Shuten Douji's New Target on the Road of Secret Love
"Shuten..."
Abe no Taishin's gaze fell on the little oni girl before him.
Although she looked like a child, he knew she definitely wasn't joking with him.
She was serious.
"Shuten, are you sure you can do it?" Abe no Taishin asked again.
"What kind of look is that, Mister?"
Shuten Douji put her hands on her hips, looking very displeased.
"I'm the Oni King of Mount Ōe, after all. What problem could there be in just retrieving a mirror?"
"Yes," Ibaraki Douji nodded in agreement.
"When we were on Mount Ōe, we often asked passing merchants for a few bottles of fine sake."
"Although we didn't tell them."
"Ibaraki! No one will think you're mute if you don't speak!"
Shuten Douji was very anxious.
She cared a lot about her image in front of Abe no Taishin.
However—
She soon realized that the Grand Onmyoji didn't care too much about such things.
He just said:
"Shuten, then I'll leave it to you."
"Eh?"
Shuten Douji had thought that he would ask more questions, but she hadn't expected him to agree so quickly.
"I know, I know."
"But—"
"Old man, you at least have to tell me why you absolutely need to retrieve that mirror, right?"
As soon as Shuten Douji said this, Tamamo no Mae realized the exact same question.
"Indeed."
"Although I have a pact with Abe-sama, I still don't know why Abe-sama wants to use that mirror even once."
Ibaraki Douji didn't speak.
But judging from the expression on her face as she looked at Abe no Taishin, she was also very curious about this question.
"..."
Abe no Taishin's gaze swept over them.
After hesitating for a moment, he said:
"Everyone, the reason I need that mirror is because..."
[You began to recount what you saw and heard on Onigashima.]
(T/N: Onigashima= Oni Island).
[It was a strange encounter with Ushi Gozen under the influence of a mysterious power.]
[You learned the truth about Minamoto no Raiko from a long time ago.]
[She was a "sacrifice" offered to Gozu Tennō by Minamoto no Mitsunaka, with the help of another Onmyoji whose surname was also "Abe," for the sake of the Minamoto clan's development.]
[Her existence was the foundation for the Minamoto clan's continuous growth and prosperity.]
[But this wasn't without a price.]
[If Minamoto no Raiko continued to use this power, she would become Ushi Gozen at some point in the future.]
[You had to stop this from happening.]
[For this reason, you needed Tamamo no Mae's mirror to once again "contact" Minamoto no Mitsunaka in order to find a solution.]
[This was your true purpose.]
"..."
Shuten Douji clicked her tongue.
"So the Mister encountered such a thing on Onigashima?"
"Yes," Abe no Taishin nodded.
"That's why I was in a hurry to take you away then—after all, the entire island was actually a part of Ushi Gozen."
"But won't that Ushi Gozen deceive us?" Shuten Douji was a little suspicious. "After all, if that cow... I mean, Minamoto no Raiko really didn't continue to use that power, then she wouldn't exist, right?"
"I've considered that possibility."
Abe no Taishin answered very seriously.
"But I think Ushi Gozen probably already knows that all of this is a punishment."
"After all, before we went there, she had been bound by the fate of killing oni for a long time."
"Probably—"
"She wants to find a way to be freed."
"..."
Shuten Douji didn't delve any further.
She knew that the situation Abe no Taishin described was indeed possible.
And regardless, Ushi Gozen had disappeared now.
Considering her reasons was also meaningless.
"Abe-sama."
"Tama-chan, what's wrong?"
"Hmm... I'm a little worried."
"What if that mirror doesn't fulfill Abe-sama's wishes in the end? What should we do then?"
Tamamo no Mae definitely didn't not want to help.
But she realized that the key to the whole plan was her mirror.
She was a little afraid that it wouldn't live up to the Grand Onmyoji's expectations.
Abe no Taishin naturally understood what Tamamo no Mae was thinking.
He said:
"Tama-chan, don't be nervous."
"I know that mirror might not fulfill my wishes."
"But—"
"We have to try anyway."
Abe no Taishin looked towards the other side of the room—in the room opposite the shoji door, Minamoto no Raiko was fast asleep.
"I don't want Raiko's future to be like that."
"She has already endured enough."
"So—"
The Grand Onmyoji bowed before the two oni and the fox demon.
"Shuten, Ibaraki, Tama-chan."
"Please, no matter what, help me."
"Please!"
[The room suddenly became much quieter.]
[Those present all knew what your bow meant.]
[This was a sign of willingness to give up one's own dignity for Minamoto no Raiko.]
[You truly loved her—for her sake, you were even willing to give up something important.]
"Abe-sama..."
Tamamo no Mae helped Abe no Taishin up.
"I understand."
"I will definitely do my best to help Abe-sama."
"Tama-chan, thank you."
"Hey, you fox are too cunning!" Shuten Douji grumbled, "Taking advantage of this moment to make the Mister feel moved, huh!"
"However—"
The little oni girl looked at Abe no Taishin.
"My thoughts are pretty much the same."
"After all—"
"I was also brought back from that hellish place by the Mister... Let's just call it even."
"Yes," Abe no Taishin nodded.
"Thank you, Shuten."
Clap—clap—clap.
Ibaraki Douji clapped her hands.
"That's great."
"In that case, after this is over, Shuten can taste the big stick again."
"Ibaraki, what are you saying!"
[You reached a consensus.]
[You began to formulate a plan.]
[You and Minamoto no Raiko were responsible for attracting Fujiwara no Tokuko's attention during the next court council.]
[Shuten Douji and Ibaraki Douji were responsible for sneaking into Heian Palace and stealing Tamamo no Mae's mirror.]
[Tamamo no Mae would wait outside Heian Palace—after all, she was the mirror's owner and could immediately identify any issues related to the mirror.]
[This was an action with a clear division of labor.]
[Time slowly passed as you waited.]
[You constantly refined various details—like what the mirror looked like and what the two oni should pay attention to when entering and leaving Heian Palace.]
[Finally, you reached the day of the plan.]
At the entrance.
Minamoto no Raiko was tidying Abe no Taishin's clothes.
Although they had been together for a long time, Minamoto no Raiko still felt the same flutter of her heart for him as she did in the past.
"Husband, why did you want to go to court with me today?"
"Could it be that husband has already figured out how to deal with the Retired Emperor's matter?"
[You knew that you couldn't tell Minamoto no Raiko about your and their plan.]
[You decided to tell a small lie that wouldn't affect things.]
"No."
Abe no Taishin shook his head.
"That's why I need to go a few more times. Maybe there will be some new discoveries."
"I see," Minamoto no Raiko nodded.
"I understand."
"Husband, if there's any problem, tell me immediately... I will definitely protect you."
"I know, my lady, there's no need to worry."
[You and Minamoto no Raiko left.]
[Tamamo no Mae, Shuten Douji, and Ibaraki Douji set off a little later.]
[After all, if they went too early, firstly, you might not have distracted Fujiwara no Tokuko yet, and secondly, they might be easily discovered by Minamoto no Raiko.]
[They gathered together.]
Looking at Tamamo no Mae beside her, Shuten Douji felt a little inferior.
Because—
She was very beautiful.
As beautiful as Minamoto no Raiko.
Shuten Douji had this feeling the first time she saw Tamamo no Mae.
Did the Grand Onmyoji's favorite demons all have to be very beautiful?
The little oni girl couldn't help but have such a thought in her heart.
"Um... Shuten, right?" Tamamo no Mae's voice sounded.
"Do you still remember those taboos I mentioned when taking the mirror?"
"I'm not an idiot."
Shuten Douji glared at Tamamo no Mae before her and began to mutter.
"You don't need to emphasize it so many times."
"I'm sorry," Tamamo no Mae put her hands together in apology.
"I'm just afraid that I might affect Abe-sama's plan because of my own reasons."
"..."
Shuten Douji became even more silent.
She could feel that Tamamo no Mae was really trying her best to do this.
In comparison, she herself seemed a bit negligent.
"Can I ask you a question? Fox."
"Of course, no problem."
"Then—"
Shuten Douji looked at Tamamo no Mae beside her.
"Don't you feel a little uncomfortable?"
"Uncomfortable?"
"Yes!" Shuten Douji nodded.
"Although the Mister knelt down and begged us to help... but in the end, we're still helping the Mister save our love rival, right?"
"You... don't you have the kind of thought where you want to take advantage of the situation?"
Shuten Douji didn't explain clearly what she meant.
But Tamamo no Mae completely understood her meaning—if something really happened to Minamoto no Raiko, it would actually be a better opportunity.
"Hmm... how should I put it?"
The fox demon's expression became a little subtle.
"Of course, I've also had the thought, 'If only Madam Raiko wasn't here at all'."
"But I also know what Madam Raiko means to Abe-sama."
"So—"
"Although it's sad to see Abe-sama and Madam Raiko together, I would be even more unwilling to see Abe-sama's pained expression if he lost Madam Raiko."
"Are you lying?"
Shuten Douji's hands rubbed together anxiously.
"How is it possible to like someone and still be willing to give them away?"
"This isn't giving him away."
Tamamo no Mae looked at the little oni girl seriously.
"I just don't want Abe-sama to be sad because of my selfishness—wouldn't that be the same as building my happiness on Abe-sama's pain?"
"Besides—"
Tamamo no Mae's face flushed slightly.
"Abe-sama's time isn't entirely Madam Raiko's, is it?"
"Eh?"
Tamamo no Mae's words reminded Shuten Douji of the scene she had seen earlier.
This fox demon, who loved the Grand Onmyoji, had indeed been tied to a pillar and enjoyed.
Shuten Douji's small throat moved slightly.
"Can I ask you one more question?"
"Of course."
"Then—"
Shuten Douji covered her lower abdomen and asked nervously.
"How does it feel to have him use that place to make tea?"
"This..."
Tamamo no Mae completely hadn't expected Shuten Douji to ask such a question.
But she still very seriously recalled her feelings at the time and then gave her answer.
"If you're asking about that,"
"I can only give one answer—"
"And that is, it feels very good."
"Very good?"
Shuten Douji heard an unexpected answer—she had thought it would be a kind of torment.
"Yes," Tamamo no Mae nodded shyly.
"Because Abe-sama really treats me like a teacup. He will..."
"Um, maybe I shouldn't say it."
The shy Tamamo no Mae didn't continue describing it—the feeling of being carefully savored was still hard to talk about.
But Shuten Douji had completely understood the pleasant sensation it brought her.
"Then does the Mister dislike doing that?"
"Not at all."
Tamamo no Mae shook her head with a blush.
"He's put cherry blossoms and hotaru-gusa inside."
"And he would ask me if the water temperature was too high."
"When putting on the lid, it's like he's really studying the tea ceremony."
Listening to this description, Shuten Douji's whole body trembled.
"What about sake?"
"Does the old man do that with sake too?"
"This, I don't know," Tamamo no Mae tilted her head slightly.
"After all, Abe-sama hasn't used me to drink sake... Perhaps he tried it before, who knows."
As soon as Tamamo no Mae finished speaking, Shuten Douji immediately shouted.
"Ibaraki! We should go!"
"I'm coming," Ibaraki Douji appeared at the end of the corridor.
"Fox," Shuten Douji's gaze returned to Tamamo no Mae before her.
"It's almost time!"
"Let's hurry up and go."
"Eh?"
Tamamo no Mae noticed that Shuten Douji had suddenly become very enthusiastic.
[The plan was proceeding according to your expectations.]
[You and Minamoto no Raiko once again found Fujiwara no Tokuko—although her attitude towards you was still very bad.]
[But you didn't care.]
[Because the focus of this operation wasn't you, but Shuten Douji and Ibaraki Douji.]
[As oni, they needed to find the mirror and bring it out during the time you were holding back Fujiwara no Tokuko.]
[You didn't know their situation.]
[But you could only trust them.]
"Shuten."
Ibaraki Douji looked at Shuten Douji beside her, very surprised.
"You're very energetic today."
"Am I?"
Ibaraki Douji nodded.
"Yes."
"You're even emitting flames."
"Eh eh?"
Shuten Douji patted out the flames that had appeared on her body due to the release of magical power.
"Ibaraki, can you stop emphasizing these unimportant details!"
"Oh... I understand."
"...You don't have to make that kind of face. I just hope you'll be careful this time."
"This is a human palace, after all. It's very dangerous!"
"Alright."
Returning to the question itself.
Although she had agreed to Abe no Taishin's requests, Shuten Douji actually didn't know what to do.
After all, this was her first time here.
If only someone could help guide her...
Just as Shuten Douji was thinking this, a figure walked past the corridor she was secretly observing.
Was that another person dressed as an Onmyoji?