by Fuyumi Ono
According to what she remembered from her Japanese history textbook, a Japanese "ri" was two and a half miles. The "ri" referred to here was a much shorter distance, only several hundred yards. So five ri was not that far.
The scenery itself was prosaic, but the peace and quiet was quite nice. The mountains loomed craggy and tall above the rolling terrain. She could see faintly in the distance mountains whose peaks were wrapped with clouds, but none covered with snow. The sky pressed low against the ground.
It seemed that here spring had arrived a month earlier than in Tokyo. Flowers were blooming here and there along the rice paddy dikes. Youko recognized some, others were new to her.
Here and there amidst the fields several small houses were huddled together. These were villages, Takki told her, for the people who worked the land. A little further along they came to a somewhat larger settlement enclosed by a tall wall. This was a town. It was where people in the surrounding areas lived during the winter.
"So where people live is different during the winter than in the other seasons?"
"There are a few oddballs that live in the villages during the winters, but the rest of us have better things to do than camp out in the fields. It's much more comfortable in the towns. And safer."
"Those walls sure are thick. It's to protect you from the youma, right?"
"Youma wouldn't attack a town like that. It's mostly to protect from wars and wild animals."
"Wild animals?"
"Wolves and bears. A panther or tiger will turn up now and then, though you don't find them much around these parts. In the winter when game is hard to find they come down to where people are."
"How do people arrange housing during the winter? Do they rent?"
"You're also given a house when you become an adult. Most people sell right away, though some rent to the townsfolk when they go back to the village. The ones that sell out rent during the winter. That's the most common."
"Oh."
The cities were all guarded by high castle ramparts. There was only one way in and out of the city, through a reinforced gate. Guards were posted at the gate, and they inspected every person who entered or left.
Usually the guards just guarded the gate, Takki said. They were particularly interested in any red-haired young women amongst the travelers, no doubt on the lookout for a kaikyaku who had run away from Hairou.
Inside the gate the houses were packed together. Shops lined the crisscrossing avenues. The streets were busy with vagrants. A number of people had set up house tents along the base of the inner walls.
"If everybody receives their own land, why do they have to live in tents?"
When Youko pointed at the tents Takki raised her eyebrows. "Those are refugees from the Kingdom of Kei. They are a sorry lot. There's a great unrest in Kei these days. The refugees running away from youma and wars collect together like that. When it gets warmer, their numbers will increase."
"It looks like there's unrest here, too."
"Indeed. It's not only Kei. To the north, I hear there's trouble in the Kingdom of Tai. They say it's even worse there."
Youko only nodded. Japan was a peaceful country in comparison. Here there were wars, and nothing good could be said about the state of law and order. They didn't let their belongings out of their sight for a second. Unsavory characters propositioned her any number of times, and a tough-looking gang tried to draw her away. But Takki let loose a lively stream of invective and rescued her.
The lack of security was probably why nobody traveled at night. The city gate was shut as well. By the time the sun set it was imperative that a traveler make it to the next town or city.
"You said it takes about four months to travel from one kingdom to another?"
"That's right."
"Is there any other way to travel than walking?"
"There's horse and cart as well. But you got to be rich. Someone like me wouldn't be able to afford it, not in a whole lifetime."
It was an impoverished world compared to her own. No cars, no gas or electricity. Not even running water. This could not simply be due to the delayed development of civilization. She gathered from their conversations that the bigger source of the problem was a lack of any oil or coal technology.
She asked Takki, "So how did you learn so much about the other kingdoms? Have you been to Kei or Tai?"
"Of course not," Takki laughed. "I've never been out of Kou. We peasants don't do much in the way of traveling like that. Got to take care of the fields. You find out about the other kingdoms from listening to what the minstrels have to say."
"Traveling actors and musicians, you mean?"
"Yes. There are those among them that have traveled around the world. In their performances they tell stories about how they went here and saw this and how they went there and saw that. Tales from all the cities and all the kingdoms."
"Wow," Youko said. In her world, back in the olden days, people used to watch newsreels at the theater. It must be like that, she thought.
No matter what, it was great having someone with you to answer all your questions. Youko didn't know a thing about this world, and the anxiety that came with not knowing was frightening. But with a helpful person at her side, someone who could explain things one by one as they came along, it was all quite fascinating.
With Takki at her side they completed the trip without incident. A world that had struck her as harsh and cruel had become a thing of great curiosity and interest.
Every night she was visited by the strange visions, that made her homesick and left her feeling depressed. The blue monkey showed up, too, and made things worse. But the raw feelings didn't last.
Once they got up the next morning and started out, it was one fascinating scene after another. Takki was as nice to her as she could have hoped for. Borrowing strength from the jewel she could keep on walking without getting tired. And knowing that at night they would be eating a good meal and sleeping in a decent bed made it all the more tolerable.
It was hard being so far from her home, but at least she now had a caring guardian at her side. She couldn't be thankful enough that she had been lucky enough to meet her.
3-6
The three-day journey was soon over, and proved somewhat anticlimactic. On the third day the tall buildings of Kasai rising above the river plain told them that they had arrived. It was the first place Youko had seen that actually looked like a city.
"Well … it is big," Youko said, as they passed through the gate and got a chance to look around.
Takki chuckled. "Around these parts, the only city bigger than Kasai is Takkyuu, the district capital."
A district was the next step up from a prefecture. Youko didn't have a good grasp of the relative sizes involved. She didn't think that Takki did either. When she spoke of the "government," it was sufficient for her to mean the town hall or maybe the prefecture seat.
Inside the gate, stores large and small lined the main road. They were different from those in the towns they'd passed through up to now. These were grand and luxurious. It reminded Youko of Chinatown. The big buildings had glass windows that were quite impressive. It was still early in the afternoon and the street was not crowded, but she had the feeling that come closing time and the place would be packed with travelers.
Now that she thought about her decision to live in this bustling city, her mood improved a bit. No matter where she settled down, even in one of the towns, she couldn't complain. But it went without saying that a lively place like this was better.
Takki turned off the main road, towards a block of smaller-scale shops. The area had a vaguely run-down feeling, but there was no change in the hustle-bustle atmosphere. A number of businesses were organized into a kind of medieval strip mall sharing a common roof. Takki headed towards the one that was quite the most elegant.
It was a three-story building with bright green pillars. They entered the imposing front doors into a large restaurant that took up the whole of the first f
loor. Takki left Youko to admire the splendid accouterments and grabbed the waiter who came out to greet them.
"Call the mistress for me, will you? Say her daughter's come to see her. You got that?"
The man's face broke into a grin and he hurried out of sight. Takki watched him leave, then sat Youko down at the nearest table. "You wait here. Go ahead and order something. Everything's really good."
"Are you sure it's okay?" This restaurant was bigger than any inn or dining hall they'd been in so far.
"Don't worry about it. My mum will pick up the tab. Treat yourself, anything you want."
Even so, Youko couldn't really follow the menu. Sensing that, Takki laughed, summoned a waiter and ordered a few things. The waiter bowed and left. At the same time, from the back of the restaurant appeared a woman just old enough to be called an "old woman."
"Mother," said Takki, standing up and smiling. The old woman reacted with a cheerful expression. Watching attentively, Youko saw with relief that she came across as a nice person. With her as her boss, it couldn't be that bad of a job.
"Youko, you wait here, okay? I have a few things to talk over with my mum."
"Yes," Youko said with a nod. Takki smiled and hurried after her mother. The two patted each other on the back and laughed together and then disappeared into the back. Youko watched them leave with a smile. She placed Takki's rucksack next to the table and paused to look around the restaurant.
For some reason, there seemed to be no female employees. All the waiters and busboys were men, as were most of the customers. She caught several of them glancing in her direction, checking her out. Without really knowing why, she began to feel very unsettled.
A short time later, a group of four men came in. They sat themselves down at an adjacent table, turned and leered at her, whispered amongst themselves and burst into laughter. It was starting to creep her out.
As she scanned the restaurant, she saw no hint of Takki returning. She put up with it the best she could, but then one of the four got up and walked towards her. She scrambled to her feet, ignored the man calling after her and caught the attention of a waiter. "Um … do you know where I can find Takki-san?"
He curtly pointed towards the back of the restaurant. Figuring he meant for her to go find Takki by herself, Youko set off in the direction he had indicated, lugging the rucksack along with her. Nobody tried to stop her.
She made her way along a narrow corridor and emerged into what looked like the building's cluttered back rooms. Feeling somehow self-conscious as she crept along, she at last came upon a beautifully carved door. The door was open. From behind a screen that blocked the middle of the room from view came Takki's voice.
"Really, there's nothing to worry about!"
"But, my dear, she's being sought by the police!"
Youko stopped in her tracks. There was reluctance in the old woman's voice. The sudden rush of anxiety made Youko stop and crane her neck. Of course, no way she'd want to hire a kaikyaku. She resisted the impulse to rush in and bow her head and beg, Please. That would be too presumptuous. At the same time, she was in too desperate a state of mind to return to the restaurant.
"Oh, what's a kaikyaku? Just somebody who got lost, no? All that stuff about them making bad things happen, you don't believe those old superstitions, do you?"
"Of course I don't, but what if the officials find out?"
"Nobody says anything, nobody finds out anything. That girl's not going to talk. Think about it, she's a bargain find, don't you think? Not bad looking, not too old. She'd be handy to have around."
"Yes, but … . "
"Behaves herself, too. You teach her how to treat the guests right and she'll be bringing 'em in the front door. All you have to do is take her off my hands for a reasonable price. What's there to worry about?"
Youko tilted her head to one side. Takki's tone of voice was … odd. It wasn't good manners to eavesdrop but she wasn't going to stop listening now. She began to hear something else as well, almost subconsciously, a sound like the faint roar of the ocean.
"But a kaikyaku … . "
"And no strings attached! Think of that. No parents or brothers storming in and raising a ruckus. Right from the start it'll be like she doesn't even exist. None of the usual fuss and bother."
"But does she really have what it takes to work here?"
"She said so herself. I told her it was a hotel. She thought I meant working as a maid or something. That girl is quite the little fool."
Listening attentively to their conversation, Youko knew something was terribly wrong. She was "that girl." Till now, Takki had always addressed her so warmly and sincerely. Youko didn't sense a speck of that consideration now. What was she to make of this? It was almost as if she were listening to the voice of a completely different person.
"But … . "
"Everybody knows what those green pillars mean, and what kind of a woman works at a place that has them. You'd better know the difference, too, when it comes to paying the bill."
Youko's eyes flew open wide. The shock didn't knock her flat only because she was still holding onto Takki's rucksack. The monkey had told her. Why hadn't she listened more closely to its warnings?
Shock, and then anger. Her pulse raced. Her constricted breath was hot in her throat. The sound of the ocean roared in her ears, deafening her. So that's what this has been about. She took a tight grip of the sword, still wrapped up like a parcel. A moment later she settled herself down and instead turned on her heels and retreated down the narrow hallway the way she had come. Pretending that nothing at all was amiss, she strode through the restaurant and headed for the exit.
At a brisk pace, Youko stepped through the doors and again looked up at the building. The pillars and beams, even the window frames, were painted green. She'd figured out what it meant in the nick of time. She was still carrying Takki's rucksack. No way was she going back inside to return it.
Almost as if on cue, a second-floor window opened. A woman leaned against the ornate balcony railing and stared out at the world. Her gleaming kimono was rumpled and undone, the collar wide and open. Her occupation was as plain as the nose on her face.
Youko shuddered with revulsion. As if sensing that she was being watched, the woman looked down at her, laughed derisively, and closed the window.
3-7
"Hey, miss."
At the sound of the voice behind her, Youko tore her gaze away from the second floor balcony. Standing not far from her were the four men from before. One of them said to her, "You work there?"
"Not hardly," she spat back.
She turned to leave. The man grabbed her arm and sidled in front of her, blocking her way. "Like hell you don't. What kind of woman eats at a place like that?"
"The person I was with knows someone there."
"And what was that person up to, eh? Maybe she came here to sell you?"
The man grasped her chin with his hand. Youko swatted it away. "Not a chance. Get your hands off me."
The man laughed. "Now, she's a spunky one." He yanked her closer. "C'mon, missy, let me buy you a drink."
"Drop dead. Let go of me."
"Tell the truth, she was selling you off, right? And now you're wanting me to overlook how you're trying to run out on the deal, eh?"
"I would never--" and with all her strength Youko jerked her arm free of the man's grip. "I would never work at a place like that. And I'm not for sale."
She strode away from him, looking for a way out. The man grabbed her again, this time by the shoulders. She ducked and slipped free. Before he could come at her again, her hand was on the hilt of the sword.
Humans hold the sea inside them. And right now the waves were surging violently, threatening to break out of her body and pound down upon the man there in front of her.
"I said, hands off."
Her arm flashed and the cloth unraveled from the sword. The man retreated, goggle-eyed. "Son of a bitch … . "
"If you don't w
ant to get hurt, then get out of my way."
The man sized up Youko and the sword. He chortled, "You even know how to use that thing?"
Wordlessly Youko raised the sword, aligning the tip with the man's throat. This was a dangerous weapon she'd been given, this claw of hers, this talon. "Move it. Go back to the restaurant. Your friends are waiting for you."
Nearby somebody shouted. Youko did not avert her gaze. Raising a sword in the middle of the street like this would no doubt cause a disturbance, but now was not the time to second-guess herself. The man's eyes flicked back and fro between Youko and the tip of the sword. Slowly he retreated. Just as he seemed ready to turn and run back into the restaurant, a scream reverberated across the street.
"That girl! Somebody grab that girl!"
Youko looked in the direction of the voice. Takki was standing in the door of the restaurant yelling at her. An awful anger engulfed her, an awful thing like what she had seen in her dreams, like a blood-red tide engulfing the sea.
"She's running away. Get her!"
The disgust that Youko felt welling up inside her almost made her sick. It was directed as much at herself as it was at that woman, who had deceived her with a beatific smile on her face.
People were flooding out of the restaurant and gathering in from the adjacent streets. Youko didn't let down her guard. She flipped the hilt of the sword over in her hand, brandishing the wide blade. Whether or not anybody ended up dead, that was up to Jouyuu. And if it went as far as somebody trying to arrest her again, well, there was a small part of her that wouldn't be too averse to a bit of killing, either.
Nobody will have you as an ally in this world.
She thought Takki was going to help her. She was so thankful to her. Over and over she had thanked her lucky stars. She'd really believed, that's what made it so sickening.
