First - Uchida Yamato, Chosen Of Kannon – Susanoo Fa

  The flickering lights of the shrine shone golden, illuminating the great statue of Kannon. Here in the Spiritual Realm it was somehow even more magnifit, and Yamato felt a surge of pride within, knowing that he had been called by his Deity, the Goddess of Mercy.

  The braziers that lit the abnormally rge chamber, which dwarfed the true size of the Kiyomizu-Dera in the Mortal realm, were colossal, giving off a bright, metallic light that no mortal mp could shed. In the deep shadows cast by the illumination waited his Golden Warriors, the servants of Kannon that he could now and, six golden golems each two metres i, their faces sculpted into expressions of pity, charity, love, hope and more…

  I am one who is to save the world. I always thought I was destined fger things. If only the others could see that too. He frowned, remembering the csh he had with the adherents of the Amaterasu fa. It had not e to violence, in the end, but it was a close-run thing. The Divine nd of Kyoto, sed only perhaps to the sacred mountain Fuji or the Grand Shri Ise, it had a wealth of spiritual beings and treasures, all of which would be o stave off the oning disaster the Gods had prophesised.

  Yamato had backed down first, though it was with heavy heart and gritted teeth. Nothing is served fighting each other, not when there are many present threats here that challenge us. Still, to surreo the aggression of Amaterasu is unbeing of those of us in Susanoo fa…

  The silence of the great Kiyomizu-Dera was unnerving. The temple should have been full of lesser Kami, serving Kanno none of them were present. Instead, Yamato had to face the trials of the Spiritual Realm alone.

  Alone. Ugh. He shivered, remembering the battle he had endured with a pack of Yōkai that made the spiritual Kyoto their home. In the end he had won, his golden servants tearing several of them apart, f the others to flee, yet he had suffered numerous wounds, the pain rog his very soul. And when he had returo the realm of mortals, his body was wouorn flesh and bright blood greeting him, as well as the pain.

  The pain… I thought I was going to die… As he exited the temple, emerging out into the heavily-charged air of Spiritual Kyoto, he remembered his wounds. While he was now a chosen of Kannon, up until only a few st weeks ago, he was just a student at Kyoto uy. A smart and handsome oo be sure, and of a powerful bloodline, but the most fighting he had ever done was a brief skirmish irl in a bar, and that had only left bruises.

  Even though he recovered from injuries far faster than he ever had before, it had still shaken his resolve, and it had taken a week before he had dared to venture bato the Spiritual Realm. I o be stronger, only then the true glory of Kannon shine again in these dark times. And I shall be the neion, who protects humanity, praised and respected by all.

  The outside of the temple was also more magnifit, a t edifice of gold and red. Great sprays of indigo light were fountaining out from the ground and spreading into the sky, raining down like shimmering purple and blue snow. Breathing deeply Yamato drew in the light, feeling energy spreading through his body. Behind him came his Golden Warriors, f up oher side of him, also drawing in the pure energies.

  Looking out across Kyoto there were many wonders, more than could be seen in the mortal world. In addition to the many shrines and temples, all of which were more splendid and opulent than could have been imagihere were also natural wonders, such as great surges of elemental energies, forests of living trees, and irs of Yōkai only dreamt of in myth. Still, they were not what he was seeking. There. Still w well, at least…

  A small colle of golden hands, each the size of a person, were gathered on the border of his spiritual sphere of influence. As he observed, a skittering creature, a cockroach the size of a rge pony, slithered its way along the white-paved street. The golden hands reacted, flying out and spping at it, and the cockroach burst apart in a spray of gore and spiritual energy, which was quickly absorbed by his area of influence, passing on some ba, and he felt a slight strengthening.

  Widening my sphere of influence would be suicidal right now, since Kyoto is crawling with such things… and those from other fas ot be trusted to a the best is of us all. Why father is so ed about the losses of our enemies is beyond me.

  Of course, even if such was beyond him right now, ohe cve was held and everyone fell in behind him, he would be able to draw on their support to quickly purge Kyoto of Yōkai, beasts and those who were foolishly standing in his way. I know it’s politics, but when irrefutable proof of my blessing is avaible to all, I ’t believe that we are still deying, jockeying for bes. Following me is the only wise path.

  The golden hands were sughtering more beasts, pure spiritual power their reward, and Yamato had to decide how to deploy his reserves. trating, he sent up a brief prayer to his Goddess, and one of the hands was enveloped in a brilliant glow, shrinking in on itself, going dormant.

  Strengthening the Hands of Fiveakes priority. I always expand ter. Father reparing support for him, aing others take the risks was wise, as clearly Yamato was too valuable to lose. Once more he remembered the injuries he had taken. Yes, never again.

  Still, even if he did not expand, there were bes to be had abs such rich spiritual energy. Making up his mind, Yamato retreated back to the temple proper, his golden guardians silently following…

  ***

  Sed – Kudou Yasuhide, Master of Ryōan-ji Temple, Tsukuyomi Fa

  Overlooking the impressive rock gardens of Ryōan-ji, the many visitors from both Japan and abroad enjoying the magnifit spiritual sery, Yasuhide stroked at his long beard, the wispy white strands making him look ascetic, his sparse and gaunt frame belying the muscles that still hid within his Buddhist robes.

  To think that Uchida-san and Saionji-san are squabbling over such trivial matters iimes. The young really have little insight. Still, with the Grand Shri Ise being seen by many as being in his er, due to Ise being dedicated to Amaterasu, with her as a priestess chosen, Saionji-san has the momentum, and it isn’t in his io allow opposition to crystallise against his dominance…

  Still, even though he could uand it, that didn’t mean he was any more pleased with it. Others from his moderate fa had urged him to throw in with Uchida-san and force through the cve, g it should have already been done, and a unified front should be arranged, but…

  Much as I sympathise with Uchida-san’s position, and I do believe that pushing back the cve again and again weakens Japan as a whole, I uand the reasons that make it a choice I must support, however it displeases me. Besides, there are other s only we know of… It all came down to a matter of strength, and while Uchida-san’s young pup was from a good bloodline and arently making solid progress, it was hard to deny that Susanoo fa was clearly the weakest currently. And of course, it isn’t just the case that we have to worry about whatever camity the Kami wish to prevent…

  His musings were interrupted by the ringing of his phone, and upon seeing the caller, he quickly took the call. “Takakura-sama, I was just thinking of you. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Yes, the nobility have the same s as I…

  “Kudou-san, I’ve told you time and time again, there is no need for suiceties.” Takakura-sama answered, a little exasperated. “Still, I expect I am wasting my time as always. As for the reason for my call… I have an opportunity, to which I thought I would offer you first.”

  “Oh, I am all ears, do tell.”

  “In these unpreted times, the nobility are looking for closer ties with the other Pilrs, especially the shrines and temples. Fujiwara-sama feels that it would be wise to make sure the sons and daughters of nobility are more prehensively educated in the mysteries of faith. He is looking firls of good standing, appearand character, who are willing to trao the school of nobility firls in Tokyo, as well as apany his daughters.”

  “I see, that makes sense.” Yasuhide o himself, still stroking his beard. “I would wele closer retions with the nobility myself. Maximising our progress is likely to be… expeill, Takakura-sama, that doesn’t expin why you came to me. Saionji-san’s fa has more shrine maidens active than anyone, assuming that everyone is being ho with their gains.”

  “The Three Grandfathers feel that might be interfering too mu matters of faith, giving too much power to one side of the scales. Better to tio allow the temples and shrio work things out as they always have, so long as it does not imperil Japan, of course.”

  Takakura-sama spoke harshly, and Yasuhide couldn’t help but agree. “I have been worried about such myself. Other tries and cultures have their own Gods, and we… well, we are not universally loved, are we? I was hoping that Uchida-san and Saionji-san could e to a quipromise, so that we could start preparing for fn troubles, but as, the two sides are too imbanced. Who would have thought that the Priestess of Ise Grand Shrine would be chosen…?”

  “Indeed, we only learned of this retly. It… plicates… matters.” Takakura-sama agreed. “Though I feel there is some method to the Kami’s choices, as iional rumours have reached us… well, no matter, that means little to us right now. So, yranddaughter… she would be perfect to guide the granddaughters of Fujiwara-sama, would she not?”

  My granddaughter? Shiori is a good girl, to be sure, but… “Far be it from me to question your choices, but my Shiori… she’s a little… outspoken and wilful. Not a good fit for the esteemed daughters of Fujiwara-sama.” He was starting to sweat, imagining his granddaughter causing trouble for the flowers of true nobility.

  “On the trary, I feel that is exactly what they need. We must all make sacrifices. I too…” Takakura-sama trailed off, before speaking again, his voice sour. “… since my family has long familiarity with the religions of this nd, yet have no daughters in direct line, we have had to call bae… branch families.”

  Yasuhide nodded despite his reservations, fully aware of the difficult circumstahat the Takakura family had boured under during the me. “… if yoing so far, I hardly say no, but, I have some s …”

  “You need not worry about them, Fujiwara-sama is more than willing to be uanding.”

  With the deade, Yasuhide felt a headache ing on, but after some further discussion he hung up. Damn, how am I going to expin this to my dear Shiori? She’ll love going to Tokyo and associating with the beautiful noble girls at the famed Hanafubuki Private Academy, but… Ping his o stop the headache he went to dial another number on his phone, only to be stopped as a gentle bell rang, the sound melodious and calming.

  Her? Now? This ’t be a ot more bad news, I hope…

  The sliding door which was silk painted in the image of the three great Gods slid open, to reveal a woman wearing shrine maiden attire, her face veiled with pure white silk, obsg her features, trailing a train of loose bck hair that cascaded all the way down her bad even to the floor. “Master Kudou, my greetings. Now is a good time, yes?”

  Her voice was both young and old, bright and cold, very… strange, yet pelling, almost f oo listen.

  He bowed to her, hiding his suddenly uncharitable thought. You know it’s a good time, you always know. His expression softened, regretting the stress he was under making his thoughts less than charitable. I, more than anyone, know what she has given for the faith, for Japan. I am one of the mere handful who know a little of her truer self, not merely the veil she wears as armour. “Lady Diviner, of course. I could use something to take my mind off my current woes. Good news would be delightful.”

  Her ugh was like the ringing of the temple bells. “Good news? Iimes? Surely you jest, Master Kudou. Still, I offer some shards of hope, I believe.”

  “Shards, huh. Hot.” he smiled solemnly, preparing to listen to her foretellings. “Let us hope they don’t cut the hand we use to grasp them.” It was on her instrus, passed on from Tsukuyomi, that we have allowed this stupid stalemate between Amaterasu and Susanoo, despite it putting us all at risk of falling behind. After all, was not dey the only ould be able to face the twin dragons she prophesised would ravage this try, the Great Red Dragon Of The Numberless East, a billion strong, and The White Divine Dragon Of The West, that which cims to be the only Divinity. Though how weakening ourselves with suternal strife protects us, only the Gods themselves know, it is beyond us mortals. If only they could be clear...

  “So, do tell, Lady Diviner. What news from your patron, Tsukuyomi?”

  “While I was meditating in the Spiritual World, honing my gifts, drawing on the wisdom of my predecessors, I received further crity on my previous visions. The time to dey is not yet over. I see someoside of the fas, blessed by both the Kami and other, stranger beings. My vision is still clouded, but without them, the breath of destru from the Red Dragon will burn our nd to ashes. Even with him, the camity will be terrible, but uhe reflected light of the moon I see life preserved, and shoots of recovery sprouting from the charred soil.”

  A moohe most powerful she see. “It seems Tsukuyomi truly loves you, Lady Diviner. Still, as your lineage is purer than any other than the Lady of Ise, I should have expected no less.” The fact that she is one of the chosen of the Gods gives our fa huge sway, and is to be expected. If not her, then who else is worthy, has given so much to the Gods? Even so… Saionji-san held all the advantages, but his deying of cve was serving the Diviner's, and thus Tsukuyomi's, will.

  “I’ll keep stalling then. But even within Amaterasu fa, there are those that feel the cve should be soon, never mind those within our fa or Susanoo. I ’t stir the pot forever. Is there anything else you tell me?”

  She nodded, her veil dang. “I see six figures, each corresponding to a Buddhist Realm, though this may well just be a Divine ceit, not that they are such beings. I believe they are women. I ot see all of them clearly, four are in deep, imperable shadows, yet I see two. Princesses, one of Beasts and one of Humans. And grave danger approaches them both, creeping ever closer. Should they not be saved, then not only will Japan fall, but the very world…”

  “Princesses? Is the Lady of Ise… no, surely not…” he pondered, but she was not done, arange voice tinued.

  “I see the first sunrise of a new year. Ay itself shudders, something breaking through. If any of these six figures has perished, then … I fear that night shall fall upon humanity.”

  “And how does this tie into your previous visions?” he asked, cursing that even with her aral powers strengthened by Tsukuyomi, her words were still unclear. Yes, the Gods reveal themselves to her, but... they ask much from her too. Is it too much to pray for a little crity? “What we do to forestall this?”

  “For the Princess of Beasts, a great bck giant is creeping closer, ready to devour her. For the Princess of Humans, she is surrounded by many false friends in masks of white, bnk expressions hiding malice, hands clutg daggers dripping poison behind their backs. In the shadows I see other camities, yet they remain veiled from my sight. The only way they be saved is by one who holds darkness in one hand, light iher, and twilight on his back. And should we not dey the cve, the darkness will instead slip away, vanishing….”

  Darkness, Light and Twilight? Clearly a Diviaphor. So the cve must still be postponed…

  Seeing that the Diviner was obviously exhausted, her body nguage clear beh her obsg robes, Yasuhide rang a bell, summoning a pair of shrine maidens to assist her to her rest. I shouldn't bemoan my own troubles. The Diviner is stretched thin, every waking moment dedicated to charting our course through this mess. I wish I could do more. I have known her for many years, and am one of the few who uarue self, what little she lets us see, not the veil she wears. But unfortunately, all I do is listen to the words of Tsukuyomi she shares with us. So... Six Realms of Buddhism? A good omen for this shrine. But a giant of darkhat devours, and bnk-faced false friends of poisonous bdes? I must do research. They do not remind me of anything, yet the Diviner is never wrong, less now she has been chosen…

  Shaking his head, Yasuhide watched as the new arrivals escorted her out. Though it would have beeer had someone else been given this burden. She carries quite enough on her frail shoulders already...

  ***

  Third – Saionji Gin – Master of Kinkaku-Ji, Amaterasu Fa

  “… and that’s my report. Unfortunately it is unlikely he will survive, his wounds are too severe.”

  Gin clicked his tongue, ahe priest before him bowed before scuttling off, relieved to be out from his burning gaze. Drumming his fingers reflexively on the polished surface of the antique table that served as his desk, he sidered the problem.

  I ’t believe that one of my own fa would be so foolish as to go against me. Even that feter Kudou is giving me support, wondrously uhough that is. Still, not only do we have the most chosen in our fa, the Shrine Maiden of Ise Grand Shrine awakened, and while I ot truly cim her as one of our own, as she is bound to remairal in these disputes, as the enshrined Deity there is Amaterasu, naturally her achievements refle us, and many sider her still in our fa.

  “That damn imbecile. I warned him not to push his luck, the dangers of the Spiritual Realm are not to be trifled with. It seems that we are disadvantaged as the Kami of Kyoto and their servants are rgely too powerful to ma in the Spiritual Realm as of yet. Slow and steady to win the race, especially since we hold all the advantages.”

  The biggest one of all being the secret that Gin himself had received the call, the shining golden light that matched the golden coat of Kinkaku-Ji, the touch of Avalokite?vara itself upon him. Keeping it from all but the most trusted members of his fa, he had been leveraging it to his advantage, using the chosen he trolled to support expanding his sphere of influen the Spiritual Realm, growing it around the magnifit golden edifice that was the Spiritual Kinkaku-Ji. Of course this means that only I am truly fit to lead the faithful in these imes. Just like Kinkaku-Ji, which was rebuilt from the fmes of disaster, Japan will rise through this, stronger aer, standing above all other nations.

  It was a bit disappointing that the Diviner was not under his trol, but the old fox Kudou was being supportive, to aent anyway, so it wasn’t out of the question that he could take her in, and Gin would be far better pced to support her than old man Kudou, and leverage her talents and great gifts for the good of the faith and Japan… Everything was running so smoothly, this is a setback. I deal with it, but... it still annoys me!

  To think that one of his own would disobey him, trying tthen his powers while not giving Gin his due. At least his foolishness received a fair reward. Leaving the shelter of one’s shrio raise influeside seemed a good idea, but things lurked out there, things of dark myth and legend that were said to even rival the Kami themselves. He had seen them, on occasion, when he visited the Spiritual Realm i. That dark Parade, passing through the streets, destroying anything in their path. No, to expect a fool to survive an enter of such magnitude would be insane.

  It wouldn’t be possible to keep his demise a secret, much like news of that foolish girl who had died doing the same greedy thing. That was why a firm hand was needed, lest enemies both spiritual and human take advantage of their weaknesses.

  “If I dey the cve until a good k of Spiritual Kyoto is under my trol, then it would be impossible not to cede to my leadership. And progress is being made to that end, even if it is slower than I would wish…” he mused. “… still, this setback is vexing.”

  Surely there was some way to expedite things, as he was running out of reasons to dey, and that sly fox Kudou could ge his mind at any time. Wait, that’s it! Of course! Eyes straying to his phone, he reached for it, quickly dialling a his is a risk, a big one, but if it pays off… well, I won’t eveo buy time…

  “Good afternoon. Please five me for calling so abruptly, but I have a very important matter to discuss….”