Overseeing a Strange World
Chapter 4
I know not a lot of people may not be reading this but I intend to keep up with it as best I can. But this and a few of my other stories may be on a bit of a break in the coming 2 weeks. Its midterm season and spring break is coming up so I have other things to do. For this however, we aren't jumping straight to the entrance exam. There something else to do first and there will be a fair bit of drama with this chapter. So on with the show.
(No Pov)
It had been a few months of training when Izuku was told by Adam to pack his things. "We're going on a trip to Kyoto. We'll be gone for about a week." Izuku was just confused and asked why they needed to go there.
Tomoe spoke up next with, "Because you need to get better acquainted with the magic forces of your homeland. You have learned a variety of spells and talismans from the two of us. But you need more than that to help yourself grow as a mage and Overseer." With a smile she pats him on the head and goes over some travel plans for the three of them with Adam. Izuku still has no idea what this is about, but he assumes more of it will make sense when they get there.
Luckily for Izuku, the Overseers had timed this trip with his summer break. So, he only had to worry a bit about his summer homework. Which Adam was currently walking him through on the train trip to Kyoto.
"Luckily, this doesn't seem too hard. We'll finish most of this on the ride down. Then we'll have more time for you to understand a bit more of what we hope you'll learn." Adam says before helping Izuku with some equations. Tomoe on the other hand is just enjoying that she doesn't have to hide herself as much as she used to.
"It feels so nice to have my ears and tails out without getting too many strange looks. Between your style choices and my appearance, people often wondered if we were some sort of…. Well maybe its better not to say it in young company." Tomoe says with a giggle.
Adam on the other hand just facepalms while Izuku is confused at what she is getting at. "You'll understand when you are older kid. Now you're on your own for the Japanese history. Or Tomoe will go over it with you." At that the three continue on to Kyoto in relative peace.
Once they had reached the city, they checked into a hotel near the older parts of the town. Izuku decided to ask the big question on his mind, "So what exactly do we gain by coming to this part and area of town? Sure I sense more magic around here, but that can't be the real reason."
The two Overseers look at each other before Adam confirms his thoughts. "You're right. It is more than just the fact that magic is stronger here. This place is a belief hotspot. Enough of the collective unconscious of humanity here in Japan has created a gap zone."
Izuku remembers them talking about gap zones and spaces. And how they are like pocket dimensions within certain areas, that are strengthened by the belief of even rumors of certain things. Tomoe continues with, "We intend for you to see more of the gap and the beings that live there. Hopefully you can grow to understand some of what we are hoping for while adventuring in there. But you have to be careful."
Tomoe goes on to explain the aspects of spiriting away and similar that some of the creatures of the gap zone may try to do. And Adam finishes her thought by saying that Izuku shouldn't wander too far from them on the first trip in.
They decide to wait till the next day to enter the gap. When the next day comes, the Overseers lead Izuku into an old alley, that may have once been a shopping center or similar hotspot. From here he can see an old temple up the road from them. Adam checks to make sure no one had followed them and creates a small portal to the gap zone. Izuku is just in awe of the strange world he has stepped into once again.
The whole area they entered looked like a city from the Edo period and it was lit up like the town was celebrating a festival. Izuku wanted to look around a bit, but Adam caught him. "Whoa there chico. Bad idea to just wander in these places. Especially if you're human. For now, stay close. We'll get a better lay of the land, so to speak, and just get to know some of the folks around here."
With that the three started exploring the area. Izuku was still in awe of what he was seeing. Adam was keeping an eye out for anyone who may be trouble or could be an informant. Tomoe on the other hand was just eating up the admiration from a few of the yokai of the area. There were many male yokai who were admiring her beauty and the female yokai were either jealous or enamored by her. She hadn't felt this in a long time. Given she was still on the outs with her mother back in their old world. While they were walking, they heard a crash from behind them and saw some young yokai running.
"Catch them! Those little thieves!" A shout from a pair of long-limbed humans called out as the yokai children ran past. Two bumped into Izuku and fell. One a young girl with red hair and fox features and a possibly young boy that looked more like a badger. Both had raggedy looking kimonos on.
"We've gotta run Chi! Come on!" the badger boy said, helping the girl up. They both continued on while the long-limbed humans were still chasing them. Izuku was confused at the whole matter but had a different thought after they had left. 'They both kinda looked like they needed and wanted help.'
"You might want to check to see if you still have your wallet Izuku." Tomoe teased. Izuku checked his pockets and they had not taken anything luckily. "I'm good. It's still here. What was that about?" "Same thing that happens in any world or place. Those who are desperate may resort to the worst things just to stay alive. Doesn't matter how they look or what their background may be." Adam said with a grim face, before saying they need to move on.
As they were walking Izuku took note of the variety of yokai in the area. There were multitudes of types ranging from multiple prefectures. There were jorogumo which looked like women with multiple eyes and spider legs on their backs. Some abura-sumashi were at a stall selling oil. Even some furabiri and kamaitachi that were floating and flying overhead.
However, Izuku's mind kept going back to the young yokai that had apparently stolen something from others. "I know you said not to worry about it but…" "I know kid. But the fact is you can never truly fix everything with any sentient group. No matter how much people want to think otherwise, a utopia is not possible. Better to try and work as well as you can with what is in front of you." Adam says while knocking on a large door to a building in the center of the district.
Tomoe agrees with him pointing out that even with power of any kind, most still can't or wont help most because they are trying to either keep or gain more their power for themselves or are desperately clinging to what little they may have. Once she has said that a large blue skinned oni opens the door to let the three of them into the large building.
Tomoe then says to Izuku, "Let me and Adam do most of the talking here. The person we are meeting is one of the three great yokai of Japan. I'm not sure you're really ready for this but we need their information. Don't worry you should be fine so long as you don't ask too many questions." Izuku gulps and wonders what the Hell he is doing here. But before he can ask more the audience room opens and before them was the great Tengu, Emperor Sutoku.
"So, you are the one's who have requested the audience with us? Who exactly are you?" The large blue skinned man said, his hair rising up in unnatural ways. At this Adam, Tomoe and Izuku stepped forward and sat seiza in front of the throne.
"Emperor Sutoku, I know you are one of the greatest yokai in this world. I need your aid to find a dangerous human. I know you do not think much of humanity now and you think there is no one who could challenge you outside of the other three great yokai. I am here to tell you that this not remain a truth much longer." Adam says with calm and resolve.
Sutoku at first seems insulted by the statement that a human thinks that someone could challenge his power. But then he remembers that others have usurped him before. "Very well. We are willing to listen more. Who is it that believes they can challenge us?" Sutoku says with a critical eye on Adam.
Adam and Tomoe go on to explain some of who they are and who it is that could challenge his standing. At hearing what the mad mage Morda has committed in their world, Sutoku is more inclined to take them seriously.
"You make a fair point and a good argument human. We will allow you to have more information about our regions. If you are willing to do us a few favors." Sutoku says with an imposing look upon his face. Both Adam and Tomoe sigh at this but realize that they don't have many options. They agree and Sutoku allows them to explore his manor.
Izuku is given a charm that signifies he is protected by Sutoku so the staff and other yokai won't try to eat him. With that done, the Overseers agree to speak with Sutoku more about matters that need to be done in his realm over the next week.
The next few days Adam and Tomoe were wandering around the gap space dealing with certain matters as they could. Izuku on the other hand decided to explore more on his own. At one point he bumped into the group of yokai kids again.
"Hold it right there you little rats! I know you stole something from my stand!" an Appossha said coming up to them. Izuku wasn't sure what exactly to do but he knew he had to help them. "They couldn't have done something because they were showing me around. I've only been here twice so I asked if they could guide me."
The kids looked confused, as did the Appossha man. He was about to try and eat Izuku, until he noticed that he had a charm from the Sutoku around his neck. "Grrr fine. I better not catch you brats near my stand again." And with that the Appossha walked away.
"Hey thanks for that. I'm Riku and this is Chika. I'm a mujina and she's a kitsune." The badger boy, or rather mujina, explained while Chika just waved hello from behind him. Izuku smiled and asked if they could show him around for real. The other young yokai went off to do whatever it was they had to do, while Riku and Chika guided Izuku.
At one point they were passing some dango stands and Izuku bought both of them some, plus a few extra to take to the other kids. It was after they had walked around a while that Izuku finally asked both of them where their parents were. Riku sighed before saying, "I don't know about mine. I've been on the streets for so long I don't remember my parents." Izuku was saddened by this, thinking back on his own parents. His dad may be away because of work, but he still tried to keep in touch with his family. "What about you Chika?" He asked innocently.
Chika suddenly froze up and started hugging herself tightly. Riku put an arm over her shoulder and tried to comfort her. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-" Izuku said before Riku cut him off. "It's not your fault. If anything, it's her mother's. Her mother was something of a dangerous and fairly evil yokai in her home region. She never intended to have Chika and basically told her that every day for some time. Her mother had attacked and raped some random man in the human realm some time ago. She is the product from that. I was from the area, and I was her only friend."
Riku went on to explain that he had heard Chika's mother was planning to sell her off, and he wouldn't let what her mother had planned happen. So, he snuck in and helped get Chika away from there. "Managed to cut that damn bitch pretty good with a sword I had stolen from her house. Don't have it anymore. Had to sell it so we could get here. Not that it's been much easier."
At that Izuku decides to help them more even if they may not know it. He gives them a bit of money and a few talismans. He tells them, "If you ever really need help, think of these and I'll know. And I'll do my best to save you." Neither of them knows what to say at this but thank him before heading out.
While that has been going on, Adam and Tomoe had gotten some background on the individual that was causing extra trouble in Sutoku's realm. There was some person causing unrest, using everything from a new type of mystic drug to even some various thefts and extortion. The biggest issue is that no one knows who the head is. They had talked with the former head of the organized crime, an oni who had lost most of his power.
He only told them so much. "Don't exactly who or what they are, but I do know it was a woman. Or whoever it was preferred a female form. They seemed to know every way I would fight, any attack I threw their way missed. She had some sort of funny charm with her too. It didn't weaken her, but it weakened me and my men." The old oni explained.
Tomoe asked if this individual was using his old headquarters. He said no, given she destroyed the house after taking him and his group down. He went on to explain that she had no respect for the old ways or for the old honor of the gangs. Before he could start on a rant Adam stopped him and asked what the woman looked like.
"Well, I can't tell you much, but she did have this strange covering over her eyes. And a necklace of coins for some reason." The two Overseers looked at each other and nodded. They thanked the old oni and gave him a few special kinds of liquor. "A good bottle of sake is nice, but some of these others smell nice too. What are these?"
"One's a whiskey from Ireland, one Caribbean rum, some vodka from outside of Moscow, and a bottle of wine from Italy. Should tide you over for a while." Adam says. The old oni salutes them with a sakazuki as the two walk off.
"Well that gives us something to work with but the question is who is trying to mess with Sutoku? And what's the point to all of these other matters?" Adam questions as they are heading to pick up Izuku. Tomoe shakes her head before saying, "I think you're far too used to the maniacal and scheming types we usually deal with. This is more than likely a yokai following its nature more than anything. But they are being extra aggressive about certain matters." When they find Izuku he tells them about exploring around the shopping areas among other things.
After two more days there, it is getting close to the time to leave and the Overseers haven't made much progress. "Whoever is causing a mess is here somewhere. But we keep coming up dry on the leads. qué diablos está después de?" Adam asks while pacing back and forth in their hotel room. Tomoe is in no better spot, drinking three cups of coffee while reviewing notes. They both are wishing that they had some city Overseers to work with. "If only we had the help of the Kyoto branch back home. They could put more of this together." Tomoe complains.
Izuku had helped a bit with noting that there seemed to be someone behind even the street kids and the like. Saying, "Maybe their recruiting young or something. It worked with you two." But even that had turned up dry when some of the kids disappeared. It was the day before they were planning to head back that Izuku felt his talismans light up and create a portal for him to follow.
He jumped through without hesitation and found Chika and Riku badly injured. Just then an attack came from nowhere and he created a shield to protect them and a few of the other kids. "What are you doing here?" Chika asked in a scared voice. To which Izuku responded, "I'm here to save you. And I will save you."
I'll leave it at that for now. I'll come back to this eventually, but I need to deal with matters in real life for now. So you'll have to live with a cliff hanger for a while.