6

It didn't take long at all for Onari to pack the things he'd need for his short adventure. All he really needed was enough money to last him a couple of weeks, a change of clothes or two, his magitech phone, and the talismans he had spent a significant amount of time creating.

The talismans were Spirit Formations that Onari had disguised as paper ofuda. The formations had a variety of effects, ranging from elemental to purification to buff and debuff effects. They were the closest things to a weapon that Onari had at the moment. He hadn't had the time or resources to create a Spirit Weapon that was attuned to his Qi.

Onari had to pry a young fox girl off of him before he could leave. Kunou obviously didn't want him to go. This would be the first time he'd be away from her side. Considering that they usually spent the majority of their days together, that was a big deal to Onari's little sister.

He finally managed to placate her with promises of gifts, sweets, and stories when he returned. Yasaka and Satoru watched the whole exchange with fond expressions on their faces.

Onari stepped into the teleportation circle that his mother had helped him target. He wasn't the best at this world's magic system, but he was at least proficient with it. The circle would take him straight to the Himejima Clan's territory.

He waved at his family as the circle activated. He internally reaffirmed his promise to stay safe. Onari was equal parts excited and nervous about his first solo trip into the wider world.

After a brief moment of vertigo, Onari stepped out of the teleportation circle in front of Himejima Clan's compound.

The Himejima Clan made their main home in the city of Himeji at the aptly named Himeji Castle. The castle was actually a popular tourist destination for the city. The clan got around this complication by placing a bounded field over the entirety of the castle.

The field shunted all of the mundane visitors into a semi-parallel dimension. Inside this dimension, these visitors saw Himeji Castle in its 'tourist attraction' state. The supernatural visitors were naturally shunted into the actual version of the castle that the Himejima Clan made its home.

Onari's arrival was greeted by two human guards that stood on either side of a simple, yet elegant, gate. The clan was obviously expecting him, because both guards bowed at his presence. Onari signaled for them to rise.

One of the guards did a small bit of magic, telling the rest of the clan that he had arrived. They waited in silence for someone to come and guide Onari inside. Onari was subtly impressed by the stoic posture of the guards. They reminded him of the sect guards of his previous world.

A dignified old man emerged from the gate, and Onari quickly identified him as Suou Himejima -- the current head of the Himejima Clan. It was both surprising and expected to Onari that the head of the clan was greeting him personally. Expected because he was still the son of Yasaka, the leader of the Youkai faction, and surprising because even among the Five Principle Clans, Onari's reputation wasn't the best.

"Greetings, Young Master Onari," Suou said, bowing the smallest amount needed for formality's sake. "I appreciate you coming on such short notice. Truly, Lady Yasaka is an efficient ruler."

"Suou-sama," Onari greeted in reply. Even though, as heir to the Youkai faction, Onari theoretically had a higher standing than Suou, he still had to show the clan head the necessary respect. He didn't mind too much. As the crippled young master of a big sect in his previous life, Onari had gotten used to acting from a station that was lower than it should have been.

"Follow," Suou said, barely bothering to hide the demand in his request.

Onari sighed mentally, but followed the clan head into the castle. They walked in silence. Himejima Clan members got out of their way and bowed when they passed. Their walk ended in a traditional meeting room inside of the castle's main keep.

There was a young teenage girl waiting there for them already. She sat, kneeling, off to one side of the circular table in the center of the room. Suou took up a position that allowed him to face the room's door, and Onari sat across from him.

Onari eyed the girl out of the side of his eye. She was beautiful, with traditionally black hair and the demeanor of the perfect Japanese young mistress. Her figure had just started to blossom with womanly curves. She wore a simple, semi-formal white yukata, and kept her long hair up in a tight bun.

"This is my niece, Suzaku Himejima," Suou introduced the girl. "The two of you will be working together for this mission so I hope you can get along."

Suzaku gave Onari a deep, nodding bow, which he returned. Onari absently noted that he liked her eyes. They were a warm, autumnal red that fit her perfectly.

Onari drew in a breath, tasting the Qi of the Himejima Clan. The local Qi smelled and tasted of strictness and confinement. The Qi of the pair sitting beside him couldn't have been more different from each other.

Suzaku's Qi carried a kind nature, like a summer breeze that cooled the heat residing within her soul. Onari noted that she smelled of fire. Her Qi scent was similar to his family's, but different in that Suzaku's fire smelled of death and rebirth, while his family's smelled of flickering flames and tricks of the light.

However, Onari couldn't appreciate Suou's Qi scent at all. Like the local Qi, it was strict, rigorous, and cold. It wasn't cold like ice, but cold like all the fire of inspiration had been driven from his soul. It made Onari's hackles raise uncomfortably.

"What is this mission?" Onari asked to take his mind off the scent of Suou's Qi.

Suzaku tensed slightly, and Suou hummed, "Hmm, what do you know about the Gashadokuro?"

Onari blinked in surprise, "The basics at the very least. They are rarely-seen Youkai made up of the bones of slaughtered men. They appear as gigantic skeletons that are invulnerable to most methods of attack and can turn invisible."

Suou nodded, "That is indeed the basics. In Fact, I'd say that was a rather succinct description of them."

"So the stray Youkai is a Gashadokuro? I can see how one of them would cause problems."

"Yes. There have been reports of people visiting the nearby Okishio Castle at night and going missing. When we sent a team to investigate these claims, only one man returned. He told us about a monstrous skeleton that was immune to damage, and slaughtered his teammates. I don't think I have to explain why we want this stray dealt with as soon as possible, do I?"

Onari shook his head, and Suou continued, "You and my niece will work together to deal with this problem. You are dismissed. Go prepare yourselves for nightfall."