{"id":682,"date":"2014-01-21T01:55:30","date_gmt":"2014-01-20T16:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=682"},"modified":"2014-01-31T17:04:59","modified_gmt":"2014-01-31T08:04:59","slug":"b2part05","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/b2part05\/","title":{"rendered":"Book II \u4e94 Part 05 (Raven)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"chiyoshoulder\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The only thing louder than the rain was the sound of Chiyo\u2019s laughter. The fox was completely overcome, collapsed on the muddy ground as she cackled at Shichi\u2019s predicament.<\/p>\n

\u201cI-I thought you were adorable before,\u201d she snickered. \u201cBut this is just too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t funny, Chiyo,\u201d Shichi said, still trying to figure out how to probably keep balance. Somehow, he managed to sit upright, his entire body fluffed in agitation. It was difficult to maneuver without arms \u2014 he no longer had the form of a tengu, now looking exactly like a common raven.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes it is<\/i>,\u201d she retorted. \u201cLook at you. You\u2019re all puffy and wet and\u2026 and your grumpy bird face is\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cTh-the egg!\u201d Shichi interrupted, taking a panicked look around. \u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOver there,\u201d Chiyo said between her laughs. \u201cIn your clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi took one step forward before tripping over himself. His wings flapped uselessly as he tried to right himself, getting his feathers even muddier in the process. His cry of frustration came out as a squawk, causing the kitsune to double over in yet another laughing fit.<\/p>\n

He lay for a moment in the mud, finally finding the motivation to try again. This time, he managed to put one foot in front of the other, stepping up to the pile of clothes that had once covered his body. Sure enough, the egg lay nestled in the folds of his robe. He brushed his beak against it, turning it to ensure that It hadn\u2019t been damaged. Luckily, it was still in one piece.<\/p>\n

With a sigh, he rested his head on top of it, wishing that he were large enough to keep the rain from its shell. It was then that Chiyo\u2019s laughter subsided.<\/p>\n

A moment later, she was at his side. Now in her human form, she was big enough to gather up both egg and bird in her arms. He slumped in her hold, ignoring the droplets running off of his beak.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get out of the rain, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

By the time they made it back to the cave, they were dripping with rainwater. Chiyo set him beside the fire, leaning his staff against a wall before working to restart the flame. The raven lay flat on the cave floor, a mere bundle of wet, black feathers.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be sad, Shichi,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not permanent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can I change back?\u201d he asked, looking up at her hopefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe gave you the power,\u201d Chiyo explained as smoke began to rise from the scraps of kindling. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you turn back yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy for you to say. You\u2019re a kitsune.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yes,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it can\u2019t hurt to try.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust think about the form you want,\u201d she explained, glancing around until she found a tiny green leaf at the mouth of the cave. She examined it briefly, then placed it neatly atop his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s this for?\u201d Shichi asked, cross-eyed as he gazed up at the leaf.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey help with transformations,\u201d Chiyo answered. \u201cThey\u2019re more for young or inexperienced kitsune. I, of course, don\u2019t need them anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course<\/i>,\u201d he repeated. He took in a breath, his small ribcage expanding as he focused on his previous form. Closing his eyes, he visualized himself with a proper body \u2014 with arms, hands, and fingers. He thought for a long time, his eyes tightening as he tried to call on whatever magic the jorogumo had placed in his body. Minutes passed, yet he could feel no changes in his form.<\/p>\n

After a while, he exhaled, letting the leaf fall from his forehead. \u201cIt\u2019s no good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShapeshifting takes practice,\u201d she said with a shrug. The fire was now crackling between them, warming the air as she removed her wet jacket.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have time for practice. How am I supposed to help anyone like this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi shook his head, loosening the droplets from his feathers and inadvertently causing them to fluff even more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m useless,\u201d he added, turning his attention to the fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you were kind of useless before, too,\u201d she said, laying her clothes out to dry on a flat stone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Chiyo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnytime,\u201d the kitsune replied, going through their bag of provisions once more. After a moment, she fished out a long, white cloth. Kneeling beside the egg, she began to loop the fabric across her chest, tying it at the shoulder like a sash.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I have to carry this stupid thing, I want to use as little effort as possible,\u201d she explained, placing the egg in the makeshift sling. It sat snugly in the cloth, nestled against the warmth of her body. Shichi didn\u2019t comment on her use of the word \u2018stupid,\u2019 shocked by her willingness to carry the egg herself. He had foreseen himself doing everything in his power to convince her, and now she had done it of her own accord.<\/p>\n

Eventually, the rain began to die down. By the time it stopped, they were both fairly dry. Chiyo redressed herself, draping Shichi\u2019s amber-colored robe over her shoulders. The rest of his things were placed in the bag, tied firmly to the sash at her waist. With new intent, the bird began to step forward, bobbing as he approached the mouth of the cave. Though he now had a basic sense of walking, he was still moving at a snail\u2019s pace.<\/p>\n

\u201cUgh, you\u2019re so slow,\u201d Chiyo groaned, taking a knee and offering her arm. \u201cCome here, you big idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi stared at her for a moment, taking a moment to realize what she was doing. He then hopped forward, perching on her arm as she lifted him to her shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d she said, cracking the joints in her hands. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

The afternoon faded into evening, allowing the sun to cast an orange glow over the rain-soaked forest. Osaka was long behind them now, no more than a memory in their journey. Absently, he wondered what Aki would think of him in this form \u2014 or even worse, his master. Few things would say \u2018I\u2019m a failure\u2019 better than returning to her as a bird.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch the claws,\u201d Chiyo mumbled as Shichi\u2019s feet gripped particularly hard on her shoulder. He loosened his hold, lowering his head apologetically.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019re pretty heavy for a\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you dare<\/i> complain about carrying me,\u201d he interrupted, unable to help but fantasize about pecking her \u2014 just once or twice, lightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just saying,\u201d Chiyo said. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you just fly?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFly?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a bird. Birds fly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi fell silent, watching the road pass below them as he considered her words. \u201cBut I can barely walk. Surely, flying is more complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it can\u2019t hurt to try.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, I think it could hurt quite a-\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, here,\u201d Chiyo interrupted, using both hands to place him in a low branch. \u201cGo ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi stared at the ground. Though he wasn\u2019t very high up, it seemed quite far. He wondered if his bones were more fragile in this form. Just how much of a fall would it take to kill him? Hesitantly, he spread his wings. The wind passed through his feathers, sending a pleasant chill up his back. Flying \u2014 it did seem quite nice. Perhaps Chiyo was right.<\/p>\n

He gave his wings a few experimental stretches, getting used to how they moved along his body. Taking in a breath, he crouched to leave the branch.<\/p>\n

A moment later, he was on the ground. He had fallen like a rock, making a few weak flaps before plummeting to the road. Shichi shook his head, ignoring the throbbing in his skull. He had to try again.<\/p>\n

It was only after the sixth attempt, when his head had plopped into a patch of muddy road, that his frustration boiled to its peak.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t!\u201d he growled, shaking the mud from his feathers. \u201cI can\u2019t do this. I can\u2019t do anything right!<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n

His body was rising and falling with his breaths, his feathers dirtied and crooked with his efforts. Chiyo stared, unmoving from her place on the road. She had never heard him shout in such a way before.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t save Kazu,\u201d he panted. \u201cI couldn\u2019t help Aki. I can\u2019t even take care of an egg. I\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re fine, Shichi,\u201d Chiyo said, finally finding her voice. \u201cWe\u2019ll try later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay. Come here,\u201d she said, kneeling to offer her arm once more. He lowered his head, taking a moment before hopping up. Carefully, she stood, using her sleeve to wipe the mud from his head. Shichi said nothing, wishing that she hadn\u2019t seem him lose his temper. It wasn\u2019t like him \u2014 perhaps he had become a beast in more ways than one.<\/p>\n

Eventually, the moon replaced the sun, a half-crescent in the sky. The pair found an open space beside a rock ledge, settling down for their last meal of the day.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you smell that?\u201d Chiyo asked, picking up her head to sniff the air.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t smell much of anything,\u201d Shichi admitted as he poked at a dried plum with his beak. \u201cNot in this form.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt smells like humans,\u201d she said, her eyes wandering. \u201cThere\u2019s probably a village nearby. We should find it in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFind it? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, now that you\u2019re not a tengu anymore, we don\u2019t have to hide. We can get some more provisions for our trip.\u201d<\/p>\n

He hadn\u2019t thought of it before, but she was right. Any humans they encountered would likely assume he was a pet. He and Chiyo might even be able to enter human shops and inns. At least, after everything he had been through, there was one benefit to being a bird.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince you don\u2019t need as much food now, can I eat your share?\u201d Chiyo asked, already looking inside the bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you don\u2019t even\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Chiyo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d the kitsune said, exhaling as she returned to her fox form. After a few lazy stretches, she found a proper spot by the fire to curl up for the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, wait,\u201d Shichi said, glancing at the bundle beside him. \u201cThe egg.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about the egg?\u201d she replied, opening one eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not big enough to keep it warm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a pause between them. He cleared his throat, realizing that Chiyo had no intention of offering.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Shichi continued. \u201cI was hoping you might\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo, it has to\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Shichi.\u201d<\/p>\n

His feathers stood on end as he realized what he had gotten himself into. It was imperative that the egg stay warm through the night. In his bird form, it was nearly as large as he was \u2014 she was the only one who could manage it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, I\u2019ll let you have the mikan,\u201d he sighed, recalling the citrus fruits Chiyo had been eyeing from the first day they\u2019d searched the bag. \u201cTwo of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll four,\u201d Chiyo said, not moving from her place by the fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cDone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon, the fox settled back into her spot, her belly a bit more full. Chiyo\u2019s body lay curled around the egg, enveloping it with the warmth of her fur. Shichi sighed; at least there was one less thing to worry about. He took his place beside her, taking a moment to remember how birds slept. Closing his eyes, he turned to tuck his beak over his wings. It was surprisingly comfortable. Within seconds, he drifted off, a wedge of black beside the snow-colored fox.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take long for Shichi to discover another facet of his new form. Rather than sleeping soundly through the night, he found himself waking repeatedly. As a bird, his body was constantly on the alert, assuring that his rest would be intermittent at best. The first disturbance had been a cricket and the second, an owl. After the third, he fluffed in irritation, burying his beak into the feathers on his back. Surely, there was nothing to worry about. Chiyo was still beside him, as was the-<\/p>\n

The egg<\/i>.<\/p>\n

With a start, he sat upright. Chiyo was indeed laying beside him, now sprawled on her back. The egg, however, was nowhere to be seen. The bird\u2019s chest rose in fear. Panicking, he hopped to his feet to scour the surrounding area. His form was silhouetted by the crackling campfire as he darted from one bush to another, hoping that it hadn\u2019t rolled too far. As he searched further, the fire faded in the distance and soon he had lost sight of the camp completely. This, however, was the last thing on his mind. He shook off a few leaves as he pulled his head from the underbrush, trying to think through the terrible thumping of his heart. Then, he spotted them \u2014 footprints.<\/p>\n

No, they were paw prints. It hadn\u2019t been a human that left them \u2014 it was a cat. Shichi\u2019s yellow eyes widened in the dark and he darted forth to follow the trail through the trees. Unfortunately, as a bird, his night vision wasn\u2019t any better than before. His thin legs stumbled over stray branches and nervous adrenaline was all that kept him moving forward. It was only when he caught a pair of glowing, jade eyes that he came to a halt.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo slow,\u201d hissed the beast of a cat before him \u2014 it was the nekomata. At his feet lay the egg, still bundled in the sash Chiyo had made.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, give it back,\u201d Shichi begged, craning his neck towards the creature. Where the cat had been big before, now it seemed impossibly large.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, this?\u201d the cat asked, placing a paw on top of the egg. It wobbled beneath the weight, sending Shichi\u2019s feathers upright in worry. \u201cI knew you would come after it.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was now obvious what he had planned. The only way to avoid the kitsune would be to draw Shichi away from her. It was too late to go back for help and he was too far to call for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want me, you can have me. Just\u2026 just return the egg.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll return it when you\u2019re dead,\u201d he snarled in response.<\/p>\n

\u201cGin, please!\u201d<\/p>\n

At this, the nekomata froze, his eyes piercing through the blue night. He twitched, startled by what he had heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cH-how do you know my name?\u201d he asked, momentarily forgetting to be menacing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026 it doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d the bird replied, shaking his head. There was no time to explain the dreams he\u2019d been having. \u201cI\u2019m begging you \u2014 don\u2019t harm it.\u201d<\/p>\n

By then, the shock had left Gin\u2019s expression, replaced by something more foul. His ears flattened in irritation and his paw tightened around the shell, allowing his claws to scrape over its surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d was all he said, the word dripping with venom.<\/p>\n

The clearing was filled with a sudden cry of anger. There was a harsh flapping as Shichi leapt forward, his vision red with the sight of the scratched shell. The raven\u2019s claws grasped onto the nekomata\u2019s face, digging into the fur as he flapped to keep his balance. Gin roared, shaking his head in a mad attempt to loosen the bird. Feathers flew left and right, but Shichi\u2019s grip only tightened.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive it back!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n

As the nekomata threw his head sideways, Shichi\u2019s claw slipped, digging into the flesh of Gin\u2019s eyelid. The cat screeched in pain, the sudden jerk tossing the raven to the dirt below. Shichi hit the ground with a thud, a cloud of dust rising from his wake. Blinking off the dizziness, he looked up to see that the beast was still thrashing, too distracted by his bleeding eye to mind the bird. Keeping low, Shichi hooked his beak onto the sash, dragging the egg out of harm\u2019s way. He had just made it out of the clearing when he heard that rumbling voice once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cMonk!\u201d Gin howled. \u201cDon\u2019t you dare run from me!\u201d<\/p>\n

The nekomata was searching frantically, a stream of red dripping from his left eye. Pointed teeth snapped together as he caught the scent of his prey. The bird\u2019s spine stiffened. He was trapped. Even if he could fly, he wouldn\u2019t be able to lift the egg. Frantically, he glanced around, hoping that Chiyo had heard the commotion and would bound in at any moment. Unfortunately, it didn\u2019t seem that the kitsune was coming.<\/p>\n

It was then that he noticed them \u2014 lights. They were small, faint lights through the trees. It must have been the village that Chiyo mentioned earlier. His pulse raced with hope; this was his only chance.<\/p>\n

Eyes narrowed, he began to drag the egg through the trees, flapping and staggering over the forest floor. He could hear the beast coming, its enormous body snapping twigs and branches as it forced its way through. Luckily, the woods were full of old, tangled growth, making it easier for a small form to move through than a large one. It seemed that Gin was too caught up in his rage to think of transforming.<\/p>\n

As the lights grew closer, Shichi could make out the shapes of houses down the slope. His tiny heart seemed as if it would beat right out of his chest, pushing him further towards safety. So caught up was he in fleeing that he didn\u2019t notice the drop of the terrain, only realizing when both he and the egg toppled over the grassy ledge. He clutched the shell instinctively, wrapping his wings over the bundle as they tumbled and scraped down the slope. His body hit the bottom with a thud, the egg rolling just out of reach as he struggled to right himself.<\/p>\n

A roar returned his eyes to the forest. The nekomata burst through the trees, catching sight of his target at the base of the hill. Just as Shichi began to back up, a different sound caught his attention \u2014 humans.<\/p>\n

\u201cA nekomata!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHurry, get it! Before it hurts someone!\u201d<\/p>\n

There were scrapes of metal as the villagers began to take arms, grabbing farming tools and knives to defend themselves from the attacking yokai. The raven on the ground went utterly ignored as they ran past, their shadows fleeting by as he pulled the egg against the side of a house.<\/p>\n

Gin didn\u2019t move at first, paralyzed by the sight of humans. Another shout from a farmer snapped him to his senses. The nekomata hissed and turned tail, darting back between the thick trees of the forest. Their voices faded as they pursued the cat uphill, until finally there was nothing but silence.<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s entire body felt as if it were burning. Panting, he pulled aside the cloth sling, checking the shell for cracks or fractures. Aside from Gin\u2019s faint claw marks, it had somehow made it through unscathed. His eyes fluttered shut as he collapsed on top of it, draping his wings to protect it from the chill in the air. The heat from below calmed his anxious breathing; it was all that mattered to him. Even after everything the egg had been through \u2014 somehow, it was still warm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The only thing louder than the rain was the sound of Chiyo\u2019s laughter. The fox was completely overcome, collapsed on the muddy ground as she cackled at Shichi\u2019s predicament. \u201cI-I thought you were adorable before,\u201d she snickered. \u201cBut this is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-two"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682","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=682"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":699,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682\/revisions\/699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}