Book I:  Nishi

Chapter 2

Stars twinkled in the night sky above the Nishin landscape.  The long grass swayed to and fro on the rolling hills from the occasional breeze.  The best way to describe Nishi was in five simple words: wet, green, wet, blue, and wet.  The frequent rains kept the foliage lush and the streams and lakes sparkling and pure.  This truly was the land of water on the island of Yon Houkou no Tochi.  Even though Nishi was dominated by open meadows of grassy hills, there were the odd patch of trees and what some would even call forests.  Tonight it seemed that the almost full moon shown down on one thicket of woods in particular.  Or at least that's how it seemed to the lone mouse taking refuge among them.  The cool night air caused the young Nezumi to shiver.  Her shelter that she had erected hours earlier didn't seem to be offering much resistance to the cold.  Her futon and blanket could only do so much.  Above all, she didn't dare start a fire in fear of being discovered.  Not only would it be potentially dangerous but her shinobi pride couldn't bear to take another hit.  It had been three weeks since she had left home.  It was two days ago was when she ran out of food.  Yesterday, she had run out of fresh water.  Her stomach ached with hunger and thirst.  To dull the pain, she curled into an even tighter ball causing her tail to wrap itself over her head.  In all of her shinobi training, she could not recall for the life of her on the best way to gather food.  All the plants her mother had shown her were at the outer rim of her memory.  All the best ways to catch small game and fish her father had shown her were a blur.  In her current situation, she started to greatly regret her decision.  Tomorrow, she would have to do the thing she had avoided for days; she would have to enter a village.  

Nanashi took a deep, shaky breath.  Fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes she closed them even tighter.  She was a fool for running away from home.  Nevertheless, she had vowed that since she had, she would never cry again.  A nukenin like herself, a rogue ninja, was not worthy of tears.  Shivering again, she clenched her jaw and made up her mind.  Tomorrow at first light, she would attempt to buy supplies from the next village she came to.  With any luck, she would not be found out and be on her way.

Grabbing her blanket, she pulled it tighter around herself to block out the cold.  Tomorrow would decide whether or not she was completely mistaken in her decision.  She then heaved a great sigh, drifting off into a restless slumber.

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Nanashi was awakened in the wee hours by a cold, wet tap on her nose.  Followed up by another.  And another.  She slowly pried open her bleary eyes to realize that her shelter that she had erected was leaking; profusely.  The leaves she had layered together over a fallen tree were saturated.  Because of their newfound water affinity, the leaves were not offering much resistance to the downpour overhead.  Rather quickly, Nanashi realized that she was sleeping in a puddle rather than her futon.  Soaked to the bone, she shivered violently to create some semblance of body heat.  Apparently, at some point during the night, Mizuryu-sama had decided to take flight.

Mizuryu was the dragon-god of Nishi.  The Nezumi had worshiped the guardian deity for centuries at his temple located at Lake Ao.  Ironically, that very temple was Chisai's intended destination before she left her house and name behind.  It was believed by the Nezumi that the dragon-god made his home beneath the waves of the sacred lake. Because of that belief, the temple was built at the center of the lake.  Since the great dragon was a spirit of water, the Nezumi also held the belief that whenever one of the frequent Nishin rains came, it was because Mizuryu had taken flight over his lands.

"Perhaps I was better off being a priestess," Nanashi's teeth chattered, "then maybe Mizuryu-sama would treat me better."  As if to answer her, the rain came down harder, further drenching the already soaking mouse.  "Either this is my punishment for blasphemy or his holiness has an odd sense of humor."

Quickly gathering her drowned possessions, Nanashi stuffed them in her bag.  She then set out into the falling rain, hoping that his holiness would cease his trip through the skies soon.  Unfortunately, she was met with no such luck.   She continued on her way undaunted, albeit slower than her average pace.  She trembled from head to tail from the cold.  Her stomach seemed to have swallowed itself in an attempt in quenching her hunger.  Finally, in the distance, at the top of a hill, the outline of a house came into her gaze.  Her heart and her empty stomach leaped with joy at this new sight.  With a renewed determination, she trudged on though the puddles and mud that attempted to halt her progress.

The closer she got, the more houses sprang into her field of vision through the blanket of pouring rain.  Soon, she was racing along the paths that ran between the rice paddies surrounding her splashing through puddles in the soaked ground.  She trudged on until she reached the center of the village.  Turning her head this way and that, she began to look around frantically for any sign of life. The only thing that greeted her was the continued rain and the sight of closed doors.  Absolutely quaking at this point, from shear cold and doubled over from hunger she cried out, "Help!  Somebody please help!  Someone, anyone!  Please!"  She fell to her knees, weak and tired.  "Please…"  The mud on the ground splashed as she collapsed, covering her lovely white fur with an ugly brown caking.  The last thing she saw through her lidded eyes were two tiny feet rushing towards her before she lost consciousness.

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It was warm.  For the first time in three weeks, she felt warm.  The sound of crackling flames met her ears as well as the clanking and scraping noises given off from the stirring of a pot.  I'm dreaming, she thought.  I have to be dreaming.  All I can remember is passing out on the cold ground.  I certainly didn't start a fire.  She clenched her eyes tighter, not wanting to escape this wonderful dream.

"My, my," a voice chimed, "Still asleep?  That poor thing must have been through hell to be out for so long.  And, by the look of it, rather malnourished too."  The voice was warm and comforting but high-pitched and scratchy.  A cheery voice to be sure but also one wizened with years.   

I'm dreaming of an old woman?  That's strange, Nanashi thought.  If I am dreaming of one, why can't I see her?  Nanashi felt her stomach growl with hunger as she pondered.  She was surprised to find that her tummy seemed to be in pain from being empty.  You don't feel pain in dreams, right?  Then does that mean I'm not dreaming?

"Oh goodness!" the other voice exclaimed.  "It seems I was right!"  The voice chuckled to itself and the stirring sounds resumed.  "Then I guess it's a good thing I made more stew than usual."

Mmmm, stew! the young Nezumi relished.  It felt like ages since she had eaten a proper meal.  All she had been living off of since she had fled were the few rice balls she had packed when she started on her journey.  I hope it's udon!  With beef!  That would be so good! Nanashi twitched her nose to get a better whiff of the succulent aroma.  Then it hit her, she had passed out on the street.  All of this was actually happening and was not just a fantasy in her subconscious mind.  In one graceful motion, she bolted out of her bed, flipped backwards into a crouching position all while grabbing the nearest weapon.  "Who are you?  Where am I?" she demanded narrowing her black eyes at the mouse before her.

The Nezumi tending the nearby pot chuckled.  She was old just as her voice had sounded.  She was squatting down by a large steel pot but even if she were to stand, she couldn't have been more than two-and-a-quarter feet tall.  Her honeysuckle colored fur was graying around her eyes, nose and ears.  The gray in her fur was nowhere near as silvery as the gray of her hair that was pulled back into an artful bun.   As for her ears, the bright pink that they must have once been had faded plus they seemed quite a bit droopy.    "Awake I see?  I can understand your concern dear but I am of no threat to you.  My name is Amae.  I found you lying on the road out in front of my house; it seems that you had passed out."

Nanashi quickly eyed her surroundings.  She was in a small house, smaller than her old one.  The floorboards creaked beneath her feet where she stood.  Just like her old house, they didn't start at the entrance of the home.  There was a small stretch of earth right after entering the house where one takes off their shoes before stepping up onto the wooden floors.  Her own zori were sitting there at the entrance just like that of a guest or even a member of the family.  There was a fire crackling in the pit at the center of the house with a large pot hanging over it.  The fire pit was a square hole in the wooden floor where the ground was exposed so as one wouldn't set their house ablaze while trying to prepare dinner.  The pot was suspended by a chain from the rafters.  Risking a quick glance upward, Nanashi notice that a clothesline has been suspended above the fire with her shinobifuku hanging to dry over the flames.  The ceiling was open and went all the way to the wooden roof.  If push came to shove, she could retreat to the safety of the open rafters.  She had been lying on a futon drawn up close to the fire as if to warm her up.  Between her and the door was the small, elderly mouse, probably into her late sixties.  It was hard to distinguish what was grayer, the old Nezumi's fur on her face or her hair.  The other Nezumi was wearing an old tattered kimono with a simple tulip design.  The old mouse didn't look like a shinobi but Chisai new that looks can be deceiving.  "So this is your house?" Nanashi asked as she glared.

"Yes it is young one.  But I should remind you, it is most discourteous to not thank one's host after they have invited you in, nor introduce oneself either.  Also, I don't think you could do much harm to me with a wooden spoon," Amae chuckled again.

The color in Nanashi's checks rose as her eyes darted to the implement in her hand.  She then looked down at her clothes.  She was wearing a comfortable, dry, light-weight kimono.  Noticing that her drying clothes above the fire were  apparently washed and stain free, she blushed even more.  "I'm sorry Amae-san," she apologized lowering the spoon slightly, "Thank you very much for taking me into your house.  As far as my name, I have none.  If you must call me something, then call me Nanashi."

"It is no trouble at all dear.  How could I ignore a young one's cry for help?  And if you don't mind, I would rather call you 'young one' or 'dear' than something as degrading as Nanashi."  The old mouse then returned to tending the pot in front of her.

Nanashi blushed again.  She had forgotten about her "display" earlier.  "Thank you for taking me in and cleaning my clothes.  I'm terribly sorry for making you do all of this.  I shall get dressed and leave as soon as possible."

"What makes you say you made me do all of this?  Does a kindly old mouse need a reason to help the younger generation?  It is my sincerest pleasure to help you dear.  Please sit down and relax.  Dinner is almost ready."

"But I shouldn't be troubling you so!" the young Nezumi squeaked in exclamation completely lowering the spoon.  "I must be moving on soon.  You wouldn't want me to stay anyways after you realize what I am."

Amae was shocked.  "Realized what you are?  I already know what you are.  You are a young woman who has lost her way and needs help."

"But…!"

"Shhhh child, it is alright," Amae cooed putting a finger to her mouth, "don't worry about such things right now."  She ladled some stew into a bowl and handed it to Nanashi.  "Now eat up before it gets cold."

Taking the bowl, Nanashi fought back the tears that dammed at her eyes.  This old mouse's kindness was almost too much for her to bear.  She was a nukenin, and even had discarded her name.  And yet, this old mouse, Amae, just wanted to help her.  Even though she knew she should be weary of this elderly Nezumi, Chisai couldn't help but trust her.  The events of the past weeks had weakened her defenses and Amae's kindness and sincerity was plucking at her heartstrings.

Amae seemed to be reading Nanashi's mind.  "Are you alright dear?  You're not hurt are you?  Do you have a fever?  Let me see."  

The old Nezumi leaned forward and lifted Nanashi's bangs.  Even her touch is gentle, Nanashi thought.  Amae then touched her forehead to Nanashi's.

"No fever, that's good.  Now let me see your arm, it seems to be shaking.  My, my, your whole body seems to be shaking!"

That was it.  Dropping her bowl, Nanashi threw her arms around the old mouse and began to sob uncontrollably.  At first, Amae was frozen with shock.  Then, realizing what had happened, she hugged the younger mouse back, almost cradling her.  "There, there dear," she said patting Nanashi's head, "It's ok.  Everything is alright."

"Why?  Why are you being so nice to me?" Nanashi sobbed.  "I am an outcast, a foreigner!  I am not worthy of such kindness!"

"You are a lovely young mouse who needs just needs a little help," the older Nezumi soothed.  "You seem to have been through a great deal.  Now let it all out and tell me all about it."

Never before had the young Nezumi cried as much as she did it the arms of this kind, old lady.  She told her all about the village she had left behind.  She went into her arranged marriage and the disaster she had caused because of it.  She recounted her punishment and her subsequent decision to flee.  She even explained how she had abandoned her old life as well as her name.  It all came pouring out in waves of tears and sobs.  She laid herself at the mercy of Amae, and all the older Nezumi did was listen and comfort her.  All the while she spoke, the fire in the center of the house next to them dimmed ever so darker.

After all of her story was told, Nanashi started to collect herself.  The house was almost completely dark by this point save for the glow of the embers of the once blazing fire.  The dim light is shed cast a dark shadow on Amae's face.  The whole time Nanashi told her tale, she had her head on the lap of the older mouse with her eyes shut.  Amae had been stroking her hair, and with each light touch, some of her sorrow seemed to be caressed away.  Then Nanashi felt a single tear tap her on the nose.  Opening her eyes, she looked up at the heavily shadowed face of her comforter.  Nanashi could just barely make out the wrinkled eyes of the elderly mouse to find that she too had tears in them.  "Oba-san, are you alright?  Did I do something wrong?" she asked.

"No dear, you didn't do anything.  You just reminded me of my own daughter.  Whenever she was sad, I would stroke her hair just like this."  Amae continued to slowly and gently rub her paw through Nanashi's silky, white hair.  "It was about a year ago when both she and my husband died in a fire that ravaged our village.  She and her husband were trapped in their house and my husband died trying to save them.   When I heard your cries for help, it reminded me of my own daughter's cries that day.  Then when I saw you lying helpless on the ground, I couldn't help but see my own daughter passed out on the cold wet ground.  You remind me so much of her.  From your long hair to your nose and eyes, you look so much alike.  I just couldn't bear to leave you there in the rain."  Another tear fell from Amae's eyes as she reminisced.

"I'm so sorry for bringing that all back.  If you want me to leave, I understand."

"No, please stay," Amae said with another stroke.  "You just reminded me of some of the happiest times of my life.  I don't have any answers for you my dear, but I can say this; you may have dishonored your family and you may have dishonored yourself.  Even so, your parents still love you and you are still the same mouse that they raised.  There is no need for you to cast aside your name out of shame.  Be proud of who you are."

Nanashi raised herself to her knees.  The two Nezumi embraced each other sharing in the other's pain and joy.  They released and looked at each other through bleary eyes in the dim light.  "Now we should eat, before the food gets cold and the fire goes completely out," the old woman said with a smile.

Nanashi laughed for the first time in weeks.

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Lying awake in her bed, Nanashi stared into the blackness of the night deep in thought.  The fire had been put out, the udon eaten, stories had been shared and now she and Amae had laid down to sleep.  With a full belly, Nanashi began thinking about why she left her home in the first place.  I left because I didn't want to marry; because I'm not ready to marry.  She twitched her ears in frustration.  The whole reason I had to get married was because of that stupid law.  Who has the right to tell me and other young mice like me to wed?  She pondered on her own question for a few silent moments.  Sighing, she finally thought to herself, I guess the best way to find out is to go right to the source.  I guess I'm going to Lake Ao after all.

The young Nezumi considered her options as she stared at the ceiling of the darkened hut.  Closing her eyes and slowing her breathing, she entered a meditative state.  She could feel the chi, or spiritual energy of Amae lying a few feet away from her.  Her chi felt like a warm blanket wrapped around you on a cold evening.  It suits her perfectly, Nanashi thought with a grin.  After a few moments, she began to sense the chi of the other Nezumi in Amae's village.  Then, after a few minutes, she could feel the chi of the grasses and the water in the paddies of the village itself.  She could sense the chi of the rain falling and the wind that came with it.  Lying still for almost an hour in this state, she finally felt what she was searching for, a powerful cold chi; the chi of Lake Ao.  If she could describe it, it felt like someone had poured a line of cold water down your spine, chilling and shocking at the same time.  Nanashi had never been to the lake nor ever felt it's chi but she was certain that this powerful spiritual sense she was getting was that of Mizuryu's home.

She snapped her eyes open and began to formulate her plan in her head.  Lake Ao is at least five days away.  No, I can make it in four if I run almost non-stop.  I can only stop to eat and to sleep.  And well, go to the bathroom too I guess.  She crinkled her nose at the thought of wetting herself as she ran.  She shivered off the thought and continued on, I'll need a few days of food and water, or better yet, a water bladder that I can refill.  She nodded her head as if to affirm everything she had just thought.

Rolling over, Nanashi gazed upon her savior.  Amae was a Nezumi that had nothing in common with her.  The other mouse was old, graying and very frail looking.  She slept in a very old, tattered futon; having given the newer of the pair to Nanshi.  The old mouse even seemed to wheeze with every breath she exhaled.  If not for this wonderful oba-san, I would still be lost.  Thank you Amae-san.  Thank you.  Nanashi sighed with sadness at the thought of leaving her new friend.  I must know, she thought.  She will understand.

Having found her answer and peace of mind, Nanashi rolled back over and finally fell asleep.

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In the morning, Nanashi woke to another wonderful smell.  Mmmm, rice porridge!  It tickled her nose and caused it to twitch uncontrollably.  For the third time in two days, she pried open her eyes.  The kind old mouse that had taken her in was bent over a pot over the fire.  She slowly rose from her futon and stretched.  Her back did it's typical snap, crackle and pop as she stood.

"Good morning dear.  Care for some porridge?"  Amae offered holding out a steaming bowl.

"Good morning Oba-san.  Thanks," the young Nezumi said taking the porridge.  The two Nezumi sat down together and enjoyed their meal together.  Finishing her food first, Nanashi lowered her bowl from her mouth and wiped her it with her forearm.  With a heavy sigh, she turned to her kindly, old host.  "Amae oba-san, I know this is going to sound sudden, but I need to leave today.  I now have somewhere to go, and it is best if I leave soon."

The older Nezumi sighed in response.  Setting down her own bowl she spoke, "I figured you would.  Restless young ones like you don't stay put for very long."  She smiled as she looked at the beautiful Nezumi sitting opposite her, "I very glad we were able to share this short time together."

"As am I.  I wish I could have met your husband and your daughter," Nanashi smiled in turn.  "If they were anywhere near as kind as you, I think I may have stayed here forever."

The rest of the morning was spent preparing Nanashi for her departure.  The young Nezumi dressed in her fully-dried shinobifuku.  She gathered up her belongings and packed them back into her travel sack.  Amae spent the dawn hours gathering food and provisions for her guest.  She packed dried beef, bean paste, and rice balls neatly into two large leaves and folded them into a large lunch bag.  She went into the village a purchased a water bladder and then traveled to the local well to fill it.  When the package and bladder were handed to her younger counterpart, a warm smile was shared between the two them.  Nanashi placed the lunch bag into her sack and slung it over her back.  She then took the bladder and slung it over her shoulder.  She was finally ready to leave.

Before she departed, the two mice embraced one last time.  "Your kindness was more than I deserved Oba-san.  Thank you."

"Everyone deserves kindness," the wizened Nezumi replied, "especially the kind at heart.  Good luck with your journey my dear.  I pray that you get the answers you seek from life and for your safety."
Nanashi stood up from the hug and turned for the door.  Before exiting, she spared one last glance back at the mouse who had saved her and gave a radiant smile.  Then, quickly and deftly, she sped off into the morning mist.

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Miles away, a great black ship glided to a halt.  It had released its anchor just a moments before and having  caught the shallow seabed, it performed its task.  Standing at the ships prow, Naragyuu surveyed the virgin land before him.  A land not under control of the great and powerful Yajyuu was a pathetic sight to behold.  We shall fix that, the immense ox thought.  With a simple raise of his arm, his men began to load and board their longboats to sail to shore.  Following suit, the other ships in his armada began to prepare for the invasion as well.

In less than an hour, his force would be ashore and setting up camp.  The surrounding timbers would fall before their axes.  The grass that covered the ground would be hewn away.  Fires would be started to cook the animals they would slay for their dinner.  His craftsman would start assembling the Yömi machines of war.  Anything in their path would be torn down and any resistance they met would be left asunder.  They were the Ushi, the great conquerors of Yömi.  Nothing could stop their march towards victory.

Once camp would be established, Naragyuu would send out his scouts to get a feel for the land that would soon be theirs.  The topography, the climate, the flora and the fauna, all were necessary to plan for their triumph.  Most importantly however, was the resistance they would meet from the natives.  Defeating them was a mere formality, but knowing how much they would slow them down was crucial to know.  Getting word back to Lord Yajyuu of how fast this new land would fall was imperative.  After victory was ensured, his holiness would have to come bless this conquered land with his presence and give it a name befitting his glory.  The scouts' task was a vital one.

Naragyuu considered all  these things as he leaned both hands on the prow of his ship. Staring down at the abomination before him, his rage boiled.  My thirst must be quenched, he thought.  Too long has it been since I have spilt blood.  Too long has it been since I have tasted glory.  All are within my grasp.    The ship's railing splintered as his grip on it tightened.  "Soon," he rumbled, "Soon…"

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Thanks for reading!  Hopefully next time I'll do better!