What irked Kyokotsu was one of the elder's cowardice. He disagreed to send the battalion that his son was left in charge towards Yamanashi-- obviously afraid for his son's life. In the first place, they were the light in the eternal night-- they shouldn't fear the darkness, not even death. Secondly, Kyokotsu owed his respects to Tsuchimikade-dono and Yomikawa-san, not to these cowards who would just sit around discussing strategies while their soldiers battled on the frontline.
"If I would drown you in a pool filled with the blood of our slain brothers and sisters, would that make you grow a spine, elder-san?" Kyokotsu interjected in a cold voice as his green eyes scrutinized the worth of this cowardly elder. Then, Kyokotsu shifted his gaze to Yomikawa-san, bowing lightly.
"There is truth in Yomikawa-san's words. When I traveled from Chiba to Kanagawa, I sensed this great conclave of demonic energy. Imagine... this single epicenter felt by at least three prefectures. It's been over a century since this kind of malice appeared. This isn't your usual yurei or gashadokuro; not even a kuchisake-onna. Therefore, I agree with Yominaka-san to send more of our squads to Yamanashi with a few battalions to reinforce temples Engaku-ji and Zuisen-ji in Kanagawa, and temples Senyo-ji and Daifuku-ji in Chiba." Kyokotsu suggested as he turned his attention once more to Yomikawa-san.
"However, I do have a question, Yomikawa-san... If our forces will be stationed in focus on Yamanashi, wouldn't it be a risk to our other territories? What if... this conclave of dark energy is a mere diversion so that they can savage our rear? I don't mean to doubt your wisdom, Yomikawa-san, but these demons are getting craftier and craftier as time passes by."