Samurai Oni
ALLEGATIONS

No rain, no wind. There is no good news even for a day. It feels painful, irony, and the impingement given was not enough to die. That's what Mizunashi thinks ....

Today, it's too hot. By the summer alone it will burn the skin of the residents of Shinpi-tekina country.

Many people gathered just to see something written on a slightly large board, proclaiming a follower of the Mizunashi clan killed himself in the courtyard of the Mizunashi residence.

“Kill themselves? Why?”

Everyone would naturally ask what reason made that person kill himself. It is known that he committed suicide by snaring his neck with a rope tied to a tree trunk.

What a terrible death but also filled with questions of mystery.

The existence of Akio alone is not realized by many residents, especially its position in the corner. Knowing the news that was written, Akio could only pray for him, he clenched his hands to the front of his chest with a head bow.

Akashi and the fox who changed her form into a beautiful woman followed the movement made by Akio today.

***

The mountain top, Akio's house.

“Sorry I came late, Grandpa Naruhaya.”

Mizunashi Kage comes to meet the tengu-masked grandfather.

“Stop calling me by that name,” pinta the grandfather. He just got out of the house.

“Then should I call tengu grandfather so?” he said while laughing.

“Ha, it's up to you.”

Mizunashi's arrival is here to explain the change in punishment. Yesterday, Mizunashi was about to say it as soon as possible, but because of Mikio and the affairs of Akio's followers, Mizunashi could not take the time.

“I will shorten grandfather's time. Perihal—”

“Change Penalty?” saith.

Mizunashi is surprised that his grandfather already knows about it.

“I already knew it from Tamura and a few others. He told her so enthusiastically, just like you who hastily came here.”

This was the first time Grandfather laughed a little but tastelessly. He laughed because of the beauty of the clan founders who were expecting Akio's return.

“Ya, thank you. Tamura took my place. Ha, I feel defeated just because a little late,” grunts while sighing tired and folding both arms to the front of the chest.

“Thank you? For what?” ask grandpa not to understand.

“Of course because of Akio's birth in the grandfather's family,” he said.

“Stop joking. Is your business here done?”

Mizunashi nodded his head. “Already. Just a Punishment Change is all I want to say to grandfather. But since it is too late then I will go.”

“I'm sorry for the death of your subordinate, Kage. The boy's name is Tadashi, right?”

“Yes. Tadashis. He was an orphan since childhood. I take care of him just like my own family.”

“So.”

Given the death of the closest person, of course Mizunashi felt this was all a dream. The worst nightmare that never existed before.

Tadashi's tragic death is hard to forget for the Mizunashi Kage, including others who at least once fought together on the front lines.

“I think the damned yokai did it. But there is my territory, all samurai will instantly feel and see that yokai, but—”

The last difficult sentence. Mizunashi took it off temporarily, biting the lower lip while clenching both hands. In a standing position facing the tengu grandfather, he actually lowered his head.

“If they really bond with Akio, then Akio himself already knows what he is doing. I have also long warned him even though I myself have long been eyeing their heads,” said the grandfather.

“I'm happy grandpa entertain.”

“No, I'm not entertaining you.”

“Good. I've understood. Tadashi is buried in the Kuran region. If you have time to visit for a while,” said Mizunashi.

“Yes, maybe I'll visit later. He's a good boy, there's no way I can forget him.”

The feeling of letting go should be felt in his mind. But at least the feeling of hate does not overflow to make him revenge.

“Kakek Tengu!” Mizunashi called out as he waved his hand. “Whatever Akio's decision, I believe it's the best,”.

“Stupid!”

Mizunashi Kage finally left with the usual smile he showed. Naruhaya's masked tengu grandfather felt grateful that Mizunashi's nature had not changed at all.

Later,

By dusk, Akio came home alone. Grandfather who was at the edge of the house stared cynically and astonished at him.

“Tumben you came alone,” he said.

Akio just stood in front of him for a few minutes then sat down on the steps towards the door while writing his answer on the ground as usual.

"Your face looks serious. Is there anything Grandpa wants to talk to me about?" Apparently Akio was aware.

“It will be faster, Akio. First, why do you keep half-life at home?” Grandfather asked with a serious face.

"I told you, I don't intend to take care of them. I told them to leave but they didn't understand or rather didn't want to go." That was Akio's first answer.

“Why didn't you kill him?”

The second answer is "They will not hurt man. Akashi had never done it in the first place but the fox had once promised not to repeat it."

For a moment Grandfather was silent while reading the long writing repeatedly to make sure something.

“Appointments? That thing? Where can I believe!”

"If they do, I'll kill him, no matter what punishment seppuku awaits." Akio re-wrote it, as a form of promise for releasing the two yokai.

“No. You won't be punished if you attack a yokai. Including half-half of them.”

Akio heaved a sigh of relief then leaned on the edge of the door. He felt relaxed even for a moment while looking at the twilight sky and feeling the heat.

“One or two more questions for you. When did the fox ever do that? He also killed humans, didn't he?”

Akio nodded his head. "But before Tadashi didn't he had to say it."

“He's clean, that's what you mean. Yes, after all the creature is also always following you, there is no time for him to kill.”

Although impressed grandfather still suspects them but he tried to believe the speech of his students.

“But what's your reason for letting them roam? Did you know that Mizunashi Kage actually came to confirm whether two yokai of your followers were the culprit or not?!” Grandpa raised his tone.

Akio again wrote down his answer, "They're not the culprit."

“I know! But who?! A good boy like Tadashi would never be able to kill himself for no reason!”

Naruhaya's grandfather ended up rampaging as usual, this was the overflow of stifled emotions.