The Crow and the Dawn

Yuame…

Hearing his name, he turned around. The lantern light from the hallway flickered across yellowed paper screens. A shadow moved closer, growing larger until it cast the entire small guest room into darkness.

His room. His heart thumped, cowering back from the shadow. But then he remembered.

I didn’t have a name yet, then…

“Yuame…?”

A low male voice spoke to his ear. A familiar one.

“Mm…”

“Yuame, wake up. Please…?”

Yuame groaned. The dream dissolved like ink in water. Blarily he blinked his eyes open.

A figure was looming over him, smelling of alcohol and… Yuame wrinkled his nose at the other scent.

His old home had smelled similarly, but it didn’t quite leave him feeling nostalgic.

“Kaoru… What’s wrong…” Yuame grumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Kaoru chuckled sheepishly, before putting a finger over his lips. Yuame glared at him.

Someone snored loudly. The other actors were fast asleep. The attic of the theater was dark still, the sky outside only just beginning to lighten.

Kaoru winked. Then he precariously stood and turned for the stairs, motioning for Yuame to follow him. After a short and silent argument of gestures and glares, Yuame finally conceded. Yawning, he slipped on a simple light blue kimono and followed Kaoru downstairs.

“Wow…”

“Yeah… Amazing, isn’t it?”

“It’s so big… I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Kaoru’s face twitched. His lips parted, closed, pulled into a strange grimace before he turned to cough into his sleeve, his shoulders shaking. He would do this every time Yuame marveled over the size of the temple before them.

The Sensoji’s massive roof glistened in the break of dawn, its vermillion walls paling the pink of the sky. Yuame’s eyes had already been wide in reverence as they approached the looming gate, but the sight of the actual temple exceeded all his expectations. He couldn’t stop staring.

“I suddenly understand why so many people visit this place…”

Kaoru had stopped laughing, and nodded brusquely. “Yes, and especially with the Festival. I wanted to take you here right away, but the crowds were a bit too crazy during the day… So I figured, why not now?”

Yuame granted him a grateful smile. It was true, the mere sight of the narrow packed road to the temple had given him anxiety. But at this early hour, they had barely seen another soul. Asakusa was still at rest. The shops of the Nakamise were still closed.

And in the light of dawn, Yuame felt no fear for anything that may have lurked in the shadows at night.

Again he let his eyes dwell slowly over the immense structure, its beauty soothing him. He could have easily spent another while like that, if his companion had not demanded his attention. 

Kaoru yawned loudly and rolled his neck, stretching his arms up languidly. His earth-colored kimono parted at the front, exposing his smooth chest. The sash around his waist was tied loosely, threatening to come undone completely.

“Hnnnng- oy, don’t bother, there is nobody here.”

“You should bother,” Yuame grumbled, pulling Kaoru’s kimono in place. “It’s indecent before the gods.”

“The gods see all. We’re always naked to them and they could care less. Besides, they wouldn’t even see this human disguise!”

“Ssh!” Yuame hissed, looking around. “Your voice carries, you drunkard.”

“Good. I’ve been practicing.” With a lopsided grin, Kaoru’s hands covered Yuame’s, stopping him from fixing his clothes. He then frowned, and held them against him.

“Your hands are cold.”

“I’m fine.”

“The mornings are still pretty cold. Must be because we’re near the river. Wait, I’ll shift so you can warm them-”

“Don’t even think about it!” Yuame’s voice raised with exasperation, pulling his hands back. “What if you’re seen? More people will be here at any moment.”

Kaoru hung his head and whined. “I know~ But I need a break! I’ve kept this form ever since we arrived here and I feel icky…!”

“Then you should have transformed somewhere while you were out at night.” 

Yuame’s tone was sharp. Kaoru flinched.

Since moving into the theater, mornings for the actors had been spent rehearsing while nursing hangovers. Then plays commenced in the street before their theater from midday till sundown, after which they’d drink together or disperse into town. Kaoru’s star was rising higher by day, making him sought after at night. He started staying out longer, often returning early in the morning smelling of sake and other warm bodies. Like today.

Yuame only cared when he didn’t bathe afterwards and rolled into his futon like that. It was the smell, not the knowledge. He had long known the tanuki’s vices.

Kaoru made no retort, his bottom lip jutting out in a pout. Yuame let out a sigh. Perhaps he had sounded a little harsh. And he did appreciate the tanuki’s gesture of taking him out here.

He opened his mouth to diffuse the tension, but right then, they both heard footsteps approaching. Yuame and Kaoru turned to look at the East gate, outside which two men had appeared - carrying a paladin.

The small, wooden structure was set down outside the gate. From the distance, Yuame could barely make out any voices, but a skirmish seemed to be taking place inside. Suddenly, the barred door slid open, and through the curtains a figure rose to their feet.

Kaoru cocked his head to the side curiously, fully fixed on the distant display. Next he staggered and protested when Yuame began to push him into the shadowy corner of the temple stairs. Succeeding only half, Yuame glanced back at the gate - and there, he froze.

A woman of ethereal beauty approached from the East, the rising sun casting her shadow out long and dark towards the Sensoji. Rays reflected on her ink-black hair, crowning her in gold - no, she was already crowned. Long, pronged accessories stuck out from her black lacquered updo like solar beams, as if she were the goddess Amaterasu herself.

A courtesan. Yuame was more than familiar with yujo, but he had only ever heard about these highest ranking companions through Kaoru, who had witnessed them in the capitol’s hanamachi. By his vivid descriptions, Yuame immediately guessed what this lady was, but he was still awestruck by her appearance.

A sharp sound brought him back to reality. Kaoru had slapped himself in the face. 

“I’m truly not dreaming,” the tanuki murmured, watching the courtesan approach with pure infatuation. Yuame shared the sentiment, but still responded by pushing Kaoru further out of sight. Peeking around the wooden staircase, he observed the woman more carefully.

One thing became clear. Just like him, this courtesan did not want to be seen.

A heavy obi embroidered with a rising dragon swung before her. Her thick, padded uchikake dragged on the ground. Despite the weight of her garments, she moved with haste.

She wore no shoes. Her pale, bare feet and glimpses of her ankles were visible with every step. Her face was a perfectly painted white mask, but her dark eyes were set with determination.

Poise clashed with urgency. Control slipped in the illusion of anonymity.

She reached the temple stairs, climbing them as fast as she could. Yuame could hear her labored breathing. Kaoru held quiet at his side, though he ogled the woman through the gaps of the balustrade.

The temple doors were closed at this hour, to worshipers and sinners alike. But the woman sank to her knees outside, and began to pray with her head lowered.

Suddenly, more hasted footsteps approached, much more audibly. Sharp clacks of wood on stone came near, and Yuame looked to see another figure approaching from the gate. Again his eyes widened in surprise.

It was a young girl. She was dressed in a simple kimono red as the dawn, her long black hair falling loose down her back. In her arms, she carried a heavy crimson umbrella. Her lacquered sandals scraped against the stones as she struggled to open it, almost stumbling several times.

The girl panted as she reached the stairs, casting wild glances at the surrounding grounds. Yuame and Kaoru ducked low, still undiscovered.

“My lady!” the girl exclaimed, out of breath. She sounded vexed. “We must leave - please - people will come…!”

“I know. Just a little longer.” The woman’s voice was pleasant and smooth, but tired. There was a weight to her voice Yuame could not place right away, but it was clear she was not here on a whim. She had a purpose.

The girl grumbled, finally managing to unfold the umbrella as he climbed the stairs. She lifted it high to shield her mistress from the sun’s rays and unwanted eyes, unknowing how close they were. Her lightly bronzed lower arms were taut with strain, shaking slightly with their burden. The sight moved Yuame.

For a moment he considered helping the poor child. But the last thing he wanted was to startle the two women. The best thing to do was stay out of sight, and allow them to leave under the illusion of being undetected-

“Ahem.”

All looked around to see Kaoru, now standing boldly at the foot of the stairs. The girl gasped and flung out her arm, shielding the courtesan. The heavy umbrella swayed, threatening to topple over.

Without paying the young girl any mind Kaoru struck a pose, boldly addressing the kneeling woman as if this was a romantic theater performance.

“Like a bird bursting into song at the light of dawn, pray tell; which name may I sing?”

Yuame was frozen in consternation. He had never even heard Kaoru sneak past him. Now the second-hand embarrassment was nailing him to the ground. He could barely glance at the courtesan to see her response.

Slowly, gracefully, the woman rose to her feet. Her numerous hair ornaments tinkled and gleamed as she moved. She pressed the palms of her delicate hands together once more before she turned partially, her face away from the sun.

“Each day many birds sing the praise of dawn, without ever being taught, or told its name.” 

Her response was calm, her voice no longer heavy. Her poem insinuated playfulness. A challenge.

Kaoru grinned roguishly. Undeterred, he moved closer, but the young girl stepped between them once again. Brandishing the umbrella like a weapon she glared down at him, and spoke: “A crow too is a bird, and may sing for the dawn, despite never being asked!”

Kaoru froze and blinked. Yuame had to cover his mouth so as not to laugh out loud with shock. Such fire!

In a split second, he saw amusement flash over the woman’s face, before her eyebrows dipped in disapproval. This micro expression too disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving her face the beautiful, flawless mask it was before.