Chapter 25

Subashiri Police Koban, Subashiri, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka

May 13, 2013

1:10 P.M.

Ohta Ichigo

“Understand? We are not going to give the initiative to these invaders as you had suggested. Not while we still have thousands of troops, not while our government is still with us and our allies all over the world are still fighting, and not when we have most of the proper equipment to wage open war. Now I want you to spend the rest of the day thinking about that while I talk business with Izanami.”

With those words Major Suzumoto finally ended his tirade at the unhappy inari and promptly turned towards Izanami, but not before taking a brief look at the doorway to see if Private Akiyama, who he had earlier sent to Colonel Kanda with the sheets of paper containing the information I asked from my daughter, had returned.

Behind him Ran was left depressed and humiliated while Mrs. Taro comforted her.

“Major Suzumoto, aren’t you being too cavalier regarding the seers and oracles in the Outsider’s employ?” Izanami asked in a worried tone. “Ran might only be reciting conventional wisdom from a very new school of thought without thinking deeper about it, but all facts accepted as such involves years of trial and error by various qualified beings. There is wisdom in what she said.”

“Izanami,” I quickly cut in to spare Major Suzumoto the effort of having to reword his lecture at Ran earlier to someone I assume must be less able to understand the mindset of the modern soldier. “Among the armies of the world it is conventional knowledge that giving the initiative to your opponent always leads to defeat. Major Suzumoto is only acting in accordance with what he is taught, backed up by the collective experience of thousands of years of warfare.”

After seeing Izanami nod in understanding, I immediately asked her to start teaching us how Divination is properly conducted and to do it fast.

My words had me receiving Dad’s silent approbation while Major Suzumoto felt chagrined by the look of his face.

“Very well Ichigo. Fast, fast…let us start by disregarding the definitions. There is no use in learning the distinction between seer and oracle when we are only concerned with the results.”

As I nodded in approval of her acceding to my request for speed, the goddess continued.

“Most divinations involve gods and spirits, due to them being the ones who perform the actual act of looking into the future…and the past, in a handful of cases I remember.”

“As an intelligence officer I could appreciate how useful seeing into the past can be, but in what context were you, and presumably other gods and spirits, asked to look into the past?” Major Suzumoto asked with brimming curiosity.

“It was in the context of investigating crimes,” Izanami replied. “Although again, I must point out that it was exceedingly rare.”

In a flash, I suddenly had this amusing image of the famous anime character Conan Edogawa dressed in Izanami’s primitive attire and pointing a sharp and short spear at someone while declaring that they are the murderer at the same time.

“Did anyone use the ability to look into the past to settle contract disputes?” Kentaro suddenly asked from behind Kurumi.

Before I, Major Suzumoto or Dad were able to turn around and ask him to stop derailing the conversation, Izanami gave a quick answer.

“Contracts were sworn in my name and in public, witnessed by the entirety of their entire clan. And that was only after the parties have finished negotiating the terms. If they never come to an agreement, then no contract swearing happens at all.”

With only a second’s pause Izanami returned to the topic.

“Now, for the divinations that don’t involve gods and spirits, that was because the humans involved had their own magic. And Ao belongs to that special category.”

I felt proud of my daughter, and I saw that Kurumi was too judging by the smile she sent down at Ao’s head.

“Since Ao has her own power, I must teach her from the point of view of the gods. To do this I propose we perform a god related divination right now.”

“Your holiness, does that mean you will possess her here? When physically present in literally the same room?” Ran asked with a barely interested tone, probably because she was still down from Major Suzumoto’s tirades.

“I will. With permission from Ao and her parents, of course.”

A second after hearing Izanami’s answer Kurumi and I looked at each other.

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Subashiri Police Koban, Subashiri, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka

May 13, 2013

1:11 P.M.

Ikeda Kurumi

I still remember what we made Ao promise two days ago. That Ao would not let herself be possessed by anyone.

And now…this.

“Do you want to ask the questions? Or can I do it?” My boyfriend asked.

I thought about it for a second or two, and then replied that I’m only going to ask one before turning over the questioning to him.

“Izanami,” I asked after turning my head to her. “My daughter currently has broken bones in her shoulder and ribcage. Would possessing her do something to her healing bones?”

Izanami blinked, and then pondered over the question I asked.

“...no. But body movement was very helpful with putting oracles in the needed frame of mind. And I’ve never been part of a divination that doesn’t have the oracle actively moving. Hmm…those broken ribs are your daughter’s only ailment, right? What if…”

“What if?” Ichigo asked as I felt an equal mix of hope…embarrassment and frustration.

‘Why did I not ask Izanami if she can fix Ao’s broken bones? Stupid, stupid Kurumi! Stupid!’

“...no.I don’t think I can heal her bones in a not creepy way.”

“What do you mean by ‘not creepy’?” I eagerly asked.

“Remember what I told you yesterday? About pantheon members being constrained by stories and beliefs told about them?”

Major Suzumoto, who was already steadily looking and listening to Izanami, suddenly felt like a predator looking at its prey upon hearing those words.

“Yes, the two of us remember. You are a goddess of creation and death.”

“Oh, I get it,” Ran commented, looking more cheerful now that before. “When talking about creating life, you are talking about genes!”

“Correct, Ran! To heal her bones faster, I’m going to turn temporarily turn her into a mutant!” Izanami said with a smile.

The room was silent for the next few seconds, with everyone staring at the goddess whose smile wilted into embarrassment.

“You…”

Everyone turned to look at Ichigo when he started talking.

“I’m sorry. I could try not moving Ao’s body while I’m possessing her.”

“No, wait. Izanami, are you in complete control of…everything when you said you can temporarily turn her into a mutant to heal faster?”

“Ichigo, are you seriously considering that?” I asked him incredulously.

“I’m only considering all the options.” He replied back in a steady manner. “Especially if it means Ao is now able to run away from danger.”

After a few seconds of silently staring at each other, I turned to Izanami, who herself was looking at me and Ichigo.

“Ao will be completely safe with your method of healing her?”

“Yes. Nothing bad will happen to her because I desire that nothing bad will happen to her.”

I was almost sold on the idea. Almost. There is only one thing that was holding me back.

“Ao,” I asked while looking down at my daughter’s head. “Are you alright with letting Izanami heal you by…turning you into a mutant?”

I wanted to get my daughter’s consent on this, never mind that as her parents we should be the ones in charge of making decisions for her, because this method was extremely unconventional.

‘Speaking of consent, although I appreciate the silence and freedom I wonder why my parents, parents in law and Mrs. Taro weren’t making any complaints about this right now.’

Ao looked up into my eyes, and…stared mournfully into them.

“Ao?”

“Mama I don’t want to drink Izanami’s bad tasting milk.”

As my face twisted because of Ao’s phrasing, Izanami gave her response to those words.

“I’m sorry, but you have to Ao. Where else will your body get the needed calcium and carbohydrates from?”

Ao broke eye contact with me and looked at Izanami.

“But it tastes so bad that it says here that I will remember the taste for the rest of my life. Ms. Izanami, why is your milk supposed to taste bad if its freshly made?”

“Because of how much calcium I’m putting in the mixture of soy and rice milk. Calcium by itself tastes very bitter, and that is because the human body is trying to tell you eating or drinking too much calcium is bad for your health.”

“And yet you are putting in so much calcium that milk will taste bitter?” I asked. At the same time I was starting to have second thoughts about Izanami’s healing of my daughter’s bones.

“Where else would I introduce the needed amount of calcium to repair Ao’s bones in minutes? Don’t worry, I’m going to concentrate all the leftover calcium in her feces. One visit to the toilet, and the poisonous calcium will be gone from her body.”

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Subashiri Police Koban, Subashiri, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka

May 13, 2013

1:23 P.M.

Ohta Ichigo

“It tasted so bad,” my daughter loudly grumbled at everyone with a pout while standing beside Izanami in the middle of the Police Koban’s cleared lobby, dressed in a child sized blue iromuji created by Ran as a replacement for the extremely smelly and sweaty hospital gown that Kurumi was currently folding for washing or disposal at the back of the room.

“But your bones are healed now,” Izanami replied while holding Ao’s right hand with her left.

“And I never made so much pee and poo and sweat in my entire life.”

“But in turn your body is now completely detoxified...is that the right term?”

“It is,” Kurumi confirmed, having finished packing the gown away and was currently giving Ao a frown. Something I was also doing at the same time.

“I’m still not happy.”

“Ao,” I finally spoke out. “Stop being so ungrateful and thank the person who treated your injuries.”

Ao frowned back at me.

I bit back the curse that threatened to come out of my mouth upon seeing this defiant misbehavior from my daughter, when she is supposed to be on a job of all possible times. At the same time, I felt relieved that I heeded my spontaneous idea of continuing to ask Ao everything I could regarding our enemies and writing it on paper. Otherwise Major Suzumoto would rightfully complain that almost nothing productive happened this day.

‘Speaking of Major Suzumoto…what is he doing?’

Major Suzumoto was still staring at Izanami, and had been -

“Ms. Izanami, can you create new skin? How about arms, or legs or brain?” Major Suzumoto suddenly asked. At the same time Ran, who had been directing all her attention to Izanami since earlier, suddenly looked hopeful.

‘Why didn’t I think of that myself? It was so obvious.’

“Except for the brain, I could help create those. Why?”

“There were a lot of wounded Self Defense Forces personnel from the battle two days ago. They are currently being tended to in the Higashiguchi Fujisengen Shrine.”

“Alright, but I have to attend to them one by one.”

“It’s alright, as long as you can give them back their skin, their flesh, their arms and legs. But it would only happen after you teach us proper divination, of course,” Major Suzumoto said, his face turning towards Ao at the latter half of his statement.

‘Oh damn you. I can discipline my daughter thank you very much.’

“Ao, you are going to thank Izanami for healing you. And then you are going to listen to her lesson. Or else you are not allowed to eat anything sweet this week,” I told Ao.

Ao always had a weak spot for sweets. Threaten her sweets eating day and -

“Thank you for healing me Ms. Izanami,” Ao said in an openly sullen manner.

I can’t help but sigh at Ao’s current behavior.

“You’re welcome,” Izanami said in a tone of equal parts awkwardness and worry. “So, let’s start now?”

“Ok,” my daughter replied, still in a sullen manner.

“So, first off, places. Everyone stand up, form a big circle around me and Ao.”

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Subashiri Police Koban, Subashiri, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka

May 13, 2013

1:24 P.M.

Ikeda Kurumi

As everyone had gathered around my daughter and Izanami in a circle, I was thinking back to Ao’s misbehavior.

My daughter’s episode was embarrassing and frustrating. Mrs. Taro saw it happen, and then Major Suzumoto interrupted me from giving my daughter a gentle lecture by…of all things, guilt tripping her with the lives of other people.

An overreaction, if I ever saw one.

It’s a fortunate thing that my fiance quickly managed to make Ao give in...by threatening her sweets eating day…

‘Surely Mrs. Taro isn’t going to make a mark down on us because of sugar. Every child loves sweets. And four is too early to wean a child off sugar. Right?’

“Now, let us start with music…actually, sound might be the better term.” Izanami said as everyone finished making a circle around her and Ao. “Besides faith, sound is one of the commonalities for putting an oracle in the proper state of mind all around the world. In my case, communal singing, drums and clap sticks were the musical instruments used. But since everyone doesn’t know the language my people used, and we are going for speed…let’s improvise. Everyone, please follow this rhythm as best as you can.”

After saying that Izanami clapped her hands once, twice, and then stomped on the ground. One second after that she clapped her hands again and then stomped after two consecutive claps.

“Alright. Everyone, start clapping and stomping now.”

After a few seconds of unsynchronized noises, everyone managed to perform the rhythm right.

Half a minute of synchronized clapping and stomping later, Izanami started to shout something at Ao.

“How are you feeling Ao?! Are you still angry?

My daughter didn’t reply, but she was clapping and stomping along with everyone.

A minute later Izanami asked the same question. This time my daughter did respond, by slowly shaking her head.

“Alright! Do you feel that you want to dance to the sounds?!”

Ao blinked, stopped clapping and stomping, and then shyly looked down at the floor.

“Oh, why are you feeling shy?!”

“Because people are going to laugh at me if I don’t know how to dance, just like that other kid on TV last month!” Ao replied with a yell.

‘What? Ok, I didn’t know that.’

“Ao, no one is going to laugh at you here for not knowing how to dance!” I said in an effort to encourage her. “You have to start somewhere!”

A moment later Izanami yelled out her own attempt at encouragement, and it was…a very unique one.

“Ao! Don’t be embarrassed, because no one will laugh at you for dancing in a religious ritual! Doing that is rude!”

There was a slight falter in the rhythm from everyone as we heard Izanami call this impromptu performance a religious ritual, but the clapping and stomping returned to its earlier synchronicity after a few seconds.

All except Ao, who was still shyly looking down at the floor.

“Then, do want to dance as you like beside me?!” Izanami asked.

My daughter looked up at Izanami for a few seconds before giving a very uncertain nod.

“Alright! Let’s dance!”

Izanami then started to dance in the center of the circle.

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Subashiri Police Koban, Subashiri, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka

May 13, 2013

1:26 P.M.

Ohta Ichigo

Izanami whirled in alternating circles and counter circles, her feet stomping in time with our claps and stomps. Her hands were pretending that they were holding something cylindrical, perhaps a gohei or onusa in both of her hands, but the swinging of her arms wasn’t slow. It was fast and random, and if she really was holding two gohei or onusa they would have collided with each other multiple times already.

It was amateurish, something every miko and traditional dancer would be looking down on. And yet…and yet I can’t feel embarrassed on Izanami’s behalf because she had a big smile on her face as she danced.

And then my daughter timidly joined in the dancing with her own…interpretation.

In time with our claps and stomps she hopped forward, backward, then forward. Then right, left, right. Forward, backward, forward. Right, left, right.

Ao…was like a bunny trying to dance, and I judging by the smile on Kurumi’s face my wife was thinking the same thing.

After a few more repetitions of that she stopped hopping. And then she started dancing.

She whirled in a clockwise circle while travelling in a straight line, her feet not stomping in time with our claps. But the moment we stomped the floor, she will stop whirling and clap her hands together beside her slightly smiling face. The moment we clapped again she whirled counterclockwise, and travelled in a straight line that was at a right angle to the line she made before.

Around two minutes later I could finally conclude that she was travelling inside the circle we had formed around her and Izanami in an octagon that surrounded the dancing goddess in the center.

“Are you feeling good?!” Izanami asked Ao all of a sudden. “Are you feeling you are dancing to your heart’s desire?!”

I didn’t hear any reply from Ao, nor did I see any reaction that hinted at a reply. My daughter just kept dancing with a fully blossomed smile on her face.

“Alright! And now, faith! Let’s see…Ao, do you believe with all your heart that you could see the future better with my help?!”

Again Ao continued dancing, and it was at that point I realized that Izanami must be using telepathy to hear Ao’s answer.

“You do?! Then here we go!”

A second later Izanami disappeared from the center of the circle, and Ao’s dancing jerked to a stop. And then Ao’s eyes glowed white, like the headlights of a vehicle turned on in the middle of the day.

The glowing eyes made everyone except Ran stop clapping and stomping. On my part it was because Izanami has given no instructions on what to do after she possesses my daughter.

Ao then began speaking as she stood inside the circle, but Izanami’s voice was the one that came out.

“Ok. Possession is done. Now we start the Divination proper. Ao, Major Suzumoto, pay attention. You too Ran. I’m confident Divination is an advanced topic that Inari or older inari kitsunes won’t be teaching you or your sister until you two are older.”

‘Oh. So divination is magical college level stuff? Good to know Ao is a college level prodigy, in a manner of speaking.’

“Major Suzumoto, you are the supplicant. You, as the supplicant, are the person who asks questions related to the future. Ran had mentioned earlier that you are supposed to ask questions with only you as the point of view, but that was inaccurate.”

Major Suzumoto clapped his hands, and suddenly had this vindicated look on his face. At the same time Ran was left looking confused and humiliated at the same time.

“Although I could understand why Ran made that mistake. It has been a very long time since Divination had affected Japanese politics.”

“But what about the Imperial Court’s onmyodo - “

Izanami quickly interrupted the question Ran blurted out.

“Asking for lucky days and times for rites and events is not what I consider affecting Japanese politics. Deciding to start a war because victory has been delivered to you, declaring this particular son as the heir instead of the eldest, deciding which agreement with whom is going to lead to prosperity or doom. Examples like those, decided with Divination, are what I consider affecting Japanese politics.”

Ran looked chastised by the goddess’ explanation.

“And said time when divination affected Japanese politics was long over when people started to involve Inari and the kitsune in divination in…around the Onin war. So I could confidently say Inari, and most of the younger gods of Japan have no experience with the kind of divination Ao and I are about to do now. That is an additional reason for you to pay attention now.”

As Ran nodded her head, Izanami had my daughter turn her head back to Major Suzumoto’s eager face and continued talking.

“As a supplicant you can ask questions on behalf of other people, especially when you do so as the representative of a government or army. But there are two issues you have to remember regarding Divination rituals. Do you want me to explain later after the divination is finished or now before I give the answers.”

I thought Major Suzumoto would pick to discuss the issues after he receives the answers from the Divination ritual. Instead he asked to discuss the issues now before Izanami gives the answers.

“Very well. The first issue is offerings.”

‘Uh oh.’

Major Suzumoto’s eagerness was washed away by wariness in an instant, judging from the look of his face.

“For all god related divinations, offerings to the god to make them happy are a requirement. But when it comes to supplicants on behalf of other people, the offering must come from the resources of the said people. And it must be one that would make the said people feel the emotion of sacrificing.”

As Major Suzumoto slowly nodded, still looking wary for an incoming issue to deal with, Izanami continued.

“So for example, if the government of Japan is the one on whose behalf a Divination ritual is being performed for, then the offering must belong to the government as a whole. Say…a portion of the salaries of all the employees of the government for every consultation.”

“Speaking as a government employee, that is unacceptable,” Mrs. Taro suddenly spoke out.

“My government colleague is right. That is very unacceptable,” Major Suzumoto agreed.

“Well, that is for the usual god related Divinations. Ao won’t need an offering to make her happy, the contract is already enough. And what we are doing right now is only a teaching lesson. Now let’s move on to the second issue, something that I’m sure is no different from what Ran had been taught about Divination by older inari. The answers from the ritual.”

“The answers?” Major Suzumoto said as he glared at Izanami through my daughter’s possessed body, an action that I could understand from his perspective.

He, as an intelligence officer, is being told that there is an issue with the results of a process of gathering information that so far appeared infallible and is of national importance.

“Yes. In Divination rituals that regard enemies, you only give exact answers when one is certain that the enemies are not employing Divination themselves, or when the questions are about facts.”

“By facts, do you mean like their names, ranks and service record?”

I suddenly realized something at that moment.

A full half of what I asked my daughter earlier was about basic facts regarding the Lighteaters and the Skinchangers. The names of their nations and capitals, population, government type and the like.

That half won’t be affected by Izanami’s revelation. The other half however…was about their current movements, missions and the like.

What Izanami revealed just now meant half of the information that I had provided earlier was now inaccurate.

I would have brooded on that information further if not for Izanami asking Major Suzumoto if the term service record was another way of saying job history.

“Yes…may I presume service record is another way of saying job history?”

“Yes, but only for government employees.”

“I see. Now, where was I…you will not only gain flawed information that your enemy is aware you had Divined through their own Divination ritual but might also fall into a trap if you insist on exact answers.”

“So, in other words it would be as if my desk in the Military Intelligence Command at Camp Asaka is connected to the desk of my counterpart in North Korea. My counterpart and I can see everything on the other person’s desk, hear everything happening at the other guy’s desk, and the both of us can see the other person being able to do so?”

“Yes.”

“Then the answer is easy. We talk in ciphers.”

“That won’t work Major,” Ran instantly stated.

“Why? Because your school of thought says so?” Major Suzumoto challenged the inari.

“Because as shown through experiments, the Divination ritual of the enemy would start saying something like this. ‘Major Suzumoto talked in code to Izanami, saying exact information, exact information and more exact information.’ That is why the conclusion of the school of thought I subscribe to is that the person who performs divination first wins most of the time.”

Major Suzumoto looked at Ran for a few seconds before turning to Izanami and asking her if Ran was completely correct this time. Izanami’s reply was yes, Ran was completely correct about the information, but the conclusion was too pessimistic.

“So what is the supernatural answer to the problem of transparent information in Divination?”

"Watch this. Take note that I’m skipping the sacrificed offerings."

An instant after saying that my daughter's possessed body stretched out her arms to the air, and had her eyes looking up into the ceiling of the Police koban. And at that moment…

…my daughter was the only thing in the world.

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Subashiri Police Koban, Subashiri, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka

May 13, 2013

1:26 P.M.

Ikeda Kurumi

“The Mother of All is now in our midst!” Izanami shouted from my daughter’s body, her voice making goosebumps break out all over my body for some reason I can’t think of at the moment.

“All kneel and give her honor!”

A moment later I felt…a silly impulse to do as she said. But I didn’t do it, it is a bit silly to do that towards my daughter or my friend.

The silliness turned into unease when I saw my boyfriend kneel on the floor like a drunk person, his eyes staring at Ao. Beside him, Mother and Father also did the same thing.

A quick look around the room showed that only two other people in the room were not affected by Izanami’s words.

One was Mama, who was glaring at my daughter’s body while unsuccessfully trying to pull Papa up from from his kneeling. The other was Ran, who stayed standing while looking at my daughter in the manner of an earnest student.

“Oh great Mother of All, give this one the answers to the myriad questions of this lowly supplicant!”

An instant later my daughter looked at Major Suzumoto…and after a few seconds my daughter’s body posture started to radiate embarrassment as she stared at the kneeling Self Defense Forces member.

“Uhm…I’m sorry for that everyone.”

A second later that constant impulse to kneel to Izanami went away. At the same time everyone who was kneeling on the floor suddenly acted like they had a bad headache and terrible eyestrain at the same time.

“...your myriad questions, lowly supplicant?” Izanami asked through my daughter’s mouth. in a timid manner that was completely opposite to the emotion that the words she had just used should be conveyed with.

That timidness had also affected her body posture. Whereas before she still had her arms stretched out to the ceiling, now her hands were clasped with each other in front of her chest.

“How many people in the supernatural community can do what you just did?” Major Suzumoto groaned out as he slowly stood up from the ground.

Izanami coughed once, and started to slowly clap her hands while giving her answer to that question.

“Uh…beware, you and all! All who are gods! All who are powerful spirits! All who are extremely powerful in magic can addle the minds of those without magic! The only armor against that is faith!”

“So the solution is like that? Very flowery language and vague information for all answers?” the Major asked as he sat down and started writing on a sheet of paper, using a calligraphy set, the answer that he received.

‘Wait. When did he get the paper and calligraphy set again? We they put them away around half an hour ago.’

“Major Suzumoto, rituals are part theater. Please don’t break the ritual by not going along with her Holiness’ lead,” Ran warned.

“A theater, is it? Ok, is stand up comedy acceptable? We can do this like a manzai in that case. Izanami, you said faith protects people from becoming drunk at the sight of magic? What kind of faith?”

As Ran looked disgruntled by Major Suzumoto's answer, the goddess answered as best as she can in a theater like manner while clapping all the time.

"True faith in the gods and spirits! True faith in the inexistence of all gods and spirits! True insanity! And none other!"

"Ok. Be insane, be in denial and be a cultist. Oh the Ministry of Defense is so going to love this answer. Next, are the Lighteaters and Skinchangers completely aware of all the details regarding the Special Skills Support Group?"

“Beware the pitcher plants that talk and the people of the colorful skins! Beware, for by the setting of today’s sun they will know each and every person in your group, and those who are fated to join your group!”

‘Oh. More members joining us? Good.’

“Ah. Total intelligence exposure in five hours? Oh what I would do to have Fighters or Drones on call right now. If only…are there any air force still able to operate anywhere in the world right now?”

“Woe! Woe be to the warriors of the skies of the world! Their steeds are dead, their barns are ruined, and they and their retinues are captured! Dead!”

Major Suzumoto looked up with a grimace on his face

“All the air forces? Did they get prioritized ?”

“The pitcher plants that talk hate the warriors of the sky! Oh how they hate, hate and hate the warriors of the sky! And the rickshaw pullers of the sky too! Abominations, they say the warriors and the rickshaw pullers are! Defiers of honor, defiers of nature, trespassers one and all in the domain of their god who feeds life to the pitcher plants that talk!”

“Rickshaw pullers of the sky…the airline pilots? Are you serious? They hate the air force pilots and the airline pilots for religious reasons? That is…so silly.”

I didn’t agree. Because I could think of one reason to hate airplanes for a religious reason here in our world.

Airplanes represent technology, and technology in turn represents the modern world in its entirety. That includes modern morals.

If you believe that the modern world is corrupt, and you want to turn everything back to a time when the world is ‘pure’…you start with destroying technology.

“Major Suzumoto, all you are asking are still facts. Something Ao can do without having to be possessed by Izanami,” Ran suddenly spoke up. “Can’t you start asking questions about the future already?”

“I’m the intelligence officer Ran. I will be the judge of what is important, and what isn’t. And what I just learned now was new information Ao wasn’t able to provide by herself earlier."

A brief look at my fiance beside me showed Ichigo looking chagrined by the Major's words. Probably because that wasn't among the questions he asked earlier.

As I recalled it, he asked questions about the name of the countries, their capitals, leaders, forms of government, population size, and territory size before moving on to the armies invading Japan, their numbers, their leaders and their current plans.

"Alright, what about the navies, Izanami?” Major Suzumoto continued.

"Blessed are the metal squid at sea! Thousands of the pitcher plants that talk are dead! For the metal squid, the peoples of the sea and the gods of the sea have slain these trespassers to the domain of the under! But alas! The metal boats are aflame! And all those tethered are captured!"

"Capture the boats. Interesting. What will they do to the boats?"

"The pitcher plants that talk plan to use them to sail the stars and clean up the far skies!"

"...use the boats to fly into space to destroy the satellites. Add that to their dislike of the air forces...we had aerial superiority, it seems. Alright. Let’s move on with the actual prediction of the future. What do you have for us?”

My daughter’s body stopped clapping. And at this moment her right hand pointed towards the Northeast, and her glowing eyes…glared at something in that direction.

“Woe be to the pitcher plants that talk!”

She suddenly turned her body to Southeast and did the same in that direction.

“Woe be to the people of the colorful skins!”

And now Ao’s body spinned in a clockwise circle with her eyes closed.

“And woe be to the paid, scavenging for riches and glory from an innocent world!”

Ao’s body suddenly stopped spinning and pointed her right hand up to the ceiling of the police koban.

“’Death’ comes for one of you! ‘Death’ unexpected! ‘Death’ inescapable! ‘Death’ lured by authority!”

And now Ao’s hand pointed straight at Major Suzumoto.

“And to lure ‘Death’ you, lowly supplicant, must do one thing!”

“What must the Self Defense Forces and the Government of Japan do to lure ‘Death’ to the aliens?” Major Suzumoto asked.

The next words that Izanami said were said in a joyful manner, completely at odds with the words she said.

“To lure ‘Death,’ chant ‘The Last Stands are not Last Stands.’ Come, prepare. The not Last Stands are coming to all of us within days.”