Setting— Inazuma, about two years post-cataclysm/ post war
(Curtain rise)
ACT I–
SCENE-I
A room in Tenshukaku. The room has bookshelves filled with scrolls and books, different sections separating literature from official reports. An armour and a katana display are in the corner, opposite the sliding doors that lead to the corridor. At the opposite corner, a zither is lying, though it looks curiously out of place here. On a low table below the single window frame, some blueprints are scattered. Everything is dust free. The room looks minimalistic, yet rich, as if an ascetic is living in a Shogun's chambers. The owner of the room is meditating. She is dressed in a kosode of deep color, like the deepest oceans, or the loftiest of storms. The silence is occasionally filled in by the thundering skies. It was sometime before sunset. The sliding door is pushed open
[ENTER YAE MIKO]
A beautiful woman enters the room. She is a vision in pink, red, and white, looking like the alluring vitality of spring itself has walked in, her pink hair setting off the white and red of her elaborately patterned clothes. She's adorned with several ornaments, appearing to be a woman of an imposing bloodline and status. A small, simple wooden tomoe, hard to spot behind her lush hair, sits in contrast with her gold ornaments. Its importance though, is appreciated by those who know the meaning behind it. She sees RAIDEN EI.
[The woman disappears and a small, pink-furred kitsune appears, who lies down besides EI's feet.]
YAE MIKO- [lying down, her ear flicking] The skies are rowdy tonight, though it doesn't bother me much. Quite the opposite. Thunder rarely bothers us Inazumans. It must be her; her epics bring comfort and peace to her subjects, and have made a stronghold in Inazuma's heart, naturally it is comforting to feel her presence. [sometime passes] Though I would rather frolic about in the moonlit forest, sitting still with EI's silence is as enticing. I wish she would finish soon though. [yawns]
[EI's eye open slowly and fall on the resting kitsune]
RAIDEN EI- [whispers] Miko—
[YAE MIKO opens her eyes on hearing her name being uttered softly, and jumps into RAIDEN EI's arms. EI catches her and gently holds the kitsune against her chest.]
RAIDEN EI- [her slender fingers fall on soft, furry ears, massaging them] Miko [she continues] Since when have you arrived? I spoke low, lest I might disturb your doze.
YAE MIKO- Not long enough to be lulled into sleep. Were your meditations just a routine, or is something amiss…
RAIDEN EI- I have been observing the external world, and the sealed chaos below the Sacred Sakura. A spot I had previously wiped of Abyss in a campaign, seems to be acting up. Nothing urgent, but the Tenryou commission will need to be informed tomorrow.
[YAE MIKO hops free and shape-shifts again]
YAE MIKO- [yawning and stretching] Well, that sounds like tedious work.
RAIDEN EI- The Guuji's wards could certainly be of help here.
YAE MIKO- And the Guuji will make sure to ward herself against such work. [She throws a smile at RAIDEN EI and clasps both of their hands together] Come though, tonight, Inazuma celebrates the Summer Festival. Now the question is, do we head to the stalls at Amakane, or the peaks of Yougou, to the shrine?
RAIDEN EI- The memories of sharing the royal palanquin surfaced, as she is transported, she hears Makoto's laughter and views the ruckus created by the boisterous Yokai, and humans alike gathered on the Mt Yogou, excited about the presence of their god in the festivities… Saiguu kept watch over the crowd, delighted in observing the people of this land, Chiyo, looking resplendent in her jūnihitoe, dazzling as ever, under the summer sun and amidst the floating sakura petals… What had you planned?
YAE MIKO- [softly pressing their hands together] Whatever you wish to do, Your Excellency. The Naganohara family has also organised a firework show, starting at the end of sunlight. The vantage of Tenshukaku would serve quite well for the viewing.
RAIDEN EI- [getting up to go] Very good then, let us do so.
YAE MIKO- [puts her hand on EI's thigh] Wait, wait, let me ask the royal chefs to prepare a little feast as accompaniments first.
RAIDEN EI- I have sent the personnel of Tenshukaku home for today. A festival without its people, is no festival after all.
YAE MIKO- Hmm, and the restaurants would have closed to set up stalls by now. [getting up] Alright, let's cook some food then. [playfully looks at EI] Care to join?
RAIDEN El- [with a completely straight face] I can't cook.
YAE MIKO- [blithely] Ah, forgive me for thinking the Shogun would set foot in the kitchens.
RAIDEN- No, I really can not. Don't try to get me to cook anything.
YAE MIKO- [staring at El's face] Surely you are not trying to suggest that you, [her hand move to encompass El] have never cooked anything. Ever. And are completely clueless about it?
RAIDEN El- [nods her head nonchalantly]
YAE MIKO- [eyes widening with surprise] What about fried tofu? [YAE is met by another shake of head from RAIDEN El, she blinks a few times and then starts chuckling] Pfffft, you have such a one-track mind! You are either passionate about something, or utterly uninterested. Either you are the unparalleled genius, the founder of Muso-no-Hitotachi— The Unsurpassed, or totally clueless about the most mundane task. Such a cracker-jacker!
RAIDEN EI- [the sight of seeing MIKO being merry and shaking with laughter brings a joy to her heart, her eyes captured and her lips set in a smile, any words that might have formed just sit on the edge of her lips]
YAE MIKO- Wait a little, I will fetch you when all is set. [opens the door and exits]
[Once outside, she conjures up a Yakan, instructing it to deliver the message of her absence from the shrine, and the order of its closure for today.]
RAIDEN EI- [gets up and grabs a report from the shelves.]
[Among the scrolls, her attention is captured by a plea addressed to the Shogun, for establishing a new port in Ritou.
As the clouds get ready to pour and the sweet petrichor reaches her, EI wills the weather to calm down, and the skies to clear for now, so Inazumans can go ahead with their festivities.]
SCENE- II
The highest level of Tenshukaku, the island of Narukami caressed by its oceans, along with the great Mt. Yougou kissing the skies, everything falls under the gaze of its ruler from here. The sun has set and the clear night-skies are twinkling. The fireworks are about to begin. On a small table were placed— a dish of sweets, a plate of fried tofu and some sake. RAIDEN EI and YAE MIKO are seated around it.
The first firework goes off, marking the beginning and music is being played by the festival's orchestra, the bold and intense notes reaching up high. Another one goes off.
RAIDEN EI- [removing the sake cup from her lips after a sip] That one reminds me of wet sakura leaves floating over a pond.
YAE MIKO- [looking up at another one] And that one looks like a grove with Tanuki cubs.
[Some time passes in silent viewing and sipping on the sake, with occasional comments on a good one that lights up the sky.]
YAE MIKO- [downing a gulp from her cup] Ah! This brings back the memory of hyakumonogatari daikai, the nights used to be so happy and fun filled, and the sake and stories used to flow abundant. [reaches out for the pitcher and pours herself a new serve] And you know Urakusai, right? He used to have the biggest tales. So one time he says—
[The scene changes as we are now shown MIKO's memories.]
Lanterns light up a cozy living room, engulfing the space in a warm light. On a big round table, a huge feast is laid out. A Yokai banquet seems to be underway. Free-spirited and rowdy, they appear to be tackling life with such playfulness, looking completely in the element, that the handler of script, fate itself stood in that room, watching.
At this moment, the people's attention is focused on a man in the middle of the room. A lady is seated with her white, bushy tail curled up on a red cushion, amber eyes sagaciously watching over the gathering. On her shoulders, a tiny pink kitsune is perched.
URAKUSAI- [continues the scene he was trying to set up] And I did not know that the lost yokai we were looking for was prowling right under our ship, and so as we were sailing over— [a short, high pitched squeak sounds] Yes little Miko, what is it?
MIKO- [from top of SAIGUU's shoulders] I perfectly recall, that a fortnight ago, you left the story at a point, where you had fallen down a gigantic tidefall. You shouldn't just start a new plot, without explaining that occurrence first.
URAKUSAI- [appears to be thrown off his tempo] Uuuhm-aahm! [twirls his beard in thought] Wellllll… hmmm-ah, yes. You see, Miko, that was just a dream. The stimulus from the sounds of the ocean was the source for the imagination of the river; and as the waves sent forth by that rascal of a umibōzu shook the boat, I was thrown off my bed, which was the stimulus for dreaming of the fall. I would have explained this, if you had let me continue. Now as I was saying—
MIKO- [eagerly, her ears up] But I remember last time you also said—[SAIGUU places her hand over MIKO's head]
KITSUNE SAIGUU- Miko, if you keep this up, all these good people waiting for the story will be here forever. [softly strokes MIKO's head] Let the old man proceed for now. [winks down at MIKO while smiling]
[scene cuts to present]
YAE MIKO- That old man's tales were endless! Saiguu had a hard time trying to stop our banter.
RAIDEN EI- [chuckles]
YAE MIKO- [staring at her cup, which reflected the lonely starry skies, so different from those nights long ago, letting out a sigh] I remember, I once heard our great matriarch Hakushin say "Time, oh time, if only we could stop it here." Back then, I didn't understand, why would she worry so, instead of enjoying this moment…
RAIDEN EI- [in a melancholic tone, her irises catching the moonlight] They say "The colour of the sāla flowers reveals the truth, that the prosperous inevitably decline, the full inevitably empty. The proud do not endure, they are like a dream on a spring night..." [a heavy pause] As the elder of her clan, she must have worried about her kin. [after another pause, while gazing at Mt. Yogou] If, perhaps, only time stood still, would the lightning's glow never fade…
YAE MIKO- [resting back on her arms and looking up] What is time, and this eternity then, Your Excellency?
RAIDEN EI- [EI concentrates, and lightning streaks across the skies] That is time, Cause and Effect, a mind-created fiction. [the flash disappears] Ever changing and ephemeral, a dream which confounds the mind. Eternity… it is the stillness buried deep beneath that illusion, continuance of a tranquil moment of detachment, revelling in the unchanging truth of this world, breaking from the cycle.
YAE MIKO- My my, someone needs to keep an eye on you, in case you give up ruling and run off to the mountains to be an ascetic.
RAIDEN EI- [smiles]
YAE MIKO- [filling both of their cups and downing hers in one go] Now this reminded me of a famous Yokai tale, so it went like this—once deep within the mountains, a Tengu warrior…
[The sound of their chatter and laughter is heard, interspersed with the noises of fireworks as YAE MIKO weaves her story, while the firework-show continues.
Some time passes, and the last firework goes off and they watch it explode. The music, which had picked up towards the end, starts to die down.]
YAE MIKO- [in a soft exhale, her shoulders droop a little] There goes the last one…
RAIDEN EI- [gets up, and upon receiving a questioning look, smiles down at MIKO]
[A dazzling flash, and RAIDEN EI is now standing on the roof of Tenshukaku. The roar of thunder resounds throughout the empyrean, shaking the very earth. The music stops completely, as everyone perks their heads up, listening, to something akin to a performer's throat clearing.
A streak of lightning erupts, connecting Tenshukaku to the skies, RAIDEN EI's silhouette visible.
A ball-lightning appears in the sky, lighting up the clouds to create a cherry pink backdrop. With the lit up cloud display and the black night sky as her canvas, RAIDEN EI proceeds to give the Inazumans her own light show. Controlling the electromagnetic spectral emissions of the excited plasma— by creating minute electric fields and potential differences—and the refractive indices of the surrounding medium, to produce multitudes of patterns and colours.
A little way through the performance, Inazuman festival musicians took up their instruments. The beating of the drums and sweet flutes and striking of lutes synced with their God's majestic performance, which today was a bit more extravagant then EI usually would do, as the sake showed its effect.
A dance created from the terrifying and destructive forces of nature, awe evoking, yet no less enchanting.
YAE MIKO's eyes move between the sky and RAIDEN EI's visage, illuminated by the myriad lights that were also reflected in MIKO's eyes. She looks mesmerised.
The light show finishes, and EI comes down.]
YAE MIKO- [playfully] Show off.
RAIDEN EI- [smirking a little] Did you like it?
YAE MIKO- [with a big grin] A lot.
RAIDEN EI- High praise, coming from the Yokai, herself master of illusory crafts uncountable. I graciously accept it.
SCENE-III
The two, having decided to take a walk to Mt. Yougou, are currently strolling through Chinju forest. With everyone busy at the festival, few have crossed their paths, and none felt like disturbing these two on their journey. It is nearing midnight. The sound of Chinju's clear rivers flowing is like a mellow lullaby, the ethereal glow imparted to it by its flora dispersing the darkness. A voice rings out in the forest, drawing their attention.
[A MAN enters the scene.]
MAN- [running] Someone HELP! Save me from these incorrigible cowards that call themselves warriors!
[Two RONIN MEN enter]
RONIN 1- [belligerent and volatile] You deserve to be hunted down, you chattering animal [stops to take aim and fires an arrow. It narrowly misses the MAN as he jumps and dives into an off-path grove.]
[As RONIN 1 runs to follow the MAN, he is attacked by RONIN 2. He falls to the ground trying to dodge, his bow creating a splash in the river]
RONIN 2– [points his yari at RONIN 1, snarling] Upon the name of my father and forefathers, today I will end you and disband your clan!
RONIN 1- [from the ground] Why you good for nothing bastard, [gets up and unsheathes his katana] the bounty on your head will be mine to gamble with, after this duel!
RONIN 2- [glares at his companion, his grip firm on his yari. The other faces him wordlessly.]
The raving ronins fight amongst themselves for a while, as if afflicted by some madness. The darkness of their own psyche has gripped their consciousness, forced to face the weight of their base desires and repressed guilts. A mist surrounds the two, as Wind and Water are evoked, their respective visions glowing.
RAIDEN EI- [looks at YAE MIKO who nods her head, a sly smile dancing on her lips] So it's Miko's doing.
[Waves rise from the river, swirling around RONIN 1 as he raises his sword, the water of the river rising with it. He brings it down on his opponent—along with the deluge—ready to pierce through armour.
RONIN 2 swings his yari around, a gale howls through the forest, ripping leaves from the nearby trees. It cuts through the torrent, as their blades clash.
Before another wave could sweep him, with the wind at his feet, RONIN 2 leaps away, the gust carrying him safely to the branch of a tree. Like a hawk, he then charges down, yari aimed to drive through heart.
RONIN 1 has his katana in an overhead stance, blade eager for bloodshed
Just before exchanging the fatal blow, however, they both stop— as RONIN 2 tumbles to the ground—confusion visible on both their faces.
YAE MIKO has lifted off her illusion, momentarily
The next moment however, has them gasping and pointing at something in the distance, and their bodies appear to be seized by fear. The glow from the fluorescent flowers reveals a mask of terror plastered on their pale faces. MIKO struts forward and whispers something behind them, and the two run away, screaming.]
MAN- [now back, charging with a broken branch] AAHHH, to hell with it!!—[stops in surprise] Who is it now???
[MIKO hides her Yokai features and conjures up an illusion to keep EI incognito, whose features and attire is now hidden an ornate kabuto and a vest.]
RAIDEN EI- Calm down, there is nothing to fear.
MAN- [moves forward cautiously and takes in their appearances up close; he calms down] Ahmm, forgive me, just a little startled. [he looks around and sees no hint of the two chasing him and throws away the stick—bowing] I am a KABUKI ACTOR. Might I enquire who you two noble people, my saviours, might be?
YAE MIKO- Just passersby. What is an actor doing in this forest, being chased by aimless samurai? [smiles] Eccentric enough to charge at two ronins, with naught but a stick, you have piqued my interest.
KABUKI ACTOR- [takes in EI's helmet and MIKO's ornaments and rich clothes] Perhaps some high rankers, a noble woman and a samurai, who don't wish to disclose their identities. Please don't get the wrong idea. I am an artist—who has even performed in overseas operas—who was met with some misfortune. [sighs] The mouth is the origin of disasters, as the saying goes. [continues after a pause] I sought the solitude of this sacred forest, ensnared by its beauty. Art blooms the best when one is alone after-all.
YAE MIKO- You chose an apt spot for your practice then, actor. Chinju's Torii overseeing its paths and passengers, the Shrines hidden in its depths— they all tell of timeless legends. Though, one never knows what one may encounter here— ronin, bake-danuki or you might even meet the Shogun strolling through here.
KABUKI ACTOR- [proudly] I was told we will be performing in front of members of the Shogunate. Although... Now that I think about it, I have never seen the Shogun before. [sheepish grin] I may not even realise it if I met her.
YAE MIKO- Not a local?
KABUKI ACTOR- That is correct. I have heard the tales they tell though— [assumes the exaggerated theatrics of the Kabuki and recites dramatically] the gorge split asunder by a blade of lightning and the pale, still-standing bones of the giant snake. The great name of the Raiden Shogun has long shaken off the shackles of mere life. [finishes] You two look like people of high status though, you must have seen the Shogun up-close?
RAIDEN EI- We have seen her up-close, yes.
KABUKI ACTOR- [curiously] Then can you describe to me—so I don't appear a bumpkin if she visits, unable to even recognise her—how is she in appearance?
RAIDEN EI- There wasn't anything special or distinctive about her appearance, as far as I could tell.
KABUKI ACTOR- How can that be? [laughing] Maybe who I have mistaken as a distinguished person is just an ignorant vagrant, after all— beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
YAE MIKO- [puts a hand on EI's shoulders pushing her back] Oh ignore her, she doesn't even go out much. Why did you even engage this simpleton? Couldn't you tell which one of us was smarter? Wait, I will describe her to you.
[RAIDEN EI looks on in amusement as MIKO begins]
YAE MIKO- [clears throat, and recites in a soft voice]
Tall and broad, with strong arms.
The war behind every peace.
A tan face, framed by a few locks, like stormy clouds bordering the sun,
Long hairs, kept in a braid, adorned by a unique kanzashi
And her eyes? And that face?
She sees everyone, one by one, while they all can only have eyes for her.
And her walk, her touch and her every movement?
When her wrath and valor can rip apart this very world,
They are like the gentle caress of moonlight.
A Naginata adorning her hand, and just that sight alone is enough to inspire hope— [stops as she is interrupted. RAIDEN EI's eyes are fixed on her with a hard to read look, rest of her face hidden]
KABUKI ACTOR- Haha, you sound like you are narrating a play.
YAE MIKO- Well, after all, even when we all have our own subjective truths, a good narration should leave the listeners convinced—its veracity unchallenged. Though, if you still remain unconvinced, a meeting with the Shogun can certainly be arranged.
KABUKI ACTOR- [bedazzled] Please, no, no, I wouldn't dream of troubling you as such.
YAE MIKO- [with a teasing smile] Rest assured, it's no trouble at all. Isn't that right [dramatically] O Raiden Shogun [MIKO lifts the illusion, so that her kitsune features are visible and EI's royal clothing and face too]
KABUKI ACTOR- [taken aback on hearing the kitsune's addressal, he then takes in EI's appearance and squirms upon connecting the dots of tonight's events. He joins his hands and bows, while speaking in a flustered voice] Please forgive me [his face blushes with embarrassment]
[the KABUKI ACTOR walks away briskly with his head down while MIKO's amusement filled chortling can be heard]
(Curtain fall)
End of Act-I
Suggested readings—
The Tale of the Heike
The Gay Science- Nietzsche