On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Three Hundred And Thirty-Nine

Approaching the Diet Building, our car had to take a detour, as numerous police vehicles were set up in a perimeter, the police out in force to form a cordon, holding back the wave of protesters that were demonstrating noisily about the Chinese invasion. So far it seemed largely peaceful, if heated, but the numbers were steadily increasing, already up to fifty thousand people outside the Diet, with more in cities and towns all cross Japan. There were thousands more outside the Chinese embassy, and instead of the police, the JSDF had been deployed there, as any act of trespass, or worse, violence against the Chinese on effectively their sovereign soil would escalate tensions alarmingly.

“I believe these are the largest demonstrations since the late nineteen-sixties.” Motoko observed, and Natsumi offered her agreement. The two of them were obviously aware of the real reasons behind all this chaos, but the driver wasn’t, so they said little else. I merely listened to them talk, amused as I had spotted a disgruntled Detective Kato and a bored-looking, yawning officer Usui among the police at the barricades. Guess they really have pulled in all hands. Today’s the day to be a criminal, there’ll be no police about to stop you…

With such idle throughs, we pulled through a road the police were keeping open, and as the car passed through two lines of protestors, I listened out, trying to understand public sentiment, for later.

“Justice for the dead of Kyoto!”

“Chinese aggression must be stopped!”

“Our government is pathetic, we need fresh elections!”

“Prime Minister Abe must go!”

“More military spending! The JSDF needs reform!”

“We should have nuclear weapons too, deter Chinese expansionism!”

The last one surprised me, given the rough history our country had with atomic bombs. Though in this time of trouble, I can understand wanting power. Damn, what a mess. If only Nie Ling hadn’t had her power, we could have kept this disaster largely covered up… I would have to deal with her soon as well as the Candidate Haru-san had bound to her Throne.

“Sounds like the Prime Minister is going to have a hard time.” Natsumi remarked as we disembarked.

“Indeed. Well, it is the price of leadership, to bear responsibility when things go awry. The nobility is no different.”

“Well, this seems a little unfair, as he’s been doing the best he could.” I sighed. “Well, you can go see your parents, I doubt you want to sit in on…”

“No, I do.” Motoko disagreed. “I am the daughter of Tsumura house. Yes, my brother will inherit, and take on the military traditions our family has carried for many generations, but I wish to be involved. As a woman, I was never fated for such a role, but… now, I want it. And you will help me get it, will you not?” She leaned her head on my shoulder affectionately as she walked, and Natsumi giggled over her change, as she grasped my free hand warmly.

“I’m just interested in the Tsumura Arts, so I’ll pass. But it’s great to see Motoko revealing her true ambitions. Things… they feel different. And I feel happy to see it.”

“Well, I’m not one to deny you, am I?” I smiled. “If nobody else objects, then I suppose that’s fine. Well, even if they do object, I’ll insist you’re my adjunct or something like that today.”

“I thank you.” She grinned, flushed, kissing my cheek. Natsumi, not to be outdone, kissed my other, and when I asked her what that was for, she merely shrugged.

“I just felt like it.”

“Akiooo, I am feeling rather sad here alooone.” Hyacinth protested, so I had to give her a quick kiss too, and then we stopped our banter and flirting, as the time for it had passed. Soon we were shown to the meeting room from before. This time it was packed full of people. Everyone from before was there, including Haru-san, who was here without rest after helping with the training on our Territory. Yeah, I need to get her some time off soon…

There was also Takatsukasa-san and Ichijou-san, the heads of the nobility all here for this crisis summit, as well as the leader of the Opposition in the Diet, Kishida-san. Haru’s father was there as well as several other heads of important Ministries. In addition, Motoko’s father Minoru-san was there, as were a couple of soldiers that I recognised as other Candidates within the JSDF, though I hadn’t worked with them much, unlike with the Major and Lieutenant.

The last guest was also a surprise. It was Princess Mikasa, well, Yukiko-san, as I was calling her now. She was wearing smart casual clothes, not her shrine maiden attire, and her eyes behind the red-framed glasses she wore were equally red. When she saw me, she flinched, before her gaze wandered, as if trying to see something invisible. I get it. I’ll have to console her later.

“Akio-san, so glad you could make it.” The exhausted, beleaguered Prime Minister muttered. “Take a seat, and we’ll get started. What a mess.”

I pulled out two chairs, and got looks of surprise as Motoko and Hyacinth sat down beside me. I had to urge Hyacinth to sit as usual, but at least she was starting to be more of a wife and less of a servant when it counted, as Shaeula and Eri had explained at length to her it made me look bad when she insisted on her role in company.

“I’ll be going.” Natsumi smiled slightly, nodding to Motoko’s relatives in greeting. “I want to see my parents, tell them the good news. If I see your mother, Motoko, I’ll… let you talk to her.” With a polite bow she hurried out, shown the way by a secretary.

“Motoko here is working as my adjunct.” I said quickly, to forestall protest. “She’s keen to be a working woman, and while the nobility does tend to discourage that, I’m more than happy to allow it if it makes her happy. Besides, we have some matters to discuss that involve her.”

Minoru-san was frowning, but Motoko’s grandfather extended us the benefit of the doubt. “What matters, grandson-in-law?” His expression was kind, and Motoko was turning pink in shame at knowing he knew she had become a woman in truth.

“Tsumura Arts. But we will discuss that later. I can see the Prime Minister looking fit to burst over there.” After some muted, nervous laughter, the Prime Minister thanked me.

“Yes, well, we should start. The situation could be worse I suppose. Now the public has had a day to stew and find out more about what happened, their anger is coming to a boil. In Kyoto the situation is largely contained…” he looked at Saionji-san, who detailed the measures that had been taken. The old Susanoo faction shrines and those close to them had been… taken into protective custody… for now, and their access to the internet and phones had been curtailed. The foreign tourists who had managed to avoid the J-Alert evacuations had been similarly detained prior to this, but had now been moved to very luxurious accommodation, which had stilled most protests.

“Those are just stop-gap measures though.” Abe-san sighed. “Akio-san, I am aware that you have access to a way to enforce contracts.” He looked at Ichijou-san, who had been under the befuddling winds before so he could attend our large planning meeting. “I am hoping to make use of that, so that those willing to swear they won’t reveal anything untoward can be released, adequately compensated of course.”

Well, that’s a bit irritating. It seems we are cleaning up all the messes around here. But it does need doing… Feeling a little irritated, I noticed that Motoko had grasped my hand under the table, and was giving me a concerned smile. I shook off my gloom and nodded to the Prime Minister. “Fine. I’ll get Shaeula on it, but can we gather them all together? I’m not kidding when I say I have a ton of demands on my time.”

“So far, there have been very few mentions of supernatural happenings, other than a few conspiracy theorists.” Morita-san, the head of my Ministry, suggested. “I have to thank the Foreign Ministry and our diplomatic corps…” she nodded to the heads of those Ministries. “… for getting assistance from America in temporarily restricting and censoring access to the internet. I find it concerning as a sovereign Japanese citizen that a foreign power has so much control over our vital infrastructure…” as Abe-san flinched at her criticism, Kishida-san smiled broadly, enjoying his discomfort. “… which is a matter to be addressed in the future, I do believe, but it has certainly dampened down the fires. Though even America will fail to silence all voices.”

“It’s a question of time. Korea is having terrible trouble with their own problems. They have an incident happening as troubling as we do. Several other states worldwide are also struggling to keep the populace in the dark, and on the internet, rumours are springing up like mushrooms after the rain.” The Prime Minister pointed out. “So, we need to assume that we have little time to prepare before we have to act.”

“Weeks, not months, like we originally hoped.” Fujiwara-san spoke for us all. “Fortunately we have been proactive. The nobility is united in our will to see the best of Japan remain intact.”

“Speaking of that…” I interjected. “Now might be a good time. Motoko, if you would?” I asked, and she stood, facing the crowd, her noble poise and grace, trained by the harsh schooling of Hanafubuki, shining through, and she showed no hint of nervousness.

“I am Tsumura Motoko, proud daughter of Tsumura house, and fiancée of Akio here. I have to report that Tsumura Arts, like Kyūdō, is in fact an ability that must not be lost, for it contains power and truth.”

At that her father looked surprised, while her grandfather looked at me. With a smile, I tapped under my Eye, letting a little glow leak out.

“Power? Truth?” Takakura-san, ever concerned with matters of faith as well as nobility, asked.

“Yes. My husband, he can see what the value of something is with his eyes, and he has determined that Tsumura Arts are the derivation of an ancient path of martial arts, which will be the foundation of something great again. The nobility…” she turned to the Three Grandfathers. “… they wish to protect the best of Japan, and I find this laudable, after all, I am a true daughter of nobility, but… reconsidering what is necessary and what is not should be looked at again. We must never throw out tools that can aid us.”

“I’m curious.” Ichijou-san asked me. “I know you have a lot of powers, Akio-kun.” Damn, her grandfather is still as annoyingly forward as Mayumi-san is. Must run in the family. “But are the arts really that special? After all, you managed just fine in Kyoto without them.”

Motoko’s hand tightened on mine, hidden from view, and I found myself growing increasingly irritated. Taking a deep breath, my Resilience working, I nodded, answering him politely. “I think so. I myself don’t have a style, I’m just… well taught in the fundamentals. But to go beyond that is a challenge… besides, Tsumura Arts were originally a style from more than fifteen hundred years ago, when one potentially wielded elemental powers with weapons. I think that had value. I will certainly be trying to learn it.”

At that, Motoko let out a quiet gasp, squeezing my hand.

“I see. So it’s as old as that. That’s older than Tsumura house, right?” Ichijou-san grinned, satisfied. “Well, perhaps you are right. We should have an audit with the nobility, the faith… and the Imperial Family.” He nodded at Yukiko-san, who responded slowly, obviously only half-listening to the conversation. “Who knows how many other techniques of value we have hidden away. Well, you’ll be busy, Akio-kun.”

Tell me something I don’t know…

“Conclave was an effort to do this already.” Saionji-san laughed. “I believe that Akio-san has been making progress on that front too.”

“Yes.” Haru-san spoke up for me. “We have gathered a list of many bloodlines and their abilities. Most are pretty useless, but considering the potential for growth now, we might be able to make something useful of them with Chirurgery. Some might even be suitable to carry Divine Favours.”

“Increasing our number of known and loyal Chosen should be our top priority.” Morita-san declared. “This incident proved that. Can I ask you a question, Saionji-san?”

“By all means.” He agreed.

“If Oshiro-san here wasn’t present, how would the situation have been for Kyoto?”

He glanced at the sleeping, drooling Akai behind him, thinking a little before answering. “Not good. We’d certainly have lost all of southern and western Kyoto, and the defenders killed there to a man, and to a kami. I… don’t think I have the confidence to say I could have defended my own Territory, even with Akai here. I believe I could have escaped, but I would have abandoned my foothold there. No… likely all of Spiritual Kyoto would have been lost. I am a match for any one of them, I believe, but outnumbered so…”

“With the Boundary lost there, then Nie Ling could have continued to pull in citizens and we wouldn’t have been able to stop her.” I mused. “The death toll would be ruinous, and Kyoto would be a nightmare ghost town, nowhere safe.” Their plan actually wasn’t too bad. That clone bastard would have been able to feed non-stop on kami and the citizenry, and anyone sent to try and take back Kyoto could likely have found enemy Territories being set up there… we could have lost it, definitely…

“War going forwards is going to be very different. This is why we need strong Territories covering all of Japan. Even the barren mountains and forests. We don’t want enemies getting a foothold within the wilderness.” Abe-san mused.

“I had considered your report on the plan to consolidate resources, even these non-material ones, into Oshiro-san here a dangerous act of wilful misuse of power and authority.” Kishida-san mused. “I was prepared to oppose it, but on hearing what could so easily have happened… I don’t think there’s any more time to delay. Now, while the public is distracted by China, we should bring on board the remaining members of the Diet, and pass all the legislation we’ve drafted for the new Ministry of Spiritual Affairs.”

“All the newly briefed elected Members should be watched carefully. Fujiwara security services can keep an eye on them.” Fujiwara-san declared sternly. “It is for their safety in these troubled times, of course. We have no wish for a fool stirred up by the events of the weekend to take it into their heads to attack our politicians.”

“And of course, the real reason is, to be able to monitor their phone, internet usage and who they meet, to prevent leaks, right?” Ichijou-san laughed heartily. “As shrewd as ever, Shige.”

“So, what do we do about the protests and the civil unrest?” one minister asked, one whose name I didn’t know. “That firebombing was a black mark on us as a nation. The restaurant wasn’t even owned by a Chinese national, it was a Western Asian immigrant. I’ve also heard reports of anti-foreigner sentiment on the rise, even against those who aren’t Chinese, such as Europeans.”

“Well, the protests are a good outlet for their passion, even if it’s playing havoc with my chances of re-election.” Abe-san laughed bitterly. “All we can do is let them burn themselves out. The criminality though, that has to stop. But the police are stretched. We could draft in some soldiers as temporary support. I think that you wouldn’t instruct your Party to block that motion, right Kishida-san?”

“Not this time.” He agreed, but their plans were stymied by Minoru-san, who raised an objection.

“We have more important matters to discuss first! The performance of our Special Forces in Kyoto demonstrated that Chirurgery is required for a soldier to be effective in modern warfare. The remaining Special Forces are waiting on standby, ready for Chirurgery, so I would ask you do it as soon as possible, son-in-law. In addition… reports from your training school indicate further steps in the process, such as learning elemental powers. I admit, I find it hard to grasp just what those are, but it’s clear that our soldiers need that power! And not just our Special Forces, the Rangers, our officers, Fighter Pilots…”

Yes, just as I expected. I mean, I get it, from a Japanese Government standpoint, that’s definitely the best solution, but… It wasn’t just me who was a little frustrated. Motoko was glaring at her father, which surprised him.

“Look, I understand the benefits of strengthening the soldiers, and I do intend to finish my agreed-on Chirurgery on the Special Forces, just like I healed the injured. But as for going further, or more…” I shook my head. “Right now I want to concentrate on improving my own allies. This battle in Kyoto was a lesson to me as well. I don’t just need more power, I need to strengthen those with me too. If I had more allies as strong as Shaeula, then perhaps Tsukiko-san’s death could have been prevented.”

Yukiko-san stifled a gasp at that, biting her lip, and I smiled at her reassuringly, deciding to say a few words to calm her. After all, Tsukiko-san was thinking of her in the end. I’ll speak to her more later. “Rest assured, Tsukiko-san was brave, and remained true to herself until the end. And you will see her again, Yukiko-san.”

“You promise?” she asked quietly, and I nodded.

“Of course I do. I’m many things, but no liar.”

“I’ll trust you then, Akio-san. I know Tsukiko trusted you too. To the very end.”

“If we could get back on topic…?” Minoru-san said. “I get that you are busy, son-in-law, but the needs of the country should be the first duty of any good citizen. Besides, the Ministry is going to provide you generous support so the least you can do is aid us in return. We can offer the same rate as before as payment.”

You mean the rate that probably wouldn’t add up to the money I got from one healing of an injured patron Hinata brought in, even if I did the whole military? It was frustrating. Sure, I did want to help my country, and I was always happy to provide a quick win-win, but this was going too far. Motoko obviously thought so too, as her grip on my hand was tightening, and I had to grab Hyacinth with my other hand, as she was trembling with suppressed annoyance.

“There are other unfinished matters as well.” Takatsukasa-san spoke up for the first time. We had a complicated relationship, as I was marrying his granddaughter who had been born outside Takatsukasa house, and he had also been healed by me from a rather grave illness. “I do appreciate your aid with the children of the Three Great Houses, but there is still much to do. As a pillar that supports the country, the nobility too should be prioritised for enhancement. Our children are the future leaders of Japan, powerful in business and influence. They should be protected and cherished.”

Well, I suppose I didn’t mind doing the previous noble children. Honoka-san is Miyu’s sister, so I want to get on with her like I do Miyu, and Fujiwara-san has been good to me. Sakura-san is Hinata’s cousin, as was Minoru-san, and the others… well, it was fine. Annoying, but fine. I want Hinata to get along well with her peers and she wants it too, so a bit of annoyance is nothing, but… I was beginning to think perhaps I was going about things the wrong way.

“I’m sure they are important.” I agreed. “But I can’t prioritise them right now. There’s too much going on, look around.” I pointed to the screens in the desktop, which was displaying footage from outside, where people were shouting and waving placards.

“All the more reason.” Ichijou-san piped up. “You need to shore up your support with the nobility if you are going to get ahead, Akio-kun.”

“Really? I’m marrying into nobility already. Hinata is Takatsukasa-san’s granddaughter, and I’m sure there was an agreement to treat her as a full member of Takatsukasa house, right? I should think my position is secure. Besides, I have that deal with your house too, Ichijou-san.” I said, fed-up.

“Well, that’s true.” He conceded. “But you can’t have too many friends, where the power lies.”

“I think we should take a break.” Abe-san said. “We are straying from the issues. We are in agreement we move forward with the legislation plan?” he scanned the room. “No objections then. All the previously discussed laws will be passed, while this mess distracts the wider public.” He smirked at me. “That’ll be handy for you right now. Anyway, we’ll reconvene in two hours, after we’ve had time to take care of business.”

“Fine. Come on Motoko, let’s go.” She gave me a worried glance, sensing my irritated mood, but agreed, following me out, Hyacinth behind us, her own mood rather foul.

********

“And you’re all done.” I slapped the shoulder of the last Special Forces soldier, Chirurgery completed at a rapid pace. I had great experience now, and with my Chirurgery having crossed the second wall, and my network currently an order of magnitude more efficient than previously under Shiro’s buffs, I was able to use Split Thoughts to grind through three or four at once. “I think that’s all of them, right?” I asked, and the Candidate who was overseeing the Chirurgery looked down at his manifest.

“Counting the ones you’ve done before, this concludes the roster of the Tokushusakusengun. I thought it would take far longer.” He observed, having some understanding of aether.

“Yeah, I thought so too, but practice really does make perfect. Even so, forcing it that way drains me far faster.” Without the better Network, I’d have ran dry several times. I did have to borrow some from the Territory stocks too, but I just wanted this damn project completed…

“Looks like I still have a little while left.” Checking my watch, I still had a bit over twenty minutes until we reconvened. Just time to see Motoko and Natsumi’s parents…