Tamamo-no-Mae, in the guise of Fujiwara no Nariko, struggles to contain her amusement at the scene surrounding her.
She had naturally managed to secure herself a spot among the nobles attending this auspicious event. There is no chance she would have allowed herself to miss it, and she has no regrets.
It is enjoyable enough simply being able to watch Narauko show off and have fun, but equally amusing is being in the presence of the nobility watching the spectacle.
Despite sitting on a neighbouring mountain, it is not as if many of the noble's eyes would be able to see so far. Which is why Tengen the Immortal set up a clairvoyant mirror to view the combat with.
Which is where Tamamo's amusement originates.
For the nobles surrounding her can roughly be split into two categories.
One half is full of fools that will watch the fight and deduce that the Onmyōji are weak and unimpressive. These fools she has enjoyed laughing at in her mind, or openly with Lady Shōshi on occasion.
The other half however, she finds an even greater amusement in. These are the men and women smart enough to recognise that it is not the Onmyōji that are weak.
It is just Narauko that is too strong.
It is among this camp that two individuals of particular note reside. One being the Emperor himself, Reizei.
Perhaps in another life she may have took action upon the clear interest that she has noticed in his eyes when his gaze has passed her, but with Narauko, she feels no interest in doing so. The only reason Reizei is even of note to her is because of his position.
Even with the inherent Blessing of Amaterasu-Ōmikami bestowed upon he who sits the Chrysanthemum Throne, Reizei is just a human in the end. Amaterasu-Ōmikami's blessing alone is not enough to make such a man of interest to her.
The other being of note present however is entirely different.
Sitting in a seat closer to the Emperor than any other, is a woman who manages to fill Tamamo with nerves even as the Ultimate-class being that she now is. It is difficult for her as a Yōkai to feel anything else when she sits in such proximity to the current Head of one of the Five Principle Clans.
Himejima no Suzaku. Matriarch of Clan Himejima, inheritor of Suzaku: the Vermilion Bird, and one of the most powerful beings this side of Takamagahara.
The Principle Clans are the enemy of all Yōkai. Five Clans that have dedicated generations to mastering the art of exterminating Yōkai. Tamamo's own mother used to tell her scary stories about the Principle Clans.
There is no Yōkai that does not fear them at least a little. Well, except for idiots and Ultimates, of which she has only recently become of the latter. Not that such a fact matters too much when faced with Suzaku the Vermilion Bird.
She has no idea what a Principle Clansman is doing here, let alone a Clan Head, but she does dearly hope it has nothing to do with her.
Then again, warring against her nerves, she cannot deny the rather intense desire to kill the woman. For just as all Yōkai fear the Principle Clans, so too do they despise them. And none are despised and feared in equal measure as the five Clan Heads, the inheritors of their Sacred Beasts.
Himejima no Suzaku is no exception. Even among the five, no Yōkai would want to face her. For despite the Vermilion flame that she wields, her heart is as cold as the others.
Tamamo's desire to kill her only grows as she recalls a certain fact. That in order to inherit a Sacred Beast, one must earn the approval of the Beast in question through some feat of importance. Often times, pretty much exclusively really, that feat would involve the extermination of Yōkai.
If Tamamo is not mistaken, which she knows she is not, then this Himejima's feat involved wiping out an entire Tanuki village. From the elders down the every child. Not a soul survived.
And she was celebrated for it!
Tamamo doubts that she will ever be able to forgive the hypocritical barbarism of Humanity, no matter what Narauko says.
Unfortunately, acting on that impulse to kill would almost certainly upset Narauko a great deal, which is not something she desires, no matter how justified she would be. So Tamamo settles on trying to pretend the woman doesn't exist, while also never letting the Himejima slip from her sight.
And possible plotting the woman's murder for the future.
Regardless of that however, the general mixture of fear and awe that the gathered nobility so clearly feel for Narauko is something that Tamamo deeply enjoys. Enough to even mostly forget about the Himejima's presence. The only thing that is odd to her is that she finds herself feeling proud of their awe. Their fear. As if Narauko's strength is somehow her own.
Such an odd sensation.
Either way, across both parties, she can feel the general fear that the nobles hold Sorcerers with being reawakened by the show and has to wonder if that was intentional or not. It is after all difficult to remain confident in one's power when it is entirely fictional in the face of a Sorcerers very real power.
Regardless, there is one thing that is certain. Now that Narauko has shown off his strength properly, there is no one left to doubt it.
That Narauko is The Strongest Sorcerer alive.
And then he goes and gives up the fight entirely in favour of a lap pillow from Nagiko.
Tamamo almost bust a gut laughing at the sight, but managed to rein in her amusement enough to not cause a scene amongst the affronted nobility.
You never fail to amuse, Narauko dear.
///
Himejima no Suzaku
///
Suzaku is irritated.
Unsurprising, considering that her current mission requires her to interact with the nobility of Heian-kyō. Such is never an enticing prospect.
However, her irritation extends beyond the expected, for someone is acting against her. Getting in her way.
She knows not who nor why, but all attempts to meet with this Narauko have failed to come to fruition.
She is not surprised that some pathetic noble is able to outmanoeuvre her here, for this is their home and a place she has no desire to learn of, let alone reside within. What surprises—and infuriates her is that someone would try.
How dare some gnat parading itself as noble act against her? Do they not know who she is? Have they forgotten within whom's Realm they reside? Have they forgotten that it is her Clan, the Principle Clans, that are the will of the Heavens?
She is on a noble mission. A direction, a quest given to her by Inari-sama herself! A Divine Mission personally given by the greatest of Kami beneath Amaterasu-Ōmikami!
Yet, upon arrival to this disgusting bastion of human corruption, Suzaku has been stymied again and again, even having to wait for some unimportant festivity to take place. As if such an insignificant event could hold precedence over the will of the Gods.
She struggled to keep her scorn from showing itself as countless fawning gnats came and went to bid her welcome and spew empty platitudes.
Kami how she detests this place. It is only that the Emperor, Reizei-Tennō, continues to hold Amaterasu-Ōmikami's Blessing as his ancestors have for a thousand years that held her back from simply ignoring all these annoying wastes of time.
Regardless, it is not all aggravating. Well, it pretty much is, but there is at least one positive to come of all this delay.
After all, Himejima no Suzaku is the Head of her Clan. The Inheritor of Suzaku. One of the most important humans alive.
She is not someone to be sent on petty missions or small favours. She is certainly not someone to act as an escort.
So when Inari-sama asked that she be the one to personally bring Narauko to her, Suzaku had assumed that it was because this was a mission directly from Inari-sama herself. That only Suzaku was qualified to personally carry out her Divine Will.
Despite the fact that being sent on such a minor errand should feel demeaning, for she is above such things, Suzaku only felt honoured.
Honoured that Inari-sama would notice her. Would personally witness her and find her adequate, could there be any greater joy?
The Principle Clans are the Will of Heaven on Earth, but rarely do the Kami above ever actually descend and speak to them in person. Such a thing has not happened for generations.
Yet Inari-sama came down from Heaven and she chose Suzaku as the one worthy enough to carry out her will.
Suzaku nearly cried from the honour, having never felt such joy before in her life. Not even Suzaku's acceptance of her could compare, a fact that had her namesake Sacred Beast complaining in her mind for some time.
However, now that Suzaku has had to deal with these unforeseen delays, she had the opportunity to bear witness to this Narauko's power first-hand.
Doing so has given her further clarification for this strange mission of hers.
She did so wonder why Inari-sama would want to meet with a Jujutsu Sorcerer of all people. Anything that a Jujutsu Sorcerer could do, her Clan could do better. She could do better. Would do better.
She would do anything Inari-sama asked of her without hesitation, without thought. Such is her and her Clan's devotion.
But Inari-sama denied their plea to be of greater service, and so she left to find the man called Narauko.
Now? Now that Suzaku has seen him fight?
Well, now she believes she can understand Inari-sama's interest.
He is strong. Abnormally so.
Still not quite at the level of Suzaku from what she saw. But that he could even be close to her is absurd, as she is only so strong because of the Sacred Beast within her.
To have the strength that he showed her against those Onmyōji? Suzaku struggles to accept that a pure-blooded human could have such power.
Which is when she came to a realisation. How she understood the purpose of this mission.
This Narauko must be a Child of Heaven. A Kami, or half-Kami that fell into their unworthy Realm of corrupt men and filthy misbegotten Yōkai.
It was with that realisation that Suzaku's resolve firmed.
Inari-sama did not send her simply to fetch some mortal man.
No, Inari-sama sent her to guide a fallen Kami back into the hands of the Divine!
She trusted her and her alone with such a righteous task! An honourable duty!
A most holy mission! For there is no greater honour than to be in service of the Gods!
Suzaku almost fell to her knees in tearful benediction at the realisation of the faith her beloved Ōkami has shown her. The trust.
So she would wait no longer. There would be no more delays.
Suzaku would bring Narauko-sama back to Inari-sama and fulfil her Divine Mission even if she has to slaughter every noble that gets in her way!
Which is why Suzaku did not hesitate to excuse herself the moment that Narauko-sama gave up on his fight and disappeared alongside Kiyohara no Nagiko, with whom he appears to have some manner of relationship.
In other circumstance, perhaps she would have felt disapproval at him ditching an event midway through, but this is just a mere mortal festival of no import. It is nothing in the face of the Divine, and she would not dare command what a Kami should or should not do, whether they wear the form of a human or not.
Some nobles did protest her departure, but she would not be deterred, not now and certainly not for something as paltry as the opinion of this corrupt filth.
The process of finding her charge was not a difficult one either, for the kami speak to her and guide her way. They do so with greater eagerness than she has ever felt of them before, further proof of her assertation.
With the kami of the forests and the trees and the kami of every blade of grass itself delightedly guiding her path, Suzaku soon finds herself led to a small clearing a short distance away from the mountains holding the festivities she left behind.
The clearing is not large, private, almost. Within, there is only a small, still pond and two figures resting against one another.
The woman, Kiyohara no Nagiko, is the first to note her approach. At least, she is the first to react to it, turning enough for Suzaku to meet the iridescent Cursed Eyes she wears.
Yet, the Kiyohara does not allow her appearance to distract her from threading her delicate fingers through Narauko-sama's hair from where he lays in her lap.
Suzaku approves, finding her opinion of the Kiyohara rising despite her nature as a Jujutsu Sorcerer. One should not be distracted from service to their Kami after all, and that she is even in such a position can only mean that the Kiyohara has somehow earned the acknowledgement of this lost Kami.
If Narauko-sama sees something in her, then Suzaku can only accept that the Kiyohara is not a mere Jujutsu Sorcerer. It is because of this that Suzaku does not glare nor feel any distaste upon meeting eyes with the Jujutsu Sorcerer, for the will of a Kami far exceeds any other factor.
But Suzaku's gaze does not linger on the mortal, as no human could ever hold her attention over a Kami given flesh.
Narauko, Suzaku finds, appears strange in the context of a Jujutsu Sorcerer. His face, even at rest as it is, is kind. Friendly in a way she has known no human to appear. Peaceful.
As a Jujutsu Sorcerer, his appearance would be odd to her. Abnormal.
But now that she knows the truth of his nature? It only seems suitable for a Kami to appear different to any mortal.
However, his appearance is only one thing. He is attractive, yes. As one should expect of a Kami. But it is not his body that attracts the majority of her attention.
No, that comes to when her other senses reach forward. When she senses his presence, his Cursed Energy. Flowing freely from his form not as an oppressive aura, but as a gentle wind. A soft caress of the land and the sky and the forest between.
She feels his Cursed Energy as it is, and Suzaku once again near falls to her knees in benediction.
It is warm, she thinks, her eyes stinging with unshed tears as she feels a boundless joy at once more being so blessed as to feel this warmth upon her skin. A familiar warmth, one that she has felt recently. A warmth that she has only felt in the presence of a Kami. You truly are Divine, Narauko-sama.
Suzaku's resolve, which was already unyielding, somehow manages to strengthen even further. She knew, in that very moment, that there was nothing but a direct message from Amaterasu-Ōmikami herself that could possibly stop her from completing her Divine Mission now.
She would sooner immolate her own flesh than fail in such a glorious purpose!
"I, Himejima no Suzaku, present to you my most humble greetings and deepest apologies for interrupting your peace, Narauko-sama, Kiyohara-dono." Her opening words cause the Kiyohara girl to react with surprise and confusion, but Suzaku hardly even notices as Narauko-sama reacts to her words.
His eyes flutter open, revealing deep onyx orbs that seem to burn with barely visible embers, like hot coals within the whites of his eyes. Suzaku's breath catches in her throat and her heart flutters as he sits up facing her, those intense orbs locked on to her.
A mixture of nervousness and excitement and worship and shame well up within her, causing her to avert her gaze to the forest floor below, not feeling that she is worthy to meet his gaze. For she is only a mortal human. Even with Suzaku within her, she cannot shake the understanding that she only stands above all other humans, but not nearly high enough to be even with the Divine.
Just having his attention on her fills her with such bliss, with the knowledge—no, the certainty that there is no greater purpose than to be an instrument of Divine Edict.
"Uh, yeah, it's fine," Narauko-sama responds, and Suzaku struggles to remain a respectable appearance as his voice washes over her. The warmth she is so sensitive to flowing with the sound, filling her with honour to be blessed enough to receive his attention.
If not for the Kiyohara present, she would already be bowing on her knees, for Suzaku is the Head of the Himejima. She only hopes that Narauko-sama will not see her still standing as an insult. As if she thinks herself above him.
Would he think that? That I am demeaning him? Should I kneel anyway? The Kiyohara are hardly an important Clan, and this one is clearly already in his glorious service. What an enviable position to be in~.
Suzaku is halfway to offering to join with Kiyohara in giving Narauko-sama her body to comfort himself however he pleases when his voice interrupts her spiralling thoughts.
"Did you need something, Himejima-san?"
The fluster that immediately rouses in her mind does not show on her face, for to show such a sight would be beyond sacrilegious. Instead, Suzaku swallows the yelp that almost leaves her and manages to respond with the respectful composure befitting of conversation with a Kami.
"Yes, Narauko-sama." As she speaks, her eyes remain below his and her hands come together as she bows. "This humble one begs forgiveness for imposing a request on your person. It would fill my heart with joy if your auspicious self would consider allowing this humble servant to guide you, for Inari-sama herself has asked that this humble one would deliver you to her."
A brief silence follows her words before the Kiyohara woman beings to laugh for some reason. Suzaku is naturally curious, but she does not dare raise her head without permission, so her eyes remain firmly on the grass below as she awaits his answer.
"What?!" Suzaku barely hears Narauko-sama whisper in response to something the Kiyohara whispered to him, but she has no time to ponder that before she is distracted by the feeling of his attention returning to her form. "Hey listen... I'm not a Kami? Sorry? I am The Strongest sure, but I am entirely human."
Suzaku's eyes widen at the words and what they can only mean.
He is not aware of his own Divine nature! She exclaims in her mind, certain now that there is something going on that she does not understand. Not that this fact surprises her, for how could a mere mortal like her ever comprehend the workings of the Divine?
So despite how she aches to argue his own status, Suzaku merely bows deeper, knowing better than to contradict a Kami.
"If that is what you say, Narauko-sama."
"Uhuh, right... So you said something about Inari-sama? And please stop bowing so deeply."
Brightening and acquiescing to Narauko-sama's request, Suzaku straightens her back, even if her eyes remain low.
"Yes, Narauko-sama. Inari-sama has asked this humble one to bring you before her. Shall we depart immediately?"
"Uhhhhhh." Narauko turns to regard the Kiyohara and though no word is spoken, Suzaku is sure that an exchange takes place. Then, the Kami given flesh shrugs his shoulders and rises to his feet, revealing an impressive stature, though Suzaku expected no less. "Sure, why not. Meeting Inari-sama sounds fun. Later, Nagiko."
The irreverent manner with which he speaks of Inari-sama only further solidifies his nature in Suzaku's mind, for surely no human would be so audacious.
Suzaku also notes the lacking of honorifics used to address the Kiyohara, who simply responds to Narauko-sama with an amused smile and a nod. The Kiyohara also sends a smile in Suzaku's direction, which she interprets as the woman accepting her as a worthy escort of Narauko-sama.
Normally such a thing might insult her, for Suzaku has no need of approval. But clearly this woman's Cursed Eyes must have informed her of Narauko-sama's true nature, and her clear subservience to him proves in Suzaku's mind that the Kiyohara understands how one should act with a Kami.
This causes Suzaku to actually have a rather high opinion of the Kiyohara, despite them being a Jujutsu Sorcerer. So she returns the Kiyohara's smile with a nod of her own, hoping that the gesture will properly convey her dedication to being of proper service to Narauko-sama for what time they will be together.
This makes the Kiyohara laugh for some reason, possibly overwhelmed with joy at meeting someone so dedicated to the Kami as her. Suzaku is aware that some people tend to get a little bit exaggerated in their worship and assumes that to be the case. Truly, this Kiyohara must struggle greatly being surrounded by so many heathens at all times.
Suzaku finds her respect for the woman growing with the thought.
"Well?" Narauko-sama's voice pulls her from her thoughts once more, and Suzaku barely contains her fluster at realising how close they now stand. "I don't know the way."
"Indeed." Suzaku nods, bowing once more. "Then, please allow this humble one to be your guide, Narauko-sama."
"Yeah yeah, sure," Narauko-sama waves a hand in the air, and then Suzaku almost forgets how to think as he drops one of his big and strong, yet firm and gentle hands on her shoulder, straightening her out of her bow. "But please stop with the whole 'this humble one' and 'Narauko-sama' and all the bowing. You are too strong to lower your head so easily. I'm not even a noble you know? I grew up in a forest. My first friends were deer. Just Narauko-san is fine."
Of course, Suzaku would never ignore the words of a Kami, but at the same time, she certainly doesn't give his words the full attention she normally would, as her mind is far too busy overheating alongside her reddening face.
He touched me! He actually touched me! A Kami held me! And called me strong! Eeeeeeeeeeeeee~! I can die happy~! Thank you for this opportunity Inari-samaaa~!
It is only after a moment of excitement that she can even control herself enough to think through the latter half of his words and understand their meaning.
So he is a Kami of forests and deer? Is that why it is Inari-sama seeking him? Are they related somehow?
"Y-yes!" Suzaku exclaims, unable to hide the wide smile on her face or her excitement. "Please follow me Narauko-sama!"
"I said—tsk never mind," Narauko-sama mutters, but Suzaku is too deep in fantasy to hear the quiet complaint.
All in all, Suzaku thinks that she is doing a wonderful job fulfilling Inari-sama's wishes so far!
That she now has the opportunity to interact with Narauko-sama for the entire duration of their journey to Inari-sama only makes things even better!
It's rather wonderful!
Her day started out so poorly and full of irritation, but she hardly even remembers any of that with how amazingly her day has ended!
And so, as she walks through the forest with a Kami by her side, Suzaku briefly closes her eyes and sends a short, honest prayer to Inari-sama.
Thank you for this Blessing, Inari-sama! I am forever your devoted servant!
///
Inari
///
Inari receives a lot of prayers. More than any other Shinto God.
Because of this, she has long learned to tune most of them out, though she does still answer them fairly regularly. That's probably a large part of why she receives so many in the first place.
It's not like Susano'o is going to be answering any prayers. Not if there isn't a spectacularly beautiful woman involved anyway.
Still, while she may tune most of them out, certain individuals are important or interesting enough for her to pay attention.
Which is why she hears it when Himejima no Suzaku abruptly prays to her, which is in itself curious as she should be fetching Narauko right now.
Then Inari actually listens to the prayer and only finds herself feeling confused.
She doesn't recall granting any Blessings lately...
Curious, she decides to look into this a little bit and soon has all of the answers to her confusion...
"Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!"
...And immediately bursts into laughter.
"Hahahahahahahahahaha!! That's hilarious!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!"
Only after getting all of her amusement out of her system does Inari wipe a tear from her eye and sigh in endless amusement.
"And they wonder why I give humanity so much of my attention." Inari shakes her head, speaking the words about her fellow Kami with both deep amusement and mocking. "This is too funny~! I need to tell Ama-chan immediately~!"
///
A/N: He~llo! Dear readers!
So.... that happened.
Did not think I would be imitating overlord today, but here we are lmao. Suzaku was not at all planned to be a religious fanatic, but that's how things shook up lol.
Btw, in case you're curious about my writing style. My mum has said many times that she finds it fascinating how I'm so frequently surprised by my own writing, and I recently explained it to her in a way I think encapsulates things pretty well, so I'll share it.
Just gotta think about it like math. So consider this, to me, a 'character' is the sum of an 'equation'. The 'equation' is a combination of all references made of the character in question. For example, Suzaku. The 'numbers' that made up her equation were very limited. All that I had established so far that would be relevant to her 'character' and thus present in her 'equation' were as follows.
1. The Principle Clans serve the gods and kill yokai and do not care about anything else. 2. An arrogant bastard called the principle clans arrogant even to his sensibilities. 3. Principle clansmen are entirely callous to yokai and willing to kill any humans that help them, as seen with the Nakiri. 4. Suzaku is the head of the Himejima clan.
That was basically it. So while I didn't have an 'answer' for what Suzaku's character would be, I did have an 'equation'. From there, it is just a matter of doing the math and figuring out the 'character'.
In that, the answer I fell onto was a religious fanatic, because have you ever tried arguing with a deeply devoted religious person? Especially a monotheistic one? Don't take this to be me demeaning believers or anything, it's just that there is no arrogance stronger than faith.
Again, this isn't me saying that faith is a bad thing, nor am I using the term arrogance negatively here. Saying 'Your words do not matter, you will never convince me that there is no God' is just as arrogant as saying 'Your words do not matter, you will never convince me that there is a God'.
The point isn't really even religion, it's just faith. Because I figured that the only way to make the Principle clans arrogant enough that an arrogant noble would consider them arrogant bastards would be to have them be truly faithful. Because if they were just normal human arrogant, then they would just be another group of nobles and that comment of them being arrogant bastards wouldn't have mathed out.
So yeah, that's basically the process I go through with everything I write (tho there are usually more figures to the equation than there were with Suzaku). It's why I'm constantly surprised by the actions of my own characters.
Because it doesn't matter if you know all of the numbers in the equation, you will never know the answer until you actually do the math, y'know?
It's why sometimes people like Ise no Tayu, aka wakwaka girl die even though I don't want them to. Cuz I do the math globally as well for broader things, and it just doesn't work out well for some people sometimes. (I'm still mad about killing Shatterbird in my Jester fic btw. I had such cool ideas for her maaaan. tsk.)