Takano's pronouncement of her age sent a ripple through the room. A different reaction from nearly everyone. Megumi just shook her head, confused. Peorth and Lind, who had seemed uninterested at the beginning of Takano's tale, suddenly paid closer attention. On the other hand, Skuld muttered about wanting to watch something on TV. Keiichi felt Belldandy take his hand in hers, he saw she was looking at him, concerned. Somehow Keiichi just knew what his mother had said was true. She was one hundred and fifty-two years old.
It was Urd who spoke up first. "You're mortal."
"Never said I wasn't," Takano replied calmly. "I just age slowly. Very slowly."
Urd rolled her eyes. "Alright, what'd you get into? Potion? Amulet? Curse?" She paused for a moment and then added, "Or did you get a wish too? Got a family tradition going on here I don't know about?"
"No, none of your silly magics," Takano answered with a hint of disdain in her voice. Urd scowled back but Takano continued before Urd could say anything else. "You could say I've got really good genes."
"Impossible," put in Skuld. "Human genetics do not allow for such an extended lifespan. Maybe with some genetic engineering it could be done, but nobody on this planet could do it."
Takano gave Skuld a look that made the young goddess squirm uncomfortably. When she spoke again, Takano's tone was cold. "As I have repeatedly pointed out to you people today - You make mistakes. You misjudge. And while I fully admit you all have powers far beyond our little mortal minds - you do not know everything."
"Is it just possible that there is an exceedingly rare genetic mutation where the cell structures making up my body have an enhanced ability to regenerate and repair. Including, but not limited to DNA, mitochondrial functions, cell wall renewal, endocrine regulation. Propagated mostly by a high rate of stem cell creation in the bloodstream, leading to an overall efficiency gain in protein usage in cell health born from a secondary mutation in my bone marrow. "
"I...umm...err...suppose so," Skuld stammered.
Takano smiled without any humor. "Trust me, there is a very thick biology book which goes into great detail. It's all about me. Written by some very cruel doctors."
The last part of Takano's sentence, and its implications, made the room go incredibly quiet.
Belldandy finally broke the silence. "She's not lying. She's telling the truth. Her soul says so." Belldandy looked at Takano with compassion. "Can you please continue?"
Takano nodded and took a deep breath before continuing her story.
"As you mentioned Keiichi, I told you and Megumi I grew up in a remote village in the Kiso mountains. And I did. Just not in this century. My childhood, at least my younger years, were normal." Takano smiled to herself, lost in old memories. "My father worked as a millet farmer and my mother stayed home to raise myself and my older brother, Yasuo. We were poor, but happy. A simple life. Lots of hard work. We lived in a small house made of wood and bamboo near the edge of our village. The winters could be very harsh, but the summers were wonderful. The whole family would go down to the river and play in the water during the hottest part of the day. Sometimes we would catch fish. Yasuo was the best fisherman..." Takano stopped for a minute. She wiped a tear away from her eye.
"In the mountains, there were many dangers. When I was nine, I was caught in a rockslide. It was bad. My father had to dig me out with his bare hands, and I was a gory mess. Broken bones and blood everywhere. I passed out from the pain, but I came to as the old woman healer in the village bound my broke legs and arms, wrapped my body, trying to stop the bleeding."
"The village elders requested for a man - an actual doctor from one of the towns in the lowlands - but he would take several days to arrive. Everyone thought I would die. The old woman told me later she prayed to every kami she knew for my safety. I lay there wrapped in bandages, unable to move, in our tiny home, so frightened. Yasuo came to me, told me stories. Tried to keep me calm. Mother cried constantly. Father just sat nearby, staring off into space."
"When the doctor finally arrived, he unwrapped all my bandages and undid my bindings on broken bones to better examine my body. He found...Just bruises, and some scratches. A little bit of an infection on my arm from a deeper cut. No broken bones. No deadly wounds. Nothing else. How could that be? Everyone in the village had seen how badly I had been hurt. How could the old woman, who had tended to so many over the years, be so wrong about my injuries?"
"Enhanced cellular regeneration. You don't just age slowly, you heal quickly," speculated Urd.
"Exactly," confirmed Takano. "Not that anyone in rural Japan in the mid nineteenth century would have any idea what enhanced cellular regeneration meant."
"So, they assumed you were blessed by the gods," surmised Belldandy.
Takano laughed bitterly. "Maybe some yes, but there were others who thought it was the work of witches or demons. People talked. Rumors spread. The other children avoided me, even some of the adults. But Yasuo didn't. My brother stayed close to me. Protected me when he could." Takano fell silent once more.
After a few moments, Takano gathered herself together again. "Time passed, and people began to forget about my strange recovery. But then I turned fourteen and a sickness came to our small village, and everything changed..."
###
Takano steadied herself as she crossed the old log making her way to edge of the flowing water. Carefully she lowered herself down, taking care to sit comfortably on the large smooth rock. She looked downriver and watched as the clear mountain stream tumbled over the stones below. The sun had yet to crest over the highest mountain peaks.
Swinging the jug she was carrying with her out into the stream, Takano dipped it into the cold rushing waters. It filled quickly and she pulled it back up onto the bank with her. Setting the jug aside, Takano stood up and dusted herself off. With another glance at the early morning sky, she hurried back along the path, back to the village. This was the fourth time she had been down to the stream today to get water, and it was only the first few hours of morning. She was thirsty, hungry, and tired. But her troubles were so small compared to everyone else.
Three mornings ago, father had woken up feeling ill. His throat was sore, and he had a bad fever. The mother had tended to him, mixing herbs and medicine she thought might help. But father worsened instead of improved. Yesterday morning, Yasuo complained about being tired and having a headache. By evening he had thrown up his dinner, and mother was tending to him as well. But soon she was coughing as well, and Takano was now caring for everyone in her family. Yet it was not just her family that suffered.
Yesterday Takano went outside to see many villagers wandering around dazed. Others coughed loudly. Two men she knew had died in the night. A neighbor who had tried to help them told Takano their bodies burned with fever.
Now she was carrying water to be boiled, not just for her home, but six other homes besides. Takano worried about everyone who needed her help. So many sick with this terrible disease. They needed food and drink. Needed medicine. Needed rest.
"Takano! Takano!" came an ill-tempered voice from up ahead. The old healer woman of the village stood near the edge of the path. "Hurry!"
"Yes, Mizuki," huffed Takano as she struggled along while trying not to spill the precious water she carried. "I am coming as fast as I can."
Mizuki grunted as Takano reached her side. Without waiting for further comment, Mizuki hobbled off towards another house that needed their help. Takano followed dutifully behind her. As Mizuki approached the front door she barked instructions to Takano.
"Empty the water into the big pot hanging over the fire pit there," Mizuki ordered. "Then add fresh wood to keep the flames strong. Put the empty jug outside next to that door. Go across the street to Hiroshi and Mika's house, they need help as well. Bring them the fresh herbs from my pack. Then get the rest of pack into the pot and boil it like before, and then bring back as much as you can carry back to me."
Takano put down her jug as Mizuki pushed open the door to the home and stepped inside. Takano moved to follow in case Mizuki had more instructions for her, but the old woman turned and stopped her.
"No child, stay outside. The fever is burning hot here. It is not good." Mizuki closed the door behind her leaving Takano standing alone outside.
Takano carefully poured the water from her jug into the bigger pot hanging over the cooking fire. She tossed in another log onto the fire and stirred the coals underneath with a long stick until the new wood began to burn brightly. Satisfied with her work Takano left the pot to boil and grabbed Mizuki's pack sitting next to the doorstep. Inside she found bunches of various plants and herbs. Takano sniffed each bunch to identify them and then took two out of the pack.
She headed to Hiroshi and Mika's home. They were such a nice young couple, so friendly. Takano hoped they would recover from whatever this terrible illness was.
Mika opened the door after Takano knocked on it gently. Her face was pale, her eyes tired. But she still managed to smile slightly at Takano.
"Come in," Mika croaked, her voice hoarse and weak.
Takano bowed slightly to Mika as she entered. "Mizuki sent me with medicine for you both." Takano held out the herbs Mizuki had given her for Mika to take.
"Thank you." Mika shuffled across the room towards the cooking area and laid the two bunches of plants down on a small table there. "My husband Hiroshi is resting right now. He needs the most help." Mika coughed loudly.
Takano winced at how awful Mika sounded. She wanted to stay longer, maybe make Mika sit down, try to get her to eat something, but Mizuki expected her back soon with the boiled herbs. Takano bowed again to Mika.
"I must go back to Mizuki. Please let me know if you need anything." Takano glanced over towards the curtain covering the room Hiroshi rested behind. She could hear his labored breathing. Takano wondered if Mika was hiding just how sick Hiroshi really was. "Anything at all."
Mika nodded weakly to Takano as she left.
Back outside Takano scooped up the empty jug she had left next to the door earlier and hurried back to Mizuki. The old woman had come out of the hut she had entered earlier and was leaning heavily against a post next to the door. Mizuki coughed raggedly into her sleeve as Takano approached. The old healer looked so haggard and worn. Takano was going to ask about those in the home she just visited, but Mizuki waved her words away with another hacking cough.
"Don't bother Takano. Both are dead." Mizuki sighed sadly. "I will get some of the men to remove the bodies. Work on the living now. Go boil the rest of those herbs." She coughed again, a racking wheeze that tore Takano's heart apart. "Go child. Hurry."
Takano hurried back to the boiling pot of herbs. Mizuki was sick now. Takano was scared for her. She had seen the old healer deal with many troubles, but nothing like this terrible sickness. Takano dumped the rest of Mizuki's pack of plants into the boiling pot. She stirred them around with a long wooden spoon until she was sure they were submerged in the water. Takano waited impatiently as she occasionally stirred the brew, uncertain just when it would be done. Mizuki was still not back.
Finally, Takano decided enough time had passed. Grabbing a thick wool cloth, she carefully removed the pot from over the fire. Takano placed it down on a flat stone next to the fire pit to cool. Takano picked up her empty jug and with some difficulty began to pour the contents pot into the jug. Once full, Takano capped the jug and rushed towards the other homes and to people sick inside.
Over the next few hours Takano delivered medicine to homes all around the village. Several times she refilled her jug from the pot of boiled herbs. There were so many in need. Takano also helped prepare food to eat, since many of those afflicted by this illness found themselves too sick to cook or even to hold a bowl of rice.
As the sun set, Takano returned to her own home. She dropped the empty jug onto the floor of their small kitchen area and staggered towards the fireplace. She was so tired. There she found her mother, wrapped in blankets, asleep in front of the dying embers of the fire. Her brother was nearby, sleeping on a makeshift cot. At least the distressing sounds of labored breathing no longer came from him as he slept. Snores came from the sleeping area beyond letting her know her father was still laboring with his breathing. Takano poked the coals awake with a piece of wood until they blazed brightly. Mother stirred in her sleep but did not wake up.
Takano sat down next to mother and stared into the dancing flames of the growing fire. So tired. Exhaustion so great it even beat her hunger. Snuggling into the blanket wrapping her mother's sleeping from Takano closed her eyes. She heard her mother mutter her name.
"Shh, mama," whispered Takano as she held her mother close. "I'm here."
Tomorrow, she told herself, she would cook breakfast for everyone.
###
Somewhere in the middle of the night, Takano awoke. The fire had died down again to just embers.
Her mother was no longer beside her.
Takano looked around groggily. It took a moment for her mind to register her mother was missing. Where was she? Takano rubbed her eyes. Yasuo was still sleeping in his cot, his sleep deep and peaceful.
"Mama?"
There was no answer. Takano got up from the floor. She stretched her tired muscles.
"Mama?" Takano repeated again. Still no answer. Where could she be?
Takano stumbled around in the darkness towards the house's sleeping area. Maybe mother had gone back to bed. Perhaps she felt better. Pushing aside the curtain separating the bedrooms from the main room of the house, Takano stepped through.
Mother was laying on her side of the futon she shared with her husband. But she was not moving.
Takano crept quietly forward. She knelt next to mother. Reaching out to shake her awake, Takano hesitated when she touched mother's skin. It was so cold. So very cold. Takano's heart froze as mother did not stir under her touch.
Takano scooted backwards away from mother.
Tears started to fall from Takano's eyes.
Her Mother was dead.
Takano's grief burst forth as a loud cry of anguish. Yasuo woke up with a start. Takano could not contain herself, crying uncontrollably she ran to her brother and threw herself into his arms.
###
The fever ravaged Takano's village. The healthy and the strong would go on to survive...most of them. But many of the old, the young, the infirm, those already weak - they succumbed to the fever's wrath. The sickness was without mercy or pity. Everyone in the village was touched by the disease.
Except Takano.
She was exhausted from caring for the sick. Hungry from no time to eat. Grief stricken at the loss of her mother. But never once did she feel her breathing become difficult. Or her throat go coarse and dry from unrelenting coughing. Nor did her stomach rebel and she vomit up her food. And not once did her body burn with the fever.
And the people of the village noticed and began to talk.
Soon whispers of witchcraft followed Takano wherever she went. People recalled her amazing recovery from the rockslide from years earlier. Something was unnatural about the girl. Takano heard words like 'curse' and 'demon'. Some accused her of causing the sickness in the first place. Yasuo defended her whenever he could. He had grown strong from working in the fields with his father. But Takano's brother could not guard his sister every moment of the day. Their father had been consumed by grief from the passing of his wife and Yasuo found himself increasingly doing the daily field work.
It started with three men and two women. They wanted Takano to answer a few questions. Questions which Takano had no way of answering. But what truly broke Takano's heart was Hiroshi and Mika made up part of her integrators. Takano pleaded with them for understanding, but they demanded more. The crowd grew in size and in anger. Demands turned to threats. Threats turned to violence.
A stone was thrown. Then another. And then many more. Takano ran as the mob chased after her. Stones flew past her head. One hit her shoulder sending a painful shock down her arm. Another struck her leg. Takano screamed as she tripped over her own feet and crashed to the ground. She picked herself up even as another rock bounced off her back. Takano fled blindly, desperate to escape those pursuing her.
Into the forest they chased her, down past tumbling streams, over rocky hills, Takano ran as fast she could. She ducked under branches and leaped over fallen trees. Her lungs burned with exertion and her legs ached. Soon her pursuers fell behind as Takano outpaced them. But she dared not stop to rest. Takano ran until she simply could run no more. Her strength spent, Takano collapsed in exhaustion.
Crumpled under a tree, Takano gulped in air as her heart pounded in her chest even as she listened for the sound of pursuit. The forest was quiet except for the sounds of birds chirping in the distance. No shouting voices came for her. No crashing footsteps drew closer. No one coming to hurt her. Takano curled up into a ball and wept.
Yasuo did not find her until hours later. By then the sun had set, and the moon had risen. It hung in the sky a bright pale orb, lighting Yasuo's way as he called out Takano's name softly over and over. She was sitting underneath a tall pine tree, staring at her hands. Not moving or reacting to his voice. He knelt beside her and tried to take her hands into his. But she pulled away.
"I've been watching," Takano muttered softly. "When they chased me...I fell and scraped my hands." She held out her palms to Yasuo, showing him her torn palms covered with dirt and dried blood. Takano shook her head slowly. "They should hurt, be red and swollen. But they aren't. I mean...they were. But I watched them...change. It doesn't happen quickly. Gradually heals. The sun was setting by the time it was gone. Little by little."
Takano finally looked up at her brother and he winced at the sight of her face. Dark bruises marked where rocks had struck her. Cuts from sharp twigs and branches. Yasuo began rummaging through his pack. "I brought some ointments from old Mizuki. Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Her hand grasped on to his, stopping him. "Don't you understand," said Takano in an oddly flat voice. She gestured to her face with her other hand. "This will all be gone by morning." She let go of his hand and returned to staring blankly at hers. At a loss for words, Yasuo sat next to his sister, uncertain what to do next.
After a while, a short giggle escaped Takano and she waved her hand up and down. "I wonder if I cut my hand off, will I grow a new one?"
"Takano! Don't say things like that!" Yasuo scolded his sister.
"Why not?" cried Takano. "What am I? They say I'm a witch! Demon! Am I cursed? What am I Yasuo?!"
Takano dissolved into tears once more. Yasuo wrapped his arms around his sister, hugging her tightly as she sobbed into his shoulder. "You're my sister," Yasuo whispered in her ear. "That's all that matters to me."
Takano clutched desperately at her brother as he stroked her hair gently trying to soothe her cries. "I want to go away from here Yasuo. I can't go back. They'll kill me...Or at least try to."
"Where can you go?" Yasuo asked sadly.
Takano sniffled as she thought about what to do. Finally, she came to a decision. "There was that merchant who came to the village a few months back. Talking about how there's trade with other nations now. Maybe I can go to the east. To Edo. Maybe I can find something in one of the merchant houses."
Yasuo laughed. "Be serious sister. You are a woman. They will not let you work there. You know nothing of the lowland towns or cities."
"You've been to them with father, selling the harvested millet," retorted Takano. "Tell me what you know. Teach me brother. I can learn. And then I can pretend to be a boy when I get there."
Yasuo chuckled again. "You'll never pass as a boy Takano. You're far too pretty." Takano punched Yasuo hard in the shoulder. "Ow! Okay! Okay! I'll teach you sister."
Thinking of what needed to be done, Yasuo pondered quietly for a few moments. "I'll get some supplies around and we'll leave tomorrow night. Will you be all right to hide out in the forest tomorrow?" Takano nodded solemnly. "Good," agreed Yasuo, "East towards Edo. But you'll have to listen to everything I tell you Takano. Everything."
Takano hugged her brother once more. "I will Yasuo. I will."
###
"I would never see my village again," Takano concluded. She leaned back, letting out a long sigh. Keima had his arm around her shoulders, holding her comfortingly.
A sniff came from behind Keiichi, and he looked back to see Skuld quickly wiping at her eyes. She gave him an angry glare. "I'm not crying." Indeed, to Keiichi everyone gathered seemed to be blinking back a tear or two. He was about to ask Belldandy how she felt when Megumi spoke up. She had been so quiet during many of Takano's revelations about herself. So much of the day had been a shock to his sister. But now she had finally found her voice.
"It's not right. You did everything for them. You took care of them when they were all sick...and...and they all turned on you!"
"Megumi, it was a different time. Superstitions ran deep," explained Takano. "People of my village were scared and angry. And they were grieving for those they had lost. Someone to blame. Someone to hate. I happened to fit perfectly into that role."
"But-" Megumi stammered, struggling with her emotions.
Takano leaned forward, meeting Megumi's eyes. Despite the pain of the old memories, there was a deep calmness in Takano's gaze. "I forgave them a long time ago, Megumi. I needed to leave my home. To find myself and to find out what I was. I could not have done that if I had stayed."
"But you hold these memories with such sadness," said Belldandy in a near whisper. "And to carry them for so long. You do not share them with many?"
"I do not," agreed Takano.
"Blessings upon thee, Takano, then for sharing with us," intoned Belldandy cordially, bowing respectfully to Takano.
But Takano's response was not so warmly returned. It was not cruel, but nor was it kind. "Save your blessing goddess, for my story has only begun. And there will be parts much worse than this..."