Chapter 4: One Day Closer to Eternity

Bun Nyuh and Dongnam stood there in the doorway frozen. A large, malevolent aura hovered in the air, accumulating in a dark mass floating near the ceiling of the store front. For a second, as the street lamps lit up outside of her shop Bun Nyuh saw two glowing eyes staring back at her. Intuitively, she reached for something at her neck but realized her grandmother's peach wood bead necklace was no longer there.

That's right, she thought to herself. I threw it out.

Peach wood had spiritual effects that could nullify evil. Bun Nyuh was unarmed now, without any protection--not even that of her supposed "god." Both she and Dongnam took a step back.

"I don't suppose you're carrying a weapon or anything..." she ventured.

"Reapers carry no form of arms. Some higher Reapers and officials hold holy items, but most of us just carry scrolls and ink brushes. Our Chief is sometimes seen holding a spear or scythe, but that's about it.," answered Dongnam.

"I thought as much," she said. Bun Nyuh carefully scanned the room and thought she saw a long stick leaning against the side of a cabinet. She hoped it was the peach wood back scratcher she often used to scratch her toes from a sitting position.

"Keep him occupied for a second," she ordered. Dongnam gulped and took a step forward and started to chant holy sutras. He was a lesser Reaper, and so his words had minimal effect, but it was long enough to give the evil spirit pause as Bun Nyuh crept along to wall towards the target.

When she reached it she furrowed her brow and inspected the wooden stick. What is this, a tai-chi sword? Bun Nyuh asked herself. She then realized it was a wooden ritual sword, much like the ones she had seen her grandmother use for exorcisms. Bun Nyuh doubted its usefulness as she wasn't even certain how to use it. Upon closer examination, she noticed it was made of peach wood.

"This will have to do," she said quietly. Bun Nyuh looked up and saw the malevolent spirit staring straight at her.

"Oops," she grinned. "Did I say that out loud?" Behind the black cloud she saw Dongnam, looking sweaty and tired.

"Let's see what I can do with this," she smiled, surprised at her own bravery, or foolishness. Where did this sudden death wish come from?

The black cloud monster lunged at her and Bun Nyuh slashed at it with the wooden weapon in her hand. In her mind she could hear it screaming angrily but the cloudy, murky body reattached itself where it had just been severed and appeared whole again.

"Give me a body. I want your body," it groaned.

"Shit," she cursed. "It seems I can't cut a dust cloud with this thing." Their dance of attack and dodge continued for several minutes. Soon, she was also out of breath and sweaty.

"Miss Cho, you should escape while you can," Dongnam panted in between his chanting. Just as he said that, Bun Nyuh thought she heard whispering voices within the shop.

Don't leave us! cried out small voices from the hwatoo card deck sitting on the counter by the register.

He'll eat us for sure, said the soft female voice of the antique bamboo pillow, jookbuin.

Just save yourself, woman, you're no match for him, said the gruff voice of the fertility statue.

"Damn," cursed Bun Nyuh again. "I can't just leave like this."

She closed her eyes.

"Miss Cho, what are you doing?" asked Dongnam before fervently continuing his chanting to distract the spirit once again.

Deep within her mind, she retrieved a memory from her childhood. She had seen her grandmother perform a sword dance once. She remembered the steps. Bun Nyuh knew that she could not vanquish the monster on her own power alone. Just as her grandmother had called upon the Bodhisattva depicted at their home shrine, Bun Nyuh searched for the power from her supposed god guardian, Kang Rim.

I don't care who you are. I know you're still in here with me. You said our souls share the same space. We can't be separated. If that's true, you may be a god and I am mortal, but you are where I am. I am where you are. You can hear me, I know it. I need your strength. Lend it to me," said Bun Nyuh silently.

Her body began to move of its own accord. She opened her eyes and moved into the poses perfectly. Her silver bracelets and the spangles on her ears jingled as she moved, like bells. The malevolent spirit watched her, entranced. First, second, third stance. Her long skirt flowed and billowed as she danced in sync with her pony tail. Her narrow tipped designer boots eased their way into the spinning, guarded, and then pointed stance. Her body felt hot and saturated with power. She was surprised her skin didn't start to glow. Her thoughts slowly faded away and left behind the expanse of the cosmos.

Bun Nyuh did not resist him as his power began to shift, envelop her own and magnify it. She was not afraid of it and it felt very comfortable and warm. His presence was so familiar it brought tears to her eyes. The feelings were overwhelming and exhilarating. With one slash of the wooden sword she cut the dark cloud in half and this time it did not piece itself back together again.

The evil spirit howled in frustration. Bun Nyuh continued to slash at it and the pieces became smaller and smaller, slowly disappearing.

"Go in peace," she said, but her voice was not her own in her ears. It was his voice.

When it was over, Bun Nyuh fell to her knees and the world started to spin. Her body went surprisingly cold as the spell was broken and she could no longer feel his presence. Tears well up in her eyes again but this time for a different reason.

"I missed you," she whispered. Her face plunged for the tiled floor as she lacked the strength to resist the power of gravity.

Dongnam moved forward to catch her but he stopped when a lightning fast streak of silken fabrics and long jet black hair rushed into the store. Kang Rim caught her just in time and the last thing she saw before her eyes fluttered shut were two large, slender hands reaching out for her.

The antiques in the shop breathed a collective sigh of relief, as did Dongnam.

That was rather impressive, said one antique.

It's the first time I've seen her perform, said another.

"Thank you, Dongnam," said Kang Rim turning his graceful visage towards the Reaper, "for looking after her in my absence."

"T-twas nothing, my lord," said Dongnam prostrating himself before the God of Death.

"Why are you here?" asked his Chief.

"I..." he started. "She freed the soul I was supposed to take today. I had some time on my hands and I...I was curious. Forgive my impertinence, my lord!" he apologized.

"There was no harm done, but your team members are angered by your long absence."

"Y-yes sir! I'll return right away!" he exclaimed excitedly. Dongnam straightened himself up and brushed off his robes before bowing low from the waist. Just before the Reaper disappeared through the door frame, he glanced back at Bun Nyuh, lying limply in Kang Rim's arms.

"I think she misses you, my Lord."

"I know," said Kang Rim to the empty doorway.

-0-

Bun Nyuh opened her eyes to see the familiar ceiling of her antique gift shop. She yawned and stretched her body on the sofa situated behind the store front in the lounge and kitchen area. Bun Nyuh lazily turned over and dangled one arm over the side of the cushions. Looking down, she felt the familiar weight of her peach wood necklace. She sat straight up and let the soft blanket fall from her shoulder. In the air was the familiar scent of Mr. Yang's wonton soup. The beaded curtain separating the kitchen area from the lounge parted, and the familiar figure of her only employee approached her.

It was all the same.

His impeccable uniform of black and white. His long hair tied back with an ornate pin. The familiar scent of flowers and sweet incense that followed him everywhere. Kang Rim's beautiful eyes behind the thick layer of dark lashes stared gently back at her.

She was speechless. Bun Nyuh watched as he placed the tray of food down on a side table.

"Will there be anything else, Miss Cho?"

Looking at him for a moment, she felt her lip quiver a little and her tear ducts started to back up again.

"It's really you. You came back," she said.

"You called me. Should I not have come?"

"But I thought you...we...." she said faintly.

"The choice is always yours, anytime," he said cryptically.

"I see," she said looking away. "Then..." she looked up at him and bit her lip. "After you're done washing the other dishes, I need you to tidy up the store front. That possessed relic really did a number on my floor. Mop it up. Oh, and when you're done with that, I need you to fix the toilet. I think it's clogged again."

She thought she heard some of the antiques in the storefront snigger and gasp in astonishment.

"As you wish," he responded, and rolled up his sleeves.


Author's note: That's all I have thus far. I tried to keep it lighter, despite the constant theme of death. It's not much of a romance, but it is kind of romantic in a spiritual sort of way. I don't know if I got that point across. I don't really see the two of them becoming lovers, but I love the tension between them that tells the reader it could go either way, actually. I have Mr. Yang saving her a few times as well, and I was thinking if Lord Yomra should get into it. If anything, this story was written to satisfy my own curiosity on how far I could logically and realistically take these characters since the original author wasn't big on story telling. There are so many holes in the last volume that I thought this story could patch it up. Apparently, I may be the only Antique Gift Shop fan that feels so strongly about this. But I love this story. If I have time, I'll take it further.

-Kero (4/5/10)