Advice for the Reincarnated Love

Chapter 96: Suggestions

Nighttime in Tokyo, Ukiyoe-cho.

Even in the darkness, the city remained awash in neon lights. Although the recent incident had concluded and the crisis was averted, the impact continued to linger. The preceding, incessant sounds of artillery and sky-shaking disputes had sparked a trend of discourse. A wave of panic-buying and hoarding had swept through various supermarkets and convenience stores, a state of chaos that would require some time for the relevant government departments to resolve.

Above the clamorous city, amidst the night sky where the evening breeze blew, an ancient wooden ship hovered. Its banners fluttered in the wind, emblazoned with the Nura Clan's 'Fear' crest. Obvious demonic energy radiated from it. As an entity clearly belonging to the demon realm, the floating vessel remained invisible to the mortals below, shielded by the boundary. Upon this large, archaic wooden ship, at the bow, Miketsu sat dressed in black robes and wrapped in bandages. Before her lay a nodate blanket, set with several cups and a pot of sake. On the other side of the blanket sat Nura Rihyon and Tamamura. As previously agreed, Miketsu had come to meet them. Following Miketsu's wishes, Nura Rihyon had selected this tranquil location.

"Hmph. I didn't expect you to still have a treasure like this. Yokai ships were mostly destroyed during the Sengoku period, yet your Nura Clan actually has one left," Tamamura remarked with a hint of admiration as he looked at the surrounding scenery. Beside him, Nura Rihyon responded with a touch of pride.

"Heh, naturally. This is the 'Treasure Ship' of my Nura Clan. It's not something we bring out lightly. Since the Commander said she wanted somewhere quiet, there's no place more peaceful than high in the sky." Nura Rihyon spoke while turning his gaze toward Miketsu. She took a small sip of refined sake before speaking calmly.

"It seems you have both accumulated your own foundations. Not bad."

"Haha, being acknowledged by the Commander is truly an honor. However, while we have indeed accumulated something, I can no longer use it myself. Before long, it will all be handed over to that boy," Nura Rihyon said with a trace of self-deprecation. The 'boy' he referred to was naturally his grandson, Nura Rikuo.

"Indeed. No matter how much one accumulates, it mostly belongs to those youngsters now. Our bodies have grown old; we can't keep at it like we used to. Unlike you, Commander—you're still as powerful as you were over a thousand years ago," Tamamura sighed. Hearing Tamamura's words, Miketsu briefly scanned the two former subordinates before her. Her gaze sharpened as she spoke in a low voice.

"Is there some other reason?"

"Heh, the Commander's insight is as startling as ever. Yes, the extreme weakness Tamamura and I suffer from isn't purely due to natural causes. Both of us sustained irreversible, severe wounds during the eras of war. Over the years, our demonic power has leaked away significantly, resulting in our current states," Nura Rihyon explained slowly, his voice laced with reminiscence. Tamamura nodded in agreement.

"Yes. I was struck by the demonic blade when I fought the Devil King's Mallet. The blade pierced my body, and sinister energy invaded me. As for Nura Rihyon, he was robbed of his power while facing the demon fox lurking in Osaka during the Osaka Summer Campaign. Situations like ours were common among the Great Yokai of the Sengoku period. Though we were victorious in battle, we were left with permanent scars. We both suffered the same fate. After all, not everyone can maintain an almost invincible posture like you, Commander, never to be broken."

After hearing Tamamura out, Miketsu paused for a moment. After reflecting briefly, she spoke again.

"Have you not thought of seeking a cure?"

"A cure? Of course we have. But how could such injuries be easily healed? As yokai generals, we naturally had the ability to visit doctors across the country, but we never found one capable of treating such wounds. After a century of hopelessness, we naturally gave up. Sigh..." Nura Rihyon let out a deep breath. No one wished to maintain the image of a frail old man, especially a former hero who had once dominated the demon realm.

Hearing their words, Miketsu remained silent and finished another cup of sake. She set the cup down and spoke slowly.

"I see. I understand."

'Understand? What does the Commander understand?' Hearing her words, a flicker of confusion rose in the expressions of Nura Rihyon and Tamamura.

"Very well. Let us end the drinking for today. We shall meet again when the opportunity arises."

Before Nura Rihyon and Tamamura could react further, Miketsu stood up, turning to depart. Seeing this, Nura Rihyon grew anxious and blurted out, "Commander, please wait! I... I have something I must say to you!"

Miketsu paused slightly, then turned her head to look back calmly.

"Is there something else?"

Looking at the turned Miketsu, Nura Rihyon hesitated for a moment, then spoke as if having reached a firm resolution. "Commander, I... I have some advice for you regarding 'her'."

'Advice? What words could be so solemn?' Seeing Nura Rihyon's behavior, Miketsu felt a hint of curiosity, though it didn't show on her covered face. Beside them, Tamamura's ears perked up in curiosity as well. Meeting Miketsu's gaze, Nura Rihyon cleared his throat twice before continuing with a serious expression.

"Ahem... to be honest, I can more or less guess the reason for your exceptional return to the world this time. You returned for her, didn't you?"

'Her? Who is she?' Miketsu thought, completely bewildered. She wondered if Nura Rihyon could stop speaking in riddles.

'Wait... Could Nura Rihyon mean...' Hearing his words, Tamamura also felt a jolt, as if he had realized something, looking at Nura Rihyon in shock.

"Yes." Seeing Tamamura's expression, Nura Rihyon nodded heavily in confirmation. At this nod, Tamamura's expression shifted from shock to pure astonishment.

Watching her former subordinates, Miketsu was utterly confused and didn't know what to say for a moment. Due to her long-standing habit of 'acting cool' as Owl, she didn't immediately ask who 'she' was. Instead, she maintained a deep silence while thinking rapidly.

Seeing the silence at the table, Nura Rihyon felt a sense of relief and continued his train of thought.

'The Grand Commander is staying silent; it seems it really is because of her. Even after a thousand years, that affection still cannot be let go. However, I still need to offer the Commander some advice.'

"Commander... you still value those feelings from a thousand years ago so highly. In the past, I didn't understand why you were so obsessed with a human woman. But after experiencing it myself, I can roughly understand your heart. Yes... when you love with your whole heart, all differences in status, position, and race can be ignored," Nura Rihyon continued sentimentally. Hearing this, Miketsu was inwardly startled, her entire being jolted.

'A human woman? Loving with the whole heart? Wait... could this be—' Suddenly, Miketsu recalled the story Tsuruha had told her about Owl's ending a millennium ago—the great play they had co-directed.

"Commander, by chance, I have learned that the soul of Asakura Hao has been reincarnated in the mortal world. She is now the Inari Miko of Mount Kagami-oboro, named Fushimi Inaba. Commander... you returned to the world because of her, didn't you?"

Nura Rihyon continued solemnly. After hearing him out, Miketsu only had one thought in her mind:

'What?!'

Indeed, Miketsu finally understood why Nura Rihyon had said so many strange things when he saw her human form during the day. He had mistaken her for the reincarnation of Asakura Hao! Both Fushimi Inaba and Asakura Hao shared the black-haired, bare-faced appearance of Miketsu's true form; it would be stranger if he didn't think they were reincarnations!

It could only be blamed on the fact that she had rarely interacted with Nura Rihyon in the identity of Asakura Hao back then, so she subconsciously assumed he wouldn't recognize the face. But just because Miketsu hadn't, it didn't mean Qin Xin hadn't! When those girls were putting on their play, Qin Xin had definitely used Miketsu's face to interact with Nura Rihyon frequently. After all, that was their boss's 'lover'; how could his impression not be deep!

Having suddenly pieced together the truth, Miketsu realized she was in a rather awkward position—the position of 'loving oneself' and 'wooing oneself'. In the eyes of Nura Rihyon and Tamamura, Owl had come out of retirement for Fushimi Inaba, the reincarnation of Asakura Hao. How was she supposed to answer this? Should she directly deny it and say she didn't know? Then Nura Rihyon would think Owl was still unaware that Asakura Hao had reincarnated as Fushimi Inaba, and he would rush off to find her, attempting to arrange a reunion after a thousand years?

Owl's whereabouts were hard to track, but for a local powerhouse like Nura Rihyon in Tokyo, finding Fushimi Inaba's identity wouldn't be difficult. The result would likely be that just as she refused here, he would find her on the other side. All in all, Miketsu was in a daze, trying to figure out how to respond. Her continued silence was interpreted differently by Nura Rihyon and Tamamura.

'Mentioning Asakura Hao seems to have moved the Commander deeply. He must be reminiscing about the years gone by. Let's wait quietly for the Commander to finish his reflections.'

"This is a matter between her and me... you need not concern yourselves..." Miketsu replied, attempting to keep Nura Rihyon and the others away from her identity as Fushimi Inaba. There was no helping it; although Miketsu herself hadn't participated in that play a thousand years ago, it was inextricably part of the 'Owl' identity. She couldn't deny it.

Furthermore, even if she denied that Fushimi Inaba was Asakura Hao, what then? These two looked identical and both possessed immense spiritual talent. It would be hard not to link them; a flat denial would be even more illogical. She feared Nura Rihyon would just invent some even stranger plot—like Owl and Fushimi Inaba having a lovers' spat or something.

Therefore, Miketsu simply acknowledged Nura Rihyon's guess, saying Owl returned for Fushimi Inaba, but she used a commanding tone to tell him not to meddle, lest he disturb her peace as Fushimi Inaba.

"As I thought... Commander, your feelings for Asakura haven't changed a bit in a thousand years. Rest assured, since you say so, we will certainly not interfere. However, I still have one important suggestion. Please, Commander, you must listen to it."

"It is this: the love between a human and a yokai is something I also experienced several hundred years ago. Rikuo's grandmother, Rihan's mother—my wife, Sakura-hime—was a human. Thus, like you, I can feel the happiness and the pain within it..." As he spoke, Nura Rihyon's expression grew grim.

"I have experienced the parting from Sakura-hime, so I know. When you and Hao were separated a thousand years ago, the pain must have been even greater. That pain even led you to withdraw and ignore the world's affairs," Nura Rihyon said with a heavy tone and expression. Hearing his words, Miketsu's inner thoughts were quite different.

'No, it wasn't painful at all. Those guys were just acting heartbroken for you spectators. Behind the scenes, who knows how happy they were? I heard that after the final parting scene, they held a massive banquet at the shrine. A whole bunch of animal yokai and gods were hungover until dawn.'

Miketsu thought this, yet Nura Rihyon continued.

"In truth, I also wanted to stay with Sakura-hime forever. I had the power to do so. As long as she became a yokai, we could have been together eternally. But Sakura-hime was unwilling, and I loved her, so I respected her choice. However... however, in the emptiness of the century following her death, I regretted it." As he spoke, Nura Rihyon looked at Miketsu even more solemnly.

"Commander, Asakura died a thousand years ago; surely the reason was the same. Therefore, Commander, I must advise you to cherish this opportunity. Do not miss the moment again. When the time is right, harden your heart and turn Fushimi Inaba into a yokai! Even if she is unwilling, force her! Otherwise, a century from now, you will only be left to regret eternally in the emptiness!"

Hearing Nura Rihyon's words, Miketsu's lip twitched. Beside her, Tamamura suddenly grew frantic.

"Nura—Nura Rihyon, what are you doing?! That Fushimi Inaba you're talking about, isn't she an Inari Miko? Forcing an Inari Miko to transform into a yokai against her will? That is a massive disrespect to Lady Uka! It's a grave sacrilege! Sacrileging Lady Uka is the same as opposing all of Inari! Have you gone mad, egging the Commander on to do such a thing?!"

"I've had the same experience, so I understand his feelings. That is something you don't understand... And so what if it's sacrilege against Uka? I firmly believe that with the Commander's current strength, the Inari God of Mount Kagami-oboro is surely no match. As long as Lady Uka doesn't descend in person, even if all of Inari tries to block him, they won't be able to stop the Commander!"

Nura Rihyon spoke with absolute gravity. Hearing his current words, Miketsu—who was simultaneously Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami, the Inari God of Mount Kagami-oboro, Owl, Asakura Hao, and Fushimi Inaba—only wanted to lower her head and bury her face in her hands.