Tokyo Ravens - Volume 12 - Chapter 5.1

Chapter 5 
Part 1 
"Independent Officer, preparations are complete." 
Shigeoka silently raised his right hand and waited for a short while upon receiving his subordinate's report. After all, the current Exorcist Bureau Shinjuku Branch was being swept up in a powerful magical energy. Miyachi was using the Yamantaka method on another room's roof. Shigeoka moved his consciousness towards the Garuda again, suitably grouping the produced shikigami. 
His target was the initial-version Hama H1. It was a widely-available four-wheeled all-purpose vehicle made for the American army. But Hama might be a mechanical-type shikigami. Would the Tsuchimikado family have prepared a shikigami? It would be extremely troublesome if it were a mechanical-type shikigami. He just had a deep interest in that possibility. 
For now, Shigeoka surrounded the Hama, guiding the flow of events. He instructed the group of shikigami to stop the car if possible. Information obtained from the Garuda arrived continuously. Shigeoka stood up from his chair, giving an order to the subordinate on standby and walking out to the corridor. An image of the scene was being transmitted directly to him. 
"Has traffic been restricted?" 
"The metropolitan police ordered so, but it's impossible for traffic to improve immediately." 
"No helping it. Even though we predicted this course of events, have the shikigami go first and forcefully stop traffic." 
"Eh~ But......" 
"The target is an underage individual. Respond according to the spiritual disaster situation." 
"Understood. I'll make arrangements immediately. Hey~" 
The subordinate making the report signaled with his eyes, and several people quickly left the area. Shigeoka walked forward, leisurely moving through the corridor. 
Shigeoka had simultaneously deployed 'Modified Emperors' and 'Modified Yaksha', shikigami with high-speed maneuvering. It was very likely that they could match Hama. They couldn't rush capturing the target. 
"But as I thought, I can't accept it." 
"Eh? What is it?" 
Shigeoka replied "nothing" without changing his expression. 
What Shigeoka said he couldn't accept was the instructions he had received from the Onmyou Agency's and Exorcist Bureau's Chief Kurahashi. The only thing keeping Shigeoka in this matter was his occupational duty. First off, ordering a search for the fleeing Tsuchimikado Natsume was already pushing it for his exorcist self. Of course, if there were special circumstances, he could accept using the Garuda's multifunctionality alongside a search mission. If it were a rational order, it would perfectly fit the rule-constrained, inflexible Shigeoka. 
That didn't just apply to a search. Even a standby mission of an arrest would be another matter. Shigeoka might be willing to use his group of shikigami if Kurahashi's arrest of Natsume were as dangerous as a spiritual disaster purification. In any case, ignoring any requests of the various organizations, it had been designated as being the same level as a spiritual disaster purification even if it brought harm to the surroundings. 
Tsuchimikado was the main family of the Kurahashi. Unexpectedly, there were some problems between the two families. After all, the two families were both renowned, and it wouldn't be strange if they knew one or two bad things about the other. 
But there were other areas he couldn't agree with. Shigeoka also knew that the report that had been spread earlier was to lure out Tsuchimikado Harutora. Then in that case, shouldn't it have been Shigeoka's fighting strength being matched against Harutora earlier? Of course, Shigeoka's group of shikigami did have its weaknesses outside of the spiritual disaster purification it was best suited to. Though he couldn't deny that he might not be such a good match with other prominent Onmyouji, fighting strength was fighting strength. What should have been chosen? Harutora, instead of Natsume. Though Miyachi, the Exorcist Bureau's greatest fighting strength at the moment, was far away, he was putting everything into the fight. 
Shigeoka closed his eyes and shook his head, saying: 
"No, what a fruitless investigation." 
He was just an exorcist. The mission this time was very special, but his position hadn't changed. He ought to diligently pursue the mission he had been assigned. Since he was the Onmyouji Shigeoka Shunsuke. Two minutes later, Shigeoka was sitting in one of the spiritual disaster purification team's transport vehicles heading to the Shinjuku branch. If he left two minutes late, the situation afterwards might have become extremely chaotic. 

"Master, your orders." 
When Hama asked for instructions, Natsume stood up from her seat and threw charms. But there were a total of twelve Emperors and Yaksha among the shikigami summoned in front of them; their numbers were far too great. Perhaps that group of shikigami were the 'Colonel's special type. She had ultimately been unable to see his shikigami in action during the spiritual disaster purification a few days ago due to being short on time. Their capabilities were unknown. 
The cars behind them braked one after another upon noticing the group of shikigami in front of them. Only Hama still moved forward. 
Natsume's charm-holding fingers trembled as she failed to think of any suitable strategies. 
Tenma was the one to make a decision first. 
"Hama, increase your barrier strength to maximum and break through." 
"Understood." 
Hama immediately complied with Tenma's command. An explosion-like sound of exhaust roared out and the barrier was strengthened. Kyouko shouted from the passenger's seat, her body going stiff. 
"Hold on, Tenma." 
"It's alright. Probably." 
"Probably!?" 
Natsume sat back on the seat in a panic. Shocked, Akino covered her head as if to brace herself. Immediately afterwards, Hama crashed into two of the Emperors at the forefront of the shikigami in front of them. 
The 'G1 Emperor' was the bulkiest defensive shikigami that the Onmyou Agency manufactured. The two Emperors in front of them were large. Natsume gritted her teeth. The Emperors and Hama's barrier made contact in an intense collision. But Hama still advanced. The four-wheel-drive tires spun on the asphalt road, a bit stuck. The powerful horsepower drove the car forward when the Emperors and the barrier hit each other. The two emperors were sent flying, unable to stand the overwhelming force. 
Forcefully breaking through the two Emperors, Hama accelerated in a flash. Next it collided with the Yaksha behind it. The 'G2 Yaksha' were lighter-weight defensive shikigami than the Emperors. Unable to stop Hama's advance, they were knocked flying in an instant. 
But mechanical-type shikigami, composed of physical materials rather than spirit, only had an advantage of physical strength. They had no advantages other than pure destructive and defensive power when compared to other kinds of shikigami. The Armored Juggernaut military-use shikigami was a typical example. 
Hama's had extremely high abilities to supplement these mechanical-type shikigami features. Though its vehicular capabilities were very high, it was also extremely outstanding as a shikigami. 
"A high-level manmade shikigami? But where exactly did this shikigami come from?" 
Hama accurately operated the vehicle during Natsume's surprise. Akino wailed. Tenma gritted his teeth and gripped the controls. Kyouko's body was still and she was extremely surprised. 
The giant Hama's advance was difficult to deal with, and the shikigami group's enclosure began to show gaps. The Emperors approached from the side in order to immediately fill them. But Hama avoided them, then hit the Yaksha in front of them one after another, knocking them back and forcefully opening a hole. 
"We broke through!" Tenma cheered. 
The wind that was whipped up blew Natsume's black hair into a mess. Natsume tossed her hair back in the roaring wind and confirmed the positions of the group of shikigami. After they had broken through the group of shikigami, the shikigami had reformed their positions and regrouped. Normally, Emperors and Yaksha had different movements, especially as special models. 
"Tenma-kun, they're coming again." 
"Hama, can you break through this time?" 
"Absolutely." 
Hama's engine roared out again and it started accelerating once more. It even ignored red lights during this. Hama was the only one on the road. They couldn't see any signs of cars in front of them either. 
"Great. If that's all......" 
"Uh oh, they're coming." 

The moment Tenma shouted out, Natsume issued a warning. 
The Yaksha coming from behind overtook them. Akino screamed again at the defensive shikigami cutting across the night sky. But the Yaksha were stopped by the barrier again and dropped down to the ground. The Emperors chasing from behind immediately picked them back up. Hama forced its way past two of them and Akino screamed again. The barrier stopped their attacks, but the Yaksha continued attacking. The Yaksha that had been helped back up recovered and sprinted next to Hama alongside the one other remaining Yaksha. They formed a semicircular enclosure behind Hama. Behind the Yaksha were the Emperors that continued to support them. But the Yaksha's attacks still couldn't break through the barrier. It looked like the barrier Hama put up was very powerful. 
But if this went on...... 
Twelve shikigami supporting each other, with somewhat of a different atmosphere from the ones Yashamaru controlled. They were more like a pack of hunting beasts than a single organism. To put it further, they were a trained team. It was extremely draining to put up with this kind of repetitive attack. 
"Sorry, Master. It will be very difficult to maintain the current barrier strength for a minute. May I lower the barrier's strength?" 
"No!! If you lower the strength now, the vehicle body will be instantly destroyed." 
"It will be very difficult to escape attack range during that time. Forty-nine second left." 
Hama's calm voice and Tenma's panic made Natsume resolve herself again. 
"Let me deal with them. Can you adjust the barrier to let me fight back from the inside?" 
"E-Eh......" 
"Though I can't change the barrier's characteristics, I can change its shape." 
"Then do that. Kyouko, please have Hakuou and Kokfuu defend on both sides. 
"Got it. Tenma." 
"I guess we have no choice, let's do it. Three, two, one, change the barrier shape!" 
"Understood, changing the barrier's shape!!!!!" 
With that, the barrier covering the vehicle body sagged in from the top and moved to the sides, becoming a ring-shaped defensive wall. Kyouko summoned her defensive shikigami Hakuou and Kokfuu. The two of them slashed from the center of the vehicle body with sword and spear. Observing that part of the barrier had opened, half of the Yaksha continued the attack while the remaining half leaped up again. But Hakuou and Kokfuu swung their sword and spear, keeping the enemies from approaching from the air. 
Natsume also jumped up from her seat, throwing a charm and shouting "Order!". 
The water-element charm formed a cannon of water and hit the jumping Yaksha directly. Though it didn't do much harm, it made the Yaksha fall down. Natsume threw out an earth-element charm next. Sharp metal shot out like shotgun pellets, but they were deflected by the Yaksha that hadn't leaped up. These Yaksha charged forward, forming club-like weapons and pressing in on Natsume. The Yaksha confronting Hakuou and Kokfuu took similar actions. The shikigami were unable to attack them directly due to the defensive barrier, but the Yaksha's club attacks shook the barrier. Just then, the first three Yaksha jumped up again. 
"Ah...... Tenma, let's help too." 
"Okay. Hama, I'll leave the steering to you." 
Kyouko and Tenma stood up from the passenger and driver seats. 
"Akino, trade with me." Kyouko and Akino traded spots, and she and Tenma moved to the backseat. 
Natsume threw down charms again, and this time Hama started to speed up. The six Yaksha also formed a group to pursue, with the six Emperors behind them. 
Hakuou and Kokfuu slashed out wantonly with their sharp blades. The three people in the backseat threw charms. The actions of the group of shikigami were very monotonous, to be honest. But their coordination was certainly flawless. They didn't give a moment of respite. The six Emperors behind them were in standby for now, but they also presented a threat. The enemy wanted to capture them using as few troops as possible. 
But the battling defensive shikigami were also defensive shikigami controlled by an Independent Exorcist. They could be destroyed one by one. But Natsume's magical power still hadn't recovered completely. Defeating twelve defensive shikigami would be quite dangerous. 
"Natsume, in front of you!" 
Behind her, Akino cried out in a panic: "Garuda!!!" 
The Garuda that had left the battle suddenly descended from the sky above. Could it have some means of attacking directly!? With the current barrier shape, Hama was completely unguarded from above. Kyouko, also conscious of this fact, shouted Natsume's name. But once the Garuda appeared, the Yaksha's actions became more numerous. Though they were simple mechanical movements, each movement had its own individual meaning. 
"Oh no!!" 
Hama began evading, but its range of movement was restricted by the obstructing Yaksha to the left and right. They had lost. He thought so. A pale blue light flashed from the eastern sky like a laser. 
A direct hit!! 
The Garuda's outer form was distorted and its path deviated greatly. This was a fire-element charm technique. At the same time, a group of shikigami flew out and engulfed the off-balance Garuda. White-colored shikigami - paper shikigami. 
"Natsume!!!" 
A nostalgic voice came from the sky. 
"Suzuka!!!" 
The world seemed to warm up when their eyes met. 
Suddenly, Hama braked. Since its body's inertia constantly carried it forward, Hama didn't stop immediately. The moment it felt that it was going to crash, a young man full of demonic aura dropped from the sky onto the hood. 
"Hey hey, what did you guys get your hands on, isn't this the mechanical shikigami Hama!?" 
"Touji!!" 
Touji stopped the Emperors head-on with all his strength. He shouted loudly as the armor covering his body disappeared. The Emperor in front staggered, and the momentums of the two Emperors behind it were reduced, with their actions becoming confused as well. 
"Go!" 
Hama immediately followed Touji's command. It knocked aside the remaining two Emperors. Kyouko and Tenma were extremely moved by Suzuka's and Touji's debuts as well. Suzuka called their names, while Touji smiled and shrugged his shoulders. 
"Is the 'Colonel' our alliance's next opponent? Arriving at such a high level all of a sudden is like that time with Ashiya Doman, isn't it?" Touji's words emboldened Natsume, Kyouko, and Tenma. 
As Touji said, their memories from when Ashiya Doman had attacked the Onmyou Academy were awakened again. Natsume and the others had also fought with countless shikigami back then. The situation had been more desperate than this one. 
Harutora, Ohtomo, and the principal weren't here. 
But now she was different from back then. She possessed enough fighting strength. 
"Natsume, can you give orders?" 
"Alright." 
Natsume replied to Touji immediately, becoming enlivened. 
"We'll break through here. Please lend me your strength, everyone." 
 
Touji, Kyouko, Tenma, and Suzuka all responded with all their might to Natsume's order. The panicked Akino looked at Natsume and the friends around her. The sound of Hama's engine became louder. It roared like a battle cry through the nighttime road.