Chapter 50
Tama had noticed since she met Tobihi that she goes somewhere unannounced every third night or so. The day she confronted Yasunaga was one of the nights. Tama turned in, hoping for a new development soon. Capital or no, Edo was not where she belonged. Tobihi bid her goodnight and stepped outside. Tama thought she heard the splashing sound she made when she changed her countenance into the liquid form Tama saw once.
Tobihi did not have far to travel. In the guest quarter where Kumado lay already asleep, a puddle of shadow appeared next to his head rest. The puddle took Tobihi's human form but she did not stay there long. Instead she entered his nostrils, snaked through his sinuses, and punched through some thin bones and membranes to arrive in his brain. Tonight was her final night restoring Kumado.
Kumado sat before a feast in his dream. In his waking life he hardly enjoyed food. But this was a dream. With every bite he could sense something returning. It was that which was forcibly taken against his will. The woman in his dream sat there also, watching him. He knew he should know her and could not place her. He continued his meal regardless. As he neared the end of the meal he realized the woman's image was fading. He could not decide whether she was a goddess of mercy or an angel. It did not matter. He was restored, back to what he was meant to be.
Tobihi exited his brain the same way she entered, taking care to repair the tissue damage caused during entry. This time she flowed directly out through the flooring. She realized her energy was depleted. Perhaps she would spend the night in the river where earth's life energy flowed. That should restore her.
That he could not recall her name bothered him. Ginko stepped outside of Adashino's guest room, lit a cigarette, and sat down on the ground. He let his mind empty. Perhaps he should let go. As he sat he took care to face away from the river where mushi life teemed. It felt as though the last time he was alone was a lifetime ago.
A considerable distance lay between Edo and Adashino's village, but it was irrelevant as far as the flow of mushi life was concerned. Tobihi's soul, or whatever constituted her sentience, floated flowed with its current. Time was also irrelevant, but she retained her awareness thereof. Each passing moment strengthened her. The encounter to come the next moment was not entirely foreseen, but not surprising, either. She spotted Ginko as he sat on its far bank. Maybe his effort to recall her summoned her.
"Not yet. The time is not ripe" Tobihi said to herself. It had been years since their last meeting. Before that she had to wait, how many years she could not be certain. "Eons" she thought. She reminded herself it should be soon enough.
Yasunaga's courier returned with a reply. "Tomorrow night," it said. "...is fine. Slip her the vial of the medicine beforehand." Yasunaga rehearsed what he was to do, which horrified him. But then the amount he would receive in return was simply out of his imagination. As the new head of the Fujii family he needed the means to sustain it entirely, and could not think of how else to obtain it. He cursed his birth. His birth and the times he was born into. He crumbled into a heap on the floor and beat it in anger. To add to it, why did he have to fall for the very woman needed for this scheme? Such an ice maiden, no less.
Tanyuu noticed Ginko's mind was somewhere else. Still, the frenetic atmosphere that enveloped the village on the morning of a wedding occupied her attention. She watched everything with a fascination he had never seen in her before, and the villagers were all too eager to show her. In fact, Ginko noted Tanyuu seemed to possess a particular charm that garnered people's affection. He wondered whether that was a quality that elevated her ancestors to a higher status. Her enjoyment was so palpable it made him break out a little smile. She caught sight of it and smiled back. She even listened to the officiating Shinto priest's long and uncustomary sermon sincerely, while everyone else hung long faces. At long last the priest left. Tanyuu expected to see a celebration. She did not, however, expect it to involve a shogi match tournament.
「よくある風習なの?」"is that a common custom?" she asked a village woman. 「いいえ。これは滅多に無いわねえ。でも、イオちゃんが私達女衆に将棋のお稽古つけてくれたもんだから、楽しみにしてたのよ」"oh no. This is quite unconventional. But everyone's been looking forward to it, ever since Io-chan taught us women folk how to play" the woman replied. 「女衆だけじゃねえって。男衆にも稽古つけてくれたわい」"hey, make that everyone. She gave us men folk lessons, too!" added a man next to her. Soon food, booze, and new shogi sets were set out. Ginko managed to catch Adashino. He asked 「一体何なんだ?」"what's up with this?" Reluctantly Adashino began to tell him what has transpired since his last visit...how Ginko beat him and Io volunteered to teach him. Ginko stared at Adashino in disbelief. 「そうなんだ。あれ以来イオのやつ村の衆に将棋の稽古つけんのに忙しくてあの暇もなくって...」"oh yeah Io has been busy teaching the village peeps she hasn't had time to..." Adashino blurted out but slapped his own mouth shut with both hands, blushing. 「ほう、そうかい。アノ暇、ね」"to do THAT, eh? Well that explains your mood," Ginko jabbed him in the ribs with a mocking smile.
The afternoon passed thus, and a crowd began to separate into players and losers. Upon learning that Tanyuu knew how, she was quickly thrown into the tournament as well, and lingered on with the player group. After awhile Adashino joined the losers. Ginko only put half-hearted effort and joined the losers yet awhile after that. The losers' group grew as the afternoon went on. They did not wait until the evening to start drinking. By the time Ginko joined them most of them were past tipsy.
Someone suggested going to pick some clams for soup stock for hang over to follow. Ginko and Adashino joined the clam pickers. It was then Ginko told Adashino the entire story thus far. To Ginko's surprise, Adashino listened calmly. Or perhaps it was the booze. 「そうか。命がけの恋、ってとこか」"so that explains it. Love at the cost of your life, eh?" Adashino signed as he threw his umpteenth clam into a bucket. 「大袈裟な」"don't you think that's melodramatic?" Ginko answered, himself on hands and knees on the sand. 「大袈裟か? 四方八方敵と苦難に囲まれて手も足もでない状況だろ?」"not at all. Surrounded by enemies and troubles every which way you look." 「まあ、あえて言えばな」"well...I guess. If you want." 「しょうがねえなあ。出来るのはただ一つしかねえなあ」"in that case, there is only one thing you can do" said Adashino, surreptitiously producing a hyoutan (a type of hour-glass shaped gourd with thick, hard skin. Commonly used as bottles in this era) full of booze.
「飲もう」"let's get wasted."
「ひゃあ何だよこれ。焼酎じゃねえか」"whee, what'a hell'z this? This is no sake. This is shouchuu (distilled from sake, much stronger. Japanese version of moonshine)" coughed Ginko after a mouthful. 「ああ。次郎さんの特性どぶろく」"yep. Jiro's special moonshine" was all Adashino said. It was dark by this time. Several clam pickers returned with lanterns, one of which Adashino held. 「たまには酔っぱらったて大丈夫さ」"it's ok to get drunk once in awhile" Adashino shouted. Someone heard him and teased「おう、先生!よりによって今夜浜辺でほっつき回ってていいのかい?初夜じゃねえのかい?」"hey doc! You of all people shouldn't be HERE tonight! It's your shoya (the first night after the wedding) for crying out loud." All who heard burst out laughing. Someone yelled 「初夜っつったってよお、もうとっくに契ってんだから初夜のどうの言ってもしょうも無かんべさあ」"whuzda point of shoya when they're already doing it?" Ginko had another mouthful of shouchuu, which he swallowed hard at that comment. The strong alcohol burned strong in his throat. Adashino was evidently quite drunk as well, as he replied 「肝心の新妻が将棋して忙しいんじゃどうしようもないだろ」"well I can't do anything can I, when my new bride is busy playing shogi?" The whole crowd burst into hysterical laughter, leaving Ginko aghast. Envy flashed across Ginko's heart at Adashino then. It was a longing to belong to a community, though he would never admit it. Ginko sighed in resignation. Perhaps this was right. Maybe this was a fitting send-off for him, before a suicide mission. Ginko took another gulp. This time it did not burn as much.
Someone decided they had gathered enough clams for a whole village full of hung over people. They built a bonfire and more drinking and drunken behavior ensued.
They were all singing a drinking song when one of the women came looking for them. 「最終戦だよ。ちゃんと見にこんと後悔するよ」"hey it's the final match! Come watch it or regret it!" she shouted. one of them shouted 「誰対誰?」"so who's playing?!" 「イオちゃんと幽ちゃん」"it's Io-chan and Yuu-chan" she answered.
Everyone looked at Ginko and Adashino. They looked at each other. They all staggered on their feet at the same time. A couple of them fell, pulling other along with them onto the ground. Adashino and Ginko stood up but they were also too drunk to walk straight. Nevertheless they grabbed the clam buckets and forced a wobbly trek toward the house.
The clam pickers poured the house drunk as skunks, headed by Ginko and Adashino, followed by the rest of the early losers. Some of the women swiped the clams to soak in water before they spilled. Io and Tanyuu lifted their heads at the commotion. The men positioned themselves next to them, uttering something incoherent. 「きゃあ、酔っぱらい!酒臭い!それでも医者か?」"what? You've been drinking, haven't you? You reek! You call yourself a doctor?" Io scolded. Adashino responded but in slurred speech. Ginko acted as if Adashino said something funny. The women were at a loss as to what they were saying, but evidently they understood each other. They carried on their conversation five or six turns and then as suddenly as they came in they passed out in booze-induced stupor, one after another. As Adashino's head hit the floor his foot caught under the shogi table and the pieces went flying. Some women screamed. Tanyuu sat there dumbfounded. Io slapped Adashino trying to wake him. Others who kept trickling in were also getting some scolding by their respective wives. 「あきれた」"this is unbelievable" Tanyuu said, unsure of what to make of the situation. 「なんの、これしきりであきれてちゃ駄目よ幽ちゃん」"you haven't seen the end of it, Yuu-chan" Io answered.
The next morning the village drunks plus Adashino and Ginko woke up at the same spot. One by one they moaned and groaned, looked around in confusion. A few of them lay between Adashino's large room and yard, apparently failed to make it back after vomiting during the night. Io and a few of the wives took turns taking the ones turning green outside. Adashino woke up after three others while Ginko slept on. 「幽ちゃん、ギンコさんいつも寝る時こんなに死人の様?」"Yuuchan, does Ginko-san always look dead like this sleeping?" one of the women asked. 「うん」"uh-huh" replied Tanyuu, not realizing what that answer would imply. She was tasting her first clam stock miso soup. 「おいしい 」"yummy " she let out a girlish squeal and made Io look at her askance. 「貝のみそ汁飲んだ事ないの?」"you've never had miso soup with clam stock?" Io asked incredulously. 「ううん。こんなおいしいお味噌汁初めてよ。とってもおいしい」"no. Never. It's incredibly good!" she replied. 「家が海から遠すぎて貝なんて滅多に手に入らないの」"I don't live near a beach" she explained. Io gladly took her to the kitchen to show her how it is made. Once there she was utterly fascinated with various sea shells she had never seen before. Her expression was that of a child. Io picked up an empty sazae (small conch-like shell fish) and told her to hold it to her ear. Tanyuu obliged and saw why. 「海の波の音!」"it's like it carries the sound of the ocean waves!" she said with delight. 「良かったら持って行き、思い出に」"keep it, so you remember being here" Io offered. Tanyuu thanked her heartily, which Io did not quite know what to do with. She had never met anyone who treated an empty sazae like treasure. To her and the villagers it was but garbage.
While Io and Tanyuu were giggling in the kitchen Ginko woke. He knew he would be hung over but he fought hard to keep yesterday's feast down. It was a rare treat for him as well, after all. 「せめて生姜湯でも飲めよ」"have some warm ginger water, at least" Adashino coaxed. 「医者の言う事聞け」"doctor's order." He obliged and sipped slowly. Several of the men teased him 「ギンコさん吐いちまった方が楽だぞ」"don't fight it Ginko-san. You'd feel better if you just puke it up." Io and Tanyuu returned then, with a large pot of clam miso soup. Teasing or no, Ginko could hold it down longer, darting out to the yard. It gushed out with force, leaving him breathless and coughing. Adashino gave him some water to rinse with, but the sensation of water in the mouth made him hurl more. The men stood around laughing. Ginko puked some more while Adashino patter his back, chuckling. At one point Ginko threw a grudging glance at them all. In awhile Adashino's nausea returned, forcing him to eject. The sight of their doctor caused one of the men to lose it soon afterward. The ones who were not in action stood around and laughed.
Tanyuu watched this event unfold, the sazae shell still in her hand. Io read her, and commented 「幽ちゃん放っとき。絆と友情深めてるだけなんだから」"Just leave them be, Yuu-chan. They are deepening their bond and friendship." Tanyuu said 「一緒にゲロ吐くと絆が深まるの?」"puking together deepens their bond?" Io shrugged her shoulders, gesturing "evidently." Tanyuu fell silent. After a minute she confessed 「男衆って解らない」"I don't get men." 「うちらもそうよ。そのくせに女はお喋りだってブーブー文句いうんだからたまらないわ」"none of us do. But they complain we women talk too much" the women chimed in. 「お喋りしてどこが悪いのかしら」"what's wrong with talking?" 「さあ」"dunno." 「ところで幽ちゃん、ギンコさんといつ祝言なの?場所は?」"say, Yuu-chan. When are you and Ginko-san getting hitched? Where?" 「さあ...まだそこまでは話もしてない」"uh...we haven't talked about that..." 「幽ちゃんのおうちって何処?そこで祝言するの?」"where is home for you, Yuu-chan? Is your wedding going to be there?" 「さあ」"...don't know." The conversation evolved at that pace endlessly between the women while the men carried on among themselves. The men took notice of how the women were getting on. One of them commented 「あ~あ、またぺちゃくちゃ喋ってやがる」"there they go again. Yappin an'yappin." 「女ってのはなあ、喋って絆つながるもんだべさ」"that's how they bond. Running their mouths." 「へえ、詳しいな。俺あ女衆はよう解せんわ」"yeah? Well darn me, I don't get women folk."「まあいいじゃねえか。この分だと今夜母ちゃん機嫌よくお情けありつけるんじゃねえか」"put'em in good moods, though. Ya'might even get her mercy t'night at this rate." 「ガハハハ」"gwahahahaha!" 「何言っても卑猥な方向に行くねえこのスケベ親父」"everything is innuendo when you open up yer'mouth, ya'dirty old man..." A lazy day after the wedding passed thus. Just enjoying friends.
While Ginko laughed at yet another dirty joke the men were telling, he realized the last few weeks have been the happiest he could remember. He dared say it was for Tanyuu as well. Everything was new and fresh to her, enjoying new sights, sounds, tastes, friendships, and intimacy. It was life as she had never known. His heart ached knowing it could not last forever. A novel idea struck him suddenly. "This is as it was supposed to be." For him, for Tanyuu, for Tama, for Kumado, for everyone.
Oh if only it could be so! But for some cruel reason Tanyuu was born Tanyuu, Ginko was born...recreated...Ginko. He could have sworn he would give anything at all to restore what should have been.
In the evening the four young people sat on the engawa of Adashio's house. Each had a simple bowl of noodles in soup on the lap. The evening was bringing a cool reprieve from the day's heat then. The day was eventful yet eventless, and hang-over was on its tail end. 「こんなに楽しい一日過ごした事は無かった。化野先生、イオちゃん、飛び込ませてくれてありがとうな」"that was the most fun day I've ever had. Thank you for letting me jump in, . Io-chan" Tanyuu said softly. A windchime Io had hung nearby made a light, pleasant sound. The newly weds smiled back. With guests gone, Adashino could finally ask Ginko he had been holding. 「お前、昨夜お二人さんの冒険の件の話俺に聞かせたか?」"did you tell me about what you two have been up to? Something really, really incredible?" Tanyuu shot a glance at Ginko. He nodded. The four of them faced each other. 「イオちゃん、淡幽から聞いたか?」"Io-chan, has Tanyuu told you?"
「ちょっと、そこここ、だけだけどな。すごい話だけど、信じられない事はないわ」"in bits and pieces. It is an outlandish tale, but somehow I don't find it beyond belief."
「え?本当?全部?」"really? All of it?"
「ええ。私も何となく蟲には時間を曲げる能力があるんじゃないかなと思ってたの。私が水蟲と一緒にいた時も時間の流れが遅く感じられたもの」"yeah. I guessed if mushi have the ability to bend time myself. When I was with the suiko, time seemed to flow slower somehow." Adashino turned to her and stared at her. He was himself having difficulty wrapping his mind around all this. Plus this would be beyond most women he knew. Ginko and Tanyuu could plainly see Adashino's admiration for Io.
「なあにじろじろと?」"why are you staring at me like that?" Io mumbled. 「惚れ直した」"falling for you all over again" replied Adashino. Ginko rolled his eye. Adashino "ahem"-ed. He had momentarily forgot the present company.
「そうすっと、引き下がる訳にもいかん訳だ。でも、まるで決死戦じゃねか」"so, you got no choice. But it sounds like a suicide mission."
「お前稲妻に撃たれても生延びる方法知らんか?」"Do you know of a way to survive getting hit by a lightening?"
「そう言う生還者の噂は聞いた事があるが、極めて稀だ。それに、何故死なずに済んだのかは全く理解もできん」"I've heard of people who have, but I can't tell you how." Adashino searched his memory, and something seemed to hit him.
「ちょっと待った。電気、電気、電気か。う~ん、詳しい様な異国の学者さんの噂聞いた事があったような気がするなあ。どちらさんだったけ?」"wait a minute. Electricity, right? I've heard of a foreign scientist who studies such things." Ginko's eye darted back to Adashino's face.
「異国の学者?何処にさ?」"foreign scientist? Where?"
「恐らく長崎の出島だろうな」"the island off Nagasaki (a sequestered place to hold foreigners in southwestern Japan during the time of total isolation), presumably." Ginko's heart sank at that answer. That would be a long way. He could not hope to gain access to that place besides with his social status.
「長旅でもその甲斐はあるかも知れんぞギンコ。考えてもみろ。生死の事なんだぞ。幽ちゃん、あんた武士家の出身だろ?」"a long trip might be worth investigating, Ginko. Think about it. Your life rides on it. Yuu-chan, you are from an aristocrat's family, yes?"
「うん。何とかなるかも知れない。私のウロ置いて行くから、思い出したらギンコに連絡して」"yes. I might be able to pull strings. Why don't I give you my uro. Contact Ginko when you have more information."
「ウロ?ウロって何?」"uro? What's uro?" Io inquired.
While Tanyuu showed Io how uro worked, Ginko lifted his eye. They all knew this may be the last time together. Sadness descended on them, and Ginko hoped the situation did not get all soppy. For as long as he could remember he had always hated that.
Io broke the silence.「それが全部終わったらまた将棋しにきてね。今度こそ勝負つけないと中途半端でやだ」"when that's over I want you to come back to play shogi again. We still have a game to finish. " Tanyuu held her tears back. Io suddenly stuck both of her pinky fingers out at Ginko and Tanyuu, caught theirs with hers and shook them up and down (cultural gesture signifying promises in Japan, but for children). 「指切りげんまんしよ」"pinky-promise me" Io said with her voice quivering. The girls started the promise song. Ginko did not join in at first but Tanyuu made him, giving him a jab in the ribs. Tanyuu could hold it no more, and the women embraced and cried unabashedly. The men stubbornly refused to shed tears. And they did not have to. For the sight of their beloveds hugging and carrying on like little girls right after displaying intelligence gave them that goofy smile they wear when they adore their beloved.
「女は解せんが可愛いもんだ」"they might be beyond our comprehension, but they sure are beautiful" mumbled Ginko, holding his cigarette between teeth.
「ああ。下手に馬鹿の振りせん時なんて特に」"yeah...I like it when they are not afraid to show their intellect"
「何だお前もそれ好みかよ?」"you too, eh?" Ginko smirked.
「ああ」"sure."
