Possession 8: Tobian Spiritualism

                Tenshi trudged down the trail that led through the woods at the park. I haven’t seen Rei at all since yesterday… I hope she’s alright… Tenshi sighed. She did save my life, after all… even if she did start all of it…

                As if on cue, the air just in front of him swirled as Rei appeared, stretching. “That was a good nap…”

                Tenshi blinked and pulled his hands out of his blue jeans. “Rei?” For once, he wasn’t surprised by her sudden appearance. “Where were you? I haven’t seen you for a while.”

                “Did you miss me?” Rei smiled. “Or maybe you thought I found a way to leave on my own.”

                Tenshi looked down, averting his eyes.

                “It’s alright. I don’t blame you…” Rei quickly changed the subject. “Actually, I’ve been in the Astral Plane, recovering from the battle with Ryouken. Possessions put a strain on the spirits just as much as the host. Since you somehow managed to alter your body into mine, the strain was even greater.”

                “Oh,” Tenshi replied, nodding. “I see.” I have no clue what that mans…”

                An awkward silence fell over the two. Tenshi felt nervous and on edge. Rei was calm and reflective. It’s no big deal, Tenshi, he told himself. You’re just fixing things. No second thoughts, alright? Tenshi sighed. My therapist would have a field day hearing about all of this…

                “Is that the shrine ahead?” Rei asked, breaking the teenage boy from his thoughts.

                Tenshi glanced up. Off to the side of the path was a red arch, a common feature of shrines and temples in Japan. Just beyond that, cut into the side of a hill, were stairs leading up into the temple proper. As they approached, Tenshi could see that several more arches rising over the steps as they crested the top of the hill and vanished. “Yeah, this is the place alright. The Kakidashi Shrine.”

                “There’s a strong aura about this place,” Rei commented as she and Tenshi began up the steps. “The local priest must be fairly powerful.”

                Tenshi shrugged. “I don’t really know much about him. My father visited a long time ago and when he came back he was all shook up. He told me to avoid the place like it was the plague ever since.”

                “Ironic. The place we must go to is the last place you want to be.”

                The climb took a few minutes. Once they reached the top of hill, they were able to rest and look down into the shallow depression that the shrine was situated in.

                Both mortal and spirit stared with awe. It was far larger than a shrine. Well, larger than the shrines Tenshi had seen in books and on TV. Rei was impressed by its size and was fondly reminded of her home.

 A flight of steps lead down the side of the hill and turned into a path at the base. This path continued on to a stone courtyard where the branches of sakura blossom trees formed a leafy canopy. Beyond this was the main temple with two long wings extending on either side. Behind the temple were two towers, separated by another courtyard between them. At the far end of this miniature valley lay another building, two stories in height. In the distance, the tips of more buildings could be seen rising through the thick forest that led up towards the mountains.

                “…Quite an impressive place,” Rei murmured.

                “…Yeah…” Tenshi agreed.

                “Quite large,” Rei added.

                “…Yeah…”

                Tenshi and Rei began to head down the steps. At least, Tenshi took the steps while Rei floated along beside him. As they approached the front courtyard, they noticed a western man dressed in ceremonial robes, black and white in color. He was a tall man with short black hair framing his youthful face. When he looked up, Tenshi could see that he wore glasses over clear blue eyes.

                “That looks clean enough, don’t you think?” the man asked with a gentle, caring voice.

                “Erm, yeah, I guess so…” Tenshi replied, a bit surprised.

                “The sakura blossoms are so beautiful, but they leave quite a mess in the fall.” He chuckled warmly and set his broom against one of the trees.

                “Yeah,” Tenshi hesitantly agreed. “Excuse me… but… I was wondering if you could help me…”

                “If it is within my power, then I will do all I can to be of assistance,” The priest offered with a bow.

                Rei smiled. “I think I like him. He’s very handsome, and very polite.”

                The man stood up and rubbed the back of his head. “I thank you, miss. One tries one’s best, after all.” He then chuckled.

                Tenshi stared.

                Rei stared.

                The man blinked. “Have I… said something offensive?”

                “You… you can see me,” Rei murmured.

                “He… he can see you,” Tenshi agreed.

                “Why yes, I can. I wouldn’t be much of a priest if I couldn’t interact with spirits, now would I?” He chuckled again. “Forgive me, I have yet to introduce myself. My name is Somei Tobias. I’m the priest at this shrine. May I ask whom I have the pleasure of meeting?”

                “Er… Saishi Tenshi,” Tenshi replied, bowing respectfully.

                “Kodama Rei,” Rei answered, bowing a bit lower since she was floating.

                Tobias surveyed Tenshi quietly then turned to Rei and blinked. “Kodama? As in Kodamabatsu?”

                Rei nodded, surprised once more. “Yes… I was the last in my clan… How do you know of the Kodamabatsu?”

                The priest smiled warmly. “I’m familiar with many of the legends and histories of various spiritual clans. I am honored to meet one of such a noble bloodline.”

                Maybe you can keep her then, Tenshi thought bitterly. How come I feel like a villain all of a sudden?

                “If you don’t object, I’d suggest we go inside to talk. I can make some hot tea for us.” Tobias gestured behind him to the entrance of the shrine. “This way, please.”

                Tenshi fell into step beside the priest as Rei drifted along beside him. “He seems nice enough,” Rei murmured. “And he can see spirits. Perhaps he knows a way to help us.”

                Tenshi didn’t say anything. He just lowered his head.

                “Forgive me, but I can hear you just as well as I can see you, Lady Kodama,” Tobias remarked over his shoulder.

                Rei blinked and laughed nervously.

                “Erm, if you don’t mind me asking,” Tenshi began, “how did a westerner get to be the priest of a shrine in a Japanese city?”

                Tobias chuckled. “My father was Japanese and my mother was European. I take after her, appearance-wise, though they compromised on my name. Tobias was the name of her grandfather and Somei is the family name of my father.”

                “I see,” Tenshi said, his curiosity satisfied.

                It wasn’t long before the three people were seated around a large square table. Tobias and Tenshi sipped at their tea while Rei drifted around the room, admiring the styling and furnishing of this rather plain yet intriguing tearoom. When the tea was finished, Tenshi related his story with Rei filling in the gaps. Tobias was silent most of the time, asking various questions for clarification. Eventually Tenshi got around to why they were there.

                Tobias nodded and folded his arms into the sleeves of his robe. “I see why you want Lady Kodama gone, Tenshi. I realize you must feel endangered as well as betrayed. However, I do not think Lady Kodama’s intentions are quite as diabolical as you make them out to be.”

                Tenshi listened quietly. Rei sat beside him.

                “Rarely is a mortal paired with a spirit in such a way as you two have been paired,” Tobias began. “When it does happen, it is to accomplish something the gods wish to be accomplished. It cannot be done without the willing cooperation of the mortals, however. In this light, I will do what you wish. You were thrust into this situation rather quickly, and I understand your position.” The priest stood. “Follow me. Such an exercise must be performed before the Great Fire.”

                Tenshi climbed to his feet. Rei drifted ahead of him, floating just behind the priest. Tenshi followed, a frown on his lips. I wonder why my dad hates this place so much… Tobias has been very kind to us.

                Tobias led the way down a series of corridors with sliding paper doors. The shrine seemed very traditional in design, filled with many elaborate designs etched on the wooden supports. This place is beautiful, Tenshi thought to himself. It’s amazing…

                “Here we are.” Tobias walked up to a pair of oak double doors, a Chinese yin-yang symbol engraved across them with a dragon wrapped around it. He gently pushed the doors open, revealing a fairly large room with a giant fire burning in the center. Smoke drifted up and out of a hole in the ceiling. All along the walls were candles and symbols from a variety of religions, some of which Tenshi couldn’t even recognize.

                Rei drifted around the room, inspecting these items. “…A Christian crucifix… The Star of David… a statue of Buddha… A Qu’ran… The Shiva lingam? This is quite a collection…”

                Tobias moved towards the fire then knelt before it on a mat. He smiled and rubbed the back of his head. “Yeah. I’ve found many of those religions to carry common themes, so I decided to include a few in my prayers.”

                “So then you’re not a Shinto priest?” Tenshi asked, surprised.

                “Well, I am to the rest of the city. Personally, I don’t belong to a certain set of beliefs. It gives me a broader range to practice my arts in. Please, take a seat.”

                Tenshi nodded and knelt down on beside Tobias while Rei sat down opposite him.

                The priest pulled a string of beads and began to shake them rhythmically. His other hand began a series of signs in time to the sound of the beads. Soon, his murmurs began to accompany the motions.

                Rei watched in fascination. Tenshi watched as best he could but couldn’t make anything out of them. The sounds of beads and chanting though seemed to get louder and louder. What the heck is he doing…

                Suddenly, the fire roared and turned black. Tenshi yelped and fell backwards, staring as the giant flame separated into two fires, their tips interweaving to form a single flame that licked at the ceiling. Rei was already in the air, eyes wide with surprise. Tenshi stared at Tobias through the gap in the base of the flames. “What’s going on?!”

                The priest stopped making hand signs and stared at the fire, still shaking his beads. “Odd… the spell isn’t working at all…” Tobias gestured to the fire. “Flame is life… constantly changing, constantly burning… the black flame means death, which is to be expected, since that is what is binding you two… But the way the two fires become one… Very odd indeed…”

                “Wh-what do you mean, ‘odd’?” Tenshi stammered.

                Tobias pushed his glasses up after they had begun to slide off. “It seems that there’s something binding you together far stronger than this girl’s spell. Perhaps the gods have something in mind for you two after all…”

                Rei and Tenshi exchanged glances. The spirit blinked at Tobias. “What do you mean by that? I don’t sense anything strange about us.”

                The priest suddenly stopped shaking his beads and swept his other, open hand through the fire. It abruptly changed back to its normal colors and reduced itself back to its normal size. He then clasped his hands together and frowned. “Oh, there is something different about him. Don’t make a mistake about that. It’s been with him for quite some time.”

                Tenshi paused. He was standing against one of the walls now. “What?”

                Tobias sighed and looked up at him. “Tenshi… Your father came to see me, a long time ago. It was shortly after the accident.”

                Tenshi’s eyes widened. “You’re the priest? But… But that was ten years ago!”

                Rei floated close to Tobias. “Just how old are you?”

                “I’m 38,” he said with a nervous laugh.

                “What?” Rei asked, startled. “You look too young for 38!”

                Tobias chuckled again and rubbed the back of his head. “Why thank you. You know, a good diet and plenty of exercise does wonders for the—”

                “Excuse me,” Tenshi interrupted, “but weren’t you supposed to be telling us something?”

                “Oh, yes, of course,” Tobias said with a cough. “It started with the accident, Tenshi. This whole thing started with the accident. Your father came to me in the hopes of somehow curing you. When I told him what had happened… well, he got upset.”

                Tenshi took a step forward. “What happened?”

                The priest surveyed him with his calm blue eyes. “I believe that’s your story to tell, Tenshi.”

                Rei settled on the ground once more. She watched Tenshi with curiosity.

                Suddenly feeling like he was put on the spot, Tenshi felt reluctant to say anything. “What do you mean? There’s no story at all…”

                “That’s what your therapist said, isn’t it?” Tobias asked calmly.

                Tenshi stared. “How do you—”

                “As I said, this is your story, Tenshi. Tell us what you remember, not what the therapist told you to remember. Please, Tenshi. I’m as curious about this as you are, but I don’t know exactly what happened. You do. Tell us your story, Tenshi. We won’t judge you.”

                Still, Tenshi hesitated. He looked from Rei’s curious expression to Tobias’ calm smile. If my therapist ever found out about this… With a sigh, he gave in. “My memory is fuzzy, so I’m not sure exactly what it was that happened… I’ll tell you what I remember, but it’s probably not what happened. Maybe that will satisfy you…”

                Tobias nodded. “That it will.”

                “Fine.” Taking a deep breath, Tenshi began his narrative.