We arrived outside in the front yard of the house and Keiko put the chair down. Suzuki Sensei helped me sit down and tucked the cushion behind me, laying the blanket over my lap and legs. He hurried back inside for a warmer coat for me which he draped around my shoulders.
The courtyard doors were pounded again and we all saw them shake.
"Is Ōjousama ready?" Five Colours asked.
I nodded.
"Go open the door, Tanaka-san," Suzuki Sensei ordered Bushy Brows.
"I'm - I'm scared," Tanaka - Bushy Brows faltered.
"Then let Keiko-san go with you," Suzuki Sensei lifted his chin.
"This one will go with them too," Five Colours added, walking ahead of the duo.
The duo screamed and jumped to the side when they saw the courtyard door unbolt itself and then open by itself. They couldn't see Five Colours but they could see what he was doing.
A group of beings, some shrouded in light and some shrouded in darkness walked into the courtyard behind a huge demonic beast. A wolf, if I wasn't wrong. I stilled and calmed my heart at the sight.
All the beings looked around the yard. Some snorted with derision at Keiko and Tanaka's quailing forms, nodding at Five Colours. Five Colours beckoned them over to stand in front of me.
A chorus of greetings, starting with the name of the beings, followed by a low bow to the floor as Five Colours had done earlier in the room.
"... greets Ōjosama of the Most High," they thundered. I recognised a few of the names as local places names. Suzuki Sensei likely recognised more of them than I did.
Five Colours stood by my right hand, while Suzuki Sensei stood by my left. His hand was on my shoulder and I could feel the tension in his hand as he witnessed this mind boggling event.
A few more beings rushed down the road and paused at the gate.
Five Colours looked at me and with my nod, he went to welcome them in, upon which those spirits would come to bow low before me and shout a greeting, before joining the crowd on either side of the area directly in front of me.
Some spirits looked at me with excitement and longing. Those were only the spirits shining with a light that brightened upon greeting me. The dark ones and the demons looked uncomfortable or glowered at me when they thought I wasn't looking.
Five Colours looked around and nodded.
"Ōjosama, all of those who live within the territory have arrived."
I returned the nod, not knowing what else to do.
Five Colours clapped his hands and announced, "Present your gifts."
One by one, the various beings stepped out to once more bow and present a gift, starting with Five Colours.
"Ōjosama, Five Colours would like to gift a lantern of five colours to brighten your mood on those days where the light is dim."
Five Colours pulled out a pretty lantern with five sides, each a different colour. The light from within the lantern cast five different coloured lights on the ground. It was pretty.
"Thank you, Five Colours," I smiled, glancing at Suzuki Sensei who blinked at me in astonishment for a moment. Then he looked at the proffered gift, hesitated and then accepted the gift on my behalf. "It is beautiful."
"This lowly one shall place it on a stand to the side for now," Five Colours smiled and the light around him brightened. "The Most High felt Ōjosama would smile at this gift. The Most High knows best," Five Colours shone with colourful lights, pulling a lantern stand out of the dark and helping Suzuki Sensei hang the lantern on the stand. "This small one will now assist Ōjosama in receiving the other gifts. Next!"
One by one, the other spirits and demons stepped forward to present their gifts. The gifts came in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
A spring that would never run dry was one such gift and the spirits and demons assisted in digging a place in the ground for it where it would be planted to become a pond. There were pretty rocks, jade, trees and flowers. All the gifts were planted around the spring until under the moonlight, a pretty garden had been planted and installed, complete with a pond and mountain shaped rock and all the greenery needed. There were also animals - chickens, ducks and geese. Fish, freshwater shellfish and other crustaceans. By the time the gifts had all been given, there was a complete ecosystem in that pond and the small corner looked like it had been established for a long time.
Each gift came with a magical like blessing, such as a plum tree that would never cast fruit before its season and would shun all pests, or the jade that would keep me warm even in the coldest weather. There was the fish that would grant me improved intelligence when eaten, the geese who would guard my walls like soldiers and keep me company when I was sad, and the flowers that would refresh my mind with their fragrance when I was weary. The mountain shaped rock that when left to soak in the water, would imbue the water with reinvigorating properties. There were water plants that filtered the water to keep it clean and when used in my bathwater, would assist with healing wounds. The chickens who would sing when they laid eggs could also help me keep the pests among the vegetable patch down, as well as being peace to those who petted them.
I looked at the little garden and couldn't help but feel moved. This was obviously planned by someone who knew me well and knew I needed cheering up. Only my beloved Creator Father would go so far and make such an extravagant gesture for me. I was only going to be staying here temporarily and yet He wanted to ensure I would have the best things to keep me comfortable and happy.
Finally, there was the sound of trumpets and a drumroll from outside the courtyard. The sound of music was accompanied by the rumble of thunder and looming gathering of dark clouds overhead. The sky over the courtyard remained clear but outside, a thunderstorm filled the sky. Lightning flashed through the clouds, the thunder accompanying the music, somehow staying in time with the beat. A strong wind blew and we saw it whirling with fire outside the courtyard. Only a few wisps of the breeze reached inside the courtyard.
All the spirit guardians and demons blowed low down to the ground. Those wreathed in light now shone brighter as they sang a song I had never heard before in a language I didn't know and yet could understand. I recognised that they were singing praises to the Creator, calling Him the Most High King. The demons just remained bowing with gritted teeth.
Hearing the song, I heard a gap in the tune, a part for me to join in. As if the music had purposely been arranged for my voice to take part. I recognised the words from a section that Shigure had taught me - words of power and praise, he had called it. It reminded me of a passage among the words of power that stated that the Creator's throne was built upon our praises. And so I joined the song and sang as well, somehow amazingly finding my place and harmony in the greater chorus.
As we sang, the moonlight brightened and swirling lights from the five colour lamp and from the song intertwined together. The stars twinkled overhead, lending some sparkle. The colourful lights danced and leapt about with joy, coalescing into what looked like a genuine, translucent and beautiful chair. The seat hovered in the air slightly behind and above mine, so that I was near the right foot of it.
Walking calmly out of the flashing clouds and boiling thunderclouds down onto the road, a man approached us with a smile. He paused at the courtyard gate as if asking permission to enter.
I had already slipped off my seat and hurried to the head of all the gathered spirits to bow to him.
"Majesty," I greeted. "Welcome. Please come in and take your throne."
"Daughter," a hand lifted me up off the ground, "you may rise and stand."
The moment he touched me, I felt all my discomfort, tiredness and pain leave me. Strength returned and I gestured toward the beautiful throne built of lights and our praises.
"Come. Did you like your gifts?"
"I loved them," I bounced, going up on tiptoes to give him and kiss, allowing Him to envelop me in a big hug. Just what I needed. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
"Anything for my daughter's smile," the Creator Father kissed my forehead and led me back to my seat. He sat and then I followed suit. "I am pleased it went well."
He waved a hand at all the spirits.
"Well done. You may all be dismissed. Be sure to give my daughter respect when she is passing back through and keep any of the other unclean ones from troubling her. I want this to be a safe area for her recovery. She shall not be disturbed."
The spirits all bowed once more and then filed away, leaving the courtyard one after the other until only Five Colours was left. Five Colours closed and bolted the courtyard gate after them, before turning to stand guard at the courtyard door with a beaming smile that shone with five colours.