Underwater Savior

Chapter 4: The Lonely Dragon Losing His Heart.

by LadyRainStarDragon

Not mine. I can only wish. If you've seen the movie, then you know which characters aren't in it.

Under the light of the moon, the young river Kami strode up to the unassuming house beside the river. Here lived his Priest, though he still saw no need of one. It had been a very long time since anyone had needed to offer tribute to him. A few of the old families still did, true, so perhaps it was they who felt the need. At any rate, tonight he would be glad to talk out his problems. A friend and confidante who was not obsessed with women was what he needed this night. A slender hand reached out to tap the door, seeming to glow with the moonlight.

The door was duly opened, the man's eyes widening slightly at seeing who his late night visitor was. Quietly, he beckoned him in, dark hakama shifting along with white haori with the gentle movement. In the light from an oil lamp, salt and pepper hair was revealed, as well as a face beginning to show the wear of the years. Closing the door behind, the Priest motions for silence, creeping across the small main room to peek through a door held just ajar. Nodding sagely, he silently shut the door once more. Indicating two cushions on the wooden floor he finally broke the silence.

"Please, have a seat. Forgive my rudeness, but I wished to check on my granddaughter without disturbing her sleep."

Kohakunushi snapped to attention. This was entirely unexpected. Shouldn't she be with her parents?

"Why is she not with her mother and father?"

Koji sighed. "They had another fight, and both left the house to think. Akio brought her here to be taken care of. He thought the quiet would be better for her after her experience today. The only other alternative would be the Tanaka's, and then neither of the girls would go to sleep."

"I see."

"I assume you did not come here just to check on Chihiro. There is something pressing on your mind, is there not my Lord?"

The door that Koji had shut so carefully inched open, and the girl in question toddled out. Glaring pink suit pajamas scorched the Kami's eyes, but still she toddled on. The pair of men watched as the girl entered the kitchen and strove to reach the faucet. Finally, in her desire she pushed over a chair. Having finally managed to win the coveted spout of water, the shrine-child saw that there was no glass for her to drink from. Kneeling carefully on the sink, she allowed the water to flow into her cupped hands, and drank that way. Smiling a sleepy smile, the turned off the water and replaced the chair to its proper position.

The child continued to her door, paused a moment to stretch and yawn, then she went in. The door shut behind her, then there was a thump as she went to flop on her futon. The thump was a little too loud though, and both men found themselves rising to check on the child. What they found was Chihiro, sound asleep on the floor just within the passage of the door, nowhere near her futon.

"Is that a normal occurrence for her?"

"No, she almost never sleepwalks. Must have been quite a day, falling into a river and all."

Koji smirked at the Kami, an eyebrow rose in question.

"It must have been."

Silence fell between them, and the Kami found himself the one moving first to carry her to her futon and cover her. A strange feeling to him, having only played with children, never providing care save for medicines on occasion. The strange feeling within his heart grew and warmed. Perhaps he would someday like to care for more young in this manner. For now, it was enough to care for this being.

The men left the child's room, shutting the door once more.

"That's love that you are feeling."

The young god raised an eyebrow, a signal for continuance and explanation.

"I saw it fill your eyes and light your face as you held her. It makes the eyes grow bright and the chest warm. Love fills the mind and even as it ebbs, the echoes still fill any being that has ever felt it."

The Kami fell into deep thought. A frown marred his face.

"So that's not all that is bothering you. If you tell someone, it often makes the burden seem lighter."

"I had that dream again, but this time, upon waking, the name I roared wasn't Tama's. I roared for Chihiro. Tama was there in the dream, but upon waking, it was Chihiro."

"Do you think this a premonition, or perhaps just the result of what could have happened if not for you to Chihiro."

"I don't know Koji. I just don't know."

Koji produced tea from a table in the corner of the room which Kohakunushi had not noticed.. They drunk the tea in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Strange how such a solemn mood could lie between two friends, when just on the other side of a thin door, a child lay sleeping. The child could dream the dreams of children while a Priest worried about a god, and said Kami was worrying about his charge. Said Kami felt very old and lonely at this time

"Koji, may I stay here tonight?"

Koji understood where the Kami was coming from. He often was lonely as well. It was a problem that came with age, the young setting aside the old in this new time of progress.

"Of course, I will bring out another futon and blanket. Will you be by the mini-shrine tonight, or would you prefer to be near her door?"

"Near her door."

Indeed, that is where he stayed that night. Sleep eluded him after his nightmare, but he could still rest hearing her soft breathing through her door. He would be there to protect the little pearl from whatever may befall during the night. To calm his nerves, he produced his flute and began playing an ancient lullaby which few even remembered the words to now. Though sleep would elude him, he could bring enjoyment from the sweet dreams the young child would have. That would be enough, to watch over her as he had her ancestors and would with her descendants.

Above the unassuming house, the pale stars glimmered, while the river murmured as it ran by.