-1 The busy marketplace settled as customers gathered their items and headed home for the evening. Shopkeepers eagerly counted their money hoping to make a decent profit by the week's end. The middle aged Higashi Takara stood at the entrance to his store, peering over the northern hill which overlooked the Kurobe Valley in Japan.
"Do you believe she will come today?" his assistant, asked. "She is usually here by now."
Higashi chuckled to himself. "Patience young man, she will make it today, she always does." He listened to the ritual clicks and clacks of neighboring store owners locking their doors.
Time passed on, and Higashi remained in the doorway. He crossed his arms, then turned to gaze at the sun perched upon the western oaks. "Don't you have school tomorrow?" he asked his assistant.
"Yes sir."
"Well, I should send you home now. Your parents will get upset if I keep you past dusk, and you've done well in helping me run the store."
"Thank you sir."
"No problem, I'll see you tomorrow." Higashi watched as the boy went home. He then closed his eyes while reviewing in his mind what he should do if she did not arrive.
Just then, a figure appeared over the hill. A grin immediately crossed Higashi's face, he scolded himself for ever doubting. He left the door open and went inside where he gathered all his unsold items for the day. He finished arranging a half empty basket of fish when he looked up and saw the silhouette.
"You almost had me worried Jun Kazama," Higashi said.
"I apologize for being late. Thank you for waiting." Jun put down the large bag she carried on her back. It was full of grain collected that morning.
"Go ahead and gather what you need," Higashi picked up the bag of grain and took it to the stock room. He left a new bag for her. Jun helped herself to a dozen fish, some eel, as well as some vegetables and fruits. As she strapped on the bag, Higashi reentered. The two exchanged glances for a few moments. Higashi looked at the young woman's soiled shoes and faded clothes. "How's the boy doing?" he asked.
"He had a fever earlier this week but today he seems fine," Jun replied.
"I have no doubt he'll be alright, the boy is strong, too strong for his age." Higashi lit a pipe as they stepped outside. "Is the boy still kept for while you're away?"
"Yes, though I'm afraid there will soon be no volunteers left. Rumor has spread from our previous home near the eastern mountains. The villagers are scared, few of them will have anything to do with my son."
"How bad are the seizures now?"
"They were always violent, but now I sometimes cannot control him."
"Why don't you take the boy to come stay in the city. They have good medical facilities in my district. Perhaps they can find out what's wrong with him. Doing this on your own...it's too much."
"I appreciate your concern, but the city is no place for us. I fear more what would happen to him there. These villagers still allow me live among them, and that is all I can ask for."
"They will surely cast you out. These people just happen to be more patient than the others. How long can you live wandering from village to village? You grow wearier with each visit and the boy lacks any interaction with common folk."
"If they cast us out, I will not resist. We will find another home in the countryside. The fields and forests of this land give me strength to live each day. Without them, my soul would faintly kindle. It is my desire that Jin would also find his peace here."
"Very well," Higashi brushed his hands through the thinning hairs of his head. "I trust you're doing what's right for you and the boy. But please, if there's anything else I can do for you, let me know."
"I'll be sure to do so." Jun replied.
"And one more thing," Higashi added, "be on time next week, I'll be expecting you as always." The two friends exchanged a mutual smile, and then parted.
Jun trekked along the dirt path towards her home. It had been an hour since she left the marketplace, and yet, she refused to stop and rest, ignoring the plight of her straining muscles. She reached up to adjust her sweat drenched headband and took notice of the moon above the clouds, her guiding light along with the fireflies, beacons in the tall grass. The damp air formed droplets on her toned arms as she lugged her food sack across the landscape. A smile grew on her face as Jun considered her son Jin. No matter how bad things were, he always found a way to remind her why she was so fortunate. Everything about him filled her soul with sunshine.
Jin would be especially happy tonight, she had plenty of salmon, his favorite. The summer festivals had begun, and even though they would be celebrating alone, she wanted these days to be special. Jun continued onward, traversing a short bridge, then taking a turn which lead her to a wide, wooded juncture. Jun looked ahead and noticed four male figures lingering on the side of the path. As she drew near, the smell of alcohol stung her nose. She kept her gaze forward as she brushed past the bystanders.
"Hey lady," one of the men gabbled, "aren't you the mother of that crazy boy? He don't belong here, why don't you take him and toss him off a cliff? That way you can better enjoy our company." Hoarse laughter broke the night silence.
Jun steadied on with disregard, home was just a few miles away, and a quicker pace would get her there sooner. The path ahead of her narrowed while the trees gathered above; their stark roots crept along her feet. The peering eyes at her back approached with menacing steps, carefully tracking their prey.
"I think I like the silent type," the man croaked. He charged towards Jun, knocking her completely off balance. The weight of the bag pulled her forward and she stumbled head first into the ground. She slowly recovered and looked at the bag beside her, which lay open with a torn strap. She stepped over the scattered food to face the four attackers as they candidly gazed upon the rations.
"Leave now and I will forgive you," Jun's face hardened. The bandits' greed drove them eagerly forward. The first man shot out his hand and grasped Jun's arm. He reached his other hand for her throat, but was met by a cold elbow. He clasped his broken face as he staggered backwards. The three friends wildly stared at their injured comrade and then, in a drunken rage, rushed at Jun. She wove through the attackers with grace, a dance of fists and feet, striking her opponents at will. The first man ran at her again, swinging a sharp edged stick. Jun evaded the strikes, and dodged the weapon with a well timed crouch. The man slashed his friend instead, who cursed and then sunk down in agony. Before he knew what he had done, the man was kicked in the back of the head, and he fell unconscious. The others got to their feet and scurried off with some of the fish. Jun hunched over the torn sack. She scavenged whatever was left and then slung the remaining strap around her arm. She then ambled up the solemn path, only this time, more slowly. Thunder then sounded, and it rained.
Jun entered the village where her home sat isolated on the far end. She trudged up the hill with houses on either side, latched shut and silent, as looks of disdain and terror pierced out from the windows. The surrounding trees drooped from the force of the falling rain, their leaves flew off in the gust, only to settle strewn about the earthen floor. As she approached the entrance to her house, Jun's ears caught a faint whimpering voice that seemed to echo from within. She stepped inside and froze at the scene before her. Inside was complete destruction and mayhem, the home was wrecked. Water trickled in through the roof, and there was a large gaping hole in the wood-thatch wall. Jun dropped her sack and moved towards the far corner where a female sitter lay curled. Blood pounded in her throat as she met the woman's frightening glare.
"What happened? Where is Jin?" Jun cried.
"B...black feathers, black feathers!" the woman motioned her deeply scraped forearm towards the drenched floor covered in blood and feathers.
Jun scrambled towards the broken wall and saw a series of muddy steps leading into the forest. "Stay here," she commanded.
"Don't go…please, Jun, your son, he's…changed," the woman pleaded.
"I must find him," Jun leaped out and followed the trail into the darkness. She ran endlessly through the woods, calling her son's name. Flashes of lightning illuminated the forest, revealing additional tracks each time. Jun's staggering pace soon became a jog, then a trot, and then a lumber as her lungs burned with exhaustion. She then stopped altogether to regain her breath. Her deep wheezing was drowned out by the booms of thunder. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, a shadow descended upon her. Jun turned around and screamed in terror.
