I12DT: An Illuminating Discussion

[Michael Asters]

"...Should I trust you?" He asked, warily.

[Narrator]

"Ordinarily? Probably not. On Hinos' side though. Honest! I was just trying to give him a message but he's too inflexible and got scared so I got him to come here but he fainted and I didn't mean him to attack that girl and I can't get out now because I'm stuck!" the voice rambled like a child explaining himself to an adult.

The voice made the entirely unnecessary sound of taking a deep breath.

"Also I'm a talking lantern... which is a thing because hey Japan."

[Michael Asters]

"All right... first things first. Message?" Cassiel asked. Psychic parasite, with Hino's reactions the mental equivalent of the immune system flaring up? Mental fever? he thought to himself, keeping his thoughts guarded.

[Narrator]

An eye and a cutout mouth appear on the paper lantern.

"A warning. From their ancestor. Genbu's great great great great grandfather... I think... give or take a great..."

"Anywho... samurai, really strong, fought demons, probably what you call mutant... aaand It'd be easier to just show Genbu directly."

It appraises Cassiel with its lone eye. "Barring that, a middleman."

It suddenly takes on a deeply nervous expression. "No... no... not now..."

[Michael Asters]

Cassiel cocked an eyebrow. "Not feeling too secure in here?"

[Narrator]

"No... it's... my master is coming! There's no time!"

Taiki's long tongue roots in his mouth for something and emerges coiled around a videotape.

"Uwwy, take thith! Be'er than nuthin!"

[Michael Asters]

He hurried to take it. "But I... I can just pull you out into my head! No one gets through my shields!"

[Narrator]

"It's magic you dummy! Go! Get out! Hurry!"

[Michael Asters]

"Oh god, I hate magic..."

And, of course, he withdrew from Mr. Hino's mind.

[Narrator]

Somehow, Cassiel is still holding the videotape.

Mr. Hino looks at the tape, then Cassiel. "How... what?" he asks, obviously confused.

[Michael Asters]

He blinked, looking at the videotape. "...I hate magic. We need John, and we need someone who still has a VCR that we can watch this on."

[Narrator]

"Magic?" Mr. Hino asks doubtfully. "Surely there's some rational expla..."

That was when the wisp of blue phantasmal flame puffs out of Mr. Hino's right ear and makes a quick circle around the room before shooting up through the ceiling, briefly leaving an impossible ripple but otherwise no mark.

"...nation..."

[Michael Asters]

"Right, we'll go with that," he said. While Mr. Hino processed that, he had someone send for John and told them to fetch something that could play the tape.

[John Hino]

John arrived shortly.

"Did you find something?"

[Michael Asters]

"God, I hope so," Cassiel sighed as he put the tape in to watch.

[John Hino]

"...a videotape?" John asked, perplexed.

[Michael Asters]

"Long story. Don't ask."

[Narrator]

The video is all static for the first few seconds before resolving into the image of a well in a forest. A pale hand grabs the edge. A second hand emerges and…

An old-timey title card appears, reading “Just screwin’ with ya.” A second reads: “Now for the important message.”

The scene shifts to a tall and muscular Japanese man in traditional samurai clothing sitting on a stump by a forested river. His hair is not in a top-knot, instead being in a ponytail. The image is colored oddly, as if seen through inhuman eyes.

“<Are you sure this is going to work Taiki?>” he asks in Japanese, in a deep voice that, paired with his height, lends credence to the claim that he is the ancestor of the two Hino’s present.

The viewpoint bobs up and down in a nod. “<I have perfect recollection boss, and obake do not age. So it should… probably…>”

The man sighs. “<You are not very good at reassurance… but it is worth a try.>

He straightens his posture and looks at the viewpoint. “<My name is Yamakaze Daisuke and if Taiki is showing you this, I am long dead. I am your ancestor… and I fear you and all those in which my blood flows may… but I should start at the beginning shouldn’t I?

I used to be a samurai serving the lord of Shinmen clan, until I lost someone I was supposed to protect to a witch… someone I loved. Honor demanded I commit Seppuku, but I could not. I decided that as a ronin I could more easily track down and kill the fiend.

I had no idea what I was getting into when I arrived at Mount Zaō with a few other brave souls victimized by the witch and her demon spiders. A local woman led us to her lair… but it was a trap, for she was yet another practitioner of the terrible art. Even with the mysterious strength with which I was born, I survived only through the timely intervention of others.

That was how I joined the Hundred Hunters*, a secret band of warriors and scholars dedicated to protecting the people from dangerous ghosts and demons. I was tasked with aiding in the elimination of the demon worshiping cult I had discovered for myself… the Bone Carver** clan.

It was many years and many foes later that they resurfaced, and in full force. Except that they found us. Those of us that survived banded together and brought the fight to them. Between my strength, the skill of my allies, Lord Abe’s magic, and an enchanted stone tetsubo I won from an oni… demon gambling establishment, don’t ask… we made it into their sanctuary.

We drove their demonic Bone Empress***, an ancient jorōgumo allegedly spawned of the cursed Izanami herself, back to from where she crawled. But many of her followers escaped, and before her death the High Priestess uttered a curse, vowing they would have their vengeance. If not upon me, then upon… as I mentioned… all those in which my blood flows.

If they still exist when Lord Abe’s magical protection fades, which it soon will if you are seeing this, you and your family will be in grave peril. Seek the current inheritor of Abe no Seimei’s magic, find my Demon Crusher****...>"

An image of a stone tetsubo labeled "Onihasaiki" interrupts the scene.

",..., train hard, find allies, and be ready. The world may even depend on it.>"

The video returns to static.

*Hyakuryoushi
**Honechoukou
***Hakkotsukisai
****Onihasaiki

[John Hino]

John was silent for a long moment, looking equal parts perplexed and skeptical.

"This is a joke right?" he asked, really wanting the answer to be yes.

[Michael Asters]

"I need a drink. I really, really hate magic."

[John Hino]

"Magic?" John asked, still processing.

[Narrator]

"Yes. Magic."

"Also..."

The image of a thirty-something Japanese man in a flashy suit appears, labeled "Master Abe."

Another image, that of a ninja, follows, labeled, "Bad guys have ninjas too."

"And necromancers."

Then the video shuts off.

[John Hino]

"I think I'll join you for that drink."