Aso’s skies were dark, though it was the middle of the day.

The clouds were a strange color: one might call them blackish-purple. They hung low and heavy, as if they were a lid over the Aso caldera.

A volcanic plume rose from the middle of the central volcanic cone cluster—from the Middle Peak, the only active member of the Aso volcanoes. It had become active about a month ago, and the area around the crater had been made off-limits; even the mountain-top plaza below the ropeway, which bustled with tourists during tranquil periods, was now devoid of people. It was the first time in two years that the crater had been active.

Volcanic smoke rose high into the sky to dissolve into gray clouds. From a distance, it looked like a pillar connecting heaven and earth.

Very similar to the pillar of spirits in Kumamoto City, in fact.

From the ground, where a cold wind blew, Naoe stared up at the sky.

A feeble ray of sunlight shone through a gap in the clouds onto the outer crater rim.

He sometimes felt the existence of ‘God’ in the streaks of light coming through the clouds, he’d said.

When? Kagetora had said it while gazing at the northern mountain range.

“It makes me feel like praying...”

Because it was a light falling from a place out of reach.

“Because we cannot fly.”

Still staring at the sky, Naoe’s eyes narrowed.

He remembered the sight of Kagetora’s back as he’d hugged himself.

He closed his eyes and quietly hugged himself as if trying to embrace that lonely back.

He called his name.

Light pierced through the heavy gray clouds, descended.

Shined on the ground: a prayer of light.

The strange events in Kumamoto had badly shaken the Ootomo in Aso.

Here at Saiganden Temple, their base of preparations, Ootomo vassals charged around around tumultuously.

“Jouun-dono at the old castle can’t be reached,” a messenger frantically informed Aso Koremitsu, stationed in the main hall of Saiganden Temple. With him was a chief retainer dispatched from Ootomo, Ichimata AkizaneIchimata Akizane (一萬田 鑑実) ? - 1588

Also written as: 一万田 鑑実

Head of the Ichimata Clan, which was descended from the third son of Ootomo Yoshinao. He initially served Ootomo Yoshiaki, and after his death in 1550, his son Ootomo Sourin.

Sourin ordered the deaths of Akizane's father Ichimata Akisuke and uncle in 1553, at which point Akizane succeeded as head of the family. He continued to serve Sourin without rancor, and won several battles, making his military reputation. He put down a rebellion by another uncle in 1568 and fought against the Mouri in 1569 at the Battle of Tatarahama. He spent much of his life fighting for Ootomo but was ordered commit suicide in 1588 by Ootomo Yoshimune due to a rebellion of the Ichimata Clan.

Note: Mirage gives the reading of his name as Ichimanda Akizane; "Ichimanda" appears to have replaced "Ichimata" as the favored reading in modern times. .

“The old castle seems to have fallen completely silent. We are committing all our efforts to gather information, but we still don’t know if the lightning and tornado were caused by Shimazu’s weapons or not. We have had no confirmation as of yet.”

“What of Jouun-dono and Otaa-dono? Are they both thought to have been killed by Shimazu?”

“That can’t be!” Ichimata shouted, pounded his fists against the wood-board floor. “If they had held out a little longer, Saga’s army would have reached Kumamoto!”

Koremitsu and the others in Aso had no idea what had happened. They could never even have imagined that the «Golden Serpent Head» had run amok. Old Castle High SchoolOld Castle High School (古城高校)

Old Castle (Kojou) High School is a fictional school set at the site of the castle which was torn down to make way for Katou Kiyomasa's Kumamoto Castle (also named Kumamoto but using different characters—隈本城 instead of 熊本城). It's likely where real-life Kumamoto Prefectural Daiichi (First) High School stands.

It was originally built as a Western school by foreigners during the Meiji Period (Daiichi was built in 1903 as an all-girls school but later become co-ed). The current school was built around 20 years ago (1970s) and is composed of two three-story buildings to north and south connected by a series of hallways with air-conditioned rooms. It also has a sports oval, a prefabricated club storehouse, and a gym under construction. Kumamoto Castle Park is quite close. was completely silent, and they had lost contact with Julia and the others. Perhaps the old castle had fallen. Wild speculation about a Shimazu secret weapon had created havoc. The boy Koremitsu gazed westward with a troubled countenance. Ichimata ground his teeth. If only he were a kanshoushakanshousha (換生者)

Those who possess others by driving out the soul from a body and making it theirs.

Unlike normal spirits, kanshousha cannot exchange bodies at will; they can only switch to another host body when their current body dies. Because kanshousha become the owners of their bodies, choubuku does not work on them. It is, however, still possible to exorcise kanshousha when they are in spirit-form (i.e. between possessions). himself, he could have stayed beside Jouun-dono to help him.

(Though I believe in Jouun-dono...)

“We should believe in them. Let us trust our friends and do what must be done.”

Koremitsu’s attention was caught by a man’s voice coming from outside. A man in a wheelchair arrived, accompanied by his men.

“I am also sending my subordinates to gather information in the city,” Naoe NobutsunaNaoe Nobutsuna (直江信綱) ? - Oct. 6, 1581

Also known as: Nagao Kagetaka (長尾景孝), Nagao Toukurou (長尾藤九郎)
Title: Yamato no Kami (大和守)

Historically: Son of Nagao Akikage, he became head of the Sousha-Nagao Clan at a young age. He later (around 1545) passed the position to his younger brother Nagao Kagefusa. When the clan was destroyed by Takeda Shingen and their territory lost, the family escaped into Echigo. There Kagefusa became a monk, and Kagetaka was adopted by Naoe Sanetsuna when he married Sanetsuna's daughter, Osen-no-Kata. He succeeded his adopted father as master of Yoita Castle in 1577 and was a vassal of Uesugi Kenshin. He promptly took the side of Uesugi Kagekatsu during the war for succession after Kenshin's death and mobilized the members of the Naoe Clan at the castle to subdue Kagetora's troops.

After the intra-house war and Kagekatsu's victory, a question of reward was called into question. Yasuda Akimoto, one of Kagekatsu's trusted commanders, had promised rewards to Shibata Shigeie, Mouri Hidehiro, and others to convince them to join Kagekatsu's side. However, Yamazaki Hidenori, Naoe, and others objected, for they had risked life and limb at Kasugayama Castle from the very beginning of the battle, while Shibata Shigeie and the others had been lured by promise of reward from Yasuda Akimoto.

Yasuda Akimoto committed suicide when he could not keep his promise of reward. Later, Mouri Hidehiro, carrying a grudge for his death, murdered Yamazaki Hidenori at Kasugayama Castle; Naoe, who was with him at the time and took up a sword to defend himself, was killed as well. His death ended the Naoe line, which Kagekatsu later resurrected by marrying Naoe's widow, Osen-no-Kata to Higuchi Kanetsugu and commanding him to take the Naoe name.

In Mirage of Blaze: According to Kousaka Danjou, and Houjou Ujiteru he was the ringleader of Uesugi Kagekatsu's forces in the Otate no Ran. He is now Uesugi Kagetora's protector and one of the Yasha-shuu under his command. He alone, as Kagetora's protector, was given the power to perform kanshou on other souls, a power he used to force Kagetora's soul into Minako's body. told Koremitsu from his wheelchair. “We have heard nothing about a Shimazu weapon. It is conceivable that some unexpected trouble may have occurred. Until the details of the situation become clear, let us continue with our assigned tasks.”

“I wonder if everything will be all right. Maybe something terrible has happened to Jouun-dono and the others. The Shimazu are a fearsome people. What if they take Kumamoto and invade Aso?”

Koremitsu’s fear was understandable. The Aso Clan had been jostled between such powerhouses as Shimazu and Ryuuzouji, and had only managed to survive with Sassa NarimasaSassa Narimasa (佐々成政) Feb. 2, 1536 - July 7, 1588

Also known as: Kuranosuke—nickname (内蔵助)
Titles: Mutsu no Kami, Ecchuu no Kami, Chamberlain

A daimyo of the Sengoku, born in Owari. His father was Sassa Morimasa. His two older brothers, Sassa Masatsugu and Sassa Magosuke, died in battle, so Narimasa became head of the clan and master of Hira Castle in 1560. He distinguished himself in the loyal service of Oda Nobunaga and fought in many of Nobunaga's battles. His name was first on a list for the Kurohoro-gumi, an elite group of Nobunaga's bodyguards.

In 1580, he backed Jinbou Nagazumi against both the Uesugi Clan and the Ikkou-ikki in Ecchuu, and was given half the province. The following year, he was named governor (Kami) of the entire province when Jinbou Nagazumi lost his standing. He made Toyama Castle his main castle and performed extensive repairs and renovations on it.

After Nobunaga's death in 1582, Narimasa continued to engage in fierce battles with Uesugi Kagekatsu. He took the side of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobukatsu against Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but later surrendered to him in 1585 when Hideyoshi laid siege to Toyama Castle with 10,000 troops. He lost Ecchuu, but was given a fief in Higo in 1587 for merits in the suppression of Kyuushuu, along with instructions on refraining from hasty reforms. Ignoring those instructions because of illness or perhaps misunderstanding, Narimasa immediately set out on Hideyoshi's nationwide land survey, resulting in rebellion of the province. He was charged with misgovernment and committed ritual suicide.

He wrote the following as his death-poem: "The shell of my begging bowl in which I have placed the evil delusions of these recent days now breaks" (この頃の　厄妄想を　入れ置きし　鉄鉢袋　今破るなり).

Narimasa is said to have brutally killed his concubine, Sayuri, along with her family for a rumor of infidelity. The legend goes that Sayuri cursed him before she died, and the curse was responsible for his death at the hand of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

In Mirage of Blaze: He is kanshousha who has entered the «Yami-Sengoku» as one of the Oda's commanders, described as a tanned, fearless-looking young man, a "mountain cat in human skin." He and Mori Ranmaru don't appear to be on the best of terms. He later seeks his death at Sayuri's hands in remorse for the way he brutally tortured and killed her in their previous lives.’s protection.

“You are the commanding general here, Koremitsu-dono. You must not show such a face to your subordinates. Your anxiety is understandable, but a general maintains perfect composure in the face of any situation.”

“Like you, Naoe-dono?”

“...I, Koremitsu-dono... For four hundred years I have been watching someone who, no matter how difficult the situation, never admitted defeat.”

Koremitsu looked curious.

“The anxiety and fear of those who served under him would disappear when they saw his calmness and composure, no matter what crisis they faced. I would like you to become such a general. Do you understand?”

The boy’s gaze was sincere. Koremitsu had deep trust for Naoe, a warrior from EchigoEchigo-no-kuni (越国)

An ancient province in north-central Japan which was ruled by Uesugi Kenshin during the Sengoku Period. Now a part of Niigata Prefecture. who had served under the famed Kenshin Uesugi.

“Listen only to reliable intelligence. Speculation created by fear is extremely dangerous. It’s all right. If you remain calm and collected, you will be able to assess the situation correctly.”

“...You’re, you’re right. I understand. I will tell the Aso to continue their work.”

“Good. How goes the work on top of the mountain?”

“Souun is now in charge of the crater barrier ritual, which is ongoing. He intends to establish the main camp at Kusasenri. We will also make preparations for war in case Shimazu’s army should invade.”

“I see. In that case, we will head up the mountain ahead of you. I will take command of main camp set-up. Sourin-dono is waiting at Old Bouchuu. We will meet there.”

“I will guide you,” Ichimata offered. Naoe accepted, and he and his company left the main temple building.

Several cars were parked at the temple’s rear entrance in preparation for the move. The top of the mountain referred to the area near the Middle Peak’s crater. Kusasenri was properly named Kusasenri Beach, an immense old crater nestled within the arms of Eboushi Peak which lay on their route to the Middle Peak’s crater. From there, it was about 20 to 30 minutes up the Bouchuu Line mountain trail.

Naoe was accompanied by Yoshie KagesukeYoshie Kagesuke (吉江景資) 1527 - 1582

Son of Yoshie Munenobu and trusted vassal of Uesugi Kenshin. He served as keeper of Kasugayama Castle when Kenshin was absent during his battles. He also fought in many of Kenshin's wars.

He supported Uesugi Kagekatsu in the Otate no Ran after Kenshin's death along with his son Nakajou Kageyasu and his father Yoshie Munenobu. He committed suicide at Uozu Castle along with his father and two eldest sons when it fell to Oda Nobunaga in 1582..

(What a poker face...)

Naoe had not mentioned Kagetora thereafter.

“It has to be me! I have to go to him!”

(I’ve never seen him so emotional before.)

Yoshie had mixed feelings when he thought back on what had happened. Even when he’d been Kagetora’s assistant, he had always been a reserved man who did not much express his emotions.

When Naoe had reappeared before Yoshie and the others a year ago, he had become a man of iron. He had lost the soft, suave air that had characterized him when he’d stood in Kagetora’s shadow, and had become a man devoted single-mindedly to his mission. It was not that he was pompous or high-strung...

Until now, he had seemed rather cool towards Kagetora, who was being chased out of the Uesugi.

“Yoshie.”

His heart jumped at the sudden sound of his name.

“Have you heard from Hakkai yet? If he’s in the city, he must know what happened there.”

“No, I’ve heard nothing from Hakkai-dono. The investigator we sent to the city should be back shortly.”

Naoe’s expression was neutral. But Yoshie saw that his fists were white and trembling. A closer look revealed the occasional quiver at the edges of his tightly-compressed lips. His expression of a short time before seemed about to spill out from behind his iron poker face. Although outwardly cool-headed and composed, he was clearly unsettled on the inside. Had the Naoe of earlier been his true self, then?

According to a report from Hakkai from several hours ago, Kagetora was apparently also in the city.

No, that was certain. Naoe had been acting a little strange since coming to Aso. So it must be true that the real reason he had come, despite his physical condition, was—

(Because of Kagetora-sama, to...)

Naoe noticed that he had fallen inadvertently silent.

“What’s wrong, Yoshie?”

“Supreme commander,” Yoshie said, going down on one knee beside his wheelchair, “there is something Yoshie Kagesuke would like to ask of his supreme commander.”

“What?”

“What do you think of Kagetora-sama?”

Even Naoe’s eyebrows were motionless.

“You seem very concerned about Kagetora-sama.”

“His power is a great threat to the New Uesugi. He must not fall into the hands of another onshouonshou (怨将)

Lit.: "vengeful general": the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period, who continue their battles even in modern-age Japan.. Securing his person is crucial.”

“Is that something you must do yourself?”

Naoe looked down at Yoshie coldly. “What are you trying to say?”

"It seems to me that in Naoe-sama’s mind Kagetora-sama holds greater importance than the ‘Ritual of the Great Fire Wheel’.

“That is not true.”

“The one who proposed this plan was none other than Naoe-sama yourself, wasn’t it?”

Naoe’s eyes opened just a little wider. Yoshie made sure that no one was close enough to overhear and kept his voice low.

“We have spent the past half-year rooting ourselves into Ootomo’s network from the shadows with the intention of using them. You, Naoe-sama, are the center from which we have steadily advanced. Your plan is finally bearing fruit. Did you not come here to witness first-hand the construction of the Aso sun power dam?” Yoshie’s voice grew in strength. “Was not the purpose of your alliance with Ootomo the construction of the Uesugi sun power dam?”

Naoe narrowed his eyes.

Yoshie was right. The real mastermind behind the construction of the sun power dam via the «Ritual of the Great Fire Wheel» was not Ootomo, but Uesugi. Sourin and others believed that it was Tawara Chikakata, one of Ootomo’s chief retainers, who had proposed the idea. Tawara’s subordinate Toutetsu, a monk of Rokugou Manzan, had suggested it. However, Toutetsu was actually an undercover Uesugi monk who had infiltrated Ootomo for intelligence operations at Naoe’s instruction. Sourin had adopted the plan and decided it would proceed in parallel with the construction of his Christian Kingdom. Around this time, Aso Koremitsu had informed Sourin of the existence of the «Golden Snake Head», which was said to be the head of the eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent. Sourin had decided to use it as his cornerstone.

However, the «Ritual of the Great Fire Wheel» required specialized knowledge of Shingon magic, for which Ootomo lacked the personnel. That was when the New Uesugi had proposed an alliance. It was common knowledge that Uesugi had many Shingon experts. This was one of Ootomo’s reasons for accepting the alliance.

All according to plan.

In other words, Sourin and his group were moving according to the diagram drawn by Naoe and company.

Uesugi needed Aso in order to gain enough sun power to cover the entire Japanese archipelago. It was the optimal location both in terms of size and topography. That was where they would construct the sun power dam, and it required an alliance with a prominent general in the area.

Naoe and company had set their sights on Ootomo.

“Our secret maneuvers have finally paid off. Completion of the sun power dam will constitute a major step toward Uesugi’s unification of Japan. Here in this volcanic archipelago, none of the onshou can escape this underground threat, and all will bow to Uesugi.”

Of course, once it was complete, it would not be left in Ootomo hands. Secret preparations were also underway to deprive Ootomo of their sun power invocation authority.

“We undertook this great enterprise to put Uesugi on top: in other words, to make you the leader of the «Yami-SengokuYami Sengoku (闇戦国)

Lit.: "Dark Sengoku", the civil war still being fought by the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period in modern-day Japan.».”

“Stop, Yoshie.”

“Please make up your mind!” His tone had become unintentionally chastising. “What is your most important priority? Naoe-dono, I believe you already know. You must know better than anyone the weight of the mission that the New Uesugi has taken on. That you are concerned for a master you served for so long time is perfectly natural. Such is human emotion. But you now lead Uesugi. You are the one Lord Kenshin chose, Naoe-dono!”

Naoe glared at Yoshie through his light-colored sunglasses. Yoshie returned his stare undauntedly, but eventually bowed his head in acknowledgment of his discourtesy.

“In any case, I believe it would also be to your benefit. Please think again on the weight of the responsibilities you have taken on. Their enormity. Then you will know where you must devote your energies now as a matter of course.”

“...Yoshie-dono.”

“Uesugi is in your hands now. The completion of the sun power dam must be the top priority. For Uesugi’s sake.”

And for your own sake.

Naoe fell silent then. He seemed to be brooding over something.

Yoshie sighed lightly and started pushing the wheelchair toward the waiting cars once more.

“Naoe-sama!”

Just as the two were about to get into the car, one of the «NokizaruNokizaru (軒猿)

Lit. "roof monkey"; Uesugi Kenshin's ninja, who used a special technique which involved traveling on rooftops and entering houses from above. Their forte was hunting down other ninja, such as the Fuuma of the Houjou Clan and the Toppa of the Takeda Clan.» came running from the stone steps in breathless haste.

“What is it? What have you learned?”

“I’m sorry, there’s no word of what happened in the city yet. But we received an emergency message from Hakkai-dono.”

“From Hakkai? You know where he is?!”

“Just before the calamity occurred, we intercepted a coded message at Mt. Funano on the city border.”

“What did it say?”

“That he had made contact with Kagetora-sama.”

“!” Yoshie gasped and immediately turned to Naoe. Naoe’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes suddenly sharpened. Yoshie immediately asked the messenger, “Were we able to secure his person? We have him under protection?”

“Kagetora-sama rejected Hakkai-dono’s proposal.”

“Rejected! He couldn’t bring him back?”

The messenger hung his head and looked distressed.

“Kagetora-sama considers Ootomo to be his enemy and intends to fight against his friends.”

“!”

Both of them gasped this time.

Kagetora intended to defy Naoe and the New Uesugi—

Yoshie saw the blue veins standing starkly against Naoe’s white-clenched knuckles.

Naoe sat frozen, eyes bulging.

Asara has taken KihachiKihachi (鬼八)

Also known as: 金八 (Kinpachi), Onhachi, Buddhist Priest Kihachi, Kihachifushi, 走建 (Hashiritakeru, Hasetakeru)

Kihachi is mentioned in the Asahi Daijin (1189) at Takachiho Shrine.

There are many legends about Kihachi, including:

- He served Takeiwatatsu-no-mikoto and ran to retrieve his arrows during the god's target practice. He retrieved 99 arrows, but grew so tired that he retrieved the 100th with his foot. Displeased, Takeiwatatsu-no-mikoto cut off his head. The head rose into the sky and brought frost on the land until it was warmed by a bonfire.

- Onihachi lived in Chichi Cave at the foot of Mt. Nijou. He forcibly took Unome-hime (also known as Asara-hime), daughter of Inari-hime, as his wife and hid her.

- (From the Miyazaki Legends) Similar to the Takeiwatatsu-no-mikoto story, he angered Aso-myoujin of Higo by picking an arrow up with his foot. His wife Asara-hime, an incarnation of a dragon from Mitai, rebelled against him at the behest of Mikeirino-no-mikoto (Mikenu-no-mikoto), whereupon Tabe Shigetaka and others subjugated him, cut him into pieces, and buried the parts in three separate places.

- (From Takachiho) He was a demon who lived in a cave until he was killed by a son of Emperor Jimmu, who cut him to pieces and buried him in three separate places.

- (Also from Takachiho) His real name was Hashiritakeru, a giant spider. He ruled Takachiho, harried the people, and violently carried off beautiful women. He was exterminated by Mikeirino-no-mikoto, his body cut up, and buried in several places. He was described as a god who could make frost at will.
’s head...!

Kiyomasa and Tetsuya immediately sprang into action. If they didn’t do anything, there would be catastrophe.

(If Asara removes the seal on the head!)

It contained more than just the Kihachi Tribe. The spirits of the city it had just swallowed were in there too. Kiyomasa had not the slightest idea how many that added up to.

(We have to go after them and stop them!)

Kiyomasa and Tetsuya immediately set out in pursuit of Hokage and the bird-people who had flown away from Old Castle High School. By the time they rushed down the crumbling stairs and reached the school gates past the shattered glass of the entrance, the tiny shadows of the bird-people were already melting into the sky. They were going to lose them...!

“Shit. Miike Tetsuya! If you’re also a descendant of Asara, why can’t you fly?!”

(Easy for him to say!)

Tetsuya looked on the verge of tears. It was not an unreasonable assumption that if Hokage could fly, then Tetsuya, who shared the same blood, should be able to do so as well. But to expect him to just up and do it?

“Feh! You useless good-for-nothing!” Kiyomasa cursed, and broke into a run. At which point he saw—

A man in a trench coat racing toward him from behind a collapsed building. Kiyomasa stopped dead in his tracks. The man looked to be about thirty or so. It was not a face Kiyomasa recognized.

(But he...!)

As they came face to face, both of them sensed at the same time:

(He’s kanshousha.)

“Oi, Nezu!”

Tetsuya skidded to a stop as he felt the tension between them. Here was another strange man.

And wasn’t Kiyomasa staring at the man in the trench coat rather belligerently?

“Who the hell are you? You must be onshou. Which clan? Shimazu?”

“...Are you Katou Kiyomasa?” Akechi MitsuhideAkechi Mitsuhide (明智光秀) 1526 - 1582

Title: Hyuga no Kami
Also known as: Koreta Mitsuhide

A talented general and poet who belonged to the inner circle of Oda Nobunaga's vassals. He later ambushed Nobunaga at Honnou Temple in 1582, killing both Nobunaga and his heir, Oda Nobutada. Akechi Mitsuhide then proclaimed himself the new shogun, but soon clashed against Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces and was defeated in the Battle of Yamazaki only 13 days later. He was killed en route to his stronghold of Sakamoto Castle in the village of Ogurusu by a bandit with a bamboo spear (though an alternate theory states that he was not killed but became a monk instead). asked the uniformed high school student standing in front of him. He had rushed down from Mt. Hanaoka before anyone else. Kikkawa Motoharu had described Kiyomasa to him, and he’d heard that Kiyomasa had been wounded fighting against the bird-people. Kiyomasa had re-tied his loosened bandage behind his head like a headband.

“Was it Kihachi’s head that caused the lightning strikes, then? I just saw people flying away—the bird-people?”

“What are you doing, Nezu?! Stop dawdling, or we’re gonna lose Hokage and Ougi!”

The man’s eyes widened in shock. “Hokage? Do you mean Miike Hokage—Asara?!”

Now it was Tetsuya’s turn to be surprised.

“You know about Hokage?”

“If you know about Asara, then you must be one of Kikkawa Motoharu’s allies. Are you Mouri?! Or Shimazu?!”

“Was it Asara who controlled the lightning? You said Ougi—you mean Ougi Takaya? Kagetora-dono?!” Mitsuhide pressed Kiyomasa in return, then grabbed him by the collar. “What is going on? What the hell is going on?! Explain everything!”

“I...I don’t fucking know! Weren’t they supposed to be your allies?!”

Tetsuya forced himself between them and tore Kiyomasa away from Mitsuhide. “Oi, you an acquaintance of Ougi’s? If you’re his friend, then help us! Hokage took Kihachi’s head and flew off. She’s been taken over by Asara. If we don’t do something, Asara will release all of Kihachi’s onryouonryou (怨霊)

Lit.: "vengeful ghost"; the spirits of those who died in the Sengoku period who are still so filled with rage and hatred that they continue to exist in the world as vengeful spirits instead of being purified and reborn....!”

“What?! Asara was the one who took Kihachi’s head?!”

“They carried Ougi off, too. We need to hurry! If we don’t get them back quick, there’ll be a catastrophe!”

Mitsuhide looked up at the sky. There was no longer any trace of Hokage and the others.

(Damn it!)

“Evidently this isn’t the time for a fight, Kiyomasa. Stopping Asara must come first.”

“Oi, I haven’t heard an answer to my question yet. Who the hell are you?!”

Mitsuhide glared with sharp impatience. “Have you forgotten me, Toranosuke?”

Kiyomasa cringed. This man knew Kiyomasa’s name from his coming-of-age ceremony.

(It can’t be...)

Mitsuhide pulled a carved wooden figure from his inside pocket. It was shaped like a bird. Placing it on the back of his hand, he began to chant some kind of incantation. Before Kiyomasa and Tetsuya’s eyes, the bird carving quickly transformed into a real eagle. It spread its wings wide, and Mitsuhide tossed it into the sky.

“My shikigamishikigami (式神)

Lit.: "ceremony god"; spirits summoned through ceremony to do the bidding of the summoner, much like familiars. . I’ve sent it after Asara and the others. Let us follow.”

“Hey, wait! Wait a moment. Are you by any chance...”

“Akechi Hyuuga-no-kami Mitsuhide,” Mitsuhide said over his shoulder. “I know you’re with Oda. But now’s not the time for fighting. It is imperative that we stop Asara and Kihachi. Otherwise KyuushuuKyuushuu (九州)

Also known as: Kyuukoku (九国: “nine states”), Chinzei (鎮西: “west of the pacified area”), Tsukushi-shima (筑紫島: “island of Tsukushi”), Saikaidou (西海道: “West Sea Route”).

Lit.: "Nine Provinces", the third-largest and most southerly and westerly island of Japan. Its name comes from the former provinces of Japan situated on the island: Chikuzen, Chikugo, Hizen, Higo, Buzen, Bungo, Hyuuga, Osumi, and Satsuma. It is now comprised of the prefectures of Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Ooita, Saga, and Okinawa. will sink into the ocean.”

Kiyomasa was stunned. The great traitor who killed Nobunaga—Akechi Hyuuga-no-kami.

(Mitsuhide-dono!)

As a military commander, Mitsuhide was greatly senior to Kiyomasa. Although he and Hideyoshi apparently hadn’t seen eye-to-eye, he’s spoken with the young Kiyomasa several times.

(So he really has been resurrected?)

“I’m coming too!” Tetsuya dashed after Mitsuhide with a sidelong glance at Kiyomasa, who was standing around flat-footed. Left behind, Kiyomasa gulped.

(Does he know that Lord Nobunaga is here?)

He felt cold imagining a fight between the two of them, but indeed—

Now was not the time to be babbling about Nobunaga and Shimazu. If Kihachi were to come back to life, the «Yami-Sengoku» would be the least of their worries. The whole of Japan could be lost to Kihachi!

(We must unite our approaches and exterminate Kihachi first.)

Having steeled himself, Kiyomasa broke into a run after Mitsuhide and Tetsuya.

 
After Kiyomasa and the others had gone, a man appeared in the lifeless Old Castle High School.

As if even the stagnant spiritual energies in the area had been swallowed up by Kihachi’s head, the icy winds peculiar to February blew crisply through the school.

It was a tragic sight. Cracks ran through the schoolyard, the clubhouse had been smashed to pieces, the two school buildings were bizarrely tilted, and the gangway bridge connecting the two had fallen half a floor due to some sort of destructive impact. When he stepped inside, he found students lying everywhere.

Somehow he managed to climb the stairs to the roof. A cold north wind ruffled the hem of his coat. Traces of the battle between Takaya and Nobunaga were still vivid. The floor was scorched in places, as if it had been exposed to high heat. Concrete shattered to fist-sized pieces, dented fences, pillars with their rebar exposed, snake-shaped objects crawling across the floor.

“They had quite a fight,” the man muttered, lightly wetting his red lips. But Kihachi’s head was nowhere to be found.

(Did Asara carry it off?)

Kousaka DanjouKousaka Masanobu (高坂昌信) 1527 - 1578

Also called: Kousaka Danjou Masanobu (高坂弾正昌信), Kousaka Danjou Nosuke Masanobu (高坂弾正忠昌信), Kasuga Toratsuna (春日虎綱), Kasuga Gensuke (春日源助)
Title: Danjou Nosuke/Faithful True-Shot (弾正忠)

Historically: One of Takeda Shingen's most loyal retainers who was one of his Twenty-Four Generals and played a key part in the fourth battle of Kawanakajima.

Kousaka was born in Kai to a wealthy farmer, Kasuga Ookuma (?) (春日大隈). His father died when he was 16, and he lost a lawsuit against his elder sister's husband for ownership of his father's lands. He then enrolled in the service of Takeda Shingen.

Kousaka first served as a messenger for Shingen. He distinguished himself in battle, and rose swiftly through the ranks of Shingen's trusted retainers. He participated in most of Shingen's battles. He did not hesitate to retreat when required, which earned him the nickname of "Escaping Danjou". However, he was calm and logical in the midst of battle, and was perhaps the best of Shingen's generals.

There are anecdotes that in his younger days, Kousaka and Shingen were engaged in a shudo relationship, and Kousaka rose so quickly in Shingen's service because of Shingen's affection.

After Shingen's death in 1573, Kousaka continued on to serve Takeda Katsuyori. He sought an alliance between the Takeda clan and their old enemy, the Uesugi clan, in order to unite against the threat of Oda Nobunaga.

Kousaka died in 1578 of illness at the age of 52. He was succeeded by his second son, Kousaka Masamoto (高坂昌元), his first son, Kousaka Masazumi (高坂昌澄) having died in the Battle of Nagashino in 1575.

In Mirage of Blaze: A kanshousha who, along with Sanjou-no-Kata, breaks the barrier over Takeda Shingen's tomb, the Maenduka, in an attempt to resurrect Shingen by using Narita Yuzuru as a vessel for his spirit.

According to Haruie, Kousaka has a high level of spiritual sensing ability (reisa), such that he is able to recognize someone he had met before even after their soul has undergone purification. He warns Naoe that Narita Yuzuru's existence is a threat to the Roku Dou Sekai.’s eyes narrowed sightly.

Sirens approached—a patrol car and an ambulance. Kousaka noticed a young man in school uniform lying in the back. That’s— He approached.

(Narita Yuzuru.)

Yuzuru was lying on his side, his eyes wide open, completely motionless. Kousaka bent and checked his pulse and breathing. He detected neither. His heart had stopped quite a while ago.

Kousaka looked down at him expressionlessly, his eyes narrowing faintly.

He was dead.

But this was not real death.

(Suspended animation...)

Yuzuru had, of his own volition, stopped his vital activity so that his body could no longer be used by Nobunaga.

“What folly.”

He snorted contemptuously and picked up Yuzuru’s body, grown heavy with the disappearance of his volition. He could hear the distant sound of helicopters. He lifted his eyes to see one, likely belonging to the Self-Defense Forces, flying toward Aso. Kousaka followed it with hard eyes.

Mitsuhide and the others stole motorcycles partway through their pursuit of Asara. Since there were only two, Kiyomasa and Tetsuya had to ride double, but Tetsuya didn’t really know how to drive it.

“I’ve only ridden mopeds!”

“Let me be in front, then! You ride in the back!”

“Have you ever ridden a two-wheeler?!”

“It’s like a horse, isn’t it?!”

Bellowing, Kiyomasa proceeded to ride the hell out of the bike. His handling was so violent that Tetsuya screamed. It was like a rodeo. The road was so broken and bumpy that if he got distracted, he’d bite his tongue. Tetsuya clung feverishly to Kiyomasa.

“Yes! I see them!”

Kiyomasa and the others finally caught sight of Asara as they approached the city border.

(Are they going to Aso?)

“!”

Hearing the deafening sound of a propeller, Tetsuya looked up and behind them. A helicopter was trailing them from above. It was a Self-Defense Forces aircraft—the one that had been flying over Kumamoto for a while.

(Is it chasing after Hokage and the others?)

The bird-people flew through the valley leading to Aso, a gap in the outer rim called the Tateno Crater Shoals—the entrance to Aso. The helicopter also headed in that direction.

It was clearly pursuing Asara and the others.

(They can’t be planning to arrest Hokage?!)

“Oi, go faster! They’re pulling away!”

(That’s...!)

Mitsuhide looked up at the helicopter, and an image of a man flashed across his mind’s eye with a feeling of pins and needles streaking like an electric current between his brows.

(It can’t be!)

After taking off from Old Castle High School, Asara flew eastward across the Kumamoto sky with Kihachi’s skull in her arms. Her flying ability was indeed superior to that of any other bird-person. She flew steadily at a speed none of the others could match, and the four bird-people chased after her frantically.

“Faith-Protector, where is—where is Asara going?”

“Aso.” Yasuo’s eyes sparkled like a child’s as he flew into the wind. "She’s returning to Aso. It’s their homeland. She’s going home to the Kingdom of Himuka.

Yasuo’s heart leapt with excitement, as if Asara’s path were leading him to a foreign land.

(It is our kingdom. The kingdom of the Himuka people, which the Yamato people cannot touch.)

(A place where we can be at ease—a place where no one will be ostracized.)

A bitter thought returned to his mind.

Yasuo had entered the cult six years ago. He was distantly related to Miike, but his family had left Aso in his great-grandfather’s generation, so he wasn’t counted a Celebrant, let alone a member of the head house. He’d been nineteen when he had first visited Oyashiro at the invitation of his cousin. By that time, Enoki had already been leading the young believers in their efforts to decipher the Miike Records. His cousin Norio’s initial invitation had been worded thus:

“Hey, did you know that we’re descended from the Himuka people, who were destroyed by the Yamato people a long ago?”

“There are a lot of people like us in the Himuka cult. Why don’t you come and join us?”

The descendants of an annihilated people—Yasuo had felt as if this were the first thing that had ever make his heart leap in his nineteen years of life.

He had always had a complex about not being able to communicate well with others. In addition to his natural shyness, he developed a stuttering complex that made it difficult for him to converse with others. He wasn’t able to fit in anywhere. Upon entering adolescence, he became overly conscious of his hang-ups and felt nervous in front of others. He hated his crippling sense of inferiority and was unable to make friends. He worried so much about the slightest word that he couldn’t sleep. What did others think of him? Were they are laughing at him behind his back? He was so suspicious of meanings behind meanings that he grew to fear people.

This grew even worse when he entered high school. There was no place for him there; at recess he would leave the classroom and wander aimlessly around school until class started. They sounded like they were having such fun; he wondered if they knew their happy laughter was a deadly weapon to those who did not fit into their circle.

He hated being him. He tried and tried to change, but nothing ever came of it. He feared all people, and shut himself away more and more to protect himself. Whenever he turned on the TV, he felt ostracized by noisy people. He resigned himself to the idea that he was an outcast. He became hostile towards those laughing people within their circles, who must be showing off their superiority. He came to regard them as enemies.

Under Enoki’s teachings he became convinced. He finally knew the names of those people:

(The Yamato race—)

He was ostracized because he was special; he carried the Himuka blood. They were all Yamato. They had driven his ancestors to extinction.

While working as an auto mechanic, Yasuo frequently attended study groups. They made progress on deciphering the Miike Records and reconstructed several spells. There were able to successfully create luminous flame stones, and then finally perfected the Method of Bird-Flight. The more he saw of the realization of these mystic forces, the more he began to truly feel how wonderful the Himuka blood was.

(These Yamato people were always inferior to me.)

He thought of his past self as an idiot for being hurt while living among low-level people. A world where the stupid Yamato could act so brazenly in ignorance of their status was itself wrong.

Yasuo was eventually chosen to be one of the bird-people. His cousin Norio was not. He couldn’t fly. Poor Norio. His veins must be filled with thick Yamato blood. Come to think of it, his father was a jerk. He was a businessman or something, and boasted about how much money he made, about profits and where he made them. He was always bragging, always comparing Yasuo and Norio, always making a fool of Yasuo. He had to be a Yamato.

Within the Himuka faith Yasuo was the elite of the elite. He was a chosen warrior. The Method of Bird-Flight worked better for him than for anyone else. It showed that Yasuo was the closest to the pure blood of Himuka. One and all acknowledged his superiority.

And now. He had at last overthrown their leader, Enoki Masamichi, and become the Faith-Protector of the ‘true Himuka cult’.

“Let us destroy the Yamato, Asara!”

They had finally found Asara—Miike Hokage—at the quarry on Mt. Ishigami. Yasuo had shouted in front of her: “Take your revenge on the people of Yamato!”

Yasuo’s wish resonated with Asara. She recognized that the will of these bird-people was one with hers and accepted them as her servants.

“Come with me, my children.”

 
Now Yasuo flew with Asara, the goddess of his hopes.

Concentrating his will between his brows, he flew steadily against the cold wind. He could finally see the valley surrounded by mountains. The river below them was Shira River. Soon Tateno Station would come into view. This valley was the Tateno Crater Shoals, the only break in the outer rim, created by an active fault line that split the crater wall north to south. It was the entrance to Aso.

(Is everyone with me?)

Yasuo looked at those following. Three bird-people remained with him: Osamu, Tokuyama, and Harada. Harada had sustained serious injuries in the fight against Kiyomasa, but with the healing power of the luminous flame stone, he had recovered to the point where he could move. And then there was the student in his school uniform that Tokuyama and Osamu were carrying.

Ougi Takaya.

He was unconscious. The heat of the luminous flame stone burning inside his body had been too much for him to bear, and he had ultimately passed out. —Enoki had intended to use Takaya as a container for Kihachi. He’d said there was no one more suitable. Yasuo didn’t know exactly what he had meant by “suitable,” but there was no doubt he possessed supernatural abilities equal to those of the bird-people themselves.

(He’ll be Onpachi-sama’s body.)

He would be presented to the heroes of the Kihachi tribe, who would be brought back to life with his body. And then—

(Become king of the Himuka nation.)

“Faith-Protector!” Yasuo was jolted back to reality by the sudden cry. Harada, who had been bringing up the rear, screamed: “Faith-Protector! It’s a helicopter! There’s a helicopter coming!”

Yasuo and the others turned. What they saw rattled them.

“What?!”

With a sound similar to the buzzing of a giant insect’s wings, a Self-Defense Force helicopter flew straight toward them at full speed. It looked as if it were chasing them. He had heard it earlier, but had not expected it to loom so close. He instantly fell into a panic.

“What the hell is that?! It’s coming after us!”

Meanwhile, the helicopter was getting closer and closer.

“Oi, speed up! Fly along the valley!”

The helicopter was coming up very fast. Shielding Asara, Yasuo and the others dove toward the valley.

The back door of the helicopter opened, and a man leaned out.

“Hmn. They really are flying. Preposterous.”

The man was young, flamboyant, and red-headed. His feet were braced against a bar at the bottom. He was holding a small machine gun in one arm while supporting himself with the other.

It was Shiba Eiji—Nobunaga. He had dragged one of the Self-Defense Forces helicopters flying over Kumamoto down to Honmyou Temple and stolen it. As soon as he and Narita Yuzuru had fallen out of sync, Shiba had leapt into action himself. He had tracked Asara with the helicopter, which was piloted by a boy of high school age: Mori RanmaruMori Ranmaru (森蘭丸) 1565 - 1582

Also called: Mori Nagasada (森長定), possibly Shigetoshi (成利), Nagayasu (長康)

Historically: A vassal of Oda Nobunaga who served as his attendant from
an early age. His father, Mori Yoshinari, was also a vassal of Oda Nobunaga. Favored by Nobunaga for his talent and loyalty, he also followed the tradition of shudo with his liege-lord. He and his three younger brothers died with Nobunaga at the Honnou-ji on June 21, 1582..

Deftly maneuvering the helicopter, he tailed the bird-people closely as they descended into a mountain recess. Shiba braced his machine gun against the onrush of air, its muzzle pointing towards the bird-people. He lightly licked his fingertip and pulled the trigger.

Hearing a series of gunshots, the bird-people turned their heads in surprise. Somehow they managed to dodge out of the way of the bullets, but the helicopter was relentless in its pursuit. Shiba took aim at all the bird-people except for Asara.

“Ora oraa!! Drop, drooop—!”

“Waugh!”

The bird-people flew frantically from the relentless barrage of shots. Nobunaga continued to fire away.

“Kihachi’s head wasn’t made for the likes of you! Hand it and Asara over at once!”

(Wh-who the hell is that man?!)

The bird-people grazed the valley as they attempted to evade the helicopter, but its professional-level handling made that difficult.

“Shit! Osamu, protect Asara and hide in the forest! We’ll hold them off here!”

Osamu replied boldly and headed for the national highway with Asara tucked under one arm. Yasuo and Harada fired luminous flame stone attacks, but they melted into vapor right in front of the helicopter. The luminous flame stones, which would easily penetrate an ordinary «goshinhagoshinha (護身波)

Lit. "wave of self-protection"; the goshinha is a protective mesh spun from fine strands of spiritual energy which surrounds the caster and protects from an opponent's spiritual as well as physical attacks. The mesh gains strength and stability when it is multi-layered and becomes the goshinheki. The goshinha is Naoe's forte.», were ineffective...!

“It’s useless! Stones at that level can’t touch me!”

“Waugh!”

A bullet pierced Tokuyama’s foot. Yasuo flew to support them as he and Takaya, whom he was carrying, were about to fall. Another bullet grazed past his ear.

“Are you all right?! Can you keep going?”

“Faith-Protector...!”

“Don’t fly in a straight line. Move up, down, left, right—fly erratically! ...Waugh!”

A bullet passed between them. The helicopter appeared to be loaded with bullets, and they were being used profligately. The empty magazines were chucked one after another as the gun pounded away. The SDF helicopters did not carry armaments, but that didn’t apply to machine guns.

“Damn it...damn it, in a place like this!”

Though they were young, Yasuo and the others had been in the air since last night. They were exhausted. Out of breath and drenched in sweat, they desperately tried to escape. The roar of machine gun and helicopter echoed through the valley. Their field of view finally opened up.

(It’s Aso!)

Like a folding screen, the outer rim unfurled to left and right. They had entered the caldera.

“O-Ran! Forget the small fry, go after Asara!”

The helicopter veered sharply to the left and plunged toward the mountain forest into which Hokage and Osamu had disappeared.

“Don’t let them get away!”

Yasuo and his company fired a volley of luminous flame stones at the helicopter, but it dodged them easily as it skimmed through the air. Yasuo tsked and chased after the helicopter, concentrating his will so hard his forehead fell as if it might split in half. A furious air chase ensued.

The roar and heavy gunfire seemed to shake the unconscious Takaya out of his stupor.

(Wh...at...?)

He opened his eyes a crack. It didn’t take him long to understand the situation.

The bird-people were chasing the helicopter. The helicopter was chasing a girl dressed as a shrine maiden, its bottom grazing the treetops of the mountain forest. Yasuo shouted hoarsely, “Fly! Think only of Asara! Hurry...!”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Nobunaga’s machine gun threatened their path. A bullet grazed Osamu’s shoulder. Several subsequent rounds hit him squarely. Osamu fell, trailing blood.

“Bring down the helicopter! Protect Asara!”

Asara flew desperately, trying to outrun the helicopter relentlessly pursuing her. If she chose a wrong direction, the helicopter would turn and cut her off. She could only fly as fast as she could. But her speed was no match for the machine’s.

Yasuo and the others desperately tried to attack the helicopter with their will, but with Nobunaga’s powerful «goshinha» surrounding it, they didn’t even manage to scratch the paint. It was like a lion hunting a rabbit—no, a bird of prey chasing a small bird.

“Resign yourself, woman.”

Nobunaga exchanged his machine gun with a rifle. The instant he caught Asara in the scope’s crosshairs, he pulled the trigger.

“Asara!” Yasuo screamed. At that moment, her body trembled. The assassin’s bullet was absorbed by the shimmering flame that suddenly enveloped her. A transparent membrane-like barrier blocked the bullet. Nobunaga fired several more shots, but none penetrated. He tsked.

(The «power» of a shrine maiden of fire?)

“Asara, please hide in the forest below! The forest!”

None of the cries from Yasuo’s company reached her due to the roar of the helicopter.

“Damn it! Raise the luminous flame stone density! Concentrate on the helicopter’s engine!”

The bird-people raised their force of will to their limits and poured their energy into producing luminous flame stones. These stones quickly grew to the size of a fist and became a darker shade of red.

Nobunaga tossed aside his rifle. If the gadgets didn’t work, there was only one way to go. The air above his palm wavered.

“I’m going to destroy you!”

His will slammed into Asara. The bird-people attacked with their luminous flame stones at nearly the same instant.

“!”

The helicopter tilted with the impact. The engines erupted into flame. Meanwhile, Asara entered a tailspin. Hit squarely by Nobunaga’s will, her barrier appeared to have failed.

“Asara—!”

Yasuo dove to help the falling Hokage. The helicopter rapidly lost power from the luminous flame stone attack.

“Tono...! I can’t control it!”

Nobunaga caught Ranmaru’s cry and unhesitatingly launched himself out of the helicopter into mid-air.

Hokage lost consciousness as she fell. Kihachi’s head spilled out of her hands. Yasuo reached for it desperately. But Nobunaga was faster. His fingertips touched Kihachi’s head...!

(No!)

A moment before, Takaya’s eyes burst open.

“Waugh!”

Kihachi’s head traced a strange trajectory, flicked by Takaya’s telekinesis. It rolled around Nobunaga’s hand and pinwheeled into Yasuo’s arms.

“Feh!”

It was a short distance to the ground. Nobunaga and Hokage fell into the forest.

“Asara—!”

“Faith-Protector!”

At Tokuyama’s cry, Yasuo looked behind him. A formation of helicopters was heading in their direction amidst a tremendous roar of sound. There were five or six of them. There was the sound of heavy gunfire—they were attacking. Nobunaga’s men had joined the chase. A number of bullets grazed right past Yasuo and the others.

Takaya shouted, “Run! Otherwise we’ll all be shot down!”

“Fuck...!”

The bird-people immediately turned around and fled toward the outer rim.