While the world buzzed with Christmas cheer, three figures met at Kukou Temple: Yakumo Kukou, the temple's monk; Souji Miyamoto, a burly man with a thick beard, head of the Miyamoto family; and Sakuya Yaguruma, a nun-clad woman, wife of the Yaguruma head. As key Nine Dragons operatives under Kagurazaka's intelligence network, they oversaw central, western, and eastern regions.
"Is the eastern white folks' unrest true, Yakumo?" Souji asked.
"True. Stargazing foresaw it," Yakumo replied evenly.
Sakuya spoke softly. "The west settled, now the east? I sense ayakashi—anything, Yakumo?"
"Your concern's nearly spot-on. The next head's intel says they warped the 'wall' with science," Yakumo said.
Hearing Yugen's report, Yakumo doubted his ears. Despite knowing Parasite risks, the USNA president chased strategic magic post-Yokohama, making the threat real. Nine Dragons inherited Abe's warnings, foreseeing dimensional instability over centuries.
"Is Shuuichi's exchange for handling this?" Souji asked.
"Exactly. Shuuichi, Yume, and Shizuku's exchange follows Godo Kai's leader's intent," Yakumo confirmed.
Beyond containment, they'd plan long-term Parasite countermeasures. Stars probed Godo Kai, but its paper-based data and dummy network profiles shielded it. If Zhou Gongjin acted, they'd preempt him; if Gu Jie moved, they'd leverage USNA's anti-magic unrest, forcing Stars to act.
Yakumo knew Zhou's ties but not their link to Yotsuba's revenge. Perhaps his hermit nature dulled his insight.
"The exchange includes General Kudou's granddaughters, possibly the current Sirius. Can they survive him?" Souji asked.
"I heard from my nephew—he's that formidable?" Sakuya added.
"He mastered Tenrei Reisou, evolving Kokujin from the third head. Other Godo Kai members are learning it fast," Yakumo said.
"Impressive. My elder kids can't hear this; they'd be jealous," Souji said heavily.
Yugen, mastering Tenjin and reviving ancient techniques, was a Kagurazaka legend. Souji foresaw risks but questioned Stars' recklessness in challenging without assessing their skill.
"Will he attend the New Year's celebration?" Souji asked.
"Of course. It's his debut as Kagurazaka's next head, with all Gotei Twelve Houses present," Yakumo replied.
The Gotei Twelve—Kagurazaka main and branches (Ise, Takatsuki, Miyamoto), Nine Dragons (Yaguruma, Naruse, Shijukuin, Tsukuba, Yasuku, Yoshida, Kukou), and Hayama's head butler—formed Kagurazaka's national defense system.
"Is that okay, Yakumo? Your disciple's his friend," Sakuya asked.
"As Hieizan's envoy, it's settled. In robes, he won't pry," Yakumo said.
Chihime invited Tatsuya and Miyuki as Yugen's "friends" (Yotsuba proxies). Saigusa and Kudou probed Kagurazaka, but countermeasures were in place. Yakumo, a monk and ancient magic master, rarely showed his robes to Tatsuya, a fact hard to accept.
"—Hakone?" Airi asked.
During winter break, with First and Third Highs closed except for guards, some trained independently. At Kanazawa Magic Research Institute, Airi, Kanna, and Khadija trained for Nine Schools' revenge. During a break, Khadija's remark about Hakone prompted Airi's question, after inviting her for New Year's shrine visits.
"Yes, Mother mentioned it this morning," Khadija said.
"Hakone's just a hot spring town to me. Anything else?" Airi asked.
"Just to prepare formal attire. I heard Kagurazaka's estate is there," Khadija replied.
Despite Shijukuin's ancient magic roots from Shirakawa, Khadija, not the heir, knew little of her house. Her conclusions were speculative.
"Kagurazaka… where Mitsuya Yugen joined," Airi said.
"Curious, Airi?" Kanna asked.
"…Maybe. My uncles seem expectant," Airi replied.
(Am I mishearing her interest?) Kanna thought.
Airi's French mother (naturalized Japanese) came from a prestigious ancient magic lineage, tied to Airi's nickname. A marriage with Yugen would strengthen Isshiki and her maternal family. Kanna saw the adults' political marriage as farcical, given Airi's fondness for Yugen.
"Get me a souvenir," Kanna teased.
"Not a vacation, but I'll try," Khadija said.
Post-Christmas, Kagurazaka's main estate bustled with New Year prep. Unlike Buddhist or Shinto houses, yin-yang clans kept it simple: year-end cleaning or New Year preparations. Kyoto's shrine (built on the old estate) and Hakone's temple (controlling Fuji's spiritual power) kept branches busy, leaving the main house to handle guests.
Yugen met one such guest.
"You're Chihime-neesan's successor, ex-Mitsuya? Fine features," Azusa Naruse said.
"I'm flattered," Yugen replied.
Azusa, Chihime's younger sister and Shizuku's maternal grandmother, looked thirty despite claiming 81. Shizuku sat beside Yugen.
"I've heard of the Kitayama. Shizuku liking a Clan heir surprised me, but you carry Aneue's shadow," Azusa said.
"I'd prefer more masculinity, but I've given up," Yugen said.
Azusa chuckled. Yugen, resembling his mother Shiho, not his father Genji, was a relief (Genji agreed). Shizuku, prioritizing Kitayama ties, barely recalled her maternal family.
"You've grown, Shizuku. You were a toddler last time," Azusa said.
"Barely remember. Why visit Kagurazaka, Grandma?" Shizuku asked.
"Chihime-neesan's summons. The Naruse head should come, but…" Azusa said.
Her son, the head, should attend, but Chihime's designation minimized New Year's unrest, using Yaguruma and Naruse proxies. Azusa's quip about wanting great-grandchildren flushed Shizuku's face.
After, Yugen and Shizuku joined Godo Kai's meeting. Five others were seated; they took their places.
"From New Year, we move. Parasites will hit Japan—easterners' paranoia fallout," Yugen said.
"Halloween's the trigger, right? Not blaming Miyuki's brother," Yume said.
"Don't worry, Yume. Shall I freeze their nation?" Miyuki quipped.
Miyuki's full power could freeze a city. Her Tenjin mastery, though basic, was quick, fitting Tatsuya's sister. Mototsugu chided her.
"Hold off. But Material Burst and Starlight Breaker causing this uproar… if ignored, they might oust Tatsuya or Yugen with public pressure," Mototsugu said.
His fear echoed the Dione Plan. Anti-magic sentiments aside, survival couldn't be ignored, domestically or abroad.
"They've got fervent patriots. Edward Clark's the ringleader," Yugen said.
"Who's he?" Shuuichi asked.
"Non-mage, info systems expert. Built Echelon, with Frithskjálfr backdoor, aiming for USNA dominance," Yugen explained.
The USNA's Parasite-related meddling caused ripple effects. Despite lacking public power, their connections persisted. Allied discord risked global tension, a universal understanding. The USNA's unilateral breach, ill-equipped for Parasites, added fuel, making them a global powder keg.
"Yugen, track him?" Shuuichi asked.
"Not yet. Eliminate USNA Parasites. Tenrei Reisou targets spiritual bodies without physical harm. Clark's son, Raymond, a Frithskjálfr user and showman—watch him," Yugen said.
All had mastered Tenrei Reisou, enabling precise Parasite elimination. Yugen shared Clark intel for Shizuku, Shuuichi, and Yume, likely to encounter them. Edward probed Godo Kai via Frithskjálfr, but Yata no Kagami tracked him and Gu Jie. Raymond might need scrutiny.
"I'll handle Sirius alone if needed. Mototsugu-nii, liaise with Juumonji for early coordination," Yugen said.
"Clan rules barring collusion without emergency approval complicate things. Mitsuya and Yotsuba's truce sidestepped this," Mototsugu said.
"Yugen-san, Mototsugu-san, what rules?" Shizuku asked.
"Clans monitor each other, banning unsanctioned cooperation except in crises. Our truce didn't violate this," Yugen explained.
No rule barred truces from shared secrets. Honami's marriage, brokered by Joushima, and FLT shares from Shiba Yakami, now Kagurazaka's, complied fully. Sharing Parasite binding spells with Saigusa tested their response, knowing their Defense Force ties. Clans inherently linked to defense, with the Independent Magic Battalion as an outlier.
"How'd you know Parasites are coming?" Yume asked.
"Micro black hole experiment, warned against by Gramps," Yugen said.
"What's that?" Shizuku asked.
"Complex theory, but it's akin to ancient forbidden arts," Yugen replied.
The group, especially Mototsugu, tensed, grasping the Parasite summoning cause.
"Destroy the facility?" Mototsugu asked.
"Pointless. They'd build more or pressure Japan. Let them swim… hope their 'brilliant' minds notice the cost," Yugen said.
The USNA's hubris invited consequences. Angie Sirius disposed of Parasite-infected deserters, unwittingly worsening things, unaware of her grandfather's untaught ancient magic—a peculiar honor.
"I'll aid the Clans this time, but infighting means I might abandon them. Friendly houses get leniency," Yugen warned.
His bluntness reflected the stakes. National-scale foes required unity; Clan bans on cooperation were absurd. Tatsuya's top-tier modern magic, limited by its potency, was a USNA target for elimination, not leverage—a 21st-century Hull Note. Their restraint was notable, but government's weak military control, driven by magic, was problematic.
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