{"id":377,"date":"2013-08-01T01:31:37","date_gmt":"2013-07-31T16:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=377"},"modified":"2016-08-28T03:19:35","modified_gmt":"2016-08-27T18:19:35","slug":"part026_edit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/part026_edit\/","title":{"rendered":"\u4e8c\u5341\u516d Part 26 (Snow)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"cup\"
\n<\/a>With a steadier schedule, Shichi had returned to his routine of waking up before dawn. Normally, Chiyo remained sleeping well through the morning, but that day he awoke to find her standing by an open window. The sky was still dark; only the faintest glow of distant color told him that the sun was on its way. A frigid breeze swept through the room, causing the kitsune\u2019s white hair to flutter against her temple.<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo, close the window.\u201d He groaned, rubbing his face. \u201cIt\u2019s freezing in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cCome look,\u201d she said, ignoring his request. It was too early to react with interest\u2014though his body had awoken, his curiosity was still sound asleep. Inhaling deeply, he smoothed his sleep-tousled feathers and made his way toward the window. He glanced outside, taking a long moment to realize what he was looking at.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s snowing,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cMm,\u201d Chiyo said with a nod. \u201cIt\u2019s rare in Osaka. Pretty, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

The kitsune spoke the truth. Sheets of soft white had settled over the rooftops, glinting against dots of lantern light. Far to the east, the rising sun highlighted the pale coating in gold and copper. The snow fell in wisps, slowly dancing with each shift in the air. His eyes, still heavy with sleep, fell half-lidded as he grew lost in the scenery.<\/p>\n

Then, they snapped open.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy herbs!\u201d He hurried away from the window to grab an armload of blankets from a low shelf.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not seriously going to put blankets on\u2014\u201d Chiyo said, but the tengu had already darted out of the room.<\/p>\n

Ignoring the bitter cold, Shichi hurried to cover the delicate young plants. His knees sunk into the snow as he cleared away the layer that had settled over the saplings. Positioning the thin sheets, he set them above the herbs on short bamboo poles. Large white flakes settled over his body as he worked. They speckled against his dark feathers, reminding him that he was not dressed properly for outdoor work. It mattered little\u2014if the saplings were smothered, he would have lost weeks of work.<\/p>\n

He was nearly finished when the sound of the door caught his attention. He glanced back to see two familiar figures standing beneath the covered walkway, their silhouettes dark against the cascade of falling snow.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlready awake?\u201d he asked, turning back to his work. His breath clouded as he spoke, slowly dissipating into the icy air.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to see the snow,\u201d Rinka said, looking up at the sky with bright eyes. It was only natural; tengu nearly always lived in mountains. Snow was familiar to their kind.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe<\/em> wanted to see the snow.\u201d Aki looked considerably less excited than her companion.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, of course,\u201d Shichi said. \u201cIt\u2019s nice, but not for the garden.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you take better care of those plants than you do of yourself,\u201d Aki said, leaning against a wooden beam.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not true,\u201d he said as he tied the corner of a blanket to a short pole.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re wearing underclothes in the snow.\u201d<\/p>\n

The monk had been trounced\u2014he was indeed dressed in clothing only suitable for bed. He cleared his throat, focusing his attention on the string he was knotting.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid it snow often at your temple?\u201d Rinka held out both hands to catch the flakes. \u201cWe had it all the time in Furubashi.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi didn\u2019t have a chance to respond. Aki let out an irritated sigh, turning back toward the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two can sit out in the cold and be nostalgic,\u201d she grumbled. \u201cI\u2019m going back to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The door slid shut with a loud clack, leaving Shichi and Rinka alone in the garden. She didn\u2019t look at all surprised by her leader\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs she always so angry?\u201d Shichi asked, his eyes still on the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe has a lot to be angry about.\u201d Rinka stepped forward to sit on the edge of the walkway. Her feet sunk into the snow, leaving sandal-shaped imprints.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re from the same village, aren\u2019t you? You must have gone through the same things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she said. \u201cBut Aki has . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

Rinka trailed off, hesitant to continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cHas what?\u201d Shichi momentarily forgot his task. Days had passed since his conversation with Aki in the bath. Several things had been left unsaid\u2014things that had tugged at the back of his mind. Just as Rinka opened her mouth, another voice cut through the air.<\/p>\n

\u201cShichi!<\/em>\u201d Fumie called from inside the inn. There was a terrible urgency in her voice; something told him this would be more than a request to clean the floors. He hurried to the door, giving Rinka an apologetic nod as he passed.<\/p>\n

Inside, he found the innkeeper alongside two figures\u2014both kitsune, and both in their human forms. The woman was apparently more skilled than Chiyo; her hair was perfectly black and the only red on her face lay on her lips. The man, on the other hand, could barely pass as human. His face, almost entirely covered by a thick scarf, was long and foxlike. The tips of his tails poked out from beneath his robe, betraying his true self to anyone who might notice. His disguise wasn\u2019t the only issue\u2014the kitsune could barely stand, requiring his companion to hold most of his weight with her arms.<\/p>\n

Shichi quickly moved to help support him. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been ill for a few days, but his fever grew worse this morning,\u201d the woman said. \u201cCan you help him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get him to a room.\u201d<\/p>\n

With some effort, the man was brought to an empty room on the second floor. Shichi hurried to lay out the bedding, gently easing his patient onto the soft surface. He washed the dirt from his hands, then knelt to examine him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been poisoned,\u201d the kitsune said, his voice muffled by the scarf. \u201cI know it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one\u2019s poisoned you, love. You\u2019re just sick,\u201d the woman said gently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI-it\u2019s the other clan. They\u2019ve been trying to kill me for years,\u201d he continued, ignoring her words.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease forgive him,\u201d she said, glancing up at Shichi. \u201cHe\u2019s a bit paranoid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d Shichi said with a shake of his head. \u201cYou\u2014 ah, what may I call you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy name is Hana,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd my husband is Naoki.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do whatever I can to help you, Naoki. Please try to relax.\u201d<\/p>\n

The kitsune gave a reluctant nod, wearily closing his eyes. As Shichi pulled up the man\u2019s sleeve to check his pulse, his body froze. The tengu exhaled, eyes locked on his patient\u2019s wrist.<\/p>\n

\u201cFumie,\u201d he said, attempting to keep his voice steady. \u201cI need you to leave the room.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes softened in concern. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s smallpox.\u201d<\/p>\n

The innkeeper stiffened.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd don\u2019t let anyone else enter. Do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

Fumie nodded quickly, backing up through the entrance. The door shut, leaving him alone with the two kitsune. Shichi closed his eyes for a moment. He had only dealt with smallpox in theory\u2014through books and memorization. It was an epidemic that ran rampant in human towns, spreading through filth and poor living conditions. The disease had never come near the temple.<\/p>\n

\u201cS-smallpox?\u201d Hana said, a tinge of panic rising with her voice. \u201cBut there\u2019s no cure for\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Shichi said gently. \u201cIn the right conditions, he should be able to overcome it on his own. I have some herbs to alleviate the itching. We\u2019ll just need to keep him comfortable and hydrated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. That\u2019s a relief,\u201d she said with a hopeful smile.<\/p>\n

Moving quickly, Shichi gathered the necessary medicines and supplies from his room. Chiyo followed him into the hallway, not pleased that she was being ignored.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on in there?\u201d she asked, craning her head to peek as he opened the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay out,\u201d was all he said before shutting it behind him. Chiyo frowned, muttering to herself as she turned to the stairs. Perhaps a warm meal would make her feel better.<\/p>\n

Shichi immediately set to work. Using a sea sponge and a mixture of burdock root, the tengu set to washing his patient\u2019s skin. The rash was already in its later stages, rising into fluid-filled pustules. Once he had removed the scarf, Shichi could see that the lesions covered the man\u2019s face, clustering on his cheeks and limbs.<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I ask where you\u2019re from?\u201d Shichi said as he wiped the sweat from the kitsune\u2019s brow with a cloth.<\/p>\n

\u201cA village,\u201d Naoki said, \u201cnorth of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre the others sick as well?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly I.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you traveled recently?\u201d Shichi said. \u201cTo a place where people might be infected?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t gone anywhere.\u201d The kitsune exhaled slowly. \u201cOnly this clinic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi glanced upward, not sure what to make of the man\u2019s answers. Such a disease was spread through people\u2014through close contact with the infected. Who could he have contracted it from?<\/p>\n

\u201cHow odd . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

He tended to the ailing yokai through the afternoon, providing a steady supply of hot yarrow tea to keep him hydrated. Hana remained silent, watching intently from the side as he worked. It was only when his patient had fallen into a deep, comfortable sleep that Shichi thought it safe to retire to his room for a short rest. He cleansed himself thoroughly, not daring to risk spreading the disease throughout the inn.<\/p>\n

Though weary, he avoided the temptation to sleep, instead focusing on reorganizing his cache of medicine. He had to be ready for any complications that might arise. Despite his outer confidence, working with such an unfamiliar disease filled the tengu with worry.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to come down for dinner?\u201d Chiyo asked, making a neat bow at the front of her hakama.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot right now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

She was quiet for a moment, looking toward the window before continuing. \u201cSo, your patient is a kitsune?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Shichi said. \u201cAnd his wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should be careful,\u201d Chiyo said, her tone oddly firm.<\/p>\n

He gave her a puzzled look over his shoulder. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t trust kitsune. They\u2019re tricky.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI trust you,\u201d he said with a raised brow.<\/p>\n

Chiyo gave a faint smile, shaking her head as she made her way to the door. \u201cBig mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just as she slid it open, a presence in the doorway startled her into a backpedal.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood evening,\u201d Hana said, giving her a light bow.<\/p>\n

\u201cEr, Shichi is busy now.\u201d Chiyo neglected to return the gesture. The woman had caught her off guard, which was not a state Chiyo was fond of. Before the tengu could correct her, Hana replied with a gracious smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, I wanted to speak with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d Chiyo replied, blinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. As a fellow kitsune, I was hoping you could do me a favor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo\u2019s expression lost any hint of amusement, dropping to a flat stare.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat . . . kind of favor?\u201d Chiyo asked. She did nothing to hide the suspicion in her tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband is understandably miserable. I was thinking that some sweets with azuki would brighten his spirits.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t have any,\u201d she said. It was true\u2014red bean desserts never lasted long in the inn. Chiyo always made sure to eat them before anyone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought not,\u201d Hana said, her smile never faltering. \u201cBut there\u2019s a shop across the river that makes excellent mochi. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve heard of it. I would go there myself, but I can\u2019t bear to leave his side.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s so far away,\u201d Chiyo said, unfazed. The journey would take an hour each way and, at the moment, she was much more interested in having a proper dinner downstairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would mean a lot to us if you could fetch some,\u201d the woman said hopefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sorry,\u201d came a blunt reply as she attempted to slip between the other kitsune and the doorway.<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo.\u201d Shichi gave his friend a disappointed glare. \u201cDon\u2019t be selfish.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t do errands for strangers,\u201d the kitsune said, folding her arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen do it for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her chest rose as she took in an angry breath, her expression screwing up into a scowl. She glared back at the tengu for a while, then at the other kitsune in the doorway.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d she muttered, and left without another word. Shichi let out a faint sigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI apologize for my friend. She isn\u2019t always so cold,\u201d he said, shaking his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need.\u201d Hana invited herself into the room. The door shut softly behind her, barely making a sound as it closed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt must have been difficult\u2014traveling so far in the snow,\u201d Shichi said as he closed a small bag of bellflower root.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was all we could do. Naoki had heard about you from his cousin and insisted on making the journey,\u201d she said, sitting down next to him on her knees. Her kimono fell in folds beneath her, its fabric made of an elegant, plum-colored silk. She reached to push a piece of hair behind her ear, the rest of it neatly tied up with a comb.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be honest,\u201d she said, \u201cI tried to convince him not to. I thought that trekking through the cold would only make him worse. But it looks like we did the right thing. I\u2019m quite grateful for your services.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy to help,\u201d Shichi said with a nod.<\/p>\n

\u201cNaoki is the head of our clan,\u201d Hana added. \u201cHe has quite a bit of power. I promise you\u2019ll be well-paid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate it, but please save your gold for something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d Her voice quieted. \u201cWell, in that case . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

The kitsune pulled forth an embroidered bag, loosening the cord that fastened the mouth. From inside she pulled a sachet of tea leaves, their color a rich, mossy green.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is tea from our village,\u201d Hana said. \u201cIt\u2019s well-known in this region\u2014the taste is quite special. Will you accept this, as a show of my gratitude?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi looked up from his herbs, his interest piqued by her offering. A fine cup of tea was one of the greatest pleasures he could think of. Surely it would be rude to turn away such a gift.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re very kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her expression brightened at his answer. With smooth movements, she began to prepare a serving for each of them, using the recently heated tea pot to pour water over the leaves. With a polite nod, she offered the filled ceramic cup. Curls of steam rose from the rim, beckoning him as he accepted it. It had an unusual fragrance, making him even more curious of its taste.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re blessed to have you,\u201d she said, pouring some for herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was you who braved the cold to come here.\u201d He raised the cup to take a drink. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for your trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

The moment he finished speaking, his expression hardened. The tea was bitter, stronger than any he\u2019d ever had. It was more than just the taste\u2014it tingled in his mouth, making his tongue numb. The liquid was acrid as it went down his throat, and a burning sensation followed all the way to his stomach. He took in a sharp gasp, unable to help but drop the cup to the floor as he clutched his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell done,\u201d the kitsune said with a dry smile, setting her own cup down on the table. \u201cYou surprised me with your skill. I was hoping you would be incompetent.\u201d<\/p>\n

His eyes flickered upward, wide with distress as he fumbled with her words. The pain was spreading, his abdomen gripped with the sensation of blistering coals. It felt as if he were being burnt from the inside out.<\/p>\n

\u201cW-what?\u201d He gagged, struggling for breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t have you healing him. Not after I\u2019ve come this far.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho . . . who are you?\u201d the tengu asked, choking forth each word. It was then that he began to shake, grasping his own robe as he curled forward. The spilled tea had begun to soak into the tatami, its poison seeping into the straw mats.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot that poor fool\u2019s wife, though I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve figured that out by now,\u201d the kitsune answered, wiping her own teacup clean and setting it back onto the table. He let out a pained gasp, finding it harder to breathe with each passing second. Gingerly, she leaned forward, grasping his beak shut with long, white fingers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSshh, don\u2019t fret,\u201d she whispered, her breath like dust against his ear. \u201cThe pain will stop in an hour or so, when you die.\u201d<\/p>\n

When his only reply was a muffled groan, she got to her feet, making her way toward the drawers of herbs along the wall. She emptied a box of turmeric, replacing it with a different root from her bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really should have studied your herbs more carefully,\u201d she said. \u201cSuch an amateur error, mistaking one plant for another in your tea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s breath caught as he realized what she was doing. Not only had she poisoned him, but she was going to get away with it. He couldn\u2019t find the energy to scream. Inhaling itself was difficult enough\u2014he couldn\u2019t possibly call for help now. He could already feel his heart slowing. Soon, it would stop, and no one would ever know what had truly happened to him.<\/p>\n

The kitsune took one last look at him before leaving, shaking her head at his pathetic state. He lay helpless on the floor, choking against the caustic throes that were spreading through his body.<\/p>\n

Her lips curled in amusement as the door slid shut behind her. \u201cNow who\u2019s going to heal my poor husband?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

With a steadier schedule, Shichi had returned to his routine of waking up before dawn. Normally, Chiyo remained sleeping well through the morning, but that day he awoke to find her standing by an open window. The sky was still…<\/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-377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-one"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/377","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=377"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1113,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/377\/revisions\/1113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}