{"id":107,"date":"2013-05-31T22:34:15","date_gmt":"2013-05-31T13:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=107"},"modified":"2016-08-06T14:33:11","modified_gmt":"2016-08-06T05:33:11","slug":"part013_edit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/part013_edit\/","title":{"rendered":"\u5341\u4e09 Part 13 (Poppies)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"curl_s\"
\n<\/a>\u201cMother, Father . . . I want to study.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s parents looked up from their meals simultaneously, staring at the young tengu with apprehension. It was his clutch sister, however, who spoke up first.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d she asked, though her attention was still on her food. She ate another piece of sweet potato before looking expectantly at her brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Shichi repeated, unable to grasp the implication in her question. \u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t I? Why wouldn\u2019t anyone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it\u2019s boring,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cNana, don\u2019t talk and eat at the same time,\u201d their mother scolded, then turned her attention back to her son. \u201cShichi, you\u2019re already studying. You attend Oto\u2019s lessons every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. But I\u2014 I feel like there\u2019s so much more to learn. There are only five books in the village and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve read them a hundred times,\u201d said his elder sister, Fuu. \u201cWe know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to join a temple. I want to be part of something.\u201d<\/p>\n

His parents were silent for a moment before his father finally sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good that you\u2019re ambitious. We really do think so,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it\u2019s a bit early to be making that kind of decision. You\u2019re only twelve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m twelve, too!\u201d Nana leaned in closer as she protested, pushing her brother aside in the process.<\/p>\n

Shichi groaned and nudged her away with his elbow. \u201cYou can\u2019t even decide what to wear in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not helping your case,\u201d his mother said, rubbing her forehead. After a moment, she let her eyes fall back onto her only son. Shichi\u2014still so young, who already wanted to leave home.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoining a temple is a lifelong commitment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand.\u201d He looked down at his meal. \u201cThat\u2019s why I want to start<\/p>\n

now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you think you\u2019ll feel lonely?\u201d Fuu asked. \u201cYou\u2019ve never been away from us before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShou wants to go, too. It wouldn\u2019t be so bad if we went together.\u201d<\/p>\n

His parents looked at one another. Though they were hesitant, his request had been no surprise. He had shown signs of dissatisfaction for years. Each time a tengu traveled outside the village, he would bombard them with questions upon their return. He had jumped at every chance to visit a temple and would regard visiting monks with awe.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you should let him go,\u201d Fuu said. \u201cHe\u2019s not very good at weaving, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just fine at weaving,\u201d their mother said, defending him in spite of the truth. For a while, the table was silent. Shichi looked from one parent to another, then back down at his hands. Though his heart had been pumped with tenacity only moments ago, it was now wistfully deflating.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll think about it. For now, you\u2019ll continue studying with Oto,\u201d his mother said, making sure her voice was stern.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d he said, glancing up with bright eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not a \u2018yes,\u2019 understand?\u201d his father said, attempting to match his wife\u2019s rigidity. Despite being the shortest in the entire family, she had a much more powerful presence than he. Shichi nodded vigorously, grateful for even a chance to have his wish granted.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Now clear the table for tea.\u201d<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

Tea.<\/em><\/p>\n

What Shichi wouldn\u2019t have given for a cup of tea. Winter had come rather quickly that year. The greenery had already dried and fallen, leaving him with few options for food. The ridges of his ribs had begun to protrude, and the flesh over his joints was tight and thin. Both his hunger and the wound on his leg had weakened him, but he continued to press on.<\/p>\n

The rain turned to snow. It covered the landscape in a sheet of white\u2014clean and untouched. Shichi stopped at an old, fallen tree, using his claw points to cut through the rough outer layer. This was peeled off to reveal the softer, cream-colored bark below. By then, he had grown used to the bland, dusty taste. Though it was enough to keep him alive, he continued to grow thinner with each day.<\/p>\n

Two more days passed before he had stopped feeling hungry. His stomach had given up on its protests, coming to accept the fact that there was simply no food. The temple\u2019s mountain had been lush, always laden with herbs, roots, and fruit trees. This forest was barren in comparison, covered in miles of stark pine and dead grass. As he rubbed his arm for warmth, he noticed feathers coming loose in his hand. The sight startled him\u2014feathers normally only molted in the summer. Averting his eyes, he let them drift down to the snow before moving on.<\/p>\n

Eventually, his body started to consume itself. Muscle disappeared. He ached from his core but no longer noticed the pain. He had forgotten where he was going and why he was running. He could no longer recall why it was so important for him to continue. He stopped at the base of a tree, collapsing to his knees. His head swayed for a moment, and he steadied himself with a hand on the trunk. Shichi glanced up at the snow as it fell, his eyes glazed and heavy. More than anything, he wanted to sleep. To rest for days or weeks\u2014even forever. It would be pure bliss.<\/p>\n

Shichi went limp against the tree. His eyes shut, allowing him a few precious moments of peace. He tried desperately to remember what he was doing and what he had left behind. He wondered why his heart was so heavy.<\/p>\n

His struggles to think were interrupted by the crunching of snow. He could hear the step of boots and the soft panting of a dog. Slowly, his eyes opened, looking up to see Zaisei and his pet standing before him.<\/p>\n

At first, they were both silent, simply watching one another amidst the falling snow. Zaisei\u2019s expression was one of quiet disappointment. The dog still wore the splint on its front leg\u2014this relieved Shichi, who had been worried that the hunter would remove it in an act of pride.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to kill me?\u201d Shichi finally asked, his voice dry from disuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t kill something that\u2019s already dying,\u201d the hunter replied. There was a bitterness in his tone, as if he had been robbed of something. He shuffled with a satchel at his waist, untying it before tossing it down to the tengu\u2019s feet. The cover hung open, revealing the cache of dried mushrooms and gourd strips inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you regain your strength, you will use every last bit of it to give me a good chase,\u201d Zaisei said, his eyes dark as he spoke. \u201cSo I may kill you the proper way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi couldn\u2019t think of anything to say. He stared at the bag, then back up at the hunter who had given it to him. The words were clear, but he was having trouble putting them together in his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I will<\/em> kill you. Do you understand?\u201d Zaisei said. After a minute, Shichi gave a slow nod. The hunter accepted his response, exhaling into the cold air as he turned around the leave. The dog followed after, leaving the tengu alone on the forest floor. Shichi watched them disappear into the trees. As his eyes fell back on the satchel of food, he found that he could suddenly remember why he was traveling and exactly where he needed to go.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

Though the satchel wasn\u2019t large, it had carried enough food to last Shichi for several days. He started slowly, eating only a few handfuls throughout each day, allowing his stomach to grow accustomed to digestion. His mind began to clear. He noted the positions of the sun and stars, making his way back toward the river. Only the mountains were cold enough for snow, and the brown earth began to reveal itself as he descended. With the soil came roots, and soon he had foraged a small stock to refill the bag.<\/p>\n

The river was a welcome sight. Though the water was icy, he removed his shoes to wade into its embrace. The current was painfully cold, rushing fast enough to make him falter as he moved. It washed away the blood and dust, biting his skin, reminding him how to shudder and cringe\u2014how to feel alive. Shichi knelt, removing the bandage from his calf to rinse the wound. It had finally begun to heal. The skin was closed but sore. He wondered how long it would be before he could climb trees again. It had been difficult to sleep on the ground; it was as if his body knew that it wasn\u2019t safe.<\/p>\n

The riverbank was lined with bone poppies, named for their blanched white petals. These were tenacious flowers, growing even in the cold of winter. They had grown around his childhood village, often used for their sleep-inducing sap. Shichi re-bandaged his leg, then approached the bank to gather a few pods. The less time he wasted trying to fall asleep, the better.<\/p>\n

He crouched in the sea of ivory flowers, harvesting the swollen pods to save for later. His motions were careful, making sure not to accidentally expose the sap. The smell alone could blacken one\u2019s consciousness within seconds. As he placed a pod into his satchel, a shift of movement caught his eye. At first, he couldn\u2019t discern the pale figure from the petals, but a harder look revealed the outline of fur.<\/p>\n

It was a white fox, curled up among the poppies. His initial thought was to leave it be, but he soon realized that its breathing was troubled. The creature panted fretfully, its eyes snapping up to watch him as he approached. It looked at him, not with fear, but with suspicion. Its gaze was tense and intelligent, boring into him as he moved closer. As its tail twitched in agitation, he noticed that it was accompanied by two others\u2014three tails in total. This wasn\u2019t an ordinary fox.<\/p>\n

Shichi had read about kitsune and heard personal accounts, but he had never actually met one before. He had been told many things\u2014that they were magical, that they could possess others and breathe fire. Whether these things were true or not, he would have to see for himself. The only thing he was certain of was that the fox before him was clearly suffering.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right?\u201d he asked, tilting his head.<\/p>\n

The kitsune stared at him for only a moment more before attempting to drag itself off. It could barely stand, however, and wobbled before collapsing once again. It averted its eyes, seemingly embarrassed with its failure. Shichi knelt, placing his hands on his knees as he made one more attempt.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you need help?\u201d<\/p>\n

He received a glare in response. This didn\u2019t deter the monk, however, and he waited patiently for a reply. After a moment, the kitsune closed its eyes, putting forth a great effort to continue breathing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe . . . took it,\u201d came a weary answer. The voice was female, strained as she spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cTook what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy ball,\u201d she said, clearly annoyed at having to speak. Each word seemed forced and hinted at an unseen, internal pain.<\/p>\n

Shichi could remember reading about the balls that all kitsune carried. The peach-sized spheres were often depicted in statues, carried in their mouths or balanced on their tails. The balls supposedly housed the kitsunes\u2019 souls, and being separated for too long could be fatal. Shichi wanted to know who \u201che\u201d was, and how this person had managed to take it from her, but she didn\u2019t seem to have the time or energy for an explanation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich way did he go?\u201d He stood, hooking his satchel back over his shoulder.<\/p>\n

Her eyes cracked open long enough to gaze off in one direction, gesturing toward the forest with a glance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll return soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part of him worried that this wasn\u2019t his business\u2014he didn\u2019t know the full story or anything about the person he was looking for. It couldn\u2019t have been Zaisei. The hunter would have been more interested in her pelt than some spiritual ball. Shichi couldn\u2019t, however, ignore someone in need. No matter what the story was, it wouldn\u2019t have to end in death.<\/p>\n

Shichi continued in the direction she had indicated, looking for any hints of another person. Tracking was another skill he had never developed. Luckily, he spotted footprints in the peat that could only belong to a human. His pace quickened, running after the trail to find whoever it was that had made them.<\/p>\n

Soon, he spotted a man walking hurriedly through the trees. Rather than a hunter or bandit, he appeared to be a peasant, dressed in the modest clothing of a farmer. The human\u2019s pace was rather quick, as if he were moving in a panic. There was no time to think of a proper strategy\u2014Shichi would have to act now. He hoped that this could be resolved through communication; perhaps it had just been a misunderstanding. Even so, he removed a single pod from his satchel and kept it tucked in the palm of his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s there?\u201d the human said, turning at the sound of Shichi\u2019s approach. He spoke in a nervous, wavering tone, and his eyes flickered with each word.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am.\u201d Shichi gave a light bow as he stepped forward. \u201cI\u2019m sorry if I startled you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The human faltered, unaccustomed to seeing tengu. He clutched the pouch at his waist, stepping backward as he stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to ask,\u201d he said, keeping his tone soft as he walked closer, \u201cif you took something from a kitsune?\u201d<\/p>\n

With those words, something seemed to snap in the human\u2019s red-lined eyes. They widened, quivering with realization.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t have it!\u201d He took another step away. \u201cIt\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you need it for?\u201d Shichi narrowed his eyes, curious.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s\u2014 that\u2019s none of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, I must return it,\u201d Shichi said, now standing face to face with the man. \u201cShe needs it to live.\u201d<\/p>\n

The human paused at Shichi\u2019s statement, his expression showing the slightest hint of softening. Yet, only a moment later, the panic returned to his eyes. He shook his head, taking in a shaking breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I\u2019m sorry, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he spoke, Shichi made a faint slit in the pod with his claw. The poppy sap leaked out, smudging onto his palm. He held his breath as he lifted his hand, clamping his fingers over the human\u2019s mouth. Almost instantly, the man swayed, his eyelids fluttering as he went limp. Shichi caught him in his arms, easing him down to the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll be all right,\u201d he whispered, leaning the body against a thick tree. \u201cIt\u2019s just a short rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

The human was out cold, giving Shichi a moment to drop the pod and clean his hand. The farmer carried little on his person, having only the clothes on his back and the worn pouch on his belt. Shichi unfastened the string, reaching in to remove its contents. Sure enough, it had been holding a pearly white ball.<\/p>\n

It was surprisingly warm, carrying a luminescent sheen over its smooth surface. It almost seemed to glow. Shichi forced himself to look away, placing it in his bag and making his way back to the river. Though he knew he had done the right thing, he couldn\u2019t help but feel guilty. He had acted as a common thief, abusing his knowledge of herbs to steal from someone. Reminding himself that it was a matter of life or death, he hurried through the forest. He could only hope that the kitsune was still alive.<\/p>\n

As he returned to the riverbank, he was relieved to find that she was well. Before he could even speak, she had picked up her head, ears perked at his approach. She seemed to know what he was carrying without asking, hopping up to her feet in anticipation. Kneeling, he removed the ball from his bag and offered it to her. The kitsune didn\u2019t waste a second, immediately snatching it up in her mouth before darting away. As she reached the tree line, she hesitated, giving him one last glance over her shoulder. He returned the look, silent as he watched her. With a snort, she turned away, disappearing into the forest.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake care,\u201d he murmured, crouched motionlessly among the swaying poppies.<\/p>\n

From there, his journey continued along the river. Bare tree branches hung over the water, their limbs dark against the gray sky. It was only a matter of time before he reached the sea. From there, he could continue on to Awaji Island, a stepping stone between his home and the mainland. The day\u2019s travel, however, would have to end. It was already growing dark.<\/p>\n

Shichi found a spot at the base of an old tree, settling down along the roots. Running after the human had been tiring, and he had forgotten to eat anything since morning. Just as he opened his satchel to select a root, there was a rustling behind him. Before he could pick up his staff, the very same human rushed forth from the dry bushes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThief!<\/em>\u201d He grabbed Shichi by the collar and slammed him up against the tree. \u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man throttled him, wrapping his calloused hands around the tengu\u2019s throat as he repeated his question. His shout was desperate. Shichi could have sworn that he could see tears in the corners of the human\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have it,\u201d he said, finding it difficult to speak.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re lying! Give it back to me!\u201d<\/p>\n

His grip was tight enough to pull feathers, rigid and unrelenting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI-I\u2019m telling you the truth. I don\u2019t have it,\u201d Shichi said, trying in vain to loosen the man\u2019s hands. Unfortunately, he was much weaker than the farmer and couldn\u2019t so much as budge the human\u2019s fingers. It was then that the man seemed to believe him, gritting his teeth as he looked away in thought. He made a realization, turning his attention back to the monk with an even stronger glare.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kitsune. Where is she? Where did she go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder,\u201d the farmer said, removing one hand to reach into the folds of his shirt. \u201cIf this is still potent.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pulled out a ragged cloth, letting it drop to reveal the very same pod he had been subdued with. Shichi\u2019s eyes widened at the sight of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cN-no, I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t finish speaking\u2014the human grabbed him by the beak, keeping it shut as he squeezed the pod in his fist. Milky white sap oozed out, leaking between his fingers. He clamped his palm over the tengu\u2019s nostrils. The world immediately began to spin, twisting into darkness. It felt as if his body had turned to stone. His vision flickered before his eyes closed, unconscious before he could even hit the ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cMother, Father . . . I want to study.\u201d Shichi\u2019s parents looked up from their meals simultaneously, staring at the young tengu with apprehension. It was his clutch sister, however, who spoke up first. \u201cWhy?\u201d she asked, though her attention…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-one"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1084,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107\/revisions\/1084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}