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To Dream of Darkness

A story by DoggyStyle57

Chapter 41, Written February 2012

===

Chapter 41 - Star Crossed Lovers

After the feast, the coastal patrol unit, including Sarina and Ashley, now in the identities of the male samurai warriors 'Kimura Ichitama' and 'Nakamura Kuro', were brought to one of five houses belonging to some of the village elders, and given small rooms to sleep in. The homes seemed quite odd to Sarina, although the memories she stole from the two samurai that they were impersonating indicated this style of building was very common here. A large tile-covered roof with deeply overhanging eaves covered a house made largely of delicate sliding panels of paper, framed in wood like a multi-paned window, but translucent. Except for the heavy timber frame that supported the roof, most of the structure used extremely little wood. Everything opened to the walkway that encircled the house, under the eaves.

Ichitama and Kuro stayed close to each other, and were put in the same room. The only things in the room were a small chest with many drawers and compartments, two thin quilted pads on the floor to serve as a mattress, each with a block of wood covered in cloth for a pillow, and each with a light blanket. The floors were covered with tightly woven grass mat, arranged in a pattern of three rectangles.

"We sleep in a closet?" Ashley asked via her mental link to her Mistress. "And with no real bed? Not that I care, for my own sake, but up until now I thought these peasants were terrified of us, and giving us their best treatment."

"This apparently is one of their best rooms. I sensed in the villager's minds that we are being lodged in the rooms that normally serve as the bedrooms for the owners of these homes," Sarina replied via that mind link. "They don't seem to use normal furniture here, or to make large rooms in their homes. These sleeping pads are called 'futons', and a block like that is all they use as pillows. The Samurai in the patrol unit have no better in their own homes."

Before they retired for the night, a young girl came to their room, and led them to a bath, where a steaming tub of water was prepared for them. She gave them buckets of cool water, a rough sea sponge, and some cloths to dry themselves with, and indicated that they should bathe.

When the girl had gone, Ichitama disrobed and explained to Kuro via the mind link, "We wash outside the tub first, to clean ourselves, and then soak in the hot water. Everyone in the household will re-use the tub of hot water, so it is considered impolite to get into the tub while dirty."

"I... do not prefer to get into water at all, Mistress. I can, if I must, but... water weakens my kind," Kuro replied, in like manner.

"At least wash the dust and dirt of the road from your feet, then. These people seem to be very insistent on body hygiene," Ichitama said, as he got into the tub slowly. "Whew! I am glad that I am protected against extremes of heat! This water is very hot. It feels wonderful, though."

Once they were back in their room, Kuro asked, "Mistress? Is there any more efficient way for you to instruct me in their ways and their language? Can you not reverse the flow in the spell that takes memories, and give them instead?"

"Perhaps. But not with so many people so close to us. We will try later, once we are on the road to Edo." Ichitama replied.

===

In the morning, they introduced themselves to their new traveling companions as 'Kimura Ichitama' and 'Nakamura Kuro'. Hattori Saburo introduced the ladies as Hamada Kira, and Kira-sama's maid, Ito Keiko. Kira-sama and Keiko-chan were to ride in a small sedan chair like box, carried by two peasant porters. Four other peasants carried packs, and two more peasants carried a platform between them, bearing two elaborate chests. The two ladies stayed largely out of sight, wearing wide brimmed woven hats with veils, and remaining within the curtained sides of their palanquin.

Ichitama and Kuro carried with them only the simple supplies that each member of the coastal patrol had been equipped with. They each had a simple bedroll that was little more than a blanket, with the ends of the blanked knotted together, and the loop of fabric slung over one shoulder. Wrapped in the bedroll were two more of the silk garments that the samurai males wore, with the each change of clothes including a suitable waist sash, a loincloth and socks that had a split between the first and second toe. They each had a set of wooden sandals to wear. In a small cloth bag slung on a cord around the neck and one shoulder, and under their garment, they carried a little kit of medical and toiletries supplies, and a small amount of money. They each were also armed with a pair of curved, single-edged swords - one longer than the other - and a long bow and a sheaf of thirty or so arrows. A small single edged knife tucked into the back of their waist sash completed their equipment.

Saburo showed them a map. "We will travel the southern coastal road from here to Osaka, then head inland through Kyoto on the road to Nagoya. From there, we return to the southern coast the rest of the way to Edo," he stated. "If all goes well, we will get there in four days time. Do you agree with this course, Ichitama-san?"

"Could we not get there in half that time by sea?" Ichitama asked, recalling that the real Ichitama had used the sea route to travel between Edo and Nagasaki in the past.

"Ah? Well, we could, but the Lady Kira-sama does not like to travel by water, and fears the Tai-fu - the great sea storms. So we take the land route," Saburo replied. "Yes, it is longer, but it is much safer. And at our planned stops there are decent inns, where the Ladies may have suitable comforts."

"Of course. We must care for their delicate natures," Ichitama replied, though he could sense that as far as Saburo was concerned, the longer the trip tool the more he would like it. In fact, the lad seemed to almost have a death wish - to desire that some ill fortune would cost the lives of both himself and his Lady, before he had to turn the girl that he loved over to her future husband. Lady Kira had similar thoughts on occasion.

===

Each day, they walked over 100 miles. The road was rather rough, though well worn, and crossed by countless small streams and rivers. At each stop along the way, they spent the night at an inn, got fresh peasants to bear the burdens in the morning, and the ones that had served them previously were paid and returned whence they came. The first two days were uneventful, though Ichitama gently entered the dreams of Kira-sama at night. What Ichitama found in her dreams confirmed what he had sensed in Saburo's thoughts. Kira was a virgin, very much in love with Saburo, and if given her own choice, she would happily marry Saburo, even if he was a peasant. Keiko was worried for her mistress, but very devoted to her.

Osaka had been a fascinating sight to Ichitama and Kuro. The city was quite elaborate, and was dominated by a castle that was many stories tall. As they prepared to leave the city, they stopped at a strange looking red arch at the base of a hill, which were flanked by statues of non-anthro foxes, with red neckerchiefs tied onto the stone statues. Lady Kira called for the group to stop, and insisted on getting out and walking up the steep path marked by the arch. Leaving the peasants behind with the luggage and palanquin, Saburo, Ichitama and Kuro followed Kira and Keiko through many dozen more of these red arches, to a Shinto shrine that was atop the hill.

Kuro stopped abruptly as they got to the last pair of arches, which also had a pair of fox statues. "Mistress? Tell them I will wait here, as a guard. Beyond that last arch is sacred ground of some sort. A church or a shrine. I do not think I should try to go in there with you," Kuro said over the mind link.

"My companion will guard the path. This is a holy place?" Ichitama asked.

"Why yes, of course it is. Did you not know the significance of the red tori gates, and the Kitsune statues? This is a Shinto shrine, dedicated to the Kami Inari. Lady Kira wishes to pray before we go on. You are Bhuddist then, I take it?" Saburo replied.

"Ah, yes, though nominally. A soldier's life leaves little time for prayer and reflection," Ichitama replied. "Though I understand that the Lord I serve now has recently converted to Shinto beliefs. Perhaps I should speak to the priest here, and learn more of this faith. The Lord Buddah's truth comes in many forms, and I have met others who follow both the Shinto and Buddhist ways."

"Kira-chan would be pleased to know another of her guardians is at least interested in Shinto," Saburo said, slipping and using the affectionate term for Lady Kira, and not calling her 'Kira-sama' as was respectful and proper. "We can take the time for you to have that talk with the priest. He will not hold it against you that you are Buddhist, if you are respectful in approaching him."

Lady Kira led them in an elaborate ritual of cleaning their feet, hands and mouths, before purchasing a small ceramic statuette of a white anthro fox in a lady's kimono. She reverently brought the little statue to the central shrine, and placed it on the steps of the building, while leaving several coins in a wooden offering box that had a slatted lid. Then the Lady clapped her hands three times, and silently prayed before the shrine. Saburo stood beside her, making the same gestures, and also leaving money, though he bought no statuette. Ichitama monitored the surface thoughts of the couple. Both were fervently praying to this 'Inari', who was apparently a local semi-deity of agriculture and fertility, for deliverance from their fates - for some way that they could remain together, and faithful to their love of one another.

Within the shrine, Ichitama could see that there were hundreds of the little statuettes on shelves, as well as bowls of white rice, small paper figures crafted by elaborately twisting and folding the paper, and numerous other offerings.

An elderly fox in a ceremonial robe came out of the shadows inside the shrine, from somewhere behind the central display. He took the statue and placed it with the others. The priest looked carefully at Keiko and Ichitama as they went through the same motions. Keiko also left a small statue as an offering.

As they turned to leave, the priest asked Ichitama, "Wait. You have a further question, do you not?"

Ichitama faced the priest, and replied, "Yes, if you have some time. My companions can rest and pray, before we continue our trip to Edo. I need to learn more about Inari, and Kitsune. You have much knowledge of them both, do you not?"

"Need to know, or simply want to know?" the priest asked, smiling. "You do not follow the Shinto faith, do you? And yet you tried to pray to Inari, and were respectful of our ways just now. Why is it that you have a 'need' to know of Shinto?"

"Because my parents died before they could properly instruct me, it seems. I have come a very long way to come to this moment, and I ask that you take my request seriously. I respectfully ask that you teach me about Inari, and her connection with the Kitsune," Ichitama replied.

"That could take many years, and you have said that you and your traveling companions are going to Edo. There are other shrines to Inari near Edo where you may seek such instruction, if you sincerely wish to do so. I ask again, why do you 'need' to know of Inari and of Kitsune?" The priest asked. "Seek an honest answer in your heart, and if well spoken, Inari will grant your request."

Ichitama took a deep breath, placed a hand over his heart, and said, "It is indeed in my heart that my answer lays, but not, perhaps, in the way you expect. I must trust you, and show you this." He turned his hand palm upward, and from his chest a glowing blue ball of light emerged, to hover over the hand. "My mother said she was a Kitsune, but she died before she could explain what that meant. I have spent my life outside that knowledge. I need to know what I am."

The priest took in a deep breath on seeing the star ball. He came out of the temple at once, and stood beside Ichitama, gazing at the sphere of light. Then he nodded and said, "I see. Put away your soul, Nogitsune. What you need to know may take you centuries to learn. But I will endeavor to set your feet upon the path to Inari's blessing. Come with me, please."

===

They went into a small building beside the shrine, and sat together on the woven mat floor. "If you are Kitsune, but do not serve Inari, then you are what we call 'Nogitsune', or the field foxes. They are normally considered troublemakers by normal folk. But your mother may have been 'Zenko', or a good fox that was a servant of Inari, and you may merely be lacking in the proper instruction. She never spoke to you of Shinto? Did she have a small shrine in her home, with a red frame or miniature tori gate, or fox statues?" the priest asked.

"This is the first Shinto shrine I have ever seen. My mother first mentioned Kitsune when I was four. My parents died when I was eight. The wolf clan took me in, and raised me, but knew nothing of my mother's people. I have never met anyone else who was a Kitsune, or who followed Inari," Ichitama admitted. "Will you please allow me to touch your mind? I offer no harm. But it will make it much faster for me to learn from you."

"You can do this? Yes, you may proceed. I have faith that Inari will protect and guide me in this, and I believe that she has sent you to me for a reason," the priest said. Then he gasped as he felt the touch of a feminine mind in his, and as they fell into a lucid dream that they shared.

"Incredible!" the priest said.

In the dream, he saw Sarina as a female three-tailed red fox. "This is what my mother looked like, the one time that she showed me her Kitsune form," she said. They bowed to each other.

Then the priest began to instruct the half-Kitsune in the basic elements of the Shinto faith, and where Kitsune fit in the beliefs of Inari's followers. The conversation seemed to take several days. Yet just an hour later, Ichitama rejoined the others. As he did, he said quietly to them, "Inari has, I think, heard your prayers. Trust me, and do not fear your future. All is not as it seems, and you may yet be safely delivered from that which you fear."