Unwanted Attention

[Floating Island of Takamagahara, Hidden Dimension]

Rising upwards through the portal, Ame-no-Ukihashi, Kagutsuchi looked upon the Earth as he contemplated the fate of the interesting human soul left to the mercy of Kanghui.

Too many of the powerful were interested in the clueless lad and the interest was not benign, especially with the presence of Jinwu, a celestial crow, even in her human form.

Never trust a celestial crow, he smirked, wondering what her designs were on Alex.

His ascend stopped at the foot of the island and looked at the traditionally built palaces which influenced the Japanese medieval architecture, and the imposing castles of the high ranking primeval beings, the Amatsukami, nestled along a large mountain with an impressive waterfall which went down all the way to Youdu, their shared territory with Xitian.

At the very top were the elite of the first eight generations of the Amatsukami, like Kagutsuchi.

Kagutsuchi turned around to gaze upon Xitian's imposing red gates with high white city walls across the chasm.

Unlike Takamagahara's idyllic paradise-like design, the Xitian primeval beings favoured a fortress style design, which reeked of artificial security that fended off prying eyes. From afar, he could make out the specks of tiny figures flying towards Xitian's interior.

Sounds of laughter and chatter filled the area as he turned his attention to the large garden with the manicured Japanese pine trees, ever blooming cherry blossoms, and linked pavilions where two nearby played a strategic game of Go under the watchful eyes of spectators. Others lounged near a pond with spirit koi swimming in the enchanted waters while stone lanterns stood along the twisting gravel lined paths.

Kagutsuchi hurried along the path past the palaces with their doors drawn open, revealing the great sparse area within as one or two primeval beings sat on the ledge and watch him with cautious interest.

A few of the passing Amatsukami greeted him politely from a respectful distance as he nodded when he reached the portal area.

A large circular formation laid carved into the smooth granite ground.

Kagutsuchi stepped into the middle of the formation and uttered the name of his destination, "Council Hall of the Amatsukami."

A golden light surrounded him and then disappeared, revealing the grand cavernous hall, several stories high, with a sweet woody scent of hinoki, the Japanese cypress, wafting around him, embracing him into the light wood interior.

The massive yet folded shogi doors leaned on the carved dragon pillars, creating an open ambiance overlooking the majestic scenery overlooking the eastern side of Takamagahara upon the clouds coating the mountain ranges below.

His ears pricked at the noise of shuffling feet and whispers of a few Amatsukami walking behind the enormous screen which depicted their origin. The Council Hall seemed more crowded than usual.

Then a blackish shadow zipped over him and landed with grace a few paces in front of him, furling its great wings.

"Yatagarasu," Kagutsuchi bowed.

"How's my counterpart?" A tall man, dressed in a black kariginu, with neatly tied waist length silvery hair, emerged from the shadowy black wisps, towered over Kagutsuchi.

The great Yatagarasu glanced at him with piercing, brilliant ruby-red eyes. His black kariginu melted into a golden weaved kariginu gown which bore the repeated patterns of the three-legged crow mon. His mouth curved upwards into a grin.

"Well, what more can I say?" Kagutsuchi replied.

If it wasn't for Yatagarasu, he wouldn't even deign to step foot in the mortal world over some new entrant to the Hidden Dimension. Two celestial crows were more than he can handle.

"So she wants to admit a human soul into Takamagahara," Yatagarasu replied.

"Yes, but you know the three rules with the Amatsukami for admission."

"Ah yes, shrine, support and sword," Yatagarasu mused as his dimples deepen into his cheeks.

"Difficulty there," Kagatsuchi gnashed his teeth as both of them walked towards the council chambers. "Shrine and support, Arahabaki. Sword wise - that soul hasn't even mastered the basics to gain a weapon."

"Arahabaki? Which shrine did he offer?"

"Monkyakujin shrine."

Yatagarasu chortled in amusement. "An opportunity to continue his pissing match with the Amatsukami."

"This will not go down well." Kagatsuchi shrugged haplessly.

Yatagarasu waved his hand with nonchalance, dismissing his words. "Take him. I will back your recommendation up."

Kagutsuchi bit his lips. What recommendation? This isn't an offer of help but a hint of a directed order by Yatagarasu. If it were up to him, he wouldn't push for Alex into Takamagahara.

"You don't think he is a fit?" Yatagarasu stood up straight and eyed him with a mild ire.

"I have my doubts, but I'll defer to you, since you and Jinwu are on familiar terms."

Yatagarasu took a step ahead and swung around, lowering himself to Kagutsuchi's level, narrowing his eyes at him. "Oh?"

Kagutsuchi averted his gaze from a smirking Yatagarasu, who turned back to throw the doors of the chambers open to the gathered council seated across five storeys and flew to his seat on the top level with Amatsumikaboshi.

He hated the complex politics thrusted into his arms. Resigned to his fate, Kagutsuchi stepped into the limelight with all eyes on him, drenching in the deluge of unwanted attention he longed shied away from.

***

[Boundary, Kanghui's shrine]

Yata silently watch from the webs on the dilapidated shrine's roof, discreetly peeping from the wooden edges while his brothers hid themselves. None of them has the desire to be trampled on.

His eight eyes watched Yato and Arahabaki leave as his legs twirled with the gossamer threads messily spread by his brothers.

"Come out, Yata, they are gone," Kanghui called out.

Yata moved forward to find one of his long spindly legs stuck in the web. He twirled with the threads on the web too much this time. A leg from Shiro reached out and unhooked him, releasing him from the messy tangles.

He scurried down the pillar and shape-shifted into his human form while he made his way towards Kanghui and Alex awkwardly. With a bow to Kanghui, he glanced at Alex, who didn't flinch at his appearance, unlike the first time they met.

"Both of you are going to obtain your swords together in Takamagahara's territory. No one is to cross over to Xitian territory," Kanghui said.

Yata reeled back at her words as Alex eyed his reaction with curiosity.

"It means… we have to go to Kanayago?"

"Who?" Alex asked.

"Kanayago is an old witch—"

*SMACK*

"OwwWW," Yata howled at the stinging pain.

Kanghui's hand had landed on the side of Yata's head. "Show some respect."

Yata winced and mumbled incoherently at the troublesome quest before him. From what he heard, the temper of Kanayago is notorious, akin to a pendulum swinging wildly from side to side. For Kanayago to agree on forging any weapon was as good as buying the human lottery ticket to win a jackpot.

"Half millennia old, a shape-shifter and you are still hiding in this shrine without a weapon," Kanghui chided.

"But Alex is barely what… a fortnight old," Yata pointed at a dumbstruck Alex. "That's like sending a newborn to the lions."

Not only was Kanayago a problem, the portals to her territory took them only to the base of the mountain where she lived. The journey upwards was fraught with perils of mountain guardians, fellow yōkai to Yata, but stronger.

"The Tengu," Yata smacked his own cheek with his hand, groaning. "I never want to meet a Tengu in their territory."

"Tengu…" Alex mumbled. "Flying dog warriors?"

Yata peeked through his fingers. "Dogs? Heck no. They are like… humans with wings, except less human in attitude, and their wings are nasty weapons."

"Not dogs. Kanayago hates dogs, but she likes males with pretty faces. That's why she keeps them around," Kanghui said.

"Our faces pretty enough?" Yata asked.

"Yes, but your problem is that the Tengu don't like pretty faced males. Oh and don't mention to her I am in female form," Kanghui said. "She hates other female forms."

"You are not coming?" Yata's eyes widen into a wistful, childlike manner, as though pleading for a mommy.

Kanghui gripped Yata's shoulders, leaned close enough to his face, tussled his hair, then said with dripping sarcasm, "You are a big boy now. Shape-shifter and all."

"Are you coming with us?" Yata looked at her wistfully.

Kanghui shook her head. "Have other business and you can already defend yourself."

She opened her palm and a whitish jade-like pendant with the carvings of serpents appeared on her palm.

With a toss, Yata caught the smooth pendant. "Mishakuji's tag. If there is a problem, they will come."

Yata crunched his face up in a grimace as his mood sank. "Those snakes?"

"They communicate better with the Tengu. Unless you want me to give you Arahabaki's calling card."

Yata hastily waved his hand in refusal. Calling Arahabaki down was not an option. He didn't want to be stepped on or kicked, left to the mercy of Arahabaki.

"You have a day to leave. So prepare yourselves by talking to the Mishakuji later about the paths. Those snakes know their way around any mountain in Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu behind the veil," Kanghui instructed.

"Which mountains and where ?" Alex asked.

"Near Izumo, in Shimane prefecture," Yata replied.

Yata groaned at the weight of his task as Kanghui vanished into a dark shadow which slid away into the forest.

He wrought his head in despair as Alex stood there and asked, "Is it that bad?"

"Oh, you think a primeval being or ancient beings are going to give you a pass through the journey and forge you a weapon because you said 'please'. Give me a break," Yata snapped back, then he looked at Alex. "I have over 500 years of preparation. And you have…"

He calculated with his fingers and stared at Alex in disbelief. "Over a fortnight since you entered our world now. Shit… you should be the one sulking, not me."

"I know that it's dangerous, but if I don't go, I will be in deeper shit from what I overheard."

"Yeah, the worst part, Kanayago doesn't like females and the Tengu hate male trespassers unless they have a female with them to distract those sleazebags. Catch 22. I can shape-shift and tolerate their roving hands, but you can't."

Alex's face drooped in dismay. Once again, he is a burden others had to carry. Another was his lost count of time.

Time flew past so quickly, as though the first day he entered Xitian was yesterday.

Seven days in Xitian and suddenly they had to go over to Takamagahara. Perhaps if he had taken up Arahabaki's offer to enter Takamagahara instead of giving in to Kanghui's insistence when he first entered Youdu, his life will pass on easier.

Alex sighed at his bad luck, in the form of Chongli's seventh wave in his soul, which brought the unwanted attention to Kanghui and himself.

How nice to lead his existence in peace and obscurity, like Jinwu's human form? Alex realised the wisdom of Jinwu's words when they parted - keeping a low profile is better.