Ten Miles of Autumn Leaves 十里秋叶 (Hana ✗ Sen)

[Mu]

The god, realizing he was pressing up against her, scrambled away quickly to the window and peered outside once. He darted aside as he sensed one more coming his way, moving back to protect the confused and surprised miko. They should be safe, since arrows can only- Nishibyakko's eyes widened, shocked with surprise of his own as the arrow in front of him curved smoothly towards them at the last second, forcing the god to swipe forward with a timely orb, knocking it out of the air and shattering it.

Quickly closing the shutters to the window quietly, he took a deep breath before moving to inspect the arrow that had embedded itself onto the tatami. The second one was already gone. Sniffing it, there was no scent he could recognize or follow, much to his chagrin. Nishibyakko yanked the weapon out to inspect, watching as the arrowhead broke apart at his effort. "... A wooden arrowhead. They know they can't use metal."

The arrowhead was more fragile than the stem, which was strong and sturdy, designed to withstand extremely powerful shots. A white knot had been attached to it - a cold-blooded message left for the god and the priestess. But the wood... he'd seen it before, and had been shot with one before as well. "It's designed to splinter as soon as you try to pull it back," he murmured. "Like barbs. It will rip your flesh."

"Trust me, it's not fun having to cut your arm open to pick out the splinters so you don't risk infection. If you got hit, I would have had to cut the arrowhead out of you." He threw the arrow to the floor, snapping it. "They must have called in the top dog when those two didn't come back from their patrol. I bet he scouted the perimeter."

Opening the note, he peered at the crude scrawl with an ugly frown. Ink as dark as night only spelling out 'You can't escape this time' blinked up at him. The message was ambiguous. Who couldn't escape, Nishibyakko or Kiyoko? It applied to both of them, and it could very well mean the two of them. But considering it was Kiyoko who was shot at... he growled. It was not writing he knew, and he doubt Kiyoko would recognize it as well. It was a warning shot with a warning message from a hidden enemy, and now he was concerned. "... Tomorrow, I am going with you into town."

 

[Hana]

Her eyes widened as the god sprung into movement once again, her own body jerking in reaction, instinctively seeking out his protection. She rushed towards him as he moved back, grabbing the back of his yukata and hiding behind his figure. This time, she was able to see the arrow as it whistled past the open windows and into the room, and just when they thought they had avoided it... They both saw it perform the impossible. Her fingers clenched on his clothing and dug into his back with a twitch as he shattered the arrow. Kiyoko flinched as the splinters scattered loudly on the floor, unable to take her gaze away from yet another close call.

The priestess immediately let go of his clothing upon realizing how tightly she was holding, stepping back after the window had been closed. Not that she trusted such thin covering to be able to protect them. Drawing up beside him, she forced herself to look at the still mostly-intact arrow. His description of what it would have done caused a shudder to run down her back, but she shook her head quickly. You can't escape this time. A memory of what happened last night, dark and bloody in her mind. Her own near-escape, her survival only ensured by the timely intervention from Nishibyakko.

But if he was telling the truth, if those hunters were saying the truth, this god was also running all the time from them. Escaping. So who was this letter directed at? One of them... Or both of them?

"But what if it's meant for you?" She pointed out, staring at him and trying to decipher the dark frown on his face. She wasn't certain of what the villagers would say if they saw Nishibyakko. He was an imposing man from afar, and from up close... Even more so. They'd either think he's a freaky outsider who got corrupted by the witch or I'm lending him one of my 'services', the fuckers. It wasn't outside of their range of insults to imply she would go to men for money or assistance. How the hell would she want money when she grew her own food most of the time?

Shaking such thoughts upon seeing the look on his face - he wasn't going to listen to her no matter what - the miko sighed, suddenly tired from the day's events. "For now, I'll trust you." She stated quietly, looking down. "I know how to be grateful, you know. Thank you."

Somehow, she had a feeling neither of them would have a restful night ahead.

​

Nishibyakko's first forage into the wilderness of the people of Ochiba - and Kiyoko - wasn't as climactic as she would have thought. The people... Seemed to fear the god instinctively, as if they knew there was something about the tall and dark outsider that they should keep away from. They kept their distance as he lurked just behind the small priestess, and surprisingly, it helped her out more often than not. The children who would once run and taunt her or throw stones at her for fun fled at a look from his violet eyes, he didn't even have to say anything to get them to run. The only infuriating thing was how the men, if they got past their fear of Nishibyakko, would leer and mutter to themselves about the nature of her relationship with the frightening stranger.

"Selling yourself so you don't feel lonely over there, witch?"

"Or for protection?"

"It's not like any man would want to have you-"

"ARen't the rest of your family also sluts for that god? When they were still alive, that is-"

She snapped and stomped over to the man, a look of fury and hatred on her face so malevolent that it caused the man to draw back. The miko had a wooden box in hand, heavy and before the man could retaliate, she swung it hard. There was a sharp crack as the man reared back with blood spurting from his nose, his hand flying up to clutch at his face. He cried out in pain and anger, staggering as the rest of the villagers gathered around the square.

"My family-" throwing the box to the ground, she drew back her sleeves and as the man swung at her with a fist, the girl ducked underneath him to drive her elbow into his stomach. "Is none of your fucking business! You fucking scum, who do you think you are to insult the dead?!" Whispers grew around them as the man threw himself at her, and with a shriek of pure anger, the miko responded with clawlike hands and actually biting him in the hand as he held her down.​

​

 

[Mu]

Once the sun rose and breakfast was made and eaten quickly, the god quietly followed the miko into the village at the edge of the border. He donned on a long cloak that covered him from shoulder to toe, showing only his head and judging pale violet eyes that scanned every corner of the village, inspecting every man and woman and child they passed by for dangers that lurked within the shadows. At the same time, he'd never been outside the temple this far for a long time. The last he had seen of Ochiba was when they spat on the smaller shrines of him and spoke of him with such contempt that he had fled, not wanting to take refuge in such a place.

He noticed that the first thing that had happened was that the children seemed to approach them with jeering and sneering faces, only to stop when they spotted Kiyoko's shadowy companion. They had rocks in their hands and the god knew that they were going to throw them, so he would discourage them with a single glance. If even the mightiest of beasts cowered at his glare, merely a stern look from the god was enough to scare off little mortal children. His unnatural pale eyes bored into everyone as if he was peering into their very soul, just as a deity should. But they didn't need to know that.

Nishibyakko figured out she may not have been well accepted in Ochiba, considering she was one of his followers, and anything to do with the fallen Western god was considered a taboo. Something bad and rotten, like he was.. He wasn't fully aware of her circumstances or her full story in the village, but watching the men - who had been silent at first as they passed - begin to speak badly of her just as people in the world once did to him made his blood boil nevertheless.

Watching as she whirled to carelessly attack a man at a particularly crude comment, he blinked quietly at the spar. This was going to turn out ugly, he thought at the first swing of the heavy box. He winced at the drawing of blood, but he couldn't help but get excited in the face of violence. After what had happened so long ago, he seemed to find battles so exhilarating. Maybe it had something to do with the fact he was being chased everyday, so different from the lounging lifestyle he used to live.

However, once the man pinned her down, the god had enough. He glided towards the two and with one hand, grabbed a handful of the man's clothing from the back and hauled him off of the miko. As he staggered back, Nishibyakko gripped his front, almost pulling him up with strength unparalleled to a human. "Keep your hands off of her, you lowlife." His voice was a low hiss, and his eyes were glowering like moonstones. Sharp and dangerous moonstones. "Never ever speak to the follower of a god like that," he spat angrily. "And she's right, don't you dare insult those who have passed. Lest you wish to curse your own family with vengeful spirits."

 

[Hana]

Now, this man was only a simple farmer in Ochiba. Nothing like the godhunters from that terrifying encounter, though farmers grew strong arms and chests from their everyday toil. She savagely bit into the farmer's hand as it grabbed her jaw, eyes hot with aggression as she saw him pull his hand back. Good, I drew some blood from this fucker. "You little-!" He gripped her jaw hard enough to leave marks, but she snapped at him, baring her teeth. The girl looked more like a little wild animal in that moment after he had thrown himself on top of her, scratching at his face after he grabbed her jaw and left one of her hands free. He spat at her and pulled his other hand back to curl it into a fist, using his weight to pin the girl down. She bucked against him to throw him off-

The weight was lifted off of her, and she sat up, eyes flashing to the god behind the farmer. Her eyes widened, startled at the amount of anger in his face and dripping off from his voice. Kiyoko had almost forgotten he was following behind her, and regaining herself, she looked around her. Gathered around them, keeping their distance, were other villagers. Women who gripped their children's shoulders, with worried and yet hateful look towards the miko. Her chest rose up and down quickly from the rush of the little encounter, and hauling herself up to her feet she rearranged her attire.

"Who are you?" The fear, so palpable in the farmer's voice, made her turn to look at him once more. The front of his dirt-stained clothing was clutched so tightly in the hands of the deity, Nishibyakko's knuckles had turned white. And noticing this strength caused the human to quake in his clothes, when his eyes were already locked with those of the god's. Kiyoko's lips firmed and she fought down the urge to say something scathing to the man's words.

She took her time to pick up the box once again, the scattered contents - herbs and plants tied together with string - being replaced into it. The villagers continued on staring, but she resolutely ignored them this time, other than to shoot glares at anyone who tried to step forward. Kiyoko wasn't a fool, she knew they stayed away likely because of the god with her this time, and not just her own attempts. After gathering her things, she stood up and walked over to Nishibyakko and the unfortunate farmer.

Reaching up, she touched his sleeve and tugged. "Let's go. Hotaru-baasan is waiting." Kiyoko spoke tersely, eyes avoiding his. The farmer in his grip struggled anew once he saw the miko stand with the deity, his anger quarreling with his fear. If he was smart, he wasn't going to pursue this any further. She shot him another glare, meeting his gaze with hers. "And Hiro-san? Kindly do shut the fuck up. I'll surely send an evil spirit your way or curse you, haven't you forgotten what I am?" Really, she was bluffing, but they pinned all the weird happenings in Ochiba on her anyway. The dead animals that appeared near the village, mauled to death... The chickens that died in their pens... The scratch marks that appeared on their doors sometimes.

 

[Mu]

"Oh, you don't want to know who I am." His response was short, a cruel grin splitting his features. The poor man was probably going to shit his pants if he did find out that standing in front of him was the god he so hated. Normally, Nishibyakko wouldn't even touch the useless bag of flesh and bones, the lowly farmer should consider it an honor that he had, even if he didn't know it.

He couldn't see what was happening around him, too fixated into intimidating the man he held up like an empty sack. The way he wriggled and writhed in his hand amused the god, and the bloodthirsty and murderous nature of the Western god radiated off of him like a true predator. He could sense the pumping of the scarlet blood in his body, each inhale and exhale, the shivers in his skin and the twitches of his muscle. Pale eyes dilated as he refused to break off eye contact with the farmer, it looked as if Nishibyakko was going to eat him right there.

But he at least had common sense not to. The god effortlessly threw him to the floor, leaving the man a crumpled mess on the dirt path. He dusted his cloak down with a smug look, though the snake-like glare in his eyes did not fade. "You must feel like such a man, putting down a girl," he cackled. "Consider the god of fortune smiling upon you since I am letting you off, but next time I see or even hear anything about your appealing behaviour, you might have it worse than a few broken bones." The god turned to walk away, but not before leaving behind one threat - a threat he could easily make a reality. "I'll make sure Nishibyakko Okami pays you a very, very nice visit, Hiro." The disrespectful lack of honorifics did not even phase the god, who simply walked away as if nothing had happened.

 

[Hana]

Unwilling to stay in the presence of the farmer - or the village people - any longer, Kiyoko walked away as the god made a move to do so. She grimaced at his threat, he was really one to casually threaten anyone, wasn't he? The miko could bluff and threaten them to keep them away, but he would make good on anything that left his lips towards that human farmer. And as much as she fought with the people here, they weren't ones to deserve the wrath of the god brought down upon them. It was an odd feeling. Hating, but trying not to let it consume you. Hating them for what they did, but not wishing the worst possible scenario upon them. Because as bad as their relationship was, she was still tied to them.

"I'd rather you not break any bones here." He fell into step beside her after leaving the farmer a quaking mess behind him, as if it was nothing. "They're shit people, but he has a family," she pointed out with a frown, sending him a sideways look and cocking her head. Wanting to move faster to get to Hotaru, she gained a much more determined stride, though the god's long legs easily let him keep pace with the girl. She wasn't about to talk to him about what had happened earlier, not when she was still in a sour mood. He kept his own secrets, she kept hers. Nishibyakko stopped before he could really tread on emotional grounds when speaking about himself.

Still... He yanked that man off of her. The girl wasn't sure what to feel about that action. She had gotten out of such binds before, there was a reason she was able to escape captivity during that time with the god hunters. Hell, she would even give that man a black eye once he left himself open enough earlier. It would and could give her one as well, but fair's fair. As it was, she walked away with only an outline of a hand on her jaw, and that man with two bites on his hand. Though... She made a disgusted face as she tasted the man's blood in her mouth, sticking her tongue out childishly. "Blegh." It was satisfying to sink her teeth into his hand, but that didn't mean she enjoyed the taste of his blood.

 

[Mu]

Rolling his eyes, he made a face as if he did not care for her words. "His kids might just turn out to be just like him," Nishibyakko sighed, making a noise that was a mix of disgust and disappointment. Now that he was seeing the extend of their treatment of her, the god wondered if he should accompany her to the village more often. Looking around, the god could tell that they were keeping their distance from the two of them, having seen the spectacle he had just put on for them. Soon enough, the men would eventually tough out their fears and approach Kiyoko again. And if he wasn't around to see what happened... the god was already tired with the god hunters, he wasn't going to risk seeing his follower hurt again. Nishibyakko had no plans to tell her of his thinking process, and he'd follow her whether she liked it or not. At least she wasn't complaining now.

He watched her with careful eyes, noting the strange expression on her face. It was then when he noticed the smear of blood near her mouth, recalling that she had drawn blood from the man. He didn't know what was so bad about having a metallic taste in one's mouth but that was just a biased thought. Rummaging around his cloak, the Western god withdrew a waterskin that he carried around with him when he was still a travelling god. A little worn but it still did its job, he had filled it up with clean water before they left in case any of them got thirsty. It did not look like she carried any sort of object to drink from, perhaps the old lady she was visiting had cups. "Here," he offered the waterskin to her, "Drink."

... He changed his mind. "I should come with you to the village more often," he stated simply, without seeing the need to offer an explanation. "Their behavior convinced me," his voice was gruff. It sounded reluctant, but he had already made the decision. He could also map out the place, make sure there was no chance for the hunters to ambush them. Keep an eye out for that top dog, for he wasn't sure if it still lingered around in the shadow. Yes, Kiyoko wasn't his top priority, right? His eyes flickered to the box she was holding. "And I think you'd like a helping hand as well."

 

[Hana]

A pale hand grasping a worn object pushed in front of her nose, startling the girl slightly from the (almost) silly face she was making. She stared at the object right under her nose with a look, following the hand that held it up to a strong arm from what she could see of it from the sleeve. And then she looked up at Nishibyakko with an almost flabbergasted expression. He was offering her a waterskin? He was being strange about something again, wasn't he. "... Thanks." She tucked the box under her other arm, before reaching out carefully. Taking the offered object from him, she opened it up and took a hesitant sip from the lip of the container. Her lips hardly touched or skimmed the edges, the girl looking away embarrassed. It didn't seem polite to drink from the very same thing he would drink from.

When the taste of iron had been thoroughly washed out of her mouth with the cool and refreshing water, Kiyoko drew back with a small sigh. "If you come to the village, wouldn't they grow suspicious of you?" More than they already were, she thought with a small look towards the god. He wasn't going to listen to her - she knew that tone of voice when she heard it from bickering with him so many times. Still, the way he was avoiding her probing look was a bit concerning. Or confusing. "What behavior? Them?" She scoffed, before pausing and sending him a dubious frown. "Are you concerned that I can't take care of myself enough not to be killed by farmers?"

Snapping the waterskin's lid shut and handing it over to him, she snorted to herself. "They're not addle-brained enough to try that." Yet. Some words she had with them ensured they feared her haunting them if she was ever killed, after all. Or they feared what she could do with her 'demon-possessed' self. "On the off-chance that you were worried about that: I've been kicking their asses at this game for years." She didn't get away unharmed, but she gave them a good fight. Or if she couldn't win that, she ran for it. And if Nishibyakko intended on following through with teaching her, she could get better at the fighting back part.

 

[Mu]

"They are already suspicious of me now, why would it matter?" Nishibyakko bluntly pointed out, blinking at her with an expressionless face. After such a display, he was sure they were going to treat him more and more warily if he did appear in town. That, in its own way, was good news. He did not like the presence of humans anyway, especially not these kind of wicked people, who went out of their way to make the lives of those of their own species horrible. And they rightfully did not want to be too close to him either, which the god thought was the most logical thought process these primitive hairless monkeys had so far.

Although he did not sound very concerned for her, he did shrug, eyes darkening as if he knew something she did not. "To humans, as long as there is life, there is hope. If they were really desperate, they could truly hurt you very bad." He took back the waterskin and tucked it away under the folds of his cloak, turning back into the silent shadow of the priestess who led him around the village.

She seemed to come here often in order to sell the vegetables she grew out in the patch. He thought it to be a waste, selling away such good produce grown on luscious soil to these townspeople, but this girl would just yell at him if he voiced this opinion of his again. "So who is this grandmother you keep mentioning?"

 

[Hana]

"A healer and apothecary," she replied with a brisk tone of voice, more focused on tracking her usual path towards the old woman's home. "The only one in the village." And that was why the people here didn't touch Hotaru despite her connection to the young miko, they needed her medicines and her wisdom when it came to illnesses. This village was already damn lucky to have one after the wipeout years ago, a skilled apothecary at that. Unfortunately, Hotaru was already getting along in years and needed to pass down her skills to someone. Kiyoko wasn't the only one she was teaching, there was another girl. The old woman always ensured that the miko didn't encounter her other student due to the pure animosity between the two. This meant the priestess came a few days a week to learn from her.

They soon arrived at the apothecary's humble home, where the willowy thin frame of the old lady's son was seated at the edge of the entrance. He was smiling and staring rather emptily into the space before him, not an uncommon appearance due to his condition.

From the shadow of the woods by a quiet lakeside
A Cuckoo calls, "Isn't it time to wake up?"

A merry little folk tune hummed from his throat, one that the miko recognized. With a small smile, the girl replied in kind to his delight - a sweet voice joining the off-tune singing. It was a rather childish song all things considered, but she had learned that he enjoyed hearing children's rhymes. "Cuckoo, cuckoo~ From the shadow of the woods by a quiet lakeside, "Good night" calls the owl!" He clapped his hands together with a light chuckle at her response, head turning to look at the miko and her tagalong companion.

"Kiyoko-chan! How is Yuta-" He cocked his head in confusion at the tall god standing behind the girl, eyes widening when he realized Nishibyakko was taller than even him. "Wow, your friend is very big. Did he come to get some medicine from Mother?"

 

[Mu]

"I see. So she must have a status within the village," Nishibyakko stated as he trailed after her. "That is a good defense." If she associated herself with Kiyoko, she would be a prime target for these brutes. But if she was important to these people, then she had a chance of living out her years. The god rolled his eyes. Humans. Greedily little monkeys who only kept things around because they were useful. Why they couldn't respect members of their own species, the god would never understand. He knew gods bickered a lot, but most of the time he never disrespected them and made them feel like less of what they were - a deity.

Well, that was before the incident. Perhaps things were different now. Maybe that was why Amaterasu was a little angry with him. Not that the god of autumn cared much.

He stared at the house they had stopped by, and instantly went to silently examine the household for any signs of danger. No archers hiding on the roof and no warriors hiding behind the house - no suspicious smell in the air. He didn't pay attention to the man who appeared to be singing until he was done surveying, and so the god turned to him with a confused expression and curious eyes. He looked normal. A little thin, but just like any humans. He could swear some part of him was dead inside, those eyes did not have the spark that they normally would.

"Nice to meet you," he said, nodding his head to indicate a bow. He didn't bother to introduce himself, there was no need. "Not today. I'm not sick. Simply tagging along."

 

[Hana]

For a moment there, she had been worried at the way Nishibyakko would treat Asato. Kiyoko held her breath and smiled a little tersely at the apothecary's son, nodding at his words. It was only when the god greeted him in a surprisingly civil manner that the girl let out a relieved breath, removing her slippers on the edge of the entrance and stepping in. The old lady was likely tending to the small plants she grew in a little patch of land behind her house. Looking behind her, the girl motioned for the deity to come inside. "He's... Yeah. I guess he's a friend." Not sure whether or not she was talking to the god or Asato, she fell silent and took a kneeling position in the corner of the room.

Asato didn't question who Nishibyakko was, brown eyes free of the usual suspicion the humans would look at him with. "Come in, then! Mother also cooked some food, are you two hungry?" He smiled and padded over to the priestess, taking a seat beside her. Whatever Nishibyakko made of this, Kiyoko wasn't about to cut ties with this family of two. She learned useful knowledge from Hotaru and they treated her without any of the usual vitriol the others here did.

She shook her head. "I don't know about..." Faltering slightly, she realized she couldn't call the god by his name here. Kiyoko's gaze flickered in his direction and rested on his face uncertainly. "N-Nishi, but he might want to eat." Nishi was a shorthand way of calling him, wasn't it? Was it impolite or hubris to call the god that? It was easier to say than the mouthful that was Nishibyakko Okami, for sure. Yet it sounded much more personal, almost intimate, to let it pass through her lips. Embarrassing.

 

[Mu]

The god followed her inside, frowning as he ducked his head to pass through the doorway. The inside was drab and simple, a house every typical farmer might have out in the village. Enough to shelter them from strong winds and rain, not so good dealing with heat - it definitely wasn't fireproof. But Nishibyakko did not complain or say anything, the man didn't seem bad... but the god was still wary.

He was about to shake his head when he stopped, staring at the miko with a surprised expression. Nishi? The god blinked, a hint of amusement replacing the shock. That was a name nobody ever used. Not even... well, the weaver used it. Always was polite, his full name on her lips, never shortened or said casually. She respected him and he respected her. Sometimes, that fox lady would try to go for it, he never really liked to be called 'Nishi'. It sounded like a child's name. He had shut up that fox goddess many times, but sometimes that woman would forget when she got drunk. Somewhat annoying, but she got the message in the end.

Hearing it from Kiyoko made him want sigh. He suppressed the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose and turned his attention back to the man who spoke like a child. "No, I'm fine. But..." Manners no longer applied to him - after he had slain so many - but perhaps just this once he could do something for this man and his mother. Kiyoko seemed to like them enough, she sold them the most vegetables, he guessed. From inside is cloak, the god drew back two incredibly plump sweet potatoes. Mid-autumn's best produce, baked or boiled, it was nice no matter how it was eaten. "Thank you for letting this stranger in your... humble home. Please accept my gift."

 

[Hana]

Returning his stare, Kiyoko bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying anything further. The surprise was visible in the slight widening of the god's eyes, but she wasn't sure what to make of the following expression that made its way on his face. It was a cross between a smile and a... Why am I wondering about this now? He hadn't displayed any fury or anger at her using that to address him. Did it matter what else he thought now? Looking away, she nodded at his words. It was still surprising how he was treating Asato with manners almost polite, though the aloof look never once left the tiger god's sharp eyes and intimidating visage.

But hearing the rest of his words caused her attention to turn back to him quickly, her own eyes wide now. There was no mistaking it - had he actually willingly given Asato and his mother something? Almost not believing it, she stared at him and then at the small yet precious gifts of food he had taken from under his cloak. Where the heck did he carry those under that cloak? The miko openly stared at Nishibyakko, but before she could muster anything to say, Asato spoke.

"For me and Mother?" His eyes gained a curious little bit of light in them then. The widower truly had some beautiful brown eyes, just like his mother's, but they always retained that vacant expression on them. Now though, was there something more in there along with his smile? Despite the childlike way he spoke, the man retained enough of his facilities to at least accept a gift. He smiled brightly at Nishibyakko. "Mother could make good stew with those! Thank you, Nishi-san!"

Nishi-san. Kiyoko snuck a look towards the god at the use of that name, a sheepish smile hesitantly touching her lips. Here he was being treated by Asato and soon, likely, Hotaru like he was another human being. Like them. She wondered how he could suddenly go from being cruel and callous, to something almost pleasant to be around. She looked away just as quickly when footsteps betrayed the approach of the old lady.

"Hayashi-sama, it's good to see you as always. But I see you have a friend...?" Hotaru's aged, yet still lovely features creased slightly in both amusement and confusion as she looked at the visitors to her humble home. She seemed to survey Nishibyakko for a moment, like most old people do, but without the look of fear and suspicion that the others in Ochiba had immediately come to do with. After a moment, seeing the sweet potatoes Nishibyakko put out and the smile on Asato's face, she also cracked a smile at the 'man'.

"Mother! Nishi-san is nice and brought some potatoes for you to cook! We have something to eat tonight," Asato announced happily. This caused Kiyoko to send a troubled look his way, something about that just sounded off. And earlier he was offering to feed their guests, yet it looked like there was nothing for them to eat at supper. She knew she brought vegetables to help them out, but did something happen? Before she could say anything, the elderly woman chuckled and approached them, bowing.

She accepted the gifts from Nishi with a twinkle in her eye. "My, my. These are very nice indeed. Thank you very much for this, Nishi-san. I am Hotaru, and you've met my son, Asato." Looking over at Kiyoko, and then at him, she asked, "You aren't from Ochiba. Yet you are with Hayashi-sama." Kiyoko cringed to herself at the use of the honorifics. Hotaru was a very traditional old woman, and would insist on calling her by her family name. At least there was someone here who did still respect the name. "Hayashi-sama, if we may move to the next room...? Nishi-san could come if he wants to, but let us continue with your lessons. Asato? Can you wait here?"

Nodding, Kiyoko stood up to follow after the apothecary, bringing with her the box. "I found the wild herbs you were asking for, Hotaru-obaasan, but they grow quite deep into the forest. Would these be enough?"

 

[Mu]

"Yes," Nishibyakko said as softly as possible. "For you and your mother." He watched as his feature lit up with joy and surprise at just a few potatoes. It was funny how famine could affect farmers and their children, how anything could please them and make them happy, but also how anything could anger them and offend them. The human beings were like strange ants the god liked to watch and entertain himself with. Even back in the days, as a watcher of the forges, he amused himself by listening to what the blacksmiths had to say. Gossip, stories, rumors - humans loved to talk. Talk about each other and themselves. Some fancied themselves as gods and paraded them as so. They were lucky Amaterasu was benevolent and forgiving, more forgiving than he was, anyway.

He set his jaw at the nickname but said nothing, though he was going to have a long talk with the priestess after this. If he came back with her next time, he was going to have to bring more potato seedlings. He had carried some just in case - they were lighter than their actual products. All it took was a bit of a miracle to have them grow and swell to full size, impossibly big for a normal sweet potato. But to them, 'Nishi' was just a man the 'Hayato-sama' brought with her, not the god that they probably feared.

The god analyzed and looked over the old woman with a calculative gaze and nodded his head respectfully, but did not bother to return her smile. She seemed harmless enough. If she made any erratic movements he could easily snap her back. Her worn hands were used to moving, he could tell. Making things, pulling things, farm work a long time ago, perhaps. He could smell the aroma of herbs and grasses on her, medicinal ones especially, the strong bitter smell radiating from her clothes. But it was not unpleasant. It was soothing.

Forcing lies out of his teeth, he replied to her comment with neutrality. "My ancestor was from Ochiba. I am... a pilgrim. Yes, on a pilgrimage to see all of the Yamato god's temples. Simply stopping by at Nishibyakko's temple for the month, and its priestess has kindly offered me a room to stay in." He tried not to make an amused expression, making up a story as he went along. To Kiyoko, she probably would have sensed the confusion in his tone, a man who was weaving out a story of... mostly lies.

"No, I would like to join you." He was curious about these lessons. What exactly was she learning? And how did she learn best? He was going to teach her how to wield a blade, he doubted this old woman was doing something similar, but Nishibyakko decided he might as well try to understand how this miko took in information. He didn't fully trust this Hotaru, and it was appropriate to keep an eye on her.

 

[Hana]

The old healer's careworn face crinkled in a smile that creased around her eyes at Nishibyakko's words. "It's nice to see a youth who cares about medicine these days." She sounded almost... Amused, for lack of a better word, at the way the violet-eyed man's expression bore into her inscrutably. "Very well, Nishi-san. Please, do not disturb me while I instruct Hayashi-sama." Turning towards the young female under her tutelage, she waved her towards the room. "After you, Hayashi-sama. Please set up the ingredients and we shall soon begin."

Kiyoko flashed a slightly befuddled look in the tiger god's way as the elderly woman waved her on, turning away after a beat of staring. His behavior, his civility, where did that all come from? Yet how could he look at Hotaru like she was someone to be wary of? He hadn't seen Asato as a threat, but there was littler threat in the elderly apothecary compared to him. His expression was one that she couldn't pierce through even with all her scrutiny, much less one that took a scant few moments. Carrying the box with her into the next room, she knelt at the table.

"Those herbs are a good substitute for a weaker version of byakkoto. Your family used to receive the necessary herbs and material to make it, but there is a way to substitute plants that could be found around the mountain for similar effects." Standing behind her, Hotaru flashed another unreadable smile towards Nishibakko and carried on. "Now list the things that it remedies."

"The White Tiger Decoction was quite a strong medicine that my family learned from traders overseas." Kiyoko was a bit bemused at the topic of today's lesson, tempted to look at the tiger god. She could feel his presence inside the room quite acutely, his focus a curious niggling sensation that prickled the hairs on the back of her neck. She coughed and dismissed the thought from her head to continue. "It was used to treat severe thirst and dehydration, high fevers, excessive sweating, irritable disposition, headaches, toothaches, bleeding in the gums and from the nose, aversion to heat, dry mouth, weak metabolism, and an upset stomach."

She opened up the box, setting the lid aside on the left and took out the different portioned herbs. Rice seeds were the easiest to acquire with help from Hayato and his work. The sekko mineral was harder to acquire by herself, ironically despite living on land that was renowned for being rich in ore and minerals. It was only through rummaging through what was the dwindling stores that her family had left behind that she had even gotten her hands on some. The Chinese liquorice root was something she grew among her vegetable garden. And the wild herb substitute that Hotaru had asked her to get was the last ingredient.

The old woman sat down across from her. "Good, good. Now I want you to boil that by yourself at your home so you may learn. You already know how to extract the concentrated essences of materials by heating or boiling, I expect nothing wrong to happen. Thank you for giving me a part of what you gathered, since one of the farmers' wives is currently suffering from a rather severe stomach ailment. This should be good."

Kiyoko nodded and shrugged one shoulder, eyes flickering to the side and mouth quirking oddly. "I'm glad that helps." She already knew her help gathering these herbs and materials helped Hotaru heal the villagers in turn.

"Now for the fun part," Hotaru smiled warmly at the girl. "You know this part, right? I want you to close your eyes and recognize the plants and medicines I place before you through anything but sight. Smell, touch, and taste are allowed but trying those may have surprising consequences."

Pursing her lips, Kiyoko glanced at the god who stood in a corner of the room. He was surprisingly quiet, none of his usual scoffing remarks passing through his lips. True to his word he was just observing them. She eyed him for another moment before grabbing the white cloth offered to her by the healer. Without another word she closed her eyes and tied the cloth around her head, settling over her eyes and ensuring no 'cheating'. "I have equal chances of getting these tests right or wrong, but it helps me identify herbs easily not just through my eyes."

 

[Mu]

Although Nishibyakko was only half listening, he found bits of what the old woman was teaching her interesting. He knew quite a bit about medicine, and he had heard about the amusingly named 'byakkoto', also known as the the Bai Hu Tang, or the White Tiger Decoction. It was a little funny how humans had named a concoction or herbs used to reduce heat in their bodies after him, a god of autumn and metal. One would think he attracted fire instead, as a forger of weapons and its patron god. Blacksmiths loved the presence of heat, pounding away at toughened metal until their arms were sore, taking little to no breaks. Those were the people he appreciated back in those days, not medicinal doctors who frolicked in the fields. Well, they were useful, at least. Maybe it was good that he could drain away heat, it was proof he was better than that oversized chicken.

He turned his attention back to the priestess' teacher in time to hear a mention of some farmer's wife. He cocked his head and mulled over whether or not he should pipe up in a time like this. She had told him not to disturb their lesson which he had adhered to quite unusually, but it appeared as if they were having a short break. "Have you tried bakumondou-tou?" Nishibyakko recalled the concoction well, seen it made often by someone who had once been a close friend of his. Okuninushi, a wise old god who was seen as the ruler of farming and business, as well as medicine. He truly was a knowledgeable in his field, and the one they all came to to cure their dreaded hangovers.

"I know a bit of kampo myself." He sat himself a little closer so he could see what was on the table the ladies were working on. "Deficiency in yin in a woman is a bad sign, I'm not surprised to see that in a farmer's wife." He shook his head, feigning sympathy. The god did not really care that much about the ongoing's of a farmer's life, sick wife or not. "The Ophiopogonis Decoction... " the god began listing the ingredients and counting his fingers. "Dwarf lilyturf, pnellia tuber, ginseng root... if she cannot even eat her food then poor man's ginseng is best... non-glutinous rice, jujubes, licorice root..." he hummed before pausing. "Am I wrong?"

The god glanced at the plants the woman had laid out in front of the blindfolded Kiyoko before whistling at the herbs. He recognized them, and sure enough, some of them had quite 'surprising' effects if consumed. He folded his arm, "I'm not carrying you home covered in boils or rashes, so you better do this right."

 

[Hana]

He knew kampo? As Nishibyakko displayed a startling knowledge of another decoction for digestive illness, listing the different herbs with an air of awareness about him, Kiyoko pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes behind the cloth obscuring them. The girl was tempted to fling the white blindfold around her eyes and stare at him, but resorted to showing her surprise through raising her eyebrows high on her forehead. "You are a surprising 'pilgrim', Nishi-san," she muttered to herself, turning slightly in his direction. There was no animosity between them so long as they stayed in this house and maintained a veneer of friendliness for Hotaru and Asato to believe in. Not that she was angry, just surprised at how experienced he really was compared to her.

What did you expect from a god, girl?

"Indeed," Hotaru's lips twitched slightly, her liquid brown eyes suddenly alight with more curiosity that settled on the foreign man. "Though unfortunately, most of those ingredients are hard to come by in Ochiba." As the only apothecary and kampo practitioner here, she really did appreciate the times traders or travelers would come here bringing such commodities. She had more to gain from them sometimes in exchange for her services compared to the poor farmers in the village. "Hayashi-sama's family once had quite the impressive herb garden, but I'm afraid it has been destroyed many years ago."

The girl bit down particularly hard on her bottom lip at the abrupt mention, shifting almost irritably and cocking her head. Reigning in any words that she wished to say, she settled on moving the lesson on in a light tone. "... I'm trying to care for a smaller one. Hotaru-obaasan," she lifted the corner of her mouth. "I'm ready to identify these now." And the god's words of her possibly botching this exercise just made her want to prove him wrong and show him she was actually good for something.

Really, despite how fond Kiyoko was of Hotaru, she knew the old lady was a hard taskmaster when the need arose. Especially when it came to a delicate art like making medicine, where the smallest mistake or wrong measurements could drastically affect their work. She didn't even know that Hotaru advocated methods like this to teach until the lady had smiled demurely and told her it was how she achieved such mastery over picking out ingredients.

Despite losing one sense as sight, the body compensated for that by sharpening the other senses. Smell and touch in particular would be heightened. She was fine enough with not fumbling while bllindfolded to feel out what her fingers were seeking on the table. The first herb. It was in its own container that she lifted so she could get a hint through a whiff of scent, but upon her instincts telling her it was alright to feel along the ingredient she gingerly plucked it with her other hand. "Loquat leaf." Tough and leathery texture, but with dense and oddly velvetine hairs on the bottomside. A whiff of the autumn flowers for this tree also lightly clung to the leaf.

Hotaru hummed gently in affirmation, and the priestess set it down on the table once more.

The next one had an oddly oily slickness to it, slight but there, indicating some tiny oil glands. What helped her more was the scent that the leaves did give off and then the shape she could make out by running her fingers over the leaf. "... Wormwood leaf. I harvest these, Hotaru-obaasan." Those particular two had health benefits when used correctly, and you could make loquat leaf tea. She knew the feel of them on her fingertips most of the time.

The next herbs were varying degrees of easy and challenging. Honeysuckle was easy just from the sweet scent it gave off. The root herbs were more challenging for the miko. And she realized the poisonous ones after running through all the herbs she knew from memory and not matching them up with any qualities she could feel from touch. "... Why would I consume chrysanthemum, exactly, Nishi-san?" She didn't bring all the herbs close to her lips without at least testing it out first with her nose from a safe distance or her fingertips. That, and the girl just had a penchant for finding what was less likely to kill her or give her a world of hurt through trial and error in the past. "The pigtail plant is toxic, but it's good for arthritic old farts if you boil it and use the steam-" she bit her tongue at the giggle Hotaru let out. Well, there was her politeness? "Cocklebur fruit is for your nose, not your mouth or stomach."

"This old fart does agree with the pigtail plant's use, Hayashi-san." Hotaru said lightly, smiling faintly at the twitch the young miko gave when reminded of her slipup. "Well, I think you did much better today. Now how about you help me prepare some ointments and pastes before you retire to the temple?"

Kiyoko reached up and undid the blindfold with a decidedly embarrassed pout, though she wiped it and nodded quickly to show her agreement to her mentor's words. "I could help you with arranging your things again afterwards."

 

[Mu]

The god frowned at the comment but nodded to agree. "Yes, it's a shame. I have seen most of these medicine at work in Chugoku, not here in Yamato." The large country across the sea, the place where the ancestors of the founders of Yamato were said to have come from. Their geography and culture was not that different than here, and he knew there were those who worshiped him under a different name. A different name, but still the patron god of blacksmiths and the master of metal, a giant white tiger who brought them autumn. It made him feel proud his influence was so widespread back in his prime. "But I have seen some of these out of this state, up in the forest in mountains. Maybe next time I go travelling, you would like some for your collection?" he offered like a gentleman. Of course not, why was he going to bother going to climb a mountain for herbs to give to a lady he didn't even know? An old goat like her could never get the exceptionally rare ones no matter how hard she studied about it. Nishibyakko had no reason to go and gather them for her either, nor for Kiyoko as well. He doubted they would get sick enough for him to go fetch such potent medicine. All he needed to do was come off as an intelligent pilgrim to fit into this strange household and equally strange village.

He settled down and watched the test unfold, silently recalling the farm the old woman was talking about. It was big, from what he remembered, large just like a farmer's land, except vegetables having been replaced with herbs with variant rarity. Common ones and uncommon ones, he remembered seeing a tiny patch of herbs that only grew in the mountains but was somehow surviving within all the others. It seemed like the Hayashi had discovered the perfect soil for it to grow in, mimicking the earth on the mountain. Nishibyakko was not one to grow plants, he was the type of person to stick a seed in the ground and force it to grow at his will for a quick meal, but he had been impressed at the sight. Herbs were easily to learn, growing them was hard, even harder than using them to their full potential. If the herbs did not grow, then there could be no medicine to procure.

Watching as Kiyoko began fiddling with the containers of herbs, he peered at her blindfolded face with curiosity. Her senses were fine tuned for detecting what herbs were what, from the way the muscles twitched under her skin. He could sense and feel everything happening inside her body, how she was a little tense... was it from nervousness? There was also an air of confidence that had not been there before as she worked her way down the line, making comments that he didn't even listen to as she lifted some to her nose and touched with her finger before identifying it. The old woman would make a noise of affirmation to signal to her that she was correct. The more she got right, the heavier that air became. The god's eyebrows rose, was she trying to show off and tell him that this was something she was good at? He rolled his eyes at her, even though the priestess could not see. Try competing with the knowledge of a god as old as the earth itself. Kampo was not his forte, but he could bet he knew quite a bit as well.

"Congratulations for not contracting boils," Nishibyakko complimented blandly, just to sound polite to those who did not know him. He was once a benevolent god, after all. He clapped his hands for emphasis, shooting a smile to the miko. A smile that appeared warm to others, but she would probably interpret it as some sort of mocking behaviour. Kiyoko always saw the worst in him. "Good job. Now, I'm interested to hear if she has contracted boils before, because that would be amusing, Hotaru." He chuckled, "Or anything worse. That'll be just as funny."

 

[Hana]

Screw you! Repulsive, arrogant kami-! Judging by the way the girl's eye twitched just a bit at the god's bland words, Kiyoko didn't appreciate the sarcasm lacing his words. Anyone else might have thought he was humoring the priestess or complimenting her, but Nishibyakko knew she could see right through him. Resisting the urge to scowl, she flashed a sharper smile than normally seen on her face by Hotaru. "Nishi-san is too kind." It was laced with the same razor sharp undertone though hidden under an oddly honey-sweet chirping voice. "But it's right to only be grateful when I patched him up after he came to the temple hurt by some wild animals." Closing her eyes, she flashed him a bright and sarcastic grin. She really was resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at him.

Hotaru looked between the two and nodded to herself, as if coming to a conclusion on her own. "My, my. It seems you two must have had a colorful first meeting." The old woman spoke in a kind tone, eyes observant on the subtle nuances she could see on the young girl's face. These two weren't really hiding their bickering as well as they thought, especially to an old woman who had raised bickering children before.

The crimson-eyed girl resisted the urge to snort aloud at the understatement that left her teacher's lips, opening her very red eyes. If she could call Nishibyakko waking up and trying to throttle her as soon as he saw her face, then sure. It was a colorful first meeting. "It was," she agreed cheerfully, before swiftly rising to her feet before the table and gathering the herbs together. "Hotaru-obaasan, I'll return these to where they belong." With the containers safely tucked to her chest with her arms laden with their weight, she quickly departed from the room towards another further in the back.

Left to themselves for a short time, the old apothecary glanced at the strange pilgrim. "For a pilgrim that's recently arrived, you act quite familiar with Hayashi-sama." There was a knowing look in her eyes, before she continued, "But at least it looks like she has made a friend. You're the first one to get such a reaction from her after Katsuo-kun." She remembered that young boy, only two years older than the girl he befriended through sheer stubbornness. "If you think I'm going to share embarrassing stories of her so early on though, you should wait for the next few lessons, then." Lifting her finger to her lips, Hotaru winked conspiratorially. "Though I will share that she once knocked herself out with a potent herb. That taught her a valuable lesson."

"I finished- eh?"

Kiyoko returned to the room after sorting out the herbs to their proper places, blinking at the enigmatic smile on Hotaru's lips. With a faint chuckle, the apothecary also rose to her feet - with much more grace than the girl across from her. "Come on, then, Hayashi-sama. Let's get to work."