Kashirin Sealed in a Blade

Life, Trauma/ Loss

Whilst Maxim chatted with "Paseguru Kamui," Aotsuki Tsukamoto and his sheele, Kagami, had noticed something. In the shadow of the Knight Commander's considerable form, a dark presence had just ducked out of sight. Judging from the misfortune that had just then taken place in the arena as well, that could only be the Binbōgami Kashirin. Still wary of the dark spirit, Aotsuki wasted no time in mentally informing Ryūzaki Sanosuke.

It had been some time since Kashirin's presence had been directly detected by anyone, and so Sanosuke decided that he had to take this chance. Conferring with Takenaka Hanbei, his trusted strategist helped him to come up with a plan. They began by summoning in, via Shigeaki Fujino a handful of skillful individuals. These were none other than Abe no Seimei, Isoko, Motoyama Tsugutoshi, and Munegumi Kokoro.   At Hanbei's instruction, Kokoro magically tied the senses of Motoyama Tsugutoshi to those of Seimei and Isoko. They could all three now see out of Tsugutoshi's singular eye, and benefitted from her extreme training in the art of detection. Then, Seimei began to chant, preparing for a binding ritual.   Across the stands, Maxim had not failed to notice the sudden increase in numbers at Sanosuke's group. They were looking in his direction from time to time, and seemed to be plotting something, so he went on his guard for anything that might happen.   Once Seimei was ready, Fujino teleported all six of them, plus Sanosuke, to the eaves directly behind Maxim. In response, sensing aggressive intent, Maxim summoned Hostimentum and turned just in time to intercept Isoko's first grab at Kashirin. While he was so occupied, however, Seimei completed her ritual and enforced a binding upon the spirit, caught just then in the reflection of Kagami's mirror. With a shriek of surprise, Kashirin was drawn from Maxim's shadow and funneled into Sanosuke's sword, held aloft in the Silver General's hand. A shimmering black fugue coated the blade and chains wrapped around its hilt as it accepted the binbōgami's essence. At the same time, Sanosuke felt a horrible weight of misfortune fall upon his shoulders.   Maxim's rage was almost palpable. While for many of those involved, they had simply been aiding the Knight Commander by ridding him of a malevolent spirit, Kashirin had been his close ally. Maxim could see this as nothing but a dire betrayal. Haures too, though lacking in full context, could sense the roiling vengeance from her "master" and growled in sympathy.   Ignoring Maxim's heated words, Sanosuke made a curt claim that they had exorcised the evil spirit and Maxim need fear her no more, then teleported away once again. At the same time, a shadowy presence reaffirmed itself at his side. "Paseguru Kamui," sensing that something momentous had just occurred, returned to Maxim's side. Lowering into a whisper, she began to discuss the events transpired, and to make him further offers.   Returning back to his spot in the Hashinara box, Sanosuke first offered a word of congratulation to Hanbei for a cunning plan. To his rising shock, however, he found that the misfortunate blade was no longer attached to his back. Instead, on the other side of the box, the wily Fubuki held it up to the sky. With a clap of thunder, something traveling fast enough to break the sound barrier scooped the weapon from her* hand and departed as quickly as it had arrived. Mentally, Ooawagaeri claimed that he tired of their squabble and would return the blade after the event.   Sensing great turmoil through her* own sheele, the distant Hashinara Yoshitakatomo ordered that the clan gather for a meeting to work through what had just transpired.