{"id":16,"date":"2013-05-31T10:35:38","date_gmt":"2013-05-31T01:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=16"},"modified":"2016-08-06T13:36:56","modified_gmt":"2016-08-06T04:36:56","slug":"part001","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/part001\/","title":{"rendered":"\u4e00 Part 01 (Turmeric)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"01_ankle_fix\"
\n<\/a>Upon an old, wooded mountain, there was once a temple. The surrounding trees were knotted yet proud. It was a well-kept temple\u2014maintained and honored by a group of monks numbering no more than twenty. Their lives were quiet and filled with prayer and study.<\/p>\n

Despite their peaceful nature, and despite their respect for the land and one another, the temple was never visited by the villagers from the foot of the mountain. It was a place mentioned only in hushes, in tales to frighten children and in stories shrouded with superstition. The monks, of course, were not human like the villagers. They were karasu tengu<\/em>. Crow-demons. Monsters.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Shichi did not think of himself as a monster. Most of his time was spent gardening and studying herbal medicine. He had recently begun to practice acupuncture under the mentorship of an elder monk. Occasionally, he liked to indulge himself with a nap up in a tree, or perhaps a drink to loosen his shoulders. He sometimes wondered if these were things that monsters did, or if there was some other reason the humans viewed their temple with such contempt.<\/p>\n

Similarly, the tengu had been advised to never go near the village. Humans were unpredictable. They were greedy, cruel, and violent. They could kill and take without giving a single thing back. Yet these claims were also questioned by the young monk. How could it be that an entire populace would act in such a way? Surely there were many kinds of humans\u2014terrible, kind, clever, and foolish. Yet it would only take one terrible human to take a life\u2014one cruel notion to bring immeasurable suffering. It was probably for the best that they stay clear of the village and that the humans keep their distance as well.<\/p>\n

Such thoughts often distracted Shichi, especially when he was alone in the forest. His mind was wandering, hazy from the scent of pine and the warmth of the sun. He was gathering herbs, examining their stalks and leaves before making a smart cut at the base. It was important not to over-pick, or there might not be anything left for the next season. His hands, black as the rest of him, smelled of chickweed and shiso. There were smudges of dirt on the knees of his pants from kneeling to dig up roots. The scent of damp earth lingered from the previous night\u2019s rain and he inhaled deeply, relishing his solitude.<\/p>\n

A clatter of rock and a distant splash, however, piqued his attention.<\/p>\n

His eyes turned north toward the sound, wondering if it was worth investigating. The woods were full of animals, not to mention the local spirits. It was most likely a boar rummaging through the underbrush. Most likely, but not certainly. Dusting his hands, he straightened himself and moved through the trees. He could hear the ripple of running water and headed toward the source of the sound\u2014whatever splashed must have done so in the stream.<\/p>\n

As the tengu reached the edge of the tree line, he froze mid-step. It was not a boar that had slipped into the stream\u2014no, it wasn\u2019t an animal at all. He was, for the first time in his life, staring into the eyes of a human. It was a female, or at least, he was fairly certain it was. He had seen them before, from a distance. This, however, was quite different. She was close\u2014close enough to see each strand of her dark hair, to see the water soaking her cream-colored yukata<\/em> to a dark brown. What struck him most of all, though, was the look in her eyes. They were wide with fear, shuddering and locked on his form. It looked as though she wanted to cry out but had forgotten how to create sound. All he could hear was a sharp inhale as her mouth opened. Shichi knew what a scream was, and this certainly looked like the birth of one. Not wanting to be around for it, he backed up in such a hurry that he stumbled, desperate to disappear into the woods.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait!\u201d<\/p>\n

He stopped. His body paused with thought before he turned to look at her once again. It was only then that he realized she wasn\u2019t just sitting lopsided in the stream in some kind of odd human ritual. Of course\u2014she had fallen in. The woman\u2019s legs were folded beneath her in an awkward position, one leg jutting out to the side. He didn\u2019t have to be experienced with human anatomy to figure out that she had hurt herself.<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s heart began to pound. This was terrible. His day had been going so well and now he was facing a tiresome trial of morality. Should he remember the advice of the elder monks and stay away from her, a human? Should he follow the guidelines he had been raised with\u2014to always help others before oneself? Or should he simply follow the burning instinct to throw a rock at her before darting back into the forest? The feathers on the back of his neck began to puff with agitation.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you understand me?\u201d she asked, breaking the silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I understand you,\u201d he said, a bit offended. It took him a moment to consider his words before he spoke again. \u201cAh. What I meant was . . . to ask, that is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman swallowed. Noticing her anxiety, he crouched down beside her to avoid looming.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you need help?\u201d he said, this time more gently.<\/p>\n

She thought for a moment, clearly trying to decide if she should trust her life to a bird-monster or to just die alone in the woods. Neither option was very appealing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hurt my ankle,\u201d she finally said. \u201cI can\u2019t walk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cClearly,\u201d he muttered as the water continued to seep into the fabric of her clothes. He moved closer, lowering his head to take a look at her injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I?\u201d he asked, to which she nodded her permission. He felt carefully over the tendon. Shichi avoided looking at her, not wanting to see whatever expression of revulsion she might have on her face. Instead, he focused on the woman\u2019s heel, taking note of the redness and swelling. A slight turn of the ankle drew a hiss of discomfort from the human\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sprained.\u201d He gingerly set it back down before rummaging through his satchel. Luckily, he had a few fresh turmeric roots. Setting one down on a flat stone, he held it steady while crushing it with even strokes of a fisted rock. This wasn\u2019t exactly ideal. Normally he would boil and dry it before turning it into a fine powder, but little about this situation was ideal to begin with. Once the yellow root had been mashed into a paste, he began to apply it over the reddened skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will ease the swelling,\u201d he said, covering the sprain with tightly wrapped strips of leaves. The entire time he worked, she simply watched. As the minutes passed by, so did her fear, and her breathing slowed in relief.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have anything to tie this?\u201d he asked. \u201cA string or sash, maybe?\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman turned her head, tugging a long, white ribbon from her hair. It fell loosely around her shoulders as she handed it to him, and he hesitated before accepting it. It was strange, human hair. It was stringy like an animal\u2019s fur, but so long and smooth looking. Turning his attention back to the sprain, he wrapped the piece of fabric in even loops around the leaves, then tied it firmly with a knot. Satisfied with his work, he closed his herb bag and picked himself up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell . . . good-bye,\u201d he said stiffly before turning once again toward the trees.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re just going to leave me here?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cY-yes?\u201d he said, wondering what more she could want from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I still can\u2019t walk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh, right. That.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2014 ah, I can\u2019t exactly\u2014\u201d he began to say, unsure of what to do. He couldn\u2019t bring her back to her village. The humans there would likely kill him on sight. Taking her to the temple was even less of an option. But, then . . .<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right.\u201d He sighed, then knelt in front of her, offering his back. She considered him briefly before leaning forward to wrap her arms around his neck. He hooked below her knees and stood, groaning in surprise at her weight. Humans were heavy. Was it because of all that hair? Even heavier, though, was his guilt. Above all things forbidden, going near a human was the most dangerous. Not only had he gone near one, but he\u2019d touched one\u2014spoken<\/em> to one\u2014and was now carrying this human up the side of the mountain.<\/p>\n

He could feel her breath on his shoulder and the light tug of her fingers on his clothing. This was most likely hurting her pride as much as it was his. Did this woman actually pose a threat? Was there some underlying danger he was overlooking? Or perhaps his earlier musings were correct\u2014that not all humans were destructive. Either way, it was too late to change his mind.<\/p>\n

Soon, they came across a small structure. It had been partly reclaimed by the forest, with thick vines covering the eastern walls and roof. Time had worn down the little building without mercy. What mattered, though, was that it was still standing.<\/p>\n

With a bit of struggle, he slid open the wooden door, revealing the inside of the abandoned storage shed. It had once been used to keep dried vegetables, grains, and liquor. It was eventually deemed too distant to be viable and had been forgotten by most of the monks. Light filtered in through tears in the paper windows, illuminating floating specks of dust. Carefully, he set her down on an empty sake cask.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can rest here for a while, but you should leave as soon as you can walk,\u201d he said, taking a step back toward the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been gone too long. I-I really shouldn\u2019t be talking to you,\u201d he admitted, averting his eyes.<\/p>\n

The woman didn\u2019t reply, only looking down at the dusty floor. Realizing that he sounded rather cold, he softened his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll return later with something to eat. Will you be all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI should be.\u201d Her expression eased. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi nodded, closing the door behind him. As it shut, he let out a heavy sigh. This had to be the most foolish thing he\u2019d ever done in his life.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

The walk back to the temple was hurried. Over a hundred stone steps led up to the entrance of the grounds, each worn with age and lined with moss. Shichi had been expected back before the evening meal, but most of the others had already entered the dining hall. Only Sagiri, his mentor, remained outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, there you are.\u201d She glanced up from the stairs where she had been reading scripture by the fading sunlight. \u201cI was beginning to get worried.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaster.\u201d He bowed his head in apology. \u201cForgive me, I was distracted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSurely your training all these years would have taught you to focus,\u201d the elder tengu said, though her tone was light.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no excuse. My mind tends to wander when I\u2019m alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell your mind it can wander all it wants during meditation this evening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi wondered if he was committing a sin by keeping his encounter secret. What would his mentor say if he told her the truth? He was utterly loyal to the temple, and to his mentor. There was the possibility, however, that she wouldn\u2019t take the news well. Perhaps she would tell him to cast the woman out. He couldn\u2019t take that chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou missed another one of my training sessions,\u201d Sagiri said, \u201cwith the naginata. You\u2019re going to have to learn to defend yourself sooner or later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps if I were not burdened with so many chores . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet inside before I decide to burden you even further,\u201d she said, making a curt gesture toward the door. He bowed once again, then left her to her reading.<\/p>\n

His meditation, normally a source of composure in a busy day, was laden with guilt. The feeling was only worsened as he removed a meal\u2019s worth of cooked vegetables from the empty kitchen. The idea of being a thief in his own home was at least eased by the knowledge that he had forgone dinner that evening, and this was simply his uneaten share. When the temple\u2019s residents had bedded for the night, he was finally free to step back out into the darkness.<\/p>\n

His pace slowed to a stop as he approached the old storehouse. Once again, he questioned his actions and tried to find an alternate course, one that would minimize his contact with this human\u2014not to mention the sneaking around, lying, and stealing. In the end, he remembered what he\u2019d said to her\u2014the promise that he would return. He also found himself concerned for her, wondering if her sprain was still painful or if it had begun to heal. He gathered himself, then opened the door.<\/p>\n

What he found was a bit anticlimactic, and his posture slumped in disappointment. The woman had fallen asleep, lying curled on the wooden floor. For the first time, he found himself taking a careful look at her features. It was curious, the face of a human. She looked rather peaceful in her rest, her expression soft yet lonely. Crouching, he removed his outer robe and draped it over her, then set down the wrapped bundle of food. Before he could stand, however, she shifted.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou came back.\u201d She sat upright groggily.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said that I would,\u201d he answered, trying not to look startled. \u201cDidn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled, despite his blunt reply, and gave a light nod.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow does your ankle feel?\u201d he asked, resting his hands on his knees.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t hurt as much.\u201d She offered her leg for him to examine. He unfastened the ribbon and removed the wrapped leaves. The root paste had hardened, and he wiped it free with a cloth to let her skin get some air.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe swelling is minimal,\u201d he said, pleased with his own work. \u201cYou should be able to walk by morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

They were both silent for a moment, avoiding eye contact amidst the sound of wind creaking through old beams.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d she said, forcing her thoughts out before she could change her mind. \u201cI thought I was going to get stuck out there and be eaten by bears and die without\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t have died,\u201d Shichi said pleasantly, cutting her off before the morbid fantasy could play out further. \u201cIt was just a sprain. You probably would have just hobbled down the mountain all day and maybe ended up a bit muddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The human gave a restrained laugh. It sounded as if she wasn\u2019t sure if laughing was appropriate around him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat were you doing up here anyway? The village is quite a walk away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI needed a little time to myself. I thought being alone would ease my mind. Who knew that rocks would be so difficult to balance on . . .\u201d She trailed off in embarrassment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe stream can be treacherous. It\u2019s nearly a half shaku deep in some places,\u201d the tengu replied, remembering that the surface barely reached his calf.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh,\u201d she said with a smile. \u201cYou\u2019re being mean to me, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t dream of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Partly to distract her, and partly to give his hands something to do, he unwrapped the cloth parcel he had brought. Inside was a simple meal of rice, poached plums, and assorted pickled vegetables. There was also a gourd of cool water.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid I don\u2019t know what humans like to eat. Forgive me if it isn\u2019t suitable,\u201d he said with an apologetic bow of his head. The smell of cooked food seemed to pique her attention, and she set into it with an almost disturbing vigor. The monk could only blink as he watched her consume the meal, and began to wonder if she\u2019d eaten anything at all that day.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose it is, then,\u201d he said under his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surprised you have normal food,\u201d she said. \u201cThey always tell children that tengu will eat their eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi couldn\u2019t hold back his laugh, which was unnaturally loud for the quiet monk.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not true, then?\u201d she asked, setting the gourd down after a long drink.<\/p>\n

\u201cI, ah, we only eat what we grow,\u201d he said, his voice still unsteady from the laughter. \u201cThough now you have me wondering what eyes taste like.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was at this inopportune moment that his stomach decided to voice its hunger, interrupting his words with a whine. She paused before taking another bite, then glanced down at the food before her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs this . . . your dinner?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s yours,\u201d he said helplessly. \u201cYou\u2019ve had a long day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman made a tight-lipped frown, and before he knew it, half of the meal had been separated into a bowl and placed before him on the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo have you.\u201d She slid the small wooden bowl forward. Shichi wasn\u2019t sure what to say and could only look down at the offering with reluctance.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve already been kind enough,\u201d she said. \u201cPlease don\u2019t go hungry for my sake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well,\u201d he finally said, giving her a nod as he picked up the bowl. It was unexpected, this human behavior. It didn\u2019t fit what he\u2019d been warned about all these years\u2014of humans being bloodthirsty and selfish. Then again, she had been told that tengu would eat children\u2019s eyes. It was likely that many of their stories were exaggerated, to say the least.<\/p>\n

Though Shichi was used to eating in silence, the woman continued to talk. He supposed it would be too much to expect the manners of a monk from a villager. Additionally, he truly was curious about her and what she had to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it true that you can possess women?\u201d she asked, her eyes as wide as a child\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, I\u2019ve never tried.\u201d He stared at her with firm intention, as if concentrating on some kind of spell. After a moment his expression fell with disappointment. \u201cNo, I suppose not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not at all like the stories,\u201d she said. A smile lingered on her face as she spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither are you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two considered each other until she looked away, rubbing the side of her neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat . . . what is your name?\u201d she finally asked, daring to return her eyes to his.<\/p>\n

\u201cShichi. And yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKana.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad to have met you, Kana,\u201d he said. \u201cUntil now, I thought most humans were heartless.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d she began, her voice low with discomfort. Shichi\u2019s head tilted curiously, wondering if she was actually about to correct him. Her voice faded, however, and her sentence died just as quickly as it had started.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, again.\u201d Kana bowed her head gratefully. \u201cFor the food, and for taking care of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. I\u2019m happy to help,\u201d he said, gathering up the empty dishes. \u201cI should return, though. The morning bell rings before dawn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere, your robe.\u201d She pulled the dark fabric from around her shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep it for the night. It might get cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he left the storage shed with the bundle of used tableware in his arms, his guilt was forgotten. No longer did he question his choice, nor did he notice the chill of the night air as he made his way back to the temple.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

The next morning\u2019s meditation seemed to take longer than usual. After cleaning the hallway floors, hauling firewood, and grinding dried roots for their stock of herbs, the sun was high and proud in the sky. Shichi finally found a spare moment to gather a pouch of fruit, making his way down the endless steps and along the side of the mountain toward the shed. During his work, he had thought of more questions to ask her about her life, and about humans in general. He was fixedly guessing exactly which fruits she would prefer when the door opened to an empty room.<\/p>\n

His eyes fell on his robe, which had been folded neatly and left on the floor. It was then that he realized her ankle had probably healed. She must have gone back to the village. Oddly, he felt disappointed. Just the previous day he had wished terribly for her departure, and now the sight of the empty shed grounded his floating mood.<\/p>\n

From the corner of his eye, Shichi noticed the discarded white ribbon that had served as a bandage. Crouching, he picked it up and ran it through his fingers. It was good that she had healed. She belonged in the village, and now things could return to normal.<\/p>\n

Seating himself, he untied the parcel he\u2019d brought and removed a peach. Even as he sat in relief, no longer burdened by guilt, he couldn\u2019t help but wonder if she liked peaches, too.<\/p>\n

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