In the Land of the Dead and the Undead.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why are their numbers not ending?!"

"Just hold on, Kurumi-sama! They will surely run out of numbers later!"

Yomi. The land of darkness and death.

According to the genesis legend of Japan, when Izanami gave birth to Kagutsuchi, the god of fire, she was burned to death. Enraged with her death, Izanagi, her brother and… husband, cut off Kagutsuchi's head and after grieving for her, gained the determination to bring her back to life and set of to Yomi, the Land of the Dead.

(T/N: Now you know why so many brother-sister romcoms come from Japan.)

The journey was long and perilous. At every nook and cranny, demons came out and tried to take his life, but his determination was sufficient to go against them. He later arrived at a mansion guarded by strong demons. Instead of going through the front and placing himself in danger, Izanagi went to the back entrance and finally came face to face with his wife and… sister.

(T/N: It's hard to edit this. I honestly don't know what to feel.)

He begged his wife to come back with him to the surface, but she told him that since she ate from the food of the dead, she cannot come back anymore. However, after the incessant wishes of her husband, she went to the local god to ask for approval. Before she left, she told Izanagi that he shouldn't enter the mansion until she comes back. However, after a day has passed and he became impatient, he entered the mansion, only to see the dead body of his wife being eaten by demons and in his shock, he ran away from the scene while being pursued by the demons and the reanimated body of his wife.

He later escaped and sealed the cave, still grieving that he cannot see his wife and sister anymore. But by that time, he finally came to terms with the situation and thus, his undead wife was given a new title, the goddess of the dead.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Here they come!"

"Defend the line!"

"Wound the demons and let the Kitsune spirits and exorcists to finish them!"

There were three lines of defense in our battlefield today.

"Men, steel yourselves! The blessings of Inari-sama are with us, never fear for death or else, the ones important to us will be the ones to pay!"

"YOOOOO!!!"

Outside of the bulwarks, hundreds of men are lined up to whittle the incoming wave of demons. Wearing coats made with the furs shed by the fox spirits, they were assured a certain degree of resistance against being possessed as the coats will burn to protect them.

"Everyone. Report to me."

"[Team Minori on point.]"

"[Team Namikaze on point.]"

Two of the rifle team leaders reported at their radiophones. We were on the walls, aiming to snipe and provide cover fire for the men outside.

"[Team Himeji on point.]"

"[Team Ayasaki on point.]"

At the last line of defense were the two leaders of the melee combat team that protects the women and children in the village circle who are contributing at the fight through a worship ritual to the fox goddess that keeps the village from being corrupted by the fight. This makes it impossible for the village and its surrounding area to be connected with Yomi, making sure that they won't appear under our noses.

"Sighting at 700 meters north, north-east! It's Bakemono demons assuming the forms of wild animals!"

From the watch tower, our look-out shouted and we adjusted our scopes to see the monsters who looked like animals but had visible horns on their foreheads. They appeared from the ground on the field to our right.

"Argh… The paintings at Kaiho Sanctum made them look less disgusting."

"Blow them apart if you don't want to see them."

One by one, our Hiryuu rifles brought down the demons as soon as they begin to float or run towards us. It was good that the members of both the group of Minori and old man Souichirou was dead-eye sharpshooters since I rarely saw their bullets miss their mark.

"Some are getting through our primary line of fire."

"Don't worry. The archers will handle them."

As some of the demons got through the imaginary line that we set as our primary shooting range, they were picked off by the archers below who had arrows burning with fox fires.

"Reloading!"

"Reloading!"

One by one, my men reported that they're reloading their guns to have their teammates take over their line of fire for a moment. This defensive formation where we finished the demons from far away kept up for an hour before the ground shook and the fox spirit sent a telepathic message that shocked everyone.

"[Prepare yourselves, Humans! The main wave is coming!]"

Hearing that, everyone steeled themselves for the incoming fight that would probably overwhelm us.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Inside the tunnels of Yomi, Reiha and Kurumi's group met up and since their paths joined, they decided to join forces as well after they heard that the Yokai team and Kyo's team are in the middle of a heavy fight.

"Reiha! Do you still have steam to fight on?"

"Hah! Don't underestimate me-mujina! I might be lacking in height, but I can more than make up for it using my stamina-mujina!"

"Right, come on! My foxes in Kyo's team are saying that they are about to be overwhelmed."

"Yeah. Let's reinforce them-mujina!"

As the two ran through the dark tunnels that are wriggling with demons and emanating the dreadful atmosphere of the underworld, their fox and tanuki spirits followed them and backed them up in every encounter.

"<Mujinajutsu!><Razor-leaf whirlwind!>"

"<Kitsunejutsu!><Blazing Soul!>"

Reiha was the first to cast her spell, but Kurumi's spell hit the demon first. It was better since the wind spell made the fire stronger which disintegrated the monster.

"Ack! These Oni demons are getting stronger-mujina!"

"I know, but we can't stop now!"

They continued their charge even when they faced strong demons or misshapen and possessed humans who roamed the underworld, seeking for salvation from their fate. Reiha sliced them into bits using her wind spells while Kurumi burned them using her fox fire spells.

"It must've hurt Inari-sama to sense these poor humans roaming under the Sanctuary for so long-mujina."

"Inari-sama said that these humans were criminals who was sent here long ago before the country was even consolidated… I am someone who is strict about laws and how to punish those who break it, but this…"

"Kurumi…"

"This is just too painful."

The group continued on until they arrived at a large dome where the mansion of the dead is located. There, they saw Kyo and his group of Kitsune spirits being overwhelmed by the demons.

"Attack!"

After the order of Kurumi, they charged towards the monsters to ease the pressure against their allies. The demons was unlike the ones from the surface or those near the passages earlier. These were the elite of the elites, those that possessed more human form than the others.

"Kyo!"

"Master Ku!"

"I permit you to borrow my power! Blow them away from your position and get out of that corner!"

After hearing that, Kyo's sword burned with a bluish fire. He slashed it horizontally which sent out a wall of spirit fire to the demons near them. The distance to which they pushed the monsters back was enough for he and his fox spirits to recover and link up with Kurumi and Reiha.

"Do you still have steam, Kyo?"

"Hah… hah… of course I do."

"Well then, I'll give you guys an opening."

""Huh?""

Hearing the mention of an opening, Kyo and Reiha audibly gestured to Kurumi as she made her tails to grow to its maximum extent which also made the aura of fox fires on her back to burn stronger and brighter.

"Master Ku… that form is…"

"Kurumi…"

The two marveled at her appearance that was almost alike the fox goddess herself, but they also know that there is only one reason for her to use that form.

"It's incomplete… but it will work... for a while."

Kurumi tried to straighten her speech to hide the extensively exhausting feeling of using this form of hers, but she still stuttered and had her sweat evaporate into steam through the sheer amount of heat that her body is being subjected to.

"I will give you an opening. Get inside the mansion and extinguish the fire under the cooking pot of the dead. If Inari-sama's instructions are true, once the fire is out, these demons will dissipate back into the pot where they were sealed in."

"Got it!"

"I'm ready-mujina!"

Kurumi closed her eyes to focus her power. From her face, beads of sweat formed and evaporated as the fire behind her burned hotter and hotter before it slithered around her arms and into her clasped hands.

"<Kitsunejutsu!><Heaven's Holy Fire!>"

A pillar of white-hot flames shot out in an instant, incinerating everything in its path may it be stone from the cave or the demons charging towards them. Even the ice-cold miasma of the Yuki-onna demons were nothing against Kurumi's fire.

"They've been immolated…"

"Is this your real power… Kurumi?"

Kyo and Reiha can only watch in awe as even after their enemies has been finished, Kurumi kept the fire coming until it hit the barrier around the mansion and made a large hole in it.

"Come on! Charge!"

Kyo led the charge into the mansion along with Reiha who casted a spell on everyone, covering them with a layer of wind that will keep the evil miasma in the mansion from corrupting them.

"Hah… hah… hah…"

"Kurumi-sama. Please rest on my back and recover your strength."

One of her fox spirits who stayed behind with her caught her as she returned to her normal form and fell down in exhaustion.

"T-thanks…"

As they watched their allies who entered the dark and dreary mansion to do the final touches to their attack, they were caught unaware of the individual approaching from their back.

"I guess this is how it should end."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"What in the hell is that?!"

"Everyone! Focus your fire on that monster!"

The earthquake from before should've already warned us of this.

"Focus your fire! Leave the small fry to the men below!"

"Burst fire! Burst fire! No need to conserve ammunition anymore! Just shoot it down!"

My panicked orders should be something that I have to correct. But its not like everyone else around me wasn't scared of the monster in front of us.

"I…zanagi! Hus…band! Bro…ther!"

"Iwasawa-sama! We weren't warned about battling a goddess in flesh!"

"Just suck it up and stop complaining! Less talking and more shooting!"

"Reloading! Cover my line of fire!"

From the forest, Izanami, the goddess of death walked slowly as the path she is treading on wilted and became barren before creating a cliff behind her where Oni and Bakemono demons poured out to the surface.

"She's not even flinching! These are anti-demon bullets! Not anti-goddess ones!"

After hearing that, I heard a gun being softly pointed down as someone ran past me. I turned around in a hurry and saw that it was Minori who jumped down from the low wall and ran towards his horse.

"Minori! What the hell are you doing?!"

"I'm sorry, Iwasawa-sama! But I need your help for this one!"

He raised his hand and on it is an object that I didn't expect to see in here.

"Tch! Got it! Don't die outside!"

"I know! Please provide cover fire for us!"

Minori rode his horse and went to the center of the town where the person he is finding is staying at.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

News about the frontlines made my skin crawl… to think that Iwasawa-sama led the battle out there instead of behind us… It worries me.

"M-Miss… How is the fight faring?"

One lady who is holding an infant on her arms approached me. With her age, it seems like she is asking for her husband's safety.

"I cannot promise anything, mam. But I can assure you that Iwasawa-sama and our allies are doing their best to ensure everyone's safety."

"I-Is that so…? Ahh… please protect Ikki, Inari-sama…"

"…"

We are at the last line of defense around the town circle. Even though I insisted to stay beside Iwasawa-sama, he told me and Ayasaki to stay behind as both of us are not proficient with firearms.

"Please stay safe, my lord."

I wished under my breath as I looked towards the battlefield where our master is fighting at. I really wanted to go there and be of help, but given that I am still lacking the skills necessary to help him right now, I imply sighed and accepted that things are like this.

"You look bothered…"

"I am… As someone who really wanted to be of help, I am disappointed with my own incompetence that is stopping me from doing it."

From behind me, my fellow ally and direct retainer to Iwasawa-sama spoke while having a heavy polearm slung over his shoulder. It was Ayasaki Ayato. A samurai warrior that was formerly a commander in the Fujita clan's army and…

"You've always been like that… Even Tsuchiyo-chan would scold you at this point if she can hear you."

"Don't talk as if you and Tsuna were close friends."

"We are close friends… or at least before my clan sided with the Fujita clan and I was forced to fight against you guys."

"…I really can't believe that we belonged to the same batch of samurai officers."

…He is also I and Tsuna's senior while we are all still in training. Circumstances during the last war torn us apart and due to this, things have been quite awkward since he and I met up again under the service of the same master.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure. Anything for my former junior."

"Argh… Well, I just wanted to ask what convinced you to serve under Iwasawa-sama."

My question after an exasperated tone was met with a short silence as he put down the polearm over his shoulder to calmly answer me.

"Well, except for the fact that I didn't want to die for something that I didn't really want to fight for, there's also a part of me that instantly saw this sense of rightness in Iwasawa-sama… As if my senses told me that if I followed this person, I will be able to do the right thing."

"How?"

"…You and I came from Haguro, we both know that for a land that never stopped with bleeding itself to death using wars, you'll become numb to whatever your superiors will tell you the war is really about. To tell you the truth, we have this running joke in the men's dormitory building where we will satirize the speeches of the trainers."

"In what way?"

"I believe you still remember this one… "We fight for the freedom of Haguro and we are prepared to die for it!" …that one has a running joke passed down from one generation to another. It's "We fight for the boobs and bottoms of the women of Haguro and we are prepared to be jailed for it!" that remained consistent for a long time."

"You guys are scum."

"Ahaha!"

After I gave my brutally honest reply after their first joke is just flat-out sexual harassment. He just laughed at it without giving any care about my concern.

"In any case, we just have nothing more to say or to feel about the war. It's something that we are fated and actively pushed onto to participate in, but we don't really feel any obligation or burning passion to get into it since we are aware that we are just cannon fodder or sacrificial pawns."

"…"

I can say the same… If for them men, they saw it as pointless because they'll be nothing more but pawns, us women saw it as pointless since we are just a way to participate in the war without endangering the survivability of our family line.

"I was prepared to have my head cut off during that surprise attack at the fortress… I already knew that it would be better to die that live a pointless life, but after I saw him and talked to him, I knew that there is something special with Iwasawa-sama…"

"That rightness, huh?"

"Mm. As if whatever he will ask me to do is something meaningful or will be in service of others. A sense of rightness that I didn't feel even after years upon years of serving the army."

He took his polearm again and slung it over his other shoulder.

"How about you, Himeji-chan… what made you want to serve Iwasawa-sama?"

As he left me with that question before walking away, I looked towards the wall and saw Iwasawa-sama directing our men to shoot down the demons.

"It should be obvious already… It's because I love him…"

A person who can be kind to others even though they are a nobody to him. A man that has skills and will not ask for compensation first before he helps. But most of all, he is a man of his word. He keeps secrets, yes. But he does not lie.

"Iwasawa-sama helped me awaken from my trance of leaving everything to feel nothing and also giving me back the happiness that I once possessed when my friends are still around me."

For other men, I would be nothing more but a woman of high birth that can be used as a status symbol in gatherings or a simple vessel of a child that they wish to be good-looking… But Iwasawa-sama… he looks at me as a woman with a sense of self but more importantly, a person who has more value than what she appears to be.

"…"

I have always believed that I should just give up and accept that I am just like that… But when our fates crossed paths and he showed me what it means to be held in regard simply for being a person, I felt a warm feeling in my chest that has long been gone.

"Iwasawa-sama…"

I want to be of help… I want to be seen and praised by the person that I serve and love. That is what my heart yearns for right now.

"But when will it happen?"

Just as I said that, I heard a horse coming to the town circle and I raised my face to see Minori-dono riding towards us.

"Minori-dono, what brings you here? Is the frontlines being overwhelmed?"

The man didn't answer my question but rather, asked me to do something.

"Everyone in Himeji team! Ride a horse. We need your help!"

"-!"

As soon as it was mentioned that we will be helping, I became excited as I hopped towards my steed and shouted a command to my group.

"All of you! Follow me and don't lag behind! Ayasaki, I leave the defenses to you!"

"As you command, Himeji-sama!"

"Gotcha!"

Everyone in my group rode their horses as we left the village circle, Minori and I rode through the empty roads where he briefed me about what was happening.

"A real monster came out in the frontlines! It's goddess Izanami herself!"

"What?!"

Hearing that a real goddess appeared at the battlefield, I felt my stomach churl up in nervousness. I was prepared to fight against possessed humans or demons, but the goddess of death herself was another thing altogether.

"The reason I looked for you is due to this."

He tossed a sheathed knife to my direction which I caught responsively.

"This is…"

"A knife made from the obsidian of Shinka's active lake volcano. It was given as a gift to Iwasawa-sama as a ceremonial object. But if we will follow the legends, a weapon made from the fire of the earth would probably kill her again."

"Then why send us there? I thank you for including us in the battle, Minori-dono, but I just can't help to not ask why."

"Because you're a woman!"

"Huh?"

"If a man does it, he'll be cursed!"

After being told that, I remembered the last parts of the legend and understood why I was the one who was given this work.

"Understood! I'll do my best!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

At the walls, we were desperately trying to hold off the wave upon wave of demons coming to the village while also aiming at the knees and legs of the pale-faced and groaning goddess of death just to delay her advance.

"Iwasawa-san! We have to retreat!"

"We can't hold onto this line any longer! We have to funnel them to the second bulwarks!"

"Give the order, Kou-sama!"

Both the village men and my soldiers were shouting the same request. They are asking me to give the order to retreat towards the next set of defenses where we can funnel them into a narrow area which will slow their advance.

"Just hold on! We have to hold the line until-"

Before I can finish my words, the sound of horse hooves was my signal to give an order to push back.

"We're going on the offensive! Push the demons back!"

"What?"

"Orders are orders! Charge!"

Some of the defenders, especially the village men, were surprised after my order, but they nodded to each other and moved forward while cutting down any demons on their way.

"Make way for the cavalry!"

I hopped down from the low wall and rode my horse as well to link up with the charging cavalry of Kotori's team.

"Iwasawa-sama! I-"

"I believe you know what to do with that knife, don't you?"

"Y-yes, my lord!"

"Come on then! Let's finish this and bring the dead back to the afterlife!"

I drew out my pistol and with my other hand tightly holding onto Shinzuke's reins, we charged forward to our sole serious enemy out here.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Back in the mansion of the dead in the underworld of Yomi, Kyo and Reiha scoured the place to look for the object that can end this incursion.

"Master Rei! On your back!"

"I know, Mujina!"

Reiha was about to be grabbed on the back by an Oni, but she kicked off the wall near her to jump up to the face of the tall humanoid demon.

"Agawua?!"

"<Mujinajutsu><Wind blade!>"

The moment her foot that was boosted by a sharp gust of wind hit the Oni's neck, it snapped and flew away in an instant.

"Fuu… This is getting a lot more hectic-mujina."

"The fox spirits have found the pot. Let's seal it now, Master Rei."

"Mm. Got it-mujina."

However, before Reiha can walk forward to follow Kyo, her eyes closed, her body felt heavy, and she fell on the floor.

"Master Rei? Master Rei! What happened to-"

Kyo shook the little tanuki girl to wake her up, but as some gentle footsteps resounded at the hall, Kyo held his sword until the person's face became visible to him.

"No way… I thought you were-"

"I'm sorry, Kyo… Little Rei…"

It was the fox goddess herself, Inari-no-kami. She looked at the racoon girl that she casted a sleeping spell on and the Kyonshi man who was looking at her in shock.

"Why… why are you here, Inari-sama?!"

"This is the only way to end this."

"I don't understand! Isn't your purpose to keep the main entrance of cave closed by reinforcing the seals in there?! If you came here, it means-"

"Kyoshiro!"

Inari shouted his name, and this caused Kyo to grit his teeth in anger and frustration.

"That man's promise was to seal this cave and keep the land safe after his slaughter reopened it… He took the responsibility for the actions that he made…"

"But Inari-sama… this is-"

"I have to end this… The era of spirits is over. Once I close this place down, it will mark the start of humanity's era."

"Why? Why do this now when we still need you?!"

The fox goddess knelt down next to Kyo and held his face that wanted to shed tears but cannot.

"When he slaughtered spirits and Yokai back then, all that he wished for was for us to stop harming his people due to our whims. When me and the three other great spirits became guardian deities, it was simply a compromise that he accepted so long as we give reasonable blessings and promise to not harm humanity anymore."

"…"

"Now that those three has gone to rest, there is no longer any point for me to hold onto this life anymore."

As she stood, Kyo held her hand and pulled her lightly, seemingly begging her to stop walking away and hear his words.

"Inari-sama… I have served you for so long… I admired your rule more than anything that I have seen in my time as a mortal… now that I am nothing more but a living corpse, I wish to fulfill my promise to serve you."

"…"

She turned around and saw that Kyo was bowing so low that his forehead touched the ground. This symbolizes that his wish was something that he wanted very much.

"I can give you a new body and remove your memories about this life as a Kyonshi. You can return to Shinka, talk with your brother-in-law, friend and your niece. Just say it and I will grant it."

"I no longer wish for that, Inari-sama."

"I can give you an everlasting happy dream where none of the evils that you once experienced happened. Say it and I will grant it."

"None of that as well, Inari-sama."

"…Then what do you want, Kyo?"

Before he answered her, Kyo raised his face to look straight into her eyes and spoke.

"I wish to fulfill my promise and die serving under your command."

Hearing all of this, the fox goddess's formerly unemotional expression wavered, and the corners of her lips curled into a pained frown as tears fell from her eyes.

"Well then… follow me until the end, Kyonshi Kyoshiro."

"As you wish!"