Chapter 14

Though it wasn’t that far, the rest of the walk to the village’s edge and the shrine located there was filled with Yurika’s excitable voice regaling the previous year’s event to Kaede and the oiran absorbing the full breadth of information on the festivities. Gakuto noted that Yurika seemed to enjoy having such a captive audience for her tour and mentally derided himself for focusing so much on the negatives waiting for them on their return to the palace.

“Everything about that sounds so charming and festive. Even though the story is such a tragedy, the poor Serpent… The ceremony sounds like it makes the story more wistful than depressing!” Kaede admired that the citizens of Tsuiraku could have such a different outlook on the story, the discrepancies in the amount of thieves notwithstanding.

“Right, right?” Yurika said. It was easy to see that she was as fond of the Moon Princess’ tales as Kaede was and that relaxed Gakuto a bit more.

“I never would’ve thought of seeing the Serpent as a tragic hero’s story…” Gakuto muttered, causing both girls to exchange a glance and a smile.

“Gakkun is more interested in the tale than he lets on!”
“That’s only because you’ve read it out loud countless times when we were younger!”

“You could’ve left at any time, but you always stayed until the end!”

“It’s rude to leave when someone is telling a story…”

Yurika grinned slyly. “So that’s how it is…” She muttered to herself as they passed beneath the torii gate and entered the shrine.

Neither one seemed to hear her as they took in the expansive grounds before them. The shrine at the edge of the village, The Shrine of the Celestial Snake, was devoted to the Serpent from the Moon Princess’ tale. It was also where the yearly Great Serpent Ceremony was held, as the open space provided a variety of natural backgrounds to help showcase the events of the story.

On the left, from the torii gate, was the slope of Mt. Ochiru and to the right was an unobstructed view of the sea, giving those attending the event a breathtaking scenery to enjoy as the monks and priestesses performed the tale.

All of that was further elevated by the natural beauty of the shrine grounds itself. The shrine itself was a simple wooden building, that was quietly bustling with parishioners in the later afternoon sun. The rattling of the suzu echoed across the spacious grounds as the villagers paid their respects to the Serpent.

Several of the shrine visitors greeted Yurika as she led Kaede and Gakuto across the grounds, which hardly surprised either of them with how outgoing and effusive she was. There were a myriad of shrubs flush with full blooms of hydrangea mostly in vibrant blues and purples but other colors were scattered throughout. The shrubs were lined along the main walkway from the torii to the shrine proper but also encircled the open grounds, almost like a natural barricade from the cliff’s edge.

Kaede crouched down and took a whiff of a set of pink flowers.

“They’re so fragrant and the variety of colors are so eye-catching! We don’t have anything like this on the palace grounds.”

“Really? You’d think that the palace would have all sorts of flowers.”

Kaede smiled up at Yurika, before glancing over the other shrubs close by. “We do have an abundance of other flowers and with their own wonderful colors and scents.” She reached out and gently slid her hand under a large, blooming one, cupping it with great care. “Yet flowers with this many buds and petals are nowhere to be found there.”

There was a subtle longing in Kaede’s voice that Gakuto picked up and it reminded him of their conversation at the festival. 

“It’s making me realize how small my world actually is!”

Kaede released the flower from her grasp and stood up before enthusiastically passing Yurika and making her way to the suzu.

“Say, Gakkun…” Yurika stared at Kaede’s back as she grabbed the thick rope and rattled the bells at the top of the shrine before praying to the Serpent. “...you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but is Kaede-chan some sort of princess?”

“Princess? Kaede?” Gakuto had to stop himself from laughing, trying to remember they were currently at a place of reverence.

“No, no. Nothing quite like that.”

“I already know both of you are from the Yuilen Imperial Palace, but she didn’t tell me more than that. It seems like…”

Gakuto stepped past Yurika and clapped his hand on her shoulder gently. “Her position is different, but what you’re imagining is most certainly right. Due to her station and upbringing, consider her nothing more than a sheltered princess. If Kaede wants to talk about it with you, she certainly will but…”

He turned to meet Yurika’s eyes, with a pained smile. “...it is not my place to talk about what bothers her.”

Yurika’s eyes widened in understanding and she felt an odd sense of loneliness, seeing the two misfortunate palace members bond up close. “Gakkun… you’re in love with Kaede, aren’t you?”
Gakuto nearly fell off the path into the shrubs after hearing that.

“Wh-what gave you that impression!?”

Yurika giggled before sticking her tongue out before stepping around him. “Nothing in particular until your reaction!”

Gakuto was left stunned as Yurika rushed over and joined Kaede in praying to the spirit of the shrine. He turned his gaze up to the sky, sighing.

“Is it really that obvious…?”

Kaede had just finished up her prayers to the Serpent, asking to enjoy her time at Tsuiraku and that whatever punishment awaited her back home would be light, when Yurika joined her. The two girls shared a smile before the island girl rattled the suzu as Kaede stepped back to rejoin Gakuto.

Klink, klink, klink.

The now familiar chime of a bell echoed in Kaede’s head once more, but unlike previous times, she froze in place rather than trying to isolate the sound. The sound was much clearer than it had been at the matsuri or even when her eyes had gazed upon the torii. It sounded like they were on strings being rung behind her head.

“Young maiden? Can you hear me?”

Kaede was shaken from her stupor as she heard a young woman’s voice, beautiful and melodic.

“Hello?” Kaede answered back, her voice echoing around the area she now stood in.

Kaede looked around, a faint bluish haze surrounding her, all semblance of the shrine having disappeared. She still felt her feet on solid ground, but the air around her felt similar to that of her dream on the ferry as she turned around, trying to get a sense of direction.

“Oh! You can finally hear me, maiden!” The voice sounded both near and far as Kaede turned to find the source. “I apologize sincerely, from the depths of my heart, for intruding into your mind like this.”

“You’re in my mind?” Kaede’s own voice echoed in all directions, causing her to distort her current location even more.

“More like speaking directly to it. I know it is invasive but time does not allow me to be polite. I hope you will forgive me.”

Kaede turned on her feet again, hearing the scratch of her sandals on sand? or maybe gravel? The sound was much more harsh than when she stepped on the stones at the shrine.

“First, I would like to apologize for my servant causing you such trouble.” Kaede could’ve sworn she could feel the woman bow.

“Your servant?”

“Well, more like my messenger. The small white haired girl. She was supposed to deliver something to a particular person but got distracted by the festivities. I should’ve expected it, sending one of my fledgling spirits but she was the only one who could slip out.”

“Her? Messenger? Spirit? What do you mean by slip out?”

“I’m sure this is all confusing and overwhelming, but I don’t know how long I can talk to you, so I must also apologize for not being able to explain everything clearly.” The blue haze around Kaede started to shift and distort and she suddenly found herself standing in the silver field from her dream.

A young woman, probably only a couple years older than Kaede, in an incredibly elaborate kimono was kneeling and bowing so low her forehead was touching the ground. Kaede suddenly felt awkward.

“Please, young maiden, I beg of you. I need your assistance.”

Kaede blinked, before pointing at herself, stunned by the statement.

“You need me? But I don’t know what I can do. I’m just an oiran in training. I don’t know if I can provide the help you are looking for.”

The young woman sat upright, her brilliant crimson irises locking with Kaede’s eyes, the woman’s long straight black hair framing her lovely face perfectly. All Kaede could think upon gazing at the woman’s resplendent frame was that she was the reason that the word “beautiful” even existed. It was the only way to describe the ethereal, elegant, sublime maiden before her.

“If not you then who else can I ask? You picked up the messenger’s package, didn’t you?”

Kaede’s mind flashed back to the bundle currently sitting in her room at the resthouse, as the young woman spoke further.

“It does not matter now who it came to or how, what’s important is that the bells are where they’re supposed to be and…” She smiled a smile so elegant and exquisite that Kaede’s own mother’s smile would be considered plain.

“...that it is with someone so resilient, that hope still remains.”
“I don’t know if I would call myself that…”
The young woman put her index finger to her lips, still smiling brilliantly.

“O young maiden, you truly don’t know your own worth. But you will.”

Kaede was taken aback and wanted to ask more but their surroundings started to distort and the elegant woman looked around panicstricken.

“I’ve wasted too much time, the connection is going to be severed… Young oiran Kaede.”
Kaede gasped, eyes widening as the woman spoke her name.

“Help him. Release him from the shackles that so unfairly snared him and let him return to his purpose.”

“Help him? Who!?”

“For if you don’t…” The woman ignored Kaede’s question as she started to drift away from Kaede. “...calamity will befall us both.”

“Calamity? Both? What do you mean?”

“Take the three bells to the reflective windows by week’s end, young Kaede. That’s the only way to stop it. To stop them.”

“Bells!? Windows? I don’t understand…” Kaede stretched her arm out towards the maiden as she was now almost out of sight. “Stop what!? Who is “them”?”

“I’m sorry, this is all the time I have…” The woman turned away, her voice almost inaudible from the distance. “...I’ll try to help you again, young oiran.”

“No, not yet!” Kaede tried to run towards the woman but she felt her feet slip as she started to fall into the hazy blue void again.

“At least tell me your name!”

The young woman turned back towards Kaede and the oiran could see a sorrowful smile on her beautiful face.

“Kagura. That is my name. The princess of the moon.”

The words didn’t reach Kaede’s ears but she still understood, astonished as she reached up into the void after Kagura.

But the princess was no longer there.

“Kaede-chan?” Kaede snapped back to reality, nearly losing her balance as Yurika was looking into her face, full of worry.

Kaede glanced around, realizing she was back at the shrine. Gakuto stood a few steps behind Yurika, an inquisitive look on his face. Both appeared concerned as Kaede stood there bewildered by the vision.

“Yes, Yurika-chan?” Kaede blinked a couple of times, her mind still struggling to catch up.

“Are you okay?”

Kaede’s face split into a forced smile as the two continued to look worried. “Of course, I am!”

Yet, the thoughts in Kaede’s head screamed otherwise.