The Road to Kio

By Charles T. Whipple

~ Short Japanese Fantasy Adventure story – part of a continuing saga of stand-alone tales by award-winning author, Charles T. Whipple ~

Now behold, in separate scrolls, I will inscribe accounts of the labors and sufferings of the anointed of Amaterasu as they search for the sacred talismans.

In this third story, Young Master Koziro must begin his journey to Kio. Yami and his minions are determined to stop him, despite the large entourage of protectors traveling with Koziro. The Seeker and the Shielder must be on guard at all times, but is it ultimately Koziro who must save them all?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles T. Whipple
• Release date: Jul 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463755433

Charles T. Whipple

"The only thing I do well is write." Charles T. Whipple is an international award-winning copywriter, journalist, author and novelist. His awards include Editor & Publisher Magazine DM Award, World Annual Report Competition Award, 2010 Oaxaca International Literature Award, and 2011 Global eBook Award.Whipple was born in Show Low, Arizona. He spent two and a half years in Japan as a volunteer youth missionary, and majored in Japanese History as a graduate student and grantee at the East West Center, University of Hawaii. He is fluent in spoken and written Japanese, and has long been interested in the fantastic aspect of traditional Japanese tales. Whipple lives in the city of Chiba, the capital of Chiba Prefecture, which encompasses the ancient Kanto Kingdoms of Awa, Kazusa, and Shimosa. Today, Chiba hosts the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland and is gateway to Japan via the international airport in Narita.He has one wife, four daughters, two sons, and 19 grandchildren. Whipple writes western novels under the pen name of Chuck Tyrell and fantasy based on ancient Japanese history and mythology as Charles T. Whipple. Visit Charlie at his Blog: http://chucktyrell-outlawjournal.blogspot.com/.

Book preview

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THE ROAD TO KIO

The Masacado Scrolls

Story 3

CHARLES T. WHIPPLE

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Smashwords Edition

THE ROAD TO KIO

Copyright © 2012 by Charles T. Whipple

Illustration Copyright © 2012 by Gustav Oslo

Cover Art Design Copyright © 2012 by Laura Shinn Designs

http://laurashinn.yolasite.com

[Republished/2018]

Smashwords Licensing Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with other people, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

The Road to Kio is a work of fiction. Though actual locations may be mentioned, they are used in a fictitious manner and the events and occurrences were invented in the mind and imagination of the author except for the inclusion of actual historical facts. Similarities of characters or names used within to any person – past, present, or future – are coincidental except where actual historical characters are purposely interwoven.

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The Words of Hikarinomiko

Behold, I am Hikarinomiko, daughter of Amenomiko who was the daughter of Soranomiko who was the daughter of Asanomiko who anointed the Chosen One of Amaterasu Omikoto, even Taira no Masacado, who drove the wicked Toh from the eight kingdoms of Kanto, even unto the forfeiting of his own life.

Now behold, I, Hikarinomiko, am called of Amaterasu to record the deeds of those anointed during the dark days of Toh rule. To write somewhat concerning the curse the wicked Toh placed upon the land; the loss of the sacred talismans of Amaterasu through which the Chosen One is proclaimed unto the people; the search to discover the talismans in their place of hiding; and the fearful battle against the Toh, their dark Yami bonzes, the creatures and demons the priests commanded. Yea, even every dark being of the underworld of Yami.

Therefore, I have searched among the scrolls left me by she who preceded me, even the sacred Washinomiko, who has gone before and must surely rest in the bright fields of Amaterasu. Yea, I have searched, and Amaterasu has guided my hand. Yea, even as mine hand and mine mind were guided to record the beginning, even the birth and the anointing of he who will stand as King under Amaterasu, even he who will do battle with the vicious Toh and shall prevail over them.

As with the account of the Seeker and the Shielder, I will now lay aside my brush so those who read of the trials on the Road to Kio, might search the accounts and come to believe in the might and sacred power of Amaterasu Omikoto, creator of all and ruler of Heaven and Earth.

Now behold, in separate scrolls, I have inscribed and will inscribe accounts of the labors and sufferings of the anointed of Amaterasu as they search for the sacred talismans. Until such time, I lay aside my brush again and bid each and all sayo nara, for the moment, sayo nara.

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GLOSSARY of unfamiliar words:

Akateko ~ an ancient people who dwell in hollow trees

Ah Khuma ~ Lord Yami’s most powerful evil spirit

gampi ~ tough inner bark used as string or for paper

Gi ~ a philosophy that eschews consumption of meat

funin ~ outcasts, non-people

Ganmene ~ a race of small, gnome-like people

hakama ~ culotte-like trousers

Kappa ~ an ancient race of people who live in the wetlands

monme ~ a weight measure

mu ~ A skill that makes heartbeat, breathing, etc., undetectable

nara ~ a type of oak

o-negai ~ almost a begging way to say please

oni ~ a kind of demon

oni ika ~ demon squid

reikan ~ the ability to see with spiritual eyes

ri ~ about two and a half miles

sadame ~ fate

sakaki ~ a tree held sacred by Amaterasu

sanmu ~ bonzes who typically live in the mountains

sensei ~ teacher, master

shaku ~ about one foot

sugi ~ a type of cedar

sutta ~ a kind of vine

Tengu ~ a race thought to be supernatural

tsun ~ slightly more than an inch

urushi ~ vines from which lacquer is made

yakusugi ~ sacred cedar tree

Yamabushi ~ warrior monks

yoi ~ good, or enough

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Chapter One

To Kio? Really? We're going to Kio? Koziro galloped around the wide itama room, his small feet pounding on the solid planks of the floor. Kio! Kio! We're going to Kio! he shouted.

Akihiro and Reinoko knelt at the entrance.

The road to Kio is long and hard, Akihiro said with quiet authority. "And we shall walk, Koziro, walk each of the three hundred ri that lie between Awa Omote and Kio."

Kio! Koziro chortled. Off to Kio. Going to Kio. Aha ha, Kio.

We must take a week to prepare for the journey, Young Master, Reinoko said.

Kio! Kio! Going to Kio! Koziro continued his dance of exultation.

Akihiro and Reinoko exchanged a knowing glance and retired from the room, leaving Koziro to his excitement.

When Akihiro and Reinoko had gone, Koziro sobered. He'd been taught from infancy that Amaterasu the Almighty had an important mission for him to do and everything that happened to him was for a purpose.

Den! he called.

The former Funin knelt at the door. You call, Young Master?

Den, Akihiro and Reinoko were here. Koziro now spoke in a voice which belied his age. Why do you think they are taking me to Kio?

Den didn't answer.

Den?

He looked at Koziro, tears of pain in his eyes. Young Master, I vowed to your mother and your sister to ever be at your side and always protect you. But I am not apt at riddles. I know not why you should go to Kio. Be assured, I will walk close behind you.

Koziro sat cross-legged on a mat of braided straw. He rested his chin on a small hand. Although his age counted only five years, his attitude and the look of concentration on his face seemed ageless. Do I smell burning leaves? he asked.

Yes, Young Master.

Does that mean roasted sweet potatoes from Sat Suma?

Den grinned. What does your nose tell you, Young Master?

Koziro leaped to his feet, a five-year-old once more. Yes! Yes! Roasted sweet potatoes are soooooo good. He raced from the room, down the veranda-like hallway to the garden that stretched eastward from the shrine that was his home. A large pile of leaves from nara oak, blooming cherry, persimmon, and ginko trees smoldered and smoked beside the flat stepping stones which led the way to the pond where multi-colored koi swam lazily, regardless of the season.

The leaves had not burned to ashes, and Koziro knew they must before the fat red sweet potatoes would be cooked through. He jumped from stepping stone to stepping stone and back again while Den squatted by the smoldering leaves with a stick in his hand, ready to separate a sweet potato from the ashes as soon as they were cooked.

What makes them sweet? Koziro asked. "Yama potatoes