ShipTeaser

  I have to say the Night Parade is certainly impressive. Looking down at the pandemonium below, I sidered how I would do it if I was going to attack them. The most obvious way would be to rain down Foehn ohat would certainly take out some of them, but with the sheer number and strength of the Yokai below, that would only lead to swift retaliation. No, taking them head-on, even from ambush is stupid. Besides…

  My eyes sed the crowd. I could see numerous types of Yokai, such as a massive pair of Oni, horned ogres who towered above the others, oh deep red skin, the other with pale blue. They look like brother and sister… They were wrestling over a barrel of sake, sloshing it everywhere as they fought, trampling and kig aside other smaller Yokai.

  A great fming wheel, this oh a burning woman trapped inside, was rolling around the edges, her fming hair setting small iridest fires along the road the Parade was travelling, dozens of other wheels full of howling heads and simirly tortured women following like an huard. Is that the Grand Katasharin? It looks powerful…

  “Such a host. To think that they roam Japan at will within the spiritual realm. Any of us caught unawares would surely die.” Esu-san observed warily.

  “Grul… would like to fight those big ones.” He rumbled quietly, pointing cautiously at the two Oni as they brawled happily. “… but Grul thinks even Duke Formor would not be able to defeat all foes down below.”

  Well, hasn’t Grulgrown up? Since being a Chosen Hero he’s definitely been able to reasoer. The Grulgor from before would be champing at the bit to rush in and fight, heedless of the odds. It’s almost enough t a tear to my eye… Waxiimental, I nodded. “Yes, I don’t know how strong the Duke is, but against sheer weight of numbers, including the powerful Hundred Demons…” I could see other Yokai I reised from story and song, as well as from personal experience. Several cats simir to Ginneka and Kinneka were leaping to and fro, while others were drinking deep from barrels and pig at roasted meat.

  Ign the stinging pain I felt at that, and a sense of lingering nostalgia, I turo Haru-san. “It’s all right. We aren’t going to do anything foolish, so rex. Besides, I don’t want to start trouble and end up harmiions with them.” Sure, I killed those Yokai earlier, but they attacked first, weren’t open to iations, and were outliers. If I was to rain down Foehn now and harm, or worse kill Shaeu’s mother or some of her Kamaitachi, that would be a disaster I don’t think I could recover from. “No, we’ll take this as a priceless opportunity to observe the Night Parade in their natural state. So keep a close eye a anything suspicious.”

  I trained my own gaze to find anyone who could be Shaeu’s mother. I did mao spot several Kamaitachi and other Yokai weasels wandering about, bck, brown or blonde-furred, yet none seemed to resemble Shaeu, and from what I gathered her mother had the same amber fur as she did. None of them look that impressive, either, although some are clearly more powerful than our own Kamaitachi.

  There were other fantastic beings amidst the host, numerous weird Tsukumogami boung around, such as pots and barrels, which reminded me unpleasantly of the Kodoku pot from earlier, as well as living ons and armour, looms, farm equipment and other a furnishings. More yths such as the aquatic Kappa, the long-engu and more were all jumbled together, and it really was a sight that could only be seen here in the Boundary. At least for now.

  Several more of the birds that had attacked us flew overhead, only for them to suddenly fall out of the sky with pained cries, nding heavily on the ground, only to be swarmed over by the Parade, tied up and dragged into the packed ranks, meeting a grizzly fate. We slowly crept after the Parade, careful to avoid notice as small groups or lone Yokai often split off from the crowd for a little while, before eventually rejoining them.

  “Hmm, no sign of Shaeu’s mother.” I whispered to myself, after long observation. “Though…” I did have my suspis. There were several carriages with bcked-out windows being pulled by fantastical horse-like Yokai, as well as a dozen or so panquins, being carried on the shoulders of Oni and other powerful beings. Several great snakes were slithering along, each the size of the wyrm that had attacked my Territory so long ago, and great s were attached to their flesh by long nails driven iween the scales, weeping inky blood. These s were looped around a massive, wheeled house, which was at the tre of the host.

  There are other strange veyaoo… a flock of birds was carrying an ornate cage, while a giant snail the size of a bus had windows and openings carved into its shell. If I had to guess, Shaeu’s mother is in one of those… not the snail though, I’d wager…

  As I observed, unwilling to use my Eye to probe too deeply in case the mystical power drew notice we couldn’t handle, Haru-san clutched at my sleeve. When I turo see what she wanted, she whispered an observation to me. “Look, Akio-san. Do you see how they avoid all the shrines and temples? Everything else is fair game, but… not those.”

  “Now that she mentions it, I’ve wohat.” Kinkawa-san said, scratg idly at one pierced ear. “There’s a little shrine just there, right? But the Parade went right past it, even though I see it has inhabitants.”

  More nods from the reed with this. “I see. So, I know there have been casualties and a shrine was destroyed, right. But… was that the Night Parade?” I asked.

  “It is hard to say. The Parade has definitely attacked those caught out and about at night who ced upon them.” Taishakama-san said, thinking. “But I have not heard of any of our shrines being directly attacked.” The reed with him.

  “I see. Good job, Haru-san. This could be important informatio’s watch a bit loo firm that.” As she nodded, happy at my praise, we tio shadow the Night Parade at a safe distance, me tinuing to deploy a little wind element to create dead spots in the air to mask our sounds, marvelling at the chaos whiehow also tained order. It was definitely as if the horde had some dire, probably from a leader. Nurarihyon, if one believes the myths, right? And with all I’ve seehese st three months I’ve no reason not to.

  Kitsune, ghostly men and women, hundreds of glowing fiery balls of light like miniature stars, creatures that shapeshifted endlessly between numerous forms both possible and impossible, creatures that were simply shadows, voids cut into reality, and many more, all were enjoying the revelry, and as they approached a more major shrine which was directly in their path, we all held our breath, only for them to turn, avoiding the divine grounds. To the side the crowd flowed there was a small Buddhist temple, and they avoided that too, streaming through the middle, flutes, horns and drums bring, chaotigs filling the still, Boundary night.

  “I see. It looks like you were right, Haru-san. Their route takes them away from the temples and shrines. Now if only we knew why.” I let out a long sigh. “Well, I guess there’s no point risking it following them further, and while I saw several ghastly carts that could have been your uruma, we might as well do what we came for. If it’s out there we’ll defeat it, right Grulgor?”

  He nodded happily, again smashing a heavy fist into his chest. “Yes, Grul is angry he could not fight those strong foes. Grul o crush and break ao make him feel better!”

  “You heard him.” I grinned. “And even if it’s not there, you should be able to cim the area for your Territory, Taishakama-san. I’d feel better knowing the Diviner’s Territory rotected.”

  “Oho, ied in the Lady Diviner, huh?” Kinkawa-san ughed a touch crudely. “Well, you and everyone else. Rumour has it she’s as beautiful as a goddess, not that anyone has ever seem her fa years. But somehow I doubt you’ll be the first to peek uhat veil.”

  “Show some respect.” Esu-san warned. “Our noble Lady Diviner is not to be thought of in al ways, she is a spiritual light we must all follow iroubling times.”

  Even Haru-san was gring at me, which I thought unfair, as it was Kinkawa-san who was being disgusting, not me. Still, now that I ending more time with women, I uood that apologising was often the best move. “Sorry. I definitely didn’t mean it like that. I get that she’s important, therefore making sure her Territory is defended is a top priority for me.”

  “I see.” Haru-san said ftly. “I thought you were ied in another woman, Akio-san.”

  “I have quite enough.” I promised. “So, shall we go?” I ged the subject desperately, and with that we headed away from the Night Parade, towards the small and mysterious Tsukuyomi-jinja, the shrihat apparently the Diviner dwelt at. As we traversed the streets of Boundary Kyoto, the rippling aurorae of the Boundary overhead fading into silver as time passed, crackles of lightning streaking through the heavens, soundless without thunder, we noticed that they were rgely deserted.

  “I believe the passing of the Night Parade has scared the natives off.” Esu-san observed. “After the fate of those bck birds, I ot say I bme them.”

  “Yeah, it makes our lives easier.” I agreed, as several areas had been joio Taishakama-san’s Territory without i. “But I was hoping for a bit of bat. You tht Grulgor?” At his bitter ugh, I tinued. “Oh well, I suppose we ’t… wait, what’s that?” My ears picked up the sound of wood aal striking stone, and a sibint, unpleasant muttering, as if several beings were having a hushed versation.

  We all stopped to listen, and after a few moments the others could hear it too, as it was closing in. “I think it is our target.” Taishakama-san said, wary. “I would reise those noises anywhere.”

  “Great. I guess this won’t be a bust after all.” I was actually starting to get a bit excited. It wasn’t as if I was a battle juhough I had certainly fought enough battles retly. But I did enjoy the rewards, and not just my own. Seeing my sis, Eri, Shaeu, even people like Haru-san, grow stronger, well, it was addictive. “Haru-san, you’ll back me up. Hopefully you might be able to scrape up another level or twor, you’re with me. It might be a tough fight.” Although probably not… I’ve definitely grown strohough I am handicapped by being rather low on a few of my elements…

  “Do you not wish to see what we do?” Esu-san asked, and I shrugged.

  “Oh yeah, I was supposed to be evaluating you all, wasn’t I? The thing is, I’m not here to evaluate your strength. That always be improved. No, I’m here to see if we work together.”

  “I see. You are rather fident. Though I don’t think it is unearned.” Taishakama-san replied. “But beware, this uruma is no ordinary Yokai, it is strong. Arrogance is poison to the soul.”

  As Esu-san agreed with that se, Haru-san pointed, as approag us along the streets of the Boundary was indeed a grim sight. The cart was massive, easily the size of a rge van, and the grotesque face that headed it, half-transparent and staring with bloodshot eyes, long nk locks of grey hair trailing it like seaweed, mouth full of razor-sharp fangs as long as katanas, was bigger than me. As it saw us the cart sped up, drool spshing from the gaping mouth like rain.

  That’s not all, though. The back of the cart was filled with barrels and pots, which gave me pause, as well as five hunched and cloaked figures, smaller than a person, their exposed skin matg the bck of their cloaks. They were carrying a variety of tools, sacks and strangely enough, what looked like long brooms. One of the figures leapt off the accelerating cart, dashing into the shadows to retrieve something giving off a ruddy glow, before chasing after the wagon and leaping ba.

  “Well, I get the impression this isn’t a Yokai we egotiate with…” Though I thought I would give it a try anyway.

  “There’s no need for violence, we discuss…” I began, only for the uruma to ugh, fangs g together. The shadowy figures riding it also began to chitter and squeal, and one pulled a long pole from the back of the wagon, tipped with a metal colr-like ring, studded with spikes. Is that a man-catcher?

  “All right then. Go for it!” I sigor as iations instantly broke down, and he raced towards our foe. His mace smmed directly into the forehead of the uruma, only for him to tinue forward, his momentum not arrested, as the mace passed through the ghostly form, to sm into the ground. Teeth closed like the jaws of a bear trap, and his mail ierced through, though with the multiple yers, most of the damage revented. Acidic blood scattered and Grulgor bellowed as his fists punched helplessly though the phantasmal Yokai. A man-catcher tried to grab him around the neck, but Grulgor shrugged it off, his massive neck-muscles flexing, shattering the pole, to disappointed chittering from the riders.

  Earth element fred and I sent rock spears shooting from the ground, aiming for the underbelly of the wagon and the head. The wagon itself shuddered, wood pierced, but the face merely howled gleefully as the rocks passed through without doing any harm.

  “Looks like it’s a bit like you.” I said to Haru-san, drawing a scowl from her.

  “No it is not!” she protested, offended. “I look nothing like that! You should have learned how to speak to women by now, Akio-san!” She gathered indigo light around herself, only to unleash several long, brilliant streaks of it, leaving burning afterimages in our vision, and the head r in pain, the intangible flesh of its face starting to melt away where the beams touched. One of the riders tumbled off the wagon, hitting the ground hard, lying still, ay, fluttering cloth where a head should have been, faint steam rising from the stump.

  “I didn’t mean looks, I meant… oh, never mind. I think you are messing with me!” I raced towards the Yokai, unleashing some of my remaining fme energy, burning the mouth of the uruma. Grulgor suffered some minor damage too, but as it released him, several teeth falling free as the phantasmal flesh burned, purified by fme, he grabbed his mad swung at the wagon. Wood screamed in protest befiving way, and jagged needles of wood cascaded in all dires, one wheel boung loose, causing the uruma to list to the side, face grinding into the ground. Grulgor was smmed by the er of the wagon, staggering him, but with a great roar e he pushed back, halting the Yokai.

  “Up we go.” I leapt onto the wagon, my Twin Fangs sshing out, cutting through the brooms and other defehe creatures on board raised. One was cut in half, though no blood ilt, and as it fell I could see the robes were hollow ay. The sed was chopped down too, leaving two remaining. One was felled by a burst of light from Haru-san, and the uruma screamed as more bolts started disiing its ghostly visage. It tried to retreat since Grulgor was holding it immobile, but Grulgor merely roared with delighted ughter, mace cleaving the sed wheel into flinders of wood aal, the wagon now pletely colpsed, barrels and boxes spilling off, bright objects in red, yellow and other colours spilling onto the path like a glittering rain. Are those…

  The st cloaked figure leapt from the wagon, desperately scooping up the falleherites and other objects into a sack it carried, but a tongue of fme from me ied it. More nces of light were bsting into the pinned uruma, its shrieks filling the still air, and I looked back to see our three escorts looking at each other wryly, impressed as we dismahe threat.

  The wagon trembled, shuddering, and the disiing disembodied head drew in a long, shuddering breath, and I could feel ether in the surrounding area diminishing as it was absorbed by the Yokai. Before I could cry a warning it exhaled through its bloody mouth with numerous broken bde-like teeth, and the scream was a cussive hammer of force, aether shimmering as the soundwave tore up the ground, destru heading towards Haru-san, its tormentor.

  Shit. I turo move, only for the lid on one barrel to pop off, and a mass of graspiacles gushed out, filing around me and grabbing at my arms and legs, momentarily stopping me. My Eye fred, telli was a reasure Barrel [Possessed Tsukumogam, but that didn’t matter. Fme fred ience around me, a scalding aura that set the graspiacles abze, and as the barrel itself tried t me into the inky depths that glittered with golden and silver pinpricks, I tore free, dropping Foehn into the void-like maw of the Tsukumogami.

  Haru-san was a little worse for wear, silvery blood on her fad one arm, but I was relieved to see most of the attack had been physical, passing through her, only the shimmering fragments of aether left over causing her any harm. Seeing my panicked gaze, she gave me a surprisingly sweet smile, before raising one hand, gathering a massive amount of her light element. “I guess I gave the ghost a taste of its own medie.” Her smile faded, and she sshed down her arm, unleashing the brilliant deep blue beam of energy, pung through the forehead of the ghastly head, one eye exploding from the impact, the wagon itself bored through, the beam travelling into the far distance.

  “Grul thinks that was well done! Even Grul would have been hurt by that!” he cried, kig and pung the wagon, his mace fotten as he worked out his aggression.

  “Well, thank you.” Haru-san said, not sure how to take the pliment, as she didn’t see herself as a fighter.

  “Yeah, I have to agree. You have surprising potential. Though I hope you’ve kept some strength for tomorrow?” I asked, kig the bzing Tsukumogami out of the wagon, where it shattered, spilling a heap of old copper, silver, bronze and even a few gold s over the ground. Another barrel stirred, but before it could respond I had cleaved it in two, spatial rending activating, cutting it ly, as well as pierg the wagon bed, opening a massive gash in the charred wood. The Yokai screamed, though the sound was fading, the purification from Haru-san’s light element a poison to the creature.

  “I have.” Haru-san said. “Are… are you sure I do it?”

  “You’ve been practising, right?” I hopped over to the fading head, fme energy gathering, stoked to a fury by a trickle of wind. When the green and yellow energies mixed, a tide of fme gushed down, and the uruma burhe ghostly bone under unravellihereal flesh charring bd crumbling away, turning to ash. The wagon then colpsed, the wood turning to grains of dust, which quickly burned brilliantly, before vanishing, gone forever.

  You have gained in strength. Your level has increased from o y-One. Your…

  “Besides, as I said, this time we won’t be trying it in bat, unlike when I wanted you to do it in Inuyama. So we adjust, take it slow. I believe in you. Besides…” I grinned. “… you gained ahree levels there.” I praised her, ign my own level-up message for now. “Tonight worked out just as I hoped. Well, apart from when you got bsted by that st-gasp attack. I thought my heart would stop for a sed there.” In the heat of battle I’m still a little careless. I need another round of training from Ulfuric to iron out those st fws, but when will I have the time?

  “Don’t do that.” Haru-san pined, and I cocked my head, puzzled. On seeing that, she grimaced. “You know what, don’t act like you are fused.” She sighed. “Well, I admit I was worried, but…” she looked down at her minor injuries. “pared to the past… these are nothing.”

  Shit, not what I wanted her to think about. Time to ge the subject… “All right, it’s looting time. But first…” I had Haru-saroy the remaining couple of Tsukumogami that were hiding among the wreckage from the ghostly wagoher of them were particurly powerful, but she did gain another level out of it. That just left piles of shiny objects littering the streets.

  “So what are those?” Kinkawa-san asked, looking at the spilled Etherites.

  “Booty.” I grinned, rummaging through. “I have no idea why the uruma was roaming this part of Kyoto, colleg them, but… ah, jackpot.” I found a single shining blue Etherite in the pile, as well as five green ones. “Ixitt will be pleased, if he hasn’t mao soury.” I then gathered a dozen yellow ones and gave them to Haru-san. “Keep them for emergencies.”

  “So, uh… do we get any?” Kinkawa-san asked, and at my look, he shrugged. “’t bme a guy f. So what do they do? They feel… like ether?”

  “That’s right. They are trated ether, so they are rather useful, although below green they don’t add up to much. All right, you each have a red, e and yellow one so you familiarise yourselves with them.” I fished out nine from the pile and hahem over. “The rest…” I looked tor, who had dragged a sack out of the wreckage, and was stuffing the remaining glittering pile of Etherites into it. “… we’ll take. I used up most of my supply in an emergency. Call it aermination fee.”

  “What about the s?” Kinkawa-san asked, and I scooped up a handful, giving them to him.

  “Well, I’m not sure how useful they are, here in the Boundary, but you have a handful each as a souvenir. Oh, and now we have some carrying capacity, we’ll have those feathers back please.” I and Haru-san also took a pocketful, while Grulgathered up the rest. When he was done, mace over one shoulder, bulging sack over the other, looking like a post-apocalyptical Santa Cus, I chivvied everyone along. “We might as well finish up. The threat blog you from Tsukuyomi-jinja is gone, so we’ll do what we came for.”

  “Yes, well, I am quite vinced of your talents. Suzuki-san and this… Grulgor… too.” Taishakama-san mused, and his two panions agreed. “I believe we safely tell Kudou-san you are someone we work with.”

  Great. That’s the other mission aplished then. It didn’t take us long to reach the shrine, which was small, set into the foot of a mountain, bubbling hot-springs all around it. Yet the power here was unreal. “This Territory is only Rank 2, but it feels… noticeably strohan that. It’s like the Spring of Clear Refles.” I looked around, fasated. It feels a little familiar, but I’m sure I’ve never felt it before.

  As we looked around the magnifit shrihe buildings modestly-sized yet made from beautiful white and blue marble, with silver iny studded with diamonds, moonstones and other clear gems, numerous cypress trees growing everywhere, trailing vines full of pure white flowers casg down like veils, a figure started ing towards us, exiting the main shrine. On seeing us, the man bowed low.

  Who is that? He looks old-fashioned, wearing regal silk garments and his face is made-up, with bone white powder and deep violet lipstick. He’s also carrying a golden staff, topped with a huge diamond…

  “Wele, ravellers.” The man spoke, his at strange, and the Japanese archaic, yet somehow we had no trouble uanding it. “This shrine is dedicated to my divine Lord Tsukuyomi, the moon that guides us. I am Prince Shōtoku, after my death I found myself here, enshrined. It is not a bad existence, being able to serve my God ih, seeing the priestesses e and go. Though the sumuro Tsukiko is perhaps the greatest of them all. It was a blessing to finally meet her.”

  Who? My puzzlement must have shown, as Taishakama-san answered, his toinged with wonder. “I khe noble and sacred Lady Diviner was from Matsumure, but none even speak of her name anymore. To think we would hear it here. Tsukiko. Daughter of the moon. How fitting.” He seemed awed by the meeting, and the Prince chuckled.

  “Yes, she has a blessing from Tsukuyomi that few boast.” I felt his gaze linger on me just a fra. “Though as the moon waxes, it too must wane.” His powdered face fell, p. “Though Tsukiko-sama would not hesitate to choose the correct path. But it seems a lonely one. If you should see the opportunity, please extend a kind hand to her. Those who serve the Gods have the hardest path of all, as you will no doubt find.”

  “Well, she’s certainly got a lot on her mind.” I agreed. “But at least now Taishakama-san protect this Territory. That’ll be a weight off her mind. As for the other matters… I’ll do what I , Prince Shōtoku. Though I ’t say I really believe in prophed destiny.” Although my Fht seems real, though with it only triggering a couple of times it could still be ce. And if it is a Lapce’s Demon type sario… well… “But if misfortune is heading our way, I’ll just crush it.”

  “A bit arrogant, saying you’ll help out the Diviner, but… I guess you’ve got some skills to back that up.” Kinkawa-san muttered.

  “I am relieved to know that Tsukiko-sama and my lord Tsukuyomi are held in such high regard.” The Prince decred, pleased. “In that case, go with my blessing, children of this nd, and you, wanderer who is like us yet not.” He addressed Grulgor, who surprisingly enough merely nodded.

  Your Css, Kami-Blessed, has increased from level 9 to level 10.

  Your Fortune, Majesty, Charm and League has increased by one

  Your Aether has increased by thirty-three.

  Your ability to gather and utilise Adherence has slightly increased. Your maximum capacity for Adherence has increased.

  I felt his blessile on me, and his favour, and though it was not the stro I had received, it was ohat seemed to fit me the best. As my League increased, I could feel my ability to handle adherence further improve, and my body was brimming with strength. A bonus I didn’t expect. The cve has been very profitable, power-wise, and we haven’t even really started yet…

  “I thank you for your kind blessing. I’ll strive to be worthy of it.” I bowed again, even more deeply.

  “I trust that you will. Now, I get so few visitors here. Would you care to stay for some tea?” the Prince asked.

  “I’m sorry.” I deed for us all. “Though perhaps we visit again before I leave. Time is passing, and cve is tomorrow.” I turo the priests from Tsukuyomi fa. “Besides, didn’t you want to try and link up to Tenryu-ji? If we hurry we might make it now the Night Parade has passed us by.”

  “Yes. That’s true.” Taishakama-san agreed. “My apologies, noble Prince Shōtoku. Iroubled times, the faithful who still believe in and serve the kami and greater Gods most e together. So we must demur for now.”

  The others echoed him, and the Prince sighed, a traencholy in his voice as he bade us farewell. “So be it. I have waited long here at this shrine for pany. I bide my time a while longer.”

  As we left the shrine, I gnced back, to see the prince looking at us, his dark brown eyes immeasurably sad. Damn, it must be hard, being a kami after death, spending all this time alone… oh well, maybe the Diviner… no, Tsukiko-san, get him some pany, with a few Buildings…

  ********

  I opened my eyes to the rays of the sun streaming in through a window. Blinking, I looked at my watch, to see it was nearly five am. That’s ter than it should be by a few hours. Either we were in the Boundary lohan I thought, or… perhaps the etheric tide is kig in? Looks like a slowing…

  “Finally up then?” Aliyah said from where she was lying against one wall, looking bleary-eyed and dishevelled, a pistol on her p. “Damn, watg you guys sleep was a fug hassle.”

  “Mind yuage, sis.” Her brother warned her, as Grulgor and Haru-san stirred.

  “Fuck it, the kids ain’t here Trey, and it makes you want to curse, doesn’t it?” Her gaze strayed to Hyath, who reparing some tea, looking very happy. “Having to watch that…”

  “Watch what?” I asked, and Hyath flihough her hands were still w smoothly.

  “Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.” Aliyah grated. “Your maid really does love you, it seems. It’s siing.” She yawned hugely, stretg, and I couldn’t help but watch her. When she saw where my own eyes were looking, she returned a ft gre.

  “Eyes over there, boss.” She said sarcastically. “If you want to ogle someone, your handsy maid will be more than happy, I’m sure.”

  Okay, just what was she doing? As Hyath passed me a cup of tea, I dow quickly, feeling the warmth spread through me. I guess it doesn’t matter. We are behind schedule, and today is cve, so it’s going to be ludicrously busy.

  “That was good. Thanks Hyath.” As she giggled and blushed, I helped Haru-san to her feet. “Right, back to the ryokan, we have to get ged for a long day of politics. We did all we could here, now it’s time to plunder Kiyomizu-dera for all it’s worth.” My grin was vicious. Light element. I’m not sure which of us will mao master it, but I’ll be damned if we don’t have our mirror brimming with it by the end of the m…