Prologue
It was already that time when the moon has fully settled in the dark sky.
Leaving behind the celebratory atmosphere of the village was quite the easy feat.
Her presence would not be noticed, nor should her absence at the moment. They were busy drinking and making merry to the night.
Not one person noticed her leave.
A feminine figure walked alone towards her destination.
Maybe, a certain strong female blonde would. But Kohaku was busy these days with her new group of friends.
Not that the girl would mind.
She had her back to the lively islet owned by the village head of the Ishigami Village.
Just as usual as the girl made her way to the village graveyard. Since, it wasn't outside the village. She didn't need to pass by anyone on her way. Mainly, the village guards.
Her goal was a small rocky area just on the outskirts of the main village island surrounded by the forest and sea.
That's why not one person along her trek was seen. Within expectation, considering the special occasion.
It was quiet. As quiet as the forest and water surrounding the village would allow though.
In the distance, the sounds of the celebration becoming fainter as she goes farther. Until all she could hear was the song of the forest.
Wild flowers were clutched in her hands. Ones that she picked up from earlier in the day.
Alas, just as she would have arrived at her destination, her ears picked up faint noises. They didn't sound like they belonged during that time of the night.
The girl frowned.
It was…
Two people conversing in the dark.
A man's and a woman's voice.
Before they could hear her. Or see her.
The girl immediately crouched down, she turned to face the path in which she came from.
She slid down until she was sitting on the cold forest floor. Her back made contact with a tree.
Not one peep coming from her lips even as she encountered the unexpected.
Her chest beating fast.
However, she still clamped her left hand to her lips. Her right hand clutching the flowers to her chest.
She felt like she was intruding. But how would she have known they were there?
Could it be a secret meeting?
No.
Who would do so? In the sacred grounds of the dead?
Unless they wanted to be cursed by their ancestors?
But who would want that?
She doesn't.
Hushed were their voices but still she could hear them. Could make out the words they exchanged.
She could recognize the woman's voice.
Searching her memories.
Ah.
It was Ruri's.
The village priestess.
Kohaku's elder sister.
The man's voice though?
She just heard it the other day. The one declaring he'd marry then divorce their priestess not long after, demanding alcohol, beating the disease and all that. Had she not heard many of the ongoing gossip, she would've believed him to be a crazy person talking nonsense.
He was the reason for the ongoing celebration.
Their new village chief.
She could hear him speak to the priestess.
Not long after, a set of footsteps could be heard walking away.
By the familiar sound of their wooden sandals coming from those steps. It seems the priestess made her way back to their village.
Thankfully, she walked a different path from the one Ruri was taking.
Still...
She felt like she shouldn't be here at this moment.
Then, the two of them were left in the ravine.
Her and the new chief.
Not that the other knew, that she was there.
She remained where she was. After all, she was the intruder at the moment.
Her hand keeping her mouth shut just in case.
Even if she knew, no sound would escape her throat at the moment.
Ah, she wanted to leave.
But she knew she shouldn't. Not yet. Once more, she felt like an intruder.
This was obviously a private moment.
She could hear the other sniff, a shaky hushed voice talking to himself.
With her heart in her throat, she made sure her body wouldn't move, wouldn't make a sound.
She was always afraid of Kohaku's father, the previous chief.
What would this one do if he found her there?
It made her stay unmoving until she heard the man's footsteps leave the area.
Then, she waited.
Until she was sure, only then did she let her hand fall from her mouth.
She kept her crouch but slowly she turned her body to face towards the mount of graves.
Blue ocean eyes scanning the area. The girl saw no one.
Only then did an audible shaky exhale of air leave her mouth.
She stood from the her hiding place between the thick bushes and a tree.
Her movements caused the faintest of sound with the environment. Her long dark hair swaying along her blue green dress.
Slowly, she made way to her mother's tomb. Frightened eyes still looking around.
She could feel her body tense from nervousness.
What if the other turned around and see her there?
He would get the idea that she was intruding on him before? He might yell at her!
At the thought, her breath once more became stuck somewhere in her throat.
Quickly she left the flowers she was clutching in right hand on her mother's grave.
Wilted they may be but they were picked fresh.
Replacing the dried ones from the previous night that she was there.
The girl immediately left the scene using the route from which she came.
There was just no way that she could relax right at the moment and there.
Her mother would understand.
She was too anxious.
Too afraid to stay.
Even for a minute longer.
She left just as fast as she had come.
Not one peep leaving her mouth.
Almost like a ghost.
No.
Maybe a ghost would have more presence.
She was more like a small leaf in that dense forest.
A drop of water in the lake.
Or like the air during a rainy storm.
Kuuki (空気 Kūki meaning "oxygen") – the 8th element in the periodic table. Source: Google Translate (I literally just went with the first thing it gave me)
Also not sure where they have the village graveyard but I am putting it in the village island cause plot :3
If you have read until hear, thank you very much :)
This idea has been floating on my mind as of late and has not been leaving me. I, who was on an indefinite hiatus from reading fanfics and more so writing them. Alas, this one won't give me peace. It has kept me up at ungodly hours during the holidays. Only when I had the draft did it let me sleep. I just thought of writing it as a personal story for me but then why not share, so yeah, here we are. I hope you enjoyed this little prologue!