It was Tanuki! How he came so fast to rescue me I don’t know; I was really surprised that he is a kind of magician, hiding strange tricks and surprising me every time. At moment I couldn’t smile or sketch a relief being under this monster’s hand pressing me stronger against the dirty grass. My bones are hurting a lot and this horrible smell mixed with grass is the perfect combination of bad fragrance where I should need a new bath.

I was waiting for some fast action coming from Tanuki to save me, but all I presence is a trade of looks that isn’t helping me to calm down. At least, he was here to save me, I suppose.

– Who dare to interrupt me from my hunt? – “from hunt” should be a joke coming from him.

– I am Ken Yoshihiro, the Wind Guardian and you are disturbing my Master.

How if he was a saint for me, but at least he made himself ready to save me from this disgusting guy that keeps holding me on the grass and left a long and hoarse laugh. I was in perfect discomfort trying to shake a little my legs or even lift, but think twice, Vanz: nobody is here it witness my shame.

– I don’t care what you are! – this monster arguments against Tanuki with a kind of pride where I don’t know where he took from. – This fox has a bloodline from kitsunes and I smell from him the essence.

– Sure? I don’t care with your argument. You are pressing and hurting my Master and I ask you to let him free – since when Tanuki became serious, even with this smile that don’t help me?

– Nobody gives me favor – he growled pressing me, my face literally kissing the grass. – I will eat him and benefit my strength.

And since when eating someone gives more strength? It looks like argument for kids to eat meat, lettuce and tomato to get stronger because of proteins, nutrients and vitamins. I try to lift my head to answer this creature, but is difficult with his hand on me.

– You are hurting me, idiot and you are confusing with...

– Quiet, kitsune!

He cut my defense pressing me again, feeling my body hurt and I couldn’t hold to scream what I was feeling.

– Stop, Oni! – immediately Tanuki shouted against this creature. He could save me rather than discussing with him. – Let  him in peace!

– Try yourself to take him from me.

I look forward and seeing with difficulty and this Oni, what should be his name, laughing and pressing me harder. I don’t know anymore how long I can endure under his big hand and eating earth. I was crying out for one miracle right now. Tanuki was walking calmly until us like if there was nothing at his front and only making the Oni mocks him. Tanuki with only one leaf threw at his direction and with one little and insignificant plant was enough to make a wind shock, throwing the Oni away and freeing me from the snack threat. I can feel my bones free, but with pain. This monster pressed me so hard that I would need a hand to lift me; thanks God he didn’t smash me how he wanted.

– Are you alright, Master? – Tanuki ran until me to lift.

– Of course not! He tried to grab me to eat! – what was crazy, but not for him. So, normal while I try to lift feeling the muscles burning and stretching.

– Onis are demons thirsty of flesh.

– What is Oni?

There was no time to ask something for him that this Oni, now discovering this isn’t his name, lifted and returned with a ferocity coming from his eyes and growling, showing his ugly teeth and threatening with the clef. I even could see the saliva dropping from mouth and I put myself behind Tanuki, immensely scared.

– You Onis are all outrage, don’t you? – Tanuki mocked his face, standing forward me to protect.

– Your insignificant fur ball! – he grumbled. – Give me this flesh.

– I said to get away from me!

I don’t know why I meddle in the middle of a possible fight between my servant against this giant monster.

Servant... Is there any best word to use, Vanz? If my mind was working well on this uncomfortable situation...

– You heard my Master, Oni – Tanuki being my spokesman is a little fantastic and in a bad way. – Return to your hell.

– Not if I take with me the flesh!

The Oni, what I don’t know anymore if is a name or specie, began to advance against us, my eyes opening wild of fear and feeling the pain coming worse now. Tanuki, at my front, not worried with the problem, made a hand gesture for me to walk away while he will give a lesson for the monster. At least, he deserves to be punished with death for trying to swallow a living victim. This Oni lifted his clef and moved down, an onslaught to smash and shake the earth like he did before. I didn’t walk away; I ran away, wondering all the shake it would make again and done. I felt the earth shake and I turned back to watch what happened with Tanuki. There was a dust lifting, occulting where he was and seeing only the face of Oni above the mess. His face was being a relief and satisfaction at beginning, all being changed by fury when the dust was fading and he and I see Tanuki stopping the clef with his hands stretched out and the legs firm on the grass. I wasn’t believing that he avoided this strong clef so heavy. Even surprised in how powerful and secure Tanuki is, I wasn’t still confident with the situation.

– Are you surprised? – Tanuki mocks a little more.

– Your insignificant!

This monster roared to Tanuki and prepared for other attack, lifting his clef and moving by side, wishing with ferocity to hits his opponent in every way possible. I am very worried with Tanuki that I would feel my body bothering myself to help him, but this crazy was so secure with this fight that he was sure he would defeat him easy. I would like to know where he finds such patience and concentration in a situation like this.

Thinking twice, he is immortal. It would explain all.

Even so! This doesn’t explain everything.

The Oni moved his clef to hit Tanuki; this raccoon only jumps at moment the clef was close and gave a kick under demon’s chin, throwing him back until fall and raise dust. I was in shock seeing the facility from Tanuki to defeat a giant monster. I covered my eyes with my arms to not fall dust in my eyes, and the demon lifted again angrier than I can imagine. He advances again to hit him, smash, stomp, whatever he tries; nothing was useful against Tanuki. Despite he being fat, he was fast as the wind together with the leaves that follow his movements.

I should note how many times I used “strange”.

As last try, the Oni moved his clef down to smash him and again Tanuki was faster, now being on his clef while the dust lifts and prevents me to watch all in details. As last onslaught, Tanuki jumped until his face and put his hand on the big nose, letting me and the Oni curious of what he will do.

– Now you will fly away until your hell, Oni.

These were Tanuki words. Making a fast movement with his hand while the other is on demon’s nose, he breathed and let out a breath against him, making an unforgivable gale and throwing the Oni far away at sky, disappearing in seconds that I couldn’t count very well. I had to stand firm to not let this wind takes me with him. Where did this wind come from? I can’t describe in such perfection what happened right now.

The gale stops and Tanuki was firm at his place, standing and looking at sky while some leaves fly around him and going at direction where the demon went. My body was in huge shock... and pain too. He turns back and went until me running to rescue. Looking at his clothes, he wasn’t dirty neither injured, what is unbelievable to see.

– Master? Are you alright? – now he was showing a worried expression.

– Tanuki! – my words stuttered frozen. – How did you do it? Aren’t you injured?

– I am alright! It was very easy. Onis are lazy demons to have strategy and they get stressed easy.

I still have no idea what is Oni, demons for him and so on. It should include at some weird name list he said at home. At moment, I am not fearing if this demon will return; I am fearing if someone witnessed the scene between them and if noticed that I was at the middle of fight.

– Look! I want to return to my apartment now. Let’s talk about this Oni when we be safe.

– But you are already safe with me, Master – this reply wasn’t enough to make him understand the degree of situation. I put my hands on his cheek to pinch to see if he understands now.

– No, Tanuki! We aren’t safe. I don’t want that someone discover us and the fight you had. We can be in problems.

– Ah yes? – he tried to speak with the cheeks pinched. – I think I understood, Master. Let’s return to our home.

This he understood, at least. I could walk until my apartment and try to remember the path I came from. While Tanuki, I have no idea how he knew I was here. Was he following me in secret?