Chapter 103. Shimogamo Shrine

Shimogamo Shrine, also called the Kamo Ancestral Shrine, had originally been the family shrine of the aristocratic Kamo clan in the Heian period. Later, when the capital moved to Kyoto, it became the shrine charged with protecting the city.

The Kamo family, besides being nobles of their time, also produced a powerful onmyōji named Kamo Tadayuki. His disciple was the renowned Abe no Seimei.

In later years, as the Onmyō Bureau gradually came under Abe no Seimei’s direction, the Kamo line withdrew from the stage of exorcist arts. A branch then changed its surname to Kotokui and preserved some of the old tradition; the rest faded away as the ages changed.

In that sense, it is almost a classic old Kyoto joke why Shimogamo Shrine came to be called by that name.
Because “Kamo” sounded much like “duck,” when the Kamo River passed by the shrine people called it the Kamo River, and over time Kamo Shrine itself became Shimogamo Shrine.

Qiaoqiao, who had long admired this shrine’s glorious and ancient history, wondered why of all places he had been invited here.
Why was he asked to teach exorcism?
Was there some kind of mistake?

He put his doubt into Line.
Ariko Asano: They said they can pay one million yen a day.
Qiaoqiao: I’ll pack right away.

If so, there was no point in fretting.
Perhaps they simply heard from Ariko about his exorcism methods and wanted to learn from him.

He was still packing when he heard a knock.
Bang, bang, bang.

He opened the door to find Suzuka in deer-print pajamas, rubbing her eyes and peeking into his room.
“Qiao-san, what are you doing? It’s so noisy.”
“I’m actually preparing for a trip.”

Qiaoqiao gave him the brief explanation about Shimogamo Shrine.
Suzuka listened and nodded a few times, then after a long pause she said with panic in her eyes:
“Qiao-san, are you going to leave me alone and go on a date with Ariko-san?”

“It’s not a date. It’s just academic exchange.”
“Pretty much the same as what happened in Nagoya.”

“As expected. Even though Suzuka is only three, Qiao-san still prefers that broad-chested woman.”
She looked down at herself and said it with obvious irritation.

“?”
Qiaoqiao truly could not follow her reasoning.

“And if Qiao-san goes away, I’ll only have convenience-store bentō and expensive pizza delivered.”
That seemed to be what she was really concerned about.

Well, that was clearly the real issue.
Suzuka, who earned at least a hundred-thousand yen every day, was hardly someone who should worry about delivery prices.
Yet ever since Suzuka came into his life, Qiaoqiao’s meals had improved immeasurably.
When she was in a good mood, she’d order sushi; sometimes she would even take him to Ginza for costly yakiniku.
For that, Qiaoqiao felt deep gratitude.

“By the way, you are going to Kyoto, right?”
Suzuka suddenly said.
“Yes,” he replied. “Because of matters connected to the Gion Festival, Shimogamo Shrine seems to need my help.”

“All right, then I’ll go with you.”
“?”
Qiaoqiao hesitated.
Suzuka’s health check had just been finished this month, so there was no need for her to return to the exorcists’ association.

“No problem. I’ll pay for it myself. I’ve never been to Kyoto yet, so I might as well travel there now.”
She added, “And maybe we can stop by Nara too. After all, that’s my hometown.”

Facing a full-blown travel plan already taking shape in Suzuka’s mind, Qiaoqiao had no way out.
She was covering all the travel expenses anyway; maybe he might even get a few meals on her hospitality.
So he let it go: fine, they could go.

That evening, in high spirits, Suzuka ordered fried chicken and pizza. The two packed their bags and reached the station at dawn.
Ariko Asano was already waiting there.

July had already become summer. That year the rainy season had gone on far too long, and only recently the sky still tossed out occasional showers; the air was heavy and stifling.
No wonder everyone longed for clear weather.

Ariko had changed into summer clothes: a white knee-length pleated skirt, a red open-front top, a blouse with lace trim, her long hair tied to one side with a sandalwood strip so the ends fell over her shoulders in a mature way.
“Teacher, please do guide me from here.”
Ariko bowed, then looked to the girl behind Qiaoqiao, who wore a brown dress and a red scarf.
“Suzuka, nice to meet you.”
“Mm, nice to meet you.”
Suzuka shook her hand.

Qiaoqiao thought they seemed to get along well.
He didn’t notice the red marks left on their hands from gripping each other so hard.

The three boarded the Shinkansen.
From Tokyo to Kyoto it takes less than half a day.
Qiaoqiao sat with Ariko on his left and Suzuka on his right.
The three of them looked perfectly at ease, talking and laughing all the way.

“Suzuka-chan is only three, yet she is surprisingly mature. Anyway, three years for a deer should count as about twenty in human years, right?”
“She’s still just a child. She doesn’t understand much; maybe next time you check my health, you can take a closer look at her too.”
“That’s true. Suzuka is a yokai after all, not an ordinary animal. Human and yokai are never quite the same.”
“Heh. Even so, this is not something a miko should interfere in.”

Seeing the two get along so well, Qiaoqiao felt relieved.

At the station, they stepped out to find a black luxury car waiting for them from Shimogamo Shrine.
A woman was in front.
She was a few years older than Qiaoqiao and was named Maki Shinnoki, a first-year folklore student at Kyoto University.
Of course, she was also a miko of Shimogamo Shrine and the daughter of its chief priest, Naoto Shinnoki.

“Ariko-chan, long time no see.”
At once, Maki Shinnoki greeted Ariko warmly.
Shinnoki had short hair, a dark short-sleeved T-shirt, and shorts. With a red-and-white fitness wristband on her left wrist, no one would guess she was a miko if she didn’t say so.

“Is this Qiaoqiao? And this is… Suzuka-chan?”
Shinnoki had received a message from Ariko and knew that besides Qiaoqiao, another little yokai was coming.
Still, when she saw Suzuka in person, Shinnoki was startled.
“So cute.”
She stepped closer, bent slightly, and examined Suzuka’s face carefully.

“Th-thank you.”
Suzuka, normally so bold, was actually a bit shy; once outside the station, she had stayed behind Qiaoqiao all along.
Shy around strangers, but bold when it came to Ariko the miko.
Exactly the kind of Suzuka she was.

After a round of greetings, they got into the car.
Shinnoki sat in the front passenger seat; Qiaoqiao and the others sat in the back.

“I apologize for calling you over, Qiaoqiao. It’s really about the Gion Festival.”
Shinnoki said with some reluctance.
“The Gion Festival of Yasaka Shrine is, to ordinary people, a summer celebration, but for Kyoto’s shrines it is an exchange event for Shintō and exorcism arts.”

“An exchange event?”
Qiaoqiao frowned slightly.

“In simple terms, each shrine must send personnel to perform exorcism drills in a designated area, and then the best shrine is selected.”
Shinnoki turned back and, looking at the two women in the rear seat, added, “That is what it comes down to.”