Disclaimer: CLAMP and Lilu Bennett created these characters; I'm just borrowing them.
- Part II: Cold Moon -
They had been asked to go to a house to perform an exorcism before the trip. The family that lived there kept hearing odd things. There were footsteps, things moved around on their own and once the daughter had felt something touch her, but nothing had been there. Lately it had gotten worse. It had started just with one bell, but the next day they could hear more. Finally, the daughter had gone to investigate the extra room and several bells began ringing. There was shrieking and running about, prompting the daughter to leave as quickly as possible.
The house they parked outside of was a modern two story with a small garden and a carport in the front. As they got out of the car, a woman stepped out of the house. She looked as if she was in her late forties or early fifties; and had on an apron over her dress and her light brown hair done up in a loose bun to keep it out of her face.
"Good afternoon," the woman said cheerfully, "My name is Yamada Naoko."
Kohane's mother introduced herself and Kohane and Mrs. Yamada led them inside.
The moment Kohane entered the house, she felt someone grab her arm and tug her to the side. She was looking at a girl with shoulder length, light brown hair and eyes. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail to the side of her head.
"Are you the one who's going to make my house less frightening?"
There was something familiar in the girl's aura, something she had interacted with.
Kimihiro-kun, Kohane thought. This girl has met him. They've spoken.
"Well," the girl pushed, "Will you make my house less scary?"
Kohane thought perhaps that was how the girl had met Kimihiro-kun, where he did his part-time job with the witch that granted wishes. This wish had yet to be granted fully. Perhaps that was why...
"I'll try," she replied.
"Good," the girl said, taking her hand and pulling up the stairs to her bedroom. "It's easier to talk here. Usually, there's less strange things here. My name is Yoshida Mako. Pleased to meet you." She bowed slightly.
Kohane bowed and introduced herself. She tried to think of what someone should do if they were supposed to 'make the house less frightening', so she asked, "When did the frightening things start happening?"
Mako looked at her curiously, "When? I suppose maybe a little while ago."
"What happened?" Kohane asked, "What was the first thing?"
The girl looked towards the door and then leaned closer to Kohane, as if to tell as secret, and said, "The end table changed."
Kohane nodded, hoping that would encourage her.
"My parents had a pretty end table in the hall made of real cherry wood. It had all sorts of intricate designs in it, like flowers and bamboo and things. My mom told me it was made by her great uncle or something like that, who lived in the country side as an artisan. He had given them the table for their wedding, so it was a sentimental item for her. I just liked that table. It was pretty."
"But it changed?"
"Yes," Mako continued, her tone conspirital, "I came home one day from school and noticed the table wasn't the same table. The table there now is new, with no designs carved in it or anything. I wondered where the table had gone, so I called, 'Mom, where's the cherry table?' But she didn't answer."
"Where was she?" Kohane asked.
The girl looked at Kohane with surprise, as if something had just become apparent to her. "Actually, I haven't seen Mom or Dad since the accident."
"What accident?"
"Some friends were over. We were supposed to be studying. My older sister was there – Mom and Dad were out. We had the entire house to ourselves, so we decided to play a game."
The girl stopped, her eyes glazed over as she stared at the wall. She clenched and unclenched her hands. Kohane could tell Mako was having trouble remembering.
"What sort of game?"
"Kakurenbo," she replied, the glazed look disappearing from her eyes. "Eri suggested it. Our house is older, but not old, so it has two floors. But it also has something a lot of house around her don't have - a basement. We keep our bicycles down there during the winter sometimes, with plants and other rubbish.
"I decided to hide down stairs, in the basement. My sister said it was a bad idea to go down there. It was too dark. 'So much better a hiding place,' I said. As I was running down the stairs..." the glazed look returned to her eyes then. "That's right, I tripped. And fell..." Mako trailed off.
"You fell down the stairs?"
"Yes," she replied, "When I woke up, no one was there, and it was almost time to go to school. So I got ready and went by myself."
Kohane understood now what had happened.
"When I returned, my parents were gone. My sister was there. She was dressed in black and was gathering things up. I asked her why she was taking her things from her room and she didn't reply. Then she started crying and ran away, out the door."
"She ran away?"
"Yes," Mako replied, and tears came to her eyes, "Why is this happening to me?" She picked up some bells that were laying on the ground next to her bed and shook them at Kohane. "That woman said that these would make the house less frightening, but they haven't at all."
"So things have continue to be scary?"
"Things move around my house. I leave them somewhere, and then when I come back, they're not there but somewhere else."
Kohane heard footsteps outside the room. There were two voices muttering in the hallway.
"Do you hear those?" Mako asked, terror obvious on her face.
"Yes."
"What is it? Can you make it stop?"
"I'll try." Kohane replied, standing up.
She walked to the door, where her mother and Mrs. Yamada were standing. "If it wouldn't be any trouble, could you please stay where you and be as quiet as possible?"
Mako's eyes had gone all wide. "You can see them? What are they?"
"Mrs. Yamada and my mother. They're talking."
Mako narrowed her eyes at Kohane. "Why can't I see them?"
Kohane sat down next to Mako and sighed. It seemed this girl was just as she had suspected, and very stubborn, too.
"Mako, where did your parents and sister go?"
"I don't know."
"What happened after your accident? Don't you know why no one was there when you woke up?"
Mako looked suspiciously at Kohane, but after a few moments, her eyes went wide.
"You don't mean that I... Why would I still be here if that happened?"
The young exorcist felt pity for the girl.
"Its a lie!" Mako hissed, "Why would my parents abandon me? If that had happened, then they would had a service for me. I would be in heaven right now. I wouldn't be here!"
The temperature of the room decreased immediately. Kohane said the words of protection softly to herself.
"Why is this happening to me?" she cried, curling herself up in a ball and sobbing into her shirt.
Kohane touched the girl's shoulder. "I don't know. But I can help you."
"You can?"
Kohane took Mako's hands in hers and recited a meditation she knew, something to calm the girl down. Mako listened carefully and seemed to relax.
"No one has been this nice to me in a long time," the girl whispered.
"I understand," Kohane said softly.
"I know," Mako said, and with that, faded away.
Kohane felt her go and stood up. She walked to the door, passing the two women.
"She's gone. This house will no longer be frightening."
Mrs. Yamada smiled at Kohane and thanked her. She invited her and her mother to stay to eat, but her mother made some excuse that it was impossible. The daughter paid her mother and they got ready to leave.
"Yamada-san?" Kohane asked, just before they were about to step out the door, "What was your maiden name?"
The older woman looked at her with some surprise, but replied, "Yoshida. Why do you ask?"
"Remember to light a lamp for your sister Mako this August," Kohane said, and slipped out the door, leaving the woman speechless.
There is water in front of me, lapping at my feet.
It is a river, I thought.
But I cannot see to the other side; its far too wide. There is a mist hanging over the water.
A breeze funnels down the river, catching my skirt and It swirls my hair around me, but brings in a mist from the water.
Is this near Umetsuki-en? Where am I?
I remember there is a stream that passes through that garden. Perhaps it flows into this river. If I find it, I'll be able to get back to that garden.
I walk along the riverside, watching the ripples in the water. It has an interesting color, as if it was that deep blue color the center of the sky gets when it is an exceptionally clear day.
There are beautiful irises near me, but of different colors than I've seen before. Some are the same sky blue color as the river and some are black as night.
There are fireflies dancing around in the bushes; bright purple fireflies.
There is something crossing the river, but I cannot see it.
I hear a 'splash, splash' on the water a little ways up the river from me.
Through the mist I can just make out a prow of a boat and someone inside.
I walk towards it.
Yes, it is a boat. A little silver colored ubune, the kind fisherman use in the south with cormorants. I think that kind of fishing is called 'ukai'.
A boy jumps out of the boat and ties the bowline to a nearby tree.
Is it only a boy who crews the ubune?
Yes. He is alone.
He looks tired, like he's done a hard day's work. Despite his silvery hair, he looks my age, maybe a few years older. He sits down on a rock and pulls out a bento.
I watch him eat his food curiously. I don't want to disturb him.
– Miss, come here – he says, putting away his bento and looking right where I'm standing.
– Come talk with me –
I walk towards him and he smiles as he stands up.
– I'm Tetsuya. And you are? –
"Tsuyuri Kohane," I reply.
He muses to himself - I know that name - then smiles at me. He has a very nice smile.
– Pleased to meet you. So what brings you to this place, Tsuyuri-chan? –
"I am in a dream," I reply.
– Of course you're in a dream. Where else would this be? –
I hear a voice from across the water. I cannot make out what it is saying, but it sounds familiar.
– Careful – Tetsuya warns, as if he knows exactly what I am hearing – That is dangerous –
"What is across the river?"
– That other place – he replies gently.
I think I know what he means.
"What is this river?" I ask, trying to make sure.
– This river is the boundary between 'this place' and 'that place' –
He looks at me almost sympathetically.
– There is another river, a stream in another place, that is the division between 'this place' and 'awake'. Did you crossed that stream in order to come to me? –
I'm about to say 'no, I came to see Koumi-san' when I hear the voice across the river, louder than before, more urgent than before and closer to the river.
I feel the urge to jump into the ubume and paddle across the water to that sound.
– Don't – Tetsuya says.
I can feel his hand on my shoulder.
I look at him. He is standing next to me.
I look down. I realize that I am in the water, trying to get into the boat.
He pulls me out of the water.
– Don't touch this water –
"Thank you," I say in haste, knowing he's saved me from something, but I know not what.
He and I sit down on a stone. I see that this stone was made to sit upon. Perhaps it was put here for Tetsuya.
We talk as we sit there. He asks me questions and I reply. It is somewhat peaceful.
– Where were you when you fell asleep? –
"In my mother's car."
Tetsuya looks at me again, almost sadly this time. He stands up.
– Would you cross this river? – he asks.
I nod my head, though why I don't know.
– I am the ferryman of this river. I will take you across – he continues.
He helps me into the boat, making sure I don't touch the water. Then he sits across from me and takes up the oars. They splash against the water.
I feel tears falling down my face.
Why am I crying?
– Tsuyuri-chan, what's wrong? – Tetsuya asks.
He stops rowing and pulls from his pocket a handkerchief and hands it to me.
– What's wrong? –
"If I cross this river, I will never see anyone again."
– You'll see those who have passed across this river before you – Tetsuya says gently – It will ease the pain you feel now –
"If I go, will anyone ever care what happened to me?" I ask through tears, "Will my mother even ... "
I know what her reaction will be. Perhaps this is for the best.
Except there is one who would care. Someone who understands.
I feel more tears.
Kimihiro-kun...
Tetsuya puts a gentle hand on my shoulder and says – Poor child, how can they continue to be so cruel? Not to you alone. –
He turns the boat around.
"Who are you?" I ask softly.
Tetsuya is about to answer me...
– Hey! – a voice calls from the shore, where we had just been. – Where are you going!? –
– Ah, Koumi-chan – Tetsuya calls back over his shoulder – We were just coming back –
– GOOD! –
Tetsuya paddles back to the shore. The moment the boat hits the sand, Koumi is next to me and has her hands around mine. She lifts me out of the boat quickly.
– Are you okay? – she asks with concern – Don't ever do that again. Do you want to never return home? –
I don't answer. I know that, for a moment, I had wanted to cross the river.
Tetsuya is hauled out of the boat by Koumi, who is growling at him and shaking him by the shoulders.
– You babo! You were going to take a living soul to the other side of that river! I knew you were stupid, I can't believe you could be that dumb! –
– Koumi-chan, gomen na – Tetsuya sighs, – Please stop shaking me. –
– Why should I stop shaking you, stupid! –
– Because if you do, I might be able to reach in my pocket and give you that gift I got you. –
Koumi shoves Tetsuya, knocking him over.
Tetsuya laughs at her.
– Not one of your better pushes, Koumi-chan. How funny you can be some times. Its so cute. –
He pulls out a shiny small stone and hands it to Koumi. It is shaped like a star.
– Tetsu-kun! – Koumi says, a little pink gracing her face. She tries to hide it from him and me.
– So how do you know Koumi-chan, Tsuyuri-san? – Tetsuya asks me.
"I met her at Umetsuki-en."
– So – Tetsuya says with another laugh – I almost ferried a baku guardian. How silly of me! I should have known better –
– Indeed – Koumi huffs – Still, I don't think Kohane-san is a baku guardian –
– You don't think so? – Tetsuya says, looking at me with a gleam in his eyes.
– I don't know – Koumi replies – What I do know is that Kohane-san needs to get home. This is no place for her. Its dangerous here for her kind –
– Well then – Tetsuya says, getting up from where Koumi had shoved him in the sand and bowing to me – I hope its no hard feelings about that –
Here, he motions toward the boat and river in sort of apologetic way.
"I wanted to cross the river," I reply, bowing back.
– I know – Tetsuya observes and smiles at me – I'm glad I didn't have to. It was nice to meet you –
"And you."
– Shall we go please? – Koumi says impatiently.
– Take care of yourself, Tsuyuri-san – Tetsuya says.
– Good-bye, Tetsu-kun. – Koumi says.
We are walking through the trees when we hear Tetsuya call after us:
– I'll see you again, Kohane, when you need to cross this river twice. –
We walk on in silence until we reach a stream.
– Why were you by that river? – Koumi asks, hurt in her voice.
"I just found myself there," I reply.
Koumi looks seriously at me – Kohane, if you get hurt here, it will affect you when you wake up. –
"I was fine after that monster attacked me last time."
– That was sheer luck. This is not just a normal dream. This is Dream. –
"Dream?"
– Luckily, you didn't cross the river. It is dangerous to go to that place when you're asleep. You might not come back. –
"I know," I state firmly, "I asked to go."
Koumi looks away from me, but for a moment I can see the pained look on her face. After a little while, she turns back. Her face is bright and very voice cheerful.
– Kohane-chan has to be careful in this world. But it doesn't mean that we can't play the next time you come here. –
"I think I'd like that."
Following the stream we arrive at Umetsuki-en, the shoji bright from lights within the house. I can hear the silver tinkle of the stream as it winds through the garden. Koumi steps towards the door, leaving me on the path, and smiles back at me.
There is a butterfly flitting above a flower in the moonlight. I look at it. It has a bluish color with large purple
"Wake up."
I wonder at the voice and look back at Koumi, but neither she nor Umetsuki-en are there.
"Wake up," the voice says again, "We're home."
Kohane opened her eyes and looked around the car. Her mother was a few feet from her, wringing her hands in exasperation.
"I've been trying to wake you up for almost ten minutes now," she said, "Are you alright?"
"I'm sorry, Mom. I must be tired," Kohane replied, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
Her mother still looked very upset.
"I'll set out dinner," she said, a tenuous smile on her face, "Then you should go and rest. It's been a long day, hasn't it?"
"Yes."
"You should get your rest," her mother said, "We're going to film in some town in the mountains ... Taka-something."
"Takayama."
Notes:
Umetsuki-en - I forgot this last chapter, I think. It means plum moon garden. The suffix -en in Japanese was used in the past for the actual name of noble houses, much like the English used 'manor'.
babo - This is a slang term in Korean equivalent to 'idiot'.
The author thanks Haine Asakura and Sutoori-oriko for their generous reviews. So they get a little gift - a preview of a future scene:
I should not be here. I have fallen asleep while walking, I think. Why did I fall asleep?
I do not know.
I look around me. I am on the side of a mountain, free of trees but with many wild flowers scattered in clumps here and there. The breeze is cold, maybe because it is night. I cannot see the moon. Where am I?
There is a sound above me, like the clattering of hooves.
I look up and see... I don't know what to call it. It looks like a goat, its horns and hooves being the same, but has a lizard-like head and mouth full of shark-like teeth. There is blood dripping from its mouth.
Now it seems me sees me and turns.
It is galloping toward me. I try to move, but cannot. Even if I run, I will fall down the mountain.
The thing is closer.
Closer still.
The hoofbeats are like thunder.
It pounces like a cat, hooves pointed at me.
I could feel someone pull me out of the way of the thing.
"You should be more careful, young miss," a voice said from above me.
The one who has saved me is a young man with dark spiky hair and sunglasses. He has an earring.
"Thank you," I say.
He pulls me passed the flowers, leading me through the rocks and grasping my hand a little too hard.
He stops in front of a cleft in the mountainside. There is a cave.
"This place is safe from it," he explains as he pushes me inside.
As my eyes adjust to the dim light, I can make out several shadowed forms moving around. My eyes adjust more and I see they are men and women.
People hiding from that thing.
I'll try to get the next part out sooner, so I can get to the end of the story.
And please review.
