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Samurai Awakening Page 26
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“It’s so strange seeing the ōkami statues. They look just like they did in their wolf forms. You know, before, you changed them,” Natsuki said as she joined the two boys near the bonfire. She had stayed aloft to ensure no other ōkami escaped or were waiting in the vicinity.
“It’s a little less evil in the world, though neither of us relished having to kill them,” growled Kou.
“Better them than anyone from Nakano.” Takumi threw a lit branch into the base of the fire. As he poked at his new scar, Natsuki sat next to him, looking at the long gashes. Letting Kou take over their body, they crept away as the wood and statues burned. Kou took the opportunity to grind his claws into a nearby tree, sharpening them.
‘These ōkami were young, aside from their leader, I’d say they couldn’t have been more than a few years old. They must have been new to Japan, or were created here recently… either way it’s a bit disturbing.’
‘True, but then we already knew danger was on the way… That Evil was back in Japan…’
Kou stopped his sharpening to listen to Takumi and Natsuki talk.
“Already a second one. At least you can’t really see it. Now all we have to watch out for are ghosts at the festival,” Takumi said. Natsuki shuddered at Takumi’s words and slid closer to him.
“I don’t care about scars. Ghosts on the other hand…” Natsuki’s voice faded as Kou slid further from the fire. David smiled within as the last remains of the ōkami disappeared, ensuring no power could revive them.
When the fire had finally burned itself out, Kou changed back into David and he returned to help clean up the ashes. The three students ensured no coal was left smoking, then scattered the ashes around the boulders and rocks, mixing it into the soil. Finally finished, they used ropes to climb down the cliffs.
Back at the Estate, David, Natsuki, and Takumi hurriedly changed and hid their armor and weapons. Pleased with their success, Masao sent them to help with the festival preparations.
Festival!
September,
Although we destroyed the ōkami, the ghosts were still a threat. I was proud that David had been able to fight without his previous hesitation, but wished we had fought as a tiger…
David had been to fairs, competitions, and ceremonies, but they all paled in comparison to the Nakano Festival. Early Sunday morning nearly the entire town gathered before the Matsumotos’ shrine. For the occasion, trees along the path were trimmed, widening it enough for the massive portable shrines to be brought in and set in the clearing. In addition to the gardening work, bright paper lanterns, banners, and other decorations hung along the entire length of the path and around the shrine clearing.
The villagers arrived singularly and in groups, all wearing the traditional happi, blue jackets with swirling designs in white and black. Even toddlers ran around in their miniature versions of the outfits. When almost everyone was present, one of the local leaders began the ceremonies.
The Nakano townspeople stood in long lines before the Matsumoto shrine. After a few words by the Mayor and school Principal, Masao stepped forward in the traditional robes of a Shinto priest. For the first time, he began the festival ceremony his father had always performed before him. The movements of the ceremony were familiar to David. Masao used a combination of bows, chanting, wand waving, and other motions to call the attention of the ancestors and Kami of Nakano town. Unlike previous ceremonies, Masao studiously avoided the summoning chants. Instead of calling for a Kami, he thanked them and their ancestors. He also asked for protection and health for the entire town. Where the metal had rested the day of David’s accident, offerings of sake, vegetables, and other goods were presented on small wooden alters. This was a chance for all of Nakano to give thanks for the harvest, and the year.
Unobtrusively, the rest of the Matsumotos, David, and Natsuki wandered around the edge of the clearing and other parts of the Estate, keeping an eye out for obake or any other beings bent on mischief. Takumi had helped Kou don his armor before transforming, so that if they needed to, Kou would be able to fight. The rest of them had to go without since it would be far too conspicuous.
Although it was September, the sun and humidity were still enough to make standing before the shrine a trial. Luckily, despite the speeches and the importance of the ceremony itself, it did not last overly long. After ceremonial drinks of sake were passed around to the adults, a group of young men, mostly college students home for the festival, stepped forward to circle the largest portable shrine and its support of wooden beams. Crowding around it, the strongest of the group lifted the massively heavy shrine, their friends quickly running under it to get a spot. Together the group hoisted the shrine aloft and brought it down on their shoulders, walking forward until they were in the middle of the clearing.
The rest of the festival participants circled around the edges. Then, with a cry of “Wasshoi,” the men pushed the shrine up, throwing it so it appeared to be riding an angry river of blue robed rapids. An older man stood apart blowing a whistle. After each whistle, the men responded with another cry of “Wasshoi!” The whistle blower increased his tempo until he suddenly gave a long whistle and the portable shrine was settled back down upon their shoulders. With another whistle, the men began to walk forward through the shrine path. The elementary and junior high students then repeated the process with their smaller copies of the shrine.
The procession walked through the Matsumoto Estate and wound its way towards the city. At houses where the elderly lived the occupants came out to wave and cheer, encouraging the shrine bearers, while the rest of the village followed behind. Once away from the Estate, a tractor pulling a float of drumming taiko students led the way. As they entered Nakano, the delicious smells from the various food stalls wafted out from the town’s center.
The parade wound its way through the streets of Nakano Town until they reached the supermarket. There, all three groups of shrine bearers took their turns jumping and flinging about their charges in tempo to the whistle.
The shrines stopped at all the major town places… the school, the bank, and finally city hall. Along the way, some of the smaller stores had refreshments ready for the passersby, while the main attraction came at the city hall. After stopping, everyone was treated to performances by dancers and musicians. There were also booths by the local restaurants and bars selling everything from toys to ice cream and drinks.
David fulfilled his obligation and helped carry the heavy student shrine from the edge of town to the store, then retreated to the perimeter of the festivities. Halfway through the festival, it became apparent that a few of the students seemed to be missing. David listened in via his radio as Natsuki discreetly questioned some of the student’s parents.
“Oh, I’m sure they’re around somewhere,” said one slightly inebriated parent. “I’m surprised you aren’t with them, Natsuki-chan. We haven’t seen you around as much as usual, you should stop by for dinner next week.”
Natsuki found David as the townspeople wandered around the area in front of the town hall, buying, eating, and drinking.
“I can’t find Yuka or Yuuto. They were here earlier, but no one’s seen them, which isn’t that unusual, except neither showed for their turn at the portable shrine after the bank.” Natsuki leaned against a building eating a green tea flavored ice cream that dripped in the heat.
“Well Masao-sensei did tell us to be on the watch for anything strange. Go ahead and send him a text. I haven’t seen anything odd, though I couldn’t really watch before the market, that thing is heavy.” David rubbed his shoulder. The portable shrine had bruised his shoulder when it landed during their turn to fling it around. Even with his Jitsugen Samurai powers, the bruise was only just then fading.
“I’ll let the others know, any sign of any… obake?” Natsuki asked with such hesitance that David looked up from his observation of the passing crowds.
“You really don’t like them do you?” David said, finally beginning to understand just
how troubling the obake attack had been for Natsuki. The day in the ruins still haunted her. “Kou’s been bugging me for a chance to run around Nakano in the daylight. He’s still small enough to pass as a cat, if a large one. If you don’t mind taking my stuff and resisting the summons for a bit, we can go take a better look.”
“Sure!” Natsuki smiled with relief. Kou growled contentedly at the confidence she showed in his ability to deal with any obake lurking about. After finding a discrete place to change, Natsuki took David’s clothes.
“Kou, David, uh, don’t tell Takumi about the obake thing will you? He thinks I’m over it,” Natsuki said, trying to smile but only managing a troubled frown.
“Sure, no problem,” Kou said with a sly smile and twitch of his tail. Running through the shadows and alleys of Nakano Town, Kou kept his considerable senses piqued for danger and the random festival attendee.
While the majority of the town was at the city hall, many people still had to work or otherwise support the festival activities. Kou found himself dodging to avoid kids carrying candies and drums, adults with instruments and beer, and shopkeepers running for supplies.
All through the town, Kou saw neither spot nor speck of obake, so he headed back along the parade route. Ryohei had tried to find the ghosts again after reporting their intentions, but had returned that morning empty handed. They had no idea if the ghosts had given up or stayed. Near the Estate, a strange sound prompted Kou to investigate further along the main road. Staying in the trees, he trotted towards Natsuki’s house.
Just off the road, Kou suddenly spotted three obake crowding hungrily around two fallen people. One of the obake’s long fingers stretched down hungrily to the couple, seemingly stroking them. After a few seconds, a short fat ghost pushed the taller one away and reached forward. The third, a cagy older obake of a man stretched forward while the other two fought. Noticing him, the other two obake turned on him.
Sprinting forward, Kou caught the biggest of the three straight in the back of the head, knocking him away from the huddled humans. Before the other two could respond, Kou jumped from head to head knocking them senseless with his clawed paws. Though David felt confident they could have dispatched one obake on their own, with three Kou had a hard enough keeping them all occupied long enough to change and attack.
‘I hope Natsuki hasn’t gotten much better at resisting you or we are going to be here awhile.’
‘I am sure she will be here shortly…’ Kou managed as he bounded from ghost to ghost.
Kou’s sensitive ears just picked up Natsuki’s radio call when she could no longer resist the summons. Natsuki laughed when she found Kou jumping from ghost to ghost, smacking them around the head to subdue their entropic energies. Her laugh turned to a scream as she saw who was lying on the ground nearby.
The Ashikawas, Natsuki’s parents, were huddled close together on the ground. Their slow ragged breathing the only thing betraying the scant life left within them. Her scream turned from fear to rage as she rushed forward.
“Natsuki! Get them away from here then come back. I need your help again,” David called, allowing Kou to concentrate on the obake.
Natsuki looked to Kou. David’s blue eyes met Natsuki’s dark brown. With a nod, her face hardened into a determined scowl as she carried first her mother, then father away from the scene of the attack. Seeing Natsuki rush back, Kou gave each of the confused ghosts an especially hard smack before jumping behind a tree. Summoning his Seikaku and changing it to its wood form, Kou tossed the wooden blade to Natsuki. Immediately changing back into Kou, they hurtled back towards the obake. Natsuki caught the Seikaku with practiced ease and flew at the closest ghost. Her long black hair billowed behind her in a stormy rage.
Seeing Natsuki approach with a deadly expression and fiery eyes, the largest ghost tried to flee. He never made it. Natsuki thrust the point of the Seikaku right between the suddenly bulging eyes of the ghost. The other two tried to follow the larger ghost’s lead but were stopped by Kou. Within seconds, Natsuki had banished the other two ghosts. She stood panting, her shoulders heaving with the sudden release. Natsuki breathed deeply, then, just as quickly, the Seikaku slid out of her hands and disappeared. She sank to the ground, her face in her hands, sobs racking her body.
Kou brushed against her, trying to comfort her, but his armor pulled at her clothing. When that did not work, Kou grabbed Natsuki’s bag from where she had dropped it at the edge of the road and came back as David.
“Natsuki, are you alright?” David easily but gently pulled her up. Without warning, Natsuki locked her arms around him in a tight hug. Surprised and more than a little embarrassed, especially since he had yet to put on his shirt, David tried to mumble something comforting. They stood there tightly together as the seconds ticked by, David too embarrassed, too confused to react.
“Natsuki, we should go see to your parents.” Kou’s words brought them back to the danger Natsuki’s parents were still in.
Pulling away, Natsuki was more herself. She turned, and grabbing David’s hand pulled him towards where she had left her parents as he struggled into his shirt. They found them in a low culvert, hidden from the road. Trying to rouse them did little, although Natsuki’s father did seem to stir, as if plagued by a bad dream.
“Let’s get them to Yukiko,” Natsuki said, her training kicking in. “She’ll know what to do.”
“I can be there in about a minute,” Takumi called over the radio when David called for Yukiko’s help.
“Shifter, remember your responsibilities,” Masao replied.
With ease born of their training, Natsuki and David gently lifted her parents, then turned and carried them through the forest and across the road to the Matsumoto Estate. Yukiko met them at the Estate entrance. Luckily, everyone was still at the city hall, leaving her free to help the two onto the Estate in secrecy. Once inside, Yukiko examined the pertinent Matsumoto books.
“They’ll be alright. It seems like Kou caught them pretty early on, there are not any external marking as there should be if they had been fed on for any length of time. It seems as if they have only been knocked out by the obake’s aura. You know what that is like I believe,” Yukiko said turning to Natsuki.
“They’re alright?” Natsuki asked.
“Yes, I will make them some herbs to sleep a dreamless sleep.” Yukiko busied herself around a chest that seemed all too familiar to David. “This will help them forget the attack. Since they are not possessed or Partners, they would not have been able to see the obake that attacked them, yet they will probably be weak for some time if the obake were able to feed on them at all. When they wake, I will laugh and tell them they fell asleep outside and were carried to the Estate. You two had better hurry back to the festival. Do not worry. Your parents will be fine. You both should have some fun. It is David’s first festival, after all.”
With that, the two returned to the festival, trying to enjoy the sumo matches and other performances. Takumi joined them as soon they returned and immediately began a whispered conversation with Natsuki. Many of their classmates, including all of the third year boys, competed in the sumo competition, so David wandered off to cheer their classmates. Even Kou enjoyed booing Koji. David was happy to see him lose his first match. Apparently, his injured hand had kept him from training. As he left the ring he eyed David dangerously, but the crowds kept them separated.
When the sumo competition ended and prizes were awarded, fireworks marked the end of the entertainment. Shortly after, the shrines were taken back up upon numerous shoulders and the procession of happily oblivious people made their way back along lantern lit streets to the Matsumoto Estate. There at the torii gate before the shrine path, a group turned to face the largest shrine. The two groups met, the young men trying to force their way back to the Matsumoto shrine, while another other group tried to stop them. Natsuki stood with David as Takumi explained the spectacle to David.
“The people are pushing against the shrine to ma
ke it more difficult,” he said, gesturing along the lamp lit path. “The more challenging something is, the more effort you put into it, the more of an offering it is. They’ll struggle all the way back to the shrine in offering to their ancestors and the Kami.”
It took more than an hour for the struggling townsmen to get the heavy portable shrine back to the clearing. Once there both sides celebrated together, ending the Nakano Festival.
Lost and Found
September,
Five ōkami and three obake seemed like good work for a weekend to me, but David could not help thinking back on Rie and Grandpa. Never having had any siblings, I found it harder to be sympathetic. In the wild, you kill your enemies…
Natsuki’s parents woke the next day confused and weak, but otherwise healthy thanks to Yukiko’s ministrations. With Monday off from school, the Matsumotos, villagers, and students tore down the stages and lights from the festival. Natsuki took the day off to take care of her parents. She especially thanked Kou for finding them just in time. Takumi and David worked together to finish the last of the clean up on the Estate while talking about the events of the previous day. When they finished, Masao had them record everything they remembered about the ōkami and obake attacks, in order to add them to the Matsumoto library.
With Natsuki off, Takumi and David practiced alone together, both attempting to work new techniques and moves into their swordplay. Despite David’s months of training, Takumi was still easily the better swordsman.
“How did you beat the ōkami leader, but he got me in the leg?” Takumi asked, lashing out with a practice sword as he spoke, trying to throw David off. Used to this kind of thing, David replied without missing a beat.
“You’re better, but I’m more unpredictable.” David suddenly dropped to all fours beneath a sideways blow from Takumi and lunged knocking Takumi to the ground. “I used a badminton net slice and got him in the leg. You know your katas well, but we know tiger.” David’s eyes gleamed orange as he stood over Takumi for a brief second before helping him up.