Asuka: Island of Shadows

Chapter 3

Chapter 2

I woke up the next morning to find myself curled up on the floor covered in one of my Grandmother’s thick warm quilts. I didn’t remember falling to sleep, I only remembered talking with Satoru for hours and hours until we fell silent.

I sat up and looked around. Satoru was in his hammock that we always had waiting and ready for if he visited us. He was sleeping soundly.

I stood, picking up the quilt and folding it, then placing it on the small pile of quilts that was kept on the floor. I went to my room and closed the door, fetching fresh clothes, and making sure that in case Grandmother wanted an inspection, they were neat, and correctly placed.

I was wearing a light blue tunic, and black pants, covered by my favorite embroidered midnight blue and silver kimono. I hadn’t worn it since Grandmother’s birthday, and I thought the fact the Satoru was here was a special enough occasion for me to be able to wear it. At least I knew Grandmother would approve of me dressing nicely.

I left my room after making sure there were no leaks anywhere. Grandmother was up and making breakfast. The smell of the sweet Birch sap that she was heating for syrup was filling the air, cheering me up considerably.

Every time Satoru visited, we made his favorite meal. Pancakes with Birch sap syrup. We never ate it

unless he was there though, and I didn’t really know why.

I busied myself helping Grandmother, knowing that Satoru was probably lying in his hammock pretending to be asleep.

The instant we set the food and utensils on the table, Satoru was out of his hammock, washing his hands in preparation for the meal. He did this every time he visited.

The one time he had tried to help prepare a meal had ended in disaster, so I didn’t really blame him for not helping us.

We sat at the table, and Grandmother prayed. Thanking the Lord for the food, and that Satoru had been able to safely join us before the storm caught him. She ended the prayer after asking for Satoru and I to have a safe journey to wherever the God of our people would send us, and we ate in silence.

I was sure Grandmother knew that Satoru and I had a discussion the night before, and sure that she knewwhat we talked about. But I also knew she wouldn’t mention it.

“Hikairi, you look nice today.” Satoru said awkwardly, as though he was trying to break the silence.

Grandmother and I stared at him in surprise. You have heard me over and over saying that he was quiet before this visit, but that is not quite true. He made noise, but he almost never spoke. And he was so stealthy when he wished to be, that even if you were one of the legendary Great Wolves, you could not have heard him coming.

Before this visit, I had been able to count the words he had spoken to me on two hands, but now he had spoken more than ever before.

Even Grandmother had once commented to me about how quiet he was.

“Satoru, thank you for the compliment,” I said softly, tilting me head in confusion as I looked at him, wondering if I could see the difference in him.

“Hikairi, why are you confused that I would pay you a compliment?” Satoru said calmly, taking a bite of his pancake.

I swallowed nervously. “Well, it’s just that before this, you were always so quiet, you never spoke, never said anything, but now . . . well, the fact that we had a conversation last night says it all. Because it was an actual conversation.” I said.

Satoru’s shoulders slumped, and for a moment he looked just as he had the year before, right before he had left on his last visit.The old quietness filled his eyes, and I found myself feeling a small amount of comfort that told me that my friend was still there, hidden under his own will.