Fateless
Chapter 8 - Sounds Of The Forest

“You’re still not going to kill me out here, right Hirano-sama?” Hana asked as she looked up at the array of stars.

The ringing of shrine bells still sounded far off in the distance. But besides that, silence had now settled into the view of the night sky. There weren’t landscapes like this in Tokyo, and although she still missed her hometown bitterly, she had to admit that the atmosphere of Nikko was beginning to grow on her.

Being murdered would likely put a damper on that decision though.

Lord Hirano sat beside Hana. He’d removed his mask and scarf, his long coat flowed down over him like he was draped in a blanket.

His presence still felt strange but Hana was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Daring to trust she would be safe under his word.

“You said something similar to that before, Lord Hirano replied. “Why would you ask me something like that?”

Hana sighed and shifted onto her back. Cold slush seeped in but suprisingly Hana didn’t seem to mind much and she swiftly adjusted to the temperature.

“I don’t want to disappear like the other two girls. Tomi-san said they decided to return home, but I don’t believe that.”

“You think I murdered them?” He asked doubtfully.

Hana hesitated to say anything at first. From the angle she lay, she stared further up the mountain. Shadows of plants echoed along the craggy chunks of rock that continued upward. Hana shut her eyes.

“They were lured away.”

“Lured away?”

“Yes,” Hana replied softly. “By a yellow light.”

When the lord remained silent Hana became curious as to what his expression might reveal. She opened her eyes again. But shortly after, she let out a scream.

A pale face stared straight down at her. Bright golden eyes ghoulishly pierced straight through the dark, peering over a much higher ledge between wintery plant growth.

Hana sprung to her feet, recoiling and stumbling with fright until the ground suddenly tapered off the edge and all she felt under her foot was empty space.

“Hana!” Lord Hirano shouted as he reached for her and yanked her into him, catching her before she fell clear of the ledge.

Hana was momentarily stunned by the incident. Her thoughts stalled and her heart beat wildly as she clung against the lord’s warm chest. She felt safe cradled in the thick layers of sleeves that draped over her.

“What happened?”

“I saw someone!” Hana wheezed as she snapped back to reality. The coldness of fear replaced her warm fuzzies.

She quickly pulled herself up to look over Lord Hirano’s shoulder. Urgently squinting into the darkness for the face. Movement. Something. But whoever, or whatever it was seemed to have disappeared.

“I-” She began to speak but was cut off by a woman’s high-pitched in the distance.

Hana flung away from Lord Hirano.

“W- what was that!?” She stammered.

“That direction...” The lord mumbled to himself. “Is out of my domain.”

Hana clenched her arms around her body as another horrified scream echoed through the dark forest.

Hana and Lord Hirano swiftly made their way back down the mountain. The inclined slope made the trek down much quicker than the way up had been. But Hana was struggling to keep up with him nevertheless.

His grip was comfortingly stern around Hana’s wrist as he hauled her after him. The trees whirred past with the icy wind whipping at her face. The strong, clear scents of nature began to combine with the smells of wood fires and lingering hot foods that had been cooked at the stalls and restaurants.

When the lord’s movements finally slowed to a halt Hana could see the town lights coming through the trees. There had been no more screams, but now sounds of sobbing became audible.

“Hana-san. Keep going towards the town. Follow the road back to the villa.”

Lord Hirano did not give Hana a chance to reply, as she paused to catch her breath. He retracted his hold on her and continued into the forest towards the pitiful crying.

“Wait!” Hana protested after him as his silhouette disappeared into the black.

Hana looked from the dark direction he had melted away into, and then back toward the lit-up town. She shook her head, trying to calm her nerves as she eagerly headed towards the safety of streetlights.

She froze, however, as she heard the sound of sandals hitting the pavement from said direction.

Unsure what to expect as the steps ebbed closer at a running speed, Hana quickly ducked behind a tree, hiding herself from the figure that was determinedly heading into the forest at an ungodly hour.

As the footsteps transitioned into crunches against snow and forest undergrowth, Hana pushed her back heavily against the frost-damaged bark. She covered her mouth and prayed her heart pounding did not sound as loud as she thought it did.

Relief washed over her as the urgent steps passed by and began to wash out into the distance.

Hana bravely peeked out from her hiding spot, hopeful to take a glance at who had passed by without noticing her; and a breath hitched in her throat.

She recognised the distancing figure and when her hand fell away from her face it revealed her gawking in disbelief.

The elegant woman wearing the beautiful kimono, with glossy long strands of hair flowing behind her, was undoubtedly Akira. But her body glistened in a glitter of amber.

Against the ground, heading in the same direction as the master, a residue of ghostly streaks of gold light slowly dissolved where her feet had imprinted.

When Hana had somewhat mentally absorbed what she had just seen she clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, before also following the sound of echoing sobs to guide her.

She hurried as best she could. But unfortunately for Hana, the sounds she was intending to follow soon turned to silence.

She attempted to backtrack towards the direction she had started- where Lord Hirano had left her. Only to feel more turned around and a panic began to fester anxiously in her mind.

She sighed with relief and her shoulders untensed when a light caught her eye, and she made her way towards it.

But she let out a loud gasp as that light suddenly zipped directly before her.

It had not been the glow towards the town that she had hoped for.

Hana helplessly stared at a light that was shimmering beautifully. She felt enthralled by its lingering presence, eagerly reaching out a hand to touch the warm light it emitted. When she did though, its form seemed to be just out of reach.

The glow it produced was comforting though. Her worries and doubts seemed to fade away the longer she basked in the giddy amber flame. Her thoughts were sleepy, but at peace, as she was left with a pleasant numbness.

Hana’s body moved as it attempted to follow the beckoning flame. But another motion suddenly halted her intent.

Someone behind her had grabbed her. Their arm securely gripped Hana’s waist and pushed her against them.

“Look away from the light!”

Lord Hirano’s voice seemed so soft and far away. And even when his free hand draped over Hana’s face, covering her eyes, she did not react to his close touch. She only felt sleepier from the inviting darkness.

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