1

Rokunomiya no himegimi no chichi wa, furui miyabara no umare datta. Ga, jisei nimo okuregachi na, mukashikatagi no hito datta kara, kan mo hyoubu no taifu yori noboranakatta. Himegimi wa sou iu chichihaha to issho ni, Rokunomiya no hotori ni aru, kodakai yakata ni sumatteita. Rokunomiya no himegimi to iu no wa, sono tochi no namae ni yotta no datta.

Chichihaha wa himegimi o chouai shita. Shikashi yahari mukashifuu ni, susun dewa dare nimo meawasenakatta. Dare ka iiyoru hito ga areba to, kokoromachi ni matsu bakari datta. Himegimi mo chichihaha no oshiedoori, tsutsumashii asayuu o okutteita. Sore wa kanashimi mo shiranai to douji ni, yorokobi mo shiranai shougai datta. Ga, seken mizu no himegimi wa, kakubetsu fuman mo kanjinakatta."Chichihaha sae tassha de ite kurereba yoi."-- himegimi wa sou omotteita.

Furui ike ni shidareta sakura wa, toshigoto ni toboshii hana o hiraita. Sono uchi ni himegimi mo itsu no ma ni ka, otonasabita utsukushisa o sonaedashita. Ga, tanomi ni omotta chichi wa, toshigoro sake o sugoshita tame ni, totsuzen kojin ni natte shimatta. Nomi narazu haha mo hantoshi hodo no uchi ni, kaeranai nageki o kasaneta ageku, toutou chichi no ato o otte itta. Himegimi wa kanashii to iu yori mo, tohou ni kurezu niwa irarenakatta. Jissai futokoroko no himegimi niwa tatta hitori no uba no hoka ni, tayoru mono wa nani mo nai no datta.

Uba wa kenage nimo himegimi no tame ni, honemi o oshimazu hataraki tsuduketa. Ga, ie ni mochitsutaeta raden no tebako ya shiragane no kouro wa, itsuka hitotsu dutsu ushinawarete itta. To douji ni meshitsukai no danjo mo, dare kara ka hima o torihajimeta. Himegimi nimo kurashi no tsurai koto wa, dandan hakkiri wakaru you ni natta. Shikashi sore o dou suru koto mo, himegimi no chikara niwa oyobanakatta. Himegimi wa sabishii yakata no tai ni, yahari mukashi to sukoshi mo kawarazu, koto o hiitari uta o yondari, tanchou na asobi o kurikaeshite ita.

Suruto aru aki no yuugure, uba wa himegimi no mae e deru to, kangae kangae konna koto o itta.

"Oino houshi no tanomimasu niwa, Tanba no zenji nanigashi no tono ga, anata sama ni awasete itadakitai to ka moushite oru sou de gozaimasu. Zenji wa katachi mo utsukushii ue, kokorobae mo yoi sou de gozaimasu shi, zenji no chichi mo zuryou to wa mouse, chikai kandachime no ko demo gozaimasu kara, oai ni natte wa ikaga de gozaimashou? Kayuni kokorobosoi kurashi o nasaimasu yori mo, sukoshi wa mashi ka to zonjimasu ga.--"

Himegimi wa shinobine ni naki hajimeta. Sono otoko ni hadami o makaseru no wa, funyoi na kurashi o tasukeru tame ni, karada o uru no mo douyou datta. Muron sore mo yononaka niwa ooi to iu koto wa shouchi shiteita. Ga, genzai sou natte miru to, kanashisa wa mata kakubetsu datta. Himegimi wa uba to mukiatta mama, kuzu no ha o fukikaesu kaze no naka ni, itsu made mo sode o kao ni shiteita.--

2

Shikashi himegimi wa itsu no ma ni ka, yogoto ni otoko to au you ni natta. Otoko wa uba no kotoba doori yasashii kokoro no mochinushi datta. Kaokatachi mo sasuga ni miyabite ita. Sonoue himegimi no utsukushisa ni, nanimo kamo wasureteiru koto wa, hotondo dare no me nimo akiraka datta. Himegimi mo muron kono otoko ni, warui kokoro wa motanakatta. Toki niwa tanomoshii to omou koto mo atta. Ga, choutori no kichou o tateta kage ni, toudai no hikari o mabushigarinagara, otoko to futari mutsubiau toki nimo, ureshii to wa hitoyo mo omowanakatta.

Sonouchi ni yakata wa sukoshidutsu, hanayaka na kuuki o kuwae hajimeta. Kurodana ya sudare mo arata ni nari, meshitsukai no kazumo fueta no datta. Uba wa muron izen yori mo, ikiiki to kurashi o torimakanatta. Shikashi himegimi wa sou iu henka mo, sabishisouni mite iru bakari datta.

Arutoki shigure no watatta yoru, otoko wa himegimi to sake o kuminagara, Tanba no kuni ni atta to iu, kimi no warui hanashi o shita. Idumodi e kudaru tabibito ga Ooeyama no fumoto ni yado o karita. Yado no tsuma wa choudo sono yoru, buji ni onnanoko o umiotoshita. Suru to tabibito wa ubuya no naka kara, nantomo shirenu oootoko ga, isogiashi ni soto e dete kuru no o mita. Oootoko wa tada "Toshi wa hassai, mei wa jigai" to iisuteta nari, tachimachi dokoka e kieteshimatta. Tabibito wa sore kara kyuunenme ni, kondo wa kyou e agaru tochuu, onaji ie ni yadotte mita. Tokoroga jissai onnanoko wa, yattsu no toshi ni henshi shiteita. Shikamo ki kara ochita hyoushi ni, kama o nodo e tsukitateteita.-- hanashi wa daitai kou iu no datta. Himegimi wa sore o kiita toki ni, shukumei no sennasa ni obiyakasareta. Sono onnanoko ni kurabereba, kono otoko o tanomi ni kurashiteiru no wa, madashimo shiawase ni chigainakatta."Nariyuki ni makaseru hoka wa nai." -- himegimi wa sou omoinagara, kao dake wa adeyaka ni hohoendeita.

Yakata no noki ni atatta matsu wa, nando mo yuki ni eda o orareta. Himegimi wa hiru wa mukashi no you ni, koto o hiitari sugoroku o uttarishita. Yoru wa otoko to hitotsu shitone ni, mizudori no ike ni oriru oto o kiita. Sore wa kanashimi mo sukunai to douji ni, yorokobi mo sukunai asayuu datta. Ga, himegimi wa aikawarazu, kono monoui yasurakasa no naka ni, hakanai manzoku o miidashiteita.

Shikashi sono yasurakasa mo, omoi no hoka kyuu ni tsukiru toki ga kita. Yatto haru no kaetta aruyo, otoko wa himegimi to futari ni naru to, " sonata ni au no mo koyoi giri ja" to, iinikusou ni kuchi o kitta. Otoko no chichi wa kondo no jimoku ni, mutsu no kami ni ninzerareta. Otoko mo sono tame ni yuki no fukai oku e, isshoni kudaraneba naranakatta. Muron himegimi to wakareru no wa, nani yori mo otoko niwa kanashikatta. Ga, himegimi o tsuma ni shita no wa, chichi nimo kakushiteita no da kara, imasara uchiakeru koto wa dekinikukatta. Otoko wa tameiki o tsukinagara, naganaga to sou iu jijou o hanashita.

"Shikashi gonen tateba ninhate ja. Sono toki o tanoshimi ni matte tamore."

Himegimi wa mou nakifushiteita. Tatoe koishii to wa omowanu made mo, tanomi ni shita otoko to wakareru no wa, kotoba niwa tsukusenai kanashisa datta. Otoko wa himegimi no se o nade te wa, iroiro nagusametari hagemashitarishita. Ga, kore mo futakotome niwa, namida ni koe o kumoraseru no datta.

Soko e nani mo shiranai uba wa, toshi no wakai nyouboutachi to, choushi ya takatsuki o hakonde kita. Furui ike ni shidareta sakura mo, tsubomi o motta koto o hanashinagara.--

3

Rokunenme no haru wa kaettekita. Ga, oku e kudatta otoko wa, tsuini miyako e wa kaeranakatta. Sono aida ni meshitsukai wa hitori mo nokorazu, chiridiri ni dokoka ka e tachinoiteshimau shi, himegimi no sundeita higashi no tai mo arutoshi no ookaze ni taorete shimatta. Himegimi wa sore irai uba to isshoni samurai no hosodono o sumai ni shite ita. Soko wa sumai to iu mono no, tezema demo areba sumiarashite mo ari, wazukani ametsuyu no shinogeru dake datta. Uba wa kono hosodono e utsutta touza, itawashii himegimi no sugata o miru to, namida o otosazu niwa irarenakatta. Ga, mata arutoki wa riyuu mo nai no ni, hara bakari tateteiru koto ga atta.

Kurashi no tsurai no wa mochiron datta. Tana no dushi wa tou no mukashi, kome ya aona ni kawatteita. Ima dewa himegimi no uchigi ya hakama mo mi ni tsuite iru hoka wa nokoranakatta. Uba wa takimono ni koto o kakeba, tachigusare ni natta shinden e, ita o hagi ni dekakeru kurai datta. Shikashi himegimi wa mukashi no toori, koto ya uta ni ki o harashinagara, jitto otoko o machitsuduketeita.

Suruto sono toshi no aki no tsukiyo, uba wa himegimi no mae e deru to, kangae kangae konna koto o itta.

"Tono wa mou okaeri niwa narimasumai. Anata sama mo tono no koto wa, owasure ni natte wa ikagade gozaimashou. Tsuiteha konogoro aru ten'yakunosuke ga, anata sama ni oawase mouse to, semetatete oru no de gozaimasu ga, --"

Himegimi wa sono hanashi o kikinagara, rokunen mae no koto o omoidashita. Rokunen mae niwa, ikura naite mo, nakitarinai hodo kanashikatta. Ga, ima wa karada mo kokoro mo amari ni sore niwa tsukareteita."Tada shidukani oi kuchitai." -- sono hoka wa nani mo kangaenakatta. Himegimi wa hanashi o kikiowaru to, shiroi tsuki o nagameta nari, monouge ni yatsureta kao o futta.

"Watashi wa mou nani mo iranu. Ikiyou to mo shinou to mo hitotsu koto ja.--"

* * *

Choudo kore to onaji jikoku , otoko wa toui hitachi no kuni no yakata ni, atarashii tsuma to sake o kundeita. Tsuma wa chichi no megane ni kanatta, kono kuni no kami no musume datta.

"Ano oto wa nan ja? "

Otoko wa futo odoroita you ni, shiduka na tsukiakari no noki o miageta. Sono toki nazeka otoko no mune niwa, hakkiri himegimi no sugata ga ukandeita.

"Kuri no mi ga ochita no de gozaimashou."

Hitachi no tsuma wa sou kotaenagara, futsutsuka ni choushi no sake o sashita.

4

Otoko ga kyou e kaetta no wa, choudo kyuunenme no banshuu datta. Otoko to hitachi no tsuma no ukara to, -- karera wa kyou e hairu tochuu, higara no warui no o sakeru tame ni, san'yokka awadu ni taizai Shita. Sore kara kyou e hairu toki mo, hiru no hitome ni tatanai you ni, waza to hinokure o erabu koto ni shita. Otoko wa hina ni iru aida mo, nisando kyou no tsuma no moto e, nengoro na shousoku o kotodukete yatta. Ga, tsukai ga kaeranakattari, saiwai kaette kita to omoeba, himegimi no yakata ga wakaranakattari, ichido mo henji wa te ni hairanakatta. Sore dake ni kyou e haitta to naru to, koishisa mo mata hitoshiho datta. Otoko wa tsuma no chichi no yakata e buji ni tsuma o okurikomu ga hayai ka, tabijitaku mo tokazu ni Rokunomiya e itta.

Rokunomiya e itte miru to, mukashi atta yotsuashi no mon mo, hihadabuki no shinden ya tai mo, kotogotoku ima wa nakunatteita. Sono naka ni tada nokotteiru no wa, kuzure nokori no tsuidi dake datta. Otoko wa kusa no naka ni tatazunda mama, bouzen to niwa no ato o nagamemawashita. Soko niwa nakaba umoreta ike ni, mizunagi ga sukoshi tsukutte atta. Mizunagi wa kasuka na shingetsu no hikari ni, hissori to ha o muragaraseteita.

Otoko wa mandokoro to oboshii atari ni, katamuita itaya no aru no o mitsuketa. Itaya no naka niwa chikayotte miru to, dare ka hitokage mo arurashikatta. Otoko wa yami o sukashinagara, sotto sono hitokage ni koe o kaketa. Suruto tsukiakari ni yoroboideta no wa, dokoka mioboe no aru rouni datta.

Ama wa otoko ni nanorareru to, nani mo iwazu ni nakitsuduketa. Sono ato yatto togirere togirere ni, himegimi no minoue o hanashidashita.

"Omiwasure demo gozaimashou ga, temae wa miuchi ni tsukaete otta, hashitame no haha de gozaimasu. Tono ga okudari ni natte kara mo, musume wa mada gonen bakari, go-houkou itashite orimashita. Ga, sono uchi ni otto to tomodomo, Tajima e kudaru koto ni narimashita kara, temae mo sono setsu musume to isshoni, oitoma o itadaita no de gozaimasu. Tokoroga konogoro himegimi no koto ga, nanika to kokoro ni kakarimasu no de, temae hitori kyou e agatte mimasu to, goran no toori oyakata mo nani mo nakunatte iru no de gosaimasen ka? himegimi mo doko e irasshiyatta koto yara, -- jitsuwa temae mo sakigoro kara, tohou ni kurete iru no de gozaimasu. Tono wa gozonji mo gozaimasumai ga, musume ga go-houkou moushite otta aida mo, himegimi no okurashi no oitawashisa wa, moushiyou mo nai gurai de gozaimashita.--"

Otoko wa ichibu shijuu o kiita ato, kono koshi no magatta ama ni, shita no koromo o ichimai nuide watashita. Sore kara atama o tareta mama, mokunen to kusa no naka o ayumisatta.

5

Otoko wa yokujitsu kara himegimi o sagashi ni, rakuchuu o houbou arukimawatta. Ga, doko e doushita no ka, youi ni yukigata wa wakaranakatta.

Suru to nannichi ka ato no yuugure, otoko wa murasame o sakeru tame ni, Suzakumon no mae ni aru, nishi no magaridono no nokishita ni tatta. Soko niwa mada otoko no hoka nimo, monogoi rashii houshi ga hitori, yahari amayami o machiwabiteita. Ame wa ninuri no mon no sora ni, wabishii oto o tatetsuduketa. Otoko wa houshi o shirime ni shinagara, iradatashii omoi o magirasetasa ni, achikochi ishidatami o aruiteita. Sono uchi ni futo otoko no mimi wa, usugurai mado no renji no naka ni, hito no irurashii kehai o toraeta. Otoko wa hotondo nan no ki nashi ni, chirari to mado o nozoite mita.

Mado no naka niwa ama ga hitori, yabureta mushiro o matoinagara, byounin rashii onna o kaihou shiteita. Onna wa yuugure no usuakari nimo, bukimi na hodo yasegarete irurashikatta. Shikashi sono himegimi ni chigainai koto wa, hitome mita dake demo juubun datta. Otoko wa koe o kakeyou to shita. Ga, asamashii himegimi no sugata o miru to, naze ka sono koe ga dasenakatta. Himegimi wa otoko no iru no mo shirazu, yabure mushiro no ue ni negaeri o utsu to, kurushisou ni konna uta o yonda.

"Tamakura no sukima no kaze mo samukariki, mi wa narahashi no mono ni zarikeru."

Otoko wa kono koe o kiita toki, omowazu himegimi no namae o yonda. Himegimi wa sasuga ni makura o okoshita. Ga, otoko o miru ga hayai ka, nanika kasuka ni sakenda kiri, mata mushiro no ue ni utsubushite shimatta. Ama wa, -- ano chuujitsu na uba wa, soko e tobikonda otoko to isshoni, awatete himegimi o dakiokoshita. Shikashi dakiokoshita kao o miru to, uba wa mochiron otoko sae mo, issou awatezu niwa irarenakatta.

Uba wa marude ki no kurutta you ni, kojiki houshi no moto e hashiriyotta. Soushite, rinjuu no himegimi no tame ni, nannari to mo kyou o yonde kure to itta. Houshi wa uba no nozomidoori, himegimi no makuramoto e za o shimeta. Ga, kyoumon o dokuju suru kawari ni, himegimi e kou kotoba o kaketa.

"Oujou wa hitode ni dekiru mono dewa gozaranu. Tada go-jishin okotarazu ni, Amidabutsu no mina o otonae nasare."

Himegimi wa otoko ni dakakareta mama, hosoboso to butsumyou o tonaedashita. To omou to osoroshisou ni, jitto mon no tenjou o mitsumeta.

"Are, asoko ni hi no moeru kuruma ga.--"

"Sono you na mono ni osorenasaruna. Mihotoke sae nenzureba yoroshuu gozaru."

Houshi wa yaya koe o hagemashita. Suruto himegimi wa shibaraku no aida, mata yumeutsutsu no you ni tsubuyakidashita.

"Konjiki no renge ga miemasuru. Tengai no you ni ookii renge ga.--"

Houshi wa nanika iou to shita ga, kondo wa sore yori mo saki ni, himegimi ga kiregire ni kuchi o hiraita.

"Renge wa mou miemasenu. Ato niwa tada kurai naka ni haze bakari fuite orimasuru."

"Isshin ni butsumyou o otonaenasare. Naze isshin ni otonaenasaranu? "

Houshi wa hotondo shikaru you ni itta. Ga, himegimi wa taeirisou ni, onaji koto o kurikaesu bakari datta.

"Nani mo, -- nani mo miemasenu. Kurai naka ni kaze bakari, -- tsumetai kaze bakari fuite mairimasuru."

Otoko ya uba wa namida o nominagara, kuchi no naka ni Mida o nenjitsuduketa. Houshi mo mochiron gasshou shita mama, himegimi no nenbutsu o tasuketeita. Sou iu koe no ame ni majiru naka ni, yabure mushiro o shiita himegimi wa, dandan shinigao ni kawatte itta.--

6

Sore kara nannichi ka ato no tsukiyo, himegimi ni nenbutsu o susumeta houshi wa, yahari Suzakumon no mae no magaridono ni, yaburegoromo no hiza o kakaeteita. Suru to soko e samurai ga hitori, yuuyuu to nani ka utainagara, tsukiakari no ooji o aruite kita. Samurai wa houshi no sugata o miru to, zauri no ashi o tometanari, sarigenai you ni koe o kaketa.

"Konogoro kono Suzakumon no hotori ni, onna no nakigoe ga suru sou dewa nai ka? "

Houshi wa ishidatami ni udukumatta mama, tatta hitokoto henji o shita.

"Okiki nasare."

Samurai wa chiyotto mimi o sumaseta. Ga, kasuka na mushi no ne no hoka wa, nani hitotsu kikoeru mono mo nakatta. Atari niwa tada matsu no nioi ga, yaki ni tadayotteiru dake datta. Samurai wa kuchi o ugokasou to shita. Shikashi mada nani mo iwanai uchi ni, totsuzen dokoka kara ka onna no koe ga, hosoboso to nageki o okutte kita.

Samurai wa tachi ni te o kaketa. Ga, koe wa magaridono no sora ni, hitoshikiri nagai o o hiita ato, dandan mata dokoka e kiete itta.

"Nenbutsu o nenjite oyari nasare.--"

Houshi wa tsukiakari ni kao o motageta.

"Are wa gokuraku mo jigoku mo shiranu, fugainai onna no tamashii de gozaru. Nenbutsu o nenjite oyari nasare."

Shikashi samurai wa henji mo sezu ni, houshi no kao o nozokikonda. To omou to odoroita you ni, sono mae e ikinari ryoute o tsuita.

"Naiki no shounin dewa gozaimasen ka? Doushite mata kono you na tokoro ni --"

Zaizoku no na wa Yoshishige no Yasutane, yoni Naiki no shounin to iu no wa, Kuuya shounin no deshi no naka nimo, yangoto nai koutoku no shamon datta.

(Taishou 11 nen 7 gatsu)

(2006-7-29)