Perceived Memory 2: All in the Seasoning

Chapter 1:

That day was the first time I'd ever seen a human child.

I couldn't explain it well.. How could I know what it was, having never seen one before?

Even so, the moment I laid eyes on her, my heart leapt. "I've finally met her!"

"Hey... Hey, you! Are you okay?!

"Mmm hmm..."

The child was obviously in a bad way. I don't know a thing about humans, but I could tell this one wouldn't last much longer.

That baseless, yet assured concern made me desperate to look after her.

I warmed her with fire, fed her nectar... By the time the sun was high in the sky, the child finally opened her eyes.

"Ah... Ohhh... What?"

"You're awake! How do you feel? Does it hurt anywhere?!""

"Huh?! Uh, where...? Who are you?"

"Who, me?"

"It's strange... I feel like you're not human?"

"Yeah... Well, I'm not like you, that's for sure. But don't be scared! I'm a good girl!"

"Girl...? You're a girl? Huh, who would've thunk a creepy body like that belonged to a lady?"

"Creepy?! Of all the rude things to say! And after I looked after you all this time!"

"Huh? You looked after me? But why?"

"Um, you were on death's door just a little while ago, you know? Barely breathing, just skin and bones...

Well, the 'skin and bones' part hasn't changed. I mean, are you even eating properly?"

"Eating? I don't get much to eat, no. And not just me, everyone's in the same boat."

"Wha'... None of your people are eating? What's going on?"

According to her tale, the place she came from is going through an awful harvest.

And not just her village: the same was happening all over that land of "Hinomoto," so her entire world was going through turmoil.

Even in the royal capital, rice shops were falling into ruin. With nothing to eat, what else could they do?

"So you see, I was offered as a human sacrifice to beg the gods for help."

"A human sacrifice?!"

"Yes. I would go to the land of the gods, and beg them to bestow a bounty upon us."

This child's had it rough, that's for sure. To think they'd offer up an ankle-biter like this...

"And when I woke up, I was here. So were you, and...huh? Hey, you aren't a god, are you?"

"Um... What? Me? A god?!"

"Well yeah, you're the first thing I met after becoming a sacrifice. That must mean you're a god, huh? Well? Am I right, or am I right?"

"Now, now hold on one second! Let me get a word in here!"

That was the first time I'd ever met a human child, and the first time I'd been treated like a god.

Chapter 2:

The girl I'd saved set about entreating me.

"Hey, you're a god, ain't you? Save my village, you've just gotta!"

"How many times do I have to tell you?! I'm not a god or anything!"

Saving a human child on the verge of death had gotten it treating me like some deity.

I don't exactly hate the idea, just...how do I put it... It gives me the heebie jeebies!

"Oh puh-LEASE, your holiness! Save us, I'm begging you!"

As the girl pleaded with me, she wobbled on the spot, her stomach growling.

"So...hungry..."

"Ah, hey! Pull yourself together! It's food! You need food, right?!"

"Ugh... I wanna eat until my stomach bursts."

This is bad, I've got to do something! I may regret it, but...what choice did I have?

I had to do something.

"Hey, wake up. I made some food!"

"Ooh... Wha'-what? Something smells delicious!"

I brought the child to my den. Not just my den—a bunch of my friends live here, too.

None of us are very strong, so we don't usually let outsiders in... Still, this child shouldn't be a problem.

"These are my buddies. All of us whipped up some food for you."

"Wooow, look at all of them... I knew it, this is the land of the gods..."

"I told you, I'm not... Ahh, forget it. Here, blessings from the gods. Eat up, short stuff."

"Yessir! Thank you very much, your holiness!"

The child reached for a roasted fish, pinched it around the middle, and popped the whole thing into her mouth.

*munch* *munch*... *gulp!* "MMMM, DELICIOUS! I've never had anything so tasty in my life!"

"Ahaha, you don't say! That baby's pretty hard to find, you know! Here, try something else!"

"Okay! Hmm, how about this mushroom, then... Wait, what? Is this a mushroom? There's rocks on it."

"Oh, you can't eat those? Then eat around the hard parts."

"Okay, let's see..." *chomp* *chomp* *gulp* "Oh wow, this is great, too!"

"Whew... Glad you like it!"

From the looks of it, humans like this girl can't stomach everything we can. What a shame. The minerals on these mushrooms taste so good...

"Thank you, my god! This is the first time my belly's ever been so full!"

"Is that right? Glad to hear it."

We're different beasts, to be sure... Still, I could feel it: the desire to protect her smile.

Chapter 3:

I learned that humans have things they can and can't eat.

Seeing as how this child couldn't eat her fill back in her world, I wanted to give her the chance to do so if I can.

And so, I set off with the girl to look for food even humans could eat.

"Oh, I found something good. Here, try this!"

"Huh? What's this, your holiness? It's green, and round... A vegetable, maybe? Never seen this before..."

"Here, first you... Mmph! Split it like this, then eat it. Ooo, this one's nice and ripe. Here, try a bite."

*chomp* *chomp* "Bleaugh! So nasty..."

"Really?! It's no good?"

"Yuck, so sour...my tongue's on fire. So gross!

"You think? I can't get enough of this flavor. Okay, onto the next one! How about this?"

"Hmm? This thin orange thing? I think I've seen it before... You can make some rare medicine out of it."

"Is that right? We just up and eat it. Here, like this..." *munch* *crunch*... "Mmm, this chewiness, the faint bitterness. So good!"

"Huh! Okay, down the hatch!" *chomp* "Um...your holiness? It's sooo bitter..."

"Oh dear, I guess it doesn't suit you. Just spit it out!"

*peh!* "Ugh... My mouth's all itchy... Hey, there's no poison in this, is there?"

"Ah! I see, some of the stuff we eat might be poisonous to you humans..."

I'm just glad none of what she ate had a bad effect on her. If we're not careful, we might put her life in danger.

"I'm sorry, your holiness... You're trying so hard to get food for me, and I—"

"Don't sweat it! If I learn what you can and can't eat, that way I won't feed you something bad by accident."

"Wow, you gods sure are a generous bunch! Oh hey, the leafy parts aren't bitter." *chomp* *chomp*... "Mmm, pretty sweet, actually!"

We don't eat that part.. Still, if this child likes it, I'll feed her all the leaves she wants.

"Hmm? Hey your holiness, what's that over there?"

The girl sets eyes on the most dangerous thing we know.

"Hold on! Can't you see the fog over there? It's really dangerous."

"The fog? What's so dangerous about it?"

"Well if you touch it, it'll mess with your head. They say you get swallowed up by the fog, never to return..."

I'd never actually seen this fate befall anyone; still, if it's even possible, I can't put this child in harm's way.

"If you say so, I'll be careful your holiness! All right, what're that white stone over there?"

"Oh, those are just brackish rocks. They don't fill your belly, or provide any nutrition. Totally useless."

"I think I've seen it before! Just a second!"

"Ah, hey! Don't go off on your own!"

*lick*... "I knew it! This is salt!"

"Salt?"

"We don't make it in my village, but it adds flavor to anything!"

I'd never seen such an excited look on her face before. Somehow, just looking at it got me excited as well.

Chapter 4:

That white rock I always spied around here—this "salt" she spoke of—turned out to be an amazing discovery.

"Right! Try this, your holiness."

"You drizzled white rock shavings on the fish? Don't know what difference it'll make, but..." *chomp*

"Wha-wha-whaaaaat?! It's delicious! Delectable! DELIGHTFUL!"

"Heheh, pretty good, ain't it? Salt's just the thing for grilled fish."

"What is this?! What's going on here?! It's just some briny rock, and yet..."

"We call this 'cooking' where I come from. Mother said it's what you do to good food to make it even tastier. She said she won father's heart with this."

"Well, now... Can't say I get it, but this is something else."

"You like it, your holiness? Would you like some more?"

"There's more? Then sure, by all means!"

"You got it!" Then she started a fire, boiled some water, and set to chopping, stabbing, crushing, and mixing things. I didn't understand most of it, but it was like she was almost creating the food.

Some things she cooked differently, but the food was all pretty, especially portioned out on plates. Finally she said, "All done! I made you grilled fish with boiled vegetables."

"So, this is cooking..."

"I made plenty for everyone too! You gods can all have as much as you like!"

I realized the others had gathered to watch from afar, and when the girl said this, they all came forward to enjoy her "cooking."

I can't even describe what that first bite tasted like. It was so good, I thought I could never get enough of it.

"Heheh, do you like it, my god?"

"Oh, I do... I really, really do!"

"I hoped you would. You've done so much for me, and I haven't had any way to repay you. I'm so glad you like my cooking."

"D-don't say that! You...you never had to repay me for anything..." *sniff*

"God? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"I...I'm not crying! Don't be ridiculous!" *sniff* *sob*

"Well, if you say so. It's too bad, though. I wish I could've cooked a meal like this for Mom and Dad and everyone in my village."

So she is homesick. I guess that shouldn't be a surprise. If there was some way I could send her back, I would, but nobody knows how to do something like that.

"Hm? God? Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no, nothing. Do you think you could cook for me again sometime?"

"Of course! I'll cook for you all you want! Why don't we try making something together next time?"

"Ahaha! Good idea! That sounds fun!"

Chapter 5:

It's been a long time now since the human girl first cooked for me. She's gone from looking thin and pale to full and hearty. Every now and then, though, she gets this sad look on her face, and it breaks my heart to see her like that.

"Oh, look, a potato! We used to grow these in my village! They're really tasty."

"They are? Well, around here they grow all over the place."

"Can I take a bunch of them, then? You can do so much with potatoes!"

"Take as many as you like! I'm excited to try some new cooking."

"Heheh! Now, what should we make with them? They're not bad on their own, but we could steam them or mash them..."

"Hey...do you...want to go back to your village?"

"Hm? What makes you ask that? I guess...I would like to go back and see everyone again, but..."

"..."

"...but I'd get lonely without you, my god."

"You...would?"

"Of course I would. I really care about you."

"You miss your parents though, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. I'd love to see my mom and dad again. But is there some way for me to go back?"

"I... I'm sorry. I don't know about that any more than you do."

"Yeah, so...it's not worth thinking about, is it? I'm lonely, but...there's no point worrying about that unless we do find a way back."

"Yeah, you're right."

I've always wanted to be the one to look out for her, and yet... When did she grow up so much?

That's when I realize the fog is everywhere.

"Huh?! Where'd all this fog come from?! Quick! This way! You shouldn't be out on your own in the fog!"

"Mom?"

"What is it?! Do you see something?!"

"It's my mom. She's...crying. She's looking for me but she can't find me... She's there, in the fog... Oh, and I can...I can hear her crying..."

In the fog? I can't see or hear anything, but now the girl is crying.

*sob* "Please, my god. I want to go see my mom. I miss her so much..."

"Then...go see her. If you miss her that much, you should go to her."

"Oh, thank you! Don't worry, I'll come back to see you again!"

"Right, I'll be waiting for you!"

I stayed right where I was, watching her run into the fog until I couldn't see her anymore.

I guess humans really do belong in the human world. That must be why those giant hands reached out to draw her in.

I don't understand why I hurt so much. Didn't I do the right thing? I hope that girl is happy with her mother. I hope I get to see her again.

For some reason, after the girl vanished into the fog, my body started to break down into little pieces, even though I was the one who was just watching. My last thought, as I felt myself fading away, was to wonder if the girl made it back safely.