MOON SAGA novel book discussion (Part Two, Ch 1-2)
Part Two
A Moonlit Sake Cup
1
“Naumaku sanmanda bodanan Enmaya sowaka… Naumaku sanmanda bodanan Enmaya sowaka...” 1
It was a pitch dark night, with no trace of the moon.
From deep inside the tatami-floored room came an ominous chanting. The owner of that voice was Masako.
The flame from a tall oil lamp illuminated her body, and a long shadow flickered behind her.
Her shadow looks just like a Mononoke… Kagetoki secretly thought. His head was spinning from the choking sweet scent of the incense Masako was using for the ritual.
“...Lady Masako, if you continue with this, you will be noticed by Lord Yoritomo!”
“Silence! You will break my focus!”
Masako continued chanting. Kagetoki shrank away to the entrance of the room, and kept watch on the outside. If they were spotted here and Yoritomo heard of it, he would be subject to all sorts of accusations and his life would be in danger.
“Rin-pyō-tō-sha-kai-jin-retsu-zai-zen…HAAAH!” 2
Masako stopped chanting, and the room became dead silent.
“Lady Masako?… Um?”
It happened when Kagetoki spoke.
One of the shadows cast across the room began to writhe strangely. It quickly grew swollen, and protruded towards Masako as though it were peeling itself away from the wall.
“Aa- Aaaaaaugh!?”
Kagetoki fell flat on his behind, scared stiff, but Masako gave a fearless smile and rose to her feet, unperturbed.
“So you have arrived, En! I have waited for you!”
The enormous shadow seemed as though it would swallow her up at any moment.
WHO ARE YOU?
“I am the one who called you. The one who summoned you to this place is I, Masako!”
Masako looked at En with pride on her face.
…YOU ARE BOLD, WOMAN… SO THEN, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE FOR ME?
“Lend me your power. Is it not true that you were killed by Kage, the Mononoke that haunted Yoshitsune, and have fallen to the depths of hell? If I had not summoned you, then you would be burning in the inferno at this very moment. Show your gratitude.”
IMPUDENCE! DO YOU WISH ME TO TAKE YOU TO SEE THOSE FLAMES FOR YOURSELF?
The great shadow loomed even further toward Masako.
“Ohoho. Will you be satisfied with little old me? Is there not someone else you would like to take there with you? Kage vanished along with you. But the one they tried to protect- Yoshitsune, lives on. Let me assuage your hatred. Lend me your power!”
WHAT…? AND IN RETURN?
“… I will give you all of Japan.”
At this, Kagetoki naturally opened his mouth to scream, but out of terror of En, he hurriedly clamped both hands over his mouth. He stood and stared wide-eyed.
HM. NOT BAD… HOWEVER, I NO LONGER POSSESS MY FORMER STRENGTH
“I understand. However, surely you could manage to slip into someone with a weak heart, and drive them to madness? We will use that person to get close to Yoshitsune.”
THIS SOUNDS LIKE FINE ENTERTAINMENT. AND I AM TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH YOUR LITTLE SHOW...?
As En spoke, the inside of the room began to spin. Gusts of wind blew in every direction, and Kagetoki fell to the floor, covering his head with his hands. The wind stopped, and he raised his terrified face.
“...Huh? Where is En?”
The room had fallen silent, as if nothing had happened, and the oil lamp remained lit.
“Hmph, that certainly was exhausting.”
Masako said, lowering herself to the floor shakily.
“That was splendidly done, Lady Masako! Do you think it went well?”
“Only En knows who he will choose to possess. However, if that monster can manipulate them and get close to Yoshitsune, it will surely present us with a favorable opportunity.”
“I see.”
“Kagetoki, you hurry to Kyoto too. You must investigate Yoshitsune’s current circumstances. I will inform Lord Yoritomo of your whereabouts. And I will say this again, do not interfere directly. That will only bring down my lord’s anger upon you. We must make it so that Yoshitsune is the one to betray him.”
“As you wish!”
Kagetoki smoothly and quickly left the room. With an exhausted face, he let out a huge sigh.
“Ugh… that bitch is terrifying...”
“I can hear you, Kagetoki! Would you like to be sent to hell!?”
“Gaah! M-M-My sincerest apologies!!!”
Hearing Masako’s forceful voice, Kagetoki jumped in fright and ran for his life.
2
“I oppose this! I absolutely oppose this!”
Benkei’s sharp voice rang out across Yoshitsune’s manor.
Yoshitsune, Benkei, Saburō, and the Satō brothers sat in a circle in the room. Each of them were staring at the letter that lay in the center with grave expressions.
Hiyori stood a short distance away, anxiously watching Yoshitsune and the others.
“Calm down, Benkei,” Saburō said quietly, still staring at the letter.
“How the hell can I calm down? Do you seriously intend to believe a letter that might not even be real, and hold peace negotiations with the Heike!? What if it’s a trap!?”
That evening, a kamuro had visited Yoshitsune’s manor. The kamuro were young servants with their hair cut short, and Taira no Kiyomori had formerly set many of them loose in the capital as his spies, to gather information. This kamuro was one of the ones still remaining in the capital.
The kamuro said that he had come to deliver a letter to Yoshitsune. The sender was “Dennai Noriyoshi”, but he himself did not know who that was. He had been told, “If you say the name ‘Dennai’, Yoshitsune will know,” and so had reported that to the soldier on guard.
The guard had been unsure what to do, but just at that moment, Saburō had returned from his patrol. He had asked about the situation, and upon hearing the name “Dennai”, hurriedly taken the letter into his own hands.
Returning to the manor, Saburō immediately handed the letter to Yoshitsune.
The letter said that Dennai’s master, Taira no Tomomori, wished to seek a path to peace, and therefore would first like to meet Yoshitsune in secret, and even specified a time and place for the secret meeting.
Saburō was surprised to learn that his childhood friend, Dennai, was serving such a powerful general. But since Tomomori was the commander of all the Heike since Kiyomori’s death, and spoken well of even among the Genji, he was strangely reassured.
“He… Dennai, isn’t the kind of man who would act for personal gain. He’s never shown any interest in wealth or fame. If this is an offer from the lord that Dennai has chosen to follow, then I… I want to trust it.”
Saburō said this as if he were trying to ascertain his own feelings.
“How can you simply trust him like that!? Okay, so let’s assume for argument’s sake that Dennai is a good guy. Isn’t there a good chance that he’s been deceived by Tomomori? The Heike have been driven into a corner, don’t you think that they might do anything to win, no matter how cowardly!? They’ve gotta know Yoshitsune’s name from the surprise attack at Ichi-no-Tani. They’re deliberately calling for the man who kicked their asses, you’d have to be mad to think this isn’t a trap! Right!?”
Usually, Benkei’s foul-mouthed ranting would have made him easy to brush off, but it was clear that he was a quick thinker. He was older than Yoshitsune and the others, and so had seen enough of Mononofu and human wickedness to be sick of it. Part of his role was to hold back Yoshitsune and Saburō when they were being naive.
Listening to Benkei and Saburō’s exchange, Tadanobu opened his mouth hesitantly.
“That may be why… The fact that the Heike are in a very painful position may be why they want to end the war… Anyway, I think there’s no way to know unless we give meeting them a try.”
“Yeah, and if you go to meet them and think, ‘Yep, it’s a trap’ then it’ll be too fuckin’ late! What would we do if something happened to Yoshitsune!?”
“It’s our job to protect him with our lives so that nothing can happen!” said Tsugunobu firmly. Tadanobu continued, “Benkei, don’t you want to end this war too? If the war continues, many Mononofu will die. And so will many of the humans caught up in it. So, don’t you want to use your life to stop the war, rather than continue it?”
“...Tch.”
Benkei had no response, and so continued to glare at Tadanobu with a stern expression. There was a moment’s silence, and then Yoshitsune, who had been listening silently, spoke.
“I understand everyone’s thinking… But the truth is, I made up my mind the moment I read this letter,”
He looked around at everyone’s faces.
“I will go to meet Tomomori. I don’t care if it’s a trap,” he said decisively.
Yoshitsune was remembering what Dennai had said to him by the lake.
Just lamenting it won’t end the war.
That’s what Dennai said to me then.
But I’ve had enough of Mononofu and people dying in battle. Friends killing each other- it must never happen again.
I want to put an end to this bloodstained chain of events.
If there’s something I can do to stop it, then I don’t care how much danger I have to face.
I will give my life.
He suddenly recalled Dennai’s engaging smile.
“… And, I promised him that I’d see him again...”
Saburō realized that he meant Dennai, and smiled,
“Yeah, I want to have a stupid conversation with him like old times.”
Benkei’s face showed a mixture of shock and anger.
“Absolutely ridiculous… Do what you like then, I don’t give a shit,” he spat as he stood up, and stomped out of the room. Hiyori was startled by Benkei’s anger, and looked shaken, as if she were about to cry. After a moment’s hesitation, she followed him.
Saburō watched her leave, and gently patted Yoshitsune’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it, Yoshitsune. Benkei is just worried about you.”
To lighten up the atmosphere in the room, Tadanobu joked, “That’s right! He rants and raves, but it’s because if Yoshitsune were ever in danger, he’s the type who’d shove past the rest of us to be first in line to shield him.”
Everyone’s faces relaxed, but Saburō then immediately looked serious again, and said to Yoshitsune, “By the way, what are you going to do about Lord Yoritomo? Will you send a messenger to Kamakura to inform him?”
“No. There are still far too many things that we can’t predict. First, we should determine by ourselves whether or not Tomomori really desires peace.”
“I see… I’ll make sure the soldier who the kamuro was talking to keeps his mouth shut, then.”
“Thanks, Saburō.”
Those words became a signal to end the meeting.
Yoshitsune made to leave the room. The sun had already set and it was dark outside. Tadanobu opened his mouth to ask where he was going, but Tsugunobu immediately put a hand over his mouth and gave him a look. Tadanobu’s expression said that he understood, and he nodded.
Saburō was smiling as he put the letter away. Since the incident with Yoshinaka, it had seemed that Yoshitsune had completely lost himself, but now the light was finally beginning to return to his eyes.
If that’s the case, then all we can do is walk the road Yoshitsune believes in together.
Saburō made up his mind.
Having stormed out of the manor, Benkei sat on a large boulder in a bamboo grove behind the building, looking up at the moon. This place led towards the mountains, and its slight elevation gave good views of the surroundings. Benkei often drank sake here while looking at the moon.
Suddenly sensing something, he turned, and saw Hiyori standing alone, a short distance away. Her silver hair shimmered, and her pale skin stood out against the darkness. She was as beautiful as a white lily in the moonlight.
“Oh, it’s you, Hiyori...”
Hiyori made a face as if to say, “You finally noticed me,” as she approached Benkei and sat herself down beside him. Benkei continued to look up at the moon.
“Sure is a beautiful moon… I wonder how many more times I’ll be able to see such a moon?”
It was a rare moment of sentimentality from him. Hiyori grinned at him in response, and turned to Benkei, mouthing words. Benkei read her lips.
“What?… Huh? Out of character?”
Hiyori nodded in agreement.
“Shut up! Even I know that!”
“...”
With a slightly worried expression, and tilted her head to peer at Benkei.
“...It’s not that I don’t understand. To open a new path, you need to do something unreasonable.”
Hiyori’s beautiful and innocent eyes, that seemed deep enough to be swallowed up in, naturally drew out Benkei’s true feelings.
“But, I can’t shake the feeling that Yoshitsune is heading right for the middle of a massive whirlpool. Ten years ago, when he said he was gonna decline the priesthood and leave Mount Kurama, and then when he decided to leave Ōshū and go to Lord Yoritomo in Kamakura, I had the same feeling. He moves forward on his own and tries to choose the dangerous path. If he keeps on running like this, then one day he’s gonna… he’s gonna… Shit!”
Benkei’s face crumpled, and tears welled up in his eyes. He turned his face away in a desperate attempt to hide this from Hiyori. Hiyori was surprised at his tears, but she gently put her arms around his arm, and lightly rested her head on his shoulder. Benkei was completely flustered.
“Hey…! Oi, stop that! It’s embarrassing!”
Benkei tried to shake his arm loose, but Hiyori did not let go. Eventually he gave up and heaved a great sigh.
“… Sorry. I guess I must have worried you. It’s okay. I’ll protect Yoshitsune. Even if it kills me.”
Hiyori raised her head and began to mouth words again.
I-don’t-want-you-to-die-ei-ther-Ben-kei
Reading her lips, Benkei looked up to the moon to hold back the tears that were welling up in his eyes again.
“Idiot…! Do you really think I’m going to die so easily!? … I must be getting old. Somehow I’ve started to get all teary over stuff like this. It’s pathetic...”
Hiyori nodded enthusiastically, still holding on to his arm.
“Shut up and mind your own business! … But… thanks. I’m okay now. You go back to the house first, Hiyori. I just snapped at them and stormed out, so I’ll go back after I’ve cooled my head a little.”
Hiyori looked at Benkei with a relieved expression, and then stood up energetically and ran back down the path. She was wearing a proud smile, as if she were glad to have soothed Benkei’s suffering. Benkei watched as she ran away, crossing his arms as if to shake off his embarrassment. He sat down cross-legged and called out in disappointment.
“Hey, it’s creepy to spy on people! Why don’t you come out?”
A few meters away from where Benkei was sitting, Yoshitsune slowly emerged from the bamboo, scratching his head in embarrassment.
“I wasn’t spying or anything… I was just… Waiting my turn.”
Yoshitsune smiled as he sat next to Benkei.
“Here, you forgot this,” he said, handing Benkei his favorite sake flask and cup. Benkei accepted them silently.
“I feel sorry, because I’m always causing you trouble, Benkei. But I want to put an end to Mononofu fighting and killing each other. Continuing to fight until one side is destroyed doesn’t have to be the answer, right?”
“Mononofu were born to fight. That’s why we have powers. It makes us different to humans, who can only pray. We have to use our powers to end wars.”
“Is that really so?”
“Mn?”
“And what if the very existence of Mononofu is the cause of all wars?”
“...”
“Kage told me. That eventually I’d understand the reason why the demon chose me.”
Benkei turned to Yoshitsune in surprise.
“I’ve been thinking about that the whole time. Maybe the demon exists to wipe every last Mononofu off the face of the earth...”
“Yoshitsune...”
“That would certainly end the war. But I don’t want to choose that path. I won’t become a demon. I want to act on my own will, not the demon’s, and open up the path I believe in.”
“So that’s what it is. I get it. That’s what we’re here for.”
Benkei filled his sake cup to the brim, and then drank the whole thing in one gulp. Yoshitsune stole the flask from him, and then re-filled his cup.
“Benkei, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you… I don’t have any memories from when I was young. But as long as I can remember, you’ve been by my side. But you’re not my father or anything, so that’s kind of strange… Why?”
“Tha-That’s…! B-Because I was asked!”
“By whom?”
“...”
“… Perhaps the truth is, you came to kill me because of the demon inside me?”
Benkei dropped the cup of sake he was drinking.
“Tha…! That’s not it at all! Ah, nooo, my precious sake…!!!”
At Benkei’s flailing, Yoshitsune spat out his own sake laughing. “No, it’s fine. That doesn’t matter anymore… Rather, I’m just truly grateful you’re still here with me.”
“Dammit, between you and Hiyori. I’m done with this sappy bullshit tonight!”
Perhaps to hide his embarrassment, Benkei stole the flask back from Yoshitsune and poured and gulped down his sake cup over and over. Laughing, Yoshitsune stood, and looking up at the slightly less than full moon, spoke quietly.
“Benkei, I have something to ask of you.”
“Whaddya want? I’ve got no money.”
“If I become a demon again, and I can’t change back...” Yoshitsune slowly turned to look at Benkei.
“Then you kill me.”
Lost for words, Benkei stared back at Yoshitsune. In the moonlight, his silhouette seemed dreamlike, and from his expression Benkei felt a strong will that could not be opposed. Silence passed between the two of them. At last, Benkei settled his resolve and spoke.
“… Understood. If that happens, I’ll kill you.”
“… Thank you,” said Yoshitsune.
He looked up at the moon once again and said, “This moon is our witness tonight.”
----
1A chant in the style of esoteric Buddhism: “Homage to all the Buddhas. Enma, king of hell.”
2This is another esoteric Buddhist chant. One possible translation: “May all those who preside over warriors be my vanguard”