Prologue
Within the grand halls of the Kamisato household, the air thrummed with urgency as servants and attendants scurried about, tending to Kamisato Kayo in her time of need, as the wife of the head of the Kamisato clan is about to deliver a newborn child. The usual tranquil and calm atmosphere of the household was now charged with the frenetic energy of those laboring to assist in the birth of the newest heir of the esteemed family. Outside the walls of the estate, amidst the bustling streets of Inazuma, the news of the impending arrival had ignited a fervor of excitement and speculation. The news of the imminent arrival had spread like wildfire through the streets of Inazuma, for the Kamisato clan's lineage was revered, and the birth of a new heir was a matter of great significance.
As the news had spread so far and wide throughout Inazuma, it had without a doubt reached the grand narukami shrine. Yae Miko, head of the shrine maiden, idly observes the other shrine maidens as they work and tend to the people who had come to visit.
"Hmm so it's that time already"
mutters the lady in shrine maiden uniform as she sweeps aside her pink hair while reading a sheet of paper.
In her hand was an invitation letter, she had received the news and was even invited as an honored guest as her relationship with the Kamisato family is on good terms. However, she had to kindly refuse as she deems it unnecessary for her presence to be required at the household.
"It would be nice to pay the Kamisato clan a visit, but unfortunately i have things i need to do" She says as she folds the letter and tuck it away somewhere else before pulling up a light novel, leisurely reading away.
She could always pay them a visit some other time to see the new child born from the Kamisato family, she thought. Her judgment was set in stone in that she chose to tend to her duties instead.
Her bright pink hair flutters as the sakura leaves fall off the trees blown by the wind. At that moment, her fox-like ears twitched as she sensed an ominous presence.
"Hmm..? What was…"
Initially preoccupied with her duties, she suddenly felt a shift in the currents of spiritual energy. She looked around tense and vigilant, scanning the many islands visible from the very top of the grand narukami shrine. It was then that her eyes locked on to which direction where the flow of spiritual energy came from. A foreboding aura emanated from the direction of the Kamisato household, stirring a sense of unease within her.
"This aura… what exactly is this? Tatarigami? No, how could that be, Ei and I have long suppressed the negative influence of it with seals. Perhaps a youkai? No, even if they were to pull pranks they wouldn't have to exude such a high amount of energy… "
Initially she had thought that her presence was unnecessary, but suddenly the situation had drastically changed. She ponders as to what was going on in the Kamisato household. Wanting to avoid unnecessary outcomes that she might regret later, she swiftly and silently moved down the mountains without the other shrine maidens even knowing. She made her way down mt. Yougu, swiftly crossing through Chinju forest before finally arriving at the Kamisato household.
Upon her arrival, she walked up to the two guards standing by on the kamisato household's gates. With a quick glance, the guards immediately recognized her as the head of the narukami shrine maidens and as one of the honored guests of the kamisato household. Without further questioning, the guards assumed she wanted to pay the head of kamisato Clan and his mistress who is currently delivering a baby a visit, hence they quickly escorted her to the room.
"This ominous aura.. Without a doubt the source of the energy is coming through this household. It's leaking through the halls and possibly even outside. Luckily I have foreseen this and had placed seals and wards to limit the spread of this energy to not go further from this household. But what could possibly be causing this…"
Yae miko ponders this in her mind as she follows the guards along the halls
While all this was happening, outside the confines of the Kamisato estate, the talks of the housekeepers had changed from talking about the new born child, into the recent controversy surrounding the nation of thunder. From the lockdown imposed by the Raiden Shogun, to the vision hunt decree. They were lamenting its adverse effects on the people of Inazuma. Tales of those who had lost their visions, reduced to mere husks of their former selves. Beyond the borders of Inazuma. Were the seas shrouded in thunderstorms proof of the wrath of the Raiden Shogun who had closed the island from the outside world. The lockdown had caused severe decline in economic growth as trades between other nations had been tightly closed off. Leaving countless citizens in trouble.
Back into the halls of the kamisato household. Yae miko can slowly feel that she's getting much closer into the source of the ominous presence, her worry is becoming more and more apparent. As the guards lightly knock on the door, they leave the guuji alone as they do not have the authority to see past the inside of the mistress's room.
"Whatever lies behind this door, I will decide my course of action upon seeing it first."
Just in case, she prepares more wards and brings out her signature gohei, a wooden wand used for rituals and exorcism. Her eyes seemingly glowing as thunderous purple lightning emanates through her body slightly. She slowly reached to the tatami door and slides it gently, ready for whatever is behind the door.
Much to her surprise, what she found inside the room was nothing malicious but it was still a depressing sight to see. The head of the kamisato clan slumped down on his wife's bed, saddened and frustrated. The mistress on the other hand seems to be almost devoid of life. The expressions of the staff and doctor foreseeing and caring through her birth delivery all had a saddened expression in their faces as well. Moving her eyes around to find the source of the energy, she saw lady kamisato carrying in her arms, her new born child which the source of the evil energy is coming from. With that, she had finally realized what had happened.
"Lady guuji, so you decided to come…"
Said the head of the kamisato clan dryly as he tried to compose himself and tuck away his grief. But deep down he knows that Yae miko must have already sensed the dwindling away of his wife's life force and what he's doing is unnecessary.
"Save your words. For my reasoning to come was not to see your new child's birth, nor am I here to witness your wife's inevitable demise"
She did not filter her words. She said the truth as is, and the head of the Kamisato clan had already accepted this fact, his wife does not have long left in this world. He shook his head and regained composure.
"But then, why did you come?"
Asked the Kamisato clan Head to Yae miko, in which she replied by pointing her finger onto the newborn child.
"You may have not realized this but, that boy is currently leaking out massive amounts of negative energy. The energy is similar to that of youkais and worst case scenario, has similar energy to that of tatarigami which might pose negative effects on anyone within this household. I have taken measures to lessen the influence but this won't be enough. The amount of energy this child is releasing is most likely the reason for your wife's slow death, it must have taken a huge toll for her to give birth to this.. Monstrosity "
With this, it was made clear that whatever she had brought upon this world, was too much for her life force to handle, it would seem that giving birth to whatever that newborn in her arms must have taken her all. It was not a surprise as seen how much energy it is leaking out. This child is not normal. The question is how she is supposed to deal with this problem. On the other hand, the head of Kamisato clan seemingly froze in shock and confusion
"Wh.. what are you talking about?"
"I've said what I've said, do you still not understand my implications? This young spouse of yours is spreading dangerous amounts of negative substances and energy throughout this household. If we do not get rid of the source, more people would suffer the consequences, not just your wife. Give me the boy, I shall swiftly dispose of him. We can simply spread the news that the birth was a failure and they both died in the process as a cover up"
She points her finger towards the child held in the mistress's arms. Small crackling thunder begins to form on the tip of her finger, charging up her energy for a swift killing blow attack. Seeing this, the head of the kamisato clan quickly moved and protected his wife and son.
"Are you insane!? I'm about to lose my dearest wife, and now you've come here unannounced and plan to take my newest born child too? I won't let you!"
"What idiocy, you are the head of the clan, surely you know how to make rational decisions! Move away or you'll get hurt in the process. That child is leaking far too large of negative energy, sealing him would not be easy as it'll require long rituals and resources, need to dispose of him now before he exudes more and prove too much to handle. The longer he lives the more his energy will have residue and that might have permanent impact on narukami island!"
Still unwilling to move away, Yae miko clicked her tongue in annoyance at his stubbornness, but just as she was about to swiftly put him out of commission, his wife with her last bit of energy held onto her husband's hand.
"My dear… it's okay, you don't have to protect us…"
"Kayo!... But.. but I can't… I'm going to lose you, how could I lose our newest child along the process? I can't live with that!"
"You won't have to lose our child…"
Hearing that, both Yae and the head of Kamisato clan raised their eyebrows in confusion.
"Miss guuji.. I have a proposal…" Said the dying wife as she struggles to get word out
"Speak"
"Stay with that narrative. Announce me and my son's death to the public. But in turn, I wish for you to take my son with you and guarantee his safety.. "
She started coughing up blood as she is nearing her limits with speaking this much. Yae miko simply listened with a stoic expression on her face.
"I've.. always wanted to live a normal life, unburdened by the family's identity and diplomatic or political struggles and responsibilities. Freed from the ties of the big family under the Shogun's command.. I even lived with an alter ego to experience that… I do not wish for my child to go through the same as my other two children.. For my dying wish.. Please take him with you… and cut his ties with our family… Please.. Spare him.. At least, let him have the life we never could…"
"... That's ridiculous.." Yae miko sighed and his hand shook in annoyance. She does not have the energy to deal with this stupidity, however, Kamisato kayo has always had her ways with words and persuasion. She can't find herself to say no and kill the boy with this being her dying wish. He turned to see the boy held in her arms, slowly walking to her as she noticed she had already drawn her last breath, there was no longer a pulse when she moved her hands out to take the boy and carry him in her arms.
"You.. you're not going to kill my child are you?"
The head of the kamisato is still tense, not knowing what Yae miko would do next, yet he knows he stood powerless in the presence of her, he does not know what she is capable of yet she is not sure if she could subdue her even if he ordered everyone under his control to take her down, which is why she never wanted to get on her bad side and wished to be allies with her in a political ground. As all hope seems to have been lost for him, Yae miko sighed and shook her head.
"Honoring the dead is one of the duties of a shrine maiden. I shall see what I can do to suppress this boy's negative influence while granting him a new life, the one your late wife always so wishes to have" With that, she left the kamisato household without a word.
Respecting the wish of the late Kamisato kayo, Yae Miko had taken the young boy into her custody, leaving him at the hands of the other shrine maidens who were puzzled by her bringing an unknown child onto this sacred ground. Although Yae herself claimed she found the child deep within the woods of Chinju forest and wanted to save the boy for no reason, they were still puzzled by her decision but decided not to question the head of the shrine maiden and her antics. The shrine maidens shrugged and obliged to help take care of the young child while Yae Miko observed the child from the background, preparing for the unexpected. If there was anywhere else that is safe to have such a dangerous child with negative aura, it would be here in the Grand narukami shrine where all evil is exercised and subdued, bringing him to the shrine had effectively suppressed the influence of the aura but not completely dissipate it.
As the weeks turned into months, Yae Miko continued to observe the curious behaviors of the child under her care. Despite his ominous beginnings, the boy seemed to undergo a remarkable transformation, it was not an exaggeration to say the boy's growth is abnormally fast. Within a week of his birth, the palpable aura of negativity surrounding him began to wane, gradually dissipating until it was barely detectable, this was by no means affected by the many wards and seals within the narukami shrine, it was seemingly the boy's own doing. It was as though the child had gained mastery over the dark energy that once enveloped him, channeling it with a newfound control. Alongside this newfound control came a mischievous streak that belied his tender age. The child never cried, much to Yae Miko's bewilderment, but instead, delighted in playing pranks on those around him, his laughter echoing through the halls of the Narukami Shrine. Yae Miko couldn't help but wonder if there was more to this child than met the eye.
As the months passed, the child's behavior only grew more puzzling. Yae Miko discovered him poring over her collection of ancient texts and tomes, seemingly absorbed in the intricate rituals and incantations contained within as if he could understand it despite nobody had ever taught him how to read. She watched in astonishment as he mimicked the gestures and intonations of the spells, his tiny fingers tracing the ancient symbols with uncanny precision. It was a sight that defied logic, on top of that, the boy seemingly is capable of understanding speech despite not being able to reply due to his underdeveloped vocal cords as a mere few months old child. Nevertheless, he is capable of showing response to orders and questions, by either performing the task he was told to do, or even communicating through writing on dirt or sand as his dexterity with the pen still seems underdeveloped to be able to hold and use a pen. At one point, Yae Miko asked the young child of the kamisato bloodline, what's his name, to which the child replied "Gojo Satoru"