Utsushiyo Monogatari: Crimson Shadow

Chapter Eighteen: Broken

"Harima is under attack," Meijin announced loudly, quickly scurrying through the Romon gate, message scroll in his hand. The other Kitsune immediately gathered together to discuss the matter. Ryoku frowned with a troubled look as he stepped out of the hall to grab the scroll off Meijin. That was Makoto's territory and it was unlike him to transmit messages the human way. 

As he unscrolled the message, his eyes moved back and forth over the words. Then with a hand, he suddenly whacked the unsuspecting Meijin on the head. "My father told me what a special idiot you are. He wasn't wrong. Don't yell out which province is getting attacked." 

"Yes sir," Meijin winced at the faux pas. Human political tensions were beyond his understanding. Admiring his young master, far had he grown from being brash days to  manipulative. The increasing patronage of certain important courtiers including the now famous onmyōji, rumoured to be partly their kind, had satisfied their Kami patrons. In a short period of time, Ryoku had surpassed the late Lord Yakō.

"This is trouble...," Ryoku muttered. With one hand open, three bluish kitsune fire orbs appeared. Whispering inaudible to them, the kitsune orbs took off into the air and immediately changed into a large plague-like swarm of butterflies. The message has been sent. 

"My lord, why butterflies?"

"Only those who should know will understand the meaning," Ryoku answered as he watched the butterflies move northwards towards the direction of the imperial palace. Humans stopped to look the large swarm in the air with mixed wonderment and fear. 

An uprising again amidst winter and an earthquake had recently killed three in the imperial palace. The meetings of the Daiyōkai Uji no Kami were no longer functioning. Only known allies he had now were Onigami, Makoto and Amanozako. Katori was militarising quickly in Owari according to sources  but the initial Taira rebellion from Ryujin's side. Now a Fujiwara-no-Sumitomo was starting up in Oyureihime's area with sea piracy and spreading towards Harima via the inland sea then Kinai would be an open for human rife. 

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A cold gust of wind sent the white mane of the horse flying as she stopped it from trotting in front of a disappointed looking leading warrior and his group walking away from Kashima shrine. It did not matter whom was in the shrine or how many days they came. Takemikazuchi was adamant on not favouring any side in the current uprisings. Whatever she did was her choice, as far as he was concerned. The man had a dignified appearance though a little bedraggled. Bowing, she eased the horse around his group.

"My lady, please wait," he said softly. She must be a high priestess, despite the plain looking shrine clothing, to be riding on a white horse of the Ōkamisama on shrine land.

Halting the horse, she dismounted gracefully with the pairs of eyes on her. 

"I do apologise, my lady. I am Taira no Masakado. I was wondering if you can see any outcome in mine," he introduced himself politely and extremely humbly. There was no dishonesty which were often rife among the nobles. 

"My Lord, please give me your hand," she opened her palm. 

"I beg your pardon, my lady but isn't it improper?"

"I can't tell you anything by just looking, my Lord," she reluctantly smiled to put him at ease and gestured with her open palm. Hesitantly with a degree of confusion, he placed his hand on hers and bade the rest to give them some privacy. 

"Lord Taira...," she paused for a bit to ponder about the delicacy of what she saw and sensed - an impending death. Humans were delicate in their emotions. His men were far from hearing.