Chapter Six

"If you so decreed, even thousands of dreams

Would quietly gather and kneel obediently at your feet.""

~ (天狼を抱く夜空となりて)

It was much easier for Masako to wonder out now that her sister was back in Izu. After all, there were numerous reasons that the girls could come up that could justify their action. Of course, Masako could have come up with reasons herself, but her father tended to suspect that she was up to something. To his credit, she usually was.

Tokimasa was proud of his eldest daughter and he was sure that she was very capable. However, this then made her a rather difficult problem for him.

If he knew of Masako's latest plan, then he definitely would have been quite alarmed.

"Tamako, we are not doing anything wrong." Masako was saying. "We have every right to see this man."

"You mean you want to see him." Tamako said dryly. "But aneue, what do you wish to know of? His whole family? His background? Is it not enough that you know he is an exile from Kyo?"

"But aren't you curious to know why he is exiled given his age and what he is like?"

With great difficulty, Tamako had to swallow back the "No, not at all."

Masako's plan was simple- they would conveniently wonder there due to being lost, and then the ball they were playing with would conveniently fall into that house.

It was not much of a plan, Masako admitted, but it should let her have what she want- which was to see the mysterious person- since they would be going inside to retrieve their ball.

"And why should we not go inside? Are we not the daughters of the man in charge of this area?" Masako said before she carried out the plan by tossing the ball in.

"Now we just enter." Masako said merrily as she headed straight through the gate.

The first person who greeted them was not the man in question, but a very old woman who they later learnt to be his wet nurse from a long time ago.

"Masako-sama and…" she did not recognise the younger woman, but this was not very surprising given that Tamako only returned to Izu for a few weeks ago after a rather long absence.

"We dropped our ball when we passed outside." Masako said sweetly, before she waved aside the other's offer of finding it with their servant. "Tamako and I can manage."

"What is going on here?"

That was when Tamako saw Yoritomo for the first time. Even though she would only see him for a few more times, he would have a dramatic impact on her life.

He was, as Masako said, a rather handsome man. Perhaps it was due to him being exiled and then living in such a secluded fashion, there was something rather different about him. He was very much unlike the other men that they have seen in Izu.

There was something rather imposing about him even though he seemed rather quiet. However, as they introduced themselves, Tamako felt that he was quiet not due to his nature, but because he was waiting for the right time. When her sister mentioned her name, Tamako ended up meeting the other's gaze and she was startled by it without understanding why.

"…you two wish to know who I am?" he said slowly upon Masako's question. "I am surprised that you do not already know."

"Chichiue seem to want to make you into a secret." Masako said with a pout. "He wouldn't even let me see you."

"And this meeting is really due to chance?" this was said with a slight smile. "I do not think my identity matters much now. I am Minamoto no Yoritomo."

"Minamoto no Yoritomo?" the sisters yelled out at the same time due to their surprise. "The son of the last leader of the Genji?"

"As you can see." Yoritoo said. "I was exiled here and placed under your father's supervision."

"Why can we not see you before then?" Masako pressed on. "Would this not be a good idea? If I visit you, I can supervise you and I am sure that you probably would not have suspected me."

"I would now." Yoritomo said dryly. He found the girl in front of him rather interesting, and she was certainly a contrast to her sister, who seemed more then happy to leave.

"The Heike are still paranoid of the Genji being in power again." Yoritomo said simply.

"And do you think that this is justified?" Masako asked steadily.

"Who knows? But you two ladies of the Hōjō family, are you not forgetting why you came here?"

This was actually a dismissal. Tamako was actually rather relieved at this, unlike her elder sister.

"I am not going to give up though." Masako said firmly as she absently played with the ball that they retrieved. "I will think of another way."

Those who knew her all knew that she was very stubborn.

However, meeting Yoritomo was just one of her two projects. The other thing that she was trying to find out was their father's strange action in regard to the family shrine.

Masako's plan for this was rather simple as well, and Tamako felt that her sister enlisted her help just due to caution. She was sure that Masako could have done this herself. After all, all that Masako wanted was for someone to guard the corridor as they carried out their plan in the middle of the night.

On that night, everyone else but them slept.

Despite her confidence to her younger sister, Masako was actually rather nervous. After all, she had no idea about what she might found in there.

"…if someone come, I will notify you." Tamako assured her. "I am sure that your plan will work, aneue, but I really don't like this so please hurry."

There were times when Masako felt a bit frustrated with her sister. If Tamako had her way, then she would live a really monotonous life with no excitement at all. In fact, all Tamako wanted was to get through every single day with security and little, if no changes.

She was sure that Tamako would marry her fiancé and then live a very simple life of looking after his household and children.

When smaller, Masako did lament that her sister's lack of adventure prevented her from having a companion to play the way she wanted all the time. However, she was still very fond of her sister, even if she was rather timid.

When Masako stepped past the door, the first thing that entered her mind was that she might have been a bit too hasty by coming in here without discovering anything more.

This was because her instinct told her to step out.

However, Masako's personality meant that this only made her all the more determined to continue.

There was someone in the room- a strange presence. Yet she could not see any obvious shape. It was true that the single light from her candle was very dim, but she was sure that she would be able to notice a person.

"…over here." The voice seemed very loud, but she was sure that it did not wake up anyone. Strange as it was, she was not even sure whether it would have been heard by her sister, who was just a few steps away.

Swinging her candle around, she saw the family shrine. She then crouched down as she knew that this was where that strange presence was.

Masako expected something unusual, but what she found seemed like an anti-climax.

It was a dog, one of the many hunting dogs that could be found.

However…she soon realised that she was very wrong.

The dog actually spoke.

At that moment, Masako really wonder whether her desire for finding something dramatic has caused her to hallucinate such a thing.

"This is merely my current host." The dog was speaking to her, but the mouth did not move at all. Yet the voice was loud and clear in her head.

It was also a feminine voice.

"What…what manner of being are you?" Masako finally whispered.

"Is it not the manner of this country to say why you are before you demand someone of their name?"

"This country? But you are right…I am Hōjō Masako, the daughter of Hōjō Tokimasa."

"Your father spoke of you- he is worried that you might be able to find out about his guest." Even though the actual expression was naturally neutral, Masako was sure that the other was actually laughing.

"Who are you then?" Masako demanded. "I have already told you who I am."

"As I said, I am your father's guest. Although at this point, I am on the lighter side of the scale.

"Are you imprisoned here?" she asked curiously.

"No. however, I am very dependent on him." this was said with clear scorn. "This body is limited, and your father is the one who provided it- as well as preventing me from having a more useful body."

"…are you a monster?" she said slowly. However, she did not withdraw.

This earned her the other's approval.

"Not a monster. I am a goddess."

That would explain a lot of things, Masako admitted.

"How is it that chichiue can have power over you then?" this was a question that was still unexplained.

"Because he is the one that feed me, and he is careful in making sure that I would not be that powerful."

"What do you eat then?"

"…that is my secret." However, the other's voice suddenly became very gentle. Masako has long realised that this was often a technique people used in order to ask something, although she was a bit surprised to learn that the same logic could actually apply to a goddess as well. "I am not as powerful as I was, but I still have many powers. Therefore, I will grant you a wish if you help me."

"I do not trust you."

"That is fair enough…that is smart. However, my request is a harmless one. I merely wish to borrow your body for a little while, so that I can…"

"I refuse!" Masako actually raised the volume of her voice as she did this, a warning of how she would start screaming if need be.

"I do not wish to do anything harmful. There is merely someone that I wish to talk to…and I think you are probably the only one who would understand."

"…do you mean Minamoto no Yoritomo?"

"I was right in thinking that you would understand. I wish to talk to him, because I have watched him ever since I arrived in this place." Strangely, the voice became gentle once more. This time, Masako knew that this was not deliberate. "However…I could not be at his side."

"Why do you take such an interest in him?" the young woman asked. "But how is it that you are here?"

"My last body was killed and I decided to approach your father due to the belief that we would work together. He provided to be much more capable then what I thought. As for your other question…he is like me. We are both exiled to a foreign place with our power limited, especially when compared to what we had, or what we might be able to have."

"I can understand your desire to talk to him, but I will not lend my body to you." Masako declared out firmly. "However…I will find a way to take you out. But first of all, I wish to know your name."

"Is this curiosity, or is this because you are shrewd as well? Very well," unlike before, the name was whispered out.

"Dakiniten- this is only for you to know."

"I will not forget it." Masako said very calmly as she walked toward the door in what she hoped to be a very dignified manner.

What would Dakiniten have thought if she knew that the moment Masako closed the door, she actually collapsed on the ground?

Tamako was naturally very worried about her sister, but she knew that she had to wait a while before she asked her about what had happened.

They naturally had secrets from each other, but right now, it was simply because they did not feel that the other needed to know about it. If the other asked them, then would have most likely revealed it.

After all, they grew up together and they were also very close in age, which made them even closer with one another.

The next day, Masako seemed much quieter, but this was not completely surprising. After they had their meal, she and Tamako went out with the excuse of wishing to pick some flowers.

Their stepmother merely smiled as this as she thought that they were merely talking of romantic dreams as girls of their age tended to do.

"Aneue…I think we are far enough." Tamako said. She says this as Masako kept on darting her gaze.

"…Tamako, I will tell you what happened last night if you promise me this." Masako actually leant forward and grabbed her sister by the hand. "You will not tell this to anyone, not even Kagetoki."

Upon the nod, she began to speak.

"Is this not very dangerous?" Tamako immediately said in great alarm. "What chichiue is actually doing. I have heard of such a story before, and they never ended up with a good ending."

"But I think chichiue has not succeeded yet. I don't think that this being has decided to do anything for him." Masako pointed out before she recalled the last part of the incident. "Tamako, I am going to fulfil my promise."

"That is too dangerous!" Tamako said with an even greater concern. "Right now, that being is probably harmless due to where it is, but if you actually take it outside!"

"I know it can be dangerous." Masako admitted. "However, I do not think that she lied to me. I think she really just want to talk to Yoritomo-dono."

"Aneue, I do not think that this is a good idea. Kagetoki has told me about how people agree to such a thing for spirits only to end up being possessed or exhausted to death."

"I know that it is dangerous. I am not stupid." Masako said steadily. "However, I decided to do it. But Tamako, you do not need to come with me."

"If I didn't know about it, then I would be able to be ignorant. However, I do know about it."


In the end, Masako actually smuggled a bird to be the new body, while the initial body was drugged. Tamako followed her sister and their story would be that Masako ended up sleep walking.

"…are you sure that you want to come along?" Masako whispered. "It will not be very good if you are discovered. Tamako, you really don't have to come."

"I think I can manage to explain to Kagetoki." Tamako said. "I know that what I can do is limited, but I just don't like the idea of leaving you alone."

"You do not trust me, Tokimasa's second daughter." The being said mockingly.

"No, not at all." Tamako said without any hesitation. "How do I know that you would not just possess another's body?"

"Did you not hear what I told your sister? It is not that easy for me to find a host as they have to be slightly willing."

It was in the middle of the night, but not everyone was asleep. Therefore, Tamako often wonder whether they actually received some sort of aid in being able to arrive at their destination without any problem.

"What if the servants and guards here attack us?" Tamako hissed when her sister, who carried the bird, just walked right through the door.

"That would not happen." Dakiniten assured her.

However, it seemed that this did this not apply to the master of the house, because the moment Masako walked in the door, she found herself being pointed to by a katana, the blade merely a few spaces away from her throat.

"…I am merely here to talk to you." Masako said in a perfectly composed tone. "There is no need for you to attack me, and so there is no need for me to be afraid."

"But is coming to a stranger's room at such a time the proper action of two noble girls?" Yoritomo continued. He did not sheath his katana as he did not feel safe yet."

"I am not here to harm you, Minamoto no Yoritomo." The third member of the party said steadily. "I merely wish to talk to you."

Perhaps one of the goddess' ability was the fact that those who have faced her all quickly accepted her identity. But then, it could be because that there was such a strange and strong presence that one could only accept it.

"I have watched you since you came here…I wish to ask you a question." The goddess said. "What is it that you want? No, that is not good…what is it that you dream of?"

"Are they not the same thing?" Yoritomo said simply.

"To you, yes. To others, no. I do not wish to harm these two girls who have assisted me. Therefore, what is it that you dream of?"

Dreams could be a fantasy, but want was a reality.

"I do not think that you wish to spend the rest your life like this, yet I do not see you doing anything." Dakiniten continued.

"…if I seek immediately action then this dream will remain a dream. But as for what you said…the answer is 'of course not'."

"What is your dream then?" not only did Dakiten speak, so did Masako.

"…a new kingdom. It will be a different kingdom. A fair one based on abilities instead of relations."

"And avenge yourself on those who killed your father by taking away the kingdom of those that killed your father?" Dakiniten continued.

"That would not be bad." Yoritomo admitted. "But my main dream would not be that. It would be the creation of that new kingdom."

"I would like to see that." Masako said with great enthusiasm.

At this, Tamako finally spoke for the first time since she entered.

"If it is you, Yoritomo-dono, then I think it might very well come true." She said softly. "However…"

"However?" Yortimo asked.

"That is what scares me, the fact that you will probably be able to achieve it."

"Of course, to achieve this dream is no easy thing." Dakiniten said in agreement. "There is much that you will have to do. However, it seems that you can."

Much to Tamako's great surprise and relief, nothing happened afterward. Dakiniten really allowed them to take her back, where she went back to the body of that dog.

"This will be our secret." Masako declared out.

Tamako nodded and she did hold to her words. She was relieved that this seemed to be all. Even though Masako still secretly met with Yoritomo now and then, with her being an accomplice, she did not seem to approach the foreign being.

Tamako was naturally worried but what could she do? She could not talk to anyone about it, and this was not just due to the promise that she made. It was also because she felt that there was no use.

Beside…surely their father knew what he was doing.

She was worried, that was true, but like many in her situation, she decided to solve her problem by ignoring it.

Soon, she was distracted by other things

"Aneue, why do you keep on visiting Yoritomo-dono when we are not even meant to have seen him?" Tamako pointed out after a very close escape. "Is it because you are in love?"

"I…I am not sure whether I am in love. I am still not sure. However, I know that I really want to talk to him and be in his company. When he talks about his dreams, I can see them coming true. Is this what you feel with your fiancé?"

"I think it is different as Kagetoki is a very different type of person." Tamako reasoned out. "But aneue, if he is talking about his dreams with you, then he must regard you as quite special."

At this, her sister actually blushed.

"But it is just that he is so different from everyone else here!" Masako said in a surprisingly girlish way. "Do you not think so?"

"I agree with you. But aneue, what are you going to do when chichiue discovers this?"

Tamako was sure that Masako knew the truth much better then her.

"…I will come up with a plan then." Masako declared out. Her tone indicated that this was final.

At this, Tamako thought that maybe her sister was in love. Who else other then the lovers would be so foolish?