Wasau Shunabi was scared. It was a long time since the old monk had felt so. Not scared of the yakuza lord - he was a rational man and could be understood and dealt with. Their alliance went way back. He always knew that one day he would have to do the man a favor. But this... this seemed like a favor he was not up to. The two children, turning to the head of Dojyu's underworld with no-one else to go to - and he, in turn, to the one he knew possessed some sort of knowledge of the oni and their ways.
- "This is grave indeed," Shunabi said. "When meditating I have felt disturbances in the balance... but I could not fathom that someone from Ningen-do would deliberately cause them. If Kusatte Iru could be killed before his carnage awakens the First Oni, the plan might fail... but we are running against time. I fear that the time the prophecies refer to is nigh. A great evil unfolding, threatening all the empires, all life."
- "Most honored Shunabi-san," the crime lord asked, "what else do the prophecies say?"
- "Of the outcome of this great evil they say nothing. For it is not for mortals to know their ultimate fate. But the gaijin you mentioned - he is mentioned in the prophecies."
- "But won't Kusatte Iru kill him, sensei?" Yukemori asked. He had studied martial arts in this very temple.
- "Most likely. But Kusatte Iru has no more mind than an enraged animal. Let me study the prophecy, young ones. Make yourselves comfortable. Have some tea."
With that, he left to study the scrolls, and the others were left dumbfounded in the audience chamber.
- "Tea!" Mei burst. "The Empire and all life is in mortal danger as we speak and he wants us to have tea!"
The oyabun smiled obliquely and sat next to the low table.
- "Patience, young Mei," he said, "is a virtue you would do well to learn. Information, and applying it into a form of a plan, is the only way we can do our duty now. How would you fight the most horrid spawn of the First Oni? Your ninja-to and poison needles would be of little help. We need to know what the beast's vulnerability is. And prophecies may give us clues about where to look for help."
Mei bit her lip and also sat.
- "I stand corrected by your wisdom, oyabun-sama," she said grudgingly.
After an indeterminate while Shunabi came back and sat next to the tense visitors of his.
- "The prophecy states that the gaijin will arrive at the temple of High Noon, riding a T'ien Lung dragon, if he will prevail. Evil forces will do their best to prevent him."
- "And what is this gaijin's role in all this?" the oyabun wanted to know.
- "As always, the way of prophecies is vague. But he is a bushi of supernatural power. He has risen from Jigoku to live again, and seeks to redeem himself from the evil of his past. Perhaps he can fight Kusatte Iru. A special weapon is needed to harm the beast - forged by finest steel, blessed with most powerful magics, coated with jade. But no mortal man can stand long against the beast. Even the most wonderful artifacts on the Red Earth can only wound, but not kill it."
Mei winced.
- "These weapons? Are there any?" she asked.
- "The shogun has one... and the emperor has another."
- "I am sure the sword is guarded," Mei said, "so Giro has not stolen or destroyed it. But he may have somehow altered it, taken its power away. We must get the one from shogun. I know he wouldn't let Giro or anyone else near it. Are these the only ones in existence?"
- "As far as I know, yes," the monk replied gravely.
- "I will steal it if necessary," Mei said.
- "From the shogun's house? You are crazy!" Yukemori said.
- "It is our only choice, unless this gaijin... what was that!"
A majestic glide of mighty wings could be heard from above. The four people rushed out of the compound just as a massive shadow passed them. After that there was a blinding glint as a magnificent celestial dragon, it's scales reflecting the sunlight, landed toward the temple of High Noon. No words were necessary. Mei and Yukemori rushed toward the temple, bumping into gaping people, and the older men followed behind.
