Liability (1)

The sharp clashing noise of the Katanas greeted my ears as at the entryway of Daija's dojo. Daija was probably practicing the sword with one of the yōkai students. With a quick bow to the tutelary deities, Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto and Futsunushi-no-Mikoto, I entered to see an expected sight. 

Kouki was sparring with Shintaro. This kid couldn't even slice a melon with a Katana when we left him with Sojobo. Now, he wielded it with a certain glint of confidence against Shintaro. Daija was just leaning against the wall with his arms folded, studying them intently. 

"So why is he back?" I asked Daija. 

Another clash of the blades rang out. Kouki had blocked yet another attack.

"For a week only. You forgot their annual event, since you were busy dealing with those fruits and Arahabaki,"said Daija. 

Oh shit. Did they lift the restrictions on the Numata Tengu Matsuri in Gunma prefecture? That is when all the Tengu nationwide will gather to gawk at the women pulling their mikoshi. 

"Wait, wasn't it cancelled? With Covid-19 and all?"

"Tengu are immune to COVID-19," Daija smirked. 

Smart ass. We all are.

He then added, "They also hold their annual meeting there. Sojobo, Tarobo, Amari Naigubu and all the other ~bos you can think of are present to discuss their business especially about promotions to Daitengu. If Kanamura becomes a daitengu, maybe they will change his name to Kanebo." 

Kanebo - that brought a chuckle. Kanebo is a fairly well known Japanese cosmetics company, like Shiseido. If Kanamura was granted such a name, he would rather give up the Daitengu place than face the humiliating tag of the cosmetic company to his masculinity. The Tengu had a tendency to use the postfix of 'bo' to their Daitengu names. 

"It's a draw. Stop," Daija declared as his hand came down. 

"We can continue," the two kitsune chorused in response.

"The katana blades can't, and replacing broken blades is costly," Daija hissed as the two stepped back in fear.

"Shinde-san," Kouki bowed in gratitude. "Thank you."

"You don't know what I will use you for."

"Well, not as humiliating as the last job," he replied. "I will do my best!"

Enthusiastic youngster. However, it is astounding that over three weeks, Kouki could start blocking Shintaro's blows. Shintaro had trained for months to get to that level. Either he has a powerful bloodline running in his veins, or a prodigy. 

"Well… Don't mind me asking. Who were your parents?" I asked. 

"Well, my father is Kenji of Mount Awaishi…" 

Father is a common kitsune of no fame. Nothing to his existence. 

A loud clang distracted Kouki for a bit as he looked at Shintaro, who was still putting away equipment to the side. Daija was inspecting the blades.

"Continue," I said.

"Mother is Hiroko of Suwa."

Now that caught my attention. 

"Near Lake Suwa in Nagano."

Unlike their counterparts in other prefectures, white kitsune there tend to serve the Suwa shrine around Lake Suwa in Nagano. White for their true form. If they are in service, they are considered lesser gods or messengers. If not, they are yōkai.

No wonder Kouki had the form of a little white fox. Not the usual red.

That explains why they could have been exorcised and Kouki here was spared. No fox serving a god could run off, find a partner and then have a baby. Those white kitsune of Suwa were powerful enough to give Yako a run for his money. 

"Who saved you?"

"A Mishakuji." 

Mishaguji or Mishakuji are the ancient white serpent, and their stronghold is in Nagano, Lake Suwa. Old Shinano province. They are as old as Arahabaki but lesser gods and some are yōkai. Still more powerful than the white kitsune. 

Moreya-no-Kami used to be their patron god before the current god, Takeminata-no-Kami, before the Grand Suwa Shrine was taken over. Almost at the same time when father was sealed. 

From memory, the new victors tried to bring in the kitsune as replacements for the Mishakuji to look after crops.

Due to the treacherous mountainous terrains of Suwa, they experienced enough crop failures, land cultivation problems which led to deaths among the peasants.

The peasants reverted to the Mishakuji as the guardian for fertility, safe birth, abundant harvest, and land cultivation.

Takeminata had no choice but to accord them a place within the Grand Suwa shrine. 

Father used to call the Mishakuji the 'relatives' from up north of us. Sometimes, one or two would visit us in Hiikawa during my younger days.

After he was sealed, I never saw them again. 

"He is coming to meet me again," Kouki added with a smile.

The nearby branch Suwa shrines are in Tachikawa city, Takadanobaba, and Nishi Nippori in Tokyo. There would more than the three.

Among the three, the Suwa Shrine in Nishi Nippori was built during the Kamakura period with a former famed view of Mount Fuji. Now it has the view of the urban concrete jungle and train rails.

No doubt that Mishakuji may portal into Tokyo via the shrines. But which one?

If I am to find out more about my father's past, it might be a good opportunity to get introduced to the reclusive Mishakuji. 

They would not respond to strangers, but only those they know well. But why save Kouki if the intention was not to feast on him, and then visit him? Unless…

"Say, Kouki, you are still a virgin, are you?"

Daija started choking and spluttering at my question while Shintaro's jaws dropped and he quickly looked away. My bad. 

"Um… yes." Kouki shifted uncomfortably. 

That could explain it.

The Mishakuji was known to feed on the life force energy of virgins. Like the rest of us. It increased our yōkai powers exponentially. But yōkai energy - there isn't much known if they did feed on us.

They also had an Ofori system where a young virgin boy of each village was selected to be their representative and serve as an Oracle.

While that generally seemed benign, there were rumors among humans and yōkai in the past that the powerful white serpents were steadily consuming virgins. 

Something about young boys being sacrificed near crop lands for a bountiful harvest.

Still, no one chose to disturb the Mishakuji in their stronghold. Only fact which was confirmed, there were usually over 70 deer heads offered annually. 

I watched Kouki flee to the changing room with Shintaro. 

"I wouldn't go near the Mishakuji," Daija advised.

"Whatever it is with Kouki, the Mishakuji had not harmed him. Yet. Whatever you are thinking, it is bad enough having Arahabaki around."

"What's with you and Arahabaki?" I was curious now.

"I can't remember, other than it has to do with your father and myself. He is a liability now since he works with us. Don't add a problem if you can help it." Daija replied.