Tomoe

The night was unusually quiet. Crimson lights from fire butterflies flickered among the dark forest. They circled around a girl in a maroon kimono perched on a wide tree branch. Rumors had been swirling throughout the yokai world for the past few weeks. They said she was the one who revealed one of Akura-Ou's secrets. They said she was the one who let his enemies know where he was hiding after his latest disappearance. There was too much talk. And no one tried to find out the truth. And then an order came. Not from the gods. Not from the spirits. From Akura-Ou itself. Find the fire fox. And kill her. Many yokai would have refused to carry out such an order. But there was one who decided to see for himself whether it was true or not. Tomoe. He didn't fully believe the rumors. But he had no intention of protecting her either. If she truly betrayed the one she once walked side by side with, he would end this story himself. The girl sensed a familiar aura even before he appeared. A smile touched her lips.

• So, he has arrived.

Silver flash.

The blade stopped near her neck.

Tomoe looked cold and without a trace of a smile.

• Name at least one reason why I should not carry out an order.

The girl slowly looked up.

• Because I didn't do anything.

• Everyone says so.

• And you have always been too trusting of other people's words.

Tomoe frowned.

— The name Akura-Ou is now spoken next to yours more often than ever.

She laughed quietly.

• And you came to kill me because of rumors?

• I came to find out the truth.

— With a sword at my neck? A very convincing way to talk.

A crimson fire flashed in her eyes.

"Then listen carefully, Tomoe. If I wanted to betray Akura-Ou, he would have been dead long ago."

Silence.

It seems that the conversation didn't go as either of them had planned from the very beginning.