"Tell me how you came to be a monk, Lord Miroku" said Kagura.
They had been travelling along for a few hours now. The sun was well up in the sky and they had long left the roads behind, flying over thick patches of forest that looked like green carpets rolled out along the side of mountains and valley floors, from up in the air. They were not much higher up than a few feet above the tree tops and had been travelling in silence for the most part, other than to exchange directions regarding their route.
"I am not really a monk, you know" said Miroku and couldn't help but laugh at the expression on Kagura's face as she whipped her head around to look at him.
"Peace, Lady Kagura" said Miroku, holding up his arms and smiling. "I will tell you my story if it will put your mind at ease".
Kagura gave a short nod and turned back to face the front, her body tense and mind alert. The leaf dipped a little as Miroku got into a more comfortable position but they continued to travel at the same speed.
"I never knew who my parents were" began Miroku, in a far-away voice. "One stormy evening during winter, a woman stumbled into the monastery, bleeding heavily. She was pregnant and in labor. Her strength was much gone and she could barely speak due to fatigue. The head monk instructed the others to attend to the woman and make her comfortable."
Kagura turned back despite herself, and looked at Miroku as he recited the story. It seemed to be one he had told many times over. It also had the unmistakable ring of truth.
"As you might have guessed, there were no women in the monastery" he continued. "But the head monk, Hisui, was a master healer, and with the help of the other monks, prepared to help the woman through her ordeal. She had already lost a lot of blood and it seemed like she had escaped from some sort of attack. There was a huge slash across her chest that was bleeding sluggishly and many smaller cuts and scrapes all over her body. It seemed to be providence that she had not already succumbed to death. Examining her, Hisui knew it had merely been delayed. Perhaps she had fought on for her baby's sake. Soon, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy and in the next hour, was gone from this world. The monks had no idea who the woman was, or what or who had attacked her and why. They certainly did not know what to do with the newborn child. Hisui set out the next morning towards the village near the monastery where they traded their goods. On reaching the village, he enquired about the woman, but no one knew of her. The headman requested that the baby be left with his family; however, Hisui did not agree to this. Instead, he asked that a couple of women be sent to the monastery for a few months to look after the small baby, until such time as he could fend for himself. The headman readily agreed to this. He had not actually wanted the responsibility of another mouth to feed and had only offered because he felt it was his duty. But now, he sent his own grandson's wet nurse and another woman to the monastery, to look after the orphaned child. As Hisui was returning to the monastery with the women, they met a few traders coming down the valley. From them, they heard of a distant settlement of humans that had been decimated by a demon attack. It had not even been a village proper, but a collection of mud huts. The hamlet had been at the other end of the valley, and Hisui surmised that the woman had probably been trying to reach the other village for help, but in the darkness and being wracked with pain both from her wound and her labor, had probably got turned around and ended up at the monastery instead."
"And that baby boy was you" concluded Kagura.
"Yes" said Miroku and sighed deeply. "I do not know who my parents were, other than that they were humble folk. The monks took me in and raised me as their own. I never knew any lack. They offered me food and shelter, and when I grew older, they offered me their knowledge. In return, they asked for nothing, not even that I become one of them. There was a time when I thought of taking the cloth and becoming a monk in fact, but Hisui denied my request. He told me that, if once I had gone out into the real world and still wanted to become a monk, he would agree. And so, I waited for an opportunity. When the old king died and messengers went forth across the kingdom in search of talented young people to join new posts under the new queen, I decided to set out for Fountain City."
"So, you have been living in the city for the past three years?" asked Kagura
"Yes" said Miroku. "Of course, as soon as I saw all the beautiful ladies flitting about the city and the castle, I knew I could never become a celibate monk" he chuckled a bit sheepishly.
Kagura glanced at him and gave a small smile.
"But most people address you as Monk anyway" she said.
"I think it must be because unless I am making an official visit to the queen or the court, I tend to wear my old monk's robes" he replied. "Although I know it befuddles many people, it makes me comfortable, like I'm carrying around a piece of my home even when I am far away from it, in the midst of strangers".
"Does the queen know that you are not a real monk?" asked Kagura
"Oh yes" chuckled Miroku. "She interviewed me before placing me as an apprentice under the old librarian, remember?"
"Hmm…yes, I had forgotten that. How often do you go back to the monastery?" she asked.
Suddenly, Miroku looked melancholy. "I have been back only once."
"Why?" demanded Kagura. "Surely, Rin is not such a hard task master that she would deny you a few days reprieve to visit your home".
"I know" said Miroku in a sad voice. "I returned after I had been living in the city for just eight months. I had received word that Hisui, practically my father for all intents and purposes, was deathly ill. I hurried south, but it was too late. Despite his illness, when he received word that the village was under demon attack, he set forth with the other monks to try and help them. He was killed brutally in that attack. Many monks also lost their lives. But the villagers survived."
"Oh" Kagura did not know what to say. Demon attacks, usually by lower-order demons who were more animalistic in their nature, were not very common, but not unheard of either. In and around the city, such attacks did not occur with the presence of the army so nearby. Which probably had a lot to do with the fact that while city people tended to view demons as dangerous, but they were not prejudiced against them. The same could not be said for people living in the countryside, far away from the queen's army and its several demon soldiers who fought for justice.
"Now, the monastery has just three monks. There used to be nearly twenty" said Miroku
"And you have never been back since?" Kagura asked gently. But Miroku did not reply, and she did not press for an answer. After all, it was not difficult to understand why he had not returned all these years. She looked at his deep purple robes, clothes she had never seen him wear before – not surprising since she had never seen him in anything but an official capacity. Being an intensely private person, she had never before bothered to find out anything personal about any of the council members other than Rin whom she considered her sister.
"Does anyone at the monastery know that we are coming?" Kagura inquired after some time.
"Well, I did send out a messenger yesterday" mused Miroku "However, since you took over our travel plans, there is every possibility we might arrive before him". He looked unperturbed at the thought. Kagura had the feeling that he was looking forward to causing a minor havoc among the cloistered monks.
"Would that cause any issue?" asked Kagura "After all, you are bringing a woman with you".
"Oh no, that would not faze them" laughed Miroku "The monastery has always been welcoming of travelers".
"Even demons?"
"Well…" Miroku hesitated "Demons do not usually seek shelter from human dwellings, do they? So, this might be a first. But don't worry. The present head monk, Mushin used to be one of my mentors who trained me in using spiritual magic. I am sure he would welcome you".
Kagura nodded and turned back to face the front again. She trusted Miroku. She was clear at least on that front. Being a demon and a witch, she could always detect darkness in others. Miroku had none. While the sudden loss of her powers had made her question her instincts, now that she was once again doing something constructive in getting it back, her self-confidence was asserting itself.
"The Council is adjourned" said the queen as she stood up at the head of the table. The other council members followed suit and after a bow, filed out of the chamber towards their own offices and the myriad duties that awaited them. Rin watched them go with a calm façade and turned her head to look at the scowling dog demon by her side.
"Are you not leaving, Lord Sesshomaru?"
Glittering gold eyes turned to survey her from head to foot.
"Am I disturbing you?" he asked in a voice that was a soft purr.
Rin frowned and turned to face him fully. "Only mildly. Would that deter you?"
"Not really" replied he, with a small smile.
"Humph!" sniffing disdainfully, Rin gathered the sweeping train of her pale blue kimono and stalked out of the room towards her office. If truth be told, she had been feeling somewhat off-balance without Kagura by her side. But while having Sesshomaru around at beck and call was certainly a relief, it also meant suffering a constant abrading of her senses and putting up with his less-than-brilliant conversations.
'I should have known he would take to dogging my footsteps' thought Rin with a mental scowl. Outwardly, she maintained a serene façade and graciously returned the bows of the various courtiers and soldiers she met as she glided along the corridor with the Ice Prince at her side.
The castle was a sprawling structure built completely of stone, with four floors and extended wings on either side of the central block that enclosed a courtyard with a large fountain in the middle. It was a very old structure believed to have been built several decades before the Great War with the demons. In fact, there was a legend that it had been built by a powerful demoness for her mortal lover. While this had never been proved, it was certainly agreed by all experts that the castle was from an age that was now lost to both human and demon memory. The structure had largely passed unscathed during the terrible war and when the descendants of Midoriko took it as their palace of residence and built Fountain City around it, not much structural changes were made. The corridors were wide and airy, and lined with thick rugs and exotic carpets. The deep windows provided a pleasing view of the sculpted gardens around the palace and its many fountains and walk-ways.
The ground floor of the central block contained offices of ministers and several other officials and secretaries. The throne room was on the first floor where the queen met with the people as well as with court officials. Her public office was a couple of doors down the throne room. The Council members met in one of the rooms beyond the throne room, in the opposite direction of the queen's office. The second floor mainly consisted of a large banquet room where the queen entertained visitors, and offices of several bureaucrats and under-secretaries. The entire top floor was taken up by the royal library. It had no equal in the kingdom, every monarch since the first having seen to adding to its collection. The library also housed several beautiful paintings and sculptures, masterpieces of renowned artists from all over the kingdom, both human and demon.
Most of the army was housed in the barrack rooms behind the east wing with training grounds beyond it leading up to the wall around the castle. While most top army officials kept private residences in the First or Second Circles, all had offices in the east wing. The ground floor of the east wing was the general mess of the castle with a separate cordoned-off area reserved for army commanders and ministers. Ordinary soldiers and other civil servants ate in the mess which offered food for both humans and demons. Although demons preferred to hunt for their food, it was tradition in the castle that all demons employed by the monarch take part of the food prepared at the castle kitchens. Initially, it had been done to lessen the cultural gap and mutual distrust between the two species. But nowadays, it was followed more for convenience than anything else.
The queen's private residential apartments were along the second floor of the west wing while the rooms for family members were situated along the first floor. The second floor also contained a balcony that ran outside it facing the inner courtyard. The queen came out on this balcony on special occasions to the greet the people, both the nobility and the common folk, gathered in the courtyard below, and to give out special declarations and to inaugurate festivities. (The east wing also had a similar balcony along the second floor but it was not used and remained closed most of the time.) The third floor housed the private rooms of the queen including a private dojo, an elaborate bathing chamber, a dining room as well as her private office. The ground floor of the west wing included a huge performance room with brilliant acoustics where the queen was entertained by artisans, musicians, dancers and other performers. Rin was a patron of arts and music, and encouraged people from all over the kingdom to come and display their talents before her. This practice which had been discouraged during her father's reign, had received fresh revival on her ascension to the throne. The kitchens were situated at the back of the west wing, at the ground floor. Both the wings and the central block were all interconnected with several corridors and sweeping staircases.
"What do you make of the Council's reaction to Kagura's absence?" asked Rin.
On reaching her office, she had dismissed both her personal assistant Koharu and her private secretary Takeru on errands before turning to survey the majestic demon who had appropriated an armchair in the sitting area near a book case where she kept her favorite reading materials.
"Hn"
"I lose track of the times I have said this, but can you not say something other than that?" demanded Rin exasperated.
Sesshomaru's lips twitched in response to her ire as he looked at the queen once before returning to contemplate the empty fire place on his left.
"Lord Hiten was pleased" he replied. "All others were neutral. Other than you, I believe only Prime Minister Kaede was concerned for the seer".
"Yes, I suppose that was to be expected" scowled Rin as she took to pacing in front of her massive desk. "Lord Hiten never liked Kagura, although I fail to see the reason for his antagonism".
"Jealousy" said Sesshomaru succinctly.
"What is there to be jealous about?" said Rin as she turned to him in a bewildered manner. "Both of them occupy the same level of superiority in state matters. Both are more or less evenly matched in powers. I don't understand".
"Kagura has something Hiten will never possess" said Sesshomaru.
"What's that?"
"Your love and trust" he replied.
"But I do trust him!" said Rin "I was the one who appointed him to the Council, wasn't I?"
"Do you, truly?" said Sesshomaru as he suddenly leaned forward and pierced her with his golden gaze.
"Well…" Rin faltered slightly under that ruthless gaze. "Kagura is my sister. I love her unconditionally. But that does not mean I do not trust the other Council members. I must, if I am to govern the kingdom properly".
Sesshomaru leaned back and adopted a negligent pose, never betraying the internal turmoil wrecked by his demon as he heard his mate declare her unconditional love for another, even if that happened to be her sister. His demon wanted that love for himself, and if he was truthful, so did he - after all, his demon was only a different facet of his own personality. However, this was not the time or place to act upon his instincts. Other concerns had to come first. Like the glee he had noted in Hiten's eyes. He had never completely liked or trusted Hiten, on a personal level. He was a superb soldier and a valuable ally for the queen. But that was not trust.
"You are bound by the burdens of your position, Your Majesty" said Sesshomaru "You cannot run the kingdom without trusting at least a few people. But if you had been free of your burden, would you have trusted him?"
Rin looked at him steadily.
"No" she replied finally.
"Neither would I" said Sesshomaru, easing back thoughtfully. "In the current circumstances, it would behoove you to keep your counsels to yourself and divulge them only to those whom you would trust had you not been Queen".
The sun was descending in the sky when Miroku gave a final direction to Kagura, to direct her leaf through the pass among the towering snow-topped peaks of the Akaishi Mountain Range towards the ancient Buddhist monastery of Bodhidera. The monastery was a sprawling structure of timber and stone, backed up against a craggy cliff. On the other three sides, it was surrounded by a thick stone wall. The monastery had only one entrance, an elaborate gate typical of other Buddhist monasteries dotted around the kingdom. The double-doors topped with a small roof were made of thick wood studded with iron bolts. There was a long low building, built in the traditional style, surrounded by several smaller outbuildings. Immediately inside the gate, towards the left, there was a simple shrine dedicated to Buddha where people from the nearby village and other travelers also came to pay homage. Several tall trees dotted the site, many of them quite ancient. There was a slightly wooded area at the back of the monastery towards the cliff surface.
Kagura gently steered the leaf to the ground in front of the gate. Miroku got to his feet, and gathering his bags, stumbled on to the ground a bit unsteadily, his legs having cramped during the long journey (other than a short break for lunch, the two had been flying on the leaf steadily since before dawn). Kagura shook out her cloak and settled it comfortably on her shoulders. A wave of her hand returned the leaf to its original size which she placed once again in her hair, twisted about her bun. Miroku walked up and down a few steps to get the feeling back in his legs before taking a huge breath and pushing open the doors of the gate to his childhood home.
"That's funny" said Miroku "The gate is locked"
"Maybe nobody is home?" mused Kagura, only half-joking.
"Don't be silly" said Miroku mildly panicking. "This is a Buddhist monastery. It is always open, to everyone".
"Maybe they changed the rules" said Kagura placatingly. "Why don't you knock?"
Grumbling to himself, Miroku raised his hand and pounded on the door. Dark was encroaching the road in front of the monastery (which was little more than a dirt track), the sun's rays having long disappeared behind the towering mountains surrounding Bodhidera. Already, there was a chill to the air heralding the approach of winter. Kagura peered around thoughtfully, taking in the surrounding forest into which the road disappeared. The forest itself disappeared from view beyond a turn of the mountain. The monastery seemed to have been built into a deep hollow scooped out on the side of the mountain, probably for protection both from the elements and from encroaching demons and warlords. The wall surrounding Bodhidera seemed to be in good repair – in fact, on looking closely, Kagura thought she detected recent repair-work among the ageing stone façade of the structure.
Miroku pounded on the door again and tried to quell his rising anxiety. A Buddhist monastery was known for always keeping its doors open at all hours so that anyone in need of shelter may take refuge underneath its roofs. What on earth could have happened to change this most basic aspect of his childhood home? He was contemplating asking Kagura to get out her leaf again so that they could fly over the walls when he noticed a glimmer of light shining through the crack between the two doors.
"Mushin?" yelled Miroku pressing his face close to the join between the doors. "Mushin, open the doors. It's me, Miroku"
Kagura walked to stand discreetly behind Miroku huddled in front of the door. They heard a strange jingle sound coming from the other side of the door, followed by muttering.
"Mushin, what is going on?" yelled Miroku once again, pounding on the door for effect. "Open the door!"
"Prove it!" came a strong disembodied voice from beyond the closed gate.
"What?" exclaimed Miroku and turned to look at Kagura to see if she too had heard the strange demand. The witch merely looked at him and shrugged.
"Prove that you are Miroku!" returned the voice, a command this time.
"What on earth…?" began Miroku, in an outraged voice. "How am I supposed to prove that I'm me? And anyway, this whole thing is ridiculous! Where is Mushin?"
Silence was his only reply. Frustrated, Miroku pounded on the door again. Full dark had fallen, and while he knew the area around these mountains like the back of his hand, he also knew that it was dangerous to wander about in the dark. The forest was full of wild beasts and several low-grade demons who could make your life very difficult.
"Perhaps we should have stuck to your travel arrangements" said Kagura "It looks like your messenger has not reached here yet, and we could have used the introduction."
But Miroku did not appear to have heard her. He was pounding on the door continuously and looked deranged with panic, and even fear.
Suddenly, they heard huge bolts being drawn back and the doors were eased open.
Miroku was silhouetted in the glare of two lanterns held aloft by two monks, his hand still raised to knock and his hair falling messily about his face. Kagura let down the hood of her cloak and took a closer step towards Miroku. She saw both the monks stiffen and take a step backwards as they registered her presence. The older among the two raised a long rod topped with metal rings in a defensive posture while the younger stepped back to give the other more room to maneuver, taking the lantern from him.
"No, stop" began Miroku hoarsely and stepped in front of Kagura. The old monk seemed to hesitate before peering thoughtfully at his face. However, he did not lower his strange weapon and continued to remain in a defensive posture.
"Mushin, it's me, Miroku" said Miroku "Surely, I am not forgotten by my own master!"
"Miroku…" sighed the old monk "I was not sure…and I dare not take chances anymore"
With that enigmatic statement, he lowered his weapon and leaned on it heavily.
"Mushin!" exclaimed Miroku as he sprang forward to catch the tottering old man. "What happened? Are you alright?"
"I…am fine, my boy" said Mushin, now leaning on Miroku's arm. He was short and fat with bushy white eyebrows that protruded out of his face underneath tired eyes and a thick white moustache. The top of his bald head came a little above Miroku's elbow who was now peering into the old wrinkled face in escalating concern. Miroku looked at the younger monk who was standing a little beyond the gate holding aloft two lanterns. He now came forward and glanced at Kagura, still standing outside the gate.
"You brought a demon?"
The question was asked in a neutral voice but Miroku could not help stiffening at the implication. He turned to beckon Kagura inside and said to Mushin, "She may be a demon but is like a sister to our queen. We came here seeking help."
"The queen's sister, is it?" muttered Mushin. "That is of no matter".
He turned to look at Kagura and once again taking up his rod-like weapon, let go of Miroku's hand and walked forward, closer to where the wind demon stood silent and still outside the gate. Her red eyes gleamed in the glow of the lanterns but the rest of her figure blended in with the darkness of the forest behind her, the moon still hours away from rising.
"Why have you come here?" asked Mushin
"I come seeking refuge and your wisdom, Monk" returned Kagura in a regal voice.
"And why should I trust you?" asked Mushin
"Because I have no reason to harm you or yours" said Kagura
"Mushin, please" implored Miroku while the younger monk stayed silent as a wraith behind him. "She is my friend. She came here on my invitation, to seek the wisdom of Bodhidera. Since when have we turned aside those seeking shelter, closing our doors against their pleas?"
"Since the demon attacks escalated and made living in these parts a pure misery" replied Mushin
"What! Demon attacks?" exclaimed Miroku while Kagura stiffened.
"You have been gone too long, my boy" sighed Mushin as he turned to address his erstwhile pupil. "We could have used your help".
"But…" began Miroku.
Mushin, however, raised a hand and stayed his words. "I know why you left, and I know why you stayed away. You are here now, hale and whole, and that is all that matters".
Turning once more to face Kagura he asked, "Forgive this old monk his impertinence, my lady. However, these are turbulent times and one dare not show mercy or kindness to strangers for fear of one's own safety".
Kagura inclined her head and said, "Kindly forgive my impertinence in assuming your hospitality. For what it is worth, I give you my word of honor that I mean you or yours no harm".
"Then tell me, Lady, what is your name so that I may bid you enter?" said Mushin
"The Queen Mother named me Kagura" said she "But I know not what my own mother may have called me".
"I see" said Mushin as he stroked his moustache, a habit of his when contemplating something interesting or curious. "Well, I suppose I must now let you in. After all, I can't have our reputation as Buddhist monks slandered at court" he declared with a twinkle.
Mushin raised his staff and closing his eyes, muttered a few words under his breath. A wind seemed to come out of nowhere and set the metal rings on his staff jingling. The air in front of Kagura seemed to shimmer as she stepped through the doorway and inside the monastery proper.
"There is a ward around the monastery now?" asked Miroku in a bewildered voice.
"Indeed, my boy" sighed the old monk. "There are several changes since your last visit." He shook his old head in regret for more peaceful times. "Come inside and bring your fair companion. We shall discuss all matters after some repast."
