The First Generation Ceremonial Festival Part 1

As spring neared its end, cherry blossoms gently fluttered down across the land of the rising sun. Many petals landed in the hot springs, infusing the water with a lovely floral scent. After four days of soaking, Hoshiyo could stand and walk out of the scorching water. She stepped over the stones to solid ground, her large thigh scar visible. Wrapping her yukata around her body, she brushed out her hair. Her sisters had already returned to the house, awaiting the year's big event, giving her time to ponder the transformation their mother had mentioned after the war. At this point, she saw no reason to worry about a future she couldn't control.

Hoshiyo walked along the stone path lined with tall walls and whispered, "Whoever designed these natural springs must have understood the consequences of a possible ambush with no escape route. If you're wounded, escaping wouldn't be an option. You'd accept your fate like an honorable warrior."

The stone walls gave her an eerie feeling, like she was being watched, prompting her to pace quickly. The steaming fog around her made her sweat profusely, and she could barely see the exit ahead.

Finally, she emerged from the fog and saw Rei and Kuzunoha waiting for her. Their long hair flowed in the breeze as cherry blossom petals floated and settled quietly. Approaching them, Hoshiyo asked, "Am I late for the ceremony?"

Rei shook her head. "No, the Kami hasn't arrived yet."

"The other masters left to say goodbye to their hometowns the other day. They should be returning shortly," Kuzunoha added.

"Why would they say goodbye to their hometowns?" Hoshiyo asked.

Kuzunoha playfully punched Rei on the shoulder and smirked. "Meeting the nine of you has been the best thing to ever happen to us. We've decided to dedicate our lives to training all of you. Rei has been an outstanding student; someday, she will teach the next generation."

Rei rubbed her shoulder and said, "We have to start heading to the house soon, or we'll be late."

She guided them through the forest of pink trees towards the large stone walls protecting their fortress. Kenzo was sitting atop the entrance wall, his pistols wrapped around his robes like a pirate.

With a mighty, confident voice, Kenzo asked, "Who goes there?"

As the women came into view, Hoshiyo sighed at the sight of him. She stopped at the front gate and said, "Back so soon, Kenzo. Where have you been these past couple of days?"

Kenzo swung his legs off the wall and leaped down smoothly. He looked at them and replied, "I was born on a small island south of here. My home was raided and taken over by bandits, so I fled and never looked back. I lived on the sea, hoping to find peace away from humanity, but something lured me back to land."

"A Yokai?" Hoshiyo asked.

"No, more like a feeling. I became a Ronin to survive for over twenty-five years, if you can believe it," Kenzo said, smirking as he recalled the day he met Seiko and the others.

Rei looked around and asked, "How did you end up on this island?"

Kenzo rubbed the back of his head and laughed. "After many years, I had a burning desire to steal a boat and find my homeland. It turned out I accidentally landed on the wrong island."

Hoshiyo glared at Kenzo for his reckless choices. Instead of harsh words, she said, "The villagers must have thought you were up to no good and summoned the authorities."

"Precisely," Kenzo chirped. "That's how I met Seiko and the others. My four-day leave was to search for my home on the southern island."

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Rei asked.

"No, only a burnt shell of what used to be my home remained. I may never find closure, but I decided to help you guys," Kenzo replied.

Hoshiyo crossed her arms and asked, "Why help us? You don't owe us anything."

Rei frowned and gently nudged her sister's shoulder. "Don't be rude," she whispered.

"He placed Seiko in danger, so I have the right to know why he cares so much," Hoshiyo retorted.

"That doesn't make it okay," Rei argued back.

"No, she's right," Kenzo interjected. "I selfishly put Seiko in a position she was unprepared for, just to show off my strengths and abilities. I wanted to prove to you that I could handle the Shogunate on my own, but that wasn't true at all. I'm here to improve myself while helping Seiko grow into a fine warrior."

"So you think I should give you a second chance?" Hoshiyo asked.

"Please, if you'll have me. I believe what lies beyond the ocean could bring us enlightenment someday, and I want to help you fight for it," Kenzo said earnestly.

Hoshiyo smirked and gave him a silent nod, acknowledging his sincere apology. "That was a good practice round. Now go say that speech to Seiko."

"Yes, Lady Sakamoto," Kenzo replied with a ninety-degree bow. He rushed through the gates, determined to find Seiko within the household's inner walls.

Hoshiyo led the girls through the first gate, where an array of elegant festival lanterns adorned the stone path. Zigzagging white paper streamers hung from the entranceways on ropes made of tightly twisted straw. Stone lanterns and torches guided their way to the second gate. Any traces of the prior battle, including bloodstains, had been meticulously cleaned.

Hoshiyo was thoroughly impressed by the swift transformation and whispered, "What did they do to this place? It's incredible."

Kuzunoha chuckled and replied, "We decorated the entire property for the ceremony. I hope you can enjoy the festivities before the final event tonight."

Hoshiyo's mouth dropped in awe at seeing the beautifully decorated garden in front of the house. She had never seen anything so magical, not even through her mother's eyes. The scene made her feel that everything would be okay. She dreamed of peace for everyone, not just herself. Magical bioluminescent fireflies floated through the falling cherry blossom petals. Dozens of small fox Yokai walked on two feet, wearing floral yukata. They enjoyed the festive Tanuki in blue Happi coats decorated with family emblems and red and white symbols. They wore multicolored Hachimaki and performed a lively festival dance. Many of the Mujina from the forest joined in, while others sat and enjoyed the fruit offerings provided by the priests.

As Hoshiyo approached the house, she spotted her wolf mother in elegant red robes on the staircase beside the other Yokai, awaiting her arrival. Above them, a massive twisted rope of rice straw hung from the house, used for spiritual purification rituals.

Hoshiyo bowed to the Kami, feeling a bit intimidated by their presence. She hesitated and said, "Welcome, and thank you for coming to our new home, which we've established as part of our arrangement."

Her mother raised her head, smiled, and replied, "We are glad to see you feeling better. I heard you took quite the hit during the battle."

With a deep voice, Tsukuyomi glanced at the two behind Hoshiyo and said, "You did an excellent job healing the wounded. We congratulate you on your victory."

Hoshiyo groaned softly and said, "Respectfully, it did not feel like a small victory for us, but I am grateful we made it out alive and have this beautiful home to stay in."

Amaterasu chuckled and said, "You are right; no triumph is diminutive. You've earned much, and we expect great things from you in the future."

"Thank you," Hoshiyo replied.

"Enjoy the festival, my daughters," Hoshiyo's mother said. "Tonight will be the last night you will experience true peace for a long time. Cherish your time with your new comrades. You never know when it might be your last."

The three girls bowed profoundly and walked away to search for their other sisters. The house garden was enormous, and finding them would take effort, especially with the dozens of Yokai celebrating the festival. Spotting anyone in the crowd was challenging.

"Where do you think everyone is hiding?" Rei asked, glancing around at the sea of humanoid animals in robes.

"Stay alert at all times," Kuzunoha said, keeping a watchful eye on the sisters. "Yokai can be unpredictable. Some are like wild animals and will attack if they feel brave enough."

"They wouldn't attack us here, would they?" Hoshiyo asked, following Rei and Kuzunoha through the crowd of dancing Yokai, fearful of angering them by accidentally stepping on one.

"Don't underestimate them," Kuzunoha replied.

The three soon found themselves at one of the stone walls surrounding the house. They let the cold stone guide them past the crowd, reaching the quieter backyard. Hoshiyo recognized the figures on the back porch as her sisters, who ate festival snacks and shared stories. Nue napped in the grass with Kenzo beside him. Relief washed over her, easing her shoulders and relaxing her clenched jaw.

Takeko screamed joyfully at the sight of Hoshiyo and the others. She left her food on the porch and rushed for a group hug, squealing, "Hey, you're here! I'm so glad you made it in one piece. That Yokai crowd was intense."

Motoko patted the wood beside her, saying, "You three must be tired. Come, sit down."

Hoshiyo walked over to sit with the others, noticing Kenzo sleeping beside Nue. She asked, "How long has he been here?"

Seiko, sitting beside Yoko and eating dried squid, sighed noticeably. She whispered, "He arrived today after Kuzunoha came back. He stood at the gate for hours, nervous to talk to me. Less than an hour ago, he finally returned with a well-thought-out apology for leaving me exposed on the battlefield. I was never mad at him for what happened, but it was nice of him."

"He told us his whole sob story," Ceres said, picking at her dried fish with an annoyed expression. "As if I care..."

"Don't be so disrespectful. He opened up to us, and he cried," Motoko whispered.

"Whatever," Ceres muttered.

As the group sat silently, enjoying the end of spring and their meal, a thought came to Hoshiyo. She looked at Kuzunoha and said, "You never told me your story, Kuzunoha. I'd like to hear how you became a healer."

Kuzunoha transformed into her white fox form with a sparkling display of smoke. Sitting beside Rei, she replied, "I wouldn't want to burden you with such a long story."

Rei stroked her glittering white fur and said, "No, we insist. I want to learn more about the Yokai who have joined our team."

Ceres silently rolled her eyes but refrained from speaking ill of Kuzunoha, who had worked hard to help them recover from their injuries. She listened quietly, along with the others.

Kuzunoha gazed up at the stars and said, "Well, it all began centuries ago during the reign of Emperor Murakami." She tells the story of a priest named Yasuna who moves to her village seeking to rebuild his family house after his father's grave mistake of trusting con men.

Kuzunoha smiled as she recalled the old memories and continued, "I would watch him come to the Inari shrine I personally watched over. He would pray every day, like clockwork. My curiosity got the better of me, and I came out of hiding to find him. Instead, I caught the attention of a man holding a sword. He chased me down the mountain."

The sisters sat at the edge of their seats, eagerly listening. Hoshiyo hoped for a happy ending to Kuzunoha's story, even though she knew the tale of a Yokai falling in love with a human was rarely straightforward. Kuzunoha carefully recounted how she was hunted for miles until her knight in shining armor appeared out of nowhere to save her. As she fled from the man with the sword, Yasuna stepped forward, knowing foxes were holy to the Inari. The two men engaged in a vicious sword battle while Kuzunoha escaped between them.

"Did he lose the fight?" Hoshiyo asked quietly.

"I hope not," Rei whispered.

Kuzunoha smiled and said, "No, he survived, but barely. The samurai spared his life because of his noble actions to save such a holy creature. He left him in the forest to bleed to death. To protect myself, I stole a Yukata robe, dressed myself, and found him where I had last seen him. Despite my fragile body, I dragged him back to his house and nursed him back to health, then vanished from his sight."

Hoshiyo smiled. "You wanted to thank him for saving your life."

"Did you ever heal a human before?" Rei asked.

"No, he was the first human I saved. It made me feel powerful knowing I could save others, so I began to learn human medicine to care for Yasuna while he recovered. We fell in love, and I eventually gave birth to my son and daughter."

"Did he know it was you who saved him?" Hoshiyo asked.

"No, he found out a decade later. But when they discovered my secret, I was terrified. I thought he would kill me or worse," Kuzunoha said.

"Where are they now?" Rei asked.

"I don't know," Kuzunoha replied shamefully. She described how she had lived happily with her family for five years. One evening, she transformed into her fox form to wash her face in a bucket of water, thinking no one was watching. As she looked at her reflection, her son caught her.

"Kitsune?" the boy yelled.

Her secret was out. Kuzunoha had to leave her beloved family for their protection. In her fox form, she used a brush to write a farewell poem, asking her family to find her again in the forest where they had first met. Then she ran back to the woods.

Amazed by her story, Hoshiyo asked, "Did he come to see you again?"

Kuzunoha smiled, gazing off into the distant stars. "Yes, he did. Years later, they found me after I had trained extensively in Yokai medicine. I gave them my crystal ball and a golden box as parting gifts, explaining that the Yokai needed me and I couldn't return home. I left my family to help the Yokai of Japan heal. Over a century ago, thanks to my Yokai lineage and their father's onmyōji training, the twins became the most powerful onmyōji in all of Japanese history."

Motoko gasped, drawing the group's immediate attention. She had uncovered something that intrigued everyone. She turned to Ceres and asked, "Doesn't this story sound familiar?"

Ceres nodded, her eyes widening. "Yes, we recently met twin onmyōji who mentioned they were searching for their Kitsune mother. What were their names again?"

Motoko's smile grew as she inquired, "Could one of them be named Abe?"

Kuzunoha's ears perked up at the mention. "Yes, is he on the island? And what about Hotaru?"

Motoko responded, "The twins are currently in the Land of Stars, searching for you. We invited them to the party."

Hoshiyo's face lit up. "That means they should be arriving any moment now, right?"

Rei nodded. "We'll find out soon enough."