Chapter 3: The Dragon
The Celestial Plain was very beautiful, and much smaller than he had imagined. It took them almost no time at all to reach the center of the Plain, where the Celestials lived alongside their gods.
Several Celestials stopped their work to gape and stare at him as they passed. Waka tried to suppress the urge to stare back and ignored them for the most part, following swiftly after Tachigami with his head high as if he were a frequent guest. The Celestials. He had seen pictures of them in the Moon Tribe books and paintings before, but in reality they were much more elegant. From a glimpse or two, he noticed their hair was short and wavy, unlike the long, straight hair of the Moon Tribe. They were small and slender, with delicate wings sprouting from behind their heads, and they wore simple, white garb. Perhaps the only thing they had in common was the color of their hair, but even that was a strained comparison—the Celestial's hair was the pale blonde of sunlight, while Waka's was the deep, hard color of gold. A precious metal, commonly enough mined on the moon. He was sure there were no such metals to be found here, but the air was sweet with the smell of flowers and grass and things that lived, and it was very warm. He never realized how cold the palace on the moon had been before arriving here.
Tachigami led him past the largest tree he had ever seen, blooming magnificently over the Plains, and on toward the mountains in the west. As they approached their destination, Waka saw a giant cave yawning at the entrance.
This is where us Brush Gods live, Tachigami explained. Let me show you around.
Waka expected the cave to be dark, but as soon as he walked inside he didn't seem to be standing in a cave. A long, wide path stretched out not too far into the mountain, leading into a round courtyard in the center. Small trees wound around each other, forming the entryways of little rooms carved out of the stone all along the path. Waka peered inside one as they passed, surprised at how much sunlight streamed into the room from the window carved out of the face of the mountain.
Around the courtyard were a couple of other doorways, which Tachigmai explained led to the kitchens.
Yumigami should be inside, he said, gesturing with his head that Waka should enter first.
A rabbit was pounding mochi with its back turned, gripping a red mallet with its ears and jumping slightly as the mallet swung forcefully down on the sticky substance. Whack! Quickly, before the mallet swung back around, the rabbit used one powdered ear to flip the mochi over. Shwip. Whack! Shwip. Whack!
Waka was mesmerized. Tachigami gave a small cough.
Yumigami.
Whack! The rabbit let the mallet remain in the mortar, and began tetchily, Tachigami, how many times have I warned you not to interrupt me while I'm making mochi? She turned around, scowling, and then her eyes widened when she saw Waka there.
Moon Tribesman, she greeted cautiously, nodding her head slightly. She glared down at Tachigami. This could have waited, you know.
No, it couldn't, Tachigami replied. I had to introduce him to you first. Of all the brush gods, you are the closest to the moon. Amaterasu has given consent for him to remain here, and I need your help convincing the others.
"Bonjour, Madam Rabbit," said Waka, feeling the time was right to introduce himself. "I am Waka, ambassador of the moon."
I am Yumigami, the rabbit said, putting down her mallet and shaking the powder off her ears. Goddess of the brush technique, Crescent.
There was a loud thump from behind them, as a sheep with a gourd strapped to its back staggered into the kitchens.
Yumiiiiiii~ the sheep slurred. My gourd is empty, fill it with more sake pleeeeaaase~
The sheep hiccupped loudly.
Kasugami, this is no time to be drunk! Yumigami scolded. Waka of the Moon Tribe is here as our guest, show a little decency, would you?
Oh my! Kasugami blinked and swayed on her feet. She grinned at him and leaned forward. Moon Tribesman, have you ever had some of my sake?
"I can't say I've had the pleasure, Madam Sheep," he said. Tachigami snorted.
Flower-boy, he muttered.
"It is a thing we call survival in the Moon courts, my dear Tachigami."
Kasugami giggled. So polite, for a Moon Tribesman.
Yumigami, let's introduce him to the others, Tachigami said, ignoring the drunken sheep. Yomigami and Gekigami will be the hardest to convince, considering how stubborn they are.
Ooh, I'm coming too! Kasugami giggled, staggering after them.
They didn't have to go far. The giant snake Waka had met before floated in the courtyard outside the kitchens, along with what Waka assumed were the rest of the brush gods. In addition to the floating snake, there were a cat, a tiger, a horse, a phoenix, a boar, three monkeys, a bull, and another snake—a small one—curled tightly into a water jar. Tachigami squeaked with surprise.
Y-Yomigami!
Tachigami, the snake rumbled. Why have you brought the cursed Moon Tribesman here?
It was Amaterasu's will, Yomigami, Yumigami cut in.
"I apologize for the intrusion, Monsieur Snake," Waka said. "Tachigami was kind enough to offer to introduce me to all of you, but it seems you have made it to us first."
Yomigami's eyes narrowed, and he said icily, I am a dragon, Moon Tribesman, and I will thank you not to forget it.
Yikes, he's being difficult, Waka winced, and said to the dragon, "I apologize for the misunderstanding. You see, there are no dragons on the moon that I could compare to." Just one very big snake.
What's your purpose here, Moon Tribesman? called the phoenix from the back, smoking on a pipe.
"I come on a mission of peace," he said. "I was sent by Princess Kaguya, the fifth reigning princess on the moon. I know it has been a long time since the gods and Celestials of the Plain have lived with the members of the Moon Tribe, but I assure you I am here simply for research purposes and have no intention of harming the Celestials or getting in the way of your business."
He made no mention of the fact that the demon gods of the moon were stirring, or that their people were currently engaged in civil war. The gods accepted his explanation reluctantly, still a little suspicious of his motives. But he had Amaterasu on his side, and they knew better than to challenge her decisions.
One by one, the brush gods vacated the area, all except Yomigami.
I don't trust you, Moon Tribesman, he said.
"I am aware of that," Waka replied cheerfully.
Huh, Yomigami scowled. I am the oldest of the brush gods, besides Amaterasu, origin of all that is good and mother to us all. She may have forgiven your people, Moon Tribesman, but remember this—I have a long memory, and there is nothing I forget.
The snake—dragon, Waka reminded himself—gracefully turned tail and left, his scroll swishing down the hall.