The stars were already fading from the sky.

By the time he finally passed the station at Hakone-YumotoHakone-Yumoto (箱根湯本)

Also known as: Hakone Onsen (Hakone Hot Springs)

Hakone-Yumoto, or Hakone Hots Springs Source, is an area of Hakone Town dotted with hot springs which goes from the foot of Mt. Hakone up to about midway. The area is a designated part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

The area became famous during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Siege of Odawara, when the armies gathered from all parts of the country relieved their boredom by visiting the hot springs during the long encampment around the massive Odawara Castle.

, the outlines of the Hakone mountain ridges were becoming visible against the lightning eastern sky. At this hour traffic was light, and National Highway 1National Route 1 (国道1号)

National Route 1 is a major highway on the main island of Honshuu in Japan which links Tokyo to the important prefectural capitals of Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture), Shizuoka, Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture), Otsu (Shiga Prefecture), Kyoto, and Osaka. was pleasantly deserted. Despite the limited visibility caused by a light fog, the Windom shot toward Motohakone on the dawning highway.

NaoeNaoe 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.’s gaze was focused straight ahead, and he took no notice of the scenery emerging like an ink painting around him as his foot held the accelerator mindlessly to the floor. Yet the view felt familiar somehow: it was only upon taking the corner at Hakone-KowakienHakone-Kowakien (箱根小涌園)

Hakone-Kowakien is a spa and resort (including hotel and amusement park) located in Hakone Town. It is owned by Fujita Kanko Inc and was developed from the vacation villas of the Mitsui family (one of the most powerful families of merchants and industrialists in Japan whose business dates back to the Edo Era). that he recognized it as the Tokyo-Hakone relay marathon race course broadcast every New Year’s.

(Where are you?)

This was where KagetoraUesugi Kagetora (上杉景虎) 1552? 1554? - Apr. 19, 1579

Also known as: possibly Houjou Ujihide (北条氏秀), Houjou Saburou (北条三郎), Saburou Kagetora (三郎景虎)

Historically: Uesugi Kagetora was the seventh son (sixth to survive to adulthood) of Houjou Ujiyasu, younger brother of Houjou Ujimasa, Houjou Ujiteru, Houjou Ujikuni, Houjou Ujinori, Houjou Ujitada, and older brother of Houjou Ujimitsu. His mother was the sister-in-law of Tooyama Yasumitsu, a vassal of the Houjou Clan (other sources say Zuikeiin, Ujiyasu's principle wife). It's likely that he and Houjou Ujihide were two different people and that Ujihide was the son of Houjou Tsunashige and living in Edo while Saburou was living in Echigo, so most historians refer to him as Houjou Saburou when describing his early life.

As a child, he was sent into the priesthood at Souun Temple in Hakone, then sent as hostage to Takeda Shingen of the Takeda Clan in the three-way alliance between Houjou, Takeda, and Imagawa formed in 1554 (though this last point is now in dispute, as it is told only in the Records of Ancient Battles of the Eight Kanto Provinces and recorded in none of the Takeda Clan records.)

He was adopted by his uncle Houjou Genan in 1569 and married Genan's daughter.

When the Houjou and Uesugi clans formed an alliance in 1569, Saburou was sent to Uesugi Kenshin in an exchange of hostages with Kakizaki Haruie. (At first, the hostage was set to be Houjou Ujimasa's third son Kunimasumaru, but Ujimasa could not bring himself to send off his son, who was then still a baby.) Saburou was sent to the Uesugi clan in early 1570. Kenshin, who never married, developed a liking for the handsome and intelligent Saburou. He married his niece Seienin, the daughter of Nagao Masakage and older sister of Nagao Akikage (Uesugi Kagekatsu) to Saburou, gave him the name Kagetora (a name that had once belonged to Kenshin himself), and adopted him into the Uesugi Clan.

When Kenshin died suddenly in 1578 without naming an heir, Kagetora and Kagekatsu, similarly adopted by Kenshin, fought for succession to the position of clan head (the Otate no Ran). Though Kagetora held the early advantage with the backing of Uesugi vassals such as Uesugi Kagenobu, Honjou Hidetsuna, Kitajou Takahiro, and the Houjou Clan, the tide of the battle turned with Takeda Katsuyori's betrayal to Kagekatsu's side.

When the Otate fell in 1579, Kagetora attempted to escape to Odawara Castle, but was betrayed at Samegao Castle by Horie Munechika and committed suicide. His wife committed suicide along with him (though there are also accounts that she remained behind at the Otate and committed suicide there when her brother Kagekatsu refused Kagetora's surrender.) His oldest son Doumanmaru died at the hands of Kagekatsu's troops along with Uesugi Norimasa, and the rest of his children were believed to have died along with their parents.

In Mirage of Blaze: He was born to Houjou Ujiyasu and Zuikeiin as their eighth (seventh to survive to adulthood) and youngest son. After his death in the Otate no Ran, he was charged by Uesugi Kenshin to become kanshousha in order to ensure that the peace of Japan is not disrupted by the onshou as the leader of the Yasha-shuu and the commander of the Meikai Uesugi Army. wanted him.

Discerning the meaning behind Kagetora’s visit last night had taken a backseat to his more immediate reactions of disbelief and horror. But even after putting together Maiko and KatakuraKatakura Kagetsuna (片倉景綱) 1557 - 1615

Also known as: Katakura Kojuurou Kagetsuna (片倉小十郎景綱)

A military commander of the Sengoku era and hereditary vassal of the Date Clan. The Katakura family traditionally took the nickname of 'Kojuurou', so Katakura Kagetsuna is better known as Katakura Kojuurou.

Kojuurou first served Date Masamune's father, Date Terumune, as a junior page, then became Date Masamune's attendant in 1575. He was later appointed a strategist, and participated in most of Masamune's important wars where he rescued the Date Clan from many tight spots. His wisdom was extolled by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and his name was a byword for loyalty. (He was called 'Katakura Kagetsuna the Wise', and he, along with 'Date Shigezane the Brave', were named 'the twin jewels of the Date'.)

Kojuurou died in 1615 of illness.’s stories, his reason told him that the possibility of those reactions being justified was high.

(Then...that means...he was attacked by a tsutsugatsutsuga

Also known as: crimson beast

A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.

Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities.?)

Could it be that like Shinya, he had already been tree-bound?

It was clear from his conversation with Ayako that they had not heard from Takaya since his disappearance from Toshimaen Amusement ParkToshimaen (としまえん)

Toshimaen is an amusement park owned by the Seibu Group and is one of the biggest in Japan. Parts of it were built in 1926, and it is famous for being Japan's first to have a pool, opened in 1929. that afternoon two days ago. He had called Takaya’s house late last night, but as expected, Takaya had not returned. Takaya’s own message gave them the only other reliable information they had.

(O-DA-WA-RA—...)

Takaya had sent him several images—images of places. One had been of a castle Naoe recognized. He was certain that it had been Odawara.

Another had been the image of a lake: a large, dark, uniquely-shaped lake ringed by thickly-forested mountains. A caldera lake?—with what looked like vermilion Shinto shrine gates rising from it.

Perhaps it was the view Kagetora looked out upon from wherever he was now. Or—no. He shouldn’t make that assumption. It was also possible that Kagetora was relaying those images from someone else’s mind.

(I would not put it past him...)

At least, past a Kagetora who had regained full use of his «powers». In any case—

(Odawara...?)

That one word held a world of significance. His sense of foreboding certainly seemed to have been justified. Ever since learning of Houjou’s involvement during the ‘Tsutsuga MirrorTsutsuga Kyou

The Tsutsuga Mirrors were originally a treasure of Futarasan Shrine, formed of a male and female pair. The female mirror has the power to entrap souls, and is called the soul-sealing mirror (Fuukonkyou—封魂鏡), while the male is able to release entrapped souls. Legend has it that when Holy Priest Shoudou founded the first shrine on the Nikkou mountains, he turned the two tsutsuga causing mischief on Nantai-san into magic mirrors with his spells.

Four hundred years ago, the Fuuma Clan mated the two halves of the mirror to give birth to a tsutsuga cub which High Priest Tenkai sealed into the female mirror by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu.’ incident in NikkouNikkou-shi (日光市)

Nikkou City, located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, is a popular tourist destination known for the Nikkou Toushou Shrine, where Tokugawa Ieyasu's remains are enshrined, as well as Futarasan Shrine, built in 767., that foreboding had coiled around him like black smoke. That was what had caused cold sweat to slide down his back upon Kagetora’s appearance in the mirror.

The Fuuma Clan, the Tsutsuga MirrorsTsutsuga Kyou

The Tsutsuga Mirrors were originally a treasure of Futarasan Shrine, formed of a male and female pair. The female mirror has the power to entrap souls, and is called the soul-sealing mirror (Fuukonkyou—封魂鏡), while the male is able to release entrapped souls. Legend has it that when Holy Priest Shoudou founded the first shrine on the Nikkou mountains, he turned the two tsutsuga causing mischief on Nantai-san into magic mirrors with his spells.

Four hundred years ago, the Fuuma Clan mated the two halves of the mirror to give birth to a tsutsuga cub which High Priest Tenkai sealed into the female mirror by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu., the tree-bound Shinya, ‘Odawara’, and— the missing Kagetora appearing in the mirror...

When he connected the dots, it was easy to come up with a theory about what had befallen Kagetora.

(The Houjou Clan—) he muttered darkly to himself. He emerged from the curve, scowling at the widening vista ahead. Past the next corner, a beautiful lake came into view, glittering in the morning light: Lake AshiAshino-ko (芦ノ湖)

Also known as: Hakone Lake, Ashinoko Lake, Manji Pond

Lake Ashi is a crater lake that lies along the southwest wall of the caldera of Mt. Hakone, located in Hakone Town. It is known for its beautiful views of Mt. Fuji and many hot springs.

Legend has it that during the Nara Period, when the lake was still called Manji Pond, it was home to a poisonous nine-headed dragon. In order to appease the dragon's anger, the villagers would offer maidens to it as sacrifices. Holy Priest Mangan, who had come to Mt. Hakone to practice asceticism, heard the tale and bound the evil dragon to a rock at the bottom of the lake in order to save the villagers. The dragon promised to protect the mountains and villages, and thus reformed, became a dragon god. Thereafter the villagers fed the dragon red rice instead of their daughters..

 
The shrine’s parking lot was locked, barring entrance. Naoe was forced to stop the Windom at the bottom of the shrine path. It was surprisingly difficult to drive with his shoulder wound, and his entire body felt peculiarly heavy—though perhaps he shouldn’t have been surprised about that, since no doctor would have allowed him to move around with his injuries. He had force-injected himself with a shot of painkillers, shaken off Maiko’s protests, and driven all night like a madman from NikkouNikkou-shi (日光市)

Nikkou City, located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, is a popular tourist destination known for the Nikkou Toushou Shrine, where Tokugawa Ieyasu's remains are enshrined, as well as Futarasan Shrine, built in 767.. All composure had flown out the window for the normally unflappable Naoe. Though he might have arrived at a state of mind ‘free from obstructive thoughts,’ he was running on fumes after a night of almost uninterrupted driving, and the exhaustion abruptly dragged him down like dead weight as soon as he got out of the car. His shoulder oozed pain.

(Should I take a look?)

This was no time to be worrying his own injuries.

The place Naoe had come to was Hakone ShrineHakone-jinja (箱根神社)

Hakone Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, at the foot of Mt. Hakone along the shores of Lake Ashi. The shrine itself lies hidden in a dense forest, but its large red "floating" shrine gates (Torii of Peace) stand prominently in the lake.

From chronicles stretching back as far as the Nara Period (710-794), Hakone has been named as a spot sacred to the mountain-worshiping religion. The original shrine was founded during the reign of Emperor Koushou (475 BC – 393 BC) on Mt. Komagatake. Holy Priest Mangan revived and relocated the shrine to Lake Ashi in 757. It was separated into three parts dedicated to the deities whom legends says appeared to him in a dream as a Buddhist acolyte, government official and woman and asked him to deliver the grace of the Buddhist and Shinto religions onto mankind.

In the year 801, before general and shogun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro set out on an expedition to quell the Northeast by imperial command, he left an arrow as offering in front of a cedar tree at Hakone Shrine as a prayer for his victory. The tree become known as the Yatate Cedar, or 'Standing Arrow Cedar,' and in later years other legendary generals such as Minamoto no Yoshiie, shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo, and Minamoto no Yoshitsune all left arrows as offerings there.

The shrine was destroyed by fire in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Siege of Odawara and rebuilt by Tokugawa Ieyasu., located on the banks of Lake Ashi in Motohakone. Also called the Hakone Avatar, this richly historic shrine had once been held in deep reverence by such luminaries as Minamoto no YoritomoMinamoto no Yoritomo (源頼朝) May 9, 1147 - February 9, 1199

Minamoto no Yoritomo was a warlord of the late Heian and early Kamakura Periods, born as third son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, heir of the Minamoto (Seiwa Genji) clan. He founded and became the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate. He ruled from 1192 until 1199., Houjou SouunHoujou Souun (北条早雲) 1432 - Sept. 8, 1519

Also known as: Ise Moritoki (伊勢盛時), Ise Souzui (伊勢宗瑞), Shinkurou (nickname—新九郎), Souunansouzui (Buddhist—早雲庵宗瑞)

Houjou Souun was the founder of the Later Houjou Clan, but he was never known as "Houjou Souun" during his lifetime. His son Houjou Ujitsuna, who succeeded him as clan head, adopted the clan name of Houjou and posthumously named his father Houjou Souun.

Though popularly portrayed as a humble masterless samurai, Souun's father, Ise Morisada, held an important post as an official of the shogunate according to modern-era research. The name of Ise Shinkurou Moritoki appears in written records from 1481, when he was appointed to a company of troops by Ashikaga Yoshihisa. Souun initially served his brother-in-law, Imagawa Yoshitada, and after his death, help his young son Imagawa Ujichika become the next head of the clan. In gratitude, Ujichika gave him Kokokuji Castle and the "uji" character in his name.

Souun took advantage of general unrest in the Eastern Provinces to take Izu Province for himself in 1493 (an event that many scholars mark as the beginning of the Sengoku), then Odawara Castle and Sagami Province in 1495. He died in 1519, leaving his new terrorities and the clan to his son Houjou Ujitsuna.

, and even Tokugawa IeyasuTokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) 1543 – 1616

Also called: Matsudaira Takechiyo, Matsudaira Motoyasu
Titles: Mikawa no Kami, Shogun

Historically: The third of the "Three Unifiers"; an ally of Oda Nobunaga, after Nobunaga's death he first battled against then became an ally of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Tokugawa moved against Hideyoshi's son and heir Toyotomi Hideyori and the five regents appointed to protect the Toyotomi rule. Tokugawa, along with his allies the Date and Mogami, and the defected Kobayakawa and Mouri clans, defeated the opposition at the Battle of Sekigahara and established the Tokugawa Shogunate., and under their patronage became the shrine of the tutelary god of the entire KantouKantou-chihou (関東地方)

Lit.:"East of the Gate", the easternmost of five regions located on Honshuu Island which comprises of the seven prefectures of Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. This is the most highly developed and industrialized region of Japan and was the heart of feudal power during the Edo Period.

During the Edo Period, the area was also called the "Kanhasshuu" (関八州), or Eight Kantou Provinces: Musashi, Sagami, Kazusa, Shimousa, Awa, Kouzuke, Shimotsuke, and Hitachi.. The famous annual Festival of the Lake WatersKosui Katsuri (湖水祭)

The Festival of the Lake Waters at Lake Ashi begins the Hakone Summer Festival Week every year on July 31st. The festival started in ancient times as a ritual sacrifice to the nine-headed dragon which lives in Lake Ashi. In the current form of the festival, boats set out with offerings of red rice which are thrown into the lake with Shinto prayers, followed by a fireworks display. was a signature event of the Hakone Lake Ashi summer.

At this early hour, only the chirping of birds disturbed the silence of the grounds.

(Here?)

The image Kagetora had sent him via the mirror. His message of ‘Odawara’ was the basis of Naoe’s belief that the Shinto shrine gates rising from the lake belonged to Hakone Shrine. He had visited it many times in the past, and it was located very near OdawaraOdawara-shi (小田原市)

The City of Odawara, located in present-day Kanagawa Prefecture, flourished as the castle-town of the Houjou Clan, whose strategic fortress of Odawara Castle served as an impregnable stronghold for several generations of the clan during the Sengoku. During the Edo Period, it became the castle-town of Odawara-han and controlled the East Sea Road between Edo and Tokugawa stations west of Hakone.. Hakone lay at the center of Houjou’s sphere of influence; more than that, it was the territorial base of the Fuuma Clan. If he truly had been waylaid by the Houjou, there was a high probability that this was their base of operations. One might call these precipitous heights a perfect hiding place.

The Houjou... Kagetora’s great-uncle, Houjou Gen‘anHoujou Gen'an (北条幻庵) 1493 - 1589-11-01

Also known as: 北条菊寿丸, Houjou Nagatsuna (北条長綱)

Historically: A warlord of the Houjou clan in the Sengoku province of Sagami, the fourth and youngest son of Houjou Souun and a concubine from the influential Katsurayama Clan. He entered Kongouou Temple, the bettou-ji (administrative temple) of Hakone Shrine, at a young age and later became its head. He took the name of Gen'an (lit. Phantom hermitage) upon his retirement.

He had three sons, all of whom died before him, and two daughters. He adopted Houjou Saburou (Uesugi Kagetora) as his heir, but the adoption was annulled when Kagetora was sent to Echigo. His grandson Ujitaka (son of his second son) later became his heir.

Houjou Genan was described as a master of horsemanship and archery who led armies, but also a man of culture who was skilled with his hands. He became elder statesman and trusted adviser to Ujiyasu and Ujimasa. He was 97 when he died (though opinions differ); eight months later, the Houjou clan was attacked by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and destroyed., had once been the head of Hakone Shrine. Gen’an, son of Houjou SouunHoujou Souun (北条早雲) 1432 - Sept. 8, 1519

Also known as: Ise Moritoki (伊勢盛時), Ise Souzui (伊勢宗瑞), Shinkurou (nickname—新九郎), Souunansouzui (Buddhist—早雲庵宗瑞)

Houjou Souun was the founder of the Later Houjou Clan, but he was never known as "Houjou Souun" during his lifetime. His son Houjou Ujitsuna, who succeeded him as clan head, adopted the clan name of Houjou and posthumously named his father Houjou Souun.

Though popularly portrayed as a humble masterless samurai, Souun's father, Ise Morisada, held an important post as an official of the shogunate according to modern-era research. The name of Ise Shinkurou Moritoki appears in written records from 1481, when he was appointed to a company of troops by Ashikaga Yoshihisa. Souun initially served his brother-in-law, Imagawa Yoshitada, and after his death, help his young son Imagawa Ujichika become the next head of the clan. In gratitude, Ujichika gave him Kokokuji Castle and the "uji" character in his name.

Souun took advantage of general unrest in the Eastern Provinces to take Izu Province for himself in 1493 (an event that many scholars mark as the beginning of the Sengoku), then Odawara Castle and Sagami Province in 1495. He died in 1519, leaving his new terrorities and the clan to his son Houjou Ujitsuna.

, had later returned to secular life as the Houjou family elder and was known as the greatest man of culture of the Kantou. For a while he had adopted Kagetora as his son and heir, but after Kagetora’s adoption by Uesugi and the dissolution of that previous relationship, Gen’an’s grandson UjitakaHoujou Ujitaka (北条氏隆) - 1609

Houjou Ujitaka was the son of Houjou Tsunashige and grandson of Houjou Gen'an. He was the master of Kuno Castle in Sagami.

In January 1570, when Ujitaka's father died, Houjou Gen'an adopted him as heir in place of Uesugi Kagetora, who was adopted into the Uesugi Clan by Uesugi Kenshin.

After the destruction of the Houjou Clan, Ujitaka followed Houjou Ujinao to Mt. Kouya. He later served the Ikoma Clan of Takamatsu-han and became a monk, though he resided in Kyoto. had become his successor. In the old days, Kagetora had often mentioned these events, and from the way he spoke of Gen’an, it was plain that he had greatly loved and honored him. But he hardly ever touched on the thereafter. If he had never been adopted by Uesugi, he would have succeeded Gen’an as his heir and become the master of Kodukue Castle and a pillar of the clan. His life would have been entirely different. But Kagetora, too, must know the futility of looking at the past with a chorus of ’if onlys’ on his lips.

Still, those reminiscences meant that Naoe was well-informed indeed where the Houjou was concerned.

But if this was the Houjou’s base...then he stood right in the middle of the enemy camp. Did they know that Kagetora had sent him a message asking for help? And if so, had they allowed the message to reach him? It was conceivable that they had deliberately turned a blind eye to Kagetora’s SOS in order to lure him in—which meant they had laid a trap for him?

(Not that it matters now...)

He fixed a hard stare on the high tips of a cedar tree.

(What next?)

He had to locate Kagetora immediately. Had he really been devoured by the tsutsuga? Had he been tree-bound? Yet the trail ended here. If that image had been from Kagetora’s vantage point, he was wasting his time here.

He had come to this place despite that knowledge for one reason: for a little while now he had felt someone calling to him. Reaching ceaselessly out to him.

What was it? It prickled at his sixth sense—a type of thought-wave, perhaps. ‘Come,’ it told him. It was not his imagination; it had stopped just as he’d arrived at Hakone Shrine, though it had been his constant companion ever since he’d entered the Hakone mountains. He didn’t know who was summoning him, only that it was not Kagetora.

(A trap it must be, then...?)

He held his breath, seeking an enemy he could not see.

(Who is behind this?)

Nothing moved. Hoping to draw his enemy out into the open, Naoe walked toward the lake.

He descended the flight of stone steps within the forest, then went toward the great shrine gates rising out of the lake until he emerged onto the stone-paved wharf from which the head priest’s boat set out during ceremonial rites.

The surface of the lake was quiet, smooth. His reflection looked back at him from beneath his feet. Then it blurred, and it was Kagetora looking back at him.

(If I had been with him...)

None of this should have happened. Naoe had castigated himself over and over again as the miles passed. What had he been doing? What in the world had he been doing away from Kagetora instead of at his side protecting him? The mistake was his, and ‘mistake’ didn’t even begin to describe the magnitude of it. His own puerility had led to this. What was he doing here if not protecting Kagetora? Did he think he was the victim, the tragic hero of some gods-forsaken soap opera? Was he waiting for someone to show him sympathy? So what if he lived in pain? So what if his life was mired in anguish? His lord was in danger—plunged into mortal peril—and it was his fault. His fault alone. How could he have deserted him...?!

(Kagetora-sama...!)

Suddenly blazing with impatience, Naoe sent a thought-wave out toward the lake. Perhaps it would reach him. Perhaps he would respond.

(Where are you?!)

The lake gave no reply. The dread driving him to the point of self-flagellation was unbearable. If only he at least knew what had happened to him...

“...!”

Naoe whirled as he felt a presence approaching from behind. A man was descending the shrine’s stone steps. Glaring at him, Naoe shifted conspicuously into fighting stance, prepared for an instant attack.

The man stopped in the middle of the stairs, his calm gaze fixed on Naoe. As if he had been waiting for him.

“So you’ve come after all.”

“Who are you?”

“...”

The man was of average height. Though his face was young, his eyes were strangely serene. Imperturbable.

(Was it him...?)

The one who had called him here?

His ‘energy’ felt very similar to the thought-wave that had summoned him.

(Who is he?)

Naoe could not tell his intentions. For a long moment he simply stood there, silent, but Naoe refused to drop his guard for an instant. As if taking pity on him, the man finally spoke.

“I wanted to meet you, to see what kind of a man you are for myself...”

“What?”

“To decide if I should kill you. Or not.”

Naoe’s eyebrows lifted sharply.

“...Yet I find myself irresolute, even at this very moment. I believed that it would be better for Saburou if you were to die.”

(Saburou?...) he started. (Could this man be...?!)

“You came to find Kagetora, did you not?” the man asked in a low voice. “Then come with me. Saburou Kagetora is with us. Let me invite you into our home. We will speak afterwards.”

“You’re one of the Houjou, aren’t you?”

“Here within the Hakone mountains we are protected by our barrier. You must know that an attack would be useless.”

“You bastard. Are you Houjou UjiyasuHoujou Ujiyasu (北条氏康) 1515 - 1571

Title: Sagami-no-Kami
Also known as: The Tiger of Sagami, The Lion of Sagami

Son of Houjou Ujitsuna and third head of the Late Houjou Clan, one of the greatest daimyo of the Sengoku in both military and political arenas. He expanded the Houjou holdings to five territories and battled both Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin over the Kantou and Suruga regions.

He retired in 1560 and handed over the clan to his eldest son Houjou Ujimasa, but continued to guide the clan until his death of palsey or stomach cancer in 1571. He made an alliance with the Takeda Clan in 1562 and gave over his 7th son, Houjou Saburou, to Takeda Shingen for adoption.

Houjou Ujiyasu was a great admirer of poetry, culture and learning as well as a outstanding administrator who created unique bureaucratic organizations such as litigation processes for the ruling of his lands. He was much beloved of his people and widely mourned at his death.?!”

“He is our father,” the man responded sharply, looking straight at Naoe. “You are Saburou’s guardian, are you not? I will emphasize I extend my invitation to you not because you are one of the Uesugi, much less because you are Saburou’s protector.”

“What...?”

“It is because you are the criminal who is the cause of my younger brother’s suffering.”

“!”

The words stabbed like a blade into his chest.

“Come with me,” Ujiteru said, leading the way. Naoe bit his lip hard, glaring at Ujiteru’s back with stony impenetrable eyes.

(This man is his brother...his blood-kin?)

Was it his intention lo let Naoe see Kagetora? What did he want with Naoe, his enemy? If he would call Naoe a ‘criminal’ to his face, why hadn’t he cut Naoe down where he stood?

(What should I do?)

If he would be allowed to see Kagetora, he would go this instant, trap or no trap. He had no fear of that now. Yet...

Naoe faltered at the thought of seeing him again, at the memories of what had happened in Toyama. The image of Takaya’s eyes surfaced again in his mind, those wounded eyes gazing their reproach in place of lips stunned silent by the violent kiss he had forced upon them...

—I am your dog.

He had not thrust those words at Takaya out of any form of masochism. It was precisely the grain of truth therein that had prompted the outraged, trembling denial from Takaya’s kindness.

I must terrify you, unstained innocent that you are. Stay away. Don’t touch me. Your skin must crawl at the sight of this filthy beast.

Even so...

He had to go. Had to be near him.

However much it makes you fear me, I cannot stop this feeling. Even if you should reject me, scorn me, banish me from your sight in disgust, I must go to you now. I must be at your side.

Even if you were the one who laid this trap for me...

His lips tightened and his face hardened into a defiant mask even as he cast up the words like a prayer: (Because you want me with you...)

Lifting his head resolutely, Naoe focused his gaze on the path and began ascending the stone steps toward the road.

At another wharf some small distance away a white cruiser lay in anchor with several men standing by. The Houjou estate lay on the opposite shore and appeared to be inaccessible except by boat. The men surrounded Naoe and came aboard with him.

It took them around ten minutes to cross the lake and reach a small wharf on the other side. They took the narrow path leading from it.

The estate was located halfway up one of the mountains ringing Lake Ashi. The large, Japanese-style house looked like a vacation home or a high-class inn, and the spaciousness of both buildings and grounds, if privately-owned, pointed to significant family assets. There was certainly precedent in the case of Mogami YoshiakiMogami Yoshiaki (最上義光) 1544 - 1614

A daimyo of Yamagata-han in the province of Dewa who fought for both Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. He fought Uesugi Kagekatsu as well as in the battle of Sekigahara in 1600 for Tokugawa alongside Date Masamune. His domain was expanded to 520,000 koku for his loyal service.

His son Mogami Iechika succeeded him upon his death of illness.. The Houjou onshouonshou (怨将)

Lit.: "vengeful general": the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period, who continue their battles even in modern-age Japan. had likely chosen to possess those with considerable stature in the political and financial worlds as well.

The tall young man waiting at the front entrance bowed toward him.

“This way.”

He showed Naoe inside with all the courtesy befitting a guest, Ujiteru accompanying them.

“...This estate is guarded by the Fuuma. None of your silly tricks will work here, so I hope you will not try anything,” he said.

Rather belatedly, Naoe started a little at the name ‘Fuuma,’ but having already prepared himself for this scenario, it didn’t shake him. Houjou of Sagami, Fuuma of Hakone.

(So it is as I thought...)

The incident with the Tsutsuga Mirror at Nikkou made three, and a common thread tied all of them together. Tsutsuga Mirror, Fuuma, Houjou. And Kagetora appearing in the mirror...

“Please come in.”

He stood before the innermost room, a large, dim space perhaps a hundred tatami in size. Across the entrance lay a ceremonial rope indicating the sanctity of the area beyond. Directly facing the entrance was a household Shinto shrine of plain wood ornamented with sacred evergreen and the nusagushinusagushi (幣串)

Also known as: Gohei (御幣), onbe (御幣) heisoku (幣束)

Nusagushi are wooden wands used to bless, sanctify, or purify in various Shinto rituals and are usually decorated with two or multiple shide (zigzag paper streamers). wooden ritual wand, and enshrined at its exact center was the object of worship: a mirror-like shape covered with a shroud of purple silk.

A white futon was spread across the center of the room, and a boy—no, older, though not yet adult—a young man, then—lay upon it. He wore a snowy white silk kimono within the white sheets, his body so still he did not even appear to be breathing.

His face was white as paper. Lifeless. He looked, in fact, like a doll: unbreathing, unmoving, expressionless, features slack as in death.

(Takaya-san...)

Naoe stood frozen at the entrance, unable to step inside. Unable to speak. Unable to breathe.

He’s dead.

All vital activity had already ceased. The cold flesh lying there had no body heat, no circulation; its marble cheeks were devoid of all color. It was a corpse lying in its death shroud, and its eyelids, hard as celluloid, would never open again.

(Never...?)

“He has become too weak,” Ujiteru murmured next to him, a hint of regret in his voice.

“...!”

Naoe’s spine went rigid at the words.

“He is like a child abandoned in a strange place. He wanders up and down a dark path, crying, until he is snatched away by a passerby. He cannot help despise the parents who left him there, for to be abandoned is little better than being sold...”

Naoe shook his head, teeth gritted, hands clenched into fists. He didn’t want to hear this. He finally took a step forward, gaze fixed on the reality before his eyes, then another and another until he felt the cool air around the still body upon his own skin and sank to his knees next to it.

(Takaya...san...)

Only the dead had skin so pale and eyelids so still; his hair would never feel the caress of the wind again. To touch him would be to shiver with cold...his cheeks, his throat...his flat marble-white chest...

(Could you truly...be...)

Without realizing it, he had gently reached out—to feel that coldness for himself? To somehow coax the warmth back into that still body? To cup those cheeks in his trembling hands once more?

“Do not touch him!” Ujiteru commanded sharply from behind before Naoe could make contact, and he froze in surprise.

“This flesh has undergone ritual purification. It is not dead. It still retains its heat and pulse. It is protected by the divine power of the Hakone Avatar. If you touch it, the pollution from the contact will block the god’s protection from reaching it.”

(He is not dead...?)

Did that mean that he was being kept alive—some semblance of it, at least—by divine intervention?

A body which lost its soul could not live for long. Unless it was sustained, like Shinya, by medical technology, it would last no more than a single day.

Some special spell must have been performed on him to allow the god of Hakone take the place of his life-support system. For this body was just a body now: soulless, empty...

(Where, then, is his soul...?)

He lifted his head. Right before him at the center of the shrine was the sacred mirror in its purple silk shroud. Naoe’s breath caught.

(Could it be—?!)

“I suppose you’ve figured it out.”

“...”

“Saburou Kagetora’s soul has been sealed within the Tsutsuga Mirror there before you. This body is no more than an empty husk, and even a god will not be able to sustain life within the dead forever. It will only be a matter of time before the god leaves him: two or three days, perhaps.”

“!”

“Anything more cannot be guaranteed. This body will die.”

The death of the body: the death of Ougi Takaya. Even if the soul continued to carry his memories, his consciousness, Takaya would be ‘dead.’ Naoe turned a rage-filled glare on Ujiteru. “Bring him back,” he demanded in a low voice that was half growl and half moan.

“...”

“Release his soul from the Tsutsuga Mirror and return it to his body! I won’t allow you to go through with this. I will stop you, whatever it takes!”

“Impossible.”

“It must be possible. Return it right now! Return his soul to this body...!”

“It is impossible,” Ujiteru repeated flatly, coldly. “The release of the entrapped soul requires the male Tsutsuga Mirror. Which is not here. There is no other way. There is no hope for this body.”

“Damn you for a self-serving cold-hearted son of a bitch! Do you actually call yourself his brother?! Do you even care that he’s blood of your blood? How dare you do this to him?!”

“I am elder brother to Saburou Kagetora,” Ujiteru responded with icy calm. “That does not make me brother to this body. All that matters to me is that Saburou’s soul is safe.”

“I’m amazed you can say that with a straight face! He is not just flesh, but seventeen years of a life lived within this body. However short a time that may be, it can never be replaced; those years are fully as important as the four hundred he lived as Uesugi KagetoraUesugi Kagetora (上杉景虎) 1552? 1554? - Apr. 19, 1579

Also known as: possibly Houjou Ujihide (北条氏秀), Houjou Saburou (北条三郎), Saburou Kagetora (三郎景虎)

Historically: Uesugi Kagetora was the seventh son (sixth to survive to adulthood) of Houjou Ujiyasu, younger brother of Houjou Ujimasa, Houjou Ujiteru, Houjou Ujikuni, Houjou Ujinori, Houjou Ujitada, and older brother of Houjou Ujimitsu. His mother was the sister-in-law of Tooyama Yasumitsu, a vassal of the Houjou Clan (other sources say Zuikeiin, Ujiyasu's principle wife). It's likely that he and Houjou Ujihide were two different people and that Ujihide was the son of Houjou Tsunashige and living in Edo while Saburou was living in Echigo, so most historians refer to him as Houjou Saburou when describing his early life.

As a child, he was sent into the priesthood at Souun Temple in Hakone, then sent as hostage to Takeda Shingen of the Takeda Clan in the three-way alliance between Houjou, Takeda, and Imagawa formed in 1554 (though this last point is now in dispute, as it is told only in the Records of Ancient Battles of the Eight Kanto Provinces and recorded in none of the Takeda Clan records.)

He was adopted by his uncle Houjou Genan in 1569 and married Genan's daughter.

When the Houjou and Uesugi clans formed an alliance in 1569, Saburou was sent to Uesugi Kenshin in an exchange of hostages with Kakizaki Haruie. (At first, the hostage was set to be Houjou Ujimasa's third son Kunimasumaru, but Ujimasa could not bring himself to send off his son, who was then still a baby.) Saburou was sent to the Uesugi clan in early 1570. Kenshin, who never married, developed a liking for the handsome and intelligent Saburou. He married his niece Seienin, the daughter of Nagao Masakage and older sister of Nagao Akikage (Uesugi Kagekatsu) to Saburou, gave him the name Kagetora (a name that had once belonged to Kenshin himself), and adopted him into the Uesugi Clan.

When Kenshin died suddenly in 1578 without naming an heir, Kagetora and Kagekatsu, similarly adopted by Kenshin, fought for succession to the position of clan head (the Otate no Ran). Though Kagetora held the early advantage with the backing of Uesugi vassals such as Uesugi Kagenobu, Honjou Hidetsuna, Kitajou Takahiro, and the Houjou Clan, the tide of the battle turned with Takeda Katsuyori's betrayal to Kagekatsu's side.

When the Otate fell in 1579, Kagetora attempted to escape to Odawara Castle, but was betrayed at Samegao Castle by Horie Munechika and committed suicide. His wife committed suicide along with him (though there are also accounts that she remained behind at the Otate and committed suicide there when her brother Kagekatsu refused Kagetora's surrender.) His oldest son Doumanmaru died at the hands of Kagekatsu's troops along with Uesugi Norimasa, and the rest of his children were believed to have died along with their parents.

In Mirage of Blaze: He was born to Houjou Ujiyasu and Zuikeiin as their eighth (seventh to survive to adulthood) and youngest son. After his death in the Otate no Ran, he was charged by Uesugi Kenshin to become kanshousha in order to ensure that the peace of Japan is not disrupted by the onshou as the leader of the Yasha-shuu and the commander of the Meikai Uesugi Army.! Will you call yourself his brother when you can’t even grasp that much, you bastard?!”

“Curb your insolent tongue, vassal. Do you dare speak thus to he who is elder brother to your lord?”

“I will not allow anyone to trample upon his heart, kin or not. You’re not fit to be called his brother.”

“You certainly talk a good game,” Ujiteru snorted, leaning back against a post. “But it matters not. Flail as you might, you can do nothing as long as the male Tsutsuga Mirror lies beyond your grasp. Now. You are not to set foot outside this estate. You will remain confined here along with this body. This estate lies within a strong barrier which will block any attempt at communication with the outside via a thought-sending. Neither will your «powers» work here.”

“...”

“I summoned you here because Saburou wished to see you. All that remains for you to do is to watch over this body as it dies. Grieve over it as you like, for you alone are responsible for the death of this young man.”

He shook with indignation. What should he do? He could not ever recall feeling such rage. But towards whom was it directed? Towards this man? Or himself?

“Damn you to hell,” he snarled without conscious thought. “I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you with my own hands!”

“You could. But if you do, you will never know where to find the male Tsutsuga Mirror.”

Naoe choked. Ujiteru glanced at him and smiled.

“Yes. Admit your defeat and do as I say. Bark all you like; as long as you are in this cage, you cannot bite us.”

“...I’ll end you...”

“One day Saburou will return to the Houjou as one of its generals, and he will be given another body. One strong and beautiful enough to be worthy of him, worthy of the ferocious tiger that he is.”

“I will kill you all, you Houjou bastards!” Naoe spat, shaking with rage, but the fierce cry never reached Ujiteru, who had already left the room.

His gaze returned to Takaya. He reached out unthinkingly before recalling that he must not touch him, and helplessly struck the floor with his fists in impotent frustration.

(How did this happen?)

He ground his teeth together so hard that they might well have been in danger of shattering, nails biting into his palms.

(Kagetora-sama!)

 
Fuuma KotarouFuuma Kotarou (風魔小太郎)

Historically: The name Fuuma Kotarou was given to each leader of the Fuuma Clan/organization of ninjas which served the Later Houjou Clan, starting with its first leader. The clan started information-gathering and espionage activities in the time of Houjou Souun, the founder of the Later Houjou Clan. The clan name began as 風間, composed of the characters for "wind" and "space", but was changed to its present form, a homophone composed of the characters for "wind" and "evil/demonic/magical."

In its 100 years of service to the Houjou Clan, the most renowned Fuuma Kotarou was the fifth, who served Houjou Ujimasa and his son Houjou Ujinao (unknown - 1603). Stories say that he was 7'1". One of his most famous exploits was in 1580 and the Battle of Kise-gawa, during which he slipped into the enemy camp at night and caused mass chaos. Another famous ninja, Ninokuruwa Isuke, also belonged to the Fuuma Clan.

After the destruction of the Houjou Clan, Kotarou and the Fuuma Clan became thieves near Edo. Kotarou was captured and executed in 1603 from information given by Kousaka Jinai, another ninja-turned-thief who formerly served the Takeda Clan.

In Mirage of Blaze: Fuuma Kotarou leads the Fuuma ninjas in service to the Houjou Clan. He is described as a tall, slender man with broad shoulders and a muscular but supple body. He wears his hair long, tied in a long tail that reaches to his waist. was waiting for him when he left the room.

“Ujiteru-sama. A messenger from Ujimasa-sama has arrived from Nikkou.”

“From my brother? He actually sent a messenger? Huh. He could have just called. Traditionalist as ever.”

“The message appears to be urgent. I left him waiting in another room. This way.”

“Very well. Do not let the Tsutsuga Mirror out of your sight. That man may attempt some trickery,” he said as he proceeded quickly down the long corridor with Kotarou following closely behind.

“Has something roused your anger, Ujiteru-sama?”

“I am not angry.”

“I do not understand your words to him. If it is your intention to give a new body to Saburou-dono, then it would be best to dispose of that empty husk. Why go through the trouble of performing the ‘life-sustaining ritual’ at all?”

“Leave it be!” Kotarou paused at the fierce anger in Ujiteru’s voice. Ujiteru went on for a few more paces before stopping. He turned.

“As long as Saburou refuses to obey us out of his own free will, he must not be set free from the mirror. That is all the more reason why I cannot ignore his wishes. He wanted to see this man called Naoe while he still had breath in his body. Call it the fulfillment of a last wish, if you will. But a ninja such as yourself, who knows neither compassion nor pity, cannot possibly comprehend the kind of affection that exists between brothers.”

 
Kotarou stood there expressionlessly. Ujiteru turned and quickly headed for the messenger’s room.