Tanbo no Jinja [P]

"Mmm"

For all his eloquence and thoughtful insight, Asahi would only receive a curt grunt in response from his older cousin. Though Yasahiro hated to admit it, his cousin had a way with words, and he doubted pushing the matter would end well for either of them. One day he would return to the Land of Iron, with or without his fair-haired companion's approval—the Komekage owed his fallen brother that much, some semblance of closure.

The two men ate in silence broken only by the whistle of the wind ripping through the distant mountain pass. Monks milled about in the distance, something swirled in the depths of the pond, and a lone pilgrim paid her respects to the fallen before departing on a journey of her own. When compared to the hustle and bustle of Tanbogakure, the shrine complex seemed to be a peaceful oasis in a world of constant activity. Perhaps these trips with Asahi weren't all bad, though—he glanced over at his cousin—one could never be too sure when it came to the man by his side.

"I don't think I ever mentioned it, but thank you, Asahi." Yasahiro said, finally breaking the silence. "For, well, all this."

The village leader waved his hand around vaguely to emphasize his point. Though, he wasn't quite sure what point he meant to make exactly. It could be, he thought, so many different things: companionship, unwavering support, or just for lunch. It didn't really matter much in the end and, perhaps, it meant all those things at once and more. No, between family it didn't matter much at all when it came down to it in the end, right?

The distant bell of the shrine complex tolled once, twice, and thrice—three travelers.

---

WC: 295
TWC: 2886

He wasn’t sure if Yasahiro had really accepted his words. If he appreciated or didn’t, if they were words he wanted to hear or not. His cousin for all his strength had always had a rather black and white way of viewing the world. Everything was so concrete, it needed to be done in certain ways. This was not how Asahi saw the world, in his views things were ravaged by brilliant pastels, the winds constantly changing what was and what could be. Situations changed, and how we dealt with them changes as well, quicker than the sands of a busy beach. Still, he accepted long ago who Yasahiro was, and what’s more he accepted who he himself was. It meant things didn’t always have to be tidied up with a pretty bow.

At his cousins thanks, Asahi waved just as vaguely. “It’s nothing, just a simple recipe.” With his wave he’d scatter more bread crumbs finishing off what he had remaining. He had decided to leave things as they were. Each cousin had expressed their views on the matter and that was that. No need to beat a dead horse and all. Besides the subject matter was like a bad ghost, far from put to rest.

Mouth agape, Asahi found himself closing it at the sound of the bells. One, twice, and three times they chimed cutting off the small talk he had been thinking to initiate. The bell was loud enough that it seemed to create its own ripples across the pond, their vibrations felt not only in the ear drums, but it also seemed to reverberate in Asahi’s heart as well. The kind of sound that you hear and feel inside of you. “Is it for 3 lost or 3 going?” Asahi would ask his cousin, his blue eyes dancing over the landscape as the monks started to move. Their actions showing that they had duties to perform with the sounding of the bell.

“Do you want to pray with the old men? Or should we start to make the king trek back. If we leave soon, we can make it back for dinner and some sake. I have a couple of fine bottles you know……was saving them for the festival, but for the right level of persuasion….” He’d shrug as though he was receiving it, “I could be inclined to crack them open for the friends and family discount.” He’d look at Yasahiro and smile.

TWC - 4155

"Your guess is as good as mine," he replied with a shrug. The inner workings of this particular shrine were a mystery to the older cousin. Though, he would be lying if he wasn't a bit surprised that Asahi didn't know the reasoning for the bells—he, of the two cousins, had the far greater interest in such things. "Wouldn't be surprised if it were for either one, though."

A brief silence followed as the ripples in the pond resolved themselves. Each one stretched out further and further until they stretched out into nothingness, and the water once more became a mirror to the sky above. There was a metaphor to be made there somewhere, but the Komekage did not want to dwell on such things as the fleeting nothingness of the human ripple in the vast pond of life.

"We should be on our way, I suspect our prayers have little to do with those coming or going into the mountains."

The return to Tanbogakure was uneventful. However, Asahi did make good on his offer of sake and a warm meal. Yasahiro could say many things about his dear cousin, but he did know how to be an entertainer. The two cousins spent the evening talking, laughing, and reminiscing in an increasingly sake-filled atmosphere where memories became fuzzy and emotions fluid. And so the day would end as it opened, in a fog.

---

Exit.

WC: 234
TWC: 3120

+62 AP from max stat training
2750/2750 to fully learn A-rank Glass Shard Swing
+ 370 words towards Invisible Seals

“I don’t know cousin…….I like to think my prays mean something to anyone.  Even if I never met them.”  He’d clasp his hands and whisper a quick travelers prayer.  He added vernacular to safe return and safe journeys, for fast recovery and fast ascent to the cycle of reincarnation.  Feeling it best to cover all his bases.  He’d stand them with his cousin making their way back to their new homeland.

The remainder was one that Asahi would treasure.  Each of these trips was a shiny jewelry placed in the treasury of his memories.  The actions and conversation more precious than any jewel mentioned.  The night would come, and the cousins Yagami embraced if.  Still, as he laid his head against the cold and welcoming wood of their favorite bar, as sleep threatened to take the night from him, he whispered one more word to the Kami…..his mind just for a moment back on the tolling of bells….

TWC - 4315

(Exit)

Claims
+86ap from max stats
2750 towards Glass Shard Swing
1500 towards Archers calling

Approved