Hoshiguma the Breacher

[Code Name] Hoshiguma

[Gender] Female

[Combat Experience] 25 Years

[Place of Birth] Higashi

[Date of Birth] Jan 20

[Race] Oni

[Height] 184cm

[Infection Status]

Medical tests have confirmed that no infection is present.

[Physical Strength] Excellent

[Mobility] Standard

[Physical Resilience] Outstanding

[Tactical Acumen] Excellent

[Combat Skill] Excellent

[Originium Arts Assimilation] Normal

Hoshiguma, chief of the L.G.D. Special Inspection Unit. She remains a defender operator of Rhodes Island, with no change in her main role.

The extent of her combat experience has been amended in her records after she told the Doctor about her early days in Higashi and gave permission for some parts of it to be communicated to us.

Imaging tests reveal clear, normal outlines of internal organs, and no abnormal shadows have been detected. Originium granules have not been detected in the circulatory system and there is no sign of infection. At this time, this Operator is believed to be non-infected.

[Cell-Originium Assimilation] 0%

Operator Hoshiguma shows no signs of Originium infection.

[Blood Originium-Crystal Density] 0.13u/L

There is no significant change in Operator Hoshiguma's circumstances. Fluctuations are within normal boundaries. Continue to observe proper protection in everyday duties.

After she returned from Higashi, and before she took over the leadership of the L.G.D. Special Inspection Unit, Hoshiguma's first visit back to Rhodes Island was greeted with a mob of questions from other operators who had worked with her before:

'Did you change jobs, Hoshiguma/Operator Hoshiguma/Madame Oni?'

The misunderstanding was cleared up quickly. She came with Swire's permission, and was here to sign a cooperation agreement with Rhodes Island on a personal basis. The L.G.D. needed a channel of communications with Rhodes Island, and Hoshiguma was the best choice, given her new role at the SIU and what she had gone through with Rhodes Island together.

Her outfit, her sword, and the rather changed appearance of Hannya had little to do with her new role. According to her, she had simply gone back to Mitsukue to get some stuff while 'Missy' was on vacation in Siesta.

As for 'avoiding suspicion', the pair certainly had more to keep in mind, but the unusual respect and solemnness that Hoshiguma showed when she saw Swire could not be explained with just 'avoiding suspicion'.

We eventually found out the reason in a chance encounter between the pair—

'You just wanted to see me feeling awkward, didn't you?!'

'I-It's not what you think, Missy, at least not entirely—'

'Not entirely?'

'Well, mostly not—'

'That's a black mark on your record! No more vacations until you submit all the reports you have piled up!'

A subtle change seems to have come over Hoshiguma. She will do things that surprise others from time to time, such as openly making fun of Swire, clearly expressing her disapproval of Lungmen's less savory aspects, and on one occasion, placing her hand on the shoulder of someone who was abusing a medic. She said nothing, just smiled, and the troublemaker left the ward without argument.

The way she fights has changed as well. In addition to protecting more vulnerable comrades, she also charges into the fray, disintegrating enemy lines in a frenzied rampage. Some operators found Hoshiguma's new style to be terrifying at first, but they soon realize that she remains as protective as ever. She has never harmed a comrade in her rampages, and more importantly remained the same Madame Oni even when it seemed she had lost all reason: loyal, kind, a heavy drinker, as learned as she is strong.

[Classified Log]

There are many Higashinese accounts of how the Oni lose their reason in battle, cutting down anyone in their way, friend or foe. This perception is not unfounded. It is fundamentally the same as a Vampire's affinity for blood, or a Cyclops's ability to foresee misfortune. Without a Royal Court, however, these powers were never properly studied and refined, and the Oni had to explore how to live with their nature on their own. It is said that the temples may have engaged in such research, but their legacy is not witchcraft, but wisdom and a unique faith. Without the presence of a Royal Court, however, the Oni were able to integrate themselves into Higashinese society, making them unique amongst the Sarkaz of Terra.

Yes, the Oni are a branch of the Sarkaz. For the people of Higashi, this is something that might never occur to them their entire lives, but would feel entirely natural if someone pointed it out. Following customs, avoiding troubling others, blending in... this is the way of things in Higashi. Be it out of benevolence or some other reason, certain things are better left unsaid.

This ambiguity gives the Oni a kind of protection. In Accounts of Long Ago and a Digest of Records, they were known as 'man-oni', mentioned alongside the Ægirian 'sharkfolk'. Their stories of loyalty and mystique cannot be separated from Higashi without cutting off a big part of Higashinese tradition.

That said, just because they are not outsiders does not mean there are no complaints about them. The popular conception of the Oni is one of anger and violence, and there are many stereotypes about them: barbaric, cunning, uncouth, corrupt, etc. These are often contradictory, and rarely mentioned within earshot of an Oni. The intercity net is another matter though. Mentioning such things on the intercity net is likely to incite an angry response, but one could always say, 'Why are you so angry? Are you one of those rotten Oni too?'

—From the essay collection Gazes, written by a Victorian Sarkaz living in Higashi

[From a volunteer-maintained encyclopedia]

The First Kajimachi Conflict

The First Kajimachi Conflict refers to a violent conflict that occurred in Kajimachi in 1073. Stragglers who remained in Southern Court territory after the Bloodpeak Campaign attacked the Kinsekikai, attempting to take over Kajimachi. The Kinsekikai won a hard-fought victory, but the founding chairman of the Kinsekikai was killed in the struggle, along with the entire immediate family of Tessai, who was his chief lieutenant.

After fending off the attacks, Tessai, as the new chairman of the Kinsekikai, began hunting down those involved in the attacks, resulting in the largest and longest violent conflict in Mitsukue's history. Some see it as an act of revenge by Tessai for the killing of his family, while others see it as Tessai expanding his own influence.

The Second Kajimachi Conflict

The Second Kajimachi Conflict refers to a series of murders, violent conflicts, and disappearances that occurred around Kajimachi in 1078. The first phase involved the killing of legislator candidate Shinjirou Koretou by the Kinsekikai and its subsequent internal conflict; the second phase involved the intensification of the Kinsekikai exclusion movement that Shinjirou Koretou had spearheaded, resulting in several conflicts between the Kinsekikai and nearby residents; the third phase involved the Kinsekikai's admission that Hoshiguma, wakagashira at that time, had committed the murder and Hoshiguma's subsequent disappearance, with Kinbee Harada (later known as Kouhei Mifune), then-wakagashira-hosa to the Kinsekikai's second-in-command, bringing the events to a close by mediating between the Kinsekikai and nearby residents.

Some believe that the aftermath of the conflict continues to this day, with Hoshiguma continuing to commit numerous murders in the shadows, but such claims lack evidence and conflict with police records and other verified sources. See also 'Kaidan of Mitsukue-taisha'

The Third Kajimachi Conflict (cached)

The Third Kajimachi Conflict refers to a series of attempted kidnappings, violent conflicts, murders, media manipulation, and assaults that occurred around Kajimachi and Nita Street in 1099. It began with the sudden reappearance of Hoshiguma, the former second-in-command of the Kinsekikai who had gone missing after being suspected of murder, after the statute of limitations had passed. Her return triggered a violent struggle between Kouhei Mifune, the Kinsekikai's de facto leader, and Tessai, the nominal chairman of the Kinsekikai whose authority had long been undermined. The entertainer Momoka Hanyuu was also known to be involved in the incident. Tessai was killed in the struggle, while Mifune was arrested. Hoshiguma voluntarily departed Mitsukue after reaching an agreement with Mitsukue police, and Momoka Hanyuu departed the Kinseki Talent Agency to continue her activities independently. The incident also dispelled the myths around most of the Kaidan of Mitsukue-taisha.

Murder of the Kinsekikai Chairman (Active Page)

(Redirected from 'The Third Kajimachi Conflict'

The murder of the Kinsekikai chairman occurred in Kajimachi in 1099, when Kouhei Mifune murdered Tessai, chairman of the Kinsekikai. Mifune, who had been in conflict with Tessai over the Kinsekikai's succession and future, humiliated Tessai, forced a crippling debt upon him, and murdered him at his own residence. Mifune was subsequently arrested by the police.

This page is locked.

Tessai

Tessai (born 1033), Oni, retired soldier and Mitsukue-taisha entrepreneur. Second chairman of the Kinsekikai organization.

This page is locked.

Kouhei Mifune

Kouhei Mifune (born 1045), Phidia, Mitsukue-taisha businessman and entrepreneur, member of the Kinsekikai organization.

This page is locked.

Hoshiguma

This page does not exist.

[Tessai's Diary]

Visited Haruuji Arimagawa for the fifth time and concluded the transaction. I finally gained the secret scroll that his ancestor had obtained from the temple's via less-than-scrupulous means. The paper is yellow and brittle, but the ink has not faded, and I was able to recognize part of the cursive script used. It appears authentic. More importantly, the Arimagawa clan is no longer the noble house that once claimed the position of high minister. Haruuji is merely an ordinary man, making ends meet by selling off family possessions. He would not dare deceive me.

It will not be long before I can no longer wield a hammer at the forge. I must personally oversee the production of crystalline components; it is not a task I can entrust to anyone else. Hoshiguma is not suited for it; Shimasu and Sanoguchi say they want to learn, but they are merely going through the motions. Kinbee has put in the work, but he has a long way to go. He will be a competent assistant for Hoshiguma when she takes over the position of chairman.

Kinbee told me that Hoshiguma and Shimasu almost got into a fight. Fortunately, Hoshiguma was able to hold back; a feud between clan-siblings would have to be dealt with according to the rules, and even Hoshiguma would be no exception. Regarding Hoshiguma, her father [scrawled out]

The matter of the shield cannot wait. I have had a monk translate the scroll. Other than the scripture at the beginning, neither a preface nor a summary, the rest is undoubtedly instructions for weapon-crafting.

'Hannya.'

This word, found in the beginning of the opening scripture, has occupied my mind of late as I worked at the forge. The monk told me that 'Hannya' was a wisdom that transcended the mortal realm and liberated one from all troubles. But he does not know why the word became the name of the terrifying 'Face of Hannya'.

But it is that same face that always comes back to me whenever I swing my hammer. The rage as he drew his sword against Tetsuya, against Hoshiguma, against me. The fear as he fell to the ground. The despair in those last moments of lucidity, as he realized what he had done.

I told Hoshiguma many times that the dastardly deserter was the only one to blame. It was not her father's fault, and certainly not her fault. She understood. She knew I did not blame her. And she knew that I could not help but hate Susa.

He killed Tetsuya. He had held Tetsuya in his arms and gave him his old stethoscope as a toy. He had given Tetsuya his injection when Tetsuya had a fever, and bought him the latest trending drink in town, which not even Hoshiguma had tried. Apart from Setsuko and myself, he was the dearest person to Tetsuya, dearer than even Tetsuya's own grandmother. If I did the same and pulled my sword against Hoshiguma—

Is there no liberation for the Oni, other than death?

I was never freed. I exacted vengeance upon all the Oni who dared set foot in Kajimachi that night. I watched them cry helplessly, watched them go mad, watched them die, but I was never free.

I told myself that I was forging this shield for Hoshiguma, so that she would never repeat your mistake. But perhaps... it was always my own liberation that I was seeking.

Were you free at the end of it all, Susa?

My surname?

I asked Uncle Tessai after my father's death. People called him Tessai, called my father Susa, and called me Hoshiguma. None of us had surnames. Other people did; Aunt Setsuko's surname was Inaba, but she no longer had one after she married Uncle Tessai.

It's not a particularly interesting story. Are you sure you want to hear it?

Well, I guess I can tell you over a drink.

The widely-accepted explanation is that the practice of the Oni using only a given name began after Seisaku Onishoubu's death. Many of his descendants joined the temples and discarded their real names in favor of dharma names, in order to avoid trouble. On the other hand, there are also people who falsely claim to be descendants of Onishoubu, including some who truly worship him.

The problem is that you could walk into a room with a bunch of Oni, call out the name Saburo, and have three or four of them turn around to look at you. Which created problems for everything from taxation to battlefield command. That's why the Northern Court issued the 'Obligation of Surnames for All People'; the Southern Court had similar laws, essentially demanding that the Oni respect the tradition of the 'surname bestowed by the Sumeragimi', and restore their original surnames. The problem is that too much time had passed, and it was unclear who was trying to avoid trouble, and who was trying to benefit by association. Besides, both sides prohibited Oni without surnames from claiming the name of Onishoubu, and many people simply didn't cooperate. The whole thing basically went away quietly.

Uncle Tessai said both my family and his were branches of the Onishoubu clan; mine specialized in medicine and divination, while his specialized in weapons and armor. If we were to restore our surnames, we would call ourselves 'Jigokuin' or 'Toujiin'... I don't quite remember. I wouldn't take everything Uncle Tessai said at face value either. That bit about medicine and divination and weapons and armor might just have been him projecting us onto our ancestors.

What? ...Hah, no. Just like how Missy gets angry when I call her 'commissioner', I'd rather you didn't add some weird surname to 'Hoshiguma'. Names like 'Susa' and 'Hoshiguma' don't really fit well with a surname anyway.

Last time I came to Rhodes Island, there was a Sarkaz historian who thought I might be related to the famous Qui'lon after he saw my blue flames... Personally, I don't believe it. I do believe that his migration to the east brought the Anasa and Oni to Yan and Higashi, but I don't see the point in further speculation. It's not like Missy would increase my pay if I was Qui'lon's descendant.

...What do you mean 'I didn't expect you to actually be as well-read as Wei Yenwu said'? We see each other for the first time in ages, and all you can do is tease me? It's getting late, and the training room's free. How about you fulfill my wish, and Uncle Tessai's?

Tsk, you still can't hold your drink.

Alright, stop trying to act tough, Ch'en. I'll take you back to your room.