Like Moths to a Flame

THE MASSIVE FIGURE OF A GIANT MOTH stood peacefully by the lake’s edge, indulging in the melody of a silver-haired woman. She sang to it softly, like one would to a young child.

“A peaceful night, oh sweet moonlight, huddled next to thee.

Let it rest, your pain, your past. Lay it all to rest.”

The song was simple and sincere, bringing peace to the creature’s heart. Motes of energy shone around it, turning from a deep dark into a golden hue. It wouldn’t take much longer for the yōkai’s corruption to be completely purified.

However, before the woman continued with her next verse…

“Halt,” she said, giving a side glance to the figure emerging from the lake. It was a tall and athletic man, clad in armor from head to toe. A mercenary, judging from the ATC letters emblazoned on his chest.

“Fufu, you’re a sneaky one,” said Hotaru, closing her eyes with a smile. “Walking out of the lake, huh? You almost got me. Alas, I don’t have the time to play with you. My services are first come first served, you see?”

And without further ado, she continued singing for the moth.

“Gentle wings, so torn and tired, fold them down for me.

No more fear, no need to flee. Dream and let it be.

If you’ve lost the path you knew, I shall sing for you.

Every wrong and every scar, let them fade away.”

The motes of light around the yōkai shone brighter for a moment, before the creature’s figure dissipated into a golden mist. From it, hundreds of smaller moths flew away in all directions, fading into the night.

“There we go,” said Hotaru, standing up and dusting her clothes off. “As for you, my dear visitor… I’m glad to have an audience for a change, but I’m afraid I can’t let you remember me. Don’t you worry though, my song will not — ”

As Hotaru walked closer to the man, she froze in place.

She had encountered dozens of mercenaries over the years, and this one didn’t seem special at first sight. However, clutched within his hands was a piece of paper that she couldn’t possibly forget.

“No way,” said Hotaru, her face turning pale. “R- Ryuuji?”

Runes shone from the man’s armor, shattering Hotaru’s spell as she lost focus.

Then, before she could collect herself, the man removed his helmet and faced her.

“When I least expect it, was it?” he asked, looking straight at her.

“Oh… Hey there,” said Hotaru, smiling awkwardly. “It’s uh… been a while, huh?”

Ryuuji didn’t reply.

He just walked towards her, and Hotaru reflexively took a step back.

Ryuuji, in turn, took two more steps and embraced her.

Hotaru’s head went blank for a moment, having no idea what to do. She’d known for a long time Ryuuji was a mercenary, but after all these years, she didn’t expect him to track her down.

Not for lack of trying, of course. Ryuuji had long attempted to locate her ever since the Wandering Songstress first appeared, but Hotaru was well guarded against scrying spells. This time around, Ryuuji got lucky that both of them were standing in nearby lakes, giving his magic the extra potency needed to find her.

“So much for hiding,” Hotaru thought, her heart filled with mixed feelings. But as Ryuuji tightly embraced her, she timidly wrapped her arms around him in turn.

As for the man in question, he couldn’t hold himself back and quietly wept.

It was a strange experience for Hotaru, having spent such a long time comforting lost souls, yet not finding the right words to say right now. Considering their history, though, she figured it might be best not to say anything.

Thus she held him in silence and caressed his back. Before long, she was softly shedding tears of her own.

It was a bittersweet moment, filled with longing and doubt.

What were either of them supposed to say?

For the life of theirs, they had no idea.

They just stood there for a while, until Hotaru broke the ice.

“Ryuuji, um…” she started, her cheeks flushed.

“What is it?” he asked, not letting go of her.

“This one doesn’t count, okay? I said I’d be waiting for you with open arms, and it was you who found me. So this one’s out, got it?”

Ryuuji pulled back and gave Hotaru a light chop on the head.

“Silly. You owe me so much more than a hug; you have no idea.”

“I know. I’m sorry...”

“I thought you were dead.”

“I thought so too, but Reigetsu spared me. He purified my corruption and I’ve been traveling with him ever since, trying to atone for what I did.”

“Why didn’t you contact me? I would’ve helped you, Hotaru. I would’ve gone with you, no matter what.”

“I know,” she replied, looking away. “It’s just… I left you, Ryuuji. Worse than that, I wanted to corrupt you. When I was an Oni, the things I wanted to do… I couldn’t bear to face you again.”

“That wasn’t on you,” said Ryuuji, seeking her eyes. “Do you know how many people there are in Tokyo? 17 million. Twice as many if you count the metropolitan area. And yet you took in everyone’s corruption, plus the yōkai and the miasma. Who in their right mind would expect you to stay sane?”

What Hotaru had done that night went beyond the realm of reason. It was a miracle she didn’t die on the spot, let alone lose herself.

“I’m sorry,” said Hotaru, her eyes still downcast. “But it isn’t just that. There’s a huge bounty on me, and there are many dangerous people trying to catch me. I couldn’t reach out to you like this, knowing I’d put you in danger.”

“Look at me. Hotaru, look at me.”

Pressed by him, she gave in, tears welling in her eyes.

“You are the whole reason why I ever picked up a sword,” he said plainly. “I know I failed you back then. I wasn’t strong enough to protect you, and even now, I might not have what it takes to defend you alone.”

Compared to before, Ryuuji was weaker. He couldn’t count on the Kami to bless him, so all he had at his disposal was runic magic and conventional arms. And yet…

“That’s why I want to be with you. I want us to stop clinging to life on our own, far away from each other. Whatever burdens you’re carrying, whatever dangers you’re in… let me face them with you. My strength is yours, Hotaru. Please, take it.”

“Ryuuji…” Hotaru eked out, covering her mouth as her voice broke.

All these years, she had convinced herself that keeping her distance had been for the best, that Ryuuji would be better off without her. But even after everything she’d done and how she had abandoned him, his feelings for her hadn’t waned in the slightest.

Seeing this, Hotaru couldn’t help but have an old flame reignite in her heart.

“But back then, all the things I — ” she tried to deny him, but Ryuuji cut her off.

“Apapap, I’m not listening. Forget that day, I don’t care about it.”

Hotaru fell quiet, staring intently at him.

“I love you,” said Ryuuji, gazing into her. “I always have and always will. And you didn’t let me object back then, so I’m telling you now. That break-up? It doesn’t count. You split with me under duress and I’m not accepting it, so you’re still my girl.”

He meant every word of it.

“Aren’t you angry at me?” asked Hotaru, tears falling down her cheeks.

“Yeah, I’m furious. But I love you far, far more than that. So if you feel the same way about me, and you’d like to make up for the past eight years…”

Before she realized, the two of them were holding hands. It was unclear who reached out for the other first, but to Hotaru, the gentle squeeze of Ryuuji’s fingers felt like she was right at home.

Deep down, she knew. She couldn’t help it. It was impossible to keep lying to herself anymore.

“If you really mean that,” she started, steeling herself to cross the bridge she had feared for years. “Could you close your eyes for me?”

Ryuuji nodded and obliged.

Then she let go of him and took a step back, wiping her tears off in a hurry.

“Okay, you may look now.”

As Ryuuji did so, he found Hotaru standing in front of him, arms wide open. Given that he had insisted so much, she wouldn’t hold anything back on him.

“Cha-chan!!” she said with a bright smile on her face. “It’s me, Kisaragi Hotaru! A lot has happened between us, and I know I’ve been the lamest girlfriend you’ve ever had. But still, Hasegawa Ryuuji... would you mind dating me with marriage in mind?”

His eyes widened in shock.

She really got him when he least expected.

“Um… Sure,” he replied, his head still feeling like mush.

“Sure? Just sure!?” Hotaru pouted. “Do you have any idea how nervous I was!?”

“Oh, uh... I’m sorry!” Ryuuji panicked, raising his hands to his shoulders.

“Pffft!” and Hotaru burst out laughing, jumping to hug the guy. “Oh, Ryuuji.”

He embraced her in return, struggling to process what had happened. He’d come looking for his long-lost girlfriend, and all of a sudden he was engaged. Not that he’d complain, of course.

His little quest got him more than he could’ve imagined, and he and Hotaru indulged in their sweet reunion. It was a moment Ryuuji wished would never end, but after a while, his lover broke the ice once more.

“By the way, are you still good with a sword?” she asked nonchalantly.

“Yeah, why?”

“’Cause I hate to break it to you, but we’ve got company.”

At her words, Ryuuji’s battle instincts kicked in.

How in the world could he have missed it?

From beyond Hotaru’s barrier, a familiar feeling was emanating straight at them.

Cold and sharp like a knife in the dark, it was the sensation of killing intent.