Sowing the Seed of Chaos

Celestial

The tournament was over for the day. More importantly, The White Blade of Hope: Date Masamune had been cast off of Matsumoto Ooawagaeri's trail. At least for now. They had a truce while this Masamune did some soul searching and sought to even the score against those who had brainwashed him into thinking himself The Black Blade.   There were other things to do. There always were. Still, for this particular moment, Fubuki decided to fulfill a promise. There was a shrine nearby, one Sumiyoshi-taisha. Although not particularly familiar with it, Fubuki knew at least that it was the northernmost of three shrines dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi Deities. They had something to do with fishermen, didn't they?   Regardless, Phenex had been badgering Fubuki to go to a shrine ever since their paths crossed. Now, finally, the Black Blade acquiesced.

Sumiyoshi-taisha was only a few miles outside of Shimonoseki, but it was still quicker to take Shigeaki Fujino's teleportation than travel on foot. Fubuki, Phenex, and the Blade's companions, Aka no Kitsunebi and Taira no Tokuko arrived on a rocky northern coast. In the near distance Sumiyoshi-taisha could be seen.   Although small for a temple of its renown, this place was renowned for its peculiar architecture. While Fubuki took note of the exquisite designs of the roofs, the floor was also worthy of note. It was built almost directly into the coastline. The regular crash of waves sent washes of ocean water into rivulets and canals that carved out the general shape of the shrine.   Fubuki and companions approached the shrine, but Tokuko peeled off before they arrived. She'd spotted something interesting, but would still be in the area if needed. As for the others, they were intercepted by a priestess soon after entering the gate to the temple grounds. Although somewhat put off by Phenex's intense eagerness, she directed them to the inner sanctum. The shrine proper and its offering box were there, ready for any who wished to offer up a prayer.   Thanking the woman and herding Phenex as best she* could, Fubuki continued into the sanctum. The shrine itself was positioned over a hex of solid stones surrounded by a small canal of seawater. This, apparently, was a problem. Phenex needed soil for whatever she wanted to do here. Acting against better judgement, or perhaps for some chaotic end, Fubuki helped the tiny demoness lever up a stone to reveal the moist sand underneath. Aka no Kitsunebi watched on with obvious displeasure at the sacreligious display, but did not intervene.   So exposed, the earth readily accepted the seed Phenex planted there. Fubuki had seen her carry the thing around at times before. About the size of her head, it was golden like amber and glowed slightly from within. What purpose it could serve or what it could grow into...both were unknown. The deed was done and the seed planted, so Fubuki and Phenex placed the stone block back into place.   For the first time since they met, and perhaps for the first time in her one thousand two hundred-year exile, Phenex looked relieved. Fubuki, however, still had many things demanding her* time. She* bade Aka no Kitsunebi to take their other companions and return to the Matsumoto Black Galleon. Hashinara Yoshitakatomo had sent out a call for aid in the Dreamlands and Fubuki would answer alone.