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Tokyo Ravens - Volume 9 - Chapter 5.1




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Chapter 5 - Soul Calling 
Part 1 
It had already been a very long time since that day-- 
The beautiful moon hung in the sky. 
He looked up at the moon, while sitting on the porch of the residence. 
He held a cup of wine. The aromatic wine diffused in the air. 
Yakou-sama. A call came from within the residence, in darkness that the moonlight hadn't reached. 
Have you still not changed your mind? 
He smiled bitterly and sipped from his cup in response to that question. 
Then, he replied, still smiling: 
"Yeah." 
Then, he dropped his smile and continued: 
"Sorry." 
The sounds of insects that came from the courtyard indifferently and softly alleviated the silence between them. 
She quietly stared at her master in the moonlight. 
Then, she sat properly and slowly bowed her head. 
In any case, no matter what, their time together was precious. 

"Kon! I'm counting on you!" 
Harutora leaped backwards, glaring at Kagami. The materialized Kon used foxfire as a fiery smokescreen, and the Raven's Wing immediately turned to escape. 
But. 
"Aah?" 
Kagami made a dangerous sound, casually slashing out with the katana in his left hand. 
The foxfire smokescreen Kon put up was dispersed by the slicing blade. Kagami extended his right hand towards Harutora, curving his ring-decorated fingers into claws. 
They tore through the air, first horizontally and then vertically. Kuji-kiri. The magical energy that had been infused into his fingers passed through space, making a grid pattern emerge in front of Harutora. "Ugh!" Harutora was knocked back by the magical wall. 
It was the move that had repelled the Nue's charge before. If the Raven's Wing hadn't been wrapped around him, it wouldn't have been strange if he had died in the worst case. 
Kagami stared with narrowed eyes at Harutora and said: 
"Don't run around. I can cut off a couple of your arms and limbs if you want." 
Though he was also a Divine General, he was completely different from Kogure - but he gave off just as much of an overwhelming feeling. The indescribable feeling of being in front of a savage carnivorous beast. Harutora dropped to a knee after being knocked back by the magic grid, glaring hatefully at Kagami. 
...Why did it have to be now! 
Independent Exorcist Kagami Reiji. The National First-Class Onmyouji known as the 'Ogre Eater'. He had crossed paths with Harutora many times. He was the worst person to have as an enemy right now. 
"You took care of 'this guy' before." 
After saying this, Kagami pointed the blade at Harutora. That blade was called 'Higekiri' and was the vessel housing Kagami's servant shikigami Shaver. 
Kagami was talking about the Meguro Branch incident last month. Along with the Twin-Horned Syndicate sweep operation that the Mystical Investigators had carried out, Kagami had been chosen as Natsume's guard, and he had positioned his shikigami Shaver next to Harutora and the others. 
But Shaver had destroyed the magical tool that a Twin-Horned Syndicate member had brought, leading to a chain of spiritual disasters. After he had been hit with miasma and lost control, he had attacked Natsume, Harutora and the others that he had been guarding. That was the first battle to the death in the truest sense that Harutora had experienced. 
"Thanks to you, his spiritual power still hasn't been able to recover. Isn't that quite cruel?" 
"Don't be ridiculous! Natsume and I almost died because of that guy!" 
"Was it a good lesson? I heard that you 'grew' quite a bit, Harutora? But......" 
Kagami grinned mockingly. 
"It seems like the 'other one' didn't learn her lesson." 
"You bastard!" Kon became indignant before Harutora, the fur on her ears and tail sticking up. Needless to say, Harutora felt his blood boil just like Kon. But Harutora suppressed his angry emotions with an iron will. 
Who would listen closely to the howls of a mad dog? Kagami's provocations were meaningless. What he had to do now was escape with all his might. That was all. But that wasn't anything easy to do. He had to focus completely and make his move with all his soul. He couldn’t afford to be overcome by anger. 
"............" 
Harutora kept staring at Kagami and rose slowly. Kagami instantly showed an intrigued expression when he saw Harutora's attitude. 
"You've become a bit cleverer? ......No, that's wrong." 
Of course, Kagami had already understood the reason for Harutora's determination. Though he praised the fact that he didn't respond to the provocation, his attitude became even worse afterwards. 
"This isn't just 'eagerness' to become independent, is it? Do you think you've become a tengu after making a fool out of Shaver [24] ? Or are you being led on by the Raven's Wing? Do you think that as the reincarnation of a legendary Onmyouji, you can match even a Divine General as long as you have the will to?" 
"............" 
He wasn't an opponent that could be negotiated with. He didn't think he could take him by surprise while he was talking either. He could only fight head-on. There was no reason to win. He just needed to escape from Kagami's grasp. 
"Come to think of it, I have some interest in the Raven's Wing too. As well as Tsuchimikado Yakou's reincarnation. Even though kicking you flying won't be much fun if you're just an arrogant wild dog......" 
Kagami spoke coldly and then stepped forward with his leather boots. Harutora gradually wove his strategy in that time. Kon also wordlessly drew her blade, guided by her master's fighting intent. The spiritual pressures of the two slowly rose, gradually approaching the critical point. 
"Very good, come, Harutora. Just like I promised before, I'll send you flying with a kick." 
That became the signal. 
Harutora attacked with a blindingly fast speed, throwing charms towards Kagami. He rapidly infused magical energy into the magic that he had woven. Kagami's expression became serious once he saw those consecutive movements. 
"Order!" 
What he threw were protective charms. Three protective charms put up magical walls at the same time, forming a group according to their individually-woven magic and half-surrounding Kagami. At the same time, he threw charms again. This time there were five charms. Harutora rushed to the side as he watched them enclose the first magical wall again. 
"............" 
Swish. Kagami casually swung Higekiri without any interest. 
Never mind the first magical wall, even the magical wall that had been put up afterwards was cleaved at the same time. Like a hot knife cutting butter. Kagami didn't even look at the magical wall, tracking Harutora who charged to the side with a cold look instead. 
"What’s this supposed to be?" 
Kagami's voice was more disappointed than contemptuous and even carried a trace of anger. 
But that was Harutora's goal. To Harutora, this was the first and greatest opportunity for victory. He had gotten the 'Ogre Eater's' blind spot. 
"Order!" 
Magic activated as the barrier was cut through like cloth. What activated were the two wood and fire-element charms mixed in with the second group of protective charms. "What!?" Kagami turned around and a fire-element charm ignited because of the wood aura of the wood-element charm before him. 
Wood generates fire, as per Five Element Mutual Generation. Moreover, the magic had been substantially altered to make the heat produce smoke rather than flame itself. It spewed smoke like a volcano, and black smoke blossomed inside. 
Then, as if to condense that smoke, the second magical wall extended inwards. The cut portion repaired itself while completely covering Kagami in swelling black smoke. 
The first magical wall had two goals. First was to conceal the element charms that had been mixed in with the protective charms he threw out the second time. The other was to make him think that the second protective charm magic had been the same thing as the first, by showing off original charm magic. 
The first magical wall was to deceive him, and the second magical wall produced the now expanding black smoke that had been directed inwards. Also, he had rushed away from the magic in order to divert his gaze. It was an intricate combination magic. 
Of course, he didn't think that this could defeat Kagami. But the black smoke shut inside scattered like Kon's foxfire and then was all compressed onto Kagami again. Moreover, when he was sealed inside the fire aura of the black smoke, the fire would conquer Higekiri's metal aura. 
He had stopped Kagami. His magic had been specially woven for that goal - that strategy. 
"Kon, I'm counting on you!" 
"Y-Yes!" 
Leaving Kon there, Harutora glided past the road with the Raven's Wing in a flash. Before the magical wall was destroyed and the black smoke dispersed - while Kagami's vision was sealed, he would leave the battlefield and rush into a narrow alleyway. 
Leaving Kon behind was to further delay his pursuit, even for just a little. Kon would be able to dematerialize at the last moment and escape in secret. Anyway, time was precious. Moreover, it was a powerful opponent he would have slim odds against if they fought seriously. So, Harutora chose to put all he had into escaping. 
He passed through a narrow alley, moving towards the street next to it. Right as he rushed out, he was illuminated by lights from ahead of him. A car that had just been approaching braked in a panic. Right before they hit each other, Harutora leaped over the roof of the car. 
The road he flew out to was a four-lane, two-way road. There was traffic even at this time. Harutora immediately raised his height by several meters, but if he flew higher than the surrounding structures, he would be spotted at a glance from far away. 
...Hide! 
The instant he thought that, the Raven's Wing stealthed its wearer without Harutora needing to use magic. Though he was surprised, he felt more grateful. In this case - right as he was preparing to rise higher again. 
"That's pretty neat." 
A slash of magical energy flew at him. He couldn't dodge it. Even if the Raven's Wing immediately flipped its hem to defend, the slash cut through the fabric and knocked the midair Harutora flying. 
"Ugh!?" 
He hurtled above the road, crashing violently into a sign on the other side of the road. Though the Raven's Wing lessened the impact, he still had difficulty breathing. He desperately looked in the direction the attack came from, noticing Kagami's figure holding a katana at the exit of the alley he had just passed through. 
...So fast! 
How had he done that - as he thought this, he noticed the traces of magical energy underneath Kagami's' feet. 
...Damn! He had used the aura flow!? 
It was Far Step. 
An extraordinarily high-difficulty magic of Imperial Onmyoudou that allowed movement through the aura flow lacing through the ground. Kagami had ignored the black smoke and the magical walls covering him and had escaped Harutora's trap through the aura flow underneath his feet. 
He had clearly witnessed Kagami's Far Step before, but he had forgotten it when he formulated his strategy. He had been careless. Moreover, his stealth had been overly late even for being careless. If he had hidden himself at the same time as he had escaped, he might not have been instantly caught even if Kagami had escaped from the trap with Far Step. 
Harutora staggered because of the violent impact of the collision. The cars passing by honked while frantically avoiding him. When he tried to stumble to the sidewalk, the next slash came. Though he rolled to avoid it, a car behind him sped into it. 

In front of the blade of magical energy. 
The slash hit the front portion of it, knocking off the hood. The tires screeched and the rear wheels skidded. It spun around. When it passed through the line marker in the center, it hit a car on the other side of the road, making an earsplitting crash. 
The two cars smashed into each other as horns continued blaring. The cars behind them braked in a panic. In front of the dumbfounded Harutora-- 
The next slash. 
"You!?" 
He desperately dodged, unable to even call out 'you bastard'. However, the next blade of magical energy flew by, as if he weren't even seeing what was around them. 
The asphalt road was mangled and cars were torn apart. The shutter doors of buildings crumbled and signs were cut flying. Cars veered onto the sidewalk. Motors stalled. Screams, horns, and brakes continued one after another, creating new crashes. 
Chaos. 
"I'm with the Exorcist Bureau! I'm beginning to purify a spiritual disaster. You ordinary people, go find shelter!" 
After Kagami loudly warned them, he leisurely walked to the road whose traffic had been interrupted. Harutora doubted Kagami's sanity. 
"What are you doing!? You......!" 
"Ah? What do you mean, it's just like you heard, I'm 'purifying a spiritual disaster'. That Raven's Wing was originally a magical tool designated as forbidden. Because you brought it out, well, there might be some damage." 
Kagami spoke bluntly with an uncaring attitude. In other words, he planned on blaming all of this disaster on the Raven's Wing. 
"Pretty admirable, Harutora. That trap just now was exceptional, but let me tell you that you're putting too much emphasis on petty tricks. In real battles, you have to be cleverer." 
...This shameless......! 
His heart was writhing in anger. But on the other hand, he felt angry at his own superficiality. 
For example, the magical battle between Ohtomo and Doman that had been engraved in his heart. Though that had been an actual battle, it had simultaneously been a 'competition of magic'. The two had obeyed the silent rules and compared their techniques. 
But this was different. He was greedy for victory. 
The people who heard Kagami's warning fled screaming. This would cause the spiritual disaster purification teams to arrive even earlier. Harutora desperately racked his brain. Right now, the most important thing was what to do next. But now that he had lost his best opportunity, the tables had turned and he was forced onto the most dangerous path. 
...What should he do? 
"What's wrong, you're not going to do anything? Then I'll go." 
After saying that, Kagami gripped Higekiri in reverse and raised it high above his head, throwing it out. "Hah!" 
"Wha!" 
Dumbfounded, Harutora had the Raven's Wing beat its wings to escape into the air. But at that time, Kagami had already formed a seal with his free hands. 
"Noumaku sanmanda bazaradan kan!" 
An overwhelming magical energy burst forth and flame whipped up around Kagami. The flame extended and became a fiery snake. It raised its sickle-like neck, attacking the airborne Harutora. 
It was Harutora's first time hearing that incantation. It was an unknown magic he had never seen. 
But-- 
...Acala's curse! 
For some reason, he knew it. Had he once learned it in class? But regardless, he knew. It was the same for how he should respond. 
"Noumaku samanda bazaradan sendamakaroshada sowataya untarata kanman!" 
He formed a seal and chanted an incantation. Acala's protection magic. Though Kagami's eyes widened, Harutora didn't have the leisure to pay attention. Even if he tried to offset it, the magical energy he had instantly mustered was insufficient. He deftly retreated with the Raven's Wing wrapped around him while desperately neutralizing the fiery snake. He slowly eliminated Kagami's curse rather than doing it all in one go. 
But, in that time-- 
"......Interesting." 
Kagami grinned. 
"Now I recall it. That...... It started with metal aura, right? Five element mutual generation - Order!" 
Charm magic. The element charms he flung into the air were of the metal, water, wood and fire elements. 
First, the metal-element charm became blades that attacked Harutora as he escaped the flaming snake. The Raven's Wing deflected them in place of Harutora, who focused on his protection magic. 
Then, the deflected blades absorbed the heat of the fiery snake, and water emerged on its surface. After that water was whisked off, the water-element charm activated. The generated magical energy formed a torrent that covered the asphalt road. Harutora realized and recalled when he saw it. 
...This was! 
This time, a wood-element charm absorbed the water flow, creating treelike vines. Harutora hastily refined magical energy. Though he had neutralized the fiery snake, the final fire-element charm was activating right now. The vines instantly ignited and birthed a serpent of flame many times larger than the fiery snake. 
The five element mutual generation charm magic that Ohtomo had showed Doman. It had been none other than Harutora himself who told Kagami about it. A wave of heat rushed across the road like a tsunami, throwing the surrounding air into disarray. Harutora's skin was scorched by the breath of the giant flaming serpent. 
...That bastard! 
Kagami had stolen the magic of Harutora's trusted homeroom teacher and used it to attack him. At that time, Doman had drawn a magic seal in midair and controlled a black wind - a wind holding metal aura - and used it to generate a black waterfall of water aura, conquering Ohtomo's fire aura. But Harutora couldn't follow that no matter what. All he could do was use the Raven's Wing to escape higher into the sky-- 
No. 
His hands moved naturally. 
"Wind!" 
He ordered the Raven's Wing in a way that even he didn't understand. The Raven's Wing immediately spread its winds wide - creating black wind carrying metal aura. Immediately afterwards, Harutora's fingers wove Doman's magic seal in midair just like how he had seen back then. The black wind produced by the Raven's Wing became a torrent of water, heading straight for the serpent with the force of an avalanche. 
Steam erupted with a roaring sound. The wind that was produced blew out and Harutora looked at his hands, dumbfounded. 
...I see. 
It was the Raven's Wing. Knowledge of magic trickled from the Raven's Wing. That feeling. Come to think of it, it had been like that when he had treated Natsume. At the time, he hadn't had time to suspect because of his single-mindedness. But now that he thought about it, magic that he couldn't possibly have known had appeared one after another in his mind back then. 
...Could it be? Was it because of Yakou!? 
But Harutora's state of shock was instantly interrupted. 
"Interesting!" 
Kagami shouted. Kagami's aura and fighting spirit were clearly conveyed to Harutora through the thick steamy fog. 
"Isn't that something, Harutora! Or is it Yakou? In that case, I'll get serious too!" 
Kagami charged across the asphalt road while slashing a kuji-kiri again. This time, the grid pattern rushed towards Harutora as if it had been thrown. Harutora instantly defended with the Raven's Wing, but Kagami took advantage of the opening to finish his movement. 
Kagami ran up to the thrown Higekiri. He used the front of his boot to kick the blade into midair, and then grasped the hilt in reverse again, thrusting the tip into the asphalt road with a thunk. 
Then, he formed a basic seal in front of Higekiri, taking its spiritual power while chanting an incantation. 
"Noumaku saraba tatagyateibyaku saraba bokkeibyaku sarabata tarata senda makarosyada ken gyakigyaki saraba biginnan untarata kanman!" 
Fire Realm magic. All of Kagami's magical energy merged with the spiritual power of the divine blade Higekiri, instantly developing into magic. 
Appalling. 
The sea of flame he had glimpsed covering the agency building from the executive office. Its might felt comparable to that magic. A destructive power clearly superior to the Raven's Wing's defenses. He would easily be ended if it engulfed him. 
"Damn!" 
With a flap of the Raven's Wing's hem, Harutora desperately escaped into the air. "I won't let you run away!" Kagami shouted. The Fire Realm magic stretched upwards, becoming a flashing tower of raging flame and approaching the Raven's Wing. As if judging that it couldn't escape, the Raven's Wing flitted past the front of the flame and immediately descended, brushing by the movement of the Fire Realm magic. He was probably protected by a barrier, but Harutora was quickly assaulted by an intense attack that almost made him lose consciousness. 
Kagami's Fire Realm magic was focused on offensive power, and its movements were slightly slow in comparison. The Raven's Wing decided to use its speed over its defensive power. But even so, there were limitations. Kagami's Fire Realm magic continuously cut off their escape routes, gradually forcing the Raven's Wing into a corner. 
...Was this the end!? 
If this went on, he would be killed very quickly. He had to slow the movements of the Fire Realm, even for just an instant. Water conquers fire. He would have to cast a water magic. That magic was - now he knew. It flowed to him from the Raven's Wing. 
He formed a seal. 
"Tanyata udakadai bana enkei enkei sowaka!" 
The master of water in ancient Indian Vedic mythology, Varuna. He was also known as one of the Adityas [25] . The Aditya of the seas. 
Fresh magical energy became a drizzle that became rain and finally a downpour that battered Kagami's Fire Realm magic. Another storm of water vapor arose, producing chaotic turbulence that tossed around the Raven's Wing. 
Water magic to conquer fire magic. 
However, it wasn't enough. It should have had strength - Harutora had infused his magical energy, which had practically grown out of control after he had broken his shell, without wasting a drop. But even then it was far from enough. Kagami's strength was too powerful. 
The Fire Realm magic was unperturbed. 
The flame rose, assaulting the battered Raven's Wing. Harutora's vision was tinted red by fire. He couldn't evade. Harutora gritted his teeth-- 
"Scoundrel!" 
The Fire Realm magic became disordered. The Raven's Wing hastily dodged. He escaped from the jaws of death, but...... he had no time to be relieved. Harutora's gaze flew towards Kagami. 
"Kon!?" 
Kagami stood upright in front of Higekiri that was stuck into the asphalt road. His left arm had been fiercely stabbed into by the blade of the pouncing Kon. The defensive shikigami that he had left behind and entrusted with stopping Kagami had managed to catch up in time for her master's crisis. 
But-- 
Kagami's expression twisted because of the blood that spurted out. Pure fury burned in his eyes. Anger that was more at having the magic battle disrupted than at the pain flooding from his wrist, along with anger at himself for being negligent. 
"...Shitty brat." 
Without any concern about widening his wound, Kagami forcefully swung out with his stabbed left arm. 
Kon's stance broke in midair as she was flung out along with a large amount of blood. 
"Hindrance." 
He stabbed the blade straight at her. Kon instantly twisted her body in midair. 
But she was unable to dodge. 
In front of the stunned Harutora, Higekiri's magical-energy-filled blade pierced through Kon's chest.



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