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Kaito, holding Yūrei’s hand, walked out of the Enma Hall and nodded to several Uchiha clansn standing guard at the entrance.
The two arrived at the plaza in front of the great hall.
As the day’s matches had not yet begun, the plaza was not very crowded.
Kaito oriented himself and began walking towards the area near the River Sanzu.
With the passage of ti, Yomi had transford considerably.
Apart from the regions belonging to the Eight Hot Hells and the Eight Cold Hells, nurous buildings of various functions had been constructed elsewhere, even forming streets.
Kaito and Yūrei strolled along the bustling streets, observing the lively scene that, aside from the rather strange nature of the rchandise, was not much different from the world of the living.
Kaito noticed that the signage of many shops along the street bore the Uchiha clan’s crest. The attendants serving custors within these shops were also mostly black-haired, dark-eyed mbers of the Uchiha clan.
Upon seeing Kaito, those Uchiha rely bowed slightly from a distance, not approaching to disturb him.
Of course, apart from the Uchiha, the crests of other clans were not uncommon either, though not as nurous as those of the Uchiha.
Passing through the streets, the scenery ahead gradually grew desolate.
As the two drew closer to the River Sanzu, a vast, crimson sea of flowers ca into view in the distance.
They quickened their pace, arriving at the edge of the field of red spider lilies.
"So beautiful."
Yūrei released Kaito’s hand, bending down with keen interest to gently touch the enchantingly vivid red flowers blooming at her feet. She then straightened up, looking out over the seemingly endless floral expanse, and smiled happily.
"Thank you for the complint, Yūrei."
Kaori, dressed in red robes, materialized from among the flowers before Yūrei. She offered Yūrei a soft smile and nodded to Kaito.
"Kaori, you ca to et ?"
Yūrei was clearly delighted, reaching out to take Kaori’s hand.
"Everyone is inside. Please follow ."
Kaori, holding Yūrei’s hand, led the way forward. The spider lilies beneath their feet parted automatically, forming a winding path.
Kaito followed the two won into the heart of the floral sea.
"It seems Lady Kaori, having discovered the actions of certain individuals who stole the spider lilies, has now taken asures to protect the flowers?"
He inquired as he observed their surroundings.
"It appears you saw that match as well, Kaito-kun."
Kaori glanced back at him.
"Spider lilies are born of Yomi. If soone picks one occasionally, I pay it no mind. Unfortunately, that individual was far too greedy."
"Did Kaori punish that fellow?" Yūrei asked curiously.
"I reclaid the spider lilies in his possession." Kaori said.
"That’s it?" Yūrei began to say that didn’t sound like much of a punishnt.
"And then buried him beneath the floral sea to serve as fertilizer." Kaori continued.
"He... he died?" Yūrei’s eyes widened.
"He won’t die." Kaori shook her head.
"He will simply be imprisoned by the flower roots for a year."
"Heh heh heh, that punishnt is indeed quite fitting."
Yūrei nodded in satisfaction.
"..."
Kaito offered Sasori of the Red Sand three seconds of silent sympathy in his heart.
As they conversed, the three traversed the path, and the view suddenly opened up before them.
In the very center of the floral sea stood a small, exquisitely styled pavilion. Swathes of crimson gauze fluttered at its windows and doors, and waves of laughter and cheerful voices drifted out from within.
At that mont, Kenetsugu suddenly leaned out from a second-floor window.
"Yo, who do we have here?"
She propped her elbows on the windowsill, resting her chin in her hands as she smiled down at them.
"Didn’t you say Yomi wasn’t fun and you didn’t want to co, Yūrei?"
"Hmph! I’ll co if I want to, and I won’t if I don’t. What’s it to you!"
Yūrei released Kaori’s hand. Brilliant butterfly wings unfurled from her back, and she flew up into the air, hovering outside the window as she reached in to try and pinch Kenetsugu’s cheek.
"You!"
Kenetsugu ducked back inside to avoid the hand, then suddenly shot out several strands of spider silk that wrapped around Yūrei, yanking her inside.
The two imdiately began roughhousing, and another round of laughter erupted from the upper floor.
Creek.
The main door on the ground floor of the pavilion opened, and another Kaori erged from within.
"Please co in, Kaito-kun. Everyone is waiting for you."
"Thank you." Kaito nodded and followed this Kaori through the door.
The door closed behind them. The Kaori who had led them earlier transford into a single red spider lily and lted back into the floral sea.
Kaito ascended the stairs to the second floor, where a scene of considerable revelry t his eyes.
"You’ve arrived, lad. Co, drink!" Shuten-dōji, seated in the place of honor, raised a sake jar towards him.
"It has been a while, everyone."
Kaito offered the assembled yōkai an elegant bow, then walked over and took a seat at the low table to the side and slightly below Shuten-dōji. He raised the sake cup set before him and drained it in one go.
"Good!" Shuten-dōji cheered loudly, raising the jar again.
"Again!"
Kaito smiled and drank another cup.
After three cups in total, he stopped.
Shuten-dōji urged him a few more tis but, seeing he was not to be persuaded, ceased pestering him and turned back to drink with Ibaraki-dōji.
"Lord Tengu."
Kaito then picked up his cup once more and clinked it with the Great Tengu seated beside him.
"Kaito, let us perform the ceremonial exchange of cups."
The Great Tengu raised his own sake cup.
The mont his words fell, the entire pavilion abruptly fell silent.
For a mont, all the yōkai turned their gazes towards them.
"Are... are you serious?"
Kaito also looked at the Great Tengu with so surprise.
"Of course. I have watched all you have done. Lending my power to a righteous person such as yourself holds no issue for ."
The Great Tengu gave a slight shake of his feathered wings and extended the hand holding his cup.
"Be decisive, young man."
"Thank you for your high regard." Kaito expressed his gratitude solemnly, and the two drank from each other’s cups.
"Then, my true na is..."
As they leaned close to exchange cups, the Great Tengu whispered his true na.
"I understand."
Kaito committed the difficult-to-pronounce na to mory.
A true na is the shortest spell.
When an onmyōji and a yōkai drink cross-cup wine and exchange true nas, it signifies the forging of a contract.
From that mont on, the onmyōji may borrow the yōkai’s power through the pact.
This ancient contract ritual was a first even for Kaito.
"Not bad at all, lad." Shuten-dōji’s voice rang out.
"Since this fellow Tengu has already acknowledged you, then you must also exchange cups with !"
Kaito turned to look at him, even more astonished.
"My friend?"
Ibaraki-dōji on the other side also appeared taken aback.
"What does it matter?" Shuten-dōji stood up, holding his sake jar. "This lad is the one to whom Seii entrusted the future. Now even Tengu acknowledges him. I have faith in him."
"If that’s the case, then I shall also exchange cups with this lad!"
Ibaraki-dōji slamd a hand on the table, picked up his own cup, and rose to his feet as well.
"Thank you both." Kaito did not hesitate or make a show of false modesty. He simply stood and walked forward.
"Please rest assured, I will not betray Lord Seii’s trust."
"Good, decisive!"
Shuten-dōji laughed heartily.
*****
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