“Until you pin me, Senya, Festivus is not over.”
It’s always interesting to see the way Gods are depicted in Shinto-based fiction. Even in a story as footed in mythology as this, where most of the major cast aren’t human, Kami are in their own special category. Taizan – who is one himself of course – refers to his sister the Mountain Goddess as “capricious” and that seems to be as common a description of divine behavior as any. The manga Touge Oni (which no less than Mizukami Satoshi himself noted that he was jealous of for how great it was) is among the interesting in this way.
Also interesting is seeing Tama and Senya thrust together as allies in their mission to the Mountain Goddess. Tama certainly isn’t the sort to hold grudges, but it’s really only Shinsuke that has a stake in Senya’s welfare – these two don’t really know each other, and he is (albeit as a tot) a former enemy. Tama is wary that the boy could scotch her bid to get the Goddess’ help with Jinka by freeing Jinun on the sly and feeling with him. But Senya is about as straight a shooter as they come – he plans to ask the Goddess directly for her mercy. It’s pretty hilarious seeing Tama and Taizan’s reaction to Senya’s unwitting chaddish exchange with Tsukiko.
As much as she loves Senya for his gallantry, Tsukiko continues to be tortured by his refusal to accept her as a reliable ally in battle. It’s more that he loves her and is himself tortured by the fact that he seems to bring danger to anyone he loves, but they’re young and don’t see things so clearly. To combat this she continues to traffic with Kokugetsusai, seemingly an unwise course, and for now the others have not caught on to Taizan’s rent-free tenant.
Rinzu (aged up to match Senya and Tama) is the first to greet the quintet (never forget Nau) on arrival at the mountain. And the Mountain Goddess is very happy to see the one calls her little brother, Taizan. She’s also rather abusive with him for letting himself be driven mad but somehow Taizan doesn’t seem to mind that. Senya goes first, and TMG puts on quite a display in order to rattle his cage, but the boy holds firm and makes his request. And she’s shockingly agreeable – sure. she says, she owes Senya for helping out her brother. All they have to do is defeat a rat katawara that’s been disappearing travelers nearby, and she’ll free Jinun.
As for Tama’s request, TMG is rather less agreeable. In fact she ominously notes that her payment for her last service to the siblings has gone unpaid. Rinzu seems to be an ally but clearly, a lot has to happen before the Mountain Goddess will even consider breaking Jinka’s barrier. To that end, she’s enlisted the help of an old not-friend, Yazen, to research a way to turn Jinka human – a condition that would have to be met before she’d consider helping. So for now, that pot is definitely on the back burner, and the quintet head off to deal with the rat.
The rat encounter proves to be quite enlightening, and equally unexpected. Almost immediately everyone (including Taizan, ROFL) except Tama succumbs to some sort of sleeping incense and drops to the forest floor. Their souls leave their bodies and – following Tago – wind up in a sort of Sengoku youkai Disneyland. Senya and Tama both revert to their child forms, and each seems to be seeing some kind of manifestation of their lost desires. For Senya it’s a certain toy that he, Tsukiko, and Nau are riding (pay attention to Nau here too). Tama covers her face and goes in voluntarily to save the others, but eventually she gets caught up in the illusions herself.
Suffice to say this does get resolved, and the youkai “employees” are none too pleased about having been railroaded into this gig. Her condition having been met, The Mountain Goddess issues another one (which is kind of unfair of her) – Jinun must agree to leave the Dangaisyuu or she’ll seal him right back up again. Senya remembers his old man well enough to know that’s going to be a problem, but he’s hardly in a position to barter. And indeed Jinun is immovable on this subject. He does – eventually – allow that Senya has a right to decide for himself. Which is, you know, actually quite a concession. But for himself, justice must bee served and for him, that means the Dangaisyuu must be too.
I guess one could say this fight has been inevitable for a long time. But a long time is also how long Senya has been growing in his father’s absence – growing physically, and growing in his understanding of himself and the world. In that way he’s already a bigger man than his father, and he refuses to back down and let Jinun seal (no pun intended) his fate. Eventually he offers his old man a deal, produces Furuon’s pipe, and calls Jinun by his true name. Senya’s lot in life is a cruel one – every fated fight always seems to find him. But that he keeps finding a way to face them is a testament to the strength of his character and the depth of his integrity.
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