Ferry
: Higan Retour ~ Riverside View
The evening sky was painted with smooth hues of lavender and orange, creating a natural water painting. Clouds formed misty wisps across the horizon, bringing out the beauty of the colours. The many mountain slopes along the Sanzu River were barren and their tips could barely touch the lowest cloud. The River itself had a crystal clear surface which reflected every little detail of the scenery. Not a soul was seen around the river, leaving its surface perfectly still.
Ripples began to form as a small wooden boat began to drift across the surface. The shinigami with striking red locks in a ponytail on either side of her head was rowing her boat slowly, only paddling when necessary. Her scythe, slightly larger than her, was held over her back, the blade pointing towards her nameless and speechless passenger. She rowed her boat a few more times before she took a seat. It was going to be a long journey.
The soul waiting in her boat said nothing. After all, it had no mouth to speak with. It began to back away slowly as the descending scythe barely poked its wispy form until it could move no more. The shinigami heaved a weary sigh as she took a look at her surroundings. She knew that the journey to Higan was long and boring, but she did nothing to quicken her pace. She was well known for slacking off and causing an atrociously long wait for souls to be ferried to Higan from Gensoukyou.
As night transformed the sky into a solid navy blue, the moon became the Sanzu River's only light source, lighting up only a few of the countless mountains scattered around the River. The shinigami gave in to fatigue, despite not doing much work besides paddling, and decided to have a good night's sleep. The soul could do nothing more than watch her form snore softly and mumble from time to time about work and a midget boss.
At the crack of dawn, Komachi snapped her eyelids open. She took a deep breath and yawned as she stretched her arms and legs. Her forgotten scythe almost sliced the soul she was ferrying to two if it hadn't hastily dodged the sharp, deadly blade. Komachi lifted her scythe, her back still facing the terrified soul. The boat they were in ceased motion a few hours before she woke up, causing Komachi to mutter a few curses before paddling the boat towards Higan again. A few hours later, a red petal flew slowly with the warm, gentle breeze, settling on the calm river surface with a soft 'plop'. Komachi glanced over to the petal before rowing the boat past the silky scarlet form.
'We are almost there.'
Komachi directed her words to the soul, which was stunned for a short instance. Her gaze was fixed on the immense number of large flowerbeds which were lined along the riverside in neat rows. Flower petals of all colours and shapes danced throughout the air to the wind's direction, creating a nameless, yet spectacular show for visitors to Higan. Although every visitor in the past could not say anything, Komachi could tell that they were genuinely awestruck by the scenery in Higan. She had seen the same reaction unfold for every soul she ferried, and the soul she was currently ferrying was no different.
Komachi took in the sweet scent of the flowers and her lips broke into a gentle, serene smile. Even though she hardly bothered to ferry souls into Higan for their judgment, the mesmerising sight of the beautiful flowers were a good enough reward for her whenever she ended the journey to Higan. As the boat finally paused before the dirt pathway for the soul to follow for its judgment by Shikieiki, Komachi felt tears trickle down her cheeks as she yawned yet again. She got off her boat along with its passenger and took a seat against a tall cherry tree. Petals delicately followed the wind's path as Komachi's eyes slowly submitted to her laziness.