Tou no Jougan no koro da to iu kara, seiyou wa nana-seiki no hajime Nippon wa nengou to iu mono no yatto dekikakatta toki de aru. Ryo Kyuuin to iu kanri ga ita sou de aru. Mottomo sonna hito wa inakatta rashii to iu hito mo aru. Nazeka to iu to, Ryo wa Taishuu no shubo ni natte ita to ii tsutaerarete iru no ni, shinkyuu no Tousho ni den ga mienai. Shubo to ieba, shishi toka taishu toka iu to onaji kan de aru. Shina zenkoku ga dou ni wakare, dou ga shuu mata wa gun ni wakare, sorega ken ni wakare, ken no shita ni gou ga ari gou no shita ni ri ga aru. Shuu niwa shishi to ii, gun niwa taishu to iu. Ittai Nippon de ken yori chiisai mono ni gun no na o tsukete iru no wa futsugou da to, Yoshida Tougo san nanzo wa fufuku o tonaete iru. Ryo ga hatashite taishuu no shubo de atta to suru to Nippon no fuken chiji kurai no kanri de aru. Soushite miruto, Tousho no retsuden ni deteiru hazu da to iu no de aru. Shikashi Ryo ga inakute wa hanashi ga naritatanu kara, tomokaku mo ita koto ni shiteoku no de aru.

Sate Ryo ga Taishuu ni chakunin shite kara mikkame ni natta. Chouan de kitashina no tsuchihokori o kabutte, nigotta mizu o nondeita otoko ga Taishuu ni kite chuuou shina no koeta tsuchi o fumi, sunda mizu o nomu koto ni natta no de, joukigen de aru. Sore ni kono mikka no aida ni, ooninzuu no shitayaku ga kite ekken o suru. Ukemochi ukemochi no jimu o keishikiteki ni houkoku suru. Sono awatadashii naka ni, chihouchoukan no isei no ookii koto o ajiwatte, iki youyou to shiteiru no de aru.

Ryo wa zenjitsu ni shitayaku no mono ni itteoite, kesa wa hayaku okite, Tendaiken no Kokushouji o sashite dekakeru koto ni shita. Kore wa Chouan ni ita toki kara, Taishuu ni tsuitara sassoku ikou to kimete ita no de aru.

Nan no youji ga atte Kokushouji e iku ka to iu to, sore niwa innen ga aru. Ryo ga Chouan de shubo no ninmei o ukete, korekara ninchi e tabidatou to shitatoki, ainiku koraerarenu hodo no zutsuu ga okotta. Tanjun na REUMACHISU sei no zutsuu dewa atta ga, Ryo wa heisei kara sukoshi shinkeishitsu de atta no de, kakaritsuke no isha no kusuri o nonde mo nakanaka naoranai. Kore dewa tabidachi no hi o nobasanakute wa narumai ka to itte, nyoubou to soudan shite iru to, sokoe koonna ga kite, "Tadaima gomon no mae e kojiki bouzu ga mairimashite, goshujin ni ome ni kakaritai to moushimasu ga ikaga itashimashou" to itta.

"Fun, bouzu ka" to itte Ryo wa shibaraku kangaeta ga, "Tonikaku attemiru kara, kokoe toose" to iitsuketa. Soshite nyoubou o oku e hikkomaseta.

Ganrai Ryo wa kakyo ni ouzuru tame ni, keisho o yonde, goi no shi o tsukuru koto o naratta bakari de, butten o yonda koto mo naku, Rooshi o kenkyuu shita koto mo nai. Shikashi souryo ya doushi to iu mono ni taishite wa, naze to iu koto mo naku sonkei no nen o motte iru. Jibun no etoku senu mono ni taisuru, moumoku no sonkei to demo iou ka. Sokode bouzu to kiite aou to itta no de aru.

Mamonaku haitte kita nowa, hitori no se no takai sou de atta. Aka tsuki yabureta houe o kite, nagaku nobita kami o, mayu no ue de kitte iru. Me ni kabusatte urusaku naru made uchiyatte oita mono to mieru. Te niwa teppatsu o motte iru.

Sou wa damatte tatte iru no de Ryo ga toute mita. "Watashi ni aitai to iwareta sou da ga, nan no goyou kana"

Sou wa itta. "Anata wa Taishuu e oidenasaru koto ni onari nasutta soude gozaimasune. Sore ni zutsuu ni nayande oide nasaru to mousu koto de gozaimasu. Watakushi wa sore o naoshite shinzeyou to omotte mairimashita"

"Ikanimo iwareru toori de, sono zutsuu no tame ni shuttatsu no hi o nobasou kato omotteimasu ga, doushite naoshite kurerareru tsumori ka. Nanika yakuhou demo gozonji ka"

"Iya. Shitai no mi o nayamasu yamai wa maboroshi de gozaimasu. Tada seijou na mizu ga kono juryouki ni ippai areba yoroshii. Majinai de naoshite shinzemasu"

"Haa majinai o nasaru no ka" kou itte sukoshi kangaeta ga " Shisai arumai, hitotsu majinatte kudasai" to itta. Kore wa idou no koto nado wa heisei fukaku kangaetemo oranu no de, douiu chiryou nara saseru, douiu chiryou nara sasenu to iu teiken ga naikara, tada jibun no gosei ni irai shite, sono oriori oriori ni handan suru no de atta. Mochiron souiu hito dakara, kakaritsuke no isha to iu nomo yoku jinsen o shitawake de wa nakatta. Somon ya reisuu demo yomuyouna isha o sagashite kimeteita no de wa naku, kinjo ni sundeite yobu no ni mendou no nai isha ni kakatteita no da kara, roku na kusuri wa nomasete morau koto ga dekinakatta no de aru. Oma kojiki bouzu ni tanomu ki ni natta nowa, nantonaku erasou ni mieru bouzu no taido ni shin o okoshita no to, mizu ippai de suru majinai nara machigatta tokorode kiken na koto mo arumai to omotta no to no tame de aru. Choudo de koutoukan renchuu ga beniryouji ya kiaijutsu ni irai suru no to onaji koto de aru.

Ryo wa koonna o yonde, kumitate no mizu o hachi ni irete koi to meijita. Mizu ga kita. Sou wa sore o uketotte, mune ni sasagete, jitto Ryo o mitsumeta. Seijou na mizu demo yokereba, fuketsu na mizu demo ii, yu demo cha demo ii no de aru. Fuketsu na mizu de nakatta nowa, Ryo ga tame niwa mokke no saiwai de atta. Shibaraku mitsumeteiru uchi ni, Ryo wa oboezu seishin o sou no sasageteiru mizu ni shuuchuu shita.

Kono toki sou wa teppatsu no mizu o kuchi ni fukunde, totsuzen futto Ryo no atam ni fukikaketa.

Ryo wa bikkurishite, senaka ni hiyaase ga deta.

"Ozutsuu wa" to sou ga touta.

"A. Naorimashita" jissai Ryo wa koremade zutsuu ga suru, zutsuu ga suru to ki ni shiteite, doushitemo naorasezu ni ita zutsuu o, bouzu no mizu ni ki o torarete, torinigashite shimatta no de aru.

Sou wa shizuka ni hachi ni nokotta mizu o yuka ni katamuketa. Soshite "Sonnara korede oitoma o itashimasu" to iu ya ina ya, kururi to Ryo ni senaka o mukete, toguchi no hou e arukideshita.

"Maa, chotto " to Ryo ga yobitometa.

Sou wa furikaetta. "Nanika goyou de"

"Sunshi no orei ga itashitai no desu ga"

"Iya. Watakushi wa gunshou o fukuri shi, kyouman o shakubuku suru tame ni, kojiki wa itashimasu ga, chiryoudai wa itadakimasenu"

"Naruhodo. Sore dewa shiite wa moushimasu mai. Anata wa dochira no okataka, sore o ukagatte okitai no desu ga"

"Koremade otta tokoro de gozaimasu ka. Sore wa tendai no Kokushouji de"

"Haa. Tendai ni orareta no desu na. Ona wa"

"Bukan to moushimasu"

"Tendai kokushouji no Bukan to ossharu" Ryo wa shikkari oboete okou to doryoku suru you ni, mayu o hisometa. "Watashi mo korekara Taishuu e iku mono de attemireba, koto sara onatsukashii. Tsuide dakara ukagaitai ga, Taishuu niwa ai ni itte tame ni naru you na, erai hito wa oraremasenkana"

"Sayoude gozaimasu. Kokushouji ni Jittoku to mousu mono ga orimasu. Jitsu wa fugen de gozaimasu. Sore kara tera no nishi no hou ni, kangen to iu sekikutsu ga atte, soko ni Kanzan to mousu mono ga orimasu. Jitsu wa monju de gozaimasu. Sayounara oitoma o itashimasu" kou itte shimatte, tsui to deteitta.

Kou iu innen ga aru no de, Ryo wa tendai no Kokushouji o sashite dekakeru no de aru.

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Zentai yo no naka no hito no, michi toka shuukyou toka iu mono ni taisuru taido ni santoori aru. Jibun no shokugyou ni ki o torarete, tada eiei ekieki to nengetsu o okutteiru hito wa, michi toiu mono o kaeriminai. Korewa dokushoujin demo onaji koto de aru. Mochiron sho o yonde fukaku kangaetara, michi ni toutatsu sezu niwa iraremai. Shikashi soumade kangaenai demo, hibi no tsutome dake wa benjite ikareyou. Korewa mattaku mutonjaku na hito de aru.

Tsugi ni chakui shite michi o motomeru hito ga aru. Sennen ni michi o motomete, banji o nageutsu kotomo areba, hibi no tsutome wa okotarazu ni, taezu michi ni kokorozashiteiru koto mo aru. Jugaku ni haitte mo, doukyou ni haitte mo, buppou ni haitte mo KURISUTO kyou ni haittemo onaji koto de aru. Kouiu hito ga fukaku hairikomu to hibi no tsutome ga sunawachi michi sono mono ni natteshimau. Tsuzumete ieba korewa mina michi o motomeruhito de aru.

Kono mutonchaku na hito to, michi o motomeru hito tono chuukan ni, michi to iumono no sonzai o kyakkanteki ni mitomete ite, soreni taishite mattaku mutonchaku da to iu wake demo naku, sarebato itte mizukara susunde michi o motomeru demo naku, jibun oba michi ni soen na hito dato akirame, betsu ni michi ni shinmitsu na hito ga iruyouni omotte, sore o sonkei suru hito ga aru. Sonkei wa dono shurui no hito nimo aru ga, tanni onaji taishou o sonkei suru baai o koryo shite itte miruto, dou o motomeru hito nara okureteiru mono ga susundeiru mono o sonkei suru koto ninari, kokoni iu chuukan jinbutsu nara, jibun no wakara nu mono, etoku suru koto no dekinu mono o sonkei suru koto ni naru. Sokoni moumoku no sonkei ga shouzuru. Moumoku no sonkei dewa, tamatama sore o sashimukeru taishou ga seikoku o ete ite mo, nannimo naranu node aru.

――――――――――――

Ryo wa ifuku o aratame yo ni notte, Taishuu no kansha o deta. Juusha ga suujuunin aru.

Toki wa fuyu no hajime de, shimo ga sukoshi futteiru. Shoukou no shiryuu de, Shihoukei to iu kawa no sagan o ukaishitsutsu kita e susunde iku. Hajime kumotteita sora ga youyou harete, aojiroi hi ga kishi no momiji o terashiteiru. Michi de deau rouyou wa, mina yo o sakete hizamazuku. Yo no naka dewa Ryo ga hidoku ii心mochini natteiru. Bokumin no shoku ni ite kenja o reisuru to iu noga, tegara no youni omowarete, Ryo ni manzoku o ataeru node aru.

Taishuu kara tendaiken madewa 610 riham hodo de aru. Nippon no 6 rihan hodo de aru. Yuruyuru yo o kakasete kita node, ken kara yakunin no mukae ni deta noni atta toki, mou hiru o sugiteita. Chiken no kansha de yasunde, chisou ni nari tsutsu kiite miru to, kokokara kokushouji made wa, tsumasakiagari no dou ga mata 610-ri aru. Ikitsuku made niwa yoru ni harisou de aru. Sokode Ryo wa chiken no kansha ni tomaru koto nishita.

Yokuasa chiken ni okurarete deta. Kyoumo kinouni kawaranu tenki de aru. Ittai tendai 1-man 8-sen jou towa, itsu dare ga sokuryou shita nishitemo, shosen taka sugiru youda ga, tonikaku tora no iru yama de aru. Dou wa nakanaka kinou no youni hakadoranai. Tochuu de hirumeshi o kutte, hi ga nishi ni katamukikakatta koro, kokushouji no sanmon ni tsuita. Chishataishi no metsugo ni zui no youdai ga tateta to iu tera de aru.

Tera demo shubo no gosankei da toiu node, orosoka niwa shinai. Dougyou to iu sou ga de迎ete, Ryo o kyakuma ni annai shita. Sate saka no kyouou ga sumu to, Ryo ga touta. "Touji ni Bukan to iu sou ga oraremashita ka"

Dougyou ga kotaeta. "Bukan to osshaimasu ka. Sorewa sakikoro made, hondou no ushiro no souin ni oraremashita ga, angya ni derareta kiri, kaeraremase nu"

"Touji dewa douiu koto o shite oraremashita ka"

"Sayoudegozaimasu. Soudomo no taberu kome o tsuite oraremashita"

"Waa. Soshite nanika hoka no soutachi to kawatta koto wa nakatta node suka"

"Ie. Sore ga gozaimashita node, hajime tada honeoshimi o shinai, shinsetsu na doushuku da to zonjiteimashita Bukansan o, watakushidomo ga taisetsu ni itasuyouni nari mashita. Suruto aruhi fuito deteitte shimawaremashita"

"Sorewa douiukoto ga attanode su ka"

"Mattaku fushigi na koto de gozaimashita. Aruhi yama kara tora ni notte kaette mairareta node gozaimasu. Soshite sono mama rouka e haitte, tora no se de shi o ginjite arukaremashita. Ittai shi o ginzuru koto no sukina hito de, ura no souin demo, yoru ni naruto shi o ginzeraremashita"

"Waa. Ikita arakan desu na. Sono souin no ato wa dounatte imasu ka"

"Tadaima mo akiya ni natteorimasu ga, oriori yoru ni naru to, tora ga maitte hoete orimasu"

"Sonnara gokurou nagara, sokohe goannai o negaimashou" kou itte, Ryo wa za o tatta.

Dougyou wa kumo no i o haraitsutsu sakini tatte, Ryo o Bukan no ita akiya ni tsurete itta. Hi ga mou kurekakatta node, usugurai okunai o mimawasu ni, garan toshite nanihitotsu nai. Dougyou wa mi o kagamete ishidatami no ue no tora no ashiato o yubisashita. Tamatama yamakaze ga mado no soto o fuite tootte, uzutakai niwa no ochiba o makiageta. Sono oto ga sekibaku o yabutte zawazawa to naru to, Ryo wa kaminoke no ne o shimetsukerareru you ni kanjite, zenshin no hada ni awa o shoujita.

Ryo wa sewa shige ni akiya o deta. Soshite atokara tsuitekiru Dougyou ni itta. "Jittoku to iu sou wa mada touji ni oraremasu ka"

Dougyou wa sushinrashiku Ryo no kao o mita. "Yoku gozonjide gozaimasu. Senkoku achira no kuriya de, Kanzan to mousu mono to hi ni atatte orimashita kara, goyou ga oarinasarunara, yobiyosemashou ka"

"Hahaa. Kanzan mo kiteoraremasu ka. Sorewa negattemonai koto desu. Douzo gokurou tsuideni kuriya ni goannai o negaimashou"

"Shouchi itashimashita" to itte, Dougyou wa hondou ni tsuite nishi e aruite iku.

Ryo ga ushiro kara touta. "Jittokusan wa itsugorokara touji ni oraremasu ka"

"Mou yohodo hisashii koto de gozaimasu. Arewa Bukansan ga matsubayashi no naka kara hirotte kaerareta sutego de gozaimasu"

"Haa. Soshite touji dewa nanio shiteoraremasu ka"

"Hirowarete maitte kara 3-nen hodo tachimashita toki, jikidou de jouza no zou ni kou o agetari, toumyou o agetari, sono hoka sonaemono o sasetari itashimashita soude gozaimasu. Sono uchi aru hi jouza no zou ni shokuji o sonaeteoite, jibun ga mukiatte isshoni tabeteiru noo mitsukeraremashita soude gozaimasu. Binzurusonja no zou ga doredake toutoi mono ka zouzezuni itashitakoto to miemasu. Tadaima dewa kuriya de soudomo no shokki o arawasete orimasu"

"Haa" to itte, Ryo wa 2-ho 3-ho aruitekara touta. "Sorekara tadaima Kanzan to osshatta ga, sorewa douiu kata desu ka"

"Kanzan de gozaimasu ka. Kore wa touji kara nishinohou no kangen to mousu sekikutsu ni sunde orimasu mono de gozaimasu. Jittoku ga shokki o araimasu toki, Nokotteiru meshi ya sai o take no tsutsu ni irete totte okimasu to, Kanzan wa soreo moraini mairu no de gozaimasu"

"Naruhodo " to itte, Ryo wa tsuite iku. Kokoro no uchi dewa, sonna koto o shiteiru Kanzan, Jittoku ga monju, fugen nara, tora ni notta Bukan wa nandarou nado to, inakamono ga shibai o mite, dono yaku ga dono haiyuu kato omoimadou toki no youna kibun ni natteiru node aru.

――――――――――――

"Hanahada musakurushii tokorode" to iitsutsu, Dougyou wa Ryo o kuriya no uchi ni tsure konda.

Koko wa yuge ga ippai komotte ite, niwaka ni haitte miru to, shika to mono o misadameru koto mo dekinu kurai de aru. Sono hai iro no naka ni ookii kamado ga mittsu atte, dore nimo nokotta maki ga makka ni moeteiru. Shibaraku tachidomatte mite iru uchi ni, ishi no kabe ni soute tsukuritsukete aru tsukue no ue de oozei no sou ga meshi ya sai ya shiru o nabe kama kara utsushite iru no ga mietekita.

Kono toki Dougyou ga oku no hou e muite, "Oi, Jittoku" to yobikaketa.

Ryo ga sono shisen o tadotte, iriguchi kara ichiban tooi kamado no mae o miru to, soko ni futari no sou no uzukumatte hi ni atatte iru no ga mieta.

hitori wa kami no 2,3-sun nobita atama o mukideshite, ashi niwa zouri o haite iru. Ima hitori wa ki no kawa de anda bou o kabutte, ashi niwa bokuri o haite iru. Dochira mo yasete misuborashii ko-otoko de, Bukan no you na oo-otoko dewa nai.

Dougyou ga yobikaketa toki, atama o mukideshita hou wa furimuite niyarito waratta ga, henji wa shinakatta. Kore ga jittoku dato mieru. Bou o kabutta hou wa miugokimoshi nai. Kore ga Kanzan nanode arou.

Ryo wa kou kentou o tsukete futario no soba e susumiyotta. Soshite sode o kakiawasete uyauyashiku rei o shite, "Chougidaibu, shijisetsu, Taishuu no shubo, jouchuukoku, shihigyotai, Ryo Kyuuin to mousu mono de gozaimasu" to nanotta.

Futari wa douji ni Ryo o hitome mita. Sorekara futari de kao o miawasete hara no soko kara komiagete kuru you na waraigoe o dashita ka to omou to, issho ni tachiagatte, kuriya o kakedeshite nigeta. Nigeshina ni Kanzan ga "Bukan ga shabetta na" to itta no ga kikoeta.

Odoroite ato o miokutte iru Ryo ga shuui niwa, meshi ya sai ya shiru o motteita sou ra ga, zorozoro to kite takatta. Dougyou wa massao na kao o shite tachisukundeita.

(Taishou 5 nen 1 gatsu)

(2005.10.1)