Tokyo Ravens - Volume 3 - Chapter 3.1

Chapter 3 - Living Spirit 
Part 1 
"Touji!" 
Harutora's face paled and he hastily reached out to the side to support Touji's shoulder. Once he touched Touji, a chill accompanied by pain coursed through his body as if he had touched ice-cold subzero air. Only then did he realize that this was his first time seeing Touji fall into this kind of state with his own eyes ever since he had gained his spirit-seeing ability. 
"H-H, Harutora-sama! T-Touji-dono is...?" 
Kon, Natsume, Kyouko, and the three teachers who didn't understand the circumstances all didn't understand what exactly had happened to Touji. Harutora couldn't add an explanation either, only able to bite his lip in silence. 
Just then-- "......Ha! This is really too interesting......" Kagami spoke, and Harutora's anxiety abruptly increased a bit. 
"That brat's been possessed by something, right? ...No, it's none other than an 'oni'. To think I would encounter a living spirit here...... Haha! Not bad, you group of brats are really interesting!" 
"Tch......!" 
Harutora ground his teeth, but he was helpless. Touji had long since lost consciousness with a dark expression. 
Examples of spirits 'materializing' using some object as a vessel weren't rare. Objects exposed to large amounts of aura for a long time, especially those affected by aura with specific natures, would often be used by a spirit as a vessel when it materialized. Actually, among the spiritual beings that Onmyouji used, many were magical tools used for many years that had become vessels and formed shikigami. They would be materialized from 'ambiguous and volatile spirits' by using objects of 'solid existence' as catalysts. 
Spiritual disasters had similar principles. 
When spiritual disasters entered phase three - when they 'materialized' - they would absorb or 'possess' objects, obtaining a vessel. Though the growth and development of phase three spiritual disasters would slow down because of this, it would show a tendency towards long-term stabilization. In addition, even though the aura could be corrected, to entirely disperse the distortion or complete purification would be almost impossible. 
"You're just like Dairenji." 
Kagami spoke, gazing intently at Touji. 
"In the spiritual disaster attack two years ago, that old man turned into a demon using himself as a vessel, leading to a spiritual disaster. Hahaha...... I feel it, I feel a dangerous air. According to what the headquarters said, the condition this time is exactly the same as back then... this is called 'fate'. And even a living spirit came out...... Hey, brat. You're called Touji, right? When did that condition start? You couldn't have been possessed by an oni two years ago, right?" 
Kagami laughed confidently and walked towards the collapsed Touji, and Harutora's hair stood on end over his entire body. 
"......Dairenji Shidou became a demon - and at the time, that person developed into a phase four. It wouldn't be strange if there were people dragged into the spiritual disaster who became living spirits. How is it, Touji? Were you a victim of that spiritual disaster attack?" Kagami asked, and things were just as he expected. 
...Damn. 
Harutora shook, gritting his teeth. 
Two years ago, Touji had been involved in a spiritual disaster terrorist attack incident, leaving after-effects. These were the after-effects that the spiritual disaster had left behind in Touji's body. 
A 'living spirit' normally meant someone who had partially become a demon, but it was also used in General Onmyoudou to indicate people who had become a vessel for spirits but who still maintained their own consciousness. 
Ato Touji's body had been possessed by a 'Type-Ogre' mobile spiritual disaster - or perhaps it should be described as being left behind inside him. Of the people close to him, only Principal Kurahashi, Ohtomo, and Harutora knew this fact. 
"......Even so...... What does it matter!" Harutora left Touji's side, blocking Kagami's path. 
"It's true that Touji's a spiritual disaster victim, but he's not a spiritual disaster! It has nothing to do with exorcists, so you should hurry up and go chase the Nue!" He roared out loud, trying to conceal his trembling voice. 
"You should let a specialist decide whether an exorcist should get involved or not. An outsider like you has no place to talk." Kagami spoke with a level head. 
"M, My dad is Touji's primary physician! A specialist Onmyou doctor decided that there was no problem with Touji!" 
"An Onmyou doctor from the Tsuchimikado family? Things are getting more and more interesting." 
Thrilled with joy, Kagami replied to Harutora's angry roar. The distance between the two was gradually shortening, and it finally reached a range where he could reach him by putting out his hand. 
Once the opponent used spirit language, he was bound to be unable to move. Just as Harutora bit the bullet and planned on preemptively taking a battle-ready stance, Kagami swung an empty fist one step faster to shift Harutora's attention, then took advantage of his openings to kick him without taking any extra trouble. The sole of his engineer boot kicked into Harutora's stomach. 
"Ugh!" 
Harutora's body bended and he was sent flying backwards by the kick. Natsume cried out "Harutora!" in surprise, and Kon's face went white from surprise, hurriedly dashing to her master's side. 
...Th, This bastard......! 
Harutora had been careless, and he hadn't expected that Kagami was long since used to using violence, as well as magic, to resolve his problems. Come to think of it, he hadn't used magic to deal with Natsume either. Judging from the fact that he believed he didn't especially need to use magic, he was quite good at exercising violence. 
"Damn......!" 
Harutora borrowed Kon's strength, struggling to stand up, when-- 
"......Let me see." Kagami had already knelt next to Touji. He grabbed Touji's hair, pulling his head, and then uttered the words: "This is in the way," pulling the bandanna on Touji's forehead off with a yank. 
In the area, not only did Kagami gasp, but also Natsume, Kyouko, and the teachers had the same reaction. Kagami hmphed, then whistled implicationally. 
"Hahaha...... What an incredible living spirit. Isn't he one step from becoming 'fallen'?" 
After taking off the bandanna, a pair of two-to-three centimeter horns had sprouted from Touji's forehead, showing weak 'lag' reactions. In addition, his lips were opened, with fangs jutting out that had gradually grown from his canines. 
The oni in his body and the Nue's miasma had resonated and activated. The demon transformation process had been accelerated by the oni devouring the aura spewed out by the aura flow. Currently, it wasn't aura that was spilling forth from Touji's body, but rather the demonic air that the oni gave off. The demonic air coursing through the surroundings covered Touji's body, gradually materializing. 
"......Since the spirit flow stabilized, he hasn't completely become a demon. If he had just 'fallen' altogether, things would be much simpler...... But as an Independent Exorcist, I can't sit and watch the root of a spiritual disaster without minding - what should I do, hm?" 
Kagami pulled up Touji's hair, letting out a wretched laugh. Harutora's vision went blank with anger and his heart jumped intensely, a searing agitation driving out the pain from his whole body. 
"You...... despicable person......!" Harutora mustered his entire body's strength, clenching his fists and standing up. Kagami glanced at him from the corner of his eyes, a scornful, derisive smile forming on his lips. 
But-- 
"......Don't touch me, you cross-marked bastard......" 
Touji grabbed out with his hand, tightly clasping the arm that Kagami had seized his hair with. 
"......I don't care if you're a Divine General or whoever you are...... If you dare look down upon living spirits, careful that I don't kill you......" 
He imitated Kagami's tone with a fearless smile on his face, then he clenched Kagami's arm with even more force. The demonic aura that covered his arm partially materialized as it showed 'Lag' reactions. A demon's arm - a half-translucent rigid shadow vividly emerged before everyone's eyes like a mirage. 
"...Tch." 
Since his strength wasn't under control, Touji exerted quite a shocking grip strength. Kagami quickly strengthened his arm with magical energy, forcefully throwing off Touji's hand, and stood up. 
"Touji! You..." 
Harutora's face brightened but immediately sank. After Kagami released Touji, he didn't get up, but lay supine instead, letting out pained moans. The arm that had almost materialized returned to its original state, but the horns and fangs were still the same. 
"......Hu......Wh, When someone's desperately trying to...... suppress it...... p, please don't cause trouble...... next to me, ugh......!" 
Touji couldn't catch his breath as he looked up at Kagami while lying in a '?' shape. Kagami who stood up looked callous as he gazed at the lying-down Touji. 
By Kagami's judgment, the progress of Touji's demon transformation was gradually easing since the spirit flow had stabilized. But once the oni awoke, it wouldn't be easy to suppress it again, and Touji was currently fighting for his life with the oni inside him. 
"Alright, stop right there! There's nothing left for you here, so get away from him!" Harutora roared angrily. 
Then-- "......What Harutora says is right, Independent Exorcist! In any case, spiritual disaster aftermaths aren't in the scope of your job, right? Please withdraw from this place immediately." Natsume spoke, and Hokuto above her head made a low growl like a punk threatening the opponent with 'this guy still wants to fight?'. It indeed seemed to hold some deep rivalry with Kagami. 
Not just Natsume, but Kyouko and the various teachers also had hard looks, wordlessly expressing that they wouldn't let Kagami do as he pleased. As for Kon, she was already prepared to defend against the opponent following up on Harutora since her master had been kicked flying. Actually, she had rapidly turned into a blade of revenge long since the moment Harutora had been kicked, and was waiting by the side, ready to go. 
Harutora, Kon, Natsume, Hokuto, Kyouko, and the teachers were resolved to the death, staring at the Kagami's arrogant, lone self. Touji opened his eyes and gasped intensely by Kagami's feet. 
"...Tch." Kagami clicked his tongue fiercely. 
"You guys...... Come if you can." Aura spilled forth from Kagami's entire body. The wrath and strength of one of the Twelve Divine Generals brought a tense feeling far surpassing that from when they confronted the Nue, as if it were a sharp blade. A chill ran down Harutora's back, his stomach wouldn't stop aching, and his limbs almost trembled as well. 
But just then-- 
"Kagami! What are you doing!" 
A voice suddenly came from the air. It was a caw - no, it was a high-pitched cry like a child's. Upon hearing that voice, Kagami immediately seemed like he had been doused by a bucket of cold water. 
"Tch, damn." Kagami cursed. 
Harutora hastily raised his head and looked up. 
"Huh? A, A crow..." 
...No! 

At first glance, it seemed like a big crow was flapping its wings and flying above Harutora and the others' heads. 
But a more careful look would notice that it actually wasn't a crow. That thing had a crow's sharp beak, a jet-black head, and could fly with its wings, but from its head down it had what seemed like a human body and limbs. It was also wearing pitch-black miasma protection clothing, an exorcist uniform - though of a slightly smaller size. 
The crow stared at Harutora, showing a fierce gaze. 
"I'm not a crow! I'm a tengu [45] ! A crow tengu!" That thing huffily opened its mouth especially to correct him. Actually, though it wore an exorcist outfit, that thing's appearance was exactly the same as the crow tengu of legend. 
Then - "Dasai! Don't rush forward recklessly - Uwah! Dragon! It's a dragon!" Another crow tengu flew over. Harutora's eyes widened in shock and the two crow tengu circled above his head in no rush. 
"Kokuryuu! Never mind the dragon! Kagami's the important one! What did Kagami do!" 
"Ah, Kagami! This scoundrel 'Ogre Eater'! What did you do this time!" 
"And where did the Nue go? There's a dragon here, but not a Nue!" 
"Right, the Nue! Where'd the Nue go, Kagami! Did you dispose of it?" 
"Ga [46] ! Could it have escaped? Kagami let the Nue escape! Kagami's all talk!" 
"Gaga! If Zenjirou learns of this he'll definitely scold Kagami to death! Serves you right! Serves you right!" 
The two crow tengu cried out noisily without stopping, not heeding the local atmosphere at all. But because of the crow tengus' chattering cries, the original tense feeling gradually relaxed and Harutora lost all his energy all of a sudden. Natsume's anger, shock, and surprise all mixed together because things were so sudden, and she showed an odd expression. 
"......Shut up." Kagami spat unhappily. 
"...Kagami! Where did the Nue go? Its presence vanished, but it didn't seem like it was purified!" 
A motorcycle sped into the small plaza where Harutora and the others were. 
An eagle-eyed man flew forward like he was riding a steel stallion. He wore an old aviator jacket coupled with a pair of jeans whose knees were covered with holes. For some reason, he wore woven sandals on his feet. His robust physique seemed lively, and his keen expression clearly showed strictness but also masculinity - a straightforward air. 
Harutora noticed that there was something strapped to the belt on the man's waist, and with one glance he instantly remembered this man's identity. 
...I know him! 
The man on the motorcycle wore a katana on his waist. The image of this blade's scabbard was still deeply imprinted on Harutora's mind. He had seen the live broadcast of a spiritual disaster purification on television, and it was this man before him who had cut down an ancient tree back then, easily exorcising a phase three spiritual disaster. 
One of the Twelve Divine Generals. 
Harutora's memories were not mistaken. Everyone present - anyone who was related to magic had probably seen this man. 
The rising star of the Exorcist Bureau, Independent Exorcist Kogure Zenjirou. 
"Big trouble! Big trouble, Zenjirou! This idiot Kagami let the Nue escape!" 
"Shameful, shameful! Kagami is all talk!" 
Kogure's shikigami - Dasai and Kokuryuu, the two crow tengu, scrambled to report to their master. 
As he looked around inspecting the site of the spiritual disaster, Kogure couldn't help but furrow his brow at the strange situation before him. In particular, his gaze went even more befuddled when he noticed Hokuto, murmuring the words: "How did a dragon come out?" Then, when he noticed the collapsed Touji and 'saw' the foreign aura on his body, his face became even more confused. 
"Hm." After pondering for a while, "...Kagami, what's going on?" He requested that Kagami explain the current situation with a grim tone. Kagami turned a deaf ear to the little reports of the two crow tengu, shrugging his shoulders doubtfully. 
"The Nue escaped, we won't catch it even if we chase it." 
"......You somehow didn't deal with it?" 
"Someone intervened. I think it's definitely the work of the Twin-Horned Syndicate." 
Kogure quickly frowned upon hearing those words. But, he didn't continue asking about that topic. 
"I want to know the actual situation first. Something got in your way and you let the Nue escape. Where's the person who obstructed you?" 
"Who knows, that person messed up the spirit flow and disappeared without a trace right afterwards. He seems very capable." 
"......I understand. Then, what's up with that boy?" 
"Wait!" Once Kogure asked, Harutora who originally hadn't even dared to breathe loudly immediately shouted: "Touji - he's a spiritual disaster victim! He has nothing to do with the spiritual disaster just now, he just has after-effects because of the spiritual disaster two years ago, but he's receiving treatment from an Onmyou doctor who also guaranteed that there definitely wasn't any danger, so you don't need to worry! Please believe me!" 
Harutora spoke frantically. Kagami scratched his silver hair in annoyance, but Kogure frowned, looking perplexed. He stared right at Harutora, looked at Touji, looked up at Hokuto above his head, and then shifted his gaze to Natsume, Kon, and the others, seeming to still not understand the current situation. 
"Independent Officer Kogure! We're teachers from the Onmyou Academy and these are all Onmyou Academy students. Today we were holding a practical exam when we were attacked by a Type-Chimera spiritual disaster, but fortunately Independent Officer Kagami extended a helping hand. However, the situation is as Independent Office Kagami described. Because of the interference of a third party, the Type-Chimera has already escaped from here." The old instructor called out with a straight back. 
Upon hearing the specialist's report, Kogure looked shocked. 
"Could it be that you were an exorcist before?" 
"Correct! In addition, the youngster named Ato Touji that was mentioned just now is an academy student, and there is no need to trouble you Independent Officers with him right now. As for how to deal with him, the Onmyou Academy will take full responsibility!" 
The old instructor fought wearily and awkwardly, but he still laid down an ironclad promise. A sliver of surprise flashed across Kogure, and then he nodded his head as if he suddenly saw the light. 
"The Onmyou Academy. So that's how things were, now that you mention it, it was brought up before...... So in other words this is the Tsuchimikado dragon?" 
Kogure straddled the motorcycle, looking up at Hokuto with a look of sudden realization. Kokuryuu and Dasai also flapped their wings, looking at Hokuto who flew in the same sky with "Wah! Wah!" and "This dragon is the Tsuchimikado shikigami!". Hokuto tilted its head, confused and uncomprehending. 
"As for the victim of the spiritual disaster two years ago...... I remember there was a kid......" 
Kogure gazed at Touji with quite a grim gaze, pursing his lips. A specialist's gaze was sizing up Touji to see how big of a threat he had as a spiritual disaster. Upon seeing this, Harutora couldn't help but swallow. 
But, Kogure just lightly said: "...Alright." then, he revved the motorcycle engine, saying to Kagami: 
"Kagami! We're chasing the Nue together." 
"What? Didn't I say we couldn't catch up? That Nue was probably manipulated by humans, and it has a bit of intelligence. More importantly, it's related to the terrorist attack, and it'll probably use stealth." 
"Wait until we catch up to it to confirm those things. Get to work!" 
Kogure rebutted Kagami's mutters of complaint in a breath. Kagami's face twisted from anger, clicking his tongue violently. 
"...Excuse me, senseis! I'm sorry, we're going to head out to pursue the spiritual disaster. Kagami has probably caused you a lot of trouble, but due to the emergency situation, please confront the Exorcist Bureau about it later. Also, the Meguro branch has already sent out a spiritual disaster purification team headed here, and they'll be responsible for dealing with the aftermath. Do you have any other issues?" Kogure spoke. 
"No, we shall comply with Independent Officer Kogure's orders!" 
The old instructor saluted, and Kogure quickly returned the salute, then deftly manipulated the heavy motorcycle, turning around in place. 
"Ga! Zenjirou, you're always too nice!" 
"Naive! Zenjirou, you're irredeemably naive! No wonder Kagami is defiant!" 
"Shut up! You guys look for the Nue, go on!" 
Kogure's motorcycle sped out with a rumble, but close observation would notice that there was something off about this motorcycle's movements, as if the motorcycle ran of its own will. 
Before he left, Kogure urged again: "Kagami!" Kagami muttered impatiently, taking a strange step for some reason. Finally, he stared at Harutora, who was the closest to him, through his sunglasses, saying: 
"Harutora, Touji, Natsume, I'll remember the names of you brats......" Afterwards, his figure vanished. 
Harutora gaped and was speechless for a while, doubting his own eyes. Kagami had vanished rapidly, like a shikigami dematerializing. 
"......Far Step, moving in the aura flow...... How incredible......" Natsume spoke, the same expression as Harutora's on her face. 
"M, Moving inside the aura flow...... What does that mean? Instant movement? Can humans do such a thing?" 
Harutora didn't know that Far Step was one of the Imperial Onmyoudou magics, unused by General Onmyoudou. Imperial-style integrated Far Step with the magic art of 'shukuchi [47] ', an extraordinarily difficult magic. It was one of the most difficult stunts of Imperial-style that hadn't been included in banned magic. 
Kagami dove into the spirit flow, and the motorcycle Kogure rode departed in the blink of an eye. Harutora, Natsume, and the others stood still. Then, as if the battle had finally ended after a year of hardship, their bodies collapsed in an instant. 
"That was...... They were Divine Generals......" Harutora murmured listlessly. Then, he immediately came to his senses. "Touji! Are you alright?" He hurriedly turned to the collapsed Touji. 
There was no reply. Touji had closed his eyes at some point, losing consciousness again. 
The horns on his forehead were still there, but his fangs had already returned to the size of his original teeth, and his condition was gradually recovering. Harutora finally relaxed when he saw this. 
The old instructor's legs were strengthless, and the other two teachers helped support him by the arms. Natsume and Kyouko stared with dignified faces at Touji whose secret had been exposed. Kon's ears twitched anxiously, only returning Kachiwari to its scabbard after confirming the surrounding situation. Hokuto swayed its long body, like it was asking: "Are things over?" 
Night had fallen over the surroundings before anyone had noticed. 
Five more minutes passed after the storm subsided until the exorcists Kogure had mentioned finally arrived at the scene.