Maruo Kaido vs. Amamehagi

**Maruo Kaido vs. Amamehagi** is a ritual duel between the Urara Family member Maruo Kaido and Amamehagi.

## Prelude

After Ten leads Urara and Maruo to his gang's office, the Ayashimon sides with them after declaring to his gang members that they will take the office by force and apparently make them pay for treating him harshly. However, after becoming shocked to find his boss Amamehagi behind him, Ten quickly turns on them in a state of panic, much to Urara and Maruo confusion as to what was happening before them. Amamehagi becomes displeased with Ten returning back without a scratch on him since he was sent out to act as a punching bag for Inokuma and his gang and steps on his head for catching on to him trying to get out of being his slave for his gang. Amamehagi then apologizes to Urara and Maruo for Ten's idiotic behaviour and offers them refreshments as honored guests in his office. Rather than be treated as such, Urara states her desire to take his office by having him face Maruo in a ritual duel and offers herself if her subordinate loses against him. Amamehagi gladly accepts the challenge and has his men set up a barrier for the ring. During the setup, Maruo is explained the concept of the ritual duel by Urara and thanks Ten for giving him the opporunity to enter another battle.

## Battle

After Amamehagi assumes his true form, Maruo takes the first hit in the fight after the Ayashimon strikes him over the head with his mallet. Rather than react in pain, Maruo becomes happy and tries to land a punch on him but misses as Amamehagi manages to dodge everyone of his attacks while repeatedly landing his own. Although he finds himself not gaining the upperhand, Maruo becomes satisfied with how the ritual duel is feeling like a festival as Urara described to him.

While everyone around is cheering on Maruo and Amamehagi, Urara notices Ten not supporting either one and suggests that he becomes involved. Ten tells Urara that he is unable to cheer on Maruo after feeling guilty for his actions earlier and becomes unsure of himself that she would be okay with him supporting his boss. Hearing this, Urara encourages him to muster up the confidence to make his own decision as a Ayashimon, which results in him deciding to cheer on Maruo.

After hearing Ten support Maruo, Amamehagi accidently drops his guard and receives a punch from Maruo to his head, causing him to fall to the floor in panic. Amamehagi is then asked by Maruo to get back on his feet to continue the fight. However, instead of complying with him, Amamehagi states his underhanded plan to lie on the floor until he fully recovers since the ritual duel is technically not a timed battle. Unpleased with this, Maruo throws a punch near Amamehagi's head and furiously demands that he not waste his time. As a result of the punch, Maruo unintentionally causes the floor to collapse and is crushed under tons of rubble. After freeing himself, Maruo looks to see Amamehagi crushed under a large piece of rubble, resulting in his death and Maruo's victory.

## Aftermath

Having destroyed the office that she intended to acquire, Urara berates Maruo for his actions, to which he apologizes for. Though their boss was defeated, the members of Amamehagi's gang start to praise Maruo for the exciting fight they witnessed and wish to celebrate with him on his victory. Maruo gets the impression that the subordinates are happy because they are freed from their slave labor but is informed by Urara that the amoral behavior being brought out right now is a common characteristic for a yokai when they are having fun. Maruo receives praise from Ten as well and becomes delighted to hear him view him as a manga protagonist. Pleased with his new life, Maruo happily thanks Urara for making him her subordinate.

While the Ayashimon celebrate around Maruo, Urara checks the gang's files and finds out that the second chairman of the Enma Syndicate is named Doppo Akari. With Hashihime at her service, Urara thinks up the idea of using her to get to Doppo and have Maruo engage him in a ritual duel, where he will win and achieve success in her mission. In an unexpected turn of events, Urara is met and restrained in private by agents of the Onmyo Bureau who came to investigate after hearing about the recent squabble at Saraba involving an undocumented entrant. Seeing as how Urara is simply traveling with a human as her companion, the agents release Urara and make their leave. Having gotten the attention of the public safety organization, Urara decides to have her and Maruo leave the area immediately. Though the Urara Family posed no threat, the agents decide to contact the Enma Syndicate to get the small yakuza gang off the bureau's hands.