After the snow melted, I left that mountain.
Because kind food had shared food with me, this winter hadn't been so painful.
Only their family seemed to not have much food either. That voice nagged in my ear, telling me not to eat so much.
So when spring came, I hurried away. Also, instinct told me I couldn't stay in one place too long.
Maybe I'd been hungry for too long—I was getting used to my current state. Didn't drool at the drop of a hat anymore. My head seemed much clearer too.
Now I knew that kind of food that gave off tempting scents was called humans. Humans couldn't be eaten.
Also, I used to be human. No, wait—I didn't seem to be human anymore.
What exactly was I? Couldn't remember.
Anyway, now I wouldn't lose control wanting to eat them, but I still couldn't enter the city... because I looked dirty. Would be met with everyone's disgusted stares.
Though I'd received clothes from that woman named Kieeda, I still looked shabby.
If I couldn't enter the city, fine. Though delicious food smells drifted from the city, humans apparently needed something called money to exchange for it. I had nothing on me.
Besides, I had more important things to do.
It seemed like a long time had passed since I last wove a bracelet. Actually, I'd already woven a new one... but wandering everywhere, I hadn't seen any of those people in black clothes.
I was anxious, didn't know how to deliver this bracelet. Could only try running to more places to check.
Fortunately, there were still many people in black clothes. One night I finally encountered one. Right after he'd just chopped down a strange-looking monster, I rushed over and handed him the bracelet. "This, give to Kagaya."
A name I completely didn't remember came naturally from my mouth. Probably someone very important to me.
After speaking, I prepared to leave. But that person grabbed me instead, his tone shocked.
"Lady Chihaya, why are you here!"
I stopped in my tracks, couldn't help looking at him in confusion. Didn't understand why he'd call out a name only that voice knew.
He seemed to see my confusion, smiled at me again and said: "I am Kyojuro Rengoku. Does Lady Chihaya still remember me?"
Kyojuro... Kyojuro...
I stared at his golden-red hair. Felt like there was a very deep impression in my memory, but thinking carefully, there was only blankness.
I quietly shook my head.
He seemed to sigh wistfully, then smiled again. "No matter. From your appearance, you seem to have encountered some trouble. Obanai told me you haven't replied to his letters for nearly two years. He doesn't know where you usually live either, so he's very worried."
"I'm currently just an ordinary Corps member, haven't yet had the honor of meeting the Master. To encounter you here couldn't be better."
He... seemed very familiar with me. I hesitated, wondering if I should ask him—who was I?
But I was also afraid of getting a disappointing answer.
No matter what troubled me, this youth named Kyojuro remained cheerful, smiling at me again: "You look quite disheveled. If you don't mind, please come stay at my humble home for a while."
That's what he said, but he enthusiastically pulled me along. I couldn't leave. In the end, I followed him back to a large estate in a daze.
Opening the door to greet him was a small boy with similar features, looking at me curiously. "Brother, who is this?"
"Senjuro, this is Lady Chihaya I've mentioned before. She'll be staying at our house for a while."
The small boy nodded obediently. "Yes, Brother, please don't worry."
This estate was large, but walking in, I discovered it was very quiet. Apart from the brothers, I didn't see anyone else.
Perhaps my observing gaze was too obvious. Kyojuro explained softly: "Father should be out drinking. Mother... she passed away from illness some years ago."
A dignified, beautiful face surfaced in my mind. I nodded hazily, feeling a sadness I didn't understand.
Kyojuro led me to a bathroom with hot water prepared, took out a set of clean clothes and placed them nearby, then closed the door and left.
These past days, I'd only soaked in streams when the weather wasn't cold. Seeing so much hot water, I couldn't help feeling happy.
As I prepared to walk straight in to soak, that voice popped up to scold me again.
Told me to take off my dirty clothes, use the soap on the rack to scrub my whole body, rinse clean with water, then go soak.
As I scrubbed my arms, that voice kept clicking its tongue:
[Harder! You can't get clean like that. Back when I bathed you, the sounds you made were so loud—mountain boars didn't howl as loudly as you.]
I felt somewhat wronged for some reason. Got angrier the more I scrubbed. Finally dove headfirst into the tub, covered my ears, didn't want to hear this nagging.
After a comfortable soak, I put on the fragrant new clothes and walked out with dripping wet hair.
Seeing me, Kyojuro smiled again. Brought a clean cloth to drape over my head, gently wiped, then found a comb to fix my hair.
After my hair was mostly dry, I finally saw the father he'd mentioned come home.
Seeing me, that man reeking of alcohol also froze, furrowed his brow and asked roughly: "Why is she here?"
"Father, your son encountered Lady Chihaya by chance while executing a mission. Seeing that she seemed to have forgotten many things, I brought her back first."
Kyojuro took out my bracelet from his pocket, said respectfully: "Lady Chihaya entrusted me to deliver this to the Master. I think the Master must have also lost track of Lady Chihaya's whereabouts and may be very worried right now."
Though I didn't understand, I nodded. "Right, this is for Kagaya. Must give it to him quickly."
This man looked at me strangely, was silent for a long while but still nodded. "I understand. I'll contact the Master."
Getting this answer, I was very happy. Even happier—after bathing, there was a whole table of delicious-smelling food set before me.
I asked anxiously: "Can I eat all of it?"
Kyojuro nodded with righteous conviction. "If it's not enough, we'll make you more."
For the first time since I'd been conscious, I ate until I was full. Rubbing my round belly, I felt today was so wonderful it was like a dream.
Living at Kyojuro's house, I finally ended my days of feast or famine. Every day I could eat to my heart's content.
Only, in the following days, there were always visitors coming to Kyojuro's house.
And they didn't knock, just ran straight into the house.
The first to come was a youth with different colored eyes, a snake hanging around his neck.
He entered and went straight to me, sat before me and examined me carefully for a long time. His eyes slowly reddened, but he said nothing.
Later came a very tall young man who seemed unable to see, holding prayer beads that constantly turned in his hands. After sitting down, he kept silently crying.
Finally—should be finally.
On a scorching afternoon, I sat in the house in a daze. The door suddenly opened. A youth stood outside.
Seeing him, my heartbeat involuntarily quickened, because fine illness marks had appeared on his forehead, and on his wrist he wore a crude dry grass bracelet.
That face seemed to have matured even more. Couldn't find any trace of the child anymore.
I silently stared at him for a long time. Tears carelessly fell, then couldn't be stopped.
I couldn't help crying loudly. Didn't know why I had so many grievances I wanted to tell him. My heart churned full of sour and bitter things.
That youth only looked at me gently, then slowly approached and bent down to embrace me.
"Grandmother, Kagaya has come to take you home."
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