Chapter 61 – Aftermath of the Fight

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*****

I was chatting with Tsuchigumo after our fight. Unexpectedly, he was a fun company until West Youkai Faction arrived in Nijo castle.

The one who arrived was unexpectedly Kunou and a woman with black hair which I assumed was Kunou's bodyguard. She entered the Nijo Castle without worrying about anything and when Kunou saw me, she called out.

"Riku Onii-chan. Can you explain what happened here to me?"

She looked at Tsuchigumo with wary in her eyes, but she looked calm when she asked that. On the contrary, her bodyguard can't keep her calm and keep her guard high all the time. Especially when she saw Tsuchigumo, she immediately got into a fighting stance.

Tsuchigumo just looked at her without much interest and blew his pipe without even disregarding her. I stood up and approached Kunou with a smile on my face. I put my hand on top of her head and patted her.

"Nothing happened, I was just talking with that big guy over there."

Kunou looked flustered because I suddenly patted her, but she didn't seem to mind it. She looked up at me and put her hands on top of mine that were on her head. She moved my hand away and gazed at me straight into my eyes.

"To be honest, Mother was surprised when you suddenly appeared in Kyoto without telling us. But knowing … your Father's behavior she just shrugged your presence as normal and didn't mind it. It changed when she felt your energy spiked up and new energy that was close to Ultimate Class appeared in Kyoto. She was about to go herself, but I stopped her and voluntarily checked this place myself."

I looked at Kunou with a surprised expression. But I hide it immediately and smiled at her. Did she change because of my presence? I don't remember her being this brave in the series, but it was a good thing.

I crouched to match her gaze and closed my right eye as I said, "Nothing to worry about. I was trying to find a Hyakki Yakkou, and I noticed him from a friend of mine. That was why I came here."

Kunou smiled when I said that and said, "What is your plan for later, Riku Onii-chan? If you don't mind, can you visit Mother for a while? Mother said she wanted to see you."

"I don't mind, but why did she want to see me?"

Kunou shooks her head at my question, "I don't know, she said that someone contacted her and it related to you."

When Kunou said that, I immediately understood what she meant. Sirzechs had contacted me through Yasaka. Sona had reported the incident to Sirzechs and her sister, and they misunderstood Hagoromo Gitsune as Yasaka in disguise.

This is a bit troublesome. Although I had no intention of keeping Hagoromo Gitsune's existence a secret, the way Yasaka knew her existence is a bit troublesome. She must've thought that I, no, the east youkai trying to keep the existence of nine-tailed fox youkai a secret.

Tsuchigumo seems to be done with smoking his pipe and he stood up. He approached me and finally stopped his gaze at Kunou. He leaned forward and looked at Kunou in close range as if he was observing prey.

"Hou, nine-tailed fox. Interesting, you were the second one that I knew aside from Hagoromo Gitsune. Truly interesting."

And as expected, Tsuchiguma didn't make my situation any better. Kunou was a bit afraid when Tsuchigumo gazed at her from a close range, and that was visible from her expression. The woman that I guessed as Kunou's bodyguard also leaped towards Kunou immediately, but she was stopped by Kunou.

"Hagoromo Gitsune?" Asked Kunou, curious about the nine-tailed fox that Tsuchigumo talked about.

Tsuchigumo pulled his head away from Kunou as he said, "Indeed." He then sat beside me who was crouching and continued. "A Youkai who reincarnated, a Fox youkai that was born with one tail, and then gave birth to the most powerful Human that I knew, Hagoromo Gitsune."

Kunou was interested in the story and her eyes were gleaming with curiosity. She looked up at Tsuchigumo and asked.

"How could a youkai give birth to a Human?" An innocent question, but a question that had a mysterious answer.

"I don't know." Answered Tsuchigumo. "But now, her child was killed and she was living with Nura if I guessed correctly."

"Riku Onii-chan?!" Shouted Kunou, surprised by the information that Tsuchigumo gave her.

Well, I didn't stop Tsuchigumo from leaking the information, as I had no intention to hide Hagoromo Gitsune from Yasaka or West Youkai Clan. Hagoromo Gitsune was also interested in Yasaka when we told her about a nine-tailed fox youkai other than her, so this is a good opportunity to introduce both of them to each other.

"Yes, she is in my apartment right now. We had some small scuffle with the devil earlier, she said she was tired and decided to sleep. By the way, Kunou. You said that your Mother wanted to see me? Let's go to your house."

"Oh, that's right. Is he going to come too?" Asked Kunou as she looked at Tsuchigumo.

"Kunou-sama, I think that will be dangerous! We don't know what sort of youkai he is, I suggested that he stay here without doing anything strange!" Shouted Kunou's bodyguard at her.

"Tengu! I never allowed you to say anything!" Shouted Kunou back at her bodyguard. "More importantly, he is part of Riku Onii-chan's Hyakki Yakkou, right?"

Tsuchigumo put his smoking pipe in his mouth and blew smoke from it, "It seems you have misunderstood something, girl. I am not part of his Hyakki Yakkou, or be part of any Hyakki Yakkou. I am his ally, but that was because he has earned my respect!"

Kunou looked at Tsuchigumo with a smile and said, "That's enough. Though, I hope if you don't do anything strange in this place."

"I won't, girl. But, if there is any strong fighter asking me for a fight, I won't say no."

"I will say that to Mother. Maybe one or two Youkai will come here to challenge you." Answered Kunou.

Tsuchigumo smiled when she heard Kunou and laughed, "Sure, that's fine. I will wait for it."

Kunou nodded her head and looked at me, "Shall we go now, Riku Onii-chan?"

I crossed my arms and looked at Kunou with a smile, "Sure, let's meet Yasaka."

*****

Author Note:

If you feel Tsuchigumo a bit different from Anime series, it was because he's Tsuchigumo after the end of the manga.

He had mellowed down a bit after getting defeated, but he was still the battle monger like usual.