Fourth Light

[Inwuhou]

Autumnal winds slip softly between ancient trunks, bearing along tumbling fragments of red, yellow, and brown to turn glittering in the golden afternoon sunlight. The denuded branches clattered against one another, in the space between each dry clack rustled the noise of faded summer's glory.

Observe this decrepit leaf, one from a numberless sea of brothers. The breeze tugs against the twigs woven around it, but it was a skilled and strong beak that had tucked away the leaf. The fresh nest, made for two, was nonetheless snug about the pair of jays. It had to be, to ward against the oncoming wintry cold. When another cool breeze passed, they snuggled down further against one another.

Twigs creaked. The leaf, freed from its purpose and its duty, carried away on that breeze. It drunkenly somersaulted its way through the air, drifting ever lower. The leaf came to rest on the lid of a brown-clay teapot, narrowly missing the stream of steam from that pointed spout. A shadow fell upon the whistling ensemble. A damp white towel in a feminine hand lifted away the pot, consigning the dry leaf to the orange embers below.

While the memory of a season's passing burned to ashes, Inwuhou set the piping teapot down on a flat tiling stone to cool. Already, the intense aroma of the Three Frozen Peaks tea had overpowered all the smells of the forest. It took four of the curled-up leaves from her cloth tea-leaf pouch for this pot, but she needed to steel herself for the work to come.

Inwuhou, her eyes closed per her idiom, glanced back towards the house behind her. It wasn't a bad little cottage, as far as these things went. The fallen leaves were piled inches deep against the recessed doorway, but once her tea was done she was going to do something about that. Moss had started in on the There were a few nice wooden chairs out front, along with a small table. On that table was a squarish, cloth-wrapped package.

The nun poured herself a cup of tea and sat down to wait. It was only a matter of time.

[LittleCherryBlossom]

"It's Fall!!"

A loud squee chirped through the forest of red and yellow cascade. Forest animals, startled by the sudden voice, warily glanced at the red and white figure dancing by under the shrinking foliage. Small, light steps pranced about through multicolored curtains to the quiet tunes of Mother Nature's melancholic songs. Her great sword Daiento, gently mimicking a conductor's baton, guided the drifting leaves in a dance of her own.

Koharu had never seen such splendid array of fallen leaves which seemed to endlessly fall from the sky. Leaves as broad as her hand drifted to and fro, teasing the young girl's senses in their ceaseless dance. The young girl casually brushed a stray yellow leaf which landed on her head and had gotten itself stuck between her oversized, fox-like ears. To her, the wonderful display all around was a magnificent kagura, a dance exalting the wisdom of the gods.

The young miko trainee had journey far from her homeland as part of her training into full priesthood. As part of the final training, she was to travel the world and perform purification rites to those in need. An emissary of peace and harmony, as one would say. While the other trainee chose to return to their respective villages, Koharu would not settle for just that. Traveling the world was her dream.

A light, sweet scent caught the young foxgirl's attention as she was passing by a large cottage. At first, she thought it was simply the owner of the house getting ready for the day's meal. However, she also felt an ominous uneasiness emanating from the grounds. Reluctantly, Koharu carefully approached the front of the cottage and spotted a robed figure drinking tea in the autumnal scene.

I've heard that there are many other holy people outside of my country. Koharu, peered from behind a large tree, still reluctant to approach the person robed in blue. I wonder if joining her would not be a burden...

Koharu continued to watch the person as the world around them continued with their dancing tribute to the changing seasons. Guarded hands held the cool, lacquered sheath close to her small frame.

That tea smells wonderful, though...

Koharu could barely keep her interest hidden as she she subconsciously wiped a drivel from the corner of her mouth.

[Inwuhou]

Inwuhou looked at her drink. She drank the drink in a single long, slow take. There was a certain allure to the method, where the liquid's bouquet fills the world for an interminable eternity, that repeated sips did not approach. In that brief time, one could lose oneself and free the ever-busy mind, however temporarily, from the noisome world without.

She tasted leaves. The moment was over.

As Inwuhou set down her cup, she reflected on the histories of her surroundings. The cottage wasn't hers, but it wasn't deserted, either. A pitiable couple laid claim here, but Inwuhou had met them living under the eaves of relatives several miles away. They were strong, outdoors types; but what had evicted them was nothing that steel and muscle could combat.

The nun poured tea again. This time, she poured two cups. Normally, restless spirits of this kind didn't come out until after nightfall. It still made for good manners to leave a cup for any unseen visitors. In fact, if they were listening, a calming announcement to the thin air might get things started off on a good footing.

"This poor nun blesses and salutes this house. The tea is for the unseen visitor, who is not unwelcome. It is so."

[LittleCherryBlossom]

Huwhoa-! Koharu literally jumped out of her skin when she heard the blue-robed nun (presumably) address her off-handedly.

She knows I'm here! But... But she's not even looking! The demon fox's amber eyes lit up with excitement as if she's just discovered a celebrity she had only ever heard of before. She's a psychic! She's definitely a psychic!

Granted, Koharu had only ever seen psychics while performing their daily rituals. They were generally old, wrinkled ladies who dressed in white and was said to "channel" spirits of the dead. This person before her looked nothing like that, yet Koharu was almost certainly convinced.

Gathering up her courage, the young fox demon edged out from behind the tree in the midst of the red-covered forest whilst still having her hands wrapped around the scabbard of her sword.

"H- Hi!" She called out to Inwuho, a trace of nervousness detectable in her greeting. "I'm not anyone suspicious, honest! I, ah, I'm just a traveller, see... And, I saw this house... And..."

Light rustling accompanied her footsteps as she walked slowly, trying to keep herself in full view of the seated nun.

"Well, I didn't want to startle you when I saw you sitting here. Would, would I..."

Koharu stopped halfway between the three and Inwuho and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She was coming on too strong, perhaps, and speaking too freely.

"I'm, I'm sorry for my rude interruption... But would it be alright if I join you for tea? Ah- I mean, if I'm not being a bother to you, ma'am! I don't mean to impose on you!" Realizing her request, Koharu barely had enough time to gasp before she bowed to the nun in apology. "If! If I'm an unwanted guest, I'll be quickly on my way! Suimasen! ...Ah-"

The flustered caught herself speaking in native tongue mid-bow and her sword rattled in response. She quickly tightened her grip and finished her bow, keeping her head down and waited for the other person's response.

[Inwuhou]

Inwuhou did not startle. It would have been disappointing for her, who has spent so much time in deep meditation to overcome the natural desires and reactions of the earthly body, to startle at something so minor as a person materializing unexpectedly from the woods. It would take much more, such as two explosions nearby, to get her to spill her tea from surprise.

The first observations were puzzling. Here was what appeared to be a female, with what appeared to be an unusual hairstyle - no... that was not a hairstyle. They twitched and swiveled, so they were ears. A dog's, perhaps? She had a sword, but did not wear it. She had a good handle on stealth, but announced herself for some inexplicable reason. What a delighful mystery!

She stood, because it was polite. She laid down her cup, because it was impractical. She inserted her hands into the opposing sleeves, because that is where she kept the needles. It is still possible that someone would need dissuading. A deep bow opened the thread-tied packets inside.

"This poor nun[1] welcomes the elder sister in art[2].

The trouble with keeping in full view of Inwuhou was that she seemed to have some kind of horrible aversion to opening her eyes. Well, she did. Using the fleshly eyes in lieu of seeing the past was like finger-painting in lieu of a full set of brushes. Certainly, they each had their own texture and flavor, but one was seriously lacking in precision and spectrum. Never much one for privacy, Inwuhou tracked back along the other's history until...

"Will you join in a little thin tea and dry nothing, Koharu-elder-sister?"

[1] 贫尼 - A form of self-reference in lieu of "I", emphasizing disdain for worldly possessions
[2] 师姐 - One assumes elder unless discovered otherwise

[LittleCherryBlossom]

"HuWhoa-! You really are psychic! -Ah! Shitsureishimashta! I mean, I'm sorry for my rudeness! Thank you for your offer!"

The fox demon's face lit up bright red as she fumbled over her words. Koharu tried to suppress the embarrassment of being addressed as an elder sister of the robe, but the awkward twitching of her ears and tails betrayed any attempt at subtlety. Koharu bowed deeply and meekly approached the tea party's premises with the sword held conspicuously with the grip pointed to her left. Koharu stepped lightly atop the carpet of leaves, the rustling sound of autumn following in her footsteps as the tall Tengu geta crunched the leaves underneath.

"Good afternoon, benevolent sister. My name is Koharu..." The apprentice shrine maiden began, but then realized her mistake and let out an embarrassed giggle. "...Ah. Oh, right. You already knew. Tehehe."

OK... I need to calm down... I musn't soil the good name of the Grand Shrine...

"I'm a shrine maiden from the Land of Ten Origins*, in service of the Grand Shrine of the Warrior Spirit. I am but a humble apprentice, benevolent sister, who is on a journey of training." Koharu gave Inwuho a smile, holding the sword conspicuously with both hands so as to avert any perceivable hostile intentions.

"Thank you for allowing this meek apprentice to join you for tea."

---
Note: 十出所の国; Juushussho no Kuni, Koharu's home country across the sea.

[Inwuhou]

"Psychic?" Inwuhou revealed her hands again, moving with superb steadiness to pour a third cup of tea. "Koharu-sister, if you wanted to see divination, then this poor nun can only show my own inadequacy and draw mirth."

The teapot went back to the warm stone. Inwuhou clasped the new cup of tea in both hands and presented it towards the miko. "This poor nun's precept name is Wuhou [1], generation In [2]. I practiced in Wuji Temple[3] since I was little. This year, this poor nun sets on the red dust[4] to conduct benevolence and seek wisdom. Please partake of the tea."

Next was the unceremonious unwrapping of the package. Inside were two palm-sized cakes, each one a little worse for wear after a day on the road. The distinct smell of honey had utterly saturated the wrapping-cloth from the thin layer of crumbs lining it.

What with being out in the middle of nowhere in front of a cottage that she was far too moral to "borrow" from, there was no good way for Inwuhou to provide a vessel or something to split the cakes between. So she settled for the next best thing; she picked a kerchief from inside those voluminous sleeves of hers and patted it down onto the table. One complicated-looking operation later, there were two cakes neatly on two cloths.

Then she cut her cake in half, moved one half to yet another kerchief, and set it down next to the apparently unattended cup of tea. To apparently no-one in particular, she said, "The taste is in the intent, a wholesome intention makes for a wholesome flavor. It is so."

"I only have this token with which to honor Koharu-sister." Inwuhou edged the undivided cake towards Koharu.

Some distance away, a nest suddenly stirred and emptied. Two pairs of wings beat the air towards the smell of honey.

[1] 无後 - Without season/time. A homophonic pun on "Without offspring", "Without shame", and "Peerless for all time"
[2] 因 - "Cause" or "Reason"
[3] 无极寺 - Limitless Temple, with a dual meaning of "without limits" and "avoiding extremes"
[4] 红尘 - Human society or the world outside the temple.