THIRTY-SEVENTH SCROLL: MEMORIAL
The smell of rain and lightning woke me. I opened my eyes and was surprised to see night around me. Had I truly slept the day away? Issun grumbled something about me being lazy, which I replied to with a half-hearted growl. I stood, stretched, and took stock of my surroundings. Although I could smell the storm, no rain had fallen yet. My aches and pains from the long battle through Oni Island and against Ninetails had healed while I slept, the divine blood in my veins soaking in the healing light of the sun. My body was renewed…but the weight of the losses suffered still hung over me. So many lives lost, and many more had not escaped unscathed…
And there was still work to be done. The eerie dark mists that had risen from the corpses of my great foes had flowed north. So, to the north I had to go. But first, I had some unfinished business to attend to.
In Sei-an City, life had returned to normal…but all around I could see people wearing bands of mourning for their fallen queen. I gathered that, for the moment, the Emperor was in direct control of the city until another successor to Queen Himiko could be named. I wondered if she'd had any family, anyone who would suddenly find themselves ruler of this great city. I quietly made my way through the city streets until I reached her castle. Using the Veil of Mist, I slipped past the guards, and I could see tears shining in their eyes as they stood there, still steadfast and loyal.
I made my way up the stairs towards the castle proper, but found the doors bolted shut. Momentarily baffled, I sat back on my haunches. I had not come with any real plan in mind, but part of me had hoped that, perhaps…if I rode up that strange lift once again and crossed the lake of lava that Queen Himiko would still be there. Still proud and strong, leading her people wisely. A soft footstep interrupted my reverie. It was the handmaiden, the one who had ushered me in during my first attendance, and who had been left unconscious at the bottom of the lift when Evil Rao attacked. The side of the handmaiden's face was still bruised behind her purple veil. She led me around the tower. Behind it, there stood a plaza with a small viewing pool. Beyond, I could see a lake, perhaps part of Lake Biwa which Sei-an City was built upon. Four great stone plinths engraved with arcane symbols jutted out of the water. The handmaiden said that this was the burial site for the great leaders of the Yamatai Clan, and now Queen Himiko slept among them. In a voice choked with emotion, the handmaiden asked me to sprinkle divine water on the stones, to help Queen Himiko's spirit pass on into the great beyond. Silently, I stepped up to the viewing pool and drew the water with my Celestial Brush. Once, twice, thrice…four times. As the last drops touched, suddenly rain began to fall from the sky, a cool, soothing rain. I could sense the presence of Nuregami as her power reached its full potential with a new aspect of the Waterspout Technique: the holy rain of Deluge. I nodded my thanks, then turned and left the joyfully sobbing handmaiden behind at the grave of her mistress.
As I left the palace, something strange caught my eye. There seemed to be a strange tower standing nearby. Towers were not unusual in the Aristocratic Quarter, but none of the others were so tall…and this one had no doors. Curious, I circled the building until I found something interesting: one of the cat statues of Kabegami. The Catwalk Brush made it a simple matter to scale the walls until I reached a small balcony. A pair of simple unlocked doors granted me entrance.
The smell of metal and lightning made my hackles rise. After the hellish machines and gears of Oni Island, I was not ready to see such things again. But there were no monsters inside. Only a small, wizened little man in a stained purple robe. His white beard was so bushy that his eyes and mouth were almost eclipsed by it. An on his head he wore an odd yellow hat that looked rather like the glowing glass bulb on Oni Island. His surprise when he saw me was so comical that the fear that came with the metal smell abated. The little man introduced himself as Inventor Gen. Apparently visitors were a rarity to him for he started telling Issun and I all about his theories and inventions, despite the fact I was a wolf and, to Gen, Issun looked like a green bug. Gen was bursting with energy and enthusiasm for his work, and although Issun seemed unimpressed by the strange contraptions, I was both interested and uneasy. Making things to improve the lives of others was all well and good…but I'd seen what the demons had created on Oni Island. Was it not possible that humans could go the same way, despite the best intentions of people like Gen? He didn't even seem to realize the potential danger in his creations; like an artist, he seemed to love creation for its own sake, and for how it could improve the world.
The something Gen said made my ears prick up. He claimed to be a great traveler who collected all kinds of strange artifacts throughout Nippon. He said that these artifacts made him think that, at one time, Nippon had been home to another advanced civilization. My thoughts went to Kaguya and her great iron bamboo shoot that flew into the sky. Were the bits and pieces Gen gathered remnants of her people's civilization? Or perhaps another…I felt like I was on the edge of discovering something important, but Gen veered off topic and back to his latest invention, which, sadly, was not working because he lacked the final piece, a certain gear. A spark of recognition blazed to life in my mind. At one point, I'd defeated Ida the runner in a race and he gave me a strange metal object as a reward. I'd forgotten about it until now, but I dug through my Astral Pouch and held it out to Gen, just in case.
It must have been the right gear because Gen's face lit up. He was actually trembling with joy. I offered him the gear and he quickly fitted it in place in some odd design on the wall and pulled a lever. But…nothing happened. Gen was crestfallen, saying that he needed some kind of charge to kick-start the machine. I examined the wall with the gear and many wires, but couldn't understand what it was supposed to do. But lightning had made that bulb on Oni Island glow so perhaps…I reached inside and felt the crackling power of Gekigami inside and drew a lightning bolt. Power exploded into the machine and I could hear Gekigami's deep-throated growl of approval. I had restored him to his full strength as well. Now I did not have to wait for a storm in order to call forth lightning. I could create it myself.
Gen was leaping with excitement and pride that his contraption was now working. I, however, remained in the dark as to its purpose. The great interlocking gears were moving, but aside from that, nothing had changed. Gen called it "Lightbringer" but there didn't seem to be any light emanating from anywhere. Seeing my confusion, Gen explained that his contraption was a mechanical means of keeping time. Now, no matter how light or dark it was, people would be able to look at his invention, his clock, and they would know the hour.
I left Gen to putter happily among his gears. I was glad to have helped, but at the same time, I also felt very sad. Humans already spent so much of their lives in a state of frenzy, running from one thing to the next. Somehow giving them a mechanical way of telling time, one that had no regard for weather or seasons or any mortal concern or constraints left more like a curse than a blessing. Their lives were already so short…why did they need something that could measure that shortness with such unfeeling accuracy? I did not look back at the tower as I left.
The moon was still high as I prowled through the city streets. There was a certain thief I needed to catch, my last piece of unfinished business in Sei-an City. Armed with Gekigami's Thunderbolt, it was a simple matter to catch Hayazo and take back the last item he'd stolen: poor Abe's Tao Trooper mask. I wondered, as I rode the waterspout up to the floating fortress of the Tao Troopers, if you would be there, Waka. I wasn't sure if I was hoping you would be away or at home…if that place truly was your home. Tao Trooper Kamo was solemn as he greeted us. The effects of Queen Himiko's death reached even here. I wondered if the Tao Troopers had tried to protect her, or if she had ordered them away, like everyone else.
The inside of the floating fortress was silent and almost empty. There was no sign of you; only the nervous and uncertain novice, Abe. The look of relief on his face when I gave him his mask was so heartfelt I was moved by his devotion to this strange little group, and to you in particular, Waka. And I was curious to hear the secret he said that he knew about you. Something he would tell me if I found his mask. Abe did not forget his promise. He explained that, because of his fascination with his beloved Captain Waka, he'd spent a lot of time researching the history of the Tao Troopers. The special force had been created 200 years ago…but there was never any captain listed before Waka. Which meant that you were over 200 years old. Which, as Issun said, might be nothing to a goddess like me or a Poncle like him. But for a human? That was weird. Not just weird: impossible.
I left Sei-an City feeling unsettled. I'd always suspected that you were different, but now the only thing I knew for sure was that I knew nothing for sure. I returned to Watcher's Cape and saw that the gateway to the Dragon Palace still swirled among the waves, although I felt that I was the only one now who could see it. As if anticipating my desire, Orca was waiting there for me and took me to the Dragon Palace. I wanted to make sure that Otohime was all right.
The guards welcoming me with great respect and heartfelt praise, although inside I still felt hollow at being responsible for the death of their king. As I entered the throne room for the third time, I heaved a sigh of relief. There, sitting on the coral throne in her familiar humanoid shape, was Otohime. She appeared to be completely recovered from her ordeal…physically at least. A shadow of grief still lurked behind her eyes, but her face and voice were warm with welcome and thanks for my aid. I could only bow my head humbly; sometimes the willingness of mortals to sacrifice themselves for the greater good was too much for me heart to bear. Otohime may have sensed my distress for her next words were filled with such soft joy and tenderness, I could not help but be cheered. With a gentle smile, Otohime told me that she was with child, King Wada's child. She hoped that, one day, their son or daughter would grow to become a great leader to help protect the sea from all danger, as her husband had. I stared, surprised and pleased. She was not yet showing beneath her ceremonial robes, but at her words, I could sense, very faintly, the glow of a new life forming within her. The future of the Dragonians would be safeguarded. I inclined my head once more in thanks and farewell, then left the throne room. There was another place in the Dragon Palace I needed to see before I left.
The garden of the Water Dragon was as I had left it; dark, barren, dead. A pile of rocks and dead weeds covered the passageway that once housed the sleeping Water Dragon. I stood there for a moment, remembering King Wada and his own sacrifice. Then I called on the power of Bloom, imbuing the ground with new life. From the once-dead earth sprung a great tree of coral, surrounded by sea anemones, gleaming shells, and a spring of crystalline water. At the base of the tree was a battered blue metal box tied shut with pink cord. Curious, I took it up in my jaws and, with a final glance at the shining red coral tree, trotted out of the garden. I thought that perhaps this chest was a treasure of Otohime's that had been lost when the Water Dragon had gone rampant. But the guard outside quickly explained that this treasure box was a legend among her people. The box was said to be kept at the base of the millennia coral which only takes root every thousand years. It was also said that it held the gasps of dying mermaids and opening it would bring instant old age. Apparently, years ago, a man had drowned and was brought to the Dragon Palace. To revive him, he'd been fed some mermaid flesh, which was said to restore youth and allow the eater to live for a thousand years. At those words, I thought of someone on the shore, someone else who I could help…I raced from the Dragon Palace and asked Orca to take me to a certain fisherman's hut.
It was still dark when Orca surfaced near the lonely hut on the shore of North Ryoshima Coast. I padded along the white sand and poked my nose inside. There was Urashima, the fat little man I'd seen being bullied by children on the beach. It felt so long ago…Beside the small fire sat Urashima the fisherman…and beside him, munching away at a bit of fish, was an old woman. His wife. The pair of them beamed at me, but I did not smile back. Instead, I quietly offered the battered treasure box. Urashima's eyes went wide, then tears filled them. He thanked us for finding the box. He seemed to know what it would do…and that was what he wanted. I took a step back and watched as Urashima gently touched the metal box. Very slowly he untied the pink cords that bound it…and cracked the lid open.
There was a burst of smoke, the sound of the lid thunking shut, and some coughing. A gnarled brown hand waved away the smoke, revealing an old, bent man in Urashima's clothes. Mrs. Urashima stared at her husband in disbelief. She stretched out her hand, not quite believing…and then they were in each other's arms, laughing and crying with joy. The gift, or curse, of immortal youth was gone. Now Urashima's body reflected his actual age. He could continue to grow old with his wife. And eventually die with her. I slipped out of the hut, taking the treasure box with me. Orca was still waiting by the shore. I placed the box in the harness on his back. It had fulfilled its purpose; now the box had to be returned to the Dragon Palace where it belonged.
I watched until Orca was out of sight, then turned back to the beach. But I'd barely taken two steps when a sudden shower of light revealed you, Waka. Your voice was light as you inquired about the success of our "fox hunt," laughing at the possibility that Ninetails could be a formidable foe. My blood boiled at your tone. After all, you had not accompanied us to Oni Island. You were not there when Tobi died, felled simply for being a demon who dared to dream. You were did not float in the depths of the ocean, watching the body of King Wada fall, knowing that you would have to return to Otohime and tell her that you had killed her husband. Poor Rao had been killed in her own temple, stripped of her face and form to hide a monster, and yet you did nothing to prevent it. You were not even there to help Queen Himiko when she most desperately needed it, despite having your own Tao Troopers in service to the city! And yet Queen Himiko died alone.
Issun trembled with rage and tossed that very accusation in your face. And while you tried to keep it light, something ugly crept into your tone. A hardness settled behind your eyes, something that hid your emotions. And you said that Queen Himiko had been resigned to her fate, that this was something I had been aware of. I stared and slowly shook my head. I wondered why you would say such a thing. Did you perhaps feel guilt for Queen Himiko's death? Or regret? Did you feel responsible and sought absolution? Or was I only seeing that because I wanted to?
A crack of thunder made me jump and look up at the dark sky. You laughed, but it was a sad, bitter kind of laugh. You pointed north to Shinshu Field and gave another ridiculous "prophecy" about a shock and something opening. I resisted the urge to snort. You seemed to know that I was planning on following the evil cloud, but I was sure that you would not go there yourself. It seemed that, even without wanting to, I remained your errand-wolf. You sensed my annoyance and laughed in a way more like yourself. A quick flash of light, and I stood alone on the pier once more. I shook myself, as if ridding my fur of water, and loped inland. There was one last place I had to go.
The sky was starting to lighten as I finished digging the grave outside Ankoku Temple. I'd chosen a spot overlooking the sea. I thought she might have liked that. I turned to the sad pile of bones wrapped in the tattered remains of a priestess's robe. I'd fished them, one by one out of the damp hole where they'd lain, unburied, unsanctified and forgotten for too long. I gently picked up the bundle, placed it in the grave, and covered them with earth. When I was done, I turned and looked at Issun. He had just finished the final touches on the wooden sotoba. It was the first time I'd actually seen Issun create any art, and the beauty of his calligraphy was far greater than I'd anticipated. No one could have done better. I picked up the sotoba and pushed it into the soft earth at the head of the grave, facing out towards the sea. I heard Issun sniffle as he hopped back onto my head. We stood there, the only mourners, as the first rays of dawn poured over the horizon, illuminating the simple, silent name: "Rao."