Ten Miles of Autumn Leaves 十里秋叶 (Hana ✗ Sen)

[Mu]

"Oh, yes." His eyes twinkled with the same sense of teasing the miko had. "Such vicious dogs are dangerous to everyone who walks in the forest. You know, Hotaru, you should be careful if you leave the village these days." The god wasn't wrong after all, he was sure the hunters would be making their rounds often in these parts. An old lady like her wouldn't stand a chance if she was fired at or ran over by the stampeding buffoons, ambushed by these hunters out there in such hostile environments. Even though Nishibyakko was not absolutely convinced that Hotaru was completely innocent, as a villager in Ochibamura, he would feel something if she was killed by the men and women intended for him.

He wasn't one to argue with an old lady, and quietly took in the words she said. The frown on his face deepened at the mention of her lack of friends, not surprised with her reception in the village. Nishibyakko was surprised at first, but now the realization of how severe it must have been for the priestess dawned on him. As a child, a cub in the founding of the religion of Yamato when it was first established many years ago, he had others to play with. Suzaku, at the time a little chick, was whom he considered a friend at the time. A blue lizard playing with clouds and a shy onyx turtle that kept to himself. Then, the minor gods were created as more and more mortals came into existence, the god of the west always had company. A girl like Kiyoko who was treated like a witch from the underworld must have grew up alone.

The name of this 'Katsuo' perked his interest. The miko didn't talk much about her past, and she had no reason to. He wondered who this person was, and who they meant to his follower. Perhaps another miko that attended to the temple? Many other places had more than one miko, or even younger boys working as cooks or cleaners. A temple accepted everyone. Not that it mattered to him now, since he did not have many remaining.

He spent the rest of the day at the old lady's house surrounded by the aroma of herbs. The god found himself being ordered to do heavy lifting, which he begrudgingly followed. He wasn't one to take on other's commands, as he was a deity, someone whose orders were followed, not the other way around. Finding himself a little more forgiving and less cautious around Hotaru, he made himself comfortable in the corner he had made his home, watching the lessons unfold with mild interest, and never letting up a chance to show off his knowledge and wisdom, much to the chagrin of Kiyoko.

The two of them left as the sun was starting to set, the sky painted a gradient of oranges and reds. The villagers took refuge in their homes, hiding away from the approaching darkness. Farmers usually returned home during this time, and the few they passed by shot the priestess dirty looks as they walked past, though they said and did nothing at the presence of the tall and imposing cloaked figure that lingered behind her like a long shadow. The only possessions they had with them were a small box of herbs that the miko had took with her, and it was a light travel back towards the temple pass the barrier.

Nishibyakko sniggered at her, "Who is this Katsuo the old goat mentioned to me?" he asked curiously, but mockingly. "I wonder what sort of mother names their daughter or son after a tuna..." The god's eyes lit up at a thought, "Don't tell me it's a boy? Childhood crush? Puppy love?"

 

[Hana]

What was that? There was a strange tingle that disturbed her senses, as if something was off. She attributed it to the fact that NIshibyakko was mocking her after she had left him alone in a room with Hotaru, who was giving that enigmatic little smile of hers again. Did they... Talk about a little something while she was away putting back those plants? When they commenced on preparing medicine, she shot a suspicious look at Nishibyakko behind her mentor. It was all Kiyoko could do not to lunge over at the ignoble remarks from him though she was certainly imagining wringing his neck or his shoulders. Interspersing his little bits of 'wisdom' here or there, who was he fooling? The old herbalist teaching her was more or less grateful, but Hotaru didn't know the lightning that practically crackled between the two guests under her roof.

Despite this, the priestess couldn't deny that she still enjoyed her time with Hotaru. Not even the tiger god was going to take that away from her, and just to see that twitch of grudging irritation on his face she made the lesson last long into the afternoon. Long enough that the sun was sinking lower into the horizon, while he sullenly lifted heavier objects for the two females. It was amusing to even see him doing 'menial tasks' for them, was this really something he had to do to keep up the act of a kind pilgrim?

But the time came that they had to leave, for Ochiba wasn't as welcoming as it was in the day. Kiyoko carried with her a small yet valuable box of herbs that Hotaru willingly parted with in exchange for her work. Those would be useful once she made pastes and poultices for bruises and scrapes, or coughs and colds...

The unswept leaves crinkled and crackled underneath her feet as she walked, Nishibyakko trailing after her with the hood of his cloak covering his face. With his longer legs he should have been taking longer strides than her, yet the way he made sure to pace himself behind her didn't escape her notice. He had been wary earlier when they had come to the village, eyes flickering to almost every nook and cranny he could seek around village. His face was marginally more relaxed now. Hotaru and her home had this calming effect, and maybe even he wasn't so impervious to it.

As they neared the border, she nearly tripped as he spoke up out of nowhere. The miko righted herself quickly and shot a look at the god over her shoulder, eyes widening a fraction at his words. "Why would you want to ask?" Kiyoko questioned, a bit sharper now as she stopped in front of him, spinning around to face the god. Why would Hotaru talk of Katsuo to him? He wasn't exactly someone she was close enough to, and she never considered telling him something like that.

First love? Puppy love? Childhood crush? There were a lot of words that could have described Katsuo, but he wasn't here any longer. He was too bright, too enthusiastic, and too headstrong to last long in a place like Ochiba. It wasn't a place for him at all. And he had no reason to befriend someone like her. They were almost exact opposites with their standings in this village. He drew people to himself, she repelled them. But it was that trait of his to draw people that caused him to think he could come and be friends with her.

You're a shitty liar. Don't lie to yourself.

Her gaze turned half-lidded, lashed drawing down low over darkening red. There was an annoying warmth suffusing her cheeks, but she directed her attention to his words and chose to answer in an almost brusque manner. "He's just an idiotic boy who considered himself my friend. He's not here anymore." Kiyoko left it at that and turned away, but an uneasy feeling washed over the priestess. Her intuition wasn't half-bad... There were some times her gut was right, and some times it was wrong, and some times where it didn't help at all like with those god hunters, but there was something almost alarming at this moment. It was that same offputting feeling that she had attributed to Nishibyakko and Hotaru's chat earlier... But she thought it was because they were talking about her...

"... Do you feel that?"

 

[Mu]

He tilted his head at her with a mocking grin. "Human interactions are amusing to me, that's all." Even if she didn't admit it he could tell there was something for the person in question. A boy, someone who seemed like a past resident of the village but presently gone. He recalled the comment the old lady had mentioned before, how he was one of friends. It must have meant a lot to a friendless person. But the way she was speaking of him made him question if something had happened. But more importantly...

"I wonder what sort of father he had to name his son after skipjack tuna. Oh, but I suppose there was that time husbands valued katsuo bonito more than their wives, so maybe that was a factor." The god hummed, "I should catch one. They are very delicious. They grow up to 3 feet. Three feet of delicious, delicious tuna..."

The god stopped in his tracks at her question, turning back to look at the village they had just exited in the distance. His earlier teasing expression faded in place of a serious one, concentrating on any sort of irregularities. Turning his head this way and that way, he turned to look back at the priestess puzzled. "No? Maybe it's a stray youkai. They come out often during the night." Peering into the nearby thicket of trees just to make sure, his eyes scanned over every tree trunk and the shadows within. A tiger with sharp eyesight proved it difficult for hunters to stalk him. "It's not a hunter, if that's what you mean."

Just as he was about to continue walking back towards the temple, the silence was shattered with the scream of a man. High-pitched and terrified, but the tone low enough to be identified with the yell of a human man. Nishibyakko instantly whipped towards the location of the sound, spotting a figure running just along the outskirts of Ochiba with his arms flaying in the air above him, mouth open to let out a blood-curdling scream of terror.

He was being chased by something, there was a big shadow right behind the mortal, though it was hard to see what it was. Whatever the thing was it was kicking up a lot of dust, enough to mask its form, but the two of them could tell it was many times bigger than the man - and many times bigger than Kiyoko and Nishibyakko in the shape of a human. He could hear the thumping of multiple feet and the clicking of pincers, as well as the deep giggles of a female mixed in with heavy breathing.

"Ah." Watching on with curiosity, it took him a moment to deduce what was after the man. "Jorougumo, I'm guessing." He relaxed visibly, knowing that it was nothing that could endanger his life specifically. The fate of a man did not concern him. "Autumn is mating season for a lot of them, I suspect he may have angered one." The dark-haired man shrugged, "Not my problem."

 

[Hana]

The miko muttered to herself at the god's words. "I thought I drove them back enough last month. Ugh." She had no time to explain anything to Nishibyakko about her musings, and she wasn't willing to. Just the mention of youkai had her reach inside her sleeves, hands seeking out the strips of white paper strung together by string - the ofuda. Her security in times like these. Turning and frowning heavily at the alertness in his eyes, Kiyoko gripped her 'weapons' , keeping her hands tucked in opposite sleeves out of wariness. I should hope not that they're hunters. As much as she knew of his ability to fight back against those men with their god-slaying weapons, fighting them was the last thing she wanted.

A high-pitched scream pierced the air, making the miko jump and turn towards the source of the sound. She couldn't see very well since the original owner was far away, but she could make out the details of someone hurtling through tall grass and bushes as if hell was on their very heels... The person was a man if she heard his scream right. Tch. Someone from the village. He was stumbling along the outskirts of the village right towards the border to Nishibyakko's land.

"Damn," she hissed to herself as the looming figure of a youkai appeared soon after, confirming Nishibyakko's words. Now that it was in her sensing proximity, she knew it was a youkai. An unwelcome one. But so soon? Those nasty spider bitches were large in size and some were venomous. If she didn't save the farmer now and he got eaten, it was going to weigh heavily on her conscience. Enough of them had died already years back, and another one dying was going to be a heavy blow to a small community that needed all the bodies it could to work and provide food.

​

Huh, it's a good thing it's spry old Mugen instead of one of the fatter farmers. Otherwise they would have been too slow and easy pickings. The farmer was clearly terrified out of his wits, eyes bulging and mouth agape either screaming or panting for breath. He flailed his arms around as he and his predator sped closer, followed by the feminine giggles from the jorogumo. Her eyes were glowing white rimmed with red, the face of a woman with dark lips bared in a toothy grin. She was also panting for breath, out of some twisted form of excitement for the chase.

"Well, they are my problem." She wasn't about to let a poor man - even if he was an asshole - die a horrible death and seeing this lady's ugly face as a last sight. No one deserved that fate. Running towards the oncoming farmer-and-spider-lady pair, Kiyoko took a deep breath and bellowed, "Hey, you there! You butt-ugly excuse for a youkai! You'll grow even uglier if you eat that shriveled up old farmer, aren't you already hideous enough?" Even spider ladies, the miko girl learned, were apparently susceptible to insults about appearances.

"H-HELP ME! I DON'T WANT TO DIE PLEASE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Mugen screeched after hearing another human being in range, even if it was the witchy girl from that temple. He was just going back from the fields, the last to go home when he thought he heard a very pretty voice singing. Stupidly - knowing how many monsters were in these parts - the farmer had gotten lured in by the lovely singing voice. He had expected a pretty lady to match the heavenly music, but seeing the jorogumo was another different story entirely.

"GET YOUR WRINKLY OLD ASS OUT OF HERE, MUGEN!" She already had the jorogumo's insulted attention upon her, and hollered back at the farmer. And feeling that wrathful gaze on her was just as exhilarating as getting captured by hunters. By which it actually meant fucking terrifying. She scowled back at the gigantic spider thing person, snatching up and holding strips of ofuda between her fingers. If she was backing away with her two feet, that was because she had to find an opportune time to activate these ofudas.​

​

 

[Mu]

"Even though these villagers make your life harder than it normally should be, you still want to help them?" Watching the man being chased was fun and amusing as is, he wasn't sure as to why Kiyoko cared so much about her tormentors. Wouldn't it be satisfying to see him being munched on? It would be one less person to sully her name and make her daily routine just a little bit easier. She was so confusing, mortals were so confusing. Mortals were supposed to be greedy little ants that only cared out for themselves, so why on earth would she be interested in keeping those around that might threaten her life? In Nishibyakko's eyes, it wasn't worth all that trouble and all that risk. Such a short and fleeting lifespan should be spent in as much luxury as possible.

His eyes widened when the priestess moved to charge towards the jorogumo, running ahead even before he could follow. "Hey, hey!" he called out to her back, though she didn't listen. She was breaking into a run towards one of the biggest jorogumo he had seen in a while, and if she wasn't careful she was going to be a spider's meal. The god blinked after her with shock, wondering if she was just brave or if she was stupid. No normal girl - and one that wasn't even of age - would go up to the face of a body fluid draining, silk shitting spider woman. "What do you think you're doing-"

"Oh, Amaterasu. All that is motherly and great, she did not just insult a-"

Her lashing words caught the attention of the spider youkai almost immediately. Such a big specimen would definitely be more prideful and happy about her looks. Her chest was a testament of that, in fact. Her wide and shocked eyes turned away from the thin man to the girl who had insulted her with seething anger. It bellowed and screeched before lifting its abdomen up and over its head, firing an incredibly fast shot of fine but dangerous white silk, strong enough to wrap around her within seconds and be a delicious meal for the creature.

Almost like lightning the god leapt forward himself. He wasn't going to fight the youkai, that wasn't what he was interested in at all, but he wasn't going to let his follower and his miko get eaten by that thing. Death by jorogumo was disgusting and painful, like slowly being turned into a vegetable without anything left inside... grabbing her by the arm, he yanked her quickly aside, just as the blast of silk shot right past her and latched onto a large rock instead, lifting it and swinging it across like a mace towards her offender and the god who just wanted to go home.

 

[Hana]

"What-" Predictably the jorogumo had taken great offense indeed to the insult to her appearance. Kiyoko's guess about her vanity had been spot on as the resulting screech hurt the ears of anyone in the vicinity. She winced and almost reached to cover her ears, feeling a ringing disturbance inside her head. A sudden grip on her arm had other ideas and she felt a strong pull to the side, the girl stumbling awkwardly on her feet. A breeze behind her had her whipping around to see white silk barely missing wrapping onto the girl's petite shape. What the heck is he doing? She couldn't stop and yell at Nishibyakko right now, only shooting a wide-eyed look at him before her eyes darted to a large rock, swathed in a web of silk... Which traced back to the jorogumo -

Kiyoko dashed towards the side, knowing she was more or less an easier target than Nishibyakko.

The rock was catapulted from the stretchy material with one great heave, flying towards the pair. It crashed on the ground, kicking up large amounts of dust with a resounding crash, cracking the earth underneath it. Damn. Kiyoko pursed her lips and muttered to herself as the ofudas in between her fingers began to glow bright with spiritual power. She eyed the jorogumo cautiously as she chanted the mantra. If that spider decided to lob the rock again, she had to dodge in some manner.

She was wary of any flying pieces of silk or rock to be shot at her now, and immediately finished the mantra with a snappy movement, throwing the papers into the air where they... Didn't fall or flutter to the ground, but hung suspended in the air. The girl held her hand out and willed the ofudas to banish the jorogumo - dead or not - and the papers flew towards the form close to the rock. She had done something similar to Nishibyakko on their nice first meeting. If the ofuda could throw a god away from her, these should banish the jorogumo.

 

[Mu]

With Kiyoko moving to the side, the god quickly sidestepped the flying rock as the spider released it, slamming right where the two had just been standing. Gritting his teeth, he made an annoyed expression at the youkai, but he doubt it even cared, much less know who it was dealing with. He could have easily sliced the creature into two if he wanted to, but nobody was in any immediate danger. The god wanted to know how the little priestess dealt with these spirits, especially this one who was bigger than she was. And very, very angry. Its pincers clicked frustratingly before it began to ejaculate more silk, the same webbing substance spewing from its mouth as well simultaneously. Like terrifying, skeletal-white whips, they lashed out trying to grab at anything it could stick onto. Their wrists and ankles and their clothing, but Nishibyakko wasn't easy to catch. He avoided them with ease simply by moving the right way, gliding between the powerful strings of silk and not even letting any touch his skin, all while keeping an eye on his mortal companion.

Perhaps he might have lent a helping hand if she was slower with her ofuda. He watched with mild fascination as she breathed life into them, suspended in mid air, as straight as arrows and unyielding. As she commanded the paper slips and willed them to bind the youkai, he could feel the wash of the powerful energy that poured out from within her. Like a cool splash or a chilling breeze, it truly showcased her capacity to wield formidable spells.

The ofuda instantly clung onto the body of the jorogumo, clearly displeased with the new addition to her body as she frantically began to try and claw it off. But it was too late, the charm was already beginning to embed into her skin, her punishment being delivered and her sins repented. The holy charms seared through spirits like them, it burnt through their malice and their contempt, as such was Shinto cleansing.

Screeching, the spider's leg gave way, the youkai collapsing as it weakly tried to remove the charms but to no prevail. Its legs curled under her as she fell forward, dying just like any household spider, red eyes fading into a milky white. The god frowned at the kill, was it really necessary? "Did you really have to kill it?" he asked, though he was still tense and wary. The spider was a bit too easy to kill... just a few ofuda would not so easily fell a giant jorogumo.

His concerns were answered when he noticed the abdomen of the spider twitched and moved, rumbling like it was still alive. His eyes widened. This one had already bred, or had been finding a place to... Her body suddenly burst open, hundreds of tiny little - they were the size of a kick ball - jorogumo charging towards the first sign of body heat, and to them; food. Half of them surged toward the two, the other creeping towards the village.

Nishibyakko paled at the sight. "What the hell did you do?"

 

[Hana]

The resulting screech corresponded with the white-hot glow that pierced through the spider's vulnerable form as clumps of white paper stuck to her body like a second skin. Kiyoko could feel it - could feel the holy energy engulf and consume the impure form of the youkai and burn each and every foul thought and action that ever crossed the jorogumo's mind and life. She held still for a second, eyes glazing over as flashes of the youkai's life passed before her eyes. The spider sucking the life fluids out of a hapless pregnant woman, from a faraway village. Her screams fading away into weak gurgles, even as the jorogumo purred in satisfaction. The youkai didn't even have to eat since she had a good meal a few days ago, but the sight of a pregnant woman and the treat inside her belly was too tempting to pass up.

Tasty, tasty infant flesh... Soft and sweet with a mother's blood, let's suck it out-

Kiyoko almost wretched, for a moment bringing a hand up to her mouth as bile threatened to rise to her mouth. This was always a distracting and a bit traumatizing if she didn't know how to ignore it. "You burn for your actions," she muttered, wincing as the female spider's screams rose to a crescendo of wails. The purification was going to kill such a malicious creature. It wasn't as if she wanted it to kill the jorogumo, but the intensity of the holy power imbued in the ofuda corresponded to how much darkness lurked in her heart.

And now the jorogumo was crumpling on its many spidery legs, eyes glazing over in death. The spell had not just banished her, but purged her outright. Not my fault you are such a twisted little fuck, the priestess thought vehemently. The youkai had varying degrees of malice. Kinder youkai weren't going to be purged to death because they had just enough light in their hearts for the powers to spare them, but if they clearly reveled in cruelty and torment, what was she to do? It was her spiritual nature to burn them.

She shot a scowl towards Nishibyakko and arched a brow. "Don't you know what banishment and purification does?" He should know what spiritual powers did. Besides, there was something else they had to prepare for. As the youkai's body twitched, belly rupturing with hundreds of tiny little spiderlings, the priestess groaned. "I hate it when I'm right." Kiyoko backed away from the oncoming spiders, eyes widening at the number that turned to the village.

"They can't reach the village-!" Grabbing more ofuda - Nishibyakko was probably wondering just how many she had up her sleeves - she wasted no moment to light them up with spiritual power, bringing a few up into the air again to form a barrier between her and the spiders. The spiders that ran into them burned up at the touch of energy, weak newborns they were, but there were too many. Cursing aloud, she stumbled out from behind the barrier and ran parallel to the spiders, before jumping in the midst of them and thrusting her ofudas upwards.

 

[Mu]

At the wave of spiders, the tiger god quickly moved away from the surge of arachnids, all clicking their pincers and waving their legs at the priestess who responded simply by pulling out more of those protection charms. Those creatures may be weak, but their numbers were great, and Nishibyakko did not think that a barrier would protect her from everything they had to offer. Any that crawled along his directions he flicked away with his foot, delivering strong kicks that would send their fragile bodies flying. Whether or not they lived was not his concern, there were plenty of them to go around, and they should have been smart enough - even as little spiderlings - not to target someone with a strong aura like he did.

"Right, banish and purify these innocent spiders as well?" he snarled, watching incredulously as she charged through her own barrier just as quickly as she had summoned it with the ofuda, running towards the group of spiders heading towards the village and fearlessly jumping into the middle of it all, squashing some of the weak-legged arachinids but causing some to begin lunging forth to bite her. Their mother's penchant for human flesh had been transferred, and they could smell and feel the priestess' soft meat...

A new barrier smashed downward from the ofuda she had with her, charging with newfound spiritual energy, crushing and burning some of the spiders as they screeched and squealed with pain. Sensing that their siblings were in danger, the ones that were bothering to the defensive and growling Nishibyakko charged towards the priestess, jabbing into the barrier and pushing through the searing burning sensation that coursed through their body the longer the poked at it.

Soon the entire semicircle of energy was entirely covered in the spiders, critters biting into the magical energy as if they were trying to devour it. They had less sins in their hearts as newborns, they did not have the darkness in them like the monster that had birthed them. They were growing fast, able to withstand the priestess' energy faster and faster. If just one of those pincers made a mark on the ofuda, it would render the seal useless. With their numbers they were beginning to close in, their weight making the shield sink in like a bubble, pushing it in and making her space smaller and smaller. Those at her feet clicked angrily, ready to bite at her ankles and sink their jaws into her leg.

There was a flash of light from the western god before a large - abnormally and irregularly large - tiger came barreling towards the spiders like the stampede of a thousand oxen, smashing headfirst into the barrier and popping it, sending the spiders that were closest to the impact center flying. The barrier gave way under his weight and strength, as well as it simply being met with a much stronger spiritual force. A long, furry tail curled around the waist of the priestess and lifted her high, up and up, onto the powerful back of the giant feline. The others backed off as he lowered himself into a more offensive stance, muscles tense and fangs bared, but they still saw red with Kiyoko, and the white beast could tell simply from the way they looked at her with seething hatred. "You killed their mother, what do you expect from them? Your ofuda cannot do anything to these babies," he snarled. "They have no sin, only know how to act instinctively, like animals."

 

[Hana]

"Chikushō," Kiyoko spat vehemently, back going rigid as the spiders piled onto the semi-transparent barrier. She couldn't let the spiders draw close to the village, where there was plenty of humans to feast on for growing babies. These fuckers grew fast, and giving them a chance to get nourishment was going to be a nightmare to deal with. "And what, I let these kill innocent people? I have my own damn priorities and that's not letting human children die!" The jorogumo adored the taste of young flesh, and there were children susceptible and vulnerable in their homes. Now that their attention had been drawn to her, the shield was getting overwhelmed. It wasn't as if she didn't know these were innocent compared to the creature that birthed them. Now the barrier was turning smaller and smaller, causing the priestess to have to back away. She gritted her teeth, jaw clenched tight and one hand noticeably opening and closing in a nervous gesture.

Click, click.

The miko. flinched upon hearing the angry clicking at her feet, some spiders having gotten past already. Was there no other option but to kill them? There was no telling what kind of youkai these would grow up to. Their mother was horrible enough already, eating children and pregnant women for entertainment. That jorogumo had no reason to eat any more than was needed to keep herself fed, but on young life? On babies? Was it really so far-fetched that her own babies wouldn't be the same? The spider close to her leg drew closer. She raised her foot to kick at one of the spiders preparing to bite her, mind racing.

She could use the sacred sword for something like this, it wouldn't be the first time. But something told her that Nishibyakko wouldn't be pleased, he was already disagreeing harshly with her method right now.

Before the spider she had kicked could retaliate along with its siblings, Kiyoko noticed a familiar yet further enlarged white tiger, sharp teeth bared like knives, pouncing towards where she stood. She yelped as he broke through the barrier, feeling it shatter under the immense pressure which gave her an uncomfortable strain right before her power gave way to his. "What are you doing-" She was lifted up by his tail before she could continue, feeling it wind around her waist. "Nishibyakko?!" He dropped her on his back a bit roughly, the girl grabbing fistfuls of his fur to keep herself steady.

"Tell me what I can do, then?" Kiyoko demanded with a narrowed gaze, gripping onto his fur tight as she saw the number of spiders glaring at her. "If I didn't do that, they would have been at the village in no time - if I kill them before they could attack people, then that disaster would be prevented!"

 

[Mu]

As some of the braver ones began jumping onto his front paws, the god shook them off violently, unsheathing his claws with a growl and swiping at the spiders to keep them away, and away they kept, leaping back to create some distance between them and the snarling white beast. Those that continued to charge at him would be met with a powerful swipe of his paw, and he could hear the soft cracks as some of their legs broke at the force - and even then, the god was holding back as much as he could.

"Then I will teach you more methods than just your simple banishment," the god replied with a deep, rumbling voice. Despite the annoyance in his tone, the abundance of knowledge and how wise the western god was was clear. Though he may be tired and incredulous to what techniques the priestess was using now, and despite how he treated her and how he always seemed to be through with the girl, he was still teaching her something. He had something to say, he knew other ways of dealing with this situation. "You cannot always rely on those ofuda for just shields and purification," Nishibyakko continued. He nudged another spider away forcefully, "You will never be able to successfully purify newborns, nor be able to burn away the sins in their hearts."

He flicked his tail with annoyance. "Since you are the student, I will let you choose." His maw split open into a somewhat mocking grin, amused that he was teaching her - and that Kiyoko, the one who was not afraid to pester him with a broom, was his student. She was always his follower in beginning, so it was her duty to lend an open ear to listen to what he had to say.

"One, we open a gateway to where these little things' ancestors came from and send them on their way. They may find their way back one day, but you may never have to see them in your lifetime again, at least not in Ochiba." These youkai had a point of origin, it was not a place for most gods, but he knew a few that preferred to spend their daily lives in the land of the dead, Yomi, the world of darkness. It was the home of the youkai, where they were born and where they would come in to the human world.

At what he was about to say next, the god's eyes twinkled with glee. Would it be something she would follow through with? "But newborns are impressionable, and will grow to be bound to the rules of youkai," he snarled. "So, number two, let them go and tend to them. Give them something else to feed on, when they age they will be in debt to you." Nishibyakko guffawed, "Wouldn't it be nice for a priestess like you to have youkai to come to your calls?" he hummed. "I assure you full-grown, non-hostile jorogumo and useful - and they will listen to you if you do not let them hunt people."

 

[Hana]

Riding on a gigantic white tiger should have left Kiyoko more gobsmacked than she was currently feeling, but as it was the urgency of driving the spiders away kept her from tugging experimentally at the clumps of fur in between her fingers to assure herself she wasn't dreaming. She had a suspicion that Nishibyakko would not like that, which probably helped. The priestess steadied herself, feeling a growl vibrate underneath her as he batted away spiders that continued to throw themselves at the pair with abandon. It was bewildering to see normally clever youkai species suddenly go wild like this, but had she really made them mad because she killed their mother?

It stumped the girl more than she wanted to think deeper on. She knew jorogumo were an intelligent, albeit erring on the malicious side, race of youkai. What could she have done if not kill the mother, seeing as that youkai was so buried in her own sin? "You don't want me to kill them," she wondered, eyes narrowing as she watched him swat aside another spider. The spiderling quailed in pain as the god's strength broke some of its legs, immediately recoiling away in a distinctly hurt manner that Kiyoko didn't know what to make of.

Much less the squealing sounds that sounded suspiciously like little whimpers that she could pick up on, coming from the spiders with their broken little limbs. It was eerily similar to a child's cry or whimper, and that was just disturbing to learn. Because that thought led to more unpleasant thoughts, thoughts of these spiders being just the same as motherless children. What else would they know to do when she had taken away a mother that could have guided them under her wing?

Do jorogumo even raise their children?

She could feel a multitude of red eyes rest on her in a distinctly unfriendly fashion, the anger suddenly feeling deserving. Those eyes looked almost accusing... Parting her lips haplessly, she exhaled at the god's words and tightened her grip on his fur. "Two choices, eh? They'd live either way." He wasn't going to opt for anything else, another realization that from what she knew of him, wasn't what she would have expected. Nishibyakko didn't seem to care at all about any other lifeform aside from himself. He had killed those god hunters without remorse or hesitation, cutting them down like a farmer would cut through stalks of rice.

So why is he so hesitant to fight these spiders? Because they're babies?

Didn't she rationalize the value of human children in much the same way?

Coming to a decision, she sighed, crimson eyes still uneasily watching the angry pairs that stared back. Lowering her shoulders, she shook her head. What kind of thoughts was he planting in her head? "Let's lead them away from the village. The nearby forests are livable." She wasn't about to try creating a gateway of sorts for the first time in such an urgent situation, and if it was possible to teach these infants not to harm humans, then she might as well. What she knew of Yomi painted it as an inhospitable place for fledgling youkai,where survival of the fittest ruled supreme. It wouldn't do the spiders any favors to be dumped into it all of a sudden.

 

[Mu]

At her word, the god leaped over the gathering of spiderlings, making a run towards the edge of the forest at full speed, he could only hope that Kiyoko was holding onto him tightly to avoid being flung off. The god could feel her hands instinctively tighten on his fur, thankfully not hard enough to feel as if she was tearing his well-groomed fur out. He pounced over streams and rough terrain, his breathing surprisingly balanced and normal as his powerful body raced across the land near Ochiba, the temple to the west and the town to the east. His quick movements had surprised the spiders at first, but with their bait dangling on his back, they gave chase, not wanting to let Kiyoko go just yet. If they were that determined, then it would be easy to manipulate them into where they needed go.

"You have to admit," he growled with amusement. "The way they chase after you is a little adorable." Once he crossed the first few trees, the tiger made his way towards the closest body of water he could hear. Nishibyakko's movements halted suddenly, one paw raised as he stood atop of a natural alcove, ears perked and prickling as he tried to pinpoint the sound. There. A river close by, the perfect environment for fish to live in. And since they were closer to his land... the god licked his lips as he jumped towards the sound, making sure to make as much noise as possible for the spiders to follow.

He could hear the splashing of the fish in the river, moving around as they dined on the vegetation at the bottom of the lake, or smaller fish that were foolish enough to come out into the open. But what was even more foolish... was that they had exposed themselves to the great god himself. Out he burst from the bushes of red and orange leaves, pouncing feet first into the river and causing a large splash. Experience truly was under his belt, as the water settled, there was a fat and plump silvery fish in his claws.

The god clamped the fish into his maw, crushing its vital organs when it struggled and break free, flopping uselessly in his teeth. "Prepare to sedate them, calm them down with your ofuda. Unless you can't do that either," Nishibyakko said, his voice muffled by a mouthful of fish. It took a lot to try not to eat it right there and then, instead of it being dinner for these strange spider youkai. They ate anything, as long as it had blood flowing in them.

 

[Hana]

A minute tensing and uncoiling of the furred form underneath her was Kiyoko's only warning before Nishibyakko jumped with her in tow. "NishiBYAKKO-" She shrieked at the sudden elevation, feeling like something dropped like a heavy stone in her stomach and clinging tight onto silk white fur. The wind whipped past her and flung her hair from her face, causing it to whip behind her back as he bounded towards the forest. If the girl hadn't been clinging to the fistfuls of fur in her hands, she would have been thrown off - one moment she felt her backside lose contact with his back, only her grip on him keeping her dangling. "SHIT! WARN ME NEXT TIME YOU JUMP, YOU OAF!" A furious chittering arose far behind them as the white tiger left the little spiders in the dust with his speed, before they followed hot on their heels.

With no choice but to cling to dear life, she pulled herself painstakingly up towards the spot closer in between the tiger's broad shoulders. Her stomach continued on doing uneasy tumbles every time he bounded over a stream, unbelievably light despite how heavy his body bulk should be. The wind continued on flicking her hair wildly behind her, also nipping at her cheeks and pushing at her collars, and the up-down-up-down sensation of his leaps and bounds left her surprisingly breathless. And terrified but at the same time unable to look away.

He was powerful, but he made it seem like it was nothing. She could feel the minute tensing and coiling of his back and his body before he leaped or when he crouched, but despite the strength in it his body moved as if it was weightless. She took the chance to look around her, feeling a little dazed at first at the way their surroundings passed so quickly. They passed by barren soil and earth to grassy land, then to little raises in the ground and small streams. She couldn't really see as well as he could in the dimming light after sunset, but she could hear the sounds of trickling water and the way leaves rustled and cracked under his feet.

She snapped back into reality at his jeering tone. "I don't think being prey is adorable!" She snapped back at the playful growl, he sure did find any opportunity to tease her, didn't he? "If you were in my place-" Which he wouldn't be. Still, those spiders sure were insistent on going after her. The clicks and the footsteps of many pairs of legs were loud, even if the creatures were small. Their numbers caused the sounds to collect together until it was audible even with the wind whipping past them.

Finally, they landed in another clear and whistling river. She felt the water splash on both Nishibyakko's fur and on herself, wearing a truly irked expression for a moment before she caught what he was doing. "... I'll try?" The girl muttered a little weakly, a bit disconcerted at the way Nishibyakko looked with a fish in his mouth. Must not laugh. She reached into her sleeves again to draw out more of the ofudas. "Can you hold steady and face them?" The spiders were about to catch up to them. Kiyoko was a bit nervous about experimenting with weakening the effects of the ofudas. She had usually used strong suppressing and banishing charms, but it didn't work on the spiders.

"Um, I hope you don't mind - I'm going to pray to Azumeseiryuu Okami-sama. He's the one good at calming passions down..." The blue dragon was the one who had calmed Nishibyakko down, after all. I should offer up something to him outside the temple in thanks sometime. Taking a deep breath, she laid the ofudas out on the god's back and clapped her hands together, before sending up a prayer. It wasn't yelled this time, the girl speaking in a hushed voice but clearly praying. After she finished, she looked warily at the spiders before taking the ofudas and laying them on her palm. She blew at them gently, a more subdued wave of spiritual power that had a distinctively more calming note to it wafting towards the spiderlings.

Why does the dragon keep on answering my prayers?

 

[Mu]

Leaping out of the river, the god turned to face the oncoming surge of spiders, their little legs clicking against the toughened earth and the rocks, they would have jumped at the white beast, tireless even though they had ran quite a distance away... as soon as the spiritual energy washed off from Nishibyakko's back reached them, their movements halted. They looked about confused, but their anger was quickly subsiding. The god padded up to them, looking down at the small youkai with glowering, shimmering eyes of violent, before dropping the fat fish he had caught right in front of them. They leaped back in surprise, but then looked up to make eye contact with the god, who said nothing. As if that was permission given to them, they pounced the meal, digging their tiny fangs into the flesh as they clawed its scales off.

Counting them, he realized that their numbers had dwindled. His eyes narrowed, some of them had not made it. It was natural for the spiders to have to eat as soon as they were born, they did not last long without nourishment, unlike their fully-grown counterparts. Those that had survived were truly brave and had strong willpower, good youkai to make into familiars.

As for the priestess... the tiger huffed once before shrugging her off, shaking his fur violently to throw the girl off of his back, though he had made sure to do it where he was surrounded by a generous pile of fallen autumn leaves so she wouldn't land oh-so-painfully on her flat behind. The advantages of being a well-endowed woman... she had none of those attributes. Licking the remnants of the fish's blood, he turned to face the girl as the youkai dined. "I feel a little offended you prayed to another god in my presence," he stated. "The turtle would have been a better choice for calming... like winter, the snake is good for fortune," Nishibyakko shook his head. "I would have done a better job."

He sat on his haunches, tail swishing behind him as he held his head high proudly. "A miko is devoted to one god, if you ever need the assistance of one." The white beast leaned forward, violet eyes piercing into hers. "Technically you are married to me."

 

[Hana]

The angry clicking noises from the pinched mandibles of the young jorogumos subsided as a cool wave of blessed energy washed over them, leaving them somewhat tamed. Kiyoko sent up a quick prayer of gratitude to wherever Azumeseiryuu was by now, even if she had never seen the eastern god before. With a moment to regain her grip on Nishibyakko's fur she huffed as the tiger leaped out of the river, landing gently on the bank. She looked warily once more at the spiders, wondering if it was really safe for her to step down. Now that they looked less like they were going to kill her and more like curious animals, their blinking red eyes were settled solely on the white tiger that held a sizeable and plump fish in his jaws.

She watched with an odd feeling niggling at her as the tiger approached them with an almost gentle care. The spiders looked at him and then at the girl in his back curiously, all traces of the earlier madness gone from their glowing red eyes. Kiyoko winced, looking down at her lap guiltily before another movement from Nishibyakko made her lift her head back up. He lowered the fish in front of the spiderlings, and some silent communication between them and the tiger passed before they pounced on the fresh meat.

"I don't think-" With a violent shake of his body that sent his damp fur standing, Nishibyakko threw her off his back. Kiyoko grunted as she was thrown onto a pile of leaves with a dull crackling noise. "You!" She clambered back up to stand on her feet, rubbing at her rear to get off what felt like leaves sticking to her hakama. The girl threw him a dirty look, but piped down as he spoke. Crossing her arms, she looked away uncomfortably. "He's the one who answers the most." Or at least, there was something about the way the unseen deity responded to her rarely invoking his name that made her feel like he wasn't thinking of her as a burden. It was just a feeling, but Azumeseiryuu felt... Kind.

Turning towards him again, she raised a sardonic brow. "It never said anywhere that we couldn't ask for help from others occasionally." She crinkled her nose at the rest of his words, "That's just metaphorically. What else, you think mikos consummate their 'marriage' to you through their priest husbands?" Kiyoko wasn't ignorant about that, even if she didn't know how the bonding between a priestess and a priest translated to the priestess being bound to the god in the same way. Her adoptive parents were 'bound' like that, but it was only symbolically.

A spider suddenly clicked close to her foot and she almost jumped, before seeing a few more spiders approach. "Nani?" Looking towards the fish again, she realized that not all of them had gotten a chance to chomp on to the fat fish carcass. They were looking up at her with their beaded red eyes. "... Nishibyakko-sama, there isn't enough for all of them." She coughed awkwardly, trying not to squirm as the spiders drew close around her ankles. They weren't trying to eat her. That was an improvement, right?

 

[Mu]

"That is because Azumeseiryuu is an oddball who favours humans more than his own kind," he chortled back. His tail swished to brush aside leaves that were itching his back, and he turned his attention to the spiders who were still feasting on the dinner he had given them. Women were so complicated, they always seemed to think that everything in the world had two reasons, like there was a deeper meaning to all things. He thought Kiyoko to be that kind of person, who relied too much on her feelings, her gut, for things that did not require that. A girl's heart always overthought, put in too much emotion to make rational decisions sometimes. It was a waste of time and effort. The world was much simpler. The answers were one way. Azumeseiryuu was just an oddity, there was nothing else to it.

The beast's eyes flickered to the priestess, clearly displeased at her words. "We are gods. Metaphors are realities. You are bound to me, I will not appreciate you calling for another god when I am just as capable to serve," Nishibyakko huffed, the flash of annoyance in his eyes fading. He needed to laze around the temple less, tiredness was getting to the god quicker than he had expected. "At least you picked a decent one and not the chicken." Anything but the god of the south, that upstart, arrogant pile of bird dung would be an insult to have been called for in his presence. It was like the miko was saying the bird was more capable than he, how dare she - in this hypothetical situation. Hopefully she was not stupid enough to do it in the future.

Getting up from the pile of leaves he had made into a seat, the tiger wadded back towards the lake's bank, standing there and looking into the waters quietly. The lake was so clear he could easily count every rock and pebble that sat at the bottom, some dislodged by the current and floating away further downstream to a world where only the brave could travel to these days, now with the increasing population of youkai. His ears flickered as he listened to the motions of the fish that were coming, daring to swim down to a safer area - their biggest mistake. How ironic he was catching food for youkai when it should be the other way around. One day, they were going to feed him. That thought made it all worth it to Nishibyakko.

His strike was like lightning, his powerful paws plunging into the water to spear a fish with his claws, gripping the wriggling animal before tossing it on shore. Turning to face it, he took a big bite out of the head of the creature before he passed the fresh meal to the waiting youkai, dropping the severed head as well. A quick death.

 

[Hana]

The unfed spiders scuttled over to the newly caught fish, departing from their places around the miko's feet. Kiyoko heaved a sigh of relief that went unmissed in the clearing beside the river they found themselves in, eyes flickering upwards. "It's late." They were once again in the middle of an unknown forest - unknown to the girl, more like, she didn't know Nishibyakko's thoughts - and it was quickly getting dark out. She glanced down at the spiders again, to the first group that was polishing off little bits of meat from the fine fish bones left from their meal. "... We should go after they're done." They were much less threatening when they weren't clicking at her ominously. Stepping towards the group that gathered around her, she blinked down at them.

"You're going to live here from now on. Don't bother the human village."

Little pairs of glowing red eyes, rounder and in multiple pairs, stared back at her. She pursed her lips at the intelligence that she could realize hid behind those stares. They were aware that she killed their mother. But they didn't look more accusing, none of that hate from earlier left. It left enough of a feeling of guilt in her chest that she huffed and looked away. The sounds of the spiders still devouring fish continued, both the miko and the kami waiting for the spiders to eat their fill. Her eyes wandered from watching them to Nishibyakko. He looked bored, even with the face of a tiger he wore at the moment.

"Why do you care about them?" She didn't hesitate this time to spring the question on the god, now that they were in a safer place than earlier. Kiyoko held his gaze, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as a couple of spiders creeped towards her feet. He was feeding them, and he had stopped her from trying anything that could kill youkai any further. Humans generally didn't make that sort of effort, if the spiders had reached the village earlier she knew that the men would have done their best to crush or stab the spiders. It was only humans protecting their home and their families from predators.

She only broke her stareoff with the god when a spider nudged her foot, and with a sigh, she tentatively crouched down to find out what was with the little creature. With a roll of her eyes, she reached out and put a hand on the spider's back, nudging it away from her. Undeterred by the miko's brushoff, the spider rubbed against her palm. "What the-" She furrowed her brows, perplexed. It was rubbing against her palm gently, back and forth on its thin legs. The spider looked unafraid of her confused scowl even as she looked at it, bewildered.

Another spider joined, hovering close to its sibling before jumping into her lap. Kiyoko wasn't ashamed to say she did shriek a bit as she fell backwards on her rear, her lap full of little spiders that hopped on as if they were in any way welcome. With wide eyes she looked to Nishibyakko for help as the little buggers remained on her. Get them off me! This was a new and uncomfortable situation, and the spider that had been lovingly - ugh - hogging her hand pushed past its brothers - sisters? - to take prime spot on her lap.

 

[Mu]

Nishibyakko had been cleaning his claws, stained red from the fish he had just killed when they sunk into it. He looked away from his own preening and blinked at the miko with bored eyes, unsure as to why she was questioning the motives of her god. A miko just believed in their deities, and did not ask 'why'. "Because they are just children, newborns who follow their instinct and not their heart like their mother. They do not deserve death," he said simply. His eyes seemed to flash with the wisdom of a god, beasts with an age so old that days seemed like nothing to them. "A Shinto god only exists because of nature, without nature I will cease to exist. Nature is a cruel mother but she is also one who gives second chances, so should these youkai."

He found some hilarity in the comfort of the spiders, slowly pouring onto the miko with the curiosity to examine her. The contempt from earlier had seeped away along with their starvation, their many eyes blinking as they studied her, thin legs pressing against her clothing as they climbed all over her onto her lap. He made himself comfortable again, watching the youkai move about with new found energy and freedom. They were strong for their size, and that had surprised the god. His mouth split open into what was reminiscent of a grin at Kiyoko's expression, but he shook his head.

"Now is your chance to form a bond with them," he said. "Youkai are bound by debts, you have spared them - that is one of the most powerful reasons for a youkai to listen to someone." A few of the spiders turned at the sound of his voice and approached with caution, but one look from the dagger-like eyes of the beast seemed to deter them, sending them scrambling back to the clothed comfort of Kiyoko.

A small, squeaky voice began to sound at Kiyoko's feet. A spiderling with their front legs raised up in what appeared to be prayer. "Amaterasu bless you, human, for sparing our pitiful lives!" it said, shaking its hands.

Nishibyakko noted its language. It had no loyalties to Yomi, the land of darkness. The land of pollution, it was everything Shinto aspired not to be. If it had a pure heart, like a child normally would, then it would be blessed by Amaterasu and her creator - Izanagi, instead. Interesting. He wondered what Kiyoko would do, had she ever met a youkai that could speak before? Amused, he lay his head down on his paws and watched intently.

 

[Hana]

Her eyes flickered back and forth between Nishibyakko and the little spiders making themselves comfortable on her lap, a bewildered look having overtaken her face. "A b-bond?" The little creatures were rubbing their furry, many-eyed little faces onto the girl's arms and palms, little clicking noises rapidly yet gently leaving their mandibles. It was utterly strange to see affection come from creatures she normally would burn to ashes with her seals, and a pang of disgust and unease made her pause. They looked utterly harmless like this, if one didn't count their clearly inhuman and youkai nature or how sharp their mouths looked, or the strength in their bodies. If they weren't feeling kindly towards the human girl, they would have overwhelmed her, piled on top of her as they were.

Repressing a shudder at the thought, she gingerly let her hands down to pat the spiders on their heads. Her face scrunched up slightly at Nishibyakko's words, if it had been that easy to spare youkai maybe she could have tried forming bonds. Unfortunately, most youkai attacking were too dangerous to easily spare. Had he not been here to watch, she wasn't sure if she had the control to not raze these spiders, whip out the sword to cut them down albeit clumsily, or to get killed herself.

Amaterasu? "Bless you, as well," the miko awkwardly raised her hand in agreement to the spider's words, surprised that it was capable of intelligent speech... And moreso that it deferred to Amaterasu. That usually spoke of creatures that sided with kinder gods and entities, didn't it? But their mother's shadow... She inwardly frowned, though she finally reached down to pet the spider gently. It chittered happily, eager for any form of affection. The only figure that could have given them any affection had been ripped away from them as they were born, after all. But had that spider woman lived, she would have raised these little untainted souls to be just as she was.

She coughed a bit to mask the nervousness, before reaching with both hands to lift the leading spider up to meet her at eye-level. "Would you like me to help take care of you, and form a bond with me?"