{"id":362,"date":"2013-07-29T05:27:53","date_gmt":"2013-07-28T20:27:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=362"},"modified":"2016-08-28T03:15:35","modified_gmt":"2016-08-27T18:15:35","slug":"part025_edit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/part025_edit\/","title":{"rendered":"\u4e8c\u5341\u4e94 Part 25 (Furubashi)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tub\"
\n<\/a>The tanuki remained true to her word. Soon after Shichi had treated her son, new patients began to arrive at Urameshiya in search of the tengu physician. He was visited by a variety of yokai, from a kappa with the flu to a floating lantern with an eye infection. The first week there were two visitors, and the next, five. When Shichi began to wonder just how many yokai the city actually housed, he learned that several of them had traveled from quite a distance for treatment. Finally, the day came that there was a line of individuals waiting to see him. It was a small line, boasting a mere three souls, but it was a line nonetheless.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

To Chiyo\u2019s annoyance, their shared room was more often used as an infirmary than as a place to rest. The drawers that had once stored her newly bought clothing had been cleared out for herb storage. Bandages, needles, and blankets were placed on the shelves, flanked by neatly organized bowls and strainers. Though payment was never required, several of his patients had insisted on donating to his cause. The modest accumulation of coins had immediately been spent on supplies, as well as herbs that he could not grow on his own. For the moment, the room was occupied by an oni, his height nearly matching Chiyo\u2019s despite the fact that he was seated.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrepare this in a tea twice a day,\u201d Shichi said, offering the red-skinned yokai a sachet of powdered herbs. \u201cIt will help with the pain and inflammation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d the oni asked, doing his best not to touch his swollen foot. He had come to the doctor with a bad case of gout, his big toe inflated to the size of a fist.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a mixture of turmeric and ginger. But that won\u2019t be enough. You can\u2019t drink like you used to, and I would avoid organ meats. Gout can return if you\u2019re not careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I love sake,\u201d the oni said with the grace of a spoiled child. \u201cAnd liver.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, if you love them more than walking, then by all means . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d came a gritty reply. \u201cI\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Shichi said with a pleasant nod. \u201cYou can do it\u2014I know you can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite his supportive words, Shichi had his doubts; oni were not famous for self-control. He saw his patient out, making a laughable attempt to support the enormous man as he limped through the door. Once they were alone, Chiyo groaned dramatically.<\/p>\n

\u201cArgh, it smells like oni feet in here.\u201d She slapped both hands to her face in frustration. \u201cAm I going to have to get my own room?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, if you want to pay for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo shot the monk a look. Their room was provided solely through Shichi\u2019s work around the inn. He knew without a doubt that the kitsune would rather put up with a few inconveniences than actually perform labor herself. While she did have a thick purse of coins remaining, her priorities clearly lay with trinkets and snacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cShichi, there\u2019s a nekomata next in line,\u201d Fumie said, her head peeking in through the open door. There was no telling where her body was.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be ready in a moment,\u201d he replied, placing a few herbs back into their respective drawers. \u201cOh, and before I forget . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease don\u2019t let Iwao have any more sake, no matter how much he begs. And try to limit his meat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe poor fellow,\u201d Fumie said. \u201cHe does spend quite a bit of money on drinks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi paused at her words, realizing his instructions were robbing her of income. Not only that, but he had taken advantage of the room she had offered and had turned it into his own personal clinic on her second floor. Not once had they discussed the consequences of his activities, nor had they set any terms regarding the space.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Fumie. I want to apologize. I never formally asked you permission to have patients come through here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be sorry!\u201d the innkeeper said with a cheerful tilt of her head\u2014the only body language she was currently capable of. \u201cTo be honest, you\u2019re bringing in a lot of business\u2014especially the ones who stay the night. I\u2019m glad you can use this old inn to help people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi looked back at her for a moment. It was hard to believe that, after all of the difficulties he\u2019d grown accustomed to, he\u2019d come across someone so generous\u2014someone whose kindness was genuine, who truly cared for the customers that came through her inn. He gave her a grateful nod, and then turned to prepare for his next patient.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

After a day of swollen toes, cat mucous, and garden dirt, Shichi was more than ready for a bath. He waited until the last few patrons had finished before making his way through the garden. Though bathing had been a communal activity in his temple, he found himself longing for a moment to himself. At Kurohane, he\u2019d been able to spend time in the woods gathering herbs, occasionally finding quiet moments on the roof or garden. The inn, however, was always full of people. It was noisy and active, with the laughter of yokai filling the air and seeping through the walls. He visualized it as he walked\u2014hot, clean water, and perfect silence. It was a blissful thought.<\/p>\n

Once inside, Shichi scrubbed himself thoroughly. He focused on his hands and arms, not wanting any traces of his work left behind. Since coming to Urameshiya, his feathers had regained their strength and sheen, looking far more pleasant than they had in the woods. It seemed that regular meals, rest, and a sense of purpose were quite helpful in maintaining their black luster. Once clean, he sank into the deep wooden tub, letting the hot water rise all the way to his collar. His moment, however, was shattered by the sound of an opening door.<\/p>\n

Shichi suppressed a cringe. It was probably too much to hope for\u2014solitude, in a place such as this. He could hear the newcomer\u2019s footsteps behind him and found himself dreading the conversation that was bound to follow. Yet, oddly, the dialogue never came. There was a pregnant pause as the steps came to a stop. Something was wrong.<\/p>\n

Overcome by curiosity, he dared a glance backward. His eyes immediately widened, his chest rising with a sharp intake of air. In an instant, he turned back, locking his gaze on the water and trying to forget what he\u2019d just seen.<\/p>\n

It was Aki. He was suddenly quite glad that he was already submerged in the water; the last thing he needed was to be mentally and<\/em> physically vulnerable. In the split second he\u2019d looked, he could already see her terrible glare, wordlessly daring him to speak. For a moment he wondered why she wasn\u2019t simply leaving, but he soon realized the obvious\u2014she was too proud to let his presence dictate her actions. If she had chosen to bathe now, then she would bathe now; not even an irritating monk could stop her.<\/p>\n

A moment later, he could hear her pick up a bucket as she began to clean herself. He felt that he should say something, but nothing sensible came to mind. It sure is cold outside. So, do you bathe often? Do you hate me any less today, or still about the same amount?<\/em><\/p>\n

It was almost amusing to him, when he thought about it. He had sought out the bath in order to find comfort yet had landed himself in the most uncomfortable situation he could possibly imagine. He closed his eyes, making an attempt to simply pretend she wasn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t work. He could still hear her\u2014he could practically feel her contempt drilling into the back of his head. He had to say something. The longer he waited, the more awkward it would be when one of them finally did speak.<\/p>\n

Just as he opened his beak, however, she spoke up instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you almost finished?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just got in,\u201d Shichi said without thinking. He cursed inwardly. It would have been a perfect opportunity to excuse himself, yet he had to go and be mindlessly honest. He dragged his hand over his face, wondering if the steam was muddling his thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019d prefer to be alone, I can come back later,\u201d he said. She was quiet for a bit, seemingly struggling with her reply.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen,\u201d he said, keeping his eyes shut as he spoke. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t my intention to upset you earlier. It\u2019s not my place to judge you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d Aki said as she rinsed herself. \u201cIt\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi bit back a smart remark, reminding himself to stay civil. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t entirely true. You do remind me of her, at times.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTch,\u201d was the only reply he received.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor instance, both of you have dazzling charismas.\u201d<\/p>\n

To his surprise, she laughed. It was rather curt and almost devious in tone, but it was still a laugh. He supposed this was an improvement from the silence, or being threatened while pinned to the floor\u2014but just barely.<\/p>\n

From behind him, he could hear her set the bucket down. She approached the squared tub, smoothing back the feathers on her head before stepping over the edge. Shichi averted his eyes as she entered, only looking back when he was certain she was submerged across from him. It was strange, these tense formalities he found himself going through in her presence. Growing up, male and female monks had bathed together without a second thought. This, however, was decidedly different.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid she ever tell you about the battle?\u201d Aki asked, still reserved in her speech. She sunk lower in the water, her form clouded by the thick steam.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps. She wasn\u2019t very fond of storytelling, though,\u201d he said, shaking his head. \u201cWhich village was it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFurubashi.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi thought for a moment. The name was familiar\u2014troublingly familiar. For some reason, hearing it made him anxious, causing his skin to prickle uncomfortably. Then, he remembered.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut . . . that village was destroyed,\u201d he said. He had never seen Furubashi in person. It had been the closest village to his temple, just on the other side of the mountain\u2014but by the time he\u2019d joined, it had already been lost.<\/p>\n

At first, Aki didn\u2019t respond. She looked down at the ripples in the water, motionless as she thought. Finally, she murmured a reply.<\/p>\n

\u201c . . . she should have killed them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi could feel the blood draining from his face. His mouth parted, speechless as he put the pieces together. The humans must have returned. Even after being defeated, even after failing, they had attacked the village again. If the monks had not spared their lives, then perhaps her home would still be standing.<\/p>\n

He swallowed, feeling a strange bout of shame.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said, so soft that he could barely be heard. \u201cI had no idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aki said nothing, merely watching her own reflection.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know how you feel,\u201d Shichi said, though he wished that he didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have no idea how I feel.\u201d The water sloshed as she sat upright. \u201cHow could you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you hadn\u2019t heard . . . Kurohane is gone as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aki was cowed, unable to blink as she took in the meaning of his words.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s . . . that\u2019s not possible,\u201d she said, her breath short. \u201cThe monks of Kurohane are peerless warriors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were.\u201d Shichi finally looked up at her. \u201cWe had such a long period of peace that new monks had no interest in combat, including me. Our best guards eventually died of old age. My master was the last of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid she . . . ?\u201d Aki asked, swallowing the end of her sentence.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe and I were the only survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aki\u2019s posture eased, the stiffness leaving her shoulders as she sunk back into the water. \u201cThen why isn\u2019t she with you now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi considered her question for a moment. Somehow, it made him realize just how much he missed his mentor. Since leaving her, his thoughts had been crowded with survival and purpose. It was only at quiet times like these that he stopped to listen to the ache in his heart. Sagiri had raised him from childhood. Everything he knew, and every value that he so passionately followed, had been instilled by his master. Even after all of his mistakes and lies, she hadn\u2019t given up on him. If she were present, his life would be immeasurably easier\u2014and that was exactly why she had sent him away. If he was to grow, it would have to be on his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy path parted from hers,\u201d Shichi said, hoping Aki wouldn\u2019t notice the pain in his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what about you?\u201d he asked. \u201cWhat led you to this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf by \u2018this\u2019 you mean being a bandit, I don\u2019t think you want to hear that story.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve spent enough time talking about Sagiri. I want to know about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

This surprised the other tengu, and she paused, taking the moment to weigh her options. The room was hazy with heat and vapor, making time seem to slow between them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was still young when it happened,\u201d she finally said, dropping her gaze. \u201cI\u2019d gotten into a fight with my mother, so I was off in the woods when they attacked. When I came home, it was already over. There were only a few survivors\u2014the eldest was a boy, the youngest of the village guards and the most skilled with a sword. He trained us until we were ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReady for what?\u201d Shichi asked hesitantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor our revenge, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi said nothing; the last time he had judged her, it had ended rather poorly. This was the point where their stories lost similarity. Both he and Aki had experienced terrible loss at the hands of humans, yet she had chosen a different way of coping.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd did it satisfy you?\u201d Shichi asked, his voice faint among the sound of water droplets.<\/p>\n

\u201cI killed the ones who took my home\u2014with my own hands. Nothing could be more satisfying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi could think of a few things but kept them to himself. \u201cAnd yet, you continue to kill.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aki gave a light snort, turning her attention away to smooth back the crest atop her head. \u201cI can\u2019t help it if they keep breeding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen tell me,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen will<\/em> you be satisfied?\u201d<\/p>\n

She turned back to him, her golden eyes narrowed behind the foggy air. \u201cHumans will never change. And I will never be satisfied.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Shichi said. \u201cThat sounds rather lonely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what would you know of loneliness? You spend every waking hour with your mate,\u201d Aki said, making a dismissive hand gesture.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy what?\u201d he said, picking up his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour mate. That good-for-nothing kitsune.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKit . . . kitsune?\u201d His eyes widened dramatically. A laugh made its way up his throat, coming out in an incredulous choke. It was such a sudden action that he began to cough, placing a hand on his chest as he caught his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d she asked, brow raised.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Shichi said, waving both hands at her. \u201cNo, no. She\u2019s not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you two share a room. Don\u2019t you ever\u2014\u201d she said, raising her hands to made a crude gesture.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d he cried before she could complete it. \u201cAbsolutely not!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you serious?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a monk! A monk<\/em>. And she\u2019s just a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, a monk. Right,\u201d Aki said, her expression shifting to something more furtive. \u201cThen I suppose this won\u2019t do anything for you?\u201d<\/p>\n

As her sentence finished, Shichi could feel her leg brush against his, causing him to bump against the wall of the tub in a panic.<\/p>\n

\u201cS-stop that!\u201d Shichi\u2019s face heated as he scrambled back. His embarrassment only deepened when he heard her snicker, clearly amused with his reaction. There was an irritating sense of delight in her laugh, and he glared at her, still panting for air.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo easy,\u201d she said with a self-satisfied glint in her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you and Chiyo should share a room,\u201d he said, squinting at her. \u201cI think you two would get along splendidly<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps we should.\u201d The bandit leaned an elbow on the ledge of the tub. \u201cIt would be better than sharing a room with a couple\u2014especially this time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi cringed, remembering that Rinka and Kazu were a pair. Winter was a special season for tengu and he did not envy Aki\u2019s accommodations. Feeling uneasy with the direction their conversation was going, he cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, your wound looks nearly healed. How does it feel?\u201d he asked, daring a glance at her body.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fine. Perhaps Sagiri trained you after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deciding to let her backhanded compliment slide, he gave a simple nod in return. \u201cAnd what about the one who trained you? Where is he now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Almost immediately, Shichi could sense he had said something wrong. Aki\u2019s expression fell\u2014a mixture of pining and anger filled her eyes as she was forced to remember something unwanted. Her voice came forth like ice, each word slow and frigid.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said, wishing he\u2019d have put more thought into his words.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be,\u201d Aki said bitterly. Without warning, she straightened herself, placing her hands on the edge of the tub as she climbed out. \u201cI\u2019m going to have a drink before bed. Are you finished?\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked away as quickly as he was able to. \u201cI . . . think I\u2019ll stay a bit longer. Sleep well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well. Good night,\u201d she said, wrapping her body as she stepped through the door. He waited until she as gone, and then sighed.<\/p>\n

Now that he was finally alone, he wasn\u2019t quite sure he wanted to be.<\/p>\n

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

The tanuki remained true to her word. Soon after Shichi had treated her son, new patients began to arrive at Urameshiya in search of the tengu physician. He was visited by a variety of yokai, from a kappa with the…<\/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-362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-one"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/362","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=362"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1110,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/362\/revisions\/1110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}