Dispirited, the girl mumbles without thinking, "...even to bury the dead?"
With a heart anchoring into her stomach, bronze fists tighten at her sides; rigidly keeping herself upright, she refuses to crumble into a sob at the unanticipated dismissal from her, until then, generous and compassionate savior.
I thought he'd at least hear me out…he didn't even give me the chance to--!
Warring with him in her head, she stops and sniffles when his voice kisses her eardrums.
"Human, what do they call you?"
Tsukiyomi asks diagonally from behind her without turning in any way to face her.
His closeness threatens her limbs to morph into noodles until she sucks in a stiffening breath and gently pats her eyes with her sleeve. Shakily, "Umeko."
She exhales, reminding herself she must stay calm and keep breathing.
"There are suitable garments in your room. I will take you at day-break."
Did he just–?!
His words bring life into her soul, the resounding orchestra of joy echoing into a smile across her face. Embracing herself in the moment, she misses the migrating sound of Tsukiyomi's footsteps.
Spinning around to thank him, his back disappears behind shutting, double doors.
He's taking me himself? …I can't believe it.
Placing her hand to her cheek, "I don't know anything about him, but he makes me feel so safe and...special…"
I'll thank him in the morning.
Nodding determinedly before the trepidation of a joint popping yawn overtakes her, tired arms stretch above her head until she nearly stumbles over the tips of her toes.
Fatigue crashes down when her arms hang lower than normal. Heading to what has become her new room, drifting closer to the wall amidst her promenade, she picks up the pace after hearing a rumble and metal scraping behind the door lined with leather crossed through fur. Red jewels and silver balls flourish in the elegant pattern whose beauty is not enticing enough for Umeko.
Slowing to a stop right before her new room, the colorful light through a stained-glass window covers her body and absorbs her interest. For the first time since being in the hall, she turns to stand in the middle of a colorful, glass panel.
Glancing into the compelling shards of blue, red, and yellow that illustrates a dragon serpent melting a mountain, she takes a step back.
A quivering hand eventually meets parted lips as her eyes shake from focusing too hard on every bit of beautiful tragedy, she whisper-shouts, "G-g-grandma's story?!"
Covering her mouth and looking around, she swallows with acceptance the bittersweet joy of finding herself alone. Disturbed by the moment of bliss proving useless as the deepest dread pierces her heart, she can no longer deny something she is examining with her own eyes.
He's…the same…dragon…
Swallowing hard, she drags her feet forward enough for her fingertips to caress the glass depicting lava splattering on groups of humans with weapons.
Can't be. No way. These could be any people. Any mountain! I'll find out the truth for sure. I'm not going to think he's evil because of this when I've only ever seen him do good with my own eyes...
Uncomfortably sighing and shaking her head, fingertips squeak down the mystical glass until she finds the strength to face the door that will be housing her entire life from here on out– however long that may be.
Running her palm along a varnished oak frame, she admires the craftsmanship of flawless, glossy wood with black metal loops nearly masking the round door knob and keyhole.
Squatting down to examine the ball sticking out of the door, she grabs it and gives it a jiggle until it gives more one way than the other. Nearly jumping, elated at figuring it out, she turns the knob and the door gives in.
Nullifying her excitement to remain collected regardless of what lies beyond the door, words are stolen from her vocabulary after pushing it open.
An exceptionally large, plush futon lays in the center of the room, blanketed with thick, red and black fabrics and a mountain of matching pillows stitched with beaded, black trees.
THIS IS MY ROOM?!
Jumping up and down while spinning in a circle, she stops when she gets dizzy.
How'd I end up here? HOW is -any- of this possible? …I must be dreaming...
Crossing her arms over her chest to hold herself, she enters the room.
Of course it's all a dream! I'm going to wake up in my bed and see mom, dad, Shinta, Kyo, and grandma. I'm so silly for thinking this is real. Demons and bandits and lowing fruit?! Crazy dream, dream gods. You had me going!
She smiles pleasantly, sifting through the creations of her slumber.
Sheer, beaded red fabric, pitched like a three-point, indoor tent, hangs from the ceiling to the floor. Surrounding the futon with a wide, parted opening facing the door, her eyes struggle to accept a five-person bed.
Moving to close the door, she squats down to inspect a metal rod sticking out a black plate under the handle. Playing with it until she discovers it turns, she giggles.
"Mom told me about temples with doors that used things called keys to…lock and unlock them!" grinning while manipulating the lock and key, she figures out the contraption and locks her door, removing the key.
"OH! I should leave it here so I don't lose it," sticking the key back in the door and tilting her head to look at it, "Should I lock my room when I'm not in it? I don't have anything to steal but…"
Leaning her forehead on the door while palming it with her left hand, "I might need to lock it to keep things out. Just…in case," wiping away a tear before it has the chance to fall, she sniffles.
"I'm not going to let anything get me sad in this dream again. I have a new room to explore!" she aggressively convinces herself before turning around and looking left.
A ten-panel, metal folding screen partially blocks a tall and wide, wooden structure along the stone wall. Beyond that is a mural of the mountainside across the back wall. On the other side of the royal room, beneath the painted art, are piles of beaded and tasseled, multi-color floor cushions in bunches on and around two dark wood benches. Sitting between them rests a red cushion, wooden-legged chaise spread out with accompanying side tables holding scrolls.
Wish I knew how to read more than basic characters (letters). I wonder what kind of knowledge a yokai lord keeps in his chambermaid's room…
Near the right wall is a white, barrel stool and wide, matching table with a grand, silver mirror. Its surface has small, ceramic containers painted with flowers in different colors and various brushes from what she can tell from her spot in the room.
Red and white paper lanterns at different lengths hang from the ceiling, creating a festival-like glow throughout.
…am I in charge of lighting those now?...
With a disgruntled sigh, she moves to inspect what's hiding behind the folding screen. As she approaches black doors with round knobs, her mood twerks.
Ooo, I wonder what kind of 'garments' I get to wear now. I'm so used to wearing the same thing until it falls to pieces.
Sliding like a giddy kid in her socks along polished, dark wood, she uses the wardrobe chest to stop then opens one of the five doors with a gasp. Finding the interior painted red with white blossoms on black branches, she runs her fingers over the art.
One-quarter of the space is filled with silk, hemp, and cotton gowns of every color, folded neatly on shelves. Thumbing through, she discovers stitched images of peacocks, fire-birds, flowers, and medallions. Beside the shelves stand empty, wooden posts shaped like a stick man.
I've never seen so much of any of this in one place! Do all yokai have fancy clothes for servants? Hmmm, I bet I'm supposed to put the one I'm wearing now on that...
The next section holds cotton and hemp gowns of different lengths for working in: plain black, white, and purple fabrics with different belts and ankle length, pleated skirts.
The third section has soft, plain linen for under the gowns and a few black trousers.
All I'll ever need is in this magic house with many doors.
The fourth section has wooden shelves organized with folded socks, linen wrap for her chest and groin, and distinct types of footwear for many occasions.
Touching all the shoes, she delights in the textures of woven sandals, flip-flop clogs, and elevated wood flip-flops to wear with its respective outfit.
More proof this is all a dream! Why would anyone give me all this? I must want more out of life.
Undressing until she stands in her white linen, undergarment robe, she sets her plum blossom robe on the wooden man.
The next thing she investigates is a small table to the right of her closet.
Pitchers of water! Thank the gods!
Guzzling down the refreshing liquid contained within a clay body, her eyes gander over brass chamber pots, a large wooden basin on top of a black metal table, and a tall, woven basket.
This is nice and all, but I can't wait to wake up and see everyone again.
Leaving her hair up, she crosses the room and crawls into the silky cloud of her new futon.
Pulling lush fabrics over her body and nestling into an infinite comfort, she smiles.
I'm going to give everyone a biiiiig hug and apologize for every time I was a bad daughter and mean sister...