{"id":328,"date":"2013-07-17T02:20:26","date_gmt":"2013-07-16T17:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=328"},"modified":"2016-08-28T02:45:26","modified_gmt":"2016-08-27T17:45:26","slug":"part023_edit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/part023_edit\/","title":{"rendered":"\u4e8c\u5341\u4e09 Part 23 (Bandits)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"aki_cg\"
\n<\/a>\u201cOh no.\u201d Shichi ducked beneath the heads of the other customers. His heart began to pound, knocking inside of his chest as if it were trying to come out. He and Chiyo had left the island behind; he hadn\u2019t expected to ever see the bandits again. What were they doing in Osaka?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Chiyo said, raising a brow at her friend\u2019s odd behavior.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s them,\u201d he whispered. \u201cIt\u2019s the bandits.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat bandits?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI forgot to mention, ah\u2014 well, they really don\u2019t like me,\u201d he said, making sure his head was hidden behind the oni at the neighboring table.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you do<\/em>?\u201d Chiyo asked with a suspicious hiss, leaning in to leer at the shrinking tengu. Before Shichi could come up with an explanation, one of the bandits raised his voice, calling out in breathless desperation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs anyone a healer?\u201d he asked, easing his wounded companion down onto the floor. \u201cDoes anyone know medicine?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a resident healer, actually,\u201d Fumie said, having come out from the kitchen to inspect the commotion. \u201cRight over there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The customers parted in the direction she had pointed, exposing the monk hunched nervously over the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh,\u201d Shichi said, his feathers rising in anxiety as he felt the eyes of every person the room. \u201cHello.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou!<\/em>\u201d The wounded tengu\u2019s voice cracked like a whip. As she attempted to sit upright, a wince of pain halted the motion and one of the bandits eased her back down to the floor. Though she was covered in blood, she still had enough energy to direct a glare in Shichi\u2019s direction. He recognized her as well, more clearly than any other\u2014she was their leader. He had watched her take lives like a child picking daisies. There had been no remorse in her eyes, no regret as she scattered blood and breath with her blade. Now she was the one whose blood had spilled.<\/p>\n

Seeing the red soaking through her clothes snapped him out of his fear. Their past disagreement was irrelevant. Whether she had ended one life or a thousand, she was still a person\u2014a person who needed his help. Inhaling deeply, he pushed himself up and made his way through the crowd of customers. Her wounds were already staining the wooden floor, hinting at just how deep they were. The most severe of them ran across her chest, accompanied by a few minor cuts on her side and arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we help?\u201d Fumie asked, her head floating next to his in concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the garden,\u201d Shichi said, keeping his tone even. \u201cI need fresh yarrow\u2014the leaves. As much as you can bring.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d the innkeeper said, her head snapping back toward her shoulders as she hurried away.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you,\u201d Shichi said, directing his attention to the two bandits who were crouched beside their leader. \u201cI need you both to bring her upstairs. There\u2019s a clean room at the end of the hall.\u201d<\/p>\n

As much as he hated to move a wounded person, the dining area was full of people\u2014of spilt liquor and fish bones. Though he and Fumie scrubbed the room clean each night, there were some yokai who were a far cry from sanitary. Luckily, he had just straightened up a vacant room that morning. The bedding was fresh and the tatami floors were spotless. The bandits nodded, hefting their leader up on each side to lead her upstairs. She was in too much pain to protest, only able to pant as she was lifted.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo much for dinner,\u201d Chiyo mumbled against her wrist, still sitting at the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo, can you bring me the sewing kit?\u201d<\/p>\n

She lifted her white brows with a flippant smile. \u201cAren\u2019t you going to ask nicely?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow<\/em>,\u201d he said, his eyes piercing as they shot back. Chiyo cleared her throat, waving him off with an apathetic hand gesture.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once he saw that the kitsune was actually moving, he hurried up the stairs after the other tengu. They had laid her down in the middle of the room, propping her back on a folded futon.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo . . . you\u2019re a monk and<\/em> a doctor?\u201d she said, sneering. Blood trailed down the corner of her mouth as she spoke, leaving spots on her feathers.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll be a bandit and<\/em> a corpse if you don\u2019t stop talking.\u201d Shichi poured water from the room\u2019s clay pitcher into a shallow bowl. He washed his hands thoroughly, scrubbing free the dirt and dust of the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I use that?\u201d he asked one of the bandits, nodding to the knife at the tengu\u2019s hip. There was a pause before he handed it over, slapping the handle into Shichi\u2019s palm. With one swift arc, he cut open her shirt and wrappings, parting the cloth to expose the entirety of the wound. He quickly moved to press a folded cloth over the cut, applying pressure to slow the bleeding.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of your\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot you.\u201d Shichi narrowed his eyes at his patient before shifting his attention to the others. \u201cTell me, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

They hesitated, looking at their leader, then each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe\u2014 the humans started tracking us. Their police followed us all the way to the city,\u201d one of them explained, her voice nearly shaking.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were so many of them. I couldn\u2019t even count the number,\u201d added the other. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, they didn\u2019t follow us here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi didn\u2019t know what to think. His instincts told him to pity his fellow tengu, that they had been cruelly hunted and outnumbered. His common sense, however, reminded him that they were criminals\u2014murderers who stole gold and life alike with barely a second thought. It was only natural that the humans would seek them out. Even so, Shichi couldn\u2019t allow any further deaths\u2014not in the name of justice, nor for any reason under the sun. As he recalled the day he had come across the caravan, he was startled by a memory\u2014specifically, a number.<\/p>\n

\u201cWeren\u2019t there five of you before?\u201d he asked, slowly lifting his head.<\/p>\n

The air in the room grew heavy. Their eyes fell, shadowed beneath the faint glow of the room\u2019s lantern. After a moment, the male nodded.<\/p>\n

Shichi was silent, staring down at the compress as he held it against the woman\u2019s chest. He knew what it was like\u2014to be so caught up in trying to survive that there was no time to mourn, to have to carry the weight of one\u2019s losses and fears in the same hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Shichi whispered.<\/p>\n

A shift of his wrist told him that her bleeding had slowed. With methodical movements, he began to clean the wound, picking out debris, washing off all traces of dirt and thread. He didn\u2019t look up as the door slid open, allowing Chiyo\u2019s shadow to cast over their crouched forms.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere,\u201d she said, handing him the kit and bandages, as well as the handful of leaves Fumie had collected.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d Shichi immediately lifted a candle to sterilize the needle. Chiyo opened her mouth, ready to respond with a dry remark, but stopped. The atmosphere of the room was stiff, thick enough to cut with a blade. She decided, at least for that moment, to save it for later.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be downstairs if you need anything else,\u201d she said, shutting the door gently behind her. Briefly, Shichi glanced toward the entrance, then turned his attention back to the task at hand. Even for a kitsune, she never ceased to surprise him.<\/p>\n

Once the cut was thoroughly cleaned, he began to suture it shut. His patient\u2019s hands fisted against the straw mats, but she remained silent as he worked. He looped the ivory thread through her skin, making sure it was loose enough before tying it in square knots. The yarrow was cleansed and poulticed over the wound, releasing a sharp, fragrant scent into the air. He wrapped her chest with linen bandages, only able to breathe naturally when the final edge was tucked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill she be all right?\u201d the male bandit asked, still clenching one hand in another.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as we can avoid infection, she\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Shichi said, running a hand over his forehead. \u201cYou . . . ah, what is your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKazu,\u201d he replied with a nod, then glanced over to the woman at his side. \u201cAnd Rinka.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their leader bristled, shifting her glare to the other bandit. \u201cDon\u2019t tell him my\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHer name is Aki,\u201d he continued, ignoring his superior\u2019s command. \u201cAnd she is very grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

Shichi decided to give the bandits a day to themselves\u2014both to heal and to come to terms with their losses. Their leader, Aki, seemed to be agitated by his presence. Similarly, being in the same room as the other tengu made his pulse jump. Whether it was from anxiety or the winter season, he did not know. He was sure of one thing: the less time he spent around her, the better it would be for both of them. He spent the afternoon working in the inn, cleaning the floors and assisting Fumie with preparations in the kitchen.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs the soup almost ready?\u201d Chiyo called from the dining area where she sat slumped over a table. \u201cI\u2019m going to die of starvation. Or old age.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think we\u2019re too slow, you could always lend us a hand,\u201d Shichi said from the kitchen where he washed a fresh batch of brown mushrooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather just die,\u201d came her reply. Since his arrangement with the innkeeper, Shichi had done a number of chores around the establishment. Chiyo, on the other hand, had spent most of her time lounging and complaining. Staying in Osaka had been his decision, leaving him little to say in the matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Fumie said suddenly, looking out into the restaurant. \u201cYour friends finally came downstairs. I wonder if they\u2019re hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi turned his head, glancing out over the tables. Sure enough, two of the bandits had found seats against the wall. They were both bandaged but otherwise intact. Shichi had only needed to give their injuries minor attention. A closer look told him that they were alone; Aki had not joined them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are you two doing?\u201d the innkeeper asked as she approached their table. \u201cIs your boss all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re fine.\u201d Rinka folded her arms. \u201cShe told us to go eat something. I suppose we forgot to, with everything that happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, she\u2019s right! Food is good for your body and<\/em> your soul,\u201d Fumie said with a knowing nod. \u201cSo, what can I get you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything warm.\u201d Kazu ran a hand over his weary face. \u201cWith meat in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem. Oh, and while I have your attention, there\u2019s the matter of your room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, we can pay. Ah, we\u2019ll probably need to stay for a while\u2014to lay low,\u201d Rinka said. Her eyes trailed to the side as she spoke, briefly examining the other customers. Though her body was composed, there was a nervous twitch on her face as she spoke. From the kitchen, Shichi shook his head, certain that the money they intended to pay with had all been stolen. He couldn\u2019t, however, suggest they be turned away, nor could he deny Fumie her rightful payment.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Fumie said. \u201cI have one condition, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d Rinka blinked as she looked up. The innkeeper\u2019s neck was arched as she loomed over the tengu, making her seem uncharacteristically intimidating.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery yokai is welcome at Urameshiya,\u201d Fumie continued with a smile. \u201cThat said, I\u2019m not a fool. I know you\u2019re thieves. If you lay a finger on my customer\u2019s belongings, or if I find so much as a single cup out of place, you\u2019ll find yourselves in the belly of a shisa.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bandit\u2019s feathers ruffled anxiously. She held up both hands defensively, leaning away from the woman\u2019s floating head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI-I can assure you that we have no intention of\u2014 er, we\u2019ll behave,\u201d she said. Somehow, Shichi believed her. He had gotten the impression that their group only targeted humans, and that gold itself was not their prime motivation. It would be foolish to steal from the only place in the city where they might find sanctuary. He couldn\u2019t imagine either of Fumie\u2019s docile pets actually eating someone, but it was certainly an effective threat to the bandits.<\/p>\n

Soon, Fumie had finished cooking, handing Shichi a tray to serve the waiting tengu. He knelt beside their table, serving a multitude of dishes\u2014of golden-eye snapper, grilled with salt until the skin crackled, rice, wakame, and grated radishes. The meat was fresh and oily, which Fumie had insisted would calm a troubled soul. Unable to eat fish, Shichi resolved to simply take her word for it. As he placed the last bowl on the table, his gaze caught the bandits\u2019s hands below its surface. Their fingers were intertwined, with Rinka\u2019s smaller hand nearly covered by the other\u2019s. The monk averted his eyes. With the losses they had just experienced, Shichi was glad to see that they still had one another.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you need anything else?\u201d he asked, tucking the tray under his arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, this is more than enough. I haven\u2019t had a meal like this in ages.\u201d Kazu\u2019s chest swelled as he eyed the fish.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know the feeling,\u201d Shichi said pleasantly\u2014his first meal at Urameshiya had felt like heaven, especially after going for so long on scavenged roots. \u201cHow are your cuts healing, by the way?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust fine,\u201d Rinka said. \u201cThose herbs you used worked well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surprised that you didn\u2019t recognize them. Your . . . \u2018line of work\u2019 must require some occasional healing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a medic,\u201d she said, her voice going quiet. \u201cBut we lost her in the ambush.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d Shichi\u2019s eyes softened. \u201cI\u2019ll do whatever I can to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Rinka asked, locking onto him with an inquiring stare. Kazu attempted to hush her, waving both hands as if she had said something embarrassing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d the monk said, taken by her question.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you helping us?\u201d she continued, ignoring her mate. \u201cWe heard what you said, back on Awaji. You think what we do is wrong. You think we\u2019re monsters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is in poor taste to assume the thoughts of others,\u201d Shichi said, his voice steady.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what do<\/em> you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that every life has value, regardless of its past actions. That includes human life . . . and yours,\u201d he replied. Rinka\u2019s face fell, locking her gaze on the table. Shichi got to his feet, deciding not to push it any further.<\/p>\n

\u201cHas Aki eaten anything today?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Rinka shook her head. Shichi let out a short breath, wondering if it was the woman\u2019s pride that had kept her from leaving her room. Shichi would have to bring her something, whether she despised him or not. He hadn\u2019t gone through an entire night of hard work just to have her die of starvation.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnjoy your meal, then,\u201d he said with a nod. \u201cFumie is a fine cook.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, he returned to the kitchen, preparing a pot to boil rice and water. Aki had been more severely wounded than the others\u2014she would need something easy to digest yet nutritious. He sliced a handful of wild mushrooms, adding green onions and mustard spinach from the garden. He had no experience cooking meat or fish\u2014hopefully the bandit leader wouldn\u2019t find the vegetarian meal offensive to her tastes. Though monks avoided meat, most other tengu were quite fond of it.<\/p>\n

Shichi announced himself before entering her room, sliding the door open to find her kneeling near the window. She held her katana with one hand, using the other to wipe the steel with an oiling cloth. He tried not to think of the blood that had once been on its blade, instead focusing on the task at hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d she said, not looking up from her work.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to check on your wound.\u201d He crouched to place the tray on a low table. \u201cAnd I brought you something to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need it,\u201d she replied, her tone painfully flat. \u201cAnd my wound is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must eat something. Malnutrition will slow your healing,\u201d he said, not moving from the spot next to the table. When she didn\u2019t respond, he suppressed a sigh. He had never had such a difficult patient\u2014not even Shou\u2019s plethora of complaints could match the woman\u2019s grit. \u201cAt least let me check your injury. If it becomes infected, I may not be able to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well,\u201d Aki said after a long pause. She replaced the sword in its sheath, its handle clicking as it slid into place. He knelt in front of her, setting aside the medical supplies he\u2019d brought before moving to unfasten the bandage from her chest. It draped as he loosened it, falling in loops to reveal the poulticed cut. Gingerly, he felt around the edges of the wound, testing for swelling or tenderness. As he worked, she kept her gaze pointedly averted, reminding him that she was just barely tolerating his presence.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s healing well,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s some inflammation, but it\u2019s normal. Avoid the bath for a few days . . . and please try to eat something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow much do we owe you for the treatment?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t owe me anything.\u201d He had no intention of asking for payment, but the fact that their gold was stolen made him even more averse to the idea. She didn\u2019t seem to have a response to this, only going silent once more.<\/p>\n

Attempting to fill the uncomfortable lull, he shifted his attention back to her wound. Placing fresh herbs over the sutures, he held them flat as he began to re-bandage her chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard you were arrested,\u201d Aki said suddenly, catching him off guard. Slowly, he looked up, wondering how she had learned of his brief capture.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was,\u201d Shichi replied, his tone wary.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you escape?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t believe me if I told you,\u201d the monk answered. It was unlikely the bandit would accept a story of how a human had aided a tengu, regardless of the hunter\u2019s intentions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought monks weren\u2019t supposed to hide the truth,\u201d she said with an arrogant lift of her head. Her attention had finally shifted to him, her pupils dilated in the dim lantern light.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sound just like Sagiri,\u201d he muttered, wrapping the final length of bandage around her back.<\/p>\n

\u201cSagiri?\u201d she asked. With his hand on her side, he could feel the subtle straightening of her spine. Somehow, the name had caught her interest.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mentor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Aki said, her expression dropping. \u201cFor a moment I thought you were speaking of Sagiri of Kurohane.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is<\/em> from Kurohane,\u201d Shichi said, lowering his brow.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s impossible.\u201d The bandit scoffed. \u201cShe\u2019s a legend. A god. There\u2019s no way that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Before she could continue, Shichi burst into a fit of laughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cA god? Where did you . . .\u201d he started to say, but trailed off into another laugh. He of course respected his mentor above any other and had always looked up to her unmatched ability in combat and medicine. It was only the thought of Sagiri\u2019s reaction that made him laugh. To see her face upon being called a \u201cgod\u201d would have been glorious. He could clearly imagine the dry, incredulous twitch in her eye\u2014her humorless voice upon saying, \u201cDo not call me that again.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow dare you,\u201d Aki said, her voice rising. \u201cThe monks of Kurohane are\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Kurohane?\u201d He gestured to one of the symbols on the front of his robe. The haori had two white crests, carefully stitched with the emblem of the temple. Aki snorted, slapping his hand away to finish fastening the bandage on her own. The very idea that he might be telling the truth seemed to offend her to core.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnbelievable,\u201d she said. \u201cYour skills in battle were average at best. I refuse to believe that she trained you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe didn\u2019t train me in battle,\u201d he said. It was mostly true\u2014his practice with the shakujo had only been for a year and had focused solely on self-defense. \u201cShe trained me in medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aki froze in position, her hands still holding the end of the linen wrapping. After a moment, her eyes dropped down to the wound, wrapped with precision and the fastidious use of herbs. She recalled the steady hand he had sutured her with and the control in his voice as he\u2019d worked. The anger in her expression faded, replaced with plain realization.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d was all she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how do you know of her, anyhow?\u201d he asked, gathering the old bandages to be discarded. He was truly curious to hear what made his master a \u201cgod,\u201d or at the very least, what seemed to impress the bandit so much. Aki didn\u2019t reply right away, taking time to consider her words. It was unclear whether she wanted to humor his question at all or simply refuse him. Finally, she sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was young, there was a human attack on our village,\u201d Aki said, her tone slow as she remembered. \u201cA small group of monks from your temple came to our defense, led by Sagiri. She took the humans down like flies, one after another. I had never seen such speed\u2014such utter fearlessness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi listened quietly. He\u2019d only heard a handful of stories about Sagiri\u2019s history in combat. His master had never liked to recall memories of battle, preferring to remain focused on the present.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s the one who influenced me to take up the sword,\u201d Aki continued. \u201cI wanted to be just like her.\u201d<\/p>\n

At those words, something in Shichi\u2019s chest twitched. To hear that a blade that had brought such suffering and bloodshed could accuse his master of inspiration made his heart wrench. It would pain her to know such a thing. Aki had taken Sagiri\u2019s aptitude and had twisted it into something dark and ugly\u2014to a sword that was fueled by hate.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou failed,\u201d he said, achingly blunt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d The bandit\u2019s eyes widened in a flash. \u201cI can outfight any\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSagiri perfected her abilities to protect others, not hurt them. You\u2019re nothing like her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a great potential to improve the world around you,\u201d Shichi said, each word icier than the next. \u201cInstead, you choose to devote yourself to petty, selfish thievery. You\u2019re wasting your skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before he could speak another word, he was thrown to the floor. There was a metallic thunk as she slammed a knife into his collar, pinning the cloth to the floor beside his head. She hovered above him, clenching the feathers on his neck between twisted fingers.<\/p>\n

\u201cPreach all you want to the fools downstairs,\u201d she hissed, pinning him with her weight. \u201cBut don\u2019t you dare do it to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi couldn\u2019t think of a thing to say. He lay still beneath her, his heart making uneven, panicked thumps. It was difficult to breathe or do anything beneath her poisonous glare.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet out of my room,\u201d she whispered, inches from his face. He closed his eyes for a moment, finding his center before giving a curt reply.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pulled the blade from the tatami, releasing him as she sat up. Somehow, he managed to keep his hands steady as he gathered the soiled bandages and made his way to the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cSleep well,\u201d he said, then shut it behind him. Just as he placed a hand on his chest in an attempt to calm himself, another voice caught his attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019ve met Aki,\u201d Rinka said, her arms folded as she leaned against the wall. Kazu was crouched beside her, not caring to hide the fact that they\u2019d been eavesdropping. Both of them seemed to find the entire exchange very entertaining.<\/p>\n

\u201cBold words from a monk,\u201d Kazu said, his eyes crinkling with amusement.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomehow, I get the feeling that she hates me.\u201d Shichi smoothed the feathers on his neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe a little,\u201d Rinka said. \u201cBut not entirely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what makes you say that?\u201d Shichi said, turning to her with a raised brow.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know the reason she didn\u2019t kill you back in Awaji, right?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I\u2019m a tengu,\u201d he answered simply. To his surprise, both of the bandits began to snicker. Before he could question them any further, they walked past, opening the door once again.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry. We\u2019ll make her eat,\u201d Rinka said with a wink. \u201cNight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight,\u201d Shichi said, barely audible as the door closed in his face. He stared at it for a moment, unsure of what to think. He had never met such people before and couldn\u2019t decide what to make of them\u2014or, more importantly, what to make of Aki.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cOh no.\u201d Shichi ducked beneath the heads of the other customers. His heart began to pound, knocking inside of his chest as if it were trying to come out. He and Chiyo had left the island behind; he hadn\u2019t expected…<\/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-328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-one"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328","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=328"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1107,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328\/revisions\/1107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}