{"id":793,"date":"2014-10-16T06:07:19","date_gmt":"2014-10-15T21:07:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=793"},"modified":"2016-08-01T15:52:15","modified_gmt":"2016-08-01T06:52:15","slug":"b2p10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/b2p10\/","title":{"rendered":"Book II \u5341 Part 10 (River)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"b2_10_jisukchap10inkchange_s\"<\/a>
\nIllustration by K. Ryan<\/a><\/p>\n

The clearing reeked of springtime. The air was warm, dotted with butterflies as they drifted from one bloom to another. The plum trees blossomed earlier than cherries, arching overhead in splashes of pink and white. A single petal spiraled sleepily down before landing on Chiyo\u2019s nose. The fox grimaced, snorting it off in irritation. She cared little for the beauty of the season and even less for the clearing itself. She didn\u2019t, however, have the option to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay here<\/i>,\u201d Shichi had said. \u201cHe\u2019ll be able to smell if you\u2019re nearby.\u201d<\/p>\n

It had been an hour since he had left her there. Chiyo had resorted to pacing, her paws wearing away at the grass as she stalked back and forth. The egg lay bundled at the base of a tree, oblivious to her fretting.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was a bad idea,\u201d she muttered to herself. \u201cYou\u2019d better not be dead already. You\u2019re probably dead, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

She glared in the direction he had left, her ears lying flat against her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cStupid monk.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Shichi was, in fact, not quite dead. He had gone a fair distance upriver, abandoning both the kitsune and his logic as he waited for Gin. The riverbank was a dreadfully vulnerable spot. The tree line was a fair distance away, leaving him with nothing but flat boulders and the moss beneath his feet. For a while, he simply stood, watching the languid flow of water. Hopefully, the nekomata would find him quickly.<\/p>\n

Gin did not disappoint. The sun had barely moved in the sky before a low voice signaled the cat\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou thought you could disguise yourself? As a human?\u201d he said, his words snaking through the air between them. \u201cI could smell you a mile away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi didn\u2019t turn immediately, taking a moment to watch a leaf as it was carried off by the current.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had no intention of deceiving you. This, ah\u2014 this body was an accident,\u201d he replied, folding his hands behind his back as he glanced back at the tremendous beast.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother lie,\u201d came a coarse hiss. Gin was was now circling the monk, his claws cutting stripes into the moss as he slunk past. Shichi said nothing, only turning to look back at the water.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid the kitsune tire of you?\u201d Gin continued, now sneering.<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked her to stay behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStupid monk<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi fought the urge to frown. He\u2019d been hearing that an awful lot lately.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to talk with you,\u201d he said. \u201cIf that\u2019s all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have nothing to say to you,\u201d Gin answered, his tails whipping past Shichi\u2019s nose as he treaded by. The monk didn\u2019t falter. He hadn\u2019t expected the nekomata to be responsive and was fairly surprised he hadn\u2019t been attacked yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know why you\u2019re after me,\u201d Shichi continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have no idea what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want the same thing everyone wants,\u201d he said. \u201cTo be cared for \u2014 to be home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gin\u2019s chest swelled as he hissed, the air sucking in between pointed teeth. His stride quickened and his claws made audible scrapes over the slabs of rock below.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want<\/i> you to die<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKilling me won\u2019t give you the things you want. It won\u2019t make you happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Gin said, lowering his head. \u201cIt will.\u201d<\/p>\n

A roar bellowed over the river, echoing from the rock walls. The nekomata charged. Shichi\u2019s back hit the water\u2019s edge, sending forth a spray of white drops and foam. His vision flickered as his skull was dashed against a river stone, unable to see the blood that was now matting his hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cGin,\u201d he choked, his hands grasping the cat\u2019s great face. Teeth snapped inches from his cheek, thrashing as he struggled to hold him back. The nekomata howled over him, deafening the monk as the two bodies tumbled into the water. A paw found his throat and Shichi found himself thrust beneath the surface, a cloud of bubbles bursting from his parted lips. Claws dug into the flesh over his collarbone, sending three streams of red trailing upwards.<\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t breathe. The water rippled above him and through it, he could see those eyes \u2014 green, glowing eyes narrowing as they watched him drown. He could hear pebbles clattering through the river, the sound magnified against his ears. The back of his head was pounding, staining the river as he bled into the current. His insides began to scream for air.<\/p>\n

He really was a stupid monk.<\/p>\n

Once more he could hear the clacking of stones as they were loosened by the struggle. His hand slapped into the water, desperately patting the riverbed until his fingers closed around a single smooth rock.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m sorry<\/i>,\u2019 he thought. A moment later, there was a crack as the stone swept across the cat\u2019s soft nose. The beast jolted above him, tossing his head with a sharp screech. Shichi gasped as his face broke the surface, coughing and gagging as he attempted to fill his lungs. Dragging himself backwards, he slipped out from under the cat\u2019s claws as Gin continued to shake his head.<\/p>\n

For a while, Shichi could only stare. Water dripped from his hair, the dark strands clinging to his face. He panted, watching as the cat continued to fuss and splash before him. Gin was recoiled in pain, his wet fur standing on end as he pawed his own face.<\/p>\n

After a minute, the monk sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome now, I didn\u2019t hit you that hard,\u201d Shichi said with as much patience as he could muster.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes you did<\/i>,\u201d the nekomata replied, snapping his head up to deliver a cold glare. \u201cMonks aren\u2019t supposed to hurt anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yes, but you were trying to drown me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gin only let out a huff of air. He had lost the fire in his eyes, now just a great sopping cat with a bleeding nose.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you thought I\u2019d be an easy target,\u201d Shichi said as he pushed the wet hair from his eyes. He winced as his fingertips brushed the wound on the back of his skull.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are<\/i> an easy target.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a bit cowardly, don\u2019t you think?\u201d he asked, examining the blood on his fingers.<\/p>\n

Gin\u2019s spine stiffened. He held his breath for a beat, his chest puffed indignantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine<\/i>,\u201d he spat, averting his eyes. \u201cFine. I\u2019m a coward. Do you have any other names you\u2019d like to call me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say you were a coward. You just did a cowardly thing. We all do, sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The riverside was silent for a while \u2014 only the rush of the current could be heard as the two looked at one another. Gin\u2019s next breath caught halfway down his throat, drawing a shudder from his bony shoulders. He dropped his head, catching his own reflection in the water\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Even you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially me,\u201d Shichi said, shaking his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you\u2019re no better than I am,\u201d Gin said, his voice a near-whisper.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Gin,\u201d the monk said, closing his eyes. \u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n

A thunderous growl snapped his eyes back open. Shichi braced himself, only stopping when he realized the sound hadn\u2019t come from Gin.<\/p>\n

The kitsune, now matching the cat in size, collided into the him in a flash of teeth and water. Their bodies twisted into the river, both yokai gnashing and tearing at one another. It had only taken a few minutes for the fox to come running once she\u2019d heard Gin\u2019s roar and a mere second to see the blood matted in Shichi\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo, wait<\/i>!\u201d<\/p>\n

Neither beast paid him any mind, only plunging deeper into the water as they fought. The monk stumbled forward, his eyes widening at the sight of bloodied fangs. If Gin\u2019s reaction to a simple rock was any indication, he would be no match for Chiyo.<\/p>\n

As Shichi reached forth, a sickening crack filled the air. The nekomata shrieked, pinned below Chiyo\u2019s tapered claws. He thrashed in agony, helpless as she bared her teeth for a killing blow.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop!\u201d<\/p>\n

With all of his strength, he threw his arms around the kitsune\u2019s neck. Her teeth snapped thin air. She wrenched herself forward, consumed by rage and the sight of blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll kill him!\u201d she roared, lurching towards Gin\u2019s prone body.<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo,\u201d he said, his fingers tightening on her fur. \u201cYou can stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her struggle eased, though her eyes remained locked on her victim. The kitsune\u2019s chest was heaving, her body drenched and muddied in his grasp.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d Shichi said, speaking against her twitching ear. \u201cLet him go.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, she simply stood, panting as she eyed her prey. Soon, her pulse slowed. He could feel her calm beneath his arms, lowering her head in cessation. His hands loosened, waiting to see if she would change her mind.<\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t. In an instant, Shichi turned to the nekomata. He paused \u2014 no great beast lay before him. There was only a cat, small and gray, lying unconscious and half-submerged. The monk knelt, carefully lifting the small body from the water. He was limp in Shichi\u2019s arms, his coat matted with red.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis leg is broken,\u201d Shichi said, treading back to the riverside.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Chiyo muttered behind him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat part of \u2018let\u2019s help him\u2019 did you interpret as \u2018let\u2019s nearly kill him?\u2019\u201d Shichi said, giving his friend a faint glare.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe attacked you! Would you rather he\u2019d ripped you to shreds?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2014 I mean, no,\u201d the monk stammered. \u201cI\u2014 we were only talking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd where\u2019s the egg? You didn\u2019t leave it alone in that clearing, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm,\u201d Chiyo said, now unable to make eye contact. \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi sighed, his shoes leaving a trail of wet footprints as he headed back to the forest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait, what are you doing? You\u2019re not bringing that thing with us, are you?\u201d Chiyo said, treading after him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I\u2014\u201c he started, then paused, his balance wavering. The kitsune ducked forward, moving just in time to catch him on her back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2014 I must have hit my head harder than I thought,\u201d Shichi said, squeezing his eyes shut as he held to her shoulder. His other arm cradled Gin, keeping the cat close to his chest. Though he had nearly fallen, he\u2019d made sure to keep the fractured leg steady.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly talking<\/i>,\u201d Chiyo said with a snort, supporting her friend as they moved on.<\/p>\n

With some effort, they reached the clearing. Shichi quickly set to work, placing Gin on a folded cloth before tying up his sleeves.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s displaced,\u201d he mumbled as he examined the broken leg. The bone had broken into two pieces, making his task all the more difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re fixing his leg? What about you?\u201d Chiyo said, sneering as she spoke. \u201cYou\u2019re bleeding all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about me. Why don\u2019t you keep the egg warm?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo didn\u2019t respond, only giving her body a hard shake. Droplets of water splattered through the air, several of them hitting the monk\u2019s face. He rubbed an arm over his cheek, giving her a glance of disapproval before turning back to his patient. Chiyo grimaced, first at Shichi, then at the egg. After a bit of pacing, she gave in, settling down with the egg tucked at her side. Her grimace remained.<\/p>\n

Shichi wasted no time tending to the fracture. Gingerly, he positioned the limb, making sure the bone was aligned before wrapping it in cloth. A set of straight sticks followed, set on either side to ensure it would remain even. Gin was sure to be in pain once he awoke \u2014 Shichi would have to prepare some turmeric to ease the inflammation.<\/p>\n

Finally, the bone was set, allowing the doctor to rest his hands. He let out a slow breath, wiping his sleeve over his forehead.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m done,\u201d he said, searching their bag for a bandage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about your head?\u201d Chiyo asked. She had shifted to her human form, using her fingers to peel their last mikan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a little concussion,\u201d he explained, wrapping the dressing around the wound. \u201cThe blood made it look worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, good. Can we go, now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose so. But someone needs to carry him,\u201d Shichi said, glancing down at Gin. The cat was still unconscious, his thin chest rising and falling with his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean you<\/i> need to carry him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the one who broke his leg,\u201d Shichi said, frowning at the white-haired woman before him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re<\/i> the one who had this stupid idea to begin with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, all right,\u201d Shichi said, raising both hands. \u201cNo more bickering. We\u2019ll settle this like adults.\u201d<\/p>\n

They looked at one another before Chiyo gave a nod of understanding.<\/p>\n

\u201cJan ken pon!\u201d they said in unison, pumping their fists with each beat. Chiyo immediately groaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe paper beats rock,\u201d Shichi said, giving her a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cheated! Stop smiling!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPick him up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, fine,\u201d she said, waving him off as she reached for the cat.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot by the scruff!\u201d<\/p>\n

Gin remained asleep as they continued. Shichi was thankful for this. He was certain Gin would be less than agreeable upon waking and hoped his concussion might fade before the nekomata could start hissing and scowling at them.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, they found a roadside inn as the sun finished setting. With both he and Chiyo in their human forms, requesting a room was remarkably easy. Shichi made sure to lower the brim of his hat as he spoke to the innkeeper, not wanting to reveal what was hidden beneath.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were right,\u201d Shichi said as they settled into their tiny room. \u201cIt is easier like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave I ever been wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlenty of\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cHere, take the cat, I\u2019m sick of holding him,\u201d Chiyo interrupted, offering the nekomata with her hands tucked under his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful, his leg needs to stay straight,\u201d Shichi said, easing Gin down onto a cushion. For a while, he simply watched the poor creature, taking note of his coarse fur and flea-bitten ears. There was only one thing he could think of doing and this might be his only chance to do so.<\/p>\n

With a washbowl, cloth, and scissors, he set to cleaning the cat. He trimmed the burrs and matted fur, scrubbing out the mud and dirt caked over his body. Little by little, Gin\u2019s coat began to show its true color. With gentle strokes, the monk combed him down, smoothing the fur along the grain.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d Chiyo said, her voice rising in irritation. \u201cThat\u2019s my<\/i> comb.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you rather carry a dirty cat or a clean one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather not carry him at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was then that Gin shifted in his sleep, his ears flicking in discomfort. His eyes were tightly shut, hinting at somber, unseen dreams. Shichi could recall the same sight from his own dreams \u2014 the cat\u2019s uneasy twitches and the simple touch his master had calmed him with. His hand lifted, hesitating.<\/p>\n

The nekomata shivered, letting out a weak mewl in his sleep. Shichi slowly gave in, reaching down to scratch behind his pointed ears. He moved gently, running his fingertips over the now-clean fur. Within seconds, the trembling subsided. The cat\u2019s breathing slowed as his muscles lost their stiff tension.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re fine, Gin,\u201d Shichi said, his voice as soft as the lamplight. The nekomata looked different after his cleaning, yet at the same time, terribly familiar. He was the same cat Shichi had seen in his dreams \u2014 the same who had lived a simple life on a simple farm.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to be just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Illustration by K. Ryan The clearing reeked of springtime. The air was warm, dotted with butterflies as they drifted from one bloom to another. The plum trees blossomed earlier than cherries, arching overhead in splashes of pink and white. 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-793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-two"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793","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=793"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1046,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793\/revisions\/1046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}