“I’m still very fused.” I said to Tarōbō, who was in a wretched state, having taken a beating from my attacks. Seeing that, I pced my hands on his shoulder and ribs, allowiher to flow, calling oher Healing. For a moment, the old Tengu instinctively resisted, fighting against my invasive energies, before he rexed, and the soothing energy began to slowly heal his torn flesh. “You fought so hard for this mountain over all these turies, then I e along and you just hand it over?”

  “Hand it over?” Tarōbō grimaced, his beak twitg. “You are sorely mistaken. I am still the master of mount Atago, as I will be so long as the Fme endures. Yet… the power of the Tengu has waned. We had suffered losses before, and we were never numerous. Each Tengu fallen is a tragedy. Yet the loss of two of the Dires, my sons… that weighs heavy on me. I am no fool. I see the shifting tides. The kami of Kyoto were ravaged by invaders, were they not? Should they have turned our way…” his eyes seemed to be gazing off into the distance. “…I am under no illusions we would have triumphed bloodlessly. Even those sdrels from the Night Parade…” Kinneka fli that, befrowling to himself, a his newfound timidity. “…are fpping their wings in a panic, worried for the future. Haanōbō, my foolish daughter, she was correct, it seems. The time for us to remain isoted has passed. Especially now.”

  “I get that.” I was bone-weary after stant challenges and battles, my reserves of most elements ent, my aether low. I still didn’t stop healing Tarōbō though, as a mark of respect, and to further our cooperative retionship. “But an alliance was what I asked for. Dominance over mount Atago… don’t get me wrong, it’s massively helpful, and you won’t regret it, Haru make a lot of improvements now we’ve solidated, and…” I see she’s ied plenty more Buildings in addition to the Sacred Fme, though I suspect a number more broke down to ether as her Territory was maxed out on them… “…it’s certainly easier to form a solidated defence, but…”

  “I will nret it.” Tarōbō parroted my words bae. “If I will nret, what do my reasons matter? Suffice to say I have them. It may seem hasty…”

  “It is quite simple.” Arangbō strode over, g me on the bace more. Damn, he seems over-fond of that. And he never holds back his strength. “It is the same reason I call you brother. Your words and your as align. And not just yours. We Tengu see much from up on high. Mount Atago looks down on Kyoto, we know you strive to defend what is under your dominion, much as we do. But there is another matter.” He spped me heartily again. “You said to judge if your words are fidence a was arrogant io try and cim Haanōbō, only daughter of Great Tarōbō. Ordinarily such a request should have beeed with pt. None of the Tengu of the mountain had the ce to approach my sister, she of the Winter North. Yet you dared y cim to her, in front of us all, prepared to back your words with might. Power is all.” Arangbō tinued.

  “I think he doesn’t get what you mean.” Kana said slowly. “I know. Trust me. He’s very frustrating at times. Someone who has like ten or so girlfriends shouldn’t be so dense.” She looked at Tsukiko-san, atg on, slightly amused by the unusual situation, where she could be a bystander, instead of the focus. “If yoing to go for it, Tsukiko-san, you’ve got to expect a number of annoyances. He made me miserable for weeks, flirting with me aing my hopes up, only to dash them again and again.” She pouted, and I was once more struck with how rexing it was to be with Kana, a girl who knew her own mind, and could make a man feel extremely pleasant, with her practised, almost calg mannerisms. “I suppose it’s too te for that advice though.”

  Tsukiko-san nodded, idly toug her lip. “I do wish to experience what I denied myself in the name of Tsukuyomi. But I have only now returned, I am unsure of just what you mean.”

  “It’s simple.” Kana tinued. “Akio is a massive sis, he really loves Aiko-. It’d be a little weird, except Aiko- is the same way, it’s almost funny to watetimes. Besides, Aiko- is a fun girl, it’ll always be eaining when we all move in together, and having more fuiful girls around is always better. After all, I’m just as cute too.” She boasted, puffing out her chest proudly. “But my point is… if you look at Akio’s thought processes, it all seemed very logical. He’s soft on girls, especially those that remind him of his sister. It’s why he’s so o Eri, she’s effectively a sister as well, they grew up so close. So seeing Haanōbō bullied by her own brothers and father, he thinks of Akio-, Eri…”

  “It was the same for us.” Natsumi chimed in, agreeing. “He was going to turn us down, and I wouldn’t have bmed him for that, we were selfish and only thinking of ourselves. But… when he saw that he could help us, fill the hole in our hearts, he did so. Akio doesn’t like seeing others suffer, especially girls who tug on his heartstrings.”

  “And my dear sister…” Arangbō tinued. “… we were disrespectful. I… will apologise to her properly once more. But you, a newer, the one who defeated her and caused her such shame, you fought for her, asking to take her from us, take her as your own.”

  “As a sister.” I corrected, realising how foolish I sounded. “Anyway, I think that should be enough, the worst of your injuries are healed.” I said to Tarōbō, who flexed his wings, pleased both were w again.

  “An excellent level of skill. It would have taken me some time to heal my own injuries. Yes, you staked your cim to Haanōbō. I allowed it, were you able to prove your worth. And you did so. You defeated the Dires one by one, dispyed yht. Then you sed the Sacred Fme, as promised. Yes, we suffered grievously, but… that was not through your deeds. No, you prevented further losses. And then you challenged me bravely, despite me giving you little time to rest.”

  “That was a test.” Daiyu realised. “As we expected. Cultivators also train so that we fight with all ht at our worst, for battle seldom es when repared, at our best. The spider does not catch flies that are alert.”

  “Yes, a test, and you offered no pints, and theed me.” The old Tengu grimaced, a ical expression on his face which was a mixture of avian and human. “None of my other children have the might to defeat me. Not even Arangbō.”

  “One day.” He rumbled. “But yrasp of earth element far outstrips mine of wood, father. It is a bad bination for me.”

  “Perhaps I am too old, too weary. But my surviving children will have to take up more of the duties, since we are short two Dires. Therefore, when an outsider, fresh blood, es in, proves their worth, and ys cim to my daughter… it is only natural to lean on him.”

  “I didn’t… look, I just wanted her to be treated fairly.” I protested, and Arangbō ughed at me like I was an idiot. That hurts my feelings a little. I do get it. I let my anger get away with me, despite my Resilience. But they know what I meant, they shouldn’t twist my words.

  “Yes. Even if we take your words as you intehen you are her brother now. Therefore you must be my son.” Tarōbō agreed. “Haanōbō is grateful to you. And if you meant for more… as her father, I would not stand opposed.” He cast his gaze over the girls. “A powerful man is popur and provide for many women.”

  “My sister, she is quite the beauty to you humans, is she not?” Arangbō said slyly. “You saw her face. For a Tengu, we are a disgrace, the other Tengu families would mock us, so we always hide our shameful features, but… perhaps that is more to your taste?”

  She retty, I’ll admit. But I barely know her. “Yes, but that doesn’t matter. That wasn’t my i.”

  “Even if it was not, you must still follow through on your words, brother.” Arangbō chuckled. “We are merely saying what retionship you choose to exercise with my dear little sister is betweewo of you, but you are bound together now, as are we all.”

  “I’m curious…” Natsumi said again. As everyone looked at her, she blushed a little. “I’m sorry if this question is rude or oversteps our bounds, if so, feel free to dismiss it. But… why are the Tengu here less avian? You yourself look much like the Tengu I’ve seen pictured in storybooks abooks.”

  “A sad story.” Tarōbō sighed. He was holding his staff again, the energy flowing out of it, bathing both him and me in the rainbow glow, rest our depleted strength. “We guard the Sacred Fme, yet the Fme… I believe the purifying aura of the Fme has an effect, leaving those without adequate strength who bask in its radiance closer to its ideal. I doubt it was merely guilt that led to the kami entrusting the mountain to us. The Sacred Fme is powerful, yet also inimical to beings of spirit. It reshapes and heals, purifies and strengthens. But not at one’s own will.”

  “I see. It’s a bit like radiation then, just…” thinking of Haru and her ges, as well as the restoration of Kinneka and Tsukiko-san, I looked at the pair of them closely. Tsukiko-san’s red eyes did seem to be slightly golden, and her midnight-bck hair did seem to shimmer a little when the light from the fmes struck it. Kinneka’s fur was already golden, but it did seem to be richer, purer somehow.

  “Thanks for answering my question.” Natsumi nodded, as if a puzzle that had been b her was answered. “So it’s like that, Motoko.”

  “Yes.” Motoko nodded. “I am beginning to see a picture emerge. I suspect whoever es from Kyoto will bring crity, and we will be able to see what lies hidden.”

  “It might be hard for those who vee the Gods to hear.” Tarōbō said, looking at Tsukiko-san with a little sympathy, but she merely shrugged.

  “My faith is hard to shake. After all…” She looked at me, again a gentle smile crossed her features, unusual yet delightful. “…I accepted the sacrifiy own life, even my very spirit, for the greater good the Gods wished for. That the price was cheated does not invalidate I repared to pay it, even as I wished it was not so.”

  Kana took her arm, hugging it. “It’ll be fihat was then. Now you’re one of us, and Akio won’t let you die again.”

  “We have strayed from the topic at hand. There are two vat positions within the Dires. I would offer you the position of Summer South.” Tarōbō said to me, stunning me. On seeing my look of surprise, he chuckled, his beak g. “Why are you so shocked? As a brother to Haanōbō, or her lover, either would quality you as my son. And your talent with Fme is great.”

  “You nd on your feet wherever you go, don’t you?” Yasaka-san grumbled, still drinking.

  “And what would this entail?” Daiyu asked, curious. “Is it purely… ceremonial…? Yes, ceremonial.” She stumbled over the harder word. “Or does it offer tangible bes?”

  “Bes other thaing close to my sister?” Arangbō ughed. “Obviously, it does fer strength, though one o have talent. The Pilgrimage, then, Great Tarōbō?” he asked, and the Tengu nodded, smming dowt of his staff.

  “Yes. To the relic of Suzaku, Lord of Summer.” He agreed. On seeing my quizzical expression, he ughed, his toter. “I do uand the irony. Suzaku, Byakko, Seiryū, Genbu, the Yellon… all would be sidered among the Gods we disdain, those not of this world. But they are different. As you will see. You would not refuse the request of your new-found father, would you?”

  “Eveing that aside...” And how I wish you would, although since I caused this with my careless decration, I’ll have to live with it. Holy, having another sister isn’t so bad. First Anna, now Haanōbō. I’m lucky that more of my girls don’t have sisters, otherwise I’d have even more. Though there’s plenty of brothers-in-w already… “…I’d try to aodate your desires as best I . I want this alliao work… you’re right.” I grasped his point. “I be trusted with your mountain, and your charge, the Sacred Fme. You’re still lord of this mountain, Tarōbō. As long as we work together, we keep it strong and prosperous, and enhance my own domains as well.”

  “All you have to do is teach Haanōbō to call him bro in that cutesy way Aiko- does, and he’ll end up doing anything she asks.” Kana giggled, and with that, the serious talk was over. Though there’s still some details to iron out.

  “In this sadness, there is also hope.” Tarōbō decred to the watg Tengu. “Let us feast once more, and celebrate the life of Shungbō, the Summer South, and his successor! For the Direay be scattered, yet what was broken be refed!”

  “I’ll drink to that!” Yasaka-san called drunkenly, the old man gulping down the tents of his wooden mug, soaking his beard, and I rolled my eyes. At least someone had fun today…

  ********

  “So, these are what you wish for?” the Tengu that had bee out around the Mountain brought back a number of Etherites, mostly red and yellow, but there were a couple of green ones as well. Arangbō poked at them curiously. “These little tris are useful, they boost the strength of an attack, but below the blue, they are hardly worth mentioning.” He paused, and I could just tell he was grinning under his mask. “Ask dear Haanōbō, I believe she keeps some as jewellery, sihey are shiny and attractive.”

  “Yeah, they are more useful than merely breaking them down for ether.” I don’t regret using up the ones I found early on, it was more important to achieve my aims, but they have so many uses in Mortal Engineering and crafting now, every one is precious. “I have another question.” I addressed Tarōbō. “Your Territory here is impressive, managing to solidate an Anchor isn’t easy.” At least not without cheats that the Gods gave out. “But I’m certain that over the turies you could have easily reached Rank four, or maybe even Rank five. Just the ether I got from this Territory alone would have been a big leap towards that.”

  “You are rather knowledgeable. I do not quite uand what you mean by Rank four or Rank five. Though I surmise that higher numbers are representations of stroerritories.” He answered, scratg at the rept, gold-inid crimson mask he wain, the long nose pointing at me. “Then you must know, to grow such, there is a period of great weakness. I was not prepared to show such weakness, not with those of the Hyakki Yagyō…” he looked at Kinneka meaningfully. “… so often roamihe mountain. Besides… there are other dangers.”

  “That’s true.” I agreed. “Thanks for assuaging my curiosity. It makes sense, I almost suffered a grave defeat as I went into that just as an enemy found me. If he was more petent and less zy, taking the field himself, there’s no way my Anchor would have stayed hidden, sidering it was rgely undefended.”

  “The Department uhe Party and those traitors…” Daiyu’s dark eyes were cold and flinty as she remembered. “…they have been growing the Territories for their Chosen pdogs. P the resourany into one and proteg them while they lie dormant. As time passes, they will only grow stronger. Fortunately…”

  “We have Asha aree.” Bell agreed. “It is a really magnifit Rhyming Tree. To see such outside the Seelie Court still surprises me.”

  “I think we clude that there will not be as maories of high Rank as we would expect.” Motoko pointed out, saying what we were all thinking. “Older, powerful nds such as the Seelie Court, perhaps, but those Territories, even a ones, who are too close to others, or are unwilling to fay risk… their growth will be held back. Yet…”

  “Yeah, such a Territory, despite being weaker than it could be, will have the advantage of a lot of iment. I mean, look at what Haru bagged.” I pulled up her Territory details, amber letters bzing in my Eye. “Sure, the Spires and simir you had here have vanished, but there’s a lot of Rank four, five and even a few Rank six Silos. That ges my pns for our expansio again. I don’t o worry about buffing my own Silos yet, I use Ixitt’s mobile Silos to ferry the ether we are st here, and move it back as needed.” Of course, there’s no real dire to the stru here, no Defensive Empts, Barracks or Spawning Spires. But that isn’t unusual. Even a number of Chosen don’t have a good grasp oly what they build…

  “I do not like leaving the mountain vulnerable…” Tarōbō reiterated, his tone ominous, and I shook my head.

  “Me her. But you’re part of Haru’s Territory now. And we will be pushing to Rank four when I’m doh mine. But there’ll be no long years of vulnerability. We’ll save up and do it in days, and station forces everywhere while we’re doing it.” As we talked, I alyed Tarōbō’s remaining s. As for being the Summer South… I wonder what bes that would bring?

  A Tengu fpped down from the skies, nding beside us. “Great Tarōbō, the outsiders have returned, and with them is… a kami. He asks for permission to set foot on the mountain, as is proper.”

  “Haanōbō is more than capable of giving my permission, especially now.” Tarōbō let out a cavernous sigh. “Return and tell our new guest he is, if not wele, then at least permitted.” As the Tengu flew off, he turo me. “uest is an old one. You might find what he has to say ued, but… the truth must be told.”

  “I am prepared to hear it.” Tsukiko-san said bravely. “I have never averted my eyes from the truth, no matter how unfortable or cruel. Even if the truth I saw reflected in the moonlight was not the eruth.”

  Everyone waited for uests, and soon Prince Shōtoku, Haru and Haanōbō returned, apanied by a man radiating a powerful aura of League, matg mine and Tarōbō’s, though his trol of it seemed excellent, as it seemed only we could feel it, as Haru and Haanōbō would have appeared far more unfortable. He was wearing priestly robes and an imperial , though below his robes I could see the glint of cquered armour, and there was a long, curved sword as well as a sceptre belted at his waist. He had a gentle face, with a well-trimmed, patri beard, yet his eyes tained both wisdom and ferocity. My Eye glowed, and the result was a surprise.

  Avatar of Emperor ōjin [kami Hachiman] - ???

  An Emperor? And Hachiman? The Hachiman? Beside me, Tarōbō had dipped his head, the set of his wings displeased, while the Tengu were wary. As I peered at him, he noticed, and suddenly in a surge of League my Eye failed, merely blurring into question marks. I let the glow fade, and he me, satisfied.

  “We’re back.” Haru said, eyeing me reproachfully. “What happened? You made us worried, especially poor Haanōbō.” She the white-wiengu. “I felt the mountain fall under my trol, it was a rather unfortable feeling, and when I told Haanōbō, she thought you must have killed her father to take over, at least at first. It was a little funny, her good opinion of you warring with her suspi. But from what we see everything is fine.”

  “I was not worried.” Haanōbō denied in a tiny, quiet voice. “I believed matters would be as they are…”

  “If you insist, I’ll believe you.” Haru grinned. “Now…” she gestured to where Hachiman was apanied by Prince Shōtoku. “… I present the great Emperor ōjin, arently does exist, Hachiman, one of the great kami.”

  The regal yet fierce man bowed, his oppressive League disappearing. “I greet you, who is touched by Tsukuyomi, and you as well, Matsumuro-san, she who has taken on many burdens for the Gods.”

  “You know me?” Tsukiko-san said, surprised, and Hachiman nodded.

  “Of course. From the pace I watch all of Kyoto. Though my ability to act is greatly restricted. For doing so would e at a grievous cost. Though…” he looked at me then. “… because of your as, those of you and your allies, a Kyoto was not destroyed, and I was able to remain an observer, though I grieved for the sin.”

  “That’s awful.” Kana said sadly. “People died, kami too. And you could have helped. You’re Hachiman! You’re so powerful surely you could have defeated the enemy?”

  “The kami do little of worth nowadays.” Tarōbō snorted. “It has been a long time, ōjin. Some would say too long, but I would say not long enough.” He snorted bitterly. “But I obey the ws of hospitality. Take a seat, guest, and take meat and sake.” As Tengu brought over ptes and mugs, Tarōbō gestured towards me. “Haanōbō, sit o your brother, the Summer South.”

  Her eyes went wide behind her mask at that, and she fot to pin about being called my sister, sitting down meekly.

  “I see you still hold some disfavour in your heart for us, Tarōbō.” Hachiman said mildly. “As for your question, shrine maiden, yes, I would have acted in the end. But to do such would be most destructive. I am a kami, born a mortal but transded, and my strength is not small. Even now this is but a shell, a formed body so that I ma here. This world is fragile. It was… not always so. If I drove off or destroyed the ihe damage would have been catastrophid I would attract muger and hatred from others like me, who still watch this world. As it is, Kyoto suffered, the Boundary cracks, fragmenting, yet…” he scratched at his , the gesture somehow elegant. “…the damage was less than I would have expected, and efforts to mitigate the increasing rate of failure have been wele.”

  “Always an excuse. Just like back then. But… this I do uand.” Tarōbō snorted. “ōjin here is a kami, not one of the great Gods. He is from our world, through his power rivals some who dwell beyond our world, I imagine. Yet do not expect much from kami. They serve their own is and never act when they should.”

  “sidering the task we entrusted you with, Tarōbō, you are not showing much gratitude.” Hachiman said, his tone reproving. “The Sacred Fme is an honour to hold…”

  “Su honour you passed it to me and my kin, knowing the effects it would have, and uo face yuilt. The Scared Fme… it was not of the kami, was it? They know, they saw the corpse of Atago, the kamuy of these nds.”

  “I see. There is little cause to hide it then.” He addressed those of us who he reised held Divine Favours. “The world, it is cruel.” He csped his hands, and then opehem, revealing a white-feathered dove, resting peacefully on his palms. “We are like the dove, unaware of the dangers surrounding us…” His aether surged, and a series of illusions surrouhe bird, of dark shadows, grasping hands, open mouths and crimson eyes, reag out. “… yet fortunately…” the images shifted, and the world receded, moving into a quiet shallow sea of silver and rainbow mist. “…our world drifted, and while much was lost, in that way safety lies. However…” the mist started to thin, and the shadows from above wideheir eyes, swimming down towards the dove. “… safety is ernal. One such…” One shadow fell, and passed through the mist, nding behind the dove, which was idly peg at Hachiman’s palm. “… has already arrived. There may be others.”

  There is. Tan for one. And who is to say she’s the only one. I nodded. “But with beings such as you around, and I also met an avatar of Tsumatsu-Hime here in Kyoto, surely we fend off these threats?”

  “Would that we could.” Hachiman smiled, and he moved his hands, and the dove took flight, s out towards the grasping darkness before the illusion faded and it was gone. “Like Tsumatsu-Hime, I am merely a shell, a way to tain enough of my sciousness and power to present myself without damaging the fragile Boundary further. I could have and would have acted were the situation to bee dire enough, yet to do so… it is merely exging one disaster for a potential greater one. Ordinarily I dwell in the deepest eddies of the Astral surrounding this world, yet I do keep wat here and other pces, though I mostly leave it to my proxies, such as he in the Pace.”

  “Yes, I was not sure whether it would be you or him that came, ōjin.” Tarōbō said, as everyoched the discussion keenly, unwilling to miss a moment. “I suspected you would stir yourself for this. And I am old, and weary. I uand more than these new-borns. Even my own children know little. But the kami… you yearn for the return of yods, do you not? Because then you be taken away from here, to higher, better pces.”

  “It is only natural to revere the Gods of Japan. After all, I am Japanese.” Hachiman said. “Even ih, I carried on my work, aually was veed enough to bee a true kami and gai power. But even I am helpless against the true Gods, or many dangerous threats that dwell in the wider Astral. Yes, we wish for their return, but…”

  “… but you are not the only ones who dream of the return of their Gods.” Tarōbō banged down his staff. “… and Japanese. Yes, you are. But there were other mortals and spiritual beings that dwelt in this nd, long ago, alongside us.”

  Of course. The Ainu and the kamuy. I wasn’t aware they were ever so far south, but I do know that what we get taught is highly… sanitised. Ohing anese are good at is avoiding responsibility for our historical sins. Mom always made sure to let us know no nation erfect, and that every try hides many skeletons in the closets and bodies uhe floorboards. Hell, she used to say the same about Britain, Empire and svery, among other matters.

  “Yes, the other native peoples, their own Gods. But there is only so much to go around.” Tarōbō snorted. “So much ether, so much adherence, so many precious hallowed sites such as mount Atago. So… war.”

  “Yes, war.” Hachiman agreed. “It started with skirmishes, driving them off, killing the men and older women, and…” he looked around, seeing many young women, and ged what he was about to say. “…taking captive the young. The kamuy cshed with the earliest kami, and both sides suffered losses. But ere in the asdant, aually we drove those people north, to their limited sanctuaries. Sacred sites such as this mountaiook, made our own, and it is one reason that Kyoto is built here. It has been a long fifteen hundred years since, and… now such rivalry may begin again. The kamuy were winnowed down to merely a handful, yet should their true Gods return, as ours will…”

  “Then your deeds will be seen for what they were.” Tarōbō said with satisfa. “This is all wishful thinking, of course. Far more likely we will all perish, than the Gods of Japan reach out and take trol of this world. Yet… the seeds sown by many will bear fruit. Whether that fruit is poisoned… we shall see.”

  “Fifteen hundred years…” Kana said, surprised. “That’s about the same timescale as the true shrines go back to.”

  “And the war between the humans and the Fae, which drove us off the Material.” Bell echoed.

  “And the retreat of those cowards from Kunlun. I do not think this could be ce.” Daiyu agreed.

  I nodded. “Yes, it seems that everything started happening at once, or at least over a rather short period of a few years. It answers my question. If the Ainu were pushed back then, like everything else involved with that time, there’s a veil of secrecy agreed by all involved. No, perhaps agree is the wrong word, everyone seems to have accepted that the knowledge should be hidden. So it’s no wonder our history books teach us about their more limited reach.”

  “We still know little of these Ainu.” Motoko said, her expression troubled. “You said we do not treat them kindly?”

  “Yeah, that’s… a way of putting it.” I sighed. “We settled their nds, stripped them hts and tried to ban their native religious practises and culture, encing intermarriage until they were the same as us. I expect there are probably darker events that took pce as well, though I don’t think those are well doted. Even today, those of Ainu dest face discrimination and hardships that us ordinary Japanese don’t know, not that there’s many of those left. My mom… she has always said that the Japanese are very protective and kind to their own, but they don’t care for outsiders. She had it hard for a while when she first moved here. Luckily we had friends who looked out for her. So eventually she ted. Now, she’s faothing like they have, but… she still sympathises.”

  “I see. This is not taught at Hanafubuki.” Motoko said, troubled. “I wonder… have the nobility been involved in such?”

  “Almost certainly. Though from what I gather, at least some steps have been made to rectify many of the worst decisions, such as denying them their culture, as of retly. Sadly it’s too little, too te for many. Most of the Ainu have likely already intermarried into Japanese families over the turies. There’s only a few tens of thousands left, my mom said.”

  “I see. I shall speak to grandfather and father and find out more about this.” Motoko said, her face set. “We are trying to build a better world, sujustices have no p it. Besides…” her face fell. “… the bear, that kamuy. It was agly sad. You will help me, Natsumi.”

  “Of course I will. Though I doubt my parents know much about it.” She promised. Seeing that, Tarōbō burst out ughing, beak g behind his mask.

  “See that, ōjin? The young are often full of spirit. But nothing ever ges. The mortals ape you kami and persecute the others who share their nds, even to this day. Hence why you gave the Fme into our care. It is hard to cim to be righteous when you are stantly seeing the rewards of your misdeeds.”

  “Your words wound me, as they did then, Tarōbō.” Hachiman sighed. “But there is some truth to them. But we are hardly alone in defending our own, no matter how savagely. The world back then was harsh, many strong powers g. And it will happen again.”

  “But if we have kami such as noble Hachiman, of the Eight Banners, we weather the storm!” Kana said, her expression plex. I see the talk of persecution upsets her, but she also has respect for the kami. It’s a difficult path to tread. “You help us against that damn toad when it returns!” she turo Tsukiko-san. “We won’t let it e back for you, if it does, Akio and the others will kill it again. I’ll help too.” She promised, and Tsukiko smiled gently at her, thanking her softly.

  Hachiman remained silent, and Tarōbō guffawed loudly. “Put not your trust in the kami, I told you. Yes, they may act, but only in their own is, or for those they cherish. ōjin here may be strong, but he will not risk his own life. If he thinks he win, he will, otherwise…” he snorted, angry. “… the Yōkai, kamuy, fn ehe kami have faced them all many times, but uhey have the upper hand, such as against the kamuy, it always ends in a stalemate.”

  “It is not that we are unwilling, but unable. Yer blinds you, Tarōbō.” Hachiman said, his voice hard and cold. “Against an intruder from without, I may be able to act, though the cure might be worse than the disease. There is little point killing one cockroach that has ehe storehouse, only for the door to be left open for huo swarm in and devour the rice. And some cockroaches are truly monstrous.”

  “See? Weasel words…” he grimaced, and I chuckled, remembering my earlier pins I wasn’t allowed to use that turn of phrase anymore. “So, has ōjin satisfied your curiosity? There are many such sites, though not all have been protected as has mount Atago, and they have fallen to ruiake our task seriously, not for the kami, but for us, as the mountain is ours! As Summer South, you now have a duty to protect this pce. And your family…” he turo Haanōbō, who let out a long sigh.

  “Taking a mortal… no, not mortal…” Hachiman corrected. “…a once-mortal as one of your Dires? A strange choice.” He then saw the way Haanōbō was ag, shy and bothered. “Oh, I see. A happy event then. I give you my blessings.” He reached out his hand, and amber letters fred ay vision.

  Your css, Kami-Blessed has increased from level 10 to level 12. Charm has increased by 1. Majesty has increased by 1. Aether has increased by 44.

  I could surmise that Kana had also levelled her Kami-Blessed css too, from the way the light of aether and adherence ed around her. Excellent, a boon, at least. “I thank you for your blessing. But…” I said, unwilling to let su advantage leave. “…I have others who deserve the blessing of the kami. After all, we dealt with the invasion of Kyoto, preventing the need for you to act. So, if I bring some people on a pilgrimage to the Imperial Pace, you bestow your favour ooo?”

  Hachiman paused, thinking, before he agreed. “I . But I am weary. Even as an Avatar, it is most difficult for me to remain in these shallow eddies. As gratitude for your service, and as an apology for past as…” he looked at Tarōbō, who turned his head aside, unwilling to accept. “…I will leave a fragment of my Avatar behind. When you jouro the Pace, my seneschal will receive you, and he will summon me. But I shall do it only once, for even appearing thus is troubling, and may attract attention we do not care for.” With that, he transformed into a giant dove, before taking flight and vanishing, a few gleamihers falling down, before they vanished, and it was as if he was here.

  “That was… certainly iop ten stra moments of my life.” Haru observed. “Meeting the kami Hachiman. Strange how all the top ten moments of my life have happened after I’ve died though.”

  “Pathetic. The kami truly are disingenuous. Oh, do not glower at me so, girl.” He looked at Kana seargly. “There are the good and the bad, just like with Yōkai, and mortals too. I am sure your kami is a worthy ohe weaker, less famous ones usually are. But when he says he would have dealt with the invader. Perhaps. But only when there was no other choice, and his own is were on the verge of ruin. And he is n. There are always others watg. The world has found an uneasy bance, ohat the Gods from high above have upset. Selfish creatures.” He spat. “Now, enough of the gloom. You now know the reasoengu guard, and now you guard mount Atago. Let not the sacrifices and the cruelty be for nothing.”

  I aking a mug of sake and taking a deep swig, trying to wash away the foul taste in my mouth. That’s right. Earth is full of strong beings. Nurarihyon, the Queen of the Seelie, Hachiman and other kami, and likely any number more. Yet it seems to fall to us Chosen to defend the Earth and help it break through to the upper Astral, if I believe Ortlinde, and I have no reason not to trust her yet. So there has to be reasons that the powerful either don’t act, ’t act, or are too weak to make the differehere are always others watg, huh? Thinking on Hachiman’s earlier words, another phrase sprang to mind. Nothing ever ges. The mortals ape the kami. Everything that happens once happens again. War, the cycle of hatred and greed, scrambling for resources. It’s like Kodoku. But we break the cycle without putting ourselves and the world in jeopardy?

  Seeing my heavy expression, Motoko took one of my hands, and Natsumi the other. Kana’s face twitched, an expression ret at being too slow crossing her features, and as I opened my mouth to sole her, Prince Shōtoku spoke up. “Do you feel disgust? Again, the wars had ended when I passed, and found myself as a kami of Tsukuyomi-jinja. Yet back then, I would have participated without a sed thought. The a world was cruel. But I implore you to judge us oimes.”

  “I do. The modern world isn’t free of the same shit.” I agreed. “Now, that was rather depressing, but I’d rather know more about the world, even if it’s unpleasant. So, now that we’re all here together, and we’ve cluded our allia’s time to pn what we are going to do from here. Besides…” I squeezed Motoko and Natsumi’s hands. “Some of you really o go home, before your parents get worried.”

  Looking at the new buildings Haru anded, as well as the vast reserves of ether ulled from this aerritory, I started running some numbers. First, the Throne, and then… Rank four. I have a bad feeling things could get dangerous, so I’ll take worse infrastructure for now, to bolster our defences and reach…

  ShipTeaser