Session 35. (28/12/09)

The adopted Ainu and Kokuma pull together to get over the loss of Mineo. Miyoshi tells the tribe of his heroism - and Mineo's - outrageously embellishing it to the point where it seems incredible that the bear would survive. At Kachamaru's behest, Kokuma's wife builds a shrine to Mineo, and places it at the entrance to the bears' cave. The others spend the summer hunting, looking after their families and training. Miyoshi studies hunting while Kokuma and Kachamaru improve their kyujutsu. Mineo's eldest son, Yoshi Yeesu, accompanies his "uncles" on a few of the hunting trips. On two occasions he finds flocks of songbirds, but at only nine years old he doesn't have the skill to hit any. One the third trip he finds some giant rats and his puny arms manage to hit one with his puny Ainu bow. It must have been a puny rat as this was enough to kill it. Beaming with the pride of his first kill, he drags the rat by its tail back to the village. But tragedy marks the end of the summer as it did the start, as Miyoshi's latest offspring dies at birth, his wife only just surviving.

It is now autumn in the Year of the Rat (1468). With river levels at their lowest point (as marked on Kachamaru's stick), Koshamain asks the remaining former Wajin and Kokuma to go through the tunnel and investigate the Wajin town on the other side - without being noticed, of course. He also asks them to take Yoshi Yeesu to help and to learn more about his father's demise. The river is only knee deep so they can wear light armour and carry their normal weapons. To be on the safe side, they secure ropes along each of the low-ceilinged sections so they can pull themselves back if the river rises again. Then they go down the tunnel and emerge on the shingle beach north of Kumaishi.

Miyoshi, Kachamaru, Kokuma and Yoshi Yeesu make temporary camp on the steep forest slopes where they killed the bear. Yoshi Yeesu prepares drinks and snacks for Miyoshi. After a brief rest they set off for the bear-shaped rocks and Kumaishi. Out to sea they can see three fishing boats. As they reach the rock formation the town comes into view. The town consists of nearly 100 buildings - mostly houses, some with subsistence gardens (there are no fields), and a few other types. On the northern edge of town is a watch tower and next to it a fortified guard house, and a large semi-open building standing on its own. They puzzle over this for a while but its purpose becomes clear in the early afternoon. The three veteran adventurers and the young boy are concealing themselves among the rocks out of sight of the watchtower, waiting for dark and a chance to explore the town, when a boat appears from the north. It is Ainu in design and it comes right up to the beach near the semi-open building and several Ainu get out - a headman in full regalia, half a dozen Ainu carrying bundles of furs, herbs and feathers, and a dog. The Ainu are escorted - more like herded - into the building, which Miyoshi suddenly realizes is a trading post, by the four Wajin guards, in full armour and with swords in the ready position. The Ainu keep their heads down, looking only at the floor. An Ainu who tries to look up has his head viciously forced down by a guard. The Ainu enter the building, then kneel and crawl partway into the main room. Here they are left for many minutes. Eventually, an important-looking Wajin arrives, in full samurai armour and with swords ready, and sits on the raised dais. An official barks his orders and the Ainu headman takes the furs and, crawling on his knees, places them in front of the dais. He repeats this with the herbs and the feathers. The chief Wajin expresses some pleasure at the sight of the feathers. The official barks another order and the Ainu shuffle out via a small heap of objects at the side of the open wall. They pick up the objects which appear to be earthenware bottles, some cloth and some metal bowls. The Ainu take these to their boat, shadowed by the guards, who call them names (in Katakana), and, with the dog standing in the prow, paddle out to sea. Eventually the boat disappears from view, several ri to the north.

The Ainu, half-Ainu and two Ainu-by-adoption are naturally outraged at the trading party's treatment - and the poor rate of exchange. Miyoshi wants to find the Wajin chief's house to teach him a lesson. They move position and scan the town, but can't tell what the buildings are. Kachamaru does notice however that all the buildings have unusually heavy doors and shutters. They attribute this to the fierce weather and exposed location. However, as the sun sets the guard comes down from the watchtower and isn't replaced, and the townsfolk hurry indoors and close their doors and shutters firmly, even though there is no sign of bad weather. Seeing their chance, our heroes wait until it is a bit darker then sneak into the deserted town to explore. While the grown-ups are looking for the chief's house, Yoshi Yeesu finds a Shinto shrine and tells the others about it. "My Daddy made one of these for the ugly man that saved the village," he squeaks. Then he finds a building whose function he has no idea about, but which Kachamaru immediately recognises as a Kabuki theatre. He is amazed that such culture has reached the Wajin frontier, but remembers that his own family's kabuki training school is only a few villages down the coast. The continue exploring and now Kokuma finds a builder's workshop, partly open to the elements though the adjoining house is sealed tight. Moving on, Kokuma almost walks into a bell and realises that he has found a Buddhist temple, and Yoshi Yeesu finally discovers the Wajin chief's house. Kachamaru finds a toolmaker's workshop by tripping over some handles and sending metal tool-ends flying. CLAAAANG!

As the explorers duck into shadows and hold their breaths, but there is not a hint of activity inside the Wajin houses - no sounds, no lights, no shutters or doors opened. Miyoshi thinks they must be frightened of a night attack by Ainu. Then they see a strange sight coming down the main street of the town. It is a procession of demons. They come in all shapes and sizes - one eye, horns, lots of arms, one leg and so on. Yoshi Yeesu points and says, "What are those funny people?" Kokuma pulls him into the shadows and shushes him, but it is too late - two of the demons leap on Yoshi Yeesu and pull him into the street. "What are you?" screams Yoshi Yeesu. The demons don't reply, but try to pull him in opposite directions. The demon with four arms is winning against the other, which only has one leg, when Kokuma whirls out of the darkness and connects Four-Arms with his tetsubo. Yoshi Yeesu uses all his minuscule strength to pull free from One-Leg, then bites Four-Arms on the forearm. Kokuma swings the tetsubo again and bashes Four-Arms. Miyoshi fires an arrow from shadows are hits a demon with six arms, but the damage is minor as Miyoshi is comparatively 'armless. The demon looks round but can't see there the arrow came from. Miyoshi readies his spear for attack. Kachamaru steps out of the shadows and hits a one-eyed demon. The demon thanks him by spitting at him. Kachamaru ducks. Kokuma hits Four-Arms again and Yoshi Yeesu bites it, delivering the killing blow, taking all the budo, on and plaudits (only joking!). Miffed, Kokuma turns on the one-legged demon and gets a critical hit, launching it over the bleachers of the nearby theatre and into next week's performance. Kachamaru swings and hits One-Eye again, and the demon spits at him again, this time hitting him in the face. Kachamaru is disgusted, but the spittle seems to have no effect.

Miyoshi charges out and spears the nearest demon, which happens to be the one he hit with his bow. It is a lethal-looking hit but the demon is not killed. The demon spits at him but misses. Miyoshi spears it again, but the demon doesn't flinch. However, it does flinch when Yoshi Yeesu tries to kick it from behind, not because of the kick, which misses, but because it put it off as it tried to spit at Miyoshi and bites its own tongue for 6 damage. Kachamaru swings and misses and One-Eye grabs him and squeezes, but Kachamaru uses his taisabaki skill to avoid injury. He swings his katana, and despite being rather hampered lands an 11-point hit. Kokuma swings and hits a horned demon. The demon spits at Kokuma and he fails to dodge, but it has no apparent effect.

Miyoshi attacks Six-Arms and hits it twice for good damage, but he doesn't notice that the damage is having no effect. The demon spits at him but misses. Kachamaru critically hits One-eye, chopping off an arm, but the demon soon expires. He turns to a demon with four horns and breathes in, ready for Breath of the Dragon. Kokuma hits a different, and much stronger, four-armed demon twice. Yoshi Yeesu realises he has become separated from uncle Kokuma and runs into the street. Fortunately, none of the other demons spot him.

Miyoshi spears Six-Arms and finally realises that his spear point can't harm the demon. He tries to butt-stroke it, lands a hit and realises the butt end of his spear also can't damage it. With all this realisation going on, the demon tries to get Miyoshi in a sumo hold, but Miyoshi henkas and it flies past, trips over Yoshi Yeesu and goes sprawling in the dirt. Kachamaru unleashes his Breath of the Dragon - and it fizzles. The horny demon tries to grab him but he slips to the side. Kachamaru tries again and roasts the demon for 19 points of fire damage. Kokuma lands a good hit and bash on Four-Arms the Second, but as it stands there helpless he misses it.

Miyoshi reluctantly draws his sword, manages to hit Six-Arms on the arm. He senses that the sword blow still couldn't hurt the demon, but the critical hit could and, given the self-inflicted tongue wound, is just enough to kill the rather weedy demon. Kachamaru hits a horny demon with his sword. The demon replies with a sumo hold, doing 6 damage. Kachamaru tries to disappear using Stage Smoke, but it fails. Kokuma similarly hits Four-Arms but is grappled and crushed. Somehow he manages to swing his tetsubo and connects critically with the demon, killing it. The last two demons, now heavily outnumbered, run away, soon followed by the one that had grabbed Kachamaru. Miyoshi looks around, wondering how to explain their presence to the townsfolk, then realises that there isn't a shutter or door open, nor a light showing anywhere in the town. Realising the townsfolk must be mortally afraid of the demons he sets out to look for the others.

He can't find them. They can't find him, nor each other. Then Yoshi Yeesu spots Miyoshi and runs up and jumps on his back. Miyoshi jumps out of his skin. They continue to search. Then Kachamaru spots Miyoshi and Yoshi Yeesu. He goes up and greets them with relief. They don't respond. He touches Miyoshi on the arm. Miyoshi doesn't feel a thing. Kachamaru waves a hand in front of Miyoshi's face. No reaction. Yet Kachamaru can see his own hand. He hears Miyoshi order Yoshi Yeesu to track the others. Yoshi Yeesu can't find any sign of them after the fight. Kachamaru realises that although it looks and feels as if his feet sink into the soft earth at the roadside, he is leaving no tracks. However, he doesn't panic. He decides to stay close to Miyoshi and Yoshi Yeesu, fully confident that his leader will soon have the mystery solved. Miyoshi gets Yoshi Yeesu to show him where he and Kokuma had been fighting the demons. There is no sign of Kokuma. Miyoshi thinks that the demons must have magicked them away. He decides to go after the demons, and sets off with Yoshi Yeesu tracking. The demon's tracks are clear, event to the extent of being able to count the number of legs, but there is no sign of Kokuma or Kachamaru. Eventually they lose track of the demons.

Back in the town, Kachamaru tries rattling some shutters, but although it feels like they move, they don't actually move or make a sound. He decides to return to the campsite outside the village and await developments. Kokuma is also having the same realisation as Kachamaru. He tries to scratch a sign in the dust of the street but it leaves no mark. He follows Miyoshi and Yoshi Yeesu, having ascertained that he cannot communicate with them, and they all return to the campsite. At the campsite he is unable to see Kachamaru, but senses his presence. "Hello?" he ventures. "Kokuma?" asks Kachamaru, "Where are you?" "Right by the fire," replies Kokuma. They establish that they can communicate with each other but not see or touch, and settle down to see what Miyoshi does to solve the problem. Miyoshi and Yoshi Yeesu decide to go to sleep. Miyoshi tells Yoshi Yeesu a bedtime story (about three bears - daddy bear who is killed by a hunter, mummy bear who eats a hunter, and baby bear that is captured by heroic hunters). During the night, Yoshi Yeesu dreams that his uncles are stuck in some kind of limbo.

At dawn, Miyoshi is disappointed to find that the two missing explorers haven't reappeared. Yoshi Yeesu tells Miyoshi about his dream and Miyoshi decides to return to the village to consult Haku. They start breaking camp. Meanwhile, Kachamaru goes back into town to take advantage of his insubstantial status and snoop. At the kabuki theatre, a man is painting some scenery and practising his lines. The lines sound familiar and he realises that it is a routine invented by his father at the kabuki school in Esashi. He feels homesick.

Arriving back at the Ainu village, Miyoshi goes to see Haku and his wife, accompanied by Yoshi Yeesu and shadowed by Kokuma. Drawing on his encyclopaedic knowledge of Japanese classics, Haku says that the demon's spit has rendered the others invisible. The possible ways of countering it would be by magic (countermagic of a spell, which must be researched), herbs (the correct drug must be researched) or prayer (one of the sutras must be recited, but he doesn't know which one). Miyoshi thinks the last of these is their best chance, and remembers there is a temple in the town. Then he realises he will have to go there looking like a respectable samurai. "Oh hell, I'm going to have to be plucked, aren't I?" Kokuma's wife eagerly volunteers. Meanwhile, Yoshi Yeesu has to submit to two unfamiliar indignities - wearing Wajin-style clothing and having a wash. Haku's daughters giggle at him. Thus prepared they head back to Kumaishi.

Once Miyoshi and Yoshi Yeesu (and Kokuma, unseen) reach Kumaishi they are hailed from the watch tower. "What's your business here!?" shouts the guard. Miyoshi, thinking quickly, says, "We've come from Esashi to visit the temple." "But that's south of here - you're coming from the north!" Miyoshi's quick thinking slows down: "But they told me it was to the north! I've been tracking through the hills for weeks." "The hills? No-one goes into the hills. Are you lost? And is that a lost boy?" Miyoshi replies, "He's my son." The guard gives up. "Alright, the temple's over there." Kachamaru sees them head for the temple and follows. He notes that Kokuma is with them.

At the temple, the attendant priest asks Miyoshi what he wants. He explains that his companions came into the town last night and didn't return. "But no-one comes into the town at night," disputes the priest. "Well, I haven't seen them since," repeats Miyoshi. "If they came into town last night then they've been torn to pieces by demons... or turned invisible!" "If they've been turned invisible, what must I do?" "You could try chanting the Lotus Sutra. If that doesn't work you'll need a Master Gakusho. I don't think you'll find a master even in Matsumae, so you'd need to go to Hakodate to find one." Miyoshi gulps. "We'll try the Lotus Sutra then." The priest fishes a scroll from the back of the temple. It is awfully long and needs repeating several times. Miyoshi cleanses himself then starts reading it aloud. Yoshi Yeesu repeats the words as he goes. Unseen and unheard, Kachamaru also repeats the chant and prompts Kokuma to do likewise. Several hours later they finally finish the chant. Nothing appears to happen. The priest notices their disappointment but tells them to be patient. He offers them to stay in the temple residence, away from the demons. Miyoshi asks if there are any chores he can d. The priest demurs, and instead they have a discussion about poetry form and style. Yoshi Yeesu mooches around. Kachamaru and Kokuma wait in the temple, ready to take on the demons again, hoping they can find some way to force them to make them visible, but the demons don't come and they fall asleep. Meanwhile, Yoshi Yeesu decides he should take on the demons by himself - after all, didn't he help kill two of them last night with just his teeth? When Miysohi has gone to sleep, he sneaks out. The bar on the door is too heavy for him to move so he opens the shutter of a window and climbs out. He can't lock it again from the outside but he doesn't think it will be a problem if demons manage to get in through it. He goes to the place where he and Kokuma were fighting and settles down in the shadows to wait. He falls asleep.

During the night, Kachamaru has dreams that there is a holy monk standing beside them who says, "Leave here early in the morning and do as the first person you meet tells you." He wakes and finds it is dawn. Kokuma's disembodied voice reaches him, saying, "I had this strange dream about a holy monk telling me to do what the first person I meet tells me." They leave the temple and soon they see a pretty young woman with an ox on a rope, who says, "You there! Come with me!" The woman seems to have no difficulty seeing them, so they follow her to a house. The door is closed but she squeezes through a tiny crack in the wood. Kachamaru shrugs and squeezes through without difficulty. Kokuma looks at the door doubtfully but tries to squeeze through anyway. He gets an arm through but his shoulders get stuck. He pushes harder and gets his head through but his chest is stuck. He gets angry and rams his body into the crack in the plank. He gets further but now his hips are stuck. He turns sideways and squeezes his belly through; only his ankle is caught. He pulls this free and finds himself in a room where an old woman is dying in great pain. Kokuma and Kachamaru look on as a priest chants over the old woman as the young ox-herd watches. Somehow, Kachamaru recognises it as Fudou's Fire Darani, a very powerful chant. At this, the young woman's clothes burst into flames and her body evaporates. The old woman suddenly takes the form of the young woman and wakes up, all her pain gone. She looks up at Kachamaru and Kokuma and asks who they are. The woman's family rush in to see her. When they also ask what Kachamaru and Kokuma are doing there, they suddenly realise they can be seen by the family, and by each other. Kachamaru haltingly tells the family they were turned invisible by the demons. "You must have been stuck for a long time - look at the beard you've grown!" says one of the family. Kokuma is embarrassed, but picks up a candle and is delighted to be able to touch again. The family of the old/young woman explain that she was out after dark and was caught by the demons. It took them quite some time to realise it was the same person, and sent to Matsumae for a healer. Kachamaru and Kokuma leave and return to the temple. They find Miyoshi telling off Yoshi Yeesu for sneaking out of the temple residence, leaving a shutter open (which banging woke him up too early) and staying out all night, causing a frantic search by Miyoshi all morning. Yoshi Yeesu is suitably chastened, but five minutes later is happily playing with some boys from the town, throwing stones at a crudely-painted image of a demon.

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