Color codes:Akane Minamoto
Yawata no Kami
Narrative & NPCs
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It was a dull mid-morning the skies were nothing more than a hazed color scheme of matte blues and grays. Even the air seemed to be carrying a gloominess scent of dampened earth and the forest seemed to lay in a transient silence with only a few distant rustling of the leaves. In complete stillness Akane sat down before a small pond meditating, bringing the activity within her physical body to a mere torpid state. This allowed Akane to ignore almost all worldly deviations and step into the world of hyper-sensibility a strange world where one can encounter the supernatural; it is where paths meet between the heavens, the earth and the yomi.
"Akane..."
A faint male voice echoed which slowly reached into Akane's ears and with it the scenery altered like drops of watercolor ink in water. What a few moments ago had been a barren split path had recreated itself into a narrow path made of tall green bamboo stalks with paper lanterns lining the edges of the path. Upon reaching the end of the path Akane saw a splendid Shinto shrine which its red-orange main gates intimidatingly towered those who stood in the front entrance. Appearing from the shadows a shrine miko whom was dressed in a vivid red hakama and a white haori came to greet Akane.
"Akane Minamoto we have been waiting for you."
Before entering the sacred inner chambers of the shrine, Akane cleansed herself by ceremoniously pouring water over both hands and by doing so she had signified that she had washed away all impurities. Once she was finished the miko guided Akane to the inner most chamber of the shrine where a splendid sliding doors could be seen. It was a striking piece of artwork where the main motif seemed to be white doves in midflight. The last adorning elements where two small and delicate red tassels that hung from the door's gold colored handles. Quietly the miko had neatly tucked her feet underneath her body and sat in an upright position. Then in a strict manner the miko leaned forward towards the sliding doors' handle and pulled the door open revealing yet another chamber. It was here that Akane was greeted by Yawata's familiar, a man with pearly long white hair, alabaster like skin and dark emerald colored eyes. Politely smiling the familiar invited Akane in and once she had entered the miko closed the sliding door behind her. Standing next to Akane the familiar motioned with his right hand and the second set of sliding doors gracefully opened revealing a spacious room. Behind the white silk see through screen Akane could see Yawata, the god of war and protector of the Minamoto clan, the god whom she had formed a contract with. Sitting on the left side of the room the familiar placed both hands forward and bowed in a forty five degree angle and introduced Akane to the god.
"My Lord. Akane Minamoto is here to see you."
There was a moment of silence before the god spoke in a surprisingly gentle tone considering that he, Yawata, was the god of war one would have expected a harsher and stern voice.
"It has been quite sometime has it not Akane?"
"Yes my lord. It has been two full moons since the last meeting."
"Raise the blind."
With this one of the god's attendant, a small young child, whom was sitting behind on the right side quickly responded and raised the silk blind revealing the god. A man of medium body build, long and flowing pale matte gray hair and periwinkle blue eyes who for a war god had surprisingly feminine looks. Warmly smiling he descended from behind the screen and motioned towards the small garden outside before walking out himself. Akane quietly followed behind into the small Japanese styled secluded garden.
"Akane do you remember the old story in the age of myths about the creation of Yamato?"
"You mean when the great creators, Izanami no Mikoto and Izanagi no Mikoto, created the islands of Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and the other islands?"
"Precisely. Do you remember that Izanami died and then fell into the Yomi?"
"Yes my lord I remember. But what does something happen in the age of myths have to do with the rumors you heard?"
"Well according to the rumors it seems that since then Izanami has been holding a bitter grudge. It might have something to do with the recent surfacing of powerful yokais in the human world. Normally the Yomi's laws should have forbidden any yokai from going into the human world but something is disrupting the underworld. I want you to investigate this matter Akane."
Upon hearing her God's request Akane kneeled on one knee and placed her right hand over her chest.
"I will investigate it immediately as you wish."
Summoning his divine powers Yawata bit the tip of his thumb causing droplets of crimson colored blood to fall, but almost immediately they were suspended in midair slowly fusing together forming a vague shape. With one swift motion of the God's hand the blood flowed towards Akane and entered her soul concentrating on her forehead in the shape of a vermilion colored mitsudomoe.
"Akane. With my blood flowing within you will allow you to access my powers a bit better than the contract originally stated. I am sure this will be useful in the future."
Without any further words Yawata warmly smiled towards his contractor before disappearing bringing Akane back to the human world. Slightly taken aback Akane touched her forehead but saw no trace of the God's blood when she looked at her fingertips. But before she could do anything Akane sensed a weird spiritual aura heading her way from the southern direction.
"This spiritual energy definitely does not belong to a normal human being. Perhaps a yokai? No this aura's signature is different from that of a yokai. Hakozaki! Iwashimizu!"
With those words the forest floor slightly shook before two komainus or lion-dogs appeared before Akane. Their jet-black slightly wavy but flowing coats were bewitchingly ornamented with golden hairs which made it appear as if the coat was on fire. Meanwhile their eyes were a glowing sapphire blue while their fangs slightly larger than that of a tiger. After summoning her lion-dogs she motioned towards one of the tree branches which at her command flowed down her direction. Gently hoping on top of the branch Akane began to head towards the strange aura which at the very least belonged to someone with supernatural abilities or a yokai. To her horror she saw several forest animal slain on the floor their blood forming a sea of crimson.
Standing high above in the forest canopy Akane saw a man with light brown hair dressed into what appeared to be a Buddhist monk's attire. Simultaneously Akane's lion-dogs, Hakozaki and Iwashimizu, circled around the monk but hidden among the forest's trees and bushes. Silently Akane took her bow and one of the arrows which its heads were iconially carved with a small dove perched on a tree's branch symbolizing that she was Yawata no kami's contractor.
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