From Chinese translations by Hinako.
Draft: Version 1 - final
Notes: translated first ½, summarized final ½ ; refer to glossary
PS: do not distribute this without my permission
That night when Hagi city perished, the waves of Seto Nakai, the waters in the pool tossed and swelled more fiercely and violently than usual.
It became windy. The bonfires of the Shinto shrine of Itsukushima whipped about in the wind, then they were extinguished.
In the palace hall of worship, were the forms of Narita Yuzuru and Mori Ranmaru. Placed in front of the sacrificial altar, with this occasion, were gorgeous, high-backed Western-styled chairs, purely ornamental from the way it was constructed. Yuzuru sat on one of those chairs with his back towards the altar. Placed beside his feet was a crystal that emitted a radiance of seven colors.
"It must've been exhausting, Ran."
Nobunaga said, slowly crossing his legs.
"Not at all!"
"Ah, so this must be the renowned 'kanju'. Shikanosuke that bastard, I never unexpected that he would hide from me such an important object for his own use."
Nobunaga picked up the 'kanju'.
"A truly beautiful jewel. This is the 'Shiohirutama', rumored to be able to control the tides at the will of its owner. The divine jewels protected by Youkihi... they're still fairly mysterious."
Nobunaga looked like a child who had just acquired a new toy, examining the 'kanju' with a curious look, he laughed delightfully, placed the jewel in his hand and played with it as if it were a small rubber ball.
"I've gotten hold of a fascinating object. I'll definitely see how I can use it to deal with the Mouri. We should at least verify the legendary might of the jewel, shouldn't we?"
"Yes. But rumor has it that its powers cannot be unleashed with just the 'kanju' alone."
"Hmmm, don't worry about it, Ran. We have no need to rush ourselves, the 'manju' will deliver itself to our doorstep no doubt."
"My Lord?"
"The one who possesses the 'manju', will definitely come here to steal the 'kanju'. We only need to cheerfully sit here and wait for that person."
Nobunaga's eyes had not the slightest hint of perversion, resembling those of a child who was planning some mischief, instead of glinting like a wild beast.
"So, the Mouri suigun isn't our opponent. I couldn't care less about the 'Yamato', considering that it's such a large battleship, with no way of floating in the sea it's merely a piece of junk. In other words, everything is set. --Kuki."
"Yes!"
Kuki Yoshitaka answered, standing behind Ranmaru. He was one of Oda's generals, commander of the Kuki suigun. The incident involving the phantom ships at Osaka Bay's Shiranui, as well as the Oatakebune seen by Aida, all of those ships were commanded by him.
"It's time for you to appear on stage. Send out orders to Osaka Bay's Oatakebune regiment to make preparations. Let the squadron of Mouri's Tsukumogami warships know of our true abilities. Even though they're using modern navy vessels, the outcome will be unchanged as this is a conflict between spirits. The problem doesn't lie in the nature of the navy vessels at all. What's most important is that our spirits are our weapons. Not too long ago, we mercifully allowed them to escape from Osaka Bay, this time round we'll let them have a taste of our real strength."
"Understood!"
The truth about the Shiranui was that it arose from the ships of the Kuki and Mouri suigun. The two divisions had fought for control over the waters at Osaka Bay. Kuki had preserved his superiority, driving the squadron of Mouri's ships to the outer seas. The Mouri had also included the resurrected Tsukumogami 'wartime battleship' in their squadron of ships. Aida had seen all of that.
The fleet of Mouri's ships that retreated from Osaka Bay, anchored at the city of the Murakami Suigun -- Noshima, and once again restructured their military base of operations, planning out the 'Yamato' project.
Situated within the vicinity of the Geiyo archipelago was a relatively large group of islands, the narrow passageways meant that travel was restricted for a maritime vessel, for that reason a ship had no way of freely moving back and forth. Even though the Murakami Suigun had previously established the whole of Shimonoseki via these narrow boat routes, they could only collect taxes from the passage of vessels.
Anyone who could master the topography of the area, would clinch the authority over the waters of Seto Nakai. Even so, it was easier said than done.
The Oda, now allied with Itsukushima's Sue Harukata, had decided to carry out their assault from both the Eastern and Western sides, attacking Noshima from both flanks.
"It's about time we unleash our true power, Kuki."
Nobunaga leaned against the back of his chair, a bloodthirsty smile appeared on his mouth. Ranmaru called out 'Nobunaga-sama'.
"According to our spy intelligence, the navy solders that were summoned by the Mouri were not only recruited from Kure."
"So I heard. They're the soldiers who died in the Pacific War."
Little by little, Nobunaga revealed a grin.
"The masses of society are about to be alerted as a result of these disturbances. I heard that they intended to lure the souls of the navy soldiers that didn't completely cross to the other world onto the 'Yamato'. There are also the souls of those who went in search of their companions but were tempted by death instead."
"Was it really the Mouri who summoned their assembly as well?"
"It seems like it. Lately, the 'Yamato' has been hanging around this region floundering all over the place haphazardly, obviously beckoning the onryou to join them. I heard that the Mouri had announced to all those onryou who couldn't reach Buddhahood: 'Souls of the Navy soldiers, if you board the Yamato you shall be able to proceed to Faramita', or something like that."
The 'Yamato' was really a ship that welcomed them to journey to the Pure Land of the West...
But a considerable number of the souls of those who died had the moment of their deaths deeply planted within their memories.
Among the souls who 'died for their country', those that had served on the 'Yamato' had found a different meaning. The beaming unit of the flagship's fleet, the lofty unsinkable battleship of the Empire of Japan... Since an unknown period of time, this name grew more radiant in the hearts of the dead as the days passed by, taking this country which should not have lost the war... taking the history of this defeat that should not have occurred and transformed it into a completely subversive power.
"But however many people he involves, or tempts with death, it doesn't matter to us. Only,"
Nobunaga said, the expression in his eyes had turned sharp.
"I heard that the Mouri are planning to use the onryou concentrated at Kure as armor for the 'Yamato'? With regards to that matter, perhaps the greater their numbers the better for them, and we can't just sit here and ignore this."
"Does My Lord mean that the 'Yamato' must be prevented from entering Kure?"
"I'll leave that operation to you, Kuki. Don't let those onryou of Kure board the 'Yamato'."
A dangerous smile appeared on Nobunaga's face. That was one of Nobunaga's distinctive features, the fiendish and merciless smile.
"If those onryou of Kure wish to fight, then let them become soldiers of the Oda instead. Regardless of the era, no soldier can't escape that sort of fate. Let me rescue them. Let them serve me, the 6th Demon King. Ran."
"Yes."
"Tomorrow morning, gather the troops at Senjokaku. Although the shrine that Hideyoshi built had a good start but a lousy ending, and is unpleasantly disordered, it's still good enough to serve as a military resting place. I want to hold a discussion with the armed forces there."
"Understood!"
"I really can't wait. I really want to try out this Narita Yuzuru's powers as soon as possible."
Nobunaga looked like a dictator, resting both his elbows on the arm rests and leaning against the back of his chair.
"The 6th Demon King combined with Miroku Bodhisattva's powers. This time, I want everyone in this world to know me well."
* * *
The darkness transmitted a huge wave of sounds.
Takaya stood in the darkness listening to the imaginary noises.
The din seemed to come from the middle of the great waves. No, was it the wave itself? His exhausted heart could no longer distinguish between the tones. It was calling to him.
Whose voice...
Smoothly and steadily, like the sound of the waves in his homeland lodged in his memories.
Who...
Like the rippling sound of the waves oscillating back and forth unceasingly. It gave him peace and also communicated with him.
It resembled his father's voice.
Seeping into his wound... The deep flow that was severed, mangled, torn to pieces, turning into an utter decrepitude inside his body... It felt like being tenderly cared for by a parent.
Hearing that sound, caused one to suffer to the point of... discomfort.
The discomfort finally transformed into true pain.
What exactly was this ache?
Even his fingertips were sore, unable to move. So much that he could not even open his eyes. His wound tingled. Like sulphuric acid. Eroding his torso. A scar that permeated his entire body. An unremitting agony. Expanding without any consideration. He felt almost numb.
He stretched out his fingers wanting to eliminate the pain, there was a gentle face that awaited.
Like the tenderness of the seas... Like the intense great waves...
--Takaya-san...
Like medicine to cure the wound. Echoing as it poured out onto the ground.
--Kagetora-sama...
The fingers that touched his cheeks, his strong fingers that gripped tightly. The hands that grabbed his body firmly transmitted his body temperature. As if telling him 'I am right here'.
Are you really here?
--I am right here.
A soft tender song that entranced him.
--It's alright.... Don't be afraid.
His name was called. Over and over again.
--I won't leave you all by yourself.
Yes.
I won't forget your promise.
You have sworn to me that you will not die.
You said that... you will not die.
Hoping for you to surround me.
With your love.
Hoping that your murmurings are all but a dream. Comforting me, this was only a temporary illusion. Then embrace me deeply.
Holding this cold, frozen physical body...
--I will always stay here.
This place was probably a warm room... A white bed in the quiet dead of the night. Beside me, on the pillow, you were saying:
After tonight I will never leave you again.
I won't let you be lonely.
When you have awakened from your dreams, I won't let you be lonely and helpless. I won't let you regain your consciousness only to find solitude.
Be it a stormy night, or a cold night.
Until dawn...
His tears flowed out.
The sound of the great waves rapidly grew louder as it approached.
The flap of the waves became fierce, raging and shattering as it went.
A man's fingers wiped away the tears that flowed out.
"Saburou-dono."
"..."
Called in this way, Takaya opened his eyes.
The first thing that appeared in his field of vision, was the black darkness of the night sky.
From then onwards, how long had passed?
Takaya found it difficult to recover his consciousness.
He was held by Kotarou. Takaya had opened his eyes while nestled within Kotarou's bosom, and was at a loss for a while.
Right beside him, was the shattering sounds of the waves.
"Do you recognize me? Saburou-dono."
At first, Takaya appeared to be unclear about everything. The clouded eyes looked at Kotarou's face for a moment, he finally moved his lips after a long time.
"-Ko...ta..."
A wee voice like the buzz of a mosquito.
Even so, Kotarou's anxious face immediately displayed an expression of relief.
"You still recognize me, Saburou-dono."
"This... place..."
Only his eyes looked about, Takaya asked in his muddled predicament. Kotarou answered.
"This place not far off north from Hagi. The region is called Susa. How do you feel? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"
"..."
Takaya's body was resting on a flat vast outdoors. This place was a cliff, occasionally a spray of water came from the white foam of the waves that crashed against the rocks. He could not see any stars in the night sky, they were concealed by the dense clouds, bringing about a gray darkness.
The coasts of this region had a strip of what one called the hornfel fault, its location made inaccessible by a break in the cliff. Kotarou and Takaya were now in a place known as the Senjojiki Rock Tableland.
Takaya covered his face with his hands, and slowly started to think back. He wanted to ask Kotarou why he [Takaya] was here, but did not understand why his words came out soundlessly from his mouth.
"Ah..., ah....ah?"
He could not make any sound. Takaya anxiously opened his mouth, gesturing to Kotaro to help him.
"...voice..."
Kotarou looked at Takaya.
"You cannot speak? Saburou-dono. You have lost your voice?"
"Ah...ah..."
Even though he could form sounds, he could not articulate any words. No matter how hard he tried it was useless. Apparently, due to the violent and excessive outpour of his spiritual strength, his communicative ability was now impeded.
"Ah...hi..."
"Please stay calm. Don't be anxious, use your fingers."
Kotarou placed Takaya's fingers on his hand, gesturing to him to write out on his hand. Takaya managed with difficulty to trace a few words.
What, happened?
Takaya asked him.
"We fled from the large fires of Hagi city. You could not control your 'power', before I was nearly engulfed by the flames triggered within you, I saved you and brought you here."
Takaya trembled, widening his eyes.
Saved... me?
Takaya faced Kotarou uneasily. His pair of eyes resembled those of a small rabbit in great fear, causing one's heart to ache.
Kotarou restored his consistently expressionless face.
"Hagi city is lost. Mouri Terumoto's body is dead. Kikkawa Motoharu and the retainers of the Mouri clan have used the 'Yamato' to escape. I believe they are proceeding directly to Itsukushima."
"..."
"Naoe Nobutsuna is dead."
Kotarou uttered without any emotion.
"The bullet pierced straight through his heart. I believe you were at the scene of his death. I have cremated his remains."
"..."
Takaya stared at him wide-eyed. Not blinking even once. He pursed his lips together.
His expression had completely deadened.
Kotarou watched Takaya's change in manner attentively.
"Please... you must pull yourself together."
"..."
"Saburou-dono."
Forcefully moving away, plasma emitted from Takaya's fingers, his hand slid out of Kotarou's. Like an empty shell. The focus in his eyes grew murky and he could no longer see anything.
"I understand your feelings."
Kotarou uttered with a cold formality.
"But, hereafter there are still many tasks that you need to accomplish. If you still hold the status of a general, then please pull yourself together. Endure the death of your subordinate and continue to fight, this should be the way of a liege. As long as you are Uesugi Kagetora in this day, it is vital for you to handle the numerous issues that require your implementation. For example, the Oda."
"...!"
"Do you not want to recover Uesugi Kagekatsu from Oda Nobunaga's hands?"
In the depths of Takaya's eyes, Kotarou truly saw the radiant will even though it was only for a tiny flash of an instance.
"Isn't this the mission you accepted from Kenshin? So that Kagekatsu-kou, who was also an adopted son, would not feel resentful from having been used. For the sake of this mission, you underwent possession up until this very body. We have understood everything."
Then Kotarou, with an honest expression, stressed with words full of confidence.
"Uesugi Kagekatsu is the Miroku Bodhisattva."
Takaya shut his eyes. In manner of having given up hope, his head drooped with his eyes closed.
"Narita Yuzuru is the manifestation of the Miroku Bodhisattva. He is destined to be the future Buddha, recipient of one of the highest abodes in heaven. Your mission is to personally guard his astonishing power from malice is it not? Aren't you supposed to protect his soul, which is going to rescue the future, from the clutches of the devil?"
"..."
"Please lift your head, Saburou-dono."
Takaya hesitated, he continued to turn his face away.
Kotarou once again voiced out strictly.
"...lift your head and look at me, Saburou-..."
The words that came from his mouth, were no longer Kotarou's. Takaya stared in amazement, someone had borrowed Kotarou's body and began to speak.
"There are people waiting for you."
Takaya expelled his breath.
"Can you walk? Saburou..."
His eyes opened widely, Takaya's lips quivered. Takaya knew the person who was talking. He was thinking 'how can it be'. But apart from this, he could not find any other explanation.
Father...
Kotarou nodded, looking startled and wanting to move closer to Takaya to support him, he stretched his fingers in the direction of the sea. Takaya gazed in that direction and could not help but gasp.
Above the great flapping waves, in the dark night sky...
Was a large dragon.
The dragon was swaying slightly, the trunk of its body twinkling with a silver luminosity, with both its perfectly straight emerald eyes gazing at Takaya.
This was, without a doubt, Ujiyasu. In the mist over Chuzenji Lake, his father Ujiyasu, who in possessing this body had the beautiful appearance of a dragon god, was looking at him.
The dragon regarded Takaya with a peaceful expression.
[I wish to take you back, Saburou...]
Ujiyasu said.
At this moment, Takaya, who previously could not articulate, spoke for the very first time.
"Father..."
The shattering great waves turned into a spray that flew high across his eyes, momentarily obscuring the situation in front of him. The spray became a mist that the wind brushed away, descending on Takaya's body.
[I must take you back to the people who need you by their sides.]
Takaya painfully squinted. He pressed his lips together, then opposed by closing his eyes.
[What is the matter, Saburou...]
The voice was like one that came from the body of the sea.
[Stand up.]
Takaya knew that his eyes had suddenly grown moist. It was like a father encouraging his youngest child. Takaya had no way of enduring and turned his face away. He wrinkled his eyebrow, drooped his head, once he closed his eyes tears easily slid down his cheeks.
[Stand up.]
But Takaya shook his head. He desperately shook his head continuously. As if saying 'No'.
[...Saburou.]
"Why..."
Takaya continued to shake his head, his entire body writhing as he shouted out.
"Why...!"
Ujiyasu replied in a strict tone of voice.
[There are people who need you.]
Takaya's two hands, quivered at length. Why was it that having reached this stage there were still people who needed him? He could not stand anymore. But why was it that he had to stand? Takaya could not understand.
[Stand up, Saburou.]
His father's voice carried into his ears.
Takaya refused. He shook his head intensely, and groaned.
"...Let me... die..."
Tears slid down his face.
"Please... let me die..."
Ujiyasu did not answer.
Takaya's four limbs that pressed against the ground suddenly lost their strength. He could not bear it and curled up.
--Don't be afraid...
He heard Naoe's voice.
--It's alright. Don't be afraid.
Naoe...
Takaya desperately listened to the voice of Naoe that he heard from within him.
Return to my side...
--I am by your side.
Gently caress me...
--It's alright...
You're not here!
Takaya cried out, desperately groping in the void. Struggling with a grief-stricken spirit he sought for his feeling in the darkness. Like a blind kitten.
--Don't be afraid.
Takaya replayed that moment when he heard the deep low voice over and over again. It was not that he wanted to repeat it. He only yearned to hear his voice.
Naoe...!
--I love you.
Hold me...
I want your voice. I want your body.
Closing his eyes as he cried, clenching his teeth.
--Yes. Until dawn.
Embrace me tightly!
--I will always be here.
Your taste, your touch,
Your body...
I want to die.
I want to just die like this.
Let me die...!
--You can't die.
Let me die, Naoe.
--You must not die.
Even if I can no longer breathe...!
--Because I love you.
Take me with you. Take me together with you.
A mad scream from the depths of his soul.
If you really love me...!
I want you.
I don't want anything else. Other than you, there's nothing else that I want. Other than you, there's no other valuable object that exists in this world. Whatever moment in the endless passage of eras, what I need is just you alone. Even though I know that I've obtained you, I must deepen my claim over you.
I will die if I lose you. I will die if you disappear. I will die if you abandon me. I have believed this all along. Yes. Now I can no longer carry on living. I am dependent on you like this. Deeply dependent on you like this.
I can't breathe if I don't have you to rely on. So excessively profoundly reliant on you, that I can't stand on my own. So excessively in need of you, that I'm frightened to the extreme. So afraid and terrified to the extreme that I'm clutching you tightly. Continuously seeking for you.
Hold me.
Hoping for you to desire me. It doesn't matter if you violate me. Violate me, abuse me until I die yet still desire me, even if it becomes dreary you must embrace me endlessly. Give me an embrace with only suffering. Pierce me continuously until my entire body is covered in blood, never leave me even if I become comatose, repeating this several dozen several hundred times over continuously, profoundly fiercely, I want your burning flesh!
Nearly dead... Even in death... Until death... Because of death..., I want to die... let me die!
Takaya, close to madness, hissed in perpetuity, his gestures and speech ever-changing.
Already... on the verge of death!
--Going mad like this...
It's becoming unbearable...
The great waves billowed, the white spray erupted wildly across the inaccessible precipice.
The darkness of the sea was like a fiendish object that howled madly.
Slowly.
Takaya stood up like a doll. Like the blaze of a sun, shaking as he stood up, he quietly straightened his back, opening his eyes that were heavy with dried tears.
Kotarou was astonished. He honestly did not expect that Takaya would be able to stand up on his own.
But Ujiyasu had noticed.
At the moment the last teardrop had been shed, the heavy door to his soul had calmly reversed its hurtful collapse.
Like a body that recovered from its extreme frailty.
Takaya closed his eyes like a tired child, accepting everything and faced the sky.
Takaya no longer resisted anyone, or anything.
As though he had abandoned this instrument of an empty physical body. Takaya said.
...Take me there.
Ujiyasu calmly gazed at his own child.
Perhaps, it had to be this way...
If he did not entrust his body to a certain person,
He would just die like that.
The flapping sound of the waves was endless.
Anticipating the arrival of a fiery tempest, the Sea of Japan surged in a violent frenzy.
The drops of water showered down from the spray. Kotarou approached him closely from behind.
"Ujiyasu-sama wishes that you ride on his back."
Kotarou said.
"Ujiyasu-sama will take you to the place you need to go to. Once you arrive at your destination, you must complete the tasks that you have been assigned."
"..."
"Let's go. Saburou-dono."
The spray from the great waves covered the area.
Takaya's eyes were like lead weights. As though he was controlled by an unseen object, he slowly walked towards Ujiyasu.
All that his ears could hear, was his voice which became a distant illusory sound that echoed over and over again.
--I will stay here.
Until the time you awaken...
--I will always stay by your side.
The large dragon was waiting for him.
The white spray spurted intensely across the precipice.
***
- a new day
- drove speedily all through the night from Akiyoshidai, Ayako and Tomo have reached Miya-jima
- they wait for their contact's ship to sail in, to reach Miya-jima; it gets windy
- Ayako mutters while trying to restrain her hair from being blown about by the sea winds
- notes the astonishing spiritual atmosphere of the beautiful mountains
- not deserving to be Oda and Sue's base of operations
- Miya-jima actually out of bounds but some can enter with license; but entering Itsukushima jinja is completely prohibited
- Ayako wanted Tomo to hide herself since they were like sneaking into enemy territory
- Tomo nods; she had come a few days ago to investigate the circumstances so she's familiar with the area (she actually came to see her sister)
- Isari now lived with Amako as a dependent, they wonder if it'll be alright should they bump into her
- Tomo is confident that Shikanosuke will help if she entreated and showed the manju in her possession; Isari will just stand by silently
- Ayako surveys the archway of Itsukushima jinja, knows that place to be Oda's base of operations
- Nobunaga could easily wreck havoc if he wanted to with this situation at hand, afraid that he might not abandon Yuzuru's body, he would not give it up
- they see a villa on the beach; the kanju should be there
***
- Amako's lodging was situated to the east of Itsukushima shrine, on a plateau
- heading up the steep slope was a single road that led to the door of the villa; Ayako noticed a different sensation once they arrived; nobody was home?
- it could not be there was no one home in this urgent situation but then there wasn't a hint of breath of person within
- Ayako wonders if they shifted but Tomo thinks the situation a bit strange; they kick down the door
- a few men collapsed over; there were people lying all over inside the room, they must be Amako's subordinates, were they attacked by outsiders? but no external wounds could be seen, they looked more like they'd been hypnotized to sleep
- they wonder who did this; in the courtyard the doors to the Inari shrine were wide open, there were many footprints on the on the vermilion-colored floor of the ancestral temple
- Ayako also found many pebbles dispersed on the floor that emitted a dark radiance; she had seen this somewhere before... the same sort of pebbles enclosing some shrine, but this was placed here by someone intentionally, a kekkai...a kekkai that absorbs one's powers (kyuuryoku kekkai)!
- Ayako shoves Tomo behind her and concentrates her powers in her hands in circular pattern then expands it
- she blasts at the kekkai, there is an intense sound and plasma is given off, then the protective shield shatters like glass, the pebbles on the floor give off sparks and burn into smoke and ash, the 'energy-absorbing kekkai' is smashed, Ayako carefully conducts a spiritual examination
- after checking everywhere, she touches the white fox idol, they can now move in
- they pull on the figurine, the Sue system was like a hand, they could only enter after this, the scented treasure box started to slide, revealing an entrance with a ladder that descended down; they head down
- they find Isari and Satsuki beside the altar and rush towards them
- Satsuki is the first to wake, she doesn't recognize Ayako at first but the latter reminds her of their meeting at a restaurant in Hiroshima with Takaya; Satsuki then sees Tomo and heads over and hugs her, calling out Narumi, and starts crying; Tomo is a bit shocked and doesn't really know what to do
- Satsuki is Narumi's good friend, the former had been worried about Narumi, Ayako explains; Tomo tells Satsuki that Narumi is well and right here, Satsuki is confused; Ayako explains that Narumi had allowed 'Youkihi' to temporarily use her body
- Isari regains consciousness sees her sister; Isari pushes Tomo away, wants to kill her, burn her face back and attacks Tomo
- Satsuki shields Narumi's body from Isari's attack; Isari is stunned
- Isari notices Ayako, finds out that she is one of the Uesugi yashashu and demands to know why are both of them here
- Ayako tells her to calm down and recall what happened there; only Mori Ranmaru was capable of setting up that sort of kekkai
- Isari remembers with a sudden outburst of emotion, scaring Satsuki, Isari feels a bit sorry for her behavior
- the kanju had been taken by the Oda, Satsuki had been hypnotized, Isari blames herself for being careless
- Satsuki panics, Isari, very hot-headedly, reprimands her and wants to storm Itsukushima shrine to recover the jewel
- Tomo tells her not to overestimate her (Isari) own strength; she was not going to get very far by just attacking Oda's base by herself; if the kanju and manju fell into Oda's hands, it won't be just a problem for the Mouri and Amako but Japan would be in peril, in fact any place with a sea can be controlled by Oda
- Ayako only then realizes the true frightening potential of the jewels
- the jewels can actually control any liquid; not just the seawaters but even bodily fluids; by controlling the tides and ebbing of the sea, it could turn land into sea or vice versa, as long as the controller had the intention, he could even submerge the entire land, no naval fleet would be able to stand against him
- Tomo reprimands her sister for impulsively making use of the kanju for war, if she didn't the jewel wouldn't have fallen into Nobunaga's hands
- Isari yells back that she has no reason to listen to her (Tomo's) advice; she had once said that the next time she sees Tomo, she will kill her sister; she then asks Ayako about their promise, that Ayako will kill her once she had gotten hold of the manju
- Ayako states that circumstances have changed, she can't just kill Tomo now; Tomo once again silences Isari by telling her that she's free to kill her once this matter is over but not now, they needed to retrieve the kanju
- Ayako is not very optimistic about the situation (needing to recover the kanju); Satsuki is feeling dejected since she feels that everything is her fault for simply interfering, asks Narumi if she's angry, feels that she's now responsible for getting back the kanju
- Satsuki makes her way out but suddenly Narumi appears again and they hug and apologize to each other
- then Satsuki's expression abruptly changes to a cold look; she pulls Narumi's body over and mercilessly punches her in the abdomen; Narumi falls to the ground in pain and passes out
- after Narumi had run out after Satsuki, Isari learns that Tomo has brought the kanju to Itsukushima; Ayako requests that she lend her assistance but then Isari suddenly rushes towards the ladder
- when both of them reach the surface, it's already too late; Narumi fallen, Satsuki is nowhere to be seen
- Satsuki, with a group of Oda's subordinates, has taken the manju; Ayako and Isari attack and try to give chase
- but landmines start exploding underneath; entire ancestral temple explodes before being completely demolished; they establish a Goshinha to endure it
- Ayako is slightly at a loss, Isari wants to attack Oda's base at Isukushima immediately but Ayako says that it's too rash an action
- Tomo seeks the advice of Youkihi; there's only one way left and that is to head to Mount. Misen (at that time, Tomo had also mentioned this to Takaya and the rest)
- at first, Takaya and the rest were wondering if Narumi's body was at Mount. Misen; Isari also suspected if the 'manju' was hidden at Mount. Misen; but these were not the answers - what sort of meaning was hidden in the words 'Head to Mount. Misen'?
- Tomo requests for Ayako's assistance to exorcise any of Oda's subordinates at Misen
- the new plan is to drive the Oda out of Misen then destroy the kanju and manju before the Oda can make use of it for evil purposes; the three of them set out, Isari still intent on killing Tomo
Original fiction © Kuwabara Mizuna.
Draft: Version 1 - final
Notes: translated first ½, summarized final ½ ; refer to glossary
PS: do not distribute this without my permission
That night when Hagi city perished, the waves of Seto Nakai, the waters in the pool tossed and swelled more fiercely and violently than usual.
It became windy. The bonfires of the Shinto shrine of Itsukushima whipped about in the wind, then they were extinguished.
In the palace hall of worship, were the forms of Narita Yuzuru and Mori Ranmaru. Placed in front of the sacrificial altar, with this occasion, were gorgeous, high-backed Western-styled chairs, purely ornamental from the way it was constructed. Yuzuru sat on one of those chairs with his back towards the altar. Placed beside his feet was a crystal that emitted a radiance of seven colors.
"It must've been exhausting, Ran."
Nobunaga said, slowly crossing his legs.
"Not at all!"
"Ah, so this must be the renowned 'kanju'. Shikanosuke that bastard, I never unexpected that he would hide from me such an important object for his own use."
Nobunaga picked up the 'kanju'.
"A truly beautiful jewel. This is the 'Shiohirutama', rumored to be able to control the tides at the will of its owner. The divine jewels protected by Youkihi... they're still fairly mysterious."
Nobunaga looked like a child who had just acquired a new toy, examining the 'kanju' with a curious look, he laughed delightfully, placed the jewel in his hand and played with it as if it were a small rubber ball.
"I've gotten hold of a fascinating object. I'll definitely see how I can use it to deal with the Mouri. We should at least verify the legendary might of the jewel, shouldn't we?"
"Yes. But rumor has it that its powers cannot be unleashed with just the 'kanju' alone."
"Hmmm, don't worry about it, Ran. We have no need to rush ourselves, the 'manju' will deliver itself to our doorstep no doubt."
"My Lord?"
"The one who possesses the 'manju', will definitely come here to steal the 'kanju'. We only need to cheerfully sit here and wait for that person."
Nobunaga's eyes had not the slightest hint of perversion, resembling those of a child who was planning some mischief, instead of glinting like a wild beast.
"So, the Mouri suigun isn't our opponent. I couldn't care less about the 'Yamato', considering that it's such a large battleship, with no way of floating in the sea it's merely a piece of junk. In other words, everything is set. --Kuki."
"Yes!"
Kuki Yoshitaka answered, standing behind Ranmaru. He was one of Oda's generals, commander of the Kuki suigun. The incident involving the phantom ships at Osaka Bay's Shiranui, as well as the Oatakebune seen by Aida, all of those ships were commanded by him.
"It's time for you to appear on stage. Send out orders to Osaka Bay's Oatakebune regiment to make preparations. Let the squadron of Mouri's Tsukumogami warships know of our true abilities. Even though they're using modern navy vessels, the outcome will be unchanged as this is a conflict between spirits. The problem doesn't lie in the nature of the navy vessels at all. What's most important is that our spirits are our weapons. Not too long ago, we mercifully allowed them to escape from Osaka Bay, this time round we'll let them have a taste of our real strength."
"Understood!"
The truth about the Shiranui was that it arose from the ships of the Kuki and Mouri suigun. The two divisions had fought for control over the waters at Osaka Bay. Kuki had preserved his superiority, driving the squadron of Mouri's ships to the outer seas. The Mouri had also included the resurrected Tsukumogami 'wartime battleship' in their squadron of ships. Aida had seen all of that.
The fleet of Mouri's ships that retreated from Osaka Bay, anchored at the city of the Murakami Suigun -- Noshima, and once again restructured their military base of operations, planning out the 'Yamato' project.
Situated within the vicinity of the Geiyo archipelago was a relatively large group of islands, the narrow passageways meant that travel was restricted for a maritime vessel, for that reason a ship had no way of freely moving back and forth. Even though the Murakami Suigun had previously established the whole of Shimonoseki via these narrow boat routes, they could only collect taxes from the passage of vessels.
Anyone who could master the topography of the area, would clinch the authority over the waters of Seto Nakai. Even so, it was easier said than done.
The Oda, now allied with Itsukushima's Sue Harukata, had decided to carry out their assault from both the Eastern and Western sides, attacking Noshima from both flanks.
"It's about time we unleash our true power, Kuki."
Nobunaga leaned against the back of his chair, a bloodthirsty smile appeared on his mouth. Ranmaru called out 'Nobunaga-sama'.
"According to our spy intelligence, the navy solders that were summoned by the Mouri were not only recruited from Kure."
"So I heard. They're the soldiers who died in the Pacific War."
Little by little, Nobunaga revealed a grin.
"The masses of society are about to be alerted as a result of these disturbances. I heard that they intended to lure the souls of the navy soldiers that didn't completely cross to the other world onto the 'Yamato'. There are also the souls of those who went in search of their companions but were tempted by death instead."
"Was it really the Mouri who summoned their assembly as well?"
"It seems like it. Lately, the 'Yamato' has been hanging around this region floundering all over the place haphazardly, obviously beckoning the onryou to join them. I heard that the Mouri had announced to all those onryou who couldn't reach Buddhahood: 'Souls of the Navy soldiers, if you board the Yamato you shall be able to proceed to Faramita', or something like that."
The 'Yamato' was really a ship that welcomed them to journey to the Pure Land of the West...
But a considerable number of the souls of those who died had the moment of their deaths deeply planted within their memories.
Among the souls who 'died for their country', those that had served on the 'Yamato' had found a different meaning. The beaming unit of the flagship's fleet, the lofty unsinkable battleship of the Empire of Japan... Since an unknown period of time, this name grew more radiant in the hearts of the dead as the days passed by, taking this country which should not have lost the war... taking the history of this defeat that should not have occurred and transformed it into a completely subversive power.
"But however many people he involves, or tempts with death, it doesn't matter to us. Only,"
Nobunaga said, the expression in his eyes had turned sharp.
"I heard that the Mouri are planning to use the onryou concentrated at Kure as armor for the 'Yamato'? With regards to that matter, perhaps the greater their numbers the better for them, and we can't just sit here and ignore this."
"Does My Lord mean that the 'Yamato' must be prevented from entering Kure?"
"I'll leave that operation to you, Kuki. Don't let those onryou of Kure board the 'Yamato'."
A dangerous smile appeared on Nobunaga's face. That was one of Nobunaga's distinctive features, the fiendish and merciless smile.
"If those onryou of Kure wish to fight, then let them become soldiers of the Oda instead. Regardless of the era, no soldier can't escape that sort of fate. Let me rescue them. Let them serve me, the 6th Demon King. Ran."
"Yes."
"Tomorrow morning, gather the troops at Senjokaku. Although the shrine that Hideyoshi built had a good start but a lousy ending, and is unpleasantly disordered, it's still good enough to serve as a military resting place. I want to hold a discussion with the armed forces there."
"Understood!"
"I really can't wait. I really want to try out this Narita Yuzuru's powers as soon as possible."
Nobunaga looked like a dictator, resting both his elbows on the arm rests and leaning against the back of his chair.
"The 6th Demon King combined with Miroku Bodhisattva's powers. This time, I want everyone in this world to know me well."
* * *
The darkness transmitted a huge wave of sounds.
Takaya stood in the darkness listening to the imaginary noises.
The din seemed to come from the middle of the great waves. No, was it the wave itself? His exhausted heart could no longer distinguish between the tones. It was calling to him.
Whose voice...
Smoothly and steadily, like the sound of the waves in his homeland lodged in his memories.
Who...
Like the rippling sound of the waves oscillating back and forth unceasingly. It gave him peace and also communicated with him.
It resembled his father's voice.
Seeping into his wound... The deep flow that was severed, mangled, torn to pieces, turning into an utter decrepitude inside his body... It felt like being tenderly cared for by a parent.
Hearing that sound, caused one to suffer to the point of... discomfort.
The discomfort finally transformed into true pain.
What exactly was this ache?
Even his fingertips were sore, unable to move. So much that he could not even open his eyes. His wound tingled. Like sulphuric acid. Eroding his torso. A scar that permeated his entire body. An unremitting agony. Expanding without any consideration. He felt almost numb.
He stretched out his fingers wanting to eliminate the pain, there was a gentle face that awaited.
Like the tenderness of the seas... Like the intense great waves...
--Takaya-san...
Like medicine to cure the wound. Echoing as it poured out onto the ground.
--Kagetora-sama...
The fingers that touched his cheeks, his strong fingers that gripped tightly. The hands that grabbed his body firmly transmitted his body temperature. As if telling him 'I am right here'.
Are you really here?
--I am right here.
A soft tender song that entranced him.
--It's alright.... Don't be afraid.
His name was called. Over and over again.
--I won't leave you all by yourself.
Yes.
I won't forget your promise.
You have sworn to me that you will not die.
You said that... you will not die.
Hoping for you to surround me.
With your love.
Hoping that your murmurings are all but a dream. Comforting me, this was only a temporary illusion. Then embrace me deeply.
Holding this cold, frozen physical body...
--I will always stay here.
This place was probably a warm room... A white bed in the quiet dead of the night. Beside me, on the pillow, you were saying:
After tonight I will never leave you again.
I won't let you be lonely.
When you have awakened from your dreams, I won't let you be lonely and helpless. I won't let you regain your consciousness only to find solitude.
Be it a stormy night, or a cold night.
Until dawn...
His tears flowed out.
The sound of the great waves rapidly grew louder as it approached.
The flap of the waves became fierce, raging and shattering as it went.
A man's fingers wiped away the tears that flowed out.
"Saburou-dono."
"..."
Called in this way, Takaya opened his eyes.
The first thing that appeared in his field of vision, was the black darkness of the night sky.
From then onwards, how long had passed?
Takaya found it difficult to recover his consciousness.
He was held by Kotarou. Takaya had opened his eyes while nestled within Kotarou's bosom, and was at a loss for a while.
Right beside him, was the shattering sounds of the waves.
"Do you recognize me? Saburou-dono."
At first, Takaya appeared to be unclear about everything. The clouded eyes looked at Kotarou's face for a moment, he finally moved his lips after a long time.
"-Ko...ta..."
A wee voice like the buzz of a mosquito.
Even so, Kotarou's anxious face immediately displayed an expression of relief.
"You still recognize me, Saburou-dono."
"This... place..."
Only his eyes looked about, Takaya asked in his muddled predicament. Kotarou answered.
"This place not far off north from Hagi. The region is called Susa. How do you feel? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"
"..."
Takaya's body was resting on a flat vast outdoors. This place was a cliff, occasionally a spray of water came from the white foam of the waves that crashed against the rocks. He could not see any stars in the night sky, they were concealed by the dense clouds, bringing about a gray darkness.
The coasts of this region had a strip of what one called the hornfel fault, its location made inaccessible by a break in the cliff. Kotarou and Takaya were now in a place known as the Senjojiki Rock Tableland.
Takaya covered his face with his hands, and slowly started to think back. He wanted to ask Kotarou why he [Takaya] was here, but did not understand why his words came out soundlessly from his mouth.
"Ah..., ah....ah?"
He could not make any sound. Takaya anxiously opened his mouth, gesturing to Kotaro to help him.
"...voice..."
Kotarou looked at Takaya.
"You cannot speak? Saburou-dono. You have lost your voice?"
"Ah...ah..."
Even though he could form sounds, he could not articulate any words. No matter how hard he tried it was useless. Apparently, due to the violent and excessive outpour of his spiritual strength, his communicative ability was now impeded.
"Ah...hi..."
"Please stay calm. Don't be anxious, use your fingers."
Kotarou placed Takaya's fingers on his hand, gesturing to him to write out on his hand. Takaya managed with difficulty to trace a few words.
What, happened?
Takaya asked him.
"We fled from the large fires of Hagi city. You could not control your 'power', before I was nearly engulfed by the flames triggered within you, I saved you and brought you here."
Takaya trembled, widening his eyes.
Saved... me?
Takaya faced Kotarou uneasily. His pair of eyes resembled those of a small rabbit in great fear, causing one's heart to ache.
Kotarou restored his consistently expressionless face.
"Hagi city is lost. Mouri Terumoto's body is dead. Kikkawa Motoharu and the retainers of the Mouri clan have used the 'Yamato' to escape. I believe they are proceeding directly to Itsukushima."
"..."
"Naoe Nobutsuna is dead."
Kotarou uttered without any emotion.
"The bullet pierced straight through his heart. I believe you were at the scene of his death. I have cremated his remains."
"..."
Takaya stared at him wide-eyed. Not blinking even once. He pursed his lips together.
His expression had completely deadened.
Kotarou watched Takaya's change in manner attentively.
"Please... you must pull yourself together."
"..."
"Saburou-dono."
Forcefully moving away, plasma emitted from Takaya's fingers, his hand slid out of Kotarou's. Like an empty shell. The focus in his eyes grew murky and he could no longer see anything.
"I understand your feelings."
Kotarou uttered with a cold formality.
"But, hereafter there are still many tasks that you need to accomplish. If you still hold the status of a general, then please pull yourself together. Endure the death of your subordinate and continue to fight, this should be the way of a liege. As long as you are Uesugi Kagetora in this day, it is vital for you to handle the numerous issues that require your implementation. For example, the Oda."
"...!"
"Do you not want to recover Uesugi Kagekatsu from Oda Nobunaga's hands?"
In the depths of Takaya's eyes, Kotarou truly saw the radiant will even though it was only for a tiny flash of an instance.
"Isn't this the mission you accepted from Kenshin? So that Kagekatsu-kou, who was also an adopted son, would not feel resentful from having been used. For the sake of this mission, you underwent possession up until this very body. We have understood everything."
Then Kotarou, with an honest expression, stressed with words full of confidence.
"Uesugi Kagekatsu is the Miroku Bodhisattva."
Takaya shut his eyes. In manner of having given up hope, his head drooped with his eyes closed.
"Narita Yuzuru is the manifestation of the Miroku Bodhisattva. He is destined to be the future Buddha, recipient of one of the highest abodes in heaven. Your mission is to personally guard his astonishing power from malice is it not? Aren't you supposed to protect his soul, which is going to rescue the future, from the clutches of the devil?"
"..."
"Please lift your head, Saburou-dono."
Takaya hesitated, he continued to turn his face away.
Kotarou once again voiced out strictly.
"...lift your head and look at me, Saburou-..."
The words that came from his mouth, were no longer Kotarou's. Takaya stared in amazement, someone had borrowed Kotarou's body and began to speak.
"There are people waiting for you."
Takaya expelled his breath.
"Can you walk? Saburou..."
His eyes opened widely, Takaya's lips quivered. Takaya knew the person who was talking. He was thinking 'how can it be'. But apart from this, he could not find any other explanation.
Father...
Kotarou nodded, looking startled and wanting to move closer to Takaya to support him, he stretched his fingers in the direction of the sea. Takaya gazed in that direction and could not help but gasp.
Above the great flapping waves, in the dark night sky...
Was a large dragon.
The dragon was swaying slightly, the trunk of its body twinkling with a silver luminosity, with both its perfectly straight emerald eyes gazing at Takaya.
This was, without a doubt, Ujiyasu. In the mist over Chuzenji Lake, his father Ujiyasu, who in possessing this body had the beautiful appearance of a dragon god, was looking at him.
The dragon regarded Takaya with a peaceful expression.
[I wish to take you back, Saburou...]
Ujiyasu said.
At this moment, Takaya, who previously could not articulate, spoke for the very first time.
"Father..."
The shattering great waves turned into a spray that flew high across his eyes, momentarily obscuring the situation in front of him. The spray became a mist that the wind brushed away, descending on Takaya's body.
[I must take you back to the people who need you by their sides.]
Takaya painfully squinted. He pressed his lips together, then opposed by closing his eyes.
[What is the matter, Saburou...]
The voice was like one that came from the body of the sea.
[Stand up.]
Takaya knew that his eyes had suddenly grown moist. It was like a father encouraging his youngest child. Takaya had no way of enduring and turned his face away. He wrinkled his eyebrow, drooped his head, once he closed his eyes tears easily slid down his cheeks.
[Stand up.]
But Takaya shook his head. He desperately shook his head continuously. As if saying 'No'.
[...Saburou.]
"Why..."
Takaya continued to shake his head, his entire body writhing as he shouted out.
"Why...!"
Ujiyasu replied in a strict tone of voice.
[There are people who need you.]
Takaya's two hands, quivered at length. Why was it that having reached this stage there were still people who needed him? He could not stand anymore. But why was it that he had to stand? Takaya could not understand.
[Stand up, Saburou.]
His father's voice carried into his ears.
Takaya refused. He shook his head intensely, and groaned.
"...Let me... die..."
Tears slid down his face.
"Please... let me die..."
Ujiyasu did not answer.
Takaya's four limbs that pressed against the ground suddenly lost their strength. He could not bear it and curled up.
--Don't be afraid...
He heard Naoe's voice.
--It's alright. Don't be afraid.
Naoe...
Takaya desperately listened to the voice of Naoe that he heard from within him.
Return to my side...
--I am by your side.
Gently caress me...
--It's alright...
You're not here!
Takaya cried out, desperately groping in the void. Struggling with a grief-stricken spirit he sought for his feeling in the darkness. Like a blind kitten.
--Don't be afraid.
Takaya replayed that moment when he heard the deep low voice over and over again. It was not that he wanted to repeat it. He only yearned to hear his voice.
Naoe...!
--I love you.
Hold me...
I want your voice. I want your body.
Closing his eyes as he cried, clenching his teeth.
--Yes. Until dawn.
Embrace me tightly!
--I will always be here.
Your taste, your touch,
Your body...
I want to die.
I want to just die like this.
Let me die...!
--You can't die.
Let me die, Naoe.
--You must not die.
Even if I can no longer breathe...!
--Because I love you.
Take me with you. Take me together with you.
A mad scream from the depths of his soul.
If you really love me...!
I want you.
I don't want anything else. Other than you, there's nothing else that I want. Other than you, there's no other valuable object that exists in this world. Whatever moment in the endless passage of eras, what I need is just you alone. Even though I know that I've obtained you, I must deepen my claim over you.
I will die if I lose you. I will die if you disappear. I will die if you abandon me. I have believed this all along. Yes. Now I can no longer carry on living. I am dependent on you like this. Deeply dependent on you like this.
I can't breathe if I don't have you to rely on. So excessively profoundly reliant on you, that I can't stand on my own. So excessively in need of you, that I'm frightened to the extreme. So afraid and terrified to the extreme that I'm clutching you tightly. Continuously seeking for you.
Hold me.
Hoping for you to desire me. It doesn't matter if you violate me. Violate me, abuse me until I die yet still desire me, even if it becomes dreary you must embrace me endlessly. Give me an embrace with only suffering. Pierce me continuously until my entire body is covered in blood, never leave me even if I become comatose, repeating this several dozen several hundred times over continuously, profoundly fiercely, I want your burning flesh!
Nearly dead... Even in death... Until death... Because of death..., I want to die... let me die!
Takaya, close to madness, hissed in perpetuity, his gestures and speech ever-changing.
Already... on the verge of death!
--Going mad like this...
It's becoming unbearable...
The great waves billowed, the white spray erupted wildly across the inaccessible precipice.
The darkness of the sea was like a fiendish object that howled madly.
Slowly.
Takaya stood up like a doll. Like the blaze of a sun, shaking as he stood up, he quietly straightened his back, opening his eyes that were heavy with dried tears.
Kotarou was astonished. He honestly did not expect that Takaya would be able to stand up on his own.
But Ujiyasu had noticed.
At the moment the last teardrop had been shed, the heavy door to his soul had calmly reversed its hurtful collapse.
Like a body that recovered from its extreme frailty.
Takaya closed his eyes like a tired child, accepting everything and faced the sky.
Takaya no longer resisted anyone, or anything.
As though he had abandoned this instrument of an empty physical body. Takaya said.
...Take me there.
Ujiyasu calmly gazed at his own child.
Perhaps, it had to be this way...
If he did not entrust his body to a certain person,
He would just die like that.
The flapping sound of the waves was endless.
Anticipating the arrival of a fiery tempest, the Sea of Japan surged in a violent frenzy.
The drops of water showered down from the spray. Kotarou approached him closely from behind.
"Ujiyasu-sama wishes that you ride on his back."
Kotarou said.
"Ujiyasu-sama will take you to the place you need to go to. Once you arrive at your destination, you must complete the tasks that you have been assigned."
"..."
"Let's go. Saburou-dono."
The spray from the great waves covered the area.
Takaya's eyes were like lead weights. As though he was controlled by an unseen object, he slowly walked towards Ujiyasu.
All that his ears could hear, was his voice which became a distant illusory sound that echoed over and over again.
--I will stay here.
Until the time you awaken...
--I will always stay by your side.
The large dragon was waiting for him.
The white spray spurted intensely across the precipice.
***
- a new day
- drove speedily all through the night from Akiyoshidai, Ayako and Tomo have reached Miya-jima
- they wait for their contact's ship to sail in, to reach Miya-jima; it gets windy
- Ayako mutters while trying to restrain her hair from being blown about by the sea winds
- notes the astonishing spiritual atmosphere of the beautiful mountains
- not deserving to be Oda and Sue's base of operations
- Miya-jima actually out of bounds but some can enter with license; but entering Itsukushima jinja is completely prohibited
- Ayako wanted Tomo to hide herself since they were like sneaking into enemy territory
- Tomo nods; she had come a few days ago to investigate the circumstances so she's familiar with the area (she actually came to see her sister)
- Isari now lived with Amako as a dependent, they wonder if it'll be alright should they bump into her
- Tomo is confident that Shikanosuke will help if she entreated and showed the manju in her possession; Isari will just stand by silently
- Ayako surveys the archway of Itsukushima jinja, knows that place to be Oda's base of operations
- Nobunaga could easily wreck havoc if he wanted to with this situation at hand, afraid that he might not abandon Yuzuru's body, he would not give it up
- they see a villa on the beach; the kanju should be there
***
- Amako's lodging was situated to the east of Itsukushima shrine, on a plateau
- heading up the steep slope was a single road that led to the door of the villa; Ayako noticed a different sensation once they arrived; nobody was home?
- it could not be there was no one home in this urgent situation but then there wasn't a hint of breath of person within
- Ayako wonders if they shifted but Tomo thinks the situation a bit strange; they kick down the door
- a few men collapsed over; there were people lying all over inside the room, they must be Amako's subordinates, were they attacked by outsiders? but no external wounds could be seen, they looked more like they'd been hypnotized to sleep
- they wonder who did this; in the courtyard the doors to the Inari shrine were wide open, there were many footprints on the on the vermilion-colored floor of the ancestral temple
- Ayako also found many pebbles dispersed on the floor that emitted a dark radiance; she had seen this somewhere before... the same sort of pebbles enclosing some shrine, but this was placed here by someone intentionally, a kekkai...a kekkai that absorbs one's powers (kyuuryoku kekkai)!
- Ayako shoves Tomo behind her and concentrates her powers in her hands in circular pattern then expands it
- she blasts at the kekkai, there is an intense sound and plasma is given off, then the protective shield shatters like glass, the pebbles on the floor give off sparks and burn into smoke and ash, the 'energy-absorbing kekkai' is smashed, Ayako carefully conducts a spiritual examination
- after checking everywhere, she touches the white fox idol, they can now move in
- they pull on the figurine, the Sue system was like a hand, they could only enter after this, the scented treasure box started to slide, revealing an entrance with a ladder that descended down; they head down
- they find Isari and Satsuki beside the altar and rush towards them
- Satsuki is the first to wake, she doesn't recognize Ayako at first but the latter reminds her of their meeting at a restaurant in Hiroshima with Takaya; Satsuki then sees Tomo and heads over and hugs her, calling out Narumi, and starts crying; Tomo is a bit shocked and doesn't really know what to do
- Satsuki is Narumi's good friend, the former had been worried about Narumi, Ayako explains; Tomo tells Satsuki that Narumi is well and right here, Satsuki is confused; Ayako explains that Narumi had allowed 'Youkihi' to temporarily use her body
- Isari regains consciousness sees her sister; Isari pushes Tomo away, wants to kill her, burn her face back and attacks Tomo
- Satsuki shields Narumi's body from Isari's attack; Isari is stunned
- Isari notices Ayako, finds out that she is one of the Uesugi yashashu and demands to know why are both of them here
- Ayako tells her to calm down and recall what happened there; only Mori Ranmaru was capable of setting up that sort of kekkai
- Isari remembers with a sudden outburst of emotion, scaring Satsuki, Isari feels a bit sorry for her behavior
- the kanju had been taken by the Oda, Satsuki had been hypnotized, Isari blames herself for being careless
- Satsuki panics, Isari, very hot-headedly, reprimands her and wants to storm Itsukushima shrine to recover the jewel
- Tomo tells her not to overestimate her (Isari) own strength; she was not going to get very far by just attacking Oda's base by herself; if the kanju and manju fell into Oda's hands, it won't be just a problem for the Mouri and Amako but Japan would be in peril, in fact any place with a sea can be controlled by Oda
- Ayako only then realizes the true frightening potential of the jewels
- the jewels can actually control any liquid; not just the seawaters but even bodily fluids; by controlling the tides and ebbing of the sea, it could turn land into sea or vice versa, as long as the controller had the intention, he could even submerge the entire land, no naval fleet would be able to stand against him
- Tomo reprimands her sister for impulsively making use of the kanju for war, if she didn't the jewel wouldn't have fallen into Nobunaga's hands
- Isari yells back that she has no reason to listen to her (Tomo's) advice; she had once said that the next time she sees Tomo, she will kill her sister; she then asks Ayako about their promise, that Ayako will kill her once she had gotten hold of the manju
- Ayako states that circumstances have changed, she can't just kill Tomo now; Tomo once again silences Isari by telling her that she's free to kill her once this matter is over but not now, they needed to retrieve the kanju
- Ayako is not very optimistic about the situation (needing to recover the kanju); Satsuki is feeling dejected since she feels that everything is her fault for simply interfering, asks Narumi if she's angry, feels that she's now responsible for getting back the kanju
- Satsuki makes her way out but suddenly Narumi appears again and they hug and apologize to each other
- then Satsuki's expression abruptly changes to a cold look; she pulls Narumi's body over and mercilessly punches her in the abdomen; Narumi falls to the ground in pain and passes out
- after Narumi had run out after Satsuki, Isari learns that Tomo has brought the kanju to Itsukushima; Ayako requests that she lend her assistance but then Isari suddenly rushes towards the ladder
- when both of them reach the surface, it's already too late; Narumi fallen, Satsuki is nowhere to be seen
- Satsuki, with a group of Oda's subordinates, has taken the manju; Ayako and Isari attack and try to give chase
- but landmines start exploding underneath; entire ancestral temple explodes before being completely demolished; they establish a Goshinha to endure it
- Ayako is slightly at a loss, Isari wants to attack Oda's base at Isukushima immediately but Ayako says that it's too rash an action
- Tomo seeks the advice of Youkihi; there's only one way left and that is to head to Mount. Misen (at that time, Tomo had also mentioned this to Takaya and the rest)
- at first, Takaya and the rest were wondering if Narumi's body was at Mount. Misen; Isari also suspected if the 'manju' was hidden at Mount. Misen; but these were not the answers - what sort of meaning was hidden in the words 'Head to Mount. Misen'?
- Tomo requests for Ayako's assistance to exorcise any of Oda's subordinates at Misen
- the new plan is to drive the Oda out of Misen then destroy the kanju and manju before the Oda can make use of it for evil purposes; the three of them set out, Isari still intent on killing Tomo
Original fiction © Kuwabara Mizuna.
