A Song for the Devil

Transformation

How does one prepare themselves to be in the presence of a great spirit? The prayers and sacrifices don't prepare you for this. Nothing prepares you for this. The moment you see them you are under the influence of their magnetism, pulled in whatever direction they will. At least, that's how it feels to me. I cannot speak for the other two witnesses.

As the Peacock moves, I move, I follow, and so do Nobunaga and Hideyoshi. It doesn't really feel like we are walking though, I'm not even completely sure that our feet are touching the ground as we follow the path that leads down to the water gazebo.

Once there the peacock stops and turns towards us. I assume they are hearing what I am hearing, even though the strong, familiar, female voice is clearly inside my head. "Billions, perhaps even a trillion different branches of time and reality I have been searching for you. Eons have passed since I last ruled over this realm and only this stream of time gives me the chance to overthrow my brothers and rule again." As the white beast begins to descend from the sky and on to the water her large wings open and images of a great black dragon and the great nine tailed fox flash with the figures of great warriors and kings of the past at their feet all of them behind the image of Kenshin and Mitsuhide.

"Did you really think the only reason that Uesugi brat treated you so ruthlessly was because of the Oda?" A small chuckle comes from the spirit as she rests on top of the water like a swan. "I have witnessed it all turn out in thousands of different variations: you're Nobunaga's bride, you're his concubine, you fall pregnant with the dragon spawn and kill yourself, or you run from Nobunaga and into the arms of another for marriage. All of those other options and your flames have never burned brighter than in this version of reality where you've chosen these two men and they in turn have chosen you without killing each other." Warmth spreads through me at her words, all my wonderings about the way they . "This is the first path that has a glimmer of hope of ending both the dragon and the fox's reigns." Both Nobunaga and Hideyoshi grab one of my hands, although I hardly notice as the heavenly creature before me continues. "Now that I have entered your realm in this form my siblings will know and they will reinforce their pieces. Because they've been using their powers to keep or to war for their lands their powers are weaker and spread thinner than mine and because I have waited patiently for the right path, I am able to endow you with more of my strength than they could dream of giving now." Nobunaga steps forward, offering himself as the vessel for her power, and she laughs. "Leave it to a man to think he can handle my flames. You don't have what is needed for this, because it will take too much of a sacrifice."

My voice is steady as I remember the dream with my father, the game of go, sacrificing important pieces to ensure the win in the end, isn't that what I did? "What do you need from me Kujaku? I am willing." Both my hands are squeezed a little tighter.

"Before you decide how willing you are, you should know the price of holding so much fire from the phoenix spirit that you speak to." My throat tightens as it continues to sink in that I am talking to one of the great creatures of destruction and creation.

Nobunaga speaks firm and low. "Whatever the price is, let me pay it." Hideyoshi follows, "And if one man isn't enough, could two suffice?"

More laughter erupts from the dazzling eternal bird. "All the men in the world couldn't replace what Rina has. I told you, her flames have never burned brighter in any other stream of time or reality and if they hadn't shown up the way they did earlier this evening, I wouldn't have bothered making myself known. It seems that the Oda's own powerful flames and the Toyotomi normally calming winds increase the flames that have been in you since birth. Your flames should be enough to survive my gifts, but you will lose every reincarnation ahead of you but one, and I cannot tell you which one it will be."