by Fuyumi Ono
"Huh."
"A kingdom undergoing a change of regimes will always fall into chaos, while a kingdom with a wise ruler prospers. In particular, the Royal En has proved to be a most shrewd reformer. And speaking of enlightened monarchs, Royal Sou is said to be one as well, who has made the Kingdom of Sou a place of peace and tranquility. En, on the other hand, is, as you say, a 'happening' place."
"It is, indeed."
"No doubt about it. Oh, here's the prefecture building."
Rakushun pointed to a large brick building. The walls and eaves were decorated after a Chinese fashion, and though the architecture was in the "western" style, the combination did not clash. The interior decor was similarly a potpourri of Occidental and Oriental tastes.
The first thing Youko said after they left was, "This place is incredible."
Rakushun nodded. "I always knew that Kou was hard on kaikyaku, but I wouldn't have believed that En was this different."
Youko agreed. She examined the wooden card she had been given by the administrator. On the front was a red seal and beneath it in black ink, "Conferred in Ugou, Tei Province, Haku District, Shuuyou Prefecture." On the back was her name. It was her identification card.
The official Youko had been brought to asked for her name, her address in Japan, her occupation and other details, including, most surprisingly, her postal code and area code, before handing over the identification card.
"By the way, Youko, um, what are postal codes and area codes?"
The official had asked the same question as Rakushun. Apparently he didn't know either. "Just following regulations," he said, opening a volume in a set of books. Sneaking a peek at the Japanese-style bound volume, Youko saw that it contained rows of numbers printed with woodblock characters. Only after referencing one of the volumes did he hand over the card.
"A postal code, or zip code, is a number you put at the end of an address when you mail a letter. An area code is the number your dial when you call somebody on the telephone outside your local calling area."
"Telephone?"
"Um, it's a gizmo that transmits your voice a long distance so you can talk to people."
"To think they have such things in Japan. But why would he ask about it?" Rakushun quivered his whiskers.
"Probably because someone who wasn't Japanese wouldn't know such a thing. Makes it easy to tell who is a kaikyaku and who's not. Otherwise, you'd have people pretending to be kaikyaku all over the place." Youko grinned and showed him her card.
"Yeah, that must be it."
This card was proof of her bona fides, but it was good for only three years. In three years it was expected that she would find a livelihood, at which time she would settle on a permanent place of residency and be officially recorded on the census. In exchange, during her three years as a ward of the state, she would have free access to the local community colleges and hospitals. Not only that, if she took her identification card to a kind of bank called a trade credit union, she could collect a stipend to cover your living expenses.
"What a country!"
"Yes, indeed."
Kou was so much poorer, En so much richer. If nothing else, that's what the card taught them.
The Royal En should by no means prove to be an unapproachable individual. Rakushun said she should ask him for help. She still had her doubts about the likelihood of that ever happening. She had her doubts about a lot of things, but felt more confident that she wouldn't be rejected out of hand or summarily punished for making the attempt.
6-6
As Rakushun had predicted, many beasts mingled in with the crowds on the streets. Amidst the hustle and bustle, there was something unbearably cute about these animals walking about on their two hind legs. Some were even dressed like people, and Youko had to try hard not to giggle.
While he was waiting for her, Rakushun had gotten work at the harbor doing maintenance on the ships coming into port. He told her enthusiastically all about it.
Still, he took the occasion of meeting up with Youko to quit his first job ever. When she insisted that it was all right with her to stay a while longer in Ugou while he gave his notice, Rakushun said that when he signed up, he had told the foreman that he only wanted to work until the person he was waiting for arrived, so it was no big deal.
The day after Youko arrived, they set forth for Kankyuu. Though her stipend couldn't be called exceedingly generous, it was by no means a miserly amount, and they could afford to take things easy. They walked along the highway during the day, and at night stopped in at a city and found an inn. All of the cities in En were big, and for the same fee you got that much more than a comparable inn in Kou. They'd arrive at dusk, arrange for lodgings, and then go sightseeing. Rakushun particularly liked checking out what the shops had on display.
It was an uneventful trip. Nobody came chasing after her, though it took her some time to train herself not to recoil every time she saw a guard or constable. They never left the cities at night so she couldn't confirm this for herself, but from what she gathered from conversations with people, even if you traveled at night, you hardly ever ran into a youma.
It was in the midst of their journey, eleven days out from Ugou and about a third of the way to Kankyuu, that Rakushun went out for a stroll while Youko was taking a bath, and heard talk about another kaikyaku.
Though Rakushun had pointed out that because they were in En, it'd be okay to show herself off a bit more, as always, Youko preferred men's clothing, specifically a jacket or tunic called a hou. It was more comfortable, and having gotten used to it, she had no desire to put on a woman's long kimono.
So, of course, everybody took her for a boy. This made using public baths a pain. The inns in En often had a furo, but they were more like a communal sauna, so she made do by bathing in their room. Because they had money to spare, even after taking care of their travel expenses, they always got a room. Still, it seemed a bit pointless since they settled for one room, and whenever she took a bath she kicked Rakushun out. Rakushun no doubt found it annoying.
She filled a basin with hot water and washed her hair. She hadn't been in this world very long when Takki dyed her hair. As the days and months passed, her hair had grown out. Takki made the dye from roots in her garden. Copying what she had observed Takki do, Youko had searched for the same kind of roots. Through trial and error, she was able to fashion a dye of sorts. But the species of root or the process itself was wrong, because the dye washed out afterwards.
At this point, her hair wasn't so different from its original red. She was getting used to the strange color. She still got an odd vibe when looking at herself in the mirror, but the visage wasn't unbearable. She bathed and dressed, all the more aware that she was getting used to this life.
When Rakushun got back, he told her about the kaikyaku. "It seems there's a kaikyaku living in Houryou, the local prefectural seat. It's along the way."
Youko raised her eyes for a moment and then looked away. "Oh, really."
She didn't want to meet him. And even if she did, the thought of hanging out with a fellow countryman and getting all depressed was even more painful.
"They say he goes by the name of Hekirakujin."
"That's Heki Rakujin?"
"Yeah. He's something like a professor at a prefectural college."
That being the case, he wouldn't be the old man who had ripped her off. And when she thought it through, it wasn't likely she would run into him here. But that was only a minor comfort.
"Shall we go and see him?" Rakushun looked at Youko with hopeful eyes.
"Well, it'd probably be a good idea."
"Then you'll go?"
"Sure … I guess."
The next day, they departed from the road to Kankyuu and headed to Houryuu to visit the school.
Shire-level preparatory schools here were called jogaku and prefectural academies were called shougaku. In En, students aiming for a district academy (joushou) could do their preparatory work at a prefectural
academy, or could attend a prefectural polytechnic college (shoujo). This "Professor Heki" they were visiting taught at such a shoujo. He lived in a compound at the school.
Dropping in on a professor out of the blue was bad manners. Following formal procedures, a letter was sent and an interview requested. The reply from Heki Rakujin arrived at their inn the next morning. The courier bearing the reply accompanied them to the school.
The school in Houryou was located within the inner bailey wall of the city, built in the archetypal Chinese style. With its expansive gardens, the school resembled more a wealthy estate than a school. They were led to a small gazebo where they waited. The next person they saw was Heki Rakujin.
He said, "Please excuse the delay. I am Heki."
His age was hard to tell. Older than thirty, younger than fifty, Youko thought. He seemed both old and young. A gentle smile came easily to his smooth, unwrinkled face. He had a completely different air about him than that old man, Seizou Matsuyama.
"Did you receive our letter?" Rakushun asked. "We, um, thank you so very much for sparing a moment of your precious time with us."
Rakujin smiled at Rakushun's overly polite language. "Relax. Make yourselves at home."
"Um … . " Rakushun scratched at the bottom of his ear. He looked at Youko. "This is the kaikyaku."
The man responded at once to Rakushun's introduction. "Of course. But she doesn't look much like a kaikyaku to me." He turned to Youko.
"I supposed I don't."
He laughed. "I can't say I ever saw that color of hair in Japan."
"Um … . "
Responding to the inquiring look in his eyes, Youko explained her predicament. Why, she didn't know, but since coming here she had changed like this. It wasn't only the color of her hair. Her face, body, even her voice had changed.
When she finished talking, Rakujin nodded. "That means you're a taika."
"Me?" Youko's eyes opened wide. "A taika?"
"When there is a shoku, here and there get mixed up together. People come here and ranka go there."
"I don't get it."
"When a person in Japan or China is caught up in a shoku, they are brought here. In the same way, ranka sometimes get swept into that other world. A ranka is like an embryo. In the other world, a ranka can become embedded in a woman's womb. The child that is subsequently born is called a taika."
"That's what you're saying I am?"
Rakujin nodded. "A taika is a being of this world, the way you appear now. It is the form bestowed upon you by the Tentei."
"But when I was over there … . "
"If you had been born the way you are now, it would have caused quite an uproar. You do probably resemble your parents."
"Yes. People say I look like my grandmother on my father's side."
"It is a shell, so to speak. A second skin grows within the womb so that those born in that other world may pass as 'normal.' I've heard that a taika's appearance can be transfigured in such a manner."
Youko struggled to make sense of what he was telling her. He was telling her that in Japan, she had been a stranger in a strange land all along. That she accepted without objection. There was definitely a part of her that said, Yes, of course.
She didn't belong to that other world. That was why she had never felt at home there. She found the thought very comforting. And at the same time, very sad.
6-7
Youko was caught up in her thoughts for a moment, thinking about herself and her place in the world. She turned to Rakujin. "Are you a taika too, Professor?"
He shook his head and smiled. "Just an ordinary kaikyaku. I grew up in Shizuoka and attended Tokyo University. I came here when I was twenty-two. I was trying to sneak out of Yasuda Hall by crawling under one of the desks barricading the entrance. The next thing I knew, I was in this world."
"Yasuda … ?"
"Do you know about it? It was a big deal at the time. Perhaps by now it has been consigned to the musty pages of history."
"Just because I don't know something … . "
"The same applies to me. It happened on January 17th, 1969. Night had fallen. What happened after that I don't know."
"It all took place before I was born."
A wry smile came to his face. "How the years have gone by. I have been here a long time."
"You've been here ever since then?"
"I have. I arrived in Kei. Six years ago, I moved from Kei and settled in En. As for my line of work, I'm what you might call a science teacher." He smiled and shook his head. "It's not important. Now, what did you wish to ask me?"
Youko came right to the point. "There's a way to go home, isn't there?"
After a moment's hesitation, Rakujin lowered his voice. "No mortal being can cross the Kyokai. It is a one-way trip. Once you get here, you cannot go back."
Youko took a breath. "Is that so?" But it didn't hit her as hard as she had expected.
"I'm sorry I could not be of more help to you."
"No, that's okay. I had another question. It's a bit strange, though."
"Go ahead."
"I understand what they say here."
Rakujin tilted his head to the side quizzically.
"At first, I didn't notice any difference at all. I thought everyone was speaking Japanese. The only thing I didn't understand were unique words and terms. And then I met this old kaikyaku in Kou, and for the first time I realized that nobody was speaking Japanese. Yet I have no problem communicating, even though I only speak Japanese. What could account for this?"
Rakujin looked inquiringly at Rakushun. When Rakushun confirmed what she was saying, he thought it over for a minute.
"It would seem that you are not human."
I knew that, Youko thought.
"When I arrived, it was hard because I didn't understand a thing. I thought the language was similar to Chinese, but the few words of Chinese I knew did me little good. For many years, I had to communicate in writing. I managed to get by using classical Chinese. But even that was chancy, which made my first year here very difficult. That's been true of everybody who has come here. Taika are no different. I have done my own research on kaikyaku, and every one of them has had real difficulty with the language. You are no ordinary kaikyaku."
Youko unconsciously gripped her arms. Rakujin continued.
"From what I've heard, only wizards and magical beings such as youma do not encounter this hurdle of language. If you did not immediately perceive a difference in language, you cannot be human. You must be of the same species as wizards or youma."
"So … there are also youma taika?"
Rakujin nodded. The smile did not disappear from his face. "I've never heard of it, but it is possible. Maybe there is a solution to your predicament after all. Perhaps you can go back."
Youko lifted her head. "Do you really think so?"
"Perhaps. Youma and wizards can cross the Kyokai. It is not something I can do. I cannot go home again, but you are different. You should definitely request an audience with the Royal En."
"If we meet with the king, would he be able to help us?"
"Most likely. It won't be simple, and the rewards may be slim, but it would certainly be worth trying."
"Yeah." Nodding her head, Youko cast her eyes down to the floor. "It all makes sense. I'm not a human being." She smiled to herself.
Rakushun raised his voice sharply. "Youko."
She drew back her sleeve, showing her right hand. "I always thought this was odd. There should be a scar in the palm of my hand, I wound I got after coming here and being attacked by the youma. It was a deep wound that went straight through my hand. Now, I can barely see it."
Rakushun gently unfolded her hand and examined her palm. He quivered his whiskers. This was the wound Rakushun had tended to himself. He could testify to the fact that it was indeed a serious injury.
"I should have a lot of other scars, but you'd never know it. The wounds themselves are very light for being inflicted by youma.
No fang marks remain where where I was bitten. For some reason, my body has become very resilient to injury."
Youko had to smile. The realization that she was not human struck her as rather amusing. "Because I'm a youma, don't you see? That's why they hunt me and attack me."
Rakujin frowned. "Youma hunt you?"
Rakushun answered for her. "It sure looks that way to me."
"That's absurd."
"That's what I thought, but wherever Youko goes, youma are bound to show up. I was there when we were attacked by a kochou." Rakujun pressed his hands to his temples.
"Recently, there have been rumors of youma appearing more often in Kou. Are you saying it is because of her?"
Rakushun looked hesitantly at Youko. Youko nodded and picked up the story. "I think so, too. The reason I ended up here in the first place is because I was attacked by a kochou and had to escape."
"You escaped to this world after being attacked by a kochou? From that other world to here?"
"Yes. A guy named Keiki--and I'm pretty sure he's a youma, too--he said it was in order to protect me. He's the one who brought me here."
"And where he is now?"
"I don't know. When we arrived, we were ambushed by youma and got split up. I haven't seen him since. He could be dead."
Rakujin held his head in his hands and thought for a long time. "It's impossible. I simply cannot imagine."
"That's what Rakushun said."
"Youma are a species of wild animal. They have been known to hunt humans in packs, but they would not track down a particular individual. Needless to say, they would not cross the Kyokai to do so. It is not in their nature, the same way you would not expect it of a tiger, for example."
"Couldn't a person train a tiger to do something like that?"
"Youma cannot be domesticated. You are speaking of something quite grave, Miss Youko."
"It's that serious?"
"If we suppose that some kind of change was effected in the youma to cause them to attack you, or if we suppose that someone found a way to control and command them, either way, standing idly by and doing nothing could very well put the kingdom in jeopardy."
