“The atmosphere is rather tense, isn’t it?” I observed, stroking at my beard pensively. The cve had reopened for the final, decisive day, yet the plexion of things had been irrevocably ged by the events of the priht.

  “Well, what do you expect?” Chiyo-san, one of the most iial of the ral fa, or rather, the Tyr fa, as we were ing the new bloow, was looking particurly bitter this m. “You have a granddaughter who has been given Chirurgery, right? I have two. And but for the grace that we weren’t in Susanoo and dumb enough to listen to the Uchida boy, it could be us m their deaths or maiming.”

  True, just seeing the bodies as they were carried out, young men, women and even children… it was enough to make me fear for the future. I may be old, but I don’t remember the war, not like some of the old men of the nobility. So seeing this… it was a first for me. “So, are you having sed thoughts?” I asked.

  “About what? Our course of a? Hardly.” She she sound loud enough to draw a few gazes our way. Up on the podium the major pyers were gathering, but a notable absence was Uchida Ren, who was likely with his son. A grim tragedy. I ’t say that Yamato-kun was well liked, but as one of those Chosen by the Gods, his fate is cruel indeed. Perhaps he may yet wake, but from what I gather, the prognosis looks grim, as he is the only one remaining atose…

  The Diviner was on the dais, alongside the Imperial Princess Yukiko, and Akio-kun was beside them, though his expression was grim, careworn. Notable absences oyr benches were the girl, Mori-san, and Shaeu, the spiritual being. Of course, the Susanoo area was in a shambles as well. Those who had been part of Akio-kun’s training school were mostly absent, uandable as so many of them lost children randchildren, while Hikawa-san was now hem oyr behough he was listless, barely able to keep his eyes open. Again, hardly ued. He must worry terribly for his children, though from what I hear, they’ll all live, which is more than most say.

  “Well, some would say the deaths of so many promising youths of precious bloodlines is an unmitigated failure.” I mused. “To say nothing of the stir it has created, rapidly esg our trol.”

  “Oh e now, I know you are wise enough to see through such emotional idiocy.” She growled. “Think about it. Matsumuro-san…” her lip curled as she said the name of the Diviner, whitil now had been taboo. “… did say that a time of great danger is ing, which will lead to mahs and possibly even the destru of the entire world. The boy agreed.” She Akio-kun oage. “Of course there is going to be danger. But look on the positive side. They mao retrieve four people alive, and though Mori-san arently grievously hurt in the process… well, having such healing abilities is rather reassuring.”

  True. Apparently the rescued girls are likely to make a full physical recovery iime, except for one of them, which will apparently take more work. Though mental scars are likely harder to heal… “Even so, it shows the stark differeween us and the threats we face. Even Akio-kun was helpless to save the boy Yamato and the others.”

  As Gin took his own pce, followed by Takakura-sama and old man Bahe cve was ready to start. Casting my gaze around the ranks of the faith, I could see a lot of disquiet, strained faces and hushed whispering abounding. At the back of the room, several soldiers, clearly and visibly armed, were waiting, and everyone was aware there were dozens more stationed around the Imperial Pace, the hospital that the dead and injured had been evacuated to, and also Kiyomizu-dera shrine. Yes, there’s no hiding this. Only portraying it in a way the general publi accept. Well, that’s for younger, wiser heads to decide.

  “I believe everyone is aware of the situation that occurred st night, or at least that a situation did occur.” Bankei said, with little preamble, opening the cve. “Uchida-san is uandably absent, he wants to spend time with his son, while he . A grim day.” g his hands together in a gesture of prayer and passion, he tinued. “I believe we now have a greater uanding of what we are here for. It was a high price, but suffering is ultimately a mortal . May he be freed from it in his life.”

  As many of us ined our heads in acceptance of the prayer, me included, Bankei tinued. “This humble one is not the right oo expin precisely what happened. If you would, please.” He asked Akio-kun, and I caught a brief glimpse of pain cross his face, before it was once more an expressionless mask. Beside him, the Diviner ined her head, perhaps in reassurance.

  “Right.” He began, clearly feeling the pressure. sidering the circumstances, it would be stranger if he was calm.

  “Last night… well, I don’t want to speak ill of ahough I suppose some criticism is iable.” He sighed theatrically, though I felt he was truly exasperated and angered by it all. “Uchida Yamato-san, as well as the three Chosen who were under Susanoo, decided to veo the Kyoto Boundary. Now, there’s nothing ily wrong with that, in fact, it’s generally praiseworthy to train and secure more Territory for what’s to e. I meaalked about it yesterday, didn’t we?” he grimaced at that.

  “The issue is, they took the Susanoo trainees from my school with them. Now, don’t get me wrong, I take them to the Boundary as well, but only to my safe Territory, to learn and gain experieaking them out into Kyoto was reckless ireme, and sadly, it led to disaster. But for a miracle and an act of bravery from Hikawa Ren-san…” His father looked both troubled and proud at that. “… there would have been no rescue, for we wouldn’t have known the mess they got into. It was…”

  As Akio-kun tinued, quite a tale unfolded, of desperation and cshes with the brutal Night Parade. When he was done, reting the grievous wounding of Yamato-san by the powerful creatures of the Parade, which he was helpless to prevent, due to needing to protect his terribly injured fiancée, he looked down, clearly troubled, before talking of his meeting with the legendary Yokai Nurarihyon.

  “… so I ’t say I’ve reached aodation with the Night Parade.” He cluded. “After all, the way they think isn’t human at all. They don’t object to perpetrating atrocities that would lead to execution here, yet they ge fre-filled and vengeful one mio friendly and jovial the . Creatures of spirit are mercurial, it seems. But I do know they have a lot of the same fears we do about the oning disaster. Provoking them is only going to lead to needless casualties.”

  “I see. Well, aren’t you saying that because your own Shaeu is one of the Night Parade?” Gin said mildly. “Not that I don’t uand it. You wouldn’t wish to fight her family needlessly.”

  “That’s a factor.” He admitted. “But the matter is do was a tragedy, and I still feel terrible. But those that were involved in the killing of our people, and the wounding of Yamato-san, they are all dead, having paid for their crimes. The Parade is certainly dangerous, but I wouldn’t suggest we start a war against them, one we would likely struggle to win, because some of their members did terrible things.”

  “I see. Akai…” Gin turo his phoenix, who was half-listening on the front row of the Amaterasu benches. “… what do you make of it? I must fess…” his smile was strained, for some reason. “I had a good friend of mine do a little research, he’s very good with books.” At that Akio-kun seemed resigned. A strange rea, there is definitely moing ohan is being said.

  “Oh, sorry, sorry.” She chirped, her half-shut eyes snapping open. “The Hyakki Yagyō, you say? Ugh, I don’t like them, not at all, not at all! Too many frightening Yokai! To survive meeting them… I was right, you’re scary.” She scowled at Akio-kun.

  “I see.” Gin ughed. “Well, I don’t disagree. To hear of so many Yokai sin, though I notice you deed to give us the details on how…” he shook his head. “Well, I don’t suppose it matters. I myself have been Chosen, so I easily imagihe dangers. So, you say that the Night Parade will er shrines and temples? That’s valuable information, and will help us remain safe.”

  “Yes, I don’t believe Lord Nurarihyon was lying to me, and it matches with the behaviour I saw when I was with Taishakama-san and the others previously. It’s also quite possible they’ll move on from Kyoto now, to tinue roaming the Boundary of Japan, as they were waiting on fulfilment of their own prophecies, simir to those from Matsumuro-san.” Akio-kun ined his head towards the Diviner, aowledging her.

  Yes, I was regaled with tales about that when they returned from their mission. As if eg his thoughts, the Chosen that went with Akio-kun on that trip through the spiritual world spoke up, firming his observations.

  “Does all of this matter?” an angry voice said from what remained of the Susanoo fa, which was disiing with the likely loss of Yamato-kun, and the absence of Ren, no matter how uandable. One of the priests there was white-faced with anger. “The reality is our children are dead! We shouldn’t be accepting this! If father would have expected this, we never would have allowed our shrine maidens to take part…” he ractically panting with anger and grief.

  How will Akio-kun respond? I soon had my answer, as he boologetically, and all of us could see his sorrow. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want any of this either. Not for the daughters of Aoikaeru shrio die. I was blindsided, but perhaps I should have beeer prepared. I simply didn’t think…”

  “No, you didn’t!” he roared. “This other world should be left to those who were Chosen by the kami. Not… not powerless children like ours. How they must have suffered… my pirls…” he was g amidst his rage, and it was hard not to feel sympathy. When I think about my Shiori…

  As everyone looked unfortable, a few openly expressing their own grief, it was Chiyo-san who stood. “Bankei, if I may?” she asked, and he nodded graciously.

  “I do feel sorry for the loss of the sons and daughters of Aoikaeru, Kashima and other shrines. It is a tragedy, ohat we haven’t faced sihe war.” All eyes were on her wrinkled face, but she showed no nerves. “But bming Oshiro-kun seems rather unfair. After all, he risked much to rush to their aid, and his own fiahe girl we saw dispy her talents she had worked hard for only yesterday, was almost killed, and even now lies gravely injured, long rehabilitation ahead of her…”

  “Even so, isn’t he at fault? The spiritual world seems to be an incredibly dangerous pce, so such small gifts and then expeg our children to fight…” his words failed him, anger choking him.

  “That is hardly fair. It was Yamato-kun who foolishly misused the trainees from his fa. Those of us from the ral shrines, Oshiro-san has aken our children into danger. Yes, they have visited his Territory, as he calls it, but that pce is safe, isn’t it?”

  “Well, I would hesitate to say anywhere is ever truly safe.” Akio-kun admitted. “But I don’t believe my Territory could be breached by enemies quickly enough that the trainees wouldn’t be able to retreat back to the Material. Besides, there are merits to visiting the Boundary, in terms of training. As for my goals…”

  “You showed off during cve yesterday! It is any wonder Yamato-sama was mistaken?” the grieving father tinued. His grandfather, the head of the shrine, was not present today, being lost in his own grief, so it was left to the son to cast his grieva Akio-kun.

  Before he could answer, Chiyo-san spoke up once more, exasperated. “I’ll five much due to yrief. But bming Oshiro-kun for what others did is foolish. No, Yamato-kun blundered, because he put politics ahead of unity. Did yesterday teach us nothing?” all eyes were on her as she spoke. “Listen carefully. Didn’t the esteemed Lady Diviner, our Matsumuro-sama…” she smiled at the name. “… warn us of impeding doom? She has faced her owh bravely.”

  “Nothing so grand…” The Diviner whispered, though all could hear it. “I am simply bowing to the iable…” at those sad words the Priestess of Ise reached out and grasped her hand fly, surprising the Diviner.

  “Well, the question of bravery aside… I have no iion of diminishing the grief of those who have suffered.” Chiyo-san persisted. “Yet … airpnes crash and people die. It’s a tragedy, but nobody suggests we stop using airpnes.” Chiyo-san tinued. “Again, we share the sorrow and grief of the families of those who die in such crashes, but allowing them to dictate whether air travel should be allowed ever again, it simply ’t be done. Politics. Pying politics got us into this mess.” She sighed. “If Yamato-kun was able to lower his pride then perhaps this could have been avoided. But it’s human nature, even the Gods ’t ge that.” She sighed. “May Kannon have mer him. No, we ’t repeat the same mistakes. We have to be united. And not just us. Hehe Ministry, right Oshiro-kun? The training school too?”

  “Yes. Matsumuro-san has narrowed down a timeframe. A little over a year at worst. Hopefully longer, but I’d rather pn for the worst. If you trust Nurarihyon, then I think I pin down the event that she fears will kill her even further. Look… I wao train others, not just for the political capital I could gain from it…” his expression turned bitter. “… politics. You’re right, Chiyo-san. It always causes a mess. But what else we do? We have t so maed is together, the shrines with their fas, the Chosen, the military, gover, nobility, Imperial Family and more… It’s hardly like the kami and Gods are omnist, I don’t know why they e, or anyone else. But we only do our best. I’m human, I’ll make mistakes, but I try my hardest to not let anyone die for nothing.” Akio-kun bowed to the grieving parent. “I’m sorry. I could spit out the if only’s, such as if only Ren-san got to me quicker, or if we found the survivors faster or any number of other wishes. But it didn’t happen, and I’m not a kami od myself. I’m human, and fallible. But I’ll learn from this mess. I’ll learn.” His face fell, and I could tell it was weighing heavily on him.

  Well, from the information we have gathered, he was a normal, ordinary freencer only a few st months ago. Bearing the weight of all this responsibility is hard. It was too much for Yamato-kun, it seems, and while he was only a Uy student, at least he had the weight of a fa and strong lineage of faith on his shoulders to prepare for such responsibility.

  “We do not follow the sole God of the Western world.” The Diviner spoke. “They cim he is omnipotent and omnist, yet I dare say this situation we are in leads to questions. Why would we be in such dire straits if such was true?” All eyes were on her as she expined. “Precious Chosen have fallen, their gifts lost. I believe oill remains in Susanoo, who was not at the se of age?” she asked, and it was Akio-kun who answered.

  “Apparently so. There was a new arrival, and he was asked to set up an Anchor to cim Territory while Yamato-san and the others pushed on. I’ve sent Grulgor to retrieve him, hopefully before anything happens to him as well.”

  “Well then. Three lost, the Gods making poor choices. Perhaps one would say that they choose to see if we are worthy of saving ourselves. Even I do not know the ao this. We have kami present, do you know?”

  Shirohebi, who was sittio Izumi-san and Takeyabashi-san, shook his head, hissing a ive. “I make no sssuch cimsss. I am but a minor being, barely divi all. I ot ssspeak for the greater Godsss, for they are far above me, farther than I am above the average mortal, yet I sssuspect they are likewissse limited.”

  “All we do…” Akio-kun sighed. “… is move forwards. I still believe iraining school. We o rus on improvements in learning speed, physical strength and more, but I uand the military Special Forces have already started sihey have a rge enough sample size and a lot of data on the performance of their soldiers from recruitment already. That won’t be enough though. There are too few of us! And less every day, as Chosen die from misce, foolhardy pride or worse. Against the Night Parade I learhat one person alone ’t protect everyone, even if strong. No, I want everyoo have the ability to protect themselves. And tribute.” He turo Hikawa-san. “I hope that when they recover, Chiaki-san, Chiasa-san and Ren-san tio help out.” He then looked at Chiyo-san and the ral shrihat had remained with him. “You as well. I get you must be shaken up by this. But… I don’t want those incapable of it to fight. Even so, there is much that the shrine maidens and priests of the shrines and temples bring to us, as a try, as a world.”

  “Well, I admit I’ve had some fools bending my ear about withdrawing their trainees.” She admitted. “But tell me this, Oshiro-kun. How will that protect them?”

  “I don’t think it will. Obviously, I’ve learhat all my bold talk of I’ll never let anyone die or I’ll protect you without fail…” he looked at the Divihen, apologetic. “… is just meaningless boasting, without the dominant power to back it up. But just because I ’t guara, doesn’t mean I won’t keep striving for a world beyond the tragedies!”

  “Your resolve is praiseworthy.” Takakura-sama decred. “Nobody promise absolutely. The world always ge suddenly. After all, did Japan expect to lose the War, bombs obliterating our cities? Politis promised, but could not deliver. Really, other than over-promising, I think you’ve done well. Though I cede, if my granddaughters were amongst the sin, I might struggle to keep my perspective.” He sympathised with the grieving father, who bit his lip, face twisted into a horrible expression.

  “Shaeu asked me for my blessing for my children to remain in your care.” Hikawa-san admitted. “Amongst other things.” His strained expression lightened for a moment. “I deny her sed proposal, but… if my children still wish to, I won’t stand in their way.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it. I am not lying or exaggerating when I say your children awoke to talents that could be the differeween our survival a long-term. And that could go for any of you that Haru-san gathered information on. Those that want to fight , if they have the will and the talents. Those that don’t, we find uses for everyone. I don’t want to stop now. It isn’t just I’ve ied a ton of time and effort here, and I’ve made promises to Izumi-san.” He o him. “It’s that I want us to win together. Lest we fail alone. I ’t do it alone. Nobody .”

  I started to appud, impressed by the ge in his attitude. His arrogand fidence has beeed, yet he’s still resolute in wishing to protect those he cares about and those around him. Nobody knows how strong they are until they taste defeat. It looks like he might emerge better from it, though the guilt will weigh on him for a while, even though most of the fault lies elsewhere. Survivuilt is not logical. Human nature seldom is. “Well said, Akio-kun. As the former leader of Tsukuyomi, I know it well. The old saw about a siio matter how sturdy, breaking under pressure, while a bundle of thin sticks endures, it is apt here, I think. But we’ve used up a lot of time arguing over this tragedy, without addressing the main points of the day… Gin, Bankei, what do you say? Shouldn’t we get down to details? We haggle over shares and bes ter. Matters are far more urgent…”

  “Well, I have no obje. We inteo cast in our lot with Oshiro-san anyway.” Bankei said, not surprising me. What did was that Gin of all people agreed easily.

  “I’m no fool. I still believe I am best pced to head the religious aspect of this new Ministry. Now even more so, sidering I doubt Uchida is in any frame of mind for much, assuming his son never wakes, which… I have good reason to believe will never happen. I’m certainly not pnning to fight the Night Parade on my lonesome, or throw away my Chosen carelessly. Akio-san is right, we’ve lost too many. This disaster ges nothing, my apologies if it is harsh, and I do give you my dolences for your losses, but we still he Ministry, we still need your Chirurgery, Akio-san, aill o work together. More than ever. After all…” he eyed the soldiers. “just what are we saying regarding the deaths? It was too public, too… unexpined.”

  “Regarding that…” Takakura-sama said, drawing our attention. “Fujiwara-sama and Ichijou-sama have called me already, as well as the Prime Minister. Currently there is a press embargo and bckout on news. That won’t st long though. We are currently debating whether to decre it an unforturagic act, or a terrorist attack, but…”

  As I listened, I had a bad feeling that keeping the truth hidden would be impossible. My gaze shifted to Akio-kun, who was likewise troubled, still watg the grieving father of the sin shrine maidens. The other families of the dead were either with the bodies, or hidden away with their grief. A tragic act, hmm? Gas explosion? Structural failure within the Pace? I wonder if the public will believe that… and if they don’t…

  *********

  “I think it is time for a recess.” Bankei decred, and I sighed with relief. These old bones do aowadays. Perhaps I should have seo the Chirurgery, if it would strengthen my aging body. Growing old is no fun, no fun at all. Well, apart from getting to watch my children and grandchildren grow… I looked over at the Susanoo benches, which had lost most of their members, but was now effectively airely new fa, ohat was holding onto feelings of bme and distrust for Akio-kun, an outsider, who had shaken up millennia-old traditions.

  Well, it’s only the boy from Aoikaeru shrihat has gered for Akio-kun. I suspe his heart of hearts he knows that Akio-kun is not to bme, but he ’t throw his pain and grief against Yamato-kun anymore, he? I believe time will allow him to think clearly, his grief is too oo raw, for him to be rational. The group was small, perhaps fifty or so shrines, mostly from Susanoo, though a few from Amaterasu had broken from their leader after he requested cooperation. oo major. They’ll e around in time, I’m sure…

  “If you would, I would like to speak to you privately.” The Diviner, no, Matsumuro-san, was saying to Akio-kun. It really is hard for me to even think her name, but I uand why Akio-kun shared it. Just being referred to by a title robs her of her humanity, makes her simply an object of worship. I hope and pray her visions and portents of her death are wrong, or that Akio-kun turn them aside… before, he swore he would do so before us all, but now… he knows it might not be possible, just as he failed to save Yamato-kun and the others…

  “ I e?” Princess Mikasa asked, standing hurriedly, and Matsumuro-san paused for a moment, before voig her agreement.

  “That’s fine. I have something I want to talk to you about as well.” Akio-kun said seriously. “I ask that you hear me out before judging.”

  That sounds ominous. But then, he did mention something about Nurarihyon giving him information that could pinpoint the disaster she fears. Who would trust such a creature, especially with all the deaths? As I watched them go, I couldn’t help but wish I was there too, tributing. After all, I did sider Matsumuro-san to be almost like a daughter of mine, as potentially sacrilegious as that was. Shaking my head as I had fallen into the exact trap of worship and dehumanisation I had just decried, I turo Chiyo-san, who was frowning, her face thunderous.

  “What is it, Chiyo-san? I don’t think things went too badly. A few small idiots who don’t have the excuse of grief might have gone against us, but the vast majority are in agreement. We’ve seldom been so united.”

  “I know.” She muttered. “I just ’t help but feel we overlooked something. I am not the Lady Diviner, but I know a bad omen when I feel it.”

  Overlooked something, hmm? I couldn’t think of anything that sprung to mind. “Well, I guess we might cover it in the uping sessions? Though it seems to be fairly teical, regarding resource allocation, Boundary defend more. I am not sure what those of us who haven’t seen the spiritual realm tribute. Even so, we’ll do our best, right?”

  “I hope so.” Chiyo-san said, smoothing her aggrieved features. “I do hope so…”

  ShipTeaser