Flesh and Blood

Three days…

Ichiji’s eyes drifted to Sumida. In three days, he would be separated from his daughter. The words of the drunk samurai made a lot more sense now.

He sat across from Shinzo, the leader of the Resistance. A blue flame lay on a branch between them.

The Rose Tree. Its wood was known to give off a special blue flame when burnt.

One that didn’t actually burn or get hot. Perfect for a cave.

The light of the flame cast the space in an somber blue light, somehow making the news hit harder. Shinzo leaned closer to the flame, his gruff voice somewhat irritating Ichiji’s ears as he continued to talk.

“Since the Mori Clan came here late last year, he has organised Tributes as a way of punishment for the people of Tengoku District. The Tributes are sporadic, the chosen families are expected to give a young family member of their choosing over to the Mori Clan.”

“What does he use them for?” Ichiji asked. “It’s said that he and Omake have their personal harems they add some of the women to. Others can serve as slaves. The men are mainly put through brutal training. Then you also have the supposed human experiments that we suspect are causing the Rot. Many, both male and female, do not survive.”

Ichiji’s heartbeat quickened as he heard this. He had been sheltered for most of his life. Yet, the only memories he had not in the Temple were usually of bad people or events. Akagi and Takeda Shingen. Now Mori Terumoto. All humans, flesh and blood. Like him.

How could humans show such evil? Was this how it was everywhere in Nippon?Was the country even worth saving? Were the gods right in their abandonment?

Shinzo’s voice interrupted Ichiji’s reverie. “So, what do you think?”

“You said there’s a celebration soon, right? 11 days, if I remember correctly. What’s the significance? Maybe there are clues we can gain from this,” Ichiji asked, his voice restrained due to his recent thoughts.

“Apparently, it’s to commemorate the partnership of Mori and Omake. It’s going to be very lavish, as you can expect,” Shinzo said.

Ichiji put his chin to his hand, deep in thought. After about 10 seconds, he spoke out. “What about the manpower situation? How bad is the Resistance’s disadvantage in numbers?”

Ichiji already knew that the Resistance couldn’t compete with the Mori forces in any reasonable way. If they could, they wouldn’t need to hide in such a remote location.

Not only were Mori’s own forces strong and well-trained, he also had the advantage of all the people he had taken from the villages.

If they had the same lifeless outlook on their situation, what would stop them from fighting on the side of Mori if a final, full-scale war was placed on the cards?

Sure, they were being killed and mistreated. But they were being better fed than those outside and had better shelter. Those things could change any man.

“It’s pretty bad. We’ve travelled the entire district. The men don’t want anything to do with the resistance. They won’t tell Mori about our plans, but that’s as far as they’ll go. Even if their bodies are fine, it’s their spirit that’s dead. Look around you. This is all the Resistance has,” Shinzo answered.

Ichiji looked around. If he were to give a rough estimate, the men around him barely numbered up to a 100. The Mori forces would easily number 1000.

“So we have four major problems. One, manpower. Not just numbers, but training and morale. Second, information. Our flow of information has been drying up recently. We suspect that our informant is now being suspected and put under some sort of surveillance. Third, Omake himself. Even if we defeat Mori, Omake is a totally superhuman threat. His sorcery grants him powers not unlike those of the Shamans. Fourth, our shaman. You might already know this, but a shaman helped us to fight the Mori forces before falling in battle to Omake. His whereabouts are unknown, but we suspect that he is sealed in the deepest bowels of the castle,” Shinzo said.

Ichiji cast a worried look at Sumida. These plans they were making would.involve his daughter. Endanger her, even.

But all he saw was a stern look of determination on Sumida’s face. He loved his daughter, but he loved freedom and justice more. In his heart, he had passed the point of no return.

Ichiji turned back towards Shinzo. “Simply boosting recruitment efforts won’t necessarily do anything. You need to touch the men, inspire them. Simply talking won’t do much. We need a display, a big, flashy one. To let them know things aren’t as dire as they seem. As for the information, I honestly believe you should start expecting the worst for your informant. If he is caught and tortured, there’s a chance he will expose you all. The Mori clan can’t find you here. But they have Tengoku natives under them. And they can,” Ichiji said.

“As for Omake himself, my master once told me that Oni have great power, but are usually vulnerable to very specific weaknesses. Omake shouldn’t be an exception. If we can find his weakness and I get back to peak condition, there’s a good chance I’ll win. But this depends on information. Same thing with freeing your shaman. We need another person on the inside. Someone more closely tied to us, as well as a display that will rile the men of the district, bringing them to our side.”

At the mention of another informant, all eyes subconsciously turned to Sumida.

He looked back at those looking at him and nodded his head. He didn’t need words to understand what was being said.

“Do you think she’ll agree?” Ichiji asked. “Of course. She loves Tengoku more than anything. Maybe even me,” Sumida chuckled.

Ichiji intended to use Yuki, who would soon be sent as a tribute, to act as a spy for the Resistance.

“But what do you have in mind for the big display you’re referring to?” Shinzo asked, curious. “It’s simple, really. I’ll-”

Upon hearing Ichiji’s plan, everyone in the cave was surprised at the least and completely shocked at the worst. Sumida’s face visibly paled once he heard what Ichiji said.

Shinzo, however broke out a rare smile. “You’re…really something else, aren’t you?”

Ichiji didn’t respond. He just looked at him, smiling in turn.

3 days from now, things would change.

“So that’s the plan. Would you be willing?” Ichiji asked.

Sumida and Ichiji sat in front of Yuki, eagerly waiting for her reaction. Ichiji had just told her the plan and her role in it.

She was surprised by Ichiji’s part of the scheme so far. But there was no doubt in her mind about being an informant for the Resistance.

“I’ll do it. I’m still not sure about your role. But I’ll do whatever I can to help,” she said.

As expected. Ichiji nodded, smiling. “Don’t worry. Just leave that part to me.”

She nodded in response. Ichiji stood up from the floor, stretching himself as he did so. “Sir, I’m going to leave to the coast to do some meditation. I’ll be back as soon as the sun starts to set,” he said.

“Alright. Be careful,” Sumida replied.

Ichiji left the house, taking the path he and Sumida previously walked. He walked through the village and the forest shortcut, reaching the coast he and Sumida had previously stopped at.

The glistening waters and the soft push and pull of the waves against the sand helped to calm Ichiji as he sat down on the sand. His breaths slowed and his eyelids closed as he began to enter a deep meditative state.

The world recessed from his mind as he focused intensely. Deep within himself, the familiar orb of pure energy that was his soul shone bright. The two streams of Musuhi: one golden and one silver, streamed out like snakes from his soul.

“I know you’re there,” Ichiji suddenly spoke out.

A startled yelp followed by a fall was soon heard. Ichiji stood up, leaving his trancelike state while laughing.

He looked behind him to find Yuki, evidently trying to spy on him.

“I chose this spot specifically because people don’t come here. Is there a reason you wanted to spy on me?” he asked as he helped her up.

“I was just curious. How monks meditate. When did you know I was behind you?” Yuki asked, standing up with slight difficulty.

“From the beginning,” Ichiji replied truthfully. “How? How is that even possible?” Yuki asked, shocked. 

“Come. Let me show you.”

The two of them walked back to the sands. Ichiji sat down, patting the sand next to him.

After she sat down, he asked her a question.

“Do you know the creation story? How this world came to be?” Yuki sat in thought for about 10 seconds before asking Ichiji a question in turn.

“Just Nippon? Or everything.” “Everything,” he answered.

“It was all a shapeless mass, right? Of energy. Then the lighter particles floated up and formed Heaven, while the heavier particles congregated downwards and formed Earth,” she answered.

Ichiji nodded. “You are correct. And what does that story teach us about the.world as we see it?” he asked.

“That everything came from the same source,” she answered.

“Yes. Everything, the skies, the sand beneath our feet, these boats in front of us, the forests, the seas and oceans. Even the Kami and their realm. Everything came from the same source. And it’s all tied together, even now,” Ichiji said.

“How?” Yuki asked.

 “The energy of binding that exists throughout the universe. Musuhi. Everything, living and non-living, is bound to each other by Musuhi,”

Ichiji said. “That’s how I was able to detect you, by sensing the flow of Musuhi between us.”

Yuki pondered for some time, her chin sat in her hands. “Is that how Shamanism works?” she asked, after a long think.

Ichiji chuckled. “You’re sharp. That’s exactly how Shamanism works. The Kami are living beings too. Musuhi also binds us to them. But those with a stronger flow of Musuhi can call upon their powers, manifesting them in this physical world. That’s Shamanism."

Yuki nodded, finally feeling like she understood. She suddenly turned towards Ichiji, asking another question.

“But if that’s the case, then why can’t you channel?”

Ichiji smiled as he reached his right hand out to his left arm. “Well, it’s because of this,” Ichiji answered, holding his amputated left arm.

“There are two types of Musuhi. One that ties you to spiritual things, Kin Musuhi and one that ties you to physical things, Gin Musuhi. Shamans have a stronger flow and amount of Kin Musuhi. But humans were not originally meant to tap into the power of gods, lest we lose control and become corrupted by power. So we use the Gin Musuhi in conjunction with Kin Musuhi to channel and keep ourselves grounded in the physical world.

“This is done through the use of Seals, unique hand signs making use of pressure points along the hands. The Kin and Gin Musuhi meet and flow together on these pressure points, allowing us to channel together. If they were to meet at any other place in the body, it would cause disruption and injuries, even death in prolonged cases,” Ichiji said.

“So you’re trying to do it with one hand? How are you sure that’s possible?” Yuki asked, her curiosity bubbling.

“Because, the person who took this arm did the exact same thing. And we’re the same, as much as I hate to say it.”

“Will-will you be able to learn it in time? One-handed channeling.”

 “I have to. Our survival depends on it.”