This didn't sit well with the goddess at all. She had a mean look at her face. "Of course it's a problem!" She shouted. She then turns away and doesn't talk. By the time we ordered our food she was muttering gibberish in Japanese, having her own fit. "How can you still not remember? All of your spells? Even all you did at Japan! Don't you realize that's the reason why I sent you here!" Tsukuyomi told me. She didn't even touch her food at all. Instead the goddess accidentally broke her chopsticks with her grip. "So how is this a big problem? What about Japan?" I asked. Tsukuyomi then sighs. "Gods are supposed to supervise beings whenever giving power. That means that power I helped you achieve is still missing." She said with a regretful voice.
"What do you mean by 'that'?" I asked her.
"Rin you have to remember! It isn't just your past lives, but you as well!" She replied.
"Wait... You're telling me that I've been doing these spells way before?!" I exclaimed.
"Yeah...I helped but it was your past lives that did the rest."
"Why me?" I asked her out of curiosity.
"Rin...your practice in magic is more important than ever." She replied.
She soon realized the problem here. Tsukuyomi then uses her power to repair her chopsticks. She starts to eat out of stress. "With that mess up, I hope he doesn't make things worse. I'll probably be the one who's going to take over." She said. "What do you mean by take over?" I asked.
"It's only expected that I'll be taking care of you this time. But that can explain how our link was temporarily cut."
"What...?"
But there...a surge if electricity surged through my spine. It was mixed memories in my brain. It was non-comprehending. I fell off my chair with my head in pain. More images of people came. But once more their faces were blurred out. But the white room triggered. No one was there but Furukizu. He kneeled down to me and said, "Get a grip. You think I'm done?"
Just like that the setting returns to normal. I was out of breath and can barely stand. My mind was full on catatonic and was hard to focus. Tsukuyomi then helps me up. "Your memories just kicked in just now?" She asked me. I didn't want to answer. But deep down I knew the goddess could read through me. "I see...you haven't come to terms to it." She said. The goddess then helps me up to the chair and pats me up. She tries to keep a firm face but I can see through her disappointment. But eventually she returns back to usual terms. "You all were able to learn your abilities on your own under your past lives They were your teachers.." The goddess answered as she tries to jog my memory.
"Yet they give me their memories. I can barely manage it. How can I manage when my head feels like it's on a vice?" I questioned.
"Then you must not be accepting them fully. But after watching you looks like something is stopping you."
"So you've been watching me this whole time, even before?"
"Yes. Even before you were one of the best. I was looking for you but as you know...the Tragic Hero of Lost Souls has an ability to be invisible to the gods."
Knowing that alone didn't sit well for me. In a way it felt confusing on how much Twisted these events have come. But then again it was self explanatory that I don't remember anything involving Tsukuyomi prior to Laputa. My mind faded into that bloody hallway. I was quiet but my mind was falling apart. But soon I felt something calm me down. It was Tsukuyomi's warm hand. I could see pity form in her eyes. A tear drop fell on the table cloth. She soon wipes her eye and tries to calm down. The trembling felt on her hand made me knew how painful it was. But Tsukuyomi kept a mature face and let go.
"Sadly I won't be of help to you. It looks like we have another issue." Tsukuyomi says, "Ill try to the best as I can but you need to connect with your past lives. They alone can help you with your memory loss."
"So what do I do now?" I asked her.
"From watching you...I'd say follow your senpai for now at this trip. For sure you'll be able to handle it."
"Yeah… A couple of newbies are gonna come with us. They're my friends of Earth. You think they'll be alright?" I asked for her opinion.
"I am not sure of them but for sure with your leadership you'll be able to handle them."
"But I'm not the leader."
"Not yet but in due time you will be needed. I need you to be strong what is to come. Knowing Kenshin, he's preparing you with tragic memories. Learn of your past Rin and accept it."
Her words looked ominous. What did she mean by 'not yet'? I wanted to ask but she snapped her fingers and all the sounds in the area returned. It was only now I realized the effect of the goddess's power. She was silent about it the whole time. But soon the noise came to appear, a rather familiar tone. The serious tone was ruined It turned out to be Richard arguing with someone. "Come on old man, just set me up." He begged. "That's rich coming from you! What happened to that amemori you were supposed to send the up with?" The old man asked.
"I was busy that month. I needed to help out an old friend."
"So you're going to do this again, to help a friend?"
"Yeah, he has potential. Besides, he needs to see this world as it is. It's a cruel world out there. So as his senior I might as well give him an education."
"Your better of just telling him, fool! You seriously think a novice is able to handle getting into something like that, again?!"
"He has potential...he just has to reach into it."
"You're gonna kill him if you push him. You know what you're even doing?"
"Not his first rodeo, especially not mine."
"You do realize that we're talking about big, giant monsters of epic proportions in an overpopulated city, right?"
Richard then slams his hands on the table. He looks at the god with a cheeky smile. The guy was up to something and I didn't like where this was going. "Then let's put a bet." He said. Ebisu goes closer to him. "You dare challenge a god?!" Ebisu questioned him. Both of them butt their heads together and put off an intimidating stare. "How about we settle with a drinking contest! First one naked does whatever the winner's choosing!" Richard demands, "Heck, I'll even take off my shirt as a handicap!" Ebisu then takes the first part of his robe and throws his headdress to the ground and shouts, "Have it your way, mortal!"
Ebisu then snapped his fingers and calls the servant for alcohol. Out then comes two large jars of sake. Both parties were handed a ladle and drunk head on.
All I could do was do a facepalm after seeing something out of a frat party. The servants in the garden were cheering them on to get wasted. Tsukuyomi had an indifferent look on her face, unamused of what was going on. "So this is the guy? The Norns dropped a bigger dump than Susanoo and he had to be the savior of my disciple? How is it that I agreed to their terms for you to work with them?" She asked in doubt. That raised my eyebrow a bit higher. "So how did the Norns get in touch with you?" I asked.
"Prometheus did me a favor to find you so he asked the Norns for advice. They ended up doing it by themselves and asked that idiot Ebisu to do it." Tsukuyomi replied.
"But why Ebisu?"
"He gives his disciples extreme good luck with fortune. They make good treasure and bounty hunters."
"So it's only expected for our fates to meet?"
"You can say that. But I'm starting to have my doubts on letting that lucky imbecile doing this."
"But didn't Richard ask for it?"
"He did, that's why the Norns instruct Sakuya to give orders to Richard to do so. Prometheus wants a favor as well after finally locating you and reconnecting our link."
"So I am involved with Prometheus?"
"I'm not sure and I don't know why. But we might need to do something about you first before I can do anything else."
I continued to watch the both of them as they guzzled down the alcohol down their throats. The more they drunk, the wilder they got. They started to moan like wild buffalo boasting for dominance. I sighed as this was going nowhere. "I can't believe I put faith in a guy who fights drunk and makes bets sober." I said displeased. "Welcome to the club. You wanna stop them?" Tsukuyomi asked. The goddess took the words right out of my mouth. I nodded my head and a whim she raised her hand. The gravity of the area started to change and everyone was floating in the air. Only me and the goddess were on stable ground. I then went up to the god and my colleague. "So...I see negotiations are doing well." I said sarcastically.
Both the man and the deity look from the air. The god squints his eyes to get a good look at me. " So this is the man?" He asked. "Yep... that's him...the guy that I was talking about." Richard told him. Tsukuyomi then looks at both of them, rather disappointed. "What do we have here? A drunken God and his intoxicated disciple?" She said in a loathing manner. Ebisu turned from drunken red to pale white by the view of the goddess.
Moments later we decided to bring the two of them to another table. The gravity was changed to its original state. At the meantime I took out my calligraphy brush and started making paper charm's for some doll shikigami in clean up he place. Both me and my goddess looked very disappointed at Richard and Ebisu. "It looks like even with a new body and life, I still can't trust you to not misbehave and get drunk." I muttered. "I was in the middle of negotiations." Richard defended
"More like getting wasted."
"That's part of it. Negotiate with bad decisions and with alcohol."
"Honestly Ebisu...using the sake and nectar of the gods obsessively to your bets...what am I supposed to do with you?" Tsukuyomi asked frustratingly.
"You should speak for yourself! Using such divine power recklessly?! Are you crazy?!" Ebisu exclaimed.
"If you ask me, it's better off than what I was going to do with you! You're a God of Fortune, NOT the God of the Drunks! Play your role, at least!" Tsukuyomi reprimanded.
"Says the Shut-in! Since when are you occupied with what happens here in the heavenly plain? You're as dull as the floating rock you and your crowd works on!" Ebisu insulted.
Down then comes a rock descending at high speed and breaks the table in half. All but of the goddess jumped backwards as seeing a sudden and startling action. "Ehhh…? Did you want falling rocks or floating rocks? One would look good smashed in your skull." She threatened in a passive aggressive manner.
The god of Fortune jolted in shock. Ebisu's head slouched and he looked down. The god was pale white and apologized. "Sorry...that slipped out." He whimpered. We were then transferred to another table. Tsukuyomi then sat with a calm face and tried to sort things out. "Exactly why were you going for a drinking contest in the middle of the day?" She asked pissed. "We usually do it to settle deals. Besides, we need to cut loose." Richard answered. Tsukuyomi then rubs the temples of her head, already stressed. "Listen, the both of you can't just cut loose like that, we have duties to fulfill." The moon goddess told them. "We know that! Can't we cut loose for once? Watching over Laputa is harder than it looks." The god of fortune told the goddess. "Yeah, I've been working nonstop at the guild. I need this." Richard added.
"You can rest but not here. Ebisu, you can drink like that in your own chambers. As for you, mortal…bliss in the afterlife for the dead, enjoy once you've met your time." The goddess reprimanded.
Both the god of fortune and the mortal looked away, displeased. The both of them clicked their lips. "Stingy hag." Ebisu murmured. The moment I heard that I could hear a blood vessel pop. Out of nowhere a crystal just happens to drop from the sky and landed behind both Richard and Ebisu. It hit the koi pond and all the water descended like a rain shower. A chill both came from their spines and the both of them could barely keep up a straight face. "What was that? I couldn't hear from that comet crashing in that body of water." Tsukuyomi said with menacing smile. "Nothing, ma'am." Both of the responded with fright. The moon goddess cracks her fingers and relaxes her muscles a little. "So… what is this all about? I don't wanna eat with this little scuffle going along without me knowing." She asked as she snaps her fingers. Again Tsukuyomi put up that space around us. Once more I couldn't hear anything. Guess this was one of 'those' topics again. "I wanted to ask Ebisu if he can use his power to give me greater luck like last time so I can find the next HAP." Richard asked. "Quite the gamble but I think you overestimate the power of the gods." Tsukuyomi denied the claim.
"We already did it once, it looks like this guy has the gambling spirit to pull it off." Ebisu corrected the goddess.
"Is that so? Then why do you not agree to giving the miracle to your disciple, Ebisu?" Tsukuyomi asked.
"Cause it's too dangerous and the requirements are too high. To make a miracle like that needs something of equal value." Ebisu replied.
"Oh come on, you didn't need to do that last time!" Richard exclaimed.
"The hairpin you gave me was used as the catalyst! Don't you remember what that was?!" He exclaimed.
"What? That flimsy hairpin?" He asked.
"That was one of the hairpins that Princess Kaguya used before she ascended to godhood! You have any idea how rare the relics of the Yamatai are?! Especially those from the royal family?!" The god of fortune overreacted with spite.
"Eh? The thing just came from an admirer." Richard replied plainly.
"What kind of idiot would give away such a precious item?" Tsukuyomi asked perplexed.
"Yet again…what kind of idiot tosses away something from an admirer so easily?" I pointed out displeased.
"Don't look at me like that… the girl stood me up at our first date. Found out she was getting me in for an orgy." He explains himself, "I don't wanna get into that uber kinky stuff."
"Exactly how did you and my disciple know each other?" Ebisu asked me.
"Bakumatsu Era… he and his boss were my accidental drinking buddie at one point." Richard replied.
"So why occupy about this boy. I know he's like the disciple of Tsukuyomi but the guy barely has any noticeable features at all. Like I could barely see the guy at the mortal plain. How is he special?" Ebisu asked Richard in doubt.
I then made my hand black to the point that it transformed into a demon claw. The sight made the god jump back from his seat. "You didn't really have to show off, you know." Richard told me. "Even I get pissed too, you know." I replied.
"The shut-in did it...a tasogare able to live in the mortal plain." Ebisu reacted rather surprised.
"Is that a problem?" I asked.
"Well demons aren't supposed to be in the mortal plain for long. If they do, the mortal plain sends them back." Tsukuyomi explains, "However tasogare are able to stay in the mortal plain as long as they visit the underworld to replenish in the darkness that can only exist in that realm."
"Which is?" I asked.
"Dark flames and miasma that can only exist in hell, of course." Ebisu answered.
I was speechless to learn that. But then again that bring more info. "So… not only I can go to the heavenly plain but to hell as well?" I asked for clarification. "Well… we don't exactly know that, yet." Richard answered.
"I may be ready for a monster raid but definitely not for hell." I said, tense to my veins.
"Relax, like hell you're ready for that. That comes later."
Before I can react to anything, Tsukuyomi stops me at mid sentence. "Are we really serious sending my disciple out there? what is your cause?" She asked. "The sooner we get Rin to full strength, the closer we are able to protect Cletus. Maybe we might find a way for people to get out of this god-forsaken rock once we are able to get some information there." Richard said.
"My disciple is really that important? Then shouldn't you be the one to strive for it?"
"Honestly...I'm going to need all the allies I can get. The guard is able to defend the wall but there's a limit the defense force can handle. That's why Hanami made these alliances with many guilds. With the political climate in Laputa, it's only to take a match to light the continent on fire."
Even if Richard said it with such pride, the god didn't react as much. Both of gods slouched with their heads on their hand and said, "You do realize that you still need a catalyst, right?" Richard's face turns red in embarrassment. Honestly it looks like those times when his charisma backfired was no different when he was Sakamoto. "Oh come on! Just give me a chance!" The man begged. "You know the rules. Offerings have to be of equivalent exchange of the miracle. Just give up already." Ebisu shut the man down. I rested my head on my head, constantly watching the three of them argue. But something took Ebisu's eyes off the conversation. He started to look at me for some reason with neurotic curiosity. Without warning the guy pulls my arm in a brash manner and my head slams at the table. I look up pissed and shouted, "What the hell was that for!"
But the god didn't hear a word on what I was saying. He was more fixated on what was on my arm. It was the Rolex that me and Rebecca salvaged back when we were at the apartment. His eyes were full glee and couldn't get his eyes off the watch. I started to snap my fingers in front of my face to get the god back to his senses. "Alright...can you tell me what is going on before I might end up doing something stupid." I insisted with a haggard look at my face. "Where did you get this watch? This is extremely rare!" Ebisu exclaimed.
"I raided it from a room from my apartment building."
"Nonsense! Like a common mortal can get this watch."
Richard leans next to the god, kit with curiosity himself. He looks at the watch, rather confused in what was going on. "What's so good about this watch, old man?" The guy asked. "Fool! This is a Rolex 4113! There are only twelve only made with eight only discovered. It is extremely rare!" Ebisu told Richard ecstatically.
"Really? How much does it cost?"
"A million."
"In Yen or Ryo?"
"In dollars, you buffoon!"
Richard reacted in shock. He then gets a grip on my collar and started to shake me from the other side of the table. "Idiot! Why the hell didn't you say anything?!" He shouted. "...You didn't ask." I blandly replied. The god of Fortune got a grip on my arm. It looked like he was obsessed with it. I then tugged away my arm and took off the watch. "Here, see it for yourself." I offered. The god took it from me and his eyes glowed a bright yellowish-gold. You really don't expect that to happen when you lend something to a guy. "What is he doing?" I asked. "Fortune gods have the ability to appraise items and grant luck. He's seeing the worth of it by seeing the history of how the items lived over the years." Richard told me. Ebisu then shushed the both of us as he was in the middle of his work. "This looks like this is an original...I wonder who was the last owner." He mumbled. From eyes of excitement turned to a state of dumbstruck. He lost the energy but eventually stopped looking at his ability.
"It looks like the last owner stole it from a famous hotel tycoon. Turns out he got fired from his boss for sticking out for one of his colleagues." Ebisu said as he smoked his pipe rather perplexed.
The rest of us were weirded out ourselves, not knowing what to feel. "I'm all for business is business but... firing someone just for disagreeing with you?" Richard reacted.
"Yeah...looks like the boss's son was coping a feel with some of the female employees. Daddy dearest thought it was lies so he fired the last holder of the watch." Ebisu answered.
"So stealing a million dollar watch was for revenge? I would have gone out of the country and sell it." Richard said as he leaned back on his chair.
"Where to? You fool!" Ebisu reacted with a karate chop.
"What? The black market does wonders." Richard replied as he was feeling his head.
"Ehhh….the black market? You know about that stuff too?" I asked surprised.
"It's funny what you do when you get tipsy…." My colleague reluctantly answered.
Even with doubt haunting around me I decided to take an initiative. I cleared my throat and confronted the Fortune god. "So would that suffice? It will be a one in a million chances till you see stuff like that." I asked the god. Ebisu started to fiddle with his beard, not knowing what to do. "I don't know...I don't even know if such an item would be enough…" The god tediously guessed. The god was taking in his time in his decision. The got was taking his dear time with it.
But then took the watch from Ebisu and Hatcher an idea. "Then I guess I can trade this to some other god. There are other Fortune gods...after all there are seven of you." I taunt him, "If the Shinto, Greek, and Catholic pantheon exist then for sure I might trade with the Chinese pantheons. They have a lot of Fortune gods there so I don't see why I can't just go there, right now."
Richard soon was getting my pace. He tagged along the joke and started talking. "I think I know a guy who knows the Sanxing. But if you want extra maybe we should head to Fortuna." He suggested out of commission relief. That's when Ebisu stands from his chair and slams his hands on the table. "LIKE THE FOURTEEN HELLS YOU WILL!" Ebisu exclaims, "Those gods don't know the difference between a Rolex and a sundial! Give me that watch, Tasogare! I'll show you a blessing!" The Fortune god then takes a scroll out of his robe and I give him the watch. He started to write glyphs and kanji that even I could barely understand. He then reached his hand at me once more. "Give me a good looking knife. Not that stainless stuff, something forged." He demanded. I then looked at my arsenal and all I had was a tanto knife. It came with my daito but I barely use it. It had always been at my pack. I gave the god the knife and he took a good look at it. "Damascus steel...you have good taste." He complemented.
"Damascus? Really?" Richard wanted to confirm.
"It came with the daito. It was two for one." I replied.
"Eh…? How much?" Richard asked.
"A grand…?" I hesitantly answered.
"You bought a sword set for a grand?!" Richard exclaimed.
"Hijikata's past life was picky with weapons...I only managed to get most of his techniques because of that." I defended.
"Either way… it works." Ebisu put out.
The god placed the watch and the knife on the scroll. With a wave of his hand the scroll glows a golden yellow. A few seconds later the two items descend slowly and drop at the table. Ebisu then sheaths the knife and hands it to me. "Once you ready, lay a map in front of you and throw the knife at the air. Wherever the knife lands is the place to your liking." He told me. But before I can get the knife, Ebisu takes a good grip at my wrist. "Remember, demonfolk. Fortune can be gained at various things. It can be from riches, knowledge, or peace in mind. Think wisely and calm, make sure you not regret whatever Fortune gives you." He warned me.
"Would it be better if Richard to do it then? He is allied with you." I asked.
"No! The knife is done to accommodate to your wishes. Once your wish is accomplished, your deed is done." Ebisu told me.
Knowing this, I grip the knife with care and unsheathed it. The knife glowed an amber light. This thing is what is gonna help me later on. With that I took some paper and wrapped it with twine. To finish it off, I sealed it with a paper charm. "You know sealing too?" Richard asked. "It's just a paralysis charm. Originally it was meant to make objects immovable." I said.
"Immovable meaning...?"
"You know... prevent doors from opening, chest and locks from being locked...even wheels from turning."
"So where did you learn that?" Ebisu asked.
I pause in thought. Collecting any memories, I was at a loss. "I really don't know...even with this knowledge it's still fuzzy on the rest of the memories." I replied. "Ehh…? I guess that's the drawback for living so many times." Ebisu commented.
"It was the same thing with Sakamoto and Goemon for me… the hardest ones are the ones even before." Richard agreed with a nod.
Tsukuyomi then snaps her fingers and pours herself a cup of sake using her power. "I guess that resolves that." She said.
"So what are we supposed to do now?" I asked.
"Just sleep on it for now. The knife relies on you so I'd suggest you take time to think of your next move." Richard suggested.
"My decision? I'm not fit to lead. Especially stuff like this." I implied.
"I know. At the meantime I'll take over as leader. Since it's your knife, you'll be co-leaders next Magna. Gram and Mr. Williams will play as external advisers. The rest will be talked about later." Richard told me.
"I guess that means our work is done here. Be sure to behave while we are gone." Tsukuyomi said.
"Bah! Who do you think we are?!" Ebisu exclaimed.
"Let's just say...your disciple isn't the only one who has little birds to watch over others." The moon goddess told them.
Knowing that made the fortune god turn pale. "So that other time… you know of that?!" He asked out of shock.
"Yes. It looks like Lord Izanagi wants to have a word with you." Tsukuyomi answered with a fake smile.
The fortune god started to stutter and eventually became silent. Tsukuyomi the directs her stare at Richard. "Do recall that this is a place where the gods and mortals meet. Try to be proper when in this holy place." She told him. Richard's spine came with a chill and all he could do was nod. Once all are in place she directs herself to me. "I have to get going." She says, "I have to get back to the moon before it reaches India. Keep safe and don't be reckless."
She then lays her hand up high and a portal started to appear. "So if I visit your shrine, what do you want me to offer?" I asked the goddess. "Just leave it in my shrine. You can also burn it in a pyre." She replied.
"So what am I supposed to do?" I asked her once more.
"Keep a good eye on your memories. I need you, Rin. Remember who you are." She answers, "Before you leave, get a meal. You won't be able to use magic on an empty stomach."
Tsukuyomi then gives me a bento box. I bowed in thanks, only to be welcomed with an embrace. "I'm sorry I shouted at you. Hang in there, alright?" She tells me, "You're still by brave, stubborn hero. Be the one I've always cared for." With a snap of her fingers she disappeared. I opened the bento to see something odd. It was lunchbox with a oyakodon with a message written in japanese with nori. "Do your best." It said.
A flash of light came. It was a distant memory of me as a teen running in the forest. Only at the meadow I saw someone sitting under a tree. It was girl sitting under a tree. "*Bleep*! Sorry I'm late!" I shouted in Japanese. "It's alright! Don't rush." She assured. In the bento box were two bowls of Oyakodon. I would meet would after school when I had the time and she would teach me magic and tell me stories. We would have fun together. Seeing that memory dripped tears in my eyes. How could I forget such a kind memory. My mind was disarray and in chaos. Tremors surged into my brain until I fainted. How could I forget as such? Who is this person?