Cherry Blossoms in the Garden

The fifth year of Tenshō. About six months have passed since Tagawa's injury, and Hirado is welcoming spring. It is still cold. Yesterday, for just a brief moment, powdery snow danced in the air. The small cherry tree in the garden of Wang Zhi's mansion is about to open its buds at any moment. However, there still seems to be some hesitation. Tagawa steps out into the garden and gazes up at the cherry tree from below. His gait is steady, and there is almost no trace of his injury's effects.

"It will bloom tomorrow," he says.

Tagawa murmurs these words. Throughout this winter, Tagawa stayed long at Raquel's clinic, devoting all his time to recovering from his injury. Raquel, once again receiving Ryūshin's orders, put all his effort into treating Tagawa. Fortunately, the wound could be said to have almost completely healed. This was likely the result of Tagawa's remarkable vitality.

"This will be the third cherry blossom season since I opened my clinic under Lord Ryūshin's protection. These flowers are beautiful. And they also scatter quickly. Though they are fleeting flowers, I love them."

Tagawa nods silently, and after a brief silence, continues with his words.

"It is good because they scatter. They bloom when they should bloom, and scatter when they should scatter. That is the destiny of cherry blossoms. But I did not die from that lead bullet. It was not yet time for me to scatter. It seems I have not yet fulfilled my destiny. That night when I rolled into your place, a giant comet streaked across the sky. Those around me called it ominous, but to me it appeared auspicious. Heaven too says I must not yet die."

"Yes. How strange. I too was dreaming that night. An old friend who taught me how to read the stars was speaking excitedly about something. That, I now think, must have been about the comet."

Having said that much, Raquel cuts off his words and falls silent for a while. Then, steeling his resolve, he questions Tagawa.

"By the way, what is Lord Tagawa's destiny?"

Raquel says this in a deliberately calm, composed voice. However, his heartbeat is quickening. His irrepressible curiosity might bring disaster. But now, Raquel can no longer stop the impulse within himself.

After a brief silence, Tagawa takes a deep breath and exhales, then responds in a quiet voice.

"My destiny is to serve my lord, Lord Matsura Ryūshin. The Tagawa family has served the Matsura family for generations. We have received stipends and have been entrusted with important roles since our ancestors' time. I follow Lord Ryūshin's commands and fulfill his wishes. And I will burn out this life for the peace of the people. I have no destiny other than that."

Raquel nods silently. Tagawa continues without waiting for Raquel's words.

"In the battle of Imari Castle, you see, most of those wounded by the Ryūzōji side's guns died. The gun wounds festered and they were consumed by fever. I was the only one who survived. That must be thanks to your Western medical arts. Thanks to that, I can once again serve Lord Ryūshin. Lord Raquel, I thank you once more."

Tagawa deliberately faces Raquel directly and bows his head deeply. This is the highest respect a Japanese warrior shows to another. Raquel is surprised by this sudden gesture but strives to maintain his composure.

"Lord Tagawa. There is no need for thanks. I too receive the generous protection of Lord Matsura. Saving the life of Lord Tagawa, who is Lord Matsura's key retainer, is my duty."

Raquel cuts off his words there. He desperately swallows the question that has risen to the back of his throat. He searches his mind for some peaceful topic of conversation. Glancing at this behavior, Tagawa, unusually for this man, says to Raquel with a slight smile.

"Lord Raquel. I perceive that you have something you wish to ask. There is no need for restraint. I too have been thinking somewhere that I should have a thorough conversation with you. It has been three years now. This is a good time."

Having said this, Tagawa enters the mansion while slightly favoring his right foot, and ladles hot water from the iron vessel hanging over the hearth into a tea bowl. He slowly brings it to his lips and quietly waits for Raquel's question.

"I am no match for Lord Tagawa's insight. This Raquel feels as though his heart is being seen through like a mere infant. Well then, if I may be so presumptuous."

Raquel takes a breath there.

"What I wish to ask about is the enemy Lord Tagawa fought against. Why did this enemy called Ryūzōji possess so many guns? Do they have extensive dealings with Portuguese merchants? During my time in this land, I have heard that the number of lords called Kirishitan daimyō is increasing. They themselves have been baptized and are actively trading with Portugal. Is Ryūzōji also such a Kirishitan daimyō?"

"Ryūzōji is not a Kirishitan daimyō. Currently, there is one called Ōmura who is conducting great trade with Portuguese ships at Nagasaki and Yokoseura, and he has made a name for himself as a Kirishitan daimyō. Ōmura and Ryūzōji have been enemies fighting over territory for many years. Ōmura has allied with Portugal and is blessed with guns and gunpowder. However, Ryūzōji is a formidable warrior with divine military talent in land battles. Ōmura is no match for him. The gun that shot me was probably one that Ryūzōji bought from gunsmiths in Sakai or Saiga."

"Gunsmiths. There are already craftsmen with such skills here and there. So this Ryūzōji is also confronting Lord Matsura?"

"Indeed. About twenty ri east of here, there is a castle called Imari Castle. It has been guarded by a powerful family connected to the Matsura family since our ancestors' time. When this place was attacked by Ryūzōji, Lord Ryūshin had to provide support. However, he could not carelessly send troops against Ryūzōji. The Hirado Matsura family is no match for Ryūzōji in sea battles. But unfortunately, in castle sieges, they have the advantage. So I was ordered to conduct reconnaissance and covert operations. If Imari Castle were to fall, I was to help the castle lord escape to Hirado. However, when I arrived, the battlefield was already in chaos, and unfortunately, the castle lord and all had fallen into enemy hands. Just as I was about to retreat unavoidably, I was struck by a stray bullet. It's not just Imari Castle. Now, neighboring castles are falling one after another into Ryūzōji's hands. Several years ago, Suko Castle, about thirty ri further east than Imari, fell. In just a few years since then, Ryūzōji has taken even Imari. They are approaching Hirado. Lord Matsura's sense of crisis is strong."

"Suko Castle. That name sounds familiar to me."

Raquel thinks for a moment and recalls Yasuke's words.

"I believe last summer, when I saw the dance at the summer festival at Miya-no-mae with Yasuke, it was called Suko dance. Is there some connection?"

Tagawa shows a surprised expression upon hearing these words, stares intently at Raquel's face, and smiles slightly.

"Indeed. That dance began when the surviving warriors who escaped the fall of Suko Castle fled to this Hirado. It was to preserve the traditions that had been protected in that land."

"Yasuke told me it was a dance celebrating abundant harvests, large catches, and freedom from illness. It's a good thing."

When Raquel responds thus, Tagawa's expression clouds at those words. He grasps the tea bowl with both hands and stares intently at its bottom. Raquel is bewildered by the sudden silence. However, he should not continue speaking here. He waits quietly for Tagawa's voice.

"Hmm. What Yasuke said is not wrong. But you see, that dance is not just that."

Having said this, Tagawa looks directly at Raquel again and says:

"I now regard you as one of the Matsura family retainers. So I will speak. And this may be something worth knowing for you as well, being of Jewish descent."

Raquel nods silently. He can no longer hear any surrounding sounds.

"The Suko dance, you see, has been performed at festivals throughout Hirado in recent years. Each region has slight characteristics, but that's because it has blended with ancient festivals passed down in those areas. It's a modest festival for appeasing ancestral spirits and praying to gods and buddhas for good harvests, large catches, and freedom from illness. However, in some places it holds a different meaning. You know that Lord Matsura's domain includes many islands. Among them, the largest island is called Ikitsuki Island, located to the west of here. That island has the most Kirishitans in Hirado. Ten years ago, there was a time when almost all the islanders became Kirishitans. The Suko dance performed on this Ikitsuki Island is different from others. It is meant to remind Kirishitans of gods and buddhas and subtly encourage apostasy. The one who gave this dance such meaning was none other than Lord Ryūshin himself."

"I have known since my first audience that Lord Ryūshin is wary of Kirishitans. Is the Suko dance on Ikitsuki Island also an expression of that wariness?"

Tagawa silently draws hot water again from the iron vessel hanging over the hearth and pours it into his tea bowl. After toying with the bowl in his palms for a while, he quietly continues his words.

"Yes. And this is all connected to my once becoming a Kirishitan and my apostasy from it. This will be somewhat long, but let me speak starting from Wang Zhi, the former master of this mansion."

Having said this, Tagawa begins to speak about the encounter between Hirado and Portugal.