The rustling sound could be heard as two figures played a very dangerous game-one lives and one's fate is Lord Enma's realm. The air around them is swift and unforgiving as it blows the maple leaves around them, some were cut mid air, unable to survive the impact of their weapons colliding with each other, each which produces a loud clang. Some leaves met the cold and muddy earth, almost like a prophecy of what will befall to whom that'll fall.

The moon that night is bright and full like a spectator watching their clash or an executioner waiting... waiting to whose blood will serve as paint to its canvas tonight.

"Answer me! Why... Why did you stop me! If only... humans are already saved! " A voice echoed, full of fury and regret as they swung their sword against the opponent they're facing. The black cloak they're wearing fluttered in the air. The voice revealed that of a tengu, their identity unknown because their face was adorned with the crimson mask pierced with a relatively long nose that they're wearing.

Only the glistening glow in their eyes were evident even with a mask on, it looks like it's due to tears. Black wings flapped, feathers flew together with the maple leaves. Their opponent, a male youkai wearing a blue yukata and a violet haori with sakura prints blocked their blows with the azure blue fan they're sporting, nine midnight black colored fox tail moved left and right. The fan soon emitted a faint blue light which later on became blue flames. The kitsune redirected the blue flames to their opponent which in turn shields themselves with their massive black wings.

But the tengu wasn't able to counter all the blows because the fire didn't stop from flying towards them-it continuously aimed at them, precisely, not letting them rest-each attack full of bloodlust. The tengu waved their hands, their eyes seemed fueled with fury. Their black feathers glowed amethyst and turned into magical daggers. Their daggers were positioned against the blue fire being thrown which in turn burned together with the fire until it was reduced to ashes.

The attack didn't stop there, the kitsune once again waved their fan and now instead of blue fire, wind blades flew in the air viciously. The tengu tried to counter once again using their affinity with flight but not all blades were successfully countered by the tengu. They tried to counter it with their sword but it flew, unable to withstand the impact. One wind blade hit their arms, sleeve ripped and blood pooled. The other one missed but left a small cut on the tengu's right cheek, making a small crack in the mask. While those who missed to damage them sliced the trees in the vicinity in half.

The tengu shouted in pain, clasping their bleeding wound. Catching their breath, they glared at the kitsune. "You...ruined my plan! If not for you, I'll be able to stop youkai from entering the human realm. Their lives will be saved! No more barbaria-"

The tengu wasn't able to finish their sentence when the kitsune laughed but with no humor present, eyes sharp-glowing gold and silky black locks danced with the wind. Almost like it's inviting more tension. "Hah! Humans be saved? Are you joking? Stop making your selfish desires sound heroic! " The kitsune, Shin, whose true identity was the fearsome kitsune, Tsubaki from years ago spat. Voice full of sarcasm and venom.

The blue fire gleamed more brightly as if it's ready to cook and scorch some tengu and serve them as an oversized chicken for dinner. "Where's the shaman? Don't tell me you're foolish enough to be hypocritical on your 'save humans' scheme then kill one. " Shin played with his fingers, nails sharp as eagle's talons. Walking gracefully like a fox he is, he approached his prey.

The shaman is his friend and one thing he promised himself is to protect what's important to him even if his cover will be blown and he'll be hated by the shaman.

The tengu, still clasping their wound, laughed. "Are you the hypocrite who wants to save a shaman who wants all youkai-including you, all dead? " Their voice was laced with mockery, not afraid of death even if the kitsune popped a vein and decided to snap their life to shreds.

Shin stopped from his tracks, only one centimeter away from his prey, he knew that this creature wanted to agitate him but they failed the moment they chose a fox as their victim. He stared at them eye to eye, orbs now full with pity. "That's why I am saying you're selfish. I cannot blame you though you are blinded just like the idiotic shaman I know... " he tried his best not to laugh as he insulted the shaman he's supposed to rescue.

Shin brought the fan near his face and dramatically fanned himself. "It doesn't mean that one harbors animosity towards you, you are entitled to judge everyone who has the same race as them as the same. That thinking is like that of chickens, small brains, less IQ. " Shin picked up one of the tengu's feathers from the ground and played with it with his hands then looked at the tengu, smirking.

Shin examined the sakura pattern on his fan and later used his fan to point at the tengu whose stares look like they want to skin a fox but their knife was blunt. "Aren't you the same? Hating all the youkai such as yourself as an excuse of your lack of self-love and poor judgement. Stop using heroic tactics of saving the humans as a leverage for you to escape your issues," Shin continued, highly amused as the tengu's face turned sour, their hands shaking in anger.

He hit a bullseye. Heh.

"Greed and anger is what makes a youkai. They're evil and kill whoever may it be humans or their own kind. They may try to surpass the beast they have inside but it's there, lurking and darkness inside of them will always win, " the tengu shakily replied. They tried to stand and flew mid-air, ready to attack once again despite the damage they suffered.

The kitsune, Shin, shook his head with disagreement. "I am afraid you're wrong, dear. What makes a youkai? It's to lie, to live. Because we're always sought, always antagonized. For those who only want to live in peace... fear knocks in their heart not darkness. So are humans, we're all the same in this world, that's the only truth from all the lies living creatures commit to stay breathing".

Youkai (妖怪) lit. bewitching apparition. A class of supernatural entities and spirits in japanese folklore.

Kitsune (狐) a fox spirit that possesses supernatural abilities such as shape-shifting as they grow older. The number of tails indicate how stronger they are.

Tengu (天狗) lit. Heaven's Dog / Sentinel. A type of mischievous supernatural being in japanese folklore. Possess a crimson face pierced by a huge nose and glued with wings typically a karasu (lit. crow) wings.

Yama or Enma is the lord of the underworld and God of Death in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Sakura (桜) lit. cherry blossoms. A pink flower with many trees.

Shaman n. a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits.

Yukata (浴衣, lit. 'bathrobe') is an unlined cotton summer kimono, worn in casual settings such as summer festivals and to nearby bathhouses.

Haori (羽織) is a traditional Japanese hip- or thigh-length jacket worn over a kimono.

Innuendo an oblique allusion : hint, insinuation. especially : a veiled or equivocal reflection on character or reputation.

Credits to the owners of the sources of the information above.

Note: I am an Asian but not a Japanese. I am a fan of anime and their folklore. Writing this story not only can make me exercise my passion but also satisfy my craving for knowledge. Now that I am writing, I'll be able to stop my procrastinating self from its "I'll read about it tomorrow but I am so curious" phase.

If I made any mistake about parts of the culture or I lack details, feel free to teach me or correct me. Thank you!