Akari nodded. “Crystal,” she read on one of the daughters. “That must be the name of this daughter. Solana…Chiyoko!” She looked back at the statue. It looked just like the daughter labeled Chiyoko in the painting. “If they are names, then Chiyoko isn’t just the name of our Hollow,” Akari said. “It is the name of this daughter. Her name is Chiyoko.”
“Then what happened?” Takeo asked, rushing to the next panel.
In the next panel, the mother was burying her daughters in the earth. And from them, bursts of light were pouring forth.
“It looks like she buried her daughters in the earth, and that is what created the Hollows,” Akari said. “The light from the daughters stitched the earth back together.”
The rifts in the earth were smaller in this image, and the demons that had poured out were retreating.
The next, and final, image showed Chiyoko buried in Chiyoko Hollow under a cherry blossom tree, her face serene and a sword in her hand. The world was healed, and the demons sealed up. The humans and fae were once again living side by side, but it didn’t look as peaceful. They were working, but not celebrating, playing.
“So…what happened?” Takeo asked, clearly disappointed there wasn’t another image. “Chiyoko, and all the daughters, were buried in the earth by a powerful fae goddess in order to repair the world. It seemed to have worked initially. So what is happening now? Why is the land poisoned and the demons returning?”
Akari ran her fingers over the buried demons in the painting. “Who knows,” she said. “The demons weren’t destroyed. They were just buried along with Chiyoko. Maybe one of them infected her.”
Takeo nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Remember what the water sprite said. She said Chiyoko was sick. I thought she was speaking metaphorically, saying the world was sick, which we already knew…”
“But she might have meant it literally,” Akari said, completing his thought. “She meant Chiyoko, the buried daughter, was sick.”
“Exactly!” Takeo said, excited, but then he turned somber. “But what now? These panels, this temple, they were built when the world seemed to have been healed. They don’t say what to do if Chiyoko got infected by the demons.”
Akari sighed. He was right. While her heart felt light at knowing what happened in the past, she was still at a loss for what to do now.
“She certainly loved cherry blossoms,” Akari said. In the images and around the statue, cherry blossoms featured predominantly. She remembered the cherry blossoms around the temple. Then she remembered that cherry blossoms could be found all through Chiyoko. They were a source of national pride, and many communities held cherry blossom festivals every year.
“Actually, the creatures, the demons,” Akari said. “Have you heard them singing about cherry blossoms?”
Takeo looked confused. “The demons? Singing? No, I haven’t heard that.”
Akari paced. “Every time I get near a demon, they recite a song that my mother used to sing to me.
“Sakura, sakura,
Blossoms on the trees
Blossoms in the sky
Are you a human
Or are you a fairy?
Sakura, sakura of mine.
“But why? Why would the demons sing that song?” she asked.
“Your mother used to sing it to you?” Takeo asked. Akari nodded. “That’s an old fae song. All fae mothers sing it to their children before bed.”
“But my mother wasn’t fae,” Akari said.
“Are you sure?” Takeo asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I…I always thought I was sure,” Akari said. But she never thought Sera was fae either until now. She rubbed her forehead. Everything she ever thought she knew was being called into questions. “No, she had to be human,” Akari finally decided. “My grandparents were human. All Sword Kissed are human.”
“Yet, your mother used to sing you a fae lullaby, you possess powers beyond a normal human, and the demons have been calling to you using the symbol of a buried fae goddess,” Takeo said, growing agitated.
“What are you saying?” Akari asked.
Takeo shook his head. He didn’t have to say it.
Akari was part fae.
12
Akari reached up and touched her ear. Obviously, it was round, not pointed like a fae, like Takeo’s ears. Her ears had always been round like a human’s. They wouldn’t have suddenly changed shape just because she had learned something new. She began to pace. She was so confused.
“There are worse things in the world than discovering you are part fae,” Takeo said harshly.
“I know that,” Akari said. “I’m not…” She sighed. “I’m not upset about being part fae. I’m just a little overwhelmed, I guess. I mean, how is it possible? If there was fae blood in me, it would have to go way, way back. As I said, as far as I know, all my ancestors were human.”
“As far as you know,” Takeo repeated. “Maybe someone had a fae lover at some point.”
“I really don’t want to imagine that Baba cheated on Jiji with a hot fae dude,” Akari said with weak laugh. “Besides, it must not have been a secret. If my mother sang me that fae song, she must have known the truth.”
“Not necessarily,” Takeo said. “If you mother sang it to you without knowing the history, maybe her mother sang it to her without knowing why. And so on and so on. It has just been passed down from mothers to daughters for…who knows how long. All the way back to Chiyoko.”
Akari shook her head. “I need to get back home. Talk to Yoshimi. Maybe she knows something I don’t. She is older and has spent more time with the fae. Maybe Okāsan told her something…”
“It is getting late,” Takeo said. “We will have to rush back.”
“Going downhill will be easier anyway,” Akari said as she followed Takeo out. As she turned to close the door to the temple, she saw the light gleam off the sword in Chiyoko’s hand. She bowed to the statue.
Thank you, she mouthed. They didn’t learn how to defeat the growing threat, or how to heal the sick goddess, but they at least had a more complete picture about what was going on. And Akari might have learned more about herself than she ever could have imagined.
“Will we remember this place after we pass back through the veil?” Akari asked Takeo when they descended the mountain.
“We should,” he said. He nimbly leaped over rocks and downed trees. “Once you have seen through the veil, you will always know it’s there, so it won’t work on you anymore.”
“What about other veils?” she asked. Takeo didn’t answer. “Takeo,” she said more forcefully. “I assume the fae have actually created veils all over Chiyoko to hide things from humans. Will I be able to see through them now?”
“No,” he finally said even though he didn’t look at her. “No, you shouldn’t be able to see through any other veils. Not easily, anyway.”
“Should I be worried?” she asked. “About what the fae are hiding? I don’t mind if they are hiding their people or their food supplies. But are they hiding anything I should be worried about? Like weapons?”
Takeo sighed. “The fae are not your enemy, Akari. In fact, they might be your family.”
“I don’t…” She cut herself off and grunted. She then took a deep breath to calm down. “I don’t see the fae as my enemy,” she said. “But we live in a divided world. Believe me, if humans could stockpile weapons and hide them from the fae, they probably would. People—human and fae—are paranoid like that.”
Takeo took a moment to respond. “I don’t know of any weapons the fae are hiding,” he said. “But they do hide a lot of things from humans. More than you would expect.”
Akari shook her head, but didn’t speak to Takeo for the rest of their journey down the mountain. She was still too raw, too shaken by what she had learned to be rational. If she kept talking, she was going to say something she would regret.
They made it back down the mountain in record time. They still had to travel a short way through the woods,
though. Akari pulled out the map.
“What are you looking for?” Takeo asked.
“I’m wondering where the veil begins,” Akari said, looking back up at the mountain. “I just want to make sure I can still see it when we pass through.”
Takeo chuckled. “You’ll still see it, trust me.”
“Why do you think the fae veiled the mountain anyway?” Akari asked. “Why hide the temple, the history, Chiyoko herself, from the humans? Actually, they probably hid it from other fae as well. You didn’t know it was there either.”
Takeo shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe they thought that the fewer people who knew about it, the longer it would last.”
Akari put the map back in her pocket. “I bet I know someone who knows.” Takeo raised an eyebrow. “Sera.”
Takeo nodded. “She knows more than she is letting on. It would be good for you to question her when we get back.”
As they exited the woods, Akari was starting to feel winded. It had been a long couple of days, and Akari’s mind was racing. There was still so much to do, so much for her to learn. She needed to find Sera, but she also wanted to find Yoshimi. Since Yoshimi was the older sister, her memories of their mother were much stronger, clearer. Yoshimi might remember something significant about their heritage. Yoshimi also associated with the local fae more. Perhaps she had heard rumors, old stories, things that she didn’t give much credence to at the time but in light of new information might make more sense.
She was so distracted she nearly didn’t see the sword as it came down on her, cutting right in front of her face. Her eyes went wide and she took a step back, quickly drawing her sword.
“Endo!” Akari cried. Endo had turned from Akari and brought her sword hilt down on the back of Takeo’s neck, knocking him out cold and sending him to the ground. Akari drew her sword.
“Give me the map,” Endo said, but her voice was not right. It was deep and dark.
Akari assumed a fighting stance. “What map?” she asked.
“The map Sera gave you,” Endo said. “Give it to me.”
They circled each other. Akari figured there was no point in playing stupid. Endo knew all about the map. Akari didn’t know why Endo wanted it, but if she thought the best way to get it from Akari was to fight her for it instead of asking, she couldn’t want it for any innocent reason.
“No,” Akari said.
Endo took a step forward and slashed at Akari. Akari deflected her and stepped back, but not before she had a chance to look Endo in the eyes.
Her eyes were nothing but empty blackness.
“Endo,” Akari cried. “What happened to you?”
Endo laughed. “Endo is still here,” she said. “But I needed a corporeal form, and Endo was a willing host.” The creature stepped forward, then to the side as she slashed left and right.
“What do you mean Endo was a willing host?” Akari asked. “I’ll not let you take her.”
“What do you care?” Endo asked. “Endo hates you. If not for you, Endo would be Sera’s student, the strongest of the Sword Kissed.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Akari said. “I might not be Endo’s friend, but I’ll be damned if I let some demon use her for pajamas!” Akari went on the attack, running toward the creature. Moving quickly, she tried to unarm it.
Akari wasn’t sure how much in charge of Endo’s body the creature was, but her sword-fighting techniques were weak. However, she was much stronger physically. Akari used several moves that should have caused the creature to drop her sword, but she held tight.
Endo took a step back and laughed. Her eyes cleared.
“Endo,” Akari yelled. “Fight the beast! I will help you.”
“Oh, Akari,” Endo said, her voice normal. She shook her head. “You just don’t get it. I invited the amamehagi into me.”
Akari gasped. An amamehagi was a spirit who could inhabit a person’s body and cause them to do wicked deeds. While amamehagi were usually nothing more than silly tricksters who caused a person to put dye in the laundry or let a herd of goats free to run through town, Akari was certain this amamehagi had more nefarious intentions if it had been infected like the other demons.
“Endo, what are you doing?” Akari asked. “You let a demon possess you? Why? They are all infected right now. The world is poisoned. That demon is evil!”
“Exactly,” Endo said. “The world needs to be cleansed. We Sword Kissed can’t do it alone. We need more power, more strength. Give me the map. I know Sera is hiding something from me.”
Sera. Akari wondered what exactly Endo had already done. And what did she think she was going to find on the mountain. There was only the temple. It did tell the history of Chiyoko, but there had been nothing to help her fight the growing evil.
“There was nothing there,” Akari said. “It was just a training exercise.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Endo said, her eyes going black and her voice changing back to the deep baritone. “Give me the map, Akari. Or I will end you.”
If Endo—or her demon—knew about the map and that something was hidden on the mountain, why did she want it so badly? Wouldn’t that be enough for her to see through the veil? Maybe not. Takeo did say something about some veils being so strong they needed a key to pierce. Maybe the veil around the mountain was stronger than most, and the map was a key to getting through. She had been skeptical about why the fae would want to hide the temple, but at seeing the darkness in Endo’s eyes, she began to understand why they might want to hide something so precious. She wasn’t sure what Endo thought she was going to find on the mountain, but she wouldn’t put it past Endo’s demon to destroy the temple whether she found what she sought or not.
Akari resumed her fighting stance and swiped her sword across her hand, causing it to glow. “I can’t wait to see you try,” Akari said.
Endo growled and lunged at Akari. For some reason, Endo didn’t light her sword. Akari dodged and then deflected Endo’s attacks. Endo, like Akari, was Sword Kissed. Her purpose in life was to fight demons like the one inhabiting Endo. Endo probably couldn’t light her sword as long as she was possessed by what she was supposed to be fighting. Her light couldn’t shine if it was wrapped in darkness. The demon also didn’t have Endo’s fighting skills.
Akari grunted as Endo slashed haphazardly at her. The demon was not a trained sword dancer, but she was strong and angry, which made her more dangerous than if Akari had simply been fighting a pissed-off Endo.
But fighting demons was what Akari did. It was why she had been chosen. It was why she had been put on this earth. She might not always like it, but she was good at it. She had to stop thinking of Endo as her fellow Sword Kissed, just a fellow rival. She had to think of her as a demon she needed to stop. She needed to be the Sword Kissed she was born to be.
Akari girded her strength and put all her doubts aside. She would spare Endo’s life if she could, but her focus had to be on ending the demon inside her. Akari grunted as she launched herself at Endo. She swung her sword in short, quick strikes, forcing Endo to step back, and step back again.
She saw Takeo finally push up, shaking the pain from his head. He locked eyes with Akari, and she was sure the determination on her face told him they needed to show no mercy. He drew his daggers and ran at Endo from behind.
He stabbed Endo in the shoulder, and Endo—and her demon—screamed in pain. It was not a killing blow, but one that would make fighting back nearly impossible.
Endo gasped as the demon, a shadow beast, leaped free from her body. The creature should have appeared as a person wearing a straw costume, but this creature had most likely been completely taken over by the poison that had infected Chiyoko. Endo crumpled to the ground and dropped her sword. She held her injured arm close to her chest.
“You bastard!” Endo yelled, but whether she was talking to Takeo for injuring her or the demon for abandoning her, Akari wasn’t sure. And she didn’t have time to find out. She kept her eye on the demon as
it circled around her. Akari did not give the demon time to recover. She quickly thrust her sword through the middle of the beast.
“No!” Endo screamed as though she were the one in pain. The demon screeched as well. It flew back to Endo and enveloped her in its smoke.
“Get away from her,” Akari yelled. She ran at it with her sword. But as she approached, the smoke cleared.
Endo was gone.
13
What the hell just happened?” Akari asked as she tried to catch her breath.
Takeo shook his head and sheathed his daggers. “Nothing good. We need to get back to town. If Endo was able to be possessed, who knows what else the demons have been doing.”
“I just don’t understand it,” Akari said. “She is Sword Kissed. We are supposed to fight the demons. But it sounded like she had willingly allowed herself to be possessed.”
“I don’t pretend to know anything about the ways of the Sword Kissed,” Takeo said. “But Endo is just like any other person, someone capable of good and bad decisions.”
Akari shook her head. It didn’t make any sense, but they needed to get back to town and make sure the people were safe.
As they ran back, Akari noticed Takeo kept getting ahead of her, and he would have to slow down so she could catch up. Then she remembered that, as a fae, he had supernatural speed.
“Hey,” Akari finally called out. “You can go on ahead, see what is happening. I will catch up.”
“If you give me your hand,” Takeo said with a smirk. “I can help you run faster.”
“Really?” Akari asked. Takeo nodded. She reached out and took his hand, instantly feeling a boost of speed. Her feet didn’t seem to be moving any faster, but the wind at her face and the speed at which they were passing things along the road told her they were moving faster than normal. It was an exhilarating feeling, like flying.
The feeling quickly dissipated, though, when they got close enough to town and they could hear the screams.
“My gods,” Akari gasped when they arrived. There was smoke rising from burning buildings. There were several bodies on the ground, drained of their life force. People were running from demons of all sorts—oni, ōkami, bakeneko, yurei, and much more.
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