Fou sighed deeply to itself as it stared at the large, gaping hole sitting where the front entrance of the Namikaze Residence used to be. The Devil heiress and Asia were sitting among the wreckage, one unconscious from the blast and the other slowly stirring, albeit groaning in pain. Beside it, Jeanne was crying comically. "Haru's family is going to be so angry when they see this."
Well, she was not wrong. If they returned home and saw this, Fou imagined they'd likely faint from shock, though whether they'd be angry at their one and only son for allowing this to happen or panic and think that the Root's Link was caught in the blast and injured or possibly dead. As for what caused the hole in the first place, well, that was partially its fault. When the Root's Link mentioned that the Mythological World's iteration of Amaterasu-no-Mikoto wished to speak with him, Tamamo-no-Mae had become frightened with panic. In an instant, she unleashed everything in a single moment all to escape her bindings and make a mad dash to Kyoto. Though the Mythological World's Amaterasu-no-Mikoto was different from the Moonlit World's own Amaterasu, Tamamo knew little to nothing about this realm. For all she knew, this realm's Amaterasu was just as dangerous as their own.
In a way, Fou could understand where Tamamo was coming from. Even so, wasn't this a little overkill?
"We should go after her before she sets all of Kyoto ablaze," Jeanne said finally. Her normal attire was dismissed and wore her combat garbs, signature flag and sword in hand. "I'm also worried about Haru. If Jorogumo is as dangerous as Lady Gremory made her out to be, we cannot afford to wait any longer."
Fou bobbed its head, leaping up to her shoulder. It was also worried about the Root's Link.
After all, protecting that kid was its job.
After a delightful, if not bizarre meal with the horse youkai, Kunou proceeded to lead Haru and Aika through a series of winding paths in the depths of Kyoto. It was not the sewer system as he feared when they were told about it, but rather an underground labyrinth of sorts. It was surprisingly well-lit, torches and lambs keeping the path illuminated rather than leaving them in the dark. That said, the underground paths felt rather eerie, what with the fires in the lamps and torches being dark blue rather than reddish-orange.
"This place gives me the creeps..." Aika shuddered. Even though she was now wearing warm clothing, she couldn't help but feel a little chilly. Something about this place just felt wrong to her. "H-Hey, Kunou-chan, how much farther?"
"We're close!" Kunou chirped. "Please wait a little while longer, Kiryu-san!"
"Man, this place is huge..." Haru marveled at the underground structure. "How long do you think it took them to build this place?"
"I don't know, and I don't care." Aika replied. "All I care about is getting back to my family. When they see me gone, they're going to lose their minds if they haven't already. This is your fault Namikaze!"
"Hey, you think I planned on getting kidnapped?! I'm not too happy about this either, especially now that I know that some human-hating Youkai wants me dead because she thinks I'm a liar!"
Before an argument between the two could break out, Kunou called out ahead of them. "We're here!"
The three stood in front of a set of double doors dyed crimson with a gold engraving of a fox branded on the doors. Kunou pushed the doors open and ushered the two forward. They were greeted with cool winds washing over their faces and stared at the incredible sight in front of them. The sky had darkened to where it appeared to have been nighttime. The buildings within the area were old fashioned, yet they were alight with lanterns casting a golden glow. What stood out most, however, were the various Youkai wandering the streets. Some were easily recognizable, others looked so foreign and alien to Haru that he thought they must have come from another world.
"Whoa..." Haru breathed, taken in by the incredible sight in front of him. "This is amazing."
Aika numbly nodded in agreement. "Where is this place?" she asked Kunou, who was smiling smugly at their reaction. "Is-is this whole place underground?"
"Nope! This is Nurarihyon-sama's territory," Kunou explained to them. "It's separated from the human realm, so the Youkai Faction has some privacy to themselves whenever they discuss important meetings with the other factions."
"Nurarihyon?" Haru stared. "Who's that? Is he the boss of this place?"
Kunou bobbed her head in affirmation. "Nurarihyon is the leader of the Night Parade, Okaa-sama's personal guard."
"Kunou-sama!"
Another youkai had disembarked from the crowd and approached the three in a hurry. It was a Tengu like the one who brought him to Kyoto in the first place, even wearing the same blue robes, albeit with bandages wrapped around his bare chest. Now that the panicked youkai was close enough to them, fretting over a confused Kunou, Haru saw that it wasn't just a member of the same race.
"Hey, you're that Tengu from before!" Haru exclaimed in shock. "I thought you got killed!"
The Tengu blinked in surprise upon seeing Haru. "Oh, you are Namikaze-kun," he said, genuinely surprised to see the young man. "I had thought we had lost you after that attack earlier today. But, yes, I still live, thankfully. Had that spear struck me any closer to my heart, and I would surely be dead. I do apologize for the rough treatment. We were short on time, and Yasaka-sama wished to speak with you with the utmost urgency, and I..."
"No, no. It's fine," he assured the messenger. "Gremory-senpai kind of gave me the rundown about your guys' trouble with this Jorogumo lady. I take it she's the one who attacked you?"
"Yes. More specifically, one of her subordinates." The Tengu's face twisted slightly in anger. "When Yasaka-sama said she wished to meet the one responsible for supposedly resurrecting Tamamo-no-Mae-sama, Jorogumo was livid as were most of those who sided with her."
The Tengu then turned his attention to Kunou, the latter flinching beneath his gaze. "As for you, young lady... You nearly scared us all half to death when you suddenly vanished! Yasaka-sama was about to send the whole Night Parade to look for you. While we are glad to see you have returned with Namikaze-kun, must I remind you that you simply cannot run off without an escort?"
"K-Kunou knows that!" the girl replied as she turned her head and pouted. Haru nearly fainted from how adorable she looked doing so. "She just wanted to be useful to Okaa-sama and Amaterasu-sama..."
The Tengu still looked pretty peeved with her, but eventually sighed and shook his head. "In any case, we are happy you have returned unscathed." He bowed politely to Haru and Aika. "Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Gozu, vassal and messenger of Yasaka Tamamo. Welcome to the Kuro-tengoku Estate."
"N-Nice to meet you..." Haru bowed back, slightly nervous. There was no chance of him turning back now, he supposed. It was either take his chances trying to convince Yasaka and Amaterasu he really did bring back Tamamo, or try and get out of Kyoto alive while being hunted by Jorogumo's lackeys. "I'm Namikaze Haru. This is my acquaintance, Kiryuu Aika."
His fellow pervert nodded, still stunned by the formal greeting. "H-Hello..."
"Greetings to you, Kiryuu." Gozu smiled crookedly. He turned around and gestured the two to follow him. "Come. Yasaka-sama and Amaterasu-sama are waiting for you in the estate."