"A High Price"
As he stared at the empty futon Doumeki felt a hand lightly grasp his shoulder. It was tentative, apologetic, but with just enough force to encourage him back to reality. He turned. It was Yuuko.
"He asked you to help him. He begged you." Doumeki's voice was dangerously low.
"I know," she bowed her head. "but there is nothing I can do. It's up to you, Doumeki-Kun. Will you go?"
Doumeki nodded. In his mind there was nothing he wouldn't do for Watanuki, but as was the cruel way with wishes, sometimes what you need to pay demands far more of you than blood.
"You must separate the butterfly spirit from Watanuki. Even if he seems like himself so long as he displays those wings the spirit still has power over his soul."
Yuuko pulled five huge and beautiful pins from the sleeve of her yukata, and she handed them to Doumeki with a weight that told him everything he needed to know. He met her eyes with abject horror.
"I cannot promise that he will forgive you." she said.
He could only continue to stare at her.
"I warned you that the price would be high."
"But-"
"This is also Watanuki's compensation for not listening to you."
Doumeki gripped the pins and squeezed his eyes shut, fists shaking.
"I don't care about that."
"This is how it must be. This is the only appropriate compensation for the both of you."
Doumeki's expression settled into a quietly boiling glare.
"Tell me what to do."
Yuuko smiled. "You must go butterfly hunting."
Yuuko gave Doumeki a pouch of sparkling powder which she informed him would attract butterfly spirits. He returned to the temple as the sun rose finding that his parents had thankfully already left for work. He sighed in relief, and went to fetch his bow. After changing into his archer's garb, Doumeki strode out into the grounds of the temple with the power Yuuko had given him. His brows were drawn together tensely and the grip on his bow was white-knuckle tight.
He felt the tips of the pins lightly push into his thigh from where they were secured in the waist of his trousers, hidden from sight by the large white wrap around his chest and torso.
I hope I can do this...
Doumeki tore open the pouch and scattered the glittering substance across the garden and much to his surprise it didn't take long to entice some small glowing butterfly spirits.
Doumeki is the last person you would find injuring animals just for the sake of it, but with Watanuki on the line he raised his bow without hesitation and began to shoot. His spiritual arrows tore through the dainty wings of the monarchs scattering them in colourful shreds to the ground.
Hear this, Watanuki. Don't ignore me.
In a parallel plain the new King of Butterflies sat on a thrown of blackened, twisting sakura roots. The realm was bright and damp, it was like living in a transparent cocoon, the sweltering air was thick with the smell of nature. Watanuki was busy fanning himself, his kimono open down to his waist, as he adjusted to the new heavy and spiritual atmosphere.
A small glowing butterfly flitted across the expanse to Watanuki and he held out a finger for it to land on.
The butterfly fanned its wings slowly and with purpose, it's tongue curling and unfurling in quick rhythms.
"I see." Watanuki mused as the butterfly lifted off his fingers and flitted around before his eyes in a panic. "Don't worry," he soothed, brushing the back of his finger across one soft papery wing of the little butterfly.
He stood, his own wings looming like massive spiny shadows behind him. He cast out his arm like a King passing a decree, his fingers spread wide before curling into a grasping fist.
"Bring him to me!" he ordered. "Bring me the human who dares attack my kinsmen!"