A/N: Don't forget to check out FFN user Yuniran (tumblr user: nishiklno), who was the collaborative partner of this project!
Chapter One
"Mama?"
"Not now, Maki." her mother responded, only sparing a slight glance at her daughter before returning her attention to the open gash of the villager beneath her.
Although Maki was not squeamish, she opted to not look at the patient. "I'm going outside to talk with Rin."
"How long?" her father spoke up from the opposite end of their home, an abode bigger than most amongst the local folk. However, it always felt like a narrow squeeze due to amount of people that came in on a daily basis. It was hectic, with villagers and elders also frequently coming in and out between the ill in order to fetch medicinal herbs. There was never a dull or silent moment at the Nishikino household, but that was to be expected of the only doctors in the countryside.
"I should be back before sunset," Maki said, her eyes wandering to an elderly man walking into the house before turning her attention back to her father by the mortar and pestles. The elderly man briefly spoke with him over a small counter, and her father shared a smile with the old fool before sending him off with a pouch of ground aloe.
After the exchange, he raised an eyebrow back at her. "Make sure you're back before the curfew."
"Papa." Maki rolled her eyes. "I know the rules."
"Good," he said, breaking off eye contact and returning to his work. It was nothing new; they were extremely busy and rarely had time for chatting. It couldn't be helped, however. After all, Maki was to take over her family's role amongst the people, and witnessing the scene was the best thing in order for her to become used to it. She needed to learn how to separate feelings from work such as they did. She believed it to be quite honorable.
Without another word, Maki maneuvered her way through the handful of patients scattered throughout the front room where the makeshift cots and clinical tools settled along with the sick. Reaching the door, she almost bumped into a purple haired girl with a trading pouch on the way in before luckily managing to take a step to the side.
"Pardon me," she apologized before yelling behind her shoulder, "Bye Mama and Papa!" She didn't wait for a response when she knew none would come her way during such a hectic hour of the day, and she continued on through the square. Rows of small houses lined the small village, with only a small round clearing in the center of it all. There was a small stage constructed from wood in the middle, and it was often used for announcements and events.
She sighed as her gaze fell on orange hair, a familiar figure standing against the wall of the jailhouse. Rin Hoshizora was a lifelong friend, although the statement probably sounded less impressive due to the fact that they were only nineteen. But the girl was the only other one in the area that shared the same age as Maki, and she maintained fine qualities such as kindness and considerate optimism. Despite the fact that the girl may have been a little too energetic for Maki from time to time, her friendship was greatly needed and appreciated.
"I told you not to wait too long, but I'm betting you did," Maki said, shaking her head in disappointment when Rin responded with toothy, mischievous grin.
"I couldn't help it! You're always on time and I wanted to not feel late for once."
"So not feeling late equates to being extra early?"
"Yeah, nya!"
Maki blinked. "Nya?"
"I saw a stray cat!" Rin gushed, "It was so cute! It had the cutest mew, just like this! Nya!"
"Please stop that."
Wrapping an arm around Maki's shoulder, Rin smiled. "Fine, Maki! But are you ready for an adventure?"
"Where are we going?"
"I found a pretty lake inside the forest and –"
Maki's eyes widened, her brow furrowing. "You're not supposed to be there!"
"It wasn't far in, it was a fairly shallow find!"
"No." Maki shook her head. "I'm not going to go there. And neither should you."
With a pout, Rin whined, "But it's so pretty, Makiiii~"
Maki met Rin's puppy eyes with a glare before lowering herself against the wall right then and there. She crossed her legs and practically raised her chin before muttering, "We can talk right here."
"You're so stubborn." Rin smiled.
Maki blushed, shaking her head for a moment before glaring at her friend again. "And you're breaking rules!"
"Shush! We're right outside Ayase's office!" Rin frowned, sinking to the ground quickly and taking a seat beside Maki.
"Anyway," Maki cleared her throat, "how have you been today?"
They spoke for some time, the small talk a refreshing interaction between them on a daily basis. Rin came from a family of woodcutters, so her home life often felt disconnected just like Maki's. They found an interpersonal solace in one another despite the trivial things they spoke about and, although Maki was the quieter type, Rin was a good enough conversationalist that even simple hums of response were enough for her to keep going on about something. She never bored Maki, possibly because the chaotic atmosphere of an infirmary was weird enough to become used to and Maki craved a different sense of normalcy.
It had finally reached an interesting point in the conversation, after Rin mentioned that her parents were off in the forest for a weekend in order to get a large supply for an upcoming trading caravan, " – and so I kissed them goodbye and I think it's gonna' be possible for me to let that cat live with me for a few days!"
"I wouldn't be surprised if they let you keep it-" Maki shrugged. "- since your parents are so nice. They even kiss you on the way out for a short time and little things like that."
Rin blinked, suddenly confused. "Does that seem particularly nice? I thought most parents kissed their kids when either one leaves the house or whatever."
"No, not at my house. It'd just feel weird."
Rin smirked as she noticed a particularly vibrant blush on Maki's cheeks. "Kisses aren't weird."
"They're not important," Maki muttered, turning her head away and beginning to twirl a strand of hair around her finger.
"Says the person who has never been kissed."
"I don't need them! Romance is the last thing on my mind, I don't care to be a part of it or hear about it," Maki huffed.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, I don't want to be bothered by that sort of thing. It'll hold me back from work," Maki said, finally turning her gaze back to Rin. "Besides, can we get off this topic? I know you wanted to talk to me about something today, hence why you asked to meet up."
"Oh." Rin smiled, though Maki wondered why it seemed so sad. "It's actually nothing."
Maki raised an eyebrow. "Is it because I seem mad? I'm not, I promise. I'm sorry, you know how I get around conversations about embarrassing things. You can talk to me, Rin."
Rin shook her head. "It's fine. It's nothing important."
"Rin…" The redhead frowned at her friend's sudden withdrawal. As enthusiastic and peppy as Rin was, she had a tendency to avoid unwanted topics as if they were the plague. She was the type of person who would easily tell you anything and everything about themselves. Her favorite color, Yellow. In Maki's opinion, a bland color, but Rin argued otherwise. Her favorite food, Soba. They once attempted to make noodles themselves, ultimately failing on Maki's end. Even her zodiac sign, Scorpio. Rin didn't actually know that, it was more of a personal hobby.
It had always been that way. In an uncharacteristic turn of events, Maki would be the one to reach out to her friend of whom locked a part of herself away, hidden behind a bookshelf stocked with every genre of Rin Hoshizora. Every novel in the series lined up for display, save for the final chapter in which she was too afraid to show. Yeesh, and people called her stubborn.
"You wouldn't have called for me if it were 'nothing important'." Rin knew how hectic things got at the Nishikino household, how busy it was for Maki despite being nothing more than an apprentice herself. "Look, if I did something that upset you—"
"You didn't." The reply was delivered automatically, without hesitation as Rin lifted her hands near her chest and frantically shook her head as if to emphasize Maki's innocence. "It's not anything you did, really!"
While that didn't help clarify much at all, it was reassuring to know that she wasn't the cause of Rin's problems. "Then what is it? If you're uncomfortable, I don't want to force you, but..." Maki averted her gaze, taking note of the gradually waning sunlight as her voice lowered to a whisper that could've been mistaken for the wind. "I do care about you, even if it doesn't seem so at times. If there's something bothering you, I don't want you to have to carry that burden alone."
Anxiety crashed into Maki like a rampant horse the moment silence fell between them, trampling any shred of confidence she'd previously mustered to feed her reluctant honesty. The air felt hot and smothering, despite the day reaching its final leg— but maybe that was just the sweat accumulating on the back of her neck and the center of her palms. Geez, she was absurdly awful at this.
It wasn't until Rin formed muttered words that Maki remembered to breathe again. "Hey, Maki, we're friends, right?"
The question caught her completely off guard. "What's with that? Aren't you the one always calling us best friends?" The redhead poked playfully. Turning her head back towards Rin, she was met with a smile of which induced her own.
"Yeah, but… let's say I was different, in comparison to most other people."
"I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you're not exactly the most normal person around." Maki offered with a genuine grin, as if to ease any hostile undertones that may have gotten mixed in with her words. "But, what do you mean?"
The gears turning in Rin's mind were almost tangible as she tapped her chin, suddenly perking up to proclaim, "Like, if everyone was expected to grow tomatoes, but I wanted to grow eggplants, even though it was frowned upon by others."
Maki tiled her head, "So you're telling me you want to become an eggplant farmer?"
"Okay, maybe that wasn't the best analogy in the world." Rin admitted sheepishly, lightly scratching her jaw. "But enough of that, it was just a thought I've been mulling over for a while."
"Well, just know that I'll support you in whatever you do, even if it is farming eggplants. That's what friends are for… o-or something." Maki found herself twirling a lock of red hair around her finger, a habit she'd picked up over the years whenever she found herself in a nerve-wracking situation.
The sun's warmth gently caressed their backs as Rin chuckled, "Thank you, Maki. It really means a lot. But for the record, I'd totally grow radishes instead. My farm would be called 'Rin's Radishes! Pretty good, right? I just thought of it now. I'll be sure to bring you some every day!"
Maki felt herself cringe at the pun. "Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to eat radishes every single day for the rest of my life, I'll have to decline you on that front." The beautiful mix of colors in the sky served as a reminder of the fleeting daylight. She frowned at the thought of their leisurely afternoon coming to a close; a part of her wanted to shirk her responsibilities and relish in it a tad bit longer. "I told Papa I'd be home by curfew. It's almost sundown, you should return home as well."
"I'm not afraid of the night!" Rin punched the air a few times to get her point across, a determined expression across her features. It was revitalizing to see her friend back to her usual perky self.
Maki deadpanned, "You should be."
When it came time to part ways, the two exchanged casual goodbyes and Maki turned to face her busy home with a sigh. The Nishikino household was more towards the center of the village, providing easy access to those in need of medical assistance. Rin, however, resided further down the row of houses, on the edge of town where her family would have ample space to conduct their businesses. Yet, come to think of it, the other girl hadn't taken her normal route home today; she had gone in the opposite direction. Maki shook her head. Not even Rin was that foolish. Everyone knew the forest was off-limits, especially at night. She was overthinking it, Rin probably just had business on that side of town.
"She better hurry before it gets dark." Maki mumbled under her breath. The Nishikino Household was just as it was when she left: busy. Despite the significantly less amount of people running around, there were still a surprising number of patients waiting to be addressed. Maki's eyes were drawn to a group of men, presumably a hunting party due to their thicker, protective attire which seemed to have done little to keep them safe in the end. Blood stained tunics torn to shreds, the men held stoic expressions, their faces pale and their eyes frozen as her father assessed their wounds.
Upon noticing the presence of his daughter, the man turned and placed a hand on Maki's shoulder, his taller form efficiently blocking the injured party from view. "Go upstairs and get some rest Maki, I'm sure you've had a long day."
"What happened, Papa?" Maki questioned, peeking glances at the men like an intrigued child. "It's busier than usual tonight. Don't you and Mama need help?"
"We're fine for now. If we need you, we'll call."
Maki knew that strict, slightly annoyed tone of voice. It was the 'it's none of your business, you're too young now go to your room and do whatever it is you kids do these days'. She knew her parents sought to protect her, but damn, she was nineteen now, yet they still treated her as if she were a ten year old. The redhead stormed upstairs and into her dimly lit room which grew darker and darker as the sun sunk below the mountains. Purple stained the looming clouds as Maki's thoughts drifted to her parents, and to the conversation she and Rin had before. What would it be like, she wondered, to have her Mama and Papa kiss her goodbye before she headed out for the day? Acts of intimacy were never her forte, and even now, the appeal wasn't exactly enticing.
Speaking of Rin, the girl still hadn't returned home. Maki's attention was drawn to the window of her room which gave her a convenient view of the main pathway which her friend would have to pass through on her way back home. She frowned at the darkness that began to flood through the village like a smothering haze, blanketing the world with each passing second.
"This isn't normal," Maki mumbled to herself, feeling her heartbeat quicken with every other minute that Rin did not appear along the path. She knew that overthinking was unhealthy and that, often times, it could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings, but she could not help but feel deeply disturbed when an hour had passed with no sign of Rin. She bit her lip. "Maybe I just didn't see her."
However, even she could see how suspicious it seemed. Rin had never once taken the opposite way home in their years of together as friends, and the talkative girl hadn't mentioned anything out of the ordinary like she normally would when she had plans. It was more than merely suspicious; something was downright wrong. And, as she glanced toward her bedroom door, she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep thinking that Rin was in trouble.
Removing her nightgown, Maki hurried around her bedroom as silently as she could in order to change into a sleeveless black tunic and light brown trousers, as well as a pair of black field boots that her tutor once had her wear for hiking and learning to scavenge herbs. It was one of the few times she had ever traveled any amount of feet into the forest, and now it would be her first time doing so without someone's supervision.
She hoped that Rin would magically appear before reaching the border of the woodlands.
Blowing out the lone candle in the room, everything went dark. As she slipped through her bedroom door and made her way down the tiny hallway toward the front door of the house, she could feel her heart pound incessantly against her ribcage with every step past her parents' door. Although they were often too busy with work, they could still be strict and overprotective. Needless to say, they wouldn't approve of a rescue mission.
Maybe that was an exaggeration but, as she closed the front door and felt the weight of the night's silence beneath the moonlight, there was a foreboding sense of doom forming a lump in the back of her throat. The street, as they liked to call the wide stretch of dirt between homes, was still and empty in the subtle luminescence.
"Alright," Maki whispered to herself when she saw that the street was clear of witnesses. However, she still chose to move swiftly, making sure to stick to any and all shadows as frequently as possible. Curfew was strict, but not without reason. She continued on until she reached the line of trees at the perimeter of the forest, looking over her shoulder to scout before finally taking the first few steps inside. It was exactly as one would expect; leaves crunching beneath the soles of boots while the crisp night air consumed the world in silence.
Or so it seemed before Maki began to hear noises. They were faint, clearly further into the unfamiliar woodlands that she was often told could end her were she to travel within its maze. But, as her boots urged her forward, familiarity began to tickle at her ear. A definite giggle, one that undoubtedly belonged to the target of her worried search. Her pace hastened, nearby branches and foliage mere victims of her touch as she pushed and trudged her way to the source of the sound. Glistening moonlight began to trickle through the canopy as Maki neared the edges of a different line of trees. Beyond them rested a large lake, clear and blue with mountains teetering in the background of the gorgeous landscape.
"Are you surprised?" It was Rin, a figure that Maki was relieved to see standing beside a log. What drew Maki's attention most, however, was a female stranger that sat upon the log with a bashful smile.
"I'm really happy to see you," the mysterious girl said, patting the space beside her. Rin did not hesitate to sit down, a smile that Maki didn't know stretched upon Rin's face. It was genuine and brimming with a kind of happiness that Maki could see clearly, but it felt like a different kind. She ducked behind a bush, pushing some of its leaves aside in order to maintain a clear view of Rin and the stranger.
The two sat together with little space between them, their bodies leaning against one another as they faced forward toward the wide expanse of the lake. The reflection of the moon shone brightly across the surface of the water, even creating a slight halation around the silhouette of the two figures. Maki would have found it extremely picturesque were it not for the strange and concerning circumstances. Rin had traveled out into the depths of the forest to meet up with some stranger, a girl that Maki could not even recognize. The girl's clothes were absolutely foreign, simple garbs that covered the essential feminine areas in what looked like an old fashioned style of animal skins and leathers. Bangles and beads made out of stones, petals, and other leftovers of nature decorated her wrists and neck.
Just as Maki was busy observing the new person, Rin pulled away momentarily in order to speak with the girl, "Are you sure that you can't come by the village more often, Hanayo?"
"So that's her name…" Maki mumbled, speaking to herself as she watched the exchange.
Hanayo shook her head and frowned. "I'm not allowed there at all. You know that."
"I can assure you, it's not obvious. I can even get you some new clothes to make you feel more comfortable," Rin offered, though Maki wasn't entirely sure of the context.
"I can't," Hanayo said, her shaking voice portraying a sense of guilt, "but maybe with some time I can get permission to leave. I guess they just worry about control and if I can handle being alone."
"Take all the time you need." Rin smiled. "I'll be here, always waiting." And suddenly, in what felt like horrifying slow motion, Maki's eyes widened as Rin leaned in and pressed her lips against Hanayo's. The latter's eyes fluttered until they came to a close, Rin following suit as her head tilted to the right.
It took everything within Maki to refrain from screaming. She did not, possibly could not understand what was playing out within what seemed like twenty or so feet in front of her. Her vision seemed to blur as the girls' noses bumped against each other, their hands apparently desperate as they caressed and slid throughout one another's arms and torsos. A blush erupted across Maki's skin as she watched on with estranged curiosity, igniting a flame that traveled from her cheeks to a place she was not able to comprehend in the moment. It wasn't until Rin's hand traveled beneath the edge of Hanayo's cloth that Maki made an immediate turn and ran.
She couldn't help but question herself as to whether the second form had been a female at all. After all, as far as she knew, only men and women were allowed to act so intimately with one another. And even then, it never seemed so shameless. Her heart raced, just as she did through the forest, but she was not quite sure if she was on her way back home. The imagery she had witnessed moments prior seemed to flood her vision, blinding her from rationalizing and figuring out a safe way home. Instead, she stumbled and fumbled her way past trees and roots, a blushing mess that had surely seen something that was meant to be private between the two parties involved. As it was, Maki had been confused that Rin would have a close friend that Maki had never heard nor seen of, let alone even more bewildering to see them treating each other with physical affection. And she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at the strange sensation that had come over her during the act.
The sound of a snapped branch suddenly jerked her out of her internal hysteria, completely catching her attention amidst the all-consuming silence of the woodland night. She paused in her tracks momentarily and felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise at the unsettling crunching of leaves that came from behind her at what seemed like a quick pace. Breath hitched, she turned in place and could not make out the rapidly approaching silhouette within the blanketed darkness around her.
She had no time to scream as the figure swiftly came down upon her, striking her into unconsciousness.