The Reborn White Fox

Life, Career

Standing within his forbidding laboratory deep beneath Wakigami Castle, one fact was eminently obvious to Katsusada Shishauezaemon: there was much to be done. While his "true body" was dallying in the Dreamlands, it was again up to the emerald-cloaked adviser to roll up his sleeves and see to the functioning of their Clan.   "Nobuhara, what reports have we received regarding the war between the Uesugi and Takeda?

"Ah yes, welcome back, my lord." If Nobuhara was surprised at this latest reappearance by Shishauezaemon, his telepathic message did not betray it. "The Oda forces have managed to shore up the southern borders of Takeda Shingen's territory. However, the northern front appears to be at a stalemate. Without the aid of foreign technology, the Takeda Clan would already have folded against Uesugi Kenshin's advanced tactics; however, they also lack the power for a decisive push against the Heavenly Pagoda.   "A stalemate is good for the time being." Indeed, the eastern wars would require his guiding hand soon, but there was much else to do first. "Do we know if the eastern clans have received word of the angels and their vendetta against our world? If not, then I would like to send messengers to gather their opinions."   "I suspect such rumors have reached them but may have been discarded. The Hōjō, Uesugi, Takeda, and Date Clans are all deeply embroiled in local matters at the moment."   "As always, it seems. Then, once our envoy returns I would like to summon our allied tacticians. I'm afraid these Angels and Bishamonten hold beliefs similar enough that they may join forces in the future." Shishauezaemon's masked gaze lingered upon the Putrid Jikininki slumped in his laboratory's corner. How had the clan managed to draw the ire of Heaven as well as Hell in his absence? "The zealotry of both forces would be too much to handle simultaneously. We– I may need to break our oath and support the Takeda to end this war quickly."   "I understand, my lord," came Nobuhara's dutiful reply. "I believe Takenaka Hanbei and Kuroda Kanbei are currently both available. However, I would not recommend bringing both on to the same project, to avoid any potential unpleasantness." Indeed, both tacticians were well-regarded in their own rights, but were famously antagonistic after their experience with Toyotomi Hideyoshi.   Perhaps Shishauezaemon had more to say. Perhaps he did not. In the end, it did not matter, as a polite rapping sound came from his chamber door. Those who knew about this laboratory knew not to disturb him so frivolously, so this brazen knocking could not help but draw the shrewd adviser's interest. With a slow stride born of his age, Shishauezaemon stood and answered the door.   "Good evening, Katsusada Shishauezaemon-dono! It's been a while, hasn't it?" The grinning, masked young man standing at his threshold was not familiar. He had the feline ears of a bakeneko twitching happily upon his white-haired head but something about the narrowed eyes and sharpness of his expression suggested a vulpine aspect instead.   "Hmm. It has been quite a while." Never show surprise. Never admit ignorance. Such was the veteran diplomat's creed. "So, what is the reason for today's visit?"   "Well, I was just passing through after slipping out from Izanami's realm, right? And I thought I'd swing by and ask if you know where I could find Oda Nobunaga these days." The youth leaned against the doorframe as he spoke, posture as loose and relaxed as if he were catching up with an old friend.   "Oh?" Behind Shishauezaemon's mask, a maelstrom of emotions raged. Izanami's realm? "Slipped out"? Indeed, there was a taste of necromancy on the air, and the credence this lent to the young man's claims very nearly made the aged Hashinara wish to end the world himself. Instead, he spoke: "Slipped out from Izanami's realm?"   "You should know." Poking at him playfully, the other smirked. "Your daughter left me stranded there. Or didn't she tell you she had me cooped up in that mask of hers for a bit?"   Cooped up in a mask. Stranded in Yomi. Hashinara Yoshitakatomo's mask. It couldn't be, and yet, it would be far from the first insane trick he'd played. Akechi Mitsuhide's lost soul had found a new body.   "You'll have to forgive me," Shishauezaemon deflected. "I was quite dead for a while myself."   "All water under the bridge! After all, you let me have my pick of a new body. I can't wait until Hideyoshi sees me in this one, honestly. What's he up to now, anyway?"   "No one has heard from HIdeyoshi for what seems like many seasons now." That lie came easily, smooth and casual. "I assume he might have found a small piece of land to live out his life peacefully. War tends to calm some people." If only.   The two shared a companionable moment of silence. Or, at least, one of them seemed to find it companionable.   "And who am I speaking to, exactly?" Shishauezaemon thought he knew, and yet he had to hear it to be certain. "Someone formerly known as the the White Blade, perhaps? Who else would be looking for Oda Nobunaga by asking me directly, hm?"   "Sure, that works." The other shrugged his shoulders. "Wouldn't be the first time I've been compared to the Black Blade. You can call me 'Boomfist' too, if it's convenient." No answers given. Two questions solved.   "Humans tend to make comparisons all too often. But, to answer your original question, Oda Nobunaga has left this realm. I"m afraid no one knows what her ultimate destination is."   For a moment, "Boomfist" Mitsuhide didn't respond. The torchlight glimmered on a single shining tear in the corner of his eye.   "I must apologize for giving such a disappointing answer." Raising one gloved hand placatingly, Shishauezaemon continued. "Oda Nobunaga is merely trying to find purpose once more. I'm sure she'll return sooner or later."   "Well then, friend." Mitsuhide looped one arm over the aged adviser's shoulders, leaning in with a smirk. "It looks like I'm out of a job! Are you hiring?"   "Oho~." Shishauezemon couldn't help but let a musical note of surprise creep into his voice. Of all the outcomes to a repeat meeting with his old foe, this was not one he had predicted. And yet why not? They shared at least one common enemy and a convenient disregard of mortal foibles between them. "I could always use someone who has slipped through Izanami's realm. A temporary job until Lord Nobunaga returns, then?"   "Sure, that sounds good to me. So long as you can give me a place to stay and maybe keep it on the down-low that I'm back in town." His smile slipped smoothly into an apologetic simper. "And hey, no hard feelings about all the tricks I pulled on you in the past, eh? Bygones and all that."   "Oh, I could easily be convinced to forget all of that with just a story." Of course, it could only be one story which had caught the old necromancer's interest. "How did you 'slip away' from Izanami's influence?"   "A few illusions, a bit of cunning, and a lot of luck. It helped that you never closed that portal in the back." Mitsuhide waved the question away with breezy vagueness before shifting the topic. "So what's first on the agenda, new friend?"   Indeed, that was not nearly enough to sate Shishauezaemon's curiosity, and it shed no new light on their cold war with the Mistress of the Underworld. Yet he could be patient. "For the time being, we're all waiting for the representatives of this realm to return with results from the land of so-called 'angelic' beings. Either they'll come back bearing news of war with holy zealots or they will have made progress in calming them down. We'll see." A pause here for dramatic effect. "But for you, Boomfist-san, maybe you could grab a few souls from the Takeda-Uesugi war for me?   Souls. The most valuable currency most beings weren't even aware they carried. What's more, a normal samurai would not know where to begin in collecting them. Akechi "Boomfist" Mitsuhide, however, was obviously no normal samurai. "First Hell, then Super Hell, and now Heaven? This place is getting crazier by the day." He clicked his new tongue against his new teeth in mock scorn. "But certainly, grabbing some souls sounds like a good use of my talents."   "Quality souls are what I need." Indeed, to create a construct immune to supernatural influences, he would need to forge quite a lot of tamahagane. "There's no need to trouble yourself with the war. Merely collect souls discreetly."