driftfleet | voice;

In my country we have a lot of stories of famous historical figures - some whose tales have grown as they have become more legend than person.

Take, for example, the Tale of Musashino Benkei. He was a rugged monk and ascetic who grew to a monstrous height. Benkei was famed for his feats of strength and decided to gather 1,000 swords by defeating 1,000 samurai as they crossed a bridge. He fought day after day, defeating famous, feared warrior after warrior and collecting 999 swords.

But then, one day, a young man came across his bridge. Benkei challenged him to a duel as he had with countless braver, bigger men before him. The boy took out a flute and accepted the challenge.

And soundly beat Benkei.

The boy was Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who having been raised by the tengu, was endowed with their skill in the sword. Benkei was so taken in by the young man that he pledged his loyalty to him forever. Benkei and Lord Yoshitsune fought many trials together as they tried to reclaim the Minamoto's birthright.

However, the Lord and his retainer were betrayed by Yoshitsune's older brother, Yoritomo, who feared Yoshitsune's popularity and skill would cost him power. He chased Lord Yoshitsune and Benkei across Japan, cornering them in a mountain castle. Knowing that there was no escape, Yoshitsune retreated to the innermost castle to commit seppuku while Benkei, ever loyal and fierce, guarded the only entrance - a single bridge.

He killed dozens of men trying to cross and take Lord Yoshitsune's head. Defeating each as easily as he had back on that fateful day when he first met his young lord. Lord Yoritomo's forces grew afraid and were ordered to take Benkei down the only way they knew how - with arrows. They loosed flight after flight at him, enough to darken the sky, and yet he still stood, his weapon at his side to protect the bridge.

It wasn't until they ran out of arrows that they realized...

Benkei had died long ago, but his valor and his loyalty had kept him upright, giving Lord Yoshitsune time to commit seppuku rather than be taken by the enemy. His story is still told today, in my time, as a symbol of true loyalty and devotion to a cause a person.

[He takes a deep breath after speaking for so long. It whistles a little in his lungs, but he manages not to cough.]

Do you have any such stories? Famous people or groups? I'd love to hear them. It would be a nice break from all the loud music.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He barely manages to keep his laughter in check this time.]

That is quite a name.

It should serve as a reminder for the fate of any man who dares cross me now.

[He hopes you're not threatening him again, Caster. He thought they were past all that.]

I'm sure any man who thought of crossing you is certainly thinking twice about it now.

[ONLY A LITTLE. threatening by proxy, really.]

That's right! But, let's see, if you're interested in men...

[yes, she did have to phrase it that way.]

There was Fuma Kotaro. He was a huge pain... Emperor Sutoku, though I never met him myself, he just sort of got attached to my legend. 'Three Great Youkai' indeed. Sakata Kintoki was quite a troublesome enemy, as well.

[And he isn't exactly going to object to that phrasing, but neither is he going to confirm it.]

He became attached to your legend, but you never met him? How did that happen?

[She sighs, rather annoyed.]

You've heard of the Three Great Youkai, have you not? The greatest and most fearsome youkai to have ever lived? Any one of us returning would be a great calamity for Japan, if not the world?

Oh! Does the legend say you all know each other as well?

No, no. We're just all somewhat aware of each other. I never met Shuten-Doji either, but we're aware we've all been added to each other's legends.

Well, I doubt that Sutoku ever became a youkai anyway. That sounds like another one of that jerk Abe's lies.

Did Abe no Seimei lie often?

[Because he isn't going to question that he might have lied. He knows that'll just anger her.]

I don't know about 'often'... But I know at least my life, and likely Ms. Shuten's, were ended by his lies.

["Ms" Shuten. Another one then.]

I see. So he was responsible for your terrible legends.

[or so you'd think, but.]

Before you get more odd ideas, I should remind you that Shuten-douji is a shapeshifter. Ibaraki-douji as well.

But, yes. It's almost funny, isn't it? A monster gains fame as a hero for exposing another monster.

[Geh]

Why are any of my ideas odd?

[Other than trolling Jarvis with pink flamingos, he's been very tame here!!!]

...But was he also a "monster" or is that in a figurative sense?

[She just ignores that first part, honestly.]

You remember who his mother was, don't you?

I admit I don't know as much about him as I should. I know he was a famous onmyouji, but not much of his pedigree.

I see.

His mother was the fox Kuzunoha. That is where his vast power came from. That is how he lived so long he was able to cause my death, despite being over a hundred years old then.

Ah, I see. So he was one who used his powers, gained from spirits, to fight other spirits.

[That makes him wonder about Hajime. Was such a strange union also in his past somewhere to have given rise to his own unique skills?]

I suppose it's all in how you use the power given to you.

I suppose so.

[She sounds displeased.]

But if I see him again, I will use my power to kill him instantly. ♥

That's fair. He did kill you after all. You can't be begrudged your vengeance.

Oh? Even though he's a famous Japanese hero, you don't care that I say that?

One person's hero is another person's villain. I know that well.

How nuanced... Well, I suppose you'd know that well personally.

[He laughs lightly.]

Indeed, I do.