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“Why don't you ask Miko to be your familiar?”
“My familiar?” Ei repeated, while watching Makoto painting her nails.
“Yes. You two get along so well”.
That was not a lie. Ei liked to spend time with Miko. The pink kitsune was smart, hardworking and ambitious. Miko was a true prodigy. She learned spells and tricks easily and was brilliant enough to create her own spells. Miko was amazing. However…
“I don't see why this is necessary”.
Ei didn't need help. She had no difficulty performing all her duties. She needed to get stronger. Power was what was necessary to protect Makoto and Inazuma. Having a familiar was not part of the list.
“Oh, sister. Sometimes, we do things because we want to, not because they are necessary”.
“Aneue, I want to protect you”.
Makoto finished painting Ei’s nails and smiled.
“You might want other things too, Ei”. The Shogun held the kagemusha’s hands. “There are so, so many things you might want”.
Ei blinked. The only thing she wanted was to protect her twin, her other half. Makoto was Ei’s whole world. Without her, there would be nothing left for Ei. There would be no Inazuma, friends or familiar for her.
“I will think about it”. Ei finally spoke.
“What do you think about this? The Blossoming Spring troupe will perform again soon. You and Miko can watch their performance together. Miko loves their plays”.
The kagemusha smiled. The kitsune loved to tell Ei the stories about the plays she had seen. Miko looked beautiful when she talked about her passions. She was always beautiful.
The pink fox wasn't the only one who liked those plays. Makoto and Saiguu liked it too. It would be an intriguing experience to watch a play.
“Yes. I will watch the play with Miko”.
The Archon smiled.
“You will need to get dressed, Ei. You need to look pretty for Miko. I'll let you wear one of my kimonos”.
---
Ei couldn’t say no to her sister. And she went on the date wearing Makoto’s kimono. The kagemusha could see through Miko’s eyes. The kitsune loved the kimono. Ei smiled. Makoto was right. She was always right.
Miko was beautiful. Even when she was wearing the simple shrine maiden's clothes. Ei didn’t really know how to act or what to say to the kitsune. She opted for the silence and took Miko to the courtyard.
The troupe was already there, waiting for the god and the yokai. Ei blinked, looking at each of them. The kagemusha heard Makoto describe them. Yet, seeing them was different from what Ei imagined.
There were four of them. They all wore masks. Snake, tiger, kitsune and monkey. Everyone wore black clothes. It was impossible to tell if they were humans or monsters. And yet, they were beautiful. Beautiful like a delicate painting. Their voices would make any singer jealous. They were living works of art.
Ei and Miko settled down, sitting next to each other.
The play started. It was a story about a samurai and their sword. Ei blinked. She blinked again. She couldn’t understand what was happening or hear what the actors were declaring. The god closed her eyes.
---
“Ei! Ei!” She heard Miko’s voice. The voice was distant and muffled. “Ei!” Someone held her shoulder. And the god opened her eyes.
The fox envoy was sitting in front of her.
“Miko”. Ei blushed, realizing she had fallen asleep in the middle of the play. She ruined their date. The troupe left the tenshukaku. The god and the yokai were alone.
“How are you feeling?” Instead of being mad, Miko was worried.
“I’m fine”. Ei was even more embarrassed. She has no justification for falling asleep in the middle of the play. She was not tired. The god didn't need to sleep, she could go centuries without rest. “Did you apologize on my behalf?”
“Oh, that is not necessary”. Miko smiled. “The Blossoming Spring never talks to the public; even the Almighty Shogun. After the play ends, they leave the stage and vanish”.
"That's weird".
“I suppose it's to increase the mystery around them. Saiguu and Urakusai wanted to kidnap one of them, and see what's behind the mask. But Makoto prohibited them from doing that”.
“Did you also want to kidnap them?”
“Of course not!” Miko crossed her arms, pouting. “I know kidnapping is wrong”.
Ei smiled and couldn't hold back her laughter.
“Wha-what?!” The kitsune blushed.
“It's just… Saiguu and Urakusai know kidnapping is wrong”.
“Well, it just makes me better than those old foxes”.
Ei stopped laughing and scratched Miko’s furry ears. The pink kitsune was really cute. She won't torment Miko anymore. She would just spoil the fox envoy.
“We should do this again. Next time, I won't sleep”.
“I will remember that. So, you don’t like sad stories.”
“Was it a sad story?” Ei blinked.
“My, my, you slept through the entire play”. It was Miko's turn to laugh. “You didn't even watch the beginning”.
“Miko…” The kitsune was laughing at her. Ei didn’t know what to say. Should she scold Miko? Laughing at a god could only be blasphemy. No. It didn't feel right. The fox was so happy and beautiful. The kagemusha couldn’t say a word against Miko.
“And you look cute while sleeping”.
“I’m not cute”.
“Oh, you're even cuter pouting”.
Ei blushed. This fox! She was getting more and more confident. And capricious. And sassy. Soon, she would start planning kidnappings with Saiguu and Urakusai. And Ei couldn’t say she didn't like it.
“I… I'm not pouting”.
“Do you want me to tell you the story of the play?”
“Yes. I will appreciate it”.
Miko was not wrong. Ei didn’t like sad stories, but the god liked to listen to the kitsune telling them. Ei loved to see the passion Miko put into every word. She loved to see how the fox envoy cared about every character, even if they weren’t real. It was beautiful, very beautiful.
The samurai was the strongest warrior of the land. They carried the most beautiful katana. The sword was very proud of its master. A noble and humble samurai. However, tragedy struck the warrior, and they died on the battlefield.
The katana was broken and split into two new blades. New souls were born from the new swords. Each sword was left with a different warrior. While one sword had no memory of its past life, and was ready to experience new adventures with the new master. The other sword remembered every second of the life it had with the old master. The katana yearned to be able to reunite with the other half of its soul, with the other sword.
While a sword had a new life full of treasures. The other blade went on a quest to achieve its desire to be whole again. After many battles, the second sword got what it wanted. The two swords became one again. The new sword had a new soul formed by two.
One sword wanted to be free and another wanted to go back to the past. Neither got what they wanted. The new soul, the new sword, was small and sad. The sword had the memories of three lives and couldn't live any of them. It could only lament the fate of the swords.
“Miko, did you think the sword was wrong?”
“No. It was not wrong. But the other sword wasn't wrong either. That is the foundation of this tragedy”.
“Being eternally separated from its other half is not fair”.
---
“I got another letter from the Shuumatsuban”. Makoto said.
“The same message?”
“Yes.”
Ei was aware of what was happening. After receiving messages from children and farmers disappearing, ninjas and soldiers started to investigate a domain. However, they never came back. It was assumed that they died during the investigation. The domain remained unknown and unexplored. No one knew what that domain was or what it meant.
“Aneue, let me investigate”.
“But, Ei…”
“I will come back”.
Makoto gave a sad smile. Ei knew the Archon wanted to help her, but the kagemusha didn't want help and didn't need it. Ninja disappearing, strange domains. That was secondary and dispensable. And it was not a work for an Archon. Ei’s work was nothing compared to what Makoto did for her and for Inazuma. If Makoto was safe, everything would be settled.
“Ok. I believe you”.
---
The domain was inside an abandoned house. Ei entered the domain, wielding the naginata. There was no sign of struggle inside the house. The god didn’t see the bodies of the missing soldiers.
She kept walking down the long dark hallway. The path ended in a precipice. There was only a deep dark hole in front of Ei. The kagemusha didn’t hesitate and kept moving forward. Ei created a path made with electro energy. And she went down the stairs.
Ei couldn't tell how much time she spent walking down the stairs. And she didn’t find anything or anyone. The god finally reached the bottom of the stairs. She was in a large room.
The place was full of scrolls. The room smelled of death and ink. There were two bodies there. Ei recognized the soldier’s uniform. Where were the other bodies?
A sound. She was not alone anymore. Ei turned her body to one side and pointed the naginata to the stranger.
“I’m so scared. Please, protect me”. A person wearing a monkey mask. Just like a member of the Blossoming Spring troupe. Their voice, their presence. Everything was just like the troupe. What were they doing there? And why?
Ei slowly lowered her weapon.
“I’m so scared. Please, protect me”. The monkey said again. “I’m so scared. Please, protect me”. They didn't seem to be the same artist who performed the play. And they would not give any information about the domain.
“Another boring trick…”
She widened her eyes. Ei stepped forward, dodging a stab at her shoulder. The snake mask tried to attack the god again, but the kagemusha kicked them, throwing them against the wall.
“Another boring trick…” The snake got up and attacked Ei again.
"I'm so scared. Please, protect me”. The monkey kept muttering in a corner.
How many people were in the troupe? Three? Four? Monkey, snake, kitsune… And was there another?
“I’m going to kill you!” The tiger mask!
They showed up out of nowhere and punched Ei in the ribs. The kagemusha was thrown with great force and speed to the side. And before her body hit the ground, the Snake was in front of her and kicked Ei’s head, making her fly back to the Tiger. They hit her in the stomach, throwing her to the monkey, who kicked her in the back.
“Another boring trick…”
“I’m going to kill you!”
“I’m so scared. Please, protect me”.
They kept repeating the same words as they hit, punched and kicked her. Throwing Ei from one side to the other, without giving her space to counterattack or regain her composure.
“Another boring trick…” “I’m going to kill you!” “I’m so scared. Please, protect me”. “Another boring trick…” “I’m going to kill you!” “I’m so scared. Please, protect me”. “Another boring trick…” “I’m going to kill you!” “I’m so scared. Please, protect me”. “Another boring trick…” “I’m going to kill you!” “I’m so scared. Please, protect me”.
“Oh you don’t even try to escape?”
There they were. The fourth member of the troupe. The kitsune was not part of the attacking group. Their intentions didn’t matter. It was time to end the battle.
Ei created a shield of electro around her body. The elemental energy exploded, destroying the body of the four opponents. The god’s attack shattered the walls and floor of the domain and obliterated the bodies of soldiers.
The kagemusha got up with difficulty. Her body was all bloody and full of bruises. Ei couldn’t forgive them for deceiving Makoto and Miko with their stupid plays.
Ah, Miko… They wouldn’t watch another play together. She destroyed something Miko liked so much.
---
Ei left the domain, but she did not return to the tenshukaku or to the shrine. The god didn’t want to see the kitsune. She didn’t know how to tell Miko what had happened. The fox would hate her. She would be disgusted.
Ei walked to a waterfall to clean the blood from her body. The god closed her eyes, thinking about the domain and the Blossoming Spring troupe. She couldn’t figure out what they were or what they wanted. In the domain, they acted like broken dolls. On the outside, they acted like a theatrical troupe. None of their actions made sense.
The kagemusha bit her lower lip. It was better to tend her wounds. Ei went to the tenshukaku. The soldiers didn’t ask why she was soaking wet, or smeared with blood. Anyway, she wouldn't talk to them.
Ei went to Makoto’s chambers. The Shogun was reading a scroll, but she didn’t look busy.
“Oh, Ei! I will call the healers”.
“No. That is not necessary”.
“Then I will take care of you”.
Ei sighed. She didn’t know how to say no to her sister. They sat on the floor. Ei took off her dirty clothes and let Makoto tend to her wounds. She told what had happened in the domain and the meeting with the Blossoming Spring troupe.
“Are you sure you destroyed the soldiers' bodies?”
Ei blinked. At that moment, the kagemusha didn’t even think about the bodies.
“Ah… Oops. We have this problem”.
“Yes. Oops, Ei”. Makoto said as she finished bandaging Ei’s arm.
“Aneue, I’m sorry!”
“I’m not angry, Ei”. Makoto patted the young sister on the head. “But if you want to apologize, apologize to the families of the dead soldiers”.
“I…” What should she say to them? That the battle was too violent? That they were honored soldiers? Or…
“Don’t worry, Ei. I will apologize to them”.
The kagemusha smiled. Makoto was so bright, so perfect. Makoto was always taking care of her and protecting her. The kagemusha would be nothing without Makoto. The shadow needed light to exist. A sword had to have a master to be useful. And Ei was happy to be Makoto's sword. As long as they were together, Ei would always be happy.
“Thank you, aneue. What will happen to the Blossoming Spring?
“I don’t know”. Makoto admitted. “There are many pieces missing in this puzzle. It will be better to investigate the domain again. I will ask the Yashiro Commission to give me the location of their last camps. There must be some info about the troupe there”.
---
The next few days passed peacefully. Ei continued training in the martial arts. Sometimes she was alone, others the god invited Chyio to a sparring session.
However, Ei avoided any kind of contact with Miko. It wasn't fear. Yet, Ei couldn’t face the kitsune. They had such a beautiful and happy time. The kagemusha didn’t want to ruin their relationship. Ei had to preserve their happiness. She had to make Miko happy.
After another day of hard training, Ei decided to meditate in the forest, near the waterfall.
And she felt a fluffy thing jump into her lap. The kagemusha opened her eyes and saw the little pink fox. Ei smiled and petted the kitsune. She couldn’t resist this cute little thing, but Miko changed to human form. She was still on Ei’s lap.
“Mi-miko!?” Ei blushed and fell on her ass on the floor. They were too close. She could even count Miko’s eyelashes. “What are you doing?”
The kitsune laughed. Ei was suspecting that Miko liked to tease her.
“I am visiting you”. Miko said, leaving the god’s lap. “You spent all these days training. I thought you could take a break. I mean… Only if you want it”. Miko blushed and decided to look at her feet. “The Blossoming Spring will present a new play. We can go…”
“What?! That’s impossible”.
“What do you mean, Ei? Ei! Wait!”
The kagemusha didn't listen to Miko, or give an explanation. Ei ran to the domain. That was impossible. She killed them, but Miko wouldn’t invent something like that. Was it a new troupe, or did she fall into a domain trap? No option seemed right.
The god was in the domain again. There was no trace of destruction. She needed answers.
“I’m so scared. Please, prote…”
Ei attacked; the naginata flashed like lightning. The Monkey’s head rolled off their shoulders. Red blood spilled on the floor. The Monkey would not give her answers. Nor the Snake and the Tiger. The kitsune was the only one who didn’t act like a broken puppet. She killed the other two and waited for the fox.
She heard a mischievous laugh.
“My, my, what a brutal assault”. The kitsune was sitting on top of a box.
“Who are you? What are you planning?” Ei pointed the naginata at them.
“I’m so scared. Please, protect me”. And a second monkey attacked from behind, stabbing her in the back repeatedly.
The god spat blood, and grunted in pain. She didn't foresee a second monkey. What were these enemies? Ei wouldn’t get information from them. Or they didn’t have information. She had to talk to Saiguu. The white kitsune should know what was going on.
Ei killed them and made a shadow clone with electro energy. If something happened in the domain, she would know.
---
Ei went to wash herself in the waterfall. The cold water helped her clear her thoughts. She has to ask Makoto to ban theatrical performances. At least until Ei managed to resolve the crisis.
“Ei?”
The god opened her eyes. She didn’t imagine that Miko would still be in the forest.
“You’re bleeding. Let me…”
“That’s not necessary. I…”
“Makoto and Saiguu are having a meeting with the head of the clans”.
Ei came out from under the waterfall. The kagemusha didn’t say anything, just followed Miko to the shrine, to Miko’s chambers. Ei blinked. It was the first time she saw the kitsune’s room. She didn't want this moment to be so ugly. Once again, she was destroying their relationship.
The kitsune helped the god, taking off her clothes and cleaning her wounds. Miko poured shochu over the wounds, and Ei groaned in response. The fox envoy used a damp cloth to wipe the tacky blood from Ei’s back, taking an ample amount of ointment on her thumb and pressed it against the cut on the god’s back. That would staunch the bleeding.
Ei furrowed her brow as Miko began to wrap her torso. Miko had such kind hands. She wanted to hold and kiss them.
“You shouldn’t have seen… this”. Ei broke the silence between them.
“Why?”
“It’s… ugly”.
“I’m a shrine maiden. Seeing and doing ugly things is part of the job”. Miko finished bandaging the kagemusha.
Ei looked at the kitsune. Part of the job…
The fox envoy was not some innocent girl. She also had duties. Still, Ei didn't want to hurt Miko. She wanted the kitsune to have a life full of beauty. If Miko stayed by her side, this wouldn’t be possible.
“Is Saiguu treating you well?”
“Yes. I learned to deal with that old hag. Now, Saiguu will have to give me fried tofu for every task she asks me”.
Ei blinked. Surely, the tasks Miko did for Saiguu were worth much more than fried tofu. Yet, the pink kitsune was so proud of herself. Ei didn’t know how she could tell Miko the truth. Miko was so cute. Ei didn't want to ruin the fox’s illusion. She wanted Miko to be cute and happy.
Ei got up and looked at the swords displayed in the shrine. Goshintou sword. The Shinuchi blades that didn’t cut flesh, bones and neither life. These swords were built to remain pure, symbols of peace. And between them, a sword forged by Makoto. The only one she forged. Still, this was the most beautiful sword Ei had ever seen. Unfortunately, Makoto wasn't interested in forging new weapons.
“Thank you, Miko. I…” What should she do now? Maybe wait for Saiguu and Makoto?
“It’s okay, Ei. You don’t have to tell me, if you don’t want to. I know you’re avoiding me”. Hearing it from Miko’s mouth hurt more than the god imagined. “I could ask Makoto or Saiguu what happened, but I know you don’t want to tell me. So I decided to respect your will and wait until you're ready to tell me”.
Wait? Ready to tell?
It never crossed Ei’s mind to tell Miko what happened. And yet, the kitsune believed in her. She was so kind and wise. The fox didn’t need to wait for Ei. She could ask Saiguu or Makoto to tell what happened. And yet, Miko waited for Ei. She believed Ei. The kitsune did it for the kagemusha, without even asking for anything in return.
Ei grabbed Miko’s wrist and pulled the fox into a hug.
“E-Ei”.
“Please, be my familiar, Miko”.
“Yes! Yes, Ei. Anything for you”. The kitsune was careful to hug Ei back. “Anything for you”.
---
Ei told Miko everything that happened. The investigation in the domain, the encounter with the Blossoming Spring troupe, how they came back to life and how they kept acting and hiding in the domain.
“Ei, you…”
“I killed them. You can hate me”.
“Oh, Ei. I don’t hate you”.
“But Miko…”
“I liked their plays. I still like it, but that doesn’t change anything. I can like them and help you to eliminate this problem”.
Ei felt a weight lift off her back. Miko didn’t hate her. Miko didn’t hate her! The god could repeat this a thousand and a thousand times. And every time, it would make Ei happy.
“Do you want to help me?”
“Of course. I’m your familiar now, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are”. Ei smiled and caressed Miko’s fluffy ears, her tail wagged happily. The fox was so cute. The kagemusha wanted to hug the fox and kiss her whole body. She was happy to have Miko as a familiar. Makoto was right. Sometimes she had to do things because she wanted to, not because they were necessary.
Miko smiled too.
“You said they came back to life”.
“Yes. I’m sure I killed them. I still don’t know what they are. No yokai has the power to come back to life”.
“You didn’t kill them”.
“I killed them”.
“Ei”. Miko sighed. “What I’m saying is that you didn’t kill their real body. It’s like the shadow clones you make”.
“I didn’t feel any elemental energy coming from them”. Miko theory made sense. More sense than creatures that came back to life. “Maybe it’s some kind of possession”.
“Let’s visit the domain”.
“Miko, it's dangerous”.
“We will be together”.
“Miko…”
The kitsune laughed.
“My, my, you are a pigheaded”.
“I’m not”. That only made the fox laugh harder, making Ei blush. “Let’s go to the domain, Miko”.
Somehow, the god couldn't say no to Miko. This must be some kitsune trick.
---
They entered the domain, Ei led the way and Miko followed her. They walked to the edge of the cliff.
“They were downstairs”. Ei said. Her clone was still in the room. Nothing had caught its attention.
“Wait, Ei”.
“Yes?” The god hoped Miko had decided to stay there.
“Why don't we take another route? Let’s walk and see if we can find something. Maybe there’s something on the other side of this… hole”.
It was not a bad idea. Miko’s suggestion might work. Ei created a road made of electro energy.
“What is your plan?” Ei asked as they walked forward on the road.
“Plan?”
“I see. You don’t have a plan”.
“I… I have a plan!” Ei looked at the kitsune to see Miko blushing. She was really cute.
“Yeah, sure, Miko”.
They found a shoji door at the end of the road. There could be more than one door in the domain. Ei created shadow clones and sent them to explore the domain. The kagemusha opened the door, and they entered the room. It was a small room. There was a shelf full of scrolls. There was no sign of the masked creatures.
Miko pulled out a scroll and started to read it.
“This…” The kitsune left the scroll on the floor and took another. And another. “Ei, these are scripts of the plays that the troupe presented”.
“Do you think they were the ones who wrote it?”
“No. You said they kept repeating the same words. They know how to act, but that's all they know. I suspect they have no instinct or free will”.
“But why did they decide to be actors?” It didn't make sense. She could understand why the masks were the guardians of the domain. Why did they act like a wandering troupe?
“There must be someone giving the orders from behind. That explains why they never accept Makoto’s invites for tea”.
The troupe and their master must have some kind of contract. Perhaps, they were the familiar of the lord of the domain. If she killed the masks, the master would summon them again. Then, the problem would be solved when she killed the master.
“Miko, I found other rooms, let's go there”.
The fox followed the god without protest. In the other room, they found a painting of a person wearing a tiger mask. It was a beautiful painting. It was the representation of power and fury. It was alive.
Ei blinked. There was an old rumor between humans. A skilled painter was able to bring their paintings to life. The kagemusha never paid much attention to the legends humans told. Still, Ei couldn't deny it. There was some truth behind human tales.
“The tiger emerges from here”. The kagemusha summoned her naginata. “You were right, Miko. This is their real body”. And the god destroyed the painting, cutting it in half.
“Ei. We need to find out who painted them”.
“I know. There’s no one in the other rooms I’ve found. I don’t think the painter is in this domain”.
“Maybe”. Miko took a piece of the painting. “But there’s a place you haven’t looked yet. We know the spirits emerge from the painting. So, in that case, we’re going to get into the painting”.
“Can you do that, Miko?”
“Yes, it's a very simple spell”.
Miko was incredible. Bringing her to the domain was a good idea. The kitsune was able to solve this mystery. Miko was aware of the ugly part of Ei’s life. The god understood that she couldn’t hide that from Miko, but she wanted to show another part of her life to the kitsune. Even if this part didn’t exist. She wanted to show Miko something beautiful.
They went to another room. There was a hanging scroll on the wall. It was the snake painting. Ei took a step back, letting Miko do the spell. The kitsune summoned a gohei from the void and whispered a few words. Miko moved the gohei elegantly.
She was beautiful. Ei was able to forget about the world around her, and just admire Miko dancing.
“Come on, Ei”.
“Ah?”
“Oh my, did you fall asleep again?”
The god blushed.
“How… How are we going to get in?”
“There is no secret. It’s like walking through a door”. To demonstrate, Miko walked towards the scroll and entered the painting.
Ei saw the fox disappear in front of her and widened her eyes. She ran and followed the kitsune, entering the world of the painting. She quickly grabbed the kitsune’s arm.
“Miko, please, stay close to me. We still don't know who's behind it”. She pulled the fox close to her arms. “It can be dangerous”.
“Ah…” The kitsune blushed, and held Ei’s waist carefully. “You… you are right, Ei. I’m sorry. I will be more careful”.
The kagemusha looked around. They were surrounded by a beautiful field. She could feel the heat of the sun, the breeze of the wind and the smell of the earth.
“Miko, are you sure we are inside the painting?” Maybe they were transported to another place. They were still in Inazuma. Those plants and trees only grew there.
“Yes. I linked my spell to the domain. I would have known if the portal had sent us to another location”.
Somehow, Miko made her feel safe. Ei didn’t need to be protected, and yet having Miko by her side made things so much easier. The god was sure, the kitsune was the right person to be by her side.
Ei did not hold the naginata, but the katana. This time she would be sure to execute the painter.
“Are you going to kill them?” Miko asked in doubt.
“I won’t change my mind, no matter what you say”.
“I’m not saying to change your mind, Ei”. Miko sighed. “We need information. Or we'll end up having to kill them all over again”.
Ei lowered the sword. She would listen to what the painter has to say. The two walked through the field until they saw a wooden house, very similar to the house where the domain was localized.
There were two people sitting on the porch. Two young men. They didn’t wear masks and were very similar. Maybe they were brothers. One of them was blindfolded.
“A-almight Shogun! Why… how? No one should be able to get in here”.
“Shuichi? Is everything alright?” The blindfolded man asked.
Shuichi got up and approached Ei and Miko. The kagemusha pointed the sword at him. Miko was beside her.
“Are you the one who painted the masked spirits?”
The man looked from Ei to the other human then back to Ei.
"Sprits? Kitsune-san, Saru, Hebi, Tora-chan!” Shuichi called for the spirits. And they appeared behind him, except for the Tiger, who didn’t answer Shuichi's call. Ei killed them when she destroyed the painting. “Tora-chan? Tora-chan? Tora-chan?!”
“Your tiger is not coming”. Ei interrupted him. “It’s over, painter”.
“No. No. No, it can't be over”. Shuichi shook his head from side to side. “Hiro-nii-san… He… he will not survive”.
The painter turned his back on the god and ran up to the house. The masked spirits put themselves in front of the brothers, protecting them.
The god stayed focused on the spirits. Her eyes and strands of her hair began to glow in a light purple shade.
“Miko, you can go. I can take care of it”.
“No, Ei. No matter what happens, I will always be at your side”.
The kagemusha smiled. The mystery was solved, she no longer needed help. Still, even now, Ei was not able to say ‘no’ to Miko. With a single movement of her katana, Ei created a giant wave of electro energy that destroyed the masked spirits, turning them into ashes.
The ashes rose, flying everywhere. Dozens and dozens of ashes scattered across the field, creating more masked spirits. There were hundreds of spirits, and they were surrounding Miko and Ei.
“Miko. I’m going to deal with the painter and his brother. You will deal with the masked spirits”.
The fox envoy smiled. Miko took the form of a giant pink fox, with sharp teeth and claws, and began the massacre. The painted spirits were easy to defeat. One or two hit of the kitsune's paws, and they already turned to dust on the ground. However, their numbers didn’t decrease. Miko attacked the masked troupe with her claws. With acrobatic movements, the fox destroyed every enemy that appeared in front of her.
Ei jumped, warping the space around and immediately appeared in front of the two men.
“Your masked spirits killed my people”.
“They killed people?!” The blind boy asked. “Shuichi, that's true?”
“Nii-san, they are protecting you! They only killed those who entered our domain”.
“You are the one who is protecting your brother”. Ei said. “The spirits are murderers. I must put an end to this insolence now”.
“NO! You can’t kill me! If this… if this happens, nii-san will die! Please, Shogun-sama, please! Leave us alone”. Shuichi knelt down and bowed in front of her. His brother remained sitting on the porch.
"Shuichi. It’s okay. I don’t want people to die because of me”.
Ei could still hear the sounds of Miko fighting the spirits.
“Hiro-nii-san… if… if you don't like it, they won't kill anymore”.
“We can no longer go back to the past, Shuichi. The spirits killed people”.
“But these people wanted to kill us! They deserve to die. That was the only way to keep you safe”.
Anyone who entered the domain was killed by the masked spirits. It could be to hide, to play, to look for treasure, to investigate or even to kill the brothers. They all ended up dead. Ei tightened her grip on the katana.
"Deserve to die? The only one in Inazuma who can say who deserves to die, it’s me. You are a nobody. You have no right to kill”.
Shuichi got up and looked at the god.
“I’m protecting my brother, my only family! Shogun-sama, you don’t know…”
Ei raised her sword and attacked the painter, cutting off his head. Immediately, all masked spirits collapsed, turning to dust. And the domain began to fall apart. A scream of pain echoed through the space, filling Ei’s ears.
The kagemusha turned around and saw that Miko had returned to human form. The kitsune was not hurt. Miko ran to the god’s side.
Hiro was hurt. He was without his right arm and without both legs. The blindfold covering his eyes was covered in blood. Miko tried to get closer to Hiro to help him, but Ei raised her arm, stopping her from moving. The fox obeyed her.
“Your brother painted legs and an arm for you”. Ei said.
“Y-yes. Shuichi, he was born with an amazing gift. Everything he painted came to life”. Hiro answered. “But the villagers considered he was cursed and gathered to kill him. Since we’re twins, I took his place. They tried to kill me, but my brother saved me”.
Hiro coughed up blood and grimaced in pain.
“Shuichi saved me and made this domain for us. He always did everything for me. My… my dream was to be a writer. And Shuichi made it come true. He created the masked spirits to protect us, but he turned them into an acting troupe, because of my dream”.
The kagemusha blinked. The spirits also must have copied ‘the lines’ of their victims. In the domain their only order was to kill. Outside was for them to be artists. They were programmed to act that way. Just like Miko thought, they had no free will.
“He… he was never able to paint eyes. That’s why they wore masks. My brother practiced painting every day, so he could give me eyes again. Shogun-sama, he was a good brother, right?”
Ei did not answer.
“Shogun-sama, can… can you forgive him?”
“He is forgiven”. Ei raised her sword again and put an end to his life.
---
Ei told Makoto the whole story. They were having tea, but none touched their cup. The kagemusha started to eat a sakura mochi.
“I am planning to enact a new decree. Every human being born with a mystical talent will be under the protection of the Electro Archon”. Makoto explained. “This can prevent tragedies like Shuichi and Hiro from happening again”.
“I think it is a good idea, aneue”. Ei said with her mouth full of sakura mochi.
“These talented people will have the opportunity to be adopted by a noble family. Or, if they preferred, they can live in the Tenshukaku and study to become part of the Bureau of Onmyō”.
“Can I eat your mochi?” Ei asked, looking at the pink rice cake.
“Yes, of course”. Makoto smiled and offered Ei the dessert. “You and Miko make a good team”.
“I would have solved this case on my own sooner or later, but working with Miko is…” How could she put that feeling into words? The fox made her job easier, but that was not the reason Ei wanted to stay by Miko’s side.
“It's fun, isn't it?”
Ei blushed and smiled.
“Yes, it’s fun, but it’s more than that. It’s like Miko has the power to change my world. A chair is no longer a chair, but the chair Miko liked to sit on. Fried tofu is more than a food, it is Miko's favorite food. That… that makes sense?”
“Oh, Ei!” Makoto put her palms together. “You’re in love”.
“Yes. I love Miko”.
---
The kagemusha went to visit Miko at the shrine. The fox envoy was writing something in a book. She was beautiful. Always beautiful.
“Miko”. Ei sat next to the kitsune. “I brought you fried tofu”.
The fox closed the book and put it on a table.
“Oh my, thank you. And what would be the occasion?”
The god blushed. She wanted to confess her love to Miko. She imagined several hypotheses in her head. Ei didn’t imagine saying these words would be so difficult.
“What are you doing?” Ei decided to ask, looking at the book.
The kitsune gave a proud smile.
“I remember all the plays of the Blossoming Spring troupe. I’m thinking of publishing them, so others can perform them”.
“That’s a great idea, Miko”.
“I know, I know. It’s not the same thing, but we can watch the new plays together. You promised you wouldn’t sleep, right?”
“Yes. I promised”.
Ei smiled and picked up the book and started flipping through it. She recognized the story of the samurai and their sword. Yet, the final was different. When the two swords merged together, becoming a single blade again; the new sword was a powerful and beautiful blade. A new sword full of life and happiness.
“Miko… you changed the ending”.
“Yes. You don't like sad endings. I wanted to do something you would like”.
The god blushed. Miko did it for her, to make her happy.
“You are a talented writer, Miko”.
“Well, you should thank Shuichi too. After all, he is the real author”.
“Hiro”.
“Huh?”
“Hiro was the author. Shuichi was the painter”.
“Oh. Yes, yes. Whatever”.
Ei smiled and scratched the fox’s fluffy ears. The kitsune leaned in, resting her head on the god’s shoulder. They stayed that way for a while, without exchanging words, ignoring the fried tofu and the book. It was a moment of peace, happiness and love. It was a perfect moment.
“Miko. I love you”. Ei kissed the top of the kitsune’s head.
The happiness, the peace and the love were not broken by these words.
Miko opened her eyes and lifted her head, looking at Ei. Tenderly, she cupped the god’s face in both hands.
“I love you too, Ei. I always loved you. I have loved you since the first time I saw you”.
“Let's stay together forever”. The kagemusha hugged her familiar.
“Yes, Ei. Let’s stay together forever”.