Tokyo Ravens - Volume 12 - Chapter 5.2

Part 2 
The Exorcist Bureau Shinjuku Branch. The Twin-Horned Syndicate members had entrenched themselves in a building of this branch during the Twin-Horned Syndicate sweep operation two year ago. Two years later, a mobile altar burning with red flame was set up on the building's roof. 
Independent Exorcist Miyachi Iwao sat wearing a cassock [20] in front of the flame, focusing on chanting an incantation. "On kirikushuchiribikiri tadanouun sarabashatorodashaya satanbayasatanbaya sohatasohatasowaka..." He repeated the chant in a certain rhythm, whose unique cadence could fascinate the listener. A team of exorcists were around Miyachi with the same mindset as their boss. The Onmyouji centered on Miyachi changed the aura of this area, making it slowly expand. 
Miyachi's strong spiritual power had been formed by training with the Yamantaka method magic. His honed spiritual power flowed into the flame of the altar, and the spell swallowed it and floated it to the eastern sky. This was the Fire Demon's Yamantaka method. 
"On kirikushuchiribikiri tadanouun sarabashatorodashaya satanbayasatanbaya sohatasohatasowaka... Onshuchiri kyararoha unkensowaka..." 
The kindling burned and scattered sparks, its flame illuminating the night sky. Miyachi released his hand seal and picked up some of the stacked-up kindling, adding it to the flame. This series of movements was all unconscious. 
"On kirikushuchiribikiri tadanouun sarabashatorodashaya satanbayasatanbaya sohatasohatasowaka... Onshuchiri kyararoha unkensowaka..." 
Receiving Miyachi's magical energy, the altar scattered sparks. The jumping flame was already three meters high, seeming to show some kind of pride. Miyachi continued chanting the incantation, changing the rhythm of the incantation slightly. Then, Miyachi's lips curled into a bitter smile. 
"Hello!" 
A young voice came from the rooftop. A different demon had entered. 
"It's been a while, Onmyouji Miyachi Iwao. We haven't met like this since the summer of two years ago, have we?" 
A boy stood on the other side of the flame. This boy was about ten years old and wore an old-fashioned outfit and blood-colored sunglasses. He was probably different from an ordinary person, to give off such an abnormal aura at such a young age. 
"On kirikushuchiribikiri tadanouun sarabashatorodashaya satanbayasatanbaya sohatasohatasowaka... Onshuchiri kyararoha unkensowaka..." 
Miyachi stopped the chant and sighed, standing up expressionlessly. 
"It has been a long time, Priest." 
"Yeah, sorry to bother with this sudden visit." 
The two of them met each other's gazes. The boy - Ashiya Doman - shrugged his shoulders. 
"You should know the situation, and you probably knew I would be coming." 
"I'm extremely sorry, but I was constantly hoping you wouldn't come." 
"Hmph, that only results in the opposite effect." 
"Well, then it was certainly a failure. Priest, did you come alone?" 
"Yes, it's always been that way recently." 
"How frightening. I wonder how great of a catastrophe it will take before 'he' realizes." 
"Well then, I had best prepare myself." 
"Abandoning yourself and preparedness are not the same." 
"Hmph, don't be too arrogant. Will you really manage?" 
"......" 
Miyachi didn't reply. Doman chuckled and the conversation ended there. 

The pentagram mark that had appeared in the night sky suddenly became weak and lost its shine. 
Ohtomo let out a hostile laugh. As they had planned beforehand, Doman had interfered with Miyachi's long-range magic. A fight between trump cards was currently taking place there. The other Divine Generals, especially the Independent Exorcists, were supporting Miyachi. 
Since he had escaped the Yamantaka method's direct attack, Harutora released his barrier and sighed with Hishamaru by his side. Though Ohtomo had been a step late to the Dark Temple, this time he had made it in time to help his student. 
"Student, huh." 
The Harutora who stood there felt different from a certain student in Ohtomo's memories in ways other than outer appearance. For example, Harutora's aura and his style were different compared to before. 
The way a practitioner interpreted universal nature and freely controlled yin and yang consisted of his style as an Onmyouji. The one Ohtomo saw now was the reincarnation of the legendary Onmyouji Tsuchimikado Yakou - the great Onmyouji who had revived magic - rather than his former student. The best evidence for that were the two shikigami by his side - Hishamaru and Kakugyouki, known as Yakou's two guardians. But to Ohtomo, it wasn't Harutora's strength that was important. 
"Oh, Kakugyouki, it's been a long time." 
The woman next to Ohtomo suddenly shouted out loudly. She was a very tall, very powerful woman. But her wording was a bit childish. At the same time, the short, fat man behind Ohtomo also waved slightly. These two were the shikigami Mezu and Gozu who served Doman. Mezu waved at Kakugyouki behind Harutora. Kakugyouki had been in contact with Doman for a long time, so he knew these two. Kakugyouki looked in the distance and said: 
"It's you guys? Isn't Doman the one who stopped the magic?" 
"That's right." 
"This is pretty nice. Lend me a hand, Brother Ibaraki [21] " Gozu said after Mezu. 
At the same time, Ohtomo and Harutora were staring blankly at each other. Both of them wore wry smiles. 
"Harutora-kun, is it? You won't give your name this time?" 
"Yeah, that's me." Harutora laughed and said: 
"Sensei, you're always helping me out." 
That laugh was different from that of the Harutora from before. Even so, this was Harutora's smile. Ohtomo clearly sensed that this was the Harutora he recognized. It was also very fitting for Ohtomo. The accumulated doubt in his chest were finally released, and a sense of mission and responsibility welled up instead. Even now, Harutora was his student. 
Harutora's actions of hiding his whereabouts were a mystery. But since he had already confirmed that he was Harutora, he had already decided what he ought to do. Ohtomo finally glanced at the two young shikigami [22] . He had recollections of both of them. Though they weren't very clear, his mind still held remnants of memories. 
"Are you the Imperial Household Agency Lingering Spirit Division's Mutobe Chihiro, and the Chief of the Lingering Spirit Division, 'Professor' Dairenji Shidou?" 
After Ohtomo checked, the monocled young man laughed coldly. 
"Nice to meet you, 'Shadow' Ohtomo Jin. Or should I call you 'Three-leg' or 'White Yatagarasu' [23] ? It's just as you say. But now, he's Kumomaru and I'm Yashamaru." 
"Yase Doji serving the Souma line, huh." 
"Hmph, did you ask Ashiya Doman? He's a troublesome person too." 
Mezu glared angrily at Yashamaru as he engaged in a verbal joust with Ohtomo. 
"What's your deal!? I can't forgive you for speaking Doman-sama's name directly and insulting him!" 
"Hmph, you're just a dog raised by the Souma." 

Doman's two faithful defensive shikigami immediately showed their hostility, but Yashamaru smiled coldly and said: 
"You're just an Ox-Head and Horse-Face. [24] " 
Yashamaru continued his taunting and looked back at Ohtomo. Ohtomo didn't react. Both of them had been prominent Onmyouji before death. Now they had become Yase Doji and possessed both the abilities of practitioners and the power of shikigami. 
"Harutora-kun, though I have a lot of things to ask you, I'll talk with you later. There are a couple troublesome things here, so leave them to me." He spoke with the same calm tone, but his head rapidly spun around. 
"I have a lot of things I want to ask about the Souma. Like the Spiritual Disaster Early Detection Sensory Net and the stupid altar." 
Yashamaru's eyes twitched and showed a cold light when he heard Ohtomo say this. Kumomaru's expression also tensed up behind him. 
"Was that Ashiya Doman as well......? It looks like the pairing of you and the Priest exceeded our imaginations. No, it seems that you've exceeded them by a troublesome amount." 
Ohtomo's expression didn't change when he heard Yashamaru say this. It seemed that the speculation that Doman had made to Ohtomo before had hit the mark. Perhaps Kogure, who was the Onmyou Agency's match for Ohtomo, would be heading here, but there was no time. Still, it would be almost impossible to meet the Souma again. They were taking a dangerous risk, which to Ohtomo was a critical juncture for victory. 
"...Ah, Chief!?" 
Suddenly, Kumomaru who had been silent the entire time crashed into Yashamaru from behind. He grabbed Yashamaru's body and leaped out to the edge of the overpass as if to tumble down. At almost the same time, Hishamaru, who had silently approached with simple shikigami, released her stealth and attacked from behind. Though they avoided her first strike, she still chased after the enemy. Kumomaru dodged Hishamaru's attack in midair. Yashamaru was forming a seal behind him. But Kakugyouki, who had silently flown above them, expressionlessly commenced an attack, and Yashamaru quickly defended himself with a barrier. Hishamaru and Kakugyouki cooperated to attack the two Yase Doji. Suddenly, there were four defensive shikigami fighting above the river. 
"What!?" 
Ohtomo was stunned. The sneak attack had completely taken him by surprise. 
"Hold on, Boss." 
Mezu stamped her feet in displeasure, and Mezu was also clearly very upset. Ohtomo immediately moved to tell them to join in the fight. But...... 
"Please don't move." 
Harutora alone spoke from the overpass. It was a slightly tense voice, and seemed to restrain Ohtomo. 
The four shikigami collided with each other, bounced back, and moved apart. It had just been Yashamaru and Kumomaru on the edge of the overpass, and now it was Hishamaru and Kakugyouki. The two Yase Doji moved cautiously in the direction opposite to the river. Ohtomo also checked the battle situation. Both sides hadn't gone all-out, but it was obvious that Ohtomo ought to help out if they didn't want to stall for time. 
"Harutora-kun?" 
Ohtomo wanted to ask what Harutora's reasons for stopping him were. Although his heart told him there was no need to ask, he said it anyway. But Harutora's reply was completely opposite from what Ohtomo anticipated. 
"Ohtomo-sensei, though I want you to help us, I can't rely on you. I'm extremely sorry, but to be honest, I can't trust you right now." 
"What are you saying, Harutora-kun. How could I......" Ohtomo was extremely surprised. 
"Sensei, you're currently destroying the balance of yin and yang." Harutora calmly replied. 
"Sensei, you've started relying on Ashiya Doman's shikigami since last summer. That's quite a terrible thing." 
"I know that......" 
"No, that's wrong. Although you're self-aware, I can only judge it to be completely insufficient." 
"Is that what you have to say after seeing my actions?" 
Harutora didn't reply immediately. He sighed deeply and said: 
"Disturbance of yin and yang isn't only a problem of aura. The mind and soul also have effects. Have you not considered it? Sensei, when Doman attacked the academy building, you were courteous until the very end. And now? You're driven by impulse without knowing it. That's right, like an ara-mitama." 
"......" 
"Ara-mitama aren't things that can be dealt with so easily. Your methods are no good. That's why they are ara-mitama. Sensei, you probably could have noticed it before, but your current self cannot." 
Harutora smirked. His voice gave away what he thought about Ohtomo. 
"I can feel your sense of responsibility and your gentleness, although those are what blinded you. But you're too dangerous right now, Sensei." 
With his former pupil now lecturing him, Ohtomo stood there dumbly, unable to say anything back. 
"Hah? What's up with that guy. I don't get what he's saying at all." Mezu raised an eyebrow and muttered. 
Harutora continued: 
"Of course it's very dangerous. Though it's irresponsible of me to say this, I now finally understand the final warning that Kogure made back then. That person's mostly in the right. I think that Kogure is chasing after you for the same reason, Sensei." 
Harutora shut his mouth after saying this. 
Hishamaru, Kakugyouki, Yashamaru, and Kumomaru confronted each other on the two sides of the river. A tense atmosphere filled area. 
Ohtomo had told himself in his heart to focus his mind on the current battle, so he had cast away his personal emotions from before. 
With the shikigami against the Yase Doji, they could take their time and pay attention to crucial matters. But if Harutora impeded Ohtomo's actions, Ohtomo would be powerless for a while. During that time, the Yase Doji could find some way to escape. Harutora's side and the Yase Doji had thought of the same thing. 
Yashamaru continued confronting Hishamaru and Kakugyouki while listening to Harutora's and Ohtomo's conversation. 
Ohtomo didn't move. Harutora and Yashamaru also didn't take any actions, as if the three parties were in a Mexican standoff. But keeping this situation as it was only benefitted Yashamaru and Kumomaru. 
"Then...... Noumaku saraba tatagyateibyaku saraba bokkeibyaku sarabata tarata senda makarosyada ken gyakigyaki saraba biginnan untarata kanman!" 
Ohtomo recited the Fire Realm incantation without making a hand seal, preparing to form the spell. He snapped to order Gozu and Mezu into battle. Ohtomo knew that a burst of power was the best way to resolve everything. 
"On bishibishi karakara shibari sowaka!" 
"Kumomaru......" 
"Yes." 
Seeing Ohtomo's actions, Yashamaru issued orders to Kumomaru. Kumomaru rapidly formed a seal and began a spell. Hishamaru also started preparing a spell, while Kakugyouki smiled and Harutora gritted his teeth. Ohtomo's Fire Realm magic blazed bright. 
A booming sound gradually approached them from the distance. It was a helicopter. At first, they thought it was a media helicopter, but no, it was an Exorcist Bureau emergency helicopter. Ohtomo thought that they should immediately take the aircraft down. 
"Princess, why!?" Kumomaru said. Ohtomo and Harutora both stared at the aircraft, feeling very surprised. The aircraft instantly reached the sky above Ohtomo and the others. Then, a slim figure walked out from inside. It was a girl with bright red hair - Souma Takiko. Ohtomo's eyes widened as if he had been doused with cold water, but his body felt the illusion that it was being boiled. A frightening aura emanated from all over Takiko's body. An overwhelming presence of aura, a terrifying sensation, and an awe-inspiring manner like a god. Ohtomo didn't notice that he had cancelled his Fire Realm magic as he unconsciously looked towards that girl. Though he had lived in the world of magic for a long time, it was certainly his first time seeing someone like Takiko. 
Takiko coldly looked down. 
"No, it's too early!" Yashamaru shouted. 
Takiko jumped down from the aircraft without hesitation. Like a god.