Yumi had been horse riding all the way to Gakido. Land of the Yokai. Until she saw a Tanuki dashing over to her stopping in front of her. "My lady? Why are you here?"
Yumi didn't speak until she pulled out her sword. And pointed it to the Tanuki. "Who are you?"
"Ah!" The Tanuki raised its little arms. "M-My lady, It is I, Taka. Right hand of Nuraihyon."
Yumi's eyes widened. But she scrunched up. "Take me to your leader. My friend is in bad shape."
"Ha… Follow me, my lady." He dashes. And she continues in horse ride. She looks down at Sugi who's half dead. "Come on. Just a little further, my friend."
Few moments later.
The ronin and the Yokai are sparring. Fairly of course. Though most of the ronin are getting beaten as the Jorogumo slaps someone so hard they incapacitate the Ronin.
Nuraihyon yells. "Hey! We do not spar like that!" The Jorogumo snarls at him. And he points at her. "Watch who you snarl to, young lady."
Meanwhile. Yoshio looks at his soldier with wide eyes. "Thank you." He muttered.
"My lords!" Taka called out as him and the girls arrived. "Lady Tachibana is here."
Everyone gasps. While Yumi slowly gets off her horse. "A Samurai?" Yoshio tilted his head.
Yumi sheathed her sword as she turned her head to face Yoshio. "Yes. Is there a problem?"
Yoshio saw the body lying on top of the horse. And his eyes widened as he snapped "Sugi… What did you to her!?" The other Ronin did the same. While Nuraihyon was hesitant. Nobody had made a move other then preparing for it.
Yumi stayed calm. Not a hand on her sheathe. "I did not do anything." She claimed.
Yoshio hissed. "You know… Samurai, from clans rooted from the gods. are not friends with the Ronin. Neither the Yokai."
Yumi clenched her fist. "Listen…I do not want to fight."
"What my family did does not make me who I am. If the Yokai and the Ronin are together, we are taking down the sun goddess, yes?"
No one spoke. So She continued. "Sugi will live if you treat her. The twins Raijin and Fujin ambushed us. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here."
Yoshio put his head down. Leaving the Katana in its sheathe. Putting his hand up so his men copy. While some of the smaller Yokai went to the horse and picked up Sugi's body.
Nuraihyon bowed to Yumi. So did the other Yokai. Before he walked away. "Let her in."
Yumi pet her horse with a little smile on her face. Before walking forward. But before anything.
In a strike of thunder. Susanoo appeared. This time. In his all black samurai armor. With a scarf cape on. And a samurai helmet that compliments his mask. She snapped back to look at him. "Susanoo."
"Yumi." He called out to her. There was a long pause as she looked up at him. And then suddenly hugged her. Surprising her.
He pulled her back. Putting his hands on her shoulders. "You are okay. Did you get the others?"
Yumi scrunched confused. "How did you—"
"That does not matter." He corrected her. "Tell me, what've you done?"
Yumi and Susanoo were lying on the side of the castle just before entering.
"Interesting." The god said, drinking from his gourd. "You killed one of the twins, heard that the other is nowhere near Amaterasu's hand."
Yumi ran a hand through her hair. "We have everyone. What do we do now?"
He stood up. "Now…" he turns around and looks down at her. we must go to war against the goddess."
She looked up at him as she was squatting. "You are joining us, yes?" He hesitated. You can see the breath through the mask. "I… don't know."
Yumi narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"
He crossed his arms. Putting his hand on his chin. "I just… don't know. Too many risks."
"Risks you put me to take?" She got up. But Susanoo didn't answer as he turned his back on her. "Yumi—"
She puts her hand on his back. "I demand an answer!" She snaps him front of her. And although he's wearing mask. You can see his concern. "Yumi… you should not fight."
Yumi squinted. "Why is that?"
He put his head down. "There is… A lot you do not know about me." She took a breath to let the wind blow. Looking attentive to his words. "…Like?"
"I had a wife and kid. Kushinada-hime. And Yashimajinumi, when I tried to rebel against her… while I tried to fight her with my honor. She was not there. She had killed them… Behind my back."
Yumi seemed shocked to know this truth. "Wow… I… apologize. But what does this have to do with anything? What are you trying to say?"
Susanoo put a hand on her shoulder. "I have been grieving." He told her. "And unlike my son who was too young to succeed through my mission. You're doing this… for me."
"What I'm trying to say is. I can't lose you too."
Yumi seemed almost baffled by his words. "…what? I'm sorry, but I can never replace your son. You can only show him how you dealt with his lost."
"Hmph." Susanoo turned around. "Be careful. You do not want to be in my sons place." Thunder stuck as he disappeared. Yumi took a deep breath as she looked down. And looked back up.