12 THE RYUGU PALACE

Kazuko Harada, Hanayo's old governess, owned a modest detached house in Shimonoseki by the sea. Shinsou and his companions arrived there after lunch, and Hanayo promptly broke down and cried when the elderly lady came out, and she had to try explaining all that had happened to her.

Ponta and Hideko had both shapeshifted into human form, so as not to alarm Harada-san. The latter was somewhat confused to find so many people descending upon her home, but they quickly informed her that they would not be staying. Shinsou said that they would find accommodation elsewhere; the plan was for Hanayo to get the sword back from her swan first, and then perhaps rest for a day or two before proceeding to Nagoya.

Hanayo retired to a room to have a long talk with Harada-san and explain, as best she could, about her blindness and what her plans were. Shinsou took the opportunity to use the house phone and update his supervisor.

"We're in Shimonoseki now, at the governess's house," he informed Aizawa, once he had gotten through.

"It has taken you quite a while to get there," remarked Aizawa, "Did you get into any trouble along the way? And have you managed to get hold of the sword?"

"We've had a couple of setbacks, but it would take too long to explain now," said Shinsou vaguely, "I'll tell you in detail when we're back. No, we haven't got the sword yet but should get it by this afternoon."

"You're reaching there not a moment too soon," Aizawa informed him, "there's a typhoon headed your way, expected to hit southern Japan in a week or so."

"If we get the sword this afternoon, we'll be gone long before it gets here," said Shinsou, not sounding too concerned.

"Well, try not to get delayed," said Aizawa, "I expected you to reach Shimonoseki long before this. The enthronement is in a month's time; so I hope you realise that this is becoming rather urgent."

"All right," said Shinsou, slightly irritated. He was wondering whether to tell Aizawa what Kubo had said about the onryo Sutoku, but it sounded so far-fetched that he had a feeling Aizawa wouldn't believe him. What would be the best response to the threat of an army of tengu trying to take over Japan, anyway? Gather all the heroes together to form an opposing army? Shinsou decided that he'd better find out more about the entire matter before making it known to the Directorate.

"By the way," he said, "Can you call the priests at Atsuta Shrine and tell them to expect us?"

"Call the priests?" said Aizawa, "Good idea, it'll make it easier for you, rather than you just turning up on the spot and having to explain everything. I'll tell them to expect someone from the Directorate over the next few days."

"All right, thanks – "

Shinsou broke off, because Ponta and Hideko had suddenly come into the room, and he could tell by their faces that something was wrong.

"Shinsou-kun, we thought we had better inform you," said Hideko, sounding slightly out of breath, "Yanigahara-san has interrupted Hanayo-hime's talk with Harada-san, and he has brought her out into the garden to call Mitsuki back."

"Mitsuki?" said Shinsou.

"Hanayo-hime's swan, Shinsou-san," explained Ponta, "her name is Mitsuki."

"Stop them!" said Shinsou urgently, "The Tosa brothers plan to attack us the minute the sword appears! I don't know if they've managed to keep following us or not – "

He dropped the phone without saying goodbye to Aizawa, and dashed out of the house, with Ponta and Hideko close behind him.

"Why didn't he wait for us?" said Shinsou, furious.

"Shigeru-san suddenly got the idea that Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi might be able to heal Hanayo-hime's blindness," Ponta panted, trying to keep up with Shinsou, "Ponta guesses he was too impatient to wait for the rest of us."

"Shinsou-kun, you did not tell us about the Tosa brothers," said Hideko, rather reprovingly.

"I forgot," said Shinsou ruefully, "I found out from Kubo the day Hanayo went blind … but I became too preoccupied trying to fix things after that …"

A pathway outside Harada-san's house led some distance away to the edge of a sheer cliff overlooking the sea. It was high tide, and the beach below was completely covered by water. Shinsou and the two yokai could see Shigeru and Hanayo standing near the edge of the cliff, and Hanayo had her hands raised and her eyes closed, concentrating on calling her swan back.

"Stop!" shouted Shinsou, "Hanayo, wait!"

But the great swan was already in the air, swooping down from on high toward the couple at the edge of the cliff, holding the bag containing the sword Kusanagi.

From out of nowhere, the two Tosa bodyguards suddenly appeared. One gave an enormous leap into the air, and snatched the bag from the swan in its teeth.

The waters in the sea below began to churn. In seconds, a huge whirlpool had opened up. Shinsou, running as fast as he could, saw Shigeru run up a nearby tree and launch himself into the air at the Tosa, grabbing hold of the dog's legs. Then they were both falling into the sea, into the centre of the vortex down below.

Shinsou didn't stop to think. He dashed over to the edge of the cliff, and jumped off as far as he could, into the same maelstrom.

He braced himself for impact with the water, but there was none. He was falling through air, down into the centre of the whirlpool. The light faded as he fell, and soon there was nothing but darkness.

After what seemed a long time, he felt currents of air moving upward, slowing his fall. More and more strongly the air pushed upward, until it was like a cushion against him, and all of a sudden he hit the ground, and lay there for a few moments, stunned.

He got up. He was in dim surroundings, but his eyes became accustomed to the gloom after a while. He was standing just inside a pair of huge wrought-iron gates. They were gold-plated, twisted ornately into a design of mermaids, seaweed and wavelike designs.

It was a twilight world. Around him seemed to be the ocean, for he could see fish and other sea creatures swimming dimly in the distance. Yet where he stood was dry, and there was air to breathe. There was some boundary separating the place he was from the water, he realised, because he saw two ningyo, or mermaids, swimming smoothly through the sea, but as they came nearer they suddenly seemed to break through some sort of invisible wall and amazingly, as they fell to the ground, Shinsou saw that they had grown legs.

The two ningyo stood some distance away, looking at him in trepidation. Then their gaze wandered from him to something behind him. He turned around to look.

Shigeru and the Tosa were lying on the ground a few metres away. Shinsou took one look at the hound and realised, by its staring eyes, that it was dead. It had released the bag holding the sword, and this now lay about two feet away from it. Shigeru was lying with his eyes closed.

Shinsou hurried over.

"Shigeru?" he said.

Shigeru moved slightly, and opened his eyes.

"Shinsou, don't touch the sword," he said faintly. It seemed to take him some effort to speak, but there was also a hint of urgency in his voice. "It killed the Tosa immediately. I was holding on to the dog, and some of it got into me too."

Shinsou knelt down next to him, concerned.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, "Give me a couple of minutes; I'll go look for someone to give you medical aid."

"No," Shigeru's voice was barely more than a whisper. "Don't go. I don't have much time. Listen to me. I'm sorry. I blamed you for Hanayo's blindness. But it wasn't your fault. I could have gone to look for her, too, but I didn't. I let the rest of you go. I was angry, and I looked for someone to blame. Forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive," said Shinsou, alarmed. He had never seen Shigeru like this. "I think I had better go look for help right now. I'll be back soon."

"No, don't go," whispered Shigeru, "There's no need. I'm dying, Shinsou. You'll have to find a way to bring the sword back on your own. I'm sorry. I won't be able to finish the assignment – "

"Shigeru, no – " Shinsou reached out and grasped his friend's hand. It felt as cold as ice.

"Look after Hanayo," Shigeru whispered, "Tell her I – " But then he fell silent. His eyes closed, and he did not speak again.

"Shigeru?" Shinsou felt as if something cold had crept into his heart and twisted it. He heard someone behind him. Glancing back, he saw Hanayo standing there, with Hideko and Ponta behind her. They had managed to come down the whirlpool as well.

"What's happening?" Hanayo said, holding a hand out as if to feel if anyone was there. "Shigeru? Where are we? Mitsuki said the Tosa and you took the sword …"

Shinsou reached out and took her hand, and she gasped. "Shinsou?"

"Oh, Hana-chan," said Hideko softly, from behind, "I am sorry, child, but Shigeru touched the sword, and it killed him. He is dead."

"What?" A look of anguish came into her face.

"He's here," Shinsou said gently, "On the ground, Hanayo."

She crouched down, and her hands reached out until they felt the still face and body.

"Shigeru? Oh no, no," she sobbed, and then she sat next to the still form, holding his hands in hers, silently grieving.

Ponta had tears running down his cheeks. Hideko was staring at Hanayo and Shigeru, her face sad.

"She should have come sooner," Shinsou said quietly, "He would have wanted to talk to her before he went."

"Shinsou-kun," said Hideko, looking around, "where are we?"

"I don't know," said Shinsou, glancing at the two ningyo, who were still standing some distance away, cautiously watching them. "I could ask those two mermaids over there – "

He was cut short by a stentorian voice suddenly calling out sternly from behind them.

"Strangers, declare your business here! Who are you who trespass in the grounds of the Ryugu-jo?"

Shinsou and Hideko both jumped. Turning around, they saw a tall man with a sea turtle's head, wearing an elaborate helmet with a white plume of what looked like feathers. He was accompanied by ten other similar soldiers, all uniformed, each carrying a long naginata.

They came forward and grimly surrounded the company, their naginata pointing threateningly at them.

"We came from above the sea," said Shinsou to the helmeted sea turtle, "we were brought down by a whirlpool which led us to this place."

"You come from the dry land above?" said the sea turtle, and then his face went blank.

"Who are you?" asked Shinsou.

"I am Reo no Shimano," answered the sea turtle, "Captain of the Guard."

"Tell your soldiers to leave us alone," ordered Shinsou.

Reo no Shimano barked a command at the other sea turtles. They looked rather confused, but lowered their naginata and retreated a few steps back.

"What is this place, and who is in charge here?" Shinsou asked the Captain.

"You stand at the gates of the Ryugu Palace, the abode of the Dragon King Ryujin, and his daughter the Princess Toyotama," said Reo no Shimano.

Shinsou stared at him for a few moments, trying to digest this information.

"I know I'm in some sort of dream," he thought, "Shigeru isn't dead. I'll wake up and find out everything's normal. Shigeru will be alive, Hanayo will have her sight and we'll be arguing as usual, and there's no such thing as a Ryugu Palace."

"Shinsou-kun," said Hideko, breaking in on his thoughts, "It has been said that Ryujin or Toyotama herself possessed magical powers. If you could intercede for us, they might be able to revive Yanigahara-san."

"Revive?" said Shinsou. He glanced at the place where Shigeru was lying. Hanayo was still sitting there, in silent grief.

If this is a dream, I don't seem to be waking up yet, he said to himself.

"Hideko-san," he said to the kitsune, "I really think that bringing someone back to life would be beyond the power of even Ryujin. If he could do that, everyone living under the sea here would be immortal."

"We must try, Shinsou-kun," urged Hideko, "There is no harm asking them."

Shinsou turned back to the sea turtle.

"We have a member of our company who has died," he said, "Do King Ryujin or his daughter have the power to bring people back to life?"

"They have the power to do many things," said Reo no Shimano, "but I have not heard of them returning someone back from the far reaches of the netherworld."

"Lead us to them, so that we may ask them," ordered Shinsou.

"King Ryujin is not at home at this time," said Reo no Shimano, "Only Princess Toyotama is in residence."

"Well, bring us to her, then," said Shinsou, "And we also have another member of our company who is blind. Arrange for some form of conveyance for her, and for our dead companion as well."

Reo no Shimano barked out a few orders, and in a short while more sea turtles appeared and transferred Shigeru to a bier which they carried on their shoulders. Hanayo didn't want to leave Shigeru, but Hideko told her that they had come to the home of her ancestors, and hoped that they could revive Shigeru. She led the princess to the bag holding the sword Kusanagi, and instructed her to carry it. Some sea turtles had appeared with a litter called a kago, consisting of a basketlike structure supported by bamboo poles. Hanayo was invited to sit in it, and she was carried by a team of four bearers.

They made a small procession walking up the broad avenue leading through the grounds of the Palace, with Shinsou, Hideko and Ponta in front with the Captain of the Guard, followed by Hanayo and her bearers, and lastly the bier carrying Shigeru.

The Palace could be seen in the distance. It was built on the steep slopes of an undersea mountain, and so although it consisted of single-storey buildings, it looked tall as successive buildings were built at higher and higher points on the mountain. They were walking in a twilight world, but the grounds and the palace were lit up with some sort of phosphorescence. As they walked further in, they found that they were near a cliff at the edge of the mountain, and as it fell away to their left, an undersea city could be seen below, also lit up, stretching away over the sea bed to the furthest horizon.

Hideko was looking around, her hoshi-no-tama illuminating her face in the dimness.

"It is enchanting, this underwater world," she said appreciatively, "Although it must be eternally twilight here, the lights are as beautiful as any great city up above when it is lit up at night."

Reo no Shimano was still in his brainwashed state. Seen up close, the plume in his helmet was not made of feathers but feather stars, and since these normally needed the sea water to support them, they had a rather deflated appearance.

"How is it that there is air to breathe here, under the sea?" Shinsou asked him, voicing a question that the others had also been wondering.

"We have been asked this question whenever any visitor from the dry land comes here," said Reo no Shimano, "It has been like this for over two thousand years, ever since Toyotama-hime married Hoori no Mikoto. Hoori came from the land above the sea, but dwelt here for a while after their marriage. Ryujin modified the Palace to mimic those of the lands above. Toyotama-hime eventually broke her union with Hoori, but she has never been able to forget him. Knowing that her descendants still roam the lands above, she asked her father to keep the Palace in this condition, in case any of them ever made it down again."

The palace was still some distance away, and Shinsou was wondering how long it was going to take to reach it, when another procession appeared in the distance, coming toward them.

"Who are those people?" he asked the Captain of the Guard.

"It is Princess Toyotama and her entourage," answered the sea turtle.

Princess Toyotama was reclining in a norimono, which was a considerably more elaborate litter than the kago that Hanayo was in. However, when she spied her Captain of the Guard and his companions in the distance, she ordered that the palanquin be set on the ground, and stepped out and hastened toward them. She was a diminutive little lady, slightly shorter than Hanayo, and was dressed in a gown of deep blue-green brocade, not unlike the colour of the ocean, with a gold scallop trim. She came across as affectionate, emotional, and impulsive.

"Where is Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi?" she cried, "I heard it call through the depths to me as it fell for the second time into the Strait of Shimonoseki, and I opened up my whirlpool to receive it! Many are the years that have passed since this blade descended into the precincts of our kingdom, during that fateful battle of Dannoura when my kinsman Antoku perished beneath the waves!"

Reo no Shimano was still in a brainwashed state, so he did not respond to Toyotama. Hideko, looking rather apologetic, stepped forward to explain. She towered over Toyotama, who must have been more than a foot shorter than her.

"Our deepest apologies, Toyotama-hime," she said, bowing low, "but we brainwashed your Captain of the Guard, because his soldiers were threatening us with their naginata and we feared for our lives. Shinsou-kun," she glanced at Shinsou, "perhaps we should awaken the Captain."

Shinsou woke Reo no Shimano from his trance. He looked around at everyone, much confused.

"Reo no Shimano!" exclaimed Toyotama, "These people are surely from the blessed land above that sired my beloved husband, Hoori! Did I not give specific instructions that none such are to be harmed, but brought to me without delay?"

"My apologies, your Highness – " began Reo no Shimano, looking taken aback, but Shinsou interrupted.

"It is my fault, Highness," he said, "I brainwashed him before we could tell him who we were."

"But this is wonderful, indeed!" said Toyotama, "Although there are many others living with me in the Ryugu-jo, I have been lonely ever since I separated from Hoori, and it comforts me much whenever visitors arrive from above the sea! Will you not introduce yourselves?"

Hideko proceeded to introduce each of the group. When it came to Hanayo's turn, Toyotama was so happy that she cried.

"It is a joyful day indeed when my kinswoman comes to visit me!" she exclaimed, embracing Hanayo. "My daughter, it grieves me much to see the affliction that besets your eyes! Stay with me a while, and I will bring you to whatever healers we have in this city. And is that Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi that you bear?"

"It is, Highness," said Hideko, seeing that Hanayo was still in shock over Shigeru's death and too overcome by Toyotama's welcome to reply. "Toyotama-hime, one of our company touched it by accident, and it smote his life from him. You can see him lying on yonder bier. His name is Yanigahara. We sought you, knowing that you possess great power, to see if you could not undo this. For he was a good man, and he touched it because he was trying to rescue it from one who was evil."

Hanayo gave a small sob when she heard this.

Toyotama's cheerful face dimmed. She glanced at Hanayo, and then looked around at the others.

"I cannot grant life," she said sadly, "it is beyond my power, and also beyond the power of my father Ryujin. I can only do one thing, and this must be in union with the power of the sword Kusanagi; that is to transfer life from one person to another. If you want your friend to live again, one of you must be willing to give your life up in exchange."

Shinsou glanced at the others. They were looking startled, especially Ponta. Hanayo was looking confused, as if she didn't understand what Toyotama was saying. He stepped forward.

"I'll do it," he said.

Toyotama looked seriously at him.

"But know first, Shinsou-san," she said, "My power does not extend beyond the reach of this kingdom. If your friend is restored to life, he will have to stay here. For the minute he steps back up onto dry land again, he will once more lose his life. Consider carefully, then, before you make this sacrifice."

Hanayo seemed to be trying to grasp what was happening.

"Shinsou, what are you doing?" she asked, "You're going to …"

Shinsou glanced at Shigeru, and then at Hideko and Ponta. The latter two were looking at him with growing alarm on their faces.

He turned to Toyotama.

"It's all right," he said quietly, "I'll do it."

She nodded slowly, looking soberly at Shinsou, and then turned to Hanayo.

"Hanayo-hime, you will have to aid us, then," she said, "for the right of the imperial line to Kusanagi comes from my husband Hoori's side, not mine. Therefore, although I can speak to the heavenly blade, I prefer not to handle it. Help us place Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi upon the body of your companion Yanigahara-san. Shinsou-san will have to place one hand in mine and the other on the sword, in order to transmit his life over."

Hanayo suddenly understood what was going on. Her eyes widened in horror.

"Shinsou?" she said, "What are you doing? Are you mad?! No! I don't agree to this! I won't help! Don't do this! No, no, I won't let you do it …" She started to cry hysterically.

"Hanayo," said Shinsou urgently, "It's for Shigeru! You want him back, don't you?"

"Not at the expense of you," she sobbed, and then her face went blank.

But Hideko had now come forward, a resolute expression on her face.

"Shinsou-kun, listen to me," she said firmly, "Consider carefully what you are doing! If you are gone, who will fulfil the quest to return the sword? For Yanigahara-san will not be able to set one foot back on dry land! Will both the Directorate's agents fail in their mission?"

Shinsou looked at her and Ponta. The tanuki was staring at him with a stricken look on his face. Hideko was a kitsune and would not weep, but there was something close to anguish in her eyes.

"Hideko-san, you're right," he said quietly, "We've failed in our responsibilities, Shigeru and I. But I know that if I don't do this, I'll regret it forever. Shigeru … he shouldn't have died. And he died with so many regrets … I can't walk away if there's a chance I can make it right for him. I have to do this. Bring the sword back for us then, I beg you. You and Hanayo and Ponta. Finish what we couldn't do. I know you can do it. Do it, for Shigeru and me! For us, and for Japan!"

Ponta looked like he was going to cry. Hideko looked deeply grieved and upset.

"I cannot tell you how much this saddens me," she said, "I cannot condone what you are doing. When Hanayo wakes up, it will almost kill her to know what you made her do! Of course you know that we will do it for you. You know that we cannot refuse you! But it will be a task carried out with much bitterness."

Shinsou didn't want to continue speaking with her, in case she tried to dissuade him further. He turned and said to the brainwashed Hanayo, "Bring Kusanagi over to the bier."

He walked over with the princess, and she then took the sword Kusanagi from its wrapping, so that they beheld it for the first time.

It was about two feet long, and its slender blade had a leaflike appearance. It was fashioned in a white metallic colour, and the middle of the sword had a thickness from the grip of about seven inches with a design like a fish spine.

Shinsou tried not to think about the fact that he was giving instructions for his own demise to be carried out.

"Place the sword on Shigeru," he said, inexorably.

Hanayo placed Kusanagi on Shigeru's chest.

Toyotama looked gravely at Shinsou.

"Shinsou-san, are you sure you want to do this?" she asked.

Shinsou made sure he didn't look at Hideko or Ponta.

"Yes," he said.

"Then take my hand," said Toyotama, "and lay the other on Kusanagi."

Shinsou took her hand, and, steeling himself, placed his other hand on the sword.

He immediately felt a vastness within it, and a reaching back in time through untold ages. He felt a consciousness touching his own mind, reading him. It's alive, he thought. He recoiled at the immensity of what lay within there, knowing that it was too much for his own mind to contain.

He felt as if the sword was echoing Toyotama's question, Are you resolved to make this sacrifice?

I am, he answered.

Then so be it.

The sword began to glow, until it became so dazzlingly bright that no one could look at it. Shinsou felt it becoming warm in his hand. The brightness spread until it appeared to fill everything, obscuring everything else from sight. The light seemed to fill his entire mind and being, so that he felt as if he was becoming lost in it. Then the brilliance overwhelmed him, and after a while he felt as if he was falling; and then he knew no more.