A/N: I was listening to the Dark Histories podcast on Bridget Cleary and wondered what it would have been like to be Bridget during this time. But I’ve also been reading The Tale of Genji, so when I started writing, the idea of the hannya (jealousy demon) and what things must have been like for the women in Genji’s world took hold instead.
Hannya is set in an AU Japan – there are elements of both Heian and modern Japan in it. It’s still a very rough draft and I’ve no idea if it’s going to develop into something longer or if I’m going to do anything with it, but it is the first thing I’ve written this year and so I thought I’d share it here.
Hannya
“The greatest healers of the day were powerless to eject it and it became apparent this was no ordinary case of “possession”: some tremendous accumulation of malice was discharging itself upon her.”
“It reached Lady Rokuyjo’s ears that the illness had been attributed by some to the operation of her living spirit […] [But o]f hostility toward Aoi she could find no trace at all.”
– The Tale of Genji
Part 1: Him
It was terrible, just terrible.
She had really gone over the line this time.
“What happened? Why are you frowning like that?” Heisuke asked. “You haven’t said a word since we started drinking. What happened to having a good time and forgetting all our troubles?”
“It’s her,” he said. “She’s done it. It’s too much.”
“What happened? Wait, don’t tell me yet, we need sustenance.” Heisuke asked as he motioned the waitstaff over. “Two beers,” he told them brusquely. A silent waiter soon returned with two mugs of beer and Heisuke pushed one over.
“Now tell me.”
“She’s cursed Hanako-chan.”
“Curse? Are you sure?” Heisuke lowered his voice. “That’s a dangerous charge, maybe I should take the beer away from you. And anyway, how does she know about Hanako-san?”
He scowled. “How should I know? All I know is that she started getting curious about where I was going and who I was with, and now Hanako-chan is sick.”
“It could be a coincidence.”
He punched Heisuke in the arm. Not to hurt, but hard enough to show how serious he was. “It was not. Haven’t you heard about what happened with Prince Genji and Lady Aoi last year? It was all that devil woman’s doing.”
“Still,” Heisuke hesitated, “I’ve heard that even the emperor wasn’t convinced. Lady Rokujyo never showed any malice despite the way Prince Genji jilted her.”
“And why should she? She’s so much older than him, she should be grateful he paid her any attention at all. And Lady Aoi is his actual wife.”
“And she’s your wife.”
“Don’t remind me.”
The two sat in silence drinking their beers.
“It could be worse,” Heisuke said, “She could be a kitsune.”
“A kitsune would be less trouble. I’m sure that a fox wouldn’t care so much about what I do. And if she did, she’ll just run off and there wouldn’t be any trouble.” Then again, the fox at home didn’t let him do anything. She mocked the poetry he sent her and when he tried to catch her robe, she vanished into thin air. The thought of her arrogance angered him so much that he banged his mug against the table, causing some of the beer to spill and stain his robe.
“It’s all her fault. Why can’t she just bear with the state of things? Am I such a terrible husband? I don’t beat her, I let her go back to her father’s place whenever she wants. All I want is a little freedom to live my life. If she were more like Hanako-chan, I wouldn’t be driven away.”
“A man’s life is a hard one,” Heisuke said. “Even Prince Genji suffered from the effects of a hannya. But perhaps you should just go home for a few days. Appease her and it will all stop.”
“Are you telling me to give in? This is all her fault.”
Heisuke put a hand on his arm. “Calm down. I’m not saying it isn’t, but you know how jealous women can get. A public trial would just bring shame on your family and hers. And what is Hanako-chan anyway? Another one will come along soon enough.”
“It’s not right. Just because the Lady Rokujyo got away, she probably thinks she can too. Well, she isn’t the niece of an emperor.”
He stood up. Everything was crystal clear. Throwing down a string of coins, he staggered towards the exit of the izakaya.
“Where are you going?” Heisuke called out.
“To get justice for Hanako-chan!”
Part 2: Her
She sat behind her screens, practising her calligraphy. There was a competition coming up, and her father had suggested she enter.
“It will take your mind off things,” he said. “And if you come in first, you’ll solidify your position as an accomplished, forbearing wife.”
She hadn’t dared to disagree. Bowing, she murmured that she would spend more time in practice.
“And change your scent a little,” her father said as he left the room. “You’re starting to bore me.”
But he liked the scent. At least, he did at first, she thought ruefully. She had thought he was different from the rest, but once the three nights were over and she had accepted him as husband, he changed.
“Lady.”
She turned to see the nursemaid. “What’s wrong? Is it the children?”
“He thinks you’re harming Hanako-san.”
“Who’s Hanako?” That was not the name whispered to her.
“Hanako-san is the new one,” the nursemaid said. “And now she’s sick.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
The nursemaid narrowed her eyes. “He is thinking of last year, when Lady Aoi fell ill.”
“But those were just rumours! No one took them seriously. Lady Rokujyo even paid Lady Aoi a visit when she heard the news.” And she even saw Lady Rokujyo once after the whole affair was over. She looked so sad and gentle that it was hard to believe the woman in front of her had become a namanari hannya. If anything, it made the rumours about the way Prince Genji treated her more credible. He was the shining one of the court but he had a way of using and disposing women that struck fear into most of them.
“Still, he believes it. You have to go back to your father’s place. He’s coming back and he’s angry.”
“No.”
“No?”
She shook her head. “This is my house too. He will not harm me here.”
“You underestimate his anger.”
“No, you underestimate my father. He will not allow this to happen.”
The nursemaid shook her head. “And if word gets out that you cursed Hanako-san through your jealousy? Even your father would denounce you in the current climate. Don’t forget who you took in.” She smiled viciously, revealing small pointed teeth.
“You saved my children’s lives. And anyway, you’re different. There’s no harm in letting you stay.”
“Lady, it’s time to leave. Believe me when I say that I’m trying to save your life.”
“I will not. What will it say about me if I leave?”
The fox sighed in exasperation, one of her white tails momentarily appearing behind her. “I’ve tried. And I’ll try again. I’ll go wake up the children and when you need me, call for me.” She bowed once and left the room, softly sliding the shoji door shut.
She continued practising her calligraphy, although all the words were marred by a shaky hand. Eventually, she smelled his fragrance wafting through the corridors and knew he was home. The light from the lantern grew brighter as he approached, darkening the shadows in her room. She pushed aside her calligraphy and moved the screen aside, ready to greet him.
As the door slid open, she saw the light reflecting off his sword.
“Myobu!”