The Emperor's Obsession


Emperor Go-Sadachi sat in a cross-legged position, poised in front of a Buddha idol in his private study. He actually started to believe less in Buddha, though he still did prayers to ensure some form of protection after one of the assassination attempts. At least it pleased the priests and monks who could be heard chanting to the dull tolling of great bronze bells.

He sighed. A candle flickered warily, throwing its shaking light onto a stack of papers written with plans, lists, and the like, usual things for a monarch. However, these were not complaint letters from annoying lords or financial accounts from the ministers. It was a stack of plans for immortality. Chinese alchemy just wasn't doing it for him, the mercury pills having done little good. His frequent encounters with palace courtesans or concubines did not help, in the slightest. An old emperor was the last thing he had in mind, and it seemed to the palace, and even occasionally to himself, that he was becoming obsessed.

A sliding door shifted, revealing a servant. "Your Majesty, the priest Kōbuchi."

"Send him in."

Bowing, the servant slid back the other door, revealing a red-and-yellow clad man, not too old, small but cunning eyes, and of course, a shaved head. He bowed in respect to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, have any of the recommended remedies done you any good?" He squinted slightly; the emperor had...wrinkles? But ever so small, and he better not bring it up. The air suddenly became tense, and the emperor could hardly contain his fury as he send the servant away. The dam broke just as the door slid shut.

"I HIRED YOU TO FIND ME REMEDY FOR OLD AGE, FOR IMMORTALITY, AND THIS...THIS IS THE RESULT OF WHAT YOU GAVE ME?!"

The priest shrank not an inch, his demeanor calm and collected.

"I-I...I hired you, from the temple, from the other priests who gave you no heed, and you repay my kindness with this rubbish?! Where did you get all this?"

"From China, Your Majesty. My friends recommended these to me, and thus I in turn have recommended such to Your Majesty."

"It does not work," he grumbled.

The priest sighed, then chuckled. Go-Sadachi looked up at the seemingly sardonic priest. But then even many of the priests were like this with their sage wisdom, if they had any wisdom at all.

"I have found a remedy even better...one that surpasses all your and my expectations, one surely better than the recipes of China or India." The emperor's eyes and ears perked.

The priest clasped his hands in a prayerful fashion. "The blood of a wolf, my Lord. But not just any wolf, it must be the sons of the great Moro-no-Kimi, who was killed by your actions in the great and sacred forest. Their blood will provide the needed remedy."

Two cups clinked as the emperor set them on a dainty tray, one for him and the other for the priest. Neither said anything as the monarch poured the sake for both.

"And how do you suppose to obtain their blood? What, do you want me to start another war against that Forest where so many have died? Asano would never go back there."

"The Forest, though not inhabited by the Shishigami, still retains some of its power. That is why the sons of Moro have the vitality that you desire."

"But Lord Asano suffered serious losses when I sent him there. What makes you think he would take a risk again, especially when this civil war is still troubling our land?"

"Money." Kōbuchi smiled.

The monarch's face turned to deep thought for a moment. It was true, money was precious in this time, as the war was still devastating the land and many lords were actually poor. He smiled.

"Send for Lord Asano."