Kamo no Shigesuke has always lived in the shadow of his cousin. Ever since he was young, Yasunori had always been a generational talent with their clan's famed Blood Manipulation Technique—not to the absurd level of the current generation, of course. Yasunori was talented by the normal definition of the term.
Still, that left him overshadowing everyone else in the clan who should have otherwise been his peers.
Shigesuke always felt it the keenest, being a wielder of their clan's Inherited Technique himself. He could never quite keep up with his cousin. He's always resented the man for that.
But what is the point in resentment when the target of such anger doesn't even see you in their eyes?
Regardless, Shigesuke has always despised that disparity. Despised how he could see the judgement in people's eyes as they compared him to his cousin and found him lacking, even if none have ever said as much to his face.
However, it used to be that Shigesuke could fantasise about overcoming his cousin, the gap between them was large, but he never considered it insurmountable.
Most Sorcerers are born without Innate Techniques. Those that do have Techniques are actually the minority, for all that it is easy to mistake this fact.
Those without Innate Techniques barely contribute as shadows to those who do after all.
The primary methods for most Sorcerers to achieve power without an Innate Technique is to either master a weapon or through the use of Shikigami. Though unlikely, it is not impossible for a Sorcerer without an Innate Technique to best a Sorcerer with an Innate Technique.
Assuming that the Sorcerer in question does not have a Domain, of course. There is nothing that can be done to counter a Domain that isn't another Domain.
Technically there are certain Barriers, but those take time to set up and are difficult to create in the first place. They are more of a static defence than anything else. The only other option would be by having multiple Sorcerers attack at the same time, such that another can break the Domain from the outside where it is weaker.
The Clans obviously have methods devised to counter Domains with their regular forces.
That is besides the point though. The point is that Shigesuke knew that he could not overcome his cousin by relying on his Technique alone, so when he was younger, he chose to learn how to make use of Shikigami as well.
Shikigami are a complex subject that can be easily understood. It's oxymoronic, but the basic idea of what a Shikigami is and how to create one is rather simple. It is only when one seeks to go further than the basics that Shikigami become complex.
The most basic, elementary exercise in the school involves cutting and animating little paper people. That much is barely a Shikigami, but it is a good way for one to get an understanding of the process by experiencing it.
In essence, a Shikigami is Cursed Energy manifested into a (generally) physical form. One forms an idea of a conscience and then forms a body for that conscience to inhabit. For instance, a common choice is a wolf of some description, or any animal or weapon really.
If the 'body' is something that one has a solid impression of, then it makes the process a lot easier. A Shikigami designed to be like a wolf will likely behave like a wolf without much effort designing its characteristics, simply because the Sorcerer will have an idea in his mind of how a wolf behaves and the Shikigami will mirror that.
Swords are similar. Swords are weapons that stab and kill, so a Shikigami made in the form of a sword will likely require little manual control for the purpose of violence; a simple command to attack and the sword will fight by itself with all the skill the Sorcerer understands of a sword, but command it to pick up a pail or something else equally non-violent and manual control will likely become a necessity.
What does a sword know of manual labour after all?
However, Shikigami can also be made using pre-existing physical mediums, such as with the paper people. Sorcerers often turn swords, and especially arrows into Shikigami. Though, turning a Cursed Tool into a Shikigami is an entirely different matter.
Either way, the basics are not too difficult. Any Sorcerer worth their salt can make a Shikigami or two, one would have to be dim to fail in that much.
The challenge is in creating powerful Shikigami.
As a general rule, a Sorcerer cannot create a Shikigami that can fight a peer on even grounds. That isn't the point of Shikigami anyway. The benefit of Shikigami is in numbers, disposability, versatility and distraction. Scouting too, of course, but that's irrelevant to combat.
However, Shigesuke has an advantage that most Shikigami users do not; he does have an Innate Technique.
As a result, he figured out how to imbue Shikigami with his blood via Blood Manipulation. In doing so, he managed to bring his Shikigami half a step closer to life, which has resulted in them not only being greater in all qualities, but also possessing limited potential for true growth.
It is an advantage that puts him above nearly every Shikigami user in history. An achievement that would have surely propelled him beyond what his cousin could have kept up with.
But then, shortly after his niece was born with a Heavenly Restriction, something in Yasunori inexplicably changed.
Shigesuke himself had just finished mastering his unique use of Shikigami at the time; he was beyond buoyant with vindication. He wanted to show off, wanted to surpass his cousin.
He wanted to look Yasunori in the eye and see respect.
A big clan event was upcoming—a regular occurrence for everyone to keep in touch and share news. The perfect opportunity to show off his own achievement as showcases both personal and professional are common at such times.
Then he finally met Yasunori once more and the man walked by without so much as sparing him a glance.
He didn't call out either.
Something had changed within Yasunori. He couldn't say what it was, but in that moment, when he saw his cousin's eyes not even flicker in his direction, Shigesuke felt a sense of oppression he hadn't felt since he was a child.
Yasunori was always more talented than him, but it was never an insurmountable gap.
Yet, in that moment, Shigesuke felt as if his cousin had been replaced by one of those centuries old monsters that the Principle Clans deal with.
He proved as much that same evening. During the usual duels they have—for prestige, to show off something new or a variety of other reasons, there tend to be a number at every event—Yasunori took to the stage and he decimated everyone.
Everyone.
Shigesuke's years of effort, years of work and sweat and blood. Everything he did in pursuit of surpassing his cousin...
It meant nothing.
Yasunori apparently experienced a near-death enlightenment against a hidden Special Grade Cursed Spirit, even earning a wound across the head that could have easily been fatal.
Shigesuke fought in the duels as well. He didn't stand a chance.
His years of dedication meant nothing because against Yasunori, his Shikigami didn't seem any stronger than the usual fare. They were just as useless, and now all he receives is mockery should he ever try to share his work or convince anyone of the worth of his invention.
The gap between them had become a chasm.
Shigesuke lost hope.
In a fit of... he doesn't even know, pique? Rage? Grief?
He doesn't know.
He confronted Yasunori.
Asked what the difference between them was; why he could be so much greater.
Why all of his work meant nothing.
The words he heard in response have haunted him, for how base they were.
"'Cuz you're trash."
Only in hindsight has he thought about how the Yasunori he knew would never speak so... lowly, like a commoner. Yasunori has never spoken so casually, what Kamo has?
He was also never cruel.
At the time though... Shigesuke ran away. He cried and raged and... he took his humiliation out on his wife; a fact that shames him.
In the end, Shigesuke lost his drive. He spent more time doing his duty to his clan through politics instead of by training to become stronger.
Later, Yasunori only continued to gain prestige by taking the Abe clan's prodigy on as a student, followed by discovering and nurturing that freak Sukuna. Shigesuke could do nothing but watch as his cousin grew further and further away as if his previous efforts to catch up were a joke.
Sometimes hard work just isn't enough.
And as if the shadow he cast were not already vast enough, he then went on and gained preeminent influence on the latest genius Narauko as well. A genius who's Technique seems designed to mock Shigesuke's effort developing his Shikigami Techniques.
These days, Shigesuke is little more than a bitter old man, harbouring a grudge that no one would ever support him on. It would take a fool indeed to antagonise the only man in the Realm who can influence those two monsters, not to mention that Yasunori himself is one of the greatest Sorcerers around by himself.
All of this has left Shigesuke in a foul mood of late.
It is not infrequent for there to be audiences with the Emperor. Less frequent is for those audiences to allow crowds.
It's practically unheard of for every well-to-do and otherwise influential figure to be called into attendance at the same time. Such things only happen twice or thrice in a lifetime.
To be one of the few chosen to organise such an event should have been an honour, but instead he can only resent the burden.
Over a hundred people will be in attendance, Sorcerers and not alike. Each a man or woman of enough means that not even Shigesuke himself could act casually around them. That number is discounting the aides that will stay out of sight, of course.
Sight is very important for an event like this. Those of lower status cannot be allowed to see their betters, Ladies cannot be seen by outsiders to their families and no one can see the Emperor.
It makes it a hassle to set up the hall. It is a massive building by itself—a necessity to hold so many people without infringing on personal space—so the effort to set up kichō—multi-panelled silk partitions held aloft by T-poles—in the proper manner has been immense.
At the north end of the hall, the Emperor's raised dais is entirely hidden from view by white silk just barely transparent enough to see his silhouette.
With the northernmost third of the hall for the Emperor and his attendants alone, the middle third is reserved for ranking officials while the southernmost third is for functionaries, lesser officials and the occasional Sorcerer of lower birth, as well as an open space for ritual and ceremonies, should the need arise.
Noble Sorcerers of course will sit according to their status, while low born Sorcerers, should they even manage to attend, would be among the attendants.
The hall is split again by a path cut through the centre of the hall for attendants and functionaries to walk for whatever reason is necessary from the entrance to the Emperor.
As one could expect, the Minister of the Left will sit on the left and the Right will be on the right. Everyone of equal rank is allowed to see one another, except in the case of women, who may only be seen by their sleeves, but everyone is also expected to be able to see the path through the centre.
Meaning that kichō must be set up meticulously through the entire hall to ensure that everyone who is allowed to see another can, and that they cannot see who they are not allowed to.
With over a hundred people, it was inordinately difficult to do, especially when a single mistake would mean insulting an entire clan and likely causing a blood feud. In the end, they managed to ensure that all can see the entrance and the location one stops before the Emperor; the best they could do will still leave some with slightly obstructed views of the rest of the path.
Shigesuke's lands will likely see a minor increase in taxation next year because of this.
It has been rather stressful to Shigesuke, and what has it all been for?
To lay yet more honours at Yasunori's feet.
Shigesuke hates it.
He's not the only one, it turns out.
Well, that's not quite true.
Of the quiet, and more importantly, deniable whispers that he has heard, what has most folk upset is that they have all been summoned in order to honour a commoner.
The boy Narauko is the one being rewarded today after all. Shigesuke does find that fact unpalatable of course, but those feelings are nothing compared to the hate he feels knowing that Yasunori's star will rise ever higher because of this.
For while it may be Narauko receiving the honours today, that boy is not a highborn. He knows nothing of politics or of how those of status behave, nor of the importance of leverage or influence.
Yasunori knows all of these things, and so as the boy's teacher, any influence or acclaim gained by Narauko will in truth be rewards to Yasunori. He is the one who will truly benefit.
But what can he do?
He is not going to act against the Emperor, and it would be foolish to attempt anything with the boy. Commoner he may be, there is no denying his strength.
Strength enough to bring a commoner face to face with an Emperor.
What an absurd time this is.
Shigesuke feels old. He longs for the days when the world was so much simpler.
Nobody other than him really has great issue with Yasunori. There are plenty of minor issues that various individuals have with the man for his attitude, but not to the point that anyone would really seek his downfall.
But with the dissatisfaction surrounding a commoner like Narauko rising to such status, there is something of another unofficial coalition that has been forming to counter any influence he might gain.
There are many such unofficial coalitions. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'. Never has there been a truer saying among politicians.
Shigesuke has no great issue with Narauko personally, but he is more than willing to make use of those displeased with the boy to harm Yasunori's standing.
Yet, even as he does so, it feels perfunctory. There is no real drive to his actions. He is simply doing what he can to inconvenience Yasunori almost by rote.
He has long since given up hope of accomplishing anything on that front, but never let it be said that he is not prepared to be pleasantly surprised.
Shigesuke spares a glance around once all attendees have finished arriving. The sudare blinds have been raised across all four walls, allowing plenty of daylight to fill the hall with gentle ambiance. The various colours from everyone's kichō add to the view. It makes it a comfortable place to sit, though those of lesser rank will naturally be standing instead.
With so many people in one hall, perhaps a commoner would expect there to be some din of chatter filling the silence, but this is not such a crowd. Patience is a virtue, and zen is a veneration. The only sounds that reach him are the noises of trees outside blowing gently in the wind and the soft sound of silk brushing against silk and socks shuffling against wood from the far edges of the hall.
Soon enough even that sound fades away as a herald enters the hall and loudly proclaims;
"His Majesty the Emperor is arriving!"
All rise and bow as the Emperor enters the room, unseen but not unnoticed. Only once he has seated do any bows subsist, and a short silence follows as everyone returns to their positions.
For the past few hundred years, patience and minimalism have been the way of the court, so there are no grand gestures or back and forth like there would be for a General addressing his army.
Instead, once the hall has settled back down, Michinaga steps forward and addresses the Emperor.
"The Court has assembled," is all that is said; an acknowledgment of obedience as much as attendance. If anyone important were absent for whatever reason, then would have been the time to mention it.
Shigesuke has been through these events enough times to know the steps by heart by now. It is only the extent of the crowd that is abnormal today, but abiding procedure is important, so these sorts of things tend to go much the same.
Patience is still a virtue, so there is no rush in it, but so too is detachment, so neither is there a need for anything to drag on.
The Emperor himself will of course not say a word, but his attendant will next briefly explain the purpose of this audience, as proven when said attendant announces how an Imperial Command has been given in regards to a matter of personal reward and favour.
The edict in question is then brought in on a pillow and presented to the assembled court before being handed to Michinaga, who moves to stand in the appropriate position to read said edict out.
From there it is a simple matter of summoning the recipient, waiting for them to walk the path—since they will have to stop and bow every time they reach a new set of ranks higher than themselves—then reading the edict, hearing the recipient's formal acceptance, with the appropriate bows and proclamations of loyalty to the Throne and then it's pretty much over.
These things rarely even last the hour.
That isn't to say that they aren't significant, just that the values of the Court are on what has happened, not in emotional rhetoric like some barbarians that must have their every opinion heard.
A moment later and the expected words come.
"Let the Sorcerer Narauko come forward!"
Shigesuke almost smirks at the brief wave of hushed murmurs that pass through the hall, the prouder Nobles almost unable to help themselves from objecting to a lowborn being invited into this illustrious hall.
Well, not that Shigesuke is feeling much better about it. It is wrong; he feels it a violation for a commoner to step foot inside these walls, no matter their strength. It is not as if the lowborn Special Grade before these two has ever been invited here, and he's arguably even more dangerous to the Realm at large.
There's a reason most Sorcerers these days have no need to travel south to Kyūshū.
Regardless, Shigesuke turns his head to observe the hall's entryway just the same as everyone else. His expression is likely as blandly displeased as most others are as well.
The boy soon appears beyond the entryway, attired in a proper sokutai if nothing else, though the sword he carries appears to be made of ice. However, that observation pales to the sight of a Kiyohara servant carrying his shitagasane train behind him.
The implication... Shigesuke begins to think, shocked at the boldness of such a thing, but he does not get to finish the thought.
For not a second later, Narauko steps beyond the threshold and the hall is filled with Love.
It washes over them like a tidal wave, engulfing the entire hall with the feeling of kindness. Of care and unconditional affection the likes of which Shigesuke doesn't even remember feeling.
The hall falls to a new silence as the man approaches the Emperor, not stopping once to bow.
That doesn't seem to matter though, as none move to interrupt him or even speak a word. Not beyond the distant sound of at least one woman beginning to weep.
It is as if a Kami chose to walk among them, one who is not distant but instead filled with Love and with pride in them all merely for being who they are.
Even Shigesuke himself feels his eyes begin to sting as he watches the man gaze around the hall with wonder clear on his face.
Then their eyes meet, by chance or deign he could not say, but Narauko does not merely glance at him and look away. He holds Shigesuke's stare, and he must have seen something because his expression turns to one of such compassion that Shigesuke can only turn away.
He feels... shamed.
He has never considered himself a bastion of goodness, neither has he ever cared for such things. But when he can feel so clearly the truth of Narauko's heart, Shigesuke cannot help but compare himself to the boy and all he can feel as a result is shame.
It is not fair. How could anyone be expected to as caring as this?
I want to see my wife, he finds himself thinking, and it is an effort to keep his emotions from showing on his face.
She deserves a better husband than I have been.
It is like he is seeing the world again for the first time.
How long has it been since he has felt anything but hatred and anger?
He never knew how much those feelings had been blinding him.
///
Narauko
///
This is pretty sick, I feel like I'm really in a period drama. I mean, that kind of used to always be the case, but I've mostly gotten used to it all by now. Seeing the architecture and clothes and roads and stuff of the current era has become the norm to me.
This is my first time being somewhere like this though, is it weird that I didn't expect there to be this many people?
It's also kind of crazy how much space they're using up for each person, all these curtains are crazy colourful but they're set up like someone was trying to make one of those circus funhouse mazes.
I mean I get it, it's apparently really important who's allowed to see who and all, but still, it's a lot of curtains.
It's a nice visual though.
The only dampener is how repressed everyone in here seems to be. I could feel it the moment I got here.
Isn't showing emotion supposed to be a noble thing these days?
I guess humans have been performative even a thousand years before the internet could exacerbate that.
People probably force themselves to cry for appearance's sake while holding their actual feelings close to the chest.
That's the kind of thing people do, I find it very human. Tragic, too. One of the dudes that couldn't hold eye contact especially seems like he's been stuck under a mountain.
Depression can be like that, I guess. Fills you with so much negativity that it's all you can think about to the point that you don't even realise you're depressed; you just think there's nothing to be happy about. It's kind of stupid, but oh so very human.
We're not the wisest bunch, us humans.
Still, I expected there to be more pomp, what with all the preparation that went into the clothing and stuff like setting up this curtain maze. I was kind of looking forward to it, but I guess I was imagining European nobility too much.
Not my fault I've never seen a Japanese medieval movie.
Apparently I'm supposed to bow at like, every row of people that I pass and then wait to be announced again or something before moving forward.
Evidently, the retainer dude was expecting that, going by the poleaxed expression he wears as I just walk up to the appropriate position before the Emperor.
I'm not gonna bow to a bunch of random dudes that I can feel looking down on me.
I kinda feel weird about the two Ladies crying though. I know I've got an aura pretty much the exact opposite to Sukuna's, so for that to make them cry must mean that they're probably going through something right now.
I'll see if I can check up on them later, I decide. I don't know who they are, but if someone needs a shoulder to cry on then it'd be a tragedy for them not to get one.
By the time I come to a stop before the Emperor, still no one has said a word, so I take a moment to observe his Imperial Majesty.
Is it some Divine crime to peak behind those curtains? Probably.
Do I care? ...Maybe a little, actually.
I wouldn't want to offend Amaterasu.
She'd probably forgive me though, so it is with a mental grin that I satiate my curiosity.
The most apparent thing about the Emperor is his own aura, it is like the sun writ miniature.
Amaterasu's Blessing, no doubt. I wonder if he counts as a Demigod from that?
I don't know, but I'd already expected the Blessing.
What makes me pause is instead his face.
He looks... like me.
A lot of nobles tend to look alike, what with all the cousin marriage and stuff. It's one big family out here, and I've noticed plenty of Minamoto having features similar to myself and my father, since he himself was a Minamoto.
But the current and previous few Emperors have all been Fujiwara descended, and I don't look much like a Fujiwara.
Emperor Reizei looks like he could be my skinny brother, it's uncanny.
.......No, fucking, way.
The sheer amount of willpower it takes to not immediately burst out laughing is immense because holy shit my father cucked a fucking Emperor.
What the fuck was wrong with my mother?! She's the one who apparently put him up to all his extra-curricular activities, but surely there's a limit?!
At least I know where I get my audacity from now.
This is hilarious, but I'm not so stupid that I can't see how dangerous this piece of information is, so I'm only going to tell people I think would find it as funny as me. Namely, all of my friends, this is too funny not to.
I trust them not to blab anyway.
Seriously though, I'm half-brother to the Emperor because my mother had a fetish for getting my father to cuck people....
My life is so fucking absurd.
I'm glad this isn't a known fact though, I do not want to be in the running for Emperorship. That seems like a massive pain.
It's still really, really funny though, and I am definitely going to look down on Sukuna now, lowly commoner that he is. Psh! What a peasant~!
"By Imperial Command!" The herald guy calls out, snapping me from my thoughts and bringing me back to the present.
I don't mind; as funny as this discovery is, I'm apparently about to receive a gift of some sort. I love gifts, so I actually do pay attention.
Oh right, I'm supposed to be kneeling right now... Tsk. I decide against continuing to stand, solely out of respect for Amaterasu.
I still don't really bow properly, but I do drop to my knees at least before the herald guy can keep going.
"It has been observed that the Sorcerer Narauko has served the Realm and the Ōkami faithfully and honourably!"
He's probably mostly talking about Masakado, I assume. I have exorcised like a dozen Special Grade Cursed Spirits though, so it could be that too.
"His conduct has been virtuous, and his labours have served the Realm beyond what could be expected!"
Naturally, since I am The Best!
"Therefore, in acknowledgement of merit and as a mark of Our favour and the favour of the Heavenly Kami, We grant him the rank of Senior First Rank!"
I blink at that, the words also managing to snap the hall out of its daze as several gasps echo behind me.
I've had the Taihō Code explained to me and more relevantly, the ranking system within. It goes down to eighth, and fifth is when one is considered an aristocrat. Below that and you aren't a noble.
Senior and Junior split the ranks as is self evident.
Ergo, Senior First Rank is the highest Court Rank available. Michizane was a Senior First Rank, and he was like the most important Sorcerer there was before... Ah.
Before Sukuna and I came around.
Still, giving a Rank like that to a commoner? At least someone who is assumed to be a commoner? Isn't that too absurd? I can practically feel the daggers being glared into my back right now, is my half-brother setting me up to die?
"...and the favour of the Heavenly Kami..."
...Did Amaterasu set this up?
I must reiterate; my life is so fucking weird.
"Furthermore," the herald continues, easily capturing the attention of the entire hall because what else could there be, this much is already absurd, "We bestow upon him the kabane Ason."
This is getting absurd, I think with a dry stare at the guy speaking.
I've read about kabane too. It's a system for the Emperor to give out titles and such, but it's also been like two hundred years since it's been used. Making use of the system now feels like that thing politicians do where it's technically legal only because no one remembered to strike the law away when they changed how they do things.
Also, while the previous ranking system is about court, the kabane ranking is about nobility and there are also eight ranks. Ason is second.
The Minamoto, Fujiwara and Taira clans are all Ason. Only Imperial scions get given the rank above, Mahito.
I've just gone from a lowborn commoner to the founder of a clan of equal standing to the greatest clans of the Realm.
Talk about rags to riches, this is crazy.
I'm a higher rank than Nagiko is now. In one sentence, the entire dynamic between the Kiyohara clan and I has been flipped on its head, at least legally speaking anyway.
This is seriously absurd. Like, rebellion-inducing absurd. If not for the fact that it's been made clear that this is the Will of Heaven, there probably would be a rebellion.
As it is, I'm probably just going to be dealing with an uptick of assassins. There's usually one every few weeks anyway.
However, the speaker isn't finished doing his job quite yet, and there really is naught I can do but helplessly smile as I hear the words that follow.
At least I won't have to call myself Muji anymore.
"Let him receive with reverence—"
In that brief moment of pause as he speaks, the clouds must have parted above as the hall is abruptly brightened by warmth and light shining through open walls as if we were directly under sun's gaze.
"—and henceforth be known as;"
The displeasure in the hall silences in the face of what can only be Divine intervention. I really can't do anything but smile.
Your favour alone would have been enough, Amaterasu.
"Zen'in no Narauko."
///
A/N: He~llo! Dear readers!
FINALLY!! HE HAS A NAME!! MY BOY HAS A NAME!!!
Totally planned from the start to have this happen on chapter 100 btw. Isn't that sick as hell?
But yeah, the politics behind doing this is actually insane. this isn't like old europe where peasants can get knighted and ennobled left right and centre, this literally does not happen in japan. not until like, the meiji era in the 1600s anyway.
also, the reason the first part of this chap is from some random dude is cuz someone on patreon last chapter asked for more details on regular shikigami stuff so I figured why not, I tend to write things if my patrons ask for it, ya'know cuz they're paying my rent an all.
also, disclamer: there are like zero fucking records of historical kamo that aren't either locked behind a paywall I'm not paying for or tucked away in a library an hour and a half away from where I live. And I mean that, google showed the "No results found" shit for 3 different kamo that I googled. so all I know is their names from a snippet of an academic book written in '95 that I cannot access.
My point being that I have no clue about anything to do with shigesuke. the only reason I went with that name instead of the others is cuz unlike them, I could actually find a reference of shigesuke online, but, and I'm not exaggerating, you can google it too, just put your search in quotation marks and it filters out everything that doesn't have whatever is within the quotation marks.
but the only reference I could find online of shigesuke is from the wikipedia article of a monk called Ryōzen, but for some reason only in the french version of the wiki article, which I had to translate.
The french page says Ryōzen was aquanted with shigesuke and some others, but the english article is straight up missing that paragraph.
But yeah, I went with shigesuke cuz Ryōzen was active in about the right timeframe. Unlike the other historical characters in the fic tho, I don't even have anything to go off of for shigesuke. I know this doesn't really mean anything to anyone, but it upsets me :(