"This is humiliating." Avar said.

In the center of Danberu's fortress Avar was trapped in the center of a hastily fashioned cage made of wood. Tanuki danced around the bottom, laughing to themselves as they imitated worshippers. They prostrated themselves around him in a circle, calling out names to the 'Bakeneko Lord'. The last of their food and drink disappeared as they had an impromptu battle feast.

Danberu buried his maw into his paw as he watched them. Tanuki weren't known for discipline. In the spirit world, 'discipline' was a foreign word to most who called themselves 'soldiers'. Danberu had learned in his youth of Tengu society and how they achieved dominance over every other military in the spirit world. He only needed to look over towards his own fortress gate to see a shining example.

Robot maids with somber faces evenly spaced apart from each other. Each were wielding some weapon he could only stare slack-jawed at, some of the Tanuki around him stared as well but soon left to join in on mocking the 'Bakeneko Lord'.

Renya and Fubuki stood in front of the maids. Fubuki stood behind Renya, watching her back.

"I am open to the idea of murdering all the tanuki. Would you mind taking the blame?"

Fubuki watched the back of Renya's head as it shook up and down. Renya's cat ears and twin tails twitched.

"It's more efficient to wait. It makes sense to wait. A pincer attack with Avar's troops against superior numbers is a good idea. It's what I believe anyone experienced in war would do, and yet..."

Her voice trailed off. Renya was struggling. She really was struggling. Fubuki and Renya agreeing was rare. Even now, what held Renya back was that she was sure that Ichi, who was moping around in bed in Avalon, would certainly be upset if they killed tanuki.

She wasn't even sure Ichi would be fine with killing at all. When Rikya came crying to Renya about Ichi launching himself into the massive cat herd attempting to take them all himself, she found herself surprised.

Renya thought it was reasonable to assume command after hearing about Ichi's impulsiveness. Even Fubuki had silently agreed for some reason. A long sigh came out of Renya, her bodies perfect posture failing.

"Okay. Let's just, attack."

Fubuki heard Renya's order loud and clear.

"Forward!"

At Fubuki's yell the maids bounded over the fortress walls. Scatters of blood and cat's yowling filled the air. Renya turned away from the fortress gates, wandering towards the tanuki. In her hand she gripped the black blade.

Danberu's eyes went wide at the sight. His allies patience with his soldiers had broken.

Renya walking alone towards the tanuki with her sword at the ready made Danberu throw caution to the wind. He tracked Renya's direction straight to the cage Avar stood in. Did she want to capture him herself to give her troops the tactical advantage of a Bakeneko Lord?

Either way, if the cat in the cage was gone so was her motive. Danberu changed to the form of an Elder Kraken, knocking his own troops out of the way. He snapped the cage up in a tentacle and bounded over his own fortress walls himself. Some tanuki even knocked aside their food and drink and scrambled after the bakeneko lord in the form of birds. The rest of the tanuki were either too drunk or too full to move.

Renya stopped as she saw Danberu move out. She put a hand over her eyes and leaned her head back, thinking she should have just threatened them with violence earlier. Renya lifted her hand off of one of her eyes, staring at the tanuki left behind.