Mirage of Blaze Novel Volume 21 Chapter 5 (Part 1)

[99me]

I’m back. Sorry that I took longer than expected…...as there are some references to historical characters in this chapter, needed a little research.

But the translation is too long once again, so posting in 2 parts.

Nevertheless, let’s continue where we left off…. more on Ushio and Takaya…..

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The Redwhales of Tosa

The morning breeze was refreshing, though a little cold.

By the time Ushio rose and emerged from the tent, the sun was already high up in the sky. As the morning sun bathed down on him, he took a deep breath. The clear air in the forest cleansed his lungs. He felt relaxed after a good night’s sleep. It had been a while since he last slept so soundly. The forest that was faintly masked in a thin fog, was echoing the sound of chirping birds. The clean air soothed him greatly. Feeling a little chill, he put on an outerwear and walked towards Takaya.

“Hi there. Good morning. You’re indeed early!”

Takaya ignored him.

Given the cold shoulder, Ushio felt a little offended. But quietly he sneaked a look and noticed that Takaya was preparing his share of breakfast. It was the leftover rice from the last night, stewed into porridge using the stove of his. He was touched.

“I’m really very happy. Aren’t you quite skillful at this ? You’re indeed a good man. In gratitude, I’m making coffee for you.” Ushio loved coffee and he had brought along ready-coffee-mix, the type that specially catered for camping purposes. Coffee was something that he could not do without in the morning. Out of sudden, he was in high spirits, and happily he started making coffee. By then, Takaya was almost done in the meal preparation. Breakfast was ready.

It was special to have breakfast in the forest. A simple meal, only re-heated meat, but having them tuck fully into the mouth, it tasted outright scrumptious. The air was extraordinarily wonderful and Ushio drank two cups of coffee. Takaya must have not drunk coffee for months, thought Ushio. Memories of a normal routine life trickled in.

With legs fully stretched, comfortably laid on the ground, Ushio continued taking deep breaths of the morning air.

“Wow! Really feeling good! The sound of birds singing and water running…I’m all jubilant! You know, for those who live outdoors, their health may unexpectedly benefit from it !”

Takaya held on the cup with both his palms, the light tinny feel of metal, sipping coffee as he reminisced on -- a feeling he missed. His mood was better than the day before. Was this the effect of coffee ?

“As planned, let’s have hotspring bath together today. Thereafter, shall we go fishing? I’ve discovered a good place. ”

Ushio had a buoyant personality and loved helping those in need. As Takaya was younger than him, he self-assumed the responsibility to look after Takaya, and did not want let him off. Takaya declined….. strictly no public bath. It was absurd for him to go to the public bath with such a body.

“…….I don’t like hot springs, they’re too hot.”

“You don’t have to worry. There are lukewarm ones, not too hot.”

“I’m allergic to sulphur.”

“Well, then the more you can rest assured. The hot springs in Iya are pure spring water. No sulphur.”

A little irritated, Takaya glared at Ushio. But, the latter didn’t sense it.

“If you really don’t feel like it, then forget it.”

Ushio continued sipping his coffee, but was unable to drop the subject. He really wanted to have his hot springs bath. Intermittently, he kept moping on the same topic.

“I’m sure there are areas in Iya where we can find underground springs sources. Why not we dig one ourselves-our personal, artificial, open-air hot spring ?”

Again, clamouring on the subject of hot springs bath? Startled, but finally finding it amusing, Takaya smiled.

(Finally, he smiles.)

Ushio was delighted.

“Ok then. After we dug one, we shall craft our names there. Since it’s by Ougi, yourself and Muto, myself, we shall name is as ‘Ou-mu hot spring’. How’s that, ya ?”

“……... pretty lame.”

“If we do it well, perhaps we can spin money out of it. Ha!”

“Doesn’t this place belong to the National Park?”

Continuing the meaningless chatter with Ushio, Takaya seemed to open up, though barely. He was surprised by his own spontaneity, but figured he probably missed such small talks.

(Good, there is good response…….)

Ushio was thinking about the image viewed through the camera lens the day before. For some reasons, the natural expression of Takaya soothed his heart.

“Hey there. Why don’t you remove the eye-patch of yours? Anyway, it’s only me here.”

In a flash, Takaya stiffened up -- a prohibited conversational subject. Once again, the dark aloof persona. “Oh no…gone case,” silently Ushio muttered to himself. A misstep……only this, he would not remove it.

“……Err….what a pity. I really like that eye of yours.”

Knowing it was death and yet you want to see ? Takaya intended to ask but shut himself promptly. It would be no better off explaining it.

“Ok. It’s decided. I shall dig our very own open-air hot spring tonight”

(Still trying to stay on ?)

Anxious to seek forgiveness from Takaya, Ushio decided to stay on for the night, perhaps infinitely. With full enthusiasm, he started his preparation for the impending work of the night.

**********

(Just like a little kid……..)

Ushio left and returned all within an hour, after having borrowed a shovel from somewhere, someone he knew. Swiftly he brought Takaya to the hot springs source that he had previously discovered in one of his trekking trips. Immediately he started digging. Despite being with Takaya, his body appeared unaffected. On the contrary, he was more jovial and seemed full of life.

(A strange man)

“Hello there! Why are you standing there day-dreaming ?! Start digging now !”

Reluctantly, Takaya started to move his shovel around. It was because he was also a possessor that they ended up together, but was there a necessity to continue hanging on like that ? It seemed meaningless. But if he would to turn him away, that man would definitely pout once more. Takaya didn’t want to deal with that, therefore he continued digging with him. They dug on for about an hour and finally completed an artificial bath pit that could fit a person.

“Great. This seems to be it. “

Happily, Ushio peered into the artificial pit as he wiped off perspiration from his face. The underground spring water source was too hot, he decided to divert some water from a nearby stream into it.

“Not bad at all, right? Ougi, from now onwards, you shall no longer have to bathe in any freezing water. Not now, not in winter.”

“Have you been digging holes casually ? ”

“Probably first time this year. Not an issue at all..”

Ushio started undressing himself right in front of Takaya. Exhausted, Takaya leaned on the shovel and sat on the rock next to it. Perhaps it was the perspiration after a hard labour work, Takakya’s mood was, in some way, lifted.

“Hohoho….a little too hot ! Please dig a little wider along the water path,…let more cold water in ! ”

“Do it yourself !”

“Huh? Do you really want me to dig in this naked body ?”

“Nobody is looking. You’re damn noisy.”

Unwillingly, Takaya dragged himself and started widening the water path, making grouses as he worked on it. The cold water gradually diluted the spring water, lowering into a comfortable temperature. Ushio was all relaxed and calm.

“Wooo…. Really amazing ! So, this is what we call - brimming with the flavour of nature. Help me scrub my back, would you ?…….Ougi-san.”

“Have you got your mind cooked in there ? Idiot !! ”

“It feels so good to dip in a hot spring. Perhaps….I love spring bath way before I lost my memories.”

Takaya turned grim. Was that so ? Takaya pondered. Ushio may have appeared indifferent, the truth was that he was tirelessly seeking after traces of his lost memories.

“Still can’t recall. Maybe I was a rascal or perhaps a robber. I could be laden with debts. And I may regret the moment I recall. So, it may be better-off not remembering. Hmm…some feeling...”

“……..you’ll probably remember them in a couple of days.”

“A couple of days? So when exactly is a couple of days ?”

Takaya was taken aback as Ushio appeared angry out of the blue.

“Don’t put it so lightly, what do you know ? If you’re trying to console me, then save it. Do you know how miserable it is not remembering anything ? It’s not just a couple of days, I want to remember now !”

“Muto…….”

“My real name, my real life, my real family and home. How was I brought up and how did I live ? It’s such agony not knowing who you were. Do you really know how I feel ?”

He grew impatient……. He had been putting on a brave-front. Right beneath, he was desperate, almost at a frantic level. No doubt he kept mum about the matter, but occasionally he did flare out and threw tempers. He was angry at his own worthlessness to the point that he wanted to hang himself.

Very quickly, he realized that he had over-reacted and turned his face away in embarrassment. But Takaya remained emotionless -- no sympathy, no empathy -- as he stared at Ushio. After a long pause, he muttered,

“…….It may not be the same situation, but I shared the same feelings.”

Ushio snorted.

“Are you quoting the example of not remembering during a drunken phase of yours, so as to appease me ?”

A flat “no” was the response. Surprised, Ushio stared at Takaya.

“Don’t tell me……”

They shared the same situation? Ushio pressed on for a reply. Takaya recalled the time, a few years ago.

“…..I’m not joking. I was afraid of forgetting “the past self”. The time when I first recovered my old self, I was also once jealous of it….... . Having remembered the past, is like corroding away your present.”

That was the time when he had no memories of Kagetora. On one hand, he was refusing Naoe and the rest who were after Kagetora, but on the other, the other self was overshadowing the Takaya in amnesia.

It was not as simple as having shared the same situation. Ushio astonished himself as he affirmed his own deduction. Turning solemn, he asked,

“Did you remember subsequently ?”

“…….”

“How ?”

“It didn’t vanish. No regrets.”

But it was no longer possible not to forge ahead…..

A guileless expression appeared on Ushio’s face. Silently he sat there. Takaya’s words reached him.

“How about the time when you were impatient?”

Soaking in the hot spring water, Ushio was in deep thoughts. As if trying to console himself, he gave out a deep sigh and laughed bitterly.

“Perhaps that’s how it is. It doesn’t help being impatient. I guess I’ll just have to wait till the time arrives.”

Takaya, in a different mood, was now gazing at the young man before him whom was talking to himself -What would this man do if he recall that he is a possessor ?

“I’m so sorry that I threw tantrums. But really, I just could bare my soul to you. Although you’re still just a kid, but still a very strange guy.”

Takaya wanted to tell Ushio that he had just stolen his line, but decided against it.

“Don’t just stare at me from there. Jump in and join me ! It’s warm and comfortable here.”

“No thank you.”

“Why? I’ve dug this specially for you.”

“Too small, can’t fit two persons.”

“Oh ya…….you’re right. In that case, I’ll get out.”

“It’s ok, you can continue soaking till your heart contents.”

At that moment, Takaya faintly heard the sound of footsteps crushing on fallen leaves. In reflex, he sprang into a defensive stance. It was something beyond the range of Ushio’s hearing. Who was it ? It was no animal.

“What’re you doing there ?”

Stunned, Ushio turned around as Takaya shouted out. There were no visible forms, but Takaya could still tell they were humans. His senses had become as sharp as an animal. Moments later, as if responding to Takaya, a few men appeared from among the trees along the slope. They had no intention to hide.

“Oh I see…..no wonder we couldn’t find you anywhere. Here you are, comfortably soaking in a hot bath !”

Ushio widened his eyes……It was them.

The person who spoke was the young man in the middle with tea-colour hair, with an ear-ring glittering brightly. Although, the three men were either in blue or pink trekking wears, there was no rucksack on their backs. They were young men in their late teens to early twenties.

Ushio seemed to know them. Initially he was surprised, but soon he had his back turned at them, and immersed deep into the hot water.

“……such sticky fellows. Darn.”

Angrily, he muttered to himself.

“I have to take my hats off to you guys for finding me here. Mr Redwhales….”

Ushio continued splashing water onto his face. Takaya could not figure out their relationship but could detect that the three approaching men were no ordinary humans.

(These men……..)

“It’s my honour. Have your memories returned ? Hopefully, our persistent pursuit is worth it !” The reply was in the Tosa’s accent, from a young man on the left, with a stature of monkey. There was one who had yet to speak out -- the young guy on the right, with distinct-looking eyes and shoulder-length black hair pulled into a topknot on his head. All of them were self-determining youths.

Takaya was a little nervous and reflexively his body continued stiffening in a defensive posture. It was not their appearance, but what inside them. These three young men...

(They are being possessed)

The ones talking were the spirits.

Takaya held his breath…..who were these people ?

“We are here to fetch you, Muto Ushio. We are inviting you to be part of the Redwhales this time round.”

***

(…….Are they known as the Redwhales of Tosa?)

A clan that he had not heard before. Takaya observed the three men more intently, every single movement of them. It was the name of the youth gang that had been harassing Ushio while in Iya. They had specially come for Ushio.

“Haven’t I turned you down many times ?”

Ushio responded coldly, unperturbed, with his back facing them, refusing to turn around

“Who cares about Redwhales or Whitewhales? I’ve no intention to be involved with the Bōsōzoku. Don’t waste the time of an upright person like me. If you understood my words, scramble off now.”

“Are you implying that if it’s not Bōsōzoku, you’ll accept us ?”

“Whatever! I simply don’t like to mix with people of your kind. Do give up !”

“You can’t possibly say such things, right?”

The response came from the tea-colour hair youth. With brows firmly locked into a frown, exhibiting a steadfastness with the pose of a leader. It was the spirit controlling the body.

“In anyway, we cannot ignore your potential. It would be a great waste, if you are killed in any unwitting battles. Since you’ve no place to go, why not join us ? It’s much safer for you to be with us.”

“Shut up. Who’s to blame for my current situation ?! Darn fellows.”

Raising his voice as he turned his head around for the first time. His face was flushed red with rage.

“Please leave me alone, would you ?! Shut up your damn mouth and leave right away! I’ve much more important issue to think over than your stupid things!”

It sounded closer to a plea than rejection, but the youths refused to let him off. Among the three, the one with a square face and slanting-eyes began to speak.

“…….there is a strange man around here.”

He was referring to Takaya. At once, the three men zoomed in at him, particularly the guy with the distinct-looking eyes as unblinkingly he was studying Takaya all over. Takaya continued standing there expressionlessly, though he was nervous.

(Has he seen through the fact that I’m a possessor ?)

“You there, a friend of Ushio?”

Kusama, the leader asked. Takaya did not reply, as he tried breathing as lightly as possible, not allowing traces of his vital energy to leak out.

“Someone that I’ve not met. What’s your name?”

“Hey there. Nothing to with him, ok ? ”

Ushio interjected with a belligerent “So what?” But was coldly interrupted by the guy with the distinct-looking eyes.

“I see. Someone more interesting and alluring than you.”

Having said that, he walked towards Takaya. And with profanity, he glared at Takaya, continuously sneering as he looked him all over. Takaya glowered fiercely in reflex.

“Hey. Pardon me. He is no object !”

“My goodness! Can I say it ? I had thought it’s a monster or something like that. But as a whole, he still resembles a man.”

Among the three, the man with the distinct-looking eyes had the highest spiritual-sensing power. But he was unable to detect that Takaya was a possessor. Perhaps it was due to the copious Kihachi’s curse, and Takaya was relieved.

“You said ‘monster’. What do you mean, Reijirou?”

Though Kusama could sense the uniqueness in Takaya, but he could not comprehend the overbearing charisma in him. Reijirou, the so-called distinct-looking eyes man, was paying particularly close attention at the eye hidden behind the eye-patch.

“Kusama, perhaps we can pair-up Ushio and this guy into some interesting combination ! If I’m not mistaken, we certainly have picked up some valuables ! With a little training, they will shine. “

“What’re you guys clattering about ? You can forget it if you are trying to get Ougi involved !”

Although Ushio was protesting loudly, he was ignored by Kusama and company.

“Hey there ! Are you listening to me ?!”

Angrily, Ushio stood up from the hotspring bath. In a rough hastiness, he grabbed on his clothes, and without bothering to dry himself, put them on, stomped towards Kusama. But instantly, he was stopped by Reijirou.

“Ushio, have you mistaken ?”

“Mistaken?”

“We are here to help you regain your memories.”

Ushio stared at them with wide-open eyes.

“My memories……….?”

“Aha! Don’t you want to recover your lost memories? Follow us then. We have means to help you regain your memories.”

But…….Ushio hesitated. It could not be so simple.

“Are you suspecting something ? Don’t you want to reclaim your true-self ?”

Taken aback, Takaya stared at Reijirou. He knew what that man had in his sleeves. He wanted to interrupt, but he was in no position to interfere. Before Takaya could react, Reijirou promptly announced,

“You’re the same as us. Like us, you’ve died once.”

“………What did you say?”

As expected, Ushio turned pale.

“What do you…..mean?”

“There’s no point hiding. I’ve already told you outright. We’re the revived human forms. We’re spirits. We possess another human so as to continue living on. After 400 years, we rose from the ground.”

(400 years)

Thunderstruck, Ushio was speechless. Despite trying, no words came out of his mouth. His mind just could not catch up. The revelation put forward, was so bluntly delivered by Reijirou, that a made-up was instantly ruled-out. Takaya looked on piercingly.

“Couldn’t believe it, right?”

Reijirou signaled to Eikichi, the short young man who resembled a monkey, whom immediately focused at the shovel leaning on the rock.

“Don’t blink.”

“Ah…..Ah!!”

Ushio’s face was first writhed in shock, then fear. Right in front of him, the shovel shook and rose into midair. Focusing, Eikichi directed it to float about. A crack appeared at the mid-section of the handle, and before he knew it, it spilt into two and fell to the ground.

“What…..What is this…..? ”

Ushio remained dumbfounded in front of the wreckage.

“Well ? What do you think ? Can a modern man do this ?”

Ushio was still speechless.

“Our original forms are dead souls. We are different from the modern human beings. But you’re one notch higher than us, not only can you attach yourself to a human, you are able to expel the original soul from the body and seize it as your own. The body of yours, belongs to someone that you don’t know. It’s originally not yours.”

“You….are lying !”

“The truth will reveal itself when you recover your memories. When that time comes, you will join us!”

Ushio just could not utter any more words. All he could manage was the swear word “Bastards ….”. Right at this moment, he lost his ability to articulate.

Calmly and with full insights, Takaya listened to the “unbelievable” revelation.

“Why and how were the dead spirits revived ?” Takaya asked.

It was on behalf of the bewildered Ushio. Deadpan and unruffled, his collected composure caught the attention of Kusama. With admiration, Kusama responded,

“You seem rather fearless !”

Slowly, he inched closer to Takaya.

“Right in this country, those dead souls who died 400 years ago are at wars. Like us, those dead awoken from the sleep are in battles. Among them, are many famous generals. This land of the rising sun is increasingly being destroyed by this dark underworld wars.”

(Wars……..)

Kusama began relating the details. It was indeed the matters of the “Warring Underworld”. ….Was it really it? Were these men really the same kind ?

“We had heard about it too. Recently, there had been commotion of many weird instances, and almost all are caused by the dead souls. Be it Kumamoto or Sendai, the dead souls are continuously fighting even if they have no visible forms.”

Kusama’s voice was growing louder, almost to the point of bragging.

“And we have transformed into the ‘Ichiryō gusoku’ of Tosa, the remaining subjects of Lord Chousokabe.”

“Ichiryō gusoku ?”

“That is the wild warriors of the Tosa.”

“We had nothing. We were only commoners farming the land. During emergency, we abandoned our sickles and hoes, put on amours, rode our horses and dashed to the battlefields. Henceforth, in our plantations, you would find lances erected everywhere, done-up straw-slippers and packed food supplies.”

It was once rumoured that that the ‘Ichiryō gusoku’ of Tosa were actually peasants doubling-up as warriors. It was nothing unusual during that period. In fact, they had been well-known for their courage. In the era of Chousokabe, there were biographies from ‘The Legends of Tosa’ recording tales of courageous man going to battle single-handedly on their horse-back. The ‘Ichiryō gusoku’ who trained them in the use of arrows, riffles and blades, was the core power of the Chousokabe.

“We, the Redwhales of Tosa, were trying to fight-off those Vengeful Resentful Warriors# who were trying to seize the territories of Shikoku, and thereby have activated the ‘Ichiryō gusoku’. It is the matter of time that our clan is reinstated, and Chousokabe be revived. Muto Ushio, although you don’t have your memories, but we are of the same kind. You may have forgotten, but if you focus, you’ll be able to use your power, just like Eikichi. No, your power should surpass the level of his!”

Ushio was in a daze. Clenching his fist, Kusama moved in.

“You’re more powerful than us ! We want your power !”

“More powerful ………..”

(Me ?)

“Yes. You’re necessary. We need you to be part of us !”

Ushio remained silent. There was faint perspiration on the forehead of Kusama. He was determined. Reijirou who had been leaning against the tree all this while, added,

“……Right now, we can’t explain all the details to you. In any way, you don’t have anywhere to go and you’re not indispensable to anybody at this point. Since this is the case, then join us. You don’t have to worry about living expenses, we’ll take care of that. If you’re really serious in regaining your memories, then take a gamble on having your memory recovered in our hands. How about that? ”

“……”

“Come, join us. Muto Ushio.”

Flashing across his mind, was the idling life of his, a life kept busy by the routine of work while earning his keeps. Back there, there was no excess for reflection. Time slipped by unnoticed; nothing concrete was achieved; the cycle kept repeating. Suddenly, appearing before him was a life filled with nothingness. He turned anxious. Did he want to continue as before?

Moments of silence followed. There three men stood there, waiting patiently for an answer. Takaya too, stared at Ushio for a reaction. After a long pause of deliberation, finally Ushio raised his head.

“I finally understand.”

“!...........really ? “

“But I have a pre-condition.”

Kusama prompted Ushio to state his terms.

“Ougi must come along. If he doesn’t go, I won’t go.”

(What is he saying ……..?)

Takaya widened his eyes. Ushio turned to Takaya and pleaded with him…….

(Oh my god. What has he said ? This man……)

“Interesting. I’ve no issue with the arrangement. Just like your wish, Kusama. How about it? ”

Reijirou agreed without hesitation. Kusama and Eikichi nodded in agreement too.

“Cut your joke……! ”

“You can’t just leave your body in such a condition, it’ll become a problem.”

Takaya could not respond. But Reijirou seemed to have sensed the detrimental effect of Kihachi’s poison.

There was no option. The piercing glares of Kusama and his men were forcing upon him. If he would to reject, they would take him by force. It was because of Ushio that he was caught in such a dilemma; a supposed decision of Ushio was migrated onto him. Takaya was furious and glared at Ushio. However, he could not completely ignore the anxiousness of Ushio, whom after all was desperate to regain his memories, and would grab on anything, even it was just straws that he saw.

He could only accept.

(It has turned into a problematic issue……)

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Second part of the chapter is here Vol 21, Chapter 5 (Part 2). You can also refer to the side bar for the links.

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