Heian Romance:22 The Enshrouded Truth

22. The Enshrouded Truth

“Norikiyo…Satou Norikiyo?”

The monk smiled to Yuiko and said: “Norikiyo was my past, and now I’m Saigyo.”

“You are alive!! I thought that you were dead, killed by Kimiharu!!”

“I was once death and now alive…”

“But…how?”

And so Saigyo previously called Norikiyo begins to narrate his salvation story…

 To some people love is a possession, to be fond of someone is to gain ownership towards that person heart and soul; if failed this type of person will then do anything and everything to prevent others to take the heart of their lover, they named this type of love as obsessive love…

Norikiyo was a victim of this obsessive love, so do Yorinaga’s departed wife Sachiko.

While working as a watch guard for the Empress Taikenmon, day after day his heart towards the soft-spoken beauty grows, eventually he decided to confess his fondness to her during the first day of the year as she retreated to her quarter after the ceremony. She rejected him politely and he accepted his fate either, however his inner demon was awaken when he heard that the Empress was going to spend her night with the Emperor. Anger and jealousy clouded his mind, without thinking he raised his hand towards the lady’s neck and strangled her to death. Luckily the Empress lady-in waiting was around and prevented the catastrophe. The Empress decided to forgive Norikiyo thus ordered to set him free, he was so much ashamed with his deed and never to set foot in the palace again…

On the other hand, Sachiko was attracted by Norikiyo’s charm while she was a court lady serving the Empress. Even after married to Yorinaga, her affection towards Norikiyo never languishes.  She finds that her younger husband is childish, uncompromised and not charming for he failed to produce no poet at all.  As a married woman her movement is much restricted, despite that she keeps on inviting Noriyiko to her household. But she was rejected every time when Norikiyo had duty at the Empress quarter. Bit by bit her resentment towards Norikiyo increases until at last she ordered her servant Kimiharu for Norikiyo’s life for he had failed to keep his promise…

One day as Norikiyo was visiting a temple at Mount Kiei, he was attacked by Kimiharu and his gang by surprise. They chased him towards a cliff and use arrows to shoot him over. While falling he assumed that he’s going to die and got a flashback of this whole life. All the while he had been looking for beautifulness in life yet thru the flashback it was a mere meaningless act, he was regretting about it but it was too late…

Luckily the God haven’t abandoned him, he was saved by an old couple. Due to the deep fall, he was injured severely. But with the aid of the old couple his wound was healed in no time. He was surprised to know that such brilliant physician can be found in the deep woods. He then thanks the couple and leave for Mount Kiei to take the tonsure…

 “Princess Yuiko, I was deeply touched by the old couple who saved me when I fall. Though in old age wrinkles all around, their affection towards each other is pure and deep, only then I realized this is the true beautifulness I was looking for. In rich in poor, in good in bad, in life in death, their love is imperishable and everlasting.

The reason I’m here tonight is to remind you to pay attention to your inner heart. My lady, listen to what it tries to tell you what it really wants, and act accordingly. We only live once and no one would be as lucky as I to have a second chance in life, therefore when it’s the right time don’t hesitate, grab the opportunity tightly and never regrets about it!”  

After saying these words, Norikiyo now Saigyo perishes quietly, without leaving trance of his presence…