On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

“Thank you, Saionji-sama. I will not disappoint!” the priest bowed low, his two sons doing likewise. As they left, Gin turned to his adjunct, one of the newly-gathered chosen of the Gods, who had arrived from Namba Yasaka-jinja, in Osaka. It was an Amaterasu faction shrine for several generations, and was famous for the massive lion-headed building that attracted many visitors every year.

And the fact that it is another shrine that claims to worship Susanoo no doubt annoys that bastard Uchida. Though the shrine worships other deities too. Although… He regarded the older priest, whose black hair was going to grey around his temples and nape, his small body a little hunched and crushed by age. To think that such a notable shrine, even if it had to be restored multiple times over the years, due to religious persecution and then war, would be chosen by a foreign God, not one from these sacred shores.

It was an issue he was wrestling with. Being chosen was power, power the faith sorely needed if they were to regain the respect and authority they had once possessed, and Japan sorely needed in these troubled times. But being chosen by a foreign deity… In time, we will need to look at that again. It would not do to dilute faith in the eight million kami too easily… But whatever thoughts he had on the matter, right now, Yasaka-san had a power that Gin could not do without, one he was unaware even existed until he answered the call to Conclave.

“So, how many is that now?” Gin asked, knowing the answer, but he found it sometimes helped to organise his thoughts to have someone else announce it for him, allowing an outside perspective.

“That would be nine, including yourself, Saionji-sama.” Yasaka-san looked at the list. “Four here in Kyoto. Yourself, here at Kinkaku-ji, while Shimogamo-jinja, Kouzan-ji, and a minor shrine located near the river, Aoishinkaihebi shrine also boast chosen.”

“There should be two more. First we lost that idiot who squandered the blessing being chosen as the heir of Tofuku-ji, and then another who was blessed from one of our minor shrines perished, getting too greedy and running into something deadly in Spiritual Kyoto.” Whether it was the Night Parade or something else, Gin had no way of knowing. Even so, the idiot was dead too, and that was a heavy blow.

“Also, a shrine maiden from a minor shrine that was part of Tsukuyomi faction perished, but in her case… the shrine itself collapsed, the kami… gone.”

“Yes, I am hardly pleased about that.” Gin sighed. “I won’t weep for the loss of idiots who get greedy, even if it weakens us, but… that foolish girl managed to get a kami killed, a shrine deconsecrated. Even though it was merely a minor member of the eight million kami, its loss is irreplaceable. That damn fool Kudou needs to get a grip on his minions. Though I suppose I shouldn’t put on airs. I’ve suffered losses too.”

In addition, there had been deaths outside of Kyoto, affecting every faction, precious chosen from the shrines and temples dead. And we have injured chosen too, though unless the injuries are fatal, most seem able to recover, given enough time…

“Then there is me.” Yasaka-san said, with a dry, self-deprecating laugh. “As well as four others who have arrived for Conclave.”

“And I only knew three of those.” He muttered. “A number are trying to hide their own abilities, it seems.” Like I did, until it became impossible to hide the presence of my divine blessing on Kinkaku-ji and the surrounds. That fox Kudou knows for sure. “Still, like recognises like. Avalokiteshvara is with me. Ironic that Uchida’s whelp seems to be chosen by Kannon. After all, Kannon is merely one representation of Avalokiteshvara. Someone serving a lesser fragment should not lead the faith.”

“The gods are hard to understand. They can have many faces, many aspects and avatars.” Yasaka-san said piously. “I understand this.”

“I suppose you do.” Gin admitted, knowing his ability and foreign deity. “I am no religious scholar, not of foreign faiths anyway, but the Roman deities were usually just deemed a version of their Greek predecessors, correct?”

Yasaka-san agreed. “Yet it seems that they now are separate. Or perhaps like Avalokiteshvara and Kannon, they exist together as aspects of a greater whole.”

“Well, this is fascinating, but I have much to do before Conclave tomorrow. Needless to say, I expect some others will be hiding their status, so we need to ferret them out and bring them into the fold. Speaking of… what of Princess Mikasa? Has she agreed to see me?”

“I am afraid her attendants said she was most fatigued from the journey. She asks not to be disturbed.” He shook his head.

I see. It is a little vexing, but I cannot make demands of her, as she is both an Imperial Princess, and a chosen of Amaterasu, of the Grand Shrine at Ise, no less. But her implicit favour would do much for me at Conclave, and even if she declines, as she has been doing, I would still like to broach a few further issues with her, ones she might well support…

“No matter. We can try again tomorrow before Conclave.” He dismissed the failure, choosing to concentrate on more pressing matters. “And the Diviner? Will she meet with me?” That old man Kudou keeps her close, and while she is firmly in his faction, the Diviner belongs to all Kyoto and the wider faiths, so she will extend her hand to others…

“No. The Diviner and Kudou-sama had a visitor, and after that, the Diviner took to her chambers at her shrine, and has not been seen since.” Yasaka-san let out a long sigh. “I tried using my Book of Providence to seek an answer as to why, but all I could gather was that a vision had driven her to despair.”

“A vision of despair? One strong enough to shake that icy woman?” Gin frowned. “If it is that important, no doubt she will speak of it at Conclave. But I dearly wished to win her over, separating her from that damn fox Kudou. Well, enough of that. I suppose I need to continue greeting the guests. Who is next?”

“A minor shrine from Tokyo. Hisuikomushi. Kikuchi Shuta-san” Yasaka-san checked the list.

“Another minor shrine, huh? So tiring.” Gin frowned. Still, that name seems familiar. Wait… “Did you say Hisuikomushi? I am sure I heard that the priest of that shrine was dead, or in a serious accident, or some such.”

“Yes. Apparently he was in a significant coma. Though more importantly… that was caused by spiritual matters. He is a chosen.”

At that Gin perked up, his weariness at yet another minor shrine vanishing. “A chosen? And he survived his brush with death? This might be more important than I had considered. Show them in.” Minor shrines and those from other cities generally brought their family or their shrine maidens and trainee priests. It was a pain remembering them all, but as a leader of the most powerful faction, and the one that was sure to be leading the faiths of Japan after Conclave, it was a necessary inconvenience. I wonder which kami he is chosen by? Just because his shrine is humble, does not mean that his divine favour is…

As the doors opened, he observed the priest. He was accompanied by a shrine maiden of school age, possibly his daughter, judging by appearance, and his senses detected the power of aether within her. It was modest, yes, but noticeable. Perhaps this shrine has a notable bloodline I was not aware of, and she has spiritual gifts? It is rare, but not unheard of in the older families.

There was also a young man, probably her brother, and he had no aura of power around him. He was smartly dressed and looked a little rakish, the sort that girls would likely go for in bars, but Gin dismissed him, as he had no power. As for the priest himself, Kikuchi-san… He looked a little jumpy, as well he might, meeting the head of his faction, in such a famous shrine, but there was also something else about him, something that was bothering Gin, but he couldn’t quite place the feeling.

“Show your respects to Saionji-sama.” He said, bowing, urging his two children to do likewise. As they did so, Gin gestured to the chairs in front of the table he was sitting at. Yasaka-san also took a seat, and Gin could feel his aether swirling, ready to use Book of Providence if needed. It seemed that Kikuchi-san noticed as well, and his daughter was shivering, her flesh rising in goosebumps.

“This is my son, Natsuo, and my daughter, Maiko. I offer my greetings, Saionji-sama, it is an honour to meet you.”

“No, the honour is mine.” He replied. “Considering you have been chosen by the kami.” He said it outright, and Kikuchi-san reacted.

“You… you too, Saionji-sama? I should have expected no less from such an august personage.” He swallowed nervously. “Yes, I am indeed so blessed, though not by a kami.”

“I see. A foreign deity?” Gin asked, and as he received a reply in the affirmative, Gin pondered that. Another not from these shores. Still, it would be folly to spurn his assistance. “Oh well, a shame, but power is power, is it not?”

“It is.” Kikuchi-san agreed, relieved. “My ability is nothing special though. After all, I nearly died…”

At that his daughter and son looked grave, his daughter close to tears. Gin gestured to Yasaka-san to prepare some tea, while he listened to the story, and it was a fascinating one. Twenty minutes later, a half-drunk mug of tea in front of him, Gin organised his thoughts.

“So, a chosen unrelated to the shrines and his undead yokai managed to enslave you and your kami? Troubling. But I now understand why I had heard you were dead or dying. So… you were saved by another then? A strong warrior?” This I need to know more of. The shrines and temples have a noticeably higher rate of chosen than the general populace, but if you take the extended family of all the true shrines, as well as the families of the shrine maidens and staff they hire… it would barely make a hundred thousand people, if that. So it is obvious we will be outnumbered massively by secular chosen…

“Yes, Oshiro-san… he defeated Kondou Kazuo and liberated us. And also…” he paused, unsure.

“Do go on. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind freely here. I am grateful for your shrine’s long support of Amaterasu faction, and your modest status means nothing as one of the chosen.” Gin urged.

“Well, it’s just… I owe Oshiro-san, as does my daughter and son.” He said, tilting his head, thinking. ”I do not know how much I can reveal. Though… I will say he is here in Kyoto, to attend Conclave at the invite of Uchida-sama and Susanoo faction.”

I see. So he’s the one. I mocked Uchida for having to rely on outside influence to make up the gap between our factions, but it seems he has dug up some buried treasure. “So, does he have Uchida’s ear?”

“I don’t know.” Kikuchi-san admitted. “Though I do know he has a lot of Tokyo shrines supporting him. Hikawa-Kawagoe, and also Yushima Tenjin among them.”

Gin drew in a breath, surprised. “Hikawa-Kawagoe is Susanoo faction, sure enough, and powerful. But Yushima Tenjin. That’s old woman Chiyo’s shrine. And she’s tight with Bankei-san who is the most influential of the neutral shrines. That seems an odd combination.” Bankei-san is still vigorous despite his advancing age, and is not to be trifled with. If the neutral shrines throw their weight behind Susanoo… no, there’s too much I don’t know yet. But I can find out…

“So, I am pleased you remained loyal to our faction. It seems a shame to let your saviour make a poor choice and throw his lot in with Uchida’s cowards. I can offer so much more.”

“Father, be careful.” The girl, Maiko-san, spoke up suddenly. “I know he gave us some leeway, but if you betray Oshiro-san, it won’t go well.”

“Shut up, sis.” Her older brother complained. “You are in the presence of…”

“You don’t know, you weren’t there!” she shot back. “As soon as father was saved you went back to Uni! I’m grateful you helped me when I was all alone at the shrine, but even so… you never bothered to meet or thank Oshiro-san! He’s nice, but he has scary friends and allies.” She shuddered. “Fukumoto-sama would spare no expense to have a traitor hunted down, and Shaeula… she’s terrifying. And he has that maid who constantly giggles to herself all the time, but I’ve seen her lift up a full barrel of sake with ease. She’d crush our skulls or wring our necks if we talked. There’s others too…”

I see. For the girl to be so afraid… I need to dig deeper. “Are these other chosen?” he asked, his tone kind. “I mean no harm by it, I simply need to know so I can approach him properly.” The more I hear about him, the more interested I am in him. Why should he throw in his lot with Susanoo, when our Amaterasu is clearly a stronger faction?

The daughter exchanged a long look with her father, and they were clearly weighing up whether to speak on the matter, which intrigued Gin further. He exchanged his own look with Yasaka-san, telling him to ready the Book of Providence with his eyes. A moment later, Kikuchi-san spoke diffidently, his voice stumbling over the words. “Oshiro-san… he said we could say, if we had to. Though… it’s a valuable secret, so…”

“Rest assured, you are Amaterasu, and answered the call, despite your troubles.” Gin assured him. “So speak freely, and I will not disadvantage you. In fact, I anticipate you working directly under me. Those chosen by the divine are as precious as the most august of shrines.”

“Father, this is an opportunity! We were beholden to rough yakuza and living hand-to-mouth for years!” his son urged. “Now Saionji-sama is offering you a place of high regard! Do it, if you are a man!”

“Shut. Up. Brother.” His sister said, face pale, each word punctuated by anger. “We already have a place of high regard.”

Curious. Though considering his company, and the nobility backing this Oshiro-san, it makes sense she would see it that way. But upstarts are upstarts, we have fifteen hundred years of history, no, more, on our side.

“You sister is right.” Kikuchi-san agreed. “Oshiro-san is our benefactor, I would be worse than dead, and you two would be homeless if not for him. Still, I do need to give Saionji-sama his due. He turned to Gin. “So… are you aware that under certain conditions, kami can be brought to this world, given a body, such as you or I?”

Gin drew in a breath, not expecting that. It is the most powerful secret I possess, that I and several others of Amaterasu have managed to bring lesser kami from the smaller shrines of Kyoto to this world, though the one I brought forth seems content to sleep most of the time. Still, producing them at Conclave was going to be my crowning moment of glory… “So, Shaeula and the… maid, was it?” Gin said, thinking. “Are they kami? Shaeula, the name does not sound Japanese.”

“Not kami nor gods, but powerful spiritual beings.” Kikuchi-san answered. “As for kami… our jade beetle, he walks the Earth. He is back at the lodgings Oshiro-san paid for. I was… hoping to reveal him to you when the time was right.”

Gin eyed Yasaka-san, and a little aether surged, signalling he was using Book of Providence to verify these claims. Kikuchi-san shifted, perhaps sensing some aether usage nearby, but he remained silent and humble. A moment later, Yasaka-san gave a small nod. So, it’s true. “Fascinating. So is it just your kami?” he asked and Kikuchi-san wavered. “You do not have to answer if it would put you in a difficult position.” He said reasonably, though in his mind he was annoyed. From that reaction there’s at least another. So either neutral or more annoyingly, Susanoo faction. That lessens the impact of mine, and these spiritual beings also are a conundrum…

“I appreciate it.” Kikuchi-san smiled a little. “I am in a quandary. I do not wish to deny you what I know, but…  I also have to serve Oshiro-san’s interests.”

“Well, if your kami is able to manifest, then your place under Amaterasu is assured. Even more so…” he said, his expression friendly. “… if you can pass on my regards to Oshiro-san. I would dearly like to meet him, he will find me likely more accommodating than Uchida and his arrogant whelp.”

“I’ll offer him your words, but he is very busy.” Kikuchi-san apologised. “But I am sure I can persuade him to make some time for you, Saionji-sama.”

“Excellent. So, Yasaka-san…” Gin said, thinking on how best to extract further information. “Bring some drinks for our guests. I would speak to Kikuchi-san further. Push back the other visitors.” He looked at the son and daughter. “I fear we will bore you talking of shrine matters. Go enjoy yourselves for now.”

“Be careful about what you say, father.” The girl warned, before Yasaka-san led them out.

“Well, you have a good daughter there.” Gin grinned, trying to lower Kikuchi-san’s guard. “She must be very proud her father was chosen.”

“I don’t know about that. I made a mess of things.” He muttered. “Only luck and outside aid saved me and my family. But now… I have a chance to be better. To do better.”

“Yes, you do.” Gin agreed. “So, allow me to ask…”

********

Well, wasn’t that both fascinating and troubling in equal measure. Gin looked at Yasaka-san, who was reviewing information from his Book of Providence. “So, is what he was saying true? That this chosen has opened a training school for both the shrines and nobility, and can allow access to the Spiritual Realm, where the kami dwell?”

“There can be no mistake. The answer is clear. Kikuchi-san’s daughter has been through this too, apparently, and it strengthens her spiritual power, as well as her strength, durability, intelligence and more. Providence says she would be able to fight on equal terms with a relatively strong adult man. As for nobility… Providence has answered. Oshiro-san is favoured by Takakura-sama, as well as some of the most powerful noble houses in Japan. He also has political capital. The Book spells the name of the Prime Minister.”

The Book of Providence has many drawbacks, but Yasaka-san has quickly become my right hand after proving himself with it. It will not answer questions with evil intentions, and one must have a clear idea of the sort of answer one is likely to receive, and certain events with spiritual significance deny revelation… “Being a vassal, too. It doesn’t seem possible, why didn’t I know about this?” Gin sighed.

“The Book shows me it is possible.” Yasaka-san said again. “So while Kikuchi-san does support your faction, he is unable to go against his master without consequences.”

“Consequences political, financial and spiritual. Yes, I can give up on having Kikuchi-san for my own, but even so… I refuse to allow that fool Uchida to reap the benefits of alliance with his master. Japan has been declining ever since the faith lost their voice n the running of the country, and the nobility have lost their way as well, more concerned with their own influence, and keeping alive old traditions. A worthy goal in itself, true, but… sooner or later Japan would fall, even before this new age of faith, our foreign enemies eyed us covetously, looking to punish us for past transgressions or taking us over for their own greed.” He shook his head, aggrieved. “No, we need a strong hand, one that realises we must be powerful and united. And that is not Uchida, or that old fence-sitter Kudou, or even old man Bankei. It must be me.”

“In that case, how should we proceed?” Yasaka-san asked. “The information we’ve gained is rather important, right?”

“It is. We’ve learned a lot, even though Kikuchi-san was careful in what he revealed. Your Book… it’s a fascinating tool. And I am afraid I am going to need to put it to further use. I am especially interested in how his master manages to give even spiritually-bereft nobility their new aptitude. The spiritual is the province of the faith, it should not be shared too widely, nor too carelessly… I shall have to protest to Takakura-san…”

With his mind working on the problem, Gin sighed. Damn, still so many more adherents of Amaterasu to see today, when I merely wish to work on this new problem. Well, it is the price of leadership, I suppose…