Samurai Oni
A Day Without Shadows

The Gion Matsuri festival.

A large vehicle made of wood and decorated with ornaments, Yamaboko. The average of those who carried it was a boy.

This celebration looks very lively with many residents in the capital enlivened. Yamaboko withdrawal and three mikoshi.

However, for Akio this festival is no longer a festival that can be celebrated as usual.

“Where is Shogun Hatekayama?”

“Master is not out yet. He said he wanted to get ready himself and then come out on his own.”

Many samurai took off their swords, hidden behind their clothes.

“Today was hot. Isn't it time, our shadow will disappear?”

Celebrate the festival to remember the spirits, to remind those who are still alive and fighting against the yokai. The end is not the end except death itself.

Illness, physical, mental injury, or other things, all of this has happened often.

Then, along with the peak of the festival, there is a day on which the shadowless day is mentioned. It is a coincidence because it happens simultaneously.

A day without shadows is mentioned where the sun has risen higher than the others. They were right over their heads but at a very high and far distance. Then that way, the shadows they have will look invisible as if their existence does not exist.

“Everything looks enjoy.”

“Hey, don't let your guard down. Remember the Shogun Hatekayama, Tamura!”

“Good, good. I-i understand. Yokai will come attacking right?”

“Ah, but, where is Mikio who is said to be the legendary sakura?” ask Honjou Eno.

“I don't know. Quickly find him or later he will be late,” said Satsuki.

“Do not give orders. You're not my boss,” ketus Honjou.

“Do not quarrel. We better split up in one place we discussed with the Shogun,” said Mizunashi.

The clan heads including the founding clans of the country had come from the very beginning. Even they had already anticipated the attack from the upcoming yokai attacking in this hot afternoon.

And Akio also mixed among the many inhabitants. Appearing as usual but it looks like he covers his head so as not to be the center of attention for many people here.

'There is not even here. Where did the trail go?' inner Akio wondered.

Every corner in the capital he had observed well but there was no sign of Yokai present at all. He was getting anxious because he thought Mikio was behind all this, but let alone the existence of yokai even the existence of Mikio who should be big enough now could not be felt at all.

Everyone clenched both hands forward while hoping, “May Gion Matsuri go smoothly. The spirit that has long been left behind, then given health to all here.”

Expecting something through speech is easy. It is different from acting directly to fight.

When the heat is at its peak, the sun has a blinding glare, and their shadows begin to disappear.

“See, soon this will end,” said Uchigoro.

“Where is Shogun Hatekayama? He hasn't arrived at all. Geez,” grumbled Mizunashi.

“Stop the way you grumble. He is such a person, so be calm. Nothing will happen because the Shogun himself said that yokai will come in the capital,” Uchigoro said as he embraced his friend's shoulder.

“Why are you still here? Quick go!” Mizunashi was cold to him, so he left Uchigoro.

The tragedy that had been predicted appeared, when the shadows of many people disappeared.

“Eh, what is this?” A strange thing happened to one of the residents, a woman.

His shadow should have perished earlier, but now it appears again and the color is more concentrated than usual. Not only that, his shadow moved unnaturally as if it was a living thing.

“KYAAAAA!!” The hysterical scream sounded shrill, making everyone panic and reflexively turn to the source of the nearest voice.

“I'm late!”

Unfortunately, the woman had already changed shape. Not seen where the bones were, the flesh as well as his face including the kimono he was wearing.

“Hah? Whahuh? What just happened?”

From that very second on, Gion Matsuri's celebration came to a halt.

“Homicide? The accident? No, obviously he was fine.”

“Actually what happened?”

“Hey, this doesn't make sense. Samurai over there! What the hell are you doing? Aren't you there to protect us?”

The Mizunashi clan follower was silent with fear and confusion because he did not understand the situation.

“What happened?” Mizunashi Kage finally arrived, then asked witnesses around including the other follower.

“Sorry, Sir. I was late to save him. The woman after screaming out of the blue was already like this.”

“What?”

“The woman was like being wrapped by a black cloth until her whole body was damaged!” find one of the residents who testified.

“Twelded by black fabric?”

“What kind of yokai can damage the human body instead of eating?”

“Master! Looks like the same thing will happen again, we have to—”

SPLAAAT!

Fresh blood splashed towards the two of them. The direction was directly near the right, it was from the man who had previously been a witness to the direct incident.

“Again ..”

“Suddenly they crumble. This is chaotic, immediately report this to the other nearby clan heads!” Mizunashi Kage gave the order.

“Good!”

The news then spread from one clan head to another. Including the residents to be careful. But at that time they still did not know that the incident was caused by a shadow that suddenly reappeared.

Except for one man, Akio.

'Will come!' Akio. As he ran along the main street of the capital.

Detecting a very thin presence, one of the other residents has been targeted. His shadow appeared and was more black in color, immediately Akio pierced the shadow with his wooden sword.

“Ah! Holy hooch! Oni?!” Because the resident did not know who had saved him, and thought that the Oni had come, he immediately ran away. Likewise with others who see the Samurai Oni in plain sight.

“It ...Samurai Oni!” Satsuki who was close to Akio then immediately approached him.

“Hey, that's you, right? Nak Akio,” asked in a whisper.

Akio nodded his head in response.

“What are you trying to do before?”

Akio turned his head to the left, then left Satsuki just for the sake of targeting one by one of the yokai who hid as a shadow behind the backs of the residents.

“Oh, so because of that apparently. Good, Samurai Oni! I'll help!”

Satsuki hurried away with her followers, going after them from above it would make them far superior and easily see the movement of the black shadow.

“Strong shadow of the residents who appeared!” satsuki exclaimed at the several archers standing on each roof of the house.