“What are we doing?” Lugo said as he caught up to Tsugi.
“Today is the day of the dead. I need to prepare an offering for my family.”
“What’s the day of the dead?”
“Jenene say’s that it’s the one day out of the year that the spirits can cross back over just for the night. It’s the only time when the stars and everything align perfectly, to allow the rifts to get close enough for them to cross over briefly.”
“But…what if there are bad spirits? Would they be able to cross too?”
“No. I asked her the same thing, she said that the spirit realm is different from hell. Those that are in hell, are imprisoned there and they can’t escape.”
“Oh okay.” Lugo sighed and hung his head in relief.
“Why? You know someone?”
“Uh…I guess you can say that.” He chuckled nervously.
“Who?” Tsugi pushes the door open to the house.
“Uh…no one of any importance.” He smiled sheepishly. Tsugi narrowed his eyes, he knew Lugo was hiding something, as this was the first time he was acting strangely. Tsugi knew all too well of deep dark secrets so he let it go, not wanting to probe any further.
Before Tsugi could even take a step into the house, Ruzo had appeared to greet them with the utmost excitement. He was spinning in circles and his tail was wagging so hard that his rear end was shifting from side to side as if in a dance.
“Hi buddy!” Tsugi bent over and ruffled the scruff on Ruzo’s neck before heading into the kitchen to prepare everything, to include food, drinks and a lantern. He was so excited as he packed everything into the box, he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of being able to see them again.
“I’ve never done this before.” Lugo adjusted his cloak around his neck as they ambled down the road toward the wisteria tree with the box between them. “What are we supposed to do?”
“I don’t know. This is also my first. I think Jenene said we just need to place the food by the graves and then wait.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.” Tsugi smiled brightly at Lugo. “We will find out.”
Lugo stared at Tsugi and smiled softly. He had never seen Tsugi smile so brightly before without trying to hide it. In fact, it didn’t seem like he could even if he wanted to. Tsugi walked so briskly with even a skip to his step that Lugo almost had to speed walk to keep up with Tsugi’s little legs.
Tsugi set all the food into bowls and gleefully placed everything on top of the graves. Now all they had to do was wait for the sun to set. He pulled out a ball and threw it down the hill for Ruzo, as the hills would tire him out faster and give him a better workout than flat plains would.
The sun began to set and the sky was painted into a reddish purple hue that faded into the dark blue of the night sky. Ruzo was so exhausted by this point that he dropped the ball and laid next to the tree, panting tirelessly with his long tongue hanging out with bits of dirt and grass that clung to it. He even had white slobbery foam built on the edges of his mouth.
Lugo chuckled at the sight of him and grabbed a bowl out of the box to pour some water into it for Ruzo, gently petting him on the head as he lapped up the water with glee. Lugo leaned on the tree and Ruzo leaned against Lugo’s legs. He was panting so hard that Lugo’s whole body was practically shaking, but he only laughed, finding it all the more amusing. When he lifted his head, his gaze landed upon Tsugi who sat by the graves and waited patiently as his heart continued to pound in anticipation with each passing minute. Tsugi pulled out the lantern and lit it, casting long shadows across the field when night had completely taken over.
“Maybe it’s not real.” Lugo finally broke the long awkward silence.
“No, they’ll come, just watch.”
“We’ve been sitting in the dark for hours.”
“If you don’t want to stay, you can head back.” Tsugi looked up into the sky and counted the stars, oh if only he could reach them. He wanted to fly up there and touch them, oh how free it would be to be so far away from land and feel nothing but air under his feet. Lugo sighed and continued to pet Ruzo, who was snoring peacefully on his lap.
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Tsugi’s hope started to slowly fade as time went by, but he shook it out of his head and continued to wait. He had waited for so long already, surely a few hours will be nothing.
Lugo had started to nod off by the tree, but Tsugi just sat by the graves and stared into the lantern, watching the tiny flickering flame, and listening to the soft wind and calm breaths from his two friends. Friends…he never thought he could ever have a friend again, and it was very heartwarming.
“Hi.” Tsugi whispered as a smile crossed his face. He closed his eyes and took a long deep breath as a single teardrop fell. He could feel them approach him and his heart thumped with elation.
He shrouded himself in his dark magic and he could see them sitting by him. Their lips didn’t move, but he could read the words from their energy.
“I’m doing good.” Tsugi replied softly so he wouldn't wake Lugo and Ruzo. “Oh him? He’s Lugo, I met him on my first big mission.” Tsugi wiped the tears from his face. “No, I know. He doesn’t know. No, I’m not going to tell him. Yamo, if you knew what I was, why did you take me in?”
He sat in silence as he listened to Yamo’s explanation. Tsugi smiled sadly and more tears fell from his eyes, quickly wiping them away and sniffling as quietly as he possibly could.
“Who’s there?” He felt two new presences that he had never felt before. “Oh!” Tsugi whispered loudly and bowed his head. “It’s very nice to meet you, Namiko and Miru.”
Tsugi laughed and listened to them tell stories and talked like they never left.
“Who are you talking to?” Lugo stirred awake, rubbing his tired eyes.
“Hold on.” He said to Yamo and urged Lugo to come over. Ruzo lifted his head to look around before approaching the spot where the spirits were and gently sniffed the air as he wagged his tail. “Sit.” Tsugi patted the spot next to him, and Lugo sat next to him. Ruzo thought Tsugi was talking to him, so he promptly sat in the spot and wagged his tail, waiting patiently.
“Not you Ruzo,” Tsugi chuckled, “go back to sleep.” Ruzo went back to the tree, making a few circles before lying back down.
Tsugi held out a hand to Lugo, but he just stared at Tsugi’s hand, confused. Tsugi grabbed Lugo’s hand and closed his eyes, pushing his energy to shroud Lugo.
Lugo grins from ear to ear as his eyes are wide with astonishment. “This…this is so awesome!”
-”I like him.” Yamo chuckled.
“That’s Yamo, he’s my father.” Tsugi pointed to each one and introduced them to Lugo.
-”Has he shown you the cellar?”
“No, not yet.” Tsugi chuckles nervously. He himself has been having a hard time going down there, let alone show it to someone else.
“What?” Lugo tugged on the hand that held Tsugi’s.
“Nothing.” Tsugi shook his head. “Don’t worry about it.”
-”What do you think of Tsugi, Lugo?” Volgan crossed his arms and sat up straight.
“I think he’s a little odd, but I know he’s a good person. Although…” Lugo scratched his head, “I quite like this side of him right now. This is the first and most I have ever seen him this happy and excited, smiling and laughing. Most of the time I try to make him smile or see him smile, he just brushes it off, and gets mad at me for trying to make him smile.”
They all laughed loudly except for Tsugi, who was now pouting and trying to let go of Lugo’s hand so that he can’t communicate with them anymore, but Lugo squeezed his hand even tighter, continuing to joke and laugh with the spirits.
-”He’s a keeper.” Volgan looked at Yamo and pointed his thumb at Lugo.
-”I agree.”
“What?!” Tsugi exclaimed loudly and tried to stand, but Lugo pulled him back down to sit, causing Tsugi to glare at Lugo. “How did you manage to turn my whole family against me in a matter of one conversation?”
“I just have a likable personality, that’s all.” He smirked and stuck his nose into the air proudly, causing another round of laughter to ring through the air.
They joked and talked as Lugo explained about his experiences with Tsugi’s stubbornness and behavior during the mission, which Tsugi continued to deny and come up with excuses for.
Even though they were all working against him, he very much enjoyed the atmosphere and felt at peace for the moment. He looked at Lugo as he laughed and joked with them like he had known them for a long time, and he felt a twinge of happiness and appreciation that Lugo was there.
-”The sun is nearly upon us.” Fay looked to the horizon. No light peeked out yet, but they must return before it does, for that’s when the rift will close.
-”Lugo…” Yamo smiled wistfully and leaned down in front of him. “Take good care of Tsugi. He may be a little aloof at times, maybe even a little weird, but he’s a good kid. He’s been through a lot as I’m sure you have.” Yamo placed a hand on Lugo’s head, which brought a tear down Lugo’s cheek. “I hope you don’t give up on him and keep making him smile.”
Yamo turned to Tsugi.
-”Hey buddy, you need to relax and not be so uptight with Lugo too. I know how you can be. Try to be a little more open to accept joy in your life. Not everything is a trick. Find a happiness that you can hang on to when things get really bad.” He turned to Lugo. “Is it okay if I have a private talk with Tsugi?”
Lugo nodded politely and let go of Tsugi’s hand.
Tsugi listened and nodded every now and then. His face turned as red as a rose and he shifted his gaze back and forth. “N-no!” Tsugi stuttered. “It’s not!” His ears burned red. Tsugi’s eyes began to water and he quickly wiped them away. He nodded and put on a big smile.
He looked up and stared into the distance for a while, then the smile on his face faded away. His face broke down into that of a horrid look that will bring even the gods to their knees to hold him in their arms. Loud wails erupted from him as he laid his forehead down onto the grass and covered his head with his hands as if to shield himself from an explosion. Oh how the cries cut into Lugo’s bones or any of those that could hear it. It’s hard to believe that Tsugi was smiling and laughing just moments before.
Lugo gently scooted over and rubbed Tsugi’s back, comforting him. Ruzo ambled over and laid next to Tsugi, licking gently at his face, and lightly nudging him to try and bring him comfort, but Tsugi couldn’t stop crying, he only turned his head away from Ruzo, and patted him on the head as if thanking him for trying. So much pain overwhelmed him, and for the moment, he just wanted to cry.