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Today marks the beginning of Obon (Festival of Dead) in the Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku in Yamato, a Bon-Odori Festival used to memorize the ancestors where Samurai joined the festival dance alongside the peasants and merchants, disgracing themselves with brawling and unseemly behavior- an extravagant show down of Equality and Harmony accompanied by the exuberant, huge and festival street performance of dancers and musicians. And despite of its sarcastically limited duration of 3 successive days only, it is still the most treasured and welcomed moments for grassroots in Motoyama, a city which the influence of the Royalty has long been overshadowed by the power of one of the famous WARLORDS, Uesugi Youta.
“Sora san, I am ready now.” Motoya woke up earlier than he normally does this morning. In fact he couldn’t sleep last night.
”Motoya san, would you like to join the dancing festival with me tomorrow if I invite you?”
Since then he has been switching his [hyper] mode on.
And it turns out to be an insomnia for Motoya, imagining dancing with Sora in a sweet summer festive vibe-fireworks, music and sake.
”Hahaha…. Your mouth! Is watering.” Sora opens the door. His hilarious daydreaming face pops up akin to a jack in the box which makes her laugh.
It is going to be a good day. They share the same feeling.
”But why are you carrying this?”Sora points to the Holy Sword on Motoya’s waist.
”Oh…! You don’t bring your sword with you? Would it be…too dangerous? And unsecured to leave them in this inn….THEY ARE SOOOO PRECIOUS!”
“The most precious thing is called HAPPINESS. Also,”Sora pulls his sword out of his bell and throws into her room and shuts it. “how can you dance with me if you are carrying that with you (samurais are forbidden to carry real swords if they would like to participate in the Odori (Dance).
[Dance with me]- Motoya swallows while Sora is walking downstair alone towards the exit of the inn.
”Wishing you all a good day.” The okami greets them at the reception. Though the glamours of beauty on her face has been masked by a sheer of sorrow and vicissitudes of life, her eyes still are blooming with passions of love and aggression hardly pent-up.
”Thank you for your caring.” Sora bows sincerely. And just before they leave the inn, the Okami gets closer to Sora, giving her a gentle hug and whispers a few words to her. Sora smiles and holds her hand in return. Motoya then also bows and thanks the smiling Okami with no idea at all. In fact his mind is still stuffed by sweet imaginations -[Dance]!
”You seem to know her well…”
”I used to stay in this inn every time WE joined the festival. And I have witnessed her journey of taking over the position from being just a normal shy girl. You can never imagine the difference from how she looks now.”
”……so you used to come with….Haru sama?”
”Yeah~ who else would I accompany?”
Motoya are afraid to drill into details anymore, partly because of the fear of provoking the sentiment of Sora, but mostly due to the anonymous bitter sour feeling of himself.
”Wah! Look at this beautiful dancers!” Until Sora HOLDS HIS HAND and yells joyfully.
Sensation has come back once again.
[Damn! What is going on with you, Okada Motoya? You are supposed to be a samurai! A swordsman and a PARTNER of the great SUCCESSOR SORA! Don’t get confused by these silly hallucinations and concentrate on your training! You idiot!] Motoya shakes his head vigorously to regain his rationality.
”Er? What is going on with you? What makes you nervous suddenly? Anything wrong with you?” Sora is putting her soft hand over his forehead to confirm if he is alright.
”Huh!”Motoya is caught by surprise and bounces back! His face turns even hotter.
“You look really bad….” Sora keeps getting closer and tries to put her hand over his burning face again.
”ARRRRRRR!” Motoya bursts and flees, in light speed.
Sora laughs while looking at his silly act.
Then she starts examining the surroundings:
Dancers are all clean and [real]. Nothing suspiciously set up.
The TARGET has not arrived yet, just as per SHOBI’s information. He should be here around noon time. Let’s find the best spot first.
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”Sora, you have to be careful from now on. If Tenno really wants to get rid of you, he should have given orders to his RINGLEADERS all around Yamato….” Okada Ryuichi expressed his anxiety upon departure of Sora.
”Yet he is still reluctant to announce a warrant, because of the HOSTILE FORCES right?”
”Yes. Though we have no idea whether The WARLORDS has known anything about the secret of the LAST VISION or not. But if they really know, their eagerness to make use of YOU as their ultimate weapon against Tenno or capturing you as bargaining chip for negotiation would be the biggest worry of the Royalty obviously, once your identity gets exposed.”
”I am sorry to have got you and your people involved….I shouldn’t have told you everything.”
”No. As long as Tenno had SET US ALL UP he had expressed his vision clearly to his people: we are all expendable in light of his sole rulership. And we are preparing for the worst already ever since the failure of his last dirty plan…
Ironically, thanks to this biggest threat we have ever faced, now that the Okada and Yoshie clans have jointed force together, the first time ever since the Royalty has positioned us into a countervailing equilibrium. And as long as they cannot estimate how strong this union is, they would not dare to make any damn move against us,” Ryuichi continued,”but Sora Sama, maybe….I mean just maybe it is not a bad idea to make alliance with all these WARLORDS to defend yourself against the Royalty.”
Sora smiled and said,”You know my temperament, Ryuichi Sama. I love Justice and hate those who suppress it, no matter who they are and what motives they have on me…those WARLORDS, I don’t see them being different from our ruler honestly.”
Okada nodded to pay his tribute.
Just when Sora was setting off, Ryuichi stopped by offering her the last information, “One more thing, Sora Sama. This name list was found in the secret chamber of my damn brother (Kentaro). I guess those are the people he used to contact with regarding the last conspiracy. Most of them are anonymous but there is one guy I can remember in YOUR DOJO.”He then passed a note paper half burnt to Sora, hand written with names of candidates involved. Sora recognized one name quickly,
Takigawa Hikariichi, a candidate of an age of 30 under the House of Fire(the same of Haru’s).
”We did try our best to investigate every names on the note. Apart from some being found dead during the failure ambush, most being anonymous that we suspect to belong to the Royalty, this guy,” Ryuichi took a deep breathe and continued, “I believe is someone who managed to escape from Haru’s revenge and is still hiding from us somewhere…..”
”If he is the middle man, he must know the Ringleader in charge, the Shogun who led the Saint Five last time.”
”And hopefully the one who imprisons your mother!”
Sora needs badly to talk to her mother, the Watcher, again so as to discover more about herself, Morgan and maybe the truth behind the tragic fate of Haru. But Sora has never dreamt about her again ever since last time, right before her confrontation with Haru. And there is a feeling inside Sora that her mother is hiding something from her or preventing her from allocating her own location.
Motoya was approaching from the distance. He had finished packing for his long journey.
”in fact, Sora Sama, I admit shamefully that this is one of the reason why I hope Motoya can join you and continue his journey of becoming a real Samurai, a real MAN!” Okada sighed and continued,”What kind of world we are living in…..I feel pity for the people. I think, time has come soon enough for THE CHANGE. And Sora Sama, I can see that IN YOU.”
“…..I see that IN ALL OF US. Ryuichi Sama! Let’s stand for each other when IT COMES!”
Sora and Motoya are dressing akin to any of the dancers on the street. The best camouflage Sora has thought of. They dance and sing and chat with other performers while following the ren (the group composed of dancers and musicians) as they parade down streets and alleys.
Motoya cannot take his eyes away from Sora, who is getting immersed completely in the mood already, swinging her body rhythmically and joyfully with the music.
Sun shines on her body, passing through her odon costume and leaving the enchanting and seducing silhouette faintly visible.
Sora half closes her eyes, trying hard to imagine Haru wiggling like a snake beside her. Sometimes apart sometimes naughtily teasing her by bumping and torching lightly on her body.
Haru’s movement becomes more and more aggressive like the dancing flame baring its fangs and claws vigorously towards her victim.
Not yet! Closer! Come closer to me!
The Visual via Sora’s imagination becomes clearer and clearer.
Haru, we shouldn’t let fate to come between us. Talk to me my friend!
The background transforms into a burning village. Sora witnesses the scene once again: Mornga, a succubus in her reddish armor, is battling Haru. Haru kills her and picks up her sword. Then she turns to face Sora, with Mornga’s Oni mask on her face!
Motoya is captivated by Sora’s beauty. His heart beats too fast that he almost stops breathing anymore. Yet he still barely notices a glimpse of sadness and traces of tears in her half closed eyes.
Suddenly they turn CRIMSON, as thrilling as bleeding blood and burning eyes of a salamander!
“Arrrr!”Motoya is almost scared to death. But still he manages to take on his mettle to hold her shoulders and yells, “Get out of her! You demon! YOU ARE DEAD ALREADY! Leave her alone!”
Sora gradually opens her eyes. They are shimmering and clear, as shiny and clear as water droplets under sunlight, and as peaceful and calm as the water surface of the Chichibugahama (Mirror of the Heaven, Shikoku).
”I am fine. Motoya kun. It is okie now.” Sora smiles and speaks softly.
Motoya’s hands are shaky but he refused to take them off from her. Instead, he wants to use them to hold her tight, from the bottom of his heart.
“They are coming….”
”Wh….what? Who?”
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