Opportunity

Heian-kyo at night, the bustling Choyo-machi.

The glistening river flowed through the prosperous Ghost Market, dotted with floating river lanterns. Countless humans and yokai gathered on both banks, cheering as a magnificent flower boat slowly passed by. Onboard, a beautiful dancer gracefully fluttered like a butterfly.

Shiranui danced with abandon on the flower boat, her expression focused, entirely unmoved by the fervent enthusiasm of the audience on both banks. As Shiranui's name spread, the crowds gathering for each performance grew larger and larger, packing the riverbanks, sometimes stretching from the starting point to the very end.

The countless spectators, the myriad gazes, the ever-increasing fervor—all of it brought back many memories for Shiranui. This scene was reminiscent of Nightless Island fifty years ago, yet things were not as they once were.

When the flower boat docked at its destination, Shiranui concluded her day's performance. As she stepped into her cabin, her private room, she found many new things inside.

Piles of coins, exquisite jade artifacts, elegant calligraphies and paintings, boxes of golden koban... priceless items lay before her. This sight felt eerily familiar...

"Lady Shiranui, these are gifts specially prepared by Young Lord Yu. He is a powerful yokai under Owl General, renowned for his handsomeness in Choyo-machi and a prominent figure in Heian-kyo's demon realm..." Her maid smiled and spoke to Shiranui. Shiranui paused slightly after hearing this, then sighed deeply.

"Ah... send them all back. Just say I appreciate the sentiment..."

Shiranui finished speaking, then walked straight out of the cabin, leaving her yokai maid momentarily bewildered.

"Wait..." At that moment, a male voice echoed from behind a screen inside the cabin. Subsequently, a handsome man with a face like jade slowly emerged, smiling as he looked at Shiranui and spoke.

"Lady Shiranui, to jump to conclusions so quickly without even meeting me, I fear you might regret it..."

Facing the suddenly appearing stranger, Shiranui first frowned slightly. After carefully scrutinizing the man before her, a hint of amusement appeared in her expression. Then, she spoke to her maid beside her.

"I recall instructing that no outsiders are permitted in my room. Show him out..."

"Eh... please don't be so hasty, Lady Shiranui. Let's get to know each other first..." Seeing Shiranui's resolute attitude, the man spoke with a hint of panic. Shiranui, however, responded with a rather mysterious smile.

"One who doesn't even understand themselves shouldn't speak of understanding each other..."

"Don't understand myself?" Hearing Shiranui's words, a trace of confusion appeared in the man's eyes. Before he could say anything more, Shiranui spoke again.

"Very well, we are now closed. Young Lord, if you insist on staying, then don't blame me for resorting to other means." As Shiranui spoke, her tone carried a hint of danger. The man was startled, then ceased his attempts.

...

Inside the Cat Izakaya in Choyo-machi, the handsome man known as Young Lord Yu was sullenly drinking sake at a table. Above him, on a ceiling beam, Slippery Nura lay casually, watching the scene below with a smile.

"Looks like you struck out, didn't you? I warned you before, she's not someone you can win over," Slippery Nura said with a smile. The man ignored him, continuing to drink his sake.

Seeing this, Slippery Nura's form flickered, vanishing into thin air from the beam. Less than two seconds later, a puff of white smoke suddenly erupted from the drinking man. When the smoke cleared, it wasn't the handsome man who stood there, but a rather chubby, short tanuki.

"Slippery Nura!" the tanuki roared, calling out a name. Across the table from him, Slippery Nura slowly materialized, holding a leaf.

"Haha, you're much cuter like this. I never liked that pretty boy appearance you've been putting on for years."

"Mind your own business! How am I supposed to charm girls looking like a tanuki? Besides, yokai transforming is perfectly normal, isn't it? I think you're just jealous I can become more handsome than you," the tanuki grumbled, looking at Slippery Nura. But Slippery Nura seemed unfazed by his words.

"Heh heh... your appearance can only fool some naive human girls and minor yokai. If you encounter a truly powerful, distinguished, elegant, and discerning beauty like Shiranui... it simply won't work. See? You got rejected tonight." Slippery Nura said to the tanuki with a teasing tone. The other immediately flared up, slamming his hand on the table and rising.

"Nonsense! I, Young Lord Yu, have been a master of romance in Choyo-machi for years! How could I only manage minor yokai!"

"Then tell me, in your list of conquests, which noblewomen of power, status, and standing have you won over?" Slippery Nura asked the angry tanuki with a smile. The tanuki thought for a moment, then immediately deflated.

"Ugh... none for now, but that doesn't diminish my skill! I'll conquer such a noblewoman someday," the tanuki said indignantly. Slippery Nura, however, waved his hand with a smile.

"No need for 'someday'... the opportunity is right before you."

"Opportunity?" "You must have heard, the Great Onmyoji Asakura Hao of Heian-kyo, her daughter Asakura Kaguya, is publicly seeking a husband. Princess Kaguya is rumored to be a noblewoman embodying elegance, beauty, grace, status, and power, recognized by the Heian-kyo Kizoku as the future most beautiful woman in the world. If you can stand out among the many suitors, win her favor, and eventually marry her, then I will believe in your abilities." As Slippery Nura spoke, he slapped the leaf in his hand onto the table in front of the tanuki. The tanuki stared at the leaf, muttering to himself.

"Kaguya... a princess?"

...

Heian-kyo, Upper Capital District, within the Minamoto Residence.

The head of the Minamoto Clan, Minamoto no Yorimitsu, was currently wearing a light yukata, writing at a desk in the armory Pavilion. What he was writing was a formal letter of courtesy, soon to be sent to the Asakura family. Due to its great importance, Minamoto no Yorimitsu was personally writing it.

At this moment, Onikiri's figure appeared like a phantom before Minamoto no Yorimitsu's desk. After kneeling on one knee, he bowed and spoke to Minamoto no Yorimitsu.

"Lord, the appropriate generous gifts have been prepared and can be sent to the Asakura family tomorrow."

"You've worked hard..." Minamoto no Yorimitsu said, folding the completed letter and handing it to Onikiri. After receiving it, a hint of complexity appeared in Onikiri's expression, and his change was keenly noticed by Minamoto no Yorimitsu.

"What's wrong, Onikiri? Is there a problem?"

"No, nothing. I just don't quite understand. Is Princess Kaguya truly that important? Important enough for you, my Lord, to lower your standing and compete with so many others to pursue her..." Onikiri slowly said, looking at his master.

"Heh heh, Princess Kaguya is indeed very important, but not because of her beauty and elegance, but because of her status. As the Asakura family's only daughter, marrying her would mean gaining the support of Asakura Hao. Furthermore, in the future, I could even inherit the Asakura family and receive the legacy of Asakura Style Onmyojutsu. This would undoubtedly greatly enhance the Minamoto Clan's current opportunities...

"Therefore, for the sake of the clan's interests, I must marry Princess Kaguya."