If you're new to this, you may have this question lingering in your head. Though, I suspect that you have already accepted it, seeing that you've reached this far. Why is it that some women love those of the same gender? The answer is simple.
Men.
Every name has a meaning, whether you believe it or not, whether no one else bores this name or not. From the moment the words escape the lips of your predecessor, it is defined. My name meant 'sinless sinner' and the place were about to enter, was called Kanzai. The 'district of hope' seemingly opposing Meirochi, 'the district of grief'.
But, even so, we were about to leave Erichin and soon, would be sure to die.
Erichin's border
2001
Day 21
There was nothing interesting to do in this reoccurring scene of trees. And the feeling of my itchy, torn clothes was beginning to get to me. So I ditracted myself by thinking.
"Nearly there now." Daizaiel said. The one who had been catching wild boars and somehow turning it into pork cutlets for us to eat. Strangely, it tasted only a bit more undercooked without the proper seasoning. But that's not something I could ask for in the wilderness.
Okonayami had been holding my hand for days on end. So much so that her hand was seemingly becoming a part of mine. I didn't want to let go. So, I let my thoughts wander.
'Why did I like girls?'
'Why is this the first thing to breach my mind?' I sighed. Still, I continued in my thoughts.
The answer was simple. Men. They were just not what I wanted. Instead of waiting patiently like a good dog for a husband to come home from a war or his friends with news of his death, I'd rather be home, spending my days with a loving wife. We'd cook, clean, plant, reap, all that. That's all we needed to survive.
We'd sweat at a long day of hard work and sit afterwards, simply chatting away or stare into each other's eyes. Admiring each other's beauty. A childish fantasy. Still, I couldn't help but desire it. But why was I alone? Why wasn't anyone else like me?
"We're here." Daizaiel announced. I shook my head, bringing myself to reality.
"Are you okay?" Okonayami asked with concern. She must have been watching me this whole time. "Are you thinking? What about?"
"N-nothing important." I lied, then blushed. Geez, I was such a child. Thinking all this garbage. It was better to not think at all.
The scent of something dead reached me, knocking my senses all around. There were no birds here, the only sound came from the monotonous gawking of the black birds. In opposition to Daizaiel's description of Kanzai, this place was dark and desolate. Still, the houses remained in proper shape, every board and foundation untouched excepting the splatter of blood here and there.
The grotesque scenery made the cutlets threaten to come back out. I managed to hold it back.
"How pitiful." Aka remarked.
I stared at the unwelcoming scene. Crumpled bodies lay here and there as if tossed carelessly from a high building and there bones were crushed upon landing. The sky here was grey, as if lamenting the fallen souls.
"There is no living presence here. Everyone, everything is dead." Razael said.
"And this was such a good town. Still, it was weak, overrun by brigands I suppose." Brigands, these were a combination of men and women who didn't have the willpower to work on farms or the courage to work as samurai or constable. So, instead, they plundered and pillaged, taking someone else's hard work. "So then, let us pay our condolences for them." Daizaiel said kneeling on his furry knees. "Let us lament on the souls of the fallen."
"What are you, insane?!" Aka shouted. Daizaiel seemed shocked by her attitude. "They're dead! Praying for them, lamenting, whatever! It's not like they'll appreciate it."
Okonayami was gritting her teeth. Daizaiel seemed as if he may cry. I was just dumbstruck. I did kind of agree. What good does crying for someone long gone do? They're gone, so they can't accept anything you give to them. Nor will they appreciate. The dead keep to themselves and themselves alone.
"Now, now, Aka. I'm sure you don't mean that. Look, you're hurting Yogi's feelings."
'I'm sure calling him Yogi won't make it any better.'
Aka stomped off through the town, uncaring of the lifeless bodies that lay around her.
"Come on." She shouted. "Hirsugiminen's not gonna come to us ya know."
Razael wordlessly followed behind but Daizaiel kept kneeling, deep in the heart of his prayers. He must have really liked this town.
"D-do we have to walk through there as well?" I asked. Even though they may all be dead, that very fact, their existence, petrified me.
Aka stopped and without turning around:
"If you're scared of something like this Hirsugiminen's no place for you. You better turn back, the least you could ask for in a place like that is a night's sleep with your dead mother."
"Don't listen to her, senpai. If anything happens, I'll protect you."
It was odd to look upon a kohai for comfort but right now, that's what I needed. My kohai's comfort. My?
"This was a good town." Daizaiel repeated. Gazing absentmindedly up into the sky, he seemed to be reminiscing on past events.
The outskirts of the Erichin mountain pass
1890
Kanzai
The children here found means of playing when there was none. They'd even dance endlessly from dawn to dusk. The people here would find ways to smile and laugh even though there were times when they abided beneath the poverty line and their fields bore no reap for the locusts of the land infested it.
The samurai here weren't exceptional and their highest ranking member, the district general, would stand no match against Meirochi's lowest. For the sole purpose of being under the leadership of Tenzen Seikon.
But most importantly, even through all the struggles they had, the town always managed to come back from the depths of hell, unscathed. Daizaiel walked fast, as he always did, to bring fresh meat from the forest and bushes and shrubs for healing.
Even though being an inhabitant of Hirsugiminen,and the town's people knew that, they still accepted him, and he still had a heart.
"Ahoy, Tomodachi, what's the catch today?!" A man shouted from a nearby roof. They called him Tomodachi, because it meant friend or companion. Daizaiel grinned, a gesture he only did within the corners of this town. For this town and all its liveliness, he made an exception.
"Seven boar pieces and wild chickens for a hot pot. Oh, and, here."
He thrust the man a sack of meat. He slipped as he caught it, nearly falling off the roof.
"Why so generous, Tomodachi? Trying to win someone's heart?"
"No. But you should. Save that for your wife ok."
"Thank you! Hey, Matsuri, look at this. Caught it all by myself! Ta-da!"
"Wow you. . ."
Daizaiel shook his head and continued his speedy walk to his post for trade. The sun was hot, as usual as it was summer, but the shade from the trees in the forest kept him going, so that he caught what he did. He sat on his bench and rested. He wouldn't have to wait long. Soon enough, he would be crowded by people, simply admiring his catch or shoving their coins to be paid first.
Still, no one has or would ever steal a morsel. He could see them now, the dust cloud forming as people ran his way. He smiled, he enjoyed the never-ending excitement.
He saw a head poke from beside a wall beside him. He blinked. Never before had he seen this child. Daizaiel held out his hand, a gesture of kindness and friendliness in this region.
The child stepped back, then ran and grabbed a small sack of fruit and bolted down a corner. Daizaiel couldn't believe it. It took him a while to figure out what had happened. This city was pure, not perfectly so but here, stealing might as well had been a myth. Everyone had what they needed. No one was greedy.
Daizaiel got up and took after the child, his heavy feet shaking the earth. The small boy dashed around a corner and down an alley. His breathing grew heavy from fear and fatigue. He looked around. Never before had he been to this city so he had to be careful on the routes he took so as to not end up at a dead end. There was people watching him but he didn't care. He dashed into the woods and looked around. Good, he wasn't being followed.
He started to walk at a slow pace, and upon noticing the strange marks on the trees, he shouted.
"Seiya, I'm here. We're are you!?"
"Shhh, keep your voice down."
A voice warned.
"Oh. I didn't catch anything but I managed to get some food. You have to eat it raw."
A small girl with crazy red hair crawled from the bushes. Her skin was pale and her body was thin from lack of eating a balanced diet. Or anything at all.
"Did you steal it?"
"That doesn't matter, I. . ."
There was a loud rustling in the bushes. She heard her sister scream as a large bear came from it and grabbed her little sister. The boy stepped back in fear.
"Don't hurt her!" He shouted, tears developing in his eyes. He clenched his fist. The bear looked at his sister, then at him, then somehow, it sighed.
"Are you a man or a boy?" He asked. "Do you love with your heart or with your soul?" The bear thrust a larger pack of meat at him. "If there's something you want, ask for it. . .And when it is given to you, never let it go."
The boy was still shocked in fear.
"I am a lone bear." It continued. "Now, I'll give you a choice. Accompany me on my daily duties as the village hunter or stay here, fighting, stealing for a morsel of bread. The choice is yours, young man."
He put his sister down and began to walk away.
"Wait!" He shouted. The bear stopped. "I'll accompany you but, as a pay of debt. Bite off my hand, so that I may never steal again."
Daizaiel turned to look at the boy.
"I asked you this question but, allow me to answer it. You are merely a boy, not a man. Those foolish words of yours would only be uttered from the arrogance of a man." Still, he needed his hands to help him work. "Your payment to me is by helping me with work everyday,. Your sister would be entrusted to the rice field workers and don't worry, they'll take good care of her. You need only worry for yourself, for the forest is a tenacious demon."
"As long as my sister's okay, I don't care what happens to me."
"An admirable way to think young man but selfish in its own way. Tell me. What is your name?"
"Keigo Zai, meaning 'brother of hope'.
"I'm Daizaiel. And my name, it has no true meaning."
The outskirts of the Erichin mountain pass
2001
Kanzai
Daizaiel shivered as he came upon a body amidst all others. It was someone he had grown to know, to love. Like a son to him he was. Still, he couldn't allow even a trickle of tear to leave his eyes. He was a Giminen after all. He knelt down, and lamented the fallen soul.