{"id":702,"date":"2014-02-04T02:28:34","date_gmt":"2014-02-03T17:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=702"},"modified":"2014-02-05T10:19:09","modified_gmt":"2014-02-05T01:19:09","slug":"b2part07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/b2part07\/","title":{"rendered":"Book II \u4e03 Part 07 (Human)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Over and over, Shichi flipped his hands from back to palm. Each time they looked the same \u2014 fair, human skin with traces of blood vessels beneath the surface. Fingers trembling, he touched his own face. He took in a sudden breath, nearly choking as he inhaled. His face was flat. His beak had been replaced with a small, soft mouth and a mere nub of a nose. His fingers curled, gripping his temples as he struggled to keep from screaming. At first, he could only hear his own panicked breathing. After a moment, there was one more sound \u2014 footsteps.<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo,\u201d he whispered, finally looking up. The door to their room opened with a crack as he stumbled out, catching sight of the kitsune down the hall.<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo!<\/i>\u201d he repeated, rushing forth to grab her by the arms. The monk was wide-eyed before her, his pupils dilated in terror.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, get your hands off of\u2014!\u201d she spat, tightening her hands into fists. It was only after a second look at his face that she paused. It was a human that was grabbing her, yet there was something terribly familiar about his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Shichi?\u201d<\/p>\n

He could only nod, caught in a state of speechlessness.<\/p>\n

\u201cAAahh!<\/i>\u201d she blurted, recoiling back against the wall of the corridor. The kitsune stared back at him, unable to do more than blink. So aghast were they both that neither noticed the innkeeper as he passed by in the hall.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Miss,\u201d the old man said as he walked by. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to bring strange men into your room, I\u2019ll have to charge you for two people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo immediately reddened, the hair on her nape rising to a point. Her shock was replaced with flushed anger as she forcefully shoved the monk back into their room.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut some clothes on!<\/i>\u201d she cried, slamming the door shut behind him.<\/p>\n

Shichi winced at the sound of the door, taking a moment to realize what she was talking about. A glance down told the story quite succinctly. He fumbled for the pile of clothing beside the futon, not realizing that his face was now just as red as hers.<\/p>\n

A minute later, the door cracked open to reveal the now-clothed monk.<\/p>\n

\u201cO-okay,\u201d he murmured. \u201cI\u2019m decent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you do<\/i>?\u201d she asked, not bothering to hide the accusation in her tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe? I didn\u2019t\u2014 It\u2026 it must have been the tea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cArgh,\u201d she groaned, frowning up at him. \u201cYou\u2019re still<\/i> taller than me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone is taller than\u2014,\u201d he started, then shook his head. \u201cI-it doesn\u2019t matter. Change me back. Change me back to a bird!\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo snorted, her mouth quirking in amusement. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with being human? I thought you liked<\/i> humans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI like radishes, too, but I don\u2019t want to be<\/i> one!\u201d he insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it really worse than being a bird?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at me \u2014 I look terrible! And it\u2019s so cold\u2026 I feel naked without my feathers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were<\/i> nak-\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd my face is so flat<\/i> and I keep- ow!\u201d Shichi said, cringing. \u201cB-biting my tongue. These\u2026 these teeth. Why do I have so many of them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I like you better this way,\u201d the kitsune smirked.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, we have to go back to the fortune teller. There must be a way to reverse this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I watch you try to eat breakfast first?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

As entertained as Chiyo was with Shichi\u2019s predicament, she was just as eager to face the fortune teller. They made their way directly to the market, ignoring the calls of merchants and throngs of travelers. Shichi\u2019s spine was stiff as he walked. As conscious as he was about his own form, not a soul on the street so much as glanced at him. It was almost as if, as a human, he was simply invisible.<\/p>\n

The shop door rattled open, revealing the same walls of trinkets and spiritual oddities. The fortune teller was arranging a shelf of books, taking a moment to glance in their direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh,\u201d he said, his mouth curling in satisfaction. \u201cI see it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d Chiyo barked, quickly invading his personal space. \u201cIt didn\u2019t work at all!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cB-but look! He\u2019s human!\u201d the man insisted, gesturing wildly to the monk in the entrance. Shichi froze, making a quick realization.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wasn\u2019t human before<\/i>,\u201d the kitsune spat, now grasping the man\u2019s collar in her fist.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026What.\u201d<\/p>\n

The shop fell silent \u2014 only a hard swallow from the fortune teller\u2019s throat could be heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cW-what was he before?\u201d he asked after mustering the courage.<\/p>\n

\u201cA tengu,\u201d she replied, forcing him to bend forward to meet her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cA\u2026 a-a tengu? You never mentioned-\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you supposed to know that yourself, fortune teller<\/i>?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow was I supposed to know that?\u201d he sputtered, making a weak effort to loosen her grasp. \u201cIt was a human spell! For humans!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, give us a different one,\u201d she said, now baring her teeth. \u201cFor tengu!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would I have something like that?\u201d the fortune teller scoffed. \u201cWho wants to be a tengu<\/i>?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s shoulders tensed as he narrowed his eyes at the man. His opinion of the human was descending with each minute that passed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen give us a refund.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do no such thing,\u201d he replied with a smirk. \u201cThe spell worked exactly as it was supposed to. You\u2019re the one who neglected to mention-\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cYou give us our money back or I\u2019ll wipe that slimy grin right off your face,\u201d Chiyo snarled, now butting her forehead against her victim\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should be happy!\u201d the fortune teller insisted. \u201cBeing a human is much better, isn\u2019t it? I think you-\u201d<\/p>\n

Before he could finish, there was a blur of movement as Chiyo\u2019s fist pounded into his jaw. The man\u2019s head knocked against the shelf with a crack, toppling a few books to the floor. Just as she reeled back for another strike, Shichi hurried forth to grasp her by the wrist.<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo, let\u2019s go,\u201d he asked, his voice gentle.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we have to-\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cHe can\u2019t help us,\u201d Shichi said, keeping both hands on her arm. \u201cLet him be.\u201d<\/p>\n

The kitsune took in a deep breath, allowing her chest to rise and fall. Her pupils flickered as she focused on the fortune teller. The man shivered beneath her stare, too afraid to wipe the blood that was trickling down his swollen lip.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d she answered, opening her hand to release his collar. He stumbled back, swallowing as he watched the two turn to leave. The door shut with a clack, leaving the fortune teller alone with his trinkets and scattered books.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have stopped me,\u201d the kitsune muttered as they made their way back through the market.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t intend to deceive us. It was an honest mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re fine being human?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cW-well no,\u201d Shichi replied, lowering his eyes. Unconsciously, he rubbed his arms, still not used to the feeling of bare skin. \u201cBut hurting him wouldn\u2019t fix anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would have made me feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n

With no other options, they returned to the inn. Though Munetoshi had recovered, he was still in no shape to help his father. Upon seeing the \u2018strange man\u2019 return to his doors once more, the innkeeper seemed less than thrilled.<\/p>\n

\u201cA monk?\u201d he asked, eyeing the staff in Shichi\u2019s hand. \u201cYour visitor<\/i>\u2026 is a monk?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not what you think,\u201d Shichi said, shaking his head. \u201cI\u2019m just a physician. A\u2026 fellow physician.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was giving me some advice about treating your son,\u201d Chiyo added with an awkward smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh. Well, I\u2019m not sure what part of that required him to remove his clothing, but I suppose he can stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Shichi said, lowering his head gratefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t kidding about the extra charges, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cO-of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon after, lunch was served in their room. After ensuring that none of the ingredients were spoiled, Chiyo immediately set into her meal. Shichi was slower to start, only gazing down with both hands in his lap.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat am I going to do?\u201d he murmured. \u201cThere must be some way to change back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI already told you \u2014 you can probably do it yourself. You just need to practice,\u201d Chiyo said before lifting a bowl of miso soup to drink.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cIt will be easier for you to get around this way, anyhow. Maybe you can even treat human patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s eyes rose at her words. She was right \u2014 in this form, humans would have no qualms accepting him into their towns and shops. It might be possible to offer his services as a doctor to a great number of people.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow quit moping and eat something,\u201d she continued, tilting her head back to gulp down the rest of her soup.<\/p>\n

Hesitantly, Shichi reached for a pair of chopsticks. His hands still worked the same way \u2014 perhaps eating wouldn\u2019t be as difficult as he first thought. Carefully, he lifted a piece of carrot to his open mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cOw,\u201d he said, instantly wincing. Somehow, he had poked himself in the face. Knitting his brow, he tried again. Chiyo made an admirable effort to control herself, only bursting into laughter when he dropped food into his lap for the second time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re so amused,\u201d he muttered. \u201cThis mouth is just… so small.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWant me to feed you?\u201d she snickered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can handle it, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

With intense concentration, he brought the tip of his chopsticks to his mouth. The carrot piece set carefully onto his tongue, filling him with a profound sense of victory. Triumphantly, he swallowed, then doubled over in a choking fit.<\/p>\n

\u201cHck!\u201d he groaned, drawing both hands to his throat. \u201cGhhk!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou idiot,\u201d Chiyo groaned, giving his back a solid thump with her fist. The piece of food dislodged, freeing his throat to breathe.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember those teeth you were complaining about?\u201d she said, tilting her head. \u201cUse them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Squinting, he moved his jaw, being careful not to bite his tongue once more. Awkwardly, his teeth moved up and down, making a stiff attempt at grinding his food.<\/p>\n

\u201cUse your back<\/i> teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, he gulped once more, relieved when the food moved smoothly down his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is so much work<\/i>,\u201d he breathed, rubbing the side of his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet used to it,\u201d the kitsune huffed. \u201cNot everyone has a gizzard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo wonder humans get so angry,\u201d Shichi said, closing his eyes. He supposed he should consider himself lucky. At the very least, he still had hands and fingers. As long as he could continue practicing medicine, these inconveniences mattered little. Feeling the approach of a headache, he poured himself a cup of freshly brewed tea. He lifted the cup, appreciating the warm, familiar scent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, at least I can-\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cShichi, watch your-\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cAaahh!<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n

After the catastrophe that was lunch, the pair decided to rest one last night before continuing on their journey. Adjusting to two different bodies in the span of several days was exhausting, to say the least. As Shichi organized their provisions, his hand stopped on the frayed ribbon that had been thrown hastily into the bag. Moving automatically, he rewrapped it over his wrist, making sure it was firmly tied at the ends.<\/p>\n

His sleep was restless. Once more, he could see the same old farmhouse, its walls standing proudly beside wide fields of rice.The sky was dark and starry, heavy with the sound of summer crickets. A woman was walking under the moonlight, carrying a wrapped bundle with both arms. From beneath the cloth, the cat looked up at her, his eyes wide with apprehension. His tail was flicking, its tip already beginning to fork into two parts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right, Gin. We\u2019re just going for a walk,\u201d she soothed, stroking behind his large, pointed ears. The cat relaxed at the contact, purring as he bumped against her hand.<\/p>\n

She continued for hours, leaving the road and moving deep into the forest. Her geta were unsteady on the mountain terrain, yet still, she pressed on. The cat soon fell asleep in her arms \u2014 it seemed the drop of bone poppy sap she had used in his dinner had finally worked.<\/p>\n

The woman knew that this wasn\u2019t right. Most cats of Gin\u2019s age were put down, killed long before they had a chance to transform. Having a nekomata in one\u2019s household could mean ruin for an entire family. Even so, she couldn\u2019t bring herself to do it. No matter how she tried, she couldn\u2019t harm her pet. This \u2014 her long trek through the woods, was the only other option.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Gin,\u201d she whispered, kneeling to set the bundle down beside a tree. \u201cI hope you can forgive me. Be strong out here \u2014 I know you can make it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cat didn\u2019t move, too deep in his slumber to hear her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were such a good boy,\u201d the woman said, gently running her hand over his head. Her vision blurred, obscured by the tears that had welled in her eyes. As she bent forward to kiss his forehead, a drop landed just between his eyes. She made no move to dry her tears, only standing to watch him for a moment. The wind rustled the trees, reminding her just how high in the mountains they were.<\/p>\n

Without another word, she turned to leave. Though her heart longed to glance back, she knew that doing so would be a mistake. From then on, she could never look upon her pet again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over and over, Shichi flipped his hands from back to palm. Each time they looked the same \u2014 fair, human skin with traces of blood vessels beneath the surface. Fingers trembling, he touched his own face. He took in a…<\/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-702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-two"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/702","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=702"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":706,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/702\/revisions\/706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}