The Fall of Daigo - Part 1 - Darkness in the North - Chapter 2

The Fall of Daigo

Book 3 of the Dororo Novel Series

Toriumi Jinzō

Part 1 - The Darkness in the North

Chapter 2

     At the beginning of April, Hyakkimaru, Jukai and Dororo finished their preparations and left the temple. There was still some snow in the mountains, but the plum tree blossoms would soon be opening. Sakuzō accompanied them to the foot of the mountain and saw them off. Their packs were full to bursting, but they had no horse; all of their supplies were on their backs. 

    Jukai carried a sword at his side, just like Hyakkimaru did. He was responsible for carrying all the medical supplies and tools. People who passed them by would probably think they were a traveling merchant family. 

    They took the Hokuriku Road north from the temple, then chose an off-road path that cut through the mountains in the direction of Kaga Province’s southern pine forest. There were a lot of fortresses and castles on the border between provinces, manned by the Eastern and Western Armies.  

    Hyakkimaru, Dororo and Jukai had no desire to get caught up in the fighting, so they avoided roads and other people as much as possible. The first fortress they caught sight of belonged to Togashi Masachika, who was part of the Eastern Army. The fortress was called Takō, which was in Kanazawa.

    The city of Kanazawa got its name from the nearby marsh. A long time before, a man named Imohori Togoro moved from the capital to marry a wealthy woman. He made a living digging for potatoes in the marsh. One day, flakes of gold washed up in the marsh, which astonished both him and his wife. The rumor of what Togoro had found spread, and people from miles around moved to Kanazawa—literally, “marsh of gold”—to seek their fortunes. 

    Takō Fortress was a strong mountain castle that served as the family seat of the Togashi Clan. There was no better place in the province to ask after Daigo Kagemitsu’s whereabouts.  

    The Iō Temple was nestled in the heart of the mountain. The temple was devoted to Bhaisajyaguru, the Buddha to cure all ills. The area was known for the healing powers of its hot springs. When the famed military commander of the 1110s, Hasebe Nobutsura, injured his horse while hunting, he came to the hot springs and bathed his horse’s wounds. After that, the horse was completely well again. The forest around the temple was already green with new spring leaves. 

    Hyakkimaru, Dororo and Jukai stayed well off the main road, which was much frequented by the Eastern and Western Armies.  When they passed by Iō Temple on their way to the fortress, a poor boy tugged at Jukai’s sleeve. “Mister, are you a traveling doctor? Give me medicine.”

    The boy’s tone was rude, but his desire for medicine seemed sincere. Jukai smiled and faced the boy. “Is someone sick?” he asked.

    A young woman who looked like a farmer’s wife rushed up the path toward the boy. She grabbed the boy’s hand and pulled him toward her.

    “Yata, don’t be rude,” she said. “Apologize to the nice man.”

    Yata bowed his head after his mother finished scolding him.

    Jukai kept smiling. “It’s all right. He wasn’t rude, really. I am a traveling doctor and I sell medicine, so if anyone is sick, I’m eager to help them.”

    “What? You’re really a doctor?” Yata asked, looking at Jukai with newfound respect. “We came to see the great Buddha because my dad is sick. Will you help him?”

    “Now, that’s going too far,” Yata’s mother said, hands on hips.

    “There’s no need to scold him,” Jukai said. “He’s just concerned about his father. May I ask what’s wrong with your husband?”

    The woman frowned. “He started complaining about his stomach hurting a few days ago. We’ve come to the temple to pray every day since then, but there’s been no change.”

    “Is your home near here?” Jukai asked.

    “Yes, at the foot of the mountain.”

    “I’m no great Buddha, but I am a doctor and I do have stomach medicine. Please guide me to him.”

    The woman’s expression brightened, but then she looked down. “Thank you, sir, but we’re very poor and probably can’t afford your medicine…”

    “His illness is more important than payment or politeness,” Jukai said. “It’s my duty to care for the sick. Don’t worry about paying me anything.” He turned around and started heading down the mountain.

    Hyakkimaru and Dororo gaped at him in shock, then started chasing after him.

    “Taifu! Wait!” Dororo called out. They were planning to stay at an actual inn tonight; Dororo had been looking forward to it all day.

    Jukai ignored him and kept walking until he reached a thatched hut at the foot of the mountain. Yata and his parents lived there in abject poverty. There were many similar cottages nearby, but this one was bare of furniture and necessities. There were hardly any blankets, even. Jukai was concerned that the boy might freeze to death in winter.

    Yata’s father was a thin, unshaven man crouched protectively over his own stomach on the bare floor. Jukai gave him a stomach medicine made with sweet flag flowers. His pain was severe, so Jukai opted to remain in the hut until nightfall to monitor his condition.

    Yata’s father began the day pale and in pain, but the medicine proved effective. He was able to sit up before evening and his skin tone was improving.

    Yata got to his knees at his father’s side. “Dad! Thank goodness. I thought you were going to die.”

    Yata’s father clasped his son’s hand firmly. There were tears in his eyes.

    The sight was difficult for Hyakkimaru to witness. He felt a tight pain in his chest that wouldn’t go away. The backs of his artificial eyes felt as hot as if he had a fever.

    I shouldn’t be jealous of Yata having a father who would cry from worry over him… He looked at Jukai. No. I shouldn’t.

    But he was. Yata obviously loved his father—and what was more, Yata’s father obviously loved him, too.

    Jukai called over Yata’s mother. “He should be all right now,” Jukai said. “If the pain worsens or returns, give him this medicine.” He passed her a pouch.

    The woman clasped her hands together and bowed her head in sincere thanks. “You’re a miracle worker,” she said. “Thank you so much!”

    “See, mom? He saved dad!”

    Yata and his mother smiled at one another. Dororo looked away. He’d liked Yata better when he was being rude to his mother. Now that they were getting along, he felt a little jealous, too. He was crying, though he didn’t realize it. They were so poor, and the father was so sick, but their family bond was strong. He’d never seen anything like it in the entire world.

    “How can I ever thank you?” Yata’s mother asked.

    “Simple thanks is more than enough,” Jukai said. “But we were looking for an inn to stay at tonight. Do you know of any that are nearby?”

    “You can stay here!” Yata shouted. “I mean, please stay here,” he said more quietly. “I’m still worried about my dad.”

    His mother frowned. “This place is so small, and filthy, and—and—”

    “We’ll stay,” Dororo said. “Right, taifu?”

    Jukai chuckled. “Sorry. He’s completely shameless. It’s a bad habit.”

    “Will you stay, mister?” Yata asked.

    Jukai considered for a moment. “Is anyone else sick around here, or injured?”

    Yata nodded. “Uncle Itagaki came here for the hot springs. I don’t think he’s feeling well.”

    “Itagaki is a lordless samurai,” Yata’s mother said. “He likes Yata, so Yata calls him his uncle.”

    Hyakkimaru looked at her, then asked, “Is Itagaki from Kaga?”

    “Yes,” she said. “I think he belongs to the Togashi Clan.”

    Hyakkimaru and Jukai exchanged glances. If Itagaki was a samurai and not fighting in any of the various wars going on in Kaga and the surrounding provinces, then he must be very ill indeed.

    “Is he hurt or sick?” Jukai asked.

    “He lost his leg in the war,” Yata said.

    “I see,” Jukai said. “Yes, I’ll examine him.”

    “I’ll bring him here, Mr. Doctor!” Yata sprang up and was about to run through the door when Jukai asked him to wait.

    “Dororo, go with Yata,” Jukai said. “We haven’t had dinner yet. I’m putting you in charge of finding us something tasty.” He handed Dororo several large copper coins.

    “Wow! I can buy the whole town with this. Come on, Yata,” Dororo said. His eyes were as round as the coins.

    Dororo and Yata dashed out the door. They returned about half an hour later with Itagaki, who was leaning on a thick stick. He lowered his head brusquely after he entered.

    “I’m Itagaki Shūsuke,” he said. “I’m grateful to you for seeing me.” He tried to bow, but Jukai reassured him that it was unnecessary.

    “I’m a doctor. My name is Jukai. You’ve met Dororo; he and my son travel with me. We heard that you were a member of the Togashi Clan. I won’t charge you for treatment, but I was hoping we might ask you a few questions.”

    Itagaki gave Jukai a suspicious look. “What kind of questions?”

    “We want to know about the military commander of Takō Castle,” Jukai said. “Anything you know about him would be helpful.”

    “How do you know my family serves the Togashi Clan?” he asked. “I can’t tell you something like that. You could be spies for the Asakura Clan.”

    “We’re not, but I understand why you might not believe us. Only tell us what you’re comfortable sharing.”

    Itagaki frowned. “The Togashi Clan threw me out on my ass two years ago. I’ve already forgotten all about them."

    Jukai offered him a bitter smile. “Well, it was rude of me to ask before treating you, anyway. Let’s have a look at your leg,” he said while rolling up the sleeves of his kimono.

    Itagaki had lost his right leg below the knee. “The wound has long since healed, but I can help you walk without a cane, if you like.”

    Itagaki laughed, but it was a cruel sound. “The bone is gone. You realize that, right? There’s no way I’ll walk without the cane ever again.”

    Jukai was saddened by his cynicism, but he also understood it. “If you doubt me,” he said, “ return here tomorrow. I swear you’ll walk home without the cane.”

    “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Itagaki got up. “Don’ t concern yourself.” He clearly thought that Jukai was some kind of quack. He limped out of the hut with a bitter expression on his face.

    “He had a bad attitude, dad,” Hyakkimaru muttered. “We should have asked him more about the Togashi Clan. ”

    “We won’t learn anything of value unless I help him,” Jukai said. “He’ ll be better disposed to us when he can walk more easily. We can try asking him more questions then.”

    “He probably won’t come,” Hyakkimaru said. “He’s too proud. Arrogant, even.”

    “He’ll come,” Jukai said. “I saw it in his expression. He’s lost too much not to take the risk that I’m not telling the truth.”

    Hyakkimaru knew that Jukai could help Itagaki walk again, but he had more doubts about Jukai’s persuasive powers.

    After dinner, Jukai took one of his wooden legs out of his pack and started chiseling and then shaving it into a new shape. He covered over the modified limb with parchment, then leather. When it was dark outside and the leg was more or less complete, Yata’s mother said, “There’s a good hot spring not far from here. I can guide you all to it if you’d like a bath.”

    “This place is famous for its hot springs, so we’d be fools to pass on such an offer,” Jukai said. “Hyakkimaru, you must be tired from travel. Visiting the hot springs should help you feel refreshed.”

    Hyakkimaru stood up and got ready to leave.

    “You should go, too, Dororo,” Jukai said. “You need a bath just as badly.”

    “I don’t wanna. I hate baths.”

    “I can’t even tell what color your skin is anymore, there’s so much dirt. Take a bath,” Jukai commanded.

    Jukai and Dororo stared one another down. Dororo refused to give in.

    “I have a cold,” Dororo said. “I want to stay inside.”

    Seeing that Dororo was determined to be stubborn, Jukai and Hyakkimaru left the hut with Yata’s mother without him. Jukai remembered that Dororo had never bathed with people when he’d lived on Mount Kurama, either, though he had at least bathed regularly then. He must have waited until the middle of the night to wash himself in the river that bordered the estate.

    “Dororo’s being weird,” Hyakkimaru muttered.

    Jukai said nothing.

    The hot spring was nestled in a grove of plum trees under a bright moon. The air was thick with steam and sweet-scented from the plum blossoms. Jukai was looking forward to washing off the sweat of the road, but Hyakkimaru seemed strangely indifferent to the whole experience. Jukai selected one spring; Hyakkimaru chose another one nearby. He sank into the hot water up to his shoulders and looked up at the moon through the clouds.

    Hyakkimaru’s prosthetic limbs were waterproof, but he didn’t feel them the same way he felt his own flesh and blood. The sensation of them being buoyed up by the bubbling water was unfamiliar, but the warmth of the spring was deeply relaxing. Was this what it felt like to be held? He looked down at his outstretched arms and was profoundly dissatisfied. They could feel no warmth. They were ugly: contraptions of metal and wire and leather that only looked like the real thing if no one looked too closely.

    Water gleamed on Hyakkimaru’s metal joints. He felt the hideousness of his own body in a way that he’d rarely felt before. Very few people had ever seen him naked. Jukai, Sakuzō, Dororo…and Mio. His birth parents must have seen him when he was born, but of course he had no memory of that.

    Hyakkimaru struck the surface of the water violently with both hands. The splash that resulted sent hot water flying in all directions.

    The expression on Hyakkimaru’s face twisted into a grimace of hatred. “Daigo Kagemitsu…” Tears fell down his cheeks from the corners of his eyes, mixing with drying sweat before vanishing into the hot spring. He had been born normal and healthy, with all his limbs, organs and senses. Within moments of his birth, all those things had been cruelly ripped away from him.

    Jukai and Hyakkimaru returned from the hot springs and went to sleep. Hyakkimaru awoke in the middle of the night with Jukai snoring softly next to him. The place where Dororo had been sleeping before was empty. Hyakkimaru was worried about where he’d gone, so he left the hut and went looking for Dororo around the hot springs.

    From a distance, Hyakkimaru saw Dororo’s back rise up out of the water of a hot spring. I guess he decided to take a bath after all. Why not come with us earlier, then? He’s being weird…

    Hyakkimaru smiled. At least dad will be glad that he took a bath.

    He was about to go back to the hut without disturbing Dororo when a shaft of moonlight illuminated him fully. Hyakkimaru stopped still and verified what he was seeing before looking away.

    “Mio…” When Mio had lived at the temple with the children, Hyakkimaru had seen her bathing in the river once, by accident. Dororo’s nakedness reminded him of hers…because Dororo was also a girl. With Dororo’s hair wet, she and Mio could be mistaken for sisters.

    Dororo left the hot spring, then turned around. Hyakkimaru hadn’t noticed how much Dororo had grown since leaving the capital until now. He--no, she--was no longer a child. How old was she now? Thirteen? Many girls got married at fourteen.

    Dororo stood up straight and started walking toward her clothes--and him. Hyakkimaru held his breath and hid behind a tree before he could be seen. He returned to the hut , heart pounding from running and nerves.

    The next morning, Dororo was the same as always: rude, brash, boyish. Hyakkimaru was relieved. She stood over a stewpot in the kitchen and stirred its contents with chopsticks.

    “Breakfast time, aniki,” she said. “ We only have wild vegetables, though. Reminds me of Mio when she was at the temple. This was usually all we had.”

    “Yeah.”

    Getting such a short, vague answer made her look at him strangely. “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

    Hyakkimaru smiled slightly and shook his head. “No, there’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. ”

    “Now I am. You’re weird today.”  She pouted, thin-lipped and angry-looking.

    Dororo was the same as always, but Hyakkimaru’s perspective of Dororo had changed.

    Itagaki returned to the hut a little before noon, as rude as ever. Jukai’s prediction proved true.

    Jukai invited Itagaki to sit down in the corner of the hut. Itagaki set aside his cane carefully, then sat down, taking his time. Jukai produced the wooden leg that he ’d spent much of the previous night crafting.

    Itagaki was unimpressed by the prosthetic limb. “You think that thing will actually let me walk again?”

    Jukai looked at him with a very serious expression. “Yes. It will.”  He attached the leg easily, with practiced movements, then asked Itagaki to stand.

    Itagaki gave Jukai a sour expression, but he managed to stand on his own. He took one step, then another, and another. They were clumsy steps, but he could walk.

    “I...can walk,” Itagaki was dumbstruck. “I can walk without the cane!”

    Hyakkimaru saw something he never thought he’ d see: Itagaki smiling in joy. Jukai was quietly satisfied. Yata and his mother were almost as surprised as Itagaki that he could walk again so quickly.

    “Wow! You don’t need a cane anymore!” Yata said.

    “You’re getting used to it faster than most people,”  Jukai said as Itagaki continued walking around the room, step by slow step.

    Itagaki pitched forward suddenly. Jukai was alarmed, but Itagaki didn’ t fall. He bowed deeply from the waist with his hands clasped together in an attitude of prayer.

    “Please forgive me for being so terribly rude to you,”  Itagaki said in a very formal tone. All trace of his previous blunt, uncourteous attitude was gone. He prostrated himself on the floor before Jukai and didn’t move.

    Hyakkimaru and Dororo were stunned by this sudden change. Itagaki was so overcome with emotion that he wept openly, grinning from ear to ear.

    “If you’re not the world’s most famous doctor yet, I’ ll make sure you are before the year is out,” Itagaki said. “Would you please tell me your name again? I might have to scream it from the rooftops. ”

    Dororo was used to being the one who made over-exaggerations and grand gestures, and did not like having this role usurped. She frowned, but before she could say anything, Jukai stepped in front of her.

    Jukai bowed a little, then extended his hand in front of his face in a self-deprecating gesture. “ I fear you give me too much credit. I am simply a traveling doctor who is versed in some healing arts. If you truly wish to thank me, you could tell me a little about the Togashi Clan. Only if you want to, of course. ”

    “Is that truly all you want? I’ll answer any question you ask.”

    This was a complete reversal of the previous day. Itagaki was true to his word and answered all of Jukai’ s questions in detail. Hyakkimaru listened raptly, hanging on his every word and memorizing as much as he could.

    Before losing his leg, Itagaki Shūsuke had served Lord Togashi Shigeharu, who’ d ruled northern Kaga Province. In 1458, northern Kaga had been granted to Akamatsu Masanori instead, and Togashi Shigeharu lost his position. Togashi Yasutaka and Akamatsu Masanori ruled the province jointly after that for a long while, under the direction of Lord Hosokawa Katsumoto, who worked directly for the sh ōgun.

    Itagaki Shū suke opposed Akamatsu Masanori and lost his leg in battle in 1460. Togashi Shigeharu died in 1462. Samurai lords had no need for a legless swordsman, so Itagaki became a lordless samurai. He had no external means of support after that. He lived near I ō Temple because the hot springs eased the pain of his wounds and drowned himself in drink. His past experiences made him a bitter, cynical man. Yata’ s kindness in talking to him and helping him in little ways created a powerful emotional attachment; it was clear that Itagaki thought of Yata as his own son.

    “Lord Yasutaka’s nephew Masachika is currently responsible for protecting Kaga, right?” Hyakkimaru asked. “Doesn’t Yosutaka have children?”

    “There was Lord Taisei, but he passed away from an illness,” Itagaki said.

    “Are you acquainted with any of the samurai who serve Lord Masachika directly?”

    “A few,” Itagaki said. Jukai leaned forward. “ Lord Ashikaga Takauji serves as a military commander at Yamakawa Fortress. Let’s see...there’s also Tsukihashi Yajirō , Taniwaka Shōken, Daigo Kagemitsu--”

    “--Daigo Kagemitsu!” Hyakkimaru repeated the name much more loudly than he intended. He clenched his fists, then took a deep breath.

    Itagaki appeared slightly alarmed. “Yes, Daigo Kagemitsu. What about him?”

    “What do you know about him?” Hyakkimaru asked. “Tell us everything.”

    Itagaki had never met Daigo Kagemitsu in person, but he did know a fair amount about him.  The Daigo Clan used to serve the Yamana Clan, but their lord had cast them out more than a decade before. They ’d traveled through Wakasa and the northern provinces for awhile before settling down in Kaga Province ten years ago. Ten years wasn’ t so long a time that everyone in the province knew about the Daigo Clan, but Itagaki knew that Daigo Kagemitsu was a favorite with Togashi Masachika.

    “Again, I’ve never met him, but I know him by reputation. I’ve heard he has a wife and son.”

    All of the details Itagaki provided matched what Hyakkimaru had learned from Taga Takatada in the capital, with one exception: this was the first time anyone had mentioned that Daigo Kagemitsu had another son.

    “Only one son?” Hyakkimaru asked. His face felt too warm and his hands were shaking. “ Ten years is a long time to go childless.”

    “Maybe so, but I’ve only heard of the one.” Itagaki shrugged. “ There might be more, but being the oldest, he’s the most active when it comes to helping his father and the Togashi Clan.”

    Hyakkimaru didn’t know what to feel. Daigo Kagemitsu had raised another son? One that he hadn ’t thrown away? It wasn’ t something that Hyakkimaru had expected to hear. Apparently Daigo Kagemitsu had another son after sacrificing Hyakkimaru to the demons, which meant that Hyakkimaru had a younger brother.

    “Do you know anything about Lord Daigo’s current circumstances?” Jukai asked. He didn’ t expect that Itagaki would reveal much about the internal affairs of Togashi Masachika’s household, but Jukai was determined to learn as much as they could.

    “Not specifics, but really, here is the same as everywhere,” Itagaki said. “ The Eastern and Western Armies keep vying for control of the province. With Asakura Takakage changing sides and deposing Lord Shiba, the war situation here became a lot more precarious. Everyone is on high alert, especially the Togashi Clan. Fresh news comes every day and causes constant upsets. We haven ’t had peace in Kaga Province for a very long time. If you want to know more, I’d stop at the province’s main Judicial Office.”

    Itagaki paused. “But we were talking about the Togashi Clan, not Daigo Kagemitsu. Is there something specific that you wish to know?”  he asked.

    Hyakkimaru and Jukai exchanged uncomfortable glances.

    Itagaki chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’m a wanderer now, not a warrior, and the clan wouldn’ t take me back anyway. I have no interest in spilling your secrets.”

    Jukai smiled kindly. “Our questions are in regards to a private matter, I’m afraid. I must ask you to excuse our rudeness. ”

    “Don’t apologize to me.” Itagaki’s face lit up as he looked down at his new leg. “I never thought I’d be able to walk again. But now, I can make a living. I think I’ll go from house to house and teach children to read. It ’s about time that my own children started learning.”

    Both Hyakkimaru and Itagaki had gotten prayers answered at Iō  Temple. Itagaki received a new leg, and Hyakkimaru received more news of the Daigo Clan. He was finally getting close to his goal.