Okami: A Little Red Riding Hood Retelling

by Nicolette Andrews

  He knew it had been a mistake in helping her. He’d been a fool to even try and disobey Akio.

  “Yes, Master.” Shin bowed.

  4

  A group of priestesses was clustered together whispering when Akane’s charge, Tomoe passed by on the way to Tomoe’s morning prayers.

  “We have to go, look!” Hitome, one of the girls, exclaimed.

  Tomoe’s head snapped in their direction.

  Akane, already sensing her excitement, tried to intervene by putting herself between Tomoe and the girls. “We don’t—”

  Tomoe had that gleam in her eye. It was too late now. Tomoe was always of a singular mind, and she couldn’t resist gossiping with the other girls. Tomoe veered from their normal route and ran over to the girls.

  Akane chased after her. “There’s no time for this—”

  “What did I miss?” Tomoe asked the other girls.

  The girls looked nervously to Akane, who scowled at them over Tomoe’s shoulder. Usually their fear bothered her, but today it was in her favor. If they were too afraid to speak in front of her, maybe Tomoe would lose interest, and then they could get back on track. This temple had been built in service to the kami. Every generation a girl was chosen to become the living host for the kami. Tomoe was this generation’s host and it was Akane’s job as shrine guardian to make sure she remained pure. The gossiping was bad enough. But if she missed her daily purification rituals of prayer at morning, noon, and night, impurity could taint her soul and she’d be rejected by the kami. Which meant death. Akane couldn’t let that happen again.

  “Tomoe,” Akane said sternly.

  “Please. It will just be a minute.” Tomoe widened her large, soulful eyes that Akane could never say no to.

  Akane sighed. “Just a minute.”

  Tomoe blessed her with a dazzling smile. That was how she got away with so much - she was charming and easy to love. Unlike Akane, whose nature and temper terrified the priestesses. They were right to fear her. Just beneath the surface was a monster biding its time and preparing to attack. She’d gotten close to losing control in the forest. And what if she had? Would she have ever come to her senses again?

  “Don’t leave me in suspense. Did Haruhi get caught sneaking out to meet her lover? Or did Osami get scolded again for sleeping during prayer?” Tomoe asked, leaning closer, peering around them dramatically.

  The girls whispered, struggling as they all tried to hide behind one another, until they pushed one girl forward as their chosen representative. She chewed her lip as she looked at Akane through her lashes.

  “Get it over with,” Akane said with a heavy sigh and a wave of her hand.

  The girl addressed the ground. “A woman is at the gate asking to be taken in as an apprentice.”

  This wasn’t anything too unusual. Girls arrived at the temple all the time. Most often the head priestess turned them away. On the rare occasion one was suited to become an acolyte, it took years of service before she could become a fully-fledged priestess. It was nothing to get excited over.

  “Then go and notify the head priestess, instead of gossiping.” Then steering Tomoe by the shoulders, she tried to direct her away from them. They’d wasted enough time already.

  “She’s already been notified, but I heard the girl wasn’t human,” one of the girls said from the back of the group.

  Akane’s grip loosened on Tomoe’s shoulders. She turned to the priestesses with a furrowed brow.

  “That’s not something to joke about,” Akane snapped.

  “It’s true,” the priestess said in a trembling voice.

  In the blink of an eye, Tomoe was running for temple entrance.

  Akane shouted her name to no avail. There was no deterring Tomoe once something had caught her attention. Akane’s chest tightened. Had she been followed? She hadn’t noticed anyone. Whoever they were, Akane had to protect the temple.

  A small flood of priestesses and acolytes streamed toward the gate, joining a crowd gathered there. They chattered amongst themselves, making no attempts to hide their curiosity.

  Tomoe weaved through them with ease, making her way to the front of the crowd. Akane followed and the girls moved out of her way, avoiding eye contact.

  Over the sea of girls was the snowy white head of the head priestess. The new girl she was speaking with looked normal—dark hair, plain face, dressed like a peasant.

  Until she tucked a stray lock behind her ear—her pointed ear.

  Then they hadn’t been exaggerating. She was a yokai.

  What was this yokai doing here? Why would she walk up here and dare ask for entrance? The girl was beautiful, in a fierce sort of way. With long limbs, an angular face, and wild dark hair that could not be tamed by her ponytail, there was something familiar about her that Akane couldn’t quite put her finger on. She had a sword, perhaps an enchanted blade judging from its bitter smell, and the girl herself stank of wolf. Apart from the okami Akane had seen in the guardian’s woods, she hadn’t seen a wolf in ages.

  The girl’s scent was almost familiar, but Akane had never met this monster before. Had she? Maybe that okami she’d met had her followed.

  The head priestess would never let a yokai into the temple. And if this yokai tried, the head priestess could turn her to ash with her song. The barriers would protect the temple from intruders. Ever since priestesses had started going missing they’d strengthened their defenses, adding charms and incantations to their entire perimeter. No one with ill intentions could enter these sacred grounds. And if it came down to it, Akane was charged with protecting the temple from attack.

  The head priestess turned away from the okami, presumably after telling her to leave and not return. She couldn’t hear over the chatter of the assembled priestesses. As the old woman hobbled away, however, the okami didn’t turn and leave. She took a step toward the barrier.

  The air shimmered, like ripples in a pond. The barrier had always protected the temple, it would keep her back.

  Energy sparked against the intruder’s flesh, then faded as she stepped through. This yokai had just crossed the barrier.

  She wasn’t sure how the okami had gotten through, but she didn’t have time to ask questions. It was her duty to protect the temple. Akane launched herself at the yokai, swinging for her face, landing a punch.

  The yokai girl staggered back.

  Behind Akane, the acolytes screamed and scattered to escape the fight.

  The yokai wiped blood from her lip before giving Akane an arrogant smile.

  Akane circled her. The yokai girl was perhaps a head taller, but Akane’s speed and the element of surprise was on her side with her first blow. Landing a second would be harder.

  The girl smiled, and it sent a shiver down her spine. She just had to keep this yokai busy long enough for the priestess to sing and immobilize her.

  The yokai struck to the right, and Akane fumbled.

  A feint. The yokai came around behind her, tapping her on the rear-end with her palm.

  Akane spun, swinging at her, but missing by an inch. Her canines had descended, but she didn’t care. She was out for blood.

  “My, what big teeth you have,” the girl taunted as she leaped out of Akane’s reach once more.

  The last thread reining in her temper snapped. She barreled into the yokai girl, catching her around the middle and slamming her back against the wall.

  The wolf inside her was howling, held back by the merest strength of will. If the okami pushed Akane further, Akane would lose control completely, and the entire temple would be in danger.

  The taller woman was pinned against the wall with Akane’s hand around her throat, and still she smirked. Akane pressed down harder on her throat.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” the head priestess shouted and hobbled toward them.

  Akane turned her head toward the priestess. The girl swept out her leg, knocking Akane’s feet from beneath her. She landed hard on her back.

  The gi
rl drew her blade and pressed it against Akane’s throat. She scowled up at her.

  “You almost had me there.” The girl panted for breath.

  The head priestess approached the pair of them, and the yokai removed the sword from Akane’s throat and took a step back, bowing reverently to the head priestess.

  “What were you thinking?” the head priestess asked, her white brows pulled together as she stared down at Akane.

  Akane jumped to her feet and pointed at the yokai. “She was about to attack you when you turned your back!”

  “She was going to do no such thing. She is a temple guardian like yourself.”

  “She doesn’t look like a shrine guardian.” Akane threw out her arms, pointing at the yokai to make her point.

  Akane glared at the girl who smiled mischievously back. She’d met plenty of temple guardians in her time. They were the chosen of the divine. All of the others she’d met were refined - they seemed to glow with the blessing of the kami. This yokai was different, there was a wild energy to her that made her uneasy. Besides she couldn’t shake this feeling they’d met somewhere before though she couldn’t say where.

  “I think I can tell the difference between a wild yokai and a temple guardian, don’t you?” the head priestess replied.

  Akane lowered her head. Under normal circumstances, she would concede to the head priestess’ wisdom. She was a powerful priestess, and she’d never intentionally put the temple at risk. But it couldn’t be a coincidence that after escaping the guardian’s okami, Akane would run into another.

  The head priestess came closer to Akane and put her hand on top of her bowed head. “This poor child has lost her temple to a yokai attack. The least we can do is give her a place to stay, hmm?”

  “Yes, Head Priestess,” Akane said.

  She glared at the girl behind the head priestess who gave her a lazy smile. Akane turned away from her, lips curled in disgust.

  The head priestess studied Akane and then the girl. “I think this will be a good opportunity for you. Akane, we are in need of another temple guardian.”

  Akane’s head shot up. “How can we entrust the safety of the temple to a stranger?”

  “A good point. You shall test her to make sure she’s worthy.”

  “But—”

  “Are you questioning the will of the kami?” the head priestess asked, invoking her role as speaker for the goddess.

  Akane lowered her head once more. The head priestess hobbled past her and started toward the palace buildings. The acolytes had started to disperse as well.

  “You cannot be everywhere at once, Akane,” the head priestess said. “Having a second pair of eyes could be a blessing in these difficult times.”

  She balled her hands into fists at her side. They did need the help with yokai attacking shrines, and Akane couldn’t protect them all. But she didn’t trust this okami.

  “You fight pretty well,” the yokai said, with that damn arrogant smile still on her face.

  Akane ground her teeth. She could have beaten her. She never should have taken her eyes off the girl for a second.

  “Thanks.” Akane turned to march away.

  “Aren’t you going to tell me your name at least?” the girl called after her.

  She considered ignoring her, but if it got back to the head priestess, she’d scold her. Akane had already disappointed the head priestess enough lately. “Akane,” she said through gritted teeth.

  Akane kept on walking and the okami called after her again. “You’re not going to ask me what my name is?”

  Akane took a deep breath and turned to the okami with a forced smile. “And what’s your name?”

  The girl looked her up and down, rubbing her chin as she studied her. Akane had to resist the urge to grind her teeth to dust.

  “It’s Shinon,” she said at last.

  “Welcome to the temple, Shinon.” Akane turned and marched away. I’m going to find out why you’re here, so don’t get comfortable.

  5

  Soft snores filled the air as Shin lay on his futon. The shrine maidens were fascinated by him it seemed and had pestered him relentlessly with questions when he’d been assigned a place to sleep. The head priestess had to scold them and tell them to sleep before he’d been free of them. Pretending to sleep was just an additional precaution.

  Soft footsteps crossed the dormitory. One of the acolytes, probably. He squeezed his eyes shut just in case. The footsteps moved closer and the scent of wolf wafted toward him.

  He leaped out of bed, nearly head-butting Akane standing over his futon. They stared at each other, each poised for a fight.

  Shin lowered his arms to his side and smiled. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  She glared back, unamused. “It’s time to start work,” Akane replied flatly.

  She was a strange creature, fierce and clearly distrustful of her own kind. He’d met plenty of temple guardians throughout the years. Most were stuck up and self-important, but none of them hated yokai. They were of a kind; the only distinction was who they served. The role of a disposed shrine guardian fit well enough, and it wasn’t entirely false. Though Akio was vile, he was worshiped by the local farmers and nobles as a deity, and Shin was his servant.

  Shin looked at the dim morning light. “This early?”

  “Is that a problem?” Akane asked with a brow rising toward her hairline.

  Was this her idea of a challenge? Well, perhaps being agreeable would bring her around. Even if he could capture her, she wouldn’t come easily. He needed to gain her trust to lure her back to Akio. But time was of the essence. He’d just got there and already she seemed determined to hate him. He’d hoped a disguise would have helped, but it seemed she was the distrustful type.

  “Not at all.” He jumped out of bed and followed Akane out into the brisk early morning air. The cold breeze felt good, and he stretched. “What do we have to do exactly?”

  “We escort Tomoe through her morning routine.”

  “Sounds easy enough.”

  Akane assumed a hurried pace, which Shin matched. Everything was silent. No one had risen from bed yet, and long shadows shrouded everything in darkness. The feeble light was gray and damp. What could he say to cut this chilly silence?

  “Have you been a shrine guardian long?”

  When they arrived at a door, not much different than all the others, Akane knocked on it. “Tomoe, time to wake up.”

  There was a loud groan from inside.

  “What’s inside, an oni?” he teased.

  Akane gave him a deadpan stare. “This is the kamigakari in training, I would appreciate it if you didn’t insult her in such a way.

  Her braid swung as she turned to slide open the door. She doesn’t have much of a sense of humor, does she? How could he compare her to Rin? They were nothing alike. He was too sentimental for his own good. He should have left her to her fate, then he wouldn’t be in this mess.

  Instead of a fierce oni inside the room, there was a young girl with tousled black hair rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

  “Akane,” she whined. “Can’t I just sleep in?”

  “You know the rules. You have to be up to greet the sun.”

  “Would it really hurt if she slept in?” Shin asked.

  Akane’s nostrils flared before she turned her back on him once more and walked over to a nearby dresser. She pulled out the girl’s red hakama and white haori. Shin, not wanting to invade her privacy, turned away while Akane dressed her.

  Once she was dressed, they headed out. The temple was rather small, containing two dormitories with sloped roofs. One dormitory housed the acolytes and the other housed the priestesses. A separate building housed the head priestess, her second-in-command, and Tomoe, the kamigakari in training. And finally, there was a dining hall where everyone ate together and this is where they stopped first.

  The room was crowded with priestesses in red and white, and acolytes in brown, all sitting according to their ra
nk. The low tables were laden with plates of food. At the far end of the room was a separate table for the head priestess and other leaders of the shrine. Tomoe took her seat at this table, while Shin and Akane fell in place behind her.

  “When do we eat?” Shin asked Akane, hoping to tease out a smile. Yokai did not need to eat as often as humans. It was a much more recreational pastime for their kind.

  Akane did not even so much as flick her gaze toward him.

  After Tomoe finished her meal, they headed to the shrine building. Compared to the plain, brown buildings in the rest of the temple, the shrine building was opulent. White-washed walls were accented by red columns and gold medallions. The entrance was guarded by a red torii arch and from it a string of ofuda danced in a light breeze.

  The inner shrine was a small, square room, the floor covered in tatami mats. A small altar held a portrait of the kami. She was depicted as a beautiful woman with long black hair, her body illuminated in gold. In one hand she held a branch, and her other hand was open, beckoning to the watcher. Unlike other shrines he’d entered, Shin felt none of the spiritual energy of a kami. It was almost as if this place was dead.

  Incense was being burned and the scent tickled at his nose. The heavy scents dulled his senses. Shin crinkled his nose. Tomoe knelt before the portrait of the kami, lighting even more incense as she pressed her hands together in prayer.

  Shin rubbed his nose. The incense was driving him crazy.

  “How much longer does she have to pray?” Shin asked.

  “Shh,” Akane warned.

  He sighed.

  The minutes ticked by painfully slow. Akane kept her head leaned forward, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the portrait of the kami. She was very devout. That surprised him. It was rather refreshing. He’d given up on the kami long ago. Shin had been so busy staring at Akane, he didn’t realize the prayers had ended. Akane caught him. He tried smiling at her again, but she turned away.