Chapter 10: The journey home

Our protagonist returns to his home.

For three days the trio rested within the magistrate's manor house and for three days Fuyukaze healed. On the fourth day they were given horses and travel papers, as well as a package to be delivered from the magistrate.

The wind was cold as they pushed along the road, the horses kept a brisk pace, and they passed through villages quickly, until they reached the Himitsu Mori, an old forest which separated the Katsukana from the Taeshimo family territories. The woods grew along the edges of the road, darkening their path while leaving pillars of light where the branches had not yet choked out the sky. This made the path colder still but they pushed onwards, knowing that the comforts of the capital would arrive soon.

The three teens clung to the reigns of their steeds, as they rode past traveling merchants and peasants carrying their goods to market. The days stretched long and they took refuge in a large inn at the roadside, the inn was a sprawling structure with a large garden and stables nearby. The inn the only prominent feature of the tiny farming village within a forest clearing. Strangely out of place to a village whose size probably said there were more innkeepers than farmers there.

It was in this inn that the three teens rested, given a spacious room after presenting the travel papers at the doorway. Servers brought trays of food, more than the trio had ever seen before and rice wine was served in abundance. Honma made a point of pouring for his two friends taking little for himself, before long a young woman bearing a guitar like instrument called a samisen.

“Greetings young sirs, I am Ume and I have come to play for you. Would that be to your liking?” The young woman wore a brilliant purple and gold dress, a large gold sash tied into a bow behind her. She entered the room with small steps, Goemon”stumbling over his words before Fuyukaze blurted out “Yes that would be... very nice... thank you.”

Honma merely poured a bit more sake “It seems you are to celebrate here before you celebrate at home, perhaps you would like to regale us with tales of your exploits in battle.” The teen looked back at Fuyukaze before meeting Ume's gaze, leaning back slightly as he smiled at the girl warmly.

Fuyukaze stumbled a bit “There is not much to tell, my friend was slain by a ronin named Hinada Ayomi. We fought in a village to the west of Sanada and I avenged a classmate's death. That is all there is.” His words were blunt, making the young woman frown slightly.

“A ronin of some skill I have have heard.” Honma added, “and whose possessions you carry back to your father.” The youth took a sip of sake himself making motion to the package that lay bound in cloth upon the floor.

Fuyukaze looked at his friend in confusion, but Goemon spoke his thoughts aloud first. “How did you know that?” The youth barking his words, though his voice slurred slightly from the drink.

Honma merely smiled holding up a hand “Oh I just have good hearing, I overheard the magistrate talking to a servant. I am sure there is good reason for him sending such a package, perhaps a sign of your skill since the head would likely be rotted by the time it was returned to your uncle.”

Ume smiled softly “Young master, I would like to see these things if you would indulge me.” She bowed slightly “I have heard of Hinada Ayomi, and he has a legendary sword, one which is said that its shadow shows red as it thirsts for blood.”

Goemon's eyes widened, looking towards the package curiously and Fuyukaze slipped forwards, stumbling a bit causing a bowl of noodles to turn upon its side on the tray he ate from. Honma smiled “Please, let me.” He rose up from his spot, the young samurai slipping from knee to foot in a crouching walk and knelt by the clothed package opening it carefully and laying the cloth open. Indeed within lay the ronin's katana and wakizashi, as well as several other personal effects including a fan, a pipe, a thin folio style book with a red cover and the words “endless night” written upon it. In addition there was an open paper wrapper, the kind money was given and a stack of gold coins within. Honma's eyes widened “So much money.” He glanced back to meet Ume's eyes.

Fuyukaze frowned “Money from selling Yoshio's sword” the youth did not notice his Honma and Goemon wincing as he mentioned the name of his dead friend. “The villain was likely traveling to some place where he could spend it in peace.”

Wordlessly Honma nodded, and silently counted the coins before picking up the katana and unsheathing it, he carefully turned the blade in the light and looked down at its shadow upon the rice paper wall, it was dark. He looked back to Ume “just a legend then” he laughed, closing the blade carefully and laying it back among the other possessions and drawing it up the cloth once again. “We should keep this guarded carefully” he said to both of them “I would be wary about it being stolen in a place like this.”

Both Fuyukaze and Goemon both nodded in agreement, the former taking the package and pulling it beside them. Ume broke the silence “Perhaps a story? The tale of Furoji perhaps?” she twanged the strings of the samisen twice and began her song her voice as pure and strong as she began to sing.

“Once there was a master of the arts named Furoji, thought to be a joy then the bane of his family.

He traveled to Sonaga to study the arts of medicine and geomancy, and there he found his place in a college in Shangyu.  

He studied diligently but his efforts brought no patience or study, he simply found he desired more than he had.

His master invited him to a secret study, and made a pact of blood there to serve him. In exchange he learned forbidden arts that would give him the power he sought.

In treachery he slew his master and took his books and gems and potions to the port and returned to his home.

There he created a lavish feast to his family, his clan gathered in their home to hear what he had learned. He spoke at length of the powers of the ley lines and flow of chi. But when they had finished their dinners and went to bed they began to sleep fitfully.

This night the demons slipped inside them, possessing the minds of otherwise good servants of the Emperor and corrupting them to foul machinations of Furoji.

Furoji's clan went to the Imperial city. Every man, woman and child all walking in silent unison, bearing their master upon a palanquin while their daimyo rode a horse silently.

When they reached the capital they attacked the palace, and here set fires and fought the Emperor's guard. The Emperor's guard were mighty, but as they cut down Furoji's tainted kin the demons rose from their corpses and fought on.

All hope was lost, and courtiers and courtesans began to kill themselves as the creatures slipped into the depths of the Imperial palace. It was here that the Katsukana Taeshimo stood the line, he was determined to die in a stone room with the Empress and her children behind him.

The Emperor had heard of the attack and raced home with an army of samurai, as he saw the carnage he feared he was too late and searched through the palace looking for his beloved.

He found her still in the within stone store room, Katsukana Taeshimo standing there over the bodies of two dozen demons. He stood there expecting to find death but though they bit and tore his flesh they could not fell the servant of the Emperor.

The Emperor gave half of his forces to the brave warrior, who took these men and hunted down the dog Furoji, who cowered in his family home. There he waited to fight with sorcery, but his head was struck from his shoulders as he lay his demonic spells upon the Emperor's brave men.

This is the tale of Furoji, the dog who killed his entire family. His clan stripped from the history books, his dishonor eternal.

Fuyukaze just smiled proudly, the namesake of his family was the hero of this tale. The slayer of the demonic Furoji was the founder of his house. He sat in drunken smugness, Goemon rolled his eyes and threw back another drink before boldly declaring “Play something else.”

Ume just smiled “of course good samurai” and began to gently strum the samisen, going from the exuberance of the ballad to a slow gentle strumming as she played a quiet sedate song. The effects were as desired, because as the evening wore on Fuyukaze and Goemon laid out upon the cushioned tatami floor and sleep soon found them. The youths slept quietly, though Fuyukaze's sleep was a bit more fitful than his friends. He woke in the night to look upon Honma and Ume kneeling close to one another. Sharing quiet words with one another before Ume noticed Fuyukaze stirring. She bowed low to the youth causing Honma to fall silent. Ume and Honma shared one last gaze into one another's eyes before reluctantly Ume left the room. Honma in turn laid against the door frame, his katana resting upon his shoulder as he spent the night stiffly sitting in guard.