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The stones are cold beneath her. Though she fails to register any sensation; somehow, Sayu simply knows.
Even amidst the shrill chants of those horrid abyssal monsters, the pounding of her own heart is so, so loud… can they hear it too? The mere idea brings a wave of fresh panic, threatening the fragile, fleeting clarity of her thoughts. No. No, they can't. They cannot.
Then, a sudden flash of color, a swift blur, as her eyes catch on familiar hues of bright, vermillion fur. Sayu's stomach drops, a sinking realization taking hold. Oh no, she knows how this ending goes. Inevitability plays clear in her mind; horrible enough as it is, in the realm of abstract thought. She remains motionless, an unwilling observer shrouded in a noxious fog of dread; silently bearing witness to an impending death she cannot watch... again?
There exists nothing swifter than light. The fleeing kitsune never makes it to the arched escape. An agonized cry pierces the crackling air.
Just as thunderous clouds tyrannize stormy sky, violent electro consumes that which it strikes. Sayu can do nothing but watch. The crack of thunder trails in harsh succession to the flash of blinding light, reverberating through electrified air in its own malevolent tide.
A raucous, scraping laughter erupts from the ritual fires and the torchlit ruins flicker; mimicking the abyss lector’s own sadistic glee.
The wild, dark electro wielded by the foul beast radiates a charge that’s long been tainted. It's nowhere close to the otherworldly force of Raiden Shogun. Though perhaps the Mussuo No Hitotachi also assails from within; those subjected to Eternity’s judgment incinerated from heart to flesh.
A girl with charred robes of cream and kitsune crimson pleads in feeble gasps. Above her, the horrifying monstrosity in its abyssal cloak of stars merely cackles.
Death by lightning should be swift as lightning, a sole conclusive flash. Yet an anguished cry rings through the air. The emerging scent of burning only amplifies Sayu’s invisible shackles of terror.
A shrine maiden shouldn't be here. Sayu should not be here. Yet moments slip away, heedless of should, and the chance for escape is already sealed shut. This girl is dead already. Sayu sees the ashes in her mind. A broken fox body, the singed sacred garments of a girl she hardly knew; someone she couldn't save—wouldn’t even try.
Well, the opportunity’s been gone for some time now hasn’t it? This sinister illusion is just an aberration born from the dread tucked deep within her mind. But truth is no match for consuming emotion. It feels no less real this time. Sayu tries in vain to close her eyes, to forget the herald’s horrific taunts. She herself remains unseen but for how long?
The final scream is abruptly silenced. Sayu can't move. Maybe those creatures will be satisfied, maybe she’ll slip by. She needs this to end so she can finally wake. If she remains utterly still, employs her art of misdirection, weaves illusions, maybe she can evade their cruel perception; just long enough for this all to break.
When the creature presses its foot into the mound of ash and tufts of scarlet fur, Sayu's eyes, chilled with terror, meet a sinister smile. The harrowing lightning focuses on her.
Beings of the abyss aren't meant to have discernible faces. So twisted by distortion born of chaotic darkness, their visages stay shrouded by shadowy masks. Yet, in this moment, there is nothing but wicked amusement beyond that absent veil, as the lightning strikes.
---
“Four hours?!” Sayu splutters. “Wha- That’s hardly any time at all!” And way too much to be wasting.
“Sayu, don’t try to argue your way out of this. It's a simple exercise. You could do more.”
Yeah, normally, with a normal route but this is just insane! Four hours to make it halfway across Narukami for some drill? What kind of cold-hearted villain would make her do such a thing? Ugh, she is so tired.
Kano Nana had caught on to her schemes. Being sent off on a trail around Mt. Yougou was equivalent to being given half a day of free time.
Sayu would argue it’s hardly any fault of hers; if the ending stays where you started, then remaining motionless—perhaps concealed in a nearby tree—is the natural pinnacle of efficiency. But no laws of math or common sense could be readily exploited to tackle this.
Whatever. Kano Nana may think this cruel adaptation is her win, but Sayu won’t bend so easily. How would that make her grow taller?
Her initial thoughts had centered on the art of deception; or, in other words, how could she most effectively cheat? Maybe there’s a way to cover land in a fraction of the time so she could secure herself the remainder? If Sayu happened to cross paths with a wagon going in the same direction… Or maybe she could find a convenient shortcut. If she used her vision, relying on the swiftness of wind then it’s possible she could…
But no. Of course Kano Nana has taken everything into account. Sayu’s already expected to harness anemo for this exercise. If she happened to get so lucky—which she doubts—stowing away on a wagon would only slow her down. As for shortcuts, four hours cuts it far too close even if she follows as the crow flies.
It’s simply impossible to take advantage of this or even complete the practice in the first place without relinquishing both time and effort she is not willing to expend so senselessly.
In any case, these were her thoughts from four hours ago.
Sayu had made it to Chinju’s tree line and out of the shrine maiden’s sight; that was as far as she got before accepting that the only way to protect her precious rest, her valuable time, would be to ignore the task entirely.
She’ll pay the price at a later time but that’s a problem for future Sayu, whenever she may be.
The breeze is cool as it rustles through the forest leaves. Perched comfortably on a branch up high, she relishes these moments of wakeful respite, hidden from all responsibility.
Though sakura petals this time of year are few and far between, as Sayu closes her eyes to bask in the dappled sunlight, a single blossom drifts past her cheek.
Her eyelids flutter back open. Right. Rest, not sleep. Unconsciousness will only invite twisted recollections she doesn’t want to see.
Sayu flinches as an insect flutters by; the wings’ deep violet hues glisten, contrasted by the verdant canopy. It’s just a crystalfly, sparkling with elemental electro. Strange how sleeplessness had her first startled by a perceived, distorted face. Sayu watches it go, squinting her eyes to look skyward.
Ugh, why does even light make her so sleepy? At least, the sun brings warmth and comfort—a stark contrast to the stars which draw fates at night, those which doomed another’s life…
“Sayu!”
Darn it! Sayu scrambles to get her bearings but nearly tips when the branch beneath her sways. Stupid body—won’t grow regardless of how much sleep she gets but all coordination is lost to the wind if she dares spend some days awake. It’s not fair.
“Sayu, I know you’re there!”
How rude of to assume Sayu might fall for that trick. She gathers herself, regains her balance and makes a swift escape.
…
Strange; the wind blows differently here, Sayu muses as she treads with silent, invisible steps up the winding path around Mt. Yougou. It’s a risk for sure; to head up towards what, as far as Sayu’s concerned, may well be the ultimate stronghold of tattletales. Well, after the Kamisato girl.
Still, she follows the focused stride of a little white cat—an expert at evading potential threats; including that of the many carefree kitsune which often roam these paths. Sayu feels almost guilty, but those clever balls of crimson don’t bring the same pleasant thoughts as they used to.
Another steady gust re-captures her attention—too cool to simply be a midday summer breeze. She’s reminded of bubbles from an underwater air leak, fleeing towards the water’s surface like this wind blows out from the mountainside.
The kitten treads without hesitation through a curtain of foliage and vines. A cave? That wind is stronger here—hm, maybe not strong, per se. It’s gentle; faint, like a whispered secret, or a sigh of pleasant respite.
Sayu pushes the verdant curtain aside with growing excitement to mark the nearing end of an annoying hike. She follows the little cat past the entrance’s veil.
The cave is larger than she expects. It’s damp and few rays of disjointed sunlight make it through to the inside. Yet from the flora which bloom in lavender hues, the space is filled with soft luminescence.
It gives her a start when Sayu realizes something is missing. That kitten—it’s been mere seconds, where did it go? The cave isn’t that big. For as dim as it is, shouldn’t it stand out with that niveous coat? Hmph, well, alone time is a concept for which Sayu has the utmost respect.
A torii stands tall towards the back of one cavern side but the stones around that shrine in the far corner look nice and dry. How she’d managed to overlook such a perfect hiding place before, Sayu does not know. It’s quiet, peaceful, cozy, and most important of all, this hideaway is a place that Kano Nana will never find.
“A trespasser on a hidden branch of the Shrine? Or, perhaps a runaway.” Smooth as a sakura petal and as elegant as a kitsune’s cloak, the chuckle which graces the air is teasing. “Hm, how bold.”
Tearing her from the beginnings of sleep, both an unwelcome interruption and a saving grace; the words trace across the stone; graze the luminescent puddles. Ugghh, Sayu knows that cunning tone. No illusive art or concealing wind could hope to elude those keen eyes of hers.
Sayu peers from a crack between the miniature shrine’s faded wood and patch of bristly weeds as the Guuji Yae pushes foliage to the side and takes a step into the cave. Light from the plants’ glow glistens off the many surfaces of surrounding amethysts; aided in part by candles beneath the torii as, with a delicate wave of Miko’s hand, the wicks suddenly flicker to life.
Sayu should have known this was too good to be true. And it’s such a brilliant hiding spot too…
“Now, now, you can come out. Unless you’d prefer to stay hidden.”
She would, in fact, but Sayu knows when a suggestion bears only the illusion of choice. Ugh, this place has been compromised; next time, she’ll have to find somewhere else. With a silent, tragic goodbye to this near perfect nook to hide, she scurries out to face the raised brow and sly smile of Guuji Yae Miko.
“You seem tired, little one.” With all the grace of a poised kitsune, Miko sweeps vermillion silks aside to sit comfortably on the edge of a Sakura root. She pats the spot next to her. “Here, come, have a seat.”
At the blatant hesitation in Sayu’s confused step forward, Miko chuckles. “Do you think me inept at keeping secrets? Hm, you know, this place does not reveal itself to just anyone.”
Is that why Sayu never caught the slightest breeze from this strange cavern until she had a guide? Miko’s eyes shine with amusement. Hmph, kitsune tricks. How careless of her to forget that those foxes with youkai blood can bear many forms.
Sayu hops onto that Sakura root beside her. She pulls her legs to her chest, props her chin on bent knees and resolves to study the stones straight ahead. Ignoring the gaze of those sharp, violet eyes but she can feel that knowing stare’s persistence.
“You may have Kano Nana fooled but no tanuki tricks can fool me.”
Miko fished for a reaction—which she receives; it comes in the form of a displeased scowl. “I’m not a tanuki.” Sayu insists on instinct.
“No, you’re not. Tanuki may also be clever; they are masters in the art of deception but they are both adept at concealing themselves and hiding their feelings away.”
“...What is your point?”
“Strength—or height, I may say,” Miko pats Sayu’s head to illustrate. Her kitsune eyes glisten with mirth upon viewing the girl’s angry pout. “Cannot be achieved through the extremes. No amount of skillful dexterity or expert elusion can change this. We cannot dispel weight we aren’t willing to face. I hope no irony is lost in saying this but, Sayu, you cannot evade rest forever.”
“I am resting.” Sayu huffs but with the release of air she too shrivels back, “I just can’t sleep.”
The fear, the utter shame of being trapped in the role of a witness to a fate she can’t prevent, and the dread of knowing she may well be next; Sayu doesn’t need to feel it again.
“Can’t?” There’s the subtlest edge of a wry taunt in that single word.
Indignation flares. “I won’t.” Sayu amends, petulantly. Because she’s seen it enough; the ways her wakeless mind can harm her.
That shrine maiden girl hadn’t been burned alive nor did she burst into flames. It’s unclear to Sayu why she even appeared, in dreams, to shift between the form of a fox. Dreams don’t make sense with reality. In reaction to that abyssal lightning, the girl’s heart had simply stopped. And Sayu herself had emerged fine—or at the very least, she is definitely, very alive. So why do the nightmares keep getting worse?
Miko hums, “so, you encounter a beast you struggle to face on your own. Tell me, what must you do then? Will you continue to live in a monster’s shadow alone? Is solitary silence the answer?”
No, Sayu doesn’t say. There is irony to be found in that Sayu’s solitary silence is itself an answer now. But irony means nothing more than it is; a dumb humor that feeds off hypocrisy and conflict. Her will is to protect, not be protected, but perhaps useless binaries aren’t as eternal as she thinks. Oh well, these thoughts can be returned to when she wakes. She’s just so tired now.
“Rest now, little one. This is a sacred place.” Miko’s voice is softer than the familiar veil of night Sayu wishes she never learned to hate.
Sayu closes her eyes and listens to the paper fluttering of the gohei and the soft-spoken words of Miko’s prayer.
“Amidst the lingering hopes in drifting petals, cradled in the Sakura’s eternal embrace. With blessings of earth and sky; of an eternity serene, may the spirit of Narukami watch over your dreams.”