Chapter 136. Encounter with Tamamo no Mae on the Streets of Heian-kyo

Chapter 136. Encounter with Tamamo no Mae on the Streets of Heian-kyo

[You feel that something is off.]

[You once again look at the figure gliding past you.]

["Grand Onmyoji ++" activated: You truly saw a fox tail; it was not an illusion.]

[You realize that something is wrong.]

Was that a demon?

Ian tried to recall his memories, but he found no relevant information.

If that was the case, then perhaps it wasn't a demon.

Though he couldn't be entirely certain, the probability was quite high.

However, regardless of the answer—

This was not a sight that should appear on the streets of Heian-kyo.

Ian once again looked toward that figure, but this time, he discovered that the other party was also looking at him.

This time, he could confirm more details.

It was the face of a beautiful woman.

Her skin was fair and radiant.

Crimson lips, white teeth—graceful and elegant.

Her golden eyes carried an air of enchantment, yet they were not bewitching. Instead, they possessed a beauty that seemed almost otherworldly.

Light pink hair peeked out from beneath a bamboo hat, neatly groomed like soft cherry blossom petals.

Although Ian was not someone who indulged in lustful thoughts, he couldn't help but admire this breathtaking beauty.

But it was only admiration—nothing more.

The Onmyoji quickly withdrew his emotions—because he knew the other party had noticed him.

Amidst the bustling and lively streets of Heian-kyo, the two of them locked eyes.

Ian saw sorrow in those golden irises—her lashes slightly lowered, her gaze somewhat distant, a faint melancholy lingering within.

He didn't know why she was looking at him with such eyes.

But following the instincts of a kind-hearted person—

Ian offered her a friendly smile.

However, what he didn't expect was—

The moment she saw his smile, her expression shifted into one of surprise, as if she had never experienced something like this before.

The sound of hooves echoed.

The Tenno's troops, conducting an intense investigation, thundered past Ian.

When they were gone, the mysterious figure had also disappeared from the Grand Onmyoji's sight, as if she had never been there at all.

"This..."

Ian couldn't believe his eyes.

"Abe-sama?"

A soldier approached.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing."

Ian chose not to mention the fleeting, dreamlike encounter he had just experienced on the street.

He had a feeling that behind those sorrowful eyes, there was something unspeakable.

[Carrying that thought, you return to the residence.]

[You see Minamoto no Raikou.]

[You are slightly surprised.]

[Because, according to usual practice, she is an important official, and at this hour, she should still be busy handling governmental affairs.]

"Danna-sama!"

Seeing Ian return, Minamoto no Raikou immediately put everything down and rushed toward him.

"You're finally back."

"..."

The heavy responsibilities they bore did not damage their relationship. On the contrary, they made every meeting even more precious.

The same passionate embrace as always was the greatest happiness.

Ian had long been accustomed to Minamoto no Raikou's way of expressing intimacy.

Moreover—

The feeling wasn't exactly bad.

"You came back early today, danna-sama."

"Umu."

Minamoto no Raikou looked up, her eyes now filled only with Ian's reflection.

"Since the hunt has begun… I didn't have too many matters to handle today."

"Ah—!"

Minamoto no Raikou grabbed Ian's hand.

"Danna-sama, let's go take a bath together today!"

"Umu, as long as it pleases my lady."

[The two of you head to the bathing area within the residence.]

[This place was personally commissioned and built by Minamoto no Raikou.]

[Both in size and layout, it was identical to the small lake where the two of you once bonded in the past.]

[Though it occupied a significant amount of space and cost a considerable amount of money.]

[Minamoto no Raikou was extremely satisfied with it.]

"Danna-sama."

"Allow me to serve you."

"Then I shall trouble my lady."

The loose kimono that the Onmyoji usually wore was removed.

In the bath, another silhouette leaned against the edge of the water.

Minamoto no Raikou knelt beside him, using a warm towel prepared in a wooden basin to carefully cleanse him.

To be fair, this was not a task befitting someone of her status.

There were many attendants in the residence, and naturally, plenty who could fulfill this duty.

However—

Minamoto no Raikou had an exceptionally strong sense of possession over Ian.

An opportunity like this, to personally tend to him, could never be left to anyone else.

She carefully washed his hands, her eyes shimmering with tender affection.

"Danna-sama, does this feel comfortable?"

"It does." Ian replied, "But having you do this... isn't it tiring?"

"After all, you've just finished dealing with heavy affairs, and now you're working hard again. I feel a little guilty."

"In that case—"

Minamoto no Raikou leaned in from behind him.

"Then, why don't you serve me a little as well, Danna-sama?"

"That's no problem." Ian immediately agreed. "How would you like me to serve you?"

"Mm... like this."

Minamoto no Raikou took Ian's hand and placed it upon the proudest curve of her body.

"Knead here for oka-san, won't you~?"

A quiet splash.

Another set of garments was left by the edge of the bath.

Minamoto no Raikou sank into the steaming water.

The mist swirled around her, veiling her expression in a rosy hue.

At this moment, Minamoto no Raikou was allowing herself a rare moment of pure relaxation.

She let her legs drift slightly apart, as though she were reclining in a familiar rattan chair, and leaned fully into the embrace of the man behind her.

Yet—

Someone sitting on a rattan chair might fear falling.

But here, there was no need for such worries.

For behind her, Ian was the firmest support, holding her securely.

The samurai's hands overlapped with his, their fingers intertwining in silent harmony.

And in that contact, unseen waves began to rise.

The delicate contours beneath his touch, though soft, carried a strength that pulsed with life. His fingers moved with precision—pressing, caressing, tracing subtle patterns, molding fleeting impressions into something lasting.

Yet at this moment, Minamoto no Raikou could not find her voice.

For her lips had been entirely captured by the Onmyoji behind her, even the dance of her tongue following his lead.

In her mind, only a sweet, dizzying sensation remained.

But she did not resent this all-encompassing presence.

On the contrary, it brought her an indescribable sense of comfort.

As their lips briefly parted, Minamoto no Raikou gazed at the man so close to her, exhaling a warm breath before curling her lips into a gentle smile:

"Danna-sama, do you think you can bring both the wife and the mother fulfillment at the same time?"

"...Of course."

A wife's happiness stemmed from the harmony of two hearts.

A mother's joy blossomed from the sacred bond of nurture and love.

Then—

If both could intertwine, that would be enough.

The Grand Onmyoji lowered his head, placing a reverent kiss upon a blooming flower at the water's edge.

And on the other side, he granted her complete freedom, letting her savor the tender ripples stirred by his touch.

Beneath the water, hidden currents swirled, as if an unseen force was quietly warming the space around them.

Minamoto no Raikou let out a breathless sigh, her eyes tinged with haze.

Finally, she murmured:

"Danna-sama... cherish oka-san well, won't you?"

Three streams intertwined as one.

Beneath the surface, the warmth of the Grand Onmyoji spread gently.

Above the water, the sweet fragrance of the samurai woman lingered.

And at their meeting point, love unfolded like a flower blooming in the misty dawn.

The scent of tenderness permeated the air, weaving through the space like a quiet echo of their very first encounter.

...

Minutes passed.

Minamoto no Raikou leaned against Ian, her face still flushed, a faint shyness lingering in her expression.

"Danna-sama, you're truly incredible~"

"You said you would fulfill both at once, and you really did."

"Naturally." Ian chuckled softly, his gaze carrying boundless affection. "Since my lady asked for it, I had to give it my all."

"So happy..."

Minamoto no Raikou looked up at Ian, her eyes filled with longing.

"If only I could make love to you like this every day, how wonderful that would be."

But—she sighed, her voice tinged with regret.

"Starting tomorrow, I'll be busy again."

"My lady, has something happened?"

"It's nothing." Minamoto no Raikou gently shook her head.

"It's just that Tenno has ordered us to find that 'Courtesan' at all costs. Soon, there will surely be more action taken."

[Hearing Minamoto no Raikou's words, memories suddenly flooded back. You recalled the woman you had coincidentally seen on the streets.]

[In your mind, her sorrowful eyes remained vividly clear.]

[That made you feel as though Tenno's urgency carried something unusual.]

[You decided to ask Minamoto no Raikou for more details.]

"My lady."

Ian gazed at the woman beside him, her face still flushed, and slowly spoke:

"Why does Tenno care so much about a mere woman?"

"With his status, if it were only about beauty, wouldn't he already have countless beauties to choose from?"

"And if it were about love... that would be even harder to believe—hasn't she only just entered the imperial palace?"

"I don't know either." Minamoto no Raikou tilted her head slightly, a contemplative look crossing her face.

"You know, Danna-sama, Tenno's decisions are not something others can easily question."

"...That's true."

Ian nodded slightly, his gaze becoming pensive.

"Danna-sama." Minamoto no Raikou looked at the man beside her, who was lost in thought. "You seem to be quite concerned about this matter, don't you?"

"You've asked me several times now."

"..."

Ian merely smiled, a vague smile like a passing breeze.

"My lady, this is a rare opportunity for the Genji clan."

"Of course, I have to pay some attention to it."

"As expected, Danna-sama truly is part of the Genji..."

Minamoto no Raikou quickly accepted Ian's explanation, as if she had already anticipated it.

"But now that I think about it, weren't there two young girls always clinging to you before?"

"Why haven't I seen them around lately?"

"Oh... Something happened in their hometown, so I allowed them to leave early."

"Nothing serious, I hope?"

"No." Ian shook his head slightly. "My lady, you seem rather concerned about them."

"Not exactly concerned..." Minamoto no Raikou murmured softly. "It's just... I feel like one of them looked very familiar."

"...I see."

[You did not tell her about the woman you had seen.]

[Not because you wanted to hide it from Minamoto no Raikou.]

[But because the woman disappeared too quickly, making you start to doubt whether you had truly seen her or not.]

[You did not want to make Minamoto no Raikou worry needlessly.]

[You decided that only when you could confirm her existence would you speak of it.]

But thinking back, it was truly strange.

Ever since that fleeting encounter on the street that day, the Grand Onmyoji had not caught sight of that beautiful figure even once.

As if it had all been a mere illusion on the water's surface, vanishing into nothingness in the blink of an eye.

Ian unconsciously wondered—had he truly been mistaken?

But—

He hoped it was not just a fleeting dream.

He wanted to see her once more.

Because those sorrowful eyes gave him the feeling that behind them lay a mystery yet to be unveiled.

[However, in the end, that wish could not come true.]

[Everything unfolded just as Minamoto no Raikou had predicted.]

[Because of her, you were also given the opportunity to lead a squad in the search operation throughout the city.]

[This should have been something to be pleased about—after all, in some way, it meant being trusted with responsibility.]

[Yet ever since you began appearing frequently on the streets of Heian-kyo, your life had taken a strange turn.]

[It was as if someone was secretly watching you.]

It was here again—

That feeling of being watched by an unseen gaze, coming from somewhere he could not pinpoint.

Ian furrowed his brows slightly.

This was not the first time he had sensed this presence.

Ever since taking charge of part of the search squad, he had occasionally felt it.

And as time passed, its frequency only increased.

But that was not the most troubling part.

The real problem was that he could not determine the source of that gaze at all.

If he had to describe it—

It felt as if its owner was deliberately concealing their presence.

If not for the fact that he was an Onmyoji, trained for years to sharpen his senses,

Perhaps he would not have even realized he was being watched.

[You were aware that something about this was unnatural.]

[You had to find out who was behind that gaze.]

[You took action immediately.]

"Follow my instructions exactly." Ian ordered the subordinates beside him.

"Understood, Abe-sama!"

The soldiers quickly dispersed.

The surroundings fell silent once more.

But he could still sense it—the gaze was still there—proof that its owner was targeting him specifically.

That made things easier.

Ian began strolling through the streets of Heian-kyo.

Sometimes quick, sometimes slow.

The unseen eyes lurking in the shadows adjusted their pace to match his every step.

The Grand Onmyoji turned into a small alley.

A shadow immediately followed, their steps slightly hurried.

But the moment they turned the corner—

All they saw was a dead-end.

Where did he go?

And then—

The ground beneath the stalker's feet suddenly caved in, trapping their legs in place.

This was Earth Prison, a barrier formed using the Earth element of the Five Phases.

Ian gazed down from atop the alley wall, his sharp eyes studying the one who had been following him.

"Had enough of watching?"

"If you've seen enough… I should probably hand over a suspicious person like you to the guards."

"Mi… Mikon!"

The stalker immediately let out a panicked cry.

"Please don't do that!"

"I… I was just looking for a chance to meet you again!"

"Meet me again?"

Hearing that, Ian suddenly recalled something.

He leaped down from the wall, approached the person, and pulled off the black veil covering their face.

And the moment he saw that face, Ian was momentarily stunned.

Because even though he had only caught a glimpse once, that face had already been etched into his memory.

Pale pink hair, fox-like ears, golden eyes, snow-white skin.

"You're the one from that day!"

"Yes, it's me—Tamamo no Mae."

The fox-eared girl who called herself Tamamo no Mae gazed at him, her eyes filled with sorrow—a sadness so deep that anyone who saw it would feel a pang of sympathy.

"I know this may seem sudden, but—"

"Will you help me, someone who has now fallen into exile?"