A Devout Visit

At the Inari Shrine, the sky was clear and the sun was bright. Miketsu, dressed in a white kariginu, walked along the long approach path of Mount Inari. She climbed step by step until she reached the final one. As she passed through the torii gate—her usual favorite spot—she let out a long sigh of relief.

"Whew... that’s the first time I’ve climbed these stairs from bottom to top. It took quite a bit of effort. This shrine really was built a bit too high up..." Dressed as an Onmyoji, Miketsu stood beneath the torii and looked back down at the long approach stretching below. She couldn't help but grumble inwardly. Usually, she went up and down the mountain by riding Tsuruha or Konkiku, or occasionally Makoto. This was the first time she had walked the entire path as a human pilgrim.

And indeed, the experience of coming to worship herself was also a first.

Pushing other thoughts aside, Miketsu turned and went to the purification fountain to wash her hands. Then, she walked straight to the front of the worship hall. After waiting in line for a short while, she stood before the offertory box. She tossed in a copper coin, rang the bell, and offered a very devout prayer to herself. Watching from within the divine realm, Tsuruha looked on with a face full of speechless embarrassment.

Because of the nature of Inari Okami, most visitors to the Inari Shrine were commoners—mostly farmers—or landlords with vast fields. A profession like an Onmyoji was almost never seen here. Consequently, Asakura Hao's appearance immediately caught the attention of the shrine's miko. They whispered to one another and gathered behind the worship hall, discussing this extremely rare sight: a young girl Onmyoji.

"Hey, look... that's an Onmyoji. Did you see?"

"Of course I did. And she's such a young girl. It's my first time seeing one! No, it's probably the first time one has ever shown up..."

"By the way... Reiko, doesn't your family have some status in the capital? Do you know anything about this?"

"Hmm... I heard my older brother say that a genius young Onmyoji girl appeared in the Onmyoryo and was recruited by the Fujiwara clan. That must be her. But why would she think to come and worship Inari Okami?"

......

"Ahem... you are the shrine's miko, I presume?"

The miko were clustered at the edge of the hall, gossiping excitedly. Right as they were in the middle of it, Miketsu had somehow quietly approached them. Her sudden cough gave all the girls a fright.

"Wah! O-Onmyoji-sama, what... what can we do for you?"

The startled miko turned to face Miketsu with looks of terror, speaking with a mix of guilt and respect. Internally, they wondered how this Onmyoji knew they were right there.

Seeing the miko look increasingly guilty, Miketsu couldn't help but smirk. She knew exactly what they were thinking. Normally, these girls were quite idle on the mountain. To kill time, they loved gathering to gossip, usually about the pilgrims coming up from below. From farmers to nobles, no matter who came, they could chatter and point for half an hour.

Since Miketsu herself often got bored staying at the shrine, she frequently stood right beside these miko, eavesdropping on their gossip. Naturally, this meant she knew exactly where they liked to hide.

"The shrine head should be here today, right? I have something to discuss with him. Please inform him of my presence," Miketsu said directly to her own miko.

"Yes! Michikiyo-sama is in the shrine today. We will go inform him immediately!" Upon hearing Miketsu's words, the miko hurried off in different directions.

......

The Hata Clan was a lineage of Toraijin who had crossed over from the continent centuries ago. Due to the many advanced technologies they brought with them, they were highly valued by Japan's rulers, playing crucial roles in architecture, culture, and spells, eventually becoming one of the noble clans.

The main Inari Shrine in Fushimi was built by the Hata clan. Since then, they had been in charge of the rituals and ceremonies for Inari Okami, serving as Miketsu's hereditary clan of priests.

The daily maintenance of the Inari Shrine on Mount Inari was performed by the miko. The Hata priests did not live on the mountain; aside from staying for extended periods during festivals, they only visited periodically.

Miketsu stood calmly before the honden. Before her stood a middle-aged man in priestly robes, his face clouded with confusion.

His name was Hata no Michikiyo, the current head priest of the Inari Shrine within the Hata clan. Miketsu knew he had come to the shrine today, so she had specifically visited as Asakura Hao to find him.

"Is your excellency... Asakura Hao?" Michikiyo asked with a tone of puzzlement, to which Miketsu replied calmly.

"Indeed."

"As a favorite of the Fujiwara clan, what business brings you to this shrine specifically to see me today?" Michikiyo continued, his attitude cautious. He had heard of the relationship between Asakura Hao and the Fujiwara, and even suspected if she came on their behalf.

"My visit has nothing to do with the Fujiwara. I simply have some questions for someone of the Hata clan."

"Questions?"

Looking at the puzzled Michikiyo, Miketsu pulled a scroll from her sleeve and handed it over. Michikiyo took the scroll and unfurled it; as he read the contents, his brow immediately furrowed.

"The place recorded in here—was it once a residence of the Hata clan?" Miketsu asked, watching his troubled expression.

"Yes... this was indeed an old residence of our clan. Moreover, it was a home that stood on this land even before Heian-kyo was established. A hundred years ago, we were forced to abandon it because of a rampaging yokai," Michikiyo said in a low, heavy voice. His words caught Miketsu's attention.

A residence that existed even before Heian-kyo was built? That meant the house was likely established around the same time as her own Inari Shrine.

"To be precise, you abandoned it for the yokai dwelling within."

"A yokai? Does your excellency intend to exorcise it? If so, I advise against it. That being is someone even a Senior Secretary of the Onmyoryo would not dare provoke lightly," Michikiyo warned with an air of caution.

"Haha... I didn't say I was going to exorcise it yet. What I need are the details on that yokai's background. Once I understand enough, I'll make my decision," Miketsu replied with a smile.

Seeing Miketsu's attitude, Michikiyo paused, then sighed as he decided not to hide anything further.

"Sigh... It is not appropriate to speak of such a powerful yokai in a clan residence to outsiders. But since your excellency has taken the trouble to travel so far to this Inari Shrine specifically for me, I cannot very well refuse to answer..."

Listening to Hata no Michikiyo's words, Miketsu's lip twitched. She thought to herself: I didn't really travel much at all; this place is basically my front door.

"Actually, the matter of the old residence happened nearly a hundred years ago. Those involved are no longer with us. I only know what I heard from my elders, so I am not entirely clear on everything. As for that yokai, I only know its approximate origin..."

"Origin? Then what exactly is it?"

"Your excellency, have you ever heard of... the Mask of Hata no Kawakatsu?"