{"id":256,"date":"2013-07-02T06:05:57","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T21:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=256"},"modified":"2016-08-27T16:25:15","modified_gmt":"2016-08-27T07:25:15","slug":"part020_edit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/part020_edit\/","title":{"rendered":"\u4e8c\u5341Part 20 (Urameshiya)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"20_fumie\"
\n<\/a>The air grew cooler as they passed the port of Hyogo. They avoided the developed areas of the harbor, keeping to the foot of the mountain range as they neared their destination. Even without going into the port itself, Shichi could see distant docks and the sails of ships. Absently, he wondered what other lands they might be going to. It reminded him that, despite going through an arduous journey, he had barely experienced a sliver of the world around him. He had never seen a city as large as Osaka and could only imagine what it might look like once they arrived.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The tengu\u2019s imagination proved to be a poor substitute for reality. It was evening when they reached the city. He found himself breathless as they passed the northern entrance, unable to suppress his reactions. There were buildings as far as the eye could see, their roofs an endless field of tiles. Even at night, the streets of Osaka were full of commotion, busy with the comings and goings of locals. The walled alleys were bustling with merchants and travelers, their forms flowing through the city\u2019s veins. His senses were overwhelmed, bombarded by scents and sounds\u2014of cooking food and playing children, of salesman calling their wares and the clatter of sake carts. The street was lined with restaurants\u2014with dark, salty smoke, and the sizzle of fire. Colors competed for his attention from every angle, of glowing lamps and kimono the color of the setting sun.<\/p>\n

The city was crisscrossed with canals, overlaid by hundreds of wooden bridges. Rows of lanterns reflected off of the shallow water, the yellow spots rippling beneath the crossing. He paused halfway over the bridge, his eyes drawn toward the east. Over the rows of buildings was the tallest structure he had ever seen, peeking over the distant rooftops like an ivory summit.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that . . . a castle?\u201d he asked, unable to remove his eyes from it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Chiyo said, looking considerably less impressed in her human form. \u201cStop gawking, you look like a country boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d Shichi rubbed the top of his head. He was certain she was right\u2014nobody around them took notice of their surroundings, simply going on with their business. His face grew hot as he attempted to keep his eyes forward, ignoring the tempting sights and smells around him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hungry.\u201d Chiyo looked sideways as they passed another restaurant. \u201cAll of these shops smell so good. Why don\u2019t we have some real food for once?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d love to.\u201d As much as he hated agreeing with her complaints, he was also starting to get tired of raw, dried vegetables. Outside of his childhood village, he had never been in an actual restaurant before. The concept fascinated him\u2014having a meal prepared just for you, without having to clean up afterward. It sounded selfish and wonderful.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, but I still don\u2019t have any money.\u201d He suddenly remembered that restaurants weren\u2019t free.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d Chiyo said. \u201cYou just spent a week carrying me around on your shoulder. I owe you one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi paused, surprised to hear such a selfless statement from the kitsune. She seemed to catch on to his thoughts, and folded her arms defensively.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? I can be nice, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon, they came to a large noodle shop, its doors bustling with the traffic of customers. A divine smell drifted through the air, carrying hints of buckwheat and rice wine. The restaurant\u2019s interior was noisy, filled with the chatter of diners and clinking bowls.<\/p>\n

Chiyo caught the eyes of a staff member. \u201cAre there any seats a\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo animals,\u201d he said, blocking their path with his wide body.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/em> Her eyes burned red as she fisted both hands. \u201cHow dare you! I\u2019ll\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi placed a hand on her shoulder. \u201cChiyo, let it go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather eat where we\u2019re welcome,\u201d he said. \u201cWouldn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo took in a long breath through her nose, her eyes piercing through the man at the door. His expression remained flat, showing no signs of changing his mind. Finally, she exhaled, giving the human a snort before following Shichi away from the shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir soba was probably terrible, anyway,\u201d she said between her teeth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Shichi said as they continued down the street. \u201cThat was my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was. I don\u2019t even look slightly human. Maybe, if you tried going in alone, you could\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you dare.\u201d She shook her head firmly. \u201cWe\u2019ll find a place where we can both eat. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi nodded, his eyes softening at her words.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey<\/em>,\u201d came a voice from the side, just loud enough to catch their attention. They turned toward the alley on the right, where a figure was crouched beside the earthen wall. Though it was dark, Shichi could make out the unmistakable hairline of a kappa. It ran in a crown around an otherwise bald head, dark and stringy against his green skin. There was a thin pipe in his hand, waggling as he toyed with the handle.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d Shichi was relieved to see another yokai\u2014even one who was lurking in the shadows.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw what happened at the soba shop. Don\u2019t bother with human restaurants,\u201d the kappa said, his words low and hoarse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe figured that out,\u201d Chiyo said. Shichi elbowed her.<\/p>\n

He paid no mind to Chiyo\u2019s attitude. \u201cThere\u2019s one place you can go. Urameshiya.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi tilted his head. \u201cUrameshiya?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCross two bridges, then turn into the alley with the broken statue. If you follow the path long enough, you\u2019ll find it,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019ll be welcome there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d Shichi replied with a bow. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The old yokai nodded, returning his attention to his pipe. Shichi wasn\u2019t sure what to think as they continued down the street. The kappa hadn\u2019t explained what the place was, only that they would be \u201cwelcome.\u201d Still, it was the first sign of kindness they\u2019d seen since arriving in the city. Something told him that he would regret ignoring the gesture.<\/p>\n

Soon, they came across the broken statue. It was an enormous tanuki\u2014a raccoon dog that was taller than Shichi and twice as wide. Much of the left side had crumbled, leaving its face and arm in poor condition. Words had been painted in red across its bulging belly, though most of the characters were faded beyond legibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose this is it.\u201d Shichi tried to ignore the ominous air emanating from the statue. \u201cWell, we don\u2019t have much to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo scratched her side, her tone less than enthusiastic. \u201cJust our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood thing we have a big, strong kitsune with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we get robbed, you\u2019re on your own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi laughed at the idea, especially at the thought of a thief unfortunate enough to rob a penniless monk. They continued down the alley, their forms lit by rows of old, dim lanterns. The walls were high and partially crumbled; the city had clearly not prioritized maintaining this part of town. They passed abandoned homes with torn paper windows\u2014weeds grew through cracks in the walls and stray cats darted over the faded rooftops. Still, the paper lanterns continued to light the street, guiding them farther down the twisting alley.<\/p>\n

As they turned a corner, light and noise spilled across the path. They both froze at the sight before them, taken by surprise at the size of the building.<\/p>\n

A large inn dominated the left side of the street, rising three stories above them in beams of painted wood. The bottom floor was bright and lively, lit warmly from the inside and covered in strings of cloth banners. Dozens of red lanterns rose to the roof, each painted with a single eye in black ink. The top two floors were lined entirely with balcony ledges. There were screened paper windows, some lit with activity, and others dark. The building was surprisingly well-kept, standing out amidst the dilapidated structures they had passed in the alley. Above the front door was a large plank of wood on which three characters were carved\u2014Urameshiya<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then,\u201d Chiyo said, hands on her hips. \u201cIt looks like we\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

She stopped in mid-step, staring at the entrance\u2014or, more specifically, the two beasts that guarded it. Shichi had never seen such animals before, having only noticed their likeness in paintings or in books. They were enormous, their heads reaching his waist and their claws as long as knives. Their bodies looked to be a mixture of dog and lion, with great curled manes hugging their faces. One had its mouth open, exposing its white, curved teeth. In spite of their ferocious appearances, neither animal seemed to pay the two any mind. They sat quietly on either side of the door, looking surprisingly docile.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain with the dogs.\u201d Chiyo groaned, making sure to stay one step behind her companion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019ll hurt us,\u201d Shichi said as one of beasts let out a sleepy yawn.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why don\u2019t you go first.\u201d She pushed Shichi\u2019s back as she followed behind. Sure enough, the dogs didn\u2019t budge as they passed through. Pushing the cloth curtain aside, they stepped in.<\/p>\n

Though the exterior of the inn had surprised Shichi, the inside left him speechless. The open area was covered in low tables, each filled with more yokai than Shichi even knew existed. At one table sat a group of oni, their great heads towering over the other customers. They were covered in layers of striped animal pelts, their skin in varying shades of crimson and blue. Pointed teeth flashed as they laughed, giving them a jovial air in spite of their blunt, demonic horns. They chattered raucously, pouring drinks for one another from ceramic bottles. Shichi\u2019s eyes caught a pair of tanuki, both in much better shape than the statue that had led them there. There were even other tengu seated in the corner, each of them caught up in the storytelling of their companion. The walls were lined with slips of paper advertising the available dishes, many of them foods Shichi had never heard of.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome!\u201d came a woman\u2019s voice, just as warm as the air in the room. They looked toward the source, surprised to see a human woman near the back of the dining area. It was only when she approached did they realize that she wasn\u2019t human at all.<\/p>\n

Rather than come forth with her body, it was only her head that moved to greet them at the entrance. Her neck stretched, sweeping over the heads of her customers. She was a rokurokubi, yokai nearly identical to humans with necks that could extend across an entire room. Shichi had never seen one in person before. He and Chiyo tensed as her face swept closer, both leaning back ever so slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, you\u2019re new! We\u2019re happy to have you. Are you here for a room, or perhaps a drink?\u201d she asked. Her lips were set in a perpetual smile, full and painted in red. Long, black hair sat neatly on top of her head, held back with a tortoiseshell comb.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth,\u201d Chiyo answered. \u201cHow much is a room?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFifty mon for two beds,\u201d the woman said, then paused to consider her guests. \u201cOr would you both like to share a single?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d they replied in blunt unison, drawing forth a laugh from their hostess.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see! Well then, sit wherever you\u2019d like and I\u2019ll have your room prepared right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon, they were seated near the edge of the dining area, their table covered in bottles and plates. It was here that Chiyo\u2019s lack of manners really shined, evident in her noisy, hurried eating. In contrast, the tengu ate methodically, consuming his food in absolute silence. Having a hot meal was a blessing, with each bite tasting better than the last.<\/p>\n

There was something different about the taste of the food; it was more flavorful than his temple\u2019s cooking, with richer, more generous seasonings. The sake was hot as well, perfect for the winter and his aching bones. He paused to close his eyes, taking a moment to appreciate the evening. It was only a few weeks ago that he\u2019d nearly starved to death, alone and freezing in the pine forest. Now, he was sharing a meal with a friend\u2014the air was warm and there wasn\u2019t a soul around to hunt him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re awfully quiet,\u201d Chiyo said, pouring him another cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, sorry,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m still getting used to eating and talking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo monks eat in silence?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to focus on one thing at a time.\u201d Shichi sipped from his cup, noticing the drink was already heating his body. He gave a pleased sigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that acting like a normal person can be challenging, but I\u2019m proud of you for trying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell if you\u2019re joking or not,\u201d Shichi said, setting his cup down. Chiyo only laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re here to help people, right?\u201d she said. \u201cHow exactly do you plan on doing that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi was quiet for a moment, stalling for time by taking another drink. \u201cI don\u2019t actually have a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, drink up. It\u2019ll help you think of something,\u201d she said, her face already red from the previous bottle.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d Shichi tilted his head back to empty his cup. \u201cI certainly hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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