The biting winter weather not only curbed the activity of humans and yokai alike but seemed to infect the gods with a simmering laziness as well. Facing the plummeting temperatures, Miketsu, who usually bustled back and forth between Choyo-machi and Heian-kyo, significantly reduced her excursions. She huddled under her blankets almost every day, only dragging herself out of bed like she was facing a formidable enemy once Tsuruha came to call.
As a goddess, Miketsu did not suffer from colds or illnesses, but she was nonetheless sensitive to the chill. During this winter, her favorite pastime was staying within the small building of the divine realm, burrowing into her self-made kotatsu. There, she would hold her fox, stroking its fur while snacking on beans and sipping tea for warmth. The past few months had been devoid of major crises, allowing her to lead a rather leisurely existence.
Following the Fujiwara curse incident, Asakura Hao had secured the rank of Junior Secretary within the Onmyoryo, along with an imperial court appointment that was prestigious in name but devoid of actual duties or power. Although this position technically granted Miketsu the right to enter the palace and audience the Tenno, she found it a tedious chore and hadn't gone even once. Compared to these hollow titles, she valued the accompanying estate in Heian-kyo far more. After acquiring this property for free, Miketsu didn't move in; instead, she left servants there to maintain the grounds, setting it aside for future use once the situation warranted.
Of course, Miketsu hadn't been entirely idle recently. Having attained the Junior Secretary rank, she gained access to a wider array of spells and texts and could even borrow books directly. Consequently, she often spent her time by the kotatsu, flipping through ancient scrolls and Buddhist sutras, continuously digesting and absorbing new knowledge.
Beyond that, she had initiated an investigation into another matter: the mastermind behind the incidents at Sugo Unten and the Fujiwara curse. That mysterious figure who claimed to be a 'messenger of the gods'—an enigmatic ancient samurai—clearly had undisclosed motives concerning Heian-kyo. Both of his appearances seemed aimed at the Four Symbols Corresponding Grand Array that protected the capital. He could not be ignored. Thus, using the clues previously mentioned by Seimei, Miketsu began a paper-based investigation into the Minamoto clan and even the Imperial family. She gathered their public genealogies from various sources, hoping to use them as a foundation to identify the samurai, understand his history, and judge his true objectives.
Due to her ability to borrow books, Miketsu's frequency of visiting the Onmyoryo in Heian-kyo decreased, yet her trips to the demon realm did not dwindle. On one hand, good food was a basic necessity; on the other, she needed to regularly inspect the yokai collective to ensure everything didn't fall entirely on the shoulders of Konkiku and Nura Rihyon.
Miketsu's yokai band had stabilized after its period of rapid expansion. After some reorganization and the establishment of basic rules, they had entered a more formal routine. Their base had moved into the Ancient Hata Residence, utilizing Menreiki's Secret Realm for concealment, making it even more difficult for those wishing to pry into the secrets of the 'Owl' to succeed.
Inside the spacious great hall of the Hata residence, a charcoal fire blazed in the central hearth, warming the entire building. Above it, a wild boar was being roasted, its skin crackling and golden brown. Rows of yokai sat on either side of the hall, drinking wine and eating meat while chattering loudly, occasionally erupting into boisterous laughter. Nura Rihyon and the tanuki Tamamura were huddled together over a drinking game, surrounded by a crowd of cheering yokai. Cat shopkeepers acting as servers darted busily between the guests, serving dishes to the crowd.
As usual, Miketsu attended the banquet in the persona of the Owl. Seated at the head of the table, she held her wine bowl, watching the rowdy scene below with a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Her gaze shifted to Menreiki, who was seated beside her behind a table. Currently, Menreiki had traded her usual indifference for a rigid, formal posture, her expression carrying a clear hint of awkwardness.
"How is it?" Miketsu spoke in a low voice to Menreiki. "How does it feel to be among so many others?"
"Um... so many companions... everyone is so happy and energetic," Menreiki answered meekly. "I don't hate the feeling, but... I'm still not quite used to it." As she spoke, she unconsciously edged a couple of inches closer to Miketsu, seeking the proximity of someone familiar in this environment. Since Menreiki was Miketsu’s shikigami, Miketsu had candidly revealed her various identities to her; thus, the mask-maiden knew who the Owl truly was.
Although the current Menreiki had accepted her past and was no longer a child who knew only how to flee, her basic nature remained that of a sheltered young lady who hadn't interacted with outsiders for nearly a century. She had a strong reclusive tendency. Even after Nura Rihyon and the others moved in, she stayed in the back courtyard, avoiding them and refusing to speak much to anyone but Miketsu. To help her become more sociable and cheerful, Miketsu made a point of bringing her along whenever the yokai held a banquet.
"You can try taking the initiative to talk to them. Don't worry, even though some of them look fierce, they're all quite easy to get along with," Miketsu said with a hint of a smile.
"I... I think I'll pass. It's enough for me to stay by... Master Owl's side..." Menreiki replied shyly, scooting another two inches closer to Miketsu as she spoke. Seeing this, Miketsu could only shake her head with a resigned sigh.
Though the black, dominant side of Menreiki’s persona was currently in control after the unification of her personality, it didn't mean the white side’s influence had vanished. Menreiki’s excessive dependency had been partially preserved. Now that she had no father or family, and the person of Hata no Kawakatsu essentially had no distinct personality anymore, her focus of dependency had naturally shifted to her contractor, Miketsu. While she tried to restrain herself, she still frequently displayed this reliance, intentionally or otherwise.
Miketsu felt a flicker of concern regarding this. After all, Menreiki did have a history of 'yandere' behavior.
"Don't just stay cooped up here, Miss Menreiki. Come, let me toast you." At that moment, a wine-scented Nura Rihyon appeared beside Miketsu and Menreiki. He held a large wine bowl, grinning as he addressed Menreiki. Back where he had been sitting, the tanuki Tamamura had already collapsed on the floor in a drunken heap; despite always carrying a sake gourd, his actual capacity for alcohol seemed inferior to Nura's.
"Thank you... Um... I'll just have a little."
"Ha! Just a little won't do. Come on, finish the whole thing in one go! Loosen up a bit, Miss Menreiki!" As he spoke, Nura Rihyon stepped closer. Clearly somewhat tipsy, his proximity caused a slight panic in Menreiki, making her cast a pleading look toward Miketsu. Miketsu gave a small sigh in response.
"Nura."
"Ah... Lord Owl, is there something you need?" Nura's gaze shifted from Menreiki to Miketsu, allowing the mask-maiden to breathe a small sigh of relief.
"Has anything noteworthy happened in Heian-kyo lately? Whether in the Human or demon realm?" Miketsu tossed out a random topic just to distract him.
"Recently? Hmm..." Nura Rihyon said as he pondered. "There's not much going on among the yokai; it's been pretty peaceful. However, there seem to be some problems appearing on the human side."
"What kind of problems?"
"Well, according to reports from yokai living in the noble estates, children have been frequently going missing from homes across the capital lately—nobles and commoners alike. They say children suddenly vanish into thin air as soon as their parents turn their backs. It’s very eerie," Nura Rihyon explained, his expression turning serious.
"Infants missing within Heian-kyo... when did this start?" Miketsu’s voice sank. For such things to happen during a time she wasn't visiting the capital as often...
"It started about half a month ago. The Onmyoryo has sent out Onmyoji to take action, but they haven't been able to stop it. However, it's basically been confirmed now that this is the work of a yokai that loves stealing children. The name of this yokai is the Ubume."
"An Ubume... are there Ubume around Heian-kyo?" Miketsu mused for a moment after hearing the name, then continued her questioning.
"No. Ubume aren't native to the Kinki region. Most yokai in Heian-kyo have only ever heard rumors of them; they've never actually seen one..." Nura Rihyon frowned in thought.
"It’s also strange because even the legendary Ubume doesn't usually stay in one place and steal children repeatedly. Yet this one in the capital has been there for over half a month, constantly snatching human infants. Lord Owl, to be honest, I find this entire phenomenon a bit abnormal."
Rate on N.U.
