Chapter Text
Everyone knew the rumor.
It had traveled far as it started first with whispers between servants within the palace walls which made its way into the ears of sturdy deliverymen at the stables. Then from there, it slipped from lose lips among the embrace of whores within the merchant inns who then carried it to the evening gathered circles of peasant men idly smoking as the moon rose. The rumor murmured its way through the countryside, a hushed thing for it wasn’t supposed to be passed along at all less the wrath of the emperor came down upon those who talked too loud.
For the rumor painted a vicious black mark across his legacy that could lead to ruin if it held any weight.
It was a curse, the rumor said, that had been put upon the emperor. A curse born of a jealous raise of a slighted empress who saw her husband more interested in gentle beauties he spirited from the arms of their husbands to be part of his court.
A curse that gave the emperor a supposed end to his legacy.
“They say his most prized lover birthed a monster,”
Yuuji’s young ears pricked up as he swept a little closer to where the two senior monks were talking as they settled for their morning breakfast. He did his best to not look like he was trying to listen in, but the boy, no older than a few weeks past five, was always eager to hear such gossip and snippets of the outside world.
“Apparently the empress was mad with jealousy and cursed him to have but one male heir and that he would be a monster that would rip his lineage apart and be the doom of the land,” the same monk as before said as he scooped up the simple meal of rice and vegetables into a ball to pluck up and eat.
“Such a terrible thing to happen if true,” the other monk murmured, “But that is what an appetite for beauty does. The emperor seemed to get greedy about having only the finest women and ignoring his duties for an heir by the empress,”
“I’ve heard the empress fell ill when the demon was conceived and died the moment it was born, as if it truly was conceived purely on her spite,” the first monk murmured, “The emperor only kept it because he was told by oracles that to kill it would only spread the curse further,”
Yuuji shivered a bit, sweeping a little less and inching a little closer, eager to hear more of the rumor. Usually the monks did not speak of such things, especially with the little ears of novice monks around that may hear it and spin more fanciful gossip among themselves.
The two monks lapsed into silence a moment as they ate their breakfast noisily and Yuuji almost moved away, muffling a sigh that that was all there was to the story before the other spoke up, “I’ve heard that the emperor was intent on keeping his heir, no matter how terrible he was born at first. Tried for a few years to teach the thing words and how to be civilized but it just spat and roared and devoured a servant,”
The other one snorted, his tone incredulous, “You sound like the novice monks now, Baso. I believe in this case the more mundane rumors are the ones to believe. That the shame of such a devil in the house simply had him ship the child off, pretend there was no son to be had, and punish any tongue that seeks to extend the whole awful rumor. You know how the court can be secretive about such things,”
Baso hummed, “True. There may be no son at all. After all, a child born with four eyes and four arms? It seems too surreal to be true. More like a cursed spirit was born than a human,”
“But if it is true, and it did devour servants, well, we should be ever thankful for the monks trained to handle such spirits and hope the beast was soundly exorcised at a shrine, as some stories say,”
A chuckle escaped Baso, “And be thankful such things reach us so late as this rumor had been wandering the lands for at least four years. Most likely in the cities it is news that is long old,”
Yuuji was clutching his broom at that point, standing around the corner and just out of sight from where the monks were talking. His eyes were wide as his young mind conjured the thought of some demon snarling in the palace of the emperor, devouring the flesh of humans. It would be so evil that it would be taken to a shrine and sealed up, less it get lose and run rampant, like the stories of old of powerful, rampaging spirits.
His little fantastic thoughts were interrupted though as a hand came down on his shoulder and yanked him up, “Yuuji! Being idle again I see! Such a lazy boy!”
Yuuji squawked as he was hefted up, clutching tight to his broom, “I was working! I was sweeping real good!” he protested.
The two monks he was eavesdropping on came around the corner then, Baso sharing a knowing look with his compatriot before waving ah and to the monk that had Yuuji in his grasp, “Calm Dayu. We saw the boy working hard all morning, sweeping as if he was a monk shooing off cursed spirits,” he said with a slight smile, “And the poor boy is new to the monastery by only a week. We should make him feel welcomed, not terrorized,”
Dayu frowned, but reluctantly let go of Yuuji. The little novice monk gave a huff, clutching his broom and pulling a face at the larger monk, “See?”
“Now now Yuuji. Remember a monk needs to be humble,” Baso said with a small nod, folding his hands within the sleeves of his robes, “Get back to your duties and make sure to hold your tongue a bit more,”
Yuuji’s brow furrowed but he nodded, scurrying off as he heard Dayu give a huff, “Too light of a hand with that one. Trouble is stamped across his forehead,”
“You see any sign of youthful vigor for life as trouble Dayu,” Baso said with a sigh, “It makes me wonder if you even recall being a little hellion in your youth,”
Yuuji hurried off quickly before he could catch more of the conversation as he didn’t want to be called out on his eavesdropping. It was fair enough he had managed to avoid a good scolding already. For a moment though he did pause to raise a hand to hold onto his tongue with a confused expression, wondering what that would even help with him doing his chores. Yuuji gave a shake of his head, huffing and brushing it off as a silly thing the old monks told young monks to make them look dumb before he was back to sweeping around.
The monastery was quiet that morning. There were no visitors around this hour and the morning prayers had concluded, leaving the monks to their studies and chores. Yuuji continued to wander about with his broom, sweeping at piles of dirt as he had been assigned to do, all but eager to chase stray leaves off the courtyard with single-minded purpose for now.
He was the youngest novice monk at the monastery by a good few years with none even close to the tender age of five years that Yuuji held. He stood a whole head shorter than all else and some of the older children had taken to calling him a rabbit for how he scurried about, although Yuuji didn’t feel himself a rabbit. He was far too loud for that.
Yet despite the teasing, Yuuji found he did not mind living at the monastery so far. He had a room to sleep in, a corner to call his own, and meals to settle his hunger, even if the taste of rice and vegetables every day was already growing tiresome. The elder monks seemed nice as well for the most part. Master Baso and Takako were stern but kind and Yuuji liked to listen to them talk and sometimes he liked to listen to the old man gossip about life outside the monastery that was nothing but prayers and studies.
However some monks were far more irritating and Yuuji tried to avoid. Brother Dayu seemed to have it out for him, just because when Yuuji first saw him, he had asked how he had gotten his head so shiny like a big egg.
And how Yuuji had cried and tried to bite Dayu when the monk had tried to sheer him like a sheep and Yuuji wasn’t having none of that.
He had kept his hair for now but he had plans of hiding so to avoid being made into an egg like the other monks. Yuuii had already found a horde of good hiding places for when he saw even a flash of those shears coming out.
The little novice monk wandered around, pausing at times to watch the older ones rush about with chores such as laundry and cooking. Others getting the duty to clean the altars and make sure the new incenses were lit. The older monks gathered in their circles for discussions and meditations while others gathering the older novice monks about for their daily lessons.
All things that Yuuji was too young for and left to just patrol the grounds with his broom for now to keep him out of trouble or from poking his nose about.
Yuuji sighed, starting to grow tired with the endless battle against leaves and dirt, half-heartedly brushing his broom around as he shuffled out into the gardens and eyed the back door of the gardens. Today it had been open as one of the elder monks was taking a class out to mediate under the spreading leaves of an old ginko.
It looked so nice out there and Yuuji shuffled his feet, giving a glance about before he tried to sweep his way over to the backdoor as inconspicuously as he could. Once at the gate, he gave a glance around before resting his broom up beside the gate and gave it a stern look and pointed at it like brother Dayu would do to him “You stay here and guard the door. I’ll be back,” he whispered sternly before turning to take off out beyond the limits of the monastery’s gates.
The day was beautiful with the blue sky and sun above granting warm rays to the earth and the sea of color that spread out as the field was in a full bloom of wildflowers. Yuuji all but pranced like a rabbit through the fields, hopping about as his passage disturbed grasshoppers to leap away and little puffs of flies to go whizzing off for lazier perches. Yuuji grinned, trying to capture one of the grasshoppers with clumsy snatches, nearly tripping over his too big sandals several times.
He wandered from the monastery and the familiar trees used for teaching classes and his small size made it easy for him slip by through tall waving grasses and flowers. He was all but wading through them, the bright pink of his hair more akin to a flower which he felt made him all but invisible. He trudged his way along until he came to a worn path the monks would take up into the forest to forage when times were a bit more lean.
For a moment, Yuuji paused before the forest, looking up at the towering trees and the darkness that seemed to swallow up even the rays of the day, allowing only a few sprinkles of sunshine through the thick, bristled branches of the old growth trees. Yuuji pursed his lips thoughtfully as he debated going in before he shook his head.
The forest was still a touch too scary for him, at least for going in alone. If there were other young monks his age, then maybe he would have more courage to explore such gloomy corners of his small world.
Yuuji instead made his way along a smaller path that led to a tumble of rocks where the graveyard of the monastery was tucked away. There he started to explore and look at the tiny carved statues and try to mimic their poses, grinning all the while. He couldn’t read the names on any of the graves, but some looked very old and Yuuji tsked a bit as he brushed away leaves and dirt from some. He should bring his broom up here rather than the courtyard and he made a mental note to bring it next time he snuck out.
Still it was nice to play around, but it would be nicer if he had someone his age to play with.
Yuuji sighed as he flopped down on the path beside one of the old graves and he looked up at the blue sky. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath and he could almost smell home again with the hazy smoke of houses and the smell of the animals about the little hut he had lived in with his grandfather.
His grandfather had died for three days before anyone came to ask where he was. Yuuji had not been sure what to do. Death had been so new to the four year old. He had just sat in the dark house and wandered outside some to scavenge for some food to bring back and set it by his grandfather’s side as if that would be enough to stir him. Eventually the neighbors had seen him going about in his confusion and asked about his grandfather to which Yuuji had innocently told them he had went to sleep and not awaken for three days.
That is when the adults had come in and covered his grandfather and had a priest come to say words and his body burned.
Then it had a few days in the village elder’s house as they debated on what to do. No family had the means to feed another mouth. They couldn’t sell him as they wished to honor his grandfather’s memory and to a sell a child so young could guarantee a life of more things he did not yet fully grasp.
The elders had thus decided he would be taken to the monastery high in the mountains and presented before the monks there and see if he would be worth training into the religious order.
Master Baso had looked Yuuji over and made him do all sorts of funny tests before declaring the boy had talent and they would see to his training. Yuuji had just been excited to be told he was talented in something.
His grandfather often told him his talent had been in having nothing between his ears and wandering off into trouble.
Which to Yuuji, didn’t sound like good talents to have.
The young monk sat up some and let out a sigh as he brushed off his robes and started to toddle off back towards the monastery. No doubt brother Dayu would be going out is way to try and catch Yuuji not doing his duties. Yet as he approached the monastery, he felt his heart sink as he saw the back garden door was closed as the class outside had finished. A loud sigh escaped Yuuji and he pouted, knowing now he would have to walk all the way around to the front entrance now.
Which was not an easy thing to do with how rocky and bramble filled it was, but the little boy had the tenacity to do it. Even if he did come out of the woods and onto the grand path leading to the monastery covered in dirt, his robes torn and grinning to himself as if no one would notice and ask how he had gotten himself into such a state. He brushed himself off and tugged leaves and twigs out of his hair as he hurried up the steps and into the main courtyard, glancing around to try and be as sneaky as possible to get back to his broom.
“Ah, Yuuji, there you are,”
Yuuji froze, crouching like a dog about to get scolded as he turned towards the voice of master Baso. The master stood beside a tall monk, dressed in the kimono of an anointed one blessed with the talents to fight demons and spirits. The man exuded a calm that had Yuuji quickly turning around to drop a low bow, “Ah, hello master Baso and uh-”
“I am master Kotarou,” The tall monk said with a smile as he lifted the hat he wore to better look at Yuuji, “And I’ve heard good things about you from your master,”
Yuuji felt his ears turn red as he looked to the side, “I mean, I am the best sweeper in all the monastery,” he murmured, fidgeting a bit.
Kotarou chuckled, “And a sense of humor,”
“The boy has trouble holding his tongue at times,” master Baso said with a small sigh, “Tends to speak whatever thought comes into his mind, good manners or no,”
“Nothing wrong with that. He is still very young,” Koatrou said as he pulled his hat from his head and turned back to the staring novice monk, “So Yuuji, the great sweeper of Wakasa, do you think you can handle another very important task for me?”
Yuuji blinked before he puffed up, nodding seriously, “I can do it!” he said eagerly.
The idea of a monk who fought curses looking to him to do some important task had him all but glowing with pride and want to please.
The old monk smiled and with his free hand, reached down beneath the cloak he wore and to the robes, patting something there and with some coaxing, a boy emerged from within, although he seemed to refuse to let go of the monk’s robes as he was revealed. The boy seemed about Yuuji’s age with hair a similar shade if but a shade darker.
He had sharp blue eyes and odd marks along his cheeks like little cuts and wore his robes very baggy with the arm holes looking too big for someone his size. Really he looked very small, lost in such heavy robes with a bit of a plumpness about his middle. It made Yuuji think of the plump little field mice that used to scurry around his grandfather’s field. Skittish, but always looking like they were busy with some other business.
Yuuji stared at the boy who stared back at him with a guarded look as he clutched tight to the hand of the monk. There was a thin smile on the old monk’s face as he looked at Yuuji, “This is Ryomen. Do you think you can look after him?”
Ryomen curled in closer against Kotarou, eyes narrowing all the more. To Yuuji, he looked so scared and guarded. It reminded him of some of the village dogs that were given whippings when they didn’t jump fast enough to get out of the way of drunken owners.
Yuuji smiled though, as even if the boy was scared looking, he was still Yuuji’s age.
And that made him already halfway to being a friend in the small boy’s book.
“I’ll take care of him, I promise!” he said, holding out his hand then to Ryomen, “I’ll show you all around the monastery!” he leaned in a touch, “And all the best hiding spots from brother Dayu when he wants to turn you into an egg like him,”
“An egg?”
It was the first time Ryomen had spoken and the question was laced with doubt. His voice was so soft and timid sounding. Yuuji though just beamed and nodded, pointing to his head, “Master Dayu’s head is so shiny, the sun reflect off it like an egg and he tries to shave all the new monks like that,”
Baso sighed, giving a small pat to Yuuji’s head, ‘Mind your manners Yuuji,” he murmured, “Ryomen will be living with us. The two of you will be trained together by master Kotarou,”
“I’m retiring from my role as a exorcist. The roads are growing too long and these bones too weary,” Kotarou said, giving Ryomen a nudge forward towards Yuuji, “But training two promising souls will be a good end to my long career,”
Ryomen shuffled forward, still so nervous as he looked at Yuuji who once more thrusted out a hand, “He can sleep in my room, even if it isn’t very big,”
“Big enough for the two youngest novice monks,” Baso said with a wave of his hand, “Get him settled Yuuji,”
Ryomen hesitated before slowly he put one of his hands in Yuuji’s own, jumping a bit when Yuuji curled his fingers around it with a smile, “Don’t worry!” Yuuji said, “I promised master Kotarou I would always take care of you and I will. I won’t let anyone hurt you, okay? Even master Dayu! I’ll use my broom and risk getting a swat to keep him from shaving your bald!”
Ryomen blinked and very slowly a slight smile curled his hips as he looked at their held hands. He gave a squeeze back and a nod, “Okay,” he murmured.
Yuuji smiled and he felt such happiness then to have someone his age. He could see Ryomen smiling back, as small as it was.
They held hands for the first time, sealing their fate in that one gesture of innocent kindness.
A vow made. A promise given.
“I’ll take care of you, from now on,”