The First Generation Ceremonial Festival Part 4

"I heard stories about a humanoid frog, Yokai living as a human in the village before it burned down. They said she was married. Were you?" Hayato asked. 

"My husband died in the fire," Fumi replied softly, "but that didn't stop me from enjoying my time as a human. Love isn't a concept we swamp Yokai are familiar with, but I wanted to experience the joys of human life. Thanks to these wonderful ladies, I no longer have to choose between living as a Yokai or as a human."

"Are there more like you?" Hayato asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes," Fumi assured him. "Not all Yokai are evil. I promise you that. And no Yokai would be foolish enough to harm the girls in front of the strongest Kami in the world."

Hoshiyo briefly thought of the Kami who had attacked them outside the walls, but she decided not to mention it, at least not tonight. She wanted to keep the peace and let things unfold naturally.

Hayato's voice softened. "If good Yokai exist, then maybe there's hope for this world. All I want is for Yoko to live without fear, and thanks to all of you, I believe I can stop worrying—at least for tonight."

"Glad to hear it," Kuzunoha said, her eyes twinkling as she giggled into her sleeve. "Because I am a fox Yokai, and I wasn't planning to keep that a secret forever."

Hayato stepped back from Kuzunoha, his eyes wide with shock as his skin turned pale. "I was healed by a Yokai?" he exclaimed.

Yoko quickly grabbed his arm, trying to comfort him. "Yes, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. But she's the best healer on the island, and I couldn't let you die just because of your rigid morals."

Hayato groaned, feeling cornered by the truth. As Yoko's grip on his arm tightened, he couldn't help but notice her sweet smile, and he felt his resistance crumble. "I can't believe this is happening to me..." he muttered.

Before he could dwell on it any longer, Yoko tugged him inside the walls of the house they had bravely won in battle. "Come on," she said, "I want you to try some of Moriko's new recipes. She's an amazing cook."

"Alright," Hayato whimpered, giving in as she led him away from the entrance.

Kuzunoha laughed and said, "Hey, take it easy on him! He's not fully healed yet." As Yoko waved goodbye, disappearing into the festival grounds, the others couldn't help but smile. They hadn't seen her this happy since the battle, which warmed their hearts. Kuzunoha, inspired by Yoko's joy, clapped her hands and said, "Well then, shall we enjoy the festivities before the orange sky turns black?"

"What do you have in mind?" Hoshiyo asked, intrigued.

"The humans have brought a children's game that fascinates me," Kuzunoha replied with a mischievous grin. "It's about catching fish with a thin rice paper scoop that dissolves in water."

Rei chuckled. "Sounds like a scam, but sure, why not? It could be fun."

"I think it would be," Takeko added with a smile. "Let's go. I don't want to miss anything else."

They quickly entered the bustling festival crowd, eager to find the game. As they neared the area with all the children's games, Kuzunoha spotted Katsuko and Utaku in the distance, a reassuring sight. That meant all the masters had returned, except for her son and daughter, whom she hadn't seen in years. The thought of how they might react filled her with anxiety. She caught up to Rei and whispered, "Have you seen the twins and their Sensei yet?"

"No, but I'm sure they'll be here soon. Don't worry, we still have plenty of time," Rei reassured her as they wove through the crowd. "I highly doubt they'd miss today's event."

Suddenly, Hoshiyo pointed ahead and shouted, "Hey, I found it!"

The sisters were drawn to the traditional goldfish scooping game, captivated by the vibrant fish darting through the shallow wooden tanks, their shimmering scales catching the light.

Hoshiyo knelt by the tank, her eyes narrowing in concentration as she held the delicate paper scoop. "Alright, let's see who can catch the most," she challenged, a determined glint in her eye.

Rei chuckled, accepting the challenge with a playful grin. "Don't be too confident, Hoshiyo. My steady hands from medical training might just give me an edge."

"Go for it," Takeko encouraged, picking up a scoop and carefully observing the fish. She waited patiently, letting her sisters make the first move.

With calm focus, Hoshiyo dipped her scoop into the water, quickly realizing that the goldfish were faster and more elusive than they appeared. Each time she neared one, it darted away. "They're trickier than I thought," she muttered, furrowing her brow.

Rei, however, was quicker on the draw, catching her first goldfish with a precise motion. "Got one!" she exclaimed, placing it gently into the small bowl provided by the vendor.

"Better luck next time, Hoshiyo," Rei teased, watching her catch swim proudly around the bowl.

Hoshiyo laughed at her miscalculation. "I wasn't expecting them to be so fast," she admitted, smiling despite her initial failure.

Takeko, meanwhile, remained silent. Her eyes tracked the fish with almost instinctual precision. She caught a fish and placed it into her bowl in one smooth, fluid motion, not saying a word.

"Not bad," Hoshiyo said, glancing at Takeko with a hint of admiration. "But I'm not going down without a fight."

The game continued with Hoshiyo catching up to Rei's count while Takeko's quiet efficiency kept her in the lead. Laughter and friendly banter flowed between them, and Hoshiyo felt the friendly competition drawing them closer as sisters and comrades. Winning or losing seemed insignificant compared to the bond they were strengthening.

Finally, Hoshiyo caught another fish, tying with Takeko. She exhaled in relief and looked at her sisters with a satisfied smile. "Alright, I think that's enough for me. This was harder than I expected."

Rei grinned, teasing, "You're just saying that because you don't want to lose again."

Hoshiyo chuckled, a warm feeling of contentment washing over her. "Maybe, but we can't play this game forever."

"We did a great job," Takeko agreed, calm and confident.

As they gathered their bowls of goldfish, they exchanged knowing glances, each savoring the simple joy of the game and the deeper connection it had nurtured between them.

Of the four, Kuzunoha was the first to notice that the sun had long vanished from the sky. The warmth of the festival lanterns wrapped around her, and she glanced up, whispering, "The moon is beautiful and full tonight."

Hoshiyo, catching the tone in Kuzunoha's voice, realized how late it had become. They had been enjoying themselves so much that time had slipped by unnoticed. The stalls around them glowed softly, their lanterns growing brighter as the night deepened.

Rei, after sitting for so long, stumbled slightly as she stood. "The house looks incredible," she said, taking in the scene. "All these decorations are stunning."

Red and white lanterns were adorned with floral designs, and Japanese characters surrounded them. Humans had set up stalls selling exquisite street food and delicate wares, with smoke curling in the air like a living presence above the crowd.

Hoshiyo stood in awe, taking in the sheer number of humans and Yokai who had come to the event. She watched the crowd, noticing the scars they bore from the fire that had nearly claimed their lives. The festival felt like a celebration of survival, a testament to the nine sisters' bravery. As beads of sweat pooled on her brow, she asked, "When do you think the ceremony will begin?"

"Yeah, it's getting pretty late," Rei agreed.

Kuzunoha gestured toward the center of the venue, directly in front of the house, and said, "You're right. It's a good time to find out. The ceremony will take place in front of the house where the Kami are seated. We should see if they have any instructions for you."

"What do you think will happen to us?" Takeko asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Hoshiyo shrugged, letting out a sigh. "Who knows? I've heard rumors about a transformation ceremony, though."

Rei furrowed her brow. "What could that mean?"

Hoshiyo began to walk ahead, glancing back at her sisters. "We won't find out by standing around here. Let's go check it out."

Under the soft glow of the lanterns, the festival was in full swing. The sisters weaved through the crowds of Yokai and humans, the air thick with laughter, the scent of sweet and savory treats, and the distant melody of a koto playing softly.

As they made their way forward, Hoshiyo started feeling lightheaded. The bustling energy of the event overwhelmed her, and the fear of what might happen during the ceremony weighed heavily on her mind. A flood of unsettling thoughts filled her head, each more daunting than the last. Her vision began to blur, but just before she felt herself slipping, she caught sight of Ceres standing before the Kami, her dark purple hair shimmering in the moonlight. Hoshiyo couldn't hear what Ceres was saying from where she stood, but she knew they needed to get closer. She turned to her sisters and said, "Ceres is talking to them now. We might be able to get some information from her."

"Good idea," Rei replied. "We'll follow your lead."

As Hoshiyo stepped into the graveled area, the crowd began to disperse, leaving the sisters in confusion as silence fell over the space. Suddenly, a burst of smoke filled the air, and out of it, the Tanuki appeared, lining up in formation. They hauled out the enlarged taiko drums and began pounding on them; their rhythm synchronized with the haunting melody of the koto.

Joining the Tanuki was the Kawasuo Yokai, who resembled river otters dressed in vibrant festival attire. Some played mysterious brass cymbals; their clashing sounds added depth to the performance. The Kitsune danced in perfect harmony, their faces hidden beneath Kasa hats, while other small Yokai, including many Maneki Neko, gathered in the shadows, content to watch the spectacle unfold.

Kuzunoha clapped her hands, her laughter bubbling over with delight. "Incredible!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

Hoshiyo, still trying to make sense of what was happening, asked, "What are they doing now?"

"The ceremony is beginning," Kuzunoha explained, her voice filled with excitement. "The Yokai have prepared a musical introduction."

Hoshiyo caught the faint scent of old shrine wood, and out of her eye, she noticed dark purple hair flowing in her direction. She turned to find Ceres standing unexpectedly beside her, watching the event blankly, as if smiling was a foreign concept to her.

Sensing the moment's weight, Hoshiyo looked ahead and asked, "So, what's the plan?"

Ceres nodded slightly and replied, "Go behind the house to get dressed with the others. The ceremony is about to begin."

"What are we wearing?" Rei asked, curiosity in her voice.

"We have white robes prepared for you all in the back," Ceres replied. "But Motoko and I will be wearing something different tonight."

Kuzunoha hesitated before turning to face Ceres. She didn't want to seem bothersome, but there was a question she couldn't ignore. "Ceres, are my children here?" she asked softly.

Ceres' lips curved into a smirk as she whispered, "Wait here. Your children will arrive soon, I promise."

Kuzunoha smiled with relief, waving goodbye to Rei and the others as they began to walk away from the festival once more. As the sisters moved farther from the lively crowd, the sounds of music and chatter gradually faded into the background. People respectfully stepped aside, clearing a path for them as they made their way to prepare for the night's final event. Everyone was eager to witness the once-in-a-millennium ceremony.

Hoshiyo felt a knot forming in her stomach as they followed Ceres to the back of the house. The grandeur of the ceremony was overwhelming, and she couldn't shake the unease that had settled over her. Her thoughts drifted to her mother's transformation into a wolf—a process that had required her to die and rise above the clouds to achieve immortality. The memory sent a shiver down Hoshiyo's spine, and she couldn't help but wonder if a similar fate awaited her.