Misfortune Followed Us Home by Matsui Aiko
I Prefered to Let Him Lay With Clay
Misfortune Followed Us Home ch.1
A soft breeze blew through the clearing, the grass bending to the gentle caress of the wind. Luminescent moonbeams lit the clearing, speckled with the lights from dozens of fireflies. In the center of this clearing sat an old dry well. A woman lay in the grass next to it. Her arms lay crossed behind her head as she gazed at the full moon and stars. Next to her a small black bag rested in the grass. The woman sighed as her blue eyes rested on the giant tree towering in the distance. She reached over and plucked an arrow from the full quiver next to her. She rolled the shaft between her fingers and blew on the feathered end.
“He was supposed to be here two hours ago,” she fumed silently in her head.
Two hours ago she had emerged from the dry well. On her back was strapped a small leather bag, black in color it resembled a sack with a drawstring threaded to hold it closed and a strip of leather attached so it could easily be carried over one shoulder. Along with the bag was a full quiver of arrows and a bow attached in a similar fashion, to the other shoulder. This night it was slightly chilly, it was late May and the weather was unpredictable, one day warm the next cold and rainy. Because of the weather, she had forgone her new usual outfit for olive green cargo pants, cinched at the ankles, a black cap-sleeved T-shirt, and an olive green crop top jacket. On her feet she wore ankle length black leather hiking boots, finding them much more suitable to traverse the countryside with than her black school loafers. Her hair which over three years of good treatment had grown out to just below her hips was fastened in a high ponytail. She pulled herself up from the depths and had sat on the edge, her legs swinging idly as she twisted looking around and behind her. She pouted, scrunching up her small button nose and let out a breath. He was late!
She waited fifteen minutes before she headed to the village by herself. The sinking sun had just touched the horizon. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know the way she just enjoyed the companionship, besides, he was always impatient about her trips home and with him travel always went twice as fast though he never stopped complaining. She continued on her way, walking slowly and taking in nature. She heard his voice as she was passing by the god tree. She stopped and rested her hand on the Goshinboku. She already knew what she would find, yet still she dropped her bag at the base of the tree and followed his voice back into the forest. It seemed as she got closer, his voice got softer until she heard no talking at all. She began hearing instead soft grunts and low moans. Just as she reached the edge of the clearing she began to hear the sound of flesh meeting flesh. He growled out the name of her previous incarnation and she turned around and headed back to the god tree.
She sat at the base of the tree awhile, staring into the heavy laden boughs and decided to take a walk to collect her thoughts. Grabbing her bag she tied it tightly to her belt before wandering away. As she passed by the trees, she gently stroked the rough bark with her gloved hands. She had taken to wearing archery gloves as her skill increased to protect her hands. She reveled in the silence of twilight as she calmly walked. She had no destination in mind but her feet led her to a familiar place. It was a clearing nestled in the forest. A pond sat in the center partially obscured by the tall waist length grasses. A gentle breeze blew and the grass swayed slightly under the pressure. The full moon reflected on the surface of the water, giving it the illusion that the surface was glowing white. She plucked one of the short reeds situated along the bank. Using an army knife she took to carrying, she transformed the small reed into a flute and began to play a random tune as she made her way back to the well clearing.
She lay down in the grass and stared at the fading sky. It hurt less this time, like tiny pinpricks. The feeling you get when a limb goes numb. Before it was like searing hot, white flames had engulfed her heart. So this is how it felt to be numb to the pain. She no longer felt the urge to cry or to shatter the body of the woman who was no longer of the land of the living. She felt no overwhelming sadness or consuming anger. At least she felt no sadness for herself, she felt sadness for him. What she felt now could be called acceptance. Without her being conscious of it, she had moved on. For him she now felt brotherly love and somehow wished she could help him. She sighed and stood up. It was time to return to the village; surely her son missed her tucking him in tonight. Besides she had enemies and she would not chance being lost to her loved ones, it was not safe to be alone in the forest at night. She brushed the dirt and grass off her clothes, gathered her belongings and walked off towards the village.