Herald of the Sun

Life, Achievement/ Win

With all three pieces of the Imperial Regalia in hand and the blessed light of Amaterasu at his back, Aotsuki Tsukamoto returned to at Enryaku-ji where Hizashi awaited him. The current Herald of the Sun had requested that the other cardinal generals all be present as well. While neither Aotsuki nor the others quite understood why, they all accompanied him to delve once again into that painting which hung on the temple wall.

Hizashi was waiting patiently, wearing his usual placid expression when Aotsuki and company arrived. He first welcomed them to the painting once again, thanked each one for coming, and congratulated Aotsuki for successfully collecting Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. It was just as Tsurugi so often said. In tradition, if not in practice, Aotsuki had successfully become Emperor of Japan. For him to achieve the greatest honor beyond and champion Amaterasu in this earthly realm, there was only one more step. Hizashi suggested that Aotsuki might know what it was already.   The Golden Shield tensed, unsure if Hizashi was inviting him to a fight. He hadn't expected such a thing, but what else could the current Herald mean? Aotsuki looked to his sheele, but each shook her head. Neither Kagami, Tama, nor Tsurugi knew what would come next. Fortunately, Hizashi was accommodating enough to explain once he understood Aotsuki's confusion.   This, indeed, was the reason he had asked each of the prospective Herald's companions to accompany him. Aotsuki had done his part, achieved all his necessary goals. Now, it fell upon those who had brought him this far to explain why each of them believed that Aotsuki deserved to be Amaterasu's champion. A heavy silence fell over the party, accompanied by Aotsuki's apologetic smile, as they each understood the weight of the responsibility which had been laid upon them.   Fubuki possessed the necessary initiative to speak first. She* suggested that rarely had she* seen someone's own goddess come to their aid. Rarer still was one who would risk their lives to set right the consequences that came with divine intervention. The cold-eyed oni finished by stating that surely Hizashi would agree with her*, and indeed he did. The current Herald thanked Fubuki for her* testimony and moved on to the next.   This time, it was Maxim who raised his voice in support of his ally. It was strange, the Knight Commander suggested, to ask a foreigner what he thought of someone being elevated to champion of a Japanese god. If there was one thing Maxim could speak on, however, it was Aotsuki's character. The Golden Shield protected all those around him without fail, be they friend or stranger. It was a foolish kind of honor to Maxim, but also a quality of integrity which he could respect. Hizashi did not appear surprised at this answer, but rather stated that it was Maxim's very foreign-ness which made his perspective that much more valuable. That he would respect Aotsuki in spite of their differences spoke much to the latter's character.   Hashinara Yoshitakatomo, great Princess-Daimyō of the Hashinara, stepped up third. She* began with a worrying explanation of her* own heritage, traced back to Empress Genmei with an inherent claim on the throne of Japan. Indeed, Emperor Sutoku and the current lineage of House Yamato were fellow claimants for that envied position. Aotsuki had no blood relation that she* knew of to previous Emperors. However, Yoshitakatomo finished, it was time for the Empire to place its hopes on a new Emperor, one of pure intentions. The fact that the one who claimed to be Lady Yoshiyuki would be willing to cede power to another was monumental in itself; a glorious mark, Hizashi saw it, of Aotsuki's influence on those around him. Hizashi thanked the Princess for her* statement, then moved on to the final companion.   Ryūzaki Sanosuke had waited for each other to take their turn before he spoke. When he did, the Silver General's answer was not the same as the others which had come before. He affirmed that Aotsuki did indeed possess a fair heart, but went on to call him selfless to a dangerous fault. To Sanosuke, Aotsuki did not "deserve" to be the Chosen to Amaterasu because the position would no doubt lead to his own destruction. As a friend, Sanosuke did not wish that fate upon him.   Hizashi paused a moment, then laughed. It was a fine answer, he said, from one who was so close to becoming the Chosen of Susano'o himself. Indeed, Sanosuke brought up a very salient point. Turning to Aotsuki, Hizashi repeated that the position of Herald would not be one to take on lightly. Responsibility would hang heavy upon the mantle of the Golden Shield, and he may very well be forced to give of himself until nothing remained. So, at this last chance to turn back, Hizashi asked Aotsuki if this was the fate he truly desired.   Still blushing from Sanosuke's answer, Aotsuki sobered up at the other's heavy question. He took more than a moment to consider, but when his answer came, it was sincere. Aotsuki did want to become Amaterasu's champion. He wanted to be the best for himself, for everyone who counted on him, and for Japan. Indeed, with his companions, his wife and loyal adviser, Aotsuki could only see the odds stacked in his favor.   Hizashi took the words in with a glowing smile, then stepped forward. With a few last words about how Emperor Aotsuki would do the nation proud, the previous Herald placed his dandelion shawl around the new Champion's neck. With a glint like the sun flashing in one's eyes, Hizashi was gone. Aotsuki blinked in the light for a moment, then looked around in distress. Where had the former Herald gone? Yoshitakatomo was able to answer that to a degree: Hizashi had no doubt fallen in his service to the sun before. With each death, his own divine conviction had kept him in this world until his business was finished. Now, with nothing left to tie him here, Hizashi had returned to the side of his Lady. Fubuki alone felt little shock from this turn. She* understood some of how the former Herald by how he had been willing to seal himself in Awa-no-Iwato during their trip to Takamagahara.   Regardless, Hizashi was gone and, they could only hope, happy. Now, Aotsuki wore the dandelion mantle of Amaterasu's champion. He felt a great surge of achievement at a goal finally realized. Indeed, the power of the Sun rushed through his veins, and some other new power besides. With a brief congratulations from the itinerant priestess, he and his friends exited the painting and returned to the tumultuous land of Japan.