The Three Brothers (The Confrontation with the Lady of the Red Houseboat)

Come closer now, and I will tell you a tale of this very city. When the mist rose on the waves, and Lord Moon hung low and heavy in the sky. It is a tale about a mystery, and courage, and honor…but mostly it is a story of three who became as brothers for a night, and strength they found in one another.

The River of Gold is the lifeblood of our city, and it flows as it has always flowed, strong and deep as it moves South. As with any great river, it has waves, and ebbs and flows with the swelling rain. Fishermen, merchants, and travelers all ply the waters of the river, and flow through its many currents. Still, as with any great river, there are still spots that can be found, places where the current is less strong, and places where the currents run deep and hidden.

It was the River where people first noticed the change, although it began to spread throughout the city. Perhaps some strange deep current brought it to us, perhaps it found its way by other means, but the river folk began to whisper of the Red Boat. The Red Boat was said to have no pilot, or was said to hold strange things within it. Those few who claimed to have seen the boat in those early nights said that it seemed still and silent, as if the water moved under it, instead of it moving on the water. Always a nighttime mist, painted a strange scarlet by the red lanterns, was about when the boat was sighted.

River folk are wiser than people realize. They know the many changes of the waters, and the shifting of the wind and rain by signs that are more felt than seen. When the first family woke to find their neighbors on the water missing, people spoke of the Red Boat. When an old fisherman went missing from his sleep, people spoke of the Red Boat, and when soon people wondered who would be gone when Amatarasu’s light finally returned, people whispered their fear of the Red Boat. Pray to Lord Moon that he hide you from the Red Boat, the women cautioned their children. The fathers silently carved miniature boats each day to float at night as decoys and lure the danger away from their own family boats.

As Lord Moon grew nightly in the sky, The Beast began to walk. The Samurai of the Lion had sensed its approach and placed a guard on the shore, but to no avail. The Beast began to walk the shore, and then the streets in Lord Moon’s growing light. The Beast, it was said, killed and took its victims bodies. The people knew where the Beast came from, for each day on the shore was found some fresh stain of blood where the bodies had been dragged. People looked to the water, and the river folk whispered of the Red Boat and turned away in fear. The Lion stayed their watch, night by night as Lord Moon grew and more bodies were taken, but their own Taisa had been one of the first taken by The Beast.

It was through those troubled streets that a cart creaked. Painted with its symbols, the cart was a sign of hope in the dark, pushed by the healer. The quiet ronin shugenja who mixed the vials in his old cart to take away pain, Tobusa. Tobusa listened as always to the pain he found, and mixed his potions and called on the Kami for their blessings. He noted the missing persons and inquired only to learn what the craftsman knew of this dangerous tale. A tear came to him and Tobusa was moved by the fear and plight of craftsman, and bowed before the Kami to ask their aid in removing this greatest of ills. His errand finished, Tobusa’s cart moved off into the night back twords the North and the Palace.

The next day Tobusa gathered himself and presented what he had learned to the Great Council of Ryoko Awari. Bowing low, he requested permission to take on this danger and humbly asked if any would accompany him. The Great Council understood Tobusa’s heart from the conviction in his quiet words, and agreed he could make the attempt. Several bushi requested to accompany Tobusa, but he bowed low before them all. “It will not do to have so many honorable samurai occupied with this matter, if I have but two brothers for a night this danger shall pass with the dawn.” Ide Umi-sama, the honorable governor, nodded. Ide-sama agreed and requested that two such bushi come forward who were strong in their convictions. The first to step forward was the young Kakita Hirotomi-san, his eyes showing his sincerity and eagerness to serve the city. Then, in the space of four breaths there was silence and then the Dragon opened his eyes. Mirumoto Akashi-san rose from his seat of honor and moved to stand beside Tobusa and Kakita-san.

As the others left the three left in silence as the sky began to darken. They journeyed together to the great Temple to pray for Amatarasu’s guidance and protection. As they walked their steps were sure, but uneven, as they attempted to walk together for the first time.

They all came into the temple together, but were not yet ready to leave as one. They walked together and began to pray. Tobusa began his chants to the Kami for understanding, and listened as he heard answers of uncertainty and death. Resolved in his actions Tobusa’s chant continued, and rose now calmly having accepted his fate for what must be done.
Mirumoto Akashi-san flowed like water to the ground, and sat as a Dragon in silent prayer. With his breath he took in balance, with his breath his exhaled his hope for enlightenment. His mind focused he remembered the teachings of the Little Teacher, and asked the wisdom of Shinsei to guide his purpose and mind.
Kakita Hirotomi-san knelt and ran his fingers through the mala on his wrist He prayed to Kakita Samma his ancestor for guidance, to the Kami for fortitude, and he prays that this comrades will live to see Amatarasu’s light renewed.
Their personal prayers ended, there was again silence. It was Mirumoto Akashi-sans voice that first said “brothers,” echoed by first one, then the other. They faced the shrine as one, and a single clap was made by three sets of hands. The three bowed as one, united in purpose and duty.

Lord Moon had risen into the sky by the time the three left the Temple. They journeyed together in the darkening light to the docks of the city. Their footsteps were now even, they knew the brothers at their sides and had found unity in their duty.

A single small boat to fit the three moved quietly out into the night waters of the River of Gold. While Tobusa was quietly chanting prayers to the Kami, while the others rowed deeper into the dark waters. Soon an evil mist seemed to rise from the waters, and slowly covered Lord Moon from their eyes. The oars continued to dip with resolve and the eyes of the three scanned the mist for the first sign of the crimson lanterns.

The fog parted as quickly Kakita-san first spotted the scarlet glow, and they could all see the house boat hung with red lanterns floating on the waves. They ceased rowing, the craft now drawn in by a mysterious current directly to meet the waiting Red Boat. The three prepared themselves for battle, for they knew some dark Oni had surely come to this boat. Hands on swords, they disembark, prepared to fight and die.

At the threshold of the dwelling on the boat, they saw a woman bowing low on her knees, and drew up short when no goblin rushed to attack. She raises her head enough to see that she smiles as she began welcoming the three. The brothers watched her carefully, unsure of what sort of woman might be found living on the Red Boat. She spoke softly, the women, he long black hair flowing loosely behind her as she welcomed them. With a graceful pale arm she opened the door and bowed welcoming them into her home. The scarlet light seemed warm now, and they entered taking their seats at her table.

Fish and sake she offered, rice and tea as well. Her three guests were samurai of great importance, and she called them by name as encouraged them to eat and drink. The brothers politely refused the food in this strange place, and did not drink what her long arms and delicate hands offered. When her offers are refused the women introduced herself by the name of a dead samurai-ko, attempting to stir Kakita-san to rash action. While his ritcheous anger was kindled, his spirit was held focused by his brothers and her attempt had failed. The focus of a single one was great, combined they could not be taken in by such tricks.

Smiling and thanking them the woman bowed and rose, and with a smooth motion caused her kimono to fall to the floor. While the young Kakita caught in front of her is enthralled, Tobusa’s strength has been tested by the Kami and will not be found wanting. Mirumoto-san dispels this strange desire with his thoughts focused on his wife while he began mouthing the words of sutras. It is then that Mirumoto-san notices the scabs on her neck and sides, and suddenly the illusion is broken.

It is with expected horror that the three brothers now viewed again the creature before them. A women in general form, covered in blood spatters, the horns strait and sharp jut from her twisted face. The Hannaya shrieked and called for her Beast. The Beast came, tall and fearsome through the doorway, with burning eyes buried in the face of the Lion Taisa. They can all see the struggles of the Lion trapped within his own body, and knew they must prevail or face the same fate. With a single motion then the Beast raised a long dagger carved of yellowed bone and then charged.

One could not prevail against the Beast, one could not prevail against the Hannaya, but it was three who came, and three who fought. In moments they bled, and then bled again as Mirumoto-san takes strokes from the Beast meant to slay Tobusa! In moments the creatures screamed, as the brothers wielded their skills and wisdom together as one. It is finally Mirumoto-san who uses his battered body as a shield and forces down the Beast so that his brothers might slay the Hannaya. Kakita-san called on his great ancestor for strength as he struggled against the Hannaya to little avail. It was then that he felt his ancestor’s guidance, and shedding forth a soft glow he struck out hard above the head of the Hannaya.

With a loud crack Kakita-san’s stroke was true, and the horns of the Hannaya were broken. Tobusa, his strength almost gone, continues his onslaught with the special blade he brought with pain as its cost. Sensing the Hannaya stumble Tobusa sets the blade quickly, and Kakita-san presses the body of the Hannaya onto the blade. A shriek, a scream, and the Oni became tar and mist. The glamour is broken, and the brothers see with horror the rotted corpses they were offered as food, and the blood mixed with brackish water to drink. The lanterns flare their scarlet glow, and then wink out the goblin fires extinguished as the boat began to show its rot.

The Lion Taisa finally felt the cursed dagger fall from his hand, and he looked around to see the faces of others he knew. The Taisa prepares to throw himself into the dark waves, but is called on by Kakita-san to escape with them and live to purify himself. Nodding, the Taisa does as he is asked and hastens to the waiting boat.

Those on the boat watch with disgust as they now see the mist part revealing the waters beneath. A foulness and deep evil tar is here, kept fast about the boat and slowly poisoning the currents of the river. It had been building here under the boat with each death, and the hunger of the Red Boat had been great. What had seemed to be fish were small goblins, sporting in the waters and now wailing at the death of their master. From this foul sight the three become four pushed away and off in their boat. Slowly Kakita-san rowed the boat back with the Lion Taisa’s help, bearing his brothers home.

The three became one in the Light of Lord Moon, and together vanquished the evil of the Red Boat.