{"id":802,"date":"2014-11-07T05:20:06","date_gmt":"2014-11-06T20:20:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=802"},"modified":"2017-01-14T02:50:36","modified_gmt":"2017-01-13T17:50:36","slug":"b2p11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/b2p11\/","title":{"rendered":"Book II \u5341\u4e00 Part 11 (Village)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\"chap11\"<\/a>
\nIllustration by K. Ryan<\/a><\/p>\n

Shichi had hoped once Gin was safe in their company, the dreams would stop. This hope was dashed as he drifted off into a series of bitter, lonely memories that kept him tossing through the night. It seemed being closer to the nekomata only intensified the dreams, ensuring a restless sleep for the monk.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, his cat-related issues did not end in the morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh! Aah!<\/i>\u201d came a cry from the other end of the room, startling the monk into consciousness. The moment he opened his eyes, Shichi wished he hadn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Gin had, unfortunately, woken before him. The cat had staggered into a state of panic, unsure of where he was or why his leg was in so much pain. He made a poor attempt at fleeing, only bumping his body before toppling down. There was a clattering as a cup fell from the low table, spilling cold tea onto the tatami.<\/p>\n

\u201cGin!\u201d Shichi said, holding up both hands. \u201cDon\u2019t move.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cYou<\/i>,\u201d the nekomata replied, his eyes snapping into a glare. \u201cYou kidnapped me! I\u2014 I won\u2019t let you. You can\u2019t keep me here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody kidnapped you, Gin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Chiyo said, rubbing a hand over her glazed eyes. \u201cWho\u2019d want a dirty old cat?<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not old<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou somehow<\/i> managed to break your leg by the river,\u201d Chiyo said, then jerked her thumb towards the monk. \u201cThen this idiot insisted on fixing you up and bringing you along. I told<\/i> him not to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomehow? You<\/i> broke my leg,\u201d Gin hissed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNice try, Chiyo,\u201d Shichi said. \u201cHe remembers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The kitsune shrugged, already weary of their conversation. Her attention shifted to their travel bag, nosing inside for some breakfast.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome to leave, Gin,\u201d Shichi said. \u201cBut you may have trouble walking. I think it would be best if you stayed with us until you\u2019re healed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need your help,\u201d the nekomata said with a sneer. \u201cAnd once I\u2019m healed I\u2019m definitely<\/i> going kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he spoke, Gin made another attempt at standing. He winced, lifting his injured leg before hobbling towards the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd don\u2019t think you can\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

Once again, the cat collapsed to the floor, this time crumpling on top of his own splint. \u201cArgh!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really shouldn\u2019t be moving so much,\u201d Shichi said, reaching forward to help the cat up. Gin swatted at his hand with full claws, forcing the monk to recoil.<\/p>\n

This was going to be more difficult than Shichi had thought.<\/p>\n

As Gin pulled himself upright, he took notice of his own body \u2014 his coat had been thoroughly cleaned, showing no trace of dirt or muck in his fur. He paused for a moment, glancing from his body back to the comb left on the table. The cat snorted once, then dejectedly settled back onto the floor.<\/p>\n

Shichi let out a small breath of relief. Gin may have been able to manage three-legged walking, but the bone would surely have been slower to heal. In addition, he suspected that spending some time with the cat would help them understand one another and, with any luck, come to some kind of peace.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have plenty to eat,\u201d Shichi said, looking to the bag between Chiyo\u2019s paws. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Chiyo and Gin said at once, both yokai narrowing their eyes at the monk.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s bad enough I have to carry him \u2014 do we have to give him our food, too?\u201d Chiyo protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2014 you carried me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d the kitsune replied with as much disgust as she could gather. The two took a moment to consider one another, then shuddered simultaneously.<\/p>\n

\u201cUgh,\u201d they groaned, turning away from each other.<\/p>\n

Shichi closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. It was a good thing he had experience with children.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

Somehow, Shichi managed to get the two back on the road without another fight. The group looked rather odd \u2014 a monk carrying an enormous egg and a scowling woman with an injured, fork-tailed cat. If he hadn\u2019t been so exhausted, Shichi might have laughed at the thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch it, lady,\u201d Gin said with an expression mirroring Chiyo\u2019s. \u201cDon\u2019t drop me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt must be nice being carried all the time,\u201d she muttered, adjusting her hold on the cat. Shichi immediately narrowed his eyes at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d she asked with an innocent raise of her brow.<\/p>\n

Shichi only glared harder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?<\/i>\u201d Chiyo repeated.<\/p>\n

Their exchange was interrupted by the clank of a guard\u2019s polearm.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, there\u2019s no passage through here,\u201d the man said as they approached. The road had been barricaded with a rope, preventing any travelers from continuing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen how are we supposed to get through?\u201d Chiyo asked, her features twitching with impatience.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll have to head back to the main road and take another way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019ll add a whole day to our trip! What is it \u2014 did a tree fall or something? We can climb a tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe village ahead has some kind of plague. You\u2019re welcome to take the risk if you\u2019re in a hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo stiffened, then took a slow step back.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, no. That\u2019s fine. That\u2019s just fine. We\u2019ll\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

She paused as the monk stepped forward, carefully making his way over the rope.<\/p>\n

\u201cShichi, no,\u201d Chiyo begged as dread began to fill her chest. \u201cStop!\u201d<\/p>\n

He ignored her, only continuing past the guard.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou come back right<\/i> now<\/i>!\u201d<\/p>\n

Again, he made no reply. The kitsune began to fret as the monk\u2019s form grew smaller down the road.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is he doing<\/i>?\u201d Gin whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing Shichi,\u201d she replied, deadpanned. Chiyo glanced up and down the road, shifting her weight from one foot to another before finally rushing forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait! We\u2019re coming!\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi glanced sideways as Chiyo jogged up to his side, a thoroughly jostled cat in her hold.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you two should stay here. I don\u2019t know what kind of sickness it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not staying here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gin looked uneasy, his eyes locked on the empty path ahead. \u201cUm, let\u2019s listen to\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. You can\u2019t leave this idiot alone for two seconds before he gets attacked by something or falls into a ditch or\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, all right,\u201d Shichi said, shaking his head. \u201cBut you\u2019ll need to be careful. Don\u2019t make contact with any of the villagers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to tell me twice,\u201d Chiyo replied, making a face.<\/p>\n

Even before seeing the residents, Shichi could see something was off in the village. A gray mist hung low to the ground, lurking between homes and shops. No children could be heard playing, nor were there any craftsmen selling their wares. The streets were empty. The rings on Shichi\u2019s staff chimed softly as he walked \u2014 the only sound in the lifeless town.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is everyone?\u201d Chiyo asked, the hairs on the back of her neck rising.<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s eyes drew over the surrounding structures. They were well-kept, yet lifeless. The doors had all been shut and not a single window was open to let in the air. It was just as well \u2014 the mist carried a strange scent, one of old iron and rot.<\/p>\n

Down the road, past an old shrine and a well, Shichi noticed a shift of movement. His pace quickened and the silhouette froze at the sound of his approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello?\u201d he asked, peering through the mist at the figure of a woman.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you?\u201d she asked, her eyes wide at the fight of two strangers. She appeared to be a teenager, her yukata dull and unwashed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should leave this village,\u201d she interrupted. \u201cOr you\u2019ll get sick, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, I\u2019m a doctor,\u201d Shichi explained. \u201cI wanted to see if I could help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA doctor?\u201d she repeated, her expression brightening. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

Her mouth hung open, forgetting the end of her sentence. The light in her eyes faded just as quickly as it had appeared and the girl looked away, her voice softening.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not the first. Medicine doesn\u2019t help \u2014 nothing helps. This village is cursed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCursed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not worth the trouble,\u201d she murmured, her dark hair falling over her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no trouble,\u201d he replied, shaking his head. \u201cPlease, let me see what I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

At first, the girl said nothing, only gazing quietly at the doctor. After a moment, her head tilted. She furrowed her brow, wondering if his eye color was a trick of the light. Realizing what had caught her attention, Shichi hurried to tug down his hat, once more covering his eyes in shadow. He unconsciously cleared his throat, wishing he hadn\u2019t been so careless.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can try if you want to,\u201d the girl replied after the silence lifted. \u201cBut don\u2019t expect to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi nodded, grateful for the mere opportunity. \u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis way.\u201d<\/p>\n

He and Chiyo exchanged looks before following the girl into the large house behind them. An old cypress tree grew alongside the structure, its roots tangling into the stone of the well. As the doors slid open the smell of sickness grew stronger \u2014 a fog of decay and perspiration. Shichi struggled to keep his hands from his nose, not wanting to offend their host.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father runs this village,\u201d she explained as she led them inside. \u201cHe invited many of the sick to our home. We\u2019re doing our best to care for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The girl gestured to the main room, where dozens of villagers lay on thin mats in rows. There were young and old alike, their eyes sunken and their hair matted. A square hearth lay in the center of the room, the faint light of the fire casting a deceptively warm glow on their skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo,\u201d Shichi started, passing the kitsune the egg.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot it,\u201d she replied, wasting no time backing out. The door closed behind her with a clack. Shichi was glad she complied. He was experienced in impeding the spread of disease \u2014 she was not.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy name is Shichi. May I ask yours?\u201d he said, removing his hat. The room seemed dim enough obscure his aberrant features.<\/p>\n

\u201cIzumi.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIzumi,\u201d he repeated, kneeling beside an elderly man. \u201cWhen did this start?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWeeks ago, right after grandfather\u2019s funeral. We all grew sick \u2014 everyone. Some are taking it harder than others.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou, as well?\u201d Shichi asked as he took the sleeping man\u2019s pulse.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. There\u2019s always a pain in my stomach \u2014 here,\u201d she said, placing a hand over her belly. \u201cSome days its worse than others. But I have enough strength to get by.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid anything \u2014 ah, anyone new come to the village? Before this started?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one. A moryo interrupted the funeral, but Father chased it away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi paused. A moryo \u2014 they were yokai, just as he was. They had the unfortunate reputation of eating dead flesh, often attracted to funeral services as they attempted to run off with the corpse. It seemed, however, the hungry yokai was long gone.<\/p>\n

For the next hour, Shichi went from one patient to another. He checked their vitals and symptoms, noticing similar ailments among them all \u2014 nausea, diarrhea, and the same terrible pain in the abdomen Izumi had described. The room was unbearably stale, with a rank humidity hanging in the air. He pushed himself to continue working; there was no time to dither.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems like a stomach inflammation,\u201d he murmured, wiping his hands with a cloth. \u201cBut it usually goes away on its own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s eyes fell to the swollen feet of the woman at his side, wondering what had caused the buildup of fluid.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI told you, it\u2019s not a normal sickness. It\u2019s a curse,\u201d Izumi said, her head low.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere has to be more to it,\u201d he replied, shaking his head. Despite having lived in an inn full of monsters and spirits for months, he knew the answer wasn\u2019t so plain. There was an explanation somewhere \u2014 he simply had to find it.<\/p>\n

Though Shichi was unsure of the cause, he was quite clear of the symptoms. These weren\u2019t difficult to treat, though he didn\u2019t have quite enough ginger for the entire village. He began to work with what he had \u2014 the few herbs he had purchased from the medicine shop along with whatever was on hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cIzumi, do you have\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s voice was cut off by the front door. It slid open, allowing in an older man with stark white hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cFather, you\u2019re back,\u201d the girl said, setting aside a stack of blankets.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is that?\u201d the man said, ignoring her greeting as his eyes locked on Shichi. He looked to be in better condition than the other villagers, though age had not taken him kindly. His spine was hunched, forcing his head down as he glared at the stranger in his home.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a doctor,\u201d Izumi explained, approaching to take the buckets of water he had brought. \u201cHe\u2019s trying to\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cTell him it\u2019s no use. He\u2019s wasting his time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe seems skilled, Father. We should let him try.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man scoffed, only rubbing his shoulder as he was relieved of his heavy load. His clothes were dingy and clung in sweaty patches to his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cPardon my intrusion,\u201d Shichi said, standing to greet the man. \u201cWould you mind if I examined you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said, a little too quickly.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI don\u2019t need a\u2014 a stranger examining me. I\u2019m fine,\u201d he said, waving the request off with a wrinkled hand before trudging up the stairs. Shichi sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry for his behavior,\u201d Izumi said, momentarily closing her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right. He must be feeling a lot of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she agreed. \u201cHe\u2019s been this way ever since the sickness came. Normally he\u2019s \u2014 he\u2019s quite kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi forced himself to look away from the stairs, returning his attention to the task at hand. One stubborn patient didn\u2019t mean he couldn\u2019t tend the rest of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I was saying,\u201d he said, picking up a wooden pestle. \u201cDo you happen to have any ginger?\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon, he had prepared a mass amount of herbs. He had never treated such a number of patients before and found himself growing dazed as he moved from one ailing villager to another. A young man groaned beside him, clutching his abdomen in a show of agony.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be right there,\u201d Shichi said, easing a boy down onto his back. As he opened his needle box, he could hear another person retching from the other side of the room \u2014 apparently they had been unable to keep the medicine down. Sweat beaded on his temples as he tried to calm the man beneath his hands. The air was starting to get to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease don\u2019t move,\u201d he explained, though the man didn\u2019t seem to hear. He made another moan, shuddering beneath Shichi\u2019s flattened palm.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d he continued, focusing on keeping his voice calm. \u201cThis will ease the pain, but only if you can lie still. Just breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a few shallow gasps, the villager managed to ease his cringes. He opened his eyes, looking up at the doctor with as much trust as he could bear.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Shichi said, pressing the first needle in at a precise angle. With practiced movements, he followed with the second, then the third. His patient exhaled, his eyelids fluttering as they closed. After a few minutes, his breathing fell even. The pain slipped from his mind, allowing him to weaken into the floor mat.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt worked,\u201d Izumi said from behind him, not hiding the surprise in her tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe should be able to rest now,\u201d Shichi said with a light nod.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill it cure him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid not. I only treated the pain, not the cause,\u201d he answered. \u201cBut don\u2019t worry. I won\u2019t rest until we find it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Izumi only looked away, her eyes falling on the dying hearth. Shichi knew what she was thinking \u2014 that there was no helping it \u2014 that nothing could cure the evil that had been thrust onto the village. He didn\u2019t push the matter, only steadying himself to stand.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to check on my companion. Will you be all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d she said, holding up a bowl of weak rice porridge \u2014 it seemed to be more liquid than not. \u201cShare this with her. We don\u2019t have much food, but\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand,\u201d he said, accepting the bowl with both hands. \u201cWe\u2019re quite grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo and Gin had taken refuge in the small shrine in the center of the village. Chiyo looked decidedly improper as she lounged in her human form among the kitsune statues, slumping on the altar as if it were a throne. She idly picked up an old offering of a rice ball, sniffing it before tossing it aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo wonder this town is plagued. Their offerings are terrible,\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least kitsune get offerings,\u201d Gin said, sitting on the other side of the small structure and as far from Chiyo as possible. \u201cNobody cares about nekomata.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s because you terrorize people and eat them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI-I don\u2019t eat people,\u201d the cat protested, his twin tails flicking in annoyance.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou tried to eat Shichi.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t going to eat him, just kill him a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow sweet of you,\u201d came a voice from the entrance. Both yokai glanced towards the door to see Shichi standing in the threshold with a bowl.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you\u2019re done already?\u201d Chiyo said, not bothering to sit upright.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot quite. I still have a lot of work to do,\u201d he said, shaking his head. \u201cHow are you two doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBored,\u201d Chiyo said, examining a piece of stale tofu before tossing it aside as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease don\u2019t make a mess in here,\u201d Shichi said, setting the bowl on a low table. \u201cThese people have enough trouble, as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, exactly,\u201d Chiyo said, not bothering to look at him. \u201cSo they won\u2019t notice if a few things are out of place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThank you. I brought some food if you\u2019re hungry,\u201d Shichi said, gesturing to the bowl. \u201cI\u2019ll check back with you in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe morning?\u201d Gin whined. \u201cI have to sit here with her all night?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can join me in the house, if you like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gin\u2019s tails flopped harder. He glared at the monk before curling up into an agitated ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well,\u201d Shichi said. He turned to leave, then paused halfway out. \u201cOh, and be nice to each other. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n

A moment later, he was gone, leaving the two to continue feeling sorry for themselves. The little shrine was silent for a moment before Chiyo glanced at the bowl of porridge.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to eat that?\u201d she asked warily.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Gin muttered into his own fur. \u201cI don\u2019t trust human food.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m not eating it. It smells funny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think everything here smells funny,\u201d Gin said with a sneer.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Including you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gin\u2019s grumbling was muffled by his own fur. \u201cI\u2019m telling him you said that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The moment he returned to the house, Shichi set to work on another batch of ginger tea. The air around the hearth seemed to tremble, blurring beneath the rising steam. Even after opening the windows, the room remained stifling. He shook his head, realizing he had yet to eat or drink anything. He tilted the lacquered water jug, yet only a single drop fell into the cup in his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cIzumi,\u201d he said, looking over his shoulder at the girl. \u201cWould you mind fetching some more water?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my job,\u201d came a gruff voice across the room. Izumi\u2019s father was halfway down the stairs, once again glowering at the doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cFather, I can\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not so old that I can\u2019t work anymore,\u201d he interrupted, lifting a wooden staff with two buckets. Without waiting for a response, he left the house, slamming the door shut behind him.<\/p>\n

The house was silent but for the crackling of the fire. Shichi turned back to the last pot of tea, filling a cup with the strongly scented drink. His eyes fell, losing focus as he gazed at the light reflecting from the surface. As difficult as it was, he had to keep trying. He had promised himself he would never stop again.<\/p>\n

Just as he began to grow lost in the reddish swirl of the liquid, his eyes caught a sliver of white. Squinting, he tilted the cup, noticing the shape move inside. After a moment of staring, he took a thin chopstick, poking through the tea before finally catching the peculiar shape on the tip. The moment he lifted his hand, it was quite clear what he was looking at.<\/p>\n

It was a hair \u2014 a white hair.<\/p>\n

It must have belonged to the girl\u2019s father. He was the one who fetched the water, after all. Yet, somehow, it didn\u2019t seem fresh. The hair was frayed and smudged, looking as if it had been dragged through the dirt.<\/p>\n

Shichi set the cup down, glancing sideways towards the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be back in a moment,\u201d he explained, taking a small lantern as he went. Izumi gave a nod, keeping her attention on the villager in her care.<\/p>\n

Night had fallen, leaving the quiet village swathed in black. Shichi\u2019s eyes adjusted slowly as he made his way past the cypress tree. Though the lamp was weak, the moon was full, giving him just enough light to guide him to the well. Unfortunately, the man was nowhere to be seen. Shichi lifted his arm, allowing the lamp to cast light over the trees nearby. Only darkness greeted him, leaving the monk puzzled in his place.<\/p>\n

Warily, he turned towards the well. It was of simple construction, made of stone slabs and covered with a sloped wooden shade. Weeds grew rampant around the base, clinging between the cracks like veins. He took a step closer, ignoring the chill running up his back. The evening was growing cold.<\/p>\n

Hooking the lantern on the pulley, he dragged the round cover from the lip of the well. A putrid smell burst forth, forcing him to stagger back in a coughing fit. It was worse than the rest of the town \u2014 worse than the house. It was the smell of contamination \u2014 of filth and feces.<\/p>\n

Something was definitely wrong with the well water.<\/p>\n

He shook his head, screwing his eyes shut as he attempted to ignore the festering air. With a hand clamped over his mouth, he moved back to the edge of the well to peer inside. All he could see was darkness. It was a deep well, deeper than any he had seen before. There was only one way to get a look at the bottom.<\/p>\n

Unhooking the small lantern, he held it over the rim of the well before letting it drop from his fingers. A ring of light swept down the stone walls as it fell. Shichi narrowed his eyes, watching carefully until the moment it hit the bottom with a faint spatter. The flame fizzled, then was swallowed by the murk below.<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s next breath cut into him like a blade down his throat. He stumbled away from the well, his hand clenching more tightly over his mouth. What he had seen \u2014 it couldn\u2019t have been \u2014 but no, it was. There was nothing else it could be. The bloated limbs, the strings of floating white hair \u2014 it was a human.<\/p>\n

A corpse.<\/p>\n

The water \u2014 everyone was drinking the\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you found my body.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi nearly jumped at the voice, twisting towards the figure at his back. It was Izumi\u2019s father, a wooden bucket in each of his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour\u2014 your body?\u201d Shichi asked, taking a step backwards.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe chased me all the way to the well,\u201d he said, his voice growing scratchier. He set down the buckets. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean for him to fall inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

The monk swallowed, fighting the shiver that longed to run up his spine.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s you,\u201d Shichi said. \u201cThe moryo.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man grinned, his lips peeling back over his teeth. His body hunched further, lower, his skin tight and red over his bones. His stare intensified, his eyes burning crimson through the darkness. Black hair began to sprout from his head, slivering down over his features until it dragged behind him on the ground. He was small now \u2014 tiny, like a child.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first I was upset,\u201d he explained, peeking through strands of hair. \u201cCouldn\u2019t reach that\u2014 that delicious body.\u201d<\/p>\n

The moryo took a step closer, his feet scuffling the dirt path.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut then?\u201d Shichi asked, his eyes flickering from one direction to another.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen? Then, hah, I noticed the water. Making everyone sick. Soon\u2014 soon there\u2019d be plenty of bodies. Plenty for me to eat,\u201d he said, parting his lips to run a tongue over his pointed teeth. Shichi took another step backwards \u2014 the rim of the well bumped his waist.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut now,\u201d the moryo continued. \u201cNow you know. You\u2019re going to tell them, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were bound to find out,\u201d Shichi said, his hands gripping the well\u2019s edge. \u201cThere\u2019s still time. No one will hurt you if you leave now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The moryo made a raspy snicker, taking another step closer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a shame,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2014 what\u2019s a shame?\u201d Shichi asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t be able to eat your body, either.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, the moryo\u2019s small, sinewy arms found the monk\u2019s chest. He grasped his robe with dirt-caked nails, toppling him over the rim of the well. Shichi plummeted down the shaft, putrid air whipping past his face until he hit the foul water with a splash.<\/p>\n

He broke the surface gagging, grasping to the stone wall with wet, trembling fingers. His head whipped back, looking up just in time to see the lid sliding back over the opening of the well.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said, choking, his heart thrashing inside his chest. \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n

The moonlight was a crescent, eclipsing into a sliver \u2014 thinner, and thinner, until it was gone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Illustration by K. Ryan Shichi had hoped once Gin was safe in their company, the dreams would stop. This hope was dashed as he drifted off into a series of bitter, lonely memories that kept him tossing through the night.…<\/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-802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-two"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802","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=802"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1132,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802\/revisions\/1132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}