"I am the ronin who cannot die, my name is Sano," I intone to myself. How did I become immortal? I think back to meeting the shaman, and feel a shiver of fear. What if he has cast some sort of curse on me?
“What do you want with me?” The words are so soft that they barely reach my ears. My hands shake as I hold them out for him to see. “You can have anything in this world—money, women, even life itself. Just tell me what it is you want.”
"You will not die until you have killed one thousand and one souls," the man said with blazing eyes, his voice low and menacing. "The first hundred belong to those who took your life, the next nine hundred to each person whose death brought about your rebirth." He spoke without pause or hesitation; I could sense no trace of emotion in his tone.
His voice is hypnotic, almost musical. It sends chills up my spine. My head swims. I try to resist but cannot. A sense of numbness takes over. Everything fades except for those two piercing black orbs. Then a chill breeze blows across me. I hear voices calling my name: Sano-san, Sano-san, where are you?
A wave splashes around my ankles. As I fall forward onto the muddy bank, I catch sight of a red lantern bobbing along the surface of the dark water.
The last thing I remember before losing consciousness was thinking how ironic it would be if I were to drown while pursuing Lord Niitoki. Now I know why fate gave me another chance to live. This time I won’t fail.
***
I finish telling my tale to Oginome, who is a rapt and beautiful audience, as I eat rice. She listens attentively, occasionally asking questions. When she finishes eating, she stands up and offers to clean the dishes. I watch her move gracefully through the kitchen and into the hallway outside.
I can see Mount Fuji past the door out in the horizon. Strangely, I seem to have picked up Oginome as a companion and servant; she claims to be geisha, but there's something strange and mystical about her. Perhaps the spirits and gods have sent her to watch over me?
As Oginome cleans up, I examine her more closely. Her skin is flawless and smooth, and her body is slim and well proportioned. Her face is lovely, and her hair is lustrous and thick.
I sigh, "Do you have any ideas as to how I can find Lord Niitoki?"