Chapter 83: Interlude

In an ordinary Japanese house, an old man with a head that protrudes backward from his face in the shape of a gourd sits cross-legged on the porch. He wears a brown robe over a dark green kimono and traditional Japanese sandals. The old man drinks tea calmly, relaxing with his eyes closed as he basks in the sun of Amaterasu. Suddenly, he opens his eyes, noticing the clouds above gathering and swirling with occasional thunder and lightning. He looks up curiously as a lightning strike hits the garden in front of him. Before he can react, a man with black hair materializes where the lightning struck.

The old man kneels on one knee upon seeing him. "Susanoo-sama," he greets the god Susanoo.

"Old Nura, it's been a while," Susanoo says, walking with swagger as he sits on the porch. He shamelessly picks up the tea Nura was drinking as if he owns it. "Aaahh... good tea. Did you buy this?" Susanoo asks.

"It's homegrown, Susanoo-sama," Nura replies while pouring another cup of tea for Susanoo.

"How's your son, old man?" Susanoo asks, lying down and propping up his head with his hands.

Before Nura can answer, a man suddenly appears like a ninja or a yokai. He has long blue-black hair and blue eyes, appearing as a young bishōnen in his early twenties. He is dressed in black monk's robes and a conic straw hat topped by a diamond shape. He wears a white scarf around his neck and an olive-colored kesa fastened by a ring over his robes, signifying his full ordination as a monk. Apart from the standard warrior monk's shakujō that he carries, his long robes hide many weapons. Beneath his hat, a pair of small nub-like horns protrude from either side of his forehead.

Not far behind, a tall and muscular humanoid yokai with brown skin and white hair comes running to Nura, shaking the house with each step. He dons an iron blue robe worn underneath a black cloak with a cream-colored fluffy fur collar, connected with a white skull rosary to keep his overly strong powers in check.

"Nura-sama, are you alright? We came as soon as we saw the lightning strike here," the yokai with blue-black hair asks.

"I'm alright, Kurotabo. Be at ease, both of you, and greet our important guest," Nura replies with a smile to the yokai with blue-black hair named Kurotabo, while instructing them to greet their guest.

Kurotabo looks at the lying-down Susanoo with narrowed eyes before his eyes widen in surprise. "Greetings, Susanoo-sama," he says, kowtowing to the God of Storm from the Shinto pantheon. The muscular man also does the same after hearing the name of the guest.

Nura nods with a smile at the behavior of his subordinates. "As for your question, Susanoo-sama, my son has already passed away, leaving me with my grandson," he says sadly.

"A shame, he was a good yokai and a good soldier," Susanoo says solemnly, drinking the tea.

"I will drink to that," Nura adds, also drinking the tea he poured for himself in a solemn manner.

"Well, at least you have a grandson to inherit your position," Susanoo smiles at Nura, but upon seeing Nura's helpless smile, he adds, "Oh! I guess this is the end of the great Nurarihyon Clan." He doesn't seem to care much, as all clans are beneath him.

Nura and the other two yokai sigh helplessly, reminded again of the sad reality that Nura's only descendant does not want to get involved in yokai affairs, leaving them in a dire position.

"The surrounding yokai clans must be happy and getting ready for war, especially the White Fox," Susanoo said with a smile, imagining the prospect of watching the battle for hegemony in the East Yokai Faction.

"As long as I'm here, nobody will dare start a war," Nura replied confidently. Despite his age and weakness, he still had plenty of tricks up his sleeve. "Anyway, what can I do for you, Susanoo-sama?" Nura asked, curious about Susanoo's casual demeanor.

"Nothing much," Susanoo said, sitting up. "Did you see the dragon that appeared?" he asked.

"I did," Nura replied with a frown, remembering the dragon's immense power despite its distance from his location. "Do you want us to kill or capture it?" he asked skeptically.

"No, no! I wouldn't want to risk your people's lives for that, especially since other yokai are waiting for your clan's demise," Susanoo said, shaking his head.

Nura sighed in relief before asking, "Then Susanoo-sama, what do you want us to do?" He poured another cup of tea for both himself and Susanoo with grace.

"I want you to send someone to investigate Kuoh Town and find the dragon, but don't snoop around too much, as I don't want to offend a potential ally," Susanoo suggested, reminding Nura to proceed with caution. "However, if the dragon does get offended, just leave it to me. I can handle it myself," he said confidently, scratching his nose.

"Then we will send our best—" Nura began, but Susanoo interrupted him with a casual tone.

"I told you, I don't want to cripple your forces, especially in this yokai cold war."

Nura frowned at the mention of the war again before asking curiously, "Do you have a suggestion then, Susanoo-sama?"

Susanoo thought for a while before suggesting, "Send someone to attend Kuoh Academy. The devils attending that school might be trying to find the dragon too, so maybe your people can snoop around them."

"I see," Nura nodded. "I think I know someone who can attend that school," he said, thinking of the young yuki-onna.

"Perfect!" Susanoo stood up and walked to the charred garden before saying, "Then good luck." A lightning strike blinded the trio of yokai as Susanoo vanished in front of them.

"Damn it! My garden," Nura said in frustration as he watched his garden get destroyed by Susanoo's lightning.

Nura sighed before looking at Kurotabo. "Inform the young Tsurara of what she needs to do."

"But who's going to guard Rikuo-sama?" Kurotabo questioned.

"Do you need help guarding my grandson from Tsurara?" Nura retorted.

"No! I can handle guarding Rikuo-sama," Kurotabo replied confidently, looking at Nura with determined eyes.

"Then do what I just said," Nura reminded sternly.

"It will be done," Kurotabo said, vanishing like a ninja.

Nura nodded and looked at the muscular yokai. "Aotabo, inform Setsura about her daughter's mission that I have given her." Nura stood up and started walking toward the kitchen to boil more tea for himself.

"Nura-sama, why me?" Aotabo asked with a frown, not wanting to get too close to the old woman.

"Because you can handle the beating from her," Nura replied.