The Sword of Futsunushi

I woke up at sunrise, feeling unusually serene.

You'd think after satisfying three women in one night you'd be exhausted, but I didn't feel tired. I felt warm and almost glowing inside.

My mind was open. I beheld the entire world. Unfortunately, I sensed an upheaval in the future that lay ahead of me.

Before I fell asleep, Takumi carried sleeping Keiko back to her room and then helped a slightly dazed Hana get back to her quarters. The only reason I overcame the temptation of spending the night with both of them was the fear of how they would react when the effects of the concoction wore out by the morning.

Hana and Keiko were not as selfish and jealous as Yukiko, but exposing them to each other when clear-headed could've traumatized them in a different way. I didn't want Hana to feel that she was treated equally to a concubine, and I was almost certain that Keiko would be shocked and fearful of the consequences of sharing the bed with my wife.

Women are weird that way: as soon as you get married, they are no longer eager to share.

I sighed.

Something else bothered me. Something I didn't understand. Instinctively, I reached for the box I had hidden under the table and opened it. My earthly happiness began to dissolve at the sight of my father's papers.

I picked up the next letter.

To my dearest son, Taro,

As I write these words, I trust that you carry with you the strength and wisdom I have tried to impart through my years. There is much I have kept from you—stories that are better left unsaid until the right moment, when you, too, may understand their weight, as great as the weight of a divine stone. One such tale is of the Sword of Futsunushi, a blade forged long ago in the fires of Mount Takamagahara and said to be blessed by Futsunushi-no-Mikoto, the god of war and victory. The sword's story is not merely one of myth; it is the history of many people, including your ancestors.

It was during the Battle of the Crimson Valley that the sword came into legend. The warlord Takeda Harunobu, a fierce and cunning leader, was struggling to reclaim his lands against a growing coalition of clans. His forces were outnumbered, and defeat loomed on the horizon. In a desperate act of courage, Takeda's chief retainer, Kageyama Ryo, wielded the Sword of Futsunushi in battle. As the tide of war seemed lost, Kageyama charged into the heart of the enemy ranks. With each swing, the blade seemed to hum with divine energy, cleaving through armor and bone with unnatural precision.

It was said that no soldier could stand against the sword's wrath. The legends tell of an unnatural wind rising, pushing the enemy back and causing them to falter in fear. Kageyama's charge broke the enemy lines, and with it, Takeda's victory was sealed. It was not just strength, but the belief that the sword was guided by Futsunushi's own hand that turned the tide.

What became of the blade after that battle is a mystery. Whether I have ever held it, or merely walked in the shadow of its power, I will leave to you to uncover, when the time is right. But know this: there are many who seek it, not merely yearning for power, but seeking to claim a divine connection. All those seekers are unworthy of the honor of possessing the Sword of Futsunushi. However, driven by blinding and dark ambitions, they will stop at nothing—betrayal, deceit, even bloodshed—to obtain the sword and its blessings. Such people will bring ruin not just to themselves but to everyone around them, destroying the peace of our era. Beware of the dangers they may bring to you and to our family.

With all my love, 

Your father.

As I finished reading, a heavy premonition came over me. Why did my father write to me about the Sword of Futsunushi?

Whether I have ever held it, or merely walked in the shadow of its power, I will leave to you to uncover.

Did he have anything to do with the mystical sword? Why did he never mention it to me?

And then that slightly faded red ink again! This time, it was used on the words "a divine stone."

Sensing the imminent arrival of my chamberlain, I carefully put the box away.

"Takumi," I said, once the man emerged in my room, "There is something I want to ask you."

He bowed. "Of course, master."

"Did my father ever speak to you of the Sword of Futsunushi?"

"The sword…" Takumi frowned. "He rarely spoke of it, master."

"But he did, right? What did he tell you about it?"

He looked at me strangely. "He cautioned me not to believe the rumors, your lordship."

"What rumors?"

He hesitated again for a few moments.

"Tell me, Takumi," I prodded him. "What rumors?"

He looked down. "That the Matsuda family may have had something to do with it…"

I grew impatient. I wished Takumi could for once speak more directly. "What do you mean, 'something to do with it'?"

"I do not know, master," he bowed. "Please, forgive me, but I can't answer your question. Your father had always said that he could only discuss the matter of the Sword of Futsunushi with you."

"With me?" I waved my arms. That didn't help. Since my father was already disabled when I arrived, there was no way to know what he had told me before, if anything.

"Please, be careful, master," muttered Takumi. "If I may advise you, do not ask others about the sword."

"Why not?"

"It might lend more credence to the suspicions that this family played a role in its disappearance."

I stared at him. "So, you think my father was involved in it?"

He flashed his gaze at me. "I never said that, your lordship!"

"But you just said yourself that it might lend more credence to the suspicions."

He nodded. "Those must be just malicious rumors, master, mustn't they?"

I squinted at the man. Clearly, he was hiding something.