“Shinozaki…” I said under my breath. “Tsukushi…”
Mr. Takahashi crouched down on one knee beside me. Reverently, he rubbed the remaining moss and grime off the rocks. “Shino and Tsukushi are old divinities,” he told me. “Originally, they were beasts of nature, not spirits that dwelled in hokora or torii.”
I touched one of the stones, and a sequence of scenes flashed through my mind.
Two foxes racing through an ocean of golden rice, harbingers of prosperity.
People offering thanks to the two foxes. Although the humans’ language and clothes were completely different from mine, their smiles were the same as any modern person’s.
The two foxes transformed into young, human siblings. They ran side by side, holding hands and squealing with delight.
As a pair, they were perfect. As a pair, they were eternal.
A flurry of cherry blossom petals washed away the ocean of golden rice ears. Amid the swirling blooms, a girl took the hand of another beautiful girl, and they dashed toward the two foxes.
The first girl dove at the pair. As the three of them roughhoused, their laughter echoing across the field, the beautiful girl observed them with a warm smile.
The cherry blossom petals disappeared, and the world darkened.
The elder sister strangling her younger brother.
His flight to a human settlement to escape her.
The elder sister, alone, mournfully watching his back fade into the distance.
“Lady Kaede,” a voice said as something nudged my shoulder. “Lady Kaede.”
I jolted back to my senses.
Mr. Takahashi was peering at me with concern. “Are you well? You appeared engulfed in memory.”
“Oh, um, yes. Thanks a million.”
“Your massive spiritual energy puts you at risk as a novice,” said Xu Fu. He shrugged and turned to leave. “You need to make up with your fox pals and start practicing sadhana pronto.”
Mr. Takahashi smiled. “Leave the car for us, won’t you, Lord Jofuku?”
“That’s quite the favor you’re asking.”
I heard footsteps crunching toward us through fallen leaves. Somehow, I recognized the newcomer solely by his gait.
“Kaede,” he said hoarsely.
Turning, I saw a beautiful man in white robes emerging from the flaming backdrop of scarlet leaves.
“…Why did you come here?” asked Shinozaki.
Silently, I moved one foot back. Assuming a low stance for but a millisecond, I thrust my palm forward with all my might.
“KAMEHAMEHA!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.
“Wha—?!” he spluttered.
My Hayakaken beam blew Shinozaki backward, and he skidded across the forest floor before slamming into the base of the tree. Since I’d merely intended to catch him off guard, the beam was harmless save for its force.
“Excellent!” cheered Mr. Takahashi with a fist pump. “A direct hit!”
A samurai doing a fist pump? Now I’ve seen everything.
“What the hell?!” Shinozaki, covered in dirt and dead leaves, rose to his feet. His ears and tail bristled. “Hold it right there! Did you just ambush me?!”
“You’re the one who ambushed me!” I fired back. “You erased my memories without permission and then ditched me, remember?!”
“And that makes it okay for you to bombard me with spiritual energy on sight?!” Shinozaki’s eyes landed on Mr. Takahashi. “Oh, I see! That blasted samurai put you up to this, didn’t he?!”
“I merely taught her an artful negotiation tactic.” Mr. Takahashi folded his arms and puffed out his chest. “What’s the problem?”
Shinozaki narrowed his eyes. “Stop teaching modern girls how to negotiate like ancient warlords!”
“Well then, I’ll take my leave now.” The warlord threw up a peace sign in farewell. Then, pausing, he looked between me and Shinozaki, his gaze tender if somewhat serious. “Shino, Lady Kaede. Make sure you hear each other out. Few things are more tragic than a relationship ended by misunderstanding.”
“Sensei…” I murmured.
“I didn’t teach you enough to earn the title of sensei. If you must address me with an honorific, let it be senpai. I’ll be waiting should you ever wish to learn more from me.”
“Thanks, senpai!”
“Wait,” interjected Shinozaki, “when did you two get so cozy? I haven’t even been gone that long.”
Ignoring him, Mr. Takahashi pivoted and walked briskly to the van.
“Good heavens,” Xu Fu said with a sigh. “I’m exhausted.”
“Enough of that,” Mr. Takahashi replied. “Why don’t we stop for tempura on the way back since we’re already here?”
“At Hirano? Hmm… I’d rather hop on the highway and head straight home.”
The two men left us on the mountainside. Before long, the sound of the engine faded into the distance.
They’re…leaving?
“Hold on,” I said. “Did they just ditch us? What? Is the van actually gone?”
“They probably intend for me to see you back safely after our conversation.” Shinozaki wiped the detritus from his white robes, heaving a sigh of resignation. He looked me directly in the eye. “Kaede. You need to leave now.”
“No. If you run away, I’ll hit you with my Hayakaken beam again.”
“Cut that out. We’re having a serious conversation here.”
A gust of wind rattled the trees, producing a sound far louder than it should have. The autumn leaves stirred at our feet and spiraled into the air to cause a small vortex between us.
I took a step toward Shinozaki. “You promised to take responsibility when you absorbed my spiritual energy, didn’t you?”
“You don’t have to worry about your spiritual energy any—”
“I’m not talking about that.” I took a deep breath, then said forcefully, “Aren’t you going to take responsibility for kissing me? For my feelings for you?”
“Would you like me to help you find a husband?”
“If you don’t see me romantically because I’m not Sakura, just say so. I’ll give up then.”
“No, that’s not it.” He shook his head, his expression pained. “I promise that’s not it.”
He wasn’t trying to escape. I breathed a sigh of relief. He would talk to me.
“I don’t want to make you miserable,” he said. “Like I did Sakura.”
“So you’re abandoning a woman you have feelings for because you don’t want to make her miserable? How self-important can you be? I’ll decide for myself if I’m unhappy, thank you very much. Besides…”
I clenched my fists and took another step toward him. His eyes watered as I looked up at him, and the sight of his face reminded me how much I loved him. I could accept our parting, though it would splinter my heart. But I still needed to state one very important point.
“It’s not for you to decide if Sakura was unhappy either,” I said.
He inhaled sharply.
“I don’t know my past self,” I admitted. “Even so, I think she was happy. She might have been an orphan in the Sengoku period, but she found a place to work thanks to her abilities. She didn’t have to worry about food, clothing, or shelter. She enjoyed a comfortable existence, befriending ayakashi and noble samurai alike. She loved and worked with all her might, never letting go of her dream.”
“She died at the bottom of a well after being cursed!” roared Shinozaki, his voice breaking. “How can you call that happy?!”
“At the very least, she chose her fate!” I shouted.
His eyes widened.