I had never had so many nightmares in my life.
Since I read my father's letter about the Sword of Futsunushi, my mind spiraled into darkness almost every night, pulling me into vivid and terrifying dreams.
Before my night with the mountain princess, I even began to question whether I was asleep when the nightmares came or whether I was dreaming when I was awake.
Aiko relieved me of the constant visions. "Your dreams will be peaceful," she said as I was leaving her hut. And since that night, I slept better.
She didn't rid me of the doubts and concerns, though.
"The treasure you seek will bring you more sorrow than joy, if you choose to make its presence known," she warned me.
"Then, I shouldn't seek it?" I asked.
"I can't stop you from seeking it, now that you know about it," she replied vaguely. "I promised to warn you of what awaits you, and I'll do so because I don't want my daughter to grow an orphan."
Aiko looked at me with a piercing gaze, as if she knew the answer to my dilemma but didn't want to tell me.
"Your body is handsome," she uttered finally, seeing my struggles. "However, you don't show it to everyone, do you?"
I processed.
"The same holds true for your treasure," she murmured. "Possessing it doesn't mean revealing it."
I sighed.
Aiko had helped me and confused me. I didn't know what to do—because I possessed the treasure.
I slid my hand under the low table. Wrapped in a simple cloth, there was the magical blade - the Sword of Futsunushi!
After I left Aiko's home, she showed me the way back to the cemetery. In a soft whisper, she guided me as I reached beneath the immense boulder near the ancestral shine. The grass around the boulder was thick and dense, but there was a narrow opening that no one would be able to find, just wide enough for my hand to slip through. In complete darkness, I felt the sword's hilt with my fingers and pulled the treasure out.
I felt its power immediately.
The sword wasn't heavy, but there was something weighty about it. It seemed like energy emanating from it reached deep into my chest. My head buzzed under the tension of the moment.
"I can feel death," Aiko uttered, placing her hand on my shoulder. "Many have died because of this sword. For the sake of our daughter, be prudent, Taro-sama."
The darkness veiled her eyes from me, but I could feel the worry and tension in the mountain princess.
"Promise me you won't act rashly," she pressed me.
I turned to her. "I promise."
"Then, go home," she sighed. "And remember, possess, but don't reveal your treasure."
Possess, but don't reveal it…
I unwrapped the blade. It shone in the light of the rising sun reaching into my room through the slightly raised shoji. The Sword of Futsunushi—my father's secret, a legendary relic of samurai warriors, and the source of unimaginable power—was now mine!
I placed it gently on the table, unable to take my eyes off it.
The mystical Sword of Futsunushi!
I could hardly believe it!
But how could I possess it, without testing its powers? How could I carry on simply keeping it hidden in my room? And if I didn't, would carrying the sword make me more powerful—or bring misfortune instead?
Aiko had said nothing about hiding it. She only insisted it remained invisible to others.
I made my decision. I carefully wrapped the sword back in the plain cloth and slid it into my regular scabbard, leaving my usual katana hidden under the table. The scabbard, made of dark, lacquered metal, concealed the Sword of Futsunushi perfectly. I fastened it back to my kimono and stood by the window, contemplating my future.
What was coming my way?
Would Aiko really be able to protect me from harm that the sword could bring?
I could hear Takumi's footsteps. I braced myself. If I could deceive my chamberlain, the secret of the sword was more likely to remain undiscovered by others.
"Good morning, master," Takumi bowed, looking somewhat surprised. "And may I say you look especially radiant this morning, your lordship." He glanced at me one more time before continuing. "Do you have any orders for me, master?"
"Not really," I shrugged. "But did you not come with news for me?"
He bowed again. "You see right through me, master," he replied. "I brought a message that Isamu-sama, your honorable apprentice, is requesting your approval to pay you a visit. He is in the lower village, awaiting your permission."
My apprentice? That was an expected development. The last encounter I had with Isamu was at the daimyo's castle when I had to give the young man a lesson in anal sex, watched over and encouraged by the daimyo himself.
Therefore, I wasn't very excited about another meeting with the man.
"Do you know what he wants?"
Takumi nodded. "Apparently, Isamu-sama has just gotten married, and despite requesting your blessing by letter, he never received a response. So, he's coming here with his wife to seek your blessing in person and pledge their allegiance."
I sighed. I recalled getting Isamu's letter, but with all the recent upheaval, I hadn't found the time to reply.
"Fine," I waved at Takumi. "Let them come."
If I had to endure another meeting with Isamu, at the very least, I might use it to test the sword's powers, while keeping it hidden.
"I'll do that at once," Takumi said, his voice unusually deferential. His eyes lingered on me as if seeing something different and he added, almost obsequiously, "Your lordship!"