Children of Ukiyo
Mei felt still a bit ashamed for trying to kiss Yukemori, but her friend truly didn't seem to have taken offense. They had enjoyed the excellent sushi, and the sake made her smile wide and her head light. Still, all the customers of the ryokan, all the people strolling the dark streets of Dojyu, were tense. Mei recalled the emperor's grave warnings. Probably the sense of impending doom had heightened her willingness to fall in love, to act like there was no tomorrow she would recognize.
- "I hear that a tsunami wiped out a village near Renkyu," Yukemori said, his hazel brown eyes revealing nothing more than his level voice.
- "True. The court has been putting together a convoy to help the victims," Mei replied in the same manner, her expressionless mask of a face an imitation of perfect beauty, which always was less interesting and attractive than the aliveness of imperfection.
- "I wonder why the Fortunes have abandoned them so... many people lost their property and work too, as the shipyards were also destroyed."
Mei sighed, thinking again how hard it was to be a Kozakuran. Her true emotions broke the mask, and though she was unaware of that, her face was much lovelier now.
- "I tire of playing games, Yukemori!" she said hotly. "No doubt your oyabun wants to know if there is more to the situation, and you are fishing for information."
Yukemori blushed and looked away.
- "I am not mad at you," Mei hurried to continue. "It is just... all my life is playing games. Saying this, meaning something other. Carefully calculating my next move in order to not lose face, to create just the right impression! Oh, sometimes I wish I was a bushi, that there was no truth but that of a blade, no games but that of survival at the field of battle!"
- "I wager you would get bored in a short time," Yukemori smiled. "Your way is the way of a lone hunter, a night prowler who makes a plan, strikes and leaves. Not the way of a pack of wolves, who hunt as a one. And I don't see you in a monastery either, seeking enlightenment by turning away from the way of the world."
Mei smiled bitterly.
- "You are right, friend. We belong to the tall shadows and drunken laughter and rolling dice."
- "We are children of ukiyo," Yukemori said, returning Mei's smile.
There was a moment of silence, and both of them gulped down a few mouthfuls of tepid sake.
- "Anyway, the oyabun is correct," Mei said. "There is more to this than just a disaster of nature. The scholars of water magic school could not predict it. That is why the losses were so great."
- "I see. But why do you look so grave?" Yukemori asked.
- "They fear it is some sort of magical beast put asleep in the depths of the sea. A beast so dangerous that it can trample armies without slowing down, a spawn of the First Oni."
- "Kusatte Iru."
- "You know the story?" Mei was impressed.
- "That I do, though I wish I didn't. In the beginning of the times, when the Heavenly Sister and Brother had created the islands of Kozakura with their diamond spear and the Great Earth Dragon had fallen asleep forming Shinkoku, the First Oni resented them and their beautiful creations upon the Red Earth. Before that, Ningen-do had only been swirling ether, and the First Oni couldn't be bothered with that. But the creations in the realm not under his influence upset him personally, as destruction, evil, taint and perversion is all that he is, and because it gave power to the Heavenly Ones."
Mei nodded.
- "The First Oni spawned all the elemental Oni Lords, who in their turn spawned a large progeny... the oni who to this day plague all the spheres they can make their way to. But this was not enough for the First Oni. The Oni Lords were very independent, you see, and jealous of each other. So he created a beast, a most terrible beast, who would have no mind except what he gave it. And this beast he would use to completely destroy the Celestial Order and the empire of the rising sun. Kusatte Iru's skin is tougher than stone, it is like a malevolent mountain. There is no way to destroy it but to render it unconscious and complete some sort of ritual..."
- "And so the brave Kozakurans stopped the beast. How?" Mei cut in.
- "Well, the humans had to seek help from hengeyokai and korobokuru. Their shukenjas united their forces, and together they were able to keep the beast asleep just long enough that the imperial wu jen could place the most powerful wards in place so that Kusatte Iru would never be awakened again. Before that the beast completely annihilated a few clans and a couple of islands."
- "But now, the emperor said, it is stirring in its slumber."
- "Weakened by the creation of the beast, the First Oni ran into hiding. A few brave heroes followed him into Jigoku. They never returned, but nor did the First Oni. I wonder... why is this happening?"
- "Well, that is what I intend to find out!" Mei said, determination making her eyes sparkle. "I am not going to be one of those who believe that the Celestial Ones are displeased with us and just let everything fall apart. If there is someone benefiting from this, I want to know who it is. If I die, I want to know that I went down fighting."
She was quiet for a moment.
- "Are you with me, Yukemori?"
- "I have sworn lifelong allegiance to my oyabun. But if there is no Kozakura, there surely is no Two Gates gang. I am with you."
ryokan - inn
ukiyo - 'floating world', the secular world of erotic art, entertainment, night life…
hengeyokai = shapeshifter
