[The End of Osamu Ashikaga]: The Dark Dawn

The warm light of the sun flooded in through the skylight of Heaven’s court. The pristine, white robes and golden jewelry of the seated gods shined like glittering stars in the light. Thousands of gods and goddesses stared down upon the raised dais below, knowing that Amaterasu would be standing there in just a few more minutes.

Whispers and chatter echoed through the court, the sea of conversations all muddied into a maddening, white noise. The one thing each of those conversations had in common were the names they mentioned; the names of Inari, Osamu, and Taeko.

The brown, leather seats of several high-ranking gods remained vacant. Most notably, Uzume, Amaterasu’s most trusted advisor, wasn’t there.

“How odd,” a veiled goddess remarked. “I wonder where Lady Uzume is. It’s not like her to be late.”

An older goddess sitting next to her leaned in, her lips red with cherry-scented lipstick. “I just heard someone say she’s late because of some sort of commotion outside. Something about uninvited guests.”

“Uninvited guests?” the first goddess repeated. “Wasn’t every god supposed to show up today?”

“Exactly,” the older goddess replied. “Izanami and Lady Tsukiakari haven’t shown up yet either. What do you think that says about the intruders?”

Amatsu, god of stars, leaned in on the conversation. A black cloak hid his face in shadow, but his yellow eyes shined like miniature suns through the veil. “I’ll go and see how she’s getting along. You two ought to pay attention. Lady Amaterasu will be on soon.”

The older goddess chuckled as Amatsu got up from his seat. “Don’t do anything unbecoming, darling.”

Uzume stood at the massive, white doors to Heaven’s palace, her eyes soaked in tears. Yoko bowed before Uzume, her forehead and hands pressed against the cold, cobblestone floor. Her scarlet hair fell over her tear-soaked face as Izanami and Tsukiakari got on their knees and performed the very same, humiliating bow.

“Please…” Yoko wept. “We’ll give you whatever you want. Just don’t kill Osamu. We’re begging you.”

“Yoko…” Uzume sighed, on the verge of tears.

Amatsu stepped through door, startling Uzume. Amatsu had the physique of a castle wall, standing nearly six feet tall. He crossed his arms as he noticed Yoko, Izanami, and Tsukiakari prostrating themselves before Uzume, his muscles nearly tearing the seams of his white robes. The belt of red prayer beads tied around his waist clacked together as he descended the steps and stood at Uzume’s side.

Yoko lifted her head and saw the massive god towering above her, his glowing, yellow eyes glaring down on her. Yoko reached her hand out from her black cloak, attempting to take hold of Amatsu’s foot. He reeled his foot back and swiftly kicked Yoko in the face. Tsukiakari immediately caught Yoko in her arms as the kick knocked her back.

“Yoko!” Izanami screamed, rushing to hold Yoko’s nose as blood poured from her nostrils.

“That was uncalled for, Amatsu!” Uzume scolded.

Amatsu scoffed. “She and her husband deserve far worse. As I recall, your deal with the Divine Court allowed Osamu to live another seven years after the birth of his children. Well, as per that deal, his time is just about up. Don’t tell me you three intend to dishonor your own agreement.”

“Considering the circumstances, we believe Osamu should be shown mercy.” Tsukiakari pleaded. “He was trapped in that airport. He had no choice but to fight. He didn’t have any choice in getting Inari’s powers.”

“You’re lucky you’re even allowed to be here, Tsukiakari.” Amatsu hissed. “It just flows in the family, doesn’t it? You, your grandmother, even your husband, you’re all criminals. Lady Uzume, we’re starting soon. We should get going.”

Uzume knelt down and handed Yoko a handkerchief for her bleeding nose. Her pursed lips and sunken brows gave Yoko her answer.

“I’m sorry. I truly am.” Uzume said. “There’s nothing I can do for him. I’m so sorry.”

Uzume stood and walked away with Amatsu. She shut the doors to the palace, leaving Yoko, Izanami, and Tsukiakari on the ground.

“No! No!” Yoko cried. “Please! Don’t do this!”

Yoko’s heart shattered into pieces. She did all she humanly could to protect Osamu, and it meant absolutely nothing to the gods. Now helpless to stop Osamu’s impending demise, all she could do was scream into Tsukiakari’s arms.

“There’s no avoiding it now.” Tsukiakari said, stroking Yoko’s hair. “They’re going to try and kill him.”

“We can’t just give him up. I’m sure they know that.” Izanami added, wiping tears of frustration from her eyes.”

Tsukiakari shut her eyes. “Damn it…If Taeko has some plan, I really wish she’d tell us what it is already.”

“I’m sorry, guys…” Yoko wept.

Tsukiakari kissed Yoko’s forehead and stood up with her. “It’s not your fault. We did everything we could.”

Izanami grabbed both Yoko and Tsukiakari by their shoulders, leading them away from the palace. “I think it’s fair to say we have no place here. Let’s go back home for now. We need to prepare for what comes next.”

The girls heard the thunderous applause of the gods bellow from inside the palace. With most of her subjects in attendance, Amaterasu had taken the stage. Each and every god in the auditorium stood and showered their queen with applause, applause that meant less than nothing to her. 

Ever since the Inari Standoff, it became clear to her that most of the gods were like sharks, ready to pounce at the first sign of blood. She looked out at the crowd of gods seated in the wings and on the floor, knowing full well that not everyone there was her ally.

Amaterasu waved her hand, and the room fell silent. The gods took their seats, their eyes glued to the queen of Heaven. The whole room held its breath and waited for Amaterasu to speak. Each second of quietude was agony.

“Seven years it’s been…” Amaterasu began. “Seven years ago, countless lives were cut short and a dreadful power ended up in the wrong hands. For seven years, many of you have held onto your anger. You swallowed tears of blood so this pantheon could peacefully navigate through that harrowing crisis. As such, it should be no surprise that the result of the Ashikaga Referendum is overwhelmingly in favor of executing Inari’s chief accomplice, Osamu Ashikaga.

“As your Queen, it’s my duty to recognize and act on this result, regardless of my personal feelings on the matter. And so, as you all wish, Heaven will move to arrest and execute Osamu Ashikaga in three days.”

The auditorium exploded with applause and whistles. Amaterasu cradled her left hand in the palm of her right, her fingers shaking uncontrollably. “I don’t do this out of hatred. I love that boy with all my heart, but even I cannot ignore the danger that our nation is in. The power to control the will of mankind cannot rest in a mortal’s hands. My love for my nation eclipses my love for Osamu, who has all but betrayed this pantheon.

 "As long as Inari’s blood flows through his veins, as long her heart beats inside his chest, the world will teeter on the razor-thin edge of destruction. After seven long years, it’s time to put an end to it. Osamu Ashikaga, mass murderer and traitor to the Shinto pantheon, shall meet his end.”

All of Heaven clapped for the death of Osamu. Nearly every god in attendance stood and gave Amaterasu a standing ovation. Uzume was the only one who remained seated. She looked around at all the smiling faces, the pairs of hands clapping together, and a chill shot down her spine. She turned her gaze to Amaterasu, noticing that all of the color and warmth had left her skin. 

Forced to smile, wave, and endure, Amaterasu had gone pale. In her entire career as the queen of Heaven, that one moment was the first time she had ever felt terrified of her own subjects. Their bloodlust made the blood in Amaterasu’s veins grow cold. With the Ashikaga Referendum passed, there was nothing anyone could do. No one could stop it now.

No one understood that more than Osamu himself. He stood in the master bathroom in his Kyoto home, staring at his reflection in the mirror. His hair was tied back into a messy bun as he stood shirtless, his upper body peppered with scar tissue from the wounds he suffered during the Inari Standoff. Dark circles surrounded his eyes, and the knuckles on his right fist were covered in scabs.

“It’s almost time…” Osamu growled, Inari’s heart thumping inside his chest. “I’m sorry, girls. I don’t know how many of you are going to survive what comes next.”

“…Survive what?”

Osamu raised his head and saw Amatsuki standing behind him in mirror. Her silver hair was tied into a top bun, with a few stray strands fluttering over hair. The open window in the master bedroom let in a cool breeze that danced through the frills of her blue sundress. Her eyes were wide open and her brows shot to the top of her head as she watched Osamu.

“Osamu…” Amatsuki began. “If you and Taeko have a plan, you need to tell us what it is. You can’t just keep us in the dark like this.”

“I’ve already told you.” Osamu said in an annoyed tone. “I can’t do that. You need to trust us.”

“Osamu, what is it you think we won’t survive? What are you pulling us into?”

Osamu’s silence terrified Amatsuki. She had known Taeko long enough to figure out that if her plan required Osamu’s silence, it was the most dangerous plan she had ever cooked up. Amatsuki could feel it in her bones. Taeko was gambling with all of their lives this time.

“The kids will be home soon. I’ll get dinner cooked up for them.” Amatsuki said.
“When the other girls get back, tell them to stop packing.” Osamu said.

“Why? You do understand Heaven is coming after you, right?”

“Staying right here is our safest option. If they see we’re trying to make a run for it, they’ll kill us tonight.”

“Osamu…”

“Do as I say, Amatsuki!” Osamu screamed.

Amatsuki bowed her head, her voice cracking as she broke down into tears. “Okay…”

Osamu sighed as Amatsuki left the room, putting his right hand over his racing heart. “Inari…something terrible is about to happen. Stay with me, okay?”

He closed his eyes, remembering his last meeting with Taeko just three months prior. They had met at the abandoned bowling alley in the late afternoon, the sun pouring through the row of colored windows behind the seats. Osamu thought it was odd, as they usually invited Shinju to these meetings. However, Taeko specifically requested that Osamu come alone.

After tossing a dusty bowling ball down one of the lanes, Taeko took Cyanide’s lighter out of the pocket of her black, leather jacket. She cupped her hands as she lit the cigarette pressed between her rosy lips. Her unbound, black hair covered half of her face. Osamu stood next to her, his hands in the pockets of his white jeans.

“Seems you’re a popular man, Osamu.” Taeko said. “Women want to marry you, men want to be you, and gods want to kill you. Amaterasu has issued a referendum on what to do with your life. She’s trying all she can to turn this around, but we both know what’s going to happen. The time has finally come.”

“Wait, how did you find out about this, Taeko?”

“Oh? Did you already know about the referendum?”

“No, it’s news to me. It’s just…I would’ve expected to hear it from Izanami or Tsukiakari first. They’re still part of the pantheon.”

“To be perfectly honest, this information comes from an anonymous source.”

“Anonymous? Are you sure you can trust them?”

“Yes, we can. Well, we can trust their information is good.”

Osamu pointed to the lit cigarette between Taeko’s lips. “He’d be disappointed in you, you know?”

Taeko smiled and nodded. “Well, I’ll ask for his forgiveness later. If everything goes the way I think it will, I’ll be doing far worse things than this.”

Osamu snatched the cigarette and took a puff for himself, turning his head the other way as he blew the smoke from his mouth. “There. Partners in crime.”

Osamu handed the cigarette back to Taeko, who closed her eyes and took in another puff of smoke.

“There’s something I’ll need to do around the time your referendum gets voted on.” Taeko said. “I’ll be meeting with my source and clearing some things up with them. I won’t be gone long. In the meantime, there’s something you need to know. I know who your executioners will be.”

“…Why do you say that like I really don’t want to know who it is?”

“Because you don’t.”

“But I need to know, don’t I?”

Taeko nodded. “ Yeah, but I’ll need your word first.”

“My word?”

“You cannot say a word about any of this to your wives. Do you understand? I’ll tell you who your executioners are, as well as the plan for the next few months. In order for any of this to work, you have to follow my instructions. You’ll be keeping secrets from your family, and I’ll be keeping secrets from Shinju. Partners in crime, right?”

Osamu nodded and locked eyes with Taeko. “Tell me.”

Bringing himself back to the present, Osamu opened his eyes and looked into his reflection in the mirror. Even he could see he hadn’t been the same since the fateful meeting. Osamu learned much more than he could humanly handle, and the identity of his executioner was only the beginning. Osamu had the weight of the whole world on his shoulders, and the only other person on the planet who knew it was Taeko.

While Osamu prepared himself for a dangerous situation, Taeko found herself at Lake Como in Italy, of all places. As she promised, she was meeting her source at a lavish villa on top of a hill, overlooking the lake. She was led to the black iron gates at the entrance by none other than Anne, the exorcist that managed to mortally wound Inari during the standoff.

Two men in plain clothes parted the gate, allowing Taeko and Anne onto the property. Taeko was blown away by the size and splendor of the villa. A cobblestone path led her to the round parking area, with a circular, miniature rose garden placed in the middle. Palm trees towered far above her head, their green leaves dazzling in the orange sunlight and swaying in the cool breeze.

 Rolling patches of fresh-cut grass surrounded the property in a sea of vibrant green, and statues of child angels decorated the rose gardens tucked away to the sides. The villa itself was an off-white, like the color of sand. From what she could tell, it was a four-story villa with a terrace on the roof, perfect for sunbathing.

Anne opened the front door to the villa, guiding Taeko through the antechamber and into the living room, their footsteps echoing all around them thanks to the sky-high ceilings and wide open space. 

The sunlight pouring in through the tall windows shined against the checkered, marble floor, which reflected the blue hue of the clear sky outside. The walls and doors were the color of sand as well. Even though she was inside the villa, Taeko felt as though she was standing on the beach.

Anne led Taeko to an opened balcony door, gesturing her hand towards it. “She’s sitting out here.”

“Thank you.” Taeko said, stepping outside to the balcony. She was immediately met with a wonderful lakeside view, the breeze cooling off her sun-kissed face.

“How did you find out where I was?”

Taeko looked to her right, seeing Manami sit at her coffee table with a cup of iced tea in her hand. She wore a white bathrobe, but was naked underneath it. Her right hand and left leg were nothing but stubs, the limbs blown off in the explosion at Skyline hotel seven years ago. Her abdomen and neck were covered in swollen scar tissue, and she wore a black eyepatch over her right eye socket. Taeko sighed and took a seat next to her.

“You invited me here, Manami.” Taeko answered.

Manami’s expression lightened up. “Ah, that’s right. I did. I was probably messed up from the painkillers when I did that. Well, no matter, you’re here now.”

“I never would’ve thought you’d be hiding out here. I’m thinking I should get myself a villa on Lake Como too.”

“Yes, well, I find that places like these are only a joy to live in when you’re waiting to die. My advice; wait until after the war.”

Taeko smiled, not out of happiness, but out of anger. “What was it all for, Manami? I want to hear it from you.”

Manami put down her tea cup and leaned back in her chair, locking eyes with Taeko. “Lucrezia was your number-one fan, Taeko. She studied your life and the Senkumo clan religiously. She shared your beliefs, your politics, and your philosophy. So when she learned of Inari’s power, she was frightened, to say the least. 

"As young as she was, Lucrezia understood that if her pantheon were to try and capture Inari, it meant they had every intent to use that power, not destroy it. To her, that was a betrayal of your philosophy. I mean, it sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it? Imagine if your own government could control your thoughts and actions whenever it wanted.”

“For the record, I agree with Lucrezia. The pantheon betrayed the Soldier’s Condition.” Taeko said. “But if this was your plan from the start…”

“Your plan was to sneak Inari out from under their noses, just like you did with Kagutsuchi.” Manami interrupted. “But that wouldn’t really have solved anything. If it were that simple, I would’ve just handed Inari some teleportation coins and called it a day. 

"You were naive because Inari was your friend. Now you realize that Lucrezia was right all along. The fact that the Inari Standoff even happened is proof that the Shinto pantheon is beyond saving. That’s right. Lucrezia’s plan was to start the Third Great Holy War. Think of it as a massive reset, an attempt to get things back to normal.”

“You did all of that to force my hand, so that grabbing Inari and escaping wasn’t an option. You pushed us all to start a war that you’re not even sure we’ll survive.”

“You honestly think the pantheon was going to kill Osamu alone? Please, you’re smarter than that, Taeko. With that power in their hands, they can easily kill you, Tsukiakari, anyone they want. They could even force Izanami to tell them how to kill her if they really wanted. You and all of your friends would end up dead and you’d be helpless to stop it. With this war, you’ve got a fighting chance. You should be thanking Lucrezia.”

“Thank her for what? Cyanide, Inari, and Black Maria are all dead.”

Manami tucked in her lips. “…Right, I heard about that. I’m sorry.”

Taeko took out Cyanide’s lighter and a pack of cigarettes, sticking one between her lips.

“Lucky Cigs. His favorite.” Manami said. “I’ll have one too.”

Taeko handed Manami a cigarette and lit it for her before lighting her own. She put the lighter down on the table and leaned back in her seat, releasing a heavy, exhausted sigh.

“Was it quick, at least?” Manami asked.

“It was a firing squad. If they were good shots, it was quick enough.” Taeko answered. “I wouldn’t know. The Divine Court approved my deal right before I was about to get shot.”

“I know I put you through a lot of grief, Taeko. I really am sorry. I had a job to do and I needed to get it done, no matter what.”

“So, Anne and the other exorcists here…”

Manami nodded as she blew smoke from her lips. “Lucrezia’s devotees. We all linked up in the six months between Inari’s sighting and the standoff. They agree that a war is the only way to fix this mess.”

“So that’s how you escaped exorcist custody. Coming here was pretty clever, then. They’ve got no authority to come to Italy.” Taeko said.

“That is, unless the Italian government or exorcist program extradite me.”

“Right. So you’re not exactly a free woman.”

“All of us are gambling our lives on this, Taeko. Me, you, Osamu, everyone. I left it to you because I believe that between the both of us, you can actually succeed.”

“Why me?”

“Why not you? You’re Taeko Akiyama. I mean, you’ve lived an even more extraordinary life than Osamu. You created a new nation, you fought countless battles, you traveled time. You’ve bested every single one of your foes and survived every trap ever laid out for you. The gods themselves had you facing a firing squad and you still managed to turn the tables on them. You’ve done it all like it was your destiny. I can’t inherit Lucrezia’s will. Only you can.”

“The last thing I wanted was to fight another war.”

“The last war you fought was hundreds of years ago, Taeko.”

“Not to me. Gekko lived through all those years, but I was taken from one era to the next. To me, the Warring States era wasn’t that long ago.”

“…To be fair, I never wanted the pantheon to hunt down Inari. But they did.”

Taeko stood from her seat and leaned over the stone railing, looking out into the shimmering lake. “No one got what they wanted out of that standoff.”

“Regardless, it’s all in the past. Now that the referendum’s been passed, isn’t it more sensible to think about what to do next?”

“I used the vampires, just like Lucrezia wanted. Carmilla’s already assembled the Yakutsk Council.”

“Good. You’ll need their aid if you have any hope of building a new nation. And what of Hima?”

“Carmilla’s told Hima all about us, but I have no way to directly contact her myself.”

“I know. That’s where I come in.” Manami said, slapping a teleportation coin down on the table. “Use that. It’ll take you directly to Hima’s castle in Wales. When the time comes, Japan will no longer be safe. Staying with Hima is your best chance of surviving.”

Taeko took the coin and slipped it into her pocket.

“It’s all you from here, Taeko. I’ve done all I can. You, Carmilla, Hima, and Osamu are the only ones who can put an end to all of this.”

“When you did all of this, did you have any idea that Osamu would be the one carrying Inari’s blood and heart?” Taeko asked.

Manami shook her head. “It was supposed to be Inari. It’s just a very cruel twist of fate that it’s him. This isn’t the kind of burden a mortal can handle.”

“He’s…taking it pretty hard. But he’s hanging in there. He’s determined to see this through with me. He’s the bravest man I’ve ever known. If we all survive this, you owe him an apology.”

“Of course.” Manami sighed. “So, what’s your next move?”

“Osamu’s staying put at his place. We’re going to lure out his executioners and try to subdue them. Though, there’s no telling how it’ll go. We’ll have to take it from there.”

“I’ll be here if you need anything. It’s best if we avoid phone calls. Just use the teleportation coin I gave you in the invitation.”

Taeko stood up straight and put her cigarette out with her shoe. She took one final, deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come.

“It’s almost time.” Taeko said. “We’ll see each other on the other side.”

Manami nodded. “Wage the best damn war you can, Taeko. Good luck.”

Taeko walked off, determined to carry out her herculean mission. The breeze died down, the birds stopped chirping, and the air grew thick with anticipation. It was though the whole world understood the magnitude of what Taeko and Osamu were going to do.

The eve of the Third Great Holy War was fast approaching. The world was about to bear witness to the most destructive supernatural conflict in history. Both sides would fight viciously. Both sides would lose everything. Many would not survive.