Tokyo Ravens - Volume 14 - Chapter 2.1

Chapter 2 - Rising Waves of Wind 
Part 1 
The way of Onmyou must not be discontinued. 
The true way of Onmyou. 
These are the last words left behind by father. 
As the eldest son of the Kurahashi family, father left the world without becoming the Head of the family. After the end of war, when the relationship between the Kurahashi and the military was questioned for accountability, nearly losing their power, the person who saved the family from the crisis was mother, Kurahashi Miyo. 
Of course, it wasn’t that Father did not contribute anything. Day and night, he was extremely busy continually supporting Mother — not just the head of Kurahashi family, but also as an important [Star Reading Technique User] that the financial sector heavily relied on, and committed to developing and educating the next generation by giving her all as Head of Onmyou Academy, a wife that had exceptional performance in all aspects. To allow mother, who was just a foster daughter, to become the head of the Kurahashi family. It wasn’t anyone else that made this exceptional decision; it was father himself. For the sake of the continued survival of the Kurahashi family at that time, he felt that mother was the better candidate for the position as Head of the family. He convinced the family on this matter, successfully paving the way for the Kurahashi family towards the peak of the magic world. 
Mother does make truly noble contributions, but father had greater contributions. 
Yet, before father died, the last words he spoke to him after specially sending away his wife were unexpected. 
As the most trusted [Kurahashi family] of the Onmyoudou traditional household, the Tsuchimikado family, they must never forget about the [Yin] domain of the Onmyoudou. 
After the war, the many [Onmyouji] that conspired with the military were severely criticised by the public. To handle the continual occurrences of spiritual disasters, they received permission to continue existing in the society, but their position was extremely restricted. For the sake of changing the public’s impression, there was a need to push the [Yang] of Onmyou to the center of the stage. Despite knowing that doing this would cause Onmyou to lose balance, for the sake of not allowing the way of Onmyou to be discontinued, they did not have other choice. 
However, the way of Onmyou did not solely consist of [Yang]; especially as the branch family, [Kurahashi family], they are not allowed to forget about the [Yin] side. 
Father, whose life was in danger, laid on the bed and held his son’s hand, spoke of his views. The things he heard from his father, about his grandfather and his brothers, about the golden age — under the lead of the genius ancestor Tsuchimikado Yakou, mobilising the Kurahashi family for the sake of reviving magic, the age where they happily jumped and moved forward, and about the passion towards magic the people of the Kurahashi held at that time. 
Regardless of [Yin] or [Yang], good or evil, using bold, unrestricted, intense, and diverse methods to unlock the mysteries of magic, after rebuilding and redeveloping, even the world of gods — from the ancient times till now, a sanctuary that not a single magic user reached had also been revealed. If the ideal could be achieved, what will the world look like then? In what direction will it move forward? 
Regrettably, this was where father bit his lips. 
Tsuchimikado Yakou only had one step left before reaching the ideal, which in the end he did not achieve as well. However, his ideal does not only belong to him alone, as it is also the idea of the Onmyoudou. Of course, the [Yin] part might exist somewhere — the part that ethics, morals, and society do not accept; yet, if this existence was denied, Onmyoudou will not be achieved, and supporting the main family, the [Tsuchimikado family], that proclaimed this idea of the [Yin] side is exactly the mission bestowed upon the [Kurahashi family]. 
So, you must— 
For this matter, you must… 
“Never forget…” 
Father breathed his last after speaking. 
Other than his last words, father left him with something else, a place where mother and the other disciples had no knowledge of, a place only inherited by the descendants of the [Kurahashi family], a key that grants access to a huge library of information. After father’s funeral was completed, he went to the library himself. From then on, he would often take time off and visit the library without anyone’s knowledge, immersing himself in reading the materials inside. This was to deepen the [Kurahashi] blood inside of him, a ritual that was passed on for generations. 
Then, in order to fulfill the wish left behind by his father, he stepped on a new path of Onmyoudou. 
 
There was a room of a particular house that doesn’t seem strange on the surface. 
The interior is rather spacious with spaces at the back for resting purposes; it’s just that the windows are tightly sealed, the doors are locked, and there is no way to unlock it from the inside. This room is meant to put someone under house arrest. 
If one possesses the ability of Spirit Sight, [looking] at the room as well as at the structure as a whole with all the various barriers set up, one should be able to tell that this is designed to put a magic user under house arrest. The current head of Tsuchimikado, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, is placed under house arrest in such a place. 
At daybreak, Yasuzumi is already awake. He sat on the chair, silently observing the Rikujinchokuban [9] placed on the table. The expression on his face was calm like the water in the lake without ripples; his aura was pure as well. 
All of a sudden, Yasuzumi’s aura showed disturbance. He changed his expression slightly, squinting his eyes as thin as a needle. Then, as if wanting to pierce through the lenses of his glasses, his sharp gaze continually fixated on the Chokuban. 
“… Is it time for action?...” 
He pondered while saying in an anxious yet hoarse voice. 
It was at this moment, the sound of someone knocking on the door could be heard in the room. 
Yasuzumi recovered himself, and look towards the door. “—I’m entering.” A deep voice sounded, next the sound of the door unlocking could be heard, the door is unlocked from the outside. 
The person who entered the room is Kurahashi. He was already surprised when he heard his voice just now, what is more surprising to him is, the other party is actually holding a tray filled with food. Yazusumi mockingly smiled. 
“To actually trouble yourself to bring me breakfast? If I remember correctly, Hinamatsuri is tomorrow, isn’t it?” 
“It’s because of that I came down personally, I think this will be the last chance.” 

“I do not think there is any meaning in meeting now.” 
“The fact that you are of the main family does not change.” 
After entering the room, Kurahashi placed the tray down beside the Chokuban. The food was very simple, before, food was delivered by the disciples of Kurahashi family that were in charge of surveillance. 
“So…” Kurahashi sat opposite of Yasuzumi, and continued. “Did the stars show any movement?” 
“To lock me in such a place, and you still dare to ask me such a question.” 
“Based on your ability, even this kind of place will not affect you. Logically speaking, barriers will not affect the reading of stars.” 
“In such close-knitted barriers, star reading will still be affected by the magical force of the barriers. This technique has always been easily affected by the surroundings, not to mention…” After Yasuzumi replied coldly, he revealed a cold look. “Without the need of star reading, one will also know that is it impossible that everyone doesn’t make any move.” 
“……” 
Kurahashi silently took on the look head on from the one he should be originally serving from the Onmyoudou main family, he kept a strict expression, not a sign of being shaken. 
His eyes met with Yasuzumi’s for some time, “That was indeed a stupid question.” He replied, his tone is very stable. 
The main family of the Onmyoudou and the most trusted head of Kurahashi family, these two, ideally should have a master-subordinate relationship, but it has been near twenty years since their relationship broke off. Time has made the two gradually distanced, at the same time dulled the anger and disappointment they had for each other. 
Both of them had known each other since young, and both of them graduated from the Onmyou Academy, even though they were being staggered away during their time in the academy, but they had a senior-junior relationship during their time in the Onmyou Agency. After that, one of them left Onmyou Agency to take care of his children, the other stayed on and became the head of the organisation. 
Now, the two of them are from the same clan, yet are unmistakably [enemies]. When facing an enemy, what an Onmyouji needs is not hatred, but rather calmness. Yasuzumi and Kurahashi had become better at keeping calm and observing their opponent than in the past. 
“Kurahashi, how are you going to deal against your daughter?” 
“… I’m not doing anything. I had already given her the best I could give.” 
“Are you saying… To gain freedom from the bloodline?” 
“No one can escape from the restrains of the bloodline, however, there are still many things that can be cut off solely relying on one’s power, it will be up to her choice from now on.” 
“What a ridiculous father… Even though I have no right to say such words.” 
“Looks like both of us do not pass as fathers.” 
“Yes. But that kind of thing should not be up to us, it should be up to the children themselves to decide.” 
“Children huh…” 
Kurahashi muttered to himself, for the first time, a smile as faint as snowflakes could be seen between his lips. 
“We have also aged.” 
“……” 
Yasuzumi did not say anything, silence began to spread between the two of them. 
Then, “… Food is getting cold, excuse me for disturbing your mealtime.” Kurahashi stood up from the chair while speaking. 
“Kurahashi.” Yasuzumi can’t help but to stop the back that is walking towards the door. 
Kurahashi stopped, he turned his head back. 
“What is it? You knew it was futile and still wish to go against me? I believe there is no need to warn you, but you will not win against me.” 
Yasuzumi silently look at Kurahashi who calmly warned him, with a putting aside all their past grudges attitude, persuaded the other party with a sincere tone. 
“… Won’t you reconsider?” 
He is very clear that this is a meaningless question. 
Kurahashi smiled once more. 
“Unfortunately, this is [Kurahashi family’s] idea.” 
After finishing this sentence, Kurahashi left the room, closing the door before locking it. 
Yasuzumi observed the closed door, he then lowered his head, and close his eyes.