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After Seimei and the rest of the Onmyoji said goodbye and headed back to the courtyard, Ibaraki stayed with Shuten in the forest on the outskirts of Kyoto.
Shuten was fast asleep, his head resting on his calabash, his ponytail half undone and his red hair all over the place. The content of his plate of Sake was spilled around him.
Ibaraki looked at the once famous and powerful spirit that once was his friend now lying on the cold damp floor, under a tree. He resembled a sleeping lion – vulnerable and almost endearing, but still an intimidating and powerful creature.
The sun was setting. It was time, he thought, resignedly. Ibaraki decided to create a portal to take them both back to the mountains, just like he promised Seimei he would do after all the mess was over.
He raised his left hand, strong and otherworldly; its nails long and sharp like knives. He clenched his fingers and felt the energy running through them. When he opened it again, an orb of light started to grow slowly on his palm, its light illuminating the pathetic and lonesome scene the Onmyoji had left behind earlier.
It was a black energy orb that protected by red waves of lightning, spinning at incredible speed. Ibaraki let it grow on and on, his golden eyes stuck on the mesmerizing rhythm of the waves, until it reached a considerable size.
The floor quaked and he could see the leaves of the trees surrounding him and his friend shaking violently for just a millisecond. He then smashed it on the ground with all his bodily strength. The impact made a deep and vibrating sound, and a spiralling bolt arose from the ground surrounding them. After that they both vanished from the forest instantly and they were nowhere to be seen.
They reappeared in a completely different place.
The moment they materialized, Ibaraki lost balance and almost fell. He felt really tired. He was tired – and defeated.
The moon was already up in the sky and it illuminated everything around them. It was still a forest, but rather a bamboo forest. It didn’t seem like humans had ever entered it, for it lacked any direction signs like those in Kyoto. There were no lampposts here and there as well as definitely no bridge to cross the creek running not very far from them.
Shuten was still asleep.
Ibaraki considered for a second leaving him there and going back home. He was somewhat disenchanted after their little trip. He learned things he already kind of had in the back of his head, but hoped would never turn out to be the truth.
Maybe he could carry Shuten to his house and leave him there. But, damn it, he didn’t even know where Shuten lived. He never told him. Ibaraki wanted to feel anger and hatred toward his friend, but he couldn’t. His mind was only full of hopelessness.
He eventually decided to sit down by his side and keep an eye on him. He would stay awake in case Shuten woke up. He couldn’t get himself to go anywhere else.
***
The next morning, Ibaraki woke up startled. Last night he was so exhausted he had fallen asleep. He couldn’t remember exactly the dream he was having, but it was a really bad dream involving Shuten and that woman, Momiji. He cursed. Ibaraki despised her with all his heart.
He was lying next to the bamboos. Golden sunbeams of the morning sneaked through the foliage, illuminating the scene.
He was incredibly tired after that night – he didn’t rest properly and didn’t watch out for Shuten either. Plus, he was fed up with carrying his heavy armour so he started to take it off, piece by piece, until he was only wearing his dark robe, folded across his chest and covering him down to his feet.
He then looked around, but couldn’t see his friend. Alarmed, he was about to start shouting his name, but then realised Shuten’s calabash was still there. He looked more carefully through the bamboo leaves and spotted a red mane not very far from his position.
Ibaraki walked slowly toward the riverside, his feet following quietly one another across the leaf-covered damp ground.
He recalled some very nice memories in this forest. They used to come to drink and laugh together for hours, and when the moon came out, they would make a bonfire and tell each other stories about ancient spirits and demons.
But that was before trouble started.
Ibaraki’s jaw tensed as he approached his friend.
Shuten was crouched down on the other side of the creek, washing his face with the ice cold water. He heard the sound of leaves crunching and looked up.
“Thank you for taking me here.” Said Shuten wearily.
“You’re welcome.”
Shuten’s hair was back in a neat ponytail and flowed around his head and shoulders as usual. However, he wasn’t wearing his shoulder armour, only his navy blue robe from his hips down, so his upper body was completely uncovered.
Ibaraki blushed.
Shuten stood up and rubbed his face with his hands.
“Too much to drink yesterday, huh?” said Ibaraki, looking down.
Shuten didn’t even look at him. He was standing opposite to Ibaraki, on the other side of the creek, looking at his own blurry reflection on the running water.
“Alcohol doesn’t solve any problems, you know.”
Shuten ignored what his friend said and sat down on the riverside, staring at the water absentmindedly.
Ibaraki could perceive and share the defeat in his companion’s eyes.
Neither of them felt like the powerful Shikigami they once were.
“That woman made you weak” said Ibaraki, abruptly.
He really meant that.
Shuten looked at him dead in the eye. His face was serious.
“This has nothing to do with you, Ibaraki Douji.” Said Shuten.
“Why not?”
Shuten tensed. His hands were now fists.
“You don’t understand.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t know what it’s like.”
Ibaraki raised his eyebrows.
“She clearly doesn’t do you any good. Look at you. Why do you even waste your time thinking of her? It makes no sense.” Ibaraki spat those words, looking at him from the other side of the creek. He was visibly upset.
Shuten Douji wasn’t really listening to his friend.
“She shines, Ibaraki. And she shines for another.” Said he. “That man Seimei corrupted my dear Momiji and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
It was not until that moment that Ibaraki started to feel increasingly angry.
“Yesterday you cut your scent so we couldn’t trace you.” Said Ibaraki dryly. “To make sure I wouldn’t find you. But I did”
Shuten Doji still had a confused expression on his face, but didn’t reply.
“You spilled your alcohol-stinking blood to summon some stupid lower spirits to stand on my way. They danced around for a bit. Pathetic.” Ibaraki laughed bitterly. “They said they wanted your head so, naturally, I destroyed them.”
Shuten remained silent, with a serious expression.
“I felt so embarrassed, Shuten.” Continued Ibaraki. He couldn’t stop now. “I told the onmyoji you were the pinnacle of the spirit race, that they would lose against you. And look at what they found. A drunken wreck. Do you know what was the first thing that you said when I found you?” Ibaraki stopped. “You probably don’t remember.”
“I…”, said Shuten, quietly. “I don’t.”
“You said I was annoying and couldn’t believe I followed you all the way to Kyoto. You laughed at me.”
Shuten was shocked. What on Earth was he thinking? Ibaraki was right, alcohol doesn’t make things better. But even in his drunken state he stood by his side, defending his honour.
Ibaraki watched him stand up and cross the shallow creek, toward him. He walked across the running water effortlessly, as if Nature herself acknowledged his presence and helped him get through.
Ibaraki’s heart started pounding.
The redhead stood right in front of Ibaraki, very still.
“Did you really tell the onmyoji such great things about me?” he asked then, softly.
Ibaraki was surprised to hear that question.
“Of course.”
The redhead sighed and looked away.
“I am thankful for that. I owe you.” Shuten paused. “And still Momiji won’t ever listen to those words. You don’t understand, she will never love me back.”
Ibaraki couldn’t take it anymore.
“You’re just…” He paused before saying something he could regret. “Believe me, I understand it too well.”
He froze. Did he just reveal too much of his feelings to Shuten? It was too late now and he couldn’t make himself look at him in the eye.
So he turned around and started to walk away.
“What did you just say?”
Ibaraki kept walking, pretending he didn’t hear that question.
“Why did you follow me all the way to Kyoto, Ibaraki?”
He stopped. He was shaking, and didn’t dare turn around to face Shuten.
He hesitated for a moment.
“I just want my friend to become the hegemonic spirit he once was, that’s all.” He said in a neutral tone.
Shuten Doji walked past and turned to face him. Ibaraki’s heart skipped a beat.
“Ibaraki.”
His friend did not say a word. He was staring at the ground and kept doing so.
“Ibaraki, why did you follow me to Kyoto?” He asked again.
It was too late. The anger and helplessness had betrayed him, letting Shuten Doji see through the walls he had put up to conceal all the turmoil in his heart. But there was no going back now. He should at least be honest with his friend. He had to.
Ibaraki whispered softly his reply.
“You are the only spirit I can never extricate myself from.”
Shuten was puzzled. He was just now beginning to understand the caliber of Ibaraki’s feelings.
Now everything made perfect sense.
“I should go now.” Said Ibaraki, turning away. “I’m sorry.”
Shuten was processing this new information. He didn’t know what to say or what to do. So he quickly reached and grabbed Ibaraki’s arm as he was about to walk away.
Ibaraki felt the firm and sudden grip of Shuten’s hand right above his elbow and was paralyzed. He was so nervous he could barely gather his thoughts or react to that abrupt gesture.
"Ibaraki..."
Shuten got closer to his friend. He didn’t exactly know what he was doing. So many thoughts were rushing through his head.
He was a powerful deity that people and other Shikigami admired as much as they feared him. He always got everything and anything he desired. Whatever he wanted, he conquered.
Could Momiji really be the only exception to this? Was he not being honest with himself?
He had never considered the possibility that he could be keeping himself from something he unconsciously wanted. It was such an absurd idea that it could make sense.
Especially now, in that exact same moment, looking into Ibaraki’s golden eyes. They reflected such deep, complicated feelings – hidden behind a great amount of pain.
Shuten stepped even closer. There was not much space between their faces now.
He placed his other hand on the side of Ibaraki’s face.
He could feel the rough surface of the red shell that covered it partially, in contrast with his soft pale skin.
He caressed the deity’s face.
He wanted to know what it felt like. He needed to find out what was going on.
He lightly touched the edge of his mouth.
Ibaraki closed his eyes. A tear came down his cheek.
Shuten, bemused, was unable to say anything. Instead, he got closer and kissed Ibaraki’s lips.
Neither pulled away for several seconds.
Ibaraki couldn’t believe what was happening. He had dreamed so many times about that moment, but never hoped it would become true. Not in a million years.
But Shuten’s lips were blindly reaching his, and now they were kissing through the salty taste of his own tears. Gosh, this was so stupid. Why was he even crying?
Then Shuten moved his hand and this time he placed it on Ibaraki’s waist, which automatically triggered a rush of adrenaline through his body from head to toe.
Ibaraki gasped and stopped. They looked into each other’s eyes.
Shuten was absolutely dazed. His cheeks were intensely red and he was shaking.
“I don’t know what I was thinking” said Shuten, and stepped back. He had a serious expression and was quite disturbed. “This is so embarrassing.”
Then he walked away toward his armour and calabash. He started to build them back on to his body, piece by piece.
Ibaraki walked toward Shuten.
What had just happened? Ibaraki was shaking as well, but he felt the need to pinch himself to make sure he was awake and this was not still a dream.
Did Shuten like him?
Why did he do that?
These were the questions in Ibaraki’s head. They burnt in his tongue, so eager to come out but, eventually, he could only formulate one.
“Will I see you again?”
Shuten finished adjusting his calabash on his back and turned to Ibaraki. His face was serious.
“We will meet here in three days time, at dusk. Don’t be late. This next one is a very important quest.”
They locked eyes for a moment that seemed to last for ages.
“Are you okay?” asked Ibaraki.
Shuten sighed and look down.
He had no words.
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure this out. I promise.”
Shuten approached his friend and hugged him.
They remained like that for several minutes.
They separated once again and Shuten walked away.
Ibaraki watched him go, stepping amongst the bamboos with catlike skill, until he was lost in the distance.
And smiled.