The Fall of Daigo - Part 1 - Darkness in the North - Chapter 3

The Fall of Daigo

Book 3 of the Dororo Novel Series

Toriumi Jinzō

Part 1 - The Darkness in the North

Chapter 3

    

 Kaga's main Judicial Office came into view as Hyakkimaru, Dororo and Jukai went east toward Mount Kannon, which was dwarfed by the looming presence of Mount Haku. It was so cold here that the mountain peaks were tipped with snow year-round. Three deep, wide rivers spilled out of the mountains into Kaga, Ezichen, and Mino Provinces, making it a very fertile area and a prosperous region for trade.

 The monk Taichō was the first person to reach the top of Mount Haku and various other peaks in the surrounding mountains in the year 718. He was a practitioner of shugendō, a form of worship that required climbing mountains, which were holy places. Mount Haku was said to be home to Kukurihime, a manifestation of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.

 In the 800s, the monk Shūhei had a wide horse road made between Kaga and Ezichen Provinces for the purpose of spreading mountain worship further. His efforts were successful. Over the centuries, shugendō became popular in Japan, though it had fallen out of favor recently.

 Jukai and Hyakkimaru had simply been able to walk into the main Judicial Office of Ezichen Province at Takefu, but with Asakura Takakage's betrayal so recent and the war situation worsening by the day, it would likely be much more difficult to get in here. The road they traveled was a major supply route because of the three rivers and the closeness of several cities, so there were army camps dotted here and there that served as logistical checkpoints to keep food, weapons, and medicine moving to where they were needed. Since the whole province was at war primarily because of their ally's betrayal, outsiders were viewed with special scrutiny.

 Togashi Masachika supported the Eastern Army, just as Asakura Takakage had until very recently. His most powerful backer was Yamagō Takafuji, whose main army was stationed at Yamagō Fortress. Masachika's younger brother Kochiyo sided with the Western Army.

 Like his brother, Kochiyo was not without support. Nukakuma Yasha essentially used Kochiyo, who was still a young boy, as a figurehead to rally behind as he recruited for the Western Army.

 Kaga Province was being torn apart from within by the family that was supposed to rule it.

 Hyakkimaru, Jukai and Dororo approached the Judicial Office. It was a large structure with clay walls and a tiled roof. The snow on the ground was only just starting to melt. Hyakkimaru spotted a temple tower in the distance. Soldiers paced along the tower's levels, keeping vigilant watch.

 "If we're spotted stopping here it will look suspicious," Jukai said. "Follow me." He started walking ahead. Dororo and Hyakkimaru followed him.

 They traveled a little further west and came across a small lake. It was near sunset, so the water shone with red-orange ripples. An old, rundown farmhouse was built right near the lake.

 "We should stay here for the night, taifu," Dororo said. "It's far enough away from that place to be safe, I think." She ran up to the farmhouse ahead of the others.

 Searching for good places to stay on their journey was Dororo's personal mission. Jukai hadn't ordered her to do this, but she still considered it her duty.

 "Perfect!" Dororo said, peeking through the house's windows. "It's completely empty." She opened the door and went inside. She dashed immediately toward the fire pit in the center of the dirt floor and set a fire, then started unpacking supplies for dinner. She found an old metal pot in a corner of the room and used it to boil water.

 The sun set, making the one-room house shadowed in gloom. Only the faces of Dororo, Hyakkimaru and Jukai were visible in the light of the low fire.

 "What should we do now, dad?" Hyakkimaru muttered. He sounded tired and irritated. They had come all this way for information about Daigo Kagemitsu, and they'd gotten some, but they still didn't know where he was or what he was currently doing. Getting information from the Judicial Office would be difficult. Asking passersby about the Daigo Clan would arouse suspicion.

 Dororo glanced between Hyakkimaru and Jukai. "Isn't it obvious?" she asked.

 Hyakkimaru looked quizzically at her.

 "I'll go and ask myself," she said. "What could be simpler?"

 "You're not a judicial officer and you don't work for the shōgun," Jukai said patiently. "Even if you got in, no one would even listen to your questions, much less answer them."

 "Leave asking the questions to me. I'll handle it."

 Hyakkimaru understood that Dororo intended to sneak in and search for information. "It won't go well for you if you get caught."

 "Understatement," Jukai said. "You can't possibly go on your own."

 Dororo said nothing.

 Later that night, Hyakkimaru awoke and discovered that Dororo was missing. "This again..." He pursed his lips.

 Jukai heard him stirring and also awoke. He noticed immediately that Dororo was gone. "Get ready," Jukai said.

 "I am."

 They had to bring Dororo back before she was caught—or rescue her if she'd already been captured. They left the house together and got on the road back toward the Judicial Office.

 Dororo ran up to them before they'd taken ten steps. "Daigo...Kagemitsu is the...lord of Nomitadani Fortress," Dororo gasped. Then she went inside the lake house, found the leftover water in the pot from dinner, and drank it all in a single gulp.

 Jukai and Hyakkimaru stared at her back in utter amazement as she dashed away from them.

 Dororo wiped sweat from her forehead and described what she'd done. She had waited for Jukai and Hyakkimaru to fall asleep, then got back on the road to the Judicial Office. She'd mingled with the other people on the road who were heading there. She'd distanced herself slowly from a large group of people, then jumped over a wall and into the Judicial Office.

 The watch-fires were all lit. Ashigaru carrying torches and spears patrolled on regular rounds. Dororo saw the line of buildings in the dark, all aligned in a neat row. The buildings were dark inside except for one: Dororo saw candlelight flickering through an open window.

 Dororo crept forward, keeping to the shadows, and peeked into the window. About a dozen lower-ranked samurai and tax officials were busily scribbling away at their desks. They were likely working through the night because of all the extra war work that had fallen into their laps.

 Dororo strode into the room, bold as brass. "You've been working all night, right?" she asked innocently. "You must be tired."

 "Who the hell are you?" one of the tax officials asked.

 No child had ever been admitted into the Judicial Office before. Even if it were noon and not the middle of the night, Dororo would have stood out like a sore thumb. What's more, these men were familiar with all the servants and the people who lived on-site, so they knew for certain that Dororo was a stranger.

 The men viewed Dororo with suspicion, but Dororo seemed completely unconcerned. "I'm just here to help," she said. "I know you're so all so busy, so I'm working late for a little extra money."

 One of the men glared at Dororo. "I've never seen you before. Do you know someone who works here?"

 "Hmph." Dororo snorted. "Yeah, I work for Lord Daigo."

 The men exchanged panicked glances. "Lord Daigo? You mean Daigo Kagemitsu?"

 "Yeah." She folded her arms. "I'm gonna tell him how mean you were to me when I was only trying to help."

 "Impossible. He's been the lord of Nomitadani Fortress since last year."

 "Yeah, that's right, Nomitadani Fortress," Dororo said. She'd never heard of the place before, so she stumbled over the name a little bit.

 The men's expressions of surprise transformed into expressions of puzzlement. "Where did you come from, kid?"

 "That way," Dororo said, pointing behind herself. "I should go back." She spun on her heel and fled the room at top speed.

 "Wait!"

 Dororo ran desperately away from the Judicial Office. Some of the ashigaru guards spotted her and gave chase, but she jumped over the wall before they could catch her.

 The ashigaru shouted at Dororo through the wall. "A kid is escaping! They're a spy for the Western Army!"

 The guards on the outer walls shouted to one another, too. Dororo could see the light of their torches, but she didn't stop: she focused only on running. If she outran them and hid, they would soon give up. That was exactly what had happened. She'd run back to the house by the lake when she couldn't see or hear her pursuers anymore.

 Jukai wanted to reprimand her for putting herself in danger. So did Hyakkimaru, but neither one of them had the heart to do so. She'd risked her life to get the information they needed. It seemed that Dororo was willing to risk anything for Hyakkimaru's sake.

 "We told you not to go," Hyakkimaru said. "What if you weren't fast enough? You could have been killed!" He sounded far more worried than angry.

 Dororo's usual clever expression smoothed into seriousness. "I'm sorry," she said. "But I couldn't think of anything else to do. And I found out what we needed to know."

 "The most important thing is that you're safe," Jukai said.

 "Isn't Nomitadani Fortress northeast of here?" Dororo asked. "We should get going."

 "In the morning," Hyakkimaru said. "We have a long way to go still, so you should rest."

 Suddenly, Dororo's eyes went wide. She pointed. "F-fire. Torches."

 Jukai and Hyakkimaru saw them, too. There were many of them: so many that the air was thick with smoky haze and the horizon line looked red. The torch-bearers appeared to be mounted. They were closing in from all directions.

 "Shit," Dororo muttered. She'd been followed. She'd hoped to escape from the Judicial Office without being tracked, but some scouts must have followed her without her noticing.

 "Flee," Jukai said in a tone of command. "Cut your way through if you must. If we get separated, we'll meet again at Nomitadani Fortress."

 "Right," Hyakkimaru said.

 Jukai, Hyakkimaru and Dororo grabbed their packs and were ready to run almost instantly.

 "Stay near me," Hyakkimaru said to Dororo.

 "Same," Dororo said. "I'll fight 'em all off." She prepared her darts and blowgun.

 Jukai made a fist and closed his eyes. He assumed a forward stance used in Hamara Genyōhiken, monster and spirit exorcism. The area around the house caught fire. The flames moved in a circle shape, surrounding Jukai, Hyakkimaru and Dororo.

 Jukai wiped sweat from his forehead, then opened a gap near the back of the circle that was wide enough for Dororo and Hyakkimaru to run through. "Hurry," he called out hoarsely.

 Hyakkimaru and Dororo sprinted through the gap he'd opened. He closed the gap behind them, standing in the circle of fire.

 The riders were coming closer and fanning out. Jukai could see the leader in the light of their torches. He guessed that there were roughly thirty of them.

 "He's getting away!" the leader of the riders yelled. "Ride around and chase him! Kill all of the spy's allies!"

 This might seem like an overreaction to the presence only three people, but it was no exaggeration to say that everyone employed in the Judicial Office was on edge. They didn't know what information Dororo had gotten. It was possible that she would use what she'd learned to strengthen the position of the Western Army, who were their sworn enemies. Asakura Takakage had once been on their side, so they knew that he employed spies and used his information network to undermine his enemies all the time.

 A spearman ran around Dororo and Hyakkimaru, trying to cut off their retreat. Hyakkimaru slashed him down with the Muramasa sword at the same time Dororo sent a dart flying into his neck.

 A group of ashigaru attacked next. "Run!" Hyakkimaru yelled at Dororo as he fought them off.

 "Sorry," Dororo said, sending darts flying in all directions. "This is all my fault..."

 "Apologize later," Hyakkimaru gasped. "Run now!" He shoved her through a gap in the enemy line. Dororo took the lead he'd given her and ran.

 Hyakkimaru could use psychokinesis against his opponents—that would certainly make the battle easier—but he'd sworn to only use it on yōkai and the Hall of Hell demons. He didn't want to fight humans on unequal terms.

 Hyakkimaru caught a glimpse of Jukai's face out of the corner of his eye. "Dad!"

 "Cut your way through," Jukai said. "You have to get away!"

 Hyakkimaru finished off the remaining ashigaru that were surrounding him, then ran toward the nearest grove. More ashigaru gave chase, but he was too fast for them to keep up. Many of them had been injured by Dororo's darts, Jukai's flames or Hyakkimaru's sword.

 Dororo was also running for her life. She slipped through the gap between two spearmen, then used her darts to fell a samurai on a horse. "Ah!" The samurai fell to the ground, face-first. Dororo leaped on his horse and kicked it into motion.

 "Go!" Dororo commanded. The horse jumped over its fallen master and broke into a gallop.

 Dororo and Hyakkimaru were both running, but not in the same direction. The abandoned house near the lake went up in flames. Sparks leaped into the sky as the roof caught fire. Jukai vanished in the darkness. No matter how hard the ashigaru looked, they couldn't find him.

***

 Dororo's escape was reported to the Judicial Office the next morning. Hyakkimaru had killed many ashigaru and samurai while escaping, so the watch was doubled and every man that could be spared was sent to search for the criminals who had assisted the spy. They assumed a connection to Daigo Kagemitsu and Nomitadani Fortress, since that was what Dororo had asked about and the officials performing the search had no other leads.

 Dororo emerged from the woods and got onto a mountain path at dawn, still riding his stolen horse. He had passed near many guardhouses during the night. He could only hope that he'd avoided detection this time. He was sweating and shivering all over.

 Looking around at the trees and mountains on the path, Dororo realized that he had no idea where he was. He did know which way he was facing. He'd probably gone too far north and passed Nomitadani Fortress, so he had to turn around and then shift his course eastward.

 I hope taifu Jukai and aniki are safe...

 He was glad to have gotten away, but he didn't like being alone out here. He knew that it was his own fault. He'd hoped to win praise at gaining such valuable information on his own, but his recklessness had brought danger right to Hyakkimaru and Jukai.

 I made a mistake... Dororo bit his lip. A bad one. I'll atone. I'll do whatever I have to so they'll forgive me.

 It started snowing. Dororo wore no coat. He felt the snowflakes melting on his bare skin. "It's freezing..."

 It was the beginning of spring, but winter still held sway here. The snow on the ground was thick and hadn't even started melting yet. Dororo suddenly felt very cold and very alone, like he was the last person left in the whole world.

 Dororo hadn't been alone for years. He'd lived with Hyakkimaru and Jukai at the ruined temple, and before that at Mount Kurama, and he'd been traveling with Hyakkimaru since they'd met. He missed his familiar people.

 Dororo glared up at the cloudy sky. He shouldn't have gone to the Judicial Office alone, but he hadn't had any idea that things would turn out this way.

 A group of ashigaru rode up behind Dororo.

 "Ah!" He spurred his horse onward before he could be spotted, but it was too late: the ashigaru gave chase, calling out to one another as they surrounded him and his horse.

 "Stop!" the ashigaru shouted after him.

 Dororo shot one in the neck with his darts. He fell from his horse, causing brief confusion among Dororo's pursuers. The horse trampled the dead man's body and impeded the other men's progress.

 Dororo pitched forward when his horse's legs got caught in some overgrown tree roots. He rolled as he fell, getting back on his feet at the edge of a cliff.

 "Look for the brat," one of the ashigaru said.

 Dororo ducked down again.

 The ashigaru dismounted and began a search of the cliff. "I don't care if he's dead or alive, but we have to bring him back one way or another."

 At just this moment, a strange rider appeared from the woods. Their hakama were far too large and their face was covered by a white cloth so that only their eyes were visible. There was a long sword strapped to their back.

 The ashigaru were briefly distracted by the appearance of this new rider. Dororo used this moment of inattention to dash around them and find his horse. He was long gone by the time they realized he was no longer on the cliff.

 As for the rider, they vanished into the woods, leaving no trace that they had ever been there.

***

 At the same time that Dororo, Hyakkimaru and Jukai were evading their pursuers, the blind lute-playing monk Hōichi visited Mio's Temple. The children surrounded him, smiling and clapping. He'd taught them many songs before, though they hadn't seen him in almost a year.

 "How are you, children?" Hōichi asked. "I brought you a few things."

 Hōichi removed his pack and took out a large bag of sweets. The children cheered, then shared the candy equally among themselves.

 Sakuzō had never met Hōichi before, but he recognized him from the description Jukai had given in his letter. He knew that Hōichi had helped Hyakkimaru recover his psychokinesis after he'd lost it in a battle against the Hall of Hell demons.

 "Hello, Hōichi," Sakuzō said. "I've heard a lot about you."

 Hōichi had recently returned from Mount Monju. He'd heard from Tokuyūbō, the priest at the temple there, that Hyakkimaru had completed his training and climbed down the mountain.

 Sakuzō warmed up some sake and poured it out in two cups: one for Hōichi, one for himself.

 "Thank you," Hōichi said.

 "It's the least I can do," Sakuzō said. "It's awfully cold out there."

 Hōichi lifted the cup and savored the sake as if it were the most wonderful thing he'd ever tasted. Sakuzō knew that Hōichi liked sake, since he and Jukai had talked and drank until late at night when they'd first met. Sakuzō was very impressed with Hōichi's tolerance and seeming fondness for alcohol.

 They had just met, but Sakuzō found Hōichi easy to talk to. There was no awkwardness between them at all. Truthfully, Hōichi found it easy to make conversation with most people. It was a skill he'd picked up while traveling.

 Last summer, just after Hōichi had guided Hyakkimaru to Mount Monju, Hōichi had passed through Kaga, then Etchū and Echigo. He returned to Ezichen by way of Wakasa Province and headed immediately for the temple to check in on Jukai and Hyakkimaru. He had told many tales, sung many songs, and met many people on his journey, but he hadn't forgotten his old friends.

 Hyakkimaru had gone to Mount Monju to train and recover his psychokinesis so that he could fight the Hall of Hell demons. While the demons remained a threat, Hyakkimaru's main goal now was to track down Daigo Kagemitsu, his birth father.

 "So they're looking for Daigo Kagemitsu now?" Hōichi asked. "Do they know where he is?"

 Sakuzō nodded. "Dororo and Hyakkimaru went to Ichijōdani and got some information about him from Asakura Takakage. We know that he's in Kaga Province. Taifu, Hyakkimaru and Dororo left about ten days ago."

 "Kaga's not easy to travel through at the moment," Hōichi said. "When I was there, I saw battles all over the place. I may not be able to see with my eyes, but the feeling of all that hellish carnage left a deep impression."

 "Taifu is with them," Sakuzō said. "I'm sure he'll keep them safe."

 Hōichi nodded. He chuckled. "It would have been impossible to stop them from going, anyhow. They're a brave bunch. They can make their way anywhere."

 Sakuzō smiled.

 Hōichi's manner became very serious. "So Daigo Kagemitsu is in Kaga, is he? I would have thought that Hyakkimaru would wait for the snow to melt, at least."

 "I shudder to think what he's going to do." Sakuzō was crying. He was easily moved to tears when he was drunk. "That man gave Hyakkimaru's body to demons." Sakuzō remembered how terrified he'd been of infant Hyakkimaru at first sight, when he'd looked more like a worm than a baby.

 "Hyakkimaru has suffered a lot," Sakuzō said. "I imagine that knowing his parents are the cause of this suffering makes it worse. Taifu had to make everything for him—arms, legs, eyes, ears, a nose—all so he could go out into the bloody and violent world. He was always so curious about it—its good and bad points. He never would have managed to do it on his own without psychokinesis, though taifu taught him how to use that, too."

 Sakuzō sighed. "Without psychokinesis, Hyakkimaru could have stayed at home. He wouldn't have been able to make such a dangerous journey. But I don't fault taifu for teaching him how to use it; no." He shook his head.

 "Hyakkimaru's situation is not your doing, either," Hōichi said quietly. "His suffering wasn't caused by you. Everything was contrived by Daigo Kagemitsu and the Hall of Hell demons. Hyakkimaru's hatred for them is understandable." Hōichi finished the sake in his bowl.

 Sakuzō took another sip of his own sake. "Hōichi, sir, may I ask you something?"

 "Of course."

 "Is Daigo Kagemitsu really Hyakkimaru's father?"

 "Hyakkimaru will find out for sure when he finds him in Kaga," Hōichi said.

 Sakuzō snorted. "I believe that the Hall of Hell demons are responsible for all of this. Please, Hōichi, you have to find a way to save him. Save Hyakkimaru."

 Hōichi turned his white eyes on Sakuzō. Sakuzō felt like he was being stared through.

 "You have a compassionate heart," Hōichi said.

 "A compassionate heart?" Sakuzō frowned.

 "Hyakkimaru was raised by you, so you have nothing to fear. Believe in the son you've raised. That's the best thing you can do, for now."

 "Huh? Of course I believe in him. He can do anything. I prayed for him every day at Kurama's Temple, and I still pray for him every day."

 Hōichi nodded. "That's all well and good. I intend to help him, too. Hall of Hell demons are unforgiving toward those who oppose them, and the power Hyakkimaru gained on Mount Monju allows Hyakkimaru to actually kill them. He won't be safe no matter where he goes."

 Sakuzō's shoulders slumped in relief. He was glad that Hyakkimaru would have Hōichi's help.

 Hōichi left Mio's Temple the next morning. He would find Hyakkimaru wherever Daigo Kagemitsu was. Hōichi understood that Hyakkimaru wouldn't stop searching until he found the Daigo Clan. Like Sakuzō, Hōichi wondered if Daigo Kagemitsu was truly Hyakkimaru's father, but a different question interested him more: Were the Hall of Hell demons solely responsible for the loss of Hyakkimaru's limbs, or had Daigo Kagemitsu played a role?

 From Hōichi's perspective, it made sense for the demons to choose a scapegoat to distract Hyakkimaru. It could be that Daigo Kagemitsu was entirely blameless for the loss of his son's limbs.

 Spring lightning flashed in the overcast sky. Hōichi stopped walking and looked to the north. He saw an enormous storm cloud there. Storms were common enough in spring, so most people wouldn't think much of it, but Hōichi's eyes could see into the true nature of things. He felt something very evil and powerful dwelling within that cloud.

 Hōichi gripped the hilt of the sword concealed within his lute and smiled bitterly at the sky. "I should have expected to be able to read the Hall of Hell demons' true nature," he muttered. Wind cut through the trees near the road. Hōichi drew his sword and slashed at the air in a sweeping motion.

 The air made a very strange sort of shrieking sound when cut. The shrieking was followed by the sound of something heavy falling to earth. It was a flying squirrel—a very, very large one. Hōichi guessed that it was almost nine feet across. The body of the creature turned to smoke, then disappeared.

 Hōichi's eyes had spotted the yōkai an instant before it had manifested in the physical world. Lightning forked in the sky, then struck the earth directly in front of Hōichi. Hōichi reacted on instinct, jumping out of the way before the lightning could strike.

 Lightning struck again. This time, Hōichi didn't move. He stood still with his sword upraised. The flash of lightning shone on the blade of the sword, then turned to fire that shot into the sky as a huge fireball.

 Another huge flying squirrel fell out of the sky with a high-pitched scream. Like the first, its body turned to smoke and dissolved.

 Multiple yōkai had tracked Hōichi down and attacked. But why? Because he had psychokinesis? Because he'd decided to help Hyakkimaru? Hōichi wasn't sure.

 The storm clouds over Hōichi's head dissipated. Hōichi was entirely calm. He wasn't even out of breath. He was a thin old man, but there was great power concealed in his small frame.

 I'll probably meet the Hall of Hell demons face-to-face one of these days...

 Hōichi sheathed his sword, then started walking again, humming a familiar tune. "The wind blows to the east, and it rains in the west. If the fickle wind carries my scent..."

 This was the first time the Hall of Hell demons had attacked Hōichi. It was not a concerted attack or an ambush, but a test of strength. They wanted to know what he was capable of. Hōichi was a man who had been gifted with natural psychokinesis from birth. He didn't expect the demons to let him live in peace now that they'd discovered him.

 The Hall of Hell demons had learned of Hōichi's existence when he'd first met Hyakkimaru. Hōichi believed the exact moment the demons became aware of him was when he'd deflected Hyakkimaru's Muramasa sword with his own blade. He'd encountered Nihil, a cursed sword held by Sabame Nuinosuke, just after that.

 Hōichi considered it likely that there were more people with psychokinesis in the world, though the gift seemed rare. He was an old man who had lived most of his life without demonic interference. By helping Hyakkimaru, Hōichi had made himself an enemy of the Hall of Hell demons.

 Hōichi had spent much of the last year searching for other people who had the hidden potential for psychokinesis. Luckily for the demons, he hadn't found a single one. The world was full of people who were missing limbs, but not a single person Hōichi had spoken to harbored any spark of psychokinetic potential.

 But Hōichi still believed that he, Jukai, and Hyakkimaru were not the only people with this gift. He wasn't going to stop searching until he found others.

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