Guided to what seemed Kurama Temple's reception room, Yūgen and Fuko savored the served tea sweets. The abbot returned, slightly sweaty.
"My apologies for the wait, Kagurazaka-dono, Forty-Nine Institute-dono."
"We initiated this, so no concern. Disciples, I presume?"
"Indeed. Word spread of Kagurazaka-dono's Ise Shinto esoterics and Shinkage-ryū mastery."
Yūgen pieced it together.
Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, shaping Shinkage-ryū, visited Kyoto, learning not just Celestial magic but myriad arts—including Tengu Arts and Kyōhachi-ryū swordsmanship. Past-life records cited Yin-ryū, Shinto-ryū, Nen-ryū; his flair earned Kyōhachi-ryū full license. Sengoku sword masters were monstrous.
Kurama doubled as Kyōhachi-ryū dojo and Tengu Arts hub—foundation for Uesugi and Kagurazaka's dual martial-magic pillars. Yūgen wielded hybrid ancient-modern spells; Gōzō certified master-level licenses.
"Leaked somehow—hot-blooded disciples demanded sparring."
"...I'm a recent instructor, but I'll guide if willing."
"Yūgen, you sure?"
"No Gōzō-level hordes here—should be fine."
Multiple Gōzō-caliber monks? Kurama's Traditionalists would be obliterated. Mountain recluses likely matched temple elites, deterring action. Some might yearn to return but couldn't.
Fuko wry-smiled at Gōzō's known prowess; the abbot looked apologetic.
"Plus, I'm curious about Kyōhachi-ryū and Tengu Arts. Know a military user of the latter."
"Kagurazaka-dono, the 'Great Tengu'?"
"Yes, personal ties with National Defense Ground Forces Major Kazama Harunobu."
Abbot nodded convincingly at Kazama's name. Sparring aside, focus shifted to talks.
"Today concerns Kurama's Traditionalists. Yesterday, Enryaku-ji's abbot proposed reclaiming defectors."
"Enryaku-ji... We've longed to retrieve power-seekers."
Multi-faction Traditionalists; Kurama feared Hiei pressure alone. Kyoto's moderation offered hope—Nara aside.
"Post-WWII, to shield His Majesty from foreigners, we reluctantly left. We'll raze Arashiyama's Traditionalist base, erect Tenmangu, fully revive Kyoto's 'Sanctuary.' We'll urge Kyoto Traditionalists back to orthodoxy."
"Truly!? 'Sanctuary' here... No, your face says no jest."
Hiei included, but Kurama's northern guardian role grew vital. Liberation was a long-cherished dream.
Over a century, Kagurazaka's name endured in Kyoto-Nara. Shrine event would re-etch it. Sugawara Michizane's 1200th death anniversary loomed—perfect pretext.
No intent to belittle the "Thunder God"; past-life, he'd prayed at Kitano Tenmangu for exams. Here, Michizane pinpoint-struck Fujiwara and courtiers with lightning post-mortem. "Heart paralysis" for some. Kagurazaka ancestor pacified his spirit—per family records.
Shrine for Michizane's appeasement: interference risked Fujiwara-like curses—potentially all Traditionalists. Kyoto-focused, but even Nara radicals would flinch.
Reviving Tengu lore to naturally dissolve Traditionalists—Sanctuary's true aim.
"We've heard of Tengu-sama's wrath across generations. We'll comply fully—no desire to provoke."
"No need for formality. No harsh demands. For Kurama: pardon former disciples, including mountain dwellers in Traditionalists."
Bulk mediation via Kagurazaka to avoid individual hassle. Enryaku-ji approved; pardons via Yakumo. Non-returnees? Kagurazaka intake, then to allied magic houses.
Send to Uesugi—Gōzō's domain. He'd gleefully forge them. Yakumo apprenticed there; world war legend mentorship would lure power-hungry ancient casters.
Unspoken bonus: Gōzō's brutal training pulverizes extraneous thoughts.
"Defectors likely harbor regrets. We offer escape for Traditionalists. May shine defending the nation—acceptable?"
"Yes. Kurama freed, we chant sutras in peace. Kagurazaka-dono, Forty-Nine Institute-dono—entrusted to you."
Talks wrapped in under 30 minutes. Honoring promise, Yūgen headed to Kyōhachi-ryū dojo, taking a bamboo shinai. Disciples wielded bokutō—risky; Fuko protested.
"You lot that desperate to win!?"
To Yūgen, subsonic bokutō were sluggish. He precisely struck wrists, disarming, then delivered fierce blows. Arms, Benkei's pressure point, flanks—downed. Bruises at worst; he avoided lethality.
An hour's thorough handling left the dojo floor a tableau of exhausted corpses.
"Good. Light session ends here. Reflect on losses, apply to training. Got it?"
'Th-Thank you...'
Barely greeting, Yūgen stowed the shinai, approached Fuko—miffed.
"Too soft, Yūgen."
"...Calling this carnage soft? I'll hear you out. Abbot-dono, apologies."
"No—we owe compensation. We'll handle cleanup."
Departing, "Kyōhachi-ryū guidance" fee: ¥1,000,000. Excessive, but abbot's face included nuisance pay. Silent acceptance—Kagurazaka legacy.
Windfall prompted Kyoto tourism pitch; Fuko agreed, linking arms.
"Said yesterday—rare meetings. Miyuki-jō would forgive this."
"Fine by me."
If it cheered Fuko, effort was worthwhile. Toward city center.
"..."
"Miyuki? Why the grave face?"
"Nothing, Honoka."
(Definitely thinking of Yūgen.)
Meanwhile, First High 2-A break: Miyuki stared at terminal. Honoka worried; Shizuku pegged it—Yūgen contact dilemma.
◇ ◇ ◇
Kurama Temple and mountain faction indirectly linked; temple troubled by handling—valuable intel for future moves. Inn near Arashiyama Traditionalists; 'Sanctuary' necessitated subdual. They forgot the assault anyway.
From Kurama to Kyoto Station area, then—Fuko's request—Otowa-yama Kiyomizu Temple. Commuter to mid-path, but no rush; leisurely walk.
Off-peak autumn, Friday weekday—yet crowded. Surface peace; path swarmed, mostly foreign tourists.
"Weekday, but packed."
"...Yūgen, doing something?"
"No magic."
Unconscious presence manipulation; passers naturally parted without strain. Not erasure—non-magical. Fuko smiled, impressed.
"Heh, 'Magician' truly suits you."
"Can't do escape illusions."
"No, I mean—"
Mirror Gate, likely. Too convenient for public; military-secret level. Known to Sen'hime, Gōzō, Moto-tsugu, Fuko. Not Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion—leak risked undue threat.
Okinawa intel on Great Asian Union tipped scales; Kazama vowed, "As a soldier, maybe; as a man, no enmity." Soga upon major promotion: "Intelligence mishap soured Defense—yet I choose non-hostility."
Still, some eyed exploitation. Battalion low-risk—Gōzō sympathizers. Saeki: usable, untrustworthy.
Canon: used Tatsuya despite foreign strategic-class targeting. Unforgivable, circumstances be damned.
Tangent over.
Kiyomizu's famed "leap from stage" main hall offered panoramic Kyoto views. Yūgen scanned with Osiris Sight for Zhou Gongjin's recent trace—southeast, tracing city.
Unplanned visit, but faster than street-by-street. Worst-case: Kaleidoscope from Arashiyama. Saved effort.
"Visited Kyoto before?"
"Gōzō's escort—often."
Post-Mitsuya reincarnation, Moto-tsugu intro to Gōzō—taken, "transferred" to Hokkaido's grand dojo. Gōzō's focus, cost-saving.
Grade 3 mid to middle school end at Yabana house (initially "Mitsuya-serving kin"; heirship revealed main branch). Occasional shrine/temple aid.
Well-treated for Shirō training. Ancient magic basics overheard eased Uesugi archives. Celestial magic headache compensation.
"Publicly, just Gōzō's relative. Met you then."
"True. But first meeting—boy treatment shocked."
High elementary; pre-feminine development. Pretty boy vibe. Speech sparked reincarnate suspicion—rushed, mangled "maro."
"Unavoidable—mid-training. You've grown splendidly, Fuko."
"Don't say casually... I'll fall harder."
"Just facts."
Fuko self-identified; he apologized. Should've started negative—yet love-at-first-sight, misgendering stung self-anger.
"Shrine has priests, but male-restricted areas. Plus, sensitive to male gazes... Then you."
Ancient casters hypersensitive vs modern. Shrine miko prodigy Fuko dressed boyish to deflect.
Yūgen, oblivious, approached neutrally—boosted appeal.
"Didn't grasp romance then. Thought I repelled you."
"You risked life saving me."
"Yeah."
At Forty-Nine Institute, rain-soaked shrine check; Fuko swept by flash flood. Panic blocked magic. Yūgen tracked aura, used Ichijō-exclusive Explosion directionally upstream, weakening flow—dived, rescued.
Mouth-to-mouth for water—life-saving, not kiss. No-count.
"Decided post-rescue: your wife, any status. Ten Clans shocked; beyond even my foresight."
"Fine—I exceed my own plans."
Departure: head promised daughter. Yūgen laughed off romance-ignorance. Foresight humbled—some unbeatable, strength aside.
-------------------------------
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