Sighing, Yumichika got up and walked back into his cabin, a neat, humble home that was already there when he first arrived here— the only cabin on that mountain. The Uzla Mountain is what the people of Jahal called it, mainly because no human soul was allowed to live there as the spirits inhabiting it forbade them but somehow, Yumichika was the only exception. The only human village near the mountain was the village of Jahal, which was built in a way where no soul could enter or leave the mountain without passing through it. It is where the violet-haired man earned his living.
Yumichika changed, getting out of his sheer yukata apt for the gentle summer and into more appropriate work attire; a casual floral yukata that is not too flashy, not too dull but just enough to stand out when he had to go make a living down in the human village. The market was usually full and he needed to be noticed by passers by solely to benefit his business. After getting dressed and ready for another day, he dragged his cart behind him, filled with fabric and accessories to the market where he opened up his assigned booth, setting up everything and waiting.
Villagers starting streaming in like the rain; slowly and then all at once until the market was almost full. Yumichika hated it when that happened, he felt like he couldn't breathe with the thought of him sharing air with these people— it was simply repulsive. This place, these people— he was quite sure that was part of his punishment. 'Ill willed snakes and shallow slobs'. "Well you're looking radiant this morning." One of his regular customers joked, she was a very pretty lady, with glowing ebony skin and honey colored eyes. Yumichika smiled, being caught off guard, a tad embarrassed to be seen with what was probably an ugly expression on his face. Not that he did care what most villagers thought, but few of them were good, and Shi was one of the good ones, "Good morning, Shi." He greeted her with an easy smile, "oh, you know how I feel about crowds."
It was easy for him to lie and set this social image of himself. He wasn't bothered by crowds and he wasn't anxious, but it brought less attention than admitting he didn't like the lot of them or worse— let them assume what Yumichika is or isn't. "Here for your custom made piece? I've got it right here." He turned subtly to the hanger set behind him, the cascade rolling over him like silk, "You, my lady have very fine taste." Yumichika said as he retrieved her kimono, his praise earning him a whole-hearted laugh from Shi, "Spare me Ayasegawa, you picked out every single thread and detail yourself."
For the rest of the morning Yumichika dealt with the demanding customers, placing orders and rushing unfinished ones all morning. On another note, he was glad he managed to get the accessory batch all sold out, so he had that going for him. But now at the peak of noon, the market was closing and his long wait to be reunited with the comfort of his home is soon over. At least that's what he thought until he received a message from the village priestesses— a summon non-the less. "Ugh." He sighed in frustration.
If there was one thing he hated more than the people of Jahal it was the priestesses. The priestesses were the council that ran the village with their own "unique" set of rules and laws.
They also liked to pretend they were sacred and holy with an undeniable spiritual bond with the gods— Yumichika knew better though, the spirits of them mountain weren't keen on matters involving the priestesses as they believed them to be involved with the dark energies surrounding this realm. Not to mention, Hekma has warned Yumichika against getting involved with their necromancy and. . deals. Which contrary to the cautioning, he finds himself very much involved and tangled in one of those deals.
Upon his arrival to the temple, Yumichika let out a breath and went inside, determined to get this over with so he could get some work done before tonight because unlike many of the business owners here, Yumichika had no business partners or help of any sort. He did his own tailoring, designing and crafting.
The temple wasn't very large, but it was still larger than any home here. It was beautiful too; it had multiple layers of height and had beautifully detailed carvings and sculptures made of gold and emerald. It was also decorated with a large amount of lanterns that glowed beautifully when night came. It left Yumichika wondering how something so beautiful could be owned by such.. horridness.
"You're long past due!" exclaimed the elderly woman with a voice quivering from age. Sitting on a post presenting herself as if she were some sort of deity, All four of them alike. The priestesses were all very old and wrinkly, Yumichika liked to think that one has to be old and wrinkly to join their club/ cult. He wanted to snigger at the thought but as he stood before them he knew that wouldn't be a good idea. Sighing, Yumichika responded "I'm only a week past due," speaking ever so calm and graceful. His voice is soft, boarding on femininity but not quite. "And since you raised the tax pay I've been very much broke. I can't keep up."
He crossed his arms against his chest, adverting his eyes to the temple ground. All he could do now is show respect and hope for a stretch; sass was only going to make it worse and he knew that from first-hand experience. Business owners and residents of Jahal all paid a certain price for associating with said village. The priestesses were the first to be here, and despite their back-story being unknown; everyone still listened and obeyed. From another perspective it made sense; the village was hidden, isolated and most importantly, safe. And that was from the rich folks' perspective. Yumichika had it better than most mainly because he didn't actually live in the village. "It cannot be helped Ayasegawa," said the old lady on the far right post.
They all looked the same he got confused sometimes. "You know the numbers are growing; more mouths to feed, more souls seeking homes." She finished adjusting her kasaya, which looked more like a piece of cloth repeatedly wrapped around her body that if tugged, might come off completely. Yumichika kept his eyes low; he was contemplating if he should just pay double next time except he knew that would only trouble him further. Until the one who spoke earlier had a bright answer to the situation, "Let him clean the bars and the pleasure houses as tax payment," The priestess, named Anu, suggested enthusiastically.
Yumichika's lavender eyes widened, turning to her direction, "excu-" "It is the most appropriate solution it would seem," it was Yufna that spoke this time, a woman of little words but with the most intensity. Yumichika knew then that it was settled. There was no better way it seemed, not with them there wasn't. He despises the bars— they were the worst part of the village; its where vulgarity, filth and ugliness met so in tuned with each other. "Five hours, four days a week. It is settled."
It was early in the evening when Yumichika was done cleaning the bars, just before for the customers start showing up. Luckily for him he didn't have to encounter the brutes and the women. Although, the women; they were beautiful. Of the few times Yumichika had seen them he could gather how men would fight for them and would even throw them selves at their feet. They smelled of aromatic tea and flowers, and they were dressed in silk— some of them being Yumichika's own creation. He couldn't help being drawn in to the way the silk brushed their skin. The soft of their skin matching the soft of the silk was alluring.
Despite his undeniable adoration to those creatures, he never found himself desiring any of their company. He knew they were dangerous and he knew the inside didn't always match the outside. He found a fault in everything, always managing to rid himself of everything. He didn't like uncertainty and thus, he was alone.
"Old, foul, disgusting, despicable, unbearable, ugly old fools!" panted Yumichika wearily, cursing the priestesses for throwing his routine off proportion. Finally, he arrived at his cabin, dropping his wooden cart behind him near the front of the entrance and then lying down on the fluffy grass below from exhaustions.
"You said old twice," said a gentle, low voice, "And I regret to tell you, it is not an insult. In time, you will be old yourself and-" "Quiet Hekma please; I am so tired." Yumichika said in a quiet voice, having an arm draped over his eyes as he rested. He still needed to shower and catch up on his work; he has lost so much time. He barely had time to do anything beside work due to this new arrangement. But he didn't want to go inside yet; he wanted to complain to Hekma and he wanted to complain a lot.
Hekma was the oldest spirit on that mountain; she is an ancient tree stretched wide, and highs just above the cabin. She has many vines some poking from the ground, some very large and some oddly shaped. Her crown was filled with leafy branches and sometimes flowers depending on the season. The tree spirit has been there ever since Yumichika's soul found passage to this place. She was his bearer of secrets, his mentor and his most trusted and only friend. "Are you ready to tell me what caused you to be so late?" She knew Yumichika was always eager to be back in the safety of his cabin and around the spirits. The kind, sweet spirits now gathering around Yumichika in effort to comfort him.
Yumichika lowered his arm and smiled tiredly at his little companions, and then he looked towards the dimming sky, telling Hekma about his dreadful day, from the market to the new forced labor. "I am trapped Hekma. I feel like—" he paused, 'I have nothing.' He let himself finish the thought in his head, but Hekma understood, she always did. Just then, a gush of wind blew causing the leafs and grass to rattle all together and at once. It startled the spirits and Yumichika, making him slowly sit up and look around with a questioning frown on his face. It wasn't a summer breeze; it was nothing like a breeze.
This was more violent, more forceful and abrupt. And unlike the manner it had started, it gradually ended. As it calmed down, Yumichika's hair slowly dropped back on his shoulders. Blinking his violet orbs a couple of times before deliberately turning to face Hekma who didn't look startled in the least, but rather looking into the distance in wonder, "I sense that is about to change sooner that you would've thought." It took Yumichika a second to realize what Hekma was talking about and the realization brought a pang of unease into the man. That coaxed him enough to call it a day; he longed for a good shower and long hours of good sleep.
Yumichika woke at first light. He sat on his futon in a lazy manner; the day before was very stressful for him that he couldn't sleep well. Not to mention, he didn't get any work done yesterday and now he had no accessories to sell for today.
With a sigh, he got out of bed and went into the bathroom to wash his face from lingering sleep. He rinsed his face and then paused, looking at his reflection in the mirror— half a mirror to be accurate. He didn't have the most luxurious home despite his best efforts to pretty it up. But he wasn't fussy or picky when it came to living spaces; just as long as they felt like home, he was more than fine with it.
As Yumichika gazed into the mirror, he traced his fingers in sync with his eyes. Running them over his temples, cheeks, lips and then down to his jawline and then he smiled faintly; at least he was still beautiful. "Jeez! You sure are conceded for a lonely miserable human soul!"
Yumichika heard before he saw the reflection of his insulter jumping up behind him from his bathroom half-mirror, "AAAGH!" Yumichika yelled in surprise before slipping and falling into his ofuro, his head bumping the wooden wall behind him resulting in the bucket and towel stationed above the tub to fall on his head. "Oh no, Yumi are you okay? That wasn't very nice Bonzo."
"Its not my fault the kid is so jumpy!" Yumichika listened as he tried to recover from the hit his head took, "Wha.." Yumichika started, reaching his hand to shift the bucket away from his eyes and then focusing on the creatures joining him in his bathroom. The second voice belonged to one of the sweet child-like spirits living around the cabin.
The bathroom was crowded with the familiar spirits and—'Bonzo?' Yumichika frowned in irritation, "You idiot! Haven't you heard of knocking?!" Unlike the little spirits gathering in the bathroom, Bonzo was twice Yumichika's size. This Bonzo being was half rabbit, half kangaroo. And although the spirit would never admit to the rabbit bit, everyone knew what he was. He lived on the other side of the mountain, which left Yumichika wondering just what the beast was doing here.
"Silly boy, if the little ones can come in uninvited so can I." He said nonchalantly, leaving the bathroom and making his way to the little table near the kitchenette, "Isn't it breakfast time yet? Where's your hospitality? You're giving humans a bad name boy." Yumichika fumed from his position in the ofuro while the spirits gathered around him, some rubbing on his cheek, some trying to remove the bucket from his head and the rest tugging on his Juban in effort to help him to his feet.
"So what brings you to this side of the mountain?" Yumichika asked as he cracked some eggs and cooked them in the golden sizzling oil, scrambling them along with some mushrooms and other vegetables with his wooden cooking spoon. "No time for chitchat I see." The beast puckered, picking his teeth with his fingernail, "alright kid," Bonzo said as he sat straight, watching Yumichika with a serious face, "A gush of wind— yesterday at dusk." Was all Bonzo said to get Yumichika's attention, making the man turn to fully face him while he crossed his arms and leaned against the stove.
"You have any idea what that was about?" The Kangaroo-Rabbit shook his head leisurely, "Is it still safe?" When Yumichika realized what the beast was referring to he couldn't help but feel some offence, "Of course it is. I told you its well hidden and protected." He couldn't get rid of that feeling— the feeling that some of the spirits residing the mountain doubted him simply because he was a human soul, although Hekma has told him otherwise; "They are just concerned." Said Hekma, smiling in amusement yet warmly at Yumichika, "don't take it to heart. They understand you're here for a reason." Was what Hekma told him. It was the truth too. But then, why didn't he feel trusted? "You better. That's the only reason you're up here y'know"
At that, Yumichika just glared in silence. It wasn't a hidden thought; what the beast said. He knew it's what most of the less friendly spirits thought; they believed he was inferior. And he distinctly remembered Hekma telling him why "Humans tend to have darkness in their souls, where spirits are only affected by darkness from an outside source." Simply put— Human souls generate darkness while spirits didn't; and that made him a threat.
Yumichika dragged his cart grumpily and stopped abruptly on the bridge that stretched over the river— placed only a few feet away from his cabin. He looked back to Hekma's direction, noticing she was looking in his direction as well, a hint of compassion gracing her wrinkled tree bark features. "I'll be back late afternoon okay."
It wasn't what he meant to say, but it was better than letting her know he was feeling too lazy and cynical to do his job. Not to mention Bonzo just ruined his morning— and his new afternoon job wasn't exactly entertaining either. It was a change at least— the last 100 years were a strict routine for Yumichika, he never did much else that what he was already doing. And while it was impossible and appalling for most, for Yumichika it was just bittersweet; he was bored out of his mind but he didn't mind doing it forever— being bored forever.
He didn't sign up for this in the first place anyway; he'd only expected everlasting sleep and that's it. Afterlife and reincarnation were such troublesome, trivial things. As if the soul maker couldn't make any more souls so he just recycles— It was Yumichika's usual thought regarding the matter, and he had a feeling it wasn't far from the truth.
The market had nothing out of the usual today, except; the Ogiwara brothers were looking ghastly, it seemed like they were beat up real bad. Well, that was new; the Ogiwara family loved bragging about their muscle. And now they had the whole market wondering what happened, while some were actually asking the brothers what got them is such a shape. "They had it coming if you asked me." Yumichika smiled before turning to Shi, "You know what happened?" Yumichika asked; he knew it was most probably a fight, but he loved the gossip and he wanted to know the details.
"A spar, poor fellas couldn't measure up." Yumichika chuckled at that; they usually forgot their father was a farmer; they're better off being humble. If you're going to be a pretentious brat, at least have something to back it up. It was a cruel thought, but Yumichika never claimed to be nice. "I wish I was there to witness it," Yumichika said with an amused expression, he had his arms loosely crossed across his chest while he watched the ongoing commotion "we lack entertainment here." He explained.
At that, Shi rolled her eyes, "That wont be the case if you weren't so persistent on blowing off all social interactions." Shi said accusingly. Yumichika hated it when he was confronted about this subject, "What? That's not true. Remember that one time-" "Exactly! One time." Shi giggled and shook her head whole-heartedly, she knew it wasn't personal, Yumichika is just— well, Yumichika. "He's crazy! We aint done nothin'!" a shout from one of the Ogiwara brothers grabbed their attention.
At that Yumichika said, "I can't believe them. Always pleading innocent." Yumichika sighed, looking around his booth that seemed half empty now that there were no accessories, which he needed to do a bit of shopping for, as well as some food, he was running low. "I heard it was a traveller— a passerby." Yumichika's attention snapped back to Shi, "Hm?" He asked, not for what she said, but for an elaboration. "The man who did this— arrived in Jahal yesterday at late noon, asked for some directions, picked fights and then drank." Shi elaborated. "Oh no. They just keep coming don't they." Yumichika whined in his head, he was so thankful he didn't live in the village.
Shi looked at the defeated expression on Yumichika's face in amusement, "Get to working Ayasegawa, I came here for a head piece and instead I find nothing." She was right, he should probably get back to work, and all this drama wasn't going to pay for his food and work supplies. "Of course, I'll be right on it." And at that, Yumichika decided to close up early, do some shopping and then go home to get some work done before his cleaning job had started. He enjoyed shopping; it was one of the more relaxing activities on his schedule.