The party was slow to break up because of the compulsory pleasantries required on parting. Being their boss afforded me the privilege of escaping their very boring company first.
COVID-19 restrictions have forced all eating establishments to close early at 9pm. Or else, we would be there stuck until 11pm, in time for them to leave for one of the three stations around Shinjuku before the last train departs.
Michiko had already picked up the tab on my behalf. The alley used to be noisier before the pandemic, but it resembled a dinghy alleyway now.
A cat was prowling around nearby as I stepped out. On sight of me, its fur stood up as it backed away cautiously. One hiss and it fled the scene. Scaredy cat. Yup, animals still recognise our auras in human forms.
I could hear shouts and calls. The noise was coming from the staff of a few desperate but enterprising eateries near to the main road, offering takeaway packages for those passing by. Everything from beef teriyaki to even zaru soba, cold noodles, was on offer.
Business was brisk for most, with bankruptcies on the rise.
Michiko hurried behind me as we walked through the now darkened alley towards the noises.
"Pity, this restaurant has closed," she commented. "They had the best ramen…"
Damn kitsune is a human food junkie. She realised I didn't care for her commentaries. We could get our sustenance from their food, but it isn't enough to satiate our appetites.
Empty shuttered shops with leasing and event advertisements were a testament to the economic complications of COVID-19. Some had plain stubborn, refusing to raise their prices to survive despite the social distancing halving their customers. The embattled survivors stayed lit between them.
The cars passing by in front of us and the noises of motorcycles greeted us as we walked out of the alley way.
"You can go on your way." I said, and she bowed before leaving.
Finally alone and walking down the streets at night with cars moving past me. The yōkai were all out more visibly because of the humans huddling in their homes, hiding from a virus.
Nothing more amusing than watching an amabie car surfing or a kitsune casually chatting to a serpent yōkai, both in human form, in front of me. The kitsune turned his head around.
Wait. That's Kouki.
"Shinde-Sama," he bowed.
I eyed the serpent yōkai with suspicion. Whilst good looking and well dressed, there was a wild look in his eyes which resembled Arahabaki. Yet, something familiar. Like I have seen him somewhere before.
"This is Asanki-Sama," he introduced his companion, who bowed.
Asanki is an old Emishi word. Could it be the Mishakuji Kouki had spoke of? Why did his aura resemble a yōkai, rather than a god? Kouki looked at his toes sheepishly, keeping mum.
"So you are Shinde-dono of Shinde Inc.?" Asanki asked.
The old honorary post fix of ~dono, was only used when addressing those of the same or higher social rank. Just not the Emperor, his family, relatives, and the peerages.
Now ~sama was used in the modern times. Again, not the Emperor and his family. After 1947 constitution, they abolished peerages.
"Asanki-dono, are you the one who saved Kouki's life?" I asked politely.
"Yes, indeed. And are you working with Arahabaki?" He asked.
There must be some club for old Emishi gods to get together and share their war stories. Kouki turned away, pretending not to hear our conversation.
"Yes."
"Yamata no Orochi's daughter. My oh my. You have grown up," he said as he eyed me from head to toe. "I used to visit your father in the old days when you were still a small snake."
That explains the uncomfortable familiarity.
"I am sure that Kouki and you have a lot to catch up on," I said.
Kouki looked up at the mention of his name and shook his head. Damn it, he didn't catch the hint that I wanted out of the awkward situation. Meeting father's old friends have proven awkward once they start to reminisce about the past.
"I need to talk to you about…" he trailed off at Kouki.
"I think I have something to pick up," Kouki said quickly.
The brat can read Asanki's hints but pretend not to understand mine. Asanki smiled at me - that smile did not give me a good feeling at all. He wanted me to let Kouki leave.
Has dad ever offended a Mishakuji before? I racked my brains for memories.
"Then you better… um… get going," I said in sheer reluctance as he took off after bowing to both of us.
"So what is going on with Arahabaki?" I asked.
"Come and see it for yourself," Asanki replied as the smile vanished.
A snap of his finger and a portal opened up.
"Follow me, please." This was not a polite request. It sounded like an order.
"You know if I enter a shrine…"
I didn't fancy transforming into my true form if I can help it.
"Just come," he insisted.
***
Among the illuminated primeval trees of the dark forest in the butt fuck out of nowhere, the source of the light flowed from the reddish flames, which were dancing wildly in the shape of a tall faceless human figure entwined by ten spectral serpents moving gracefully in their striking stance.
A great apparition of a wolf's head was behind it, sitting down with its teeth bared at the sight of me. I could almost hear the snarls.
I could felt a great dominating presence - within it, the true strength of destructive wrath crushing me aggressively. The feeling was getting so unbearable that my knees buckled into a kneeling position.
Asanki waved his hand and a whitish shield appeared around me.
"You are fine now," he said.
Not a single kodama in sight, nor the usual sound of night creatures. Other yōkai which inhabit such isolated places were not around. They could have fled.
Arahabaki's form dwarfed another Mishakuji with an illuminated mark of a serpent on his forehead. Between them, a snaking stream of whitish aura was flowing back and forth smoothly.
"Arahabaki's true war form," Asanki gestured to the flaming human figure. "That's when there is too much aramitama and too little energy of good will to control it. Tokkoni is trying to share his nigi-tama to calm him down but we need a proper shrine appeasement."
"And why is he like that?"
Asanki raised his eyebrow and said, "Arahabaki never had much good will energy to perform a large scale spirit cover, which is a protective illusion, and a long distance teleportation. His good will took a tremendous blow when his key worshippers were exterminated."
"Couldn't the shrines appease him?"
Wasn't what the shrines were for? Appeasement of gods or requesting for their aggressive state to win a war, or in the modern ages, fight their business rivals.
"The shrines focused on using his aramitama, which further increased the imbalance. The heavens of the Yamato gods, or Takamagahara as you call it, fear this form the most if it is unleashed."
"How do I enter a shrine in human form to ask a Shinto priest for the rites? I have to take true form. And which shrine of his?"
***
Kyoko handed me the invoice for the appeasement ceremony, paid to the selected shrine which the Mishakuji had directed me to. One look at it and I nearly choked at the sum.
The shrine charged one million Japanese yen for a service, which comprised of a priest chanting and ritual purification rendered. No tax deduction possibility.
"Quit thinking like some miserly human," Arahabaki appeared, sitting on my sofa with his arms folded and a smug smile on his face.
"That's extortion," I protested.
"No, it isn't. The old priest is going to finally fix my auxiliary shrine with that extra money."
I narrowed my eyes at him. Was it him or his Mishakuji gang who influenced the priest for the exorbitant amount, printed on paper?
This is the biggest shrine contribution I had ever made in my life.
That or be fed to Arahabaki's malevolent form, which Asanki threatened me with when I tried to wriggle out of it.
What the hell was Kouki doing hanging out with that powerful Mishakuji? That was something I never had the chance to ask Asanki.