"..." Normal chat.
ABC Thought.
- Dreaming about our future, I can see everyone's happiness except for my own -
Chapter 47
As decided, Konaha has to leave Haru in Kasenada's care for days. And while the little fox is being held captured, or at least Konohana think that he is, she would visit him whenever she is free. Also not forgetting to threaten the life of every other people who are residing at the shrine to not touch Haru before leaving.
"Are you perhaps Haru's mother?"
Amused to find the Kyuubi no Kitsune showing this much of emotion and attachment to another being, Kasenada asks her as this is the fifth times she has come by to supervise him.
That's none of your concern."
Despite always having her guard up and keeping a good distant from this sneaky monk, he still manages to start some small conversations with her, mostly to gain information about Konohana and Haru, whenever possible. Much to the nine-tailed fox's irritation.
"My apologize."
However instead of cowering in fear, or at least avoiding her face like anything and anyone would, the guy just nods and smiles to her shamelessly.
"Never mind that. How much longer does Haru have to stay here?"
"About a week more or so."
Tch! If that boy had listened to me from the beginning and be more serious about working on physical training, his body could have a better regenerative ability and been fully recovered by now!
Konohana clicks her tongue then turns to Kasenada. Telling him to look after Haru carefully one last time before leaping into the air and flies away.
"Have a safe trip."
Kasenada bids her goodbye from below, watching the nine-tailed fox demon leaving the shrine without turning back.
Just like that, a week goes by and much to everyone's joy. The little fox condition finally gets better once showing some positive results by talking and eating normally.
In the following noon.
"How are you feeling now?"
Putting a hot bowl of newly brewed herbal medicine onto the table near the patient's bed, Kasenada asks the little fox and starts checking the wound on his back. Sighing in relief to see that there is no more blood and new skin is gradually forming.
"Is it still hurt?"
"Not as bad as before, thank you Kasenada-sama!"
Haru answers excitedly and the monk smiles to him, patting his head gently. "That's good to hear."
Just then Haru hears a rustle coming from the garden, which is just right outside his room, and soon he notices his utmost beloved person lands on the ground from the sky. Walking toward to this direction and the boy calls out to her.
"Mama!"
However instead of welcoming him with open arms like he has expected her to be, Konohana pinches his cheeks hard to remind him about the addressing matter, which they have been working on for a while already and still no progression.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Mama! It's Konohana-sama!"
"Owie. I'm sowwie, Konohana-sama."
Haru yelps in pain and struggle in her hands. It's not until he has to fix the name calling correctly that she finally releases him from hell.
"Please be easy on him, Konohana-sama. Haru's body is still weak."
Kasenada reminds her about the boy's condition and she scoffs, shifting her head away.
"Hmph! I don't remember ever allowing you to say my name so casually."
"Ma-" Haru immediately shuts his mouth once sensing Konohana's glare. "I-I mean, Konohana-sama. How's your day?"
Sitting on Haru's bed and crossing her legs, Konohana recalls to her business trip in the morning.
"Nothing much. I just heard from the Tanuki that there appears to be a fearful Inu Daiyoukai clan, which is rising in numbers inside this western land, so I went to their place to check. Though it turned out they were not that much of a threat." (Tanuki: Japanese racoon dog)
Inu Daiyoukai in this area, she said?
Kasenada frowns once she mentions about the demon dog's race, whose movements he has been studying on for quite a long time now. And despite wanting to ask the nine-tailed fox demon for more info about them, he decides to stay silent and continues listening to their conversation. Thinking that it's not yet time to do so.
"Even so, they must be really tough to be titled as fearful. Right?"
Haru responds to her story excitedly, his eyes start to sparkle.
"Nope, but still strong enough to kick you butt easily."
Konohana smirks and flicks the boy's head.
"Ow! So mean!"
"Shut up! I still haven't punished you for what you did! All of this happened was because you disobeyed me!"
She scolds the little fox for leaving their house without her permission. Just to search for a certain place that he had found just some days ago, contained several rare herbs which were mentioned in a damn medical book. If she had figured out who or what gave him this cursed thing, she would have eliminated him/her/it right off the spot.
"But I wouldn't be able to improve my skill if I didn't go..."
The boy mutters, holding a worn out notebook closer into his chest and hiding it away from her reach.
This medical notebook was originally coming from an old man, who was studying on herbal medicine and one day got lost deep within a forest. It was all thanks to Haru the little fox demon, whom he met in his desperate moment, agreed to help him that the old traveler was be able to make his way home safely. In the end, he gave Haru his notebook as a gift of gratitude.
And ever since then, this object is considered to be his treasure and being well hidden from everyone, especially Konohana. Because she would never allow him to practice on something so trivial. Although it seems that his secret has already been exposed by now, because of that damn panther.
Months ago.
"What is an old man like you doing alone in this forest full of dangerous animal and Youkai anyway?"
A curious Haru asked the human he just met once they got into the main road.
He smiled and showed the little fox his basket full of different type of herbs.
"You see, there are so many type of rare, important herbs residing inside this very forest. In order to save people's life, I had to take a risk."
Haru's head tilted, holding a bunch of leaves inside his palm.
"How would these things be able to save anyone?"
"Give me your hand, the injured one."
Somewhat is confused by the man's request but obliged anyway, the boy showed him his hand, which had gotten swollen up quite a bit after being bitten by a bug back at the forest, and he frowns.
"Hmmm..."
After observing the wound for a moment, the old man began to search for the suitable cure inside his bag. Once done treating, he offered Haru something similar to red cherries.
"Now take a bite into this."
"So bitter!"
Haru yelped by the bizarre taste after chewing and tried hard not to spit them out. Half of an hour later or so of resting, the dizziness and fever feeling had somewhat eased down.
"Wow! How do you even know any of this?"
Needless to say Haru's surprised. Since it usually took more time to recover when it came to these kind of injuries.
"All coming from experiences and I already have everything written right here."
The old man showed Haru the notebook that he's almost finished working on, and after having a quick scan on the old pages. The boy was instantly captured by the incredible knowledge he had never seen before and couldn't get his eyes out of it.
Intrigued by the little fox's reaction, the man decided to give Haru his notebook as a present. Hoping that one day it would become in great use for the boy just as how it had helped him before.
At night on the same day.
"Why would a youkai learn to become a herbalist? Don't be ridiculous!"
That was Konohana's response when Haru first tried to convince her to let him practicing on medicine.
"What you should be focusing on right now is enhancing your power to become a Daiyoukai like me in the future. Not playing with those useless leaves!"
"I don't like solving every problem with fists. They don't suit me at all."
Even so Haru didn't give up that easily, he had already tired of dealing with muscles ache and bruises every day.
"Us youkai don't just die because of physical injures, they are being killed by diseases and poisons too! If I successfully become a healer, I will be able to save them!"
"How to save someone else life when you can't even save yours?!"
However, Konohana refused to consider his feelings and keened on turning Haru into an ideal nine-tailed fox. Fear to no one and be feared by many.
"Beside you will get used to those training in no time. Tomorrow morning you will have to come with me for another energy control lesson. No more slacking off and excuses!"
"But mama, I...!"
"No but! And it's Konohana-sama, not mama!"
Their conversation ended abruptly when Haru received a hit to the head from Konohana.
Back to present.
After Haru finishes his herbal medicine and requires some time alone to rest, Konohana decides to take her leave.
"Why should not Haru be calling you mother? Isn't he your son?"
Following the nine-tailed fox up to the hallway to see her off like any other time, Kasenada asks Konohana as she's about to leap into the air.
Irritated for once again being questioned about her private life, which no one, especially a human, should be concern themselves with. Konohana scoffs.
"Is butting into other people's business always on your have-to-do list?"
If it wasn't because he saved Haru's life and is right now treating him, she would have already wiped his existence off the earth long ago.
"You can say that I worry for the little's one feeling." He calmly responds. smiling to her.
When staying here, Haru usually tells Kasenada stories about their lives from the outside. About what he loves to eat, or what kind of activities he would normally do to till the end of the day.
Although not much about Konohana's daily routine is mentioned, except that she would be leaving the house a lot for unexplained situations, whether it's day or night. While he has to stay at home to wait for Konohana for most of the time, and is only allowed to go out if she is there with him.
From all of their conversations, Kasenada notices that Konohana is always addressed as *mama* every single time she's spoken of. And the boy would never hide his smile whenever expressing his affection and admiration for the fearful nine-tailed fox demon.
"Mama isn't as terrifying as everyone says, in fact she is very gentle. I'm telling you!"
Kasenada recalls to what Haru said to him last night. And from those pure brown eyes, he could see that the little one was not lying. It's interesting to learn about this considerate, merciful side of Konohana, who is forever believed by many races to be ruthless and cruel.
"It's just that mama's quite strict and the way she acts easily scares people off."
True to his words that whenever the nine-tailed fox was here, Haru had to restraint himself to address her as his mother or he would end up getting smacked on the head. While whoever tried to approach or only wanted to talk to her, Konohana would instantly bare her fangs to shoo them away. It did not matter whether that person coming with a good or bad intention.
"Is there any specific reason that you are not allowed to call her mama?"
He asked Haru but the boy only smiled sadly and stared at the blanket below him. Not speaking any more word after and Kasenada had no choice but to let the question fade away into the void.
Why does she not wanted to be recognized as one that much? Is there something more about their relationship that I have not known of?
For some reasons the image of Haru's distress expression that night and those unanswered questions keep on haunting in his mind. So much to the point that Kasenadae can no longer ignore this matter even if he wants to.
"We are not blood-related. Is that clear enough for you?"
After a long moment of consideration, Konohana finally responds to his question and walks off. Much to his surprise.
"You mean Haru is adopted? Then what happened to his real parents?"
Kasenada quickly follows the woman's steps, hoping to learn more about the boy's identity. However what he receives from her is not an answer, but a warning.
"You asked too much, human. Trying to interfere into our lives more than you already are right now and I will slice your head off. Got that?"
Konohana snarls and stomps away. Leaving the monk behind with even more doubts and entangled feelings.
At night.
"There is another reason behind your determination to become a healer, isn't there?"
Having a feeling that Haru's strong desire to become a healer doesn't simply coming from hating violent, Kasenada asks him.
"So you figured."
Hearing the monk's accurate statement, Haru lowers his head.
"Is it for your mother?"
"Yes."
The boy nods, recalling to those horrifying moments in the past when Konohana often coming home heavily injured, the results of engaging in tough battles with others Daiyoukai. And Haru couldn't do anything but crying, helplessly watching her suffered.
Fortunately, Konohana's regeneration power was strong enough to save her life countless times. And she would become as good as new a day later, as if nothing had happened.
Even so, Haru wants to at least be able to ease her pain while she's recovering. Despite Konohana's utmost objection and knowing full well that she is not going to be needing any of it.
Moved by the little fox demon's kind heart, Kasemada pat his head gently.
"Tell me, Haru. What do you think about becoming my apprentice?"