Two Hundred And Seventy
“So, we all know what we need to do?” I asked, looking at our rather large group, standing in a sheltered spot across from the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It was quite the varied one, with a mixture of spiritual beings, kami, shrine personnel, our families and so Arican rcenaries, but we all had the sa goal. Making Conclave a success for both Japan and us. I can’t just be a lackey, a grunt for one of the three factions. No, I need to be an equal partner at least.
“Of course.” Kana’s grandfather Masaji-san was the first to speak. Her could see the change, the confidence, that had co over his daughter, as she finally took the duties of her shrine seriously, and he was delighted and proud of her. “Though our shrine is Susanoo faction… our loyalty is to you, Akio-san. After all, our kami trusts and serves you.” He looked at Shirohebi, who alongside the Jade Beetle was waiting, ready for his debut before the faiths of Japan.
“I’ll be attending the main eting.” His son, Daichi-san said. “So I’ll raise my voice in support. My daughter will attend one of the many smaller side etings and look for those who might be anable to listening to her.”
“Leave it to . I won’t let you down, Akio.” Kana grinned, before unleashing a glowing orb of light on her palm that flickered and bobbled for a few seconds before fading. “I’ll be the talk of the Conclave. No, we will.”
“That’s not fair, Kana-chan, big bro Akio.” Keomi-chan, who was talking to Marika-san, turned to , her big, guileless eyes wide. “You forgot to take ! I want to make pretty lights too! And Kana-chan and Marika-chan look so pretty now. Their skin is as soft as silk!” she poked Marika-san in the cheek, who flushed.
“It was not very fun.” Marika-san sighed, rembering. “It was scary and painful at tis, but… Chiaki-sama and Chiasa-sama are kind. They helped …”
“I don’t approve of hurting my precious Marika!” her mother complained. “But even so… I can’t believe it. Gods and spiritual powers. And Marika has them too now. I suppose… I should be grateful.” She said at last, looking at the Palace as groups of shrine maidens, priests and others were going inside, hundreds, thousands gathering for what would likely decide the course of Japan’s religion, and would have a huge impact on its politics.
“I want to be helpful to Chairo-sama. And to everyone.” Marika-san insisted, and everyone smiled, as seeing a young girl trying her best with such an earnest wish was definitely a heart-warming sight.
“I guess we missed out as well, huh Asami-chan?” Mio-san giggled. “You too, Takagi-chan, Kikuchi-chan.” The girls were closer friends now, and even the standoffish Takagi-san and the shy Maiko-san were opening up. “I hope next ti, we’ll get our chance! Kana-chan said it hurt like hell, but for perfect skin, I’d sit in a vat of boiling oil!”
“I’ll be there too, along with my kami.” Shuta-san said. “My daughter will do her part, with the other mbers of Amaterasu.” At his words, Maiko-san paled, but she nodded, resolute, and as Takagi-san grasped her hand reassuringly, I could see the tension lift from her. “I will offer my voice in support at Conclave as well, but first… Saionji-sama is waiting.”
“I don’t know just what we can do.” Uncle Junpei said, and auntie echoed him. “But your parents and I, we’ll do our best.”
“Just being there and showing off what your Chirurgery can do is what you wanted, right Aki?” my mom asked, enjoying the feeling of being in hakama, and preening under the gazes she was getting from passing tourists and other shrine personnel, being a British woman of excellent looks, wearing such an outfit. “I’ll tell all the pretty girls they can be just like us if they ask you nicely, Aki!”
“I think our son has more than enough girls around him already.” My father shook his head, a little exasperated. “But yes, you can count on us, son. At first I thought you were hiding sothing when you said you were doing work with the shrine at Chairoakitara. And you were. But to think it’d co to this…”
“And we know our role.” Trey said in English, as his sister stifled a yawn. Beside him, Travis and Manx nodded too. “Since we don’t speak Japanese, we are just security. At least your family and the others…” he looked at Grulgor and Hyacinth. “… speak it too. So we’ll just be suitably intimidating.”
“Good. Because we need to be on high alert.” I had of course shared the warning of my Foresight with everyone. Aliyah and my parents hadn’t really believed it, until Shaeula and Kana supported , talking about the yakuza attack and the betrayal of Shaeula’s maids. Now everyone was tense, but we had made preparations.
“Right. Well, don’t forget, we have other allies. Chiyo-san and her neutral shrines, as well as those others we brought in, and Hikawa-Kawagoe. So mingle with our friends and colleagues, and build our support base. I’ll work on those at the top, but even if they won’t play ball, if we win over enough of the shrine maidens and priests who support them, we can pressure them that way.”
“He’s grown up, hasn’t he?” Uncle said, and my father nodded, approving.
“So, bro. Will we see you in the break after the first session?” my sis asked, and I shook my head.
“Probably not. I dare say I’ll end up having to et the Diviner, or Takakura-san, or maybe one of the other faction heads. Maybe more than one. If I do get chance, I’ll text you though.”
“Okay, that sucks but… whatever. What about afterwards though? No way you’ll miss out on that concert by Red and White. All of us girls are going, right?” At that they all nodded, Takagi-san looking particularly thrilled.
“Sure, your brother will be there to keep an eye on you.” I smiled. “Anyway… so there’s the first session until four pm, then a two hour break, then another session until ten pm. It’s a long day, so everyone, pace yourselves. Haru-san, Eri, Shaeula, you ready?” I turned to Shuta-san. “I suppose we had better et with Saionji-san, we don’t have a lot of ti before the first session begins, and we don’t want to be late…”
********
The inside of the Imperial Palace was luxurious indeed. Signs were up outside saying it was closed to the public this weekend, and now it was filled with thousands of visitors from all the true shrines and temples of Japan. As we admired the architecture and interior décor, a young priest led the seven of us to a small room, where three people were waiting for us.
The first was a middle-aged man sitting behind an antique desk. He radiated an aura of authority, as if he was used to being obeyed, and his black hair was neatly trimd and styled, framing an austere face with a sharp nose that gave him the look of a hungry raptor. His dark eyes surveyed us as we entered, his interest plain to see. Standing behind him was a sowhat older man, a bit tired-looking, and hunched, with his hair going to grey. Still as our eyes t, I could feel power within him. Within both of them. So, Saionji-san is a Candidate too. And quite a powerful one. A match for Yamato-san at least…
It was the third figure that drew my eye though. She was sitting down, seemingly half asleep, her dark chocolate skin a shade lighter than Trey or Aliyah, but her body-line was tight and clean, with a decent chest, accentuated by the deep red sundress she wore, with white detailing around the bust, wrists and hem. Her long brown hair was covering her face, dangling down, and as I looked at her, one eye flickered open lazily, a brilliant ruby colour, yet her eye held little heat, only a dull exhaustion. She looked past , to see Shaeula and Haru-san and the Jade Beetle kami, only to jolt upright, nearly falling out of her chair.
“I am honoured to be here, though I don’t know what wisdom I can impart.” She said, despite her nerves, speaking clearly and with elegant diction. I dare say she’s used to public speaking as a Princess, even if she’s kept out of the public eye most of her life.
“Lastly, representing the nobility of Japan, is the friend of the faiths, Takakura-san.”
“I am pleased to be here in these troubling tis. As ever, I shall speak freely and fairly, honest to the needs of the wider Japan. I ask only that you listen with an open mind.”
“So, now this humble one…” he paused, allowing the gravity of the mont to sink in. “… shall open with why we are all gathered here. It is simple. The kami, the Gods… they are returning. The world lost fifteen hundred years ago… the spiritual, both good and bad, the Yokai and other beings… soon the world will have to deal with them once again. To that end… we have to make a choice, as to how we shall respond. A choice that affects not just us, but Japan, no, the very world!”
As Bankei-san spoke, I felt a rising tension within . Here we go, this is it. I planned to be here months ago, and I’ve laid the groundwork for it. Now all I have to do is convince those here of my plans. And it won’t be easy…
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