On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Side Fifty-Two – Shrine Maiden Of Ise – Yukiko, Princess Mikasa

“it is good to see you again, my dear Yukiko.” The veiled figure who was kneeling before her said softly. “I trust you have been well?”

Yukiko bit down on a sigh, knowing showing any weakness would be beneath her station as a princess of the Imperial Family of Japan, born of the bloodline of the Gods, despite what Japan had been forced to concede after the disastrous Second World War. There was just something so… frustrating… about the Diviner, something that always made her feel inferior. It can’t be her looks, as I’ve never seen her without the veil shrouding her features. From what I’ve heard rumoured, nobody has since she awakened to her talents at the age of just four years old… Though of course the cascade of beautiful black hair and the slender body under her shrine maiden attire was probably an indication that her hidden face was likely a similar work of art. Since then, no-one has spoken her name either…

Ugh, how is it I can get all worked up about her looks, even when I’ve never seen them? Seriously though, I may be used to scrutiny, but in shrine and temple circles, seeing the hidden face of the Diviner would be enough for many men to risk their very lives for, and some women too, if gossip is to be believed. At that unworthy thought her face flushed, and she looked down herself, idly drumming her fingers on the ornate armrest of the chair she was sitting on.

“I suppose I can’t complain.” She said at last. “Though I still have to wonder if this is all just a strange dream. Really, if I wasn’t already aware of your abilities, Diviner, I would have considered myself crazy.”

The Diviner tilted her veiled head, and Yukiko had the impression she was smiling beneath the obscuring cloth. “Alas, it is not your fate to drift into the blessed mire of insensibility, no more than I was able to. Take heart, for I too have been chosen, and I shall not forsake you, my dear Yukiko. Indeed, to this end, I have come to warn you of a great danger. The mists have parted, and Tsukuyomi revealed a vision to me in the reflected moonlight.”

Danger, to me? She shuddered at the thought. Before Amaterasu blazed into her dream, giving her gifts that she believed she would never have, far stronger than the feeble remains that dwelt within shrine and temple bloodlines, barring the aberrant Diviner, of course, the only danger she had faced was crazed stalkers, interested in her purely because she was a member of the Imperial family. But now… It’s got to be about the World of the Gods… I don’t want to have to do this. Still, a female from the Imperial Family always has to be the shrine maiden of Ise Grand Shrine, lest Japan be destroyed. Every country has similar legends, but we’ve believed this and obeyed without question for thousands of years…

“Allow me to share my vision, oh Princess of the Heavens.” The Diviner said, bowing low, her tone taking on an eerie sing-song quality, magnifying the strange agelessness her voice exhibited. “The Great Red Dragon of the Numberless East will pass over our Japan, shedding scales of red that will turn into rapacious ants that seek to devour all in this land, reducing it to barren ashes, only to feed their hives in the Dragons’ lair. Even so, the light of the Sun will burn those that stray close to Ise Grand Shrine, yet this pure radiance will draw something darker… I see golden eyes like the sun, staring at your shining silver link to the Sun, and a maw of darkness opens… should it snap shut, your death is certain, and Ise will be devoured by the ants, and Japan shall be bereft of the light of the Sun, Amaterasu forever shunning us as a vile hunger consumes all…”

That’s… terrifying. Yukiko shuddered. She had seen things, of course, outside of Ise in the world of the Gods, yet her power purified those that approached her carelessly, and within the shrine she was nigh-invincible… but against a Dragon, or this darker thing… feeling sick, she turned away, feeling tears well in her eyes.

“Rest assured, all is not lost.” The Diviner assured her. “My visions are not inevitable, they are granted to me so I can change bitter futures, that is what I believe. And so… in the reflection of the moonlight I also saw something, no, someone… who can help you forestall this disaster. He shall be blessed by a God not of this land, yet hold the favour of the kami that dwell here, and the favour of the Moon shall be with him. Six great trials are coming, though I cannot see all of them clearly, and Six Princesses of the Six Paths shall be necessary, if he is to stave off the ruin of this land. Your fate is to face the Red Dragon, but should you find this man, it is within fate for the jaws in the shadows to be shattered before your light is extinguished.”

Six Princesses, Six Paths… I’m learned in Buddhist lore, the Six Paths are… let me see, Heaven Realm, Human Realm, Asura Realm, Animal… or perhaps Beast… Realm, Hungry Ghost Realm, and Hell Realm. She called me the Princess of the Heavens, does she mean…

“Why yes, I do mean what you are thinking, Yukiko my dear.” The Diviner laughed, her voice like clear temple bells. At her puzzlement, the Diviner only laughed harder. “No, I am not reading your mind, you tend to show what you are thinking on your face far too much for a princess. In all seriousness…” she continued. “… I have seen four of the Princesses in my vision, though you are the only one I recognise, because of course I have known you for years, have I not? We are fine friends, I like to think.”

“… I’ve always wondered.” Yukiko said, the weight of the prophecy bearing down on her. “Just how do you see the future? That’s one thing I’ve never understood. Even my gift, the Light of Amaterasu, makes some kind of sense. But the future isn’t written, is it? Therefore how can you know what is coming?”

“A question I have asked myself often, ever since the day I first beheld the future.” The Diviner sighed. “I can give no clear answer, though now I have been blessed by Tsukuyomi I have more insight into such matters. There are several types of futures, but two are particularly relevant. The first are definite futures. After all, it takes no great wit to know that the sun will rise tomorrow, does it?”

“Well no.” Yukiko allowed. “But it might not, I guess.”

“It will. Without question.” The Diviner affirmed. “And like the rising of the Sun, some events have such gravity, such weight to them, that the very universe conspires to make them happen. They are simply a matter of cause and effect. I believe my gift allows me to somehow fathom these strands and threads of causality that feed into such events.”

“So what’s the second type?” Yukiko asked, intrigued despite herself, as the Diviner had never talked about such esoteric matters before.

“I call them destined futures.” She declared.

“That sounds pretty much the same as the other type.” Yukiko pouted.

“Yes, but they are not. Destined futures have no weight to them, and should be impossible for me to see. Yet they seem to create themselves from seemingly disconnected events, forming a web of destiny that must surely be as fragile as glass, yet is as unbreakable as the hardest of steels. I find myself seeing these more and more, a series of interlocking fractals that form part of an unplanned yet fated whole. One that, unless prevented…” she trailed off, and Yukiko knew she needed to hear no more.

“So… I’m going to die then?” Yukiko managed at last. “That’s so unfair. I’ve barely lived my life. I’ve never had a… ugh, never mind, so when will it happen?”

The Diviner rose, and breaking protocol and tradition, she moved towards Yukiko, who was frozen. Mounting the cypress dais upon which sat the seat of the High Priestess, the Diviner suddenly stretched out her arms, and enfolded Yukiko in a hug.

She’s warm. I can feel her heat… blushing despite herself she let the Diviner commit the sin of touching her Imperial person, listening to the soft beat of her heart as she was pushed against her chest. “Hush, silly girl. Did you not listen to me? This destined future might lead to your death, but I have foretold it to break that chain of coincidence and random happenstance. And to do that I have seen that if you search for that definite future, and seek the aid of this man… well, the Red Dragon can be turned from these shores. Though… a White Dragon, Great Pillars of Heaven and Earth, and three more equally dire threats will still await this land…”

So, there’s still hope… feeling relief, trying not to think about the mentioned White Dragon and the Pillars, the first threat to her being scary enough, she allowed herself to feel safe for the first time since she had been given her powers. “It must be nice, being a hero that even destiny is following.” she pouted, lashing out at this unseen person.

“I do not fully understand my gifts. Who could?” The Diviner whispered. “But I don’t believe that a hero simply appears, the strands of destiny heralding their inevitable arrival. No, I like to believe that a hero is possible because they work hard enough to draw in the skeins of fate, creating the possibility of miracles. Perhaps heroes are made, not born. So, don’t despair, my dear Yukiko. There is a chance to grasp to save yourself yet. And of course…” the Diviner’s voice was close to her ear, the veil covering her features fluttering with her breath. “… maybe you’ll manage to fulfil your hearts’ desire? I wonder what he is like…”

At that Yukiko flushed, quickly pushing the Diviner away, only growing more hot and red as her delicate laughter resounded around the cypress of the Naikū shrine. “Enough, I merely wished to lift your spirits in these troubling times. In any case, since I am here, I would like to see the gardens. I remember them being beautiful this time of year. Perhaps we can take some tea and treats outside under the trees? The weather is gorgeous today. Alas, I cannot tarry for long, as you have another guest coming.”

I do? Who could it be… oh, probably him. Again. I’m not going to support his faction, despite us both worshipping Amaterasu.

“Do not make that face. You will need his support. Just tell him that, though do not say it came from me. Ask him If he has heard rumours of the other factions seeking outside support. That will start moving the wheels of fate and destiny.”

********

Indeed, yes, it’s Saionji-san. Keeping her face neutral, she offered her greetings, wishing it was the Diviner again, as no matter how mysterious and often just plain confusing she was, Yukiko always ended up feeling better by the time she had departed, and she needed that more than ever.

Still, she was a member of the Imperial family, so when she had to, she could be regal. “So, what brings you here, Priest Saionji? I hope it is not merely to rehash your prior request? The Ise Grand Shrine has always stood neutral amidst the factions of faith, and now more than ever, this is not the time to change that.”

Saionji-san merely bowed politely in response. “No, while I would of course be delighted to have your support, I know such would be too much to ask. Still, as fellow adherents of Amaterasu, I confess to being pleased that you have been so blessed. The Imperial Family has long been considered to be Divine, after all. Despite unwise agreements of the past.”

I hate this topic of conversation. I never felt particularly divine, and nor did my parents or brother. Besides, we were forced to recant after losing the War…

Still keeping calm, she asked him again why he was there then, and Saionji-san smiled brightly. “I have an impertinent, yet I hope simple request, if I may?” at her unwilling nod, he continued. “Soon we shall hold a Conclave, to settle the issue of how the traditional faiths of Japan should seize the opportunities this new world presents us. After all…” he spread his arms wide, gesturing expansively. “… are we not at the forefront of the long dreamed-of reawakening of the Spiritual? I fear if we allow in-fighting and delay to fog our steps, precious Spiritual places will be lost forever, and Japan will be all the poorer for it, and our outside enemies will rejoice.”

That… well, it is a concern. It is why I am defending the Ise shrine… She had to admit his thoughts on that made sense. Still, the Diviner had warned her that Saionji-san was eager to claim Kyoto for himself and that was a higher priority to him than the good intentions he was spouting at her.

“Every light casts dark shadows.” He continued, buoyed by her lack of rebuttal. “To allow Kyoto, the city closest to the Divine to potentially face ruin, due to our own lack of unity…” his expression was sorrowful, and Yukiko struggled not to laugh at his melodramatic acting.  “So I ask of you, if you cannot endorse our cause, please at least attend the Conclave as a guest of utmost honour. I believe that someone of the Imperial family should attend, as it is time to repudiate the past mistakes made due to our loss in the War, and for the Emperor and his lineage to take up the mantle of Divinity once more. After all, is not your gift from Amaterasu the proof of this?”

So that’s it. Even if I don’t officially support him, if I am there, at his invitation… well, it gives him an air of authority, borrowing mine, and through me the Emperor’s. Still, going back on our agreement with America that was forced on us after the War… that’s dangerous thinking… still, Conclave, huh…

Thinking back to what the Diviner told her, she placed one hand on her cheek, adopting a pose of careful thought. “I think that since I am not from the lineage of the shrines and temples, I should refrain from attending.” She frowned. “After all, it isn’t like you would let any other outsiders attend, if you intend on discussing such weighty matters, right?”

Saionji-san shook his head. “As Priestess of the Grand Shrine at Ise, you have as much right to be considered among us as any, and with your blessing from Amaterasu, more than most! Even so, I can allay your fears. Some… uninvolved attendees will be invited, such as Takakura-san, to represent the nobility, as well as… well, poor Uchida-san has found someone outside of his faction to place his hopes in. From what I gather, he isn’t even from a lineage of faith at all! So sad, pitiful really.” At that he wasn’t able to hide his smirk. “So you see, there would be no objections to your attendance…”

As he rambled on to convince her, Yukiko considered the words of the Diviner one more time. Ask him If he has heard rumours of the other factions seeking outside support. That will start moving the wheels of fate and destiny. Is it this person Saionji-san has mentioned, or someone else? Remembering talk of the Red Dragon, the darker thing, she pondered her answer carefully. Just what is the right choice? I don’t want to get involved with this mess, but I don’t want to die either…