Act 6: A Sorrowful Memory
Kisuke jumped from tree branch to tree branch, before finally landing on the ground. He heard a quiet thump next to him. He looked over to see Kongiku behind him. She looked very concerned.
"We have to find Oboro!" she said. He nodded in agreement. "Here, follow me, Kisuke!" She ran ahead on her four feet, picking up dust among the dirt path. He dashed behind the kitsune, carrying his Muramasa and Oboro's knapsack with him.
"Where's Yuzuruha?" Kisuke asked as they made their way quickly through the woods away from Narukami Castle.
"She told me to go ahead," Kongiku responded between breaths. "She's dealing with Yukinojyo right now."
"Can you track Oboro?" Kisuke asked the kitsune. The little fox nodded. "Good, I'll follow you." His feet crunched under the grass as he ran and he could barely catch the smells of the bamboo trees. Now is not the time for sight-seeing! He thought. I hope Oboro didn't break anything.
It was odd to him; was he starting to like Oboro? She has Torahime's eyes and hair... He licked his lips. No, her heart belongs to another. All I can do is comfort her.
Finally, they reached a clearing with a lake where a young lady in a white kimono was standing. Well, she wasn't standing, but rather bent over with her hands on her knees, and obviously catching her breath. She probably heard Kisuke and Kongiku approaching for she stood up straight and spun around. Her eyes flashed with anger.
"Oboro!" Kongiku said happily. "Don't worry, it's just us!"
She blinked. "Kiku? You can talk?" she asked the fox.
"Err..." Kongiku paused. "Yes... I can talk now. Thanks to Yuzuruha. It's a long story... and I should best not tell it to you because it's a part of your past and I think your mind is..."
"It's fine," Oboro said curtly. "I hate that Yukinojyo. Forcing me to marry and then beating me like that." She scowled. "I'm not his wife anymore." She tore off the white kimono. Kisuke tried to cover his eyes, but he realized that she was still wearing the peach kimono underneath.
He watched as she ripped the marriage kimono apart with her bare hands, each tear more vicious than the last until it was nothing but shreds. She took the marriage ornaments in her hair and tossed them onto the ground. Then, she stomped on them, breaking them into pieces.
Kisuke swallowed; he had never seen Oboro so angry before. Perhaps Jinkuro did change something in her? She used to be timid and relaxed.
After breaking everything related to her marriage, Oboro took in deep breaths, clenching her fists. Slowly, her fists uncurled into hands and her expression became relaxed and calm.
He waited for a moment and then decided to speak. "You're still wearing that peach kimono," Kisuke noted. He shrugged his arms. "I don't understand, don't you want to be completely severed from Yukinojyo?"
"I am supposedly Princess Momohime," Oboro said, but then her face grew sad. "But I don't want to be her. I never asked to be a princess, and I never asked for my family to dead; murdered in a political plot against the Narukami." She buried her face in her hands. "Why am I her?"
"Oboro..." Kisuke frowned, and let out a sigh. "You need to accept who you really are. You can't change who you are, no matter what. Sure, you can change your behavior and habits, but your personal identity is something you cannot change."
She looked at Kisuke as if he was wrong. "I wish I was someone else," she said, turning away from him.
"I know, you don't want to be someone who suffered so much pain," he said, walking up to her. "But... didn't you say that you needed to find out your identity? Before you went into the castle, you were determined to discover your identity. And now you have. Are you going to run from it?"
Oboro didn't answer him, instead she stared off into the forest. Kisuke could see tears in her eyes. After several moments, she spoke, "you're right. I wanted to know who I was... and now I have to accept that. Besides," she added, turning to face Kisuke. I promised my grandparents—even though they are not related to me—that I would find my identity. I am princess Momohime. Call me 'Momohime' from now on."
"Of course I will," Kisuke said with a nod. She smiled, looking more content. "I guess you're wearing that peach kimono and the hair accessories because they are... yours. So, you've cut yourself off from Yukinojyo."
"Yes, I have by destroying everything related to that awful marriage. Now, I'm free of him," she said, letting out a sigh of satisfaction. "But..." Her face shifted into a sad expression. "I'm scared..."
"Scared? Why?" Kisuke asked, looking at her, feeling confused. "What are you scared of, Obo—I mean, Momohime?"
"I'm scared of Jinkuro," she said after several moments.
Kisuke felt like he had been struck by a dagger. Yes, he hadn't understood why she desired Jinkuro, but he was confounded by Momohime's words. "Why?" he asked.
"Because of what Yukinojyo said," Momohime responded, exhaling. She rubbed her arms and shivered. "He told me about all the horrible things Jinkuro did... by himself and using my body. Sure, I shouldn't believe him, but... I recalled so many memories of Jinkuro and all of them were foul." She began to cry. "Why would I seek such an awful man? He really is a demon like the dragon god said."
"No."
"Huh?" Momohime looked at Kisuke in surprise. Her eyes were still watery. "What do you mean?"
"Jinkuro wasn't always evil," Kisuke said with a calm voice. Momohime stared at him; and he nodded at her. "From what Yuzuruha told me; he started as a vile monstrous person, his hardened heart was softened. Softened by you."
"H-how?" Momohime asked. "I... I softened his heart?"
"It's true," Kongiku interjected. "Jinkuro... was my master." Momohime's eyes widened and she was now staring at the fox. "I was jealous of his growing affections toward you, but then I realized... I could not stop him. So, I wanted to help you, Momohime. That's why I followed you when you left your grandparents."
Kisuke nodded. "Here, let me explain, I hope your mind can handle this, but he showed his love for you... on Mount Kongo. I was too stubborn to believe it... but now it makes sense." he said.
"Why?" Momohime asked.
"Because... I can see your emotions toward him," Kisuke said. "Regardless... you need to know what happened at Mount Kongo."
"What happened?"
"Your body was severely wounded after I made a final strike on your body," Kisuke explained. He felt apprehensive—Momohime had just been very angry, would she become angry at him, too? "I barely survived, but Yuzuruha told me how you survived while you away were at Narukami Castle of late.
"Jinkuro used a Spirit Fusion," he said, gesturing with his hands. He noticed Momohime's confused expression. "A Spirit Fusion is where two souls fuse together to save a body. The one who performs the Spirit Fusion becomes one with the other. And the one who it is performed upon loses their memory.
"This happened to me when I was dying once. I know the Oboro Style because the spirit of Oboroya Senjyu came to me and performed a Spirit Fusion to save my life. I lost my memory for a time, though it seems it wasn't severe as your amnesia."
"Yes," Kongiku chimed in. "My master cared about you, Momohime, so much that he wanted you to live."
Tears streamed down Momohime's face. She said nothing, and Kisuke was assuming that she was recalling the events on Mount Kongo.
-S-
Momohime was stunned by Kiku and Kisuke's words. Jinkuro... loved her? She turned toward the lake and looked at her reflection. She knelt down and pondered what had happened on Mount Kongo.
Then, a flood of memories returned to her. She saw him—Jinkuro—in her body, kneeling on the ground with a deep wound in his chest. Or rather... her body's chest.
"Oh no! What do I do? Be strong...! Please don't die, Jinkuro!"
"My life is over, Momohime. This wound is far too deep to be healed."
"Please! You must live! Please... live for my sake."
"I'm sorry. I cannot bare to lose your body because of me. Hm... a Spirit Fusion... interesting. Momohime... with the last of my strength, I will save your soul and body. Just... remember... my... my power... Oboro..."
"Jinkuro, no!"
There was a flash of light from her body and then she remembered nothing more of that memory.
Then, another memory came to her mind. The spirit of a large obese man—the same who had betrayed her family—stood before them as she and Jinkuro journeyed through Hell.
"Ah... Shikami Danyjo... I see the authorities took care of you. Momohime will be pleased."
"Curse you, Jinkuro!"
Another image: she was in the belly of a demon with Jinkuro. But Jinkuro was a soul before her, and had not taken her body.
"Are you all right, Jinkuro?"
"Yes... thank you. Let me take your body so we can get out of this mess!"
"Very well. Ugh!"
"That was very clever of you. Well done, Momohime, it seems you are wiser than I thought."
"Thank you, Jinkuro."
Her tears dropped into the lake below, joining it as part of its water. She covered her face, and wept. "Jinkuro..." Momohime whispered. "He did those things for me... and I did something for him. No...!"
She sobbed, letting her hands grow wet with her tears. Momohime's heart was overwhelmed by the love Jinkuro must have shown her, because it broke.
"Oh, Jinkuro... it's no wonder I've been seeking you so long," she mourned. "You loved me... and... I love you... but how... do I...?" She lifted her eyes to the skies, and they were darkened with clouds.
"Everything becomes clear with Jinkuro, yet when will the skies clear?"
The cloaked man again. How had he predicted all of this? It didn't matter now. Jinkuro was gone, and Momohime could not think of way to restore her beloved.
"Momohime?" Kisuke's voice came from behind her. "You remembered... didn't you?"
"Yes!" she wailed. "I remembered. I remembered everything he did for me, and... and I understand why I sought him. But he's gone now, Kisuke! Gone! I'll never see him again, never talk to him again. Never... be able... to feel his love again." Momohime buried her hands in her face, and continued to cry.
"No!" Kisuke stomped on the grass next to her, startling her. She looked up to see him with his teeth grinding, and his fists clenched. "I won't allow it!"
"What do you mean?"
"I was in love with your sister Torahime." Kisuke said with quiet voice. He looked at her and knelt down. "I loved her more than anything, but I lost her in that plot to destroy your family. You won't lose him. No, I won't allow it, you will not lose him like I lost Torahime. We'll find a way to restore him. I promise."
Momohime smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you, Kisuke," she said, bathing his shoulder with her tears. She pulled back and frowned. "But how are we going to restore Jinkuro?"
"I... that I do not know," Kisuke said, looking away from her. "Maybe Yuzuruha has an idea."
Momohime then felt a tongue licking her hand, she looked over to see Kiku licking her hand affectionately. "Kiku..." she muttered.
"Don't cry, Momohime," Kiku said. She looked up at her and wagged her tail. "My master is strong, I'm sure we can bring him back."
"But... how?" Momohime repeated. She wiped her wet eyes. "How does one undo a Spirit Fusion?"
"The Muramasa Scepter," said a female voice. Momohime turned her head to the side and saw Yuzuruha standing there, smiling at her with gentleness. The kitsune walked over to her, and handed Momohime a handkerchief. "Dry your eyes, my child. It will be all right."
"The Muramasa Scepter?" Kisuke asked, there was disbelief on his face. "I thought that was a myth, Yuzuruha."
"Just like every other Muramasa artifact?" Yuzuruha asked with an amused smile.
"What is the 'Muramasa Scepter?'" Momohime asked, wiping her eyes and then she blowed her nose.
"The Muramasa Scepter, according to legend, is supposed to break a Spirit Fusion," Kisuke explained. "But... there's a risk. If the two souls that were fused have not grown strong enough, then both of them will die."
"Oh my," Momohime muttered. "But... even so, we should try to find it anyway." She stood up, feeling hope at last.
"But where do we look?" Kisuke said, shaking his head. "Unlike the myth of the Muramasa Mask, there's nothing about the Scepter's location in its myth."
"'Tis true," Yuzuruha said, frowning. Momohime's heart dropped; there was no way to find the Scepter?
"But... but..." Momohime stuttered, her mouth opening and closing. "I want to see Jinkuro again. We have to find that Scepter!"
"Well, where do you suggest looking?" Kisuke asked, sounding doubtful. "It could be anywhere in Japan, and it could take years to find it. Look, I'm not trying to discourage you, Momohime, but... we'd need a clue."
"We already have one," Yuzuruha said rather pleasantly.
"We do?" Kisuke asked, staring at the kitsune in disbelief.
"Yes, those who are power-hungry will seek out the Scepter," she said, sitting down.
"Then why didn't Jinkuro go after it?" Momohime asked with a frown. "He was power-hungry, selfish, and cruel—at least once—why wouldn't have he sought it?"
Yuzuruha smiled. "Perhaps, he did not believe it existed or did not know about the myth," she said simply with a shrug.
"All right," Kisuke said. "So, we have a clue. How many power-hungry people are there in the world? ... That are still alive, that is?"
"Well, not all of them could possibly be dead," Momohime said, trying to keep a hold of the little hope she had. "There has to be someone who knows."
"Yes, well, we'll have to search," Yuzuruha said. "Interestingly enough... I've also heard that if one uses the Mask and the Scepter together, it creates a power called 'Spirit Forging.' However, no one has ever used it... or there is no legend or myth of anyone using the technique."
"Then, how do you know about it?" Momohime asked, curiously.
"There are things that kitsunes know that humans do not," Yuzuruha said, looking rather amused again. Kisuke and Momohime exchanged confused glances.
Then, Kisuke blinked and then looked surprised. "Oh, Momohime, I forgot!" He took her knapsack from his shoulder. "Here!" He tossed it to her and she caught it. "Your blades are in there. Safe and sound."
"Thank you, Kisuke," Momohime said with a smile. She turned around and sat in front of the lake to examine her blades. How was she going to restore Jinkuro? He had been a master of the Oboro Style. It made her wonder—as she took out her grandpa's blade—would he be proud of her progress with the style?
She was staring off into space and then noticed that her grandpa's blade was dull at the edge. How? "Um... Kisuke? Yuzuruha?" she said, turning to the two of them. "How did my grandpa's blade become dull?"
"I had to use a Secret Art to get past the guards, and your blade had the perfect one—Misty Slash," Kisuke explained, biting his lip. "I'm sorry about that, though."
"It's all right," she said, waving his worry aside. "How do I sharpen it?"
"Here, use this," Kisuke said, standing up and handing Momohime a stone with a strange hieroglyph engraven upon its surface. "This is an omura stone. Just swipe it across the blade and it will sharpen the edge."
Momohime nodded, taking the stone. "Thank you." She began to swipe the stone across the blade. Then, she heard the tree branches shift with the leaves moving.
"Yukinojyo? What are—" She heard Kisuke's voice ask in surprise. Momohime frowned.
Him again? What does he want now?
"Please... let me talk to her," Yukinojyo's strong voice said. Momohime restrained herself from growling, and kept sharpening her blade; pretending not to notice what was happening.
"Momohime..." Yukinojyo's sounded behind her.
She didn't face him, and continued to sharpen her Muramasa with the omura stone. Momohime looked straight ahead; she felt her face was hard as the stone itself. Every swipe became more and more fierce.
"Please..." Yukinojyo said, begging. "Forgive me. I should not have struck you like that."
Momohime kept swiping the stone across the blade and didn't respond. She had a slight urge to twirl the blade around and stab him through the chest, but she knew it would only hurt her further.
"I understand that you don't want to talk to me," he continued. "But please, at least let me help you find Jinkuro."
Momohime dropped the stone in surprise. She turned her head at Yukinojyo just in time to see him wipe his eyes. What's going on? "Why the sudden change of heart?" she asked, noting that he was on his knees.
"Because of the kitsune," he said, pointing at Yuzuruha. "I now know that Jinkuro loved you very much. She told me about the Spirit Fusion. It was no wonder you had his strength, Momohime." He smiled; possibly glad that she was looking at him. "I understand you don't love me, so please let me help you find the one you love the most."
Momohime was stunned. Yuzuruha told him? She supposed it was wise to do so. She turned around completely, standing up and sitting down again, and faced him. Momohime felt herself smile. "I accept your assistance, Yukinojyo. And I... forgive you for beating me," she added slowly.
"Thank you," he said, standing up.
She also stood up. "But how are we going to restore him? Besides the Muramasa Scepter, that is."
"The Muramasa Scepter?" Yukinojyo said with widened eyes. "That object is dangerous, Momohime!"
"I know, I know," she said, nodding. "But I... want to try."
"Well, I may have a solution that would avoid the Scepter," he said.
"And that is?"
Yukinojyo showed her a blade in his hand—sheathed—with a black handle and scabbard. "This is Jinkuro's personal Muramasa: the Kuromistu blade. It allows Jinkuro to execute a total Soul Transfer if he strikes his target with the blade. I've heard it has a deadly Secret Art that only the most powerful of Oboro Stylists could use."
"Amazing," Momohime said. She glanced over at Yuzuruha; the kitsune seemed to be only listening. "But how will that help us restore Jinkuro?"
"Every Muramasa takes some of the life essence of its owner," Yukinojyo explained. "They do not drain their owner of life, but to restore them if they fall. In other words, it's a way of the Muramasa preserving the wielder from death. However, it's not perfect," he added with a warning voice. "So, do not rely on the Muramasas to save your life."
"Regardless," Kisuke interjected. "Only if a Muramasa is chosen as your personal blade will it take some of your life essence. So, right now, Momohime, none of the Muramasas you have should be a personal one."
"No, that's not true," Momohime said. She showed her grandpa's blade—now sharpened—to Kisuke. She noted that Yukinojyo looked away from the blade. "See this one? I think this is my personal Muramasa."
"Ah," Kisuke said as she sheathed it and placed it back into her belt. "I see, that would make sense since your 'grandpa' owned that blade."
"Actually, my grandpa found it with me when I was unconscious after the Spirit Fusion," Momohime said. She ran her hand across the black hilt wrapped in cloth of azure.
"Grandpa?" Yukinojyo asked slowly. "Your grandparents died long before your parents, Momohime. Who are you referring to?"
Momohime smiled, and wiped one of her eyes. "There's an elderly couple who found me and took care of me for six months under the name of 'Oboro,'" she explained. "It's been a month since then, and as Oboro and Momohime now—I've been seeking my and Jinkuro's identities." She sighed. "Now that I know I'm Momohime, then it's true they aren't my real grandparents. But... because of how kind they were; in my mind, I will always see them as 'grandpa' and 'grandma.'"
"I see," Yukinojyo said. "They will be honored to discover that they were taking care of the Narukami Princess for half a year."
"Yes," Momohime said with a smile. "Regardless, you didn't clearly explain how the Kuromistu blade is a good alternative to the Muramasa Scepter, Yukinojyo."
"Forgive me." He shook his head. He sighed and said, "I am actually not entirely sure... but I've heard legends of Oboro Style masters being revived by their own Muramasa; restoring body and soul."
"How do you cause that to happen?" Momohime asked, intrigued.
Yukinojyo paused and shook his head. "That, I do not know. I am of the Shinkage Style, not the Oboro Style," he said with a frown. "I'm sorry."
Momohime sighed with disappointment. She looked at the ground. What good was Jinkuro's Muramasa if none knew how activate its powers? "Well, I suppose we should at least keep it with us in case we need it," She said. Yukinojyo nodded.
"But this doesn't matter in the long run," Kisuke said with a shrug. "If we're going to find the Muramasa Scepter, we need more of a hint than a 'power-hungry' man."
"Wait," Momohime said, her eyes widened with realization. "My dreams! Maybe my nightmares can solve this problem."
"How?" Kisuke asked in disbelief. "Have you seen the Scepter in your dreams?"
"No, but..." She noticed Yukinojyo's confused expression. "You see, I have nightmares about a shadowed figure." She explained everything to him. Her occasional death, her constant seeking of Jinkuro, the chains, and the shadowed figure's last words.
"It seems like this 'shadowed figure' is trying to discourage you from finding out your past," Yukinojyo noted. "And is trying to make Jinkuro out to be someone out to murder you, Momohime."
"Yet, we know that's not true now," Momohime said. "But what does it mean?"
"I think I understand now," Yuzuruha said. Momohime looked at her to see the kitsune rubbing her chin. "The shadowed figure... must be a real person invading your dreams."
"Who would have the power to do that?"
"Tokugawa Tsunayoshi..." Yukinojyo muttered. "Yes... yes! That makes sense!"
"That bastard?" Kisuke exclaimed. He grit his teeth. "I thought I killed him months ago!"
"So we all, Kisuke," Yukinojyo said with a nod. "So we all."
"Who's Tokugawa Tsunayoshi?" Momohime asked, curious.
"The Shogun of Japan," Yukinojyo explained. "He was the head of the entire political plot against your family in order to destroy any opposition to his reign. Kisuke had been revived and as part of the Yagyu clan, and I had him kill Tokugawa."
"I also had my own reasons," Kisuke said. "He was trying to become a demon using a Muramasa called the 'Kuzuryuu blade'." He grit his teeth. "He killed Torahime with it."
"My gods," Momohime said with a gaping mouth. "My sister...?" She looked away from them, feeling anger in her chest. "Why would he... kill Torahime?"
"Probably the same damn reason he wants to murder you," Kisuke said, still angry.
"Are you saying then that he's somehow been invading my nightmares as the shadowed figure in order to... prevent me finding out that I'm the princess of Narukami?"
"Yes," Yukinojyo said. "He has the power to invade dreams, and since it does sound like he tried to discourage you, yet failed, he could have taken the throne as long as you remained as 'Oboro.'"
"This does make sense then!" Momohime said, exchanging glances with Kisuke. "He probably is seeking out the Muramasa Scepter, too. I have no doubt that he believes that he could destroy me with it if he knows Jinkuro is fused with me." She looked at Yuzuruha. "Do you know where Tokugawa might have headed?"
"There's only place I can think of," Yuzuruha said in a dark voice. "Yamato—Mount Kongo. That is where Jinkuro was reaching the peak of his power. The same with Kisuke," she added, looking around at the four of them. "The overwhelming aura of the Muramasas is there now. And no doubt, if Tokugawa is as, or even more power-hungry than Jinkuro was, he will be there."
"Then we should head there!" Momohime said, fingering her Muramasa. "I am a master of the Oboro Style now thanks to Jinkuro. Kisuke and I should be able to destroy him."
"I will help," Yukinojyo said, patting his own sword. "My Shinkage Style will help you two in fighting him."
"That is... if he is there," Yuzuruha said with a dubious tone of voice. "We'd be making a gamble."
"Except it's probably not a gamble," Yukinojyo said with a firm voice. "I've had my spies watching a suspicious man of late. He went to Yamato, according to their information, and then he vanished. I think this is the same man."
"Well, then, what are we waiting for?" Kisuke asked the group.
"Mount Kongo is very far from here, Kisuke," Yuzuruha said. "And I have lost my power to teleport between shrines. We'd have to travel all the way to Yamato, and then further up the mountain. If he is there right now, we'll miss him."
"So, what do you recommend, Yuzuruha?" Kisuke asked, tapping his foot.
The kitsune's face spread into another amused smile. "To restore who I have cursed. Kongiku!" She said, motioning to Kiku.
Kongiku? That name...! So familiar!
"You're growing fond of Momohime... at least, I hope you haven't, HAVE YOU? Grrr... I want to rip her soul apart with my spirit fox powers!"
"Don't be stupid. I'm just having her come along so she doesn't get captured again."
Momohime rubbed her head. Kiku—or Kongiku hated her once? Yet, she was her friend.
Yuzuruha approached Kiku, and placed her hands on the fox's head. "Kongiku, I'm going to restore you to your full form as my fellow kitsune. And I'm going to leave a blessing with you that—unless you return to your old ways—you can never be cursed again."
There was a flash of light around Kiku and, like Yuzuruha, she changed into a humanoid form. The light vanished, and Kiku was a well-endowed fox wearing an orange kimono. With her, she carried a lantern. She looked at her hands and smiled widely.
"I'm restored! I'm restored!" she exclaimed. "Thank you, Yuzuruha," she added with a bow.
"Remember, I'm doing this for you because you were loyal and kind to Momohime," Yuzuruha said, waving a finger. "Don't waver from that."
"I won't," she said. She looked at Momohime and giggled. "You look so surprised. I'm sorry, I'm not Kiku; though, I've grown fond of that name, but my real name is Kongiku, Momohime. But don't worry, I'm still your friend." She walked up to her and hugged her. Momohime accepted the embrace despite her shock.
"Ah... yes, I think I remember you now," Momohime said. "You were jealous of me once, weren't you?"
Kongiku nodded. "Yes, I was. I told you that, remember?" she said.
Momohime smiled. "Yes, you did." She looked from the kitsunes to Kisuke and then to Yukinojyo. "Well, let's not waste anymore time. Let's stop Tokugawa!"
Everyone nodded in agreement with her.