Chapter 3 - Natsume and Kyouko
Part 1
She learned about this 'family tradition' a short time before she advanced to middle school.
Even when she was asked to be 'male', it was hard to do so suddenly. After ruminating, she planned to practice acting as a male through a simple shikigami.
At the beginning, she created a simple shikigami that looked like a boy. Hence, she understood that, unexpectedly, people only judged outer appearances. Even if she, who was the one truly acting though it, was a girl, no one would suspect anything if it was a boy on the outside. At least, it seemed that there was no risk of her true self being exposed in her daily life - at least for how Natsume was normally, as she seldom interacted with anyone and lived an uneventful life.
But it was Natsume herself who had to act like a male, not the shikigami. She still had to be perceived as a male even with a feminine appearance.
Consequently, Natsume created a shikigami modeled to be a girl her own age.
Although she had considered using a personality similar to her own, she felt that it would be more suitable for its actions to be boyish, so she tried practicing with a different style. The reference she used was a girl idol on television that Harutora had liked before. Drawing from the impression - 'so you like that kind of girl' - she remembered after feeling inadvertently interested, the simple shikigami was born. Even though it was just the second attempt, it was very well crafted. It even felt cute to her feminine sensibilities, and it was very suitable for a cheerful smile. But when she thought that Harutora would probably be attracted to her, an anxiety that had sprouted recently began creeping through Natsume's heart.
During the last few years, Harutora came to play at Natsume's house less frequently. She was well aware of the cause. The two of them had become acutely aware of each other and couldn't play around innocently like before. And right now it was the same. Maybe Harutora also had this kind of cheerful, cute girl in his middle school. The current Harutora might be having fun with her right at this moment. She couldn't help but obsess over those thoughts.
Harutora would become Natsume's shikigami as per the branch family's family tradition. But that was a tradition at best, nothing more than a mere obligation. Even if Harutora became Natsume's shikigami, that didn't mean the two of them would regain the familiarity they had in the past.
The family tradition indeed existed. She also remembered their childhood promise. But unlike the main family, the current branch family wouldn't be as dedicated to the 'Tsuchimikado' as her father was. Even if Natsume firmly remembered their past promise, she wasn’t certain whether Harutora still remembered it and whether he would seriously comply with it. As the time they spent together dwindled and their relationship grew distant, anxiety rooted itself in Natsume's heart and slowly grew.
She wanted to see Harutora.
But she didn't have the courage to say it. When exactly had she stopped being forthright with Harutora?
"......Right."
She had this simple shikigami. Maybe she should try it in the town Harutora was in. She could be an unreserved girl with a bold appearance and a cheerful boyish attitude.
If she met with Harutora with that kind of attitude, she could definitely express herself better. She could regain her innocence and childhood familiarity from before.
......She couldn't.
Natsume's eyes widened when she happened to meet Harutora by chance, and she tried to talk but ended up running like the wind.
Then, the two of them formed a brand-new relationship.
Afterwards, that summer day began--
This unremarkable clinic that could be mistaken for an ordinary home blended into the scenery of a residential area.
It was close to dawn, and a short-tailed wild cat strolled through the front of the courtyard. The surroundings were still tranquil and asleep, and the noise of truck engines as they drove close by sounded occasionally.
There was only one person staying at this clinic. But this patient was planning on leaving on his own without the permission of the hospital manager.
"......So you're saying that we still don't have any information on Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi?"
"It's true that we don't have any information, and we don't actually know his whereabouts - we can't contact him. Well, there's still time. Also, he didn't have much of a connection to the Onmyou Agency in the first place......"
He had white hair and crude glasses. The bathrobe that served as his sleepwear had already been removed and he had changed to a well-worn suit. Ohtomo held the phone with one hand while roughly packing the things next to him into his suitcase.
This was more like an escape at night than the departure of a resident patient. Actually, Ohtomo had decided to leave on his own several minutes ago - when he had received a phone call of his former co-worker and close acquaintance since his student days, Kogure Zenjirou. More specifically, he learned of the fire that had occurred an hour ago in the old home of a student, Tsuchimikado Natsume, from the class he was responsible for.
"Anyway, I don't have any detailed information either. All I can confirm is that the Tsuchimikado family residence is completely burned down. This will be broadcast on television and other media in the morning."
"......"
Ohtomo's expression was extremely grave.
Though the Tsuchimikado family had already declined, in the end it was once a prominent Onmyoudou family. The news that the residence of the family that could be called the head sect had been burned down would definitely be a great shock to the magic community. Of course, the Tsuchimikado family had long since left the upper echelons. Even if it would shock the community, it wouldn't carry any tangible effects. The Onmyou Agency would still be able to act unimpeded. This incident essentially wouldn't change anything.
But, Ohtomo gradually realized that this was only the surface.
There were changes. No, he feared that this incident itself was the result of changes that had already happened. Currently, something was happening in the Onmyou Agency. He couldn't uncover it, and most people didn't notice, but there were indeed certain definite, real changes going on. It was among the higher-ups - more accurately, the 'depths' of the Onmyou Agency organization.
Moreover, Ohtomo believed that those in charge of the changes had decided to leave him behind.
It was decisive - and probably deadly.
"......I know about the main family. Then what about the branch family? The main family head went into hiding, but is the branch family still running their Onmyou doctor business?"
"We can't get in touch with them either. The Mystical Investigators seem to be moving......"
Kogure, on the other end of the phone, was also very confused. Though he had immediately reported on the business concerning Natsume, he didn't know any details. Kogure was an exorcist, and he had no way of immediately obtaining more information. Furthermore, he was still at the Exorcist Bureau on standby in order to guard against any spiritual disasters that happened during the night. Even as part of the Onmyou Agency, what he could do was very limited.
"If Amami-san was still around now, he'd definitely have more detailed information......"
Ohtomo, who was preparing to leave the hospital, paused when he heard the disheartened words that Kogure inadvertently said. But his expression remained unchanged and he immediately started packing again.
Ohtomo noticed the 'changes' within the Onmyou Agency because of Amami's disappearance.
According to Kogure's information, the Mystical Investigator Chief Amami Daizen had suddenly disappeared without a trace the night that the operation against the Twin-Horned Syndicate ended. On that day, which had begun with a forced investigation by the Mystical Investigators, there had been a magical battle in the Exorcist Bureau Shinjuku branch with the Twin-Horned Syndicate and a battle in the Meguro branch against the multiple spiritual disasters. These events that occurred successively from morning to late in the day could be described as a towering tsunami. In particular, the spiritual disasters had caused widespread destruction, which led to the Onmyou Agency falling into an enormous mess and caused the disruption of the Exorcist Bureau's business for several days. Most of the agency members were forced to deal with other emergencies and had to go all out. Amami had 'vanished' amidst that chaos.
Chief Kurahashi, upon learning of Amami's disappearance, had quickly taken command of the Mystical Investigators himself and dealt with the various issues of the aftermath. That state of affairs was still continuing now. That meant that Kurahashi Genji was simultaneously the head of the Mystical Crime Investigation Department, the Onmyou Agency Chief and the Exorcist Bureau Chief. Though it was a temporary arrangement, it currently couldn't be determined when it would change.
"......How's the Onmyou Agency with regard to the Tsuchimikado fire?"
"If you're asking about their reactions, most people still don't know right now."
"I'm not asking about reactions. I was asking what it's 'like'. To put it clearly, I'm interested in how it was before the incident happened."
"......There weren't any unusual occurrences before the incident, I think? Sorry. At least, I didn't notice any, as I've been busy purifying spiritual disasters all the time recently."
"......You don't know about the current state of the Mystical Investigators either?"
"I'm not clear on the details. As for my personal feelings, although the Chief's disappearance was shocking, they aren't having any problems operating......"
"What does that mean?"
"Of course, the Mystical Investigators I know are feeling confused. But their deployments aren't visibly disordered and they're functioning well. At least from the outside, the Chief's command seems solid, though I'm not sure whether it's just that the problem areas haven't reached the ears of outsiders...... What should I say, it's like they themselves are being used without knowing why either......"
Ohtomo listened to Kogure's mixed feelings with a serious expression.
Ohtomo had been extremely furious in his hospital room after he heard about the Meguro incident. Especially when he heard that Kagami's shikigami, Shaver, had gone out of control and attacked the students, he had wanted to immediately rush out of the hospital room and curse Kagami to death. Of course, he also felt angry at the Onmyou Agency for loosening Kagami's shackles and at Amami for allowing him to guard Natsume in the first place.
But after he heard that Amami had disappeared, he had completely pushed aside his personal feelings. The brunt of his anger and impatience instead turned towards himself, who didn't know anything at all.
The situation was extremely serious.
"Anyway, all we can do right now is wait for the reports afterward. When the sun comes up, we might find out that it was just an ordinary fire......"
"Are you an idiot?"
"......You're right. Forget what I said just now."
Amami's disappearance wasn't Amami's own problem. Of course, it couldn’t be a simple fire that had burned the Tsuchimikado residence. In fact, it could be evidence that the Twin-Horned Syndicate, the organization acting in the shadows, had even deeper roots. Also, there was the Onmyou law reform the Onmyou Agency was currently pushing for and the widened jurisdiction it would bring to the Agency.
He shouldn't rush to a conclusion. But, it was clearly very suspicious that the second most powerful person in the organization had mysteriously disappeared without any clues and without causing any panic in the organization itself. That meant that Amami had already been 'removed' from the important duties of the Onmyou Agency. It could also be put a different way. The 'former Onmyou Agency' that Ohtomo and Kogure were familiar with was currently in turmoil. A 'different group' had established itself inside the organization and was using the confusion within the 'former Onmyou Agency' to absorb the agency as it continued its normal duties.
The uncomfortable feeling Kogure felt from the Mystical Crime Investigation Department probably had the same origins. This could also be proof of what kind of level the 'change' inside the organization had already reached.
Resigning from the Mystical Investigators and living a calm, easy life was probably better for him.
Amami had vanished. Kagami was in confinement - it seemed that he was being imprisoned inside the Onmyou Agency. Then he didn't have to pay attention to matters that wouldn't affect the current situation right now. There was no need to feel agitated about each and every thing. Right now he had to be calm and act with precision.
"Then, Jin."
"What."
"I know that you're making a lot of speculations in this kind of situation...... Don't cause too much of a scene."
Ohtomo's mouth revealed a bitter smile as he listened to his old friend's worries.
".......Yeah."
After that brief reply, Ohtomo hung up Kogure's phone call.
It would have been better if he had taken action immediately after hearing the news that Amami had vanished. He hadn't done that because he wanted to temporarily stay out of the fray and clarify the situation.
But, although indirectly, he had already started to neglect the students he was responsible for, so he had to act. He could only break into the storm. Ohtomo put away his phone, closing his luggage.
But just then, Ohtomo shuddered and froze.
He felt a jolt of tension and killing intent. A dangerous gleam sparked from his eyes beneath the glasses.
But Ohtomo's fingers that deftly reached for charms went limp before he could grab any. Instead, his reaction was replaced with regret and a cold sweat.
"......Are you trying to scare me, Priest? I'm easily frightened, so this isn't good for my heart."
He complained half jokingly and half seriously.
Then,
"......Hoh."
A soft sigh came from the corridor outside the hospital room. Then, the sliding door opened by itself.
A young boy stood in the corridor.
He was probably still an elementary schooler, and he wore old-fashioned black clothing under a vest, cropped trousers, and black leather shoes. Also, he wore a bowtie. He was dressed in all black - except his red teashade [13] sunglasses.
The quiet sound of footsteps came from the boy's black leather shoes as he walked into the hospital room. Ohtomo stopped packing his luggage, leaning lightly against the bed as he faced the boy. With a bitter expression, he endured the boy's upward gaze through his sunglasses.
"......This time you're a kid? Pardon me, but don't you think that's in a bit of bad taste?"
"It's because the 'possession' has to meet many conditions, and also because my circumstances didn’t offer very many options."
He said with a satisfied smile. Ohtomo also felt that there was nothing to do other than smile wryly.
"Ah, this time you smile pretty normally."
"It's because the body is still new. ......Ah, let me first explain to quell your worries, I didn't kill this child. He would have been burned to death regardless if I didn't touch him, so I just repurposed him."
The boy leisurely answered Ohtomo's question. The words the boy spoke seemed extremely strange, but Ohtomo believed that they were probably true. Ohtomo himself had pondered whether he could use a soulless corpse as a vessel.
A stool in the corner of the hospital room suddenly glided behind the boy on its own. The boy jumped and sat on the stool. It was as if there was an invisible helper, and actually that was indeed the case. The boy's shikigami were also here, and there were probably two. Ohtomo didn't have the confidence that he could win even against one of them.
"......Could that be that 'oni' that attacked the Onmyou Agency building?"
"Huh? Oh, those guys? Yes. Come to think of it now, it would have been fine if I brought one along with me. In that case, that 'competition of magic' would have become even more exciting."
"No, no, no. In that case, I would have quickly surrendered."
Ohtomo maintained his smile but he still sweated as he spoke honestly to the boy on the chair - Ashiya Doman. Truly a visitor that was bad for his heart.
"......So? What's your business here tonight, Domahoshi?"
"Hoho. What do you think?"
"Well, you've come for revenge - I can only pray that's not the case."
Those were his true, heartfelt thoughts. After all, this was an opportunity. If Doman was an 'assassin' the Twin-Horned Syndicate sent, then there was no better situation than this.
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