The Incarnation of Dakini-ten

High above the Minamoto Forbidden Grounds, Miketsu remained in her Dakini-ten form, suspended in mid-air as she continued the dialogue within her mind with Dakini-ten's consciousness.

"It seems... I haven't become your incarnation after all," Miketsu murmured, examining her slender arms.

Dakini-ten replied with a hint of annoyance, "Of course not. After all, you aren't the incarnation—you are the original."

"The original..." Miketsu scratched her head and spoke slowly. "I had my suspicions, but I'll have to trouble you to explain the current situation."

"Explain... I can do that. However, this way of communicating is a bit awkward. We need to change it."

"Change it? How?" Miketsu asked, puzzled by Dakini-ten's words.

"For a moment, don't use any of your instinctive restraints. Just leave everything to me," Dakini-ten continued. After a moment of thought, Miketsu gave a slight nod.

Immediately after, a soft light radiated from Miketsu's body. She felt a portion of the power belonging to Dakini-ten attempting to detach itself from her. Yet, this detachment was not a total split; it was a separation that maintained a certain connection. Miketsu felt that if she wished, she could use that connection to pull the detached portion back.

Following her word, Miketsu offered no resistance. A burst of light peeled away from her and coalesced in front of her. When the light faded, it revealed a figure dressed in Dakini-ten's attire, looking exactly like Miketsu. Meanwhile, the original Miketsu had reverted to her traditional red-and-white miko outfit. Seeing this, Tsuruha, who was watching from the side, was visibly startled.

"Ahhh~ Is this the fresh air of freedom? Is this the human realm? This feels wonderful!" In the twilight, the manifested Dakini-ten's first act was to spread her arms and twirl in mid-air, seemingly enamored with her surroundings.

"Dakini-ten?" Miketsu asked with a trace of doubt, looking at the girl who was her identical twin. The other girl stopped spinning and looked back at Miketsu with a smile.

"This is the first time we've spoken face-to-face in reality, isn't it? Of course, it's also the first time I've stepped into the human realm in several hundred years. I have you to thank for that. I know you have many questions. Ask away."

Dakini-ten spoke with a satisfied air, and Miketsu did not hold back.

"The current situation is... we have completely undergone syncretism and can be considered a single entity. In terms of status, you are the incarnation, and I am the original?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Dakini-ten shrugged, giving a direct response.

"But when I first signed the syncretism contract, Byakuren told me that the essence of this union was 'Buddha-primary, God-secondary.' If the syncretism were complete, I should have been the one to become the incarnation," Miketsu continued. After she had used that contract, Byakuren had repeatedly warned her never to deepen the syncretism too much, lest she be eroded by Dakini-ten and eventually become her vessel. Now, the situation seemed to be the exact opposite.

"Yes, that method of syncretism was originally created by that fellow Kukai. Its fundamental purpose was to proselytize on this island nation and erode the local faith. Naturally, the status was 'Buddha-primary, God-secondary.' However... a contract created by mortals is not something difficult for a god or Buddha to modify," Dakini-ten answered with a smile. Miketsu was momentarily stunned by her words.

"Could it be... you modified the contract?"

"Indeed. When the contract was signed, I modified the master-servant relationship within the terms. I changed it from 'Buddha-primary, God-secondary' to 'God-primary, Buddha-secondary.'" Dakini-ten wagged a finger back and forth as she spoke.

"As I thought... But why would you go out of your way to modify the contract to your own disadvantage?" Miketsu asked. From her expression, it seemed she had anticipated this to some degree.

Upon hearing Miketsu's question, Dakini-ten's smile widened. She turned toward the setting sun on the horizon, spread her arms, and raised her voice.

"That? Well, naturally, it was to escape that fellow, the Nyorai! To escape that monotonous, boring life of chanting sutras in the Western Pure Land, how could I possibly pass up such a rare opportunity!"

"Uh... to escape the Nyorai?" Miketsu was momentarily taken aback. She suddenly recalled the myths regarding Dakini-ten—she was a Kishin who had been subdued by Dainichi Nyorai using his Daikokuten Dharma Form! Could it be that she had proactively sought syncretism just to escape the Nyorai's control?

"Yes! You have no idea how boring life in the Celestial Realm is compared to the colorful human realm. Besides, the rules over there are incredibly strict. I've been looking for a chance to break away from them for a long time, and this syncretism was a once-in-a-lifetime chance."

Maintaining her smile, Dakini-ten spoke slowly to Miketsu. Miketsu stood in silence for a few seconds before letting out a sigh.

"You... you actually took such a huge risk just to avoid living in the Western Pure Land? Weren't you afraid that I would completely erase your consciousness and turn you into a mere puppet incarnation?" Miketsu's tone was quite serious. As the original, she now held immense power over Dakini-ten, the incarnation.

"Afraid? Of course I was. But you wouldn't do that, would you?" Dakini-ten looked at Miketsu playfully. Miketsu paused, not answering immediately.

"Hehe. Thirteen years ago, when your projection appeared in the Western Pure Land seeking syncretism with the Buddhas, I saw that you were a Benevolent God with a gentle divinity. You are not the type to strip away the consciousness of an innocent. That is why I beat the others to the punch and established the contract with you. I did it so that even after we fully merged, I could maintain my autonomy. After all, as long as I don't commit any evil acts that cross your line, the merciful Inari Okami won't do anything to me, right?"

Dakini-ten spoke calmly. This explained why Miketsu, a Benevolent God, had attracted a Kishin like Dakini-ten to initiate syncretism. It was precisely because Miketsu was a Benevolent God that she would not maliciously mistreat the one providing her with power. This allowed Dakini-ten to rest easy, knowing she would retain a degree of independence even as an incarnation.