Rising Sun and the Golden Moon

Chapter 5

Frank the Shaman POV 

If glares could kill, Yakumo would be a sizzling piece of toast. With Toya glaring at him, Yakumo tried and failed to sneak some fried chicken before it was time to partake of the feast laid before them. 

Just then, the double doors made of jade that was on the opposite end of where Toya and Yakumo entered, opened revealing servants entering in front of Toya’s parents. Behind his parents were his other siblings, some members of the Golden Moon Court, including yours truly, and other servants following behind us. When I saw the look Toya gave Yakumo as we entered, it took everything I have to keep from laughing out loud. Their shenanigans were legendary around the Golden Moon Court, with Toya usually the one bailing Yakumo out of trouble. One time when they were kids, Yakumo thought it would be a good idea to take all the clothes he could find and dye them pink. Toya helped to find the pink dyes not knowing what it was for. With all the clothes dyed pink, drying outside on the drying racks, Toya realized what had happened and scolded Yakumo, chasing him around the palace with Yakumo wearing some pink underwear on his head. Toya yelling at Yakumo throughout all this claiming that he needed to dye the clothes back to their original color. Of course, together, those two dyed every piece of clothing back to its original color and delivered it to its proper owner. 

Proper procedures were always in place at the Golden Moon Palace. Bowing his head to his parents, Toya greeted us solemnly. Yakumo, even though he is also 25, the same age as Toya but shifted into a small 11-year-old boy form, jumped into the queen’s arms. Her kimono, layered with soft spring colors that flowed down well past her feet. Walking delicately as if walking water, the queen hugged Yakumo, smiling at him. The king may be scary at times, but the queen had full control of the court. I know she pulls all the strings when it comes to making decisions on how to protect Japan from demons and other vile outside creatures. She basically taught me everything I know about Eastern magic and lore. 

Yakumo, the energetic shapeshifting raccoon he is, rambles about his day to the queen. Bowing and greeting the others who have joined in with the dinner party, Toya takes his place at the long, dark, mahogany dining table. 

Standing by the chairs that match the elegant wooden dining table, each person waited for the signal from the king to be seated. Once the king nodded to approve of the feast before us, everyone sat at their proper place. Each person sat on velvet cushioned seats according to rank. With the king, Toya’s father at the head of the table, his mother sitting next to her husband on his right with Toya’s older brother Takeru on the left of the king. Toya sat between his mother and Yakumo.

I saw Yakumo glance at Toya. Toya had a kind sweet smile but Yakumo can feel the aura of Toya ready to give Yakumo another series of beat downs.

“Remember what I told you?”

Said Toya, still smiling.

“Y… yes your highness”

Yakumo was sweating bullets trying to forget the last time when Toya caught him being impolite to the staff. Yakumo’s greed took the best of him a few days ago, and he raided the kitchen. Toya caught him stuffing his face with lunch meat, bread, cheese, and fried tempura batter.  When Toya caught him in the kitchen, a food fight broke out between the two. Needless to say, Yakumo had a large bruise on his head the next day. His punishment also included cleaning the kitchens. All of the kitchens. The Golden Moon Palace had several kitchens to accommodate a large amount of staff and court members that lived here.

Toya doesn't like the servants to be called servants. He prefers to refer to them as staff or staff members. He may be too serious being the crown prince, but he is kind. Allowing the staff the take time off to tend to their families or participate in festivals. And allowing me to delve into my magic experiments at home. His father disapproves of western magic, even though it was my magic that helped him with the last large-scale demon invasion many years ago. 

I used to live here in the Golden Palace before the kids were born. Before the first and second princes, Takeru and Toya were born. Although some complications came up with my work, I needed to move out to protect the royal family. It's a long story how I got to Japan. Especially since I had a life in Europe with the love of my life. But in short, the Moon Goddess has her own mysterious plans for her children. My attendance as a member of the Golden Moon Court being one of them.  

We ate our food in silence like samurai of old. Enjoying the peaceful sounds of frogs outside basking in the nightlight by the pond in the garden that laid beyond the dining room. The high beamed ceiling is similar to what I have in my house, although the appearance is more of a vaulted effect. Stretching into what appeared to be the 3rd floor. Afterward, green tea was presented once the plates of food were taken away. Everyone enjoying the rare moments of peace that lingered in the air.

“Shaman Frank, I have been told there is an anomaly in Tokyo. An unknown aura has been detected there. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about it would you?”

 Being put on the spot so suddenly by the king’s question, I did a quick nervous gulp. I had to think quickly about how to respond to the king. One wrong move and both Stacy and I would be removed from the land of the living.