Chapter Text
The night was young and beautiful.
The crowds were thick and swarming around the festive stands.
Plenty of merchants, crofters, crafters, and cooks had set up shop in anticipation of a great boon to make for the night.
Women gave men of their interest sheep eyes and wrote their wishes on little strips of paper and hung them on trees and the men in return gave the women bashful glances and did the same.
The smell of cooking meats as well sweets was thick in the air.
Yuka adored this time of year. Not for any love interest or any religious beliefs about her wishes being granted.
No, she loved it because she had an excuse to leave her rural village and travel with the rest of the youth to the main town to enjoy the festival.
The lanterns, the excitements, the spectacles put on. So different and interesting from the mundane life back in her village.
A quiet life she lived with her sickly aunt and uncle, taking over house duties her aunt could no longer do while her uncle and his sons worked in the fields. Humble rice farmers.
Her life was quiet, predictable, and boring.
Not that she minded, she was a simple person after all, but sometimes she yearned for more.
“Hey Yuka, I’m going to check out the monks shakujo demonstration. It’s rare they want to show case their skills. Want to come see?”
She turned to her cousin Shoji and smiled.
“No, I think I’ll look around at the stores. Oba-san gave me a few coins to buy a new scarf! If you don’t mind?”
Shoji smiled back and shrugged.
“Have it your way. Meet up at the town’s edge near the dojo when the moon is on the descend?”
Yuka nodded.
“Sounds good to me. Enjoy watching the monks fight!”
She waved as her cousin made off with a few of the village boys and gave a grateful sigh at being able to be alone and explore everything.
As she studied the many stalls looking to see if any vendors had woven some scarves to sell, her ears picked up what she thought sounded like some whimpers and cries coming from the alleyway.
Curious, she peeked through, but couldn’t see anything. It was too dark.
Contemplating for a few minutes, she resolved to at least check it out. Maybe someone was hurt and needed help.
As she walked to the end of the alleyway, she saw what appeared to be an old man hunched over, his head in his hands.
He appeared to be sobbing.
“N-not my fault. It’s not my fault,” she heard him whimper between sobs.
Heart moving, she approached him.
“Sir, are you okay?” She said while kneeling next to him.
The man seemed startled and raised his head from his hands to look at her in surprise.
Yuka gasped a bit to see the front his kimono covered in blood.
“Y-yes, Yes I am *sniff*. You are a sweet girl coming over here to comfort me.”
Yuka reached into her obi to pull out a piece of cloth she kept in there for falls and scrapes. Village children tended to get into little scuffles, so she often went prepared when she went out in case any children needed a kneecap wrapped or a chin graze cleaned.
“It’s no problem. You look like something bad happened to you?” She said while reaching out to wipe some blood away from his cheek.
The man flinched a little, but then started looking at her with an expression she couldn’t quite describe.
“Your kimono is covered in blood. Should I get you a doctor?”
The man sniffed.
“I’m not injured my dear. This blood is someone else’s.”
Yuka furrowed her brows. Was he in a fight? He looked like a frail old man.
“Well, I hope they didn’t hurt you, you poor thing. Here,” she said, taking off her haori.
“Wrap this around yourself to cover it up until we can get you a new kimono. Do you live here? Maybe I can help walk you home?”
A few more sniffles came out.
“Y-yes yes, that would be lovely. You are so kind *sniff*.”
Yuka smiled at him.
“It’s no issue really.”
She helped him up. Why would someone want to hurt such an innocent old man?
She placed her arm under his and helped him walk out of the alley way. A few people passed them curious glances, but mostly minded their own business.
“Where do you live?”
The old man sniffled. “J-just follow the road, I live on the outskirts of town in a humble cottage up the hill.”
Yuka nodded and continued walking. She felt a bit wary, but she doubted she would come to any harm from a brittle old man like this.
“What is your name sir?”
*Sniff* “Hantengu,” he said.
“Hantengu,” Yuka repeated rolling it on her tongue.
“That is a very unique name. It suits you.”
The old man suddenly forgot his whimpering and beamed at her.
“You think so?”
Yuka nodded enthusiastically. Talking seemed to get his mind off whatever happened. She wasn’t sure she should ask him at this point and if he didn’t want to divulge the details, she shouldn’t press. But maybe she could assure him in some way?
“You know you can report any misgivings to the magistrate. If someone hurt you, he will look into it. As far as I am aware he is just and fair…”
The sniffling returned.
“No no, they will say it’s my fault. But I am innocent, innocent I say.”
Yuka raised a brow but didn’t press him further.
“I’m sure you are. People should be kinder and more respectful to their betters.”
Hantengu looked at her intrigued.
“They should be indeed!”
He paused.
“You are such a good girl. What is your name?”
“Yuka,” she replied.
“Yuka, such a pretty name. A pretty name for a pretty girl,” he complimented.
“Thank you.”
The crowds were non-existent now as they reached the end of the town.
True as he said, Yuka could see a small cottage sitting up the hill that led into the forest.
As she approached the front door, he stopped her.
“You can leave me here dear. I would invite you inside for some tea, but my house is…currently inhospitable at the moment. I should however like to come by sometime and thank you for your help. Do you live in the town?”
Yuka shook her head.
“Uh no, I’m from the village to the south. We just came down for the festival.”
The old man smiled at her. It looked oddly uncanny on a man she assumed was so innocent but decided to think nothing of it.
“Oh, I see. A pretty girl like you would be making wishes on trees I suppose.”
Yuka laughed at that.
“No, not at all. I more came down to check the vendors and get a nice scarf or a shawl. But I’ll be sure to make a wish for you. That whoever harmed you gets what’s coming to them and you recover from any shock or pain they caused you.”
If she didn’t know better, she would say Hantengu’s eyes had lit up at her words.
“I suppose I should go. It is getting late. Are you sure you don’t want me to get you any help?”
Hantengu sniffed.
“No, you have given me all the help I needed. Your haori, do you mind if I keep it? I can return it another day.”
Yuka smiled.
“Of course. If you do return it, just ask for the Ayame family at the south village. It’s only a small trek away. We live near the rice fields.”
With that, Yuka bowed and parted ways from the old man. Little did she know, he had no intention of returning her haori or that the cottage on the hill wasn’t actually his or what terrible fate had befallen its occupants.
She was unaware that Hantengu followed her back and watched as she wrote down a wish on a little piece of paper and tied it to a tree branch along with many other wishes. She had no idea that he stole the wish and read it and how his ‘heart’ moved when she wrote down the wish she said she would make for him just like she said she would.
Yuka walked away happy, carefree and peaceful that night, unaware that her life was going to take a rather terrible and ominous turn.