“So,” Makoto asked, “you said a demon has possessed Emperor Hiro?” Ryoma looked down to the floor and said, “That’s correct, Lord Shogun. The monster who’s taken over His Majesty is none other than the snake demon Orochi.”

Makoto gasped and repeated, “The snake demon Orochi. It should still be dead by Susanoo’s hand. How has it returned to the land of the living?” Yuki chimed in and said, “It rallied the demons from Yomi together, and the coalition was enough to breach the barrier to the world of the humans.”

Yuki then took another bite of the crucian carp from his plate. Unlike the small sampling he and Ryoma found in Himiko’s old abode, the shogunate served it in surplus. He supposed it was one of the perks of living in luxury. Then, he wondered if the same applied to those who lived in the imperial palace. He hadn’t exactly had conversations with Ryoma about the samurai’s life there as he didn’t want to bring up a touchy subject.

“That is troubling indeed.” Makoto said. Ryoma nodded. Then, he winced as a servant girl tended to his wounded arm. This caused Makoto to laugh for the first time in quite a while. “I didn’t hurt you that bad, samurai!” He exclaimed. “Take the pain like a true warrior!” Ryoma blushed and looked away. He wanted to say that he faced death in the eye fearlessly yet didn’t want to talk back to the shogun of all people.

“I’d hardly consider any of this situation to be a laughing matter.” Tetsuo said abruptly. He hadn’t traveled all the way from his temple to sit and chat idly with the man capable of changing the course of history by combatting the demons. “Let’s discuss our options, Lord Shogun. What can you do to help us free the emperor?”

Makoto sighed and turned his head down. “I’m sorry,” Makoto said, “but ultimately, I cannot help you in your efforts.” Himiko gasped and asked, “What do you mean, Lord Shogun?” Makoto continued, “I grow weary from all the troubles these demons have presented us. I’ve sent samurai in all compass directions meaning to quell the disruption to our once peaceful nation. I’ve no one to spare, you see.”

Hesitation followed as the words caught in Makoto’s throat. Nevertheless, he pressed through the silence and said, “Also, I must admit, I’ve lost faith in the emperor’s willpower.” Ryoma’s jaw dropped and he asked, “How could you say such a thing, Lord Shogun?” He wasn’t prepared for such an admission and almost doubted if he heard Makoto correctly.

And yet, Makoto said, “It’s simple, really.” He turned to one of the servant girls in the room and commanded, “You there, bring in the box.” She frowned but nodded and exited the room. The quartet wondered what Makoto meant to show them until finally, the girl returned carrying an ornate, gold-laced jewelry box with a ruby plastered on the top as decoration.

“How exquisite!” Himiko exclaimed. Having foregone embellishment in her life, she couldn’t help but be fascinated by the sheer beauty and intricate design. She asked, “To whom does this belong?” Makoto sighed and said, “I’d rather show you.” He gestured to the box, so the shrine maiden opened it and raised the lid.

Himiko screamed and fell back. Tetsuo moved quickly enough to catch her and asked, “What’s wrong, Himiko? What troubled you so?” She pointed with a shaking finger and said, “In the box. It’s… it’s… a woman’s head!” She turned around and sobbed into Tetsuo’s shoulder. Yuki moved to the box and gulped. He turned around and said, “She’s right.” Finally, Ryoma slowly approached the box of horrors and peeked inside at its contents. Seeing the head himself caused him to begin crying. He whimpered, “Empress Haru.”

“Indeed.” Makoto said. “That demon, apparently Orochi, sent me her as some sort of sick and twisted signature of pure evil. Perhaps it was a warning not to meddle in its affairs. I’m not entirely sure, but I do know that any man who allows himself to be possessed and cannot fend off the spirit, even to the point where he allows his beloved to be butchered, is beyond my help.”

Yuki exclaimed, “But we have to try! Emperor Hiro needs us now and we would be just as evil as Orochi if we were to simply abandon him. Isn’t that right, Ryoma?” The group turned their attention to Ryoma who remained sobbing. “My lady,” he said, “I’m so sorry I failed you.” He stood up and raced out of the room. Makoto thought to chastise the samurai’s unkempt emotions again but refrained as he understood the shock he must’ve felt.

“I’ll go tend to him.” Tetsuo said. Himiko and Yuki looked to the monk inquisitively, so he continued, “I understand I might not be the one he wants to console him, but I feel as though I can reach him. Besides, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell him.” The others, despite finding the situation quite bizarre, relented and allowed the monk to follow in Ryoma’s footsteps.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Tetsuo found Ryoma outside on the steps to the courtyard, crying his eyes out. “Come now, samurai,” he said, “the empress is surely watching us from above; I’m certain she wouldn’t want you weeping on her account.” Ryoma wanted to speak ill toward the monk but peculiarly, he found he had more respect for him and decided not to speak at all. In lieu of a response, Tetsuo continued, “Ryoma, I’d like to tell you what I saw in the fog back at the base of that mountain.”

Ryoma cast his mind back to that day and remembered seeing the empress alive and well. He now knew that to be a mere figment of his mind, but didn’t allow that to cloud his memory. Instead, he thought further to how he escaped the mist’s clutches; he had a vision of the true emperor and was able to overcome his doubt. That same doubt, however, now reformed in his head and heart.

Next, Ryoma remembered that Yuki and Himiko both confessed to seeing shadows in the fog that reflected back dark aspects they shirked away from. Both of them were able to conquer the apparitions through self-affirmations as well. And then there was Tetsuo, also stuck in the mist like the rest of them, whom wouldn’t divulge any information about his encounters. Ryoma found that odd at the time yet didn’t press the issue. But now, curiosity overtook him.

“What did you see?” Ryoma asked. Tetsuo said, “I saw the emperor. Or rather, I should say that it wasn’t Hiro, but the emperor before him. At least, I assume it was him as I had never seen him before. The man was dressed so elegantly that it couldn’t have been anyone else, but he was older than Hiro would be, so I figured it must be his father.”

“That’s strange.” Ryoma said. “Pray tell, why do you believe the fog showed you the former emperor?” Tetsuo sighed and shook his head. He asked, “Is it not obvious? He derided my family for assassinating him. He spat at my lineage, cursing my bloodline and saying I deserved all the retribution in the world for the actions of those who came before me. The ghost claimed that I couldn’t escape my fate.” The samurai noticed that the monk had begun tearing up himself.

Ryoma patted Tetsuo on the back and asked, “So, how did you escape from the vision?” He chuckled and continued, “Surely, someone as quick-witted and sharp-tongued as yourself would be capable of talking down the shadow.” Tetsuo buried his face in his elbow to wipe away the tears and with a muffled tone said, “I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. The figure unnerved me so greatly that I panicked and fell to the ground.”

Such a declaration shocked Ryoma. Tetsuo seemed to always have an answer to everything. Knowing he couldn’t muster a rebuttal to the mist was on the cusp of incredulity. The samurai asked, “Then how did you escape the fog?” Tetsuo, now dried up, said, “I didn’t. It simply dissipated. I was whimpering on the ground, and I suppose the gods decided to have mercy on me. Or, the combined might of the three of you may have lifted the mist from the entirety of the forest. Who knows for sure?”

Ryoma understood then why Tetsuo wouldn’t describe his encounters in the forest before as it must’ve both terrified and embarrassed him, bruising his ego. But something didn’t add up. “Wait,” the samurai asked, “why tell me this now? What prompted this confession?” The monk looked at his companion sternly and said, “You didn’t allow me to finish my story.”

“I apologize.” Ryoma said, “By all means, go ahead.” Tetsuo smiled and said, “Thank you. Now, the fog had lifted and I was left alone in the forest. However, I heard you shout to Himiko and Yuki and heard them call out to you. I had never been so relieved. Seeing you, it reminded me of how you initially judged me as well.”

Ryoma blushed and said, “I’m sorry for that. It was wrong of me to do.” Tetsuo chuckled and exclaimed, “That’s exactly what I’m talking about! Your willingness to look past my bloodline made me remember that I’m my own person. Then, that made me think about how I personally treated you when we first met. To be blunt, I was a jerk. And yet, you looked past my individual flaws and accepted me regardless.”

“Is there a point to all this?” Ryoma asked. Tetsuo placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder and said, “I’m telling you that your flaws don’t define you. So, you admittedly made a mistake which cost the empress her life. But please know that you’re so much more than that blunder. You help people however you can, even demons for that matter! Ryoma, you’re an incredible human, and you should let that fact define you instead of your follies.”

Once more, tears began to well in Ryoma’s eyes as he said, “Thank you, Tetsuo Takamaki. You’re truly a dear friend.” Tetsuo smiled and said, “Of course. Come now, let’s return inside.”