Mirage of Blaze volume 3: Glass Lullaby | Chapter 6: Hawk of the North

By Kuwabara Mizuna (author), Toujou Kazumi (illustrator)
Translated by asphodel

Naoe had ended up in YamagataYamagata-ken (山形県)

A prefecture located in the Northeast region of Japan which is encircled by mountains and the Sea of Japan. Its capital is the city of Yamagata.
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at around the same time. For a while he’d been running back and forth between Tokyo and YamagataYamagata-shi (山形市)

Lit.: "Mountain-shaped", the City of Yamagata is the capital of Yamagata Prefecture, founded in 1889.
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investigating the violent and bizarre death of a graft suspect in a corruption case, but had finally found a lead and followed it into Yamagata CityYamagata-shi (山形市)

Lit.: "Mountain-shaped", the City of Yamagata is the capital of Yamagata Prefecture, founded in 1889.
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.

The corruption case, which revolved around the financing and purchase of land for the development of a resort, had exploded into a huge bribery scandal implicating everyone from the banks to the government. The bribes had originated from a large Sendai-based real estate company. Two members of its executive staff with strong connections with the case had died.

Working on his own, Naoe had used spiritual sensingreisa (霊査)

Also known as: reisa-nouryoku (霊査能力)

Lit.: "Spiritual investigation"; the ability to use the spiritual senses to distinguish between residual thought signatures, and thus recognize spiritual entities. A person with a high-level form of this ability could potentially recognize souls by the pattern of their "soul-nucleus", which is the part of the soul that remains unchanged through purification and rebirth, especially if they had met that person before previously. Haruie and Kousaka both excel at this ability, though Kousaka seems to be one of the few to possess a very high-level form of it.
and hypnotism to infiltrate the prosecution, and utilized any and all means at his disposal to gather information and seek out the truth. And he had finally pinpointed a person who seemed to have some connection to 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.
»: Ueshima, a big-shot in the National Diet and a member of the ruling party from the precinct of Yamagata, who evidently had long-standing ties to the real estate company in question and had been arranging favors for it for a long time. He also appeared to be deeply involved with the current case.

Ueshima was the second-in-command of a very influential faction within the current ruling party. He had, in fact, been regarded as one of the favorites in the fall elections for president.

But now that this corruption case had come to light—

(Ueshima will probably take the hardest fall...)

Murders to destroy evidence of grafts. That was how Naoe saw these strange deaths.

Of course, arranging for someone to die of animal bites in their own bed was a highly unusual way to commit murder—almost unimaginable, in fact.

Ordinarily-speaking, at least.

But not if 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.
had been used.

It was by no means impossible if Ueshima had made some sort of deal with a «Yami-Sengoku» onshouonshou (怨将)

Lit.: "vengeful general": the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period, who continue their battles even in modern-age Japan.
to get rid of the bribe suspects. Ueshima would probably have been willing to strike a bargain in order to weather this storm in which his presidential candidacy and career as a Diet member hung in the balance.

Having conjectured thus far, Naoe tailed Ueshima for about a week. Ueshima returned to his home in Yamagata and made no further moves. Naoe thoroughly checked the people coming in and out of the house, utilizing hypnotic suggestion to the full to gather information.

He had finally learned the identity of the onshou Ueshima was dealing with, as well as the particulars of the deal itself.

The onshou was 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 deal was the usage of Ueshima’s body as spiritual vessel by Mogami Yoshiaki.

“I see. So they’ve begun the invocations of the dead.”

Naoe was holding the cell phone conversation with Ayako in his Cefiro while smoking a cigarette, the day after she and Takaya entered SendaiSendai-shi (仙台市)

The capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, it is also the largest city in the northeast region of Japan. It is home to one million people, and is aptly nicknamed Mori no Miyako, the Capital of Trees.
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. It was one of their regularly scheduled communications to touch bases with each other.

A barrier had been erected around Ueshima’s mansion, and all «shinenhashinenha (思念波)

Lit. "wave of thought": calling out with one's mind; telepathy
» was blocked off, so he could only use listening devices and the like to get a sense of the situation within (he had secretly planted them on people coming in and out of the place). The radio waves would have reached his hotel room, but he had parked the car near the mansion and set up watch there so that he could immediately react to anything happening.

“So the building collapses apparently do have something to do with the «Yami-Sengoku»,” Naoe grimaced.

“And this is from Kokuryou-san: it looks like the onshou are appearing one after the other in the city,” Ayako added. “I need to do a more detailed spiritual sensingreisa (霊査)

Also known as: reisa-nouryoku (霊査能力)

Lit.: "Spiritual investigation"; the ability to use the spiritual senses to distinguish between residual thought signatures, and thus recognize spiritual entities. A person with a high-level form of this ability could potentially recognize souls by the pattern of their "soul-nucleus", which is the part of the soul that remains unchanged through purification and rebirth, especially if they had met that person before previously. Haruie and Kousaka both excel at this ability, though Kousaka seems to be one of the few to possess a very high-level form of it.
, but the «energy» of the earth is really strange.”

“Strange? The «jikejike (地気)

Lit.: Earth-energy; the 'mood' or 'energy' of the earth, generated by the accumulated energies of both living beings and spirits who live in that location. Conversely, the earth-energy also influences the energies of its inhabitants.
» has changed?”

“I don’t know if it’s changed or not, but it’s not natural. It doesn’t feel like something brought about by the ordinary gathering of people and spirits’ «energies», but more like something that’s been created or manipulated. It just feels really strange somehow.”

“A manipulated «energy»? You haven’t found any connection between that and the invocations of the dead yet, have you?”

“Mmm. I don’t have positive proof yet, but I think I will have evidence of that the next time we talk.”

“I see. It does worry me. Whatever we do, our first priority must be to catch the onshou doing these invocations and perform choubukuchoubuku (調伏)

Also known as: choubukuryoku (調伏力)

The special power given to the Yasha-shuu to banish onryou to the Underworld using the dharani of Uesugi Kenshin's guardian deity, Bishamonten. The types of choubuku include "kouhou-choubuku", "ressa-choubuku", "kekkai-choubuku", etc. Each choubuku is begun with the incantation "bai" and the ritual hand gesture of Bishamonten's symbol.

Choubuku does not work against kanshousha, who have bodies of their own.
as soon as possible so no other innocents are injured. Will you be all right with that by yourself?”

“Yeah, probably.”

“... Then I’ll leave it to you,” Naoe said, ending the conversation. After a moment of silence, he inquired, “How...is Kagetora-sama?”

“Kagetora? I guess he was behaving himself during Kokuryou-san’s special training. He was learning meditation.”

“Is it going well?”

“Wee...eeell,” Ayako replied with a confounded groan. “He definitely has 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.
’s genius, and Kokuryou-san was full of praise as well, but the problem seems to be with something inside him.”

Naoe’s face stiffened with surprise. “An autosuggestion?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that. I guess it has something to do with Ougi Takaya. He’s been strangely distracted since he came to Sendai. You know, Naoe, you haven’t heard anything, have you? Anything about Sendai?”

“No...”

In truth, though Naoe had known Uesugi Kagetora well, he had no such in-depth knowledge of Ougi Takaya. Takaya didn’t talk about himself, and refused to let other people in.

(Though I heard that his parents divorced a few years ago...)

“You know, Naoe, he’s more of a kid than he lets on. He immediately rebuffs people, but don’t you think that deep in his heart he wants to depend on someone?”

Naoe’s eyes opened abruptly. Ayako continued, “He—I wonder if he’ll open his heart to someone?”

“Haruie?”

“Naoe. I really think you should be by his side,” Ayako stated forcefully. “For him...for Ougi Takaya, we’re some strangers he just met, but surely we can form new bonds with him. Maybe Ougi Takaya, not Uesugi Kagetora, is beginning to see 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.
as someone necessary to him?”

“What are you suddenly...”

“He’s troubled. I mean, all of a sudden he’s Uesugi Kagetora and he’s been dragged into the «Yami-Sengoku»—he doesn’t know who he is anymore, so of course he’s uneasy. Someone needs to be with him. He’s more fragile than he appears. Much more brittle and easily hurt than that kid Yuzuru.”

“Haruie.”

“—”

For a moment Ayako was silent. Then she admitted in a low voice, “I’m beginning to think that he’s not Kagetora.”

Naoe blinked.

“Because he doesn’t know anything! And his personality is totally different. Kagetora was considerate and courteous and reliable and intelligent—he was perfect! At least, he was to me. But this kid is totally different. Like he’s a totally different person. Except—when he’s troubled, he has the same look in his eyes as Kagetora did.”

There was a faintly pained expression on Naoe’s face.

“I know that you’re trying to make amends towards Kagetora, but that would probably hurt this child. When I saw the two of you in MatsumotoMatsumoto City (松本市)

The largest city in Nagano Prefecture, Matsumoto is surrounded by mountains and is acclaimed for its beautiful views.
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, I could see the sort of trust that existed between you a long time ago, and it made me really happy. I don’t want history to repeat itself.”

“Haruie.”

“Please stay by his... Please stay by Ougi Takaya’s side, by the side of this child who isn’t Kagetora, and help him.”

Naoe was silent. Then he replied in a low voice, eyes downcast, “...I will.”

They hung up.

Naoe slumped back against the seat and closed tired eyes. Ayako’s words echoed in his ears: “I don’t want history to repeat itself.”

(—I won’t let history repeat itself...), he murmured in the space of his mind as if in reply. He had etched those words endlessly into his heart. That if he had a chance to do everything over, he would not let history repeat itself. That he would not do anything to cause that person sadness or pain. —And so, even if he had to deceive himself...

It was not hard.

He could endure the agony of lying to himself. It was nothing compared to the way he had hurt him.

“You alone I shall never forgive for all of eternity.”

That pronouncement of exile from thirty years ago, spat at him as if seeped in Kagetora’s blood, still echoed ceaselessly in his ears. But now it was Ougi Takaya’s voice saying those words, those words that flayed him, and for the past few days he had woken up in the mornings covered in cold sweat.

(I’m probably just tired.)

Plunged into brooding, Naoe lifted the cigarette filter to his lips.

He hadn’t been getting enough sleep lately, and now really rather regretted the fact that he hadn’t been more prudent and asked Nagahide for help (Yasuda NagahideYasuda Nagahide (安田長秀) 1516 - May 8, 1582? 1585? 1592?

Title: Jibu Shousuke (治部少輔)

Historically: Master of Yasuda Castle. The Yasuda family had served the Nagao Clan from the time of Nagao Tamekage (late 1400s). Nagahide supported Nagao Kagetora (Uesugi Kenshin) in the coup d'etat against Nagao Harukage, so was a close aide of Kenshin from early on. He fought in many of Kenshin's wars against Takeda Shingen, Oda Nobunaga, and Houjou Ujiyasu.

He received a commendation for bravery at the 4th battle of Kawanakajima along with six other commanders, including Irobe Katsunaga.

He supported Uesugi Kagekatsu in the Otate no Ran after Kenshin's death. He died in 1582 of illness in the midst of Shibata Shigeie's rebellion. (Other accounts mention 1585, 1592.)

Though he shared the same family name as Yasuda Kagemoto and Yasuda Akimoto, also vassals of the Uesugi Clan, he was descended from a different family.

In Mirage of Blaze: he was summoned by Uesugi Kenshin to become one of the Yasha-shuu and is second in power only to Uesugi Kagetora.
—also known as Chiaki Shuuhei—was still in Matsumoto guarding Narita Yuzuru). Realizing that he’d been going to extremes to bury himself in work because he’d wanted to avoid Kagetora, Naoe sunk into even deeper depression.

“Maybe the child that is Ougi Takaya is beginning to see Naoe Nobutsuna as someone necessary to him?”

That was probably true.

He was no longer ‘Kagetora’—or at least, he was ‘Ougi Takaya’ now. It wasn’t as if Naoe couldn’t understand Haruie thinking of him as a different person even if they both knew that the two were one and the same.

(Is it wrong to make amends to this person called ‘Ougi Takaya’?)

Was it not cowardice to do so to this person who was not Kagetora?

Should his reparations not be made to that Kagetora who had said that he would not forgive Naoe?

(But there is no one for me here now but him...)

To serve Ougi Takaya was the only thing that Naoe could do.

He was determined. That he would not let history repeat itself.

But he was apprehensive and unsettled. Because history might indeed repeat itself.

Was Naoe really capable of helping Takaya with his own mind in this state?

His cigarette went out, and he dropped his forehead into his hands.

Kokuryou would certainly be able to draw out a degree of Kagetora’s «powers». If he could control what he had now, it would be quite sufficient.

(But his autosuggestion will probably not be so easily dissolved...)

Even Takaya himself would not find it so simple.

But above all, for Naoe—

(I don’t want it to be dissolved.)

Yes, such was his thought.

(I’m such a selfish bastard...), he cursed himself, but could not repudiate his true feelings.

It was doubtlessly true that Kagetora’s mighty «powers» would be necessary to destroy the «Yami-Sengoku». Actually, Naoe didn’t know if they could stand against it even with all of his «power». They needed the «powers» of the former Kagetora. But he would not be able to use them to the fullest extent without recovering his memories.

“And are you okay with that? Kagetora will remember.”

What Nagahide had said flashed through his mind.

“About you. About Minako.”

Naoe’s eyes fell as if in an attempt to endure the weight of those words.

Yes. Kagetora would remember. No, he had to remember. And Naoe himself, who had wanted to forget more than anyone, he himself would—

Kitazato Minako—

She who had understood them so well.

The woman whom Kagetora had loved above any other.

The woman who had been caught up in the fight against Oda NobunagaOda Nobunaga (織田信長) 1534 - 1582

Also called: Oda Kippoushi
Title: Kazusa no Suke, Owari no Kami

Historically: The first of the "Three Unifiers"; born in Owari to a samurai, his unbridled, ruthless ambitious and military tactical genius enabled him to gain control of the imperial court in 1573 after having driven the shogun out of Kyoto. His seal read "the realm subjected to military power". Murdered at the age of forty-nine by his vassal Akechi Mitsuhide in the Honnou-ji in Kyoto.
, whom Kagetora had entrusted to Naoe that day thirty years ago. He had commanded Naoe to protect her and take her to a place of safety away from the battle. That command had been proof of Kagetora’s trust in him, despite his hatred.

A trust that he had betrayed.

For Kagetora, there could not have been any act more heinous.

“You alone I shall never forgive for all of eternity.”

Those tortured memories came once more to life.

Minako, thin limbs flailing wildly.

Naoe, holding her down mercilessly and tearing off her clothes as she cried and screamed Kagetora’s name—

She must have seen a beast’s eyes looking down at her.

And he, who had transformed into that beast—

Whose name had his heart cried out?

A name that had only rent his heart apart.

When that cruel night turned into dawn—

Next to Minako’s naked body lying doll-like in its crumbled stillness, his human heart had returned to him, and he had been able to feel only surprise at his own atrocious, bestial actions. Shame and self-abhorrence had gouged out his heart in a place that could never be healed. And Minako had said only one thing to his crouched, cold back, pain deep in her eyes.

He had deserved any vile jeers or abuse she cared to throw at him. He, who had violated her, had deserved ‘he raped me’ and any degree of cruelty in retribution. Minako should not have been able to believe him, whatever he did. She should have been stunned and terrified; she should have detested him. And yet. And yet she. Minako.

His base treatment of Kagetora and Minako, this mistake that would crush four hundred years in one night: she, knowing these things, had been the one to save him.

By saying but one small thing—

She had gazed at him out of a bodhisattva’s hurt eyes.

But to this person who would have become his bodhisattva—

He...

He had delivered the final blow with that abominable act called ‘kanshoukanshou (換生)

To possess another's body, driving out their soul, so as to be reborn with memories intact. Only Naoe of all the kanshousha has the power to perform kanshou on another soul.
’.

It was he who had forced them, these two who had so loved each other.

Why did it have to be Minako’s lips which had spat out Kagetora’s words?

Who would the small life conceived within that body have been born into?

Why had it turned out that way?

(Can I really start over?)

Thinking only such thoughts before this Kagetora who had lost his memories was unbearable. Yes, it was true. He, who made a pretense of sorrow, felt only joy in the hidden depths of his heart that Kagetora had forgotten his shame.

Could Kagetora have given him this chance, though such selfishness tainted him?

Suddenly depressed once more, Naoe gazed out at the lonely lights along the street.

A black BMW passed him and rode up to the gates of Ueshima’s mansion.

A middle-aged man dressed in traditional Japanese clothes disembarked along with several companions. They were warmly received and ushered inside. They appeared to be Ueshima’s guests.

Naoe leaned forward and turned up the volume of the receivers on his listening devices. There seemed to be a great deal of excitement and activity within the house.

(Who is his guest?)

A quick glance told him that he would not be able to make an accurate identification. But he felt as if he had seen the person somewhere before.

(Someone connected to the political world...?)

A conference began within the house. A few dozen minutes later—

“We are making steady progress on the capture of Sendai.”

Two men were speaking in the parlor. Sitting on a large tatamitatami (畳)

Woven straw mats used as traditional Japanese flooring.

Japanese rooms are traditionally measured by the number of tatami mats laid out in it, the dimensions of which are 90 cm x 180 cm x 5 cm.
chair, Representative Ueshima—no, SengokuSengoku (戦国)

The "warring states" period, lasting from 1467 to 1615, in which the warlords of Japan battled each other for the rule of the country.
general Mogami Yoshiaki—said to his middle-aged traditionally-dressed guest:

“The Date appear quite distracted, with thanks to thine Ashina forces. At this rate we shall drive out Masamune’s Date spirits ere we complete the «jike-kekkaijike-kekkai (地気結界)

Lit.: "earth-energy barrier"; one type of juso-kekkai which is erected for the purpose of manipulating the 'mood' or 'energy' of the earth, which in turn influences all living beings and spirits within its radius. It can be used to brainwash people, as in the case of a saimin-kekkai.
».”

“Indeed. Our onryou shall tear the souls of the Date apart and consign them to eternal pain.” His guest laughed haughtily. “Why, I shall not allow them to undergo purification. I will wipe out their beings and «chain» their spirits to serve as our minions. They will become our strength; we will use them to eradicate all threat in the Northeast and thereby kill two birds with one stone. It so appears that Date is not yet aware of the alliance between Mogami and Ashina.”

“Moreover, the anti-Date alliance between Nanbu, Satake, Oosaki, Iwaki, and Souma is nearing its finalization. Once we have completed the snare, ’twill be child’s play to deal with the Date. —I did not think to see this alliance of our former lives see the light of day in a place such as this.”

Mogami Yoshiaki lifted a cup of sake to his lips. “Ashina-dono, bearest thou thy hatred for Date still?”

“How could I forget?” Ashina MoriujiAshina Moriuji (蘆名盛氏) 1521 - 1580

Also known as: Shishisai (止々斎)

Son of Ashina Morikiyo and 16th generation lord of the Ashina Clan who probably became head of the clan around 1537, which is around the time that he married a daughter of the Date Clan and formed an alliance with Tamura Takaaki.

He expanded the domain of the Ashina and did much to improve the clan's economic condition, thereby bringing about the golden age of the Ashina.

Moriuji turned over the rule of the clan to his heir Ashina Morioki in 1561 and retired to Iwasaki Castle, shaving off his hair and taking the name of Shishisai. However, he retained power over political and military affairs.

In 1575 when Ashina Morioki died without an heir, and because Moriuji had no other heirs, he adopted a hostage of the clan: Nikaidou Moritaka, the son of Nikaidou Moriyoshi, and married him to Morioki's widow. Moritaka then became Ashina Moritaka and the next clan head.

Moriuji died in 1580 at the age of 60. With him ended the golden age of the Ashina; a mere 9 years later, the clan would be destroyed by Date Masamune.
spat. “We the Ashina, we who have been a noble house since the Kamakura PeriodKamakura-jidai (鎌倉時代)

A feudalistic period in Japan's history during which the Kamakura Shogunate ruled Japan and relegated the emperor and court to ceremonial functions.
, ruined so magnificently by Date. Nay, and one other: Satake’s sonAshina Yoshihiro (芦名義広/蘆名義広) 1575 - 1631

Also known as: 盛重, 義勝

Second son of the daimyo Satake Yoshishige, he became the 20th head of the Ashina Clan when he married Ashina Moritaka's daughter. However, he lost the Ashina lands to Date Masamune after the betrayal of one of the Ashina's key vassals at the Battle of Suriagehara in 1589. He then fled to Hitachi and was later given land there by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
should not have been adopted into the clan. Ashina was destroyed because a man such as he became the head of the clan. The misfortune of my house was a curse cast by Date and Satake. They plotted to conquer Ashina. Yet this battle shall end differently. The resurrection of this ‘Leader of the Golden Age’ Ashina Moriuji will no longer allow those novices to do as they wish. I will show them the true power of the Ashina.”

“I leave it in thy hands, Ashina-dono. Thou shalt certainly take the head of Date’s One-Eyed Dragon.”

“I have no need for flattery.”

“’Tis not flattery. I speak from my heart. And there is one task more I must ask of thee.”

Mirage of Blaze volume 3 chapter 6

The two glared at each other for a moment.

With ever-guarded eyes.

“Think thou that I am taken in by thee?” Ashina Moriuji muttered, the middle-aged features of his spiritual vessel twisting. A sly smile appeared on Ueshima’s angular face.

“Please take thine ease this evening.”

(That was a surprise...)

Naoe, who had heard the entire conversation from the bugs he had planted within the house, was slightly stunned.

(Ashina and Mogami, working together...)

He had already heard reports of Ashina’s revival, but had not imagined that an alliance had already been formed. And moreover, that they were spreading a snare around the Date....

(They are truly planning to destroy Date...)

And the other thing he had caught...

(«Jike-kekkai»...?)

The door suddenly slid open, and a number of men came out, among them the traditionally-dressed man from earlier—Ashina MoriujiAshina Moriuji (蘆名盛氏) 1521 - 1580

Also known as: Shishisai (止々斎)

Son of Ashina Morikiyo and 16th generation lord of the Ashina Clan who probably became head of the clan around 1537, which is around the time that he married a daughter of the Date Clan and formed an alliance with Tamura Takaaki.

He expanded the domain of the Ashina and did much to improve the clan's economic condition, thereby bringing about the golden age of the Ashina.

Moriuji turned over the rule of the clan to his heir Ashina Morioki in 1561 and retired to Iwasaki Castle, shaving off his hair and taking the name of Shishisai. However, he retained power over political and military affairs.

In 1575 when Ashina Morioki died without an heir, and because Moriuji had no other heirs, he adopted a hostage of the clan: Nikaidou Moritaka, the son of Nikaidou Moriyoshi, and married him to Morioki's widow. Moritaka then became Ashina Moritaka and the next clan head.

Moriuji died in 1580 at the age of 60. With him ended the golden age of the Ashina; a mere 9 years later, the clan would be destroyed by Date Masamune.
, perhaps. Naoe strained his eyes in the darkness. A small, middle-aged man with a long narrow face and white hair.

(That man is...)

Naoe jerked, suddenly recognizing him.

(Isn’t that Diet Representative Hirabayashi Mikio?)

Hirabayashi was the leader of the Hirabayashi Party, the political faction to which Ueshima belonged. A former Prime Minister and certainly a powerful, influential voice within his party. And this was Ashina Moriuji’s vessel!

Given that connection, it was certainly not unusual for Hirabayashi and Ueshima to call on each other. But to possess people in such positions of political power, of all things... Certainly, Mogami’s possession of Ueshima was not by chance, but Ashina making someone as prominent as Hirabayashi his vessel...?

(What in the world are they plotting?)

As Hirabayashi’s black BMW drove away into the darkness, a woman’s voice came through his listening devices.

“Hath thy guest returned home?”

An attractive middle-aged woman appeared from the inner tatami room. Yoshiaki smirked as he turned.

“He returned quite early. I wonder if he thinks we have served him poison?”

“What, we perform such—”

Yoshiaki reclined against the tatami seat and took a long puff from his tobacco pipe.

“These vessels we inhibit are unbearable. Well. ’Tis true that they are but senile old fools, yet their powers are certainly more useful on a grand scale than unskilled «power».”

Smoke rose up to the aging ceiling.

“A power that allows one to move the world, hmm?”

“Three years have already passed since we were resurrected into this world. Now the groundwork has finally been laid.”

“Mmm. It hath taken us much time to grasp the current state of affairs, but the world of man, it seems, changes not.”

Yoshiaki sketched a circle in the air in front of him with the tip of his pipe.

“Money and influence. People would sell even their souls to protect themselves. Or in this case, their bodies.”

“Fools.”

“Yes. They are fools. They who have forgotten battle rot away under the weight of their own short-sighted selfishness. Government created by those who are rotten becomes rotten itself. Such is the way of things, Oyoshi.”

The woman glared at Mogami Yoshiaki forcefully. “Aniueaniue (兄上)

A more formal way to address an older brother than "onii-san" or its variants; could be translated as "honorable elder brother".
, dost thou truly wish to plunge this world into the chaos of war once more?”

“I do not desire war. I will not enter into war. I will not enter into war, but we have now obtained a power to move this world. That is why I took this spiritual vessel. For the Mogami.”

His younger sister YoshihimeYoshihime (義姫) 1547? 1548? - 1623

Also known as: Ohigashi-no-Kata (お東の方), nickname—Demon Princess of the Ouu (奥羽の鬼姫), Hoshunin (保春院).

Mother of Date Masamune, daughter of Mogami Yoshimori and younger sister of Mogami Yoshiaki, Yoshihime was born in Yamagata Castle in Dewa. She was given in marriage at the age of 19 to Date Terumune and bore him two sons, Date Masamune and Date Kojirou. She hated her first-born, Masamune, due to his one-eyed state, and favored his younger brother Kojirou. There was additional tension between them due to Yoshihime leaking information to her relatives in the Mogami Clan even while they were fighting with the Date Clan. In 1585, upon Terumune's death, she decided to have Masamune killed to allow Kojirou to become head of the Date clan.

In 1590, when Masamune was participating in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign against Odawara Castle, Yoshihime personally brought Masamune a meal laced with poison. Though Masamune consumed the poison, he was able to counteract it with the antidote. He then had Kojirou commit seppuku. Afterwards, Yoshihime returned to the Mogami Clan.

In 1614, upon Mogami Yoshiaki's death, internal strife split the Mogami Clan. In 1622, Yoshihime could no longer sustain her status in the Mogami Clan, and asked Masamune to return, which he allowed. She went to live in Sendai Castle and died there a year later at the age of 76.

It was thought from the contents of the letters and poems mother and son exchanged that Yoshihime was reconciliated with Masamune in her latter years.
, who was also Masamune’s mother, Ohigashi-no-Kata, narrowed unyielding eyes at her brother.

“If thou shouldst speak carelessly, it may reach his ears.”

Him, hmm?” Yoshiaki’s eyes were full of amusement. “So even the Demon Princess of the OuuYoshihime (義姫) 1547? 1548? - 1623

Also known as: Ohigashi-no-Kata (お東の方), nickname—Demon Princess of the Ouu (奥羽の鬼姫), Hoshunin (保春院).

Mother of Date Masamune, daughter of Mogami Yoshimori and younger sister of Mogami Yoshiaki, Yoshihime was born in Yamagata Castle in Dewa. She was given in marriage at the age of 19 to Date Terumune and bore him two sons, Date Masamune and Date Kojirou. She hated her first-born, Masamune, due to his one-eyed state, and favored his younger brother Kojirou. There was additional tension between them due to Yoshihime leaking information to her relatives in the Mogami Clan even while they were fighting with the Date Clan. In 1585, upon Terumune's death, she decided to have Masamune killed to allow Kojirou to become head of the Date clan.

In 1590, when Masamune was participating in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign against Odawara Castle, Yoshihime personally brought Masamune a meal laced with poison. Though Masamune consumed the poison, he was able to counteract it with the antidote. He then had Kojirou commit seppuku. Afterwards, Yoshihime returned to the Mogami Clan.

In 1614, upon Mogami Yoshiaki's death, internal strife split the Mogami Clan. In 1622, Yoshihime could no longer sustain her status in the Mogami Clan, and asked Masamune to return, which he allowed. She went to live in Sendai Castle and died there a year later at the age of 76.

It was thought from the contents of the letters and poems mother and son exchanged that Yoshihime was reconciliated with Masamune in her latter years.
is afraid of him?”

Yoshihime’s face stiffened as she gazed at her brother. “I fear him. I cannot think but that he is bringing about something terrible in this land of the Northeast.”

“It becomes thee ill, Yoshi. In any case, how doth Kojirou? Once Sendai falls into our hands, I am thinking of entrusting Yamagata to him as my proxy. He is certainly not inferior to Masamune in mien. He will doubtlessly become a good commander.”

“That is so.”

Another voice coming from the direction of the tatami room interrupted their conversation. The two turned and saw that unawares to them, a slender young man had been standing on the other side of the paper sliding door. How long had he been listening in on their conversation?—Yoshiaki and Yoshihime’s faces both paled in alarm, but the young man said in a lovely treble without heed to the conversation that had gone on before: “Be at ease, Mogami-dono. Kojirou-dono of the Date is an excellent young warrior. We are completely in understanding with each other. However, Mogami-dono. There are rats in this room.”

“Wh...!”

The young man walked over, smirking. He flipped up the scroll of a landscape painting hanging in the alcove.

“Ah!”

The young man smiled at Yoshiaki as he gasped.

“The ears of a large rat,” the young man said, and crushed the tiny microphone of the bug he had revealed in his hand.

“A rat, there!”

“!”

The listening device cut off with a burst of static. Naoe had stripped off the receiver in the same instant, knowing that it foretold of disaster.

(They noticed...?!) He thought, when the car shook. Thud! He felt the car sink.

(What!)

The body of the car creaked loudly, enveloped by an unnatural power. A burning wind suddenly scorched the area around him. In that instant—

“!”

The Cefiro denoted in a column of fire with a terrible thunderous explosion.

“Don’t run, you «nuenue (鵺)

In Japanese mythology, the nue is a chimera formed from the head of a monkey, the body of a tanuki, the legs of a tiger, and a snake-tail. The nue can transform into a black cloud and brings illness and misfortune.

In Mirage of Blaze: The troops of the various clans, lumped-together masses of onryou, are called the «nue». Mori Ranmaru commands the Nue-shuu of the Oda, who are onryou with strong powers.
»!”

The owner of that sharp voice came leaping over the fence along with a red-blazing fireball.

The Cefiro rumbled as it burned in towering crimson flames.

Naoe, who had managed to roll out of the car by the skin of his teeth, shuddered as he crouched on the ground with a hand pressed against his right shoulder.

(Is this their «power»?!)

Something howled behind him. He spun to see deep red flames opening a gigantic mouth in attack.

Naoe’s «nenpanenpa (念波)

Lit.: "waves of will/thought"; a nendouryoku attack using spiritual energy which focuses the will and releases it in a burst to strike at a target.
» smashed the flames apart. Burning lumps blazing with festering human faces in their exact center appeared near him. Their too-large mouths split open as they advanced upon Naoe.

(They’re «kakikaki (火鬼)

Lit.: "Fire demon"; clumps of pathos left behind by those who died in fires. They are an immaterial type of tsukumogami which invite disasters associated with fire.
»...!)

One flaming face attacked, fiery saliva splattering. He glared at it sharply and released his «nenpa». The face was torn to pieces with an ugly scream. But those pieces immediately joined together into one again and became its original human face.

(What?!)

«Kaki» were clumps of pathos of those who had died in fires. They were a type of immaterial tsukumogamitsukumogami (付喪神)

Artifacts and items that are older than 100 years and become spirits who are alive and aware. (The characters were originally written "九十九", meaning "ninety-nine" and were later changed to the homonym "付喪神", with the characters for "adhere", "mourning", and "god").

In Mirage, however, the kaki are also a type of tsukumogami.
which invited disasters associated with fire. Since they were merely left-over emotions, they should have scattered and disappeared when his thought had blown them apart.

(They’re no ordinary «kaki»!)

He warded off the next and the next attacking «kaki» with «nenpa», but they merely scattered and coalesced back together into their original forms. It was an endless battle. Smashing yet another apart with «nenpa», Naoe suddenly realized: Of course!

(They’re not just clumps of emotion!)

They were «nue» clad in emotions—onryou!

(So «choubuku»!)

Naoe focused and gathered his «power». All the human-masked flames attacked simultaneously. Just as the flames were about to engulf Naoe, he cried out sharply in a thundering roar:

 (baibai ()

Intoned by the Yasha-shuu at the beginning of choubuku, 'bai' is the "seed syllable" for Bishamonten, originally known as Vaiśravaṇa.
)
!

The air froze. The «kaki»-clad onryou were completely paralyzed.

Noumakusamanda bodanan baishiramandaya sowakanoumakusamanda bodanan baishiramandaya sowaka

「のうまくさまんだ ぼだなん ばいしらまんだや そわか」

A mantra of Bishamonten which protects the caster from fatigue and calamity, usually used when starting a long or complex invocation.

"noumakusamanda bodanan" = a devotion to the Buddhas/"homage to all the Buddhas".
"Baishiramandaya" = a reverence to Bishamonten, or "hail Bishamonten!"
!” Naoe yelled out!

Namu Tobatsu BishamontenNamu Tobatsu Bishamonten (南無刀八毘沙門天)

Lit. "Hail Eight-Sword Bishamonten" Chanted during "light-enclosing exorcism," the summoning of the Sword of Bishamonten, and other invocations to Bishamonten.
! For this demon subjugation, lend me thy power!”

He opened his hands, linked in the ceremonial gesture, in the direction of the «nue».

“«Choubuku»!”

Light blazed from his hands. The white light tore apart the «nue» one after another. Their screams twined with the wind as they disappeared with the light.

“!”

He felt a terrible deadly energy from directly behind him. An invisible arrow thudded into him as he whirled.

“Ugh!”

Will thrown like stones engulfed his entire body, and he fell to the asphalt.

(Who...!)

He concentrated «nenpa» into the palm of his hand. His misting eyes would not focus on his opponent.

But he could feel the incredible «aura»!

(It’s coming...!)

Someone’s «power» attacked him from the area in front of him. Naoe promptly surrounded himself with a «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.
».

The two «powers» collided. Naoe pushed out his hands as he stretched his powers to the limit to hold the «goshinhekigoshinheki (護身壁)

Lit.: "wall of self-protection"; the goshinheki is a barrier constructed for an instant using spiritual energy. The goshinha is effective when maintained, but the goshinheki takes shape in the instant the caster is attacked and is a basic method of self-protection. However, its weakness is that it cannot protect the caster against 100% of the damage caused by the attack.
». The air howled.

“...!”

Still holding the staggeringly heavy «nenpa» at bay with his «goshinhekigoshinheki (護身壁)

Lit.: "wall of self-protection"; the goshinheki is a barrier constructed for an instant using spiritual energy. The goshinha is effective when maintained, but the goshinheki takes shape in the instant the caster is attacked and is a basic method of self-protection. However, its weakness is that it cannot protect the caster against 100% of the damage caused by the attack.
», Naoe stood. Then he summoned a «nenpa» with all his might.

“Gwaaaah!”

Boom boom boom...!

A gigantic fissure tore the ground apart at Naoe’s feet.

Naoe did not miss the moment his opponent faltered. He threw everything he had into a «nenpa».

“!”

The deadly plasma bolt was deflected, and the trees and fence around him instantly went up in flames. A «wall» had evidently intercepted Naoe’s «nenpa». This was no average opponent!

(«Power» at this level—who...?!)

“Guh!”

A new arrival had struck from the virtually empty area behind him. An invisible chain coiled around him, driving deeper and deeper into his body. He couldn’t move. Agony!

(So there’re two of them...?!)

It felt as if lightning were running through his entire body.

Naoe dropped silently.

And lay still.

Quiet returned to the lane. The garden’s trees and fence continued to burn with the remnants of a flickering fire. After verifying that Naoe had indeed lost consciousness, Mogami Yoshiaki finally met up with his sister.

“A frightening individual. I would have been in danger without thine aid.”

“Aniue. Who in the world...”

The young man of mixed blood from earlier walked up to meet Yoshiaki and Ohigashi-no-Kata from behind them. He peered at Naoe’s still form and snorted with delighted laughter.

“Humph. I thought a large rat had crawled in from somewhere, and it turns out to be one of Uesugi’s demons.”

“! Uesugi?!”

The young man met Yoshiaki’s glare with an innocent smile.

“This man is Naoe Nobutsuna, one of the Uesugi 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).
. It appears that Uesugi’s Yasha-shuuYasha-shuu (夜叉衆)

The five kanshousha at the head of the Meikai Uesugi Army ordered by Uesugi Kenshin to hunt for the onshou who are disrupting the peace of modern-era Japan in a battle which has lasted four hundred years. Led by Uesugi Kagetora, with Naoe Nobutsuna, Kakizaki Haruie, Yasuda Nagahide, and Irobe Katsunaga. The name "Yasha" refers to soldiers in the army of Bishamonten, called "Yaksha".
have now penetrated into the Northeast as well.”

“Uesugi’s... Yasha-shuuYasha-shuu (夜叉衆)

The five kanshousha at the head of the Meikai Uesugi Army ordered by Uesugi Kenshin to hunt for the onshou who are disrupting the peace of modern-era Japan in a battle which has lasted four hundred years. Led by Uesugi Kagetora, with Naoe Nobutsuna, Kakizaki Haruie, Yasuda Nagahide, and Irobe Katsunaga. The name "Yasha" refers to soldiers in the army of Bishamonten, called "Yaksha".
!”

“If such is the case, then they have probably also infiltrated Sendai. Well, so much the better. We shall probably find this man’s «power» quite useful.”

The young man smiled an angel’s smile.

“I shall now depart, but I would like to present Mogami-dono with a modest gift.”

“?”

“I would like to offer you an impenetrable cell for rat-caging. If you will allow me to assist in its making, your celebrated might should be more than sufficient for its maintenance—”

A slight smirk lifted his lips.

“The rat shall not be allowed to do anything within his cell. Afterwards, Mogami-dono, you shall have the leisure to grill and drill him as you will.”

“...!”

The young man’s eyes lit with such cruelty that even the faces of the two Mogami stiffened. Ignoring their reactions, the young man snorted with laughter and looked at the remaining fires, soft silky hair waving in the breeze.

The fire reflected in 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.
’s eyes glowed an eerie violet.