Chapter Text
“Honey--” My mother’s voice wakes me up from a troubled sleep, soft as it’s always been when she does this. “It’s time, wake up . . . ”
I rise up slightly after a brief while, sighing heavily. With my eyes still closed I’m mulling over every thought-- but more specifically-- over how much I don’t want to do this, However, I’m very much aware that I’ve got no choice. I’d rather not disappoint my parents again, not when such an important opportunity has been presented to me.
I stand up from my futon, rolling it onto itself and putting it in its drawer. It was probably very shoddily folded, but I don’t take the time to think much about it. However, I’m sure my mother will probably give me an earful over it later if she notices. I take a good look around my room, almost as if to memorize it before I leave for a full year: Paintings of birds, flowers and other animals adorn the walls. In the corner sits a tiny desk, full of unfinished works collecting dust. Resting on an old glass and a bookcase near the desk are paints and inks of many colors, with brushes resting on a glass cup.
The city’s starting to wake up; I can hear all sorts of noises despite the fact that it's dark outside: There’s vehicles passing by, two men talking outside, and a street vendor also passing by, I can also tell apart the distinct smell of mentai egg rolls. I prepare the water for the bath, hopping in as soon as it’s ready.
After the bath, I gather my uniform and my blade. Turning around, I see mom has left my new haori out for me. It’s a yagasuri pattern in white, red and a deep dark blue.
Lastly, my hair needs to be done. I turn to the mirror in the bathroom, checking for any blemishes in my skin. I hadn't noticed until then that my hair had gotten quite long actually.
I put it up in a bun, setting two braids around it and tying it up at the base. This leaves the fringe and two strands of hair at each side. There's the odd gradient in my hair from dark to white and then black at the tips again clearly visible through them.
“Are you ready Chie?” Mother's voice makes me jump slightly, I got distracted again.
“Yeah, I’m coming.”
Next to the taxi outside, my family were waiting for me. We hop in, and we're off.
My heart sinks when we reach the pier. I've been trying to convince myself that this is for the best, that this is good for my future. Still-- I don’t feel this is entirely out of my own conviction. It doesn't matter anymore, especially not now.
My dad is easily the one who takes my goodbye the hardest, I am his eldest, and only daughter, after all. My mom cries a bit too, but keeps a positive façade despite all. She’s always been the strongest out of all of us, especially compared to me.
“Don’t be too messy, you know not everyone will take it well—“
“I know mom.”
“Do your best, don’t complain—“ This is starting to feel overbearing, especially after dad joins in on the comments, but I keep dismissing them as nicely as I can, not wanting to sour the farewell.
After a last tearful kiss and hug, it doesn’t take me much time to bid them farewell before I hop on the ferry. This will be the last time I’ll see them in a long while.
…
It would be a full day before I arrived on the mainland. It had also been a month after my family and I sent the letter to Oyakata-sama to let me train as an apprentice under one of their highest ranking members. We received the letter a week later. To our disbelief (mostly mine, since I thought this was a laughable idea), apparently one of the pillars themselves had eagerly agreed on taking me under their wing . . . who was it again? Uh . . . ah, yes, the Flame Pillar. I don't think I've heard much about him before-- after all-- it has been a while since I’ve been on-duty.
I am told he’s an eccentric man, and to have patience with him. This weighs heavily on my heart, since I hope he has that same patience with me. I tend to make far too many mistakes, and not everyone has time to deal with someone like me.
I keep ruminating this over and over in my thoughts. Feelings of disenchantment and self-doubt plague me. I can feel my eyes sting, and I end up weeping silently until I inevitably fall asleep.
…
The next morning, I am woken up by the ship’s horn. I quickly get changed again and get off the ferry.
The pier is a surprising sight. Although I live in a city too, it’s just not as big as this one. Or this colorful. There’s so many people and so many sensations. The smell of the sea is powerful. Living in a coastal city all my life, I am used to the stinging scent. However, I can smell something else-- takoyaki? It makes my mouth water, and it reminds me again of my mother, playfully teasing me over eating too much.
One treat doesn’t hurt right? I say to myself before I walk towards the stand.
…
I gleefully walk towards the train station, picking at the little octopus and batter balls and shoving one into my mouth. The sweet and salty taste of the sauce and the chewiness of the octopus overwhelm me with joy, distracting me from the turmoil of my thoughts.
This doesn’t last. It takes me a bit to realize that the train station is strangely filled with people to the brim, officials telling angry customers to disperse.
My heart sinks; something’s up.
I finish up quickly and run towards the nearest policeman. “S-sir?”
“Ma’am we need you to leave, it’s dangerous--”
“I’m aware, I was just-- wondering what was going on? Is the train not working?”
“I’m afraid not, there was an accident, the whole route is closed.”
“What?”
He apologizes before leaving me there in my confusion.
My gut is a mess, I am so nervous. What now? I wonder. I mean, I guess I could walk to the nearest cab station, but it’s definitely going to be more expensive. I could also walk, settle on staying the night on an inn. There’s really not that many choices, and money’s a problem, so--
I suddenly feel someone pull on my haori. The force of it is enough to drag me away, almost making me fall to the ground. I am ready to kick whoever did this when I am greeted with the familiar sight of a Kakushi.
"You shouldn't be here!" he hurriedly whispers.
“I—huh?”
"There are orders! No hunters in this area! We must not arise suspicion?”
“What are you talking about?” I ask puzzled, his gaze beneath the cloth mask softens.
“You—you’re not here because of the attack?”
“Attack? I was just trying to get my train. I’m to meet the Flame Pillar.”
His eyes widen, and I can tell his face turns pale, even behind the disguise. “What—what happened?” I ask, feeling unease and a knot in my throat.
“So—about that—“