Empire of Japan

The Empire of Japan is a isolationist country that shuns the UEI and its beliefs, living alongside Myths rather than fighting against them. Its special forces dealing with the threat of Kaiju and other powerful Myths is known as the Anti Kaiju Squad. The Emperor posesses absolute authority, and is rarely seen outside their palace. The Japanese have a strong regard for the law, to the point violaters of the law risk condemning their families and friends by mere association.
== A Phantom of War Manifests ==
The deep mountains, untainted by civilization, blanketed by forests, was the closest thing the mammoth figure trudging through the landscape had to a home now, and had been for quite some time. He wasn't too sure how long it had been, but many sunrises and sunsets had past since he lost his home and family. The red light of the sunset illuminates the Red Oni who had been caught in a rare contemplative mood, offering a brief taste of warmth before the coming cold of night. It wouldn't be long now before that cold would rush upon him.
He headed for his small encampment, a fireplace and his hunting gear with a small hide bedroll. It wasn't much, but it was all he had left.
He soon begins to see the encampment from his position in the hills, after another hike down and back up the final hill, he would be safe, as much as it could offer safety at least. He takes another step forward, when he hears a faint, quiet melody blowing on the wind, soothing and tranquil like water in a stream flowing across the pebbles. Without thinking about it, he feels his feet start to gravitate toward the sound.
As he nears the music, he instinctively pulls his knife and crouches, circling the area the sounds are coming from.
As he does so, the nature of the music changes quickly, becoming rapid and high pitched, almost frantic and overwhelming in complexity. The sound stirs a vague memory, an instinctual memory of danger.
His one working eye widens, looking around the trees for the attack that was to inevitably follow the warning call. He now knew he was facing a blue Oni, so he readied his wards in preparation. It had been long since he had a good fight, much less one with a skilled opponent. This would be a hard battle for survival.
He begins to hear quick, fast bursts of sound, faint thuds like impacts against wooden surfaces, and he realizes the presence is traveling among the tall trees off to the side of him. Just as he turns toward that location, he hears the rustle of leaves, and a leaf dances down into his vision from just above him. With the dark now beginning to settle in, hints of moonlight are slowly streaking in from trees as more rustling is heard above him, followed by the soft flapping of fabric and footsteps on wood.
A voice like thunder erupted from his mouth as he looks up. "I am Riot Hell-Bringer, the Hornless Giant. I have slain countless of your kin, and for treading on my mountain you shall follow suit!" he yells with a loud roar, shaking the leaves from the trees directly around him and making the ground and branches tremble.
The figure standing on the branches above him looks down, though he sees little of them save for brilliant bright amber eyes glowing down at him, as her body is covered in long flowing robes. The moonlight is just now starting to illuminate behind the figure, darkening their front. At their waist is a sheathed sword.
"Hoooo? I have heard a tale or two of such a title, but never have I met them. To think on a random expedition, I would find the scion of the Towering Horns, far from home and laying claim to a lonely mount."
Confused, Riot stops roaring. With his arms still in the air, he asks, almost in a whisper, "So you do not intend to fight?"
"I sensed your presence and came to investigate. I knew a Red Oni was here, but enemy of the Empire or not, I knew not. That is the sole extent of my purpose here. I of the Glass and your kin may have been enemies in past wars, but I see little reason to attack a man without cause. ...Particularly if the presumption is that you are well and truly alone holds true." 
The figure jumps gracefully from the trees and lightly lands in front of Riot.
The Hell-Bringer stares blankly at her for a second before relaxing. "So that'd be a 'No'. Gotcha."
The figure assumes a thinking gesture and in the process, unveils the arm hidden under the sleeves of their robes, revealing a blue arm that begins to shimmer brilliantly, and for some reason Riot feels strange, as though all of his focus was gravitating towards it.
"Hoo... Ah. Ah!" The figure, whom by now Riot can tell is a woman from her voice and vague shape of her form, seems to notice something and hastily conceals her arm beneath her sleeves.
"Forgive me. Riot... Hm. If you are still alert and exhaustion not tear at your mind, would you forgive my intrusion and talk with me at your encampment? It would probably be a comfort to be amongst your claim and not the wild. If not, I can retreat and leave you to your solitude."
Riot starts continuing his trek towards his camp again. "I have no want to fight either. The people who did are all gone. What is your name, small-one-that-shines?" He had heard of the shimmering of blue oni before, but it was more entrancing than he had thought possible.
"...Of your people, few were either of mind or character to honor me with their names. My name of birth is Miyako, and I hail from the line of Setsuko." She dips her head in a bow before walking behind Riot but off to the side, as though intending to remain in the corner of his field of vision. She plays a small quick tune that reverberates only for a brief moment, and its sound is gone.
"I have signaled that I encountered no danger." She explains.
"Me-yah-cho. Got it. You must be the Witch of Glass, huh? Thought you'd be scarier." Riot says this as they reach the camp. Miyako can see his battle axe and war hammer, as well as a bow and quiver as far as weapons go. He sits across from them, on the stump of an old pine tree. The fire is large and hot as he tosses another chopped log into it.
Miyako quietly sits across from him on the ground, a quiet chuckle heard from under her cowl. She gently grasps the rim of the hood and pulls it down, exposing medium long snow white hair that glistens beautifully in the moonlight, though oddly her face is covered in wrappings and the wrappings travel down her neck and out of sight to the rest of her body. What little of her blue skin that can be seen is around the edges of her eyes, the only thing exposed. The eyes are a bright amber that easily reflect the hot blaze in their depths, and appear almost like fire swirls in them.
He sees a suggestion of a smile under the wraps. "What is a soldier if not a person when he rests? Though war stories are fun means of chatter, they are rarely anything more than tall tales. The Witch is only a portion of my identity, much as the fabled Hornless Giant is only part of you. Before my manners escape me..."
She presents a well crafted stone platter and supports and places it over the fire, with swift and precise movements seasoning and oiling, before placing prepared rabbit portions upon the soon searing stone. Her work is enchanting, one part from the grace of her movements and another from the brief flashes of her blue hands. She appears to be making an offering of hospitality, a gesture to be given to a host among the Oni.
When she finishes, she takes small stone plates and places the portions upon them and approaches Riot, crouching down before him with her arms extending the plates before him while her head dips downward.
Riot looks at her and gently mumbles something under his breath, something inaudible and kind, with a hint of a fond memory, as he takes the plate and starts eating. "Good food." He states plainly. "As a clan-less Oni, I didn't expect such ceremony. Thank you." He had finished the food while talking, and placed the plates on the log next to him. "The Hornless Giant, in all clarity, is no more. I have left that life behind - merely stoking the embers of the memory to try to make you flee. Fighting is my nature no more." Riot turns away, looking at the sky with his one eye reflecting the galaxies oh-so-far away.
She returns to her spot quietly for a moment.
"I know it is unkind to ask, but the Empire scouted for signs of activity from your people, and found only a mass grave and the desolated buildings. They do not know your story, your people's fate. What happened? ...Do you even know?" She asks gently.
A silence falls over the camp, and the fire dies to embers, creating a strange eerie lighting on Riot's features. "I was away at the Masks' to give our formal departure from their alliance, and when I returned my clan was ash. There were no tracks that I could follow, but my clan fought many opponents according to the battle formations they were left in. They were surrounded, and burned with a fire hotter than I can think of. No fire has pierced a Red Oni's skin in our records. The town was burned as an afterthought. A message."
His eye closes for a moment, then looks directly into her's. "They killed children. Including my own. If I knew who they were, they'd be dead." As she looks into his deep black eye, she can feel an overwhelming dread overcome her, as if he were to bewitch her in an opposing way to the way she does others. She also sees the tremendous loss he feels, and the pain he is going through.
She closes her eyes and is still. "I am sorry, for the loss of your people. Your loved ones. If it is any comfort to you, the Empire saw fit to build a memorial stone at their place of rest, numbering the dead, retaining the name of the clan, and a wish for eternal peace in their rest. It was not I nor my clan responsible for that tragedy. I would have impaled them upon my cold steel for their cruelty."
She breathes heavily for a moment, then becomes quiet.
"...I have troubled you enough, I beg your pardon. I have hunting to do to prepare for my return to Edo, I have much to report to the Empire from my long journey."
She slowly rises, then bows. She moves to leave, hand on her hood, but stops and looks back at him.
"I will check on you in the following dusk, and leave thereafter. I would not blame you for remaining here, but... even if our people once fought as enemies, it troubles me to see a fellow Oni languish in such solitude. Regardless of the road you take, I pray you find purpose again, Riot Hellbringer." 
She quietly bows her head once more, and dons her hood, quietly slinking with grace into the depths of the pines.
The next day goes by uneventfully, contemplation and hunting taking up most of it. When she returns she sees two deer skinned and headless roasting on the bonfire.
She lingers on the edge of the trees, bowing towards him lightly. Light still shines from the sun, yet she still has her robes covering her body.
"I hope the day has treated you well." She speaks softly.
Riot grunts as he eats a third deer's leg. "These woods are bountiful. Come, eat, for there are many things to discuss."
She seems to hesitate for a moment. "I did not wish to intrude. ...But I shall indulge your company." She quietly walks forward, and sits near him, thinking for a moment before lowering her hood. Her face is still wrapped up.
Riot pauses his munching and looks at her. She can feel his puzzlement. "How are you supposed to eat with that wrapping on your face?" he asks dully.
She closes her eyes for a moment. "Forgive my rudeness." She slowly begins to work the bindings loose, and then pulls them down from her face. She brings out a pair of plates, one for him and one for her.
Riot continues eating. "You're less hideous than the stories say," he says with his mouth full. Putting down the leg bones, he starts in on the hunk of breast meat. "I had thought you'd have more blemishes, but you look fine without them."
"Hoo... I've certainly not heard my visage described that way before." She blinks slowly at his words, slowly taking some meat with a carving knife and placing it on her plate. With a deliberate movement she takes a piece of the meat and eats, chewing slowly. When she finishes chewing she speaks again.
"What is on your mind?" She asks before taking another piece and eating with the same measured approach.
He finishes chewing and swallows, putting down the ripped ribcage. "Why does an Oni work for the Empire? Especially one of such a fine caliber of warrior as yourself?"
She looks up at the sky. "Because beyond the sea there exists those who would destroy everything we love as Oni, maybe even put us all to the sword, for the simple reason they fear and hate us for being different from them. And because I am a proud soldier, not a butcher. I have rarely fought a war I believed in, a war that meant something to me... we Blue Oni fight for territory and for power, same as any other of our kin... but many understand that the men we fought, even yours, fought for similar reasons we did."
She bows her head slowly as she closes her eyes. "But I know your kin did not always feel the same, especially some of yours who challenged me. All I could do is honor their dignity as soldiers and fight them earnestly. ...Even if my nature, not my own hands, was the ultimate victor."
She smiles tightly again. "But I ramble. My creed has always been to fight for my people and for my home. To bring peace to them and the Empire, serves the same goal."
Riot blinks. "Hmm, from my knowledge the Empire wishes to rule us. I cannot like this, but I can concede I have no other choice without a clan." He looks at the ground in thought, then says with a nod in her direction, "I will join you on your journey, and help if I see fit."
She blinks. "My only concern is your wellbeing. I do not wish to impose upon you. Are you certain?" She begins to finish the piece of meat on her platter.
He looks at his barren camp and the deer skull on a log he had started to talk to. "My 'wellbeing' is certainly well enough here, but I have nothing better to do, so I'll go with you." He throws the bones into the fire, and starts on the next deer.
Miyako sighs and stares up at the sky, noting the gradual darkening starting to take place.
"Hoooo... Perhaps I should indulge myself a bit... else I will have to eat elsewhere and we have much more to discuss." She takes off her robes gingerly, revealing her tribal clothing underneath, a small shirt that is functional yet advertises much of her feminine chest decorated with feathers and simple designs on the rims, and shorts of similar manner. Her visible stomach, sides, and lower chest suggest despite her more laid back nature, she must maintain heavy exercise and train extensively. A similar story can be told from her arm and leg muscles.
He notes a single small scar on her side, but almost no other signs of injuries on her body as she begins to eat more vigorously.
"Ah Ha Ha! The Tiny Witch Eats, Plainly As I Can See Her, Revealing Herself." His chuckle echoes in the wilderness surrounding them, being a deep and hearty laugh.
He catches a small smile in between her rounds of eating. After a time, she concludes her feeding, grimacing as her cheeks begin to catch stray shafts of moonlight and she begins to place her robes back over her body, moving her hood over her head soon after. 
"I found that satisfactory, thank you again for your warmth and the First Light's Meal. Now, have you any questions of me? If not... well. I hope you do not take offense, but I would know your capability as a fighter first hand. If we are to travel, then I must know my companion is strong enough to protect me in my rest as I would assure him of my own."
"You fight in those large robes?" he asks, curious as to the response. "I mean, they must get in the way?"
"Aye, but I've long adjusted to battle with them. They are a willing handicap I impose myself as the Witch of Glass... if I fought my enemies in normal garb, I would be unable to fight any enemy before they would be taken by my power and made helpless. Even in battles with those who surely would in any other life be my equal, once my robes are damaged, they too are ruined by my moonlit power. This is the only way I can have any honor as a warrior. Even as I look for one who can surpass the power of the Witch and push me forward, a victory of skill."
Her eyes glow under the hood. "I long for one I can without reservation, fight as my rival."
"Hahahaha!" His jovial laugh shakes the ground underneath her. "You've gotten me excited, little Me-Yah-Ko! Let's see if you can back it up in a small jaunt, eh?" he stands up, and the nearly ten-foot-tall silhouette of his body eclipses the full moon's light, putting her into a long shadow as he gets in a boxing-style stance.
She does as well, then like a cannon shot, she launches into the air, towards the trees and away from the camp, clinging to the trunk of a strong tree with the claws of her feet and hands, her eyes gleaming at him from her perch.
Riot punches the trunk of her perch, shattering the space around his fist and sending the whole tree flying away from him, falling with the tip coming towards him as if to crush her. He immediately takes a stance as if to intercept her next move, following her with his body as well as his eye.
He sees her drop from the tree onto the ground, facing him, the tree landing just to her side as she crouches low to the ground, arms and legs poised as though about to pounce like a mountain lion. With little warning she pounces from the ground, onto the side of the felled tree, and then closes the gap between them, spinning midair sideways to swipe her legs under his footing while ending her movement in a roll behind him, in a position to strike again quickly.
Riot slides back with the attack, but doesn't falter - and is soon facing her again. Before she can make her second strike, he has leapt into the air, disappearing into the sky for a second before coming down behind her without a sound. She hears his hoof clop before a gargantuan fist is inches from the side of her head.
She leaps up abruptly, her hands landing on his hand and using it as a platform, spins with her foot kicking him square in the jaw before landing herself in front of him, she takes a particular stance with her hands prominently baring her claws.
He stands up, lifting his head to roar at the sky. As the roar ends, he takes a more relaxed stance and waits for an attack.
She breathes in sharply, her eyes scan the surroundings and eventually settle on a large boulder.
She bolts towards it at high speed, jumps on top of it, and then vaults behind it out of immediate sight.
The massive Red Oni raises an eyebrow, staying in his relaxed stance and watching for movement around the boulder.
Without warning, Miyako kicks the boulder up into the air and then with a spin kick, sends the boulder screaming towards Riot, a minor shockwave racing ahead of it.
Riot smirks. This boulder would not be a problem. He stops it with his left fist, then punches it with his right, shattering it and sending small rock projectiles in every direction, bouncing off his skin without only minor scratches.
Bursting in from the debris comes Miyako at high speed, who grabs his arms and slams her forehead into his.
He smiles, and unfazed by the headbutt, he slams her into the ground, reversing the grip she has so he pins her arms to the ground, and leans one leg over both of her's. "Hahaha, Little Spunk You Have, You Are Very Aggressive, Riot Likes You Much!" His chuckle echoes through the canyon.
He suddenly notices that her hood has fallen from her face and... he feels his heart begin to race, his breathing unsteady, his muscles freeze up and twitch randomly, and a cold sweat breaks out as his vision becomes ridged and deadset on her face as it gleams in the moonlight, everything else becomes unfocused and swims about. His thoughts become scrambled, almost to the point he can't even keep up with them...
Suddenly within an instant, he feels a cool hand on his face, and Miyako is sitting in front of him as he lays hunched over in the dirt. Her face is hooded once more.
"I'm sorry about that. But I have a measure of you now, you met my expectations. Very good." Her voice seems almost guilty.
Riôt jumps, scared. He looks around. Shaking his head, he stands and looks at her, puzzled. "I could swear I saw something beautiful, but you're the only one around here."
And that's when Miyako slugs him in the jaw with the force required to send him into the trees at the edge of the forest.
He spits out a large molar and a lot of blood, shaking his head as he got up. "I suppose I deserved that..." he mumbles as he begins the long trek back to his encampment.
She joins him not long after, arms crossed but not looking at him. Eventually though she places her hand on him and a numbing sensation comes over the struck area, and she holds out the molar along with a leaf tube filled with a paste.
"It's extremely bitter but if you hold that tube in place between your teeth it will help fix your tooth and jaw."
She looks away again. "Since you are capable of traveling alongside me, we should discuss travel. I... I cannot travel in the daylight. My body becomes too fatigued if I attempt to stay up, my eyes become extremely sensitive, and... ...I'll easily burn in the light. Conversely, you will no doubt be less at capacity if you travel at night. So then... the ideal time to travel would be daylight, would it not?" Miyako fidgets a moment. 
"It may be easiest for you to carry me during the day, and rest at night while I gather supplies for the next day, and chart out our course."
"Hmm." Riot tastes the paste and then throws the molar away from them with an audible gag. "In war, fighters need to adjust their sleep schedule. We travel at night, when you are wide awake, and gather supplies before and after heading out." He grunts in completion as the encampment approaches view.
"I see. I did not want to impose if it was not necessary." She looks out over the sky.
"Time moves along like the typhoon. I will have to get some prepwork done so that our first night we can set out right away."
"I need to hunt anyway. Do what you need, meet back here at dusk to-morrow." He continues towards his encampment, heading for his bow and arrows that, to a normal human, would seem to be a huge ballista. 
"I will gather my earnings at your encampment then make shelter for the day. Come Dusk I will emerge to begin our journey." With that, she bolts into the foliage.
== Oil and Water ==
During the following day, Riot hunts, cooks, and prepares several deer. His provisions could last about a week of travel before needing replenished, and the local deer population had dramatically decreased. In the afternoon, he started to rest, and when dusk came he was sitting by the fire with his sack of meat and woolen sleep roll tied to his back and his weapons, besides his war-hammer, tied to the back of those.
Riot starts to notice a mound of earth that had previously looked inconspicuous start to shift as if something underneath was stirring.
"Either this is the small-one-with-claws or I'm being attacked. I don't know which I'd prefer." Riot says loudly.
The mound rises a bit, and then it shifts a bit, revealing a framework of sticks under the grass and soil, and tuffs of snow white hair. Not long after, a pair of hands stretch out, and a small yawn is heard. The inhabitant finally sits up, revealing a sleepy looking Miyako, her pupils unfocused.
"Morning grave-sleeper." Riot announces to Miyako. "Sleep well?" He offers her a deer leg.
She sniffs the air, as though relying more on scent than sight, before abruptly biting into the deer leg without the leg having even left his hand yet.
"Nom..."
Riot raises an eyebrow, then lifts the leg with her still attached, staring at her eyes with his. "You're not a morning person, are you?"
"Mmmhmmrmmm..." She just appears to be contently chewing on the meat while still hanging, seemingly as if oblivious to being lifted.
He sighs, rolls his eye, and drops the deer leg, making her fall to the floor. The Hell-Bringer stands. "Get ready to leave, small-one-that-sleeps-in-dirt."
"Hrmmmm..." She seems to sulk a bit at being dropped while the meat bobs as she chews. She soon promptly begins tearing into it, only stopping once her teeth hit bone.
She then slowly stands up and shakes the dirt off herself.
"Ah, Riot. Anything you need to take care of?"
Riot looks puzzled for a minute. "Do you not remember the past few minutes?" he asks, wondering what all that was about.
"I don't follow." Miyako says flatly. 
He sighs. "We must away, ere break of night, for our journey to get to a respite." he says with a chuckle.
"Indeed. Let us be off." She observes the surroundings a moment before heading off in a certain direction, he notices after a moment she starts fiddling with the contents of her flute bag.
The mammoth follows, using his war hammer as a walking stick.
She begins to play a melody, no, Riot quickly picks up that it is a multilayered song, first simplistic and bright, then becoming more energetic and vibrant, gradually souring into a more melancholy, bitter song, reaching a fever pitch for a moment, before finally becoming quiet and somber, almost as though something one would hear during one's final goodbyes.
Riot raises an eyebrow at Miyako. "Who's life do you play on little-music-stick?"
"Of wandering souls and ones returned to the earth." She replies simply.
"Hmpf." his curt reply sounds.
"It's a way of honoring departed ones among our tribes. I felt compelled to play it for you." She says, before increasing her speed.
"It was pretty." He says, staying a few feet behind her.
"Is that your first sincere complement I heard?" Her head tilts to one side.
"Hmpf," he grunts, looking around the trees as they continue travelling.
"Hmpf." She mimics with an imitation of his deeper voice, then noticing the sunset about to reach it's lowest point, begins wrapping her face. After which, she takes her robes out and begins placing them over her body.
"Now then, shall we pick up the pace?" With little warning, she takes off with a burst of speed.
Riot sighs before lunging forward, catching up with her relatively quickly, and keeping pace with little effort. "How far must we travel?"
"Until we reach Edo. It is some distance from here, or really, anywhere in the lands of the Oni. That said, our first milestone is reaching my... acquaintance. She'll probably find us sooner than we get to her though, knowing that hyperactive nutball of a girl." For some reason she shudders. 
"Edo... The Capital of our enemies?" He seems a bit miffed at this information. "Why would we ever go to a human city?"
"Edo, the capital of Japan." She seems to correct him. "You forget that the Blue Oni joined the Compact in order to achieve greater peace for all who inhabits the land we share."
She turns to look at him as she walks. "We could have chosen to aid the humans against you in the War, you know. But we didn't. We saw your anger and knew if we intervened, no words or time could dissuade your tempers. We left things be. making the observation in hindsight, we may have ultimately reacted the same way, had they chosen your kin over us. So who were we to intervene in your war?"
"Hmpf. The Red Oni will be gone in a matter of years, thanks to your pact. But it is no matter, for I am no longer a Red Oni, but a Clanless." He falls out of earshot, but keeps following.
"..." She stops and turns toward him, he notices that her foot has dug into the ground from the strength of her foot coming to rest from the motion.
"Face your own mistakes with dignity. You made your choices when you declared war, and when you declared its end. Every warrior that died for you, for that war, made their choices. We made a decision to move forward as a people. Your people made your own decision. Stop blaming others for your own faults. While your people were slaughtered, you lived. Realize the gravity of your situation and your conduct. Every last child, woman, and man! Your actions and words reflect theirs now! Just as they did when you led your people through victory and failure alike."
She shakes her head. "Though perhaps you truly are not that same man who was worthy to not only lead, but continue the legacy of your clan to greatness. In that case you are free to do as you like, I won't force a man trapped in the past to walk with someone desiring a future worth fighting for. If however, you want to fight, start by fighting the notion that you are alone. When we reach Edo, I would have you meet those whom may give you the key to your new way forward. They may be human, but they are peerless in their spirit."
Riot walks up to her, leaning on his hammer so that their faces are the same height. A growl escapes his angered face. "You know not of what you speak, girl. I contested the need for a war, and yet it happened. As a war counciler, I follow the orders of the Chief, and it took many sacrifices to convince him we could not win. Once that had happened, I went to try and convince other's of our decision. They did not listen, and I fear they slaughtered my wife and children for my mere suggestion. I carry this burden heavily, and will continue to do so until I see fit. Do not mistake my mourning for weakness." He stands and continues walking, his face going back to his normal calm. "Now, we're wasting time."
Miyako sighs, walking, albeit slow. In fact it doesn't take long for Riot to realize that he has past her at his pace and she seems utterly uninclined to speed up.
Yes, and for you, you need more time. There would be no point in arriving to Edo tonight. That black cloud will ultimately burn bridges and you'd basically be on your own, in another unfamiliar place. It might even get you killed. And if he can't overcome these things, those burdens will kill him too. Perhaps words are useless. We'll see. For now, scenic cruise. He doesn't know where he's going, and if he's smart, he'll understand that I'm not obligated to put up with anything. 
Miyako's thoughts turn towards reciting incantations idlily.
They travel slowly for the next few hours, with Riot asking directions every once in a while.
Finally after a while, she speaks again. "I need to ask you if you are willing to move forward. It was clear to see that you were in pain when I found you and not much has changed in that manner. I cannot help you if you cling to blame to channel your emotions. If you are willing to take the first steps forward, that is fine. But I would not have you cross a whole realm and island just so that all of that time wasted would have been better spent with you remaining where you were. ...I need to know if you're willing to let me help you. It is my nature as a Blue Oni to be distant from my emotions, but those whom I fight alongside may not be able to distance themselves like a Blue Oni. They will take you personally, and you will in the end, be as alone as when we started. 
If it brings you any small comfort, your contact with them would be as frequent if not somewhat less than my own- -I travel freely from their lands, my own, and these frontiers. We will fight many fights, you may be presented with battles against your own kin. I know you can handle the battle of flesh, I affirmed this already. But it's not your flesh that I am worried for. I'm not expecting us to be friends, much less oath brother and sister. Just tell me if my efforts are in vain." 
She has completely stopped, waiting for his answer.
Riot stops and sighs. He looks to the sky for a long time before speaking, and when he opens his mouth, his voice is calm and quieter than normal. "I don't speak much. You might not know this, since you are easy to talk to. Nevertheless, I suppose there is some explanation needed here. In a Red Oni clan, the Chief is the final decision. Many of us on the war councils of most of the clans disagreed with the war. But our Chiefs forced us to trudge on for pride's sake. At the end of the day, the deaths are on them. The only thing I blame the Blue Oni and the Humans for is the excuse they gave my leader and others'. The Red Oni would never survive in a peaceful world, so the excuse would've come eventually anyway.
"I mourn for my family most of all. While my wife was a great warrior, my children were barely of age to speak. They were innocent. My friends will never sing songs of glory again, that also brings me sadness. As for what was, I will carry it the rest of my days, that is who I am. As for what will be, I will try to be more open to these humans." He ends this last sentence with a smile, and looks at her. "And as for those who I once called Oath Brothers and Sisters - they will either lay down their weapons upon my approach, or die proud warriors by my hand, you needn't to worry about that."
Miyako nods. "I will accept that answer. All for the better - I was worried how the 22 year old with the mind of a 10 year old would handle it if you got prickly. We'll be meeting her on the journey back - hopefully a little later than sooner. The ball of energy can be exhausting once she gets proper excited. Let us break for a meal, it's been long enough now, and the night will only get older from here."
She thinks for a moment. "It should be midnight relatively soon."
He pulls his axe from his sash, puts his hammer against a tree, and hangs his bag on his hammer's shaft, placing his axe nearby. He pulls some salted meat from his sack and sits on a fallen tree nearby, tearing into the meat without a word.
She pulls out her own from her own pack, eating quietly. Her hands shimmer in the moonlight quite noticeably, she seems conscious of of it and actively tries to either limit how long they are out or keeps herself oriented away from him as she eats.
After he finishes his two pound burger of sorts, he prepares to leave, and waits for her to finish.
She eats one more sample of meat, before cleaning herself and within a short time joins him.
"Before sunrise, with our last break, I should introduce you to some spices the humans seem fond of. They add a... kick, to the flavor. There are supposedly some that give a sensation of heat as well..."
"Like a ripe Daikon?" he asks.
"Perhaps, but perhaps not. Some were more mild, while others were like fire, water barely keeping the intensity down. Some humans like to challenge each other with the novelty of the 'hotter' foods. A non lethal test of strength you could say. Anyway. Let us be away." She begins to jog.
He keeps pace with her using a slightly brisk walk. A few minutes later he pipes up with: "Why wouldn't they just wrestle? Or drink?" still confused about the hot food.
"They do those things, but they engage in more ways to compete with each other than just that." They make a fair bit of progress before they finally break towards the first signs of light. After they finish eating, Miyako is seen walking off towards where the soil seems softer, and raises her fist up, before slamming it to the ground with a thunderous impact, creating a sizable hole.
He sees her then begin assembling sticks into a frame work around her while burying it in grass and dirt.
He shakes his head, chuckling before rolling out his sleeping mat. He sleeps for a few hours before waking up in a cold sweat, a nightmare having scared him enough that when he comes to he had punched a hole in a nearby tree, and it falls near where Miyako slept. His breathing is labored, and he begins to shake as he crouches and roars at the ground. He shakes for a second, then gathers his thoughts, and stands. He collects his bow and quiver and disappears into the woods.
The noises causes Miyako's head to jolt out of the hide, notice the tree and Riot's absence, and then she slinks back into the hole. For a minute she goes from wanting to stay in the hole and coming back out...
Riot, elsewhere in the forest, eventually hears uneven and stumbling footsteps that appear quite clumsy approaching.
"Why does the small-one-who-burns come out to follow my hunt?" he asks Miyako.
”H-heard noise... you were absent... t-thought you were in p-peril... h-had to... to make sure...” She collapses, and he can quickly tell her feet are burned and her hand that had kept her robe covering her body was similarly becoming burned.
He sighs and covers her up, carrying her back to her hole and haphazardly burying her back up. When she awakes an hour after dusk, he is by the fire cooking meat.
She rises from the dirt, blankly staring in his direction while sniffing, looking exhausted.
He tears the leg off of the cooked deer and holds it out. "Eat, small-one-that-gets-burned."
In response she sleepily opens her mouth and exposes her sharp canines.
Riot throws the leg at her, terrified of getting his arm chopped off.
She catches the leg with her jaws, sleepily beginning to munch contently. "Mmmmm..."
"Strange One Who Burns Easy, Annoying One Who Eats Plain, Fun One Who Eats Plent." He laughs at the haiku.
As Miyako finishes the leg she coughs, as though trying to regain some composure. "...Ahem. Says the one that felled a tree and hollered like a Shinigami was upon him. ...What was that ruckus anyhow?"
Riot grunts, shakes his head, and stands up, getting ready to leave. "May-be you will know one day."
Miyako grunts. "Slow down, I'm still hungry and I'm not excited about walking on these feet..."
He looks down at her clawed feet, thinking for a second. The Hell Bringer pulls his pack around and whips out some dried meat, then puts the pack back. "Eat this. I will carry you while you heal." he says, matter-of-factly.
Miyako blinks. "Thank you, Riot. You don't have to go to all that trouble." She says, reaching out for some of the meat.
The massive man grunts. "No trouble at all."
She gorges herself on meat for a while, then rests for a while, once or twice attempting to flex her toes but wincing and immediately stopping.
He walks over to her, and squats so she can grab onto his shoulders.
She does so after a moment of hesitation. 
The hulking mass stands with his small lady of a backpack, and waits for directions.
She points out the distant mountain range as their target destination and tries to get comfortable.
"Hold on," the giant Red Oni says as he launches them into the air. They fly for a solid minute before starting to fall.
"I didn't think you could be a gentleman. You DO have a element of culture after all." Miyako quips. 
"Ms. My-Ack-Chu, I would never assume such sarcasm to come from you," he chuckles as they land and he jumps again.
As he jumps again, he thinks he sees something flying in the far distance, and soon begins to hear something.
"Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii" Riot thinks he hears some sort of voice yelling from the direction of the object and rapidly getting louder. "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"
When he lands... "Koooooooooooooooooooooo!" Without warning, a heavy impact strikes them and dust flies, when the dust settles, Riot sees Miyako sprawled on the ground, with a human girl tightly hugging her, wearing strange armor and energy wings glow from her back.
"Miyako, I found you! And you found love!"
Riot gets up, towering behind the young unknown lady, being almost twice her size. "Who. Are. You." he growls. His face is shrouded in shadow, and the black eye gleams with the sun being behind his head. 
The girl looks at him and pouts, looking at Miyako. "Miyako, your boyfriend is mean..." Miyako groans and lifts her head to look at her. 
"Miwa, we are not engaged in the human courtship you call 'dating'. Didn't I say-" Miyako begins but then Miwa gasps.
"Oh congratulations, you tied the knot-"
"NO!" Miyako frantically cuts her off. "No we did not!! -Ahem. We are simply traveling together. Non romantically. At all. Period. Why didn't you- -you know what, never mind, I'm sure you had some reason in that airy head of yours."
Miyako gives her an exasperated look. "This is Miwa Yuriko, she is the other person I have been working with. I signaled to her earlier when we first met, and then again to let her know I was alright. She probably was curious anyway and left in spite of me telling her to wait for us." She says turning to Riot as she speaks, visibly done with the situation as Miwa looks Riot up and down curiously.
"Hmph." He sighs and goes to collect his things.
"I'm sorry big guy, didn't mean to hit you, I just saw Miyako and got excited, hee hee hee," Miwa says with a small bow.
"Hope she hasn't been too crude, she likes to eat a feast's worth at brunch!"
Miyako pinches Miwa's cheeks in response.
After his pack and bow are tightly secured on his back, riot goes and retrieves his axe and sheathes it. Grabbing his war hammer / walking stick, he walks back over to the pair. "Are we to continue?" he asks plainly, with a deeper voice than Miyako has grown used to.
Miwa tilts her head to one side. "I suppose." She looks at Miyako.
"Hey hey, I almost forgot. I was flying over the area, and I saw these big burly red guys, they were lead by this red guy in a white mask, it was kinda weird. It looked like they were doing some kind of creepy dance by the fire."
Miyako's eyes seem to widen in response, and moves to walk over to Riot but collapses with a yelp from her burned feet.
"Wah?! Miyako? Are you okay? Mmmm... you got your feet burned..." Miwa looks concerned and looks at Riot.
"Did you guys put any medicine on it?"
"Medicine? You mean herbs?" he asks. "No I didn't... But these 'red guys', did they look like me?" He looks at Miyako and then to the small human.
"Hmmm... let me get her feet taken care of or they'll get infected." Her face becomes more serious and she begins rubbing a white paste on Miyako's feet, which causes her to hiss in pain. Once Miwa has done this, she begins to bandage Miyako's feet in white cloth and then tightens it. Miwa nods briefly before looking back at Riot.
"Yeah, big, muscled, really mean looking. They were angry and shouting a lot. They had big red lady oni tied up. It looked... creepy." Miwa looks uncomfortable.
"Are those guys bad guys?" She asks, and she seems a lot more serious and focused than before.
Riot looks at the ground for a short while, then speaks up, "Hmph. In their eyes maybe not, but in mine they deserve a dishonorable death." He sets his pack next to Miyako. "Which direction?" he snarls, war hammer gripped in both hands and axe still sheathed.
"Follow me!" She crouches before her wings flare and then she rockets off into the sky in a particular direction.
He jumps in the same direction.
She flies a fair distance away, before approaching a mountainous area with a river passing by its base, a settlement by its banks.
He lands about a mile away from the settlement, loudly, and starts to strafe away from the crater - seemingly disappearing into the surroundings by covering his dark red skin in a thick layer of mud while he walks.
A small black object lands near him, and he hears Miwa's voice come from it.
"This is Miwa! I'm not a close quarters kind of girl, so do your best to distract the big burly guys and I'll keep your back clear. Keep this communicator on you so we can work together."
He stares at her for a second, taken aback by her brazen inability to understand what he is doing. "I do not need your puny human gadgets, leave me to my old ways." He stares at her for a moment more, then continues circling around the incoming forces.
Riot soon hears the heavy rumbling of several large figures crashing through the trees, breaking into the clearing of the crater. A few seem to have been attracted to the site of the crater, but not all of them.
He jumps, landing on the closest and crushing it's head with his hoof before roaring at the others. "I am Riot Hell-Bringer, Shatterer of the Yeti Skull, and today you reap the vengeance of my clan!" Riot smashes the next one's skull with his hammer before they can respond.
As the other Oni realize they are under attack, one swings his spiked club at Riot's head, but is stopped when a loud boom shakes the air around them, a moment later, his head is run through by a large halberd, and the other two howl as sharp spikes begin raining down on them, distracting them from Riot as they try and get out of the way of the shrapnel rain.
The Hornless Giant draws and throws his axe into the back of the left one's head, then rushes and tackles the one on the right. He punches him twice, then asks, "Why are there White Masks out this far?!"
"H-Ha! I would never talk to one who soils himself with one of those freaks!" The Oni spits in Riot's face.
Riot shakes the saliva off of his face, then raises his fists and pounds the opponent's head into mush. He stands, roaring, then retrieves his axe and hammer, holding one in each hand.
Things seem to become quiet, and as time passes by, too quiet...
After quite some time from the group's appearance, a cold chill runs down Riot's spine, as though artic wind had just blown upon him. It feels similar to what he feels from magic... but somehow impossibly sinister. 
Soon after, a voice emits from the crater:
"So this is what I sensed." A dark, gravely voice rumbles, as black clouds begin to swirl and collect within the crater. A few moments later, a pillar of shadow rises up from the center, and at its 'head', a white mask materializes. There is a black kanji that for some reason, gives Riot the exact same chills as the sensation he felt a moment ago on the mask's forehead.
"Who dares bloody my soil with such foolishness? Speak, wretch."
"Hmph." Riot scoffs. "I am no wretch, One-Who-Is-Too-Cowardly-To-Face-Me. I am Riot Hell-bringer, of the Towering Horns clan. You reek of darkness, One-Who-Shows-No-Respect." He sheathes his axe and leans on his hammer. "You are the one manipulating these brave warriors?" he asks. "Like a child throwing a tantrum, you have wreaked havoc on My lands." The large oni chuckles at this last comment.
"Manipulating? Ha. What an idealistic fool." A towering red oni steps forth from the darkness, wearing the white mask. They bear a large waraxe but do not seem to be in a hurry to draw it.
"Towering Horns... never heard of it... nor have I heard of a Riot 'Hellbringer'. Indeed, it is not my nature to remember the names of cowards and weaklings." The oni speaks cooly as he steps forward.
"Your words betray you, Mask. Any red oni worth their salt knows of me, and knows of the Towering Horns." Riot relaxes a bit, standing up and holding his hammer at his side.
"Ha. I only remember the dying screams of a boy whose father abandoned him to die, while his mother looked on as he was beaten mercilessly to a pulp. Why, when I got on the scene..."
The mouth visible under the mask slowly breaks out into a vicious, toothy grin. "I couldn't tell what was the face, and what was his rear end. The woman was forgettable though - a harlot is a harlot, no matter what skin wraps their sinew."
Riot growls suddenly, then stops, closes his eye, and breathes. "You're all cowards to me, not worth the time of day for anger." In one swift motion, his axe penetrates the mask, cutting slightly into the head of the person underneath, but not too deeply.
The oni goes ridged, as the mask fractures and slowly breaks apart, a black smog rising from its pieces. It's at this point however that Riot feels a sharp, painful stab from something large - an arrow. Riot soon realizes he has been surrounded on all sides by a sizable number of the Oni from the clan.
Riot breaks the shaft of the arrow off, roaring and holding his warhammer with both hands. "Common then you cowards!" he roars, ready to fight.
The formerly masked oni begins to look about, seemingly first confused, then incredulous, then angry.
"Stand down, you fools, or has their magics taken you too?!" He roars in rage.
There is only snickering and looks of contempt from the hordes of Oni.
"So... you have nothing to say for yourselves... in that case..." The oni then grabs one of his horns and appears to begin breaking it off.
He looks at Riot.
"The actions of me and my men cannot be forgiven. I have no honor. Unless..." 
Riot rushes the closest Oni, smashing their face to the back of their head with one fist. He turns and, before the next oni can react, brings his hammer down on top of him at full strength, pushing their head to the bottom of their bowels. "Who's next?!" he howls.
The chief’s body falls to the ground as blood gushes from his sides and a blade having carved a deep path through him, now at rest.
The horde of oni only bellow with mocking laughter at the chief’s fallen form, and several retaliate against the lone Riot, their blows not dulled like Riot’s from years of isolation and solitude. It doesn’t take long for magically enchanted ropes to get lashed around his arms, many oni on both sides pulling to keep him in place. One particular oni, appearing far stronger than the others, mockingly approaches and slugs Riot repeatedly in the face.
”Who are you? Nothing. No one.” He jeers, before stepping back as several of his men take turns beating him, while the stronger one examines the white mask on the ground, stretching his hand out to it.
As the mob is about to strike him again, multiple oni on his left howl in pain as beams of mint green energy blast through their skulls from above, loosening the rope on his left.
Riot mumbles something under his breath, bringing his left arm around and ripping the other oni near him, tearing them from the ground and summoning his hammer. 
Miwa flies behind Riot and energy shots scorch the heads of several Oni attempting to come from behind.
”Riot, do you trust me?” Her body is becoming covered by a thick exoskeleton while making loud, crunchy noises, a small structure like a tail grows from the base of her head, a strange structure at the end looks as though it is shaped to fit on the back of his neck.
”You’re going to be worn out before you can take them all. My eyes will be yours, I will show you the weaknesses of your enemies while protecting your back.” Her voice is completely serious, no longer hyper and carefree, he can hear the battle hardened side of this girl in her voice.
Riot looks over his shoulder at her for a second, considering her offer. "I suppose I don't quite know what you mean, but sure. Let's kill them all." He grunts before taking a large stance with his war-hammer in one hand and his axe in the other.
Miwa's tail grows a small barb at the base, and stings Riot's neck, the end detaches off the tail and regrows, and suddenly the movements of the Oni charging as they surround them slow dramatically, and a faint glow surrounds one as it begins to close the distance to chop at Riot's neck. At the same time, he is able to 'see' all the way behind himself, two more Oni are swinging at his head from behind with axes. They too are glowing. 
In one swift, flowing movement, Riot moves his axe to intercept the oni in front of him - at the same time swinging his hammer's large handle horizontal and up, pulling it forward to slide the axes from the hands of the opponents from his rear.
"The hell he do that?" One of the Oni looks bewildered with his partner smashing him in the head with his fist.
"Moron, it's the shortstack freak! Nothing a good punch won't solve! DIE!" His partner roars as he swings his fist at Miwa, who calmly raises the two strange weapons in her arms, followed shortly by a colossal blast of mint green light that engulfs the two Oni behind Riot that nearly deafens him due to proximity.
Miwa seems to shrug dismissively. "Meant to just blow out the heart, be done with it." She says as the light fades and the two Oni fall to the ground lifeless, missing their upper halves.
"I'll get it next time, it's always harder taking on small fry like these guys without overdoing it."
"You mocking us?!" One oni roars only for a much smaller burst to punch a hole straight through his chest, and he stumbles and collapses.
"Nah, just used to fighting Kaiju. Gotta hit hard right at the get go, ya know?" She says as she shoots another in the chest without looking at him.
As the oni falls to the ground, Riot finishes disarming the oni in front of him and smashes his head with his hammer. He spins through that hit to gain momentum for a throw into the oni a few feet away and prepares to fight two more oni coming from his forward field of view. Surprisingly, he stays focused on the battle - especially considering that the lady he seems aligned with admitted to regularly fighting kaiju.
A loud crack of thunder is heard, and Riot is blasted by arcs of red lightning, Miwa wheels around to look at the direction of the attack and sees the oni that had reached out their hand to the broken mask, now wielding it upon their head, chuckling in the same low voice that possessed the chieftain. 
"I will enjoy breaking you," The voice chuckles.
Miwa grits her teeth and puts her arms forward, bits of metal begin swirling around her until they form into large weapons several times her size, they crackle with mint green energy and quickly begin to build up energy in the form of a brilliant glow.
"Riot! Hold on and do your best to distract them! I'll blow them away!"
"I think not." The masked oni intones, and uses his spare hand to blast red lightning at Miwa as well, though it appears the energy is getting sucked into the weapon, some of the energy attacking Riot seems to be siphoned as well, lessening its effects on him enough to move even through the pain.
The large, angered clanless roars through the shock, using the pain to fuel his rage as he charged the possesed oni that were focusing on the "vaporization cannons" that annihilated their former clan-mates moments ago. The first couple's arms were crushed and sliced off before they noticed the commotion, and the third turned in his direction all too late, as he head-butted their chest into mush. Riot roars again and stares down the now confused oni around him. "Who should you be more scared of, the one trying to kill you, or the one trying to kill your boss?!" the tempered war-yells of the Towering Horns' general echo to them. "Turn back, or face your ancestors in death!"
The Oni look at each other and then snarl at Riot and charge, though some of the wiser ones attempt to pick off Miwa, only to be shot by small floating barbs that hover around her and burn out their hearts.
Taking in how many threats are indicated by Miwa's shared power, Riot assumes his stance and disarms the first while almost perfectly beheading the second in the process. His hammer is thrown slightly behind him, into the chest of one of the oni.
One oni moves in with a grappler's stance while another swings a giant axe at him, and yet another aims a massive bow at him. Miwa's power appears to charge up significantly, the masked oni still struggling to harm her.
Riot side-steps the grappler, putting him in a dangerous position if the oni with the axe turns to continue the swing of their axe, and looks towards the bowman with a creepy grin while the warhammer comes back to his grip.
The axe wielder stumbles, but is too late to avoid cleaving his comrade in the side, who stumbles blindly in pain. The axe wielder grunts as he tries to dislodge the axe, while the bowman appears stunned, before snapping out of it to fire at Riot.
The grin turns to a maniacal laugh as Riot charges the bowman head-on. The arrow shoots near him, but as it is loosed from the string, the mountain-goat legs go to work, showing their main use. Hell-Bringer jumps between rocks, trees, and oni, becoming almost untraceable by sight. The kicks are powerful enough to shape large hills and mountain sides, and he kicks with the precision of a sculptor. The oni witnessing it notice now why Riot was a feared and respected war-chief, moving in awe-inspiring waves of power. As Riot reaches the archer, the arrow hits the ground behind where he once stood. His laughter ends and a quick prayer is said as the enemy falls to the ground.
As many of the Oni falter at the sight, Miwa fully powers up, and suddenly a colossal blast of mint green energy blasts from her cannons, letting off the force of several megatons of tnt around her, while the resulting beam wipes out huge trail, cleaving a hole through the forest and hills for miles, the masked Oni screams as body and mask alike are slowly disintegrated.
As the Oni look amongst each other in horror, a loud war horn blares across the valley, one accompanied by the loud sound of heavily armored soldiers marching in perfect synch, both sounds not heard by Riot since the war… a large army of the Samurai of Japan are on the move, seemingly towards the general direction they are.
"M-Miwa..." Riot whispers in her general direction, "I really hope... those guys are with you.. I don't know if I can keep this up much longer..." He slightly sways in pain as the wounds he has suffered during this battle become more visible, creating pools of blood below him.
It doesn't take long for a large column of samurai to march through the thicket, but in that time Miwa has fallen to her knees, panting. As the first set of Oni go to attack the two, a large volley of large arrows fly into their eye sockets, killing scores of them in moments, and in rapid succession more volleys fly and strike down several more Oni, before the sound of hooves rapidly approaching can be heard, and a calvary charge of spear and bow wielding samurai fly in from the trees, causing the Oni to panic and scatter, the samurai yelling as they pursue them. 
A large contingent soon surrounds the two.
"Miwa Yuriko, her presence was unmistakable. But who do we have here?" The originally neutral tone of what looks to be a decorated officer among the samurai shifts to a more hostile and on guard tone as he sizes up Riot.
"Identify yourself."
The last standing Towering Horns member chuckles as he begins leaning on the shaft of his hammer. "a commander... such as yourself... should know the fear my clan brings...." He mumbles most of this, and begins falling face-first towards the officer.
The officer sidesteps him and his hand lightly rests on his sword hilt.
"There are many tribes who claim thus. Am I to be impressed by a delirious Oni's spurious words?" He coldly remarks.
Miwa looks up at the officer, grunting. "Don't be mean to Goatie Legs. He beat up the mean red men with me!"
The officer turns towards her. "And you know this... fellow?"
"Aye aye, he said... err... it was... Bōdō! Yeah I think it was Bōdō!" Miwa says enthusiastically.
"Come again...? Bōdō...?" The officer asks, gears just starting to turn.
Riot gasps for air, letting out, "Is the.. Blue-One-With-Burned-Feet.... O.K..?" breathing in afterwards and closing his eye, clearly in a painful rest.
==Restful Glade==
When he groggily wakes up, he finds that Miyako is sleeping on his left arm while both of them are on a stretcher, being carried by a broad female red oni wearing plate armor on her arms, her hair is long and red, put up in a large ponytail.
”Ah, you’re up lazy bugger. Was gettin bored of Miiga’s brooding.” The woman jokes.
”Shaadup Ma,” A young female voice snips from behind Riot’s head, presumably the other carrying the stretcher.
When Riot starts to shift, the woman turns her head towards him slightly. “Don’t get excited. The Japanese asked me to get you to a healer, so I am taking you to the best one nearby. Her name is Lady Chiyoko of the Blackwood. We’re almost to her territory now.”
They appear to be traveling towards a large stretch of deep and old looking pine forests, around them are miles of plains.
The war-forged oni looks up at the sky, breathing with pained gasps as he flexes different muscles to assess the damage. Noticing his legs to be mostly numb, he takes a brief look at them, making sure they're still attached. Finding them there calms him a little, though the blood from his wounds starts to trickle again, making him more wary of careless movement. Starting to whisper a prayer for Miyako, he cuts off, remembering she most likely doesn't have the same ancestors to pray to, and his would likely not work to her benefit..
Then, remembering that in the battle with the masks he had been assisted by Miwa Riot softly asks the lady, "Is the Bug-Human ok?" Though at the time he doesn't remember her name's pronunciation.
”Aye, she’s fine. Strength left her bones from using the power of her weapon. She’ll be fine when you see her next. Name’s Umbosa, you’re Riot of the Horns, aye?” The woman asks.
"Hmm." He slowly looks toward the forest, accidently looking at the back of the lady carrying the front of his stretcher, then looks down at Miyako's head. "I suppose Blue One's feet are still burned. She will be sad at the in-con-vee-nance."
With this said, Riot Hell-Bringer quiets, looking to the clear sky above in contemplation.
”Ah, so you’re Quiet Horn, I understand. Well, we’ll get you patched up either way, one-who-speaks-little.” She adjusts her hold on the stretcher and presses on.
The Hornless Giant sighs at the attempt of name-giving. He feels Miyako's breaths, and wonders what would have happened if he had stayed in his seclusion, deciding he will one day build a home there when he finds peace. "I have come to a conclusion. I will sleep. Wake me if Blue-One-Who-Rests-Deep stirs." Closing his eyes, he adds, "and I suppose thank you, Human-One-Who-Is-Red," and closes his eyes.
He hears the female, Miiga, behind him scoff. "And you're helping him, why?"
"Because he's injured, and the Masks are responsible. That and it's only right." Umbosa responds.
Miiga huffs, but makes no more complaints. After a while...
Riot feels a rough rapping on his forehead.
"Oi, wake up, we're here and you don't wanna be asleep when the Tree Crawl-" Miiga grumbles.
"What have I said about calling Green Oni as such?!" Umbosa hisses angrily.
Riot feels as though he's been laid on the grass, Miyako is placed next to him but not on top of his arm anymore.
He thinks he can hear noises in the canopy.
"Tread lightly," Riots deep voice warns to Miiga, "for we have impe-ded upon their lands." His eye opens, slowly following the canopy, searching for the Green Oni that is likely there. He speaks in the most polite tone any of the three companions have experienced from him, "Green One, I app-o-lo-gize for the child's stupidity, as she is un-edicaatad in our ways. I cannot manage a bow, but I eemplare you to know I would be right now."
The nine-foot eleven-inches tall Red Oni, known for slaying companies of enemies alone, trembles in his speech, careful what words he uses. Even Miiga notices the caution he takes, when he did not take any such precautions talking to the ladies that had been carrying his own limp body.
"No offense taken. The child has been here often enough, to help in acts of healing. I do not expect you to bow, you are in my care and are my guest. You'd make your wounds worse at any rate..." A silky smooth, almost seductive voice wafts among the canopy and drifts into his ears. He hardly is able to tell when the massive figure begins its descent until it is right upon them, lumbering down from the trees yet moving with the eerie grace of a spider stalking its prey through the webs.
The dim light shining from the few spaces of the trees causes the barely visible eyes to reflect back as silver orbs glowing ominously bright in the dark forest. He hears the gentle scratch of her clawed feet and hands on the tree bark as she slides fully into view. Her body is long and gaunt, he imagines her body would be quite boney, but little skin can be seen for the dense carpet of vines, mosses, and floral plants that live on her body. So dense is the foliage and flora that he can hardly tell the skin apart from the plants. 
Her face is beautiful by human standards, with a thin mouth and lips, and dark green eyes. Her hair is long and bright green, parted partially by incredibly long horns, ones so long that he's fairly sure that no Oni he's seen had ever had such long horns. He sees her mouth shift slightly in the form of a smile accompanied by a shift in her eyes, a faint twinkling is present in them as she regards him.
"Curious. The trees and the wind speak of you in odd terms, O' Lost Horn. I am Chiyoko, Guardian of these woods. These ones have brought you here for you and your companion to be healed before you set out on your way once more. I merely wish to know if you consent, and I can mend the worst of your problems. The rest... will require time and care to prepare your treatments." There is a subtle, deeper, barely present hiss to how she talks that is only audible from her having come this close.
"Even I, Tallest of the Towers, am short it seems," Riot's voice remains deep, shaking the earth beneath him - though this effect is much less apparent than before the forest. "Blue-One-Who-Snores needs healing. Her feet smell more Red than Blue."
His eye relaxes, and his muscles stop tensing, the red blood from his wounds beginning to pour into the grass beneath him. "Seems I have no say," gasps out of him as his eye closes, passing into the endless night of his memories.
Miiga flinches as the Green Oni's face slides into a bit of a grin, revealing long sharp teeth that could probably run her through like swords.
"Indeed, most curious." Chiyoko reaches into her foliage and plucks several sprigs of herbs, and begins crushing them in her large hands. She waves her hand over Riot and releases a cloud of dust over Riot, and claps her hands together, and shimmering green light flows over him, and slowly his wounds begin to stitch together on the surface.
After time passes, she stops and regards Umbosa and Miiga.
"Feel free to rest at the cabin towards the edge of the wood. I go to bring these ones to the cottage that I might collect that which I need for further treatment. My daughter will see to him further ministration." 
With that, she bends down and picks up Miyako and Riot in the stretcher, carrying them off into the deep dark heart of the woods.
When Riot's consciousness roses, he feels warmth, as though inside a confined building. He feels that whatever he is sleeping on is supremely soft and cozy. He hears quiet movements and female humming.
The scarred warrior tenses his muscles, starting from his neck and moving downwards to his hooves. He feels the progress on the wounds - minor bruises being almost gone and the more major wounds stopped from bleeding out.
"Young-One-Who-Hums, where is Polite-One-Who-Is-Blue?" The Hell-Bringer's voice feels as though it is regaining it's strength, vibrating the room he occupies. His eye opens, darting around for possible threats, as he starts lifting the mass of bone and tusk Red Oni call a head.
The sight around him stuns him. He appears to be in a storybookisque cottage like that in a fairytale, for while built as though an ordinary cottage, one side is full of furnishings meant for giants with a colossal front door, while a smaller opposing side feels as though it were meant for those like himself. Standing at the far end of the building in what appears to be the kitchen is a tall woman who is at least a head taller than Riot, with brilliant emerald hair, and mottled skin with human and emerald coloration. He can smell what appears to be a broth or soup being prepared. She turns her head allowing a good look at her.
She bears well sown clothes as though of noble birth, the cloth bright and vibrant. The dress conceals her feet, and cups her large breasts and exposes her shoulders. Her eyes are brilliant as jeweled emerald, reflecting colors towards him, while her face is beautiful, at least by human standards. Her visage for him is not as impressive but he feels himself captivated, soon sensing she has some manner of ‘aura’. 
The thing that grabs his attention about her is her singular horn. He had heard many a tall tale of human-oni half breeds, but he had been unable to determine how valid they were. One legend seemed consistent: while not particularly special for normal oni, there was a strange feeling of mythical power surrounding the tales of one horned halfborns. Some say they are cursed, while others tell of great feats and deeds only accomplished by their rare kind.
The one horned halfblood smiles at him.
”Rest, if you move or stress your body you will agitate the wounds my mother closed up. She is out foraging for treatment herbs for both of you, so please be patient. Your blue friend is resting well. I have reduced the severity of her infection and more treatments will resolve the present danger. I am Wanhon. Please rest, I will have nourishment and medicine ready soon.”
"Hmm." The Hell-Bringer attempts to remember any tales of a place as clean as this, or even of a dress in such a fashion or coloration as hers - but none come to mind. Taking note of this makes him feel on-edge. His face remains the same, his body giving no sign of relaxation or terror.
Cautiously bringing himself to lay down, his eyes give a hint of disgust. "This lay-place has no beginning, and no end."
”It is cotton stuffed. A gift to my mother for her ministrations on a passing trader wounded in a bandit raid. He insisted on repaying us so that others would benefit more in the future. Rest assured though; it is not the way of Green Oni to break an oath of hospitality, there is great care taken by our ilk that none may doubt the genuine promises of a Green Oni’s care. 
"Besides, it has been… many years since I had the company of one not my mother.”
A grunt is heard in response. "Won-hoon..." the gruff man attempts. "One-who-is-Half-Horned, why do you stay in such a place? It is without cheer, without a warm fire or company to eat with. I know of Green Oni who are evil being alone - but why do kind hearts not warm themselves with joyous drink?" Riot's ears twitch, and the disgust fades a bit as he begins showing signs of interest.
”Hmm. I suppose so that my brother and sister have a place to come home to. My mother is a solitary soul and sometimes I can tell she prefers solitude to my presence, but I fear should I join my siblings and indulge my wanderlust, I might never see them or Mother again. That… feels lonelier than to seek out a community to belong to.”
Wanhon walks forward with the medicine and broth, and sets them on a side table.
”Plus I am like my Mother: my heart yearns to heal, and here I have what I need to do it. …Though I suppose it is also nostalgia for the home I have always had, the home my mother and father built together.”
The reminiscent expression on her face changes to a more serious one.
”Eat your soup before the medicine or it will wreck havoc and you will very painfully vomit. Plus the taste will dull the bitterness. And please don’t spit it out: your wounds are at risk of infection and this will help your body keep clean- -especially that your kind are not keen on bathing.”
Riot takes a long look at the ceiling in a trance, remembering fond memories. "While there was a great amount of loss in my time, there were a few encounters with joy - most of which were because of good company, great drink, and the best of company." He downs the pot of soup without a thought, spilling some through his massive tusks as he gulps, and chews the bitter medicine without complaint. "Most of these times were with my wife, and the best of them I saw my children dancing with us. 
"Our brothers, our sisters, mothers and fathers - all of us knew what it was to lose such. But with this came an equal amount of celebration for the fact they had died without fear... However, I do not know if there was fear in my children on their last day. I can only pray there was not." His dense body shakes during this conversation, though not of rage. Of something he is not familiar.
With a cough, he gathers himself and looks into the young Wanhon's eyes. "If any harm befalls the Blue One by your hands, I will slaughter you and your mother without discernment. I pray you understand."
Wanhon only giggles in response, and takes the empty bowls and brings them to a washbasin.
”Fond of her are you? I can wheel her in if you wish to talk.”
He grunts and looks to the ceiling, yet again. "If she wishes as much, you may do so."
Wanhon nods and walks out, closing the door and he can hear a faint discussion from the next room. He then hears noises that get louder until Wanhon comes out pushing a bed on wheels with Miyako resting on it. After steering Miyako next to Riot’s bed, Wanhon bows before retreating into one of the other rooms and can be heard working.
Looking at Miyako, Riot can see her skin is paler than normal, and she looks exhausted. Her arms and legs are wrapped up in medical gauze, but the skin at the edges is discolored.
”I’m sorry that I couldn’t have been there to fight with you. If… if I had been there, you… you wouldn’t have been hurt during the journey I asked you to take…” She closes her eyes and coughs a bit.
”It would seem that… I got a cold close to the same time I got burned… what fortune indeed…”
He sighs, looking at her, then at his own form, then back at her - ending at her eyes. "You do as you can, when you can. No more, no less. If a brother falls, mourn not, but rejoice in the peace they have found." His eye falls to his unharmed left hand, which sits near the wall, then says "Besides, I was more worried for Small-One-Who-Burns-Easily than Big-One-Who-Fights-Well." And with a chortle, the endless abyss of the remaining eye looks towards her, and his face does a strange contortion she can only assume is a grin.
”It is my duty. I… It… It is dishonorable to allow your charge to fall to harm. Duty it… it means everything. It reflects poorly of me that I…” Her gaze drifts up to the ceiling. “…I think that the world would be more dull without your bizarre haikus.” She attempts to smile, weakly so.
Riot's belly starts rumbling, shaking the two beds, and soon his laugh is heard through the whole forest's deepest reaches. When he finnally settles down, he begins, "Hah! Duty means everything you say? HAH hah..." The joy is seen on his face as he looks at her again, permeating the room as a whole and spilling into the room next door. "If you're always worried about the people around you, what time is there to relax and be yourself?"
Miyako is quiet, the weak smile fades into a frown and her eyes close as she turns her head to one side away from Riot.
Riot calms himself. Sighing, some words he remembers hearing said to a younger man are heard coming out of his mouth, "'We are not war-men, we are not protectors, just brothers trying to smile with each other...'" Stars twinkle in his eye, despite the ceiling above them, and his face goes much softer then before, continuing his gaze in her direction. His smile turns to one of mixed feelings, and he speaks something out of an attempt towards comfort. "My mother said that once. I did not know what it meant. She died soon after, in battle with your tribesmen. Those words are the only connection I have with her - and I never knew them. 
"And then a Blue Oni, of the lineage of Glass, comes to my mountain, with softness and a chance of adventure. Then I knew those words..." With a pause, and a look away, he continues, "I was no lover of War. War herself took many of my closest friends and family -" His arm gestures towards the air with glee as his tusked mouth chuckles. "- and here stood one who had been with War when she wagered with my tribe! Sitting with me at my camp with Peace! Ha!"
Riot's arm, full of muscle and of fatigue, and his face, being made of suddenly visible calluses and scars, both seem naturally sad when looking downward. "I hope you understand the meaning, Miyako. It took me too long to."
”…” Miyako doesn’t answer for a while. “My people are not like yours, but are also alike. I suppose it would be difficult to understand why it matters to me so. To our people, honor and duty are not just ideals, they are part of who we are. And for me… it is what gave me the strength to become the Witch of Glass when I was lost and needing purpose.”
She shakes her head quietly. "I envy that you feel like you can be yourself, be able to look ahead, even with all that has happened. But for me... well. There is no place in the Glass for those who do not bear the tribe fruit. Those who do not fulfill their duty will be made to. That is what it means to be Midnight Glass, ever striving, ever yearning for greater and greater feats. To establish your worth so that you have a place to belong, and not be... ...not be one of the maternal workers. Or worse yet, thrown out and left to die."
Her head turns slightly to Riot, but not enough for him to see her face. "I understand if you did not understand our ways, but bare that in mind, that in some ways, you are more free than some of us might ever be. It hurts to hear someone say... ...and besides. I meant what I said before. I would be saddened if aught befell you."
A deep silence falls over the room as she finishes, and Riot takes a deep breath before breaking it. He faces the ceiling with a closed eye, his hands relaxed in his lap. "Warriors fight on, Forever facing each other, But seeing nothing." A light chuckle rolls his throat, and when he looks at her his eye opens. "I am grateful for your sentiment, Blue-One-Who-Worries." And with that, he lays back down. "Get some rest. I will not leave you until you wake."
She doesn't answer, but from her quiet he can only assume she has fallen to sleep.
There is deep silence for a time, save for the sounds of the forest, and the quiet noises of Wanhon's work. After some time, Wanhon emerges with vials and bags, setting them on a distant counter before seating herself and quietly observing the two injured oni. Meeting Riot's gaze, she gestures to Miyako, perhaps suggesting he greet slumber as well.
Riot smiles, lightly shaking his head to her. His eye seems well-rested, and watch the room carefully, though some somber remembrance remains seen in the pits of the deep void of black. 
Wanhon silently giggles, before slowly walking about lighting candles that begin to waft a pleasant, soft odor. The scent slowly fills the room as Wonhon silently begins to work on a tapestry in the corner. The theme seems to be of colors opposing each other, meeting at the middle, and becoming one hue at their center. 
Some time passes, and Riot watches the tapestry intently. Speaking up, he notes the mixture of the opposites, "What great battle does this speak of? The mixture and loss of self could only be inside the pits of a valley, bodies piled high enough that those fighting no longer understand what for."
She places a finger on her chin in thought. "Is that what you make of it? I see it like a slow mixing of possibilities." 
She hears a rap at the window and opens it, taking from a large hand several bags, and begins mixing ingredients. She then takes a roll of bandages and soaks them in a solution from the ingredients, with the remainder she makes another strong smelling liquid. She places them on a tray and waits for a while.
"Hmm." The hornless one becomes lost in thought, staring at the tapestry.
After some time passes, Wanhon approaches with the tray and sets it next to Riot and Miyako, and she takes the liquid and slowly pours it down Miyako's throat, who immediately sputters and coughs up a storm.
"Swallow, it's awful, but better than your feet rotting." Wanhon reprimands. She then takes off the bandages on Miyako's feet and throws them away, before treating the feet and then wrapping them in the pre soaked bandages.
She then looks at Riot. "I'll be addressing your bandages next, if you would lean forward. Unless you'd like me to handle you myself."
The war-forged lifts his good arm, ripping some bandages from his skin while grunting. "I can do my own. Bring them here." Tearing some of his muscles he sits up and grabs the bandages from his back.
Wanhon gives Riot a look that quickly evolves into her narrowing her eyes and her pupils becoming slitted, before just as quickly she breaks into a smile with closed eyes that burns with unspoken temper. It is if he is being silently scolded: 'Keep doing that and I'll maim you myself'.
Without warning she moves before he can protest, and lifts him up, takes off his bandages, placing the new medicated bandages upon his skin (which burns like hydrogen peroxide), and has him tucked firmly into bed in a flurry of motion too fast to fully piece together until minutes later.
"When your bandages have dried, you will be free to leave." She gives him another smile that beams 'Behave yourself and don't do anything else or you'll meet your ancestors today', and walks off.
He grunts in disapproval before looking at Miyako. "Are you well yet, One-Who-Shines-at-Night?"
Her eyes creak open. “I can say that I would be glad to be rid of this throbbing, but aye. I might need help walking for a while.”
The sounds of heavy footsteps fill the room as the front door opens, Umbossa and Miiga walk through and immediately Umbossa breaks into a hearty grin.
”By my bellows you two are looking ready to put down a bear! The Mistress of the Wood brought us here to pick you up!” She lets out a deep booming laugh that shakes the building and earns a disapproving look from Wanhon.
"By Harthin's Beard at last! Someone who has a hearty laugh!" Riot shakily stands up, then attempts a strong posture for two of his skin. "Sparkles-Who-Pouts is even more quiet than I these days, and the two nursemaids hate my ways!" A rearing laugh shakes the forest around them, straining his weakened lungs. "It is good to see family again."
Miiga looks between the two Oni and then puffs her chest before attempting to copy them, only to choke and sputter when spit catches in her throat. Wanhon blankly offers a cup of water and Miiga chugs it.
Miyako looks at them all blankly. “Ha Ha Ha.” She intones. Umbossa slowly looks at Riot, and he Umbossa. The following laughter could only be described as earth shattering.
After the din quiets down, a low chuckle that vibrates the house reverberates through them. “Tis good that you have regained your vigor. I wish you safe travels.” The lady of the house speaks from the window.
After some discussion Umbossa decides to travel at day as to minimize travel time and simply carry Miyako for the rest of the trip.
Umbossa looks at Miyako. "I'm surprised that you're journeying with her though. I mean, I'm no warrior but even I recognize the Witch. I'm surprised neither of you have tried to kill each other or succeeded in doing so. Given your clan's mutual history...."
"I have no clan," Riot curtly responds, "and whilst I fought her tribe many times on the field of battle, I and my comrades respected great warriors. She was not known for torturing, maiming, or otherwise forcing cruelty upon others. There were even a few under my command she had healed in times of need. I fought with respect - not with hatred." A tired sigh escapes his breath. "I wish others had seen it that way earlier."
Umbossa shrugs. “Odd I suppose, but strange is not the same as bad. Wish my folks could think like you. Maybe I wouldn’t have struck out on my own. But then again, I wouldn’t have my Shop or Miiga here, so maybe twas a blessing.” She pats Miiga’s head, who has eyed Riot intently the whole while.
Umbossa notices and chuckles. “Hot blooded and defiant to the bone. She’s never met a man of our kind, pay her no mind.”
Miiga’s face stiffens and turns a faint shade red and her fist punches Umbossa in the side who without looking swats her nose with a finger and knocks Miiga down on her butt. Miiga just pouts. Umbossa then takes out a large carrier bag about Miyako’s size. 
“I will carry our strange friend. We can talk more on the road, aye?”
"Aye." As he walks outside, he holds his hand out, and a war-hammer as large as Umbossa with a head made of a granite stone the size of Miiga flies to him, tearing through a couple trees on the way. The warrior flinches. "Appologies, Green-One-Who-Crawls."
The large green oni gives him a terrifying smile of sword teeth. “The old trees fall, that their younglings might rule the canopy.”
Umbossa waves to the lady of the wood and packs the resting Miyako into her bag and closes it, strapping it to her back. With that, the three set out through the forest, eventually finding their way to the north of the forest’s boundaries.
== Land of the Sun ==
As Riot regards the mother and daughter pair, he notes the shortness of the mother’s horns and the rather comparable height Miiga’s proudly jut from her head. Certainly no One Horn, but it’s clear that the strength of her blood must actually come from her father… whoever they are. Miiga in turn still seems to have a fascination with him, as though considering every word and action with eagerness and attention.
The Towering Horn leans on the hammer's handle, using the thick wood to stabilize his walking to keep a proud stride through the journey.
"My daughter was not much bigger than you when she was taken." He laughs, "Though I suppose she was a bit older."
Miiga puffs up a bit. "Is it true you're part of some big strong tribe that did much butt kicking? Fought a bunch of blues?"
The scarred man signs, looking as if his stance softened a bit. "Yes. Is this a good thing?"
Miiga fidgets as she walks. "Ma's not really a... 'real Red Oni'... I mean she is- -but not in the head... gah, I mean I don't really know what 'we' are like, and I wanted to learn more about... about 'us', I guess. How to fight and... err... what being 'us' is like." 
Umbossa rolls her eyes with a resigned smile. "She's never been at home in the Empire, so she loves getting to go on these missions."
"Hmm." The giant stops, and plants his hammer's handle in the ground. His massive hands pop their knuckles, his neck cracks as he stretches. "Then show me what you know of our ways."
Miiga blinks before getting a big grin on her face, tensing up as she curls her fists, sucks in a breath, and rushes forward to take a shot at his liver.
His hand does not have to move far, shooting from beside the thick leather belt to slap the halfbreed's fist away, throwing her off balance. "Pitiful. Again."
She clenches her teeth and moves faster and more precisely to strike at his stomach with a double one inch punch.
He grabs her fingers as she comes close, allowing them to almost make contact. The towering wanderer flips her hands - throwing her to the ground. 
"Using cheap tricks against an active opponent? You are not ready." His voice is not a shout. Nor is he speaking any louder than a normal conversation. But, for whatever reason, the words seem to resonate in the world around her more than most any she'd heard.
To his surprise, his face is slammed by a powerful punch almost sufficient to unbalance him as her body masterfully rights itself in the midst of the throw, feet slamming and denting the ground as the whole of her body flows into a seamless counter strike, letting out a defiant battle cry.
Her eyes gleam with ferocity but also focus. "If a basic toss like that could put me on the ground, Father would disown me and I'd have to turn in my sword in shame."
Riot smiles, chuckling to himself. A hand as big as her face rushes toward her. The wind alone makes her stumble, and the hand once again knocks her into a spinning motion. "Are you going to so much as make me move my hooves? Or is the half-blood too weak?"
Miiga easily rights herself, landing with a small crater before launching herself forward into a flurry of heavy strikes at him, it becomes apparent she's hoping to knock him off balance due to their height differences, but overall lacking the finer control and knowledge of a seasoned fist fighter.
Allowing a couple of the blows to land, the general sidesteps the last, allowing it to pass by his chest so his face is even with hers. His large hand crashes towards her head, not being seen before it is almost too late.
She fails to see it in time and gets sent flying, not rising as she gasps and wheezes, sweating profusely.
Umbossa nods. "Figured as much, first time she ever tapped into her inner strength and focus like that. My folk's trainin' went about as well with me when I was a little tot."
Footsteps can be heard slowly getting louder on the trail behind them. 
"She did better than many others in my colony did at the age of five. This is good," he chuckles as he turns to the footsteps, summoning his hammer to lean his still-weathered body on.
Just emerging from the curvature of the hill walks a woman in white robes with black detailing etched along the rim and seams of their cloth, a white hood drapes over their head with a black cloth facemask obscuring her eyes, leaving only the lower half of her face visible. Glimpses of cream colored hair can be discerned.
She chuckles as she comes to a stop. "This many Red Oni so close to Nihon's borders. Not a usual sight... would you mind standing aside? I'd rather not step into the tall grass and my robes get entangled in briars."
Despite his many years of keen sense, it strikes Riot odd that he can't feel her presence or get any gauge of her nature... as though despite her pleasant voice, she was lifeless.
The general steps aside cautiously, keeping his eye on her.
The woman nods, and begins to step forward, though as she passes Riot she comments, "You have some potential, as does the Blue. T'will be amusing to see what bend fortune turns for you." 
She keeps walking. "It would seem many things are conjoining in this land..."
Umbossa narrows her eyes as the woman becomes a distant figure on the path. "That one from another place gives me the creeps. You felt that too, aye?" 
"It's what I didn't feel that makes me more worried..." He gathers himself, then starts along the path again. "We must move. Take the tall grass."
"Won't hide me. One of the small ones, sure. Us, not so. Or are you calling me short?" Umbossa huffs.
Riot continues, beginning to cut through the underbrush. "We're not hiding. We're avoiding a possible threat that none of us are currently equipped to deal with." 
He stops, motioning to Miyako. "Strap the azure annoyance to my back."
A faint smile spreads on her face. "Feeling protective are we?" She takes the carrier and hands it to Riot. She picks up her daughter and begins to follow Riot.
A grunt escapes his breath as he shoulders the carrier. "I'm simply stronger." Another as he launches himself into the sky - landing almost three miles away.
As soon as he lands, he feels Miyako's hand smack the back of his head.
"If you are going to do that while I'm sleeping, at least attempt to land softly!" She hisses.
Umbossa meanwhile has a blank look on her face. "Well I suppose we'll meet up in an hour..." She sucks in a breath and starts jogging.
After some time has past, they arrive at the border of Japan's territory, where a platoon of Samurai are stationed. By this point, the sun is setting, and Miyako's head pops out of the carrier and defuses a rather tense standoff as she explains her identity, further helped by Umbossa who after also explaining her presence, provides Riot a rather blank stare.
They are let in, and they begin their journey through Japan's lands, the countryside dotted full of small to medium size settlements. Miyako directs their journey from the carrier, though through all of this, no sign could be found of the strange woman, not even the Samurai posted recall such a sight.
Towering over the humans, Riot turns to Umbossa and says, "How does one of our kind live among the ants without crushing them underfoot?"
"Discipline is the difference between a hapless brute and strength," Umbossa recites.
"Ants have more strength than we do comparatively, you know." Miyako states dully. "They lift things many times their weight and size. Commendable creatures, ferocious warriors of the soil."
"There's a difference between discipline and distress," the scarred man says. "And Ants utilize less muscle than possible. But they are capable warriors, and sturdy workers. It is an honorable creature."
Umbossa shrugs. "Like ants perhaps, men are adaptable creatures. They may be weak as individuals but their strength united is not to be mocked. As surely as some of your scars you have earned came from the talented Samurai whom you have faced in mortal combat."
They travel further still, finally coming to a grand wall surrounding the capital city of Edo. However, waiting for them is a large squadron of Samurai and at their head stands a tall man wearing a helm fashioned in likeness or out of an Oni's skull. Riot has heard many a tale of the Skullblade, the man who acts as the blade of the Emperor themselves, lord of all Samurai and a penchant for distrust and animosity of Red Oni.
As they approach, he sweeps his hand to one side. "No further. I have questions for you, Hornless." He gazes intently at Riot.
"Lord Iwato, your cause for alarm is unfounded. He will not cause trouble, upon my honor." Miyako speaks from Umbossa's backpack, muffled.
Iwato shakes his head. "Even should you vouch for his character, I would question him. If I am right, this is none other than Riot Hellbringer, and there are questions he must answer for."
The large general sighs, glaring at the Hand of the Emperor with disgust through his remaining eye. "I will not answer to such a dishonorable combatant. You are unworthy of such respect."
"I do not require respect from the commander of the coward who stabbed the Emperor in the back rather than face him head on in battle, then attempted to flee after the Emperor succumbed to his wounds upon reuniting with his child... and used his fellow soldier as a shield rather than submit to the judgement of my blade."
Iwato responds coldly. "After the current Emperor was rescued in spite of his cowardly plot, I made sure the first of your brutish kind I put to the sword in the Culling of the Mists was him, and now he stands testament to your true nature as a species. I am but a mirror, reflecting the truth of your kind. Have you more to say? Or will you answer my questions? I'm more than happy to bar your path as long as I require."
Riot's through sounds a low grumbling noise. His neck pulsates with blood. The large hand grips his sheathed axe by the head and the knuckles around the handle of the several-ton hammer go pale.
"What evidence do you provide of my tribesman's betrayal? I demand such a grave implication's proof be provided."
"If it is physical evidence you require, that requires time that neither of us are interested in spending. Though if I was lying, how could I possibly know that he told you in regard to his fallen compatriot, 'He died protecting me from a blade meant for me, and his last words were 'take care of my wife and child', but I refused to let him lay there.' This was said, of course, after he dragged his corpse back home as the 'last of his regiment'. 
Tell me though, what self respecting Oni turns his back on his attacker? Why then, was the mortal blow a gash to his spine?"
Iwato lets this hang in the air for a moment. "Because of course, no self respecting Oni would ignore his brother trying to use himself as a shield, and with two enemies to contend with, the craven sought to eliminate the immediate threat. 
Now tell me, Commander of Cravens, why is it that when we heard no contact from the Towering Horns, that your entire tribe was ash and dust? And why are you alive, when so many of your fabled number are no more? You will answer me, or be judged as a Craven deserving of judgement and join your tribe in hell, where they'll be waiting to punish you for your sins." He places his hand on his sword hilt.
Hooves digging into the dirt, his eye and mouth smoking, the Last of the Towering Horns growls his response; "My tribe was slaughtered as I hunted, and the ones who did it will be slaughtered as dogs for the rest of my days." 
Riot looks towards Umbossa and Miyako, feeling a slight betrayal at seeing them converse regularly with someone who wears a skull like a trophy. "Are you satisfied?"
Umbossa folds her arms. “I don’t like him either so you can drop the look or you can sleep with the boars tonight. You’re my guest, I don’t have to take it from you, remember that.”
Miyako, still within the confines of Umbossa’s pack, doesn’t notice the look. 
“I am satisfied that you didn’t get turned into Diced Oni with a side of garlic bread.” She intones.
A low grumble comes in return, then Riot goes silent, attempting to pass by the seeming second-in-command.
The hilt of the swordman's weapon digs into Riot's chest below the ribcage.
"What purpose do you have in coming to the land of your enemy?" He intones.
"General, he is with me, seeking direction and purpose. He'll be assisting me with my duties as ambassador and with the Anti Kaiju Squad." Miyako responds from the pack.
Iwato grunts, moving his weapon aside. "I will be watching, Riot Hellbringer. Don't expect to be rid of me yet, there are others who would speak with you, but they are inclined to grant you respite before they grant you audience. At such a time, I will be escorting you to meet them. Pray you do not sully their good faith in you."
With that, Iwato turns and walks into the city, followed by his squadron, save for two samurai, a male and female.
"We are to provide escort under imperial decree," The female, bearing fox ears and a red fox tail, salutes Riot.
"We shall endeavor to not cause you undue burden, so pay little heed to us humble soldiers." The male adds, small curved horns poking through his helm and a reptilian tail swishes behind him.
After some brief exchanges they go to set forth into the city, upon crossing the gates they are greeted by a view of the whole city and the ocean in the distance. The sun hangs low over the harbor in a brilliant red sunset, the sky full of color. No less colorful is the city, with many different peoples and buildings in all shapes and sizes.
They do not venture deep into the heart but travel along the wall, eventually coming to a large hall with different adjacent buildings connected by paths, guarded by a large wall around the whole place.
Umbossa gestures proudly. “Built this place with my own hands! Beautiful is it not?”
Riot grunts in response. "Is this where we will be staying?"
She nods. "Unless you have better places to lay your head. You have the run of the place - though I ask you do not disturb my other guests in the north buildings. They... they would not welcome company let alone one of us. ...Victims of the Masks and their foul magicks."
"Mmmm. A sentiment that is understandable." He nods to Miyako's hiding place. "Where will you stay?"
Her head pokes out of the pack, groggy looking. The sun, low enough in the sky to barely touch her, seems to not bother her.
"I have... a place here. This place is the safest place for Oni in the city. Even Blues face scorn from men, and those that don't... well, they pursue us with other intentions in mind. This place is quiet, too, which I think after everything you'd appreciate." She speaks sleepily.
"Mmm. Blue-one-who-sleeps-often, I wish to stay near you until you are healthy."
She clambers out of the pack, sprawling onto the ground. "Then if you would be so kind as to carry me the rest of the way... I can guide you to my abode."
"Thank you for the help, sister," he nods to Umbossa. The giant picks up his friend, and begins walking.
Miyako directs him to a quiet part of the complex, shaded and surrounded by trees and a crystal clear stream. The dwelling is sufficient in size for the both of them, with a central living area and firepit, and two adjacent rooms, both sleeping quarters. She indicates the back of the building, which has no windows, and a round cushioned mattress fashioned for her size.
Riot places Miyako in the round bed. "Are you O-K, Blue-One-Who-Hates-The-Sun?"
”I may never play the foot organ again.” She says stoically, before adding, “The sensitivity should subside enough by the end of tonight.”
She then fidgets with her top, paying Riot’s presence in the room no mind. 
The giant grows seemingly smaller, and an almost unnoticeable blush appears on his red skin as he turns to leave. "Good-night, blue-one-who-heals-fast."
"And you as well, red-one-who-grumbles-heavy," She returns as she makes herself comfortable. She curls up in a ball, rather how a cat might sleep.
There is quiet for a few hours, until a quiet knock at the door is heard.
He gets up from the fire he had started in the living area, and approaches the door. "Who is it?" his low voice growls, expecting the worst in a society of his enemies after being alone for so long. His hammer starts to tremble in the corner where he had left it.
”A humble practitioner of the Mystic Arts, and one requested to watch over ye.” A woman’s voice speaks from the other side of the door. 
“Might I come in?”
His hand barely fits in the handle of the screen door as he pushes it slowly out of the way. "Hmpf." While his voice wouldn't betray it, his shoulders seem to relax at the sight of a fellow Oni.
The woman standing in front of him smiles, red eyes glinting warmly. She is an Oni with long white hair and prominent white horns, adorned in priestess robes and armor. He had heard that the White Oni seldom produced warriors, fewer still that still clung to the arts of the priesthood, making her one of the very few Warrior Priestesses.
"You are indeed the one she seeks." She notes with a slight smile. "I am Tion of the South Lotus people. I have come to welcome you to Edo. I see by your spirit there has been more turmoil than there has been kind memories here?"
She gives him an apologetic smile. "You are a guest of the Bringer of Death, the Guardian of Soul. Iwato should have practiced some restraint in his dealings with ye, even if his wariness of you was understandable. But where are my manners? I take it you have not eaten since your arrival. I have an offering to make ye." She brings out a clay container from a pouch and opens it, revealing still warm and aromatic bundles of soft meat within. The smells are not familiar to Riot, but are enticing.
"Hmpf." He leaves the door open, moving back to the fireplace and lazily siiting back down. "The One-Who-Wears-Skulls is just a human. It is their way."
A loud grunt-like chuckle escapes his throat. "If he wishes to Live, he should learn to Forgive."
”You have lost much, but you have received equal in measure. You have a measure of wisdom that many of your kin never achieve. But humans are not solely creatures of malice and disdain. There are many whom you may come to respect and maybe even call comrades, should you open your own heart.” She councils as she sits and offers him her gift.
"I dare say though… that your heart is colored by another’s light.”
His grumble becomes more annoyed. "You speak in riddles, and I just met you. Speak your mind."
She shakes her head. "I was merely making an observation. Nothing more. Perchance though, are you acquainted with Miyako? I would gather as much, since you are here of all places. It's been a long time since a Red and a Blue coexisted, let alone traveled and bonded with each other, so I was curious."
Riot looks towards her room, where he had gingerly closed the door so she could sleep. "She was a good rival, and has become a good friend. It is good manners to respect those who can give a challenge on the battlefield." The solemn eye moves back to the flames in the pit. "Though, we do disagree on what this Empire stands for."
She looks at the fire for a moment. "I cannot say where your destiny will lead you, but I could offer some advice. Do not mistake the outward manner of the Blue for unfeeling, uncaring coldness. Blues burn bright and hot, sometimes more so than Reds. It is rare but something to behold. But just as they are unlikely to share their passions, what festers and weakens their hearts are equally hidden from view."
Tion looks up at Riot, the reflection of flames dancing in her eyes. "If for some reason, a Blue opens up to you and shares what is in their heart, do not reject it, belittle it, or undermine it. They may very well reject you in turn, or worse, feed a dark flame of resentment."
He looks toward the white oni. "Her emotions are her's to describe, not your's." He sits up, getting ready to stand. "Why did you come here?"
Her eyes lock onto his, and for a moment they appear empty like glass eyes. 
“Because the Guardian of Soul wished that I discern your heart and offer guidance to a Clanless, who she sees as a potential player in the coming darkness she sees on the horizon.
And because I heard my friend whom I care about was traveling with a Red Oni, her people’s natural enemy, and that she was hurt on her journey. Then once I identified you, I simply wished to offer advice to her companion, given that in history, only a few pairs like you have endured and not ended with heartache or murder.”
She stands, an unimpressed look on her face. “If the concern of her sister in arms and friend bothers you, you are welcome to disregard it, stranger.”
Looking back at the flames, his shoulders loosen. "Your desire to protect is admirable."
Her head turns to Miyako’s door. “I will check on her. Then I will go to report to the Guardian of my assessment of you.”
Without another word she goes into Miyako’s room and closes the door, where for a time there is quiet discussion. Then there is sounds of the two eating. The quiet remains for a time until a faint thud hours later, a few hours before sunrise is heard in the distance, and soon after comes Miwa who comes to a running halt as she enters the front and sees Riot.
”Burliest Red!” She cries out enthusiastically. “You no longer resemble ground beef! Are you well? Is Miyako back to her prickly self?”
Riot awakes from a short nap with a start, having accidently fallen asleep. The hammer in the corner clearly dwarfs her while flying towards him, as his frame leaps up. A large, scarred hand reaches out and catches it with a loud crash as it slams into the calloused flash. Before noticing her, the growl echoing from the large tusk-like teeth in the warrior's gaping jaw tremble the earth below him. 
His black, soulful eye meet's her's and he relaxes a bit. "Hello, One-With-The-Large-Gun."
Seemingly unfazed, she is now zipping around him looking him over. “Yep Grumpy Burly Red is back! Bōdō is all better! Say say! What’s the biggest thing you’ve beaten? I bet you could wrestle a Kaiju with your arms!”
"A Kaiju is a bit bigger than my hunts," he starts with a chuckle, placing his hammer down. "Hmm. There was an oni who came before the army, challenging us to a duel before the battle. I accepted his request. He was twice as big as I, and even stronger."
A slight sigh escapes him. "But he was drunk with his power, and I beheaded him in one punch." He looks towards Miyako's closed door, and chuckles. "He had forgotten to make his head stronger... I would've lost otherwise."
Miwa's eyes look like they have stars within them. "Oni are fun! Except when they're bad... I have to blow them up then... ...But Miyako is fun! ...And grumpy. But fun!"
There is a faint groan from the other room. "Is that Miwa...?" Miyako's tired voice is heard.
"Indeed. It is One-Who-Speaks-Much," his low voice echoes back.
Miyako is seen slowly walking out of her room in casual garb, for once not wearing her robe and bandages. 
"Miwa. I figured you would have work at this hour." She intones.
Miwa looks to one side. "I-I can make a quick trip to see how my friend who is blue is doing c-can't I! Besides, I'm actually here to-"
A look of horrid realization takes over.
"NOOOOO! I GOT SO EXCITED BY BIG RED I FORGOT! The complex is under attack, some ocean kaiju! Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go!" With that, Miwa jumps and rockets through the open door into the sky off in the direction of port.
Miyako slowly looks at Riot and facepalms.
"...I'll get my things." She retreats into her room, while her friend Tion stands by the door with her own gear already ready.
Tion then looks at Riot. "I hardly expect to be able to stop her from going, so might you lend a hand? If not for the sake of repelling a Kaiju, then for her sake. Despite her grumbling, she dotes on the human a fair bit."
The hammer flies to his hand as he stands, his axe fastening itself into his belt. "A waste of love, in my experience. But yes, I will go."
== The Radiant One ==
A rumble of thunder echoes in a central courtyard in the palace of Edo, Speaker Li manifesting first in a several layered black royal kimono, his hair longer and akin to a mane, while his cat ears and tail can be clearly seen along with his tiger stripes and cat pupils. A sword is attached to his hip, and he regards Aceda, who is sprawled on the ground, snapping his fingers as a whirlwind lifts her up and her attired is changed to a pretty but simple kimono as well.
"You would be indecent in that Kaiju form, and we go to meet the Emperor. Ah, but this will be your second time in the presence of the Radiant One, no?"
She looks around at the Royal Palace and its grounds for a moment. "It is...? ...I suppose it is, given the last time was during the Oni War..." She trails off in thought.
"Don't bring that up in the Throne Room." Speaker Li intones in a sharp warning. "You'll quickly earn our Radiance's disfavor."
He looks to Ark. "Will you need help being presentable, or can I trust you to wield appropriate sense for this occasion?"
"I can manage," Ark says, stretching out an arm. A cloud colored garb ripples over in place of his suit, simple and elegant with a dark hakama and deep blue obi. His hair is tied in a clean ponytail tied with a blue ribbon and his eyes remain pure silver.
Speaker Li looks to the front gate of the main building. "You two both have grievances with the Imperial Government, but mind yourselves regardless. Now, without further ado..."
He guides them toward the main building, and Ark and Aceda notice there is a significant amount of samurai on duty, blocking all entrances to the main complex and heavy numbers posted at every building. At the main gate, there is an entire squadron standing at attention as they approach. Upon entering the main hall, there is an entire line either side of them of elite samurai all the way to the other end, the big doors leading to the Throne Room. Speaker Li pays no heed and continues walking, but Aceda cannot help but be visibly nervous.
They finally stop in front of the doors and Speaker Li extends his arms toward them.
"Your Radiance, I have brought the two requesting their case to be heard."
A muffled indistinct voice from within says, "Very well, bring them forth."
Speaker Li breathes out. "Presenting our Radiance, the 4th Emperor of the Age of Revival, Hiromi Yamato."
The doors quake, and swing inward. Speaker Li steps forth into the grand chamber through the threshold.
The Throne Room is large, with space for seating a small delegation placed in front of a raised section of the room, where elegant seats are positioned. In one sits a familiar White Oni from Ark's vision, Yurasaha, another a tall Japanese man in traditional samurai armor with a helm shaped like an Oni's skull, one seat lay empty, and the fourth soon is filled by Speaker Li.
Above this space is another raised section whose contents are hidden behind a curtain only vaguely transparent, enough to see the suggestion of a throne and a humanoid figure seating themselves upon it.
"Seat yourselves, and suspend formalities on this occasion." A soft muffled voice speaks from behind the curtain. "I am told matters are urgent, so we shall not stand on ceremony this day."
After a moment of hesitation, Aceda reluctantly moves to be seated.
Ark offers a bow. "Then I shall begin."
He explains his interactions with the Anti-Kaiju Squadron up until his departure from Japan and later interaction with Aceda before gesturing for Aceda to continue from her perspective.
Aceda begins to explain Daisuke's betrayal, but soon after she starts as the Emperor speaks, "Raise the curtain."
The curtain rises, revealing a woman clad in finest royal clothes, brushing long silky black hair back from her soft brown eyes, her face scrunched in tension. There is a surreal glow about her, faint, but present. She straightens.
"I understand you likely have more to discuss, but these accusations are dire and pointed at one of my direct appointees. Speaker Li, you heard their claims, yes? What is the basis of your recommendation?"
Speaker Li reluctantly looks towards her. "Their claims support one another, and Aceda herself is evidence of the wrongdoing. Plus... I couldn't help but notice Yurasaha's meddling in the background. The fact that she has chosen to intervene on their behalf means some element of their story is the truth. Aceda, show her."
Aceda slowly changes into her Incomplete form and the Emperor's eyes slowly widen and her face turns pale with shock. Yurasaha's face tightens subtly, while the Samurai trembles with quiet rage.
Speaker Li looks to Ark. "Show her the talisman from Yurasaha." Upon so doing, the talisman lifts up and dangles before the Emperor, who touches it, and her eyes close as her expression tightens more. It falls to the ground and disappears.
"Naraka." She intones. "The Den of Spiders nestled in China... do you believe there is a connection?" She turns to Yurasaha, who smiles.
"I believe that even if acting alone, he is possessed of the same evil, and inevitably will draw the Den to us. I do not know the extent of his plans or his influence, or if the Web reaches this far. Only that there is a grave darkness threatening to poison Nihon from within." Yurasaha speaks simply despite the gravity of her words.
The Emperor shakes her head despondently. "Continue."
Aceda begins to tell of her survival, overcoming her monstrous side, and eventually seeking help, while mentioning her run ins with Tyrant. Finally, she tells the Emperor that she eventually managed to receive intel of Daisuke's ultimate intentions for their daughter, and a silent look of horror spreads across the Emperor's face.
She slowly looks at Ark and Aceda with this expression, before quietly standing.
"Your Radiance?" The Samurai cautiously asks.
She doesn't respond, but slowly begins walking down the steps to Ark and Aceda, and once in front of them, slowly lowers herself until she bows her head to the ground at them.
"...In my name, Daisuke Yuriko was permitted to conduct innumerable and unconscionable crimes. Arkyle Linen, Yuriko Hattori, in the name of Nihon, in my name, Hiromi Yamato, I beg your forgiveness. If there is aught I can do to alleviate the pain and suffering his actions have wrought, I shall pursue all means available to me to ensure you have it, and justice be carried out."
Speaker Li and the Samurai visibly protest at her bowing in such manner, but Yurasaha just chuckles.
Aceda is completely flustered by all of this.
"If formalities are to remain discarded, keep your head raised. You aren't the one who wrought this evil and you aren't complicit in abetting it," Ark says firmly. "My want is simple, the removal of Daisuke and the end of his pet project. The squadron does not necessarily need to be dismantled, but members loyal to his vision, his true vision, need to be tried and those who should be in retirement should be either allowed to rest and recover or have their hybridization reversed if possible. In that effort, I can offer my support, I've learned quite a bit about undoing such transformations at some cost. Similarly, I can offer my blade, should it allow itself to be drawn."
Aceda looks about nervously, before speaking up, "I just want my daughter to be safe. No matter if those years were stolen from her."
The Emperor slowly rises. "I will do everything in my power. However, given my lack of knowledge of his actions until now, I cannot act on the assumption that detaining him will come simply."
The Samurai speaks. "I would have to agree. He is the foremost expert on manipulation and use of Kaiju, if anyone were capable of laying traps for such an occasion as this, it would be him. He may have aces up his sleeve we have not considered or discovered."
Yurasaha nods. "The threat of Naraka being involved in some capacity must also be considered. If he has become an asset to them, they will not simply lose it. If they instead merely are eyeing him, then our investigations must be swift and thorough at the self same moment."
Speaker Li ponders for a moment. "What are your thoughts on how we should proceed? You saw through his charade, after all."
"There are two things I see working, but one has significantly lower odds than the other," Ark says. "The first is saying that both myself and Aceda were captured and to be put on trial. Daisuke would likely, for but a moment, salivate over the idea to gain access to my blood and her body to further his goal, but he would quickly sober up and realize that it is far too convenient for both of us to be here—even more so with my refusal to step foot here before today bar a rather particularly extenuating circumstance. The second, is much more simple, though I will have to leave in order for it to be pulled off and I will need to be opposed seriously for it to work while others work to dismantle his works or audit his work—one can only say that things are on the up and up for so long, especially when there is video footage of that not being the case." Ark produces a compact device and plays back the encounter with Agent Tyrant, the sea of clouds he'd been in and the angle he'd been at disregarded as it plays back with clear audio. "This is a Storm Chaser. An acquaintance of mine created them to help monitor battles where I would have to deal with Kaiju or other similar entities. They filter through any environmental conditions and can track movement over a few hundred miles thanks to some limited form of magic used in their construction. As was said earlier, when Aceda and I met one of the supposedly retired members of the Squadron attacked her as she bid me to escape. I chose to not entirely listen to her and take stock of the situation and provide her some room to escape—that would have been moment his armor erupted. I also caught this footage of the encounter in the process. You may use it as you see fit, but I must request the device is returned as quickly as can be."
While that is in use, I could make a scene approaching the base. That would put me into conflict with the Squadron, though I'm confident I can take down their members without killing them and deal with whatever traps Daisuke has in waiting— afterall, they are used to Kuzuryu who wields sea storms and lightning, not Kuzuryu who evokes weapons and commands storms. Another thing that must be done for this to work, however, is informing Lady Leciel of this so that she does not intervene without knowing the full details of what is going on."
As he speaks a burgundy bat floats down near the Emperor, a message gripped in its tiny talons.
It will be some time before I can respond to a summons, dear Emperor. If what my eyes are seeing is correct, a storm of wroth makes its way near and I will deal with it before it reaches the shore.
-Leciel
The Emperor ponders for a moment. "There are four squad members that have been added since your departure, one of them being Miwa, while as far as I know Phantom should be in retirement in our northern territories near South America. I cannot verify what Neptune is doing, but we may assume that Tyrant is still somewhere in the Americas.
Besides Miwa, there is Agents Wraith, Hadal, and Nexus. You'll have had little experience with them, and they've well grown into a functional team together. Dragonfly herself is a formidable member, and something of a team leader. You'll find it difficult to engage them without seriously injuring them or being injured yourself. Although if you made your aim towards 'kidnapping' Agent Dragonfly, it could fulfill the interest of getting her out of her father's hands before his work can proceed too far."
The Samurai nods. "If it was only a matter of distracting Daisuke I would have few issues with the plan, but if his goal is to replace Aceda with Miwa, we cannot leave her in his hands."
"These are both within my means," Ark says. "The reason why I propose only myself going is because it's much easier to set up a few things that would be given away by the presence of others. That being said Taking another with me while I apparate does take a fair amount of energy, so I may be required to knock Miwa out after isolating her from the others."
The Emperor nods. "It would seem Leciel is occupied. How long I have no clue."
Aceda seems ill at ease with the discussion of violence towards her daughter, but stays quiet. 
The Samurai folds his arms. "We'll be waiting to initiate an operation to take Daisuke down and for you to distract his attentions until Leciel can be informed then? In the mean time, I would conduct a private audit of the various regions of Nihon in a bid to uncover any hiding holes he may choose to retreat to should he sense the net. The Shinobi Corps will be most pleased to have a top priority assignment beyond the evolving Naraka threat overseas."
He looks at Aceda. "But what of your own future? I know that you were taken from the Shinobi for the Kaiju Squad, and you may not wish to rejoin the Squad itself... What is your aspirations? Will you not reclaim your humanity like your fellow Old Guard?"
She gets a distant look. "...I only wish to take my daughter and go far... far... far away. The two of us, safe and secure, where I can reclaim those lost years with her, and she can reclaim a fraction of the innocent years she was denied. My humanity... I cast that off a long time ago. There is no love in my heart for the life I once had, General Iwato."
General Iwato sighs, eyes closing as he rubs his brow. "I understand. I only hope it brings you joy and fulfillment."
"It will not take me very long to prepare, so let me know when you are ready and we can begin if we've said everything that needs to be said on the matter."
The Emperor straightens. "For the present, for the sake of secrecy, you may use the Guest Ward for your needs until the sign to begin is given. Iwato, please provide him with a Signal Stone."
General Iwato nods before getting up and reaching into a pouch at his hip, procuring a teardrop shaped gemstone and handing it to Ark.
The Emperor slouches briefly as she places a hand on her head, looking fatigued. This comes to Iwato's attention immediately as his head whips in her direction. For the briefest of moments, the radiant glow about her dims, the suggestion of a shadow felt along with a skin crawling sensation.
"...I will retire for the time being. Make arrangements for Kazue to be housed within the Inner Quarter without delay." She speaks, only to be scooped up by Iwato.
"You have overexerted yourself and should rest. Much more and it will make matters worse." Without heeding the resultant protest, Iwato disappears into the depths of the Inner Palace, and Speaker Li extends a hand to Aceda.
"Follow me. I will take you to a suitable suite."
Meanwhile, Yurasaha has a distant look as her gaze lingers on the entrance to the Inner Palace, her eyes cracked open faintly, no whites within. Faint green orbs for irises can be hinted at. Eventually she closes her eyes and the serene look returns, standing up.
"Waiting may become problematic. I will go to Leciel and expedite things. There is no telling the length of time that matter will take."
Ark makes his way to the guest ward, where he takes a long moment to rest before manifesting a an ebon set of armor with red highlights, a pair of horns and claw tipped sabatons and gauntlets. A heavy fur lined cloak forms over it as a pair of axes manifest on either of his armored hips, a kusarigama loops around his waist and two katanas lock into place along his back. He adjusts his gauntlets, tightening them as wrist mounted crossbows construct themselves on each, flexing to test his range of motion. Once satisfied, he flicks his wrists and long blades extend from beneath the crossbow mountings before retracting. He does the same for his legs, raising one then the other to test their range of motion and how freely the curved blades nested within his shin guards can move. Finally he dons a demonic looking helmet as two three barreled pistols slide into pouches on either side of his dark pants, locking the visor into place with a soft click as scales and chain mail cover cloth.
"This shall do," Ark intones, voices distorted by the armor as red energy crackles from it, covering any remaining hints of skin in an aura of crimson fiery light. He raises his hood and the aura contains itself, his voice returning to normal bar a tinny quality as he speaks again. "Now to wait for the signal."
----
Yurasaha flickers then vanishes in a cloud of petals, teleporting to the location of Leciel.
"I heard a storm was approaching. Shall I take care of it for you?" Yurasaha appears in a flurry of petals, the serene look gone and her eyes faintly cracked open. "There is a matter or two that requires attention."
Leciel, a swarm of crimson bats, simply gestures towards the horizon, a crackling storm of green and blue lightning slowly approaching from the Exclusion Zone.
"That, Dear Yura, has my attention. It feels familiar and young, like my soon to be son-in-law, but off by a few degrees and missing the scent of smoke and iron clouds," the swarm warbles.
Yurasaha closes her eyes as she examines the spiritual currents and observes the state of them in reaction to the storm, as well as analyzing the storm itself.
"...The Emperor is beginning to become unwell again, earlier than previous cycles. Soon she will have to journey again to be cleansed. The Black Magic upon her has persisted even with my mightiest ministrations. Tis like only the force of the Kami will spare her, and as of yet her prayers receive little notice. Such a deeply broken and burned bridge born of avarice and pride..."
"Sadly, the Kami have been distant as of late. Not even I can divine their presence at the moment," Leciel says. "I will allow her to use the Jade Censer until her departure, it serves me no purpose at the present."
The presence in the storm does seem eerily similar to Ark's own, but lost and faltering. In comparison the storm is severe and gradually growing, already several dozen miles in size. Large chunks of rock and coral can be seen floating around it. There appears to be spiritual turbulence and turmoil within the inner most depths of the storm.
"Dear me, dear me. The quiet echo of the clearing is heard best in the stillness of snow, the reverberating ice." Yurasaha steps forward as she speaks, and to many, the words spoken may be cryptic, even random in the context of what was happening, but Leciel feels a deep numbness begin to permeate the surrounds and herself. The storm itself feels as though it was attempting to flow through dense syrup, coagulating thicker and thicker, an immense drain on the area can be felt.
Yurasaha claps her hands together and slowly pulls them apart, rivers of pale blue energy flowing off them. As her arms stretch out to either side of her in the same motion, phantom arms manifest, totaling eight in all, each one's palms flowing with the same energy. There is almost an infinite void of pressure where Yurasaha stands.
"No need for that much of a response, Dear Yura," Leciel chides. "I was going to simply stop it once it got a little closer. More than that, however, did you hear its voice? That confused and anguished plea looking for guidance. I do not believe this storm is malevolent."
As she speaks the storm seems to rapidly dissipate, but not before something is heard from it.
 H-help... I'm l– Mother... Ar– where are you?
 It hurts ithurtsithurtsithurtsithurts!
 It's so dark... I can't...
 ...I don't want to go back...
Yurasaha folds her arms. “Then you should have intercepted it rather than watch. At the very least you would get a better idea sooner, and resolve the matter in turn. This is what happens when I have to get involved in things. 
I lack a more… gentle touch, not that I don’t try. I have no children or experience with such, and as much as people believe we White Oni are above the foibles of our lesser kin, we are still Oni by nature. Strength and might are our nature.” She slowly opens her eyes halfway.
”Unless it was entirely a spiritual being there may yet be a chance for you to inquire after it. Although you shouldn’t dally. I would not have come to assist if the matters at hand didn’t require a prompt response.”
"I'm well aware, Dear Yura. Even with a child who will some day surpass me, I find it difficult to maintain enough of a gentle touch to be the best I can be rather than my much more base self. Per our agreement, after I dealt with those lovely folk that tried invading my home, I cannot leave during the day and thus I must use my familiars to communicate," Leciel says, not unkindly. "Else I would have visited in person rather than use these children to relay my words. Sadly, their range is limited before they disperse so I was forced to wait a bit longer than I would have liked."
The bat swarm takes on the shape of an eye, maroon rippling over the sea of red as the eye blinks. "How very peculiar. It will return at some point, but not necessarily towards our lands."
As she speaks the storm fades entirely.
Yurasaha closes her eyes. "Then there may yet be more reason for you to pay attention, as the issues at hand are related. I can fill you in later, but for now I'll say two things: given the circumstances unfolding, the reason for your confines is no longer valid, even if force was in great excess. Secondly, your aforementioned soon to be son in law will enter conflict with the Anti Kaiju Squad, but you are not to interfere. This is not because we wish you to stay away for the purpose of capturing him, but rather, so we can catch a snake most foul that wielded the Emperor's authority granted unto him for his own gain, a plan he himself devised.
If you would hear more beyond that, the second matter I've already discussed- -the Emperor's condition. Your expertise is different from my own, and I would confirm the stark nature of the situation, as well as bring you into the know - in full, regarding the circumstances surrounding it. If you'll agree to examine her, I will inform you in greater detail of ongoings."
"Then more than a simple treatment with the Jade Censer is required," Leciel muses. "Very well, I will visit our Dear Emperor and see what I can do. As for Arkyle, I suspected he would be here soon. The die that was cast in his regard never finished falling so to speak."
Yurasaha nods. Arkyle, she has been informed. Move when you are ready.
Her eyes crack open as she looks at Leciel. "Then let the ties of bonding be broken, and let us depart." There is an audible snap, and sakura flowers envelop the both of them.
----The Emperor lays resting in her bed, Iwato standing watch over her. A short distance away in the halls, Yurasaha and Leciel manifest.
"I will try and keep things brief. First, on the matter of your son in law's forays and dealings..." Yurasaha catches her up to the events that have transpired, and the ongoing plans to deal with Daisuke.
"As for the Emperor... well, I'll put it like this. When she was freed from the White Mist's compound at the climax of the Oni War, the Guardian of Land barely could tell she was the Heiress. She was... changed. Corrupted. Somehow, her soul was tainted by the essence of Yokai and was slipping deeper and deeper, becoming more and more like the vicious Red Oni who held her in captivity. Yet, sensing some part of her yet clung to 'herself', the Guardians of Land, Sky, and Sea took a gamble and had her bathe in the holy waters of their shrines. 
While this staved off its effects, the taint remains, even as the blessing of the lakes tugs in the opposite direction. We've inquired as to what she suffered at their hands, but she will not speak when asked, not even if magically compelled. Tis as if a fear so great as to overpower such things grips her heart. We've even asked if she is being compelled to silence by some means, but even then she will not answer.
The matter we face is thus: we know the outcome, the effect upon her, but presently lack a proper means to cast off the malady that would see her noble soul inverted into a fiend without compassion or mercy."
Yurasaha's eyes open fully even as dark fury manifests on her face. "Like as not, the Black Magic wielded by my bro- -by Maou. Even sealed away as he is, t'would seem servants loyal to him remain."
"Most dire indeed," Leciel says, manifesting as a deep shadow cast across the room. "There are several brews that I could think of that may help, though I'm unsure as to which would be necessary and which would be fatal. I will need to examine her personally and I cannot do that here—my tools remain in my manse and most are too delicate to transport via mystical artes. I will need several minutes to acquire them and several more to make it here in person rather than through proxy. It would be that or having the Emperor and one other entering my manse for examination and treatment, but that would take longer."
Yurasaha nods. "Then I shall await you."
It takes less than twenty minutes for Leciel to make her appearance proper, wearing long flowing robes over a dark dress and magenta haori. Detached cloudy sleeves cover her arms while ornate geta clad her clawed feet. Her eyes are mixed colored, both being partially ice blue and partially maroon, while her hair is tied in a long flowing tail of deep red. At her side is a large case, floating along gently as she strides forth confidently and serenely.
Once she arrives she seems to flow past the others until she near Yurasaha's side. "I hope I did not keep you too long."
"Nonsense. The Emperor could use the rest. Shall we?" Yurasaha guides her towards the Emperor's personal chambers, knocking and waiting for permission to enter, then once granted, she leads Leciel to the Emperor's bedside, who looks fatigued. She turns her head to Leciel.
"You... it has been some time. I am... sorry for how things were left between us last..." The Emperor is somewhat pale in the face. Iwato closes his eyes.
"The symptoms are minor, however the drain on her stamina is not insignificant."
"List any others, no matter how minor they seem," Leciel states, opening her case to reveal a number of bottles and tools. She withdraws a jade censor and places it gently along the ground. She opens the top with one hand draws out a number of dried herbs with the other, placing the herbs into the censer's top. She then pours pristine and pure water into the lower half of the object and places the lid back on before uttering a word. Soon steam pours from the censer, fragrant and sterile smelling, filling the room with a green tinted mist. "Dear Iwato, fetch a silver needle or knife if you would."
”T’would be better to simply show you.” Iwato states, parting the clothing on the Emperor’s side revealing a blotchy red area. Unlike an inflammatory response or bruising, the red area looks like a dermal layer different to the normal skin surrounding it, tougher and firmer. With that, Iwato stands up to procure the requested items.
"Early stage physiological corrosion," Leciel notes. "Are there any other symptoms? This is very important because the potion I make will either revert the growing malady or cause immense pain and death if I miss a detail that my sight will not cover."
Iwato folds his arms. “Unfortunately I am not versed in medical expertise except for the mundane. It is common for her to have headaches and dizzy spells in addition to fatigue.”
The Emperor looks to one side. “I was only tired, on this occasion.”
Leciel notes the wafting air of both black magic and something akin to a holy aura from the Emperor, and both seem to intensify as the other subsides.
Yurasaha looks at the Emperor. “I’ve noted before that the long faded divine blessing of the family line seemed to awaken upon being doused in the Guardian’s lakes. But after so long it feels like it has somehow… changed upon repeated cleansings.”
"Then a silver elixir will do," Leciel notes, withdrawing a pale green powder, yellow leaves a violet seed, most pristine water and a stoppered bottle with what appears to be gleaming, glowing liquefied golden light within it. "I will not exaggerate, this will not taste pleasant and you will feel unwell for several minutes after imbibing this, but this should suppress, neutralize then finally reverse the corrosion to your being, but you must not over exert yourself and you will need to sleep for fourteen hours a day for the next three to five days. Once Dear Iwato returns I will provide further instruction."
The Emperor looks at the reagents uncertain, but then her gaze shifts towards the back of the room and her face goes ghost white and she begins shaking like a leaf in a tempest. At the same time, a shadowy presence is felt in the room, Yurasaha already wheeling to face what is a dark portion of the room with a Hannya Mask floating with gleaming eyes.
"Are you sure you should be so brazen as to be feeding her such things heedless of unspoken truths...? No, I think I won't be allowing that..." Yurasaha wastes no time lunging at the being, the shadow disperses and a female figure, tall and red skinned with mid length black and purple hair rolls out of the way and draws two small blades and makes a defensive pose, crouched low to the ground and eyeing the Emperor.
"Thought you could just wish away your unpleasant memories, and hide from the past? Too bad for you. I will not disappear so easily as your memories you wish to bury deep." The head of the interloper shifts, the Hannya mask serving to give a glowering look.
"How impudent, intruding upon a place without a proper invitation," Leciel says, tone not shifting. "I must ask that you leave this place without mess or fuss or suffer the consequences."
There is a chuckle in response. "An invitation? Intruding? Hah! Does the master of the house require permission from his servants to enter his own abode? I think not. You on the other hand..."
She suddenly dodges and lands on the wall as Yurasaha swings her fist, missing by a few moments. She then leaps again and rests on the opposite wall by the entrance. At this moment, Iwato walks in and sees the interloper, and angrily draws his sword.
"You swine! Detestable Oni, you will leave this place at once!" He roars, and Yurasaha gives him a flat stare. He charges towards the masked figure, swinging his sword and nicking their mask, causing them to shrink back. She is then struck by Yurasaha's fist and slams into a post in the wall, groaning from the impact to her spine.
Iwato then moves to make a killing slash and suddenly the Emperor surges to her feet and bellows,
"ENOUGH! I ORDER YOU TO STOP AT ONCE, IWATO!"
He stops, and looks at her shell shocked. "Hiromi...?"
The Emperor collapses, trembling and shivering as she clutches her side where her body was changing.
They hear a clattering sound, they turn to see the mask falling off the interloper, revealing the face of the oni, whose face bears a stark resemblance to Hiromi's own, yet undeniably a Red Oni.
"What's the matter, Samurai? Weren't you going to take my head? Oh but that's right, all Samurai are forbidden to spill the blood of the line they swore to protect, you poor thing you. Even if she didn't say anything..." She grins. "Your body would have forced you to stop anyway~"
She abruptly kicks him in the face, sending him flying across the room.
"Right of blood means naught when one breaks in as you did," Leciel remarks, walking to the emperor. With a gesture, she draws forth the silver tool the general was sent to acquire and closes her hand around it, grinding it into silver dust that she adds to the elixir before stirring it absentmindedly. "You have also attacked a defender of this place, have you not? A second transgression to add to your first. I would advise you once again to leave, lest something terrible befall you, blood of the emperor or not."
Yurasaha recognizes a faint ringing in the air, inaudible to all others in the room. There is a brief moment when she recalls hearing the same ringing when Leciel's home was attacked years back, but far more honed and keen. Leciel always brought with her a set of rules, regardless of where she went—at least a dozen—and she only acted when three or more were broken, at which point her civility would give way to judgment and violence.
"Oh? Even if I was trying to stop you from say, killing the Emperor because you've missed a detail or two? By all means, continue. Your head will roll the second her pulse stops and you'll be branded a murderer, accused of regicide of the last in the known line..."
She grants Leciel a mocking curtsy. "But I waste my breath! When Raol comes through the path you open up for him, know that it'll be your fault~"
She steps backwards into the shadows and vanishes, the Emperor slowly hangs her head.
The ringing gradually fades as Leciel looks to the emperor. "If I must ask again, I will be rather cross. Is there anything about your condition that you know of that feels off or wrong beyond the obvious—anything at all, no matter how minor. Do not have another speak for you, do so yourself. If you do not I cannot treat you properly and I will not attempt to treat you any further."
The Emperor tenses but says nothing.
Yurasaha slowly walks up to her. "Leciel, hold open her mouth, if you would be so kind. I've a suspicion I need to put to rest."
"Very well." Leciel obliges, tossing a glance to Iwato. "Iwato, should you still breathe, check the third compartment of my tools and grab the red and teal vial. Not the individual red and teal vials, the one that is both red and teal. Once you have done so, shake it thrice then consume the contents and that should aid in your recovery. If you are among the deceased, belay that and I will recover your soul shortly."
He groans, getting to his feet. "She is strong, but nothing to what the hardened warriors on the front lines of Red Oni are like. I have suffered worse, light bed rest will be sufficient. I am made of sturdier things than most."
As she opens the Emperor's mouth, aside from her teeth sharpening and elongating, after a moment, both Yurasaha and Leciel see a black, inky curse mark on her tongue. As Yurasaha examines it, she grimaces.
"A Silence Curse, with an enchantment tied to the main, more powerful corruption. Had she ever answered any questions about her condition or her fate at the hands of the White Mist... it would have accelerated her corruption and she would have been lost to us."
Yurasaha concentrates, before white brands appear in a circle around the Emperor and slowly spin, she chokes as the curse mark starts to lift off her tongue, and the rope like enchantment is slowly severed from the main curse, beginning to gag as it slides out of her throat. When it fully emerges, it transforms into a black snake and Yurasaha impales it with a white spear, and it hisses angrily as it is undone and slain.
The Emperor collapses, trembling, Yurasaha catches her and holds her in an embrace.
"Relax, Hiromi. You're safe, it's alright." 
The Emperor's teeth clench.
"No... it's not..."
== Black Ritual, Black Blood ==
After allowing her to compose herself, the Emperor, still in Yurasaha's embrace, quietly speaks.
"Iwato, I need you to leave. I know you mean well... but you should not hear what I have to say."
Iwato is upset, but maintains his composure. "I am your sword, Hiromi, and your sworn guardian. I should know what you have suffered-"
She raises her hand, cutting him off. "I know. But your heart burns with anger and hate, and it would overburden your heart to make you know more at this point. I have overlooked matters for your sake, but I cannot lose you to anger, not when Darkness looms over us so."
Iwato makes a rattled breath, before bowing his head. "...I understand." He quietly leaves the room, leaving her with Leciel and Yurasaha.
"...The leader of the White Mist clan impregnated me with two children during my captivity. During each birth, they performed profane rituals on my body and soul, tearing pieces out and filling the void with the blackened souls of Yokai sacrificed to bypass my protection blessing. ...With my firstborn, I lost my courage. With my second, I lost my heart. Two thirds of my soul has been taken from me, and imbued in my children, while black spirits fuse with my fragmented self and..."
She shudders. "My body had almost entirely become a Red Oni. But I was saved before they could perform the final rite."
Yurasaha snarls as something occurs to her. "Leciel... this reeks of Maou's hand. What she's describing... it sounds like they were performing rituals to turn her into a Black Oni. I don't know how she has endured so long... but it is a miracle, and nothing less that she is still... herself."
The Emperor looks away. "The Blessing rages within me even as the spirits torment me. They feed off each other, and grow stronger with my emotions. Happiness, sorrow... forbidden. If I don't lock my heart away, one or the other will eventually take hold of me entirely and I won't be... myself. All I can think about is my father's sacrifice that I might be saved, and the people who need my guidance. My will is the only thing keeping me going now."
"Would that I had known of this sooner," Leciel breathes. "I would have offered magic rather than a potion. None of my own, I would rather not corrode your soul. I know of one who could, should they be reached, bring balance to the 'Blessings' though you would need to endure for several weeks more. Otherwise I would need a month an a half to create a solution capable of fixing what ails you. My supply of Philosopher's Stones and elemental concentrates are low and I can only utilize the highest of quality of both if I were to aid you in full."
The Emperor attempts a brave smile. “I apologize. I would have told all had it been with my power. I have endured this trial, by the grace of the Kami I hope to endure as long as it takes. …Though likely, I will have to journey upon another pilgrimage before either happens, recent events have made my decline faster than expected.”
== Luring out Serpents ==
After a fair bit of waiting, Ark gets communications from Yurasaha. 
“You can begin. The Anti Kaiju Squad shouldn’t be expecting you, but mind the mortar cannons and their other mounted armaments upon their walls. The girl named Miwa, codenamed Dragonfly is out but expected to be there momentarily.”
"Noted. I'll slightly adjust my pattern based on that." With that Ark looks upwards. His eyes narrow under his armor as a stormhead gathers and rain begins to fall rapidly. He vanishes a moment later as the winds surge and thunder rumbles overhead.
At the headquarters of the Anti Kaiju Squad, a man with black buzz cut hair, dark blue eyes wielding a blue great shield with the arm carrying it covered in similar armor looks up at the sky as the weather changes.
His companion, a gloomy looking individual with long black hair and grey eyes, wields a set of black leathery gloves and an ornate rifle. “Something wrong?”
The shield bearer grimaces. “The air moves in unusual ways. There wasn’t supposed to be weather like this and yet…”
The long haired individual sighs. “I can scout with my friends for trouble makers, Noboru.”
”…That might not be necessary. Go get Ran, Isao. We need our long range options.” 
The black haired man, Isao nods and runs into the complex while the shield bearer Noboru tenses, and the shield expands to the size of his body and grows a neon blue eye with a dead stare towards the clouds. A bastard sword grows out of his armor as it expands to his shoulder, grabbing the hilt he watches the clouds as though scanning for danger, all the while a sharp odor in the air begins to waft.
Noticing the reaction of the two Anti Kaiju agents, the various soldiers of the complex begin to assume formations throughout the complex, some begin to arm and mount the mortars and various large scale Armaments standing by on the wall.
Lightning crackles once, briefly flashing black as the sea churns. Four great serpents made of water and fog twist free from the depths and roar as a black figure in dead coral armor floats behind them.
"Lash out and rage," the figure intones as the four serpents unleash streams of compressed water at the mortars.
Noboru inhales. "So it's one of these," He speaks calmly as the eye on his shield flares and a barrier rises to block the streams of water. Meanwhile the mortars open fire on the serpents, while a particular mounted Armament begins to glow blue, a faint hum filling the air.
In the complex, Isao reaches a room and enters as alarms begin to sound, the occupant looks up at him.
"Trouble?" The woman asks.
"Noboru is manning the defense, we need our crowning sword and spear if we're going to deal with an ocean based enemy." Isao intones.
"Then let us go." She grabs a blade composed of purple crystal and dons a suit of armor, soon after a pink glow begins to emit from her chest...
As Noboru defends against the serpent’s assault, Ark senses multiple presences arriving on the scene after a few minutes. The first to arrive is a woman accompanying Isao, whose black hair fades into a bright pink at the roots, with eyes shaded with violets and pinks. Her ears are pointed and there is a discoloration of her skin in blotchy patches that matches her hair color. Her presence, more than the other two Kaiju Squad members, reeks of Kaiju contamination. It’s shortly after this newcomer arrives that he senses a second presence soaring through the air at great speed, just under supersonic speed. 
Like the first newcomer, their presence even from a great distance has the sense of a Kaiju. However, the presence is less of a corrosion and more as if a Kaiju slept in the form of a human. It doesn’t take long for this second presence to arrive, firing off a rapid fire assault not on the serpents, but the black armored figure.
”This one is not like most… got any thoughts in that head of yours, or are you just oblivious to whose front door you are pounding on?” The flying newcomer shouts playfully, while brandishing two rifle like appendages grown from her arms, covered in an armor creepily reminiscent of Aceda’s armored carapace. Beyond that disturbing thought, she looks almost exactly like her, as if only a few years in age apart.
"The Hall of the False shall not be allowed to stand," The figure roars in answer, summoning a tall wave of water—only to cut through it with a trident made from numerous clams and broken seashells, sending super sonic blades of water towards the wall and the flying target. Meanwhile the serpents of water reform and split, becoming writhing masses of brackish water as they fire more beams of water towards the base. Beyond them and the figure forms a swirling mass of sea foam and salt, pulsing with the power of the sea.
The pink haired woman narrows her eyes and presses her hand to her chest, which causes a loud and rapid heart beat to become audible as she glows violet, before her body begins to spasm and jerk, plate armor growing around her neck and growing into the form of a Kaiju's lower jaw, while the armor of her legs thicken and take the shape of draconic limbs. She sucks in a breath as the changes continue and a tail grows, shortly accompanied by energy wings. Glaring at the coral armored figure, she suddenly leaps up and takes flight.
Weaving through the first few attacks, she begins slashing at the beams of water, which cause her gemlike blade to glow brilliantly while sucking up the beams it slashes, and she begins to glow violet after a few slashes, centered in her chest. She points her weapon at one of the writhing masses and it splits open into two halves up to its hilt, a orb of violet condensing before being shot off at the mass, vaporizing a large area surrounding it on contact, water rushing to fill the void.
Meanwhile Miwa ducks and weaves through the attacks, shooting away those which her currently heavy armored form doesn't let her nimbly evade. She flexes one of her arms, and the two rifle like armaments disappear, only for her right arm to grow a massive cannon which she supports with her left, aiming it towards the figure, but her eyes are on the large mass of foam. He senses a large volume of power being drawn. 
As she charges, toward the city is spotted flashes of electrical energy as something from the city seems to be traveling at speed towards the battle. Furthermore, a host of Samurai seem to be closing in on the compound. All of this being watched by a man with short black hair and brown eyes, wearing a lab coat and glasses, his eyes a hollow stare regarding the scene dispassionately. 
The samurai close in, and abruptly breach the front of the facility, swarming it from behind the ranks of the Anti Kaiju Squad. The pink haired woman is the first to see this, and angrily charges toward the Samurai, and can be seen yelling at them. A fierce exchange begins, until finally she shakes her head in disbelief and begins running into the compound itself. The man, Daisuke, narrows his eyes and gives another look at the coral armored figure as he silently grasps a manner of firearm with a violet substance, eyeing a suit of armor not unlike the Armaments coldly.
"It seems that an old friend has come to play... and has sniffed out something problematic. Well, no matter." He glances at a calendar and the faintest trace of color on his face fades as he grows somehow paler.
Miwa. Return to the lab. You're overdue for treatment. Now.
Kind of in the middle of something, it can wait right?! Miwa shouts at her father as the sudden communication distracts her enough for a beam to almost knock her off balance.
Do not talk back to me. This is urgent. 
Miwa swears in frustration, the internal conflict making her unfocused.
The moment Miwa's focus drops, a bolt of lightning strikes nearby and a black and red clad figure akin to a heavily armored ronin materializes. The world seems to freeze for a second as they flash behind the girl and strike at her neck with a palm coated in deep blue energy.
In the meantime the seaborn Kaiju gathers seafoam around the orb, shifting into a sphere of murky looking water with a deep pearlescent glow within it.
Daisuke looks at the unfolding chaos with a stoic expression, looking at the armored ronin striking at Miwa in grim silence, then at the rushing samurai flooding the compound. He fingers the weapon with violet fluid for a moment, as the fake smile he perpetually wore for the first time slips away from his face, a tight frown revealing itself.
Ark had never seen the man angry, but if he could have seen the look on Daisuke's face, he'd know the subtle shift of his face for what it was. 
"I almost convinced myself that I was being paranoid. But if the Emperor is moving against me at the same time..." He fully arms the weapon.
His eyes narrow into furrowed slits. "Then the time for my trump card will be at hand. Fire up, Giginoxis Armament. We've moving things ahead of schedule. Even flawed, he will be no match." The suit of armor rumbles as lights begin turning on within. His head shifts toward the doorway as running can be heard.
"Time to tie up a loose end."
Abruptly the shield generated by Noboru bursts, and some of the kaiju's attacks are let through, but only temporarily, as the remainder are swatted aside and absorbed by a sudden wave that surges in the opposite direction of the wave pattern, then surges to monstrous heights. Riding its crest is a completely armored Noboru with his shield greatly grown and a eye piece over one of his eyes. At the end of the shield is a cannon, but his sword has disappeared. Accompanying this change, there is a heavy shudder of pressure in the entire region as the sky turns ink black and thunder roars, right before a massive downburst surges in the direction of the kaiju, and a blinding torrent rushes into being as the seas writhe and rage with a frenzy near indescribable, the winds screaming and howling as if a colossal typhoon had descended in seconds.
"No more games, Kaiju!" Noboru roars with a deep dragonic quality.
Isao, watching his friend's abrupt charge, shudders, realizing that Noboru has gone into a rage and activated the Hadal Configuration.
"You fool... finish this quickly before you drown us all!"
A flicker of lightning sparks next to him, and a female blue oni lands next to him. "Ryoma has gone mad. How are we going to be able to assist if he's made the battlefield inhospitable even to his allies? You humans are fools indeed, always at the worst times."
She gnashes her teeth in frustration. "Right when Miwa could use help the most."
Miwa's senses scream danger, and in her desperation to react attempts to shift into Configuration 1, disregarding an often repeated warning by her father never to attempt such a thing while her Armament is already channeling high concentrations of power, her body becoming encased in a thick exoskeleton of armor, only for her arm to glow violently bright and explode, clutching her arm and screaming in pain as its energy suddenly surges and instead of continuing to fly out, condenses into the wound and floods into her body. 
The destroyed limb suddenly and violently regenerates, but any advantage the attempt to defend would have made becomes irrelevant as she suddenly vomits as the absorbed energy begins condensing in her chest, a deep and powerful glow in her chest, along with a reverberation begins emitting. He watches as the core in her Armament suddenly harmonizes with this effect and suddenly slips into her flesh and joins the glowing energy inside, causing her to lose control and vomit even more, her body suddenly beginning to steam immensely.
==Alone in the Wild Mountain [To be Archived]==
High in the mountains, elusive and forgotten, are many ancient tribes of Yokai. Elusive still are the wanderers who deviate from their homes, and reside alone. Well, perhaps not totally alone. Riôt Van Hellbring, a lone oni residing in the mountains, knew this well.
Among the deep forests and in the mountain area he resided, powerful Yokai, the Tengu, watched. It was a misty cold morning, but he knew the first thing he must do was honor the local Tengu guardian with an offering of a special rice cake. It was an odd gift to be sure, but better than offending the powerful protector of the mountains and forests. A small price to pay for being allowed to dwell in their territory.
He grew the rice a ways to the south, in a warmer cave with an ice covering to allow enough sunlight to make healthy rice. Today, he would go gather the harvest and cook the cakes, and then take one to the temple where the Tengu resided. Hellbringer started his daily journey.
As he walks, he feels a watchful presence, and the occasional fluttering of bird's wings echoing around him. He knows it's the sign of a Tengu's watch. His day continues as usual, and he soon finds the shrine of the local Tengu. Upon offering the ricecake, he observes as it slowly fades away, and a feeling of pressure lifts. The Tengu spirit is satisfied.
However, something had caught his attention during the day. The odd mist that had begun gathering that morning was persisting well into the warm afternoon sun. If anything, it's gotten thicker and stronger. This concerns him, given how high up the shrine of the Tengu is compared to the valley floor. It would be easy to fall if he walked carelessly. Still... the fog feels as though it is unnatural, leaving him to wonder what could cause such a change in the environment.
He walked down the mountain slope easily enough, reaching the base as the fog got thick enough that he had to walk by memory. The brute met his encampment soon.
An odd sound comes from outside, like a faint, indistinct shriek, and the more prominent rushing of wind.
Seemingly larger than ever, Riôt jumps up and runs toward the sound, bothering not to take a weapon.
When he gets outside, the fog has become indescribably dense, almost like syrup slowing his movements. The wind meanwhile is howling and rushing at incredible speed, pushing even him around. Amid the cacophony of noise however, he hears something like a monstrous shriek, first softly, then more loudly, until he picks up the distinct rush of wind from something hurtling in his direction, along with a rapidly increasing in volume roar of something massive.
Whatever creature this is, it is definitely foreign to this place. And heading right for him.
Jumping to the right of the sound, he tumbles into a roll and back onto his feet, straining to listen for something to take hold of the creature.
Not a moment too soon, an ear splitting roar deafens him seconds before a colossal blast of sound and pressure forces him back several meters, as something strikes the ground directly behind him. The ground heaves and rumbles with the force. Riôt expects the rumbling to stop, but it continues, gradually fading out. The mist and wind almost immediately subsides, allowing him to see the valley - and the giant hole immediately behind him from the creature's impact. No, not just a hole, a tunnel.
The tunnel appears to be emitting high winds and a geyser of fog. However, he doesn't have long to think on this as the faint rumbling is getting louder, and the stones beneath his feet are beginning to jiggle.
He immediately runs forward, not looking back, and jumps high into the air - trying to get over the fog.
The ground erupts in a massive burst of soil and rock, as an earsplitting roar bellows forth from below, as a massive form surges into the sky, easily one hundred to two hundred meters in length, and three to four times Riôt's own body in circumstance. As it takes to the air and extends dragonfly like wings, Riôt is able to make out its features.
Its head is a combination of a massive head spike, and three giant mandibles that help form a single drill like feature at its front, with two large eyes directly behind the drill feature, and many smaller eyes dotting its form. It appears worm like, only with segmented armor and massive wings that buzz gently as it flies, as at home in the air as Riôt the ground. Despite its size, it moves with ease and grace, serpentine in movements. Fog and wind billows from tiny protrusions behind the wings, which scatter and extend the fog's distance.
Riôt takes notice as it circles about, that it is coming to a stop and looking square at him, part of its 'throat' is expanding rapidly. Bellows of fog and wind are spewing from the mouth.
Jumping off of a large tree, he heads towards the creature's right wing, hoping to grab it and rip the being limb from limb.
This was a mistake, as the Kaiju is quite a distance higher than he, and jumping straight for it gives it all the time it needs to let loose a massive blast of fog and wind straight into him like a beam, upon impacting the ground, it tears apart the tree into splinters from sheer impact force, and the Kaiju's beam propells him a great distance away, up the mountain slope. When it ends, he sees the Kaiju descending in a curved path in wide sweeps, circling him still at a distance, but closing in.
Van Hellbring, son of the chieftain, was not going to be made a meal today. He planted his hooves into the rocks around him and roared at the Kaiju, hoping to annoy it enough to come straight for him, perpendicular to the ground.
The Kaiju merely bloats its throat with more wind, as though aiming to blow him straight off the slope.
In response, Hellbringer digs his hooves deeper into the rocks. The only way he was coming off that mountain was if the Kaiju broke the entire rock formation off.
The Kaiju lets out another blast, this time below Riot, but sweeping rapidly up toward him. He realizes though the beam of air was actually slicing a huge gorge in the earth as it impacts the ground. If he gets hit by that...
...But, if Riôt had any say in the matter that wasn't going to happen. He leapt up and to the right of the skirmish - leaving a crater where the rock face was. On the other mountain he began ripping the largest of the forest's trees out of the ground and throwing them at the beast. The mountain-goat-leggged-Oni was retreating to his camp, and his weapons.
Suddenly a loud explosion is heard, followed by a loud scream from the Kaiju, whose attention has been shifted over to a distant figure with something like a long tube hoisted on their shoulder, a number of other figures are approaching behind them. The sight seems to make the Kaiju irritated, and it abruptly begins to fly away, up into the clouds.
Riôt Van Hellbring is irritated at the stop to the fight, but quickly looses that irritation as his small wounds begin to burn and the realization of his imminent loss dawns on him. He begins to walk slowly towards his somewhat-wrecked camp to gather hunting materials and his things - it was no longer safe here.