Aliases: Formerly Sui no Hokusai & Ashikaga Hokusai
Nameday: 28th Sun of the Fourth Astral Moon
Height: 5’11’’
Hometown: Sui no Sato
Occupation: Overseer of the Nasu Shrine (former), current co-head priest of Suiren Shrine
Appearance: A little on the shorter side for an Auri male. His skin is a warm olive tone. Has a traditional fox tattoo sleeve up his right arm that appears smeared. His scales have also taken on a more warm hue past the normal Raen ivory color. Though he has the typical horns, he does sport fox ears and a fox tail in place of an Auri one, leading some to think he’s a kitsune.
(Inspiration)
Eyes: Gold with black limbals. Lines his eyes with kohl. Wears glasses but they don’t seem needed to correct his vision...
Hair: Deep red with warmer undertones. Falls to his waist when loose, quite curly and untamed.
Demeanor: Sarcastic and jaded to most, especially if they’re not there to pay alms or respects to the shrine. However if a guest is truly interested in learning about the shrine, he’s much more agreeable and patient.
Family: Sui no Sadakatsu (father, deceased), Sui no Tomoe (mother, deceased), Sui no Ranmaru (elder brother), Minori/Makoto/Chie (children)
Current Status: Resident and partner overseer of Suiren Shrine in Shirogane
Social Links:
To be determined
Fun Facts:
Enjoys his pipe and tobacco, especially while fishing
Expert mahjong player
Terrible cook
Commands nine fox shikigami he inherited from the zenko fox, Shiorei
Talented at the dizi flute though he only plays by himself or with Mori
In-Depth Background (spoilers abound):
Hokusai was born to a traditional family in Sui no Sato. Groomed to be a priest to Shisui of the Violet Tides from a young age, he did well in his studies. There was a restlessness in the boy though as he moved on to his teenager years.
Always quick to start a fight, he earned himself quite a chastising from the elder staff to the point of being expelled from his studies. This was highly disappointing to his family who already had one son pledged to service to the Kogyoku Palace. Most said that Hokusai had too much ‘fire’ in his spirit to be a proper servant.
Often he swam to the home of the Kojin. He found the beast tribe much easier to talk to with much less judgement to pass. His trips were found out, reported by his elder brother of all people. This was against the rules of the hidden village and, despite being only fifteen summers old, he was cast out.
Not at all prepared for life on the surface, Hokusai struggled to find a place. The Confederacy was home for two years. He already had a past that threw him away, what did he have to hang on to? However during one patrol with the other pirates, a storm whipped up that destroyed their small boat. Smashed against the rocks, the injured Raen sunk to the bottom of the ocean.
It was irony at its finest. The sea had forsaken him, now it would take him back in a death embrace.
But his fire refused to die out and a spirit took Hokusai in. He lay on death’s doors, the barest spark remaining until it was rekindled by the intervention of a beast. A nine-tailed beast most would call yokai without knowing its true nature.
Not this one.
Hokusai awoke to a quiet shrine underground, the smell of sulfur strong. It was a forgotten place and the beautiful woman who tended it was far from mortal. The zenko fox’s power was near its end already, however, and she stayed awake long enough to grant blessings upon Hokusai.
Life anew. Senses sharpened with a fox’s ears, eyes, and nose. Mastery of illusions. The mark left upon his right arm was Shiorei’s print upon him. The zenko asked for service in return for this life. His training as a priest returned instantly and, despite there being no firm demand for him to do so, the Raen pledged himself as a guardian to the abandoned shrine.
There would be no petitioners. No offerings. This place was doomed to fail, he was warned by the fading fox.
He didn’t care. Even if he had to spend the rest of his life in solitude, Hokusai is determined to keep enough spiritual energy dwelling in the shrine to sustain his mistress until she can wake again.
└ The Nasu Shrine ┐
(source)
Once located upon the lava fields of the land, centuries have seen it sink below into sulfur-rich fields. Caverns sit with stagnant water and the daylight is only visible through cracks in the rock overhead.
The path fell with the shrine, contained together with spiritual energy. A stone walkway lined with fox statues and lanterns light the way. The fire is no ordinary type however, but is kitsune-bi. Its magic allow illusions to be cast to regale lost travelers into wandering into what they may perceive as a lush green sanctuary.
It consists of one single building where Hokusai sleeps in the common area and the other half is dedicated to the dormant zenko. A small altar divides the area where petitioners can make their offerings without trespassing into the fox’s sanctuary.
Aided by the power of the shrine, Hokusai has made side entrances through the cavern walls to lead up into fresh air. He can often be found perched on the old obsidian speckled fields with his pipe as he watches the ocean not far away. A single fox statue marks the entryways down to the underground temple.
I. SUIREN SHRINE
When a certain Raen stumbled into Nasu Shrine in hopes of restoring their own kami, Hokusai was initially abrasive and quite rude to Mori. It was a product of multiple things; another priest, his kindness, the shining Shiorei took to him... The zenko was calm and patient, even as her last days were upon her. In time, a solution to save both kami was reached. The two Raen would mingle their aether, bind it, and with the last power of the ones they’d served, bring them anew into this world. The result was Tenkogami-Hasu, a kami blended from the benevolent fox and the great koi.
Nasu Shrine fell dormant and the two now-kannushi secured Suiren Shrine with the assistance of an outside benefactor. Though duty initially bound the two, Hokusai did find himself admiring Mori more and more. The other was well-educated, beautiful, graceful. Everything he was far from himself. The hostility faded into a protectiveness and then affection. In time, they were formally wed to one another, taking on the name of Suiren to signify their dedication to Tenkogami-Hasu.
II. WHEN THE SEA RISES
Thing were not to remain peaceful. Hokusai’s older brother and captain of the Guard, Ranmaru, tracked him down, demanding that the other take his designated place as a kannushi within Kogyoku Palace. Talks failed and it came to blows, the elite guard of Sui no Sato overcoming Suiren’s defenses. Hokusai was ferried away back beneath the depths. There, the priests attempted to extract the ‘curse’ of the zenko that had ‘corrupted’ the one groomed to be the next kannushi of Shisui.
As Mori and other wards of Suiren hurried to the rescue, the blessings of Shiorei twisted, resulting in Hokusai entering a state of corrupted rampaging as a giant kyuubi. Many of the Guard were killed and allies harmed. Parts of Sui no Sato decimated as corruption began to bleed into the blessed shield that protected the isolated city.
It was only through Ranmaru activating a holy relic at great detriment to himself that the disaster was halted and Sui no Sato saved. In the tragic aftermath, the Suiren members were given permission to leave and never return.
III. FATHERHOOD
In due time and much healing, things returned to normal at Suiren. Missions came and went at the request of the people, many incidents put to rest. Hokusai and Mori enjoyed a very healthy relationship...too healthy as eggs were soon laid by the latter, apparently a twist of his snake hanyou lineage. Moons later, three bundles of trouble entered the world, running both fathers ragged.
After all, magicked children have a tendency to develop unique traits...
I almost made it through this challenge without missing one single day…but I floundered in the end and had a few late entries. ;-; But at least I did every single one!
Hokusai had changed quite a bit over his phases of life.
Sui no Sato was a black and white photo gallery in his head, something he didn’t give two shits about and would rather forget.
His time with the Confederacy had been a mixed bag. Any new recruit was put through the gambit but he’d quickly carved out a place with his scrappy nature, not to mention his innate gift of water breathing. But then there had been the whole dying thing...
Shiorei had mellowed the resurrected young man out. The old zenko’s wisdom and gentle hand had been the maternal figure he’d always needed in his life, helping him see beyond his rebellious nature and fiery soul.
And now there was Mori, his polar opposite in so many ways that filled that void that had previously only been patched with crumbling brick and weak mortar. He was now complete.
Some things never changed, however...
There was a fanged grin as he enjoyed the feeling of his foot in that bastard’s stomach, listening to the splash as the hyur fell into the docks. One of the other sailors of the Eorzean crew grabbed him from behind, pinning his arms. Just to be burned, yelping as Hokusai wiggled free, decking the Seeker square in the nose and feeling bones break.
The third ran, scampering off down the pier, leaving the kannushi to catch his breath and wipe some blood from his lip.
“Oi! So next time ya’ll decide to bother us locals, think twice. I’ll stick my foot right up yer arse and send ya limpin’ back to yer cap’n!” he barked with a harrumph.
It had been awhile since a fight and he’d forgotten the oddly lovely rush it brought. But he’d likely get The Look from his husband later as Mori tended to his bruised knuckles and swollen lip.
He couldn’t help it, the fox-blessed priest always had a short fuse and that simply would never disappear.
Anyone that spent more than five minutes around Hokusai knew that the kannushi was not a subtle or particularly eloquent man. He was impulsive, quick to rile, rough of speech, and gave little care to his appearance.
His beloved husband was the opposite in every way. Graceful (most of the time!), lovely, well-spoken, emphatic, and patient. At one time, these qualities were something that made Hokusai envious. Now, though, he counted himself lucky to be wanted and loved by someone so gifted.
What people didn’t know about his dear husband was, well, their /private/ times and how different the snake hanyou tended to be and Hokusai was always glad to comply. One would likely be surprised to know, even though the fox-priest was considered the dominant of the pair, he was at Mori’s will when they were left alone to enjoy one another.
To take his time to torment his paired bonded, kissing along those more delicate snake-like scales peppered like pearls over that darker skin. To yank ever so carefully at cherry-blossom strands to pull that lovely sound from the usually composed priest. To pin, to tease on the edge of pleasure for what may have seemed like an eternity before release was found and harsh breaths panted in the sanctuary of their quarters.
Hokusai would often ignore his own wants and needs just to lavish attention on the other, it’s what he wanted. To leave his marks, to leave his kisses, to give this gifted and wonderful Raen every onze of him.
Mori was perfect in every single way in his eyes and he’d do all he could to properly praise and offer his own worship.
If the kannushi hadn’t been a drinker before, he certainly was now. And he was running out of sake. At least the sake that /had/ an effect on his body since his fire-aspected aether rapidly burned off any alcohol!
Floating children, children that could animate objects...and one that had yet to spring forth any unique abilities. What would it be? Minori and Makoto were always tied to the hip, the little boys bonded close since Hokusai coddled their sister.
Would things start exploding? Flowers bloom? The shrine walls morph and twist? Would the one-year old suddenly start speaking eloquently in seven different languages?!
Oh kami, he was going to have gray hair before he hit a quarter century. Hokusai’s head hit the low table, one hand still holding the sake bottle. Fatherhood wasn’t something he’d been prepared for, terrified by honestly. With a husband, who would’ve expected children? But they were both very unique individuals with ties to the supernatural...he should’ve known.
Hasu-sama help him, Hokusai /loved/ these children. It was a love unlike anything he’d had before, different even than the affection and respect he held for Mori. He’d made these lil ones. They were his. And he’d tear anyone apart that hurt even one lil strand of fur on their tails.
But it was just ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER!
He’d gotten past the lack of sleep initially. Mori was always that calm and patient force that stopped him from snapping under the stress. The diapers. The spit up. The crying. All some of the worst trials of his life (even compared to the suffering of Sui no Sato classrooms) and he’d made it through with the guidance of his dear husband.
But now...now the little ones were tiny bundles of unpredictability that kept him constantly on edge and anxious. The fox-blessed man shouldn’t have been so worried; Hasu-sama watched over the children of Her kannushi, even playing with them in gusts of breeze or tinkling laughter.
Still, how could he not worry that he was going to feck this up? He was not a creature made to care for children, he’d never been shown the proper way. What if he did something wrong? Something that couldn’t be taken back?
The sake bottle was empty, he lamented, turning his cheek to rest on the cool table surface as he stared at the vessel.
...fatherhood was an amazing thing...but it also twisted him up inside unlike anything before and he prayed everyday to his kami for patience, guidance, and that he could bear this joyful burden all his life...
Hokusai always has had high energy and physical relationships were just another outlet in his rough and tumble life once he left his birthplace. He didn’t mind men or women as long as he could have his way though it was always a mutual gain. His tendency as a service top would be surprising to anyone who knew the rough-talking mlem. Though married and with a dedicated partner, his loyalty is firmly with his husband.
