煙羅 ♦ Kemuira Enraenra
`` and you are folded on the bed,
where i rest my head.
`` and you are folded on the bed,
where i rest my head.
It was a happy moment like no other. Little had even been formed yet, but that did not stop the warm rush of emotions for the divine being. There she was, draped in a beautiful garment that was colored in a rush of flowers, as if an everlasting garden had decorated the kimono itself. It seemed to have been weaved from the finest strands of silk, and the obi belt and neatly tied ribbon to match complimented her lovely style of dress. It was not something she had picked, her clothing, but somehow it had come into being along with her own essence. Her gown, a pinkish rosy purple in color, which represented some kind of keen and rare royalty, could only reflect her newly created soul, which was only as old as her first heartbeats to pass, and seemed to be as fragile as the morning dew. Her skin was pure white, like delicate porcelain china, and soft and unblemished and unmarked. Her hair was black like shiny obsidian, volcanic glass that had yet to exist; yet somehow, she could just feel it and quietly mouth the words as if one day, such a thing would come into existence. The frame of her body appeared delicate and dainty, all while carrying an odd youthful strength underneath her snow-white skin. The features of her face were perfect in proportion to one another, as she had rosy lips, a sturdy chin, dark and thin eyebrows, and long, black eyelashes right above her deep-hued eyes. Her eyes were a light shaded and bright color of pink, and while she could not see them for herself, lacking any sort of mirror to view her reflection, something about them heralded that she would be the only one to ever possess such a unique color of orbs. Nothing in the future would ever come into being by means of natural ways with such a color in their eyes. Instead, natural colors would echo that of which had to come next into existence, in regards to appearance: the leaves of trees and the blades of grass, the bark of great trunks and the rich soils and sands of the earth, and the brilliance of the skies and the winds. But never would the color of eyes match the tint of Izanami’s own eyes.
Izanami. That was the name she had been given, as she just heard it resound in her head before it continued to echo throughout her existence and reality, the past few seconds, the present in which she breathed, and the future that had yet to come. 伊弉冉尊, they called her, again and again. Izanaminomikoto, or to pace the meaning in her head, Izanami no Mikoto. The meaning she could give the strange words seemed pleasant, and filled her with further happiness. “She Who Invites”. Did she invite? The woman certainly hoped that she could, hearing the words that were her name reverberate to her even from the future. She would invite, but while she understood the significance and value to the words, what did it truly mean when one broke it all down further? She had yet to discover so much, but it was already quite overwhelming for the young divine being. She could only look to the ones who had created her existence there in the first place. The first gods, Kunitokotachi and Amenominakanushi, who had been the ones to summon them into being. Them?
Pink eyes trailed up from her colorful kimono to peer at the figure standing next to her. He was beautiful, with long hair that was shaded in onyx-hued ivory black, while he had slightly off-white skin, more akin to olive than to her own fair snowy white. He was well toned with muscles that seemed to gentle ripple as they flowed with his strong movements. He was much taller than her, and wore a haori over his garment woven with the purest of pearl and opal pigmented silk, along with streams of deep red and shaded crimson to outline his obi. His name was given to him just as hers had been given and received by her. As he mouthed it in silence, Izanami somehow noticed it and breathed out the actual words first. Izanagi. He who invites.
Together, they were would receive their first charge from the two gods who brought them into existence. And only together, would Izanagi and Izanami create the first lands.
Their elder gods and creators would bestow upon them a gift- a spear decorated with the most dazzling of jewels. The gemstones were of many various hues, all almost being the first of their kind. What would later inspire amethyst, diamond, beryl and emerald, opal, sapphire, ruby, aquamarine, zircon, topaz, garnet, quartz, and more adorned the weapon that had been given to the two young deities, who were taking in their very first breaths of life.
The spear was named Amenonuboko, the ‘heavenly jeweled spear’. Izanagi, the man dressed in a fine, silk, masculine kimono took the spear and held it tightly. They were summoned into existence in order to be charged with the creation of the land. The heavenly spear was anything but normal, and before too much time passed, the two new deities approached a place known as Ame no Ukihashi, the floating bridge of heaven. The ‘bridge’ was laced with clouds, which reflected the sun of the rich dawn.
Taking the naginata, the gift from the elder gods, Izanagi struck the water and began to churn the seas. The oceans were stirred in vast proportions, and as he pulled the jeweled spear from the water, the salty droplets began to fall from the tip of the blade back into the ocean. Below the bridge, those drops of ocean water mystically began to form new land. Onogoroshima was what they named it, or Onokoro Island. It was the ‘self forming island’, and the place where the god and goddess of creation would descend from the bridge of heaven, and make their new home.
Time passed, and the two grew close. Eventually, as the elders expected, the two wished to be married. After building a magnificent and magical palace, Yahiro Dono, a marriage ceremony was condoned and held at the pillar, Ame no Mihashira, the Pillar of Heaven. However, all did not go so smoothly, as Izanami was the first to speak, which broke tradition. Izanagi chose to ignore it, and the marriage ceremony was completed. After many months, two children were birthed, Hiruko, also known as Ebisu, and Awashima, but arrived in the heavens and earth deformed. Because of this, they were considered demons, not gods.
It was the curse of breaking tradition during the marriage ceremony, with Izanami speaking first. The two held another marriage ceremony, going around the Pillar of Heaven once again, with Izanagi speaking first. After the tradition was mended, the two were blessed with many children; most notably the Ouyashima, the Great Islands: Awaji, Iyo, Ogi, Tsukushi, Iki, Tsushima, Sado, and Yamato. More children came along after the Ouyashima chain, however, and Izanami finally gave birth to Kagutsuchi, the incarnation of fire. Upon giving birth, the flames from Kagutsuchi were enough to burn and kill off the deity, while leaving her husband infuriated with his grief.
Izanagi released his anger as the newborn incarnation of fire felt the full wrath from the god of creation. With his sword, Abe no Ohabari, he beheaded Kagutsuchi. The blood to drip off of his blade, infused with the power of the late Izanami, created two children- Kuraokami, the god of rain and the weather, and the sea god Watatsumi.
Delicate hands traced the words on the scroll, written in clear and fine calligraphy. All Kanji, nothing her young helper would be able to read. This was not for future lessons for her students, however. Fine, pursed lips smiled gracefully as her dim red eyes narrowed at the last sentence. Only two children from the blood of the incarnation of fire?
She eyed the other scrolls resting next to the open one. The woman had extremely long hair, going well beyond her waist, that was pitch black in color, matching the hue of shiny, well polished, obsidian. She wore duller-hued garments, contrasting from what she typically fancied. A dark blood red kimono, with patterns of abstract and intricate designs. Lining the impressionist shapes were silver threads, faded and no longer shiny and metallic. The obi she wore was black in color, and the ribbon remained tied behind her as neatly as ever. More tales of the history of realm she roamed, volumes to follow after she finished the first one. Omitted from the records were the words of her own birth, which amused the refined Enenra.
The final traces of smoke that Kagutsuchi gave off as he died remained in the world, powered by his divine heritage. He was a direct descendent of the deities of creation, Izanagi and Izanami, after all. The smoke eventually developed a will of its own, becoming self-aware, and refusing to dissipate into the atmosphere. When noticed by others, deities and mortals alike, the smoke was described to be like lightweight fabric. However, only those that were pure of heart could actually make out the form of the divinely-born smoke. The being began to be known among the rumors as ‘Enenra’, or 煙々羅. The Lightweight-Fabric Smoke.
It was her own birth, and one that the historic record of the creation failed to acknowledge. Not that Kemuira minded too much. To her, it was merely an amusing idea to contemplate. Reading the chronicle scroll brought about another thought, however; about the young tanuki to have visited her recently. The only reason the Enenra Youkai had agreed to help was because of the debt she owed to Rika Riyoshi, a noble among Ayakashi, and the mother of the one she had been asked to assist.
The Enenra had recognized the soul of the Bakedanuki. A youkai soul? No. A human soul? Definitely not. The soul was akin to her own nature, and upon that recognition, Kemuira had turned to her studies of the creation chronicles. It was very much a thing that intrigued her, and a thought that remained in the back of her mind, yet to be put to rest. Opening the scroll further, the smoke mononoke continued her reading and research, with the grim smile still maintained on her face.
“Mistress. We have a guest… he insisted that he see you…” a voice peeped, breaking her thoughts and goal to continue reading. The voice was familiar as ever-- Rekiri, the young Nekomata contracted to her. The feline Yokai was to serve her for five years, completing chores and tasks around her palace, as well as protecting her realm. In turn, the Enenra would grant the wish of the young neko and help her find and see her close friend again, Mikuni, who existed in another realm entirely. At the same time, Kemuira also had taken the youthful cat under her wing, and was giving her lessons not in just reading, writing, history, and mathematics, but also in utilizing her powers as an Ayakashi.
Rekiri’s voice did not sound as confident as it usually did, however. The Enenra’s red gaze turned to meet the citrine eyes of the Nekomata, who appeared to be almost shaking with fear. This new presence in her realm… who did it belong to, and what did they want? Rekiri had most obviously been through a rough time with whomever it was. Breathing out a sigh, the raven-haired woman simply nodded. “Very well. Let them in. You go clean yourself up; do not worry about me,” Kemuira said, observing the feline’s unease. “Yes ma’am,” Rekiri replied, nodding her head in a formal manner as she left. Despite being a servant under contract, she was cared for on what seemed to be a personal level by the Enenra, and Kemuira handled her charges with care and kindness.
Seconds after the dark-haired Nekomata left the room, a larger figure ventured into the room, with a swagger in his stride. He was extremely tall, with a muscular build and strong frame, but not overly so. He seemed lanky despite his build, lithe, and fast, as if he were a star athlete. His muscles were toned, and his skin tanned from natural sunlight. Clashing with the hue of olive skin, however, was powdery baby blue hair. His eyes more or less matched the color, and appeared as azure orbs of brilliant afternoon sky. He wore white pants, hands resting in his pockets, with a black jacket left unzipped, exposing his chest. As he moved past the doorway, however, a white tail protruded from under his hoodie and above his trousers. The tail was long and slender, that of a feline, though still strong, not delicate or wiry. It was streaked with stripes of black moving perpendicular to the length of the tail. His ears were not those of a human, and were long, pointy, and animalian, covered in blue and white fur.
“Inteus,” Kemuira quickly identified as the large man grinned, revealing four sharp fangs from his elongated canine teeth, on the top and lower parts of his mouth. “What brings a wandering rogue like you to these parts?” she continued, following by her breathing in some of the smoke from her fancy pipe, and breathing it out gently.
“Good afternoon, m’lady. Haven’t you missed me~?” Inteus responded with a satirical bow, with a low purr of amusement rumbling from his throat. The Enenra’s gaze darkened as she stared at him with disapproval. Most of their encounters, while not horrible, were not good either. At best, the two were at odds, and knew not to underestimate the other. “No answer, I see. Typical. Before we get to the meat, how have you been doing, ‘Kemmie-chan’? Long time, no see.”
“My day was going fine until a certain intruder came across my realm. Enough of the pleasantries, Inteus. I am not in the mood for your games. What is it that you want? Speak your mind now, or leave,” Enraenra snapped, unable to control her temper in the presence of the legendary tiger yokai. Patience was not usually hard to come by for her, though the feline’s condescending behavior was quick to make it wear thin and swiftly deteriorate.
“Gah, so mean. You haven’t changed, really,” Inteus said, scratching the back of his head with a black-clawed hand. “I’m not playing games, honestly. I was actually being sincere,” he said with a mock pout on his face before shrugging. “Oh well. I suppose I can cut to the chase. I came to you for some instruction, if you’d be willing….”
The man paused for a beat, before snapping his fingers and allowing a jar of sake meant for travel to appear in his hand. He held firmly to the strap of the tan clay bottle with a fine, shiny finish. On the front was written 酒, in clear and bold kanji. “Before you ask, no, I did not come here to drink with you. It has taken me a good amount of time, but I finally found it… the grave that hosts her,” Inteus said, a solemnity coming over him as the playful smirk was wiped from his face.
Kemuira stared at the rice wine jar, slowly beginning to piece together what was going on. “That is…”
Inteus nodded. “This is the object that currently houses the soul of Rika Riyasu, formerly Rika Riyoshi… my bride. After she passed on, she felt she had unfinished business left on earth. Thus, she remained as an Ubume Yuurei. Her sister, Moka Majonuki, a tanuki witch, agreed to seal her soul away in this jar, as a means for Rika’s spirit to remain here on earth. This is the anchor that keeps that Bakedanuki here….”
“How interesting and daring of you to track it down and take it. I do not believe you have come here to offer the soul to me, though. What are you here for?” Kemuira cut in and asked, smoking her pipe slowly in anticipation.
“Rika has attached her spirit to the soul of our daughter, Izayuki. I know you have encountered the child, and helped her in order to settle a debt with the Riyoshi family….” Inteus spoke. Kemuira nodded and answered. “Correct. I no longer owe that clan any favors. What of it?”
“Our… my… daughter has reached a point where she no longer needs the protection of her mother’s spirit. Rika was shielding Izayuki from the effects of her own memories, but at this point in time, it is only holding her back. Even if I spoke with her, she won’t leave her daughter. She has become too attached. What I need is for you to teach me how to connect my wife’s spirit back to her soul, and break the connection that she has with Izayuki’s soul,” Inteus explained, crystal blue eyes locked on Kemuira’s red ones, unflinching.
The Enenra cracked a subtle smirk as he finished. “You should know better than to lie to me. You do not want to free your daughter from the hold of the Ubume, in order for her to grow stronger. Quite the opposite-- you want your bride back, do you not?”
Inteus released a low growl in agitation as the smoke yokai saw through him, obviously using her powers to read what was on his heart. He was passionate about this, which was why he sought out the Enenra. The truth of the matter, his reasoning, could not be so easily hidden. “Please…” his voice trailed off, still strong and determined, though more submissive than before.
“What have you to offer me? You do realize that I never fulfill favors for free,” the Ayakashi of smoke stated flatly. Normally, individuals would offer to be in her debt or service, or pay her in special items or favors.
“What does a straggler have to offer to the magnificent Enraenra-sama?” Inteus responded sincerely, despite the slight trace of sarcasm. “Another night in bed won’t satisfy you~” he quipped afterwards, before popping a slight grin.
Struggling to not allow the insult to get to her, Kemuira chuckled softly as she breathed out some smoke, holding her pipe in a dainty manner. “Perhaps not. I will make a deal with you, then. You have three children, and your bloodline will continue on for many generations. One child, half human, half Ayakashi… their life will belong to me. Can you promise me that, my dear little Inteus~?”
The tiger yokai flinched as the Enenra stated her demand. Was one of his own future children or grandchildren really worth the knowledge he sought to learn? Was she referring to Marschal, his only son, half human and half Ayakashi, or someone in the future? Would they be worth the chance to free his beloved?
Defeated, Inteus bowed his head and nodded. “Call it a deal,” he murmured, attempting to push away the premonitions and guilt. Surely by then, he would not longer care about anyone in his family other than the one he had been separated from after finally finding happiness.
In truth, his first lover had been Kemuira Enraenra. Due to the Enenra having the blood of a deity, and Inteus the blood of a human, he was unable to remain in her presence for long, despite the both of them being Ayakashi. Children would not come from their union, and Inteus was released, leaving her with a heart longing and broken. Still, his spirit and blood remain precious to her, enough for her to seize the opportunity to claim one of his young as her own. This was an acceptable fate for his family, if it meant saving the one he had truly discovered he cared about. It would not be long.
Location;; The Enenra's Realm
Muse;; 10/10
Word Count;; 3,315 // 17,000
OOC;;
https://www.fairytail-rp.com/t28244-character-job-one-thousand-silhouettes