As promised, here's the last chapter of the "Play from the past" arc, with all the explanations for the weird things in the previous chapter.

Mirage of Changes

by Karura

Chapter Five

There must have been nearly two hundred people gathered in a vast meadow near the forest. Torches were burning, illuminating the scene as if it was in broad daylight. Tables were set up, loaded with food and drink, like for a celebration. People were talking while eating, excited. Nothing had happened, yet these people had been waiting here for hours, or so it seemed. Nagahide skimmed the faces around himself and recognized many people who had come to see the play. Obviously, everyone here had been bewitched by the Kagetora from the play. Nagahide narrowed his eyes. To mobilise villagers, who usually only wanted a peaceful life, one must have an extraordinary charisma. The true Kagetora could have done it, of course, but except him, who else?

One of the men who had brought Nagahide here suddenly patted him on the shoulder. "What do you think about it?" He said, excited like a child. "You never had seen such a gathering, had you?" Actually, Nagahide had already taken part in many wars where there had been thousands of soldiers, so this small crowd seemed rather meagre in comparison. However, he managed to nod with a feigned enthusiasm. "And it's not over," the man went on. "Our lord is planning to annex the neighbour villages so that he could recruit more soldiers!"

"He told you this?" The possessor asked.

The man frowned. "Not really," he confessed. "I've only seen him in my dreams... But I'm sure he's planning it! That's what I would do if I were him."

Nagahide rolled his eyes. If villagers were beginning to thing they were warlords, then the end of the world was near. "And about our... our lord," he asked. "Will we soon have the honour to see him in reality, and not in dreams anymore?"

The villager glanced at him suspiciously. "You didn't come for this?" His tone was full of threat.

Nagahide smiled to calm him. "As I said, my dream was not very clear, so..."

"Ha. Our lord is indeed going to see us tonight, in the flesh. Then he's going to tell us about his great projects."

"This evening will be unforgettable," the possessor scoffed.

"Indeed." The man didn't realise the sarcasm.

Nagahide sighed. He tried to call Naoe mentally but the latter didn't reply. It seemed he was too busy to notice his friend's telepathic calls. "I hope he's found Hisako," Nagahide thought. "Well, methinks I have to deal with this fake Kagetora. But alone and with all these fanatics around, it won't be easy." A diversion would have been useful, but since he didn't know what was going to happen, it was difficult to think ahead.

An excited whisper ran through the crowd, quickly followed by a religious silence. Nagahide saw all the heads turning to the same direction, and he looked at there too. He presumed quite rightly that Kagetora had made an entrance. At the spiritual level, Nagahide didn't felt anything out of the ordinary, just a little tugging that may be caused by the gathering of so many people. It could be that this Kagetora was hiding his presence, or that there was nothing to hide. As the shifting in the crowd moved closer to him, Nagahide caught at last a familiar presence. Naoe! He called mentally. But Naoe didn't reply him. Nagahide was beginning to find this silence disturbing especially since, according to his senses, Naoe was getting closer and closer. The crowd eventually parted before him, and then he faced Naoe and...

Don't say anything, Naoe told him mentally. Nagahide immediately closed his mouth but his eyes couldn't leave the person at the other possessor's side. What did it mean?

"Kagetora-sama," Naoe turned to the other person. "This is the man I've told you about. Even if he doesn't look like it, he's a brilliant strategist. And of course, he'll be entirely dedicated to our cause."

Nagahide glanced at his friend incredulously. But what was the matter? Naoe pressed a look at him and Nagahide bowed reluctantly. "Hum, yes, my... my lord. I would be honoured if my poor abilities could be of any use to you."

Kagetora scrutinized him, trying to evaluate him. "Yes," he said in a non-committal tone. "If you say so, Naoe, I will trust you on this."

"You won't regret it, my lord," Naoe assured him.

Kagetora suddenly passed his arms around Naoe's neck, under Nagahide's astonished eyes. "If he disappoints me," Kagetora said in a languishing tone, "I'll have to punish you."

"As long as it comes from your hands, I will gladly accept even the worst punishment."

Kagetora let escape a silvery laugh. "Let's resume our troops' inspection," he suggested. Naoe nodded and the two men walked away. Nevertheless, Naoe cast a last meaningful glance at Nagahide while the latter was all at sea. What the hell was going on here?

XxX

Nagahide had to wait two hours until Naoe came to see him again. He was alone this time, and he took his friend aside from the crowd. However, before Naoe could even say one word, Nagahide exploded. "Will you explain me at last what's happening? You have left me kicking my heels like an idiot for hours, with all those people around who can only say one word: 'Kagetora-this' and 'Kagetora-that'. It's awful, it feels like I'm in a gathering of Naoes!"

The other possessor frowned. "I'm not sure I understand the allusion. As for what's happening, you've seen it like I did: this spirit has taken Kagetora-sama's form... I mean, his first appearance. He also..."

"Wait a moment," Nagahide interrupted him. "You say that this guy looks like Kagetora-sama?"

"His first appearance, yes. Maybe you don't remember it anymore, but..."

"How could I have forgotten? Everyone was talking about it and raving about his beauty! As if it was the only thing that mattered..."

"So, what's the problem with what I said? You agree the likeness is rather disturbing..."

Nagahide frowned. "This is what you all see? So this guy is rather good at hypnotising, but not as good as me, since I can see past his disguise."

"What are you talking about?"

"Let's not talk about it," Nagahide sighed. "I'm not sure you could accept the truth."

"What does it mean?"

"Quite obviously, you are as bamboozled as the others. I saw you earlier, all fawning with him. Who could have thought you would have so quickly forgotten our true lord? In the end, your loyalty oaths aren't as important as you thought. When I think you lectured me the other day about it..."

Naoe suddenly caught him by the arm. His face usually so calm was now expressing the deepest of anger. Nagahide worried and wondered if he hadn't gone too far this time. The former Naoe would have accepted his barbs without blinking, except perhaps for a bemused smile. The new Naoe was more touchy and unpredictable, especially when you talked to him about Kagetora.

"This situation must be unblocked," Nagahide thought. "No matter if it ends well or badly, Naoe must decide to make his request to our lord. Things cannot go on like this."

Naoe shook him, his look deadly serious. "Do not ever, ever doubt my loyalty to Kagetora-sama," he hissed. "A pale copy won't never be able to deceive me!"

"Yet, I bet you have been deceived... for a moment."

Naoe released his friend's arm and looked more calmer. However, the fire was still burning in him and was waiting only for a breath of wind to ignite again. "One moment, I confess. But it was rather simple to find out he was a liar. In part."

"Really?"

"It's rather strange, because he knows everything of Kagetora-sama's life... before his arriving at the Uesugi. When he talks about what happened after, he acts as if the play is telling the truth... Although we know it's not the case."

Nagahide nodded while trying to assimilate all these informations. "Therefore this spirit... could it be the Kagetora from the play who would have come alive?" He tried to guess.

"If it was the case, it would have been impossible for him to know so much about Kagetora-sama's life," Naoe countered.

Nagahide frowned. "Well, is it important to know what he is? We just need to exorcise him, now that he had showed himself."

Naoe shook his head. "Before that, I have to know where he has hidden Hisako."

"What?"

The other possessor cast him an exasperated look. "What? Didn't you lecture me before because I didn't care enough about the others? For once I am worried about Hisako, you can't say anything better than 'what'?"

Nagahide sighed. "Wait," he tempered. "What I mean is that Hisako is..."

Some angry exclamations suddenly blasted. Both possessors froze, trying to hear what was happening. They could soon hear some shouts. "We'd better go there," Nagahide suggested. "Something wrong is going on." Naoe nodded and the two men returned quickly to the meadow.

XxX

As soon as they arrived, they found out the reason for the agitation: Ryousuke and some other members of the troupe had burst in the meeting. They were armed with solid sticks and seemed ready to fight every villager if necessary, even though they were clearly outnumbered. "I know you're the one who have kidnapped him," Ryousuke shouted in a firm voice. "You'd better give us Hisako back!" But only hostile and closed faces answered him.

Naoe clicked his tongue. "This idiot is going to ruin everything," he grumbled. "The villagers are going to attack him and we'll have to defend him! What a pain!"

Nagahide rolled his eyes. He had believed for a moment that Naoe could feel compassion for the others... Naoe had still a lot to learn before finally becoming a holy man!

The possessors elbowed their way in the crowd and tried to come as close as possible to the troupe. They had to prevent a bloodbath. Ryousuke and his men had no chance against the villagers, but they wouldn't give up. Naoe stretched his neck. "Kagetora is coming," he said to his friend.

Nagahide sighed between his teeth. "Let's hurry." Unfortunately, they were still too far when Kagetora faced Ryousuke. Yet, they could hear the beginning of the confrontation.

"You seem to be the leader of these men." Ryousuke's voice barely concealed his hostility. "Then tell me what you did to Hisako."

Kagetora smiled mockingly. "Your little actor is safe. However, he doesn't wish to see anyone at the moment."

"You're lying!"

"Am I? I had the opportunity to learn a lot about Hisako. He no longer wants to return to your meagre troupe because you will once again sell him to some rich customer. One can hardly blame him."

Ryousuke's face became red with anger-- or shame, it was hard to tell. He breathed loudly. "If that's the case, then I'd like for him to tell it to me in my face," he demanded. "I'll believe it only if I hear it from his own mouth."

"As I said, he no longer wishes to see you."

"What will he do, then?"

"I've offered him a place in my army, and he's gladly accepted. Don't worry for him, I'll take care of him better than you ever did."

Ryousuke let escape a mocking laugh. "Your army? Who do you think you are?"

Kagetora's gaze became disdainful. "Ha, I shouldn't have expected an ignorant like you to recognize me." He looked at one of the nearby villagers. "You tell him who I am."

The man complied immediately, looking at Ryousuke with hatred. "Know that you have the honour to speak with Uesugi Kagetora, the rightful lord of Echigo!"

Kagetora smiled smugly whereas Ryousuke looked disbelieving. He shook his head. "Kagetora? The same as in the play? Are you all crazy or what? Kagetora has been dead for centuries!"

It was a mistake. The crowd's hostility increased. Nobody could insult their lord and get out alive. Kagetora was ready to set his men on this impudent, but Naoe interfered just in time. "My lord, let me deal with this rustre. You shouldn't dirty your hands with his kind."

Kagetora glanced at him mistrustfully. "You come from this troupe," he stated. "How do I know that you won't help them to escape?"

Naoe reprimanded himself. He was dealing with a copy of Kagetora, but that didn't mean he should underestimate him. When the original was so bright, even a simple copy could cause difficulties. "Then put them in jail until dawn, since you don't trust me," he suggested. "Execute them tomorrow to make an example."

Kagetora weighted this suggestion. "Alright," he accepted.

But the actors had no intention of being imprisoned without fighting. They began to attack the closest villagers while Ryousuke rushed at Kagetora, his stick in his hand. Naoe come between them and was hit at the head. Fortunately, he wasn't dumbstricken and managed to snatch the weapon from Ryousuke's hands. "Any resistance is futile," he advised him.

Ryousuke spat at his face. "You traitor!" He hissed. "From the beginning, I knew you had your eye on Hisako. It's because of you that he wants to leave the troupe, isn't it?"

Naoe didn't reply. Two villagers seized the troupe chief and dragged him to the jail. The rest of the actors was overpowered in the same way. Kagetora stepped closer to Naoe and lifted his hand to the thin trickle of blood flowing from the man's forehead. "It's not that I don't trust you," he whispered. "It's just that, after being betrayed by so many people, I find it hard to trust someone again."

Naoe widened his eyes. What this false Kagetora had just said, the real one could have said it too. Was it the explanation for the fact that Kagetora still didn't trust him, even after two hundred years of loyal service? "No," Naoe thought. "They are two different people. Kagetora-sama is stronger than that. I mustn't let myself be fooled by this illusion." He feigned an affable smile. "I understand, my lord. It would be better if you could rest somewhere," he suggested. "It's already late in the night."

"No, I mustn't leave this place," Kagetora answered a little too fast. Naoe lifted an eyebrow. Kagetora seemed to recollect himself. "These people have waited for me for a long time," he explained. "I have to stay with them." Naoe nodded but he was suspecting something, without knowing what.

XxX

Meanwhile, Nagahide had followed the prisoners, unnoticed. The villagers locked them up in one of the house and left two men in custody. Nagahide smiled wryly. Two men wouldn't be enough to prevent him from freeing the actors. When you think that this false Kagetora was hoping to conquer Echigo with an army of peasants... Well, if everything went as planned, his army would not even leave this place.

Nagahide waited to be sure that nobody was around, then he walked to the makeshift prison. "Aren't you too tired, guys?" He casually said to the two guards. He accompanied his question with a hypnotic suggestion, and the guards fell to the ground, asleep. Nagahide held back a chuckle. No matter if he couldn't kill people, it was much more amusing like this!

He entered the house and was nearly knocked by an actor. "Hey!" He protested. "I'm here to deliver you!"

"Yasuda?" Ryousuke called. "I thought you were in cahoots with your friend, the traitor!"

Nagahide sighed. "Naoe prevented you from getting killed by a furious mob," he emphasized.

"But he's with this guy, the one who thinks he's Kagetora. And he refused to tell me where's Hisako!"

"So, you neither, mmh?" Nagahide mused aloud.

"Huh?"

"Well, I'm just wondering if you have noticed anything special with this... false Kagetora."

Ryousuke frowned. Nagahide really didn't expect his answer. "The kimono."

"What?"

The troupe chief nodded vigorously. "I knew I've seen it somewhere else: it's Hisako's scene kimono." Nagahide sighed. It was not new for him. "This damned kimono," Ryousuke went on, mumbling. "If only I didn't bought it, along with the play!"

Nagahide was startled. "Wait, you mean the kimono is also from the same guy who have written the play?"

Ryousuke nodded. "Yes, although I don't remember it very clearly. I believe the man has said the kimono had once belonged to Kagetora himself, but I'm sure he's just told it to sell his play for a bigger price." The man suddenly lifted his eyes to meet Nagahide's. "Do you think this guy is a ghost? And he takes it out on Hisako because he's dared to interpret his part? I didn't want to believe this rumour before, but it all makes sense now. If anything bad has happened to Hisako because of it, I'd never forgive myself!"

Nagahide shook his head. "Hisako is fine, believe me."

Ryousuke grabbed his shoulders. "He's alright? Have you seen him?"

"I can't tell about his mental condition, but he looks fine to me. You'd better return to the camp before causing more troubles. Wait for us until dawn, we'll return with Hisako."

Ryousuke hesitated, puzzled. After all, he only got to know Nagahide recently and he still didn't know if he could trust him, especially since his friend, Naoe, seemed so much on good terms with the false Kagetora. However, he had no choice. He didn't know Hisako's whereabouts and he could do nothing against an entire village of fanatics. Reluctantly, he nodded slowly. "Until dawn," he repeated. "But what if you don't return then?"

Nagahide looked at him, deadly serious. "In that case, leave this province as soon as possible and forget all about this story."

XxX

It took time for Naoe to answer Nagahide's mental call, but at least he answered this time. The two men met at an isolated spot. "Did you take care of Ryousuke and the others?" Naoe asked.

"Of course, I wasn't letting them getting killed," his friend replied. "As a result, I've learned some interesting things."

"For instance?"

"Do you remember Hisako's scene costume? Can you describe it?"

"Uh... I don't see the connection."

"Humour me."

Naoe thought a moment. "White and blue," he finally said. "Of the highest quality, by the way, far too good for an actor from a poor troupe."

"And this kimono, have you seen it somewhere else?"

Naoe widened his eyes. "Kagetora... the false Kagetora wears the same!"

Nagahide nodded smugly. "The one you all see as Kagetora is actually Hisako."

Naoe remained silent. "But how?" He eventually whispered.

"Hypnosis. This guy is able to hypnotise a whole village into thinking he's Kagetora. He's really good at it, but not as good as me!"

Naoe shook his head. "Wait a moment, you say he's Hisako? Hisako has mesmerized all of us? But why? and more importantly, how? He has no spiritual powers and..."

Nagahide stopped him. "Hisako didn't do anything," he rectified. "He merely endures it. The responsible for this is... the kimono!"

"The kimono? but it's not a living thing!"

"Ryousuke told me something interesting: he's bought the kimono to the author of the play, and the man has said this garment has once belonged to Kagetora-sama. It was more than two hundred years ago..."

"Tsukumogami(1)," Naoe whispered. "I can barely believe it, we fall for it!"

Nagahide shrugged. "Kagetora-sama has a very strong charisma. It's not surprising that he left such a deep psychic stamp on an object."

"And that's why he knew so much about Kagetora-sama's life!" Naoe reacted. "But since he believed the play was true, then it means..."

"Kagetora owned this kimono before his arrival at our clan," Nagahide completed. "That's why the tsukumogami didn't recognize us. It was lucky for us, in a way."

Naoe suddenly frowned. "So, the culprit is the spirit inhabiting the kimono," he summed up. "But he's using Hisako's body. Do you think Hisako agrees with it?"

"I don't think so," Nagahide sighed. "I can't believe Hisako would accept that Ryousuke or anyone of the troupe could be hurt. Hisako's personality might be... asleep."

Naoe widened his eyes. "You don't mean... like a possession?" The other possessor nodded grimly. Naoe winced. "In this case, we have little chance to save Hisako."

Nagahide frowned. "But you've already faced another possessor," he recalled. "You were with Kagetora-sama and..."

"During Shikoku pilgrimage, I know (2). But it didn't end well for the possessed person: we weren't able to save his soul and Kagetora-sama had to possess the body."

Nagahide chewed on his lower lip. The purpose was to save Hisako. He suddenly raised his head. "It's not the same situation. Hisako isn't possessed by a vagrant spirit since the spirit is linked to the kimono. Have you ever seen this Kagetora without his kimono?"

Naoe felt his cheeks redden. "What do you mean?" He asked defensively. "I've never seen him naked!"

Nagahide sighed. "It's not what I mean. Have you ever seen him wearing something other than that kimono?"

"Ah, no." Naoe felt a little stupid to have reacted like that.

"Well, I think removing the kimono may break the possession. It's the only solution I can come up with."

Naoe breathed in. "And just how are you going to do this? We'll never be able to remove his clothe without using force. And with all those fanatics around, we should better avoid threatening their Kagetora."

Nagahide rapped his chin, narrowing his eyes as he was thinking hard. "I have an idea," he said at last. "It may be a little too classic, but I think it should word." Naoe listened carefully to his friend.

XxX

Naoe found the false Kagetora among the villagers. He wasn't doing anything special, he wasn't talking to anyone, but you could feel he was the centre of the attention. Naoe now understood why Kagetora didn't want to leave the meeting: he had to keep on using his power of hypnosis on them. "But how long will he be able to carry on like this?" Naoe wondered. "He must know that he won't be able to keep these people under his mental control, so why did he start an undertaking doomed to failure? Really, I don't understand him..." He narrowed his eyes and tried to see through his appearance. But even knowing it was actually Hisako, Naoe still wasn't able to perceive the actor. The hypnosis may be too strong and it irked Naoe. He was a Yashashuu so he should have been immunized against this kind of mental control. He shook his head. It was no use brooding. He'd better apply quickly Nagahide's tactic. The sun would soon rise and Naoe wouldn't like to have to explain how the prisoners had escaped.

Kagetora had the slightest smile when Naoe walked to him. "Naoe," he called, "where have you been?"

"I was just settling some details for our prisoners' execution," he answered without any hesitation.

Kagetora gave him a look of approval. "You've done enough tonight," he advised him. "You should relax. After all, this is my big day."

Naoe nodded. "That's why you're the one who should relax. Let me settle the minor details that don't deserve your attention."

The smile on Kagetora's lips was wheedling. "I'm really lucky to have you as my aid, am I not?"

As an answer, Naoe took two cups of wine from a nearby table and handed one to Kagetora. "A toast for your future victories," the possessor said.

Kagetora took the cup and brought it to his lips. At this moment, someone jostled him from behind and Kagetora spilled some wine on his kimono. "Who dared?" The young man said, turning quickly. But nobody was behind him, except the crowd of villagers. Kagetora's eyes narrowed. He didn't like to be disrespected in any way.

"My lord," Naoe exclaimed, "you have a stain!" Kagetora looked down and swore when he saw a purple circle in front of his kimono. It wasn't really fitting for a lord! "We should clean this stain," Naoe suggested. "With the colour, people might think you're injured and the crowd may panic."

Kagetora nodded. Even he couldn't control a delirious crowd. Naoe and he discreetly left for a nearby glade. "You should remove this kimono," Naoe suggested innocently.

Unconsciously, Kagetora tightened his hands around himself. "Is it really necessary?" He asked in a voice that was trying to be firm.

Naoe's eyes meet his for a moment. "Only if you want me to clean it."

Kagetora's gaze was pointed behind Naoe, at the crowd of villagers they had just left. It was clear he wanted to go back there, therefore he wouldn't waste his time arguing with Naoe. "I'm going to clean it myself," he decided suddenly.

"My lord, you can't do that," the possessor got indignant. "A man of your status can't make his own laundry. Let me do it, it's my job, after all."

Kagetora began to reluctantly unfasten his obi. "It's true that your family served me before," he mumbled.

Naoe quickly looked up at him. "Ha? I don't remember I told you this."

Kagetora met his gaze cautiously. "Of course, you told me this when..." He suddenly lifted his hand to his mouth, realizing his mistake. It wasn't Naoe, but Nagahide who had told him it. And he had told it to... Hisako. "Come to think of it, this stain doesn't show too much," Kagetora said.

He was ready to go back to the gathering, but Naoe roughly grabbed him by the arm. "Ouch, what on earth are you doing?" Kagetora demanded to know.

"It's out of the question that I let you return there," the possessor said calmly. "You've already done enough harm like that. Release Hisako."

Kagetora narrowed his eyes, trying to guess what Naoe knew. "As I told you earlier, Hisako is somewhere safe and he..."

"Hisako is right in front of me," Naoe countered. "Give him his body back."

Kagetora snorted. "You leave me no choice," he threatened him. "Too bad, I've taken a liking to you..." A violent wind suddenly rose, blowing in Naoe's direction. Some clods of earth and branches flew toward him, disposed to slash him, but...

Naoe simply raised his goshinheki. The iridescent wall repelled all the projectiles. Kagetora was so surprised that he lost his control on the wind, which immediately quietened. "What... What are you?" The young man asked.

Naoe had a sinister smile. "Consider me as an onmyouji," he coldly answered. "Now, release Hisako."

Kagetora frowned then suddenly dashed to his right. Naoe shook his head, sighing. He used his telekinesis to lift a fallen branch which got entangled in the runaway's feet. The latter fell over, spread-eagled. Naoe walked to him, unrelenting. "Release Hisako," he repeated.

The spirit tried again to injure him by using the wind, but Naoe repelled his attack with his protective barrier. Then Kagetora gave him a scathing look that stopped him a moment. Naoe had to recollect himself: sometimes, this spirit was really behaving like the Kagetora he knew.

"Actually, you're no better than the others!" Kagetora hissed at him. "When I think I nearly trusted you! You only know how to deceive people with your false smiles, all sweet and deferences."

Naoe hunkered near the young man and grabbed roughly his chin. He firmly gazed down at him. "Your jeremiads have no effect on me," he said. "After all, it's not as if you were the true Kagetora. You're only his reflection."

Furious, Kagetora turned his head to break free from his grip. "You've been using me!" He protested.

"That's how life goes. People use each other. Even you have been using Hisako to come back to the world of the living. So you've no right to complain."

Kagetora's fists pounded the ground, his eyes filled with tears of helplessness. "You... You don't know how it is!" He raged. "This world should have been mine! I shouldn't have died so young and in such a way!"

Naoe smiled slightly. "You know, I could almost understand you..." Kagetora looked at him hopefully, but Naoe completed cruelly: "... if you weren't a mere tsukumogami."

"This... Don't say such a nonsense! I am Uesugi Kagetora! I am..."

Naoe struck his face hard. "Don't say his name. You debase it. You can't even hold a candle to Kagetora-sama."

"I... I am..." The false Kagetora seemed vacant.

Naoe looked at him up and down. "If you really want to prove you're Kagetora, then remove the kimono", he dared him. "Prove me that you're not a mere spirit!"

Kagetora was looking at the ground, shuddering. "I... I am..."

Naoe had enough and pinned the young man against the ground. Then he began to take off the kimono. Kagetora struggled but it was in vain. "No," he said, "let go of me! I trusted you, so why? Why are you doing this to me?"

Naoe stopped for a brief moment, puzzled by the other man's words. But Kagetora seemed to be in a waking dream, not seeing anything else any longer. Naoe shrugged and resumed, despite his victim's outcries. When he took off the kimono, he felt a brief resistance, as it he had to tear off the garment. He pulled more strongly and could hear a brief and piercing sound. When he looked down once again at the man, he saw Hisako curled up into a ball, his cheeks drenched with tears.

Nagahide arrived then, a little breathless. "Oh," he noticed "I see you didn't need me after all."

Naoe shook his head. "Apart from his illusion power, this spirit didn't have any strength," he said. "I really wonder how I could have been misled by it..."

Nagahide held back a comment. His gaze rested on Hisako, still curled up, then on Naoe who was holding the kimono in his hands, looking at it absently. "We should better bring him to the troupe," Nagahide suggested. "They'll take care of him." Naoe nodded distractedly.

XxX

The flames were jumping high to the sky, dancing gracefully in the wind. Nagahide finished his prayer while the incense stick was still slowly burning. He gave a last glance to the blaze, then turned away. The kimono had his funerals, so the tsukumogami was able to leave this world. However, Nagahide was only feeling like it was a big mess. Nobody was really to blame, not even the spirit that had only wanted to return to the world of the living. Possessors weren't better than the spirits, they were even worse. As for the Yashashuu, the mission entrusted by Kenshin was their only justification, but was it really right? Nagahide had to believe it, otherwise he would have no ties any longer.

The possessor went back to the glade where the troupe was camping. Hisako seemed to have got over, but it was clear he had been badly shaken by all that had happened. Nagahide hoped he would quickly forget this story, or at least think it had only been a bad dream. It would be better for Hisako. That was what the villagers had done, by the way. When the morning had come, they had quickly returned to their home and had stayed hidden there. No doubt they would never talk about this story.

"Are you sure you don't want to travel with us a little more?" Ryousuke asked the possessor. At his side, Hisako quickly shook his head.

Nagahide sighed. "No, it's better if we part now," he said.

Hisako surprised him by coming to him. He had seemed to avoid the two possessors like the plague, especially Naoe. The actor handed a roll of parchment. "The play," he whispered. "Get rid of this, too."

Nagahide took the scroll and nodded. He turned his head to Naoe, who was a little further, his eyes already on the road that was awaiting for them. "Sorry for everything," Nagahide mumbled. Technically, he had done nothing wrong, but he still felt the need to apologize.

Ryousuke shook his head, smiling sadly. "It wasn't your fault," he said. "I hope we'll meet again... but under better circumstances." Nagahide nodded. There was little chance for them to meet again but... promises didn't cost anything.

The troupe left one way, the possessor the other way. Nobody looked back. Nagahide felt the weight of the scroll, then decided to open it. He wanted to know how it was written. He narrowed his eyes. "It's written in old japanese," he observed.

"How old?" Naoe asked distractedly.

"From our era. It's rather surprising."

He suddenly stopped and Naoe turned to him, a tad annoyed. "What's the problem?"

Nagahide's eyes were perusing the document. When he finished, he handed it to Naoe without saying a word. The other man took the roll and his eyes widened when he read the last passage.

To my dear Yasha ga shuu,

I hope you liked my gift. I would have loved to give it to you myself, but it wouldn't have been so funny. If he's not with you, please give my regards to Saburo-dono, from an old acquaintance.

Of course, the message wasn't signed. Naoe frowned. "Saburo-dono?" He repeated. "That's the name Takeda had given to Kagetora-sama."

Nagahide nodded. "I hope you understand what it means," he said. Naoe gave him an enquiring look. "He's a possessor," he explained with a hint of impatience. "There's another possessor who is freely strolling across Japan and who knows about our existence and mission."

"And he would be from the Takeda clan."

"We must quickly tell the others. We must find this possessor and exorcise him!"

Naoe slowly folded up the scroll. "It seems rather difficult."

"How's that, difficult?"

"If this possessor has been around for a moment, Haruie should have felt his presence."

"He can probably hide his presence!"

"In this case, how are you going to find him?" Nagahide snorted but couldn't find anything to retort. Naoe went on in a controlled voice: "No, I think this possessor wants to attract our attention. He'll provoke us again. We only have to wait." As Nagahide still seemed doubtful, Naoe insisted: "We have no choice."

Nagahide gave up. "Alright, but I trust you to explain this to Kagetora."

Naoe blinked. "You are not coming with me to Edo?"

"Of course not! I think there are things you need to talk about with our lord, aren't there?" Nagahide said with an intent look.

Naoe was puzzled. "I have to make my report, yes, but I don't see anything more," he admitted.

Nagahide sighed. "Listen, just... just talk to him, will you? You need to have a serious conversation with no one to interrupt you."

"What about you? What are you going to do?"

"I intend to go near Hyougotsu(3). That's where Ryousuke had bought the play. I'll try to obtain some information about this mysterious possessor, even though there's not so much hope."

Naoe had a bemused smile. "You'll never give up, won't you?"

His friend shrugged. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Don't forget it."

Naoe looked surprised, but Nagahide only tapped him on the back. The two men walked away together, but they would soon part. Naoe thought he was eager to see Kagetora again. It had been too long, and it was surely because of this that he had been deceived by a mere impersonator. But he wouldn't do the same mistake twice. Kagetora was Kagetora, nobody could hold a candle to him. So he hurried toward Edo, the capital, where he would find his master.

To be continued...

Well, the mystery is finally solved.

Naoe is really hopeless and cruel in this chapter. He's full of illusions about Kagetora and refuses to see the truth.

As for the mysterious possessor, I'll let you guess his identity!

In the next chapter, Naoe finally meets again with Kagetora but... he'll have a big shock!

Notes:

(1) Tsukumogami: Japanese people believe that after one hundred years, some objects can come to life. Tsukumogami are the spirits inhabiting these objects.

(2) cf Mirage of Beginning, chapter 14 to 25.

(3) Hyougotsu: the former name of Kobe