HIROSHI: Truth And Illusions

Ch 5: A Chance With Destiny

"What have I done?" said Hiroshi gazing into the fog holding his head. "If she's dead..."

A sudden rush of anxiety filled his chest and as he looked over in the direction of the woman. After a short pause, Hiroshi ran over there with Yoshi trailing closely behind. They stopped short when they got near the woman with neither being willing to go any closer, fearing the worst.

A large crow flew close by them before landing on a tree branch above Mayu's body. The bird was blacker than the night and cawed harshly, while looking at them.

"You know, there is something really eerie about this place," said Yoshi after observing the crow and Mayu's body partially buried in the fog.

"Oh, it's just a crow Yoshi," he said, but then his eyes stuck on it. "Wait, that looks like the same crow that was outside, near Mayu's room.  I also remember it cawing from a tree when I escaped from the roof. Then I saw it again, when I took a break in the forest too, but I didn't pay much attention to it then."

"Are you saying this creepy bird has been following you?" asked Yoshi with enlarged eyes.

"Perhaps," he said, before pointing his finger at Mayu. "Or her."

"I see. Well, ok then," said Yoshi, patting Hiroshi on the back, before stepping away. "I think I better head back now and catch up with Katsuro while I can."

"You can't leave me at a time like this," he said grabbing Yoshi's arm. "Besides, just a little while ago you were so excited. You even said you would wrestle a tiger to see her."

"Yeah...that was then, when I thought she was alive," he responded, after taking his eyes off the crow and resting them on the woman. "I don't know Hiroshi, there's something about dead women that just...doesn't do it for me. They're cold, hard to talk to, kind of creepy, a little bit boring..."

"Yoshi! How can you make jokes now?" he asked. "I'm in a lot trouble. I need your help."

Yoshi paused, twisting his lips, "Oh all right...I'll stay for now, but this is really going to cost you."

"Fine. I will grant your previous request and allow you to see the woman now. You can check her," said Hiroshi as the two stood there standing shoulder to shoulder. "Here is your chance to finally see her up close. I understand it has been a long time wish of yours."

"Well, why don't you go check her? Are you hesitating because you've never seen a dead body before?"

"Of course not," said Hiroshi as he turned away slightly. "It's just that, I've spent too much time with her already. Besides, if she is sleeping, it may be too early to wake her. We should allow her to wake up on her own."

"But what if she doesn't wake up because she's dead? We might be waiting for a long, long time. If they come searching for her, we don't want to be here then," Yoshi responded.

"Hmmmm. You have a good point Yoshi. Let's flip a coin or something to see who has to check her. Do you have one?" asked Hiroshi.

"There should be some coins in one of the sacks on the horse. But it may take some time to find them. I'll go and look for them, you stand guard here," said Yoshi.

"There is no need to stand guard if she is dead, I will go with you to speed up the search," said Hiroshi.

They started off walking briskly towards the horse, but before long, they suddenly started running. When they got there, Hiroshi asked, "Why did you run Yoshi?" "Oh, I don't know...I guess because you did," he responded.

"Good grief Yoshi, are you going to do everything I do? I don't even know what you are afraid of," said Hiroshi.

"Well, you ran first Hiroshi...So, what were you afraid of?"