Chapter 9
Fujinomiya stood on the lower hills of Mount Fuji, much like its name suggests. It was also conveniently a post town and had a lot of facilities were travelers could rest from their journey.
We arrived in the morning, and I suggested that we rest due to our trip's fatigue. But none of them agreed with me, all too anxious to find the one we've been looking for. And so was I, but at the same time, meeting Ryoma signified that my time with Mina would soon be coming to an end, and secretly I wanted to drag that out.
The status of our relationship was still ambiguous. However, we weren't dodging each other like earlier. Instead, now it seemed like we were ignoring our inevitable departure. We never talked about it, but at least our feelings weren't in the air anymore.
"If we're not stopping to take a break, what should be our first move then?" I asked, observing as the other three girls looked around the town.
"I'm trying to sense Ryoma's energy," Momo replied, closing her eyes to improve her concentration. "Even though I never personally met him, it should be strong enough to stand out... but I can't feel anything."
I bit my lip, worried that he might have left this town already, and we'd have to start everything again. "Is it possible that he concealed his energy?" I asked.
"I doubt he'd do that," Sana answered, seeming as nervous as I was. "It's not like he knows we're after him."
"Don't worry," Mina suddenly said, grasping my hand. She smiled at me, but I was able to tell it was an unmistakenly sad one. "We'll find him."
I squeezed her hand, making sure she knew I didn't want her to let go, and we calmly roamed the bustling roads of Fujinomiya. The people were lively and warm, just like the weather, but unfortunately, not a single soul knew where we could find the void fox.
"Do you think he's still here, Mina?" I asked the samurai, who appeared to be rooted in thought.
"I don't know," she sincerely retorted after a while. "It's certainly odd how no one has seen him... but perhaps we're searching in the wrong place."
"What do you mean?" Sana asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
"That guy Hoshi said that he heard from the priest himself that Ryoma was coming to this town," Mina replied. "We should go search in the shrine instead. They should have more knowledge about this."
After questioning a few more villagers, we were able to find the shrine. There was a tall staircase, much like the one in Kyoto, that led to the entrance. A young girl in a priestess outfit similar to Momo's was sweeping sand away to keep the floor clean when she noticed us. She had long dark hair tidied behind her ears and thin bangs that framed her face nicely.
"Welcome," she greeted, surprised with our presence. "Can I help you with anything?"
"Hello," Momo answered as we approached her. "We are travelers from Heian-Kyo, and we're searching for the void fox, Ryoma."
"We've been told he's in this town," Mina added, anxiously gaping at the priestess. "Can you confirm if it's true?"
"That is considerably far from here," she answered, widening her eyes. "But luckily, you aren't misinformed. Ryoma is currently meditating in the Shiraito Falls."
My heart started throbbing as soon as she confirmed that he was indeed near. It shouldn't be too long until we faced him, and my stress increased, as this encounter would determine so many things.
According to the shrine maiden, it wasn't too far, so we returned to the hills, following the track leading to the waterfalls. Unlike the pleasant weather in the town, the mountain air was dense, and a murky haze surrounded us. It was considerably eerie, even though night hadn't befallen yet.
"I don't want to part ways with her," echoed a sinister voice that petrified me. "But this path means that Nayeon will return home, and I'll be left behind here."
Abruptly, we all stopped walking, searching for the source of the sound. I moved closer to Mina watched her hand hovering the handle of her katana. Everyone seemed alert, but the samurai, in particular, seemed very disturbed, her wide eyes frantically wandering around.
From within the fog emerged an ape-like creature, although his face looked more human than primate. He had large, hypnotizing eyes like yellow whirlpools that felt uncomfortable to look at.
"How do you know my name?!" I shouted, trying not to look directly into those creepy golden orbs.
The monkey didn't say anything and instead pointed at Mina.
"He's a satori, Nayeon," Momo began explaining. "Satoris are yokai able to read people's minds. They are known for distracting travelers by repeating their thoughts aloud."
So he was repeating Mina's thoughts? I glanced at her and immediately noticed she was blushing while glaring at the creature. Quickly, she unsheathed her weapon, but I held onto her sleeve.
"He doesn't seem violent, Mina," I tried reasoning.
"He may not seem violent," Sana replied, exposing her claws. "But satori like to dine on humans. This one has poor judgment, though, seeing he is terribly overpowered."
"Okay, you can slice him then," I replied in disgust, letting go of Mina's sleeve.
"You'll pay for exposing my thoughts," he repeated in the same monotone voice said.
Mina got even angrier and ran towards him, swiping her sword, but the monkey was surprisingly fast and climbed a nearby tree. "This is so shameful," he said, mirroring Mina's thoughts.
"Mina, you should empty your mind," Momo advised. "That way, he'll grow bored and leave."
But the samurai didn't seem to be listening, and this was one of the first times I saw her losing her cool. Again, it seemed like Mina hated having her true feelings exposed. She picked up a stone and strongly tossed it against the satori. "Stupid monkey! Stupid monkey!" It repeated before running away.
"Or that works too, I suppose," Momo added, as it's haunting voice became just an echo in the distance.
I was glad that we didn't have to fight the satori, but Mina still looked incredibly distressed. In an attempt to comfort her, I gently held her hand and smiled reassuringly at her. She quickly looked away, seeming too embarrassed, but I just found it endearing.
But I couldn't be distracted from our primary goal. Ryoma was closer to us than ever. The further we marched, the louder was the potent sound of water cascading from a slope. My hands felt clammy, and my breathing was irregular.
Enveloped by luscious green foliage was a cascade broad enough to resemble a great wall. Thundering water dripped off the edge of a rock in shallow currents, and in the center, a figure with bright red hair tied in a long ponytail stood out against the white stream.
"It's him...!" Sana whispered, gawking at the man.
He looked a lot younger than I expected, no older than 30. I immediately recognized Sana's features in him, apart from the fox ears. Instead, he had pointy, human-like ears and a purple diamond-shaped marking on his forehead. His eyes opened, revealing the same golden color present in his daughter's irises.
"I've been waiting for you," he said, with a voice as soft as velvet that had a soothing aspect.
"So you know who I am?" Sana retorted, her voice dangerously calm, but I could see her hands shaking.
"Yes," Ryoma answered as he stood to leave the heart of the waterfall. His eyes looked pained as he walked towards us. "You are my daughter, Sana."
Sana stared at him for a few instants before replying, "What do you mean you were waiting for us?"
"I sensed your presence on the moment you stepped on this town," Ryoma said, seeming hesitant to approach her more. "You look so much like your mother."
"I wouldn't know," Sana sourly replied as tears uncontrollably streamed down her face. "I have no idea of her appearance... just as I had no idea of yours until now. I bet it hurts, huh? Looking at me and remembering the woman you loved."
"It does hurt," Ryoma answered, "But not because of that... it hurts because I left you and was too much of a coward to come back."
"Why did you leave me?!" Sana shot back at him, and Momo started rubbing her arm to comfort her. "Did you find me responsible for what happened? So much that you couldn't bear to be around me?!"
"That's not true, Sana... never once I found you responsible for what happened," Ryoma answered, shaking his head. "I felt guilty for what happened, and more than anything else, I was broken. You deserved better. You deserved to be raised by someone who was whole and could give you all the love you needed. I knew I'd be a terrible father, and so I left you with the Hirais."
"Well, you're right about that," Sana sarcastically laughed, throwing her hands in the air. "You're a shitty father. But Momo and her family have been amazing to me... they treated me like I was their own," she added, shifting her gaze to Momo, who nodded and smiled encouragingly at her."
"I knew I made the right decision when I trusted them with you," Ryoma replied, seeming a bit relieved, but his eyes still looked tortured.
"The right decision? Do you have any idea how guilty I felt during all these years?!" Sana snapped back at him. "You made me feel like I murdered my own mother!"
The man sighed and closed his eyes. "I know that I'll never be able to repair what I did to you — all those years of pain and guilt. I'm truly sorry, Sana... I understand if you'll never forgive me and if you hate me. But you never left my mind even one day, and I want you to know that I love you."
At this point, Sana was sobbing and shaking her head, while Momo gently held her in her arms to support her. "I-I think it's a little bit late for that now," she answered, in between cries. "But I'm not the reason we came after you," Sana added, gesturing at me.
Ryoma's attention shifted to me and my heart commenced pounding harder. His presence was remarkably intimidating and I was afraid my offense would upset him.
"Ah, yes... I sensed Inari's presence in you," he spoke, and I had no idea what that meant. "What happened, child?"
I explained to him everything that happened from the moment I first set foot in the shrine in Kyoto until now. He didn’t seem surprised, or upset, which was somewhat comforting to see.
“I understand,” was all he said at first. “The reason why I sensed Inari’s energy in you is because the instant that statue broke, the protection power I had placed in it sought for another body to stay, and that happened to be you.”
I blinked a few times, trying to comprehend what he just said. “So... that power lies in me now?” I asked, dumbfounded.
“That is correct. But you don’t have to worry,” he reassured. “I’ll return to the capital with all of you and will transfer the power back to the statue. After that, you will be able to return to your own time.”
A wave of relief washed over me upon the confirmation that I would be able to return to the 21st century. But when my eyes shifted to Mina, a feeling of insurmountable sorrow gave way. It seemed that I would have to give up on her in order to return to the place I called home. But I just couldn’t accept that. Not without at least trying something.
"Come with me," I blurted out without giving it a second thought, walking towards Mina.
Her eyes widened in shock, and she seemed to be at a loss for words for a few instants before answering, "I-I can't!"
"Yes, you can!" I replied, smiling at her and taking hold of both her hands. "You have a choice, Mina. I know you feel like you're stuck with the fate you were born with, but that is not true." I gently caressed her palms, looking into her eyes and ignoring everyone else who watched the scene. "I love you, and I want to be with you. I know you want the same."
"Nayeon, I can't," Mina repeated, her hands trembling. "I can't just leave Nako behind... and I-I... I have duties with my family," she bit her lip, seeming a bit hesitant before adding, "I'm supposed to marry the firstborn of an allied clan."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, abruptly letting go of her hands to coldly fire back, "So what you're saying is... you want to stay here to marry some man you don't even have feelings for?"
"No! That's not what I said!" She vehemently retorted, her voice beginning to sound dangerous. "Don't twist my words and conveniently ignore everything else I said! I'm staying because I have obligations with the people here! It's easy for you to just ask me to leave everything I know behind, but not even once did you put yourself in my place!"
"I just want you to be happy!" I exclaimed, shaking my head in disbelief. "I'm sorry if I can't understand why you'd rather stay here to fight in a pointless war instead!"
"If you can't understand that, then I guess you never understood me in the first place," Mina said, her voice as cold as ice.
"Perhaps not," I answered, trying to hold back tears. "I hope you're happy here, Mina, fighting a war and marrying someone you don't even know, all for a man who doesn't care enough for you to let you make your own choices. Do you think that's what your mother would want for you?"
Upon the mention of her mother, Mina's face showed nothing but shock, and she struggled to say anything in return. But I couldn't stay there anymore, still upset about how everything turned out so wrong. Maybe I was being egotistical, but not as much as her father, for whom she seemed to be doing all of this. Without looking back, I stormed off into the mountains.