Vast anthology 1: Tengu's Flight

Chapter 3: A different kind of rumbling

Chapter 3: A Different Kind of Rumbling

The car stops after a strenuous silent drive, mud already turning the tires brown.
The tengus get down the car, Kano gently opens the car boot.

The Oni teen is in tears, her black hair sticking on her face with sweat. Her distinctly black eyebrows tensed in anger. Lots of profanity is muffled under the tape on her mouth, as she expresses her anger.

Tetsuya cuts the rope of the handcuff and her tied legs, and ushers her out.

The oni teen widens her eyes, now coming to her senses. Hesitantly, she steps out while raising both her arms up. Her thin arms trembling.

Kano airs out her words, as if not to startle her: "Uhm, we're sorry for putting you in there, it was far more dangerous outside,"

The Oni teen discreetly nods her head, as her eyes stares at Kano in fear

Akihiro locks the car door and lifts his tinted glasses up to his wavy blonde hair,

: "Don't be so uptight, we're just gonna ask you some questions, kay"

Tetsuya limps, as both his arms holds the wound in his abdomen, restricting the blood flow

Michi runs over and gives him a hand

All of them walk towards the entrance of the candle bright wooden antique structure. An onsen, hot water bath open to the public, its faint glimmer brightens up the dark alleys of the Ocean sector. Water flows like waterfalls down from the windows of the entrance.

"Heh, as if the place wasn't wet enough" Michi complains.

They waltz in, through the dark blue curtains of the main door

In the crass lobby, wooden tables and wooden stools spread across the floor in a meticulous arrangement, traditional talismans hanging on the arches. From beneath the floorboard, the sounds of crashing waves stay constant. The damp timber walls were painted in murals of boats. A counter in the corner has a small cardboard box, rallying for donations.

"Self service, huh?", Michi sighs

Kano combs her white hair to her ear using her velvet finger, then she rolls up her sleeve

"That's perfect, lets just find a place where we can settle down"

Yoshinori and Michi both take Tetsuya into the bathhouse hall, and put him down on a soft yellowish bedding.

The huge hall eerily empty, the steamy water bubbling in heat, the warm lighting in the muggy darkness. Michi and Yoshinori rest themselves on the grey rocky textiles.

Tetsuya groans in pain: "I'..I'm alright, damnit"

After awhile, Akihiro breezely walks into the bathhouse hall, whistling on the way,
"I checked the entire place, I think some people were down here a few hours ago, but it should be safe now"

Michi whispers urgently: "Aki, harmonic magic now, Tets is dying"

Akihiro squats down beside Tetsuya, and pulls out a short but fine bamboo flute from his chest pocket . Akihiro tenses up his broad shoulders and brows, trying to emotionalize the pain.

He starts playing the flute, a sorrowful yet soothing melody is harmonised. Faint sky blue musical notes are released from the tip of the flute towards Tetsuya.

Harmonic sorcery hits Tetsuya, and his wounds start to stitch itself back in perfect synchronisation.

Akihiro sighs along with Tetsuya

Tetsuya beams "You should really teach me that someday"

Akihiro comes up with a clever remark, as he puts his palm on the skin of his neck: