Songs by the fire

Our conversation eventually started to die down. Sitting by the campfire and watching the flames got a bit stale, so I came up with an entertaining idea to keep us busy.

“Hey Chiyo, why don’t we each sing a song we grew up with? That way we can learn more about each other’s culture. That sounds fun doesn’t it?”

“Oh, songs? I know plenty of good songs! I just need to pick one that best represents my culture…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll start while you decide on a song. I’ve already picked out a story my mother often sang to me before bedtime. It goes something like this.”

“There once was a countess shining bright
She cherished a dapper knight so bold
None who dared pull them apart
Yet evil lurked ‘round every bend

The dapper knight set out to slay
The vile dragons plaguing Scald’
Keeping the monsters out of day
Such was his job for evermore

Yet the beasts proved too mighty
For Scaldis’ great and strong army
The knight was amongst them, could not face
The fiery breath that dragons shot

The countess, widowed, fell to despair
Now pulled apart, that shining pair
Her heart turned dark, it was only fair
Their castle fell into disrepair”

The wind picked up and breezed through the castle. The sounds shifted until I swore I heard a woman wailing. But it was just an illusion, right? The wind died down again and we were left in silence. Chiyo couldn’t contain herself and soon burst out.

“What the hell? That’s a really depressing story! How are you supposed to sleep after hearing something like that!”

I had to give her that point. “I wasn’t the best of sleepers as a child. I guess my mother’s stories must’ve contributed to that.”

“They sure did!” Chiyo nodded. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep for a week if I were told such a story. Anyway, I’ve decided on a song. Let me sing to you the anthem of my people.”

Chiyo scraped her throat. I waited with much anticipation to hear the legendary tales from her homeland. She started in a deep tone.

“O Earth, farewell to you
A ship is heading out
It’s the Space Battleship
Ya-ma-to”

Her voice trailed off at the last line, as a complicated expression came over her face. She stared off into the distance looking spaced out. The only sound was the crackling of the campfire and creaking of the rotten floorboards. She snapped out of it after a few seconds and continued in a much more upbeat tone.

She related the account of the Yamato sailing into battle in the distant land of Iskandar to rekindle lost hope and save humanity. It was a riveting song like a hero’s tale of old. I found myself nodding to this epic story, and had to keep myself from clapping along. When she finished singing my questions came pouring out.

“What is this Space Battleship Yamato? Is it a story of a war your country fought?”

“It is! It came out around 50 years ago but it’s such a classic! It’s about a ship’s crew which sets sail to save their home from destruction. They face impossible odds as they single handedly battle through ever-expanding armadas of enemy ships. On the way the crew forges unbreakable bonds and learns about true love.”

“Wow, that war must’ve had a great influence on your country. I can barely imagine the courage and determination of the Yamato’s crew. They truly deserve to have songs written about them.”

Chiyo nodded along excitedly. “It was incredibly influential! You could even say that it kickstarted a boom of anime.”

There was that word again. “So if I’m getting this right, anime are your country’s way of retelling heroic epics?”

“Well, I guess you could say that.”

I was seriously moved by her tale. “It’s a beautiful song. I see a lot of similarities between this tale of your heroes and the situation you’re currently in." 

“How so? It’s just a nice song that’s stuck with me. I thought I’d share it.”

I explained my reasoning more clearly to Chiyo. “Well for one you’re far from home. You’ve been encountering all kinds of things that you don’t know anything about, I can tell. Secondly, you’re on a great adventure! It’s just like the crew of the Yamato. It’s the journey of a lifetime.”

Chiyo’s ensuing smile dripped with melancholy.

“I guess you’re right. I never would have dreamed of being on a grand adventure like this, not in a million years. At first I wanted nothing less but to escape from here and go back home. But then I met you… and y’know? It’s been pretty crazy so far, but in the best way possible. If the Gods of this world are really out there, I’m truly grateful to them for bringing us together.”

She really was the sweetest girl in the world. I put my hand around her shoulder and pulled her in close for a hug.

“So am I. My daily life was filled with boring chores and uninteresting, close-minded people. It was only when I met you that my life truly started, looking back on it.”

Chiyo reciprocated my hug as she answered.

“To be honest, it’s the same for me. Back at home, I was a bit of shut-in, a nobody. All I did was play games, watch anime, and go for long walks through my hometown of Hirosaki at night. But now? I’m a witch who’s feared throughout the country, leaving rumors in my wake as I travel around! Sure, there are plenty of moments when I’m afraid, but when I’m with you it’s all a lot less scary all of a sudden.”

“I feel the same way. You’re always there to help me out in a pinch; you really are a reliable partner. But you were a shut-in? So you didn’t leave the house? I would’ve never thought that of you with how vocal you are about everything. To me that’s something only shy people do.”

Chiyo let out a laugh at this comment of mine. Though it was hard to tell whether or not it was genuine. “It’s exactly because I was so vocal that nobody at school wanted to associate with me. I was called ‘big mouth Arata’ amongst other names. I fell out of every circle and in the end I was left alone. I stopped going to school at some point after that, that place meant nothing to me. Graduation came and went, but say cooped up at home for all that time.”

I gave her a forehead kiss as I softly stroked her hair. It just seemed like the natural thing to do. Chiyo pressed herself against me, as if she was trying to drown out the bad memories with a new sensation. We sat in silence for a moment, until I offered a word of consolation.

“But that’s all in the past now. I’m here with you, and it’s going to stay that way from now on. I promise.”

Chiyo, who had her face pressed against my chest, looked up at me. “It’s a promise then. We’ll be together, no matter what.”

With that promise made, we both slowly slipped into comforting dreams. Dawn was soon to break and sunshine would beam away our uncertainties.