Love of the Wind Spirit
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Category:
Fantasy & Science Fiction › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
5
Views:
1,615
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
The Message
Love of the Wind Spirit
Chapter 4: The Message
Otome patiently sat beneath the Kaede tree, the maple spreading her branches about in grandmotherly fashion to shield her from what would become harsh sunshine later in the day. The shrine maiden regarded her visitor carefully, trusting this supposed monk even less than some of the various youkai she had encountered in her short life. Her kami may have made some extremely odd advances, but at least she knew him better than this total stranger.
From the sulky atmosphere, she could gather that the stranger’s presence was only being barely tolerated. He had already been likened to a slithering snake in the spirit’s poetic language.
“What brings you so far up the mountains to our village to speak with me?”
“My deity has sent me with a warning. The warning is thus from the great Musubi-no-Kami, that August Lord of Love and Marriage.
For the wind to gain form
Is a dire mistake
Unless for it her heart warm,
Her life it will take.
How can the intangible
Safely and properly possess
Union with the tangible
Without reciprocate caress?
Dare he risk the finality
Of his own life so served
And the wrath of man and kami
For a human’s purity preserved?”
Foolish Kami-Kaze!
Will you give up your own place
Brooding over your Otome
Ensnared by my red lace?”
The wind stood completely still as he thought about the warning he had just been issued. He was being warned away from what he sought after, and yet it sounded like the other god had himself bound him to the human by fate. The monk was troubled as he gave the decree, uncomprehending of the game that his master was playing with the priestess and other spirit. No others that the young seeming god had bound together would he torment so, what was the reason for this cruelty? Quietly spirit and priest watched the Miko process the information, the laughter of the love god floating in the distance.
Otome sat with her head bowed deep in thought, seemingly scruntinizing the grass with her dark gaze. Face still kept carefully smooth, the Miko tried to decide what she thought, but it was impossible. An army of raging Oni would be easier to tackle and purify than ordering her confused thoughts at this time. She knew that Kaze was attempting to protect her from a perceived threat, but what of Musubi-no-Kami and his ambiguity?
“So, if I do not desire my Lord, I will die? Then by my death it will call into question the need for his own life?”
“It could certainly be interpreted that way Miko-sama.”
“I see. Arigato. Will you be staying on in the village?”
“Hai, until my own Kamisama sees fit for me to move on. I do not know what his game is, but I must serve him anyway.”
“Hai, that is the fate that we humans are all dealt. I will speak to the villagers and find you a place to stay. It would be inappropriate for you to stay in the shrine with me, my kinsmen would wonder. I also do not think that my Kamisama would approve.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I could not believe what I was seeing. My innocent little Otome was actually displaying an interest in a male of her species. Needless to say, I did not like this, and felt a great deal of jealousy. She was very right that I would not approve of the monk sleeping in my shrine near my miko. I did not trust him because he was an unknown and male, and was readying myself to show how displeased I was for them to even consider that an option in the briefest passing when my beautiful maiden cut me off.
“Faithful and generous kamisama, please to remain ye calm, I will not let him by thy kamidana, please to accept this balm.”
Her melodious and spontaneous lyric soothed my already increasing gusts, and so it was that I allowed the intruder a little more time. As long as he stayed out of my shrine and left alone what was mine I could be happy. However, I would still watch him carefully and certainly would not leave her unguarded. I saw the way that he looked at her, and no doubt his thoughts were just as impure as the unwed villagers.
Coiling around her, I was aware of her flesh’s prickly reaction to my acknowledging caress. Flinching in surprise, I watched as she looked around for where my center was. A confused little bird, I wanted to slip under her wings and send her gliding into her nest and away from the trouble I felt brewing. In the distance, a storm was brewing and drawing close to my protectorate.
Half a moment passed, and then gingerly she rose from her grassy seat beneath my tree. Dainty feet carried her back toward the village, to what I considered the serpent nest. Lately, my generosity toward this group of humans had waned. The only things truthfully retaining my loyalty to the village were my love of little Otome, respect for her Aunt Tsubame, and my own pride.
In the past, I had not minded when miko would step down in the very rare occasion that duty required it. At those times, one had not been needed, and I was always aware that one more suited to the position was on the way within a generation or two. However, duty was not calling her back into the normal life of the village and her highest duty was to me.
I could not risk her taking her light and sullying it. My center moved toward the priest while another part of me stayed with my virgin. Using the leaves and branches of the tree, I fashioned the wind into words audible to human hearing.
“I will take as long as I need. How can ye understand this deed? I do not welcome ye here yet will not cause what is mine to fear. If upon lustful thoughts ye so much as attempt to act then ye must be in full knowledge of this fact: winds caress the babe tenderly yet upon anger terrible blades will be.”
I had been asked to remain calm, and that was the only thing holding me back. Realizing that a fit of anger was coming, I decided to retreat into my new yorishiro for a short time. Blowing down the village would do nothing to increase my favor with the faithless humans, and would only serve to visit harm upon my precious treasure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was confused when I felt the air suddenly become still. All of my life, it had been in constant motion save for a very few temporary pauses. Now, however, the air lost its animating presence, and the magic of it was gone. It was highly unsettling for me to say the very least, and yet I had the oddest presence of not being alone.
I suppose that perhaps I should not have been surprised, as it had been a highly unusual day. After all, kami were even more prone to fits of temper than we humans. Still, for the local god to retract his protection and presence so completely from the area was beyond odd. It caused me to wonder what my village had done to warrant it. It did leave me with some measure of comfort that I personally had not been abandoned though. With is protection, hopefully I would still be able to fulfill my duty to the village.
The headman was not at home today, but out in the fields hunting. I would have asked him what to do with my visitor, but to interrupt a hunt would only serve to bring down the anger of the gamekeeper kami upon our poor village. Instead, I asked his wife what should be done.
“Why not take the young man as husband? Being a holy man himself, the pair of you would bring powerful children into this world, and would serve as an even better defense for this humble village.”
“Headwoman, you know that my service to the wind kami requires that I have no human husband.”
“Yet it has happened before without raising the ire of the kami. How can we be sure that the kami even cares for this village anymore? The oni attacks have increased in the past two generations, growing season has become shorter and harsher, and the children die faster now. Despite your fastitiousness and the villager’s participation in the season rituals, he turns a blind eye to our needs.”
“He is not all powerful. Even our protector and provider has his limits and rules he must abide by.”
“I still say that this new deity that comes with the new priest may better provide for us. The young man will stay in the house of your Aunt child, until my husband comes back and makes a final decision. However, be warned that I will be suggesting that he be adopted into our village. Afterward, there will be a new room added on to your hut.”
Words could not convey how shocked and betrayed I felt. All my life I had been devout, carrying out my duties to family, village and kami without complaint. Now, the village was placing itself before our duty to the kami. It was treason of the worst kind, even above treason to the Emperor we would never see. Was this why Kaze-no-megumi-o-kami-sama had so swiftly withdrawn his protection from the villagers?
“You and the Headman will do as you must. I will do as I must. However, I warn you that Kaze-no-megumi-o-kami-sama is more powerful than this whole village. His anger should be feared.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be continued
Chapter 4: The Message
Otome patiently sat beneath the Kaede tree, the maple spreading her branches about in grandmotherly fashion to shield her from what would become harsh sunshine later in the day. The shrine maiden regarded her visitor carefully, trusting this supposed monk even less than some of the various youkai she had encountered in her short life. Her kami may have made some extremely odd advances, but at least she knew him better than this total stranger.
From the sulky atmosphere, she could gather that the stranger’s presence was only being barely tolerated. He had already been likened to a slithering snake in the spirit’s poetic language.
“What brings you so far up the mountains to our village to speak with me?”
“My deity has sent me with a warning. The warning is thus from the great Musubi-no-Kami, that August Lord of Love and Marriage.
For the wind to gain form
Is a dire mistake
Unless for it her heart warm,
Her life it will take.
How can the intangible
Safely and properly possess
Union with the tangible
Without reciprocate caress?
Dare he risk the finality
Of his own life so served
And the wrath of man and kami
For a human’s purity preserved?”
Foolish Kami-Kaze!
Will you give up your own place
Brooding over your Otome
Ensnared by my red lace?”
The wind stood completely still as he thought about the warning he had just been issued. He was being warned away from what he sought after, and yet it sounded like the other god had himself bound him to the human by fate. The monk was troubled as he gave the decree, uncomprehending of the game that his master was playing with the priestess and other spirit. No others that the young seeming god had bound together would he torment so, what was the reason for this cruelty? Quietly spirit and priest watched the Miko process the information, the laughter of the love god floating in the distance.
Otome sat with her head bowed deep in thought, seemingly scruntinizing the grass with her dark gaze. Face still kept carefully smooth, the Miko tried to decide what she thought, but it was impossible. An army of raging Oni would be easier to tackle and purify than ordering her confused thoughts at this time. She knew that Kaze was attempting to protect her from a perceived threat, but what of Musubi-no-Kami and his ambiguity?
“So, if I do not desire my Lord, I will die? Then by my death it will call into question the need for his own life?”
“It could certainly be interpreted that way Miko-sama.”
“I see. Arigato. Will you be staying on in the village?”
“Hai, until my own Kamisama sees fit for me to move on. I do not know what his game is, but I must serve him anyway.”
“Hai, that is the fate that we humans are all dealt. I will speak to the villagers and find you a place to stay. It would be inappropriate for you to stay in the shrine with me, my kinsmen would wonder. I also do not think that my Kamisama would approve.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I could not believe what I was seeing. My innocent little Otome was actually displaying an interest in a male of her species. Needless to say, I did not like this, and felt a great deal of jealousy. She was very right that I would not approve of the monk sleeping in my shrine near my miko. I did not trust him because he was an unknown and male, and was readying myself to show how displeased I was for them to even consider that an option in the briefest passing when my beautiful maiden cut me off.
“Faithful and generous kamisama, please to remain ye calm, I will not let him by thy kamidana, please to accept this balm.”
Her melodious and spontaneous lyric soothed my already increasing gusts, and so it was that I allowed the intruder a little more time. As long as he stayed out of my shrine and left alone what was mine I could be happy. However, I would still watch him carefully and certainly would not leave her unguarded. I saw the way that he looked at her, and no doubt his thoughts were just as impure as the unwed villagers.
Coiling around her, I was aware of her flesh’s prickly reaction to my acknowledging caress. Flinching in surprise, I watched as she looked around for where my center was. A confused little bird, I wanted to slip under her wings and send her gliding into her nest and away from the trouble I felt brewing. In the distance, a storm was brewing and drawing close to my protectorate.
Half a moment passed, and then gingerly she rose from her grassy seat beneath my tree. Dainty feet carried her back toward the village, to what I considered the serpent nest. Lately, my generosity toward this group of humans had waned. The only things truthfully retaining my loyalty to the village were my love of little Otome, respect for her Aunt Tsubame, and my own pride.
In the past, I had not minded when miko would step down in the very rare occasion that duty required it. At those times, one had not been needed, and I was always aware that one more suited to the position was on the way within a generation or two. However, duty was not calling her back into the normal life of the village and her highest duty was to me.
I could not risk her taking her light and sullying it. My center moved toward the priest while another part of me stayed with my virgin. Using the leaves and branches of the tree, I fashioned the wind into words audible to human hearing.
“I will take as long as I need. How can ye understand this deed? I do not welcome ye here yet will not cause what is mine to fear. If upon lustful thoughts ye so much as attempt to act then ye must be in full knowledge of this fact: winds caress the babe tenderly yet upon anger terrible blades will be.”
I had been asked to remain calm, and that was the only thing holding me back. Realizing that a fit of anger was coming, I decided to retreat into my new yorishiro for a short time. Blowing down the village would do nothing to increase my favor with the faithless humans, and would only serve to visit harm upon my precious treasure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was confused when I felt the air suddenly become still. All of my life, it had been in constant motion save for a very few temporary pauses. Now, however, the air lost its animating presence, and the magic of it was gone. It was highly unsettling for me to say the very least, and yet I had the oddest presence of not being alone.
I suppose that perhaps I should not have been surprised, as it had been a highly unusual day. After all, kami were even more prone to fits of temper than we humans. Still, for the local god to retract his protection and presence so completely from the area was beyond odd. It caused me to wonder what my village had done to warrant it. It did leave me with some measure of comfort that I personally had not been abandoned though. With is protection, hopefully I would still be able to fulfill my duty to the village.
The headman was not at home today, but out in the fields hunting. I would have asked him what to do with my visitor, but to interrupt a hunt would only serve to bring down the anger of the gamekeeper kami upon our poor village. Instead, I asked his wife what should be done.
“Why not take the young man as husband? Being a holy man himself, the pair of you would bring powerful children into this world, and would serve as an even better defense for this humble village.”
“Headwoman, you know that my service to the wind kami requires that I have no human husband.”
“Yet it has happened before without raising the ire of the kami. How can we be sure that the kami even cares for this village anymore? The oni attacks have increased in the past two generations, growing season has become shorter and harsher, and the children die faster now. Despite your fastitiousness and the villager’s participation in the season rituals, he turns a blind eye to our needs.”
“He is not all powerful. Even our protector and provider has his limits and rules he must abide by.”
“I still say that this new deity that comes with the new priest may better provide for us. The young man will stay in the house of your Aunt child, until my husband comes back and makes a final decision. However, be warned that I will be suggesting that he be adopted into our village. Afterward, there will be a new room added on to your hut.”
Words could not convey how shocked and betrayed I felt. All my life I had been devout, carrying out my duties to family, village and kami without complaint. Now, the village was placing itself before our duty to the kami. It was treason of the worst kind, even above treason to the Emperor we would never see. Was this why Kaze-no-megumi-o-kami-sama had so swiftly withdrawn his protection from the villagers?
“You and the Headman will do as you must. I will do as I must. However, I warn you that Kaze-no-megumi-o-kami-sama is more powerful than this whole village. His anger should be feared.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be continued