Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who or any of the legendary Japanese creatures featured in this story.
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Kyoto National Museum, Japan, 2006
"Tsuno-sensei, tell us again about the legend of the Blade of the Moon! We want to hear it!"
"Please, sensei?"
"C'mon, tell us!"
The group of children pleaded, dark eyes gazing up at the old man. The white-haired caretaker sighed, then smiled at the youngsters gathered around him. Tsuno had told them the tale many times, but they never seemed to tire from hearing it.
Coughing into a handkerchief, the old man nodded, seeing their eyes light up with excitement. "Very well, I'll tell it."
"Thank you, Tsuno-sensei!" The children chanted, bowing low to show their appreciation.
Chuckling, the elder turned and slowly made his way down the hallway, the children trailing along behind. The museum had just opened for the day, and only a few people were around studying the exhibits. This wing of the building was home to artefacts from the Muromachi Period, before the Warring States Period that ravaged Japan. It was also the place to hear the legends of that time.
Shuffling along the brightly lit corridor, Tsuno listened to the chatter of the children behind him. They were talking about school; and the old man reflected on his own school days, many years ago. He had grown up during the Second World War, being only seven when the conflict began. Life had been very different then; the children behind him had no idea how lucky they were.
Turning down a smaller, dimmer hallway, the children's voice died away as they approached their destination. At the end of the corridor was a small room, and this was were Tsuno stopped. His fingers flicked the light switch on the wall next to him, illuminating the small space. Stepping inside, his gaze roamed the walls picking out the faded images on the rice-paper panels. But the real attraction was in the centre of the cramped room.
Lying on a stone pedestal, surrounded by three inches of bullet-proof glass, was an old sword. The white blade was cracked in several places, and the bone handle was yellow with age. The sword was similar to one an ancient samurai might have used, since it was made in the same style.
The children swarmed around Tsuno, eager to once again see this mystical weapon. Smiling at their enthusiasm, the old caretaker settled himself on a short stool tucked into a corner of the room. He then reviewed the panels on the three walls. The image on the back wall depicted a man with a shaven head in a black kimono facing a eight-headed snake, a white sword in his hands. The panel on the right showed a female with blonde hair dressed in a white funerary kimono deep in a forest, a wooden pipe on the ground in front of her. The final image on the left was of a man in a green-and-white yukata, surrounded by an army of samurai. A grey fox wearing a gold collar sat by his feet. There had once been a set of sixteen panels, but all except those three had mysteriously vanished in the late 1600's.
The children had finished examining the sword and had once more gathered around the old man, sitting at his feet. Folding his hands on his lap, Tsuno took a deep breath and started to speak.
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Notes
The Kyoto National Museum is an actual place, located in the Higashiyama Ward in Kyoto.
'sensei' is a Japanese title used to refer to or address teachers, professionals such as doctors and lawyers, politicians, clergymen, and other authority figures.
The Muromachi Period was from 1336-1573, while the Warring States Period was from the middle of the 15th century to the early 17th century.
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