13 THE CHAMBER OF SEASONS

Shinsou opened his eyes. He was lying on the ground. It was very quiet, and for a moment he seemed to see an overpowering brightness surrounding him, obscuring everything else. Then the light faded, and he saw something dim and green above him.

Other shapes were coming into view as well. He blinked, not really comprehending where he was. He tried to remember what had just happened. There were faces coming into focus above him; he recognised them: Ponta, wide-eyed and amazed. Hideko, one hand over her mouth, looking at him in glad disbelief. Toyotama-hime, smiling warmly. And wasn't that Shigeru, next to Hideko, with his old rakish grin?

At the sight of his friend, Shinsou suddenly remembered everything. He sat up. His head swam, and he shook it slightly, as if to clear it.

Shigeru was crouching down on one knee, next to him. He looked at Shinsou solemnly, and then held out a hand.

"Brother, thank you," he said.

Shinsou laughed, and they clasped hands.

"Not at all," he said, "I must say, it's good to see that grin of yours again!"

Shigeru grinned even more broadly. Ponta was jumping around, doing a small dance of celebration. Hideko was smiling.

"Well done, Shinsou-kun," she said.

Shinsou got slowly to his feet, and so did everyone else who had been crouching around him.

"But I don't understand," he said, looking at Toyotama, "I thought – ?"

"Kusanagi decided to spare you," she said, "It spoke to me. It acknowledged that Yanigahara-san was not an evil person and had not deserved to die, and it was agreeable to undoing what it did. It said that your willingness to make the sacrifice was enough."

"This is a happy day!" said Ponta, drumming on his tummy, "Shinsou-san, welcome back!"

Shigeru cleared his throat.

"Brother, there's someone else whom you should speak to," he said.

Shinsou turned around. He had been vaguely aware that somebody was missing.

"Hanayo?" he said.

She was sitting to one side, staring down at the floor. She didn't look up, although she knew that Shinsou had come over to her.

"Don't talk to me," she said in a low voice, "I'm not forgiving you. How could you make me do such a thing! I'm never, never going to speak to you again."

"But it turned out all right in the end, didn't it?" said Shinsou, "And we've got Shigeru back! Surely you're glad about that!"

"Of course I am," she said, almost in tears, "but what if the sword hadn't spared you? What would the price have been?"

"Which reminds me," said Shinsou, turning to Toyotama, "Toyotama-hime, we've wanted very much to find a cure for Hanayo's blindness. If in the end, your healers are unable to help her, I was wondering if Kusanagi might not be used to effect a similar exchange …"

Toyotama looked grave.

"Shinsou-san," she said, "I understand what you are suggesting. Be warned, this time it is unlikely that the same thing will happen. If you are offering to give her your vision, please know that you will really lose your sight."

"What?" cried Hanayo, suddenly comprehending what the conversation was about, "I don't believe my ears! Are you mad? No, no, I won't agree to it!"

"Hanayo – " Shinsou began, but Shigeru had also come forward.

"Hold on, brother," he said, "you did your part just now. If someone is to give her their sight, I think it should be me."

"No!" said Hanayo desperately, "No one is going to give me their sight! And Shinsou, don't, don't brainwash me again!"

She burst into tears, because she was so upset.

"Shinsou-kun, Yanigahara-san, please hold on for a minute!" said Hideko, "I commend your generosity, but there is no need to upset Hana-chan by going into this now, until we are sure that she cannot be healed in some other way. Do not forget that even if the healers here cannot do anything, she may still find a cure when she returns to dry land. If so, your sacrifices would be unnecessary."

"Well! Sentiments are high, and indeed we are all feeling much emotion and excitement at what has just happened!" exclaimed Princess Toyotama, "But, dear friends, as Hideko-san says, let us take a step back and rest a little before more decisions are made! You will stay here at the Ryugu-jo a while, will you not? For I have been lonely here ever since I forsook the company of my husband Hoori, and left that beloved land above the waves. I am so happy that you have come. And I will have a feast prepared to welcome you tonight, when you can make the acquaintance of my father, Ryujin."

Ponta perked up at the mention of food, but Shinsou looked hesitant, because Hideko's words had suddenly reminded him of something.

"My apologies, Toyotama-hime," he said, "but I understand that time here moves more slowly than it does on land above. And we are in haste because we have to return the sword Kusanagi to Atsuta Shrine before the enthronement of the new emperor."

"You are only partially right, Shinsou-san," said Toyotama, "for the folklore that you have learned is not always accurate. Time indeed moves at a different pace here as compared to the dry land. But it is not a fixed difference. Sometimes it moves faster, sometimes slower. I know it too well, for when I was living with Hoori in your land, I occasionally came back down, and once, two years had passed down here in the Ryugu-jo when only a week had elapsed up above."

"I see," said Shinsou, "but even so, there is no way of telling when it will go faster or when it will go slower, is there? In which case, it would still be better if we were to leave earlier …"

"Indeed, I understand your situation," said Toyotama, "But take note, Shinsou-san! Are you aware that Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi is willing to let you carry it now? I anticipated that this would be of import to you, and so I asked the sword just now. For Kusanagi is a sword of valour, and it has acknowledged your courage in being willing to sacrifice your life.

"Please grant me this request then – depart now, if you must, with Kusanagi, but let my kinswoman Hanayo remain with me a little longer. For it would grieve me much if all of you were to leave so soon, and I believe it would no less grieve your companion Shigeru, too."

Shinsou looked at Shigeru, startled. He had not realised, till then, that when they parted, it would be for all time. For if they were ever able to come back down again to visit the Ryugu-jo, too much time would have passed, and Shigeru might not be there any more.

Shigeru seemed to realise it too, because his face was sombre. Hanayo had stopped crying, and she was staring in the direction of Toyotama, as if trying to understand what she was saying.

"We're leaving Shigeru behind?" she cried, "Oh no, I can't bear to think of that! I'll miss him! How will we ever get along without him?"

Shigeru went over to her, and took her hands in his.

"If you could stay a while longer, Hanayo, and let the rest return first, it would mean a lot to me," he said.

"Shinsou-san," said Toyotama, "Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi lies on the bier where it fell when Yanigahara-san rose up after waking from his slumber. Do you wrap it in these silk cloths and then place it in this bag, and strap the bag to your back."

Shinsou took the bag and cloths from Toyotama, and then gingerly picked the sword up and wrapped it in the cloths. He felt the vastness contained within the blade again for the few moments that his hand was in direct contact with it. He then quickly placed it in the bag, and strapped it to his back.

Toyotama was now looking at Hanayo, who was sitting quietly next to Shigeru, looking undecided.

"Hanayo-hime," she said, "Tell me, is it as it used to be, that the emperor has many offspring? Are you with numerous brothers and sisters? Perhaps … if you were to stay here longer, they might not miss you?"

"Well … actually, Highness, I am an illegitimate child," said Hanayo, looking ashamed for the first time when talking about her lineage, "My mother was a geisha. She is dead now. I don't think my father even knows that I exist."

Toyotama came over to her, and taking Hanayo's hands in hers, looked earnestly at her.

"Then if you have no ties binding you to that upper world, why don't you stay here with me for good?" she exclaimed, "I beg you to consider this option! For even though there are many seafolk living here with me, my heart has been lonely ever since I was separated from Hoori. And it would be a comfort for me to have one of my kin, descended from both me and him, living here with me. Come with me! I will show you and Yanigahara-san that you need never miss the beauty found in the lands above!"

She placed an arm about Hanayo's waist, and then nodded at Shigeru and the others to follow. She turned and led Hanayo slowly down the avenue toward the palace, but in a few minutes she turned off onto another path that branched off to the right.

After a while, a low, white building came into view. It was built in a mixture of coral and crystal and stone, and when the group entered, they saw that the interior consisted of only one circular room, lit up by phosphorescence. There were lavish quantities of gold leaf and elaborate carvings on the walls, but the most unusual thing about the room were six rectangular, doorless openings spaced evenly around it.

"Minna-san, I call this room my chamber of seasons," announced Toyotama, "King Ryujin created this for me to ease my sorrow over the loss of Hoori. For I missed much the land that exists above the waves, and so he placed here all the things that I loved the most from there – the seasons, the mountains, and the sound of the surf on the shore."

The group members wandered around the chamber, looking out of each door. Each led to a different land. Toyotama led Hanayo to each in turn, and described what lay there to her. There was a garden outside one door, and it appeared to be springtime, for it contained sakura trees in full bloom. Another door led to a field full of summer flowers, reminiscent of the meadow Shinsou had brought Hanayo to, in Shimane. A third contained a park with trees adorned in autumn splendour, all red and gold, while the fourth led to a winter wonderland, with a forest of fir trees covered with snow.

The fifth door led to a valley surrounded by mountains, with gorges and waterfalls in the distance, while the sixth led to a beach.

The group walked out onto the beach. It was wild and lonesome there, with gulls flying high in the sky, and white-crested waves rushing in onto the shore. When they looked back, they could see the door behind them hanging in midair, with the white room and its ornate gold leaf and carvings visible within.

Shinsou happened to be standing near Hanayo and Toyotama.

"Do you feel it, Hanayo-hime?" Toyotama was saying, "The wind from the sea? Can you hear the waves on the shore, and smell the salt tang in the air? And you can experience such things similarly in those other places … the cold of winter where you can feel the snow, the freshness in the air when it is spring … you can walk in all these places any time you like, together with Yanigahara-san."

Toyotama saw Shinsou nearby, listening, and smiled at him.

"Yes, I can feel it," said Hanayo.

She paused and turned her head, as if looking for someone. Shinsou didn't know how she knew that he was there, but she did.

"Shinsou?" she said.

"Yes," he said.

Toyotama seemed to know that Hanayo wanted to talk in private, and retreated a few steps away.

"Before I make a decision about whether to live here with Toyotama or not," Hanayo said quietly, "there's something that I'd like to ask you."

"Go ahead," he said.

"Tell me," Hanayo said in a low voice, her eyes downcast, "if you can give me any reason why I shouldn't stay here with Shigeru."

Shinsou was silent for a few moments, and then said gently, "I'm sorry, Hanayo, but I can't."

She nodded, her face sad. She turned around, looking for Toyotama, and the Dragon King's daughter came forward again.

Shinsou went over to the door suspended in the air, and re-entered the chamber. One by one, the others came back in. When they had all gathered there, Toyotama, her girlish face looking serious, addressed them.

"Minna-san," she said, "Hanayo-hime has informed me that she has decided to stay here with me, and with your beloved companion, Yanigahara-san. This is joyful for me, but I know that it is a sorrowful occasion for you, for your company is being split asunder. I know that those returning to the land above can tarry here no longer, for they are in haste to restore Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi to its rightful place. Let us then make our way down to the gates, so that I may open up my whirlpool and convey you back to the surface. And you may say your goodbyes during the solemn walk there."

She led them out of the chamber, and called for the sea turtles to bring her norimono over for Hanayo to sit in. It was large enough for Hideko and Ponta to get in as well, so that they could talk to the princess. As they started down the avenue back to the gates again, with Toyotama and her retinue of sea turtles leading the way, Shinsou found himself walking next to Shigeru.

They were silent for a few moments, and then Shigeru spoke.

"Tell me how one says goodbye for good, Shinsou," he said, "I'm sure I don't know how."

"Neither do I," said Shinsou. He hesitated, and then said, "You know, I want to thank you for all the things we did … what you taught me … the time in Iga …"

Shigeru gave a small bark of laughter.

"Thank?" he said, "Thank? What did you do for me just now? Who should thank who? In a thousand years I'd never be able to repay that debt!"

"It was nothing," said Shinsou abruptly, "I would that it could have been better, that you could come back with us. I should have told you what Kubo said, that they would have been lying in wait to snatch the sword the minute it appeared. If I had …"

"If," said Shigeru, "If this, if that. There are always ifs. If I had gone after Hanayo as you had told me to, instead of sitting there feeling sorry for myself, she might not have become blind. We can't live our lives thinking about ifs. I've spent my whole life thinking about Mitsuki, but what if I had agreed to marry her when I was eighteen? Would it have worked out in the end? Maybe not."

He was quiet for a while, as if thinking, and then said directly, "I know that Hanayo is staying because she feels sorry for me. And I'm not stopping her, because I want her with me. And I also believe that she's better off here … she'll be with family, she'll still be treated like a princess, and she'll receive good care for her blindness. If she went back up to land, I'd worry that she might not manage to get her sight back after all, and then frankly, her future would be bleak. Even if her old governess is kind, how long would she be able to look out for her? The governess is old. What will happen once she passes on? And if Hanayo were to meet someone and settle down, perhaps I'm being cynical, but with all her wealth, there's a high chance that whoever pursues her will be after her money …"

Shinsou was amazed that Shigeru had thought things through to that extent.

"But tell me, brother," continued Shigeru, "if there's any chance that you might come to care for her. Because if there is, then none of that would matter. I'd let her go. I'd tell her to go back with the rest of you …"

Shinsou was quiet for a few moments.

"No," he said finally, "No, Shigeru. I don't care for her in that way. And she knows it."

"She'd leave me in a second if she thought she had any chance with you," said Shigeru.

"That's not true," said Shinsou firmly, "You didn't see her reaction when you died. She might not know it herself, but she cares for you more than either of you know."

Shigeru gave a small sigh.

"You know, in truth, sometimes I don't know whether I'm really in love with her, or whether it's because of her mother," he said.

"Perhaps it's both," said Shinsou, simply.

"Perhaps," agreed Shigeru, smiling.

He paused, and then said heavily, "Shinsou, I'm sorry about the sword … this is the first time that I'm unable to complete a mission, that I'm not able to fulfil my responsibility ... and now the burden will now fall on you, alone."

"Don't worry about it," said Shinsou lightly, "I won't be alone. Hideko and Ponta will be with me."

"A lethal combination," said Shigeru, giving his rakish grin.

"Indeed they are," said Shinsou, smiling as well. He became serious after a while, however, and said, "Do you want me to say anything to your family?"

Shigeru did not answer right away.

"I don't know what should be said to them," he said at last, and there was a look of regret on his face, "They won't believe you if you told them the truth. Perhaps they should think that I died …" He was silent.

They were interrupted at this point by Hideko and Ponta, coming up from behind.

"It's our turn with Yanigahara-san now, Shinsou-kun," said Hideko, "We will be reaching the gates soon, and you must talk to Hana-chan before you go."

Shigeru nodded at Shinsou, so he turned around and made his way over to the norimono.

Hanayo's conversation with Hideko and Ponta must have been emotional, because her eyes were red from crying when Shinsou entered the palanquin. She had a slightly defeated expression on her face, and when she realised it was Shinsou, she felt around for his arm and pulled it around her, and rested her head on his shoulder without asking for his permission, as if she was past caring whether he would agree to it or not.

He looked at her in concern. "Are you all right?"

"No," she said, looking slightly distraught.

He tightened his arm about her slightly, wondering how to cheer her up. She gave a small sniff.

"I'm sorry I asked you that question on the beach, just now," she said.

"It's all right," said Shinsou.

"Actually, I knew what your reply would be," she said, looking depressed, "but I had to ask. Because if I didn't, I'd always wonder if you might not have given me a different answer ..."

"Hanayo," said Shinsou, "There's something I must say to you. There's nothing I want more than for you to stay here with Shigeru. But we want you to be happy, too. I hope that you don't feel as if you're being forced to stay. No one is making you stay if you don't want to. I know that Shigeru would agree with me. I don't know what the healers here are like, but I genuinely believe you have a chance, if you went back up to land, to recover your eyesight … remember what I mentioned to you, about the Quirks with alternative healing features, or the eye transplant ..."

Hanayo was silent for a while.

"I'm aware of that," she said at length, "But, you know … once I go, I'll never be able to come back to Shigeru again. Time would have passed, and by the time I come back here, he might be gone. And what if in the end, I don't get my sight back? Perhaps the doctor will say a transplant isn't feasible … I'd still be blind, and I would have gone back up to land for nothing, and lost Shigeru as well …"

She shook her head.

"No," she said, "My vision doesn't matter any more. I did things that were wrong, and I'll bear the punishment that has been given me. You know, being blind has made me see things better. Does that sound like a contradiction? I see myself clearly now, and other people. You saved me so many times … when we were riding Aki away from the dogs … when you got me out of the daitenshu … even when you came after Kubo made me blind. If you hadn't come, he might have killed me. He was angry. I never thanked you for any of it. All I did was argue with you and make trouble for the group."

"It doesn't matter," said Shinsou, "it's all in the past, now."

"It matters," said Hanayo, looking emotional, "Thank you. Thank you, for everything you've done for me. Even getting Aki."

"You're welcome," said Shinsou, giving her arm a squeeze, since she couldn't see his expression.

She gave a small sigh, and shifted to a slightly more comfortable position. Her curls were tickling his chin.

"I know I'm right about staying," she said, "At least I'd be doing something for my mother, by doing something for Shigeru. She never stopped loving him. My mother was the person who meant the most to me in the world. I can do something for her, here. What could I do for her if I went back up on land? And is there anyone who cares for me on land the way Shigeru does? There isn't. How much meaning in my life will there be, back up on land?"

"You might eventually meet someone else there, and fall in love," Shinsou said.

She gave a small, sad smile. "Like you?"

He didn't know what to say to that.

"No," she said, eyes downcast, "I know I have to stay. I can't leave him. I already care a lot about him. I can learn to love him, after a while. I can."

There was a pause, and then Shinsou said, "I believe you'll be happy here. I brainwashed some of the guards to check what it's like. They say Toyotama and her father are both kind and well-loved by the people. It's a good place to live. And she seems to genuinely love you. You'll be well taken care of."

Hanayo looked wistful.

"You even took the trouble to check up on all that for me," she said, "I believe I can be happy here. But the hardest part is not being able to meet you and Hideko and Ponta again. If I could, then everything would be perfect."

"Oh Hanayo," said Shinsou, "even if we all went back up together, how often would we ever meet, once all this is over? You'd be in Shimonoseki, and Hideko and Ponta would go back to their homes in the mountains near Kyoto. And I would be in Tokyo. You don't know how busy it is, where I work. I hardly even have time for my parents or Ayumi. I go away for weeks or months at a time, on assignments like these, either that or I'm busy training, because some of the skills I have to learn take years to master, or become lost if I don't continuously practise them ... we'd hardly meet."

She was crying a little.

"I could still hope," she sobbed, "Even if we only met once every five or ten years. But once all of you leave, there won't be any hope at all."

"You'll meet new people here, and form new attachments," said Shinsou, trying to sound positive, "You won't think so much about us, after a while."

She didn't seem to be listening to him.

"I wasted so much time fighting and arguing with you during the journey," she said regretfully, "I had to become blind to see all these things, see how foolish I was, to see that you were right most of the time, and had actually treated me well."

"Well, there's no need to feel too bad about it," said Shinsou lightly, "when you think about all of it, some of it was actually quite funny, wasn't it?"

She smiled, rather unwillingly.

"Yes," she admitted, and she actually laughed.

"And you and Shigeru can look back at all of it and laugh," said Shinsou encouragingly, "it would be ever so much better than feeling sad."

She gave a small sigh, and squeezed his hand.

"I'll miss you," she said, sadly.

The pace at which the norimono was progressing suddenly slowed, and their bearers halted and placed it gently on the ground. Hanayo's face became pale, as she realised that they had reached the gates.

She held on to Shinsou's hand tightly as he helped her out, but then Shigeru was there, and she obediently stood next to him.

Hideko said goodbye first. She embraced and kissed Hanayo, and then looked at Shigeru.

"Yanigahara-san, you have been given a second chance," she said, "Use well the days!"

"I intend to, Hideko-san," he said solemnly, giving a small bow.

Ponta then bowed, and shook Shigeru's hand. He then turned to Hanayo, and she promptly burst into tears.

"Oh Ponta!" she sobbed, hugging him, "Dear, dear Ponta!"

Tears were running down Ponta's cheeks as well. "Farewell, Hanayo-hime," he said, sorrowfully.

It was now Shinsou's turn. He and Shigeru clasped hands, and the latter said soberly, "Good luck, brother."

"You too, Shigeru," said Shinsou, quietly.

He then turned to Hanayo and, taking her hands in his, kissed her on the forehead. "Goodbye, Hanayo."

She had been trying hard not to cry in the beginning, but now gave up. She just stood there with her eyes closed, sobbing quietly, the tears running down her cheeks.

"G-goodbye," she sobbed.

"Remember the promise you made to me in Shimane," said Shinsou, gently.

"I remember," she whispered. There was an expression of despair on her face.

Shinsou tried to release her hands, but she was gripping his tightly. He was wondering what to do, but Shigeru put an arm around her, and she promptly relaxed her hold, letting him go.

Shinsou went over to the wrought-iron gates and stood with Hideko and Ponta. They bowed to Princess Toyotama, who bowed in return. Then she lifted her arms, and above her the waters started to churn.

Hideko and Ponta were looking about as solemn as Shinsou had ever seen them. The three of them stood facing Shigeru and Hanayo, just nearby. Shigeru still had his arm around the princess, and he gave Shinsou his rakish grin, but Hanayo had given up trying to be brave. She was leaning against Shigeru, sobbing, the tears streaming down her face. Without her sight, she couldn't even watch them leave. Then the maelstrom above them strengthened, and strong air currents began drawing them up through the core of the vortex. They began moving up, losing sight of Shigeru and Hanayo and the other people from the land of the Dragon King. They were racing upward, and darkness surrounded them as the whirlpool pulled them swiftly back up to their own world.