Part 6
When the report concluded, it was already nightfall outside the window, the streetlights of Akihabara were lit.
What concluded was the scheduled report he made to Kurahashi. Ever since entering magic investigation department, even though the amount was determined by the period, yet he continually made reports to Kurahashi without fail. He was not reporting to the magic investigation department chief as a mystical investigator, but as his personal identity. This is a request by Kurahashi, it is also what he himself hoped for—a recognition for being a talented individual. He had this confidence, and did not find this thinking to be of any wrong.
However—
“Aiya, ended already? It’s so early today.”
The tone of his co-worker sounds particularly sarcastic, or could it be that he had thought too deeply into it? Upon returning to the office, Yamashiro Hayato looked at Miyoshi Tougo silently.
As usual, people are coming in and out of the magic investigation department, not just the members of Onmyou Agency, there were many from the metropolitan police board and other departments, one can also see exorcists around as well. Mystical investigators were all reeking of murderous intent, being combat ready had slowly become an everyday thing. However, this situation is bound to worsen in near future, because the day of the terrorist attack had been teased to be in two days. Yet, both Yamashiro and Miyoshi were completely excluded from this unrest of Onmyou Agency.
In this noisy and disorganised corner of this building floor, that has become a fixed location for the both of them did not even have an office desk, just using a waist high drawer to partition this small resting area. Miyoshi was sitting on a chair and reading a book as usual, he does not raise his head when replying Yamashiro. Yamashiro on the other hand had nothing to do, he stood there blankly in front of him.
--- What a weird feeling…
The other side of the drawer is in a difficult situation, it is only his own surroundings that is in peace, in his eyes, the hurried pace and the disorganised surrounding completely looks like an unreal mirage to him. “How was it? Are there new orders?”
“… No, just telling us to wait for orders, take precaution against any emergencies from happening.”
“Any news regarding Kogure?”
“I heard he is still missing.”
“……”
Listening to Yamashiro’s reply, Miyoshi stood silent momentarily. The expression he had as he stared at his book is the same as usual, it is unknown what kind of thoughts he was having.
Then, “… If that’s the case…” he only said this before flipping to the next page of his book.
He is a man that follow his own way to the point of extreme, however, Yamashiro based on his own past experiences, observed that Miyoshi’s sight was not chasing after the words on the book. A faint and unfocused sight slipped off the surface of the paper, an action he does whenever he ponder about something.
“How about your side? Did the spirit pulse in the metropolitan area show signs of disturbance?”
“… Some spiritual disasters occurred after sunset. There were quite a lot of spiritual disasters last night, following the frequency, the amount of spiritual disasters will be possibly higher than last night.” “What about magic battles?”
“Nothing so far.”
Miyoshi replied plainly, and Yamashiro nodded accordingly.
Actually, there wasn’t a need to ask on purpose to confirm, if a magic battle breaks out—they will be able to sense the large-scale magic battle from afar, Miyoshi will take initiative to mention it as well. After the incident with Kogure last evening, there was not any movement that were worth taking note.
However, those that did not come into attention were at most [movements on the surface], considering from the current situation, beneath the surface is surely raging like a storm, the only exception is the people like Yamashiro that were stuck in this place. If their leader Kogure is here now, it will be hard to know what kind of mission these few people, including himself, will be tasked to carry out.
--- If Kogure is here…
Yamashiro placed both his hands into the pockets of his long pants, once again crossing over the drawer and observe the situation in the department.
The co-workers that are running in the flood, the current that is pushing them is also the [main current] from the organisation, Yamashiro is also one of them that grows in that current, yet he is currently being casted outside of the main current, watching that current from the side lines, a never felt before strange feeling surged from the bottom of his heart.
Yamashiro is a disciple of the Kurahashi family.
He was born into a family that served the Kurahashi family for generations, after confirming that he had the talent of Spirit Sight, he naturally became a disciple, and began to train in magic since young.
Yamashiro was highly gifted, not only he performed better than his peers, he even outperforms the seniors, Kurahashi who noticed his talents occasionally trains with him personally as well. Even though this caused the people around to envy and frustrated, but the training with Kurahashi is sufficient to make up the various shortcomings. What he gained were not just the experience as a magic user, there were other things as well.
When he enrolled into Onmyou Academy at the age of 15, Yamashiro already had the abilities comparable to a professional Onmyouji. In fact, he gotten the qualification of [Second-Class Onmyou] before entering his third grade, additionally, he took a leave of absence from Onmyou Academy before graduation.
After that, under Kurahashi’s arrangement, he became a Onmyouji under his direct command, and continually gain experience in his line of work. During actual battle, his performance is even more outstanding. After leaving Onmyou Academy for two years, he passed the [First-class Onmyou] exam at the age of 19, becoming National First-Class Onmyouji.
Looking back, how he lived in the past was like walking amidst a flood. However, he did not have any worries, to be precise, he did not have the energy to spare for worries. For the sake of not being swallowed by the flood, he always gave his all.
In order to avoid being swallowed by the flood, the only way is to be a part of the flood. With the same speed, same direction, immersing himself and swim forward. This is the method he used to survive, compared to every other people, it is more flexible and more efficient.
Becoming a professional Onmyouji, becoming one of [Twelve Divine Generals], in addition making a goal to reach higher status, he did not once question his own heart about his ambition.
However.
--- Tsk.
Yamashiro’s heart made a teensy— soft— crack. Like how he is standing outside of the flood, this is the first time Yamashiro realised he did not know [where] this current that he was part of is flowing towards.
Where exactly this flood which powers his life heads to.
The meaning of focusing on this [job].
“… Beside...”
“What?”
“Can I sit beside you?”
“……”
Miyoshi lifted his head from his book, gazed at Yamashiro’s face. Comparatively, Yamashiro was expressionless, just silently looking at Miyoshi.
After observing Yamashiro’s looks for some time, “Please sit.” Miyoshi finally agreed. Yamashiro said thanks in a low voice, and sat on the chair beside Miyoshi. He leaned his back on the back of the chair, lifted his legs, and let his vision blankly stared forward.
This is the first time he was being lazy during working hours. If this is the usual him, he would not imagine of such thing. Especially when facing such an unprecedented large-scale situation, yet he is here wasting his life away, if it was the him in the past, he would not be able to tolerate it for even a minute. Despite so, the current him have half accepted this idle situation, the next course of action, the conviction and the direction on the way to do things, he has lost them all.
If Kogure is here now…
“……”
Former Special Spirit Sensor Miyoshi realised Kogure had participated in the magic battle that broke out last evening, after the magic battle ended, Yamashiro reported this to Kurahashi.
Kurahashi who received the report, restricted the two of them from telling others about Kogure, in addition, he made them continue to stay in Magic Investigation Department on standby, at the same time he ordered Miyoshi to observe if the aura in the metropolitan area has any disturbance.
At that time, Yamashiro made a rare enquiry to Kurahashi on the meaning behind the orders, asked him why he did not reveal to the public the things Kogure did, Yamashiro believed that this is at least an information that can be grasped by the Magic Investigation Department.
However, Kurahashi’s attitude was very cold, he only expressed that under circumstances when details were not clear, to make an official statement now will bring forth unnecessary confusion, and rejected Yamashiro’s suggestion.
It wasn’t that he did not understand Kurahashi’s intention, it’s just Yamashiro and his group were not allowed to discuss this matter, yet there were no orders of restricting the people on site from talking about this, and allowed them to make wild guesses. Such a large-scale magic battle, and it happened at a location just 20 minutes walking distance away from the building, to hide the traces of Kogure’s participation is near impossible, in the end, not just the Magic Investigation Department, the whole Agency were filled with speculations and rumours.
Kurahashi’s methods were not thorough enough, and it is not like him to do such a thing, the whole thing looks like chaos created on purpose. However, the thing that Yamashiro could not accept is that, Kogure went missing, yet Kurahashi did not come up with any counter measures.
The existence of the Former Independent Exorcist Kogure is extremely important, in some cases, just himself alone turning up will overturn the situation. Did he die? Did he betray us? Or is it he had some plans and had to hide underground for the time being? Even though unknown, but this is not a problem that can be skipped for a reason like [details were not clear].
Moreover, Kurahashi did not take appropriate actions with regards to this matter. It might be just Yamashiro did not see? In fact, Kurahashi already had information regarding Kogure.
“……”
Yamashiro unconsciously narrowed his eyes.
About the magic battle last evening, Yamashiro [saw] something else, the one that was fighting against Kogure was one of the two shikigami that was [fighting against Tsuchimikado Harutora] few days ago at Ogikubo. That shikigami hindered him [for the sake of Onmyou Agency], and started a battle with Kogure.
After which, Yamashiro did not report to Kurahashi about this.
Yamashiro also did not know how to explain the reason why he did not report it, it just during that time when he was making the report to Kurahashi, the words Miyoshi told him earlier rested in his heart.
--- [Regarding this [profession] called Onmyouji, we will have to think deeper about it.]
For the sake to avoid being swallowed, placing oneself as part of the flood, immersed in swimming forward until now. He took pride in being an excellent Onmyouji, and felt confident.
Yet now, the words of his co-worker that only has desirable ability had stabbed deeply into his heart, without knowing, he started to pursue after the back of his leader that disappeared without authorisation, and even hiding things from the person he cannot overemphasise as his master, Kurahashi.
--- Damn it…
Thinking quickly, Yamashiro urged himself in his heart. As if chanting first grade spirit language, he ordered himself in a determined and strict manner.
Thinking about his past experiences, as well as the things that he did with prejudiced views and without suspicions.
He once again looked back to the past, using his mind to think.
“… Miyoshi-san.”
“… What is it?”
“Kogure-san is he… still alive?”
“About this…”
Miyoshi continued reading his book, calmly avoiding from giving a certain reply, and Yamashiro did not expect to get any beneficial answer from this.
Yet—
The next second, Miyoshi suddenly closed his book, Yamashiro reactively shifted his vision over.
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