Chapter 14 - Coincidences

Soft wisps of grey smoke rose from the incense as Yuzu sat back onto her bed. Her eyes flickered back and forth from the grey smoke to the golden threads drifting along the floor. The sweet, resinous scent with woody and earthy notes wafted through the air.

At first there was no significant change in the behaviour of the golden thread, but as the incense pervaded through the air, Yuzu realized that the room had begun subtly shimmering, and that the grey smoke from the incense was taking on a golden lustre.

“Oh, oh no...” Yuzu muttered as she came to a realization.

Instead of calming the strange power from the chest, for some reason the incense had heightened it!

Illusory golden smoke began flowing out of the walls, coalescing around the objects in the room, ebbing and flowing according to some unknown force. It was not overly overwhelming, but rather subtle, and the smoke didn’t seem to have intelligence or a driving force behind it. Yuzu slowly found herself observing the smoke with equal amounts curiousity and apprehension.

She was so engrossed by the experience that she didn’t notice that threads had begun curling around her body, twisting around and through her legs and arms and torso. As they diffused into her, the tingling energy in her limbs drew her gaze down to her body, and she suddenly became aware of the golden smoky threads that were gathering around her.

Her eyes abruptly widened as her whole body tensed in shock and surprise!

~

The sun was high in the sky as Edwin followed Char Char down the winding path leading out of Whitehare Crescent. Its warm rays beamed down onto Edwin's face, and a brisk breeze carried the scent of fresh grass and budding leaves. The chirps of songbirds lightened his spirit as he followed behind Char Char by several paces, watching her dress swish back and forth as she walked.

He was beginning to relax mentally, having convinced himself that it was probably best for him to be out right now. After all, his master would not suddenly appear at Mr. Zhao's door if he stayed put. If he was out he might find clues. And the chances of the detective coming that afternoon were slim! Police forces weren't that efficient after all.

Slung over his left shoulder was a wicker basket with a cloth strap. It contained food, a picnic mat and even cutlery. Hanging off his right shoulder were two waterskins and a lumpy cloth bag, which held Char Char’s coat and shoes.

As to why they were bringing so many items, Char Char had explained that it was best to be prepared, since the shrine was about an hour and a half into the forest. It was more than Edwin usually carried, but the logic made sense.

He only had one question on his mind.

Why am I the one carrying all the bags?!

At the bottom of the winding path Char Char pointed to the right.

"The shrine is in the Chenmai Forest, which is that way, but first I thought we'd drop by Yuzu's house and invite her along."

"That girl from last night?" Edwin asked, mildly put off.

"Yes. Why?" Char Char asked, her eyes looking up at him quizzically as she picked up the hesitation in his voice.

"I don't think she likes me that much."

"That's just how she is. She's like a cute little cactus." Char Char grinned, "Prickly on the outside but deep inside she's... Filled with water?"

Char Char pondered the metaphor as she turned left down the road. Edwin sighed silently as he readjusted the bags on his shoulder and followed.

"Maybe she's still not feeling well after last night." Edwin said after a block.

"Well, only one way to find out. She and I used to go up to the shrine together when we were younger, so it'll be good to have her in case we get lost."

Lost? Edwin considered the words. Did this mean that the shrine wasn't along a maintained path? She did say that it was hidden away...

"Also, having three of us together would be best. Otherwise people might think that you and I were going on a date." Char Char laughed.

Edwin felt his ears flush at the thought as he felt like she had stabbed straight through to his deepest thoughts. Fortunately she was leading the way and unaware of the effect of her words on him. It’s not like he had intended or hoped for anything, but the thought had crossed his mind once or twice...

The residential neighborhood where Yuzu lived was a ten minute walk from the bottom of the hill. It was a pleasant area, with well kept townhouses and streets lined with trees and lantern posts. The houses were built in a southern Kumin style, with steepled roofs, numerous oriel windows and half timbering that accentuated the dark wooden framing of the structure against the white walls.

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As the road wound down the hill it reached the bank of a narrow channel filled with slow moving water. After crossing a short stone bridge they came to a small strip of shops and restaurants.

Before long they approached the front of a shop that had a wooden sign with the name “Lucky Pawn Shop” carved in elegant traditional Kumin script that mimicked brushwork. Below the sign hung a bar with three brass spheres.

In front of the shop stood the familiar figure of the girl from last night. She was dressed in a pair of breeches, thick soled shoes and an old patched coat with buttons formed from leather cord tied into an intricate knot. Under the coat she was wearing a cotton pullover. Slung across her shoulder was a small day bag. She looked like she was ready for a day of hiking.

As the pair approached, Yuzu stopped gazing into the distance and looked at Char Char and Edwin with a complicated expression. She seemed perplexed and surprised, but simultaneously expectant, as if she had known they would be coming.

“Yo!” Char Char smiled and waved, running over towards Yuzu. A look of annoyance pulled at Yuzu’s eyebrows as she nodded in response.

“Good afternoon.” Yuzu said, somewhat stiffly.

“Edwin and I are going to go up to the Lost Maiden’s Shrine, do you remember it? We used to go there all the time.” Char Char gave Yuzu a friendly hug as she reached the front of the shop, which Yuzu returned limply.

Yuzu didn’t respond, but instead continued wearing that complicated expression, as if she was trying to parse what to say.

“Do you want to come with us?” Char Char smiled, “Edwin might be able to sense the spirits there.”

“I didn’t say that.” Edwin stammered.

“Well, something like that anyways.” Char Char said, looking up and down Yuzu and noticing her outdoors oriented attire. “Oh, were you going somewhere already?”

“We can go.” Yuzu replied enigmatically, and started walking the way Char Char and Edwin had arrived from, towards the forest.

Char Char blinked in surprise as Yuzu took the lead, shooting a confused look towards Edwin. He shrugged, not understanding whether this was typical behaviour for the girl.

The trio made their way towards the Chenmai forest. The border of the forest was just past the outskirts of the city, about half an hour walk away from the pawn shop, and from there it was just over an hour’s hike to the shrine. Char Char and Yuzu walked side by side, with Edwin awkwardly in the rear. Char Char talked animatedly to Yuzu about various topics, to which Yuzu only replied in short, concise replies. At the beginning of the walk Char Char would motion for Edwin to walk beside them, but he declined, feeling awkward. Eventually she stopped offering and only looked back every so often to see that he was still following.

“How do you feel after last night?” Char Char asked Yuzu.

“Fine.”

“I mean, are you still feeling weak? Was it because you used up so much spiritual power to light up the lodestone?” Char Char’s eyes lit up at the mention of the orb.

“I don’t feel weak today.” Yuzu said with a look of discomfort, “Also I didn’t do anything with that orb. It was probably a trick.”

“Trick?” Char Char asked, not understanding.

Yuzu shrugged and didn’t offer any explanation.

“Do you think the shrine is still there? The last time we went was probably four or five years ago, right?”

“Probably.”

“That was really fun. We used to pretend we were shrine maidens and took care of the area around it. I remember one time we saw a fox. You thought that it was a spirit god of the forest.” Char Char laughed, “Remember how you did so much research into finding out how to attract the fox so it would grant us good luck on our exams?”

“By the way, how are your studies going?” Char Char asked, smiling.

Yuzu’s lips twitched slightly at the subject, which was a sensitive topic for her. “I’m not going to school anymore. I started having more weakness episodes in the past year and a half, so I spend most of my time at home minding the shop. I still self study, though.”

“Oh no! How come I didn’t hear about it?” A look of genuine concern crossed her face.

“Because we’re not friends.” Yuzu said bluntly.

Char Char smiled sadly, “Of course we are. I wish you’d stop saying that.”

Yuzu looked away, a frown on her face.

Char Char fell silent, and the trio walked in silence past the last row of houses. The dirt road continued down a short stretch of open field. A few scattered houses, a clinic and an two storey inn marked the eastern edge of Noga. Beyond the inn, the Chenmai Forest stretched across the landscape. The dirt road continued through, disappearing into the trees.

“If you’re feeling weak, you don’t have to come with us.” Char Char said as they reached the edge of the forest, pausing before the tree line.

“I’m fine.” Yuzu muttered.

“Those are some dark clouds over the forest.” Char Char said, “I wonder if it’s going to rain. I didn’t bring an umbrella.”

“It’ll be fine.” Yuzu said assuredly.

She continued unhesitantly into the forest.

The unpleasant look on Yuzu’s face hadn’t dispersed over the course of the walk. In fact, a knot of anxiety had been twisting in her stomach the entire time, as she digested the events of the afternoon just prior to Char Char’s arrival.

She had, in fact, known that she would be hiking into the Chenmai Forest this afternoon, though she did not realize it would be with Char Char and Edwin. She also had a premonition that those were indeed storm clouds, but that it wouldn’t start raining until later in the evening. There were several other small and ultimately trivial points in their walk and conversation that imparted the sense of deja vu on Yuzu. They had been strongest near her home, but slowly reduced in frequency and strength as they walked away.

These glimpses of the future were not so much predictions or visions, but instead a feeling in her gut that churned within her. Golden wisps of smoke shimmered in her peripheral vision. The threads had infused into her body, and she found herself feeling stronger, more vital, as if an imbalance in her body had been shifted towards equilibrium.

All of these events left Yuzu feeling irritated and miserable.

~

At a modestly sized manor in Whitehare Crescent, a young man with ash blonde hair rang the doorbell. He was wearing an officer’s uniform with the police insignia of a sword piercing a mountain range. He carried on him a badge of the Domestic Violence and Missing Persons department.

A maid answered the door. “Good day officer, how may I help you?”

“Hello, I’m here to inquire about a missing persons case recently brought to my department. Is a monk called Edwin Mak staying here?” He asked in an official tone.

“Oh, I’m sorry. He left not too long ago with the lady of the house.”

“I see. Do you know where they were headed?” He scratched his head behind his ear as he frowned.

“I believe they were going on a day trip, and were going to pick up their friend on the way. Perhaps you could catch them if you hurry? The girl lives above Lucky Pawn Shop, on Patty street.”

The officer smiled and nodded cordially, “Thank you, I’ll try my luck there.”

With a quick bow, he took off.