Nurarihyon was rejected.
Rejected cleanly, directly, even a little mercilessly.
But he didn't get angry. He knew, in his current penniless state, failing to recruit was only to be expected.
"Alright." He sighed, took the pipe from his mouth, and tapped out the ash.
"Since you're not willing now, I won't force it."
"What do you mean, 'now' not willing?" Shinji raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, you'll be willing later." Nurarihyon's face broke into that confident smile again. "Once I become the Master of All Yokai, once my Hyakki Yakō truly takes shape, when that day comes—"
"I'll come find you again."
"And then you'll know how right it was to join my group."
Shinji looked at him.
This guy…
Was really confident.
"Whatever." Shinji couldn't be bothered to argue.
"Then it's settled!" Nurarihyon acted like he'd received a promise, his grin widening. "When I become the Master of All Yokai, I'll come find you again."
"By then, my Hyakki Yakō will have hundreds of demons, each one top-tier."
"You'll see that sight and definitely join me."
"Then, you'll be my second-in-command!"
"We two brothers will rule the world together!"
'Since when were we brothers?
Delusional demon. Completely delusional.'
But Shinji didn't believe a word of it.
The Nurarihyon before him seemed confident, and he had reason to be but Shinji considered himself someone with a 'cheat'… ahem, a demon with a cheat.
Given enough time, he'd only get stronger!
"Just wait… demon warrior, Nakai Shinji!"
With those words, the Nurarihyon standing in the midday sun suddenly faded like receding ink, slowly dissolving into nothing.
If Shinji and Kikyō weren't both beings with powerful inspiration, they might not have noticed his disappearance at all.
Appearing and disappearing without a trace, the Nurarihyon's nature, on full display once more.
All that remained was the young man's voice, echoing.
"Just wait....!"
Shinji stood there, facing the empty space where only roadside grasses swayed.
"Gone?" Kikyō's voice came from beside him.
"Gone." Shinji nodded.
"Did you ever consider joining him?"
"Why would I?" Shinji countered.
"What he described, the Hyakki Yakō, the Master of All Yokai, it's certainly ambitious." Kikyō said. "For a demon, that might be a more suitable path."
The demon warrior heard this and glanced sideways at the shrine maiden. She seemed to be advising him, but there was a hint of insincerity in her tone.
Not as strong as you, anyway, he thought to himself.
He said: "So what?"
"I have my own things to do. I don't have time for his 'rule the world' games."
"And..." He glanced at Kikyō. "I already have a companion."
Kikyō's movements stilled slightly.
A glimmer flashed through those dark eyes, but only for an instant.
"Then, let's keep moving."
She asked nothing more. No hesitation.
Shinji smiled softly and said nothing in return.
The Hiraikotsu on his back was heavy, weighing on his shoulder, but it felt solid.
[Hiraikotsu: Affection 0 (Stranger)]
[It's still sleeping. Doesn't want to talk to you.]
This thing really was hard to please.
Shinji muttered to himself.
He reached back and touched the massive boomerang, feeling its vicious demonic aura.
"When I have time, I'll give you a good bath," he murmured quietly.
Hiraikotsu didn't react.
But Shinji had a feeling it seemed a little less hostile?
Probably just his imagination.
The two continued walking.
The mountain path wound on, lush trees on either side.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
After about another hour,
Shinji suddenly spoke.
"That Nurarihyon guy, what do you think of him?"
He'd wanted to ask earlier.
He knew the Nurarihyon's future because he'd seen the 'story.' But Kikyō?
"Nurarihyon," Kikyō said. "A demon skilled at 'blending in.' Can appear anywhere silently, make everyone feel like it belongs there."
"You said that before. That's not what I'm asking." Shinji waved a hand. "I'm asking what you think of him as a person."
Kikyō was silent for a moment.
"Very ambitious," she said. "But doesn't seem like an evil demon."
"You think so too?"
"Yes." Kikyō nodded.
"His demonic aura is dense, but it lacks the resentment of one who's killed innocents. No malice either. At least when he was with us, he harbored no evil intent."
"So…" She paused. "If he really can build a Hyakki Yakō, it might not be a bad thing."
Shinji raised an eyebrow.
"You support him?" Shinji asked.
Kikyō's tone regained its usual cool composure. "In this chaotic age, demons run rampant, humans and demons live intermingled. If there were someone who could lead and restrain all demons, perhaps it could reduce some unnecessary killing."
Shinji smiled.
"Makes sense," he said. "But only if that leader isn't a man-eating demon himself."
"Yes." Kikyō nodded.
They continued walking.
The sun climbed higher, the temperature rising.
Shinji looked around.
"There should be a shrine ahead," he said.
"How do you know?"
"It told me." Shinji held up a stone he'd picked up from the roadside, wiped clean.
"…"
Kikyō didn't respond.
She was used to this behavior by now.
Even if she still found it strange.
But she had to admit, his way of 'asking directions' was effective.
Sure enough.
After another quarter hour,
The outline of a shrine appeared on a distant hillside.
A vermilion torii gate stood out vividly in the sunlight. Stone steps led from the foot of the hill to the top, lined with tall pine trees.
"We're here." Shinji stopped.
He looked at the shrine, then at his own messy white hair, his grey hemp clothes, and the demonic-aura-radiating Hiraikotsu on his back.
"I'll wait here," he said. "You go beg for supplies."
Kikyō glanced at him.
"Afraid you'll scare people?"
"With this thing." Shinji gestured. "My demonic aura is too strong. If there's any sensitive onmyōji inside, seeing me might cause unnecessary trouble."
Kikyō nodded.
It was a valid concern.
"Wait here then," she said. "I'll be back soon."
Kikyō turned and walked toward the shrine.
Her white-robed, red-hakama figure stood out in the sunlight, her black hair gently swaying in the breeze.
Shinji watched her go.
The shrine maiden climbed the stone steps, one by one.
Her figure gradually shrank, finally disappearing behind the torii gate.
Shinji found a clean rock and sat down.
Then he took Hiraikotsu off his back and laid it across his knees.
"Alright. Just us two now."
He addressed the massive boomerang.
"Want to chat?"
[Hiraikotsu: It rolled over. Still sleeping.]
Shinji: "…"
This thing was seriously aloof.