From Chinese translations by Hinako.
Draft: Version 1 - final
Notes: biseki 尾石
PS: do not distribute this without my permission
It took them an hour to reach Aso by car. Miike Tetsuya was seated in the front passenger seat as Chiaki Shuuhei drove down the National Highway 57 towards Tetsuya's hometown of Aso.
The topography of Aso was rather interesting. There were seven towns and villages situated within the rim of the volcanic crater, which measured 128km in circumference. Right in the middle of this caldera stood a group of towering volcanic mounts that formed what was known as the Aso-gogaku. Many people had the misconception that the name Aso referred to these famous mountains, but in truth, the entire area including the outer rim of the crater was known as Mt. Aso. In the past, there used to be a cluster of active volcanoes named Mt. Aso. But a massive volcanic eruption, which emitted 400 tons of lava, resulted in a vacuous subterranean that caused the cone of the volcanic mountain to collapse, transforming into what was now known as the Aso volcanic crater.
The volcanic rim encircling the caldera had only one opening called the Tateno barranco. Both the National Highway 57 and the JR bus line passed through the Tateno valley as a point of entry.
Tetsuya was uncommunicative throughout the entire journey. News of the incident at the Katou shrine was now being broadcast on the radio. Although Chiaki was worried about Takaya's condition, the only thing he could do at the moment was to settle the current matter to the best of his ability. Chiaki stepped on the accelerator.
He turned left at the intersection in front of the JR Houhi line's Aso station, entering a narrow lane that led to a village. They had reached Yakuinbaru, Tetsuya's hometown. Not long after passing through several fields of crops via that street, they saw the residence of Tetsuya's granduncle, Miike Tatsuya.
Once the vehicle stopped in the narrow courtyard, the family dog began to bark ferociously. The rain shield on the windows were already closed, it was dark. However on hearing the sound of the car, someone came out of the front door.
"What's wrong, Tetsuya!"
His granduncle was very surprised at Tetsuya's abrupt return. Usually, Tetsuya would not even call unless there was trouble yet here he was back at his old residence so unexpectedly that the elderly couple was shocked.
"Did something happen! Tetsuya! Without even informing us, you..."
Tetsuya got out of the car with a disgusted look on his face.
"That is...?"
"A teacher from school."
Tetsuya coldly replied. His granduncle, assuming that Tetsuya had stirred up another disaster at school, lowered his head before Chiaki all of sudden.
"O-Oh, sensei. I'm sorry you had to take the trouble to travel all this distance at such an hour. Please, come in. Tetsuya! What have you done this time...!"
"You got it wrong, Granduncle. It's not what you think it is."
Tetsuya had a frightening look on his face.
"There's something I must know."
"Something you must know?"
"Where is Hokage?"
Chiaki and Tetsuya saw the abrupt change in his granduncle's facial expression.
"You know this, right? Granduncle. Where is Hokage now? If you know, then tell me. Where's Hokage!"
"Tetsuya...!"
"A person's life is at stake here! Granduncle, tell me! Where's Hokage? Where is she now!"
"A person's life is at stake?"
His granduncle looked at Chiaki uneasily. Chiaki nodded.
"He speaks the truth. This is urgent. If you know anything, please tell me. Where is Hokage now?"
"...This..." His granduncle shook his head in confusion. "I don't know."
"What?"
"We don't know anything. We really don't know anything. Even if we knew, as hafuri, we are not allowed to reveal information to anyone."
Tetsuya was wide-eyed like a terrier.
"The members of the head family know, right?"
"Tetsuya!"
"I get it! I just have to go and ask Uncle then! I'm going to ask him! Sensei, let's go!"
"Wait a minute, Tetsuya!"
Tetsuya forcefully grabbed Chiaki's arm, ignoring his granduncle's attempt to stop him and got into the car. They drove out the gate, leaving his granduncle who was still crying out. Tetsuya, seated in the front passenger seat, could not stop biting his fingernails in an irritated manner.
"You saw that right, sensei. Just like that. The members of the branch family are like retainers of the head family or something, yet so secretive about it. It's such a disgusting family."
"What's... a hafuri?"
"It's the entire clan of the family. That's what the Miike family calls it."
"..."
"Hafuri of the Miike family must devote themselves, heart and soul, to the head family. The head family is like the master. If the master says 'do not speak of it', they will bite their tongues and not dare utter a word. That's the sort of family they are."
This is really strange...
The customs associated with this practice of having head and branch families differed with territory, some of which were still firmly rooted in existence. However, this Miike family seemed especially conservative. Perhaps conservative did not accurately describe their ways... Nevermind Asara, this family was a riddle in itself.
The outline of the volcanic rim was clearly illuminated by the moonlight. They passed through the center of the rural district and turned right, coming to a residence surrounded by a long hedge. It was the home of the Miike head family.
Within the wide courtyard was a storehouse and what appeared to be a branch temple. A residence befitting of a head family, especially with its imposing style of construct.
The two of them got out of the car nervously.
***
The servants had invited them in and they had been waiting for quite a while. The house belonged to a very traditional farm family. The entrance was made of clay, there was no veranda, beige wooden doors were used to separate the rooms instead of paper ones and the pan-black coloration of the wooden pillars felt age-old. There were approximately 10 rooms in the house. Considering how old-fashioned the style of the domicile was, this place must have been the residence of the former village chief.
Chiaki and Tetsuya had been taken to a spacious room covering an area of approximately 20 tatami mats. There was only one kerosene heater at one corner of the room. Even so, the air had been piercing cold when they entered. Beside Chiaki, Tetsuya remained nervous. His uncle, Miike Haruya, was the leader of the head family. One would generally wonder why the need to be so nervous over visiting a relative, an uncle, but the Miike family was not ordinary.
"Damn... it..."
Tetsuya was seated in a kneeling position; his fists were trembling slightly on his knees. Despite that, his eyes were bright.
Is he that frightening a person?
The door slid open, a man in kimono entered.
Tetsuya was startled; he straightened his back.
It was his uncle, Miike Haruya. He was around 45 years of age and the complete opposite of what Chiaki expected, leaving him a little surprised. The deep blue kimono, possibly what he usually wore on a daily basis, did not have the slightest fold or crease and the lapels were perfectly straight. No hint of the boorishness of the head of a peasant family. He had an intellectual manner, as well as a distinctive look of dignity, rather befitting of his status as the master of an old family.
This person...
Was going to be a handful. Chiaki groaned in his heart.
"You look like you are doing well, Tetsuya."
Haruya spoke. Tetsuya's eyes still had that glint of defiance as he bowed respectfully.
"...It has been a while."
"You didn't visit during the New Year. And I was told that you haven't been practicing Kagura. How can you let this be? Studying Kagura is one of the duties of a hafuri. I was going to have you dance this year."
"..."
It appeared that despite his obedience, Tetsuya's eyes were full of contempt.
"And this is?"
"A teacher from Kojou High." Chiaki answered the question himself and stated his name. "I'm Chiaki Shuuhei."
"Oh, a teacher."
"Sorry for the intrusion at this hour. Due to a matter that requires immediate counsel..."
"It concerns Hokage, reikami."
Tetsuya addressed his uncle in this way. He went straight to the point.
"Please tell me where Hokage is! Tell me where she is!"
Haruya's eyebrows quivered a little. "What is going on?"
Chiaki gave the letter of threat and bundle of hair to Haruya, who opened the letter and read its contents calmly. Tetsuya's eyes were glued on his uncle.
"It's like this. Somebody sent these items to Tetsuya-kun."
"..."
"The kidnapped girl, Inaba Akemi, is his classmate. She didn't return home and is now missing. Also, there are witnesses who can attest to the fact that she was taken away at the Katou shrine."
"..."
"I also found this at the shrine." Tetsuya took out the keychain. "It's Inaba alright. Inaba has really been kidnapped! If I don't take Hokage there, Inaba'll really be in danger!"
His uncle seemed unfazed. The expression in his eyes grew even sharper, he looked up.
"Have you reported this to the police?"
"No, not yet..."
"I see..." Haruya's reply was very succinct. "I can't agree to this."
Tetsuya glared at him furiously. Haruya looked indifferent and handed the letter back to Chiaki.
"Although I do not know who is responsible for this, there's no need to pay any attention to this sort of practical joke."
"This isn't a practical joke!" Tetsuya yelled in a coarse voice. "Inaba has really been kidnapped! She might even be killed! If Hokage isn't taken there...!"
"How would you know?"
"They know about Asara, this is in no way ordinary. Only the Miike family should know about this, right! The one who kidnapped Inaba must've been the same person who destroyed the Katou shrine! That's right, sensei! Weren't they the same guys who messed up Ougi!"
Chiaki was wide-eyed, surprised by Tetsuya's keen intuition.
"Miike..."
"I don't know who is behind this but it's definitely not a practical joke! If we don't take Hokage there, Inaba will really be killed! She'll be killed, Uncle!"
"...If that's the case, all the more reason not to respond to this."
Tetsuya gasped. Haruya gazed at him with half-open eyes and said in an exceedingly, strict voice.
"If it is as you say, then all the more reason why I can't tell you where Hokage is. Are you are planning to bow to their threat and endanger Asara? There's no way I can agree to this."
"Inaba is also Hokage's friend! Does it not matter if Inaba dies!"
"This has nothing to do with our family."
Tetsuya could not tolerate his cold way of speaking, leaving no room for negotiation. He gnashed his teeth in anger and stared at Haruya fiercely, as though he wanted to impale him. He asked hatefully,
"Is Kihachi-sama more important than a living person?"
"Tetsuya."
"What is with this family! What did you say Hokage was again! Why must you hide Hokage!"
"..."
"Are you planning to marry Hokage off to Kihachi-sama? We're not living in a freaking folklore. Still regarding superstitions as fact, allowing yourselves to be dominated by fear, are you all idiots! Didn't you once set out for the city enthusiastically to modernize yourself!"
Chiaki was silent for the moment, peering at Haruya's reaction. But Haruya did not even raise an eyebrow at Tetsuya's insolence. Chiaki slowly opened his mouth.
"Who hid Hokage?"
"..."
"Don't tell me you people anticipated these events from the very start?"
Haruya twitched, he looked up.
"! That's impossible...!" Tetsuya approached his uncle in shock. "Is that true? Uncle. You know of someone who covets Hokage so..."
"It has nothing to do with you two."
"How can it have nothing to do with us!"
Tetsuya snarled, slapping the tatami mat.
"Hokage is my sister! How can it have nothing to do with me! Who is planning to snipe Hokage and for what reason? Why is there such a thing! What's going on with this family!"
Due to his excessive distress, Tetsuya's voice was choking. Chiaki patted his shoulder, allowing him to calm down. But the head of the Miike family remained composed. Without saying a word, he stuck his hands into the sleeves of his kimono and sat down quietly.
"Miike-san."
"...I can't tell you where Hokage is. This is the reikami's answer. If you understand now, please leave."
Tetsuya looked at his uncle in a paralyzed manner. Haruya nodded formally at Chiaki and stood up. Then he abandoned Tetsuya, who was at a loss, and left the room.
"...Uncle...."
Chiaki immediately stood up, he went after Haruya.
"Please leave." Haruya was extremely cold to Chiaki as well. "There isn't any other matter to discuss, is there?"
"The so-called Princess Asara, what is that exactly?"
"..."
"If we are not clear on this, we can't take any action. What is Kihachi-sama referring to? Does it have something to do with the bonfire deity?"
"I'm not obligated to explain them to you."
"Inaba is my student. I can't just leave things as it is. Please tell me of Hokage's whereabouts."
"This has nothing to do with our family."
"If you intend to stay silent, then so be it. But with this sort of useless struggle, the other party will merely resort to even more despicable methods."
Haruya's shoulders jumped. This was the first time he showed any sign of a reaction. Haruya turned around and looked at Chiaki.
"Do you know who the other party is?"
Chiaki nodded. "This is something where the police won't be of any use. Am I correct?"
"Who are you?"
"How about a deal? Miike-san. You have a secret that you must protect even if it means the death of a person. But the man who wrote that letter is a vile person who will stop at nothing, fair means or foul, to get what he wants. If possible, I'm willing to help you, Miike-san. Let me be responsible for protecting Hokage. Once again, can you please tell me her whereabouts?"
"Foolish words."
"Well this is the last card I have to play."
Haruya stared at Chiaki. Chiaki was calm, with a look that indicated his seriousness, he gazed back at him, continuing in a challenging tone.
"...We will not leave until you promise us this."
***
It had turned into a contest of endurance. Apparently, Haruya had instructed the family members to ignore them and so they did not bother them at all. The two of them just sat in the wide, quiet room in this way. The heater was taken way. As night approached, the temperature in the room dropped to an extremely low degree. Despite wearing coats, it was so cold that they were shivering. But Tetsuya's fists were not trembling because of the cold.
"This family..." Tetsuya groaned quietly, over and over again. "I must sever all ties with this sort of family..."
"Miike."
"I must find my own independence immediately... break off all ties with them as soon as possible."
The people of this family had been rather indifferent to Tetsuya ever since they arrived. And it seemed as though the reason for this was not limited to the fact that Tetsuya was a member of the branch family...
Guess that's the way with rural areas.
Chiaki found it intolerable. Was it because the parental system of the feudal era was still so deeply entrenched in this day and age?
Chiaki had long severed all communication with his family and relatives, but for someone like Tetsuya, a relationship as tedious as this was probably frustrating to an unbearable degree. He had watched Irobe and the rest live through a similar system for the past 400 years, and he was always bewildered and in admiration of their ability to endure this sort of cage.
It's probably very restricting.
Chiaki sympathized with Tetsuya. This place was the reason he became a problematic student. He looked at his watch. The pointer was about to reach the number one. Chiaki shifted his thoughts back to the problem at hand.
Can't afford to go easy on them anymore.
They had a 48 hour limit. By midnight of the day after tomorrow, they have to take Hokage there.
Let's wait till morning.
If Haruya was not going to change his mind by the next morning, he would have no choice. Chiaki was going to use his cheat card.
I'll use hypnosis to make him confess.
Morning had come and Tetsuya was fast asleep on the floor, possibly due to exhaustion. Chiaki could hear the birds chirping, but the surroundings were still shrouded in darkness. The clock showed 5:30.
"?"
Right at this moment, there was movement from one of the inner rooms, someone had gone outside. It sounded like someone had walked out the main entrance. Chiaki stood up and followed it. Just as he had expected, it was Haruya.
Haruya had gone out alone, proceeding to the path beside the paddy field.
Where is he going?
He was holding what seemed to be a rope made by twisting many strands of straw together. He smelt something burning and realized that there was a weak flame at the end of the rope. The morning sun began to dye the eastern horizon red. Although it was extremely cold, the air was particularly fresh, and only the vigorous chorus of the chirping birds could be heard everywhere. On the other side of the paddy field that stretched into the distant, stood the majestic Aso-gogaku in a horizontal arrangement.
Haruya walked along the path not far from the center of the village, coming to a shrine. It was a small shrine, which looked more like an ancestral hall, situated far beyond the torii.
Shimomiya. That was written on the torii.
Haruya came to the front of the shrine, took the burning straw rope in his hand, faced the shrine and performed the formalities of worship.
"..."
Chiaki watched him quietly. Haruya calmly straightened his back. Without turning around, he spoke.
"As the head of the Miike family, I have to come here every morning to pray."
Haruya had not turned back once, but apparently he knew that Chiaki had been following him. Chiaki nodded.
"That fire on the straw rope..?"
"The fire lighted during the Hi-taki no Shinji." Haruya replied, turning to face Chiaki. "On the day of the Yado, the Miike family will receive this fire and use it as a goshinka in the kamidana of the household for the rest of the year. In our daily worship, we have to bring this fire along in our prayer."
"Is this Shimomiya? The shrine where you perform the Hi-taki no Shinji for the deity. It's much smaller than I expected."
"The bonfire hall is on the other side of the road. The chosen bonfire maiden will be enclosed there for 60 days, keeping the fire alive for the God of Frost."
Chiaki replied, "I see."
He stuck his hands in his pockets and walked up.
"That's one strange practice. Speaking of the grand shrine in this region, Aso shrine, is it in any way related to the 'God of Frost'?"
"They are more than just related," Haruya smiled for the first time. "If not for the Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto, this shrine would not even exist. Because Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto himself constructed this shrine."
"What?"
"Another name for Shimomiya is Shimo Palace. The significance of the Hi-taki no Shinji is to prevent the enshrined deity from feeling cold and to prevent the frost from blighting the crops on the earth, thus we warm Him by kindling a fire, but..."
Haruya explained, the smile on his lips disappeared.
"The true objective of this festival is to protect the rice harvest from the evil doings of onryou."
Chiaki frowned. "Evil doings of onryou...?"
"Correct. The deity enshrined in the Shimomiya is actually the onryou, Kihachi, who was beheaded by Aso shrine's Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto."
Haruya calmly began to unravel information.
Kihachi was also known as 'Kihachi boushi'.
He was a man of honor and courage in the ancient times, as well as a retainer to Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto. Legend has it that Kihachi possessed astonishing strength and force. He followed Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto, famed for being the best in Japanese archery, and was responsible for retrieving arrows. Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto always stood on one of the volcanic cones of Oujoudake in the center of Aso, faced the 'matoishi' situated at the biseki of the area and fired arrows. Occasionally, the arrows would go off-course and the swift Kihachi would retrieve it. On one occasion, he had run to and fro ninety-nine times, and by the hundredth time he was exhausted and kicked that last arrow back to Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto.
This angered Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto. As Kihachi had rashly mishandled Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto's precious equipment, the latter flew into an uncontrollable rage (ridiculous as it may be). Kihachi then fled with Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto on his heels. After Kihachi's fierce show of resistance, Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto eventually chopped his head off. However, no matter how many times Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto had him decapitated, Kihachi's head reattached itself to the body. Therefore, Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto had to chop his body into pieces before Kihachi finally died. Kihachi's decapitated head then flew to a high altitude.
Henceforth, Kihachi's head in the sky became an onryou who hated Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto, blighted the crops with frost and caused them to wither. The people could not survive with the loss of their crops, thus to resolve this complication, Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto built a shrine in the center of Aso-dani to appease Kihachi's spirit, and entreated Kihachi to descend to earth. Kihachi's spirit had descended and was enshrined as Shimomiya, and from then on, no longer damaged the crops with frost. --This was the origin of the Shimo shrine.
The Hi-taki no Shinji served to prevent Kihachi's head from freezing (and feeling pain) due to the cold, which would spark mischief, hence the need to warm him.
"Kihachi... Is that the Kihachi-sama you guys have been talking about?"
In the cold air, which was freezing his cheeks, Chiaki's breath came out in white puffs.
"But that doesn't really explain anything. So where does your family stand in this matter? You people look more than just shrine parishioners."
"..."
Haruya did not answer that question. Chiaki pondered for a moment.
"Tetsuya said that you people come from the Asara lineage. Who is this Princess Asara?"
"Princess Asara was originally the wife of Kihachi."
"Wife?"
"Yes."
Haruya said, lightly nudging the coals in front of the straw.
"You have probably heard of a place in Aso known as Takachiho. It's famous because that was where the grandchild of Amaterasu descended from the heavens. In the legend associated with that place, Kihachi was an evil bandit."
"..."
"Princess Asara was forcefully taken as a wife by that evil bandit and passed her days in a living death. But one day, a great person called Mikenu no Mikoto appeared before Princess Asara, who had been weeping since dawn."
"Mikenu no Mikoto..."
"Yes. He's the brother of Jinmu Tennou and the main enshrined deity of the Takachiho shrine. In order to help Princess Asara, Mikenu no Mikoto decided to banish Kihachi."
But Kihachi was not so easily dealt with. No matter how many times he was beheaded, he resurrected himself. Mikenu no Mikoto thus defeated Kihachi together with a skilled fighter named Tanabe Shigetaka. They chopped his body into pieces and buried them underground, so that he could not recover. It was said that the burial mounds with the parts of Kihachi's body could be found in many places in Takachiho. The sword Mikenu no Mikoto had used to kill Kihachi was known as 'Onikirimaru', the treasure of the Takachiho shrine.
Mikenu no Mikoto then married Princess Asara and lived in happiness to the end of their days.
"Asara lineage... Do you mean to say that you are the descendants of Princess Asara?"
"They say that our ancestors were the children of Princess Asara and Mikenu no Mikoto..."
"...!" Chiaki stared at him. "Wh..at...!"
"You wish to say that it's impossible right?"
"..."
Haruya continued in a calm manner.
"In order to fulfill a 'certain wish' of Princess Asara, our lineage has continued for several hundreds of years in this way. I am the head of the 98th generation. Our history can even compare with the generations of priests of the Aso shrine and the Aso family. ...The Miike family is also known as the 'inner Aso family'."
Haruya slowly folded his arms, calmly gazing at the horizontal stretch of the Aso-gogaku in the southern direction.
"Inner... Aso family...?"
"Yes. Miike refers to 'Miike' [Note: Same pronunciation, different kanji]. A reference to the crater of Nakadake."
Haruya said, pointing at the white smoke that could be seen in sparse amounts near the center of the gogaku.
"Mingling with the clouds and mist blurs its appearance, but you can still see that it's there, right? Nakadake, still volcanically active to this day. In the past, that crater was regarded as a spiritual lake or 'Miike'. The crater looked like a pond as it accumulated rainwater, and was thus named as such. That's where the name of the Miike family originated from."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The Miike family has the obligation of guarding the crater from the Aso shrine. ...In other words, the guardians who observe the activity of Nakadake."
Haruya asked Chiaki, "Do you know why?" Chiaki shook his head, Haruya lowered his head a little and explained.
"Because there is a longstanding belief that Asara's offspring will oversee the eruptions of Nakadake."
"..." Chiaki was silent for a while. "Why..."
"Kihachi's grudge is the cause of Nakadake's eruptions. Because Asara used to be 'Kihachi's wife'."
With this Haruya closed his mouth. He said that Asara was Kihachi's wife. But weren't the ancestors of the Miike family the children of Asara and Mikenu no Mikoto?
So what's going on here...?
He also mentioned that they were here to fulfill a certain wish of Asara's. What was that wish?
--For the sake of Kihachi-sama, the birth of Asara is a must.
The words of Tetsuya's paternal grandmother. Was that somehow related to 'Asara's wish'? The descendants of Mikenu no Mikoto respectfully addressed the evil being that their ancestor had personally eliminated as 'Kihachi-sama'. Chiaki was not convinced that they were merely afraid of onryou mischief.
What's really going on inside the Miike family?
But he did not intend to explain matters any further. Miike Haruya seemed like he was in a prayer, he lowered his head, then looked at Chiaki intently.
"You said you wanted to help us. Said that you would protect Hokage..."
"Yeah..." Chiaki livened up, straightening his back. "And that isn't just idle talk. As long as you help us recover Inaba."
"Please show me the evidence."
Haruya stated and took out a protective talisman. The form of the Great Dipper and a purification shrine was drawn on the talisman. Haruya moved the coals onto the divine talisman, then unexpectedly tossed the burning talisman at Chiaki.
"...!"
Boom!
With that sound, Chiaki's body was instantly engulfed in huge, blue flames. It was not hot at all. In a moment, the flames, together with the talisman, disappeared altogether.
"I see..." Haruya was a little startled. This was the first time he saw someone with the ability to raise such astonishing flames.
"Truly amazing. Looks like you have a considerable amount of spiritual power. Who are you exactly?"
"What was that just now?"
"Flames that are kindled in response to one's spiritual power. The spiritual power that you have serve as the fuel to ignite the flames. Very impressive."
"Of course." Chiaki smiled pridefully, then uttered in a menacing tone. "Whoever the enemy is, I'll be able to protect the young lady of your family. There are very few people on this earth who can put up a fight with this old man."
"You can really protect Hokage, right?" Haruya sought verification with a solemn expression. "No matter who the enemy is, you can really protect her, right?"
His overly earnest expression raised doubts in Chiaki. It was obvious from Haruya's appearance that he knew who the 'enemy' was. Chiaki did not believe the enemy was an onshou. If that was the case...
A third party...?
Between the onshou and the Miike family.
Is he referring to that guy?
The one who told the onshou about Princess Asara and the secret of the Miike family. Could it be that Haruya knew who the culprit was? Chiaki's face relaxed.
In short, for the sake of Inaba, he had to pose as Miike Hokage's bodyguard even if it was just a bluff.
"Don't worry. Protecting girls is my forte, chief."
Chiaki feigned a look of brimming confidence, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Although I'm getting more confused the more I hear about this, I'll first make a deal with you, I promise not to let any harm come to Miike Hokage. ...Please tell me where she is then, Miike-san."
"That is fine, but before that," Miike Haruya said in a low voice. "There's something I must first investigate."
"Something you have to investigate? What is it?"
"I have to go to the Aso shrine." Haruya looked towards the east where the Aso shrine was situated. "This is very important. We have to first verify if the 'Golden Snake Head' is still inside the Aso shrine."
"Golden... Snake Head...?"
"Yes. If it's no longer there, then this situation will need immediate attention."
Miike Haruya appeared somber, he said to Chiaki.
"Please come with me. Chiaki-sensei."
The cold morning wind blew at Chiaki's coat he as focused his strength, staring down in the direction of the Aso shrine.
Original fiction © Kuwabara Mizuna.
Draft: Version 1 - final
Notes: biseki 尾石
PS: do not distribute this without my permission
It took them an hour to reach Aso by car. Miike Tetsuya was seated in the front passenger seat as Chiaki Shuuhei drove down the National Highway 57 towards Tetsuya's hometown of Aso.
The topography of Aso was rather interesting. There were seven towns and villages situated within the rim of the volcanic crater, which measured 128km in circumference. Right in the middle of this caldera stood a group of towering volcanic mounts that formed what was known as the Aso-gogaku. Many people had the misconception that the name Aso referred to these famous mountains, but in truth, the entire area including the outer rim of the crater was known as Mt. Aso. In the past, there used to be a cluster of active volcanoes named Mt. Aso. But a massive volcanic eruption, which emitted 400 tons of lava, resulted in a vacuous subterranean that caused the cone of the volcanic mountain to collapse, transforming into what was now known as the Aso volcanic crater.
The volcanic rim encircling the caldera had only one opening called the Tateno barranco. Both the National Highway 57 and the JR bus line passed through the Tateno valley as a point of entry.
Tetsuya was uncommunicative throughout the entire journey. News of the incident at the Katou shrine was now being broadcast on the radio. Although Chiaki was worried about Takaya's condition, the only thing he could do at the moment was to settle the current matter to the best of his ability. Chiaki stepped on the accelerator.
He turned left at the intersection in front of the JR Houhi line's Aso station, entering a narrow lane that led to a village. They had reached Yakuinbaru, Tetsuya's hometown. Not long after passing through several fields of crops via that street, they saw the residence of Tetsuya's granduncle, Miike Tatsuya.
Once the vehicle stopped in the narrow courtyard, the family dog began to bark ferociously. The rain shield on the windows were already closed, it was dark. However on hearing the sound of the car, someone came out of the front door.
"What's wrong, Tetsuya!"
His granduncle was very surprised at Tetsuya's abrupt return. Usually, Tetsuya would not even call unless there was trouble yet here he was back at his old residence so unexpectedly that the elderly couple was shocked.
"Did something happen! Tetsuya! Without even informing us, you..."
Tetsuya got out of the car with a disgusted look on his face.
"That is...?"
"A teacher from school."
Tetsuya coldly replied. His granduncle, assuming that Tetsuya had stirred up another disaster at school, lowered his head before Chiaki all of sudden.
"O-Oh, sensei. I'm sorry you had to take the trouble to travel all this distance at such an hour. Please, come in. Tetsuya! What have you done this time...!"
"You got it wrong, Granduncle. It's not what you think it is."
Tetsuya had a frightening look on his face.
"There's something I must know."
"Something you must know?"
"Where is Hokage?"
Chiaki and Tetsuya saw the abrupt change in his granduncle's facial expression.
"You know this, right? Granduncle. Where is Hokage now? If you know, then tell me. Where's Hokage!"
"Tetsuya...!"
"A person's life is at stake here! Granduncle, tell me! Where's Hokage? Where is she now!"
"A person's life is at stake?"
His granduncle looked at Chiaki uneasily. Chiaki nodded.
"He speaks the truth. This is urgent. If you know anything, please tell me. Where is Hokage now?"
"...This..." His granduncle shook his head in confusion. "I don't know."
"What?"
"We don't know anything. We really don't know anything. Even if we knew, as hafuri, we are not allowed to reveal information to anyone."
Tetsuya was wide-eyed like a terrier.
"The members of the head family know, right?"
"Tetsuya!"
"I get it! I just have to go and ask Uncle then! I'm going to ask him! Sensei, let's go!"
"Wait a minute, Tetsuya!"
Tetsuya forcefully grabbed Chiaki's arm, ignoring his granduncle's attempt to stop him and got into the car. They drove out the gate, leaving his granduncle who was still crying out. Tetsuya, seated in the front passenger seat, could not stop biting his fingernails in an irritated manner.
"You saw that right, sensei. Just like that. The members of the branch family are like retainers of the head family or something, yet so secretive about it. It's such a disgusting family."
"What's... a hafuri?"
"It's the entire clan of the family. That's what the Miike family calls it."
"..."
"Hafuri of the Miike family must devote themselves, heart and soul, to the head family. The head family is like the master. If the master says 'do not speak of it', they will bite their tongues and not dare utter a word. That's the sort of family they are."
This is really strange...
The customs associated with this practice of having head and branch families differed with territory, some of which were still firmly rooted in existence. However, this Miike family seemed especially conservative. Perhaps conservative did not accurately describe their ways... Nevermind Asara, this family was a riddle in itself.
The outline of the volcanic rim was clearly illuminated by the moonlight. They passed through the center of the rural district and turned right, coming to a residence surrounded by a long hedge. It was the home of the Miike head family.
Within the wide courtyard was a storehouse and what appeared to be a branch temple. A residence befitting of a head family, especially with its imposing style of construct.
The two of them got out of the car nervously.
***
The servants had invited them in and they had been waiting for quite a while. The house belonged to a very traditional farm family. The entrance was made of clay, there was no veranda, beige wooden doors were used to separate the rooms instead of paper ones and the pan-black coloration of the wooden pillars felt age-old. There were approximately 10 rooms in the house. Considering how old-fashioned the style of the domicile was, this place must have been the residence of the former village chief.
Chiaki and Tetsuya had been taken to a spacious room covering an area of approximately 20 tatami mats. There was only one kerosene heater at one corner of the room. Even so, the air had been piercing cold when they entered. Beside Chiaki, Tetsuya remained nervous. His uncle, Miike Haruya, was the leader of the head family. One would generally wonder why the need to be so nervous over visiting a relative, an uncle, but the Miike family was not ordinary.
"Damn... it..."
Tetsuya was seated in a kneeling position; his fists were trembling slightly on his knees. Despite that, his eyes were bright.
Is he that frightening a person?
The door slid open, a man in kimono entered.
Tetsuya was startled; he straightened his back.
It was his uncle, Miike Haruya. He was around 45 years of age and the complete opposite of what Chiaki expected, leaving him a little surprised. The deep blue kimono, possibly what he usually wore on a daily basis, did not have the slightest fold or crease and the lapels were perfectly straight. No hint of the boorishness of the head of a peasant family. He had an intellectual manner, as well as a distinctive look of dignity, rather befitting of his status as the master of an old family.
This person...
Was going to be a handful. Chiaki groaned in his heart.
"You look like you are doing well, Tetsuya."
Haruya spoke. Tetsuya's eyes still had that glint of defiance as he bowed respectfully.
"...It has been a while."
"You didn't visit during the New Year. And I was told that you haven't been practicing Kagura. How can you let this be? Studying Kagura is one of the duties of a hafuri. I was going to have you dance this year."
"..."
It appeared that despite his obedience, Tetsuya's eyes were full of contempt.
"And this is?"
"A teacher from Kojou High." Chiaki answered the question himself and stated his name. "I'm Chiaki Shuuhei."
"Oh, a teacher."
"Sorry for the intrusion at this hour. Due to a matter that requires immediate counsel..."
"It concerns Hokage, reikami."
Tetsuya addressed his uncle in this way. He went straight to the point.
"Please tell me where Hokage is! Tell me where she is!"
Haruya's eyebrows quivered a little. "What is going on?"
Chiaki gave the letter of threat and bundle of hair to Haruya, who opened the letter and read its contents calmly. Tetsuya's eyes were glued on his uncle.
"It's like this. Somebody sent these items to Tetsuya-kun."
"..."
"The kidnapped girl, Inaba Akemi, is his classmate. She didn't return home and is now missing. Also, there are witnesses who can attest to the fact that she was taken away at the Katou shrine."
"..."
"I also found this at the shrine." Tetsuya took out the keychain. "It's Inaba alright. Inaba has really been kidnapped! If I don't take Hokage there, Inaba'll really be in danger!"
His uncle seemed unfazed. The expression in his eyes grew even sharper, he looked up.
"Have you reported this to the police?"
"No, not yet..."
"I see..." Haruya's reply was very succinct. "I can't agree to this."
Tetsuya glared at him furiously. Haruya looked indifferent and handed the letter back to Chiaki.
"Although I do not know who is responsible for this, there's no need to pay any attention to this sort of practical joke."
"This isn't a practical joke!" Tetsuya yelled in a coarse voice. "Inaba has really been kidnapped! She might even be killed! If Hokage isn't taken there...!"
"How would you know?"
"They know about Asara, this is in no way ordinary. Only the Miike family should know about this, right! The one who kidnapped Inaba must've been the same person who destroyed the Katou shrine! That's right, sensei! Weren't they the same guys who messed up Ougi!"
Chiaki was wide-eyed, surprised by Tetsuya's keen intuition.
"Miike..."
"I don't know who is behind this but it's definitely not a practical joke! If we don't take Hokage there, Inaba will really be killed! She'll be killed, Uncle!"
"...If that's the case, all the more reason not to respond to this."
Tetsuya gasped. Haruya gazed at him with half-open eyes and said in an exceedingly, strict voice.
"If it is as you say, then all the more reason why I can't tell you where Hokage is. Are you are planning to bow to their threat and endanger Asara? There's no way I can agree to this."
"Inaba is also Hokage's friend! Does it not matter if Inaba dies!"
"This has nothing to do with our family."
Tetsuya could not tolerate his cold way of speaking, leaving no room for negotiation. He gnashed his teeth in anger and stared at Haruya fiercely, as though he wanted to impale him. He asked hatefully,
"Is Kihachi-sama more important than a living person?"
"Tetsuya."
"What is with this family! What did you say Hokage was again! Why must you hide Hokage!"
"..."
"Are you planning to marry Hokage off to Kihachi-sama? We're not living in a freaking folklore. Still regarding superstitions as fact, allowing yourselves to be dominated by fear, are you all idiots! Didn't you once set out for the city enthusiastically to modernize yourself!"
Chiaki was silent for the moment, peering at Haruya's reaction. But Haruya did not even raise an eyebrow at Tetsuya's insolence. Chiaki slowly opened his mouth.
"Who hid Hokage?"
"..."
"Don't tell me you people anticipated these events from the very start?"
Haruya twitched, he looked up.
"! That's impossible...!" Tetsuya approached his uncle in shock. "Is that true? Uncle. You know of someone who covets Hokage so..."
"It has nothing to do with you two."
"How can it have nothing to do with us!"
Tetsuya snarled, slapping the tatami mat.
"Hokage is my sister! How can it have nothing to do with me! Who is planning to snipe Hokage and for what reason? Why is there such a thing! What's going on with this family!"
Due to his excessive distress, Tetsuya's voice was choking. Chiaki patted his shoulder, allowing him to calm down. But the head of the Miike family remained composed. Without saying a word, he stuck his hands into the sleeves of his kimono and sat down quietly.
"Miike-san."
"...I can't tell you where Hokage is. This is the reikami's answer. If you understand now, please leave."
Tetsuya looked at his uncle in a paralyzed manner. Haruya nodded formally at Chiaki and stood up. Then he abandoned Tetsuya, who was at a loss, and left the room.
"...Uncle...."
Chiaki immediately stood up, he went after Haruya.
"Please leave." Haruya was extremely cold to Chiaki as well. "There isn't any other matter to discuss, is there?"
"The so-called Princess Asara, what is that exactly?"
"..."
"If we are not clear on this, we can't take any action. What is Kihachi-sama referring to? Does it have something to do with the bonfire deity?"
"I'm not obligated to explain them to you."
"Inaba is my student. I can't just leave things as it is. Please tell me of Hokage's whereabouts."
"This has nothing to do with our family."
"If you intend to stay silent, then so be it. But with this sort of useless struggle, the other party will merely resort to even more despicable methods."
Haruya's shoulders jumped. This was the first time he showed any sign of a reaction. Haruya turned around and looked at Chiaki.
"Do you know who the other party is?"
Chiaki nodded. "This is something where the police won't be of any use. Am I correct?"
"Who are you?"
"How about a deal? Miike-san. You have a secret that you must protect even if it means the death of a person. But the man who wrote that letter is a vile person who will stop at nothing, fair means or foul, to get what he wants. If possible, I'm willing to help you, Miike-san. Let me be responsible for protecting Hokage. Once again, can you please tell me her whereabouts?"
"Foolish words."
"Well this is the last card I have to play."
Haruya stared at Chiaki. Chiaki was calm, with a look that indicated his seriousness, he gazed back at him, continuing in a challenging tone.
"...We will not leave until you promise us this."
***
It had turned into a contest of endurance. Apparently, Haruya had instructed the family members to ignore them and so they did not bother them at all. The two of them just sat in the wide, quiet room in this way. The heater was taken way. As night approached, the temperature in the room dropped to an extremely low degree. Despite wearing coats, it was so cold that they were shivering. But Tetsuya's fists were not trembling because of the cold.
"This family..." Tetsuya groaned quietly, over and over again. "I must sever all ties with this sort of family..."
"Miike."
"I must find my own independence immediately... break off all ties with them as soon as possible."
The people of this family had been rather indifferent to Tetsuya ever since they arrived. And it seemed as though the reason for this was not limited to the fact that Tetsuya was a member of the branch family...
Guess that's the way with rural areas.
Chiaki found it intolerable. Was it because the parental system of the feudal era was still so deeply entrenched in this day and age?
Chiaki had long severed all communication with his family and relatives, but for someone like Tetsuya, a relationship as tedious as this was probably frustrating to an unbearable degree. He had watched Irobe and the rest live through a similar system for the past 400 years, and he was always bewildered and in admiration of their ability to endure this sort of cage.
It's probably very restricting.
Chiaki sympathized with Tetsuya. This place was the reason he became a problematic student. He looked at his watch. The pointer was about to reach the number one. Chiaki shifted his thoughts back to the problem at hand.
Can't afford to go easy on them anymore.
They had a 48 hour limit. By midnight of the day after tomorrow, they have to take Hokage there.
Let's wait till morning.
If Haruya was not going to change his mind by the next morning, he would have no choice. Chiaki was going to use his cheat card.
I'll use hypnosis to make him confess.
Morning had come and Tetsuya was fast asleep on the floor, possibly due to exhaustion. Chiaki could hear the birds chirping, but the surroundings were still shrouded in darkness. The clock showed 5:30.
"?"
Right at this moment, there was movement from one of the inner rooms, someone had gone outside. It sounded like someone had walked out the main entrance. Chiaki stood up and followed it. Just as he had expected, it was Haruya.
Haruya had gone out alone, proceeding to the path beside the paddy field.
Where is he going?
He was holding what seemed to be a rope made by twisting many strands of straw together. He smelt something burning and realized that there was a weak flame at the end of the rope. The morning sun began to dye the eastern horizon red. Although it was extremely cold, the air was particularly fresh, and only the vigorous chorus of the chirping birds could be heard everywhere. On the other side of the paddy field that stretched into the distant, stood the majestic Aso-gogaku in a horizontal arrangement.
Haruya walked along the path not far from the center of the village, coming to a shrine. It was a small shrine, which looked more like an ancestral hall, situated far beyond the torii.
Shimomiya. That was written on the torii.
Haruya came to the front of the shrine, took the burning straw rope in his hand, faced the shrine and performed the formalities of worship.
"..."
Chiaki watched him quietly. Haruya calmly straightened his back. Without turning around, he spoke.
"As the head of the Miike family, I have to come here every morning to pray."
Haruya had not turned back once, but apparently he knew that Chiaki had been following him. Chiaki nodded.
"That fire on the straw rope..?"
"The fire lighted during the Hi-taki no Shinji." Haruya replied, turning to face Chiaki. "On the day of the Yado, the Miike family will receive this fire and use it as a goshinka in the kamidana of the household for the rest of the year. In our daily worship, we have to bring this fire along in our prayer."
"Is this Shimomiya? The shrine where you perform the Hi-taki no Shinji for the deity. It's much smaller than I expected."
"The bonfire hall is on the other side of the road. The chosen bonfire maiden will be enclosed there for 60 days, keeping the fire alive for the God of Frost."
Chiaki replied, "I see."
He stuck his hands in his pockets and walked up.
"That's one strange practice. Speaking of the grand shrine in this region, Aso shrine, is it in any way related to the 'God of Frost'?"
"They are more than just related," Haruya smiled for the first time. "If not for the Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto, this shrine would not even exist. Because Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto himself constructed this shrine."
"What?"
"Another name for Shimomiya is Shimo Palace. The significance of the Hi-taki no Shinji is to prevent the enshrined deity from feeling cold and to prevent the frost from blighting the crops on the earth, thus we warm Him by kindling a fire, but..."
Haruya explained, the smile on his lips disappeared.
"The true objective of this festival is to protect the rice harvest from the evil doings of onryou."
Chiaki frowned. "Evil doings of onryou...?"
"Correct. The deity enshrined in the Shimomiya is actually the onryou, Kihachi, who was beheaded by Aso shrine's Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto."
Haruya calmly began to unravel information.
Kihachi was also known as 'Kihachi boushi'.
He was a man of honor and courage in the ancient times, as well as a retainer to Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto. Legend has it that Kihachi possessed astonishing strength and force. He followed Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto, famed for being the best in Japanese archery, and was responsible for retrieving arrows. Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto always stood on one of the volcanic cones of Oujoudake in the center of Aso, faced the 'matoishi' situated at the biseki of the area and fired arrows. Occasionally, the arrows would go off-course and the swift Kihachi would retrieve it. On one occasion, he had run to and fro ninety-nine times, and by the hundredth time he was exhausted and kicked that last arrow back to Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto.
This angered Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto. As Kihachi had rashly mishandled Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto's precious equipment, the latter flew into an uncontrollable rage (ridiculous as it may be). Kihachi then fled with Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto on his heels. After Kihachi's fierce show of resistance, Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto eventually chopped his head off. However, no matter how many times Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto had him decapitated, Kihachi's head reattached itself to the body. Therefore, Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto had to chop his body into pieces before Kihachi finally died. Kihachi's decapitated head then flew to a high altitude.
Henceforth, Kihachi's head in the sky became an onryou who hated Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto, blighted the crops with frost and caused them to wither. The people could not survive with the loss of their crops, thus to resolve this complication, Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto built a shrine in the center of Aso-dani to appease Kihachi's spirit, and entreated Kihachi to descend to earth. Kihachi's spirit had descended and was enshrined as Shimomiya, and from then on, no longer damaged the crops with frost. --This was the origin of the Shimo shrine.
The Hi-taki no Shinji served to prevent Kihachi's head from freezing (and feeling pain) due to the cold, which would spark mischief, hence the need to warm him.
"Kihachi... Is that the Kihachi-sama you guys have been talking about?"
In the cold air, which was freezing his cheeks, Chiaki's breath came out in white puffs.
"But that doesn't really explain anything. So where does your family stand in this matter? You people look more than just shrine parishioners."
"..."
Haruya did not answer that question. Chiaki pondered for a moment.
"Tetsuya said that you people come from the Asara lineage. Who is this Princess Asara?"
"Princess Asara was originally the wife of Kihachi."
"Wife?"
"Yes."
Haruya said, lightly nudging the coals in front of the straw.
"You have probably heard of a place in Aso known as Takachiho. It's famous because that was where the grandchild of Amaterasu descended from the heavens. In the legend associated with that place, Kihachi was an evil bandit."
"..."
"Princess Asara was forcefully taken as a wife by that evil bandit and passed her days in a living death. But one day, a great person called Mikenu no Mikoto appeared before Princess Asara, who had been weeping since dawn."
"Mikenu no Mikoto..."
"Yes. He's the brother of Jinmu Tennou and the main enshrined deity of the Takachiho shrine. In order to help Princess Asara, Mikenu no Mikoto decided to banish Kihachi."
But Kihachi was not so easily dealt with. No matter how many times he was beheaded, he resurrected himself. Mikenu no Mikoto thus defeated Kihachi together with a skilled fighter named Tanabe Shigetaka. They chopped his body into pieces and buried them underground, so that he could not recover. It was said that the burial mounds with the parts of Kihachi's body could be found in many places in Takachiho. The sword Mikenu no Mikoto had used to kill Kihachi was known as 'Onikirimaru', the treasure of the Takachiho shrine.
Mikenu no Mikoto then married Princess Asara and lived in happiness to the end of their days.
"Asara lineage... Do you mean to say that you are the descendants of Princess Asara?"
"They say that our ancestors were the children of Princess Asara and Mikenu no Mikoto..."
"...!" Chiaki stared at him. "Wh..at...!"
"You wish to say that it's impossible right?"
"..."
Haruya continued in a calm manner.
"In order to fulfill a 'certain wish' of Princess Asara, our lineage has continued for several hundreds of years in this way. I am the head of the 98th generation. Our history can even compare with the generations of priests of the Aso shrine and the Aso family. ...The Miike family is also known as the 'inner Aso family'."
Haruya slowly folded his arms, calmly gazing at the horizontal stretch of the Aso-gogaku in the southern direction.
"Inner... Aso family...?"
"Yes. Miike refers to 'Miike' [Note: Same pronunciation, different kanji]. A reference to the crater of Nakadake."
Haruya said, pointing at the white smoke that could be seen in sparse amounts near the center of the gogaku.
"Mingling with the clouds and mist blurs its appearance, but you can still see that it's there, right? Nakadake, still volcanically active to this day. In the past, that crater was regarded as a spiritual lake or 'Miike'. The crater looked like a pond as it accumulated rainwater, and was thus named as such. That's where the name of the Miike family originated from."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The Miike family has the obligation of guarding the crater from the Aso shrine. ...In other words, the guardians who observe the activity of Nakadake."
Haruya asked Chiaki, "Do you know why?" Chiaki shook his head, Haruya lowered his head a little and explained.
"Because there is a longstanding belief that Asara's offspring will oversee the eruptions of Nakadake."
"..." Chiaki was silent for a while. "Why..."
"Kihachi's grudge is the cause of Nakadake's eruptions. Because Asara used to be 'Kihachi's wife'."
With this Haruya closed his mouth. He said that Asara was Kihachi's wife. But weren't the ancestors of the Miike family the children of Asara and Mikenu no Mikoto?
So what's going on here...?
He also mentioned that they were here to fulfill a certain wish of Asara's. What was that wish?
--For the sake of Kihachi-sama, the birth of Asara is a must.
The words of Tetsuya's paternal grandmother. Was that somehow related to 'Asara's wish'? The descendants of Mikenu no Mikoto respectfully addressed the evil being that their ancestor had personally eliminated as 'Kihachi-sama'. Chiaki was not convinced that they were merely afraid of onryou mischief.
What's really going on inside the Miike family?
But he did not intend to explain matters any further. Miike Haruya seemed like he was in a prayer, he lowered his head, then looked at Chiaki intently.
"You said you wanted to help us. Said that you would protect Hokage..."
"Yeah..." Chiaki livened up, straightening his back. "And that isn't just idle talk. As long as you help us recover Inaba."
"Please show me the evidence."
Haruya stated and took out a protective talisman. The form of the Great Dipper and a purification shrine was drawn on the talisman. Haruya moved the coals onto the divine talisman, then unexpectedly tossed the burning talisman at Chiaki.
"...!"
Boom!
With that sound, Chiaki's body was instantly engulfed in huge, blue flames. It was not hot at all. In a moment, the flames, together with the talisman, disappeared altogether.
"I see..." Haruya was a little startled. This was the first time he saw someone with the ability to raise such astonishing flames.
"Truly amazing. Looks like you have a considerable amount of spiritual power. Who are you exactly?"
"What was that just now?"
"Flames that are kindled in response to one's spiritual power. The spiritual power that you have serve as the fuel to ignite the flames. Very impressive."
"Of course." Chiaki smiled pridefully, then uttered in a menacing tone. "Whoever the enemy is, I'll be able to protect the young lady of your family. There are very few people on this earth who can put up a fight with this old man."
"You can really protect Hokage, right?" Haruya sought verification with a solemn expression. "No matter who the enemy is, you can really protect her, right?"
His overly earnest expression raised doubts in Chiaki. It was obvious from Haruya's appearance that he knew who the 'enemy' was. Chiaki did not believe the enemy was an onshou. If that was the case...
A third party...?
Between the onshou and the Miike family.
Is he referring to that guy?
The one who told the onshou about Princess Asara and the secret of the Miike family. Could it be that Haruya knew who the culprit was? Chiaki's face relaxed.
In short, for the sake of Inaba, he had to pose as Miike Hokage's bodyguard even if it was just a bluff.
"Don't worry. Protecting girls is my forte, chief."
Chiaki feigned a look of brimming confidence, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Although I'm getting more confused the more I hear about this, I'll first make a deal with you, I promise not to let any harm come to Miike Hokage. ...Please tell me where she is then, Miike-san."
"That is fine, but before that," Miike Haruya said in a low voice. "There's something I must first investigate."
"Something you have to investigate? What is it?"
"I have to go to the Aso shrine." Haruya looked towards the east where the Aso shrine was situated. "This is very important. We have to first verify if the 'Golden Snake Head' is still inside the Aso shrine."
"Golden... Snake Head...?"
"Yes. If it's no longer there, then this situation will need immediate attention."
Miike Haruya appeared somber, he said to Chiaki.
"Please come with me. Chiaki-sensei."
The cold morning wind blew at Chiaki's coat he as focused his strength, staring down in the direction of the Aso shrine.
Original fiction © Kuwabara Mizuna.
