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Upon snowy mountains, tucked far and away by the frozen trees and brush, nearly untouched by humans, was the home of a great tengu warrior. A yokai protecting the mountains from destruction at the hands of both humans and yokai alike. With a flap of his black feathered wings, he could summon windstorms that could blow away even the heaviest of creatures. His spear could break through armor like an eggshell. Truly, this tengu was a force not to be reckoned with. A fearsome being to behold. And this is what attracted the attention of a shinigami known simply as Kristen.
Kristen was not like most other shinigami of her kind. Often referred to as the Megami of Death, she was in charge of the rest of her brethren, reaping and guiding souls to the afterlife, and making sure that the world of the living and the dead stays balanced. She did not like to appear to people unless she was there to do a job, or if she found them particularly interesting. That was the case of the tengu warrior. The fearsome nature of the man that scared even the strongest yokai caught her attention, and she couldn’t help but want to know more.
So one night, Kristen went to the tengu’s nest, and in the form of a large stone, she observed him.
The tengu had not been missing from his home for long, as the click of his wooden geta sandals against the rocky mountain path could soon be heard, carried by the gentle breeze and snow. It was his face that she saw first. An oddly handsome one for a tengu. His skin and hair was light like the snow around him, and he was dressed plainly in a green haori with black hakama pants. Upon his head was a straw hat dyed in green and white stripes. His light feathery wings were wrapped gently around a small child nestled in his arms.
The tengu climbed into his nest, and with a wave of his hand the woven sticks and straw rose over him, forming the walls and roof of a small house. Kristen came closer, looking in through the tiny gaps.
The child the tengu had with him was now sitting on the floor in front of a fire pit. He was scrawny, the ribs of his frail body showing through frostbitten skin. However, this was no ordinary human. Small budding horns sprouted above each red eye. Long flopped ears brushed against his shoulders as he moved. From his mouth were two boar tusks. The only thing the child wore was a tiger pelt around his waist. No, this child was far from ordinary. This was an oni, a rarely seen baby one at that.
Kristen watched as the tengu and the oni talked around the fire pit, eating roast fish and pine nuts. As the oni warmed up, he seemed to become more energetic and talkative, even his blue frostbitten face turned a warm pink. She could not tell what they were talking about, but Kristen was nonetheless intrigued. The tengu, a warrior that struck terror into the hearts of anyone that came close to the mountain, was taking care of a child with the tenderness and love of a father. Now, not only did he have the shinigami’s interest, but also her admiration.
The shinigami waited until the rise of the morning sun outside of the tengu’s nest, still in the form of a rock. As the tengu left the nest to gaze out at the sunrise, he heard a noise. A distinct hum of a voice coming from a boulder that was not there before. He cautiously came close, taking note of how it looked. It was shaped like a giant brick, and despite looking to have been there for quite some time, it had no cracks or overgrowth. Not even a speck of dirt. He ran his hand along the sides. It was cold like death, forming ice around his fingertips.
“Your attempt at a trick isn’t going to work on me,” The tengu warned, “Who are you?”
The rock giggled sweetly before revealing itself as the Megami of Death, “I must admit I didn’t put too much effort into blending in.”
The tengu bowed before her, “Forgive me, I did not realize it was you.”
“No need for formality,” Kristen said warmly, “I expected as much from your reputation.”
“Have you come for me, or for…” He glanced over at his nest, visibly worried about the oni.
“Neither, no need to worry,” Kristen reassured him, patting his shoulder. Her touch was the same icy cold of death he felt when he touched the stone, “I actually have a...proposition for you.”
“What proposition?” He asked.
Kristen smiled softly, “I wish to make a pact with you. Death leaves many children as orphans, and you have proven to be more than careful of taking care of them. I will guide children to you to protect, and in return I will give you the gift of eternal life. Among...other things of course.”
The tengu tilted his head, “What other things?”
Kristen waved her hand dismissively, “I’ll tell you in due time. So, do we have a deal?”
The tengu hesitated for a moment, but agreed. Taking his hand, Kristen sealed the pact. The tengu’s wings turned black at night, and he felt stronger than ever before.
Kristen hummed, “Wonderful. From now on, I shall call you Philza.”