Chapter 1 - Omens of the Banquet
The twinkling of the stars, and the shining of crossing comets.
They approached, moved away, became alone, and gathered together.
He felt like unraveling all of this would be impossible.
Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi quietly muttered "Unraveling all of this is impossible".
That was why he thought he should pray.
Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi murmured: "That's why I'll pray."
As for how that went......
Part 1
The cold February night felt as if pieces of ice were floating in the air.
The cold wind that blew across the roof of the building fluttered people's hair and chilled their bodies. But Hishamaru materialized and allowed the cold wind to batter her body as it pleased. Her unstable existence alleviated the brunt of the cold wind.
This old building in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district was in an alley two blocks away from the bustling streets near the station. There were similarly-old, quiet buildings nearby, as if the area were from twenty or thirty years ago.
This eight-story building was rented out to various people on a monthly basis, with the exception of the Chinese restaurant on the first floor, the seventh floor that was being used as a warehouse for a medicine shop, and the topmost eighth floor which outsiders were told was 'empty'. But the room on the eighth floor wasn't registered on any real estate listing. It was a small blank space in the noisy, fast-moving city.
Also, that blank space was the den of a certain oni who had hung around Tokyo's darkness for a long time.
The night wind blew Hishamaru's hair. Of course she was stealthed, and anyone who saw her would have to be killed. This stern young woman wearing an old military outfit was a blue-eyed beauty. But even an imitation of her gorgeous contours would lack the charm of the original. This beautiful enchantress's figure seemed like an illusion in this old building and the backdrop of the lonesome night. Soon afterwards, the enchanting 'fox spirit' slightly moved her ears and looked down indifferently.
Her master was carrying out a magical ceremony on the eighth floor. As ordered, Hishamaru was dispersing the local waves of magical energy to camouflage the ceremony.
Though her master had said 'it's very unlikely that we'll be noticed, but we should still be careful', Hishamaru hadn't spotted any attempts to conceal this. Her master was currently carrying out an extremely special magic. He had probably had her move away just in case the magic affected her. Of course, camouflaging the ceremony was just a formality.
Hishamaru had said: "Though I'm very happy for your feelings......", but she hadn't looked happy.
Hishamaru had once served Tsuchimikado Yakou as a shikigami. She had been called one of Yakou's retainers, and her name was still famous in the magic community. Hishamaru had always been waiting after Yakou's death, and when Tsuchimikado Harutora (the master who had been mentioned previously) had been born, she had immediately rushed to his side.
But Hishamaru couldn't immediately serve Tsuchimikado Harutora, since Harutora's father, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, forbade her from doing so. Yasuzumi had viewed his son as Yakou and wanted him grow up in as independently as possible. Hence, he didn't permit Yakou's shikigami Hishamaru to serve Harutora. But Yasuzumi had still permitted Hishamaru to stay by his son's side. But at the same time, he had made a condition - he would need to seal Hishamaru's strength, personality, and memories until his son was able to face his fate of his own will. Hishamaru had accepted that condition and had chosen to serve at Harutora's side in the form of Kon (her form when she had been small).
That seal had been broken during the summer two years ago. But it couldn't be called a clean break. Hishamaru had forcefully broken the seal in order to save Harutora during a battle with the Divine General Kagami Reiji, and had greatly harmed her own spiritual body. She had almost broken herself apart in order to break through the binding of the seal. Though her body had recovered after that, her spiritual body was still in an extremely unstable condition. Harutora had made Hishamaru keep her distance from this magical ceremony because he was worried about her body.
No, that might not be it.
Though he had already awakened as Yakou's reincarnation, Harutora was just Harutora. It was hard for him to accept that Kon, who had been with him all this time, had suddenly transformed into Hishamaru. Kon was what Hishamaru had looked like when she was a child, but it was hard for Harutora to not feel confused when she suddenly grew up.
When Hishamaru broke the seal, she had lost a part of her memories in addition to the damage to her spiritual body. It included her memories of Yakou and her memories from being sealed along with memories of being Kon. Hishamaru wasn't worried, but it was more accurate to say that she couldn't be worried. She realized the gaps in her memories when she saw the attitudes of Harutora and Kakugyouki. That was also a reason why Harutora was worried about Hishamaru.
It had been more than a year and a half since then. Time had flown.
She didn't regret her choice to break the seal. Rather, she felt like it was a kind of honor. But now she felt very depressed that she couldn't use all her strength as a shikigami. Her master was also doing what he could to restore Hishamaru's memories and strength. But right now, not only was she unable to use all her power, but she had even become the one being cared for by her master. It was so shameful. But there was also anxiety in that remorse. Hishamaru knew that her spiritual body lacked stability and that this stability was worsening every day. She had only felt it faintly at the start, but now she was certain. Also, she feared that it was an irreversible change.
It was even harder for Hishamaru to avoid aggravating her condition when she was with Harutora. The incident that had happened in the dark temple last year was a good example. Hishamaru's aura, which was continuously becoming less stable, would worsen severely every time there was a battle. But Hishamaru didn't know how many battles she could fight. Of course, there was the terror of facing vanishment. But she was more terrified of being separated from her Master. Especially now that he was opposing the Onmyou Agency.
She was a valuable fighting force to her master, even if her spiritual power was unstable. She might disappear at an important time, and maybe her not being there would send her master to a fatal end. Hishamaru couldn't calm down when she thought of such a terrible possibility.
Hishamaru hesitantly looked down towards the magic ceremony again. Another retainer was next to Harutora as he concentrated on the ceremony - Kakugyouki. Kakugyouki had started doing more and more now that Hishamaru's activity was limited. To Hishamaru, Kakugyouki was a rival as well as a partner with the same master. Though having him stay next to her master now that she had to move away could guarantee her master's safety, her heart was still very envious.
"Kakugyouki arranged for this place too..."
After all, Hishamaru didn't have any interpersonal connections after being sealed for more than ten years. In contrast, Kakugyouki was a legendary oni, with a history to match the Tsuchimikado family ancestors. He had been alone for a very long time. Of course Hishamaru couldn't match his intellect, experience, and societal connections.
Actually, it wasn't just their hiding place. Kakugyouki had even provided their living expenses. In the past, Hishamaru and even their master Yakou had viewed Kakugyouki as a dependable man wise to the world.
"In that case, if I were worldlier instead of being more loyal......"
To be honest, she still wasn't sure exactly how loyal Kakugyouki was to Harutora. Kakugyouki didn't have Kakugyouki's dedication; it was more like interest and concern. Because of that, he had retreated into seclusion after Yakou died instead of chasing after his master like Hishamaru. But when Harutora awoke, Kakugyouki came out of seclusion again and pledged himself as a shikigami again. In any case, Yakou and Harutora still held his interest. Also, comrades as reliable as him were rare. Kakugyouki also followed Harutora for a more important reason than avoiding the worst possibility that Hishamaru thought of. That reason was...... he was Harutora's friend, not just a powerful shikigami. Hishamaru unconsciously put on a charming smile as she thought of this.
She thought of the television broadcast last month. The ceremony held at the Onmyou Academy - the New Year's Ceremony. Hishamaru and her master had seen what had been hidden in the recording - the group of swallows dancing above the stage. It had truly been a beautiful and heartwarming scene. Kurahashi Kyouko and Momoe Tenma were the only ones still in the Onmyou Academy now. Since Kyouko had participated in the shikigami dance, it was probably Tenma who had arranged things. It was probably tough to live while being monitored.
The monitored Kyouko and Suzuka back at the Onmyou Agency knew about Tenma coming in contact with Tsuchimikado Natsume. Ato Touji, who was still in hiding, still might not know. No, judging by the situation, Natsume might had tried to come in contact with him on her own.
"Natsume-sama's back again."
"Natsume-sama's probably moving together with Yasuzumi-sama right now."
The Tsuchimikado family that was taking care of Natsume had switched between various locations for the last year and a half, evading the Onmyou Agency's search. But Natsume's contact with Tenma was evidence that the Tsuchimikado family was still alive. It was very likely that Natsume and the others had returned to Tokyo now.
"Then, my friends, reunite in the Tokyo sky next time."
Hishamaru looked up at the starry sky and quietly closed her eyes. Memories of those nostalgic faces from when she was Kon still lingered, and even now they were treasured friends. She prayed in her heart to reunite with them and laugh together. However...
"Back then, I......".
Inadvertently, the figure of Natsume appeared in front of her eyes. The crying Natsume who reached out to tightly hug Harutora, along with Harutora who tightly hugged Natsume as he wept......
Hishamaru closed her eyes and balled up her fists. Nostalgic thoughts that she couldn't let go of made her heart faintly ache. She furrowed her brow, sharpened her gaze, and thought of the past in order to cover up her inner anxiety.
A pretty, unobtrusive girl stood in front of the entrance to the roof. She looked like a middle-schooler, but she was actually much older. After all, she had been a member of the Onmyou Academy's thirty-sixth class, a classmate of Harutora's homeroom teacher Ohtomo Jin as well as one of the twelve Divine Generals Kogure Zenjirou. Though her looks were pretty, she gave off a cold, expressionless impression. Though her gaze was staring in one direction, it was impossible to guess what she was thinking. Though Harutora and the others had said 'You'll know once you get used to it', Hishamaru still couldn't tell what she was thinking under that expressionless face. She was Saotome Suzu. She had moved together with Hishamaru and the others since the night Harutora had awakened.
"An extraordinary stealth magic as always."
"That's my specialty."
"Do you need something?"
"No, I was just taking a walk."
Saotome replied casually, walking quickly to Hishamaru's side. She didn't feel a strong spiritual power even when Saotome was this close, only a faint sensation. But why was her stealth technique so refined? Her ability to hide herself was certainly great, but there were only a handful of practitioners who could take Hishamaru by surprise. Saotome had entered the Onmyou Agency with her classmates Ohtomo and Kogure after graduating from the Onmyou Academy. She had been the foremost Yakou researcher in the past, and later on had become a member of the Imperial Household Agency's Lingering Spirit Division, the origins of the Twin-Horned Syndicate. In addition, she had been Ashiya Doman's pupil for some time, and had met Kakugyouki several times during this period. Certainly a unique history. Saotome had called herself a senpai of the Onmyou Academy since long before - starting when Hishamaru had been with Harutora as Kon - and had been unconscionable and nosy. It was certainly no lie that she was a graduate. Come to think of it, things had already become troublesome at that time. Saotome had activated the Raven's Wing that Tenma had gotten his hands on during that night (the night Harutora had awakened), creating the trigger for Harutora to awaken as Yakou. Also, she had been the one to prepare beforehand for Harutora's use of the Taizan Fukun ritual to resurrect Natsume. Now, this expressionless Yakou researcher was hiding alongside her research subject, moving together with a group that the Onmyou Agency treated as a terrorist group. If Saotome were doing this solely for her Yakou research, then she could only be called a fool.
Of course, Harutora had allowed Saotome to move with them. It seemed like Harutora and Saotome had reached some kind of agreement. Though she didn't know the details of it, basically she was allowed to act freely. As Harutora's retainer, Hishamaru was confused by why she was allowed to act freely. But as expected of Doman's pupil, there was nothing worrying about how Saotome's lived in hiding.
She had tried talking with Kakugyouki about it once, but he had just said 'don't worry about it'. In the end, Harutora had allowed it, so Hishamaru didn't have any objections. Did she? Or didn't she? ......When she thought of her memories as Kon, there were a lot of things she wanted to speak of but couldn't put into words.
"Is this alright?"
"What?"
"You're not watching the ceremony of Harutora-sama, your object of research?!"
"I've already seen him countless times."
"We might be spotted today as well."
"I'll deal with that when the time comes. We can only risk it, anyways."
Saotome stooped forward slightly on the roof's small flight of stairs. Even so, she still stared straight and expressionlessly at Hishamaru. Hishamaru ignored that and continued her camouflaging work. Saotome looked at Hishamaru for two minutes without so much as a blink. Hishamaru sighed, unable to endure it.
"What is it?"
"I'm just watching you."
"Please stop, you'll make me lose my focus."
"Oh no!"
"Hmm?"
"Your aura got worse again." Saotome's expression finally became serious as she flatly pointed this out.
"I know......"
"Then why don't you do something?"
Saotome suddenly moved her face over, only two centimeters away from Hishamaru's. Hishamaru quickly became restless and moved her eyes away. "I'm doing my best."
"Right now too?"
"When it's necessary."
"It's not the time for that anymore. You should do it often to stop it from getting any worse."
Saotome was carrying out a rare emotional conversation. Hishamaru felt a bit annoyed. Though she felt awkward at Saotome's earnestness, the important thing was that everything she said was true. As evidence, Saotome also asked: "Is there anything you can do now other than my proposal?", as well as:
"You're a burden for Harutora-kun, right?"
"That is true."
"You have to keep yourself in good shape in order to do your duty, right?"
"Right......"
"I'm only saying this for you and Harutora-kun, I'm not being selfish."
"That's a lie, isn't it."
Hishamaru felt extremely annoyed, but all of that was correct. The countermeasure Saotome had thought of before to combat Hishamaru's unstable spiritual body was truly effective. But she felt sorry to use it.
Going on a walk was an excuse. Her goal was to convince Hishamaru. Unlike her usual attitude, Saotome continued talking and convincing the shaken Hishamaru.
Harutora's magical ceremony was still going on. Not long afterwards, Hishamaru sighed deeply and started practicing charm magic.
At first glance, this seemed to be an abandoned room. It was the eighth floor of an inhabited building, the primary base of Harutora and the others. Walls had been torn down in half of the floor space, and a large rectangular pillar stood there looking somewhat lonesome. The walls and floors were tattered everywhere, and the materials placed in a corner of the room were covered by plastic sheeting. But this room was very clean. The improvement in her master's living environment was all due to Hishamaru's hard work. Simple beds and similar furniture had been brought into the room, and various household objects were placed close together. Most of them were disposable supplies and wilderness survival equipment. Since there were no lights installed, their illumination came from handheld flashlights. Because of that, the abandoned room felt kind of like a secret base.
Tsuchimikado Harutora sat cross-legged on the floor in the deepest part of this room. His right eye was tightly closed, and energy seeped from his left eye. He focused his mind, quietly and cautiously carrying out the magic ceremony according to the ritual. Though Hishamaru had been entrusted with the mission of camouflaging the ceremony, he had to do his best to keep people from the Onmyou Agency from noticing it.
A large wooden box was placed in front of the cross-legged Harutora, with a raven perched on top of it. Looking carefully, it had three legs. The legendary bird that was called the symbol of the sun in Onmyoudou - the yatagarasu. It was a shikigami that Tsuchimikado Yakou was purported to have created - the Raven's Wing. It became a jet-black coat when Harutora used it, but normally it appeared as a three-legged raven as it was now. Harutora sat facing the yatagarasu. In contrast to Harutora's closed right eye, the yatagarasu's golden eyes stared at Harutora. Of course, it was impossible to guess what the raven was thinking, but those golden eyes aroused instinctive feelings of fear.
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