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# Mirage of Blaze volume 7: The Supreme Conqueror's Demon Mirror 2

## Chapter 14: The Sage Who Holds the Chain

By Kuwabara Mizuna (author), Toujou Kazumi (illustrator)
Translated by asphodel

It was fast approaching an entire day since Naoe left for Hakone, but she had had no word from him.

Night had fallen once more. Ayako was awaiting Chiaki’s report at Asaoka Inn when she saw him drive up.

“Nagahide...!” She rushed over to him. “What are you doing here? Have you found Yuzuru-kun?”

“I followed his trail here. Why the hell haven’t I been able to get in touch with you all day?”

“I went hunting tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities.. And what do you mean, you followed Yuzuru-kun’s trail here?”

“I’m not sure either.” Chiaki answered, plopping down onto the lobby sofa. “The Bell-Ringing Ritual pointed me here. I’m pretty sure he’s in the area.”

“So Yuzuru-kun’s in Nikkou? Hold on!—do you know where he is right now? We have to go rescue him!”

“When I got here, the noise got so loud that I couldn’t track him anymore. Someone’s putting up interference. There’s so much spiritual energy gathered at Mt. Nikkou Nikkou-san (日光山)
Mt. Nikkou, located in the north-west part of Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the 100 famous mountains of Japan and centers on Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, and Mt. Tarou. that my ears are still ringing. Why don’t you give it a try?” he suggested, handing Ayako the vajra bell vajra
Also known as: kongou-sho (金剛杵)
A mystical indestructible weapon in Buddhism and Hinduism which destroys ignorance. In Hindu mythology, this weapon was made out of the spine of the sage Dadhichi, who sacrificed himself so that this weapon could be created to kill Vitrasur, who had conquered heaven and terrorized gods.
In tantric rituals, the vajra, held in the right hand, symbolizes the male principle while the bell, held in the left hand, symbolizes the female principle; their interaction leads to enlightenment..

“I’m not getting through, either. So Yuzuru-kun must be somewhere around Mt. Nikkou Nikkou-san (日光山)
Mt. Nikkou, located in the north-west part of Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the 100 famous mountains of Japan and centers on Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, and Mt. Tarou.—somewhere with strong spiritual energy.”

“Guessing somebody put up a huge barrier here to disrupt spiritual sendings. Anything that hits it gets bounced right back.” Chiaki leaned into the sofa tiredly. “Time for the legging it part, I s’pose. What’s next for you?”

“We-ell...”

Ayako had already spent that day running around Nikkou trying to hunt down the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities.. Though several more people fallen inexplicably into comas had been taken to the hospital during that time, she had seen neither hide or hair of a single beast. Rumors were beginning to incite panic in the community.

At a loss, Ayako had returned to the inn and discussed their plans with Katakura, who had himself returned only a short while before.

“We must take measures,” Katakura said.

“Let’s lay a trap,” Ayako suggested.

“Trap? What’re you gonna do?”

“What High Priest Tenkai Tenkai (天海) 1536 - Nov. 13, 1643
Tenkai was a Tendai Buddhist monk who achieved the highest rank of the priesthood and became abbot of Kita-in at Kawagoe in 1588. He served Tokugawa Ieyasu as liaison between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Imperial Court at Kyoto. After Ieyasu's death in 1616, he also served the 2nd Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, and the 3rd, Tokugawa Iemitsu. Among his projects were the rebuilding of Enryaku Temple on Mount Hiei, the restoration of Rinnou Temple in Nikkou, and the establishment of Kan'ei-ji in Ueno. did when he hunted the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. in Edo: lure them out with their favorite food.”

“Favorite food...?”

“The spirits of tigers and panthers and other carnivores. If Katakura-san can summon a couple of strong poisonous beast-spirits to one place, we’ll kill the tsutusga when they come to feed.”

“Will that really work?”

“I don’t know, but I think it’s worth a try. I’m pretty sure the Date are willing to help us.”

“Okay...” Chiaki took a deep breath, staring up at the ceiling. He hadn’t gotten any sleep last night, and he was exhausted. “You haven’t heard anything else from Kagetora?”

“...No.” Ayako shook her head solemnly. Chiaki had been the first person she’d called after receiving Kagetora’s message from the mirror.

“...Hum. Looks like the Houjou and Fuuma were responsible for the theft of the Tsutsuga Mirrors Tsutsuga Kyou
The Tsutsuga Mirrors were originally a treasure of Futarasan Shrine, formed of a male and female pair. The female mirror has the power to entrap souls, and is called the soul-sealing mirror (Fuukonkyou—封魂鏡), while the male is able to release entrapped souls. Legend has it that when Holy Priest Shoudou founded the first shrine on the Nikkou mountains, he turned the two tsutsuga causing mischief on Nantai-san into magic mirrors with his spells.
Four hundred years ago, the Fuuma Clan mated the two halves of the mirror to give birth to a tsutsuga cub which High Priest Tenkai sealed into the female mirror by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu. after all, huh? Has Tooyama come to see you yet?”

“No. But Kagetora said that he’d give him no choice. Kagetora’s probably going to contact him through the mirror like he did with me and Naoe.”

Chiaki looked annoyed. “Contact? Humph. It’s usually called ‘threaten,’ geez. Sounds just like him to terrorize a guy who once betrayed him to get the location of the Mirrors from the Houjou. Damn, now he’s showing his true colors. Takes some chutzpah to play the victim card so he can use Tooyama’s guilt against him. Did he transform back to his old self after entering the mirror or something?”

“Maybe? ...At least, I don’t think this kid version of him is capable of something like this,” a puzzled Ayako answered, one finger tapping her lips. “And who would’ve thought that Tooyama Yasuhide Tooyama Yasuhide (遠山康英)
Also known as: Naomasa (直昌), possibly Tooyama Naotsugu (遠山直次)
Tooyama Yasuhide was a vassal of the Houjou Clan, son of Tooyama Yasumitsu. His family traditionally served the Houjou in the capacity of musicians, but in 1560 became the magistrate of the Miura District in Sagami for Houjou Ujiyasu. He along with his uncle Tooyama Tsunakage held the front line against the Satomi Clan. After Oota Ujisuke's death in 1567, Yasuhide became master of Iwatsuki Castle. He was part of the Houjou force that met Takeda Shingen's invasion of Suruga. He was sent along with his father as a Houjou representative to the peace negotiations with the Uesugi in the Echigo-Sagami Alliance. He later became a close advisor to Houjou Ujimasa and was responsible for contact with the Uesugi Clan.
Opinions differ on how he died. One view hold that he committed suicide with his father and Uesugi Kagetora in the Otate no Ran, while another says that he served Nakamura Kazuuji after the fall of Odawara Castle. is still in the world?”

He was familiar to both Haruie and Nagahide. When the Echigo-Sagami Alliance was formed, Haruie had a great deal of contact with both Yasuhide and his father, the Houjou envoys, during the hostage exchange that resulted in him being sent to Odawara. (Which led to Haruie joining Kagetora’s side as one of his first supporters in the Otate no Ran Otate no Ran (御館の乱)
Lit.: "War of the Castle". The Otate no Ran was the name given to the intra-clan war fought between Uesugi Kagekatsu and Uesugi Kagetora, both adopted sons of Uesugi Kenshin, for succession to the position of head of the Uesugi Clan after Kenshin died. The war bifurcated the Uesugi commanders and in the end significantly weakened Uesugi's power. The "Otate", or "Castle/Mansion" refers to the residence Uesugi Kenshin built for the Kantou Kanrei, Uesugi Norimasa, near Kasugayama Castle. He used it as a government office after Norimasa passed on the title to him and the lands around Kasugayama Castle were developed.
On March 9th in the 6th year of Tenshou (April 15th, 1578), Uesugi Kenshin collapsed at Kasugayama Castle's privy from an "unforeseen nervous weakness" (some speculate poison or assassination) and died on the 13th (April 19th, 1578) without ever regaining consciousness.
Traditionally, it is held that he died without ever deciding on an heir. Some point to evidence such as Uesugi Kagetora accompanying him on shrine visits at the New Year and not being forced to perform military service (though proof of the latter is sketchy), to support theories that Kenshin favored Kagetora. It is evident that Kagetora, who was adopted from the mighty Houjou Clan, ruler of the Kantou, had unshakeable standing within the Uesugi Clan even after the Echigo-Sagami Alliance fell apart in 1571.
On the other hand, Kenshin had conferred the highest military powers within the Uesugi family on Kagekatsu, and the Uesugi retainers used similar titles for Kenshin and Kagekatsu.
Pointing to some of the above reasons, many historians argue that Kenshin had intended to pass the title of Kantou Kanrei and position of clan head of the Sannai-Uesugi Clan to Kagetora while making Kagekatsu the master of Echigo and the head of the Echigo-Uesugi Clan. There is no way of telling based on current evidence which would have been the sole heir.
In any case, a dispute over the rightful heir to Kenshin arose between Kagekatsu and Kagetora immediately. Kagekatsu moved first. On the day following Kenshin's death, Kakizaki Haruie, viewed as being in the Kagetora faction, was assassinated (there is another theory that Haruie was killed before the Otate no Ran, when his father was accused of treason). Also, according to one primary historical record, Kagekatsu moved quickly to occupy the inner citadel, treasury, and armory of Kasugayama Castle, though the exact date is unknown. Kagekatsu proclaimed himself the rightful heir in a letter dated March 24th (April 30th) and began attacking Kagetora, barricaded in the Third Wing.
Kagekatsu and Kagetora's forces fought in what is now Jouetsu City on May 5th (June 10th, 1578), and until Kagetora evacuated in the middle of the month, hostilities continued within Kasugayama Castle. During that time, both Kagekatsu and Kagetora tried to win the various Echigo generals to their side.
Commanders committed to Kagekatsu:
- Amakasu Kagemochi: Oumi no Kami
- Higuchi Kanetoyo, Naoe Kanetsugu, Ookuni Saneyori
- Honjou Shigenaga: Echizen no Kami
- Irobe Nagazane: Son of Irobe Katsunaga, master of Hirabayashi Castle
- Joujou Masashige: one of Kenshin's adopted sons, Kagekatsu's brother-in-law, head of the Joujou-Uesugi family
- Kakizaki Noriie: Noto no Kami
- Kanou Hideharu
- Kawada Nagachika: Buzen no Kami
- Murakami Kunikiyo: head of the Yamaura-Uesugi family
- Naoe Nobutsuna: Yamato no Kami, master of Yoita Castle
- Ooishi Tsunamoto: Harima no Kami
- Saitou Tomonobu: Shimotsuke no Kami, master of Akada Castle
- Shibata Nagaatsu, Shibata Shigeie, Ijimino Nobumune
- Suda Mitsuchika
- Yamayoshi Kagenaga: head of the Yamayoshi Clan, master of Koba Castle
- Yasuda Akimoto: head of the Echigo-Yasuda Clan, master of Iiyama Castle
- Yasuda Nagahide: master of Yasuda Castle
- Yoshie Munenobu, Yoshie Kagesuke, Nakajou Kageyasu
Commanders committed to Kagetora:
- Ashina Moritaka: head of the Ashina Clan
- Ayukawa Morinaga: master of Oobasawa Castle
- Daihouji Yoshiuji: head of the Dewa Daihouji Clan
- Horie Munechika (who later betrayed him): Suruga no Kami, master of Samegao Castle
- Honjou Hidetsuna: master of Numata Castle
- Honjou Saneyori
- Houjou Ujimasa, Houjou Ujiteru, Houjou Ujikuni: Kagetora's elder brothers, head and generals of the Houjou Clan
- Kaji Hidetsuna: nephew of Uesugi Kenshin, master of Kaji Castle
- Kanamari Chikatsuna: master of Sanjou Castle
- Kawada Shigechika: Houki no Kami
- Kitajou Takahiro, Kitajou Kagehiro
- Kurokawa Kiyozane: master of Kurokawa Castle
- Nagao Kagenao
- Sanbonji Sadanaga: head of the Sanbonji-Uesugi Clan, master of Fudouzan Castle, Iyo no Kami
- Shimodaira Shurinosuke: master of Jouhukuji Castle
- Takeda Katsuyori (who was later bribed by Kagekatsu and entered into an alliance with him): head of the Takeda Clan
- Uesugi Norimasa: Kenshin's adopted father, former Kantou Kanrei
- Uesugi Kagenobu: originally Nagao, head of the Koshin-Nagao family
- Uesugi Norishige: son of Uesugi Norimasa
On May 13th (June 18th), with the lines between the commanders drawn, Kagetora finally retreated from the Third Wing to the Otate and requested aid from his brother Houjou Ujimasa while ordering his troops to set fire to the lands around Kasugayama Castle. He attacked Kasugayama Castle with around 6000 troops on May 17th (June 22nd), but was repelled.
He regrouped and attacked again on the 22nd (June 27th) with the same result. Around this time, hostilities between Kagekatsu and Kagetora's forces also began within the broader region. In Kouzuke, Kitajou Takahiro and Kitajou Kagehiro (father and son) sent forth troops with their aim on Kunohe Castle. Kagekatsu had no troops to spare at this point, and Kagetora's side easily took several castles in Miyano and Ogawa. Kagetora's side had completed organization for drawing Houjou troops into Echigo at this point, but since the distance was great, the Houjou requested assistance from their ally Takeda Katsuyori. Katsuyori sent an advance guard of 20,000 under the command of Takeda Nobutoyo, which arrived at the Echigo-Shinshuu border on May 29th (July 4th).
Aside from the Houjou and Takeda, Kagetora also received assistance from Ashina Moritaka. However, Moritaka met dogged resistance from Kagekatsu's forces and was stopped in his tracks. Still, Kagetora held the advantage at this point. The only problem: Ujimasa had little interest in moving to the offensive.
Kagekatsu, at a disadvantage now that he was being attacked from three directions, took a big gamble. He sent an advance guard to Katsuyori's camp offering a large amount of money and Kouzuke's rice fields in exchange for a Kagekatsu-Takeda alliance. How Kagekatsu knew that Katsuyori was painfully short on funds after his ignominious defeat at the Battle of Nagashino to Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu is unknown. Katsuyori arrived at Kaidu Castle and conferred with Nobutoyo. He entered into an alliance with Kagekatsu on June 12th (July 16th).
Now that Kagekatsu's side had successfully bought Takeda, they no longer needed to watch their backs. On the day the alliance was made Kagekatsu took Noumine Castle, allowing him to communicate with Sakato Castle from Kasugayama Castle. On the following day, Kagetora's side lost Uesugi Kagenobu, and their situation worsened day by day. Kagekatsu pressed towards various castles held by Kagetora's forces in Ecchuu. Katsuyori continued peace negotiations with Kagekatsu at full tilt; they were concluded on June 29th (August 2nd), and he withdrew his troops on August 28th (September 29th).
In the following month, Ujimasa finally began moving in earnest. Houjou Ujiteru and Houjou Ujikuni set out for Echigo by Ujimasa's command. They crossed Mikuni Pass and took Kabasawa Castle, within striking distance of Sakato Castle. However, the castle was well-guarded by Kagekatsu's forces, and with the onset of winter the Houjou forces could not advance to Kasugayama.
Finally, with Ujikuni and Takahiro left behind to guard Kabasawa Castle and Kagehiro acting as rear guard, they retreated. The Takeda forces, withdrawing from the lands around Kasugayama Castle, loitered between Kasugayama/Otate and Sakato Castle, in the end acting as a deterrent against Kagetora and Houjou forces. At the end of the year (January in the Gregorian calendar) Kagekatsu married Katsuyori's younger sister.
Having skillfully removed external threats and gathered support within the clan, Kagekatsu decided that the internal war would be resolved before the snow thawed. On the other hand, Kagetora was losing both supporters and castles. On February 2nd (February 27, 1579) Kagekatsu ordered a general offensive against Kagetora at Otate. Kagehiro was killed.
Kagekatsu recaptured Kabasawa Castle from the Houjou. Kagetora escaped from Otate and, with no hope of relief from the Houjou, who were blocked off by snow, sent his eldest son along with Kenshin's adopted father Uesugi Norimasa to negotiate for peace. On the way to Kagekatsu's camp, they were surrounded by Kagekatsu's troops and killed (there are accounts that the order actually came from Kasugayama Castle). On his flight from Otate towards the Kantou, Kagetora stopped at Samegao Castle. There he was betrayed by its master, Horie Munechika, and committed suicide along with his family on March 24th (April 19th, 1579).
Though Kagekatsu won the internal war, he would continue to face resistance from Honjou Hidetsuna, Kanamari Chikatsuna and others, and would not have total control of the clan until a year later.
The Otate no Ran would become one of the underlying reasons for the destruction of the Takeda Clan and the drastic decline of the Uesugi Clan's power.
Note: Japanese dates given in this entry are based on the lunar calendar; Gregorian Calendar dates in () were calculated using NengoCalc., and in turn to his death at the hands of Kagekatsu’s followers...) For this reason, though they had fought on the same side, her rage at Yasuhide for abandoning their lord at the end burned even hotter than Kagetora’s.

“If I’d lived, I would never even have thought about leaving him. What kind of feckless coward forgets all the debts of gratitude he owes his lord and tries to run home by himself? His own father, his brothers in arms, they all died honorably at the Otate Otate (御館)
Uesugi Kenshin built the Otate in present-day Niigata Prefecture as residence for Uesugi Norimasa, Kantou Kanrei, when the latter escaped from Hira Castle in 1552, which was under attack by Houjou Ujiyasu with 20,000 soldiers, and sought aid from Kenshin (Nagao Kagetora at the time) at Kasugayama Castle. Kenshin later used the Otate as his public government office.
In 1578, after Kenshin's death, Kagetora escaped from Kasugayama Castle and set up his headquarters at Otate on June 18th during the Otate no Ran. Kagekatsu attacked Otate in February of the following year, finally destroying it by flame in April after Kagetora and his family had evacuated.
Nothing of the building (which had not been grandiose in the first place) remains today; the area is now mostly devoted to housing districts with a small "Otate Park.". Kagetora lost because he had worthless scum like that serving him. And now he dares to come back to serve the Houjou. That gutless toad. I’ll never forgive him.”

“Hah hah... Is that so?” Chiaki responded indifferently, as if were something that concerned him not at all, and Ayako shot him a sharp glare.

“Not that you’d understand, since you fought for Kagekatsu. Humph! I can’t deal with any of you! I don’t have time for this!”

“...Huh, well...I really thought that Kagetora’s forgotten all his old hatreds.”

“No way! And he hasn’t forgiven, either!”

“I’ll bet you’re the only one who believes that. You sure it’s not because you’re the type to carry a grudge?”

“Gyaah! What did you say?!”

“...He doesn’t hate anybody anymore.” Chiaki said. Ayako gave him a look at the sudden serious tone and dropped her raised fist. Chiaki snorted. “He’s just become a good actor. Like a tanuki tanuki (タヌキ or 狸)
Nyctereutes procyonoides, the raccoon dog, which in Japanese mythology is depicted as a master of disguises and shape-shifting, and in character is mischievious and merry but also gullible and absent-minded. wearing a tiger’s pelt. You don’t think?”

“Wh...?”

“When he’s seriously into it, I can’t tell if he’s acting or not sometimes. He puts on that expression, like, ‘I’m the victim here, so what’re you complaining about?’ He flaunts weakness to torture people. Most of it isn’t acting. If you fall for it, he’s got you. You’d think he was a demon if he did it to you.”

“You really mean that?”

“He’s a calculating tiger. An incomparable tactician, unconsciously. His conscience never bothers him. That’s the kind of person he is,” Chiaki said, his mouth crooking, defiant. “That’s why I never want to lose to him.”

Ayako’s expression was ambivalent as she studied Chiaki. He had probably stopped thinking of Kagetora as his ‘master’ long ago, if ever he did. But because he saw them both as human beings—and thus equal, he saw Kagetora clearly.

“Humph. So I’m the only one that stupid tiger won’t show himself to, huh? Pisses me off.”

“...Guess he thinks it’d be a waste of time?”

“’Cause he’s too busy running around inside mirrors? Sheesh, he’ll really take advantage of any situation. And you ask why I call him a hardass. Why doesn’t he just go find Narita himself?”

“Ah!” Ayako looked as if a light bulb had suddenly flashed above her head. “That’s right! We should ask Kagetora to help find Yuzuru-kun!”

“Help? How?”

“Kagetora can look for a mirror reflecting Yuzuru-kun and contact him just like he contacted me here.”

“That’s right!” Chiaki clapped his hands together. “But how do we call Kagetora to ask?”

“Uh...well...”

“Yasuda Nagahide Yasuda Nagahide (安田長秀) 1516 - May 8, 1582? 1585? 1592?
Title: Jibu Shousuke (治部少輔)
Historically: Master of Yasuda Castle. The Yasuda family had served the Nagao Clan from the time of Nagao Tamekage (late 1400s). Nagahide supported Nagao Kagetora (Uesugi Kenshin) in the coup d'etat against Nagao Harukage, so was a close aide of Kenshin from early on. He fought in many of Kenshin's wars against Takeda Shingen, Oda Nobunaga, and Houjou Ujiyasu.
He received a commendation for bravery at the 4th battle of Kawanakajima along with six other commanders, including Irobe Katsunaga.
He supported Uesugi Kagekatsu in the Otate no Ran after Kenshin's death. He died in 1582 of illness in the midst of Shibata Shigeie's rebellion. (Other accounts mention 1585, 1592.)
Though he shared the same family name as Yasuda Kagemoto and Yasuda Akimoto, also vassals of the Uesugi Clan, he was descended from a different family.
In Mirage of Blaze: he was summoned by Uesugi Kenshin to become one of the Yasha-shuu and is second in power only to Uesugi Kagetora. . So you’ve come chasing after Narita Yuzuru, hmm?” Kousaka addressed them unexpectedly from behind.

“You again?” Chiaki huffed in disgust.

“I see Kagetora has contacted you, Kakizaki. So it appears Houjou is behind everything after all. It’s no less than I expected of Kagetora-dono to use his misfortune to his advantage. In the mirror world, he must be practically clairvoyant. Maybe he should stay.”

“Don’t come around trying to distract us just because Naoe isn’t here. What are you Takeda bastards hanging around for, anyway? Where is Shingen, now that he’s been sent packing out of Matsumoto Matsumoto City (松本市)
The largest city in Nagano Prefecture, Matsumoto is surrounded by mountains and is acclaimed for its beautiful views.?”

“My lord is quite well. However, the fact that Narita is here in Nikkou Nikkou-shi (日光市)
Nikkou City, located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, is a popular tourist destination known for the Nikkou Toushou Shrine, where Tokugawa Ieyasu's remains are enshrined, as well as Futarasan Shrine, built in 767. is an unforgivable blunder. And why do you suppose Date Kojirou Date Kojirou (伊達小次郎) 1568? - 1590
Also known as: childhood—Jikumaru (竺丸)
Second son of Date Terumune and Yoshihime, Kojirou was favored by his mother over his older brother Date Masamune for succession as head of the Date Clan. However, Terumune favored Masamune, who became head of the Date Clan in 1584.
Yoshihime planned the assassination of Masamune, but after she failed to poison him in 1590, Masamune ordered Kojirou's death. is here as well?”

“What?!”

“I have not performed a Bell-Ringing Ritual, but...well, let us just say that unlike the useless Yasha yasha (夜叉)
Also known as: Yakṣa
Warriors of Bishamonten, who are minor deities sometimes depicted as harmless guardians and nature spirits and sometimes as human-devouring demons. , my servants are capable of such trivial reconnaissance, at least.”

“You callin’ us less useful than your crows, you asshole?”

Kousaka snorted a laugh. “The Houjou onshou onshou (怨将)
Lit.: "vengeful general": the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period, who continue their battles even in modern-age Japan. appear to have set up their headquarters here on a massive scale. I very much hope Narita’s presence is only coincidence.”

“What?! Are you implying that Date Kojirou Date Kojirou (伊達小次郎) 1568? - 1590
Also known as: childhood—Jikumaru (竺丸)
Second son of Date Terumune and Yoshihime, Kojirou was favored by his mother over his older brother Date Masamune for succession as head of the Date Clan. However, Terumune favored Masamune, who became head of the Date Clan in 1584.
Yoshihime planned the assassination of Masamune, but after she failed to poison him in 1590, Masamune ordered Kojirou's death. is working with the Houjou?”

“I’ll allow you to draw your own conclusions,” Kousaka answered vaguely, heading for the stairs. “But if he is, then you have bungled spectacularly. Perhaps you should think up ways of asking Kagetora-dono’s forgiveness now.”

“...”

“Or better yet, prepare yourselves to commit ritual suicide,” Kousaka suggested sarcastically as he went up to the second floor, leaving Chiaki and Ayako without a rejoinder.

Tooyama-sama is gone—!

Tooyama’s followers were in an uproar back at Kinugawa Hotel. Sahei had reported to Tooyama upon finishing preparations for the banquet, only to be angrily and stridently told off, the banquet canceled. Concerned with her master’s strange behavior, she had gone to see him again about thirty minutes later, to find his room empty. Nor could anyone find him anywhere in the hotel. He had always told one of them before he went anywhere; he was a conscientious man. Stranger still, he had left his door ajar and his room an utter mess.

“He went out? Seriously?” Sahei demanded in an inadvertently raised voice. The woman at the front desk looked slightly intimidated.

“Yes. He asked for a taxi a little while ago and left.”

“When was this?!”

“Let’s see... Maybe around an hour ago? He looked very distracted...”

If nothing else, she was certain about his agitated state. He had not mentioned his destination, but she thought the taxi company might know. Sahei’s face paled. Leaning against the front desk, she asked, “Could you please find out?”

Tooyama Yasuhide Tooyama Yasuhide (遠山康英)
Also known as: Naomasa (直昌), possibly Tooyama Naotsugu (遠山直次)
Tooyama Yasuhide was a vassal of the Houjou Clan, son of Tooyama Yasumitsu. His family traditionally served the Houjou in the capacity of musicians, but in 1560 became the magistrate of the Miura District in Sagami for Houjou Ujiyasu. He along with his uncle Tooyama Tsunakage held the front line against the Satomi Clan. After Oota Ujisuke's death in 1567, Yasuhide became master of Iwatsuki Castle. He was part of the Houjou force that met Takeda Shingen's invasion of Suruga. He was sent along with his father as a Houjou representative to the peace negotiations with the Uesugi in the Echigo-Sagami Alliance. He later became a close advisor to Houjou Ujimasa and was responsible for contact with the Uesugi Clan.
Opinions differ on how he died. One view hold that he committed suicide with his father and Uesugi Kagetora in the Otate no Ran, while another says that he served Nakamura Kazuuji after the fall of Odawara Castle. barely managed to relay the address Kagetora had given him to the driver before hunching over himself, shivering.

(He knows.)

Of Tooyama’s old betrayal. Even of his resurrection into this time.

Every one of Kagetora’s words from the mirror had been knife blades striking into his flesh. The past, no longer quietly laid to rest, rose up to attack him mercilessly. How he wanted to disappear from this place!

When he alone had escaped from Samegao castle Samegao-jou (鮫ヶ尾城)
A castle once located in Myoukou City, Niigata Prefecture belonging to vassals of the Uesugi Clan.
The date of its construction is undetermined, but during the 1500s the Uesugi (Nagao) Clan used it as a defensive fortress to protect and service the highway through the northern provinces.
During the Otate no Ran, Horie Munechika welcomed Uesugi Kagetora into the castle, seated on the only viable escape route into the Kantou, after the surrender of Kasugayama Castle to Uesugi Kagekatsu. However, Munechika had already been persuaded to betray Kagetora, and he set fire to the outer citadel before evacuating. Samegao fell to Kagekatsu's general offensive two days later. four hundred years ago, his guilt for his betrayal, for trying to guarantee his own safety, had not cut into him so deeply as this. Now it flayed him.

(There was nothing else I could do. I was going to die. I didn’t want to die. I had no other choice,) he justified desperately. But before the reality of Kagetora’s righteous hatred, his excuses no longer had any power of conviction.

«I will not forgive you—...!!»

The bottomless loathing in his eyes added:

My hatred for you is without end.

I will send you to Hell with my own hands.

(I...I...Lord Saburou...)

He had felt a terror beyond anything he had ever known before. Kagetora would never forgive him. His old master would rebound upon him all the pain he had caused many times over—of that he was sure. In Kagetora’s grasp, he would be torn limb from limb, tortured to his death.

(Why couldn’t he have just gone to the next world?) Tooyama thought resentfully. (Why couldn’t he just stay dead?)

He looked up, glaring, and saw himself directly reflected in the rear-view mirror. He started badly when Kagetora’s image appeared beside him.

“I-I didn’t mean it!” he gasped, gulping back his scream. He clutched at his head. “I wouldn’t even dare think it! Please believe me!”

“Mister? Hey...”

“Aaaah! I didn’t! Please forgive me!”

The driver shot him a freaked look, likely wondering if he was lugging around a lunatic. Tooyama didn’t lift his head again.

(I...I can’t escape...)

He curled into a ball on the back seat and lay there shivering until he arrived.

His arrival characterized somewhat more by ‘tossed out’ than ‘alighted,’ a haggard Tooyama stood in front of Asaoka Inn at Lake Chuuzenji Chuuzenji-ko (中禅寺湖)
Lake Chuuzenji, located in Nikkou National Park in the city of Nikkou, Tochigi Prefecture, is one of Japan's 100 famous views. It is the 25th largest lake in Japan and drains through the Kegon Falls..

The taxi sped away. The night was silent but for the faint sound of waves. In the darkness, the faint ridges of Mt. Nantai Nantai-san (男体山)
Also known as: Futara-san (二荒山)
Mount Nantai is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan, located in Nikkou, Tochigi Prefecture and formed from a stratovolcano. It is worshiped as a sacred mountain and was first scaled by Shoudou in 782, who founded the first shrines there. could be seen in the distance.

“Aaaah...” Tooyama sank to the ground in exhaustion. Ayako, who had heard the car, came hurrying from the entrance a moment later.

“Y-you!”

“...!” Tooyama lifted his head.

“You’re Tooyama Yasuhide, aren’t you?” Ayako looked down at him irascibly.

“You are mayhap...Kakizaki-dono...?”

“Mayhap? Mayhap?! Yes, I am Kakizaki! You’ve got some nerve showing your face around here, you shameless traitor! How dare you come crawling back after abandoning your lord and running off by yourself, you filthy disgrace of a samurai!”

Tooyama only stiffened. Beside her, Chiaki said soothingly, “Enough already. He looks like a deer in the headlights. It’s been a while, man.”

Tooyama’s gaze shifted to Chiaki, but there was no recognition in it.

“What, you can’t even be bothered to remember your former colleagues? It’s Yasuda, Yasuda Nagahide Yasuda Nagahide (安田長秀) 1516 - May 8, 1582? 1585? 1592?
Title: Jibu Shousuke (治部少輔)
Historically: Master of Yasuda Castle. The Yasuda family had served the Nagao Clan from the time of Nagao Tamekage (late 1400s). Nagahide supported Nagao Kagetora (Uesugi Kenshin) in the coup d'etat against Nagao Harukage, so was a close aide of Kenshin from early on. He fought in many of Kenshin's wars against Takeda Shingen, Oda Nobunaga, and Houjou Ujiyasu.
He received a commendation for bravery at the 4th battle of Kawanakajima along with six other commanders, including Irobe Katsunaga.
He supported Uesugi Kagekatsu in the Otate no Ran after Kenshin's death. He died in 1582 of illness in the midst of Shibata Shigeie's rebellion. (Other accounts mention 1585, 1592.)
Though he shared the same family name as Yasuda Kagemoto and Yasuda Akimoto, also vassals of the Uesugi Clan, he was descended from a different family.
In Mirage of Blaze: he was summoned by Uesugi Kenshin to become one of the Yasha-shuu and is second in power only to Uesugi Kagetora. . You don’t have to look so terrified. Relax, you idiot, I’m not gonna murder you. Everyone on Kagekatsu’s side’s in Hell now, anyway.”

“S-so it’s Yasuda-dono.”

“Guess Kagetora threatened...or uh, commanded you to come here, huh? And you’re gonna help us?” Chiaki said, eyes flashing. “So now you’re betraying the Houjou?”

“No! I...I...!” Tooyama attempted to deny, when Kagetora’s cruel expression resurfaced in the back of his mind, and he shivered as a chill skittered down his spine. “I...I...yes...”

“Is that so. Why don’t you tell us, then: what is the Houjou scheming? Were you the ones who kidnapped Narita Yuzuru?”

“...!”

“Where is the male Tsutsuga Mirror? Kagetora commanded you to get its location from your master, didn’t he? You’re gonna be our spy.”

Tooyama glared back at them, trembling with with dread and resentment.

“You say no to us, and Kagetora’s never gonna let you go. He’s got a vindictive streak, and he’ll hound you to the ends of Hell.”

“...”

“So why don’t you start talking?”

He could hear the murmur of a small stream from the barred windows.

Held captive in a room somewhere on the Houjou estate, Narita Yuzuru sat on the bed listlessly, concentrating on the sound.

(Where the heck am I anyway?) He sighed, looking at the sky outside the window. (Takaya...)

He hadn’t seen Takaya since Toshima Amusement Park Toshimaen (としまえん)
Toshimaen is an amusement park owned by the Seibu Group and is one of the biggest in Japan. Parts of it were built in 1926, and it is famous for being Japan's first to have a pool, opened in 1929. . What had happened to him in that time?

“‘Takaya’ has disappeared—he is wholly ‘Kagetora’ once more...”

“He will fight for us as a warrior of the Houjou.”

(He’s lying, isn’t he?) Yuzuru asked Takaya silently. (Have you really forgotten me?)

Takaya would never set him up like this. ...Once upon a time he would have believed that absolutely, but doubt had taken root in his mind—doubt planted by the widening distance between them. There were times when Takaya looked at him as coldly as if he were a stranger, when he spoke and acted with an arrogance that seemed designed to intimidate everyone around him. Then he would oscillate as quickly back to his normal crude, awkward, unvarnished self. His instability caused Yuzuru much anxiety.

(Which is the real you?) Doubt circled Yuzuru’s disquieted mind. (Is it ‘Kagetora’?)

That couldn’t be. ‘Takaya’ was his true self. Yuzuru wanted to be believe that. Ujimasa’s claims were nothing but a pack of lies. Weren’t they?

(I don’t care anymore—I just want to see you, Takaya!) Yuzuru cried out desperately in the silence of his mind, holding back tears.

That was when—

Yuzuru, a voice said, and he reflexively lifted his head.

“Who’s there? Who called my name just now?!”

He circled the room, searching. He had heard Takaya’s voice—he was sure of it.

“Takaya! Are you here?!”

There it was again—behind him! He whirled. Takaya stood within the mirror hanging on the wall above the ornamental fireplace.

“Taka...ya...?” Yuzuru stared.

That’s impossible, he thought, backing away. It just wasn’t possible. Takaya was in the mirror: in the mirror and nowhere else. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, then repeated the motions. The image of Takaya remained. He could see Takaya so clearly!

“Takaya! Why...!” Yuzuru beseeched his silent friend. “Why are you in there?! What happened?! Takaya, you...!” Yuzuru cried, beginning to panic. “Is it this mirror? Are you in this mirror? What did they do to you? Who did this?!”

A look of anguish crossed Takaya’s face.

“Are you really in there? What should I do? Are you trapped?” Yuzuru clutched desperately at the mirror. “What should I do?! How do I get out of here? How do I get to you? Tell me, Takaya! Did the Houjou do this to you?”

“Why are you shouting?” He started and jerked away from the mirror as Date Kojirou entered the room. “Who were you talking to?”

“...”

Yuzuru stepped in front of the mirror to face Kojirou squarely. Kojirou chuckled softly. “We will begin preparations for the manifestation of your powers now.”

“What?”

“You can simply go quietly go to sleep; we’ll take care of the rest. Mori-dono.”

Mori? he thought, looking toward the door as a young man who had apparently been waiting outside entered. He knew this face: hazel eyes so light they were nearly gold; hair fine as silk thread; red lips curved in a gratingly alluring smile.

“! —Hatayama...!”

“It’s been a while, Narita-senpai honorifics
A brief list of honorifics used in address:
san (さん) - the most common honorific, usually used to address someone outside one's immediate circle with respect
kun (君) - usually used towards boys and men of junior status or equal age and status
chan (ちゃん) - a diminutive used mainly towards children, and intimate friends, especially women; also used as an endearment for girls
sama (様) - the formal form of "san", showing a high level of respect
senpai (先輩) - used to refer to someone with a more senior status, such as a freshman towards a senior
sensei (先生) - often translated as "teacher", but can actually be used to show respect for anyone with superior knowledge in a field, including doctors and writers
dono/tono (殿) - an antiquated term which roughly translates to "lord", used to show great respect for the addressee, who can be of equal or higher status than the speaker
uji/shi (氏) - in ancient times, carried the meaning "of the ~ clan" or "of the ~ surname"; now used in formal speech and writing to refer to someone unfamiliar to the speaker.
.”

Before him stood Hatayama Satoshi Hatayama Satoshi (波多山智)
Possessed by: Mori Ranmaru
A first-year junior high student at Takaya's school who appears to look up to Yuzuru. He is in the same band as Yuzuru. He is described as having a short, delicate figure with fine chestnut hair and hazel eyes so light they appear gold. He is half-Japanese and half-British.
He disappears after the fight at Jouhoku High., AKA Mori Ranmaru Mori Ranmaru (森蘭丸) 1565 - 1582
Also called: Mori Nagasada (森長定), possibly Shigetoshi (成利), Nagayasu (長康)
Historically: A vassal of Oda Nobunaga who served as his attendant from
an early age. His father, Mori Yoshinari, was also a vassal of Oda Nobunaga. Favored by Nobunaga for his talent and loyalty, he also followed the tradition of shudo with his liege-lord. He and his three younger brothers died with Nobunaga at the Honnou-ji on June 21, 1582.: he who held the «power» of the Oda, who commanded the Oda onshou onshou (怨将)
Lit.: "vengeful general": the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period, who continue their battles even in modern-age Japan., who was said to be Nobunaga’s right arm.

“What are you doing here?”

“Is that all you have to say to me after all this time, Narita-senpai? I never imagined I might encounter such dazzling power as you displayed in Sendai Sendai-shi (仙台市)
The capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, it is also the largest city in the northeast region of Japan. It is home to one million people, and is aptly nicknamed Mori no Miyako, the Capital of Trees.. I wanted you more than ever after seeing the glorious sight of the Wisdom Kings raging in the night sky above Sendai.”

Yuzuru glared fiercely at Ranmaru. “You have no right to call me ‘senpai.’”

“You are far too modest. In any case, you belong to me now. Just sit back quietly. I will extract that fearsome power from within you. Is that not a cause for rejoicing, Senpai?” he smiled at Yuzuru darkly, and Yuzuru shivered.

“I don’t really know what you’re all talking about, but...”

“Good. All we need is your power. ...Kojirou-dono.”

Kojirou nimbly intercepted Yuzuru’s dash, pinioning him before he could reach the door. Yuzuru struggled, but Kojirou’s slenderness belied a surprising strength, and Yuzuru couldn’t get free.

“Look into my eyes.” Ranmaru tilted Yuzuru’s chin up and met Yuzuru’s defiant glare. “You can see the flames flickering there, can’t you?”

“...”

Strange, Yuzuru thought. He felt dizzy, as if Ranmaru’s eyes were pulling him in.

He could see the flames. They were purple, eerie and beautiful.

“Can you hear it...?” Ranmaru whispered, sounding as if he were far away. “The voices of the people...telling you to awaken...”

He could hear a babble of voices deep in his ears. Were they singing? No, it was not a song. It gradually drew closer. A crowd chanting. ...An incantation—shingon shingon (真言)
Lit. "true word"; mantras which contain a distillation of the Buddhist truth....?

Yuzuru’s awareness separated from the real world little by little. A languorous, honeyed warmth enfolded him, and all the strength left his body. He fell into a half-hypnotized state.

“...Yes. Entrust your consciousness to me,” Ranmaru murmured, smiling faintly. “Be calm. Quiet. Release that evil power within you—now.”

At the same moment, Ujimasa suddenly felt the presence of another person in his chambers.

“Who’s there?”

He looked around the room, but saw no one. Ascribing it to his imagination, he reached for the closet door for a change of clothing.

His hand dropped at the sight of the door mirror.

“...”

Ujimasa returned Takaya’s gaze, perfectly composed.

“... What is the meaning of this, Saburou?”

Ujimasa recognized his younger brother, though his features belonged to a stranger. Takaya—Saburou Kagetora gazed at him in silence.

“Have you come to offer greetings to your older brother?”

Takaya’s face was expressionless as his cold eyes stared unwaveringly at Ujimasa. Ujimasa, eldest of the Houjou siblings, was unmoved. This was the first time they had laid eyes on each other in four hundred years, but Ujimasa, unlike Ujiteru, felt no overwhelming sentiment. He betrayed no emotion at all.

“You are a Houjou, and you must serve your duty to the clan. You understand that, don’t you, Saburou?” Ujimasa exposited calmly. “That is your fate. You are one of us and always will be: to your death—no, even beyond death. You can never be Uesugi, not completely. We are your family. Your blood. You cannot abandon your own blood.”

«...»

“You are my cherished and beloved brother. Let us win this country together. Join us. We will conquer the Sengoku Sengoku (戦国)
The "warring states" period, lasting from 1467 to 1615, in which the warlords of Japan battled each other for the rule of the country. with Father to lead us. Come, Saburou.”

Crack.

A single long fissure appeared in the mirror with an odd sound. Ujimasa’s eyes widened in surprise. More lines fractured his reflection a split-second later.

Crack crack crack.

“!”

The mirror shattered completely with a loud crash, and the shards flew towards Ujimasa.

“Guh...!”

He instantly shielded himself. His aide dashed into the room at the commotion.

“Are you all right, Tono?! Ah...Tono!” His expression changed as he rushed over to Ujimasa. Broken glass shards large and small lay scattered on the carpet around him. Ujimasa glared at the shattered mirror, panting. “Tono! Are you hurt?”

“—No. I am fine,” he responded, wiping a hand across the blood on his cheek where a fragment had grazed him.

(Damn you, Saburou!)

## Comments

### Thank you!

Thank you for this newest chapter! I think Ayako and Chiaki have an interesting dynamic between them so it was nice to see them together here. Looking forward to the next chapter as always!

### I love how Ayako and Chiaki

I love how Ayako and Chiaki squabble like siblings. ^_^ Speaking of siblings, the next chapter features more Ujiteru. Hope you enjoy!

### Thank you for translating

Thank you for translating this chapter. Can't wait to read the next one!

### The next chapter took a

The next chapter took a little longer than I anticipated, it's finally done, yay!

### Thank you so much for the new

Thank you so much for the new chapter. Much of what confused me in the anime is making so much more sense now. ^_^

I loved the last scene, too. Kagetora's cold rage was spooky. I wonder--and I mean this sincerely--if Ujimasa would be willing to use himself so cruelly for the good of the family? Or if it's just everyone else who he's willing to sacrifice? What a great villain.

* * *

Can't I even dream? Would you shut my heart in my chest? -Kagetora, Yonakidori Blues

### Knowing the history makes the

Knowing the history makes the story so much deeper, doesn't it? I love that there are so many layers to this story.

I thought it was hilarious how Ayako wailed on poor Tooyama, but on another level, I found it a bit tragic as well. It's interesting that the author expresses some sympathy for Tooyama by pointing out the fact that he wouldn't have felt guilt if he weren't a decent man to start with, and yet portrays Ujimasa as being purely self-centered. I doubt the story-Ujimasa is capable of self-sacrifice; he acts like he is the clan, despite what he says about his father.

I count myself a fan of the historical Ujimasa, though. Pretty much the only black mark against him seems to be the fact that he sent his brother Saburou off to Echigo as Kenshin's hostage instead of his own son, who was then just a baby. (The story glosses over the fact that it was their father Ujiyasu who sent Saburou off to be Shingen's hostage when he was just a child.) Otherwise, Ujimasa was a fair ruler who loved his wife, who apparently valued diplomacy, and who sacrificed himself to spare his men during the Siege of Odawara. All in all, likely one of the better lords to serve.

### I kind of feel sorry for

I kind of feel sorry for Tooyama but then I don't. Kagetora is a very calculative man... cruel even but that's why I love his character. There are so many layers to it, and the circumstances and everything that happened to him from almost everyone around him in the past made him the man he is today.

I loved Nagahide and Haruie's conversation. Nagahide is almost always the one with a great understanding of the characters in the novels. While Naoe's thoughts are sometimes skewed and misleading thanks to his paranoia and self-loathing, and Kagetora loves playing the role of the victim and his denial gets the best of him sometimes, Nagahide knows what's really going on in their minds.

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