the legend of Sakura Gate

two established families in Japan sought to increase their influence and prosperity, and decided that their children should marry so that their houses could be joined
the house of Ohtsuka from Sendai, their son, Sousuke
and the house of Kuwashima from Nagoya, who had a daughter, Yayoi
now Yayoi’s tutor and companion, Michiko Kagurazaki, was a swordsmaster from Tokyo and a modern woman
while she respected tradition, she suggested to Yayoi’s mother that they should not make the arrangement known
rather introduce the two young adolescents to each-other, and see if a natural relationship formed
if the relationship was successful, they would feel the joining to be natural and of their choice, making the union stronger
and if it failed, there was still the traditional way
Yayoi’s mother liked the idea, and when she approached her husband, he agreed to the arrangement
their daughter, accompanied by Kagurazaki, was sent to Tokyo under the pretence of learning elements of independence, while studying the family’s ventures there
while her parents discussed the proposal with the house of Ohtsuka, who agreed to do the same
Sousuke arrived in Tokyo to learn the business of his own house
and soon the two met under normal circumstances
with subtle encouragement from Kagurazaki, they began spending more time together
and eventually established an intimate relationship

Tokyo though, was a very different place at that time
it was the most modernised city in the country
and new ideas were being born there every day
ideas that were challenging and in turn challenged
questioning the very nature and essence of life in Japan
it was a time when the arts flourished, and the people involved themselves in them with much enthusiasm
literature, music, drama and opera
people were learning to discuss things openly with one-another
the growth of the city and its lifestyle had attracted many young people
Yayoi and Sousuke were fascinated

there was however, one element of life in the cities that struck them both
for every exuberant citizen, there were ten poor and starving people
it was an issue that the people were not ignorant of
but something they could do little to change
as much as they were allowed their cultural indulgences, the country was still controlled by the strong traditional houses of the nation
some of which were deeply corrupt
periodically the children would return to their homes and visit their respective families
and though their home cities did not have the same vibrancy as Tokyo, they saw that the conditions of the poor people were very similar
as they grew through adolescence and matured, the children questioned the traditional way more and more
though their own houses were not corrupt at their core, their business dealings often involved criminals and those with no regard for the law
arrangements were made above the law, favours were done – while some dealings did not attract legal taxes, others included substantial gifts of goodwill
the aristocracy saw this behaviour as only a matter of business
but Yayoi and Sousuke saw that the prosperity of the rich was made on the backs of the poor
and the laws of the land grew to protect the wealthy, while becoming ignorant of the rights of all people
as the children grew into young adults, they began challenging their own houses more and more

now some say that Yayoi’s companion, Michiko Kagurazaki was to blame for what was to happen
as she had come from a modest family in Tokyo who was a distant relative to the Kuwashima house
some say she was jealous of the wealthy families, and conspired to destroy them
others thought of her as a social activist, wreaking havoc against traditional Japan whenever she had the opportunity
some believe she was jealous of the children themselves, as she herself had never married
however the truth of her actions may reveal a different motivation

the two children were of similar age
and when Sousuke, the younger of the two by some few months turned twenty-one, arrangements were made for their wedding
during this time the two children consulted heavily with Kagurazaki
each of them engaged in deep discussion with the one person that had become their closest friend
they met in the evenings and discussed matters long into the night
sometimes the three of them together, but most often each of them individually
Kagurazaki became deeply troubled
she saw that the two children loved each-other dearly
and that they also loved their families
but their lives with the common people had changed them
they had made friends with others who struggled daily to live and eat
and yet who regardless of their struggles, could find great happiness in life
they each had the desire to live separated from the traditional aristocratic life they had been born into
and though their own families were not criminals, they did not wish to be involved with them in any way
living honestly and from one’s own efforts might be extremely difficult
but they both agreed that their happiness would then be genuine
and they could work hard together to increase the happiness of the people around them

Kagurazaki was deeply moved by their passion, made all the more acute by her own experiences in life
in all of the time she had spent in the house of Kuwashima, never before had she felt so honestly loved than she did now
Michiko felt openly loved by Yayoi and the man she would take as a husband
she expressed her concerns to the children, that their families would not receive their ideas well
but they were as passionate as ever to live honest lives
even to the extent that should their families disown them, they would bear it
Kagurazaki became troubled
she wanted nothing but happiness for her young friend, and indeed Sousuke
but she still worried that their actions could result in disaster
one month before the wedding, Kagurazaki instructed the children to stay in her house
she would go to each of their families and explain their desires to their parents
Sousuke immediately expressed his desire to accompany her and guarantee her safety
Kagurazaki thanked him, but kindly refused
their own safety was paramount, and besides she herself was a skilled swordswoman
though she did not expect her own self to be in any danger, she had confidence that she could protect herself
and so Yayoi and Sousuke awaited her return

over the next month Kagurazaki went back and forth between the two families
she first returned to Nagoya and Kuwashima house
then to Sendai and Ohtsuka house
telling the parents that while the children respected their wishes, they desired to make a life on their own
at that time in Japan, the men dominated all forms of culture
and though the children’s mothers were willing to listen to Kagurazaki
their fathers would not
each of them at first surmised that the children wanted to live free of responsibility, but still receive the financial benefits of the family businesses
then each suspected the other family of subversion

Kagurazaki earnestly tried to tell them that none of these theories were true
but as they finally begun to understand the wishes of their children, they grew to despise the thought that their efforts to become stronger families would come to naught
they had accepted the nature of doing business and having strength and influence
and they saw their children as rejecting tradition, and lacking respect
as the day of the wedding drew nearer, Kagurazaki implored them to understand the love their children had for one another
but all they could see was that they would be forced to disown their children
and everything they had built for generations would be scattered among their lesser families and associates like crumbs before the sparrows
their wives listened to Kagurazaki carefully, and themselves strove to persuade the men
but they would not be convinced
they would rather not have children at all than suffer the indignity that would befall them

on the eve of the wedding, each master gathered the men of their families and took up arms
their wives again implored them not to act harshly, but they would not listen
they set out for Tokyo to murder their children
Kagurazaki fled before them and returned to her house where Yayoi and Sousuke awaited her
she quickly told them what had happened, and advised them that they should make their escape
the children were deeply distressed, but they could not think of where they could go
it was then that Kagurazaki revealed to them her plan to save them
while living with the house of Kuwashima, she had sent a portion of her pay to her family in Tokyo
but had also saved as much as she could
when her services were not required of by Yayoi, she had worked in whatever jobs she could find, while also tending to certain parts of the Kuwashima businesses
a month ago she had finally saved enough money to buy a substantial property in the foothills of Mount Fuji
a place called Kinryouku that the Kuwashima family had owned and often visited for vacations
before discussing the issue of their daughter, Kagurazaki had purchased the property from them
it was here that Michiko suggested they flee to
the children wanted to accept the kind gesture, but did not wish to impose so on their companion
however Kagurazaki surprised them and knelt on the tatami, saying that if they could bear her presence, she would give them the land and the house
they had become as family, and she wanted dearly to ensure their safety
time was running short, but the children thought honestly and clearly, accepting the offer
not a moment too soon they set out for Mount Fuji

the house of Ohtsuka and the house of Kuwashima met in Tokyo
but no matter how hard they searched, no trace could be found of their children or their companion
then Yayoi’s father Master Kuwashima, spoke of the transaction Kagurazaki had performed before the wedding
and the two masters surmised that Kinryouku would be their destination
the two families joined as one, but their intention was destruction
they arrived at the foothills of Mount Fuji the day after the wedding was to have taken place
all around them the Sakura trees stood with their pale pink blossoms
as the sun rose at dawn, they were met at the large gate of the property by Michiko Kagurazaki
in her hand she held her kitana
Master Kuwashima stepped forward and raised his voice
– go into the house and fetch my daughter, and your life will be spared
she did not move
so Master Ohtsuka stepped forward and shouted
– return to me my son, and i will lay aside my grievances with you
but she remained where she was
then Kagurazaki raised her own voice to respond
– hear me father of Yayoi Kuwashima, father of Sousuke Ohtsuka, families of these houses
– your children intend you no harm, and have made their choice
– they will lay no claim to inheritance nor title
– their wish is that you turn away and go about your business peacefully
– however – i have pledged my life to their happiness, and return to them the love they have freely given to me
she lifted her kitana above her head
– should any of you attempt to cross this threshold, you will die where you stand upon my blade!
and her voice reverberated throughout the hills

the masters could not believe what they had heard and became enraged
they commanded their men to storm the gate, and ran to join those that they had commanded
but Kagurazaki’s will and blade were strong
as the sun rose ever slightly from behind the horizon
a breeze moved through the trees
Sakura petals began to drift through the air and onto the ground
where they mixed with the blood of the fallen

on that gate the strength of the houses was destroyed
all were slain to the last man, and not one set foot beyond the gate
Michiko Kagurazaki stood exhausted but victorious
though the taste of victory was bitter in her mouth
she knelt among the dead, by the bodies of her former master and the master of Ohtsuka
after a brief moment of reflection, she exhaled a wail of grief
and there she wept until the sun set in the evening

when word reached the cities of Nagoya and Sendai, the women of the two houses knelt in sorrow
and at Kinryouku, Kagurazaki joined Yayoi and Sousuke in mourning for their fathers
over time each house slowly fragmented and the riches of their ancestors was distributed among relatives and associates
some of them built successes, some of them squandered their earnings
and though Yayoi, Sousuke and Michiko no longer had the finances of their families
together they worked hard and established small honest businesses at Mount Fuji and in Tokyo
always with the intention to help others in the community
and after some years, the sadness of their family’s deaths was erased by the joy of improving the lives of others

it is said that the spirits of Yayoi Kuwashima, Sousuke Ohtsuka, and Michiko Kagurazaki reside at Kinryouku still
and that should lovers whose families disapprove of their relationship visit there
Yayoi and Sousuke will bless the union, bring understanding to those around them
and Michiko will defend love against all who would stand in its way