Tokyo Ravens - Volume 14 - Chapter 5.2

Part 2 
She had the same feeling when the 'Full Moon' intervened she had entrusted herself to Harutora. 
Akino also knew the entity that spoke with her mouth. When Harutora had spoken over a long distance through the Full Moon, 'he' had chatted about Natsume using magic. 
But the speaking without any prior preparation had scared her to death. It might actually be possible for someone to be 'scared to death'. Especially for her. She wanted a break from this. 
'I'm not done.' 
It suddenly spoke, and she jumped in surprise again. 
'I'm in quite a hurry too. But please forgive me for giving you trouble before.' 
It was calmly speaking like before. But where did the voice come from? From inside her. 
Speaking of which, when she had spoken with Harutora, 'his' voice sounded like it had come out from inside her. 
Just then, a shocking clash of magical energy happened inside the territory. 
It seemed like a spectacular battle of magic was beginning. She peeked out, seeing the figures of Takiko on the altar with her aureola of light, and a giant, unknown demon lord standing in front of her. Though Akino hastily lay back down on the ground, the ground was also trembling. Flame swirled, gales blew, electricity raced, and explosions roared. 
Akino covered her face-down head with both hands, curling into a ball. The two rabbit ears that showed from the gaps between her hands were stiff. 
'Inside of all that is one of the Twelve Gods, of which 'I' and Taizan Fukun also belong to. His presence is extremely thick this close up. That's why I'm able to speak like this. Of course, this is only temporary, as you've already forgotten how to continuously operate.' 
'He' spoke in a teasing tone. 
But she couldn't understand ninety percent of what he said. In any case, now wasn't the time to talk about such things. He was so calm even in this situation. 
"U-Um, r-right now i-isn't the time to talk about those things, right!?" 
Though Akino was curled up with her hands on her head, magics were being unleashed very close to her, magics that felt incredibly powerful. She might get caught up in them and killed at any moment. From the way 'he' spoke just now, maybe 'he' was an extremely powerful superman, but Akino wasn't. Not one bit. She was a minor character who had no relationship to this place - this place where gods existed. 
But, 
'It's alright.' 
'He' warmly reassured the frightened Akino. 
'Get up and go help, brave child.' 
"Eh?" 
Akino inadvertently raised her head. 
She was in the corner of the territory. 
Seeing that, 
"Hey! Rabbit ears!" 
A paper crane shikigami from the night sky passed through the magic flying back and forth, descending in a glide. 
It was Suzuka. 
"!!" 
Suzuka looked straight at her, completely ignoring the danger close by. The moment she saw that gaze, something warm took shape in Akino's heart. 
It was courage. 
Akino stopped shuddering and got up. Suzuka's shikigami hurtled over. Akino rushed out. 
She ran swiftly and jumped. Then, she flew to the sky - and at her apex, Suzuka's shikigami caught Akino in midair. 
She rose up rapidly. 
As her vision blurred and swerved and her sense of balance was thrown into disarray, Akino clutched desperately onto Suzuka's extended arm. Magic from inside the territory constantly burst upwards as if to shoot down the rapidly rising shikigami. 
When they managed to escape-- 
The acceleration suddenly stopped and her body began flying lightly. 
Akino opened the eyes that she had shut at some point. Next to her was the sky. Just like when she had jumped into the air carrying Natsume before, but back then she hadn't had the opportunity to look around like this. 
She could see the moon. She could see the horizon. Looking far outwards, she could see the tall buildings in the distance and the nighttime scenery spread out before her. 
Also, she could 'see' the aura beginning to move. She unconsciously doubted her own eyes. The spirit flow that normally flowed underground couldn't be 'seen' without focused concentration. But now, she could see an ominously roiling spirit flow overlapping with the streets. 
It was quite vast in quantity. 
"What is that......" 
She unconsciously grabbed Suzuka's hand. Though she didn't know what had happened, this was an extraordinarily ominous scene. 
"Rabbit ears! Are you hurt!?" 
Suzuka called out. 
Without a doubt, she was 'rabbit ears'. She hastily turned her head. Suzuka's face was right there. Akino replied to that cute, pretty face. 
"N-No!" 
She replied loudly, and an instant afterwards, she thought of those two. 
"Tenma-kun! And that person called Ohtomo!" 
"They're alright!" 
"Eh." 
As she heard that, she hastily looked down. But the territory was covered in black wind, flame, and smoke whipped up by the magic battle, so she had no idea what was happening down there. The only thing she managed to 'see' from the aura inside the territory was the same as what Akino had peeked at before, the figure of the demon lord and Takiko battling. 
Just like 'he' had asked, he was returning a favor. Alone. 
Then, 
'There's nothing to worry about. That guy mostly doing what he wants.' 
She heard 'his' voice. The voice seemed to be mixed with exasperation and intimacy [25] this time - perhaps they were close acquaintances. But what she was more interested in was that the voice seemed far away and very faint. 
Instinctively, she faintly understood the reason. It was probably because they were slowly moving away from the territory. She seemed to recall 'him' saying something like the area being very thick. It was probably because they left that the effects had thinned. 
But 'he' seemed unconcerned. 'You guys run away with the others.' 
The moment after he said that, she saw two oni fly out of Zuishin-mon. They were Doman's shikigami. The fat oni was carrying the unconscious Ohtomo on his back, and the woman oni held the confused Tenma. 
Then, the fat oni sucked in a breath. 
"You guys, run!" 
His voice rang through the sky. It was extremely loud. 
Then, 
"Tch! It's started!" 
Suzuka clicked her tongue. Then, before Akino could ask about it, it happened. Around the territory, yin aura solidified and became miasma. Then, reaching its limits, the miasma became spiritual disasters. And this happened everywhere. 
"We need to go! I can't help you if you fall down!" 
They descended rapidly as Suzuka said that. Akino heard herself scream. The world blurred. But for some reason, she didn't feel scared at all. 
Yeah. 
She seemed to feel 'him' nodding in great satisfaction. 
'Well then, let's meet again the next time the stars come around...... Ahh, but don't forget what I told you.' 
'You can make it if you hurry.' 
Saying that, 'his' presence flew into the distance. Akino was unable to properly reply as she held on to Suzuka for dear life. 
So in the end, she mentally asked what she had always been very curious about. 
Who are you? 
Then, 'he', slightly surprised at what Akino said, smiled and replied to Akino as teasingly as when he had spoken to Doman. 
'God.' 
Then-- 
Akino descended to the battlefield again. 
 
The spiritual nature of the surroundings was changing rapidly. The activity of the spirit flow - the normally dormant spirit flow - was beginning to become agitated. 
Harutora held Natsume in his arms. 
Ultimately, he had used the magic he had cast on Natsume one more time - the magic that connected her soul and body using Hokuto. But Natsume still hadn't awoken. The situation was moving to the next stage. He couldn't stabilize her aura with the same methods as the past. Also, Natsume's current state probably couldn't handle the spiritual influence of Masakado's descent. 
Hishamaru's current condition was also terrible. She was a spiritual entity right now - in other words, she was just a soul. She couldn't handle a huge spiritual influence in a state without a physical body. Maybe if she had stayed in the Tsuchimikado-sealed state - in the form of Kon - but now that was spilt milk. 
No, if she changed forms right now it might end her life. 
Also, that legendary Kakugyouki had also suffered extremely severe wounds in order to protect Hishamaru. 
The great oni who had lived for a thousand years had sacrificed himself to protect Hishamaru, but Harutora hadn't been able to do anything. 
He carried Natsume, keeping alert as to the unstable spirit flow - but he had no idea what he ought to do after this or where he ought to go. He was caught in a dilemma. 
...Damn! 
Harutora raged as he cursed his uselessness. His body shivered as he dreaded losing Natsume. 
But something strange happened as Harutora felt helpless. Inside the territory, the divine, uneartly aura rapidly swelled up. 
It swelled and swelled, then exploded, scattering a tremendous aura. 
Many incomparably powerful magics exploded one after another over at Zuishin-mon. Each and every magic contained spiritual power rivalling Miyachi's Fire Realm. 
And he had seen that magical energy before. Could it be? Harutora was dumbstruck. 
"Hey, what the hell!?" 
Standing on the shrine road, Kagami looked at Kanda Shrine and yelled. The mechanical shikigami Hama, who ought to have been stopped, suddenly revved its engine. Kyouko stood up from the backseat. 
"Touji!" 

She shouted at Touji, who had been confronting Kagami. 
"Tenma's in there!" 
Touji was taken aback. "What..." Harutora also fell silent. Speaking of which, Tenma had disappeared after yelling at Suzuka back then. 
He had gone to Kanda Shrine in the midst of this intense battle, without anyone noticing him. 
On the other hand, Suzuka acted quickly in order to deal with the crisis. Since she was in the air seated on her shikigami, she seemed capable of observing the situation inside the territory to some extent. She was confused, but fearlessly rushed out into the air towards the territory filled with exploding magic. 
Touji had also charged up the ruined road, eyeing Kanda Shrine. Though Kagami saw him, he didn't stop Touji. Harutora also used the Raven's Wing at that time. 
No matter what kind of dilemma they were in, they couldn't leave their comrade - their friend - to die. Harutora hurried over, carrying Natsume. 
But Touji, who watched Harutora rushing over as he also immediately rushed into Zuishin-mon, stopped when he felt the presences there. 
From the other side charged out a fat shorty and a half-naked woman. They were Doman's shikigami, Gozu and Mezu. As they had thought, the powerful magical energy that had appeared inside the territory belonged to Ashiya Doman. 
Gozu and Mezu carried Ohtomo and Tenma. 
Then, 
"You guys, run!" 
Carrying Ohtomo, he charged down the destroyed road without stopping. Kagami looked at the unconscious Ohtomo and yelled "What! Hey!". 
Doman stayed behind inside the territory, confronting the god alone. That frightful magical power had succeeded in sealing the Soumas' actions. To think he had hidden such a level of strength. No one had known. 
...No! That wasn't it. 
If that were Doman's strength, Gozu and Mezu wouldn't have run away. They were Doman's shikigami. Shikigami wouldn't leave their master behind and flee unless they were ordered to by their master. The fact that they carried Ohtomo and Tenma out was proof. Doman had probably ordered them to take Tenma and Ohtomo and flee. In the end, Doman's offensive was just purely to buy time. 
...Flee? 
He instinctively felt restless. 
If they fled, nothing would be solved. There was no future if they didn't defeat the Souma. That was extremely clear. 
But if they stayed here, they would be completely and utterly destroyed. Not just him and Natsume, all his other companions would be implicated. 
"...!' 
Harutora abandoned the confusion that trapped him. He prepared to flee. Though he hadn't thought of anything, he couldn't give up here. 
Harutora gritted his teeth and closed his eyes-- 
"All of you, get in Hama!" 
He ran out as he said this. Harutora's black coat was blown up by the wind and flapped out behind him like a pair of wings. 
The mechanical shikigami Hama drove straight up to the shrine road, knowing that Tenma was being carried over. Seeing Harutora also racing down, Gozu, Mezu, and Touji also quickly ran to Hama. 
"H-Harutora!?" 
"Kyouko. I'm leaving Natsume to you!" 
They hadn't spoken since that summer day. With no time to deal with Kyouko's surprise, Harutora gave the unconscious Natsume to Hakuou, who was guarding Hama. 
At the same time, he also confirmed the situation. Suzuka was already leaving Kanda Shrine, and it seemed like she was escaping with Akino. Akino, Ohtomo, and Tenma didn't seem to be at risk of death. 
Doman was still stopping the enemy inside the shrine. But it seemed like he had already passed his limits, as he could already see the magical energy weakening. To think that Ashiya Doman had done something so self-sacrificing. Honestly, he couldn't believe it, but he could think of the reasons later. 
He didn't know what Kagami would do, but he was already quite exhausted. Even if he impeded them, they would be able to break through. 
Then, there was only one obstacle left. 
"......From my point of view, I have to stop you here." 
Miyachi looked over from where he stood, clacking his prayer beads. 
He still hadn't recovered completely. Of course, he was still powerful, there was no mistaking it! 
"Don't look down on me!" 
The feathers of the black Raven's Wing became a volley of arrows that attacked Miyachi. 
Miyachi swung his prayer beads, making flame rise to burn all the feathers...! Right. When the summoned flames started to move, immediately, 
"Order!" 
The many water-element charms released together with the feathers circled around the flame that attacked the feathers and closed in on Miyachi from the side. Miyachi rapidly formed a seal to deal with the torrent of water gushing at him. 
Soon after, Miyachi's entire body was enveloped by flame. The water generated by the charm magic was instantly vaporized. Though water aura conquered fire aura, the water aura of mere water charms couldn't compare to Miyachi's supreme flame technique. 
"Noumaku sarabatatagyateibyaku sarababokkeibyaku sarabatarata sendamakarashada kengyakigyaki sarababiginan untarata kanman...!" 
Miyachi began chanting the Fire Realm magic again and the flame enveloping him increased. But that was enough for the first step of stopping Miyachi's movements. 
Then, 
"Harutora!" 
Touji shouted from behind him. He glanced over, seeing that Touji had just sat down on Hama and that Natsume, Ohtomo, and Tenma were already there. 
Hakuou and Kokfuu were defending the car to the best of their abilities. Gozu and Mezu were also on standby, with nerve-inducing expressionless faces. Suzuka and Akino were in the sky in frnot of them, heading out first. 
Then, Kakugyouki appeared next to Hama holding Hishamaru. Upon seeing Kakugyouki's figure crackling all over with lag, Gozu said "General!?" in surprise and Mezu also put on a shocked expression. 
But Kakugyouki didn't pay the shikigami any heed, glancing at Natsume and then nodding to Harutora. 
"Go!" 
Harutora shouted loudly. "Hama, let's go!" Touji ordered without the slightest hesitation. Just like when he had been asked to help Hishamaru before. A great combination. This was proof that their friendship still thrived after much time and many trials. 
Miyachi narrowed his eyes at Hama as it prepared to depart. Wreathed in fire and purged of any personal emotions, he looked like a cruel Acala [26] . 
The flame extended towards Hama like a snake. 
But Harutora wouldn't let it interfere. 
"Nounaku sanmanda bazaradan sendamakaroshada sowataya untarata kanman." 
Forming a seal with his right hand, Harutora chanted one of Acala's mantras (another of which was Fire Realm), a protection magic. Miyachi ignored his slight surprise and attacked from the front with Fire Realm. At the same time, Harutora drew out a charm with his left hand and accurately threw it out. 
The protection magic melded together with the Fire Realm. They were both fire arts of Acala, so they didn't neutralize each other, but instead the stronger one absorbed the other. Hence, Miyachi's fire realm grew in might. He had been surprised just noe because he wouldn't have thought Harutora would make such an error. 
But that was the point! 
"Guide the flame and return ash to the earth! Fire generates earth! Order!" 
The Fire Realm magic, which was mixed with Harutora's fire aura due to the protection magic that had melded away, reacted. Another magic hidden inside the protection magic was activated, and the thrown earth-element charm absorbed the fire aura. 
And, Harutora's fire aura became a lure that caused Miyachi's own fire aura to flow into the earth-element charm. 
"Hm!?" Miyachi's eyes widened. The moment he noticed Harutora's intentions, Harutora's charm magic, fueld by his own Fire Realm, was approaching. 
A huge noise roared and the ground split into two. Miyachi immediately put up a barrier. Spirit flow spurted forth, swallowing him along with his barrier and pulling them underground. 
A counter to the Fire Realm magic. It wouldn't work again, but more powerful of a fire user the target was, the greater the effect. If Miyachi was the target, the effect was immense. 
Hama zoomed to the road. 
But it still wasn't over. Miyachi was a National First-Class Onmyouji. He wasn't only good at Fire Realm magic [27] . 
"...Awaken, spirits of the earth! Wood conquers earth!" 
More so than the fire arts, Miyachi's greatest strength was his unreasonable spiritual power. Miyachi controlled the five elements without the help of a charm, and his magical energy became wood aura that conquered Harutora's earth aura. The materialized magic soon bloomed and foliage sprouted from the fissure, becoming a tree that brought Miyachi back above ground. 
But Harutora had already used the Raven's Wing to fly into the sky. 
And, 
"With fierce water, bloom with madness! Water generates wood, order!" 
"Ugh!? Noumaku sanmanda bazaradan kan!" 
Harutora's water-element charm. The water aura that he had deliberately distorted fed the wood aura that Miyachi generated. The branches of the explosively-growing tree suddenly began twisting, becoming a prison that sealed miyachi in - and then that prison of wood aura was burnt away by Miyachi's Unmoving Mantra - a curse of Acala. 
But by then, Hama was an adequate distance away. What Miyachi didn't have was mobility. Having successfully stopped the 'Fire Demon', Harutora escaped higher into the sky and immediately chased after Hama... 
"Noumaku sanmanda bazaradan kan!" 
Miyachi chanted the curse with a majestic might. 
The instantly-formed fireball surpassed Harutora's imagination. It thundered as it pursued Hama. He had to defend - but all he could possibly do was jump into the fireball and use his own body as a shield. Harutora changed his trajectory, raising the Raven's Wing's defensive power as high as possible. 
But just before Harutora jumped into the fireball, Miyachi's fireball was cut apart by a slash.. 
...Eh!? 
He immediately looked back at the shrine road. "Tch!" Kagami, wielding Higekiri, clicked his tongue. The slash wasn't aimed at Harutora - it had clearly been aimed at the fireball. 
...Kagami! 
Why? But he didn't have the freedom to check. Harutora chased after Hama with a flap of the winged black coat. 

 

He had let them get away, but that said, he had done everything he could. 
"......Well, no helping it." 
Miyachi exhaled, looking for Kagami on the sloped shrine road. 
"I can't steal someone else's prey - is that what you mean?" 
"......Shut up!" 
Kagami put Higekiri on his shoulder, looking down unyieldingly at Miyachi. 
"Let me first say that you're also planned as one of my prey. So, getting on with it now would be fine." 
Miyachi smiled without any malice and drew back, saying "No, not right now" in response to Kagami's strong-willed declaration. 
"It seems like you broke the seal on your spiritual body. Go find a good doctor as soon as you can, if you truly want to fight." 
Kagami stared wordlessly at his smiling former superior. 
Then, he looked up the slope as if suddenly noticing something. 
Inside the territory of Kanda Shrine, the presence of Ashiya Doman's magic had vanished. The time that the ara-mitama had sacrificed himself to buy was now up. 
Kagami readied himself and Miyachi narrowed his eyes. 
From the territory-turned-secret-world that the two of them looked at can two dependents obeying their god.