The Day of Thunder

"...but it is the best chance we have of bringing them into fight."

He smiles

"It might be a long shot but can we really afford not taking it?"

"It would need to be done properly... what are the broad strokes, what would be needed?"

"The only thing that can bring down a dream. Stories, tales, folk that bounds it to the land. What is not folklore but rather dreams that passed from mouth to mouth?"

He snorted

"It is esoteric to say the least, but what else would ground a dream than a tale of said dream?"

"Sounds like we need to consult that madwoman Kai. She's always on about stories and symbols..."

"She is essential for this plan to work. The ritual speaks of the four guardians and she is, without doubt, the White Tiger of the West."

He lifts his chin to the ceiling.

"Now we just need to find the Azure Dragon of the West, the Black Tortoise of the North and the Red Phoenix of the South."

"Or suitable stand-ins. She ranted at me about it for a bit. Mentioned that we'd turnd the ortoise into a Crab, for example."

"Well Lady Anjing was alive when the Crab still were blessed by the ocean. And her life is long and storied."

He looks at him

"You also seem to fit the role of the Red Phoenix of the South. Your life is as long and storied, if not more, than Lady Anjing's. Didn't you head into the literal pit of hell to rescue a God?"

"I'm no symbol, Naraku-san. My story is... long, and complex, and has embraced many things."

He chuckled.

"But Shiba Kumori-sama? I think she might have it in her to be a... Vermilion Bird or whatever it was Kai was talking about."

"You sound like my father. A bit more verbose, but still like him. He'd just glared at me with the disappointment that only a father can show."

He thought about Kumori.

"She does care about people. That is an important trait for a leader to have. It is easy to be amicable and kind to those who are high in the social ladder but showing that same kindness to those that have nothing they can offer? Now that is much harder and one of the best traits a leader can have."

"It's why I swore myself to her father. And why, if I'm still alive, I will swear myself to whichever of the five daughters follows him."

He snorted.

"Whatever use they'd have for me by then, of course."

"Thinking about retiring after all of this? Becoming a monk and sharing your wisdom?"

He laughed, enjoying the peaceful reprieve after such an awful day.

"I don't know why I can't imagine you as a monk. Not my father for that matter. I think when my father decides to return he will simply head towards the north to explore. Die with his boots on"

"I'd make a lousy monk. But I could see closing my life out working on my calligraphy or sorting scrolls. Shuffling around the library. Strategically re-shelving some Clan histories as fiction. Teaching my grandchildren to torment my children once I'm gone..."

"Ah yes the great shuffling. Why have armies when we can have the power of tales?"

He laughed.

"I'd like to visit the libraries one day and just read. Hell I'd like to visit the rest of the Empire. I'm in my twenties and I have only seen as far as this village. I know the Hiruma lands by heart but other than that? Nothing"

He looks at the water

"I want to see the ocean. That big saltwater lake. Want to see if it's that impressive."

"It is, Naraku-san. It's... it seems boundless. Both its expanse and its depth. I'm no great sailor- spent my one noteworthy sea voyage being sick over the after-rail, but... it should be seen."

"And the animals? Is it true that there are great grey leviathans that breech the water and spout water as they do so? And sea fish does it taste like river carp?"

Naraku seemed to be positively giddy up about knowing more about the ocean

"Whales. They're... huge, yes. Beautiful. But also unnervingly massive. And... well. Carp doesn;t taste the same as trout, and so on. The ocean's fish are no different."

"I'll visit it after all of this. I want to see it."

He relaxed and sunk slightly.

"Maybe visit the Crane lands... I hear they're beautiful."

"If you can stand all of the Crane."

He was plainly joking. Probably.

"But yes, their lands are beautiful. But if you want to know the truth, Naraku-san... all the lands of the Empire have some beauty to call their own."

"I guess the question is more if they can stand me."

He laughed before giving a nod of agreement to the words of the Phoenix.

"I agree. There is so much to see, so many people to meet. I really want to see it all."

He paused before he snorted

"A few days ago I would have rolled my eyes if someone had said what I just said. Guess this village can enact positive change."

"Hope for you yet, kid."

Sora dipped deeper into the pool.

"It's a big beautiful world out there, might as well go and see."