Chapter 7: The Bamboo Forest of the Found

The Suwa Grand Shrine was a common destination for pilgrims from beyond the Kiso mountains so the road was wide and well marked. Eirin had made it this far with little trouble but this is where the road ends. Keeping the Kiso river to her right, she headed north to a land where no one dwelt, not the living anyway. The next day was spent in solitude save for the rare cranes that would occasionally fly overhead. She tied her long hair into a thick braid so it wouldn't get caught in the brush. By evening she had made it to the edge of Higan and the Sanzu River was now to her left. That river was the one place she had to avoid.

Out here, all the gold in the world would do her no good for there was no one to sell her food. Eirin started gathering persimmons and pomegranates at the edge of the woods lest she graze on flowers on her way across the field. As the sun was setting she began to make a fire for the night while wood was still readily available. That is when she spotted a sika deer not 20 yards away. She didn't know what lie in store for her but a chance like this might not come again for days. She took her bow in hand and, without really knowing what she was doing, let an arrow fly at the deer. She had never cleaned a deer before. To her, it was less of a culinary exorcise and more of a study in anatomy. She concentrated on the shoulders and flanks where the best meat seemed to be and cooked it over the fire. She ate well that night to keep her strength up and dried the rest into jerky over the fire while she slept.

The next morning she started her trek across Higan. The fields of flowers stretched almost to the horizon with the youkai mountain in the distance. Here and there a little hitodama would make friends with a flower keeping them ever in bloom. Eirin did not know how many days or nights passed as she crossed this land for there was no sun and no moon in the cloudless sky. Here it was ever twilight. She was glad however when she found the other edge with most of her food and water supplies still in reserve.

What lie before her now was a sight beyond imagination. A lush and vibrant land with forests, rivers, lakes and fields unspoiled by man. In a word, paradise. Two days closer to the youkai mountain and she had found the bamboo forest. She was in earnest and kept on hiking well into the night. In the waxing moonlight she could find no sign of habitation anywhere. A couple more hours passed when she began to sense that she was not alone. She was being followed, or worse, hunted. She braced herself for what unknown danger was about to pounce upon her. Out of the darkness came a little youkai rabbit wearing a pink dress and a carnelian necklace.

"Are you lost?" The youkai froze when she found an arrow of light pointed at her head. Eirin sighed and lowered her weapon. "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. My name is Tewi and you looked lost. If you like, I can help you find your way out of the forest."

"I am here seeking a wise man said to be dwelling in this forest." Eirin asked her "Do you know where he is?"

"Yes," Said Tewi "but I don't think he'd be keen on visitors."

"I don't care." Was Eirin's reply. "Please take me too him. I can pay you if you want."

This sure caught Tewi's attention. "Oh! Oh! Do you have anything sweet?"

Eirin smiled. She should have known that money wouldn't be much use here. "Well...yes, I do."

She tossed Tewi her last pomegranate and her eyes went wide. "Wow! Thanks. Here, follow me."

Half a league later the pair came to a majestic mansion near a small brook. Indeed, as big as this home was, it was still well hidden from those who did not know what to look for. They begged their pardons at the door when they heard a woman yelling in pain from inside. Eirin rushed inside to see what was the matter. Inside where two small children and a woman on the bed who appeared to be in labor. There were also a few rabbits scurrying back and forth but none of them, not even Tewi, knew anything about birthing babies, not human ones anyway. Eirin went right to work. She gave the woman some water and some powder made from the bark of a mountain tree. Within minutes her pain was greatly diminished. Tewi shared her pomegranate with the two young girls to help get their minds off the troubling circumstances.

In time they learned that the girls names where Toyo and Yori Watatsuki and the woman was their stepmother Ame Houraisan. Their real mother died while giving birth to Yori so it was no wonder that they were worried. Luckily, Ame was in good hands. Their father had been away for days on some "errand" and there was no telling when he'd be back. As the moon came to zenith, Ame gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. The other girls where relieved to see their stepmother doing well. Because of the mystery surrounding Eirin's lineage, she had no way of realizing that the baby she just helped to deliver was her own aunt.

Three days had passed when the father of the children returned to the mansion. He paid little heed to the visitor when he first heard the cries of his newborn baby daughter. He went straight to his wife's side and held his baby girl for the first time. Her hair was dark as the night sky and her face as radiant as the full moon. He named her Kaguya.

Upon seeing the man, Eirin was taken breathless. His face, his dark grey eyes and his long white hair; it was almost like looking at a mirror. After the pleasantries of a warm welcome home the man turned his attentions to his quiet and patient guest, addressing himself as Tsukuyomi. After pausing to catch her stunned breath, Eirin introduced herself to him as well. What was Amaterasu thinking sending her here? Didn't she say he had turned evil and caused much death and destruction? Yet here he was, a loving husband and a caring father. Eirin didn't know whether to trust her ears or her eyes. Tsukuyomi blessed Eirin with many thanks for caring for his wife in his absence. Then came the matter of why Eirin was here in the first place.

After much discussion, Tsukuyomi came to realize the troubles and concerns facing Eirin. While she made no mention of Amaterasu, she was wise to send her here for Tsukuyomi knew all too well the very concerns she was facing. These matters had been troubling him for a long count of years.

"It's this place." Tsukuyomi declared. "I don't mean this forest or this island but this world. It is rife with putrescence and impurity. Even in paradise one cannot escape the slow degradation of its influence." As it turns out, Tsukuyomi had great disdain for all things gross and disgusting. Such a display by his sister's friend Uke Mochi, the goddess of food, drove him mad and he slew her at the very dinner table she was serving. "I wish to leave it all behind but since Takamagahara has forsaken me I will instead make a new home for myself on the Moon and be rid of these impurities once and for all."

"But father" asked Toyo "won't you starve without the prayers of the people here on Earth?"

"That has already been taken care of." said Tsukuyomi "I have arranged for a shrine to be built for me in Kyoto. Prayers from that shrine will be able to reach me even on the Moon."

"And what about us?" she added. Can't we come too?"

"No my child. Since you are only half god you do not have the power to ascend to the Moon. That is why I remain here, to stay at my mortal wife's side until the natural conclusion of her life that is sure to come and also to see Kaguya come of age and become self reliant. When that time comes I must leave you forever."

Eirin thought for a while on this. She removed from her travel pack the set of lunar veils she had brought with her. "I have a way for you to travel to the moon."

Tsukuyomi couldn't believe it. "How came you by these?"

"My mother taught me how to make them. They are well made and have never been used. I have enough for everyone."

"Does this mean we can come with you to the moon now father?"

"I suppose so my child, I suppose so. And together we can build a new palace, no, a capital on the moon."

"What about this home?"

"I will stop time in this place so it will remain unchanging. This way we will have somewhere to fall back on should we ever have need of it."

"And can I bring a rabbit as a pet?"

"I think you will find plenty of 'pets' when we get there."

He turned his attention to Eirin. "Eirin, if you are truly disenchanted with this world and are willing to sever all connections with it then you are welcome to join us in the heavens."

As soon as Ame was well enough to travel they all made preparations for their departure. On that night a full moon shown down from up on high. Ame wrapped her baby tight to her body and the group gathered for their final moments on Earth. Even the rabbits where there to send them off. They each took a lunar veil and adorned themselves with them save for Tsukuyomi who had no need. As a road of moonlight spread out before them they took to the heavens never to be seen again. Well, maybe not never.

The End.