Chapter :-37 Planning And Plotting

After taking care of the matter within [Mei prefecture], Henrik targetted the [Yasaka Shrine] which was about 10 minutes away from [Kyoto].

[Yasaka Shrine], also known as [Gion Shrine], is one of the most famous shrines in [Kyoto]. Founded over 1350 years ago, the shrine is located between the popular [Gion District] and [Higashiyama District] and is often visited by tourists walking between the two districts.

The shrine's main hall combines the [honden] (inner sanctuary) and [haiden] (offering hall) into a single building. In front of it stands a dance stage with hundreds of lanterns that get lit in the evenings. Each lantern bears the name of a local business in return for a donation.

[Yasaka Shrine] is well known for its summer festival, the [Gion Matsuri], which is celebrated every July. Arguably the most famous festival in the whole country, the [Gion Matsuri] dates back over a thousand years and involves a procession with massive floats and hundreds of participants. The shrine also becomes busy during the cherry blossom season around early April, as the adjacent [Maruyama Park] is one of the most famous cherry blossom spots in Kyoto.

The [Yasaka shrine] is dedicated to [Susanoo] as its chief kami, with his consort [Kushinadahime] In the east, and eight offspring deities (yahashira no mikogami) on the west. The [yahashira no mikogami] include [Yashimajinumi no kami], [Itakeru no kami], [Ōyatsuhime no kami], [Tsumatsuhime no kami], [Ōtoshi no kami], [Ukanomitama no kami], [Ōyatsuhiko no kami], and [Suseribime no Mikoto].

Initial construction on the Shrine began in 656. The Shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period. In 965, [Emperor Murakami] ordered that Imperial messengers be sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan. These heihaku were initially presented to 16 shrines; and in 991, [Emperor Ichijō] added three more shrines to [Murakami's list]. Three years later in 994, [Ichijō] refined the scope of that composite list by adding [Umenomiya Shrine] and [Gion Shrine].

In 869 the [Mikoshi] (divine palanquin) of [Gion Shrine] were paraded through the streets of Kyoto to ward off an epidemic that had hit the city. This was the beginning of the [Gion Matsuri], an annual festival that has become world-famous.

Henrik had convinced Freya to target the Thunder god of Shinto, first. He was sure that he could convince Susanoo into giving up his soul for his wish. Amaterasu was horrified by the possibilities of what was about to come but the Mikaelsons outright ignored her.

The silver-white haired woman stood before Henrik wearing purple Yukata, her long hair tied behind her head with a short stick. Her mesmerizing green eyes gazed at the map laying on the table.

Another person, also with long white hair and a red Yukata was standing near the table. Red eyes totally focused on the map on the table, a long katana and a long-barreled Flintlock rested on her waist.

"How do you plan to infiltrate the shrine? Due to the attack on the Ise Shrine, the security around all other shrines throughout the country has been increased by a lot."

"A diversion, we need a diversion."

"You are right Kiyohime, the tension between the Murase family and Nurasi family seems to have grown a lot. They are just on the outskirts of the capital, perfectly close to the shrine. If we can spark a conflict between the two households then the shrine would surely interrupt them."

"We just need to make the Priest leave the shrine for a minute, after infiltrating the inner-shrine we will be able to teleport underground."

"Underground!?..."

"Unlike other gods, Susanoo was banished from the Heavens."

"He settled down in the headwaters of the river [Hii] in [Izumo], [Hi-no-Kawa], with the [Kojiki] specifying the area to be a place called [Torikami], identified with [Mount Sentsū] in eastern Shimane."

"One variant in the [Shoki] instead has Susanoo descend to the upper reaches of the river E (E-no-kawa) in the province of [Aki] (identified with the Gōnokawa River in modern Hiroshima Prefecture)."

"[Kushinadahime]'s parents are here given the names [Ashinazu-Tenazu] and [Inada-no-Miyanushi-Susa-no-Yatsumimi]; here, [Kushinadahime] is still in her mother [Susa-no-Yatsumimi]'s womb when [Susanoo slew the Yamata no Orochi."

"The ten-span sword Susanoo used to slay the Yamata no Orochi, unnamed in the Kojiki and the Shoki's main text, is variously named in the Shoki's variants as Orochi-no-Aramasa ('Rough [and] True [Blade] of the Serpent'), Orochi-no-Karasabi-no-Tsurugi ('Korean (Kara) Sword of the Serpent' or 'Flashing Sword of the Serpent'), and [Ame-no-Haekiri-no-Tsurugi] ('Heavenly Fly Cutter', also Ame-no-Hahakiri 'Heavenly Serpent (haha) Cutter')."

"In the Kogo Shūi, it is dubbed Ame-no-Habakiri. This sword is said to have been originally enshrined in [Isonokami Futsumitama Shrine] in [Bizen Province] (modern Okayama Prefecture) before it was transferred to [Isonokami Shrine] in [Yamato Province] (modern Nara Prefecture)."

"After slaying the Yamata no Orochi, Susanoo looked for a suitable place in Izumo to live in. Upon arriving at a place called Suga, he declared, "Coming to this place, my heart is refreshed (sugasugashi)."

"The [Kojiki] adds that [Susanoo] appointed [Kushinadahime]'s father [Ashinazuchi] to be the headman of his new dwelling, bestowing upon him the name [Inada-no-Miyanushi-Suga-no-Yatsumimi-no-Kami] ('Master of the Palace of Inada, the Eight-Eared Deity of Suga').

"With his new wife [Kushinadahime], [Susanoo] had a child named [Yashimajinumi-no-Kami]. He then took another wife named [Kamu-Ōichihime], the daughter of [Ōyamatsumi], the god of mountains, and had two children by her: [Ōtoshi-no-Kami], the god of the harvest, and [Ukanomitama-no-Kami], the god of agriculture."

"After having thus lived for a time in Izumo, Susanoo at length finally found his way to Ne-no-Kuni."

"What is the use of knowing his legend?"

"The Gods get their powers from the crystalization of the 'belief' of people, which also includes the things that the people 'believe' is the truth."

"They 'believe' that Susanoo's presence in the three main shrines is ever-present, it means that it became the truth. We can summon him from any three of his main shrine. The Yasaka shrine is the nearest one and also the least guarded one."

"Knowing their history and variant gives us an edge over their vast power, we know he is the God of storms and Thunder. That's why we can bring him down using the crown I found in the tomb in our compound."

"Is there something special about it?"

Freya asked with a curious expression on her face while Henrik pulled the Golden crown from his pendant and placed it on the table for them to see.

"Such complex inscriptions!!!"

"It possesses the ability to negate any and every type of lightning, even my [Force:-Lightning]."

"Really!!!"

"Yes, sister..."

"This will give us an edge against him but don't forget that he can also control storms, wind."

"I don't think it will come to that but as an assurance, taking it with me when we meet him will do me no harm."

"How will you summon him and also stall the priest for 10 minutes?"

"The underground area under the shrine, the way to enter is from within the shrine but once I have entered the place, I can use Amaterasu's presence as bait and trick him into summoning."

"This way I will have all the time needed to chat with him and convince him into binding himself to the pendant."

"Very well, Kiyohime must accompany you in case he tries to attack you. The black Grimoire will suppress him while the crown will give you an advantage."

"Don't worry sister, after sealing Susanoo we will get you your 'slave'....."

"You will be sealing him in Rebekah's pendant!?.."

"Yes, Rebekah is a troublesome one. I can't leave her without enough security....."

"Can't argue with that..."

"Kiyohime, ask some of the Gerard elders to spark a conflict between the two families..."

"Yes, master...."