Ancestor
Chapter 1 - The Legend
No good deed goes unpunished. Never was this saying truer than for Taro Urashima.
In the 8th century, during the Nara Period, there lived in a little fishing village, on an island off the coast of Japan a young man named Taro Urashima. Taro was the most skilled fisher in the area and could catch more fish than any other fishermen in his village. However it wasn't his skills as a fisher that he was known for in his little village but for his kind heart. He had never hurt anything in his life. As a boy when his friends would tease animals he would try to stop them despite them laughing at him for doing so.
One summers evening the 21 year old Taro was on his way home after a day of fishing when he came upon a group of children screaming and yelling in excitement. Coming closer he saw that they were tormenting a turtle. First one boy pulled it this way, then another boy pulled it that way, while a third child beat it with a stick, and the fourth hammered its shell with a stone.
Taro being the kind man that he was felt very sorry for the poor turtle and made up his mind to rescue it. He spoke to the boys.
"If you keep treating that turtle so badly it will die!"
The boys took no notice of his gentle scolding, but went on teasing it as before. One of the older boys said to him
"Who cares if it lives or dies?"
And they began to treat the turtle more cruelly than ever. Taro thought for a moment, trying to find the best way to deal with the boys. He decided that he would try to persuade them to give the turtle up to him, so he smiled at them and said:
"Why not give me the turtle?"
"Why should we give you the turtle?" said one of the boys. "We caught it ourselves."
"True," he said, "but I won't ask you to give it to me for nothing. I will give you some money for it. Won't that do for you?" He held out the money to them. "Look, boys, you can buy anything you want with this money. You can do much more with this money than you can with that turtle."
The boys were not bad boys at heart, they were only mischievous, and as he spoke they were won by his kind smile and gentle words. Gradually they all came up to him, the ringleader of the group holding out the turtle to him.
"Alright, we will give you the turtle if you will give us the money." And Taro took the turtle and gave the money to the boys, who, calling to each other, scampered away and were soon out of sight.
Then Taro stroked the turtle's back, saying "Oh, you poor thing! You're safe now! Luckily I was passing by and saved you. Now I am going to take you back to your home, at once. Do not let yourself be caught again; there might be no one to save you next time!"
All the time that he was speaking he was walking quickly to the shore and out on the rocks; then putting the turtle into the water he watched the animal disappear, and turned to go home.
The next morning Taro went out as usual in his boat. The weather was clear and the sea and sky were both blue and soft in the haze of the summer morning. Taro got into his boat and pushed it out to sea, throwing his line as he did so. He soon passed the other fishing boats and left them behind him till they were nothing but dots on the horizon, and his boat drifted further and further out upon the blue waters.
He was suddenly startled from his reverie by hearing his name called:
"Urashima, Urashima!"
Startled, he looked all round about him and saw that a turtle had come to the side of the boat.
"Well, Mr. Turtle," said Taro, "was it you who called my name just now?"
The turtle nodded its head and said
"Yes, it was. Yesterday you saved the life of a Turtle which is very dear to us, and I have come to offer you my thanks and to tell you how grateful I am for your kindness."
The turtle climbed into the boat, the fisherman helping him, and after an exchange of small talk the turtle said:
"Have you ever seen Ryūgū-jō, the Palace of the Dragon King of the Sea, Urashima-san?"
The fisherman shook his head and replied; "No, while I have often heard of the Dragon King's realm under the sea, I have never set eyes on that wonderful place. It must be very far away, if it even exists at all."
"Is that so? You have never seen the Sea King's Palace? Then you have missed seeing one of the most wonderful sights in the whole world. It is far away at the bottom of the sea, but if I take you there we shall soon reach it. If you would like to see the Sea King's realm I will be your guide."
"I would like to go there, certainly, and you are very kind to offer, but I am only a poor mortal and have not the power of swimming like a sea creature such as you are"
"What? You need not swim yourself. If you will ride on my back I will take you without any trouble on your part."
"But," said Taro, "how is it possible for me to ride on your small back?"
"It may seem absurd to you. But I assure you that you can do so. Try it! Just come and get on my back, and see if it is as impossible as you think!"
As the turtle finished speaking, Taro looked at its shell, and saw that the creature had suddenly grown so big that a man could easily sit on its back.
"This is strange indeed!" he said "Well then Mr. Turtle, with your permission I will get on your back." He exclaimed as he jumped on.
And with these words the turtle leapt into the sea with Taro on his back. Down through the water the turtle dived. For a long time these two rode through the sea. Taro never grew tired, nor did his clothes get wet with the water. At last, far in the distance a magnificent gate appeared, and behind the gate, the long, sloping roofs of a palace on the horizon.
"That is the great gate of the Ryūgū-jō Palace, the large roof that you see behind the gate is the Sea King's Palace itself."
"Then we have at last come to the realm of the Sea King and to his Palace." said Taro.
While he was speaking the turtle reached the side of the gate. "And here we are, and you must walk from here."
The turtle now went in front, and speaking to the gatekeeper, said:
"This is Taro Urashima, from the country of Japan. I have had the honour of bringing him as a visitor to this kingdom. Please show him the way."
The gatekeeper led the way through the gate. All the chief subjects of the Dragon King now came out to welcome the stranger.
"Urashima-sama, Urashima-sama! Welcome to the Sea Palace, the home of the Dragon King of the Sea. And you, Mr. Turtle, we are greatly indebted to you for all your trouble in bringing Urashima-san here." Then, turning again to Taro, they said, "Please follow us this way."
When they reached the portals to the inner palace a beautiful Princess with her attendants came out to welcome him. She was more beautiful than any human being, and was robed in flowing garments of red and soft green like the under side of a wave, with golden threads glimmered through the folds of her gown. Her lovely chestnut brown hair streamed over her shoulders and when she spoke her voice sounded like music over the water. Taro was lost in wonder while he looked upon her, and he could not speak. Then he remembered that he ought to show proper respect by bowing, but before he could the Princess took him by the hand and led him to a beautiful hall, and to the seat of honour at the upper end, and asked him to be seated.
"Urashima-san, it gives me the greatest pleasure to welcome you to my father's kingdom," said the Princess. "Yesterday you set free a turtle, and I have sent for you to thank you for saving my life, for I was that turtle. Now if you like you may live here forever in the land of eternal youth, where summer never dies and where sorrow never comes, and I will be your bride if you wish, and we will live together happily till the end of time!"
As Taro listened to her sweet words and looked upon her lovely face his heart was filled with a great wonder and joy, and he answered her, wondering if it was not all a dream:
"Thank you a thousand times for your kind words. There is nothing I could wish for more than to be permitted to stay here with you in this beautiful land. This is the most wonderful place I have ever seen."
The marriage was celebrated with dazzling splendour, and in the Sea King's realm there was great rejoicing. As soon as the young pair had pledged themselves, music was played, and songs were sung, and fishes with silver scales and golden tails stepped in from the waves and danced. Taro enjoyed himself with all his heart. Never in his whole life had he sat down to such a marvellous feast.
When the feast was over the Princess asked the groom if he would like to walk through the palace and see all there was to be seen. Then the happy fisherman, following his bride, was shown all the wonders of that land where youth and joy go hand in hand and neither time nor age can touch them. The palace was built of coral and adorned with pearls, and the beauties and wonders of the place were so great that the tongue fails to describe them.
But, to Taro, the garden surrounding the palace was more wonderful. Here all of the four different seasons were shown together; the beauties of summer and winter, spring and autumn, were displayed to the wondering visitor at once.
To the east, the plum and cherry trees were in full bloom, the nightingales sang in the pink avenues, and butterflies flitted from flower to flower.
Looking to the south all the trees were green in the fullness of summer, and the day cicada and the night cricket chirruped loudly.
In the west the autumn maples were ablaze like a sunset sky, and the chrysanthemums were bloomed in perfection.
Looking to the north the change made Taro stop and stare, for the ground was silver white with snow, trees and bamboos were also sheathed in snow and the pond was thick with ice.
Each day there were new joys and wonders for Taro, and so great was his happiness three days passed without him even noticing before he thought of everything he had left behind, his home and his elderly parents. When his mind came back to him and he remembered who he was, and that he did not belong in this wonderful land or the Sea King's palace.
He went to his beautiful wife, the Princess Otohime, and bowing low before her he said
"I have been very happy with you for a long time, Otohime-sama and you have been kinder to me than any words can tell. But now I must say good-bye. I must go back to my old parents."
The princess began to weep, and said softly and sadly:
"Is there something wrong with this place, Taro-kun that you wish to leave me so soon? Where is the haste? Stay with me another day only!"
"It is not that I wish to leave you, but I must go and see my old parents. Let me go for one day and I will return to you."
"Then," said the Princess sorrowfully, "there is nothing I can do. I will send you back today to your father and mother, instead of trying to keep you with me one more day. I shall give you this as a token of our love - please take it back with you;" and she presented him a beautiful lacquer box tied about with a silken cord and tassels of red silk.
Taro had received so much from the Princess already that he qualms about taking the gift, and said:
"It does not seem right for me to take yet another gift from you after all you have given me, but because it is your wish I will do so." and then he added: "Tell me what this box is?"
"That is the Tamatebako and it contains something very precious. You must not open this box, whatever happens! If you open it something dreadful will happen to you! Now you must promise me that you will never open this box!"
And Taro promised that he would never open the box whatever happened.
Bidding goodbye to Otohime he went down to the seashore, the Princess and her attendants following him, where he found a large turtle waiting for him.
He quickly mounted the creature's back and was carried away over the shining sea into the East. He looked back to wave his hand to Otohime till at last he could see her no more, and the land of the Sea King and the roofs of the wonderful palace were lost in the distance. Then, with his face turned eagerly towards his home, he looked for the rising of the blue hills on the horizon before him.
At last the turtle carried him into the bay he knew so well, and to the shore from whence he had set out. He stepped on to the shore and looked about him while the turtle rode away back to the Sea King's realm.
The shore is the same and the hills are the same, but the people that he sees walking past him have very different faces to those he had known so well before.
Wondering what it going on he runs towards his old home. Even that looks different, but a house stands on the spot, and he calls out:
"Father, Mother, I have returned!" and he was about to enter, when he saw a strange man coming out.
"Perhaps my parents have moved while I have been away, and have gone somewhere else" was the fisherman's first thought. Somehow he began to feel strangely anxious though he could not tell why.
"Excuse me," said he to the man who was staring at him, "until recently I have lived in this house. My name is Taro Urashima. Do you know where my parents have gone?"
A very bewildered expression came over the face of the man, and, still gazing intently on Taro's face, he said:
"What? You're Taro Urashima?"
"Yes," said the fisherman, "I am Taro Urashima!"
"Ha, ha!" laughed the man, "you should not make such jokes. It is true that there was once man called Taro Urashima who lived in this village, but that was three hundred years ago. He could not possibly be alive now!"
When Taro heard these strange words fear gripped his heart, and said:
"Please, you must not joke with me. I am really Taro Urashima, and I certainly have not lived three hundred years. Till four or five days ago I lived on this spot. Tell me what I want to know."
But the man's face grew graver, as he realised that the strange man in front of him was serious and he answered:
"I don't know if you are the same Taro Urashima. But the only Taro Urashima I have heard of lived three hundred years ago. Perhaps you are his spirit come to revisit your old home?"
"Why do you mock me?" said Taro snapped. "I am no spirit! Can you not see that I am a living man?"
"As I have said the only Taro Urashima I know of lived three hundred years ago; it is even written in the village chronicles." The man insisted.
Taro was lost in bewilderment. He stood looking all around him, confused. The appearance of everything was different to what he remembered before he went away, and an awful feeling of dread came over him. He seemed to be in a strange dream. The few days he had spent in the Sea King's palace beyond the sea had not been days at all: they had been century's, and in that time his parents had died along with all the people he had ever known, and the village had written down his story. There was no use in staying here any longer. He must get back to his beautiful wife beyond the sea.
He made his way back to the beach, but he could not find it alone! Suddenly he remembered the box, the Tamatebako.
"The Princess told me never to open it, that it contained a very precious thing. But now that I have no home, now that I have lost everything that was dear to me here, and my heart grows heavy with sadness, at such a time, if I open the box, perhaps I shall find something that will help me, something that will show me the way back to my beautiful Princess. There is nothing else for me to do now. Yes, yes, I will open the box and look in!"
And so, his heart and mind filled with grief and loneliness consented to this act of disobedience, and he tried to persuade himself that he was doing the right thing in breaking his promise.
Slowly, with shaking hands, he untied the red silk cord, and he lifted the lid of the precious box. Inside he found only a beautiful little purple cloud, which rose out of the box in three soft wisps. For an instant it covered his face and then it floated away like vapour over the sea.
Taro, who had been a strong and handsome youth of 21, suddenly aged. His back doubled over, his hair turned snowy white, his face wrinkled and he fell down dead on the beach, his body withering away as the ravages of time returned to him, aging a full 300 years in an instant.
In the ocean a turtle watched on, tears streaming down its face, as she watched her husband turn to dust and his remains scatter to the wind.
And so the story of Taro Urashima ends. His age which was sealed into the box returned to him and with that his life left him. Or so the legend goes.
But how history is written and what actually happened are often two different things.
Present day Tokyo, Hinata Tea Rooms.
Haruka Urashima was leaning on the counter of her tea shop, a cigarette lazily hanging from her mouth and a board look on her face as she surveyed her empty shop.
Sighing deeply she thought 'I really don't know why I bother to open this place up sometimes.'
Turning around she went to her tea urn and started to brew her favourite blend of tea. 'I hope I get some customers soon or today's going to be a total waste.' Filling up a cup she heard the bell above her door signalling that a customer has entered. Turning around to welcome them she started "Welcome to Hinata Tea house, what can I get yo-." She stopped dead as she recognised the unchanged face which she had not seen in years.
"T-Taro-kun?" she asked, the nearly spent cigarette dropping from her mouth.
The man at the door smiled brightly at the woman. While readjusting the glasses on his nose he said
"Hey, Haru-chan you're looking good. By the way its Kei-taro now."
Ok so this is the other story that i have an ending for (as mentioned in the first chapter notes of kid-keitaro). i know that most of this chapter was just telling the ledgend of taro urashima with only the last part of the fic with anything original and so there isn't much to go on but i hope you liked it.
Other Things:
1. in case i was too subtle the idea of this fic is that the original taro urashima is the keitaro that arrives at hinata sou.
2. the inspieration for this fic is from playing lost odyssey and from Lanky Nathan's fic Future Sight, both i recomend playing/reading.
3. i'm not sure how often i'll be updating this fic as i'm more focused on kid-keitaro and sempai than this so we're just going to have to wait and see.
4. Ryūgū-jō is the name of undersea palace of Ryūjin, the dragon god of the sea.