An Empty Shell

Chapter 27: No More

Over a hundred generations have passed, Hayami was born. Being the last direct descendant of Abe no Seimei, the power that was handed to her forefathers was also passed down to her. However, a conspicuous ability that no other shaman throughout their generations carried was discovered . Their Saishu (chief shinto priest), also the great grandfather of Hayami, learned about her ability to absorb and conceal every soul or wandering spirit in her body without restricting them. She's like an open door between the worlds of the living and the dead. Therefore, he concluded that she might be the curse Tamamo no Mae cast a long time ago and at the same time the key to her seal. Growing up, Hayami was carefully guarded and was forbidden to go near the concealed shrine where they kept the dark orb of Tamamo no Mae. They offered prayers to the Kami Inari every single day for Hayami's protection. They also cast spells on her to create a barrier closing her portal from the spirits. But one night, when the moon was full, Hayami woke up from a dream and saw a wisp by her window. Her curiosity as a child dominated her and without a second thought,  she decided to approach it, wanting to touch it. As she went nearer, the wisp disappeared then reappeared somewhere, as if it wanted to play with her. Determined to catch it, Hayami chased it around, she snuck out of their home while everyone was asleep. Until she noticed that it was as if the wisp was guiding her somewhere. That was when she realized she was already in a forbidden shrine located in the mountain not far from her home. There were talismans wrapped around the torii by the entrance and as soon as she stepped inside, the talismans suddenly started ablaze and were burnt. To her surprise she got scared and tried to run away but as soon as she turned back, she was blocked by some force, seemingly not allowing her out. She was yelling for help while trying to escape, when suddenly her eyes turned blank, and she stopped. She turned around to find her way where the kamidana (a miniature shrine) was, she was in a daze as if her body was moving on its own. The kamidana was also designed with talismans on a rope wrapped around it. She reached out for it and with a single touch, the rope with the talismans were also charred from a single touch, opening a door. Inside, Hayami found the dark hoshi no tama. It was already emitting something dark around it. Once again, she held out for it and as soon as she touched it, the dark energy went inside her body absorbing it like a sponge then she collapsed. That once a child had turned into something else, she'd grown nine tails and pointy ears although she was still wearing the same face but with dark expression. Possessed Hayami went back to her home where her family was still fast asleep. But her father felt the dark presence that wide awakened him as soon as she set her foot outside of their door. He quickly got up and tried to wake the rest of the family up. Suddenly, a strong force opened the door bringing gusts of wind inside their home. Everyone was utterly dumbstruck when they finally saw Hayami's appearance. Her father took his mala beads and wrapped them around his hands and started to chant prayers. But before he could even finish, Hayami raised her hand, and he was hurled against the wall, crushing his bones. The rest of the family tried to run away with her mother trying to protect them, however, before they even knew it, Hayami was already in front of them in a sweep of the wind. She put her hands forward with her fingers curled like trying to crush something in it, and they were squeezed like insects, splattering their blood everywhere, leaving streaks of it on her face and clothing. Just then, their Saisho arrived at the scene after sensing the dark energy from his home. He chanted a summoning prayer for the Kami Inari. Having been familiar with the Saisho's prayer, possessed Hayami started to attack to make him stop. But before she could take him down, he put all his spiritual power to protect himself to be able to finish his prayer. Just then, she grabbed the Saisho by the neck, using an invisible force, lifting him up in the air then slamming him down directly hitting the ground multiple times. And with his very last breath came out the very last word of his prayer to summon the Kami as he engraved a symbol on the ground with much difficulty to even lift a finger using his own blood and remaining speck of his strength. Malevolent Hayami approached the Saisho's lifeless body thinking his summoning prayer was not successful. Until she noticed the Kami's Crest inscribed on the ground with the priest's blood. She staggered in absolute terror as she backed up, eyes wide open and trembling. She tried to escape but she froze, not able to move a single muscle as soon as that thought even registered to her. The God's Crest suddenly lit up burning the blood dry, embedding it on the ground. The light further intensified as the wicked kitsune inside of a child's body was stopped dead to do anything but watch it close with a viscous snarl, not knowing what's going to happen next. She shut her eyes close as the radiance engulfed her almost blinding her sight.
The next thing Hayami knew, she was lying on an old woman's lap when she woke up, confused and didn't understand what really happened. She doesn't have a memory of the tragedy the night before. That's when the old woman took her in and pronounced herself as Lady Fushimi.