Asahi was cleaning the floors using the mops while Kuro leisurely sat on the couch, taking a nap. The house was empty and hushed. Asahi slid the wet mop from one corner to the other. As he reached the front door, he saw an envelope that wasn't there a few minutes ago.
"Who brought it here?" Asahi mumbled while slightly looking out for Kuro. "It was the fox. He likes to roam around during this time of the year," Kuro stated in his sleepy voice. Asahi had a grim expression on his face as he continued to suspect Kuro. How could a cat know so much?
Glazing away, he tore open the envelope and read the letter written in a style identical to his grandfather's.
"Master Ito Asahi, welcome to the Omyouji Association as the new dragon guardian. Your first task is given: protect the people during the Bon festival. As hell and heaven's gates have opened up, as the gatekeeper of earth, the dragon is responsible for this task.
We have high expectations of you and hope to avoid any injuries or casualties.
Senko"
Asahi had his lips cut thin. So his first task was to protect the locals. It would be hard considering the overwhelming number of demons, yokai, and ghosts who will be visiting the earth. If he remembered correctly, often two or three people have always been found injured.
"What's the matter? You went quiet all of a sudden?" Kuro lunged towards Asahi and got on his shoulders. Kuro's mark on his forehead started to turn a vermillion red as he read the letter.
"Let's go to the graves. It seems like we would be returning after midnight tonight."
He folded the paper and kept it in his pocket while finishing cleaning the floor. Once he was done with the house chores, Asahi went to his room, and this time he changed into a more appropriate outfit. I wore a blue kimono and black haori and carried a tanto.
One last time, he went to the kitchen and gathered the bottle of sake from the alcohol cabinet. There were plenty of different mirin and sake and a few earthen pots of plum wine as well.
"Yum, I didn't know you were fond of drinking little boys." Kuro's eyes glistened upon seeing the stash of alcohol.
"Don't even think about it," he warned in a bitter tone. He put all the alcohol and the lunchbox in a bag. Kuro got on his back, and they left the house.
~
The graveyard was about an hour away. From the roads near his house, he could hear the beatings of the drums and the loud noises of the masses. The sun was scorching hot, and they didn't have an umbrella. In silence, they walked the streets, which were packed with people. Since they had to pass through the main road, they could see the various stalls, the dancing of people, and just the celebration.
At last, they were at the graveyard, but even there, there was barely any peace. The drums were loud. Most of the graves had already been cleaned on the second day of the festival. Since his grandfather had died not too long ago, the grave was nearby.
His lips were tightly locked and thin. His eyes instantly dropped, and the large tree shaded him from the sun. Asahi placed a lunch box and sake. He bent to his knees and prayed to his grandpa and his ancestors.
"You do realize that they are watching you from hell, right?" Kuro firmly spoke in an audible voice. The gale of wind brushed by them, making the keiyaki's dark green leaves fall.
"Maybe. I have never seen hell," he whispered while still praying. He had his eyes closed. For once, he wished his grandfather could appear in front of him. Unlike others, he would at least be able to recognize him, but he couldn't feel the spiritual presence at all.
He then got up, letting go of his wistful thinking. His contemplative personality outshined as he walked towards the family grave, which was in a faraway part of the grave. Every year, he used to come here to pay respect, yet this year, he felt lonely.
Like always, he brushed off the moss, cleaned the graves, and placed sake in each grave. As the graves got older, the dirtier they got, so it took Asahi a long time to clean them. For the last time, he bowed at his parent's grave while on his knees.
"You know, you take after your mother," Kuro commented. Asahi had completed the ritual and was folding the empty bag. He took a glance at the cat, which was staring towards the grave.
"That's what my grandpa used to say. For the most part, I have almost forgotten their faces, and all I remember is their pictures and faceless memories," he stated while gazing at the grave. The day had gone by soon, as it was almost time for the main festival to start.
"He wasn't wrong. Anyway, you ought to be careful. That fox is up to no good since he does belong to the same pot as the dragon." The cat clicked its tongue and hopped on Asahi's shoulders.
He simply nodded and walked towards the city, where hundreds of dancers wearing happi coats and yukatas were on the street. Young maidens were there with their friends, parents brought their kids, and stalls were clustered together. The day started to get dimmer, and the night started to get livelier.
"Umm! I can smell delicious food." Kuro addressed it while licking its teeth.
"The food now is much different than in ancient times," Asahi nudged the cat while smirking. Plenty of young girls were staring at Asahi for his aloof and handsome stature.
"Ouu, look at those girls staring at you." Kuro grinned while waving his paw at the girls. The group of girls giggled while calling Kuro cute.
"Huh? Let's have some takoyaki then." He muttered, and they walked past that street and reached the vendor. Asahi could see plenty of Yokai, like akaname, akubozu, and many more. For just that night, they were harmless and were heading towards the nearest hill.
"What would you like to have, sir?" the woman in the cart store asked while also serving the taoyaki's.
"Two servings of takoyaki," he stated, and the woman replied with a smile. "Certainly!"
The Ghost Festival, or Obon Festival, originally based on Buddhist myths, is a festival where families pay homage to their ancestors's spirits, and it even includes Odori dancing, which varies according to the places and cities.
It was originally based on the Ullambana Sutra and mostly spread across the Kansai area.
"Here you go, sir." The woman gave him two bowls of hot, freshly made balls of octopus, which were chewy and delicious. Asahi raised the bow near Kuro's mouth, and the cat delightfully ate the hot snack in less than five minutes.
"HELP! MY DAUGHTER IS LOST!" Someone from the street started to yell.