A Decade Solved Mystery

The gathering of Yokai encircled the wooden coffin as if they had shared a lifetime with the deceased human while the girls gathered for a short discussion.

Hoshiyo observed the mourning Yokai and murmured, "We can't rely solely on their assistance. We need to explore other options."

"How?" Takeko's voice quivered.

Ceres glanced sternly at them and questioned, "I heard you discussing rebuilding the swamp earlier. Why are we helping them? The villagers despised our mother."

Hoshiyo smiled as she responded, "Because we're not monsters. Restoring the swamp benefits both humans and spirits alike. I expected you two to understand that more than anyone. Care to shed some light on where you've been all this time?"

Motoko chuckled and replied, "The villagers were affected by issues concerning the deceased spirits in the bay, so we offered our assistance."

The three sisters shared a simultaneous giggle, their laughter echoing through the air. Takeko leaned in and said, "Seems like Ceres has a soft spot for the villagers."

"Don't be rude; the villagers were understandably frightened," Ceres defended.

Approaching the group quietly, Fumi embraced Rei warmly, her expression filled with gratitude. With a wide, frog-like smile, she said, "I can't find the words to thank you."

"Our mother grew up here, so it's our pleasure to assist," Hoshiyo said.

Fumi's curiosity was piqued. "What was her name? Perhaps I've heard of her."

"Unlikely; she passed away over sixty years ago and ascended to Kami status, granting my eight sisters and me the opportunity to thrive independently, thanks to science and technology. We're currently searching for her," Hoshiyo explained.

Fumi's eyes widened as she looked at the sisters, her mind racing. She counted them and then inquired, "Wait, are you daughters of a Kami? So, the legends are true."

The sisters exchanged puzzled glances. Hoshiyo whispered, "Legend?"

Hoshiyo suddenly sensed the rhythmic beat of horse hooves resonating through the earth, sending vibrations up their spine. With a collective turn of heads, they observed the Samurai cautiously approaching.

Hoshiyo tightened her grip on her sword, expressing a frown. "Are those the villagers? What could they possibly want?" she questioned, her gaze fixed on the advancing figures.

Rei stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Fumi. "No matter what happens, remember, we're not here to fight, Hoshiyo," she reminded firmly.

Hoshiyo nodded in acknowledgment as she awaited the Samurai's speech. Instead, Fumi's husband emerged, his face reflecting wide, tearful eyes. With a solemn bow, he spoke, "I am not seeking conflict."

Hoshiyo's sweat glistened on her brow. "Is that so?" she retorted with a crooked smirk. "Your actions suggest otherwise."

The husband glanced at the Samurai before returning to Hoshiyo; his arms raised defensively. He said, "Please, allow me to clarify."

"Go on," Hoshiyo said, releasing her grip on the sword.

"Upon my return to the village, I was overwhelmed by emptiness. I realized how deeply I missed her. It was unjust of me to treat her with such disregard."

"And?" Hoshiyo prompted.

With a gentle touch, the husband retrieved a crumpled piece of paper—a fragment of a missing person's report—and tenderly handed it to Hoshiyo. "Fumi claimed she passed away a decade ago, correct?" he inquired softly.

Rei's gaze flickered to the faded portrait of Fumi as she asked, "Where did you find this?"

"The Ronin, they revealed she was reported missing, presumed murdered, though her body was never recovered," Fumi's husband replied.

"Who was responsible for her death?" Hoshiyo asked.

A Ronin, resonating with authority, responded, "Bandits pursuing salt. We apprehended them with her blood-stained hairpin, as illustrated in the poster. I showed them no mercy when I monitored them, relishing their lunch by the swamp. Now the pieces fall into place."

The husband interjected, "Our purpose here is to restore the swamp to its former glory and to replenish the lake with fresh water."

All eyes turned to the Samurai and Fumi's husband, disbelief painting their expressions.

Fumi's tears glistened in her eyes as she emerged from behind Rei. She embraced her husband and said, "I forgive you, my love."

"Now, where do we begin?" Fumi's husband asked.

From inside the assembled crowd, the Nure Onago stepped forward purposefully; her dark, gurgling voice resonated as she said, "We excavate the tar until its source is exhausted of soot."

Fumi's husband smiled and said, "Seems you've made some allies."

Fumi beamed with pride, and she said, "Indeed I have."

The villagers gathered shovels and sizable funeral crates mounted on horseback, while the Samurai enlisted the aid of local Ronin and Shogunate members to bolster the excavation efforts.

Upon their return, the assembled groups were each assigned to a specific section of the tar-laden five pools. The villagers focused on the nearest curved mass of viscous fluid, opting for shorter distances as they carried large crates of soot back and forth.

The Ronin precisely tackled the second mass shoveling from end to end.

Meanwhile, the Shogunate delegated the task to their freshest recruits, positioning them at the forefront of the operation while higher-ranking soldiers observed from horseback.

The Yokai selected a more distant tar mass, employing their unique abilities to inhale the dense fluids and expel them into buckets, which were then transported by stronger Yokai back to the village.

At the heart of the operation, the final tar body awaited attention. Fumi observed with pride as the girls rolled up their Yukata sleeves and labored tirelessly with shovels. Hoshiyo, wiping sweat from her brow, surveyed the collective effort, realizing the magnitude of their efforts. "I can't help but wonder what Seiko, Yoko, Rokuko, and Utaku are up to right now," she said aloud.

Fumi handed her a wet towel, offering relief for her flushed face. "I've sent our other Yokai friends to search for them. They should be joining us shortly to aid the project," she reassured.

Hoshiyo, rejuvenated by the cool touch of the towel, grinned and replied, "You've always been several steps ahead of us. Impressive."

Fumi blushed, accepting the damp towel and promptly submerging it in a chilled bucket of water to refresh it. "It's the least I can do to support you and your diligent sisters," she replied.

Meanwhile, Hoshiyo continued transferring tar into wooden buckets, her curiosity piqued. "What mischief have the others found themselves in?" she asked.

"Yoko and Seiko ventured inside a Shogunate military installation without permission, resulting in temporary imprisonment until a group of Ronin intervened. They encountered a skilled swordsman during their ordeal, and Yoko eagerly allied with him. Seiko, however, remained behind, offering her services to the Shogunate as payment for her crime," she explained.

Motoko chuckled and said, "Seiko's stunts always manage to trap poor Yoko. They're inseparable, after all," she remarked.

Contemplating the situation, Hoshiyo heaved a sigh. "Perhaps it's time I intervene with the Shogunate on Seiko's behalf," she said.

Takeko dropped her shovel with a gentle clatter before turning towards the horses, her demeanor resolute. "I'll retrieve her. You focus on the task at hand," she assured her sisters.

"Are you certain you'll manage alone?" Rei asked with a furrowed brow.

Takeko offered a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me," she insisted, waving farewell as she strode away from the group.

Hoshiyo sighed, acknowledging the complexity of having eight sisters. Despite the occasional challenges, she cherished their bond. "That still leaves Rokuko and Utaku," she remarked.

Fumi nodded knowingly. "My friends are guiding them here as we speak," she said. "Rokuko found a mentor under a retired Ronin, honing her skills alongside him. As for Utaku, she stumbled upon the island's master fabric weaver, swiftly mastering the art of weaving as if it were her destined path."

Hoshiyo reflected on the day's events with a hint of amusement. "Yeah, it seems everyone embarked on their unique adventure today," she remarked.

Fumi concurred with a nod. "It certainly appears that way," she said.

Ceres thrust her shovel forcefully into the tar, her emotions boiling over as she exclaimed, "Enough chatter! We're falling behind!"

Acknowledging the urgency, Hoshiyo responded, "Okay, I got it."

The sisters shared a lighthearted chuckle at Ceres's sudden outburst as they toiled tirelessly until nightfall descended upon them. Each sister returned from her respective adventure, reporting to the group with tales of their exploits throughout the village.

Taking a brief break, Hoshiyo stood before her siblings, allowing the newcomers to relieve her of her duties. Kneeling on the earth, she washed away the grime from her hair and face, the cool water offering a momentary relief. As she dried her face with a clean towel, she noticed a pair of legs standing before her. Looking up, she found Seiko flanked by two guards, her hands bound in handcuffs.

Hoshiyo's gaze hardened as she said, "I cannot begin to express my disappointment in you. What possessed you to trespass into a Shogunate facility?" she demanded.

Seiko's gaze remained fixed on the ground as she replied softly, "I heard gunfire inside, and my curiosity got the better of me."

Hoshiyo's eyes narrowed, and her brow creased. She said, "You hear gunfire, and your first instinct is to move toward it?"

Seiko's response was quiet, her gaze fixed on the ground. "I didn't see it that way," she murmured.

Turning her attention to the Shogunate officers, Hoshiyo asked, "Is she being released?"

"For the time being," one of the officers affirmed, untying Seiko's wrists before nudging her towards Hoshiyo.

Rei intervened, approaching the pair and placing a shovel in Seiko's hands. Seiko worked overtime without a complaint to make amends for her reckless behavior.

The diverse assembly of humans and Yokai labored tirelessly for only a few days until the remaining tar pits were emptied, topping in the completion of the central pond. Together, they sorted through the remains, separating human bones from those of animals with the aid of the Yokai's unique abilities. All gathered to assist in the respectful collection of Fumi's bones.

Fumi observed the scene, pacing back and forth from a distance, grappling with the thought of facing her skeletal remains. Would this moment engrave a permanent scar in her mind, or would it offer the closure she desperately sought? Her head raced with conflicting thoughts.

Approaching Fumi in the old tar pits, Hoshiyo asked, "Are you holding up okay?"

"I'm at a loss for words. Whatever decision I make could shape the course of my entire existence," Fumi admitted.

"You won't discover the outcome until you take that first step," Hoshiyo said.

Rei joined the conversation with a quiet resolve, eager to offer her perspective. "Fumi, you're not obligated to make a decision right away. We can store them in a crate until you're ready. There's no need to rush, right, Hoshiyo?" she proposed.

Hoshiyo nodded in agreement, choosing to maintain a supportive silence, careful not to pressure Fumi into a premature decision. She felt an ache of remorse for her earlier insistence.

Rei offered a comforting pat on Hoshiyo's shoulder before returning to the task.

Addressing the group, she said, "Let's pack away the remains for now. Fumi can take her time with this decision; there's no rush."

The crew nodded in unison, acknowledging the plan, before resuming their efforts to transport the remaining soot back to the village. Meanwhile, the company gathered in clusters, each group pondering on the next course of action for the sisters.

Takeko leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's our next move?" she asked.

Hoshiyo responded with a sly grin. "Now, the real work begins," she declared.

Hoshiyo efficiently delegated tasks to each group, ensuring the effort towards restoration. The villagers were tasked with transporting swamp water to the freshly dug trenches, promoting the swamp's adaptation to its new location. The Yokai's mission was to retrieve swamp plants from the old lake and relocate them to their new home, sparing the swamp the arduous process of regrowth from scratch. Hoshiyo directed the Ronin and Shogunate members to uproot swamp trees and transport them to the designated area. Meanwhile, the sisters focused on purifying the lake, restoring it to its former state. With everyone's efforts, the environment swiftly recovered, as if the devastating impact of the tar pits had never impaired their lives.